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NFL Draft Predictions
First-Round Projection
Tuesday, March 29, 2005; 1:30 PM


There are rumblings around the league about a possible trade in which the San Francisco 49ers would send the top overall choice to the San Diego Chargers for quarterback Philip Rivers. The 49ers would get a QB prospect who perhaps is better than any in this draft, and the Chargers would end up with three first-round picks after going 12-4 and winning the AFC West title last season. The 49ers have denied that the trade is being discussed. But if it were to happen, it would further jumble the top of the draft, perhaps something like this . . .

1. Chargers (from 49ers via trade) -- Braylon Edwards, WR, Michigan (4*) . . . They can part with Rivers because Drew Brees blossomed into a Pro Bowl QB last season, and they get the player at the top of many teams' draft boards.


2. Dolphins -- Ronnie Brown, RB, Auburn (2) . . . Coach Nick Saban says he'd take back Ricky Williams. But could he ever depend on Williams?

3. Browns -- Aaron Rodgers, QB, Cal (1) . . . The draft's top-rated QB, just ahead of Alex Smith, falls to No. 3 with the 49ers-Chargers trade.

4. Bears -- Carnell (Cadillac) Williams, RB, Auburn (8) . . . With Edwards off the board and WR Mike Williams perhaps too similar to Muhsin Muhammad, the Bears opt for an upgrade at RB.

5. Buccaneers -- Cedric Benson, RB, Texas (5) . . . They need a centerpiece runner.

6. Titans -- Adam (Pac-Man) Jones, CB, West Virginia (6) . . . A perfect replacement for Samari Rolle.

7. Vikings -- Mike Williams, WR, USC (7) . . . The pressure would be on to replace Randy Moss, but he'd be a perfect WR complement to Nate Burleson.

8. Cardinals -- Alex Smith, QB, Utah (3) . . . They can't pass if one of the QBs falls to them.

9. Redskins -- Antrel Rolle, CB, Miami (9) . . . They need a No. 1 receiver, but they might need a CB even worse.

10. Lions -- Derrick Johnson, LB, Texas (12) . . . There are some questions about his ability and willingness to take on blockers head-on.

11. Cowboys -- Troy Williamson, WR, South Carolina (11) . . . Perhaps a bit of a stretch at No. 11, but he's a receiver with big-play capabilities.

12. Chargers -- Shawne Merriman, DE, Maryland (10) . . . Merriman is in demand as an off-the-edge pass rusher who could play DE or outside LB.

13. Texans -- Alex Barron, T, Florida State (14) . . . They need a tackle after failing in their pursuit of Orlando Pace.

14. Panthers -- Mark Clayton, WR, Oklahoma (19) . . . Carolina gets a receiver after releasing Muhammad in a salary-cap move.

15. Chiefs -- Erasmus James, DE, Washington (17) . . . The Chiefs get much-needed help on defense.

16. Saints -- Carlos Rogers, CB, Auburn (15) . . . This draft is full of intriguing prospects at CB.

17. Bengals -- Marcus Spears, DE, LSU (21) . . . Cincinnati is building a formidable young defense.

18. Vikings -- Travis Johnson, DT, Florida State (18) . . . Minnesota continues to bolster its defense after getting a receiver with the first of its two opening-round picks.

19. Rams -- Jammal Brown, T, Oklahoma (13) . . . Pace stayed, but Kyle Turley probably will have to be replaced.

20. Cowboys -- Demarcus Ware, LB, Troy State ( -- ) . . . He's moving up draft boards quickly as an outside pass rusher.

21. Jaguars -- Dan Cody, DE, Oklahoma (16) . . . Jacksonville needs to stabilize the DE position after being plagued by injuries and a lack of depth at the spot last season.

22. Ravens -- Channing Crowder, LB, Florida (20) . . . The club's once-imposing LB corps isn't quite as overwhelming any more.

23. Seahawks -- Shaun Cody, DT-DE, USC (23) . . . A solid, versatile player.

24. Packers -- David Pollack, DE, Georgia (22) . . . A defensive play-maker.

25. Broncos -- Brodney Pool, S, Oklahoma ( -- ) . . . It will be interesting to see if Pool or Georgia's Thomas Davis is the first safety taken.

26. Jets -- Khalif Barnes, T, Washington (24) . . . They lost a starting tackle, Kareem McKenzie, to the Giants in free agency.

27. Falcons -- Roddy White, WR, Alabama-Birmingham ( -- ) . . . Atlanta needs help at WR with Peerless Price's inconsistencies.

