Looking ahead to the 2004 draft

pakowitz · 05-08-2003, 01:06 AM

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/arti...01/471464.html

May 1, 2003 Print it

The War Room

The race is on to be the first to shake Paul Tagliabue's hand next April, and it's a wide-open race, with three early favorites -- Oklahoma defensive tackle Tommie Harris, Texas wide receiver Roy Williams and Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning.

Manning, the little brother of Peyton, is heads above the rest of the quarterbacks. Williams, if he hadn't tweaked his hamstring last season, would have entered the '03 draft and been a surefire top-five pick. Harris is a manchild, the prototype of what has become arguably the most coveted commodity in the NFL

Looking for a sleeper? A year ago, Southern Cal quarterback Carson Palmer was rated as an early third-round prospect. Today, he has a $40 million contract. Miami (Ohio) quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who has begun his ascent earlier than Palmer did, could follow suit. He is an exceptional athlete, has great arm and is smart.

Miami (Fla.) tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. is thought of along the same lines as his NFL Hall of Fame father and could be the best tight end ever to come out of college. Kellen Jr. won't be the first overall pick, but teams will be fighting hard to get into position to draft him.

A look at the prospects as they head toward the starting gate of the 2003 college season:

RK. PLAYER POS SCHOOL HT. WT. CLASS
1 Tommie Harris DT Oklahoma 6-3 288 Jr.
2 Roy Williams WR Texas 6-4 210 Sr.
3 Eli Manning QB Ole Miss 6-4 212 Sr.
4 Will Smith DE Ohio St. 6-4 250 Sr.
5 Kevin Mitchell ILB Oregon 5-10 212 Sr.
6 Derrick Strait CB Oklahoma 5-11 194 Sr.
7 D.J. Williams OLB Miami (Fla.) 6-2 243 Sr.
8 David Pollack DE Georgia 6-2 274 Jr.
9 Vince Wilfork DT Miami (Fla.) 6-2 342 Jr.
10 Shawn Andrews OT Arkansas 6-6 330 Jr.
11 Kellen Winslow Jr. TE Miami (Fla.) 6-5 230 Jr.
12 Carnell "Cadillac" Williams RB Auburn 5-11 199 Jr.
13 Darnell Dockett DT Florida St. 6-4 285 Sr.
14 Reggie Williams WR Washington 6-4 220 Jr.
15 Tim Anderson DT Ohio St. 6-4 289 Sr.
16 Ben Roethlisberger QB Miami (Ohio) 6-5 240 Jr.
17 Rashaun Woods WR Oklahoma St. 6-2 187 Sr.
18 Brandon Everage S Oklahoma 6-0 190 Sr.
19 Michael Boulware OLB Florida St. 6-3 225 Sr.
20 Greg Jones RB Florida St. 6-1 243 Sr.
21 Jonathan Vilma ILB Miami (Fla.) 6-2 220 Sr.
22 Tony Pape OT Michigan 6-6 299 Sr.
23 Rod Davis ILB Southern Miss 6-3 238 Sr.
24 Marlin Jackson CB Michigan 6-1 182 Jr.
25 Antwan Odom DE Alabama 6-4 278 Jr.

05-08-2003, 01:06 AM	#1
pakowitz The Dark Overlord Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: dirty south Posts: 3,450	Looking ahead to the 2004 draft http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/arti...01/471464.html May 1, 2003 Print it The War Room The race is on to be the first to shake Paul Tagliabue's hand next April, and it's a wide-open race, with three early favorites -- Oklahoma defensive tackle Tommie Harris, Texas wide receiver Roy Williams and Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning. Manning, the little brother of Peyton, is heads above the rest of the quarterbacks. Williams, if he hadn't tweaked his hamstring last season, would have entered the '03 draft and been a surefire top-five pick. Harris is a manchild, the prototype of what has become arguably the most coveted commodity in the NFL Looking for a sleeper? A year ago, Southern Cal quarterback Carson Palmer was rated as an early third-round prospect. Today, he has a $40 million contract. Miami (Ohio) quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who has begun his ascent earlier than Palmer did, could follow suit. He is an exceptional athlete, has great arm and is smart. Miami (Fla.) tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. is thought of along the same lines as his NFL Hall of Fame father and could be the best tight end ever to come out of college. Kellen Jr. won't be the first overall pick, but teams will be fighting hard to get into position to draft him. A look at the prospects as they head toward the starting gate of the 2003 college season: RK. PLAYER POS SCHOOL HT. WT. CLASS 1 Tommie Harris DT Oklahoma 6-3 288 Jr. 2 Roy Williams WR Texas 6-4 210 Sr. 3 Eli Manning QB Ole Miss 6-4 212 Sr. 4 Will Smith DE Ohio St. 6-4 250 Sr. 5 Kevin Mitchell ILB Oregon 5-10 212 Sr. 6 Derrick Strait CB Oklahoma 5-11 194 Sr. 7 D.J. Williams OLB Miami (Fla.) 6-2 243 Sr. 8 David Pollack DE Georgia 6-2 274 Jr. 9 Vince Wilfork DT Miami (Fla.) 6-2 342 Jr. 10 Shawn Andrews OT Arkansas 6-6 330 Jr. 11 Kellen Winslow Jr. TE Miami (Fla.) 6-5 230 Jr. 12 Carnell "Cadillac" Williams RB Auburn 5-11 199 Jr. 13 Darnell Dockett DT Florida St. 6-4 285 Sr. 14 Reggie Williams WR Washington 6-4 220 Jr. 15 Tim Anderson DT Ohio St. 6-4 289 Sr. 16 Ben Roethlisberger QB Miami (Ohio) 6-5 240 Jr. 17 Rashaun Woods WR Oklahoma St. 6-2 187 Sr. 18 Brandon Everage S Oklahoma 6-0 190 Sr. 19 Michael Boulware OLB Florida St. 6-3 225 Sr. 20 Greg Jones RB Florida St. 6-1 243 Sr. 21 Jonathan Vilma ILB Miami (Fla.) 6-2 220 Sr. 22 Tony Pape OT Michigan 6-6 299 Sr. 23 Rod Davis ILB Southern Miss 6-3 238 Sr. 24 Marlin Jackson CB Michigan 6-1 182 Jr. 25 Antwan Odom DE Alabama 6-4 278 Jr.