1 10 Jamal Reynolds DE Florida St.
2 41 Robert Ferguson WR Texas A&M
3 71 Bhawoh Jue CB Penn St.
3 72 Torrance Marshall ILB Oklahoma
4 105 Bill Ferrario OG Wisconsin
6 198 David Martin WR Tennessee
Highest Pick: 10th
Players still on roster: 1
Original Grades: N/A
New Grade: F
Analysis: The Green Bay Packers were the new kids on the block in the 2001 NFL Draft. Perennial losers like the Browns, Bengals, Cardinals, and the rival Bears had mansions built on Top 10 boulevard, whereas the Packers planned on making a short visit. Green Bay had not picked in the top 10 since 1992.Unlike the other teams, Green Bay had traded up into the top 10, as opposed to having a loss total in the double digits. The team hoped to use this rare chance at a premier prospect to ensure that the team would never return to this side of the draft. Management decided to supplement the pass rush that had dropped off since the loss of Hall of Famer Reggie White. After missing out on Cal DE Andre Carter, Green Bay took the undersized Jamal Reynolds from Florida State. Robert Ferguson was picked with images of Sterling Sharpe in fans heads. Bhawoh Jue and Torrance Marshall, back to back picks in round three, were projected as the future of the defense. Unfortuantely, Jamal Reynolds could never overcome his lack of size and only made his way into 18 games and no starts. Jue and Marshall only combined for 13 starts for the franchise. Robert Ferguson has not been able to say healthy and has never gained more then 520 yards in a season.
Influential Player: Derrick Thomas once accumulated seven sacks in one game. Jamal Reynolds, who some had mentioned could be utilized like Thomas, ended his Packers career with three sacks. Hardly what Green Bay expected. The Packers do not have the money to shell out big bonuses to players, and they simply can not afford busts like this. Reynolds is by far the Packers worst first round pick since Tony Mandarich.
Final Say: One could argue Jamal Reynolds was the worst first round pick in 2001. Green Bay's best chance to add a premier player to a roster made up of above average late round picks and mid-level free agents was completely blown on Jamal. Add in the fact that all four of the Day One picks failed to produce, it is no wonder why this class is one of the worst in recent history.
1 17 Phillip Buchanon CB Miami
1 23 Napoleon Harris MLB Northwestern
2 53 Langston Walker T California
2 55 Doug Jolley TE Brigham Young
5 147 Kenyon Coleman DE UCLA
6 189 Keyon Nash DB Albany State, Ga.
6 197 Larry Ned RB San Diego State
7 235 Ronald Curry WR North Carolina
Highest Pick: 17th
Players still on the roster: 1
Original Grade: Dr.Z gave this class an A-
New Grade: F
Analysis: Oakland was in great position in this draft because Tampa Bay was willing to pay an exceedingly high price for Head Coach Jon Gruden. A first and second round pick in 2002 and the same package in 2003. So the action began, with Oakland looking to shore up a few spots soon to be vacated by veterans via retirement. Napoleon Harris was rumored to be the Raiders number one guy all along. The top cornerback came off the board at number five. Oakland figured Miami dual threat returner/corner Philip Buchanon would be long gone by their pick. Suddenly, Philip started slipping. Al Davis, ever the aggressor, traded up and snagged himself a great steal. Or so he thought. Napoleon Harris? Still sitting there at the Raiders next pick. This was all coming together so nicely. Round two rolled around, and Oakland picked up a younger clone of Lincoln Kennedy, the hulking 6'6", 340 pound Langston Walker. Doug Jolley seemed to be a perfect fit in the teams West Coast scheme. Add in the typical Raiders Day two risky "upside" players, and you have one of the best drafts in modern history. To quote Chris Berman, "This is why they play the games." Despite an electryfing second season, Philip Buchanon suddenly became ordinary and his tremendous ego earned him a ticket out of town. Napoleon Harris was servicable, but never lived up to his lofty draft position. His first season showed so much promise for the future, but Doug Jolley has been headed downhill ever since and is now currently unemployed. Walker never lived up to his ability, and the first three day two picks were useless. But former North Carolina quarterback Ronald Curry perservered through a position change and numerous injuries to become the best player of this group.
Influtential Player: Instead of harboring on the failures of this classes first two picks, I will instead give Al Davis credit for one of his constant if not controversial strategies. Everyone knows Oakland will take a chance on almost any risk prospect in day two. Whether it be a player with a checkered past, injury problems, or overall inexperience, Al Davis will risk low picks for high reward. Which is just what they got from North Carolina quarterback turned wide receiver Ronald Curry. While some people will say 1449 yards is hardly anything to brag about, that is 560 more yards then Detroit got out of the second overall pick in the 2003 draft Charles Rogers and the tenth pick in 2005 Mike Williams combined.
Final Say: While it is hard to argue with the picks Al Davis and his team made, there is no denying this class was huge disappointment. Instead of being stalwarts of the new Silver and Black defense in 2007, both Harris and Buchanon will be little used backups elsewhere. Four picks in the top 55, and Oakland is standing here five years later with all four of them off the roster. Unacceptable.
1 6 Ryan Sims DT North Carolina
2 43 Eddie Freeman DE Ala.-Birmingham
4 107 Omar Easy FB Penn State
5 143 Scott Fujita OLB California
7 221 Maurice Rodriguez LB Fresno State
Highest Pick: 6th
Players still on roster: 1
Original Grade: Dr.Z gave this class a B
New Grade: F
Analysis: It is amazing what can happen in between the end of the college football season and the NFL Draft. Julius Peppers, the second coming of LT, the best defensive end prospect in years, the 6'6" 270 pound freak who could run 4.5 was the best player hands down. This was the consensus coming out of the college season. However, whispers began to become louder and louder as teams watched more of Peppers. Scouts began noticing Peppers' linemate, Ryan Sims. Suddenly people were trying to figure out who was helping who more. Was Sims exploiting teams schemed towards JP, or was Sims in fact the one opening things up for Peppers? By draft day, more then a few people believed Peppers was no longer the best defensive lineman on his team, nonetheless the draft. Two top ten teams, hungry for inside help, fell in love with Sims. It came down to a race to the podium, and Kansas City ended up shipping their third round pick to Dallas to get Sims at the sixth pick. The team was estatic. Eddie Freeman in round two and Scott Fujita in round five were going to be a compliment to the new savior of the defense, Mr.Sims. Who is laughing now? The Vikings missed out on Sims and "settled" for Miami tackle Bryant McKinnie. McKinnie has become a very good left tackle for the Vikes. Kansas City is still paying and playing the underacheiving Sims, who has come nowhere near to reaching his potential. It doesn't help that fellow round one defensive tackles in 2002 John Henderson and Albert Haynesworth have become much better then Sims. Eddie Freeman contributed 19 tackles to the Chiefs in his short career. Fujita is a very serviceable linebacker, but he is now in New Orleans and is nothing special.
Influtential Player: I wonder how all of those scouts and experts who proclaimed Sims to be the dominant Tar Heel feel now. While Peppers continues to play at a Hall of Fame pace in Carolina, Sims barely produces for the team who "stole" him from Minnesota via trade. Sims has only notched 15 tackles the past two years, while Peppers has 23 1/2 sacks since then alone. This is a classic case of a team buying into excessive hype.
Final Say: Another draft class ruined by an overrated underclass defensive tackle. Sims was essentially the teams first and third round picks, and Freeman went in the second round. A whole first day worth of picks wasted. Not to mention the large contract KC had to shell out for Sims. Kansas City took a big swing and missed in 2002, and they are still paying for their mistake.