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Dr. Z's Mock Draft
Posted: Tuesday April 13, 1999 07:05 PM
 Here's how SI senior writer Paul Zimmerman thinks the first round of the NFL draft, which begins on Saturday, will play out.
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New coach Chris Palmer, with the future of the organization riding on his
shoulders, takes the experienced-under-fire field general over the rocket-armed
Akili
Smith.
| Donovan McNabb, QB, Syracuse
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First-year coach Andy Reid faces an agonizing decision. Why McNabb over
Smith? McNabb reminds him of young Brett Favre, whom Reid worked with in Green
Bay.
Cynics say Cincy won't pay top dollar for a quarterback, but Smith is a
franchise player, and the Bengals haven't produced a star passer by way of the
draft since Ken
Anderson.
| Ricky Williams, RB,
Texas |
Indianapolis gets an offer it can't refuse from Mike Ditka, who believes
that this heavy-duty, 230-pound Heisman Trophy winner is the Saints' ticket to
glory.
| 5. REDSKINS (FROM
PANTHERS) |
| Champ Bailey, CB,
Georgia |
This rocket with high-4.3 to low-4.4 speed defends like a dream, catches
passes and returns kicks. Washington gets a three-way player for the price of
one.
| Edgerrin James, RB,
Miami |
Dick Vermeil rode Wilbert Montgomery's legs to a Super Bowl with 1980 Eagles,
and he has been looking for a workhorse back since taking over the Rams in '97.
James
qualifies.
| Chris McAlister, CB,
Arizona |
Chicago, with only six picks, trades down to get more choices. Dennis Green,
who lost left corner Corey Fuller to free agency, jumps at the chance to get
this 4.38
speedster.
| 8. CARDINALS (FROM
CHARGERS) |
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Torry Holt, WR, North Carolina
State
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This 4.45 burner is a narrow choice over middle linebacker Chris Claiborne.
Holt is expected to be a third wideout, but so was Randy Moss for the Vikings
last
year.
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Chris Claiborne, MLB, Southern
Cal
|
Stephen Boyd mans the middle in Detroit, but Butkus Award winner Claiborne
is so gifted that he can play either outside linebacker
position.
| Daunte Culpepper, QB, Central
Florida |
Baltimore is also looking for help at wideout and cornerback, but vice
president of player personnel Ozzie Newsome is intrigued with this
6' 3 1/2", 255-pound tank with a big arm.
| 11. BEARS (FROM
VIKINGS)* |
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Anthony McFarland, DT,
LSU |
Could trade up for a quarterback. Interior line isn't area of need but
getting the best on the board at his position, plus the extra picks in the trade
down, isn't a bad
move.
| Jevon Kearse, OLB-DE,
Florida |
"Half a dozen guys look good to us," says club president Bill
Polian. Kearse, a linebacker in college projected to rush the passer as a
weakside end in the pros, is one of
them.
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David Boston, WR, Ohio
State |
Pittsburgh had no speed at wideout last year, and quarterback Kordell
Stewart went blooey. Enter this 6' 1", 215-pounder with 4.38 speed and watch
the offense take
off.
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John Tait, T, Brigham
Young
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Finding a left tackle is a must. The 317-pound Tait gets the nod over
Eastern Michigan's L.J. Shelton based on mobility and
athleticism.
Tampa Bay isn't giving up on Trent Dilfer. It's just good drafting sense. If
you can get a high-production quarterback this far down, you take
him.
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Andy Katzenmoyer, MLB, Ohio
State |
There's a big argument between coach Jeff Fisher, who's intrigued by the Big
Kat, and Tennessee scouts, who would rather go for defensive line
help.
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Damien Woody, C, Boston
College |
Wideout Troy Edwards is the rumor, Woody is the reality. Age and injuries
make 35-year-old Kevin Glover iffy and make the quick, 328-pound Woody a
sensible need
pick.
|
L.J. Shelton, T, Eastern
Michigan |
Last year's first-round pick, Mo Collins, struggled at left tackle, and
Oakland gave up an NFL-high 67 sacks. The quick-footed 340-pound Shelton could
help.
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Aaron Gibson, T,
Wisconsin |
Are we ready for the NFL's first 400-pounder? Gibson is only 14 pounds shy.
He could play tackle, with Scott Gragg moving inside, or guard. Or
both.
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Ebenezer Ekuban, DE, North
Carolina |
Running back is top priority, but unless it can move way up, New England
won't get a top-echelon ballcarrier. The Pats will get the pass rusher here, the
runner
later.
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Matt Stinchcomb, T,
Georgia |
A smart, tough 306-pounder. With free-agent defection of left tackle Lomas
Brown, something has to be done to ensure that quarterback Jake Plummer stays
healthy.
Dallas's 1998 sack total was an anemic 34. Kerney is a 265-pounder with 4.74
speed and a nonstop motor. He's gifted rushing off the edge and technically
sound.
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Antoine Winfield, CB, Ohio
State |
The only knock on this tough little hitter is his lack of size -- he's
5' 8 1/2" -- which scares people in this era of big wide
receivers.
"We could move up, or we could move down," Miami coach Jimmy
Johnson says. Or he could keep the pick and take Konrad, who reminds him of
young Daryl
Johnston.
|
Antwan Edwards, CB,
Clemson |
Remember what Randy Moss did to the Pack last year? So does general manager
Ron Wolf. At 6 feet, 210 pounds, Edwards can get physical with the Vikings'
wonderboy.
|
Lamar King, DE, Saginaw Valley
State |
Jacksonville needs someone on the strong side to play opposite Tony
Brackens. King's pluses: 6' 3", 299 pounds and a 4.9 40. His minus: small-college
competition.
Terrifically productive but undersized. So's Doug Flutie. If the Niners play
it cute and trade down thinking they can get King later, someone will beat them
to the
punch.
|
Sedrick Irvin, RB, Michigan
State |
Kevin Faulk of LSU? Amos Zereoue of West Virginia? Both have been mentioned,
but Pats prefer the bigger Irvin (223 pounds) to replace the injured Robert
Edwards.
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Reggie McGrew, DT,
Florida |
Status of free agent Jerry Ball is uncertain. Jason Fisk is gone. The
307-pound McGrew is an ideal strongman to take pressure off John Randle, who'll
return to tackle full
time.
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Troy Edwards, WR, Louisiana
Tech |
Long-ball threat Tony Martin was released. Coach Dan Reeves can't believe
that Edwards (5' 9 1/2", 191 pounds, 4.5 in the 40), the third-best
wideout on the board, is still
there.
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Al Wilson, MLB,
Tennessee |
Ferocious competitor who flies at the enemy with 4.55 speed. So why does he
fall this far? His size -- 6 feet, 239 pounds -- worries some. Forget it. He
can
play. |
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*Indicates a projected
trade.
Issue date: April 19, 1999
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