Who do you select with the 1st pick in the 2005 NFL draft?

Okay, let's assume a few different things here. First, your team has the 1st overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. Second, assume your team has needs at every key position and is not particularly strong or have any huge holes any position.

You want to get the guy that has the best chance of being a dominant, impact player on your franchise for the next decade to come. Who do you select?

For me, Leinart is out of the question because of the offense he has had around him that has made him what he is. In all honesty, I think I'd take Derrick Johnson. Linebackers seem to have the lowest rate of busts of any of the key positions, and he could play anywhere from the level of a Terrell Suggs to god knows what....dare I say Lawrence Taylor? Probably not that great, but he will be a great outside linebacker in the NFL.

Cadillac Williams would be my 2nd choice.

Aaron Rodgers.

Okay, let's assume a few different things here. First, your team has the 1st overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. Second, assume your team has needs at every key position and is not particularly strong or have any huge holes any position.
So in other words, you're the Niners.

You want to get the guy that has the best chance of being a dominant, impact player on your franchise for the next decade to come. Who do you select?

For me, Leinart is out of the question because of the offense he has had around him that has made him what he is. In all honesty, I think I'd take Derrick Johnson. Linebackers seem to have the lowest rate of busts of any of the key positions, and he could play anywhere from the level of a Terrell Suggs to god knows what....dare I say Lawrence Taylor? Probably not that great, but he will be a great outside linebacker in the NFL.

Cadillac Williams would be my 2nd choice.
Last thing first... RBs are the easiest position to draft. Anyone who takes Williams in the top 10 isn't drafting right IMO. He's a good player, but he's not a special player in my eyes.

This year's draft doesn't have that standout player (I didn't think last year really did either) though. Derrick Johnson isn't a bad choice. I think there are four or five guys you could go with that wouldn't be head scratchers. But not Williams IMO.

Cadillac Willams? That's a name bred for NFL sucess.That can't be his real name.I would take Mike Williams he could be a mix between Randy Moss and Plaxico Buress

Derrick Johnson

Erasmus James and Derrick Johnson standout on this list, (offensively other then a couple of RBs, no one really stands out as a clear cut number one). Going to go with James, the way he has comeback from his injury in 03 is simply amazing.


Side note: has Daivd Pollack declared for the NFL yet, or is he staying another year at Georgia?

Johnson has to be one of the most overrated prospects in a while.

Who would take an OLB of his caliber #1? Espeically over a kid like Rodgers.

Cadillac Willams? That's a name bred for NFL sucess.That can't be his real name.I would take Mike Williams he could be a mix between Randy Moss and Plaxico Buress

Williams will be converted to TE in 3 years, like Gates on SD. He is too slow and big to play wide out in the NFL. He could be a real threat from the TE position.

For me, Leinart is out of the question because of the offense he has had around him that has made him what he is.

Cadillac Williams would be my 2nd choice.

You mean the completely new offensive line and WR's he's been workign with all year. Bush is great and White is also a very good RB.

If you were speaking about last year, you'd have an argument with a great O-line, Williams, and Colbert. This year Leinart was the constant.

IMO isn't the best RB that plays for Auburn.

If drafting for all need positions, all things being equal you take the QB, so give me Leinart.

Williams will be converted to TE in 3 years, like Gates on SD. He is too slow and big to play wide out in the NFL. He could be a real threat from the TE position.

Williams isn't a speed burner, but he's hardly slow.

If drafting for all need positions, all things being equal you take the QB, so give me Leinart.

Well, the quaterback is the most important position in football, but it seems as if there is a huge risk factor in drafting a QB high in the draft. About half of all first-round quaterbacks seem to end up preforming drastically under expectations.

Side note: has Daivd Pollack declared for the NFL yet, or is he staying another year at Georgia?Pollack is a senior.

Williams will be converted to TE in 3 years, like Gates on SD. He is too slow and big to play wide out in the NFL. He could be a real threat from the TE position.Williams runs a 4.5. Not blazing, but absolutley fast enough. And Antonio Gates never played a lick of college football, so I don't know what you mean.

Well, the quaterback is the most important position in football, but it seems as if there is a huge risk factor in drafting a QB high in the draft. About half of all first-round quaterbacks seem to end up preforming drastically under expectations.

Yes, drafting a QB is a risk, but one taught by Norm Chow seems like he'll be a player in the NFL. He's big, strong, smart, and a winner. IMO very much like a left-handed Tom Brady.

IMO he's a better pro-prospect than Carson Palmer, who's looking awful good right now.

Well, the quaterback is the most important position in football, but it seems as if there is a huge risk factor in drafting a QB high in the draft. About half of all first-round quaterbacks seem to end up preforming drastically under expectations.
Yeah but the ones taken later suffer a much worse percentage.

Williams isn't a speed burner, but he's hardly slow.

I know he isnt slow, but i just cant see his game translating over to the NFL. He would be better as a TE, its not a knock against him.

