Draft Rewind: “Big Three” quarterbacks play a big part in 2004 Draft do-over
Draft Rewind: “Big Three” quarterbacks play a big part in 2004 Draft do-over
I remember the 2004 Draft quite vividly. I was in graduate school in Oswego, NY, watching intently on the 60-inch television in my residence hall’s lounge. As a Giants fan, I had heard all the talk about what quarterback the team should take with the fourth pick, but then “the trade” happened. The move affected the fates of three teams, and all the top signal-callers are still in the league 15 years later.
Here is a look back at the eventful 2004 Draft.
No. 1 (Giants) Actual pick - Eli Manning, QB Redraft - Manning
I have included the trade in the redraft, with the Giants starting at the top this time. New York gave up the fourth and 65th picks, as well as first and fifth-round selections the following year. As a Giants fan, I was very upset by all this, first, because I actually liked Philip Rivers, who went to the Chargers in the deal. Second, the talk was about the Manning family, especially Eli’s father, Archie, pulling strings and forcing a trade after refusing to sign in San Diego. I hated the thought of the Giants catering in this way, so I threw my empty soda bottle at the television (which missed, thus the reason why I am not the QB in the Big Apple). Things ended up working out. Manning led New York to a pair of Super Bowl titles over the Patriots, winning the game’s MVP award both times. The four-time Pro Bowler and 2016 co-winner of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award have thrown for more than 56,000 yards and 362 touchdowns.
No. 2 (Raiders) Actual pick - Robert Gallery, T Redraft - Larry Fitzgerald, WR
Gallery came highly rated out of Iowa, but was seen as a disappointment during his eight-year career, which included a move inside to guard. Fitzgerald has become one of the most successful wide receivers in NFL history. His totals of 1,339 receptions, 16,718 yards and 118 touchdowns all rank in the top 10 (he is second in both catches and yards). “Larry Legend” has been selected to 11 Pro Bowls, was an All-Pro in Arizona’s Super Bowl season of 2008, and he shared the Man of the Year Award with Manning in 2016.
No. 3 (Cardinals) Actual pick - Larry Fitzgerald, WR Redraft - Ben Roethlisberger, QB
Maybe no team was affected by this redraft more than the Cardinals, who lose out on the face of their franchise. Instead, Arizona drafts Roethlisberger, who, despite some questionable behavior with women, is one of the superstars of this draft. “Big Ben” led the Steelers to a pair of championships (including one against the Cardinals), and has thrown for more than 56,000 yards and 363 touchdowns. He was the 2004 Offensive Rookie of the Year and has been selected to six Pro Bowls. Roethlisberger has led Pittsburgh to 42 game-winning drives, more than Manning (37) and Rivers (32).
No. 4 (Chargers) Actual pick - Philip Rivers, QB Redraft - Rivers
Rivers has the most passing yards (56,770) and touchdowns (385) out of the “big three” in this draft, and he returned from an “off” year (by his standards, anyway) to win the Comeback Player of the Year award in 2013. He led the Chargers to the 2007 AFC Championship Game and was an eight-time Pro Bowler.
No. 5 (Redskins) Actual pick - Sean Taylor, S Redraft - Taylor
The most tragic story among all the players selected. While rehabbing a knee injury, Taylor was shot in the leg during a burglary attempt in late November 2007. The bullet hit the femoral artery, causing massive blood loss, and Taylor died the next day. He was an All-Rookie Team member, was selected to the Pro Bowl twice (including 2007 after his death), and was named the NFL’s hardest-hitting player by Sports Illustrated.
No. 6 (Browns) Actual pick - Kellen Winslow II, TE Redraft - Ben Watson, TE
Speaking of burglary, that is just one of the reasons why the Browns will NOT pick Winslow this time around. Add to that a litany of charges that include possession of synthetic marijuana, kidnapping, rape, battery of an elder and lewd conduct, and his legal history definitely outweighs 5,326 receiving yards, 25 touchdowns and one Pro Bowl berth in nine seasons. Instead, Cleveland drafts Watson, who was originally taken by New England with the last pick of the first round. A champion his rookie year, Watson has 5,903 yards and 44 scores, but he has a blemish as well, a four-game suspension for taking a testosterone supplement during his brief retirement earlier this year.
