Doping The Draft
Dick Vermeil made things easy - for Bill Parcells, the Jets and draftniks everywhere.
Vermeil and the St. Louis Rams on Thursday got the No. 1 pick in the draft from the New York Jets in exchange for four choices. The move clarifies the draft picture, allowing the Rams to get Ohio State offensive tackle Orlando Pace, the best-rated player available.
Parcells and the Jets now get to pick sixth, where they’ll have a shot at one of the half-dozen top defensive players.
The trade, however, means that everyone has to readjust on Saturday:
2: Oakland - The Raiders traded up from 11 in hopes of getting Pace. Instead, they solve a continuing problem at cornerback with SHAWN SPRINGS, cb, Ohio State.
3: Seattle - Not everything works out. Like the Raiders, the Seahawks don’t get the man for whom they traded up - in their case, Springs.
They settle for DARRELL RUSSELL, dt, USC, and move him to end to complement Cortez Kennedy.
4: Baltimore - The Ravens want out of this spot because they signed Michael McCrary and don’t need PETER BOULWARE, de, Florida State. But this probably is where Boulware goes - to someone.
5: Detroit - The Lions want and need BRYANT WESTBROOK, cb, Texas
6: New York Jets - The Jets rated Russell, Springs, Boulware and Westbrook on par with DWAYNE RUDD, lb, Alabama.
7: New York Giants - Parcells did his former team a favor by trading down. Had things stayed as they were, the Rams probably would have chosen the guy the Giants want, WALTER JONES, ot, Florida State.
8: Tampa Bay - The Bucs, who also pick at 16, want speed, like YATIL GREEN, wr, Miami.
9: Arizona - The Cardinals are happy enough to find JAMES FARRIOR, lb, Virginia, in this spot.
10: New Orleans - If ANTOWAIN SMITH, rb, Houston, is available and the Saints don’t take him, it will be an upset.
11: Atlanta - If only Dan Reeves, who drove John Elway and Dave Brown to distraction, were 30 years younger, he’d play quarterback. JIM DRUCKENMILLER, qb, Virginia Tech, fills the age requirement.
12: Seattle - The Seahawks didn’t get their cornerback high, but there are a lot available later. So they solve their need for deep speed with RAE CARRUTH, wr, Colorado.
13: Houston - The Oilers have had quality corners for a decade, which is why they need young ones, like TOM KNIGHT, cb, Iowa.
14: Cincinnati - The Bengals are going to a 3-4; Steve Tovar, their best linebacker, is still recovering from knee surgery, and JAMIE SHARPER, the second of the Virginia linebackers, is still available.
15: Miami - History says Jimmy Johnson might trade up, down or … sideways? If he stays: REINARD WILSON, de, Florida State.
16: Tampa Bay - More speed in WARRICK DUNN, rb, Florida State, who also sells tickets in Florida.
17: Washington - The Redskins have spent the off-season bolstering the defense. RENALDO WYNN, de, Notre Dame.
18: Kansas City - TONY GONZALEZ, te, California, fits with Elvis Grbac in the Midwestern version of the West Coast offense.
19: Indianapolis - Eugene Daniel is aging, Ray Buchanan is gone to Washington, so its CHRIS CANTY, cb, Kansas State, of whom one report says: “He spends too much time acting cool and trying to be the next Deion Sanders.”
20: Minnesota - The Vikings have been looking for a running back since Chuck Foreman a quarter-century ago (see Herschel Walker). But they’re also desperate for a guard like CHRIS NAEOLE, g, Colorado.
21: Jacksonville - The Jaguars have had no-brainers (Tony Boselli and Kevin Hardy) picking second in their first two years. Now they choose DAVID LAFLEUR, te, LSU, a risk worth taking.
22: Philadelphia - Ray Rhodes needs a defensive end to replace William Fuller. KENNY HOLMES, de, Miami, is talented but not always motivated, a quality Rhodes is known for rectifying.
23: Buffalo - The Bills usually do well picking low. They pass on Jake Plummer as Jim Kelly’s replacement and take Kent Hull’s replacement - ROD PAYNE, c, Michigan.
24: Pittsburgh - The Steelers have been losing cornerbacks in free agency. As usual, they plug holes, this time with MICHAEL BOOKER, cb, Nebraska.
25: Dallas - They’d love to trade up for Tony Gonzalez. But they settle for REIDEL ANTHONY, wr, Florida, as the complement to Michael Irvin.
26: San Francisco - He scrambles like a right-handed Steve Young and has the clutch ability of Joe Montana. The 49ers would settle for either from JAKE PLUMMER, qb, Arizona State.
27: Carolina - Bill Polian is drafting low again, just like he did in Buffalo. He needs offensive linemen, wide receivers and young legs on defense. JERRY WUNSCH, ot, Wisconsin, is a Polian-type pick.
28: Denver - Some day, they’ll have to replace Steve Atwater. Try ROB KELLY, s, Ohio State.
29: New England - Anyone who watched the Packers race through the Pats’ secondary in the Super Bowl knows they can use a defensive back like SAM MADISON, cb, Louisville.
30: Green Bay - Reggie White’s not getting any younger. The popular pick is Trevor Pryce of Clemson. But take a chance: MARCELLUS WILEY, de, Columbia.