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Past NFL Draft Picks - Hit or Miss |
| As much as the Mel Kipers of the world try to convince us otherwise, the NFL Draft is a highly inexact science. Need proof? Just look at some of the prominent Draft Day hit and misses from the last decade. And these aren't obscure fourth rounders; each player listed below was selected in the first 10 picks of the first round. |
| 1995
Draft Hit: 3. Houston Oilers - Steve McNair, QB, Alcorn State "Air" McNair has been the foundation of the Oilers/Titans franchise and was named co-MVP in 2003. He also led the Titans to Super Bowl XXXIV, commanding one of the greatest last-second drives in Super Bowl history - only to come up one yard short against the Rams. Miss: 1.Cincinnati Bengals - Ki-Jana Carter, RB, Penn State Missed entire rookie year after suffering a knee injury in preseason. Rushed for only 1,144 yards and 20 touchdowns over 57 games with the Bengals, Redskins and Saints. 1996 Draft Hit: 4. Baltimore Ravens - Jonathan Ogden, LT, UCLA Under the direction of Ozzie Newsome, the Ravens drafted the team's two cornerstones in 1996, taking Ogden at No. 4 and then Miami linebacker Ray Lewis at No. 26 overall. Miss: 6. St. Louis Rams - Lawrence Phillips, RB, Nebraska In 35 games with the Rams, Dolphins and 49ers, Phillips rushed for 1,453 yards, on 3.4 yards per carry, and 14 touchdowns. Out of the NFL since 1999, Phillips has had successful stints in the CFL and NFL Europe. 1997 Draft Hit: 1. St. Louis Rams - Orlando Pace, LT, Ohio State Won Super Bowl XXXIV and was an integral part of three MVP awards (Kurt Warner in '99 and '01, Marshall Faulk in '00). Miss: 9. Arizona Cardinals - Tommy Knight, CB, Iowa In 73 games, Knight accumulated only three interceptions and 2.5 sacks with the Cardinals, Ravens and Rams. 1998 Draft Hit: 1.Indianaplois Colts - Peyton Manning, QB, Tennessee Named MVP in 2004 and co-MVP in 2003, Manning now owns the single-season NFL records for touchdown passes (49) and passer rating (121.1) after a brilliant 2004 season. Miss: 2.San Diego Chargers - Ryan Leaf, QB, Washington State Leaf played in 25 games with the Chargers, Cowboys and Seahawks, finishing his career with 3,666 passing yards, 48.8 completion percentage, 14 touchdowns, 36 interceptions and a 50.0 passer rating. 1999 Draft Hit: 2. Philadelphia Eagle - Donovan McNabb, QB, Syracuse Was booed on draft day by Philly fans who wanted the Eagles to draft Texas running back Ricky Williams. Has since led the Eagles to four consecutive NFC Championship Games and Super Bowl XXXIX last year. Miss: 3. Cincinnati Bengals - Akili Smith, QB, Oregon Drafted ahead of UFC quarterback Daunte Culpepper (No.11). In 22 games, Smith passed for 2,212 yards, five touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He will get another shot in the NFL after signing with Tampa Bay in February. He spent time this spring playing in NFL Europe. 2000 Draft Hit: 5. Baltimore Ravens - Jamel Lewis, RB, Tennessee In 2003, Lewis joined O.J. Simpson, Eric Dickerson, Barry Sanders and Terrell Davis as only the fifth running back in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season. Miss: 1. Cleveland Browns - Courtney Brown, DE, Penn State After drafting Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch with the No.1 overall pick in '99, the Browns drafted Brown No.1 overall in '00. Did not live up to his surname )Paul, Jim, ect.) in Cleveland, recording 17 sacks in 47 games over 5 seasons. Is now a member of the Denver Broncos. 2001 Draft Hit: 5. San Diego Chargers - LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, TCU The Chargers passed up a chance to draft Viginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick, trading with Atlanta to acquire Tomlinson, quarterback Drew Brees and kick returner Tim Dwight. In only 4 seasons, L.T. has 5,899 rushing yards, 2,022 receiving yards and 60 total touchdowns. Miss: 3. Cleveland Browns - Gerard Warren, DT, Florida Though Warren produced 16.5 sacks in 60 games over four seasons, he was not worth the price tag (or the No.3 overall pick) and followed the rest of the Browns defensive front to Denver this offseason. 2002 Draft Hit: 2. Carolina Panthers - Julius Peppers, DE, North Carolina In only 44 games over 3 seasons, Peppers has 30 sacks, 12 forced fumbles, three interceptions and two defensive touchdowns. He also helped lead the Panthers to Super Bowl XXXVIII. Miss: 6. Kansas City Chiefs - Ryan Sims, DT, North Carolina Peppers college teammate was the first defensive tackle selected - ahead of Tennessee's duo of John Henderson (No.9) and Albert Haynesworth (No.15). Has record 5 sacks in 37 games. 2003 Draft Hit: 10. Baltimore Ravens - Terrell Suggs, LB, Arizona State A classic case of over-analyzing measurables rather than game tape. Suggs was labeled a 'tweener and fell to the Ravens, where he has 22.5 sacks and 7 forced fumbles in 32 games over two seasons. Miss: 6. New Orleans Saints - Johnathan Sullivan, DT, Georgia In 21 games over two seasons, Sullivan has only 1.5 sacks and one forced fumble for the inconsistent Saints. 2004 Draft Hit: 10. Houston Texans - Dunta Robinson, CB, South Carolina A tremendous playmaker, Robinson recorded six interceptions for 146 yard (24.3 yards per return) and three sacks in his rookie season. Miss: 6. Cleveland Browns - Kellen Winslow II, TE, Miami Played in two games as a rookie before breaking his leg. Was involved in a motorcycle accident the May, putting his 2005 season - and possibly his career - in jeopardy. Author of Article Eric Schumann Age: 25 Date of Article: September 08, 2005 |
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