No. 7 (Lions) Actual pick - Roy Williams, WR Redraft - Wes Welker, WR
The Lions acquired a second-round pick from the Browns to trade spots. The first completely off-the-board pick in any of these redrafts, Welker was not even selected in the 2004 Draft. However, he turned his undrafted status into five Pro Bowls and two All-Pro selections. The three-time Super Bowl participant finished his 12-year career with 903 receptions, 9,924 yards, and 60 touchdowns. He had five seasons with 1,000 or more yards and led the NFL in receptions three times.
No. 8 (Falcons) Actual pick - DeAngelo Hall, CB Redraft - Hall
Hall was a three-time Pro Bowler whose 43 interceptions are the most among players in this draft. Hall spent most of his career with the Falcons and Redskins and played in the NFC Championship Game with Atlanta as a rookie.
No. 9 (Jaguars) Actual pick - Reggie Williams, WR Redraft - Roy Williams, WR
Reggie Williams saw his NFL career fizzle out after five seasons, but not before setting Jacksonville’s single-season touchdown mark with 10 in 2007. After a few years in Canada, Reggie Williams was out of football in 2013. Roy Williams’ career did not match his hype, either, but he had 1,310 yards and seven scores in 2006, which ended with his lone Pro Bowl selection. He finished his nine-year career with 5,715 yards and 44 touchdowns.
No. 10 (Texans) Actual pick - Dunta Robinson, CB Redraft - Robinson
The Texans selected the former South Carolina star, and he rewarded the team with six picks and earned a spot on the All-Rookie Team. He left Houston in 2009 with a franchise-leading 13 interceptions (since topped by Kareem Jackson and Johnathan Joseph, who both have 16).
No. 11 (Steelers) Actual pick - Ben Roethlisberger, QB Redraft - Matt Schaub, QB
The Steelers really needed a quarterback at this spot, but missed out on the “big three” in the redraft, so they grab the next-best passer on the board. Schaub was taken late in the third round and backed up Michael Vick (pre-dog fighting charges). He was traded to Houston before the 2007 Draft and took over for starter David Carr, who was released the same day Schaub signed with the Texans after the trade. Under his leadership, Houston made the playoffs for the first two times in franchise history. Schaub went back to the Falcons in 2016, and he has backed up Matt Ryan ever since. The two-time Pro Bowler has 24,952 yards and 134 touchdowns in his career.
No. 12 (Jets) Actual pick - Jonathan Vilma, LB Redraft - Vilma
Vilma was named Defensive Rookie of the Year after totaling 107 tackles, five passes defended, three interceptions and two sacks. He went on to play in three Pro Bowls, lead the league with 169 tackles in 2005 and play for the champion Saints in 2009. He missed five games in the 2012 season for his part in the Bountygate scandal.
No. 13 (Bills) Actual pick - Lee Evans, WR Redraft - Evans
Despite never making a Pro Bowl or playing in the postseason in Buffalo, Evans did have two 1,000-yard seasons with the Bills, including 1,292 to go along with eight touchdowns in 2006. Evans appeared in the 2011 AFC Championship Game as a member of the Ravens. He got knocked out by Sterling Moore on a potential game-winning touchdown catch, and the Patriots won in what would be his final game.
No. 14 (Bears) Actual pick - Tommie Harris, DT Redraft - Darnell Dockett, DT
Chicago exchanges one three-time Pro Bowler for another here. Dockett, who was originally drafted late in the second round, had the overall better numbers. He totaled 459 tackles and 40½ sacks, including nine in 2009. Dockett also appeared in Super Bowl XLIII with the Cardinals.
No. 15 (Buccaneers) Actual pick - Michael Clayton, WR Redraft - Tommie Harris, DT
Clayton had 1,193 yards and seven touchdowns in his first season in Tampa Bay, but didn’t come close to matching that production in the rest of his eight-year career. Instead, the Buccaneers take Harris to fill out their defensive line. Harris was selected to three Pro Bowls and amassed 31½ sacks, including eight with the Bears in 2007.
No. 16 (Eagles) Actual pick - Shawn Andrews, G Redraft - Chris Snee, G
Philadelphia swapped spots and traded a second-rounder to acquire this pick. Andrews was on his way to a standout career but missed the 2009 season with a back injury and retired two years later. Snee was a two-time champion who played 141 games in 10 seasons with the Giants. He was a four-time Pro Bowler, an All-Pro in 2008 and was also the son-in-law of longtime coach Tom Coughlin.
