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2002 Mock Draft
Updated: April 16, 2002
We like to set our mock draft up a little differently. First, we'll take you through the players in their positions who could go in the first round. Then, we'll give you our mock draft, with some of the scenarios that the teams may do. Enjoy.
POTENTIAL FIRST ROUND PICKS
QUARTERBACKS
David Carr, Fresno State
Joey Harrington, Oregon
Patrick Ramsey, Tulane
Suddenly, the talk is Ramsey could slip into the first. The problem is how far will Harrington slip? It could be pretty far. If he slides below the halfway point, Ramsey will likely fall out of the round. It's also possible Ramsey could be more popular on some teams, and go ahead of Harrington, but doubtful.
RUNNING BACKS
William Green, Boston College
T.J. Duckett, Michigan State
DeShaun Foster, UCLA
Green seems to be slipping as the draft approaches. Foster appears to be doing the opposite. I don't believe all three will go in the first. Two of them likely will, but right now it could be any two of the three.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Donte Stallworth, Tennessee
Ashley Lelie, Hawaii
Jabar Gaffney, Florida
Josh Reed, LSU
Antonio Bryant, Pittsburgh
Reche Caldwell, Florida
Andre Davis, Virginia Tech
This is such a deep group this year, I cannot help but thing that only three, four at the most will go in the first. Stallworth and Lelie should, but the rest of the group is in the eye of the beholder. I really like Reed to be in the group.
TIGHT ENDS
Jeremy Shockey
David Graham
Shockey could go as high as tenth. He should go by fifteenth. If he goes by then, Graham could go more quickly. I really see no reason Graham will not go.
CENTERS
LeCharles Bentley, Ohio State
Bently has a solid shot to go by the end of the round. Centers can slip to early in the second, but he has the value to be a first rounder.
GUARDS
Toniu Fonoti, Nebraska
Kendell Simmons, Auburn
Andre Gurode, Colorado
Guards are usually not a hot commodity in the first, but these are three good prospects, and it just so happens a few teams need interior line help this year. All three could go. At least one will.
OFFENSIVE TACKLES
Mike Williams, Texas
Bryant McKinnie, Miami (Fla.)
Levi Jones, Arizona State
Mike Pearson, Florida
Marc Colombo, Boston College
Williams, McKinnie and Jones could all be gone by midway through the first. Pearson and Colombo have an outside shot. I believe neither will go, and highly doubt more than one of the two.
DEFENSIVE TACKLES
Ryan Sims, North Carolina
Albert Haynesworth, Tennessee
Wendell Bryant, Wisconsin
John Henderson, Tennessee
Anthony Weaver, Notre Dame
Eddie Freeman, Alabama-Birmingham
Larry Tripplett, Washington
Sims, Haynesworth, Bryant and Henderson could all be gone two-thirds into the round. Any, or all of the rest could squeeze in. There could even be a wild card not listed. I believe Weaver will slip into the bottom. The rest will go after the round.
DEFENSIVE ENDS
Julius Peppers, North Carolina
Charles Grant, Georgia
Kalimba Edwards, South Carolina
Dwight Freeney, Syracuse
Bryan Thomas, Alabama-Birmingham
Alex Brown, Florida
It appears Peppers is slated to go second overall. Grant will not last through the halfway point. Edwards and Freeney could go anywhere after, but Freeney has no guarantee. I think he will, and someone else will slip into the round. Maybe two more, but who is a guess, and they may not be on the list.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
Napoleon Harris, Northwestern
Harris will go in the second half of the round. No one else projects to the first round, but all drafts have surprises.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS
Robert Thomas, UCLA
Levar Fisher, North Carolina State
Size is holding them out of the first round on most boards, but several teams are playing the Cover 2 scheme now, which precludes size for speed. Don't be surprised if one jumps into the last few picks. Several will be gone by the end of the second.
CORNERBACKS
Quentin Jammer, Texas
Phillip Buchanon, Miami (Fla.)
Lito Sheppard, Florida
Derek Ross, Ohio State
Keyuo Craver, Nebraska
Mike Rumph, Miami (Fla.)
Jammer is a top three pick. Buchanon and Sheppard are hot commodities, and will go. Opinions vary on the rest. Corners are popular in the league right now, so one or more could make it towards the end.
SAFETIES
Roy Williams, Oklahoma
Edward Reed, Miami (Fla.)
Both of these guys will go. Everyone likes Williams. Safeties usually do not translate into the first, but two went last year, and these two are on equal, if not higher, ground.
