Because every NFL team always is looking for pass rushers, the chances of a good one being available when the Bears use the 29th pick in Saturday’s draft ordinarily would seem remote.
How about two good ones? When general manager Jerry Angelo and the Bears are on the clock, they could be deciding between Syracuse’s short Dwight Freeney and Alabama-Birmingham’s up-and-coming Bryan Thomas.
Both could be gone, too, especially if South Carolina’s Kalimba Edwards drops because teams can’t decide whether he’s an end or linebacker or just a budding musician, his stated ultimate goal in life.
But it is more likely that at least Freeney or Thomas, if not both, will be available when the Bears make the lowest first-round pick in their history, thanks to their 13-3 record and NFL expansion.
“I feel one of those players could be gone–not should be gone but could be gone,” Angelo said. “I think one has the potential to be there. I think really both have the potential to be there. Those are names that have been mentioned as early as 18 and as far down as 31-32-33.”
Edwards, Georgia’s Charles Grant and North Carolina’s Julius Peppers are the three defensive ends projected ahead of Freeney and Thomas.
Freeney is only a shade taller than 6 feet, so he scares some purists. But he set the NCAA record with 17 1/2 sacks last season. He forced 11 fumbles and recovered three, another NCAA record. In his last 20 games at Syracuse, he had 31 1/2 sacks. Last year’s No. 1 pick, quarterback Michael Vick, knows all about Freeney. When Syracuse played at Virginia Tech in 2000, Freeney set a school record, decking the jet-fast Vick 4 1/2 times for losses of 41 yards.
What makes Thomas intriguing is his 6-4, 265-pound size, more suited to every-down play. He’s a speed rusher, too, and for what it’s worth, former Bears personnel boss Mark Hatley, now in Green Bay, thinks Thomas has the best chance to develop into the top pass-rush specialist of the bunch.
While the expansion Houston Texans removed the suspense of the first pick when they signed Fresno State quarterback David Carr, plenty of intrigue remained Friday on the eve of the 11 a.m. lottery.
Second-rated quarterback Joey Harrington of Oregon, first on some boards, is forcing major last-minute decisions that could scramble the first round. His destination is so unsure that he declined an invitation to draft headquarters in New York, where players get introduced on national television. The Carolina Panthers appear committed to the home-grown Peppers with the second pick because they have committed to second-year quarterback Chris Weinke. But the Detroit Lions, who also appeared committed to second-year quarterback Mike McMahon, are having second thoughts.
The best name in the draft, if not the best player, is Texas cornerback Quentin Jammer, whose surname is the same as his occupation. The Lions certainly could use him, but the Dallas Cowboys covet him enough to consider swapping their sixth spot to move up.
That still would leave the Lions with Harrington because the fourth-place Buffalo Bills are working on a deal to pry Drew Bledsoe from New England, and the San Diego Chargers drafted Purdue’s Drew Brees last year.
Huge offensive tackles Mike Williams (375) and Bryant McKinnie (6-8, 345) are projected for Buffalo and San Diego, but outstanding Miami cornerback-kick returner Phillip Buchanon, fastest receiver Donte Stallworth of Tennessee and top safety Roy Williams of Oklahoma are cause for pause.
The draft is deep in defensive tackles. North Carolina’s Ryan Sims, Wisconsin’s Wendell Bryant and Tennessee’s duo of Albert Hayneworth and John Henderson all are projected as top-12 picks.
Pondering a move up is Oakland, which has two first-round and two second-round picks to play with, thanks to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who decided ex-Raiders coach Jon Gruden–not more players–is their Super Bowl ticket.
The only other team with more than one first-round pick is New Orleans, which got Miami’s No. 1 in exchange for running back Ricky Williams. Only three years ago, former Saints coach Mike Ditka traded his entire draft to Washington for a shot at Williams.
The batch of picks enabled the Redskins to entice the Bears into a trade that eventually brought Cade McNown to Chicago, Ditka’s last laugh. As unpredictable as this draft might be, nothing that wild is expected ever again.
NFL draft order
1. Houston Texans
2. Carolina Panthers
3. Detroit Lions
4. Buffalo Bills
5. San Diego Chargers
6. Dallas Cowboys
7. Minnesota Vikings
8. Kansas City Chiefs
9. Jacksonville Jaguars
10. Cincinnati Bengals
11. Indianapolis Colts
12. Arizona Cardinals
13. New Orleans Saints
14. Tennessee Titans
15. New York Giants
16. Cleveland Browns
17. Atlanta Falcons
18. Washington Redskins
19. Denver Broncos
20. Seattle Seahawks
21. Oakland (from Tampa Bay)
22. New York Jets
23. Oakland Raiders
24. Baltimore Ravens
25. New Orleans (from Miami)
26. Philadelphia Eagles
27. San Francisco 49ers
28. Green Bay Packers
29. BEARS
30. Pittsburgh Steelers
31. St. Louis Rams
32. New England Patriots
Bears’ picks
Round 1: 29
Round 2: 31 (63rd overall)
Round 3: 28 (93)
Round 4: 31 (129)
Round 5: 30 (165)
Round 6: 27 (199)
Round 6: 31 (203)
Round 6: 38 (210)