No. 17 (Broncos) Actual pick - D. J. Williams, LB Redraft - Karlos Dansby, LB
Denver gave up a fourth-round pick to move up from 24. Williams totaled 897 tackles and 22½ sacks in 145 games over 11 seasons with the Broncos and Bears, but Dansby put up even better numbers. The early second-round pick totaled 1,417 tackles (including a draft-high 1,073 solo), 43 sacks and 20 interceptions, with six returned for touchdowns. He also appeared in Super Bowl XLIII.
No. 18 (Saints) Actual pick - Will Smith, DE Redraft - Jared Allen, DE
Other than the quarterbacks, this was the toughest call of the redraft. Smith had 67½ sacks, played 139 games and was a Pro Bowler in 2006. Allen’s 136 career sacks were by far the most of any player selected. He had eight double-digit seasons and led the NFL twice, including 22 in 2011. Allen was a five-time Pro Bowler and a four-time All-Pro.
No. 19 (Dolphins) Actual pick - Vernon Carey, T Redraft - Steven Jackson, RB
Miami sent a fourth-round pick to Minnesota to move up one spot. Carey actually had a solid career, playing in 107 games with the Dolphins in eight years, but Miami could have had a better back than Sammy Morris at this spot. Jackson was a three-time Pro Bowler who had eight 1,000-yard seasons and finished with 11,438 yards and 69 scores on the ground. He was dangerous as a receiver as well, with 461 career catches.
No. 20 (Vikings) Actual pick - Kenechi Udeze, DE Redraft - Will Smith, DE
Udeze was on his way to a solid career when he was diagnosed with leukemia. Numbness associated with chemotherapy forced him to retire in 2009. Smith, who had a career-high 13 sacks in the Saints’ Super Bowl XLIV season of 2009, was the easy choice instead.
No. 21 (Patriots) Actual pick - Vince Wilfork, DT Redraft - Wilfork
Wilfork was a part of four Super Bowl teams in New England, and he was a champion in his first and last (2014) seasons with the Patriots. The road-grading nose tackle appeared in 189 games and was a five-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 2012.
No. 22 (Bills) Actual pick - J. P. Losman, QB Redraft - Jason Peters, T
The Bills would love to have this pick back, since Losman went 10-23 in five seasons in Buffalo. What makes things worse is that the Bills sent second- and fourth-round picks in 2004, as well as a first-rounder the following year, to Dallas. Enter Peters, who the Bills actually signed as an undrafted free agent. He has played 198 games, is a nine-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro. A ruptured Achilles tendon cost him the 2012 season, but Peters was a member of the Eagles’ championship team from Super Bowl LII.
No. 23 (Seahawks) Actual pick - Marcus Tubbs, DT Redraft - Shaun Phillips, DE
Tubbs had seven sacks in his first three seasons before suffering a knee injury that required microfracture surgery in 2006. He never fully recovered, nor did he play again. Instead, the Seahawks take Phillips, who was second among drafted players with 81½ sacks. He had 10 or more three times, including 11 in 2010, his lone Pro Bowl season.
No. 24 (Rams) Actual pick - Steven Jackson, RB Redraft - Michael Turner, RB
The Rams acquired this pick in a trade with the Bengals. With Jackson already taken, St. Louis grabs Turner, who was originally taken by the Chargers in the fifth round. He was a backup throughout his time in San Diego, but he played in the 2007 AFC title game before moving on to Atlanta. As a starter with the Falcons, “The Burner” ran for more than 6,000 yards and 60 touchdowns in five years, including 1,699 yards and 17 scores in 2008, when he was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro.
No. 25 (Packers) Actual pick - Ahmad Carroll, CB Redraft - Chris Gamble, CB
Carroll was not good in coverage, which led to his downfall. He only played 57 games over five seasons. Gamble ranked second behind Hall among drafted players with 27 interceptions, which also stands as Carolina’s franchise record. He had 13 in his first two seasons and also appeared in the 2005 NFC Championship Game with the Panthers.
No. 26 (Bengals) Actual pick - Chris Perry, RB Redraft - Willie Parker, RB
Cincinnati picked up a fourth-rounder from the Rams to move down a second time. Perry backed up Rudi Johnson, but lasted only four seasons. Instead, the Bengals go way off the board to take Parker, an undrafted free agent who signed in Pittsburgh. “Fast Willie” rewarded the Steelers with two Pro Bowl selections and 5,378 yards over six seasons. He had three straight 1,200-yard campaigns, including 2006, when he rushed for a career-high 1,494 yards and 13 touchdowns. Parker ran for a 75-yard touchdown against the Seahawks in Super Bowl XL, a game record that still stands.
