Draft King NFL Mock Draft exclusive insight decades of experience insider pro football college prospects

Lou Pickney's 2024 NFL Mock Draft


2004 NFL Draft Mailbag

February 28, 2004
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com

Reader feedback is always welcomed here at DraftKing.com. Send your thoughts to me at LouPickney@hotmail.com.


From: Kevin (kdm917@ptd.net)
Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2004 1:38 PM
To: LouPickney@hotmail.com

please change the jags' pick. they will not take reggie if roy is gone and kenechi is still there. think about it. Tony Brackens is gettin old and beat up, he'll probably be released. Hugh Douglas had a horrible year and is probably on the decline. So can you please change that pick. It's pretty logical. Give Hoston a CB or somthin'

Lou: First off, let me make one thing clear: when I do a mock draft, I don't peek ahead at what other teams down the line need and try and make it fit nice and neat like a jigsaw puzzle. I understand that wasn't the implication here, but it occured to me that this could potentially be misinterpreted, so I wanted to make that clear.

The Jaguars are a strong candidate for trading up. If the Champ Bailey/Clinton Portis deal goes through, the Washington Redskins would lose their second round pick in the process. I could see Jacksonville trading their second rounder (and change) and the #9 pick to Washington for the Redskins' #5 pick.

But, if that doesn't happen, I still like Jacksonville to take Reggie Williams. Udeze is a tremendous talent -- no argument here. But there are several factors here that make me think the Jaguars will go WR. They've invested heavily in their defensive line in recent years, with first round selections used on DTs Marcus Stroud and John Henderson. Last season's free agent acquisition of DE Hugh Douglas did not come cheap.

Meanwhile, the Jags need some offensive firepower to help out Byron Leftwich (who is one of my favorite QBs in the league -- though I'm always partial to Marshall grads after living in Huntington, WV for a year and a half during my time as a TV news producer at WSAZ). Fred Taylor is still solid, Jimmy Smith is aging but productive when he can stay off the nose candy, and a young WR would really help open things up.

Now, with this being the deepest WR draft since 1996, it is feasible that Jacksonville would wait until round 2 to take a WR (hoping someone like Michael Jenkins or Michael Clayton or Lee Evans or even Rashaun Woods drops to them). So I can see the argument; it's not without merit. And I do like Udeze. But salary cap concerns, and distribution of salary among positions, all come into play. And the bottom line is that Jacksonville needs young, high-end WR talent. Reggie Williams fits the bill on that to a T. And who's to say that Jacksonville wouldn't take Reggie Williams round one, hope a good LB falls to them in round 2 (Dansby, Vilma, etc.), but when that doesn't happen take another WR there. Double trouble, restock the shelves, give Leftwich weapons galore, etc. A four receiver set with Jimmy Smith, Reggie Williams, Troy Edwards and Rashaun Woods? It should at least help the Jaguars get back to selling out home games at Alltel Stadium.


From : Desrosiers, Dominic
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2004 10:25 AM
To: "'LouPickney@hotmail.com'"
Subject: Emailing: patriots_in_trouble_with_law.htm

Lou, another twist for your mock draft.
How bout this, the Pats trade Ty Law to Detroit or Atlanta pick up Sean Taylor and move Geno Wilson back to CB. Could happen or something like it. The Pats will not make Ty the highest paid corner even if he is the best.

Lou: Interesting scenario Dominic, as usual you impress me with your ideas... I'd say it would be Atlanta moreso than Detroit, since Atlanta's secondary wasn't exactly up to snuff in 2003. Ty Law has been one of those "cap casualty" rumors dating back to last summer, so it could happen. But New England with *three* first round picks. Holy Toledo! What is this, the 1999 New York Jets draft?

It's not inconceivable though... The Pats do that, snag a blue chip WR at #6 or #8, take a CB at #21 (there will be talent there on the board at that spot) to give depth behind Wilson, and then take a linebacker at #32 (if they secure a RB in free agency). That team has so many choices -- it's like playing chess trying to go through all of the various scenarios that could play out with New England. Oh, and don't forget, they're the defending champs.


From: don (daker1@charter.net)
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2004 4:47 PM
To: LouPickney@hotmail.com
Subject : packers choice

Lou, you may be right about the pack wanting a QB for the future, BUT the future is just that,,,the future!,,The pack will never waste a first round selection this year on a QB. If they do, it would be a big mistake,,they need way too much help on the defense. They need to win now before Brett hangs up his smoking gun. The specualtion is that the Texans may want a 2nd round in the 2005 draft for Henson. Now that scenario would fit Green Bay perfectly. I say pull the trigger for that deal and get the much needed DE, S, DT,and LB out of this years draft. GO PACK!

Lou: Throwing a first-year QB into the mix right away is a recipe for disaster. Plus, with someone like Brett Favre on board, he can serve as the ultimate teacher for whomever the Pack would end up taking at QB.

Drew Henson for a second rounder would be a great scenario for the Packers... But I still contend that Henson and his agent are playing the Texans for fools, using them to gauge open market value to then use against whatever team drafts him in negotiations. Naysayers keep claiming that a deal can be done... But I'll believe it when I see it.

For what it's worth, I think a scenario of Phil Rivers serving as Brett Favre's understudy for a year would be a phenomenal scenario for the Packers. Rivers is the real deal.

Now that's not to ignore the Packers' other needs, Don, which you addressed. But at the same time, at #25 it appears that a DE or S would be a reach given the talent on the board (unless Will Smith has a cataclysmic fall). If Randy Starks is there, you'd have to think long and hard about taking him. Linebacker is the most likely to be there with multiple options and of the talent level fitting of the spot. Still, if Rivers is there, I think Green Bay would be making an error to pass on him.


Draft King NFL Mock Draft

NFL Draft Prospect Profiles

Draft King is owned and operated by Lou Pickney. © 2003-2024, all rights reserved.
Unless otherwise noted, the views expressed here are those of Lou Pickney alone and do not necessarily reflect those of any media company.