Analysis: It was painfully obvious in their playoff loss at San Francisco that the Giants lack depth on their defensive line. They took steps to correct that in the draft. They had hoped to get Jerome McDougle or Michael Haynes, but team officials were not willing to give up a second-round pick to trade up in the first. They were very happy to land Joseph, who might have been a top-10 pick had he come out a year earlier. Umenyiora was taken a bit sooner than some people had expected. He's very fast and a workout fiend, a player who could be an immediate contributor on passing downs. A year after drafting Jeremy Shockey, the Giants took another tight end -- one who could eventually replace Dan Campbell.
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2003 NFL Draft Analysis
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NEW YORK JETS
*--* 1 (4) DEWAYNE ROBERTSON DT Kentucky 2 (53) VICTOR HOBSON LB Michigan 3 (85) B.J. ASKEW RB Michigan 5 (140) DEREK PAGEL DB Iowa 5 (150) MATT WALTERS DT Miami 6 (200) BROOKS BOLLINGER QB Wisconsin 7 (237) DAVE YOVANOVITS G Temple
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Analysis: The Jets realized their No. 1 goal: Getting Robertson in a New York Jet uniform. He has been compared to Warren Sapp, and if he's even close to that, he was worth the effort. A year ago, the Jets used their first pick on a defensive end: Bryan Thomas. The Jets have lofty expectations for Hobson. The way they see it, Hobson is the heir apparent to Mo Lewis. Why draft a fullback in the third round? The Jets think Askew can replace Richie Anderson in the coming years. Askew is a decent lead blocker who can catch.
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OAKLAND
*--* 1 (31) NNAMDI ASOMUGHA DB California 1 (32) TYLER BRAYTON DT Colorado 2 (63) TEYO JOHNSON TE Stanford 3 (83) SAM WILLIAMS LB Fresno State 3 (96) JUSTIN FARGAS RB USC 4 (129) SHURRON PIERSON DE South Florida 5 (167) DOUG GABRIEL WR Central Florida 6 (204) DUSTIN RYKERT OT BYU 7 (246) SIDDEEQ SHABAZZ DB New Mexico State 7 (262) RYAN HOAG WR Gust. Adolphus
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Analysis: The Raiders have had five first-round picks in the last three years and have used them all on defensive players. Never before has Al Davis devoted five consecutive first-round picks to that side of the ball. This year, Oakland's first four picks have something in common: They will be playing different positions in the pros than they played in college. Asomugha was a safety who will move to cornerback; Brayton was a defensive tackle who will move to end; Johnson was a receiver who will move to tight end and Williams was a linebacker who also will move to defensive end. Not many people had picked Asomugha to go in the first round. In fact, there were only three people at his home when the Raiders called. The rest of his friends were coming over later, thinking he might go in the second round.
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PHILADELPHIA
*--* 1 (15) JEROME McDOUGLE DE Miami 2 (61) L.J. SMITH TE Rutgers 3 (95) BILLY McMULLEN WR Virginia 4 (131) JAMAAL GREEN DE Miami 6 (185) JEREMEY BRIDGES OT Southern Miss 7 (244) NORMAN LEJEUNE DB LSU
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Analysis: Hugh Douglas is a hard man to replace, but the Eagles are sure trying. They got McDougle in the first round and feel good about that. He's ultra-quick and got very used to winning in Miami. Another priority was to add a tight end, preferably a fast one, and that's something they did with Smith. Chad Lewis is nearing the end of his career, and Smith should fit in well when the Eagles go to two tight ends. Lewis wore down a bit last year and was slowed by a series of stingers in his shoulders and neck. Wide receiver was another area of need; the Eagles got one in the third round in McMullen, who caught 68 passes last season at Virginia.
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PITTSBURGH
*--* 1 (16) TROY POLAMALU DB USC 2 (59) ALONZO JACKSON DE Florida State 4 (125) IVAN TAYLOR DB La.-Lafayette 5 (163) BRIAN ST. PIERRE QB Boston College 7 (242) J.T. WALL RB Georgia
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Analysis: Never before has Pittsburgh traded up in the first round to get a player, but the Steelers did just that to land Polamalu. They see him as a safety who can play his way into the starting lineup and take over the spot vacated by Lee Flowers. Jackson is a bit small to play defensive end in the pros, but the Steelers have a history of turning those players into outside linebackers in the 3-4. They did that with Jason Gildon and Joey Porter, and they are confident they can do the same with Jackson. The strength coach for Deion Sanders has worked with cornerback Taylor and calls him one of the best athletes he has ever known.
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ST. LOUIS
*--* 1 (12) JIMMY KENNEDY DT Penn State 2 (43) PISA TINOISAMOA LB Hawaii 3 (74) KEVIN CURTIS WR Utah State 4 (106) SHAUN MCDONALD WR Arizona State 4 (107) DEJUAN GROCE DB Nebraska 5 (148) DAN CURLEY TE E. Washington 5 (170) SHANE WALTON DB Notre Dame 5 (172) KEVIN GARRETT DB SMU 6 (184) SCOTT TERCERO G California 7 (251) SCOTT SHANLE LB Nebraska 7 (254) RICHARD ABGUELO TE W. New Mexico
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FEATURED
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