28. Chargers -- Darryl Blackstock, LB, Virginia (31) . . . Not a bad first-round haul for San Diego under this scenario.

29. Colts -- Fabian Washington, CB, Nebraska (32) . . . One of the fastest players in the draft.

30. Steelers -- Heath Miller, TE, Virginia (26) . . . Clearly the best tight end available.

31. Eagles -- Matt Roth, DE, Iowa ( -- ) . . . Philadelphia lost a DE that it wanted to keep, Derrick Burgess, in free agency.

32. Patriots -- Barrett Ruud, LB, Nebraska (29) . . . Champs need to do some patching up at LB, CB and along the offensive line.

*Draft slot in The Post's previous mock draft.

Dropped Out: Thomas Davis, S, Georgia (25); Reggie Brown, WR, Georgia (27); Vincent Jackson, WR, Northern Colorado (28); Anttaj Hawthorne, DT, Wisconsin (30).

I liked his first Mock Draft better.

I heard that the 49er/ Charger rumor is bogus because San Diego would take a HUGE cap hit. But at least we are still getting Antrell.

Is Rolle our best bet? lots of discussion on that.... and i would like us to trade down actually.

I think we should get a hold of the candy while we have a chance.

air_hog wrote:I liked his first Mock Draft better.

I heard that the 49er/ Charger rumor is bogus because San Diego would take a HUGE cap hit.

I heard it to, it was on either sports center or cold pizza (i forget which I was watching at the time) that it was bogus. It makes sense given the 6 million bonus Rivers got this offseason. If they wanted to unload him, they would have done it before then.

If Mike Williams isn't there trade down and draft Troy

John Manfreda wrote:If Mike Williams isn't there trade down and draft Troy

Williamson? Or are you talking about someone else?

hatsOFF2gibbs wrote:

John Manfreda wrote:If Mike Williams isn't there trade down and draft Troy

Williamson? Or are you talking about someone else?

Yeah

I think were going to James, not Rolle.
Our CBs are good enough we just need a pass rushing DE.

washington53 wrote:I think were going to James, not Rolle.
Our CBs are good enough we just need a pass rushing DE.

I don't know about that dude. We've got SSprings and WHarris as our starters. Remember, SSprings WAS injury prone. What happens if we lose him? Start WHarris at #1 and GWilds at #2??
That seems to be a problem with or with out STaylor on the field.

I say we definitely get MWilliams is he is there, if not just pick up ARolle!!

Yea. Def. Even though they talk about our young prospects, ade jimoh and wilds, we'll need to be sure they can step up in case of injury to springs. hopefully we can rely on them otherwise we'll need another cb.

vife wrote:Yea. Def. Even though they talk about our young prospects, ade jimoh and wilds, we'll need to be sure they can step up in case of injury to springs. hopefully we can rely on them otherwise we'll need another cb.

The only thing we can rely on with Ade Jimoh is him sucking, which is what he does best.

And everyone is talking about how we should trade down, well i dont think any other teams want to trade up.

washington53 wrote:I think were going to James, not Rolle.
Our CBs are good enough we just need a pass rushing DE.

We had a pass rush, and some young situational pass rushers (clemons). If we get a DE, we need an every down player or we are wasting a pick ... sorry, just my opinion, but I'm getting tired of hearing about getting a player just for pass rushing downs

"I'm sick of this nickel defense BS. Why can't we just find a LB that can cover a team's #3 receiver?"

General Failure wrote:"I'm sick of this nickel defense BS. Why can't we just find a LB that can cover a team's #3 receiver?"

because, LBs are not that fast, and dont have the technical oilish in thier coverage skills. Its a metter of matching personel against the offense. Just like you wouldnt use a dime defense against a goalline offense, you need at nickle verse a 3 WR set

So what you're saying is defenses need specialist players. I gotcha.

right, and a 3rd CB is one of the most used specialist players since most offenses employ 3 WR sets a lot

... GF has got you contridicting yourself dude... You gotta watch out for him... he's tricksee...

I'm what the kids like to call "teh ebil."

or "wetaudid"... whichever...

It's "sofa king wee Todd did."

I don't know if "sofa king" is acceptable in here.... I've gotta go check the hand book and I'll get back to you...

What about couch commando?

If we do not get a starting CB, we will be very vulnerable. What happens if SSprings gets an injury like LArrington? He'll be out for the whole season, leaving WHarris as our #1 and God knows who else.

It'll be terrible, so we have to be very cautious with a player like SSprings who IS injury prone.

I'll say it now...mark my words....if we do not get a starting CB (Rolle or Pac-man), it WILL be a fatal mistake (aka MBrunell)

that was tricky ... ok here's the deal... Defenses now use the nickle about as often as a 4-3. In this light, the 3rd corner is just as much a starter as one of the 3 LBs. Either way, if we were to get a Cb with the #9 pick, I'd wager he'd be the #2 by the middle of the season and thus would an EVERY down player ... man u r tricky though, well done... but being tricky doesnt make you right