TEAM-BY-TEAM DRAFT CAPSULES (Part 2)
NEW YORK (AP) - Team-by-team capsules for this weekend's NFL
draft:
11. PHILADELPHIA (6-9-1)
LAST YEAR: After two 10-6 seasons, lack of talent showed. Bobby
Hoying showed enough to be QB of the future.
STRENGTHS: Wide receiver, although Irving Fryar is aging;
secondary.
NEEDS: Offensive line, running back, defensive line.
LAST YEAR'S PICKS: DE Jon Harris was latest disappointing No. 1.
DRAFT HISTORY: Coach Ray Rhodes and front office often differ and
results show. Has gone for offensive linemen who have flopped.
Another mistake: trading up in 1995 for DE Mike Mamula.
THE PICKERS: Rhodes gets a say, so does personnel man Joe Banner,
but no defined lines.
PROBABLE NO. 1: Turley; Flozell Adams, OT, Michigan State;
Holliday or Wistrom.
12. ATLANTA (7-9)
LAST YEAR: Started 2-8 in Dan Reeves' first year as coach, won
five in a row before losing season finale.
STRENGTHS: QB Chris Chandler (when healthy), active defensive
line.
NEEDS: Young quarterback, offensive line, defensive backfield.
LAST YEAR'S PICKS: CB Michael Booker, RB Byron Hanspard and TE OJ
Santiago -- picked in first three rounds -- all contributed. C
Calvin Collins (6) started by default.
DRAFT HISTORY: Terrible moves like CB Bruce Pickens with third
overall in 1991, but Reeves' first draft was decent.
THE PICKER: Reeves makes all decisions.
PROBABLE NO. 1: Dyson; Jason Peter, DT, Nebraska; Holliday;
Adams; LBs Brian Simmons, North Carolina or Takeo Spikes, Auburn.
13 and 17. CINCINNATI (7-9)
LAST YEAR: Started 1-7, finished 6-2, as Boomer Esiason replaced
Jeff Blake at QB. Esiason retired to join ABC.
STRENGTHS: Offense, if Blake regains form, RB Corey Dillon, WRs
Carl Pickens and Darnay Scott.
NEEDS: Offensive linemen and pass rushers.
LAST YEAR'S PICKS: Dillon (3) made it a good draft. DE Reinard
Wilson (1) and S Tremain Mack (4) showed promise.
DRAFT HISTORY: Usually takes players who underachieve until they
leave.
THE PICKERS: Coach Bruce Coslet and GM Mike Brown.
PROBABLE NO. 1: DE-LB Leonard Little, Tennessee. Second, from
Washington in deal for DE Dan Wilkinson, could be used on Peter,
Brian Simmons or CB Duane Starks, Miami. Trade-up a possibility.
Sleeper choice could be Mo Collins, OT, Florida.
14. CAROLINA (7-9)
LAST YEAR: After 12-4 season and trip to NFC title game, fell
back because of age and injuries.
STRENGTHS: Cornerback, where Doug Evans and Eric Davis should be
one of NFL's best tandems. Defensive line, bolstered by signing
of Sean Gilbert, pending trade in which this choice could go to
Washington.
NEEDS: Wide receiver, offensive line.
LAST YEAR'S PICKS: S Mike Minter, No. 2, was an instant starter.
RB Fred Lane, undrafted free agent, was standout. WR Rae Carruth
(1) was mediocre.
DRAFT HISTORY: QB Kerry Collins, RB Tshimanga Biakabutuka, CB
Tyrone Poole and OT Blake Brockermeyer, all No. 1 picks, have not
fulfilled promise for various reasons.
THE PICKER: Coach Dom Capers.
PROBABLE NO. 1: Dyson; Adams; Wistrom; Peter.
15. SEATTLE (8-8)
LAST YEAR: Started 6-3 as 41-year-old Warren Moon performed
miracles at QB. Injuries to Moon, Cortez Kennedy and others led
to four-game losing streak.
STRENGTHS: Pass rush with Kennedy, Michael Sinclair, Chad Brown.
Deep threat in Joey Galloway.
NEEDS: Offensive line, particularly since C Kevin Mawae defected
and replacement Kevin Glover is 34.
LAST YEAR'S PICKS: CB Shawn Springs and OT Walter Jones, two high
No. 1s, look like future stars. TE Itula Mili (2) was hurt, but
may start this season.
DRAFT HISTORY: Good No. 1s in Galloway, Kennedy, Jones and
Springs, but hurt themselves by taking QB Dan McGwire ahead of
Brett Favre in 1991.
THE PICKERS: Personnel man Randy Mueller and coach Dennis
Erickson.
PROBABLE NO. 1: Spikes, Adams, Collins.
16. TENNESSEE (8-8)
LAST YEAR: Homeless in Memphis after lame-duck year in Houston.
