1 25 Ahmad Carroll CB Arkansas
3 70 Joey Thomas CB Montana State
3 72 Donnell Washington DT Clemson
3 87 B.J. Sander P Ohio State
6 179 Corey Williams DT Arkansas State
7 251 Scott Wells C Tennessee
Highest Pick: 25th
Number of picks: 6
Players still on roster: 2
Original Grades: Dr.Z gave this class a C
New Grade: F
Analysis: This is a classic case of a team overreacting to a glaring need and a players threat. With the infamous "4th and 26" play against the Eagles stil fresh in their memory, the team was set to upgrade their suspect pass defense. The position only got weaker when incumbent starter Mike McKenzie asked for a trade. With Green Bay on the clock, three cornerbacks were off the board. Ohio State Chris Gamble was seen as a raw player with superb physical skills seemed to be the best available player at the position. Green Bay instead reached on burner Ahmad Carroll from Arkansas. With no second round picks but three third round picks, the Packers took two projects with CB Joey Thomas and DT Donnell Washington. The team rounded out day one with B.J. Sander, the punter from Ohio State. DT Corey Williams and C Scott Wells were the only draft picks from day two. All four projects went bust very quickly and did little to help the team.
Influential Player: Special team players rarely go in day one. While the team drafted two cornerbacks, B.J. Sander was a reach in round three especially in a deep class. Sander never gained the Packers starting punter job and is now out of the league.
Final Say: 2004 provided many teams with quality players from top to bottom and the Packers were perhaps the only team to come away with no impact players in this draft. Too many projects and question marks totaled zero impact for this franchise.
1 4 Peter Warrick WR Florida St.
2 34 Mark Roman CB LSU
3 66 Ron Dugans WR Florida St.
4 97 Curtis Keaton HB James Madison
5 133 Robert Bean CB Mississippi St.
6 169 Neil Rackers PK Illinois
7 210 Brad St. Louis TE SW Missouri St.
Highest Pick: 4th
Number of picks: 7
Players still on roster: 1
Original Grades: Peter King gave this class a C
New Grade: F
Analysis: Genius. Pure genius. The Bengals plan heading into the 2000 draft was a stroke of brilliance not seen in those parts for some time. Use the influx of college prospects to surround your newly annointed quarterback of the future Akili Smith with enough weapons to make Steve Spurrier green with envy. The youthful offense could grow and develop together into a potent offensive juggernaut. The centerpiece of this plan was Florida State WR Peter Warrick. Warrick was the most exciting college player of the young milenium, and was expected to be a dual threat catching passes and returning kicks. Cincy also added Warrick's college teammate Ron Dugans at WR, and small school sleeper Curtis Keaton at RB. Two cornerbacks were drafted to keep the defense up to speed, and a kicker and long snapper were snatched at the end of the draft. Unfortunately for the club, Peter Warrick became one of seemingly endless Bengal busts. As a matter of fact, the only players from this group to gain a spot in the league were the two special teamers.
Influential Player: Peter Warrick was riding a wave of momentum out of the national title game that was unmatched until Vince Young came along in 2006. A dominant showing in that game made Warrick the best playmaker coming out of college, and his name was mentioned as being a canidate for the Browns at number one overall. Fans were bracing for the Akili Smith to Peter Warrick connection for years to come. The connection never came to be, and both players failed to live up to lofty expectations. No one will know for sure if Peter Warrick hindered Akili Smith's development or vice versa.
Final Say: Warrick was thought to have been the best wideout in the draft. Turns out he wasn't even the best WR from his school (that nod goes to Laveranues Coles) and did little to improve an awful Bengals offense attack. Cincy also continued their bad run with cornerbacks, as both picks became little more then practice squad fodder. The worst part may be the Bengals let the best player from this group leave, that being former Pro Bowl kicker Neil Rackers.