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The NFL Draft is paramount to a team's success, so we will be periodically delving into the past to review how this decade's drafts have panned out. Up first is the 2000 draft.
We will go over each pick in the first round to see how those picks panned out, then look at some other notable choices from later rounds.
2001 First Round Picks
1. Cleveland Browns – Courtney Brown, Defensive End, Penn State: The first overall pick never panned out, and after missing all of 2006 with an injury, was released from the Denver Broncos this spring because he could not pass a physical. In his 6 year career, he amassed 19 sacks.
2. Washington Redskins (from New Orleans) – LaVar Arrington, Linebacker, Penn State: Arrington had a solid 6 year career, making three Pro Bowls before a rift with the Redskins and injuries derailed his career. He did not play in 2007 after a serious car crash and has retired.
3. Washington Redskins (from San Francisco) – Chris Samuels, Tackle, Alabama: Samuels has been very good at left tackle for Washington and is a five time Pro Bowler.
4. Cincinnati Bengals – Peter Warrick, Wide Receiver, Florida State: Warrick never duplicated the success he attained at Florida State, and his 6 year NFL career is seemingly over. He reportedly signed a contract to play in the newly formed All American Football League.
5. Baltimore Ravens (from Atlanta) – Jamal Lewis, Running Back, Tennessee: Lewis led the NFL with over 2,000 yards rushing in 2003 and most recently had a good year with Cleveland in 2007.
6. Philadelphia Eagles – Corey Simon, Defensive Tackle, Florida State: Simon had great success in Philadelphia before being traded to Indianapolis. His career ended after 6 seasons when he announced his retirement due to polyarthritis.
7. Arizona Cardinals – Thomas Jones, Running Back, Virginia: After never rushing for more than 511 yards, Jones' career stalled in Arizona. After a year with Tampa, he went to the Chicago Bears and attained success before being traded to the New York Jets.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers – Plaxico Burress, Wide Receiver, Michigan State: Burress is one of the top wideouts in the league and scored the winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLII.
9. Chicago Bears – Brian Urlacher, Linebacker, New Mexico: Urlacher remains one of the premier middle linebackers in all of football.
10. Baltimore Ravens (from Denver) – Travis Taylor, Wide Receiver, Florida: Taylor was a tremendous disappointment in Baltimore, and after five seasons there, he went to Minnesota in 2005. In 2007, Taylor was with three teams and totaled 2 receptions for 8 yards.
11. New York Giants – Ron Dayne, Running Back, Wisconsin: Dayne left college as the NCAA's all-time leading rusher. He never achieved success anywhere near that level in the NFL. He has never rushed for 1,000 yards in any one season, though 2007 was the best year of his career, as he rushed for 773 yards and 6 touchdowns with Houston.
12. New York Jets (from Carolina through Washington and San Francisco) – Shaun Ellis, Defensive End, Tennessee: Ellis has had a solid, if unspectacular career. He made the Pro Bowl in 2003 after collecting 12.5 sacks, a career high. In his eight years in the league, he has 53.5 sacks.
13. New York Jets (from San Diego through Tampa Bay) – John Abraham, Defensive End, South Carolina: Abraham has had the better career of the defensive end he went right after. A three time Pro Bowler, Abraham has 67.5 career sacks.
14. Green Bay Packers – Bubba Franks, Tight End, Miami: Franks is also a three time Pro Bowler and remains a solid tight end with the Packers, though he is not the receiving threat he once was.
15. Denver Broncos (from Baltimore) – Deltha O'Neal, Defensive Back, California: O'Neal played for Denver and is now in Cincinnati. He has been to two Pro Bowls, but has snared just two interceptions in the last two seasons.
16. San Francisco 49ers (from New England through New York Jets) – Julian Peterson, Linebacker, Michigan State: A four time Pro Bowler, Peterson signed with Seattle in 2006 and is one of the best rushing linebackers in the game.
17. Oakland Raiders – Sebastian Janikowski, Kicker, Florida State: More famous for his legal troubles and girth, Janikowski still has a big leg, and for his career, has hit nearly 77% of his field goal tries.
18. New York Jets – Chad Pennington, Quarterback, Marshall: Pennington (pictured) has had an up and down career, but after a series of arm injuries, it may be winding down as a legitimate starter. He simply no longer possess the arm strength necessary to play the position.
19. Seattle Seahawks (from Dallas) – Shaun Alexander, Running Back, Alabama: Alexander has been a great back in the league, and briefly held the NFL record for touchdowns. However, as he approaches 30, the inevitable has happened, and he is slowing down noticeably.
20. Detroit Lions – Stockar McDougle, Tackle, Oklahoma: In 2007, McDougle played for Jacksonville, his third team in three seasons. He did not start a game and has started just two in the last two years.
21. Kansas City Chiefs – Sylvester Morris, Wide Receiver, Jackson State: Morris played one season with the Chiefs, catching 48 balls. It was his only NFL season. He tore his ACL and was put in prison stemming from cocaine charges.
22. Seattle Seahawks – Chris McIntosh, Tackle, Wisconsin: McIntosh busted out of the NFL after only three seasons.
23. Carolina Panthers (from Miami) – Rashard Anderson, