By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Enquirer's annual mock draft of the NFL's first round.

1 - Chargers: Eli Manning, QB, Mississippi
Would love to trade down to get Philip Rivers but feel pressure to take top QB after passing on John Elway (1983) and Michael Vick ('01)

2 - Raiders: Robert Gallery, OT, Iowa
Need to get younger across the board - with WR, QB and RB other needs - but will take this once-in-a-decade talent to anchor their offensive line

3 - Cardinals: Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Pitt
Coach Dennis Green will be thrilled if Fitzgerald drops beyond Oakland and will plan to fill many defensive needs in middle and later rounds

4 - Giants: Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Miami University
NY likes Manning and Gallery more than Big Ben and has been trying to work a trade with San Diego to move up, which is unlikely

5 - Redskins: Kellen Winslow Jr., TE, Miami (Fla.)
Have multiple needs on defense and have talked with Chargers and Raiders but will try now to simply outscore opponents with potent offense

6 - Lions: Roy Williams, WR, Texas
Have needs to fill on last-ranked offense from 2003; Williams will teams with Charles Rogers to give QB Joey Harrington some top targets

7 - Browns: Sean Taylor, S, Miami (Fla.)
Have been trying to trade up to get Gallery; coach Butch Davis needs to come out of draft with Gallery, Winslow or Taylor to pacify angry fans

8 - Falcons: DeAngelo Hall, CB, Virginia Tech
Athletic Hall can blitz off the corner, which is what new coach Jim Mora wants from his defense, and is a dynamic kick returner

9 - Jaguars: Kenechi Udeze, DE, Southern Cal
Fills top need and, teaming with tackles Marcus Stroud and John Henderson, should provide rush that Tony Brackens and Hugh Douglas didn't

10 - Texans: Dunta Robinson, CB, South Carolina
Will help two secondary positions by coming in as an immediate starter and allowing Houston to move Marcus Coleman to safety

11 - Steelers: Philip Rivers, QB, N.C. State
Pittsburgh gets its man in Rivers as heir apparent to starter Tommy Maddox and first first-round QB pick since Arizona State's Mark Malone in 1980

12 - Jets: Jonathan Vilma, LB, Miami (Fla.)
Saw linebacker corps depleted by retirement, and Vilma will be excellent addition to coach Herm Edwards' defense as smart, athletic MLB

13 - Bills: Reggie Williams, WR, Washington
Provides another top target for Drew Bledsoe and a running mate for Eric Moulds in offense that missed departed WR Peerless Price in 2003

14 - Bears: Will Smith, DE, Ohio State
Coach Lovie Smith addressed shortcomings on offensive line in free agency and goes to work on improving line play and pass rush on defense

15 - Buccaneers: D.J. Williams, LB, Miami (Fla.)
Running back is another major consideration, but coach Jon Gruden chooses instead to infuse new starter in aging linebacker corps

16 - 49ers: Vince Wilfork, DT. Miami (Fla.)
Could use a top wide receiver now that Terrell Owens is gone, but this Warren Sapp clone provides immediate help at tackle for leaky run defense

17 - Broncos: Steven Jackson, RB, Oregon State
After losing out on Charlie Garner in free agency and passing on Corey Dillon, take draft's top RB in spot traded by Bengals for CB Deltha O'Neal

18 - Saints: Michael Clayton, WR, LSU
Home-state product addresses big need and satisfies fans, but Vilma is the playmaking defender coach Jim Haslett really wanted to fall

19 - Vikings: Tommie Harris, DT, Oklahoma
Liked Ohio State DE Smith but will be happy to add quality player to defensive line, though Kevin Williams now has to stay outside

20 - Dolphins: Shawn Andrews, OT, Arkansas
Neglectful of offense for years, Miami lands player that fits their needs perfectly, immediate starter at right tackle or right guard to open holes for Ricky Williams

21 - Patriots: Chris Gamble, CD, Ohio State
With Ty Law talking his way out of Boston and Hall and Robinson off the board early, Bill Belichick gambles a little that Gamble can play right away

22 - Cowboys: Kevin Jones, RB, Virginia Tech
Liked Jackson and thinking about getting Julius Jones later in draft, Dallas instead takes best back available to fill a huge hole in offense

23 - Seahawks: Marcus Tubbs, DT, Texas
With all needs on defense and offensive team returning en masse, Seattle takes a DT in first round for first time since Sam Adams in 1994

24 - Bengals: Will Poole, CB, Southern Cal
With Hall and Robinson (expected) and Gamble (unexpected) off the board, Poole gets reunited with the staff that coached him at Senior Bowl

25 - Packers: Lee Evans, WR, Wisconsin
The man they really want is Gamble, but Evans provides Brett Favre and his yet unnamed successor with a top, speedy target who could start as rookie

26 - Rams: J.P. Losman, QB, Tulane
Kurt Warner is gone after June 1, and this pick is insurance in case starter Marc Bulger becomes unrestricted free agent after the 2004 season

27 - Titans: Ben Troupe, TE, Florida
Tempted by DL, but with retirement of long-time starter Frank Wycheck, will make Troupe excellent red zone target for QB Steve McNair

28 - Eagles: Vernon Carey, G, Miami (Fla.)
Would like to trade up to get one of the two Miami (Fla.) linebackers but will settle for Hurricanes teammate here to fill a hole on offensive line

29 - Colts: Karlos Dansby, LB, Auburn
Free agent losses at linebacker make this pick a good one for coach Tony Dungy, who still might take a long look at defensive ends late in Round 1

30 - Chiefs: Randy Starks, DT, Maryland
21 of 22 starters return for coach Dick Vermeil, who doesn't anticipate finding an immediate starter in draft, giving Starks time to develop in NFL

31 - Panthers: Rashaun Woods, WR, Oklahoma State
Will be thrilled to team him with Steve Smith as another outside deep threat and let Muhsin Muhammad and big salary leave town

32 - Patriots: Justin Smiley, G, Alabama
New England lost Damien Woody (Detroit) in offseason and continue process of recycling older players with younger ones

51 - Ravens (Baltimore's first pick): Bob Sanders, S, Iowa
Without a first-round pick (traded to Patriots to draft QB Kyle Boller in 2003), GM Ozzie Newsome goes after best player available and will move Gary Baxter to CB

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