Remembering the 2000 Draft
Turn-of-the-century draft was filled with intriguing potential
As we approach the 2019 NFL draft, I thought it might be fun to take a step back in time and revisit the 2000 NFL Draft. Below is the last “projection” I had submitted to my editor before the actual draft on April 15-16. In hindsight, some of the comments are kind of funny, and kind of dead wrong … see picks #7, for example. Hope you enjoy the stroll down memory lane and have chuckle or two.
2000 NFL Mock Draft: Round 1
Last Updated: 4/9/2000
By: Douglas Love for footballsfuture.com
The 2000 NFL Draft was held in the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY.
1. CLEVELAND
DE Penn State Courtney Brown 6-5 / 270
–Dominating, mature, poised, highly skilled athlete that will become the leader of the defense.
2. WASHINGTON (via New Orleans)
OLB Penn State LaVar Arrington* 6-3 / 250
–Washington couldn’t be happier, and Arrington begins thinking about a run at the Superbowl.
Photo: SportingNews
3. WASHINGTON (via San Francisco)
LT Alabama Chris Samuels 6-5 / 325
–Brad Johnson gives a sigh of relief knowing his blind side is covered.
4. CINCINNATI
WR Florida State Peter Warrick 5-11 / 195
–Will entertain trade offers, but Brown stays pat selecting they dynamic wide out from Florida State.
5. BALTIMORE (via Atlanta)
RB Tennesse Jamal Lewis* 6-0 / 240
–Pound for pound, inch for inch, Lewis gets the late, last second, nod as best all around back.
6. PHILADELPHIA
WR Florida Travis Taylor* 6-1 / 199
–No Burress, no Simon. Philly brass is looking for a low-risk prospect and opt for Taylor.
7. ARIZONA
RB Virginia Thomas Jones 5-10 / 216
–Plummer is advocating Urlacher. But who does Jake think he’s going to hand the ball to? Jones here.
8. PITTSBURGH
WR Michigan St. Plaxico Burress* 6-6 / 231
–Cowher overlooks badboy reputation and gets “Slash” another target.
9. CHICAGO
TE Miami (Fla.) Daniel “Bubba” Franks* 6-6 / 265
–Franks will be a perennial ProBowler in Crowton’s high powered offense. McNown couldn’t be happier.
10. DENVER
OLB New Mexico Brian Urlacher 6-4 / 258
–Urlacher is best player for the value and he fills an immediate need.
11. NY GIANTS
NT Florida State Corey Simon 6-2 / 297
–Dismissing the popular “Dayne theory,” NY desperately needs line help & Simon is second only to Brown.
12. SAN FRANCISCO (via Washington)
QB Marshall Chad Pennington 6-3 / 229
–Unless San Francisco trades down for more picks, Pennington seems like a can’t miss projection.
13. TAMPA BAY (via San Diego)
LT Arizona State Marvel Smith* 6-5 / 320
–Franks is gone. Smith will have a chance to learn from one of the best in Randall McDaniel.
14 GREEN BAY
DE Virginia Tech John Engelberger 6-4 / 265
–The “new” defense will feature smaller, quicker, defensive ends. Engelberger is an all out effort guy.
15. BALTIMORE
RT Oklahoma Stockar McDougle 6-5 / 361
–Will replace the aging Swayne and make a nice compliment to Jonathon Ogden.
16. NY JETS (via New England)
DE Kansas State Darren Howard 6-4 / 280
–Looking for someone to create havoc off the edge. Howard’s got a knack for getting the quarterback.
17. OAKLAND
OLB Syracuse Keith Bullock 6-3 / 244
–Would like to go WR, but Bullock’s work out numbers and shadow skills are just too hard to pass up.
18. NY JETS
FS Tennessee Deon Grant* 6-2 / 209
–Groh’s a defensive guy, and Grant led the nation in interceptions. Also gives Jets a new “Marquee” player.
19. SEATTLE (via Dallas)
DT Boston College Chris Hovan 6-3 / 305
–Tough guy, effort guy, leads by example guy… Holmgren kind of guy.
20. DETROIT
OG Tennessee Cosey Coleman* 6-5 / 322
–Ross loves a grind it out, control, offense. Look for Stewart to be running a lot sweeps behind Coleman.
21. KANSAS CITY
RB Wisconsin Ron Dayne 5-11 / 259
–The only player Cunningham has coveted! Look for Dayne to get thirty plus carries a game.
22. SEATTLE
ILB Brigham Young Rob Morris 6-2 / 250
–Another blood and mud guy. Along with Hovan, will give character to already talented athletic defense.
23. CAROLINA (via Miami)
RB Alabama Shaun Alexander 6-0 / 218
–Grind it out, wear them down. Has all the right tool to fit into Siefert’s offensive scheme.
24. SAN FRANCISCO (via Washington)
RT Wisconsin Chris McIntosh 6-7 / 315
–San Francisco is in the rebuilding process. McIntosh will develop into a solid pro over the next few years.
25. MINNESOTA
CB Jackson State Rashard Anderson 6-2 / 205
–Green needs more polished players, but Anderson’s “potential” will be too much for Denny to pass up!
26. BUFFALO
OLB Michigan St. Julian Peterson 6-3 / 232
–Grant’s gone, Ahmed Plummer is an option, but Gabe Northern isn’t cutting it.
27. TAMPA BAY
WR Georgia Tech Dez White* 6-1 / 218
–Tampa’s a little gun shy of taking WR’s too high. So they wait and grab the talented White here.
28. INDIANAPOLIS
DE Tennessee Shaun Ellis 6-5 / 280
–Will play base end opposite Bratzke. Has good run stopping skills, overall solid player.
29. JACKSONVILLE
OG/T So. California Travis Claridge 6-5 / 303
–Offense, Offense, Offense. Claridge is versitile enough a player to be a valuable reserve until he cracks the line up.
30. TENNESSEE
DE Arizona State Erik Flowers 6-4 / 271
–Late bloomer, added the weight, has the dedication… Tennessee loves athletes like Flowers.
31. ST. LOUIS
OT Hawaii Adrian Klemm 6-4 / 307
–Quick feet, natural left tackle. Will add depth and could play TE in short and goal situation.
***
MORE: If you’re curious how the 2000 NFL Draft actually unfolded, you can click here.
RELATED: Check out Douglas Love’s latest 2019 NFL Mock Draft.
