Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3

1. CLEVELAND DE Penn State Courtney Brown 6-5 / 270
--Best player in the draft! Similar to last year, Cleveland wanted the contract signed, sealed, and delivered prior to making the announcement. It's been reported Courtney Brown, the nation's première pass rusher, has signed a 6 year contract worth an approximate $50 million. Brown is a dominating force coming off the end. Not only does he bring impeccable character, but his leadership-by-example will be a huge benifit to this team as it begins to come into its own within the next few years. Excellent player, excellent selection.

2. WASHINGTON(via New Orleans) OLB Penn State LaVar Arrington* 6-3 / 250
--Washington is estatic to land the player they have coveted all year. Arrington will be able to shine immediately. He'll have Bruce Smith in front of him and Champ Bailey playing behind him... plus other talented players surrounding him. Earlier today, Beano Cook said he had never, in his 50 years of experience, seen a linebacker as good as Arrington -- That's an endorsement beyond compare!

3. WASHINGTON(via San Francisco) LT Alabama Chris Samuels 6-5 / 325
--This kid was first round material last year. By going back to school and working hard to improve his game, Samuels now finds himself being the third overall pick in the 2000 draft. Samuels is a natural left tackle, who will come in and start immediately. Brad Johnson has to be a very happy quarterback.

4. CINCINNATI WR Florida State Peter Warrick 5-11 / 195
--Cincinnati didn't even give themselves a chance to entertain any trade offers. Warrick, as was expected, will be the new target for quarterback Akili Smith. Warrick is a dynamic playmaker who will make an immediate impact in this league. The key for Coslett will be to keep him a way from the negative attitudes of Carl Pickens and Corey Dillon.

5. BALTIMORE(via Atlanta) RB Tennesse Jamal Lewis* 6-0 / 240
--"Pound for pound, inch for inch, Lewis gets the late, last second, nod as best all around back." There is no question Baltimore was in desperate need of a top notch back. Lewis has the explosion needed to make it through the hole: He's got the size to lower his shoulder and run over the safety. Obviously, there's no lingering questions about Lewis' health. This back out of Tennessee carries a lot of potential with him.

6. PHILADELPHIA NT Florida State Corey Simon 6-2 / 297
--This pick didn't come as a big surprise, although Travis Taylor was a possibility, as was trading down. There were questions going into the draft regarding Simon's health. The Eagles, obviously, are satisfied with his status. Having said that, Simon brings a demension to the Eagle defense has been missing. An incredible athlete, recording a 41" verticle, who possess the rare ability to drop back into coverage. He should elevate the play of Douglas and Mamula.

7. ARIZONA RB Virginia Thomas Jones 5-10 / 216
--Arizona's situation was evident. The loss of Centers, then Bates' troubles, followed by the loss of Murrell ... how could it point to anything else? Thomas Jones is another guy who has impeccable character, which is becoming more and more important in the NFL. Jones, from Big Stone Gap, VA., has been compared to Emmitt Smith which is nothing short of high expectations. The Cardinals love this back's ability to turn the corner and jam it up inside. He'll start the 2000 season.

8. PITTSBURGH WR Michigan St. Plaxico Burress* 6-6 / 231
--Looks like a good choice. With Cowher sticking by his guns, keeping "Slash" at quarterback, Stewart needs targets. Burress has exceptional size. He can perform in big-time situations, as witnessed in the Citrus Bowl. Certainly, Pittsburgh must have received some trade offers ... but the big stallion from Michigan State was just too difficult to pass up.

9. CHICAGO OLB New Mexico Brian Urlacher 6-4 / 258
--Chicago goes defense with New Mexico's Brian Urlacher. Urlacher, a terrific athlete, will give Chicago more versitility with their defensive schemes... as he can play at OLB ... or they can play him as a safety/rover, as the Lobos had. The Bears could have looked to trade down, and filled needs, but opted for the best available athlete instead.

