2004 Draft In Retrospect (ESPN Insider)

[gr8slayer]

Buffalo Bills
The Bills' 2004 draft would be considered average but could swing up or down depending on the fortunes of first-round QB J.P. Losman, who became the full-time starter last season and made a huge jump in maturity and production. The jury is still out, because he has not played well enough to be considered a good choice or poorly enough to be considered a bust. Fellow first-round pick Lee Evans has become the team's No. 1 receiver in his third season. Evans filled the void when Eric Moulds departed and caught 82 passes for 1,292 yards last season. Third-round DT Tim Anderson and fourth-round TE Tim Euhus have taken opposite paths, with Anderson becoming a durable, steady player, though not an impact defender, and Euhus, now with Pittsburgh, providing little production or depth. The Bills did not hit on their seventh-round choices; both OT Dylan McFarland and WR Jonathan Smith are no longer in the league.
• In retrospect, what draft grade would you give the Bills?

[gr8slayer]

Re: 2004 Draft In Retrospect (ESPN Insider)

I would give the Bills a C+ in retrospect.

[patmoran2006]

Re: 2004 Draft In Retrospect (ESPN Insider)

Right now a B- and potentially an "A"

We have one of the 5 most talented WR's in the league from this draft. and we have a potential franchise QB who is starting to step up.

I"ll take two franchise players over 5-6 decent ones anyday

[ddaryl]

Re: 2004 Draft In Retrospect (ESPN Insider)

If JP continues to get better then Evans and JP alone would make this an A draft IMO.

Evans is a bonafide stud, so the jury is still out on JP. Anderson is a depth DT on a team weak at DT

[mikemac2001]

Re: 2004 Draft In Retrospect (ESPN Insider)

B

[gr8slayer]

Re: 2004 Draft In Retrospect (ESPN Insider)

B

If J.P. can keep improving then hell yes.

[gr8slayer]

Re: 2004 Draft In Retrospect (ESPN Insider)

For NE39

New England Patriots
The Patriots had an above-average draft in 2004 with four first-day picks, including NT Vince Wilfork and TE Benjamin Watson in the first round. Wilfork has been a durable force in the middle against the run, and Watson stepped up in 2006 as the second-leading receiver for the Patriots and brings great versatility to the position. The other first-day picks didn't pan out quite as well, though. Second-round DE Marquise Hill was active for only four games in 2006. He has been banged up some and is still very raw. Third-round S Guss Scott is out of the league. Fourth-round S Dexter Reid is out of the league, and fourth-round RB Cedric Cobbs has been a career backup now with the Denver Broncos. Seventh-round CB Christian Morton also has been a career backup, currently with the Carolina Panthers. The Patriots did hit on their two first-round picks but did little else in the rest of the draft.
• In retrospect, what draft grade would you give the Patriots?

[gr8slayer]

Re: 2004 Draft In Retrospect (ESPN Insider)

San Diego Chargers
The 2004 draft started with a bang for the Chargers, who drafted QB Eli Manning with the first overall selection despite Manning and his family having no interest in going to San Diego. In a bold move, first-year GM A.J. Smith was able to swing a trade that sent Manning to the New York Giants and brought Philip Rivers to San Diego. It would be the first of many great moves by Smith. The Chargers selected 11 players in the 2004 draft, and six are starters. Rivers is one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL. DE Igor Olshansky (second round) is one of the most underrated defensive ends in the NFL and is a great fit in the Chargers' 3-4 defense. PK Nate Kaeding (third round) is one of the best in the NFL. C Nick Hardwick (third round) anchors one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, and OLB Shaun Phillips (fourth round) has amassed 22.5 sacks in three years, including 11.5 last season, his first as a starter. RB Michael Turner (fifth round) has been a nice complement to starter LaDainian Tomlinson. OT Shane Olivea, one of three seventh-round picks, has been a starter since the moment he arrived and has been signed to a long-term extension. Overall, this was an excellent class, producing a franchise-caliber quarterback and a solid group of starters in Smith's first draft and helping build the talented team the Chargers have become.
• In retrospect, what draft grade would you give the Chargers?

