Sunday, April 21, 2002
First round goes to linemen
13 among draft's top 32 picks
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — The NFL draft was definitely for big guys — with one or two little surprises.
The question of where Oregon quarterback Joey Harrington would go was answered early Saturday when, minutes after he was told Detroit wouldn't take him, the Lions changed their mind and did with the third pick.
Otherwise, big men prevailed over speedy ones — eight of the first 12 players chosen were offensive and defensive linemen, and a total of 13 were taken in the first round. Indianapolis used its No.11 pick by unexpectedly selecting defensive end Dwight Freeney of Syracuse, who was projected lower because he is only a bit over 6 feet.
The first wide receiver didn't go until the 13th pick, and the first running back not until the 16th.
The draft's first two choices were known well in advance. Quarterback David Carr of Fresno State was selected by Houston and defensive end Julius Peppers went to Carolina.
Buffalo, with the No.4 pick, went for 370-pound Texas offensive tackle Mike Williams. After San Diego took Texas cornerback Quentin Jammer, Kansas City traded with Dallas to move from eighth to sixth and chose 311-pound defensive tackle Ryan Sims of North Carolina.
There was a bit of drama with that pick. The Cowboys used all of their allotted 15 minutes and commissioner Paul Tagliabue declared they had passed and that Minnesota was on the clock.
The Vikings were scrawling Sims' name on a card when Tagliabue announced the Cowboys had dealt their pick to Kansas City, which had the eighth choice.
Minnesota then took 345-pounder Bryant McKinnie of Miami, considered by many the best offensive lineman in the draft, to fill the huge hole left at left tackle after the death last year of Korey Stringer. Dallas chose Oklahoma safety Roy Williams.
Jacksonville took defensive tackle John Henderson of Tennessee and Cincinnati chose offensive tackle Levi Jones of Arizona State.
Next, Freeney went to the Colts, about 10 to 15 picks higher than expected.
“The guy had 30 sacks in two years so he must be doing something right,” Colts president Bill Polian said.
Next, Wisconsin defensive tackle Wendell Bryant went to Arizona and wide receiver Donte' Stallworth of Tennessee went to New Orleans. The New York Giants then moved up one spot to take Miami tight end Jeremy Shockey
The Titans used their pick to select Tennessee defensive tackle Alfred Haynesworth, Cleveland took Boston College running back William Green and Oakland moved up twice to take Miami cornerback Philip Buchanon.
Atlanta chose Michigan State running back T.J. Duckett, Denver took wide receiver Ashley Lelie of Denver and Green Bay traded up for wide receiver Javon Walker of Florida State.
New England traded up 10 places as Washington moved down for the second time and took tight end Daniel Graham of Colorado. The New York Jets chose defensive end Bryan Thomas of Alabama-Birmingham and Baltimore took safety Edward Reed of Miami. Philadelphia chose cornerback Lito Sheppard of Florida and San Francisco took another Miami defensive back — Mike Rumph.
Rumph's selection tied Miami for the most taken in any first round with five, matching Southern California in 1968.
Seattle chose a local player, tight end Jerramy Stevens of Washington.
Then, offensive tackle Marc Colombo of Boston College went to Chicago; offensive tackle Kendall Simmons of Auburn went to Pittsburgh; and linebacker Robert Thomas of UCLA went to St. Louis.
The first round finished with Steve Spurrier's first pick as the Washington Redskins' coach. Naturally, he took a quarterback, Patrick Ramsey of Tulane.
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First round goes to linemen
