pakowitz

Q: With Dallas signing wide receiver Terrell Owens and offensive tackle Jason Fabini, what area of need will the Cowboys address in the first round? -- Rob, Charlestown, R.I.


A: Two of the Cowboys need areas entering the draft were offensive tackle and wide receiver. Signing Owens and Fabini takes those two out of the equation. The other need areas are at free safety, where they could look at Virginia Tech's Jimmy Williams, or at linebacker, where they could take a player like Iowa's Chad Greenway or Ernie Sims from Florida State. Addressing two of their biggest needs through free agency also gives the Cowboys maneuverability to trade down.


Q: Mel, you are the New Orleans Saints. What are you looking for if you trade the No. 2 pick, and who do you draft if you keep the pick? -- Terrence, New Orleans
A: First of all, I would have sat at No. 2 and drafted Matt Leinart and not signed Drew Brees. Brees is an excellent quarterback, but he is coming off a shoulder injury. I think Leinart is going to be the next Ken Stabler. But that's neither here nor there.


The Saints may draft defensive end Mario Williams, although D'Brickashaw Ferguson would fill a bigger need at left tackle.The speculation is the Saints will take best player available, N.C. State defensive end Mario Williams over Virginia tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson. Who do they need more? Ferguson, but Williams is a great player. The Saints also need a defensive tackle, cornerback, linebacker and offensive tackle. What I would do is move down from the second pick to the fourth or seventh pick. If they are forced to keep the pick, it looks like it's going to be Williams, and you can't argue with that even though they already have Will Smith and Charles Grant.
Q: How much of a chance does Grambling quarterback Bruce Eugene have of making it in the NFL? -- Scott, Dallas
A: There's no question Eugene is in that group of quarterbacks who will have an opportunity down the road to develop into a solid quarterback. He has lost some weight (6-0 ¼, 260) and, for someone of his size, he isn't a sitting duck in the pocket. He does have decent feet and moves around pretty well for a player of his size. Eugene is a pocket passer with a strong arm and good release. He needs to keep trying to get his weight down, which will increase his mobility, and maintain that weight. There's no question he has the passing skills down the road to be a player. Eugene is a late-round draft pick possibility.


Q: You have the Browns taking defensive end Tamba Hali in the first round. I would like to know what his role would be in a 3-4 defense? -- Mike, Cleveland
A: Hali would be as a multi-dimensional lineman, similar to the Baltimore Ravens' Terrell Suggs. Hali is someone who can play down on the line or stand up and rush the passer. He would bring a lot of versatility to a 3-4 scheme. The bottom line is the Browns have to get help in the front seven. They have to get better at stopping the run and getting pressure on the quarterback, which is why I think Hali would be a good pick at that point.


Q: What is Denver going to do to offset the losses of defensive tackle Trevor Pryce and tight end Jeb Putzier. What is Denver looking for in the first few rounds the draft? -- Shane, Fargo, N.D.
A: Right now Denver is the only team with two first-round picks. With the 22nd pick, the Broncos could look for a wide receiver like Miami's Sinorice Moss or a defensive end. With its second first-round pick, No. 29, Denver could look at a tight end like Marcedes Lewis or a defensive lineman like Kamerion Wimbley.


Q: Assuming the Jets don't trade the pick, if tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson is off the board when they pick fourth overall, who do you see them drafting? -- Josh, Long Island
A: If Ferguson is gone, then maybe linebacker A.J. Hawk. The Jets also could move down a bit and get a defensive back like Michael Huff from Texas. They have need areas that would allow them to move down a bit in the first round and still get the player they need.


Q: Will Texas tight end David Thomas be available for the Bengals with their second pick? If so, is that the tight end they should pick? -- Tom, Cincinnati
A: Cincinnati needs more productivity from the tight end position. Chad Johnson needs some help, and a tight end who can catch the football would be a big plus for that offense. I don't think they look for a tight end in the first round, but in the second round there will be plenty of players available. As for Thomas, I think he is more of a third-round pick. Some of the tight ends they could look at in the second round are: Joe Klopfenstein, Colorado; Anthony Fasano, Notre Dame; Leonard Pope, Georgia; Dominique Byrd, USC; Tim Day, Oregon; and Tony Scheffler, Western Michigan.


Q: Do you see any scenario where Houston trades down for D'Brickashaw Ferguson? The Texans' top need as a team seems to be keeping David Carr upright. -- Bill, Bedford, NH
A: Right now it looks like Reggie Bush is going to be their guy, unless they are bowled over by an offer. Still the Texans can't move that far down in the first round unlesss they know they can still draft the right player. New Orleans isn't moving up one spot, and I doubt the Ttitans, who own the third pick, will either, since it appears both Matt Leinart and Vince Young will still be on the board. Now that the Jets have QB Patrick Ramsey, don't expect them to move up from the fourth pick. To pass on the chance to take Bush, Houston would have to be bowled over by an offer.

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