By Bob Matthews
Gannett News Service

The Cincinnati Bengals shocked the football world and had a productive draft. Highlights and lowlights of the 2003 NFL draft:

Best drafts

Cincinnati, Baltimore and Dallas. I'm not sold on Heisman Trophy-winning QB pick Carson Palmer as the No. 1 overall pick, but a lot of NFL people think he'll become a superstar. Second-round Cincinnati pick offensive guard Eric Steinbach and third-round wide receiver Kelley Washington were rated first-rounders by some experts entering the draft. So was DB Dennis Weathersby, who dropped to the first pick in the fourth round after being shot a week earlier. The Ravens added two valuable commodities in the first round: a legitimate pass rusher (Terrell Suggs) and a potential starting quarterback (Kyle Boller). Third-round RB Musa Smith was projected higher on many lists. The Cowboys added top-rated CB Terence Newman, top-rated TE Jason Witten and a center who could start in Al Johnson.

Most courageous pick

Willis McGahee by Buffalo. My theory is that the dozen or so players Donahoe figured could have helped immediately (including the blue-chip pass-rushing defensive ends) were taken before his No. 23 overall pick arrived so he selected the player who might be the biggest help in the future.

Assuming McGahee sits out the 2003 season to strengthen his rebuilt knee, at the very least he'd be attractive trade bait before or during the 2004 draft, which projects to be weak on running backs for the second straight year. At best, McGahee returns 100 percent and becomes one of the top five RBs in the NFL and the Bills could afford to let Travis Henry walk in a year or two.

Potential great picks

QB Byron Leftwich by Jacksonville, DT Dewayne Robertson by the New York Jets, WR Taylor Jacobs by Washington, RB Chris Brown by Tennessee and QB Rex Grossman by Chicago. The Jaguars have gone as far as they can with Mark Brunell at QB. I believe Leftwich will be a better NFL QB than Palmer and should be ready to start by 2004 at the latest.

The Jets desperately needed a run stuffer and the way Robertson's stock soared in the week before the draft, it will be a surprise if the No.  3 overall pick isn't the solution to the problem.

Not all of Florida's wide receivers have panned out for former Gators coach Steve Spurrier in Washington, but Jacobs might. The Redskins should be entertaining with second-year QB Patrick Ramsey throwing to speedsters Jacobs, Laveranues Coles (the former Jets star is the equivalent of a first-round pick after signing as a free agent) and Rod Gardner. Tennessee needed a strong backup running back for Eddie George and Brown filled a need and could have been a steal at No. 93 overall. The Bears have been searching for a stellar starting QB for a long time and Grossman could be the man. The big question in Chicago is how many games into this season he'll replace Kordell Stewart.

Second guess

The Houston Texans picked WR Andre Johnson No. 3 overall, figuring second-year QB David Carr needs a quality deep-threat receiver. But before Carr can throw deep, he needs some protection. Trading down and winding up with a few first-round caliber offensive linemen might have been a wiser move (but definitely wouldn't have impressed Houston's fans as much or sold as many tickets).

Strangest move

Arizona trading the No. 6 overall pick to New Orleans, giving up the chance to select DT-DE Terrell Suggs and winding up with DE Calvin Pace No. 18. The Cardinals had only 21 sacks last season. Suggs had 24 for Arizona State and Pace had eight for Wake Forest. Pace's selection was not applauded by Arizona fans.

Houston taking Columbus Clippers third baseman Drew Henson in the sixth round. How can a second-year team justify wasting a pick on a player who repeatedly says he has no interest in abandoning his baseball career? And the Texans already have a young franchise QB in Carr and selected Ragone in the third round.

Flunked Draft 101

Of the 45 underclassmen who declared for the 2003 draft, only 20 were picked in the first three rounds Saturday. Most of the rest should have stayed in school.

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