Tubbs, a cousin of former 49er Pro Bowl linebacker Winfred Tubbs, is amazingly quick for such a big man. Boulware was slightly undersized as a linebacker in college and is switching to safety, where he figures to compete for the job on the strong side opposite last year's second-round pick, Ken Hamlin. Locklear is a converted defensive tackle still raw on the offensive line.
*--* TAMPA BAY 1 (15) MICHAEL CLAYTON WR LSU 3 (79) MARQUIS COOPER LB Washington 4 (111) WILL ALLEN DB Ohio State 5 (146) JEB TERRY G North Carolina 6 (181) NATE LAWRIE TE Yale 7 (206) MARK JONES WR Tennessee 7 (228) CASEY CRAMER RB Dartmouth 7 (252) LENNY WILLIAMS DB Southern U
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No team had an exodus of star players that was quite so dramatic as Tampa Bay's. The Buccaneers will take the field next season without Keyshawn Johnson, Warren Sapp, John Lynch, Thomas Jones and others. The team still has linebackers Derrick Brooks and Shelton Quarles, though, and they should be good tutors for Cooper, a lesser known player who caught the eye of Coach Jon Gruden and new General Manager Bruce Allen.
*--* TENNESSEE 2 (40) BEN TROUPE TE Florida 2 (42) TRAVIS LABOY DE Hawaii 2 (57) ANTWAN ODOM DE Alabama 3 (71) RANDY STARKS DT Maryland 3 (92) RICH GARDNER DB Penn State 4 (103) BO SCHOBEL DE TCU 4 (124) MICHAEL WADDELL DB North Carolina 5 (138) JACOB BELL OT Miami (Ohio) 5 (165) ROBERT REYNOLDS LB Ohio State 6 (191) TROY FLEMING RB Tennessee 7 (230) JARED CLAUSS DT Iowa 7 (239) EUGENE AMANNO C SE Missouri 7 (241) SEAN McHUGH RB Penn State
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The Titans took only defensive players in the first three rounds and are hoping to get a starter (or two) at defensive end out of their first two selections. They'd better, because they lost Jevon Kearse and Robaire Smith, and Kevin Carter is more effective at tackle than end. It's slightly surprising that Tennessee didn't pick one of the elite running backs, considering Eddie George's best days are disappearing.
*--* WASHINGTON 1 (5) SEAN TAYLOR S Miami 3 (81) CHRIS COOLEY TE Utah State 5 (151) MARK WILSON OT California 6 (180) JIM MOLINARO OT Notre Dame
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The Redskins consider Taylor a safety who plays with the athleticism and speed of a corner. Cooley isn't as polished as Kellen Winslow, but led the nation last season in receptions by a tight end and could be a good H-back for Joe Gibbs' system. Wilson should be able to be a backup at one or more positions next season. Molinaro is an interesting pick. He was a defensive tackle at Notre Dame who only switched to offense late in his junior season.