TEAM SCENARIOS AND POSSIBILITIES (THE MOCK)
Here is our mock draft. Trading in the draft is more difficult these days, but there are some teams that will. KEY: PT - Possibly will trade out of the slot.
1. Houston Texans - QB David Carr, Fresno St.
It's still a done deal. A contract is done.
2. Carolina Panthers - DE Julius Peppers, North Carolina
The Panthers have also considered CB Quinten Jammer, and it would not be a suprise if they took him, but Peppers is Carolina product, and the team is pretty sold on him. They could trade down, and want to, but don't want to go far, so it probably will not happen.
3. Detroit Lions (PT) - CB Quentin Jammer, Texas
The Lions do want to trade, but it would be tough to pull off. The Cowboys seem most likely to get here, but compensation would have to be pretty big. Jammer is awful good, and it's hard to see the Lions pulling the trigger on anyone else, but it could happen.
4. Buffalo Bills (PT) - OT Mike Williams, Texas
The Bills are not sold on QB Joey Harrington, and it doesn't look like a trade for Drew Bledsoe will materialize. Like a lot of clubs up here, they would like to trade down, but again, it is not as easy as said. The offensive line does need help, and Williams provides the safest way to go this high. A defensive tackle could also go here, but the Bills pretty much have their board looking like this.
5. San Diego Chargers - OT Bryant McKinnie, Miami (Fla.)
The Chargers preferred Mike Williams over McKinnie, but they will likely pull the trigger on McKinnie anyway, mostly due to the fact that new coach Marty Schottenheimer likes to run the ball, and has the back to do it in LaDainian Thomlinson. This makes too much sense.
6. Dallas Cowboys (PT) - DT Albert Haynesworth, Tennessee
I still believe the Cowboys will set the tone for a lot of this draft. They could trade up or down. Their favorite is Jammer, but he will be long gone. The talk of RB William Green has dwindled. I still like Haynesworth to pair with LaRoi Glover. The only reason Haynesworth gets the call over Ryan Sims is because he is younger. The only other option I see is CB Phillip Buchanon.
7. Minnesota Vikings - DT Ryan Simms, North Carolina
The offensive line needs addressing, but the top guys are gone. The defense is an atrocious unit, so getting Simms will make the Vikings staff very happy. They will hope to get a quality offensive lineman in round two.
8. Kansas City Chiefs - DT John Henderson, Tennessee
The Chiefs really preferred Simms, but Henderson will work just fine. They need help on defense, and this is a great start. Don't believe all that crap flying around about the Chiefs and Joey Harrington. They have too many other needs, and still have Joe Germaine to look at.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars - DT Wendell Bryant, Wisconsin
The Jaguars could go in several directions right now, including WR Donte Stallworth, CB Phillip Buchanon or one of the big-two offensive tackles (provided one slips). The team took it on the chin hard in the expansion draft on the defensive line, and the team likes Bryant. They know the Bengals are eyeing him, too.
10. Cincinnati Bengals - TE Jeremy Shockey, Miami (Fla.)
CB Phillip Buchanon is a strong thought here, but consider this: The Bengals will likely be unsuccessful in trading for Drew Bledsoe by Saturday. If they fail upgrading the quarterback position, it makes sense to upgrade the talent for the quarterback. Shockey is a rare talent, and this would also appeal to future quarterback prospects in free agency. I don't believe the team will pull the trigger on Joey Harrington here.
11. Indianapolis Colts - DE Charles Grant, Georgia
Grant has moved up most draft boards in recent weeks. The Colts will address the defense, and Grant is a great addition to Tony Dungy's scheme. There is still a chance the club will take S Roy Williams over Grant, but it is well proven that good safeties can be found later. Not of Williams caliber, but good ones never the less.
12. Arizona Cardinals - CB Phillip Buchanon, Miami (Fla.)
The Cardinals would have preferred Grant, or any of the other defensive linemen that have gone. They need corners, too, as they will face the Rams, 49ers and Seahawks twice a year now. Buchanon slipped a little, and provides great value here, so there is not much disappointment.
13. New Orleans Saints - WR Donte Stallworth, Tennessee
This may look like a surprise to some, but the Saints want to pass a lot this year, and Jerome Pathon still has a lot of question marks. This should give the team some punch. The only surprise is that Stallworth lasted this long.
14. Tennessee Titans - OT Levi Jones, Arizona State
The Titans could pull the trigger on Donte Stallworth here, who has slipped. However, the team believes RB Eddie George will be back to normal this year, and need to address the offensive line. Jones is the best on the board.