No. 27 (Texans) Actual pick - Jason Babin, DE/LB Redraft - Babin
Houston traded picks in rounds 2, 3, 4 and 5 to Tennessee and got this selection and a fifth-rounder in return. Babin started out his career by starting 16 games with the Texans as a rookie and ended it as a journeyman who played for nine teams. In between, he was a two-time Pro Bowler who amassed 64½ sacks, including 18 with the Eagles in 2011.
No. 28 (Panthers) Actual pick - Chris Gamble, CB Redraft - Mike Adams, S
Carolina traded a fourth-round pick to move up from 31. With Gamble off the board, the Panthers turn to Adams, an undrafted player who was signed by the 49ers. Adams is still playing, now for Houston (his sixth team). The two-time Pro Bowler played in Super Bowl XLVIII with the Broncos and has 30 interceptions and 946 tackles.
No. 29 (Falcons) Actual pick - Michael Jenkins, WR Redraft - Jerricho Cotchery, WR
The Falcons traded three selections to the Colts for this pick and a third-rounder (which Atlanta used to select Matt Schaub). Jenkins finished his nine-year career with 4,427 yards and 25 touchdowns, but never fulfilled his potential. Cotchery, who was taken early in the fourth round, finished second behind Fitzgerald among drafted players with 6,623 yards to go along with 34 scores. He played in back-to-back AFC Championship Games with the Jets in 2009-10, as well as Super Bowl 50 with the Panthers.
No. 30 (Lions) Actual pick - Kevin Jones, RB Redraft - Chris Cooley, TE
Detroit traded picks in rounds 2, 4 and 5 to obtain this selection. Jones was thought to be the answer to the Lions’ post-Barry Sanders woes at running back. He ran for 1,133 yards as a rookie, but never came close to that mark again. He totaled 3,176 yards in five seasons, but was out of the NFL after the 2008 season. Instead, Detroit should have addressed another offensive sore spot, tight end. Knee injuries sidelined his career, but Cooley was a two-time Pro Bowler who finished with 4,711 yards and 33 touchdowns in nine seasons with the Redskins.
No. 31 (49ers) Actual pick - Rashaun Woods, WR Redraft - Tommy Kelly, DT
After trading down for a second time, the 49ers took Woods, who played in 14 games as a rookie. However, he was never the same after tearing ligaments in his thumb. Woods spent time in NFL Europe and Canada, but was out of football after the 2008 season. Instead, San Francisco gets Kelly, the fifth originally undrafted player selected. Kelly played 150 games, mostly with the Raiders, and he amassed 478 tackles and 38 sacks.
No. 32 (Patriots) Actual pick - Ben Watson, TE Redraft - Shawn Andrews, G
Watson was already selected, and the Patriots have had great success drafting offensive linemen. Andrews was a two-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 2006 with the Eagles.
Other draft picks to make Pro Bowl that weren’t in the redraft: Kellen Winslow II, TE (drafted 6th by the Browns, made the Pro Bowl in 2007); Bob Sanders, S (44th by the Colts, Pro Bowls in 2005 and ’07); Nate Kaeding, K (65th by the Chargers, Pro Bowls in 2006 and ’09); Nick Hardwick, C (66th by the Chargers, Pro Bowl in 2006); Randy Starks, DT (71st by the Titans, Pro Bowler in 2010 and ’12 with the Dolphins); Nathan Vasher, CB (110th by the Bears, Pro Bowl in 2005); Antonio Smith, DE (135th by the Cardinals, Pro Bowl in 2011 with the Texans); Andy Lee, P (188th by the 49ers, Pro Bowls in 2007, ’09 and ’11); Scott Wells, G/C (251st by the Packers, Pro Bowl in 2011); Don Muhlbach, LS (undrafted, signed by the Ravens, Pro Bowls in 2012 and ’18 with the Lions); Tyson Clabo (undrafted, signed by the Broncos, Pro Bowler in 2010 with the Falcons); and Vonta Leach, FB (undrafted, signed by the Packers, Pro Bowls in 2010 with the Texans, 2011 and ’12 with the Ravens).
Next: Another quarterback tops the Draft in 2009.
-By: Kevin Rakas