10. BALTIMORE(via Denver) WR Florida Travis Taylor* 6-1 / 199
--When Taylor was sitting on the board at ten, you had to know he was the pick. He has sure hands, runs precise routes, and is a definite upgrade to the Baltimore receiving corps. This is a good pick for a team that finished strong at the end of the season last year. The addition of Dilfer, Lewis, and Taylor ... gives Baltimore some offensive weapons.

11. NY GIANTS RB Wisconsin Ron Dayne 5-11 / 259
--By drafting Heisman Trophy winner Ron Danye of Wisconsin, the Giants are saying two things: One, that they did a terrible job of drafting last year; and two, that they have the wherewithal to move on. By getting Dayne, Fassel will get a solid, ball control, player. Dayne has cold weather experience, can pound the football, and will help take the pressure off Collins.

12. NY JETS(via San Francisco/via Washington) DE Tennessee Shaun Ellis 6-5 / 280
--The Jets need a defensive end that can come in and take a starting job. Darren Howard seems to have a better knack to get after the quarterback. Yet, Ellis is a better run stopper. This is a good need selection that becomes easier to discern with the understanding of the next pick.

13. NY JETS(via Tampa Bay/via San Diego) DE/OLB So. Carolina John Abraham 6-4 / 252
--Abraham's selection in the top 15 is the first surprise pick of the draft. The Jets could have gone Franks, Pennington, or even grabbed an offensive tackle. The selection of Abraham is intended to compliment Ellis, who will be able to play the base end, while Abraham will line up with his hand down and chase the quarterback.

14 GREEN BAY TE Miami (Fla.) Daniel "Bubba" Franks* 6-6 / 265
--With the troubles of Mark Chmura, and the luck to find Franks sitting here at 14, makes this pick very solid. With Favre throwing the ball, nobody will remember in September that Franks ran a "slow" forty. This kid as ProBowl potential written all over him. Franks is one of the most complete and talented TE's to come out of college in years. Good value for the pick.

15. DENVER(via Baltimore) CB California Deltha O'Neal 5-11 / 195
--This is the second first round surprise. Nobody thought there was a DB worthy of a top 15 pick. Denver traded down and could either not work out a deal to trade down lower, or felt like somebody was targeting him. There's no question that O'Neal is an exceptionally talented return man. With the looming suspension of Dale Carter, O'Neal can start this year.

16. SAN FRANCISCO(via NY Jets/via New England) OLB Michigan St. Julian Peterson 6-3 / 232
--The 49ers pass on Pennington and use their first pick on OLB Julian Peterson from Michigan State. San Francisco has a lot of needs and OLB is one of them. Peterson is the type of linebacker that can cause havoc off the edge. He also has decent coverage skills. It is surprising, since they passed on Pennington, that they did not trade down again.

17. OAKLAND PK Florida State Sebastian Janikowski* 6-2 / 255
--Oakland is the only team to have the guts to make this move. For a team that has lost close game, after close game, Janikowski is the elixir this club needs. Al Davis once took a punter in the first round and his name was Ray Guy from So. Miss. Oakland must have thought long and hard, as they probably didn't expect to find Pennington on the board at 17, but Janikowski will win games, now.

18. NY JETS QB Marshall Chad Pennington 6-3 / 229
--Doesn't look like anybody thought that Chad Pennington would be sitting on the board at 18. There was a lot of discussion about trading Keyshawn, and would New York keep all four picks? Would they trade up? Looks like, so far, they are having a very strong draft. Pennington can come in behind Testaverde and have a year to learn the system.

19. SEATTLE(via Dallas) RB Alabama Shaun Alexander 6-0 / 218
--Everybody's favorite, this kid can do everything you ask him to do. He can run, catch, block... and play special teams if you want him too. He gets stronger as the game goes on, wearing down defenses, moving the chains. If you've ever seen this kid play, even once, you know how special he is!

20. DETROIT RT Oklahoma Stockar McDougle 6-5 / 361
--Ross loves a grind it out, control, offense. Cosey Coleman was pegged here, because McDougle wasn't expected to be sitting here at 20. With the addition of James Stewart, the Lions now have a running back. Getting Aaron Gibson healthy, then teaming him with McDougle -- that's 700+ pounds to run behind. The selection of McDougle is a signal that Detroit is serious about running the ball.