15. New York Giants - WR Ashley Lelie, Hawaii
The team was eyeing Jeremy Shockey, but he went early. They will consider TE Daniel Graham, but in light of the problems with Ike Hilliard the past couple of years, and having lost Joe Jurevicius, this is a no-brainer. Lelie is a good direction to go, and the Giants will be more than happy to add him to the mix.
16. Cleveland Browns (PT) - RB William Green, Boston College
The Browns are in position right now to do any number of things. Green has slipped in the minds of some, but the Browns need help here. They could address the offensive line, but no candidate jumps out here. A trade in either direction would not be a shock.
17. Atlanta Falcons - WR Josh Reed, LSU
This may be a bit high for Reed, but he has tons of talent. The team can always get a pure speed guy later. This will provide Michael Vick with a buddy to grow with, and years of exciting offense.
18. Washinton Redskins - QB Joey Harrington, Oregon
There is talk that the Redskins like QB Patrick Ramsey here, but if Harrington is there, why reach? Harrington's arm strength will not be a question to Steve Spurrior, as he already believes noodle-armed Danny Wuerffel can run his team.
19. Denver Broncos - S Roy Williams, Oklahoma
Here is the physical presence the Broncos have lacked the past couple of years in the secondary. Williams will be too hard to pass up here for the Broncos.
20. Seattle Seahawks - TE Daniel Graham, Colorado
Mike Holmgren likes his tight ends in his offense, and the team lost out on Shannon Sharpe. Graham is a jewel, and will help the offense immediately.
21. Oakland Raiders - LB Napoleon Harris, Northwestern
The Raiders have rarely taken linebackers in the first round, but this is good value, and makes sense for the defense. They could always surprise with their pick, and could package their two first rounders to move up, but if they are here, and Harris is here, it is a good fit.
22. N.Y. Jets - CB Lito Sheppard, Florida
My guess is the team would really like to have a defensive lineman, but corner is also a serious need, and Sheppard can help the defense quickly.
23. Oakland Raiders (From T.B.) - DE Kalimba Edwards, South Carolina
The Raiders need some punch in the pass rush. They need interior linemen, too. Edwards has the speed, and he fits the Raiders mold. It would not be a huge shock here if the Raiders pulled the trigger on a running back or receiver.
24. Baltimore Ravens - DE Dwight Freeney, Syracuse
The defense is changing over to a 3-4, and the team could use Freeney in a variety of ways. Freeney's size puts him in the range of a rush linebacker, so here's the right spot.
25. New Orleans Saints (from Mia.) - OG Kendall Simmons, Auburn
The middle of the offensive line still needs addressed. This is a solid pick that helps a team that wants to pass a lot this year. Simmons can play guard or tackle, and can pass block.
26. Philadelphia Eagles - OG/C Andrew Gurode, Colorado
The Eagles still can go with the best player available. They really need a linebacker and some defensive line help, but there is no value picks here. They also could use help on the offensive line, and Gurode fits right in. S Edward Reed could be a surprise pick, as could DE Bryan Thomas.
27. San Francisco 49ers (PT) - C LeCharles Bentley, Ohio State
Trades are a staple of the 49ers. They need most to address the offensive line, but would mostly like to address the secondary. Bentley is the best selection, and will help the team immediately.
28. Green Bay Packers (PT) - DT Anthony Weaver, Notre Dame
A wide receiver will be needed, but the team just spent a bundle on Terry Glenn, so my guess is they will look there in the second round again. Weaver will address a need, and the Packers never had a problem taking Notre Dame players. This team is always quick with a suprise pick, or a trade.
29. Chicago Bears - DE Bryan Thomas, Alabama-Birmingham
The Bears could use some more pass rush to push them over the top on defense. They need an offensive tackle, too, but the value is not there. Thomas will be a situational guy, but that should be enough. They need a cornerback, too.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers - S Edward Reed, Miami (Fla.)
This is who fits the Steelers, and has the value to go with the pick.
31. St. Louis Rams - OG Toniu Fonoti, Nebraska
They could do anything. The Rams need depth more than anything after trading for WR Terrence Wilkens. They will probably take the best player available, and Fonoti could be that guy. He needs work on pass protection, but they don't need him immediately. I'm also getting a strange feeling the team could pull the trigger on RB T.J. Duckett, if he is indeed here. They would make him a fullback, and use him.
32. New England Patriots (PT) - RB T.J. Duckett, Michigan State
This is pure value. The club could go in a multitude of directions. Duckett is insurance, and has a bright future, especially if he lands with Bill Billichick. And let's not forget, Antowain Smith is not very young.
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