Holy **** that was a good draft. One of the best ever?

[gr8slayer]

Re: 2004 Draft In Retrospect (ESPN Insider)

For Bling

Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins had a below-average 2004 draft. Their only first-day pick was first-round OT Vernon Carey, who has been a durable and productive player. He played right tackle in 2006 and has shown enough athleticism and effectiveness that the new coaching staff is considering moving him to the left side. However, his success is offset by the fact the Dolphins did not have picks in the second or third rounds, and fourth-round CB Will Poole and fifth-round LB Tony Bua already are out of the league. Miami did find a starter in the sixth round in center Rex Hadnot, who has been a durable and effective player for the middle of the Miami offensive line. Two seventh-round picks that have had little impact. OT Tony Pape has been off and on practice squads and has not provided even effective depth to a team. LB Derrick Pope has good speed and is a solid hitter but has been primarily a special teams contributor.
• In retrospect, what draft grade would you give the Dolphins?

[Sportsuser101]

Re: 2004 Draft In Retrospect (ESPN Insider)

Holy **** that was a good draft. One of the best ever?

Well they did have the #1 overall pick but yeah a very good draft and it doesn't even mention that they got Merriman in a trade from the Giants that year and also traded the 5th round pick they got from the Giants for Oben who was a stud for them for 2 years at LT.

[gr8slayer]

Re: 2004 Draft In Retrospect (ESPN Insider)

Well they did have the #1 overall pick

but yeah a very good draft and it doesn't even mention that they got Merriman in a trade from the Giants that year and also traded the 5th round pick they got from the Giants for Oben who was a stud for them for 2 years at LT.

True but think of all the teams that have had that number one pick and ruined it.

[Sportsuser101]

Re: 2004 Draft In Retrospect (ESPN Insider)

True but think of all the teams that have had that number one pick and ruined it.

True. I'm not questioning how good their drat is I'm just saying that it wasn't like they were picking in the 2nd half of the draft. Bears and Jets both had good drafts too but were in the upper half of the draft as well. Overall it doesn't look like it was a strong draft so far but its way too early.

[gr8slayer]

Re: 2004 Draft In Retrospect (ESPN Insider)

True. I'm not questioning how good their drat is I'm just saying that it wasn't like they were picking in the 2nd half of the draft. Bears and Jets both had good drafts too but were in the upper half of the draft as well. Overall it doesn't look like it was a strong draft so far but its way too early.

Good call on the Bears

Chicago Bears
GM Jerry Angelo's philosophy of building a dominating defense was evident during the 2004 draft, as the Bears selected six defensive players with their eight selections, including two who were selected to the Pro Bowl. First-round DT Tommie Harris is a force on the interior, and with second-round DT Tank Johnson becoming a starter, the defensive tackle rotation is a position of strength for Chicago. WR Bernard Berrian (third round) added a vertical threat to the Bears' offense. Fourth-round CB Nathan Vasher has made the Pro Bowl, and fourth-round LB Leon Joe has provided athletic linebacker depth and is a special teams star. Two Pro Bowl players, four starters and a special-teams stalwart make the Bears' 2004 draft class a special one.
• In retrospect, what draft grade would you give the Bears?

[Mr. Pink]

Re: 2004 Draft In Retrospect (ESPN Insider)

Where is the Browns for me? lol

[Sportsuser101]

Re: 2004 Draft In Retrospect (ESPN Insider)

Yeah I was actually 1 of the guys who wanted the Bills to draft Harris. Not that I'm not happy with Evans but at the time I wanted to try and build a strong defense and worry about offense later. I also wanted to draft Schaub in the 3rd instead of trying to trade up for Losman if he was there. Either way I still like the way our draft ended up.