After top three, draft day belongs to defensive players
By Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 27, 2003
NEW YORK - Teams did their best Saturday to stem the league's increase in offense.
They drafted for defense, taking 11 defensive linemen in a first round also marked by an aborted trade between Minnesota and Baltimore that led to three of the quickest first-round picks ever.
Carson Palmer, the Heisman Trophy winning quarterback from Southern California, was chosen by Cincinnati, and receivers Charles Rogers of Michigan and Andre Johnson of Miami went to Detroit and Houston with the first three picks.
But after that the highlight was a run on defense like none other.
Eleven of the next 13 choices were defensive players, including eight linemen.
With scoring last season at 43.4 points a game, highest in 20 years, why not?
"It's no secret we were going to go to the defensive side with the first pick," said Seattle coach Mike Holmgren, who took cornerback Marcus Trufant of Washington State. "Obviously, we were looking at those big defensive lineman. We really didn't think Marcus would come to us."
The first five picks were no surprise: Palmer, Rogers and Johnson, followed by defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson of Kentucky to the Jets, who traded up Friday for the pick, and cornerback Terence Newman of Kansas State to Dallas.
Then came the surprises.
New Orleans moved up to sixth to take defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan of Georgia, projected to go half a dozen picks later.
Then Minnesota discussed deals with Jacksonville, New England and Baltimore. The Vikings agreed on a trade to get the Ravens' No.10 pick, plus two later picks for the No.7 choice. The Vikings submitted the deal to the league, but Baltimore didn't submit its part in time.
Jacksonville quickly moved in ahead of Minnesota and took quarterback Byron Leftwich of Marshall to ensure the Vikings couldn't trade the pick to take him. Carolina also jumped ahead of the Vikings and grabbed offensive tackle Jordan Gross of Utah. At No.9, the Vikings took defensive tackle Kevin Williams, who they thought they could get anyway at No.10.
"I'm ticked," Vikings coach Mike Tice said. "I felt that would've been a hell of a deal to get your guy and two more picks."
Baltimore ended up with defensive end Terrell Suggs of Arizona State and got quarterback Kyle Boller of Cal by trading away next year's No.1 pick and this year's No.2 to New England. Seattle got Trufant and St. Louis grabbed defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy of Penn State, who was expected to go higher.
"This has got to be the strangest first round," St. Louis coach Mike Martz said. "It was hectic, wasn't it? The picks went so quickly. It was probably about 45 seconds for about three picks. It was getting exciting."
The defensive parade continued.
New England moved up one pick to choose defensive tackle Ty Warren of Texas A&M at No.13 and Chicago chose defensive end Michael Haynes of Penn State.
Next, Philadelphia traded from No.30 to 15 to take Jerome McDougle, a defensive end from Miami. McDougle was the eighth defensive lineman taken.
Then Pittsburgh moved up 11 picks, from No.27 in a trade with Kansas City, and took safety Troy Polamalu of USC.
Florida's Rex Grossman, who left school a year early, was the fourth quarterback taken, at No.22 by the Bears.
Running back Willis McGahee of Miami, who tore up his knee in the national championship game, was moved to tears when he was taken 23rd overall by Buffalo, though he's not expected to be at his best until 2004.
Buffalo, which needs defense, chose McGahee as the first running back taken, though it has Travis Henry (1,438 yards and 13 touchdowns last season) and also has signed Olandis Gary as his backup.
"They caught me off-guard with the pick, but I'm really happy," McGahee said.
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