Started 1-4, finished 7-4 for 8-8 mark.
STRENGTHS: QB Steve McNair and RB Eddie George, plus WR Yancey
Thigpen, signed as free agent. Good overall defense -- coach Jeff
Fisher is defensive specialist.
NEEDS: Wide receiver, offensive line, tight end.
LAST YEAR'S PICKS: Kenny Holmes (1) had seven sacks to lead team.
WR Joey Kent (2) showed promise.
DRAFT HISTORY: McNair and George were good picks. No outright
duds this decade.
THE PICKERS: General manager Floyd Reese, with input from Fisher.
PROBABLE NO. 1: Brian Simmons; Anthony Simmons, LB, Clemson;
Peter, Spikes, Dyson or Ellis.
18 and 22. NEW ENGLAND (10-6)
LAST YEAR: Won AFC East, but offense regressed -- 7-6 loss to
Pittsburgh in second round of playoffs was typical.
STRENGTHS: Drew Bledsoe remains one of NFL's better young
quarterbacks, best when he has a running game. Receivers,
particularly TE Ben Coates and WR Terry Glenn. DE Willie
McGinest, MLB Ted Johnson.
NEEDS: Running back to replace Curtis Martin; defensive and
offensive lines.
LAST YEAR'S PICKS: DB Chris Canty, No. 1, saw action mostly on
special teams.
DRAFT HISTORY: Good -- Bledsoe, Glenn, Martin (a third-rounder),
McGinest, Johnson in the second round.
THE PICKERS: Personnel director Bobby Grier, with coach Pete
Carroll and owner Robert Kraft.
PROBABLE NO. 1: Have two picks in each of first three rounds and
could package them to move up for Enis. Taylor or Edwards,
Starks; Terry Fair, DB, Tennessee; Shaun Williams, DB, UCLA;
Ellis. Outside chance: Ahman Green, RB, Nebraska with 22nd spot.
19. MIAMI (9-7)
LAST YEAR: Earned wild-card in three-way battle for AFC East with
Jets and Patriots. Lost playoff game, 17-3, in New England.
STRENGTHS: Overall speed; QB Dan Marino, still dangerous with
good receivers.
NEEDS: Defensive end; offensive line; running back.
LAST YEAR'S PICKS: WR Yatil Green, (1) hurt knee on first day of
training camp and missed entire season. Got three top-flight
defensive starters in DE Jason Taylor, LB Derrick Rodgers (both
3s), and CB Sam Madison (2).
DRAFT HISTORY: In two years, Jimmy Johnson has drafted a dozen
starters, not counting Green.
THE PICKERS: Johnson, one of the best drafters this decade, makes
all decisions, with input from personnel director Bob Ackles.
PROBABLE NO. 1: Dyson, Edwards, Holcombe; Ellis, Starks, Anthony
Simmons.
20. DETROIT (9-7)
LAST YEAR: Up and down, winning five of last six to make playoffs
on final day. Lost wild-card game in Tampa.
STRENGTHS: RB Barry Sanders, who became third NFL player ever to
run for 2,000 yards. Defensive line, wide receiver.
NEEDS: Center, linebacker to replace Reggie Brown, who suffered
career-ending neck injury in final regular-season game.
LAST YEAR'S PICKS: CBs Bryant Westbrook (1) and Kevin Abrams (2)
both started and LB Matt Russell (3) showed promise.
DRAFT HISTORY: Good early with Sanders, Brown, G Jeff Hartings,
DT Luther Elliss, DE Robert Porcher and WR Herman Moore all
former No. 1s.
THE PICKERS: Coach Bobby Ross and player personnel director Ron
Hughes.
PROBABLE NO. 1: Sam Cowart, LB, Florida State; Jacquez Green, WR,
Florida; one of top linebackers if they drop; Ellis.
21. MINNESOTA (9-7)
LAST YEAR: Started 8-2 and led NFC Central before losing five
straight. Won final game to make playoffs. Scored 10 points in
last two minutes to beat Giants, 23-22; lost, 38-22, in San
Francisco.
STRENGTHS: Nucleus of impact players -- DT John Randle, WRs Jake
Reed and Cris Carter, QB Brad Johnson, RB Robert Smith, T Todd
Steussie and G Randall McDaniel.
NEEDS: Defensive backs, particularly cornerbacks, young wide
receiver, offensive line depth.
LAST YEAR'S PICKS: LB Dwayne Rudd (1) and DE Stalin Colinet (3)
both showed promise.
DRAFT HISTORY: Maybe too good -- not only have the Vikings
accumulated talent, but they've lost good players to free agency.
THE PICKER: Coach Dennis Green.
PROBABLE NO. 1: Fair, Starks, Corey Chavous, db, Vanderbilt;
Williams; Coward, Ellis.
23. TAMPA BAY (10-6)
LAST YEAR: Coach Tony Dungy, in his second year, got Bucs to
playoffs after 13 10-loss seasons in 14 years. Beat Detroit in
playoff game, lost at Green Bay.
STRENGTHS: Defense, led by DT Warren Sapp, S John Lynch, LBs
Hardy Nickerson and Derrick Brooks; RBs Warrick Dunn and Mike
Allstot.
NEEDS: Fast wide receivers for QB Trent Dilfer. Defensive back.
LAST YEAR'S PICKS: Dunn and WR Reidel Anthony, both
first-rounders, started and Dunn was offensive rookie of the
year. OLs Jerry Wunsch (2) and Frank Middleton (3) also played.
DRAFT HISTORY: Awful until they began to take players on
achievement (Sapp, Dunn, Allstot, Anthony) rather than on
potential.
THE PICKERS: Dungy and personnel director Jerry Angelo.
PROBABLE NO. 1: Dyson; Jacquez Green; Collins; Victor Riley, OT,
Auburn.
24. NEW YORK GIANTS (10-5-1)
LAST YEAR: Went from last to first in NFC East under new coach
Jim Fassel, lost to Vikings in playoffs, blowing nine-point lead
in final two minutes.
STRENGTHS: Defense that led NFL by forcing 44 turnovers. DE Mike
Strahan, LB Jessie Armstead and CB Jason Sehorn. FB Charles Way.
NEEDS: Heavy-duty RB to let Tiki Barber be third-down and return
man; catching tight end; wide receivers (as always).
LAST YEAR'S PICKS: WR Ike Hilliard (1) looked great, but was lost
for season with neck injury in second game. Barber (2) and S Sam
Garnes (6) were instant starters.
DRAFT HISTORY: Terrible No. 1s between Rodney Hampton in 1990 and
Hilliard. Very good lower picks like Garnes, Armstead (8), Way
(6), Sehorn and Strahan (2), plus QB Danny Kanell (4).
THE PICKERS: With George Young gone, Fassel and personnel
director Tom Boisture make the decisions.
PROBABLE NO. 1: Dyson, Edwards, TE Alonzo Mayes, Oklahoma State;
Holcombe. Possible sleeper -- Stephen Alexander, TE, Oklahoma.
26. PITTSBURGH (11-5)
LAST YEAR: Weathered free-agent losses to win AFC Central behind
Kordell Stewart and Jerome Bettis. Beat New England, lost, 24-21,
at home to Denver in AFC title game.
STRENGTHS: Stewart's versatility, Bettis' running, solid
offensive line, overall defense, Bill Cowher's coaching.
NEEDS: Receivers, cornerbacks, offensive line.
LAST YEAR'S PICKS: Chad Scott (1) was erratic at CB. Will
Blackwell (2) was outstanding return man and will start at WR.
DRAFT HISTORY: Outstanding -- Steelers have lost great players to
free agency and injury and keep winning.
THE PICKERS: Cowher and personnel director Tom Donahoe.
PROBABLE NO. 1: Cowart, Starks, Riley.
27. KANSAS CITY (13-3)
LAST YEAR: Won AFC West, got home field for playoffs, then lost,
14-10, to Denver, which went on to win Super Bowl.
STRENGTHS: Overall defense, passing game with Elvis Grbac, Andre
Rison and Derrick Alexander; interior offensive line.
NEEDS: Running back, defensive line, offensive tackle.
LAST YEAR'S PICKS. TE Tony Gonzalez (1) is first-rate receiver,
needs work on blocking.
DRAFT HISTORY: Have fizzled with quarterbacks (Todd Blackledge,
Mike Elkins, Matt Blundin) and running backs (Greg Hill, Ethan
Horton, Paul Palmer, Harvey Williams). But have done well
elsewhere -- five 1996 rookies started last season.
THE PICKERS: Coach Marty Schottenheimer and general manager Carl
Peterson.
PROBABLE NO. 1: Riley, Holcombe, Jacquez Green; Germane Crowell,
WR, Virginia; Leon Bender, DT, Washington State; Ahman Green.
28. SAN FRANCISCO (13-3)
LAST YEAR: Devastated in opening loss to Tampa Bay when Jerry
Rice was lost and Steve Young was hurt. Rebounded under new coach
Steve Mariucci to win 11 straight, but lost at home, 23-10, to
Green Bay in NFC title game.
STRENGTHS: Defense, which lost Dana Stubblefield, but added LB
Winfred Tubbs, DE Gabe Wilkins and CB Antonio Langham.
NEEDS: Offensive line; defensive line if Wilkins' knee doesn't
hold up.
LAST YEAR'S PICKS: QB Jim Druckenmiller (1) played second game
when Young was hurt and Niners survived. Needs work.
DRAFT HISTORY: Brilliant, which is why they've been on top for 19
years.
THE PICKERS: Scouting director Vinny Cerrato; general manager
Dwight Clark and coach Steve Mariucci, plus "advisor" Bill Walsh,
who engineered great drafts of the '80s.
PROBABLE NO. 1: Riley; Bender; Jeremy Staat, DT, Arizona State;
Alan Faneca, G, LSU; Holcombe, Mayes, Alexander.
29. GREEN BAY (13-3)
LAST YEAR: Won second straight NFC title, but lost Super Bowl to
Denver.
STRENGTHS: QB Brett Favre, three-time MVP with RB Dorsey Levens
and WR Antonio Freeman; linebackers.
NEEDS: Defensive ends to replace Gabe Wilkins and spell aging
Reggie White; offensive line depth.
LAST YEAR'S PICKS: OT Ross Verba (1) held out, started second
half of season and looks like future Pro Bowler. DB Darren
Sharper (2) scored three TDs as nickel back and will replace
Eugene Robinson as free safety.
DRAFT HISTORY: Core of team came through draft and some were low
-- Levens, (fifth round, 1994), Robert Brooks (third, 1992) and
Freeman (third, 1995).
THE PICKERS: General manager Ron Wolf and coach Mike Holmgren.
PROBABLE NO. 1: Hard to tell, perhaps Staat.
30. DENVER (12-4)
LAST YEAR: After getting home field in 1996 and losing first
playoff game, qualified as wild card and went on to win Super
Bowl.
STRENGTHS: RB Terrell Davis, QB John Elway, TE Shannon Sharpe;
pass rush; offensive line.
NEEDS: Offensive line depth with departure of Brian Habib and
possible retirement of Gary Zimmerman; safeties; another speed
wide receiver.
LAST YEAR'S PICKS: DT Trevor Pryce (1) should improve, but most
picks were special-teamers only.
DRAFT HISTORY: Spotty -- one of few teams to succeed with good
free agents. Davis was sixth-round steal in 1995.
THE PICKER: Coach Mike Shanahan.
PROBABLE NO. 1: Jacquez Green fits and so does Crowell.
39. BUFFALO (6-10)
LAST YEAR: Age finally caught up, particularly at quarterback
with retirement of Jim Kelly. Coach Marv Levy stepped down at end
of year. Traded for QB Rob Johnson, probably best young backup in
game.
STRENGTHS: Overall defense.
NEEDS: Offense, particularly wide receiver.
LAST YEAR'S PICKS: RB Antowain Smith (1) will be Thurman Thomas'
successor; Marcellus Wiley (2) may be Bruce Smith's.
DRAFT HISTORY: Excellent, which is why they stayed on top for a
decade. One bad No. 1 was WR Eric Moulds in 1996.
THE PICKERS: General manager John Butler with help from coach
Wade Phillips.
PROBABLE NO. 1: Too late to tell, but could get WR like Georgia's
Hines Ward.
40. NEW YORK JETS (9-7)
LAST YEAR: Bill Parcells took over 1-15 team and guided it within
inches of playoffs.
STRENGTHS: Wide receivers, linebackers, secondary.
NEEDS: Offensive line, maybe quarterback; defensive line.
LAST YEAR'S PICKS: LB James Farrior (1) was inconsistent. Did
well low with DT Jason Ferguson (7), who looks solid, and RB Leon
Johnson (4), who was outstanding third-down back and kick
returner.
DRAFT HISTORY: Not as bad as it seemed. Some solid picks like LBs
Mo Lewis and Marvin Jones and CB Aaron Glenn.
THE PICKER: Parcells.
PROBABLE NO. 1: Too late to tell. Patriots have Jets' 1-2-3 (For
Parcells and free agent RB Curtis Martin) and this is
Philadelphia's No. 2, obtained for Hugh Douglas.
47. WASHINGTON (8-7-1)
LAST YEAR: Missed playoffs for fifth straight season after
starting with high hopes.
STRENGTHS: Secondary, perhaps defensive line with addition of
Dana Stubblefield and Dan Wilkinson.
NEEDS: Offensive line depth; wide receivers; young cornerbacks.
LAST YEAR'S PICKS: Kenard Lang (1) looks like solid DE; Nos.
2-3-4 look good -- LBs Greg Jones and Derek Smith and WR Albert
Connell.
DRAFT HISTORY: WR Michael Westbrook, No. 1 in 1995, is major bust
and so were Heath Shuler, third overall in 1994, and Desmond
Howard, fourth overall in 1992.
THE PICKERS: GM Charley Casserly and coach Norv Turner.
PROBABLE NO. 1: Too low to tell, although could get Carolina's
No. 1 in settlement of Sean Gilbert deal. |