Williams runs a 4.5. Not blazing, but absolutley fast enough. And Antonio Gates never played a lick of college football, so I don't know what you mean.

I meant he could play the same way Gates is playing now for SD. I know its just my opinion, and ive been getting flack for it :) But i just feel MW would be better suited to TE.

I know he isnt slow, but i just cant see his game translating over to the NFL. He would be better as a TE, its not a knock against him.

He will be a great NFL receiver. He's big strong, great hands, and can really jump. He'll be better than Larry Fitzgerald.

He's a slightly bigger version of Terrel Owens.

TE's often have to block, something Williams has never been asked to do.

I meant he could play the same way Gates is playing now for SD. I know its just my opinion, and ive been getting flack for it :) But i just feel MW would be better suited to TE.
I don't see it. He's 30 pounds lighter than Gates and Crumpler. 20 pounds lighter than Gonzalez and Heap. He's more than fast enough to play WR in the NFL. Teams kill for a big strong WR (Heap for example plays about 5-7 snaps as a WR). I can't see a team moving him to TE, unless they've got two Pro Bowlers at WR. And a team with that kind of talent isn't going to be around to draft him.

49ers can wait on a QB IMO. Rattay can fill in for another 2 years and they can give Dorsey a few more cracks at the starter role. RB isnt much of an option with Barlow still pretty young and on a new contract. Hes struggled this year but I see most of it as a bad o-line. WR is a position I wouldnt mind see them use a first round pick on. If theyre going to use the first then take Willaims, if they are going to trade down I would like to see them take Edwards. DL and OL are the biggest needs obviously. Alex Barron is a guy I'd like to see them take high. James and Pollack are two guys on DL I'd love to see them take. Johnson would be a good choice if they lose Winborn to FA, but other than that I dont see LB as a big need right now. Secondary is decent, not great but something that can wait. I'd like to see the unit healthy because frankly when you have your #1, 2, and 4 string corners out and your rookie CB and a backup FS as your starters things arent going to be pretty. Overall I'd like to see them take Willams IF they are going to use the 1st overall. They need to trade down more than anything though.

other/trade down

this years draft is ass

other/trade down

this years draft is assI agree but...

this years draft is assMeans that the chances to

other/trade downAnd make it worth your while aren't very good.

The best player in my opinion is Derrick Johnson. I definetly wouldnt take him #1 however.

If I HAD to take a player #1 and HOPE to get book value, I'd take Benson.

one of the two OT's...a good line can make a mediocre offense a lot better

one of the two OT's...a good line can make a mediocre offense a lot better

He didnt even list the top OT "potentially" on the board with D'Brickashaw Fergy.

Well, the quaterback is the most important position in football, but it seems as if there is a huge risk factor in drafting a QB high in the draft. About half of all first-round quaterbacks seem to end up preforming drastically under expectations.

While it's true that many top QB's have flammed out (Mirer and Leaf come to mind quickly), teams seldom win without a high quality QB. Unless you have a demonate defense, you need a top QB to win in the NFL.

Also, for every top QB who struggled there are plenty of LB and DL's picked up high who have never materialized into quality players.

It would be a hard choice between the two Calif QB's, but I'll take Lienart. As for him being a lefty Tom Brady, well that's very premature

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Cal

if my team had needs at just about every position, then you would have to start with QB IMO.

D'Brickshaw Ferguson,Virginia,no doubt.

I agree but...

Means that the chances to

And make it worth your while aren't very good.that may be true

but, id rather gamble and take a chance at finding gems in the late rounds rather than paying a #1 guy #1 money when his talent cant really compare to #1's of years past

While there are a few good tackles available, D'Brickashaw Ferguson is the only one worth a top 5 selection.

Cadillac Williams, in the unlikely case that his terrible injury past doesn't come back to haunt him, will not be a great pro. He doesn't have the power to play the way he did in college. He simply isn't big enough to play his style in the NFL.

The QB class this year is extremely weak, which is why Leinart needs to come out. He is the clear cut best QB available this year, should he declare. Rodgers, in my opinion, does not have the poise to be anything more than a decent pro. Leinart has much more upside, although not as much as classes of yesteryear. I'd rank Andrew Walter ahead of Rodgers.

I covered Williams already, but I don't think Brown will be a great RB either. He'll be better than Williams, though, and a serviceable starter for a few teams in need. Benson is the best RB of the class. Here is my team, formed by players who'll likely declare and who are eligible anyway:

QB- Matt Leinart
RB- Cedric Benson
RB- Marion Barber III
WR- Braylon Edwards
WR- Mike Williams
TE- Heath Miller
OL- Marcus McNeil
OL- D'Brickashaw Ferguson
OL- Alex Barron
OL- Jamaal Brown
OL- Michael Munoz

DE- David Pollack
DE- Erasmus James
DT- Haloti Ngata
DT- Rodrique Wright
LB- Ahmad Brooks
LB- Derrick Johnson
LB- Channing Crowder
CB- Antrel Rolle
CB- Justin Miller
S- Thomas Davis
S- Brodney Poole