21. KANSAS CITY WR Jackson State Sylvester Morris 6-3 / 216
--With Dayne off the board, it seemed like KC would go DB. Sylvester Morris is a tall, speedy, raw, talented althete who will give Grbac a target besides Tony Gonzalez. The Cheif staff had the luxury of coaching Morris on the South squad at the Senior Bowl. This certainly influenced their decision.

22. SEATTLE RT Wisconsin Chris McIntosh 6-7 / 315
--There has been speculation that McIntosh is damaged goods. But going to Seattle at 22 tells me McIntosh is in better shape than rumored. Seattle had deconstructed it's OL this off season, and needed to rebuild. McIntosh spent four years leading the way for Ron Dayne. With the addition of Alexander, and now McIntosh, Mike Holgrem is building this team in his image.

23. CAROLINA(via Miami) CB Jackson State Rashard Anderson 6-2 / 205
--This pick is a little surprising, especially with Marvel Smith still on the board. Anderson has unlimited potential. He's a bump-and-run cover corner, who may need some time to break into the starting line up. Siefert had to opportunity to coach against Anderson in the Senior Bowl, and obviously liked what he saw.

24. SAN FRANCISCO(via Washington) CB Ohio State Ahmed Plummer 5-11 / 191
--Plummer and San Francisco have been linked together for quite some time now. They had been projected to take Plummer in round two. But with two CB's already taken in round one, San Francisco couldn't wait. The reason Plummer is the best fit here, is because he is the most polished of the CB's. He will come in and be expected to win a starting job come fall.

25. MINNESOTA DT Boston College Chris Hovan 6-3 / 305
--If Rashard Anderson was still on the board, Denny would have jumped on him. Still, Hovan is a fantastic player. Terribly underrated. He has a great low center of gravity, has the strength to collapse the pocket, and the motor to creative unbelievable havoc. For a team that needs an impact defensive player, Hovan is an excellent choice. This choice could make John Randle happy enough to restructure his contract.

26. BUFFALO DE Arizona State Erik Flowers 6-4 / 271
--Arizona's Erik Flowers made the most sweeping ascension up the draft boards. He was virtually unknown, until the East-West Shrine game. He beefed up his weight, posted very good work out numbers, and slipped into the first round. Flowers will give some much needed depth to the Bills' pass rush rotation.

27. NY JETS(via Tampa Bay) TE West Virginia Anthony Becht 6-6 / 270
--Well, to the surprise of most of us, New York kept, and has used, all four of their first round selections. West Virginia's Anthony Becht is another player who steadily ascended into the first round. He is a solid, all around, tight end. He is a stronger blocker than receiver at this point, but has good promise to improve his game.

28. INDIANAPOLIS ILB Brigham Young Rob Morris 6-2 / 250
--Nothing unexpected here. Indianapolis has the big three on offense, and now a defensive leader is called upon. Morris is a throwback, blood and mud kind of guy. Colorful player who is always in the action. This is a very good match.

29. JACKSONVILLE WR So. California R. Jay Soward 5-10 / 177
--The word out of Jacksonville has been "Offense, Offense, Offense." Everyone knew they'd grab a wide receiver with one of their first day picks. Few thought they'd go WR here, especially with Cosey Coleman, Travis Claridge, and Marvel Smith still on the board. There are a lot of differing opinions on Soward, teams either love him or hate him. He is an extremely dangerous return man with blazing speed. He won't be pressed into a starting role, can come in and play in the 3 WR sets... along with return duties.

30. TENNESSEE OLB Syracuse Keith Bullock 6-3 / 244
--Bullock is a terrific player. He can play inside or out. Ran a 4.43 forty. He has excellent shadow skills, able to cover TE's or running backs out of the backfield. While Tennessee is known for picking the best player/athlete on the board (which Bullock is), it is somewhat surprising that they did not go after Tennessee FS Deon Grant. Bullock will look good playing behind Kearse. Two years in a row, Tennessee gets an outstanding player at an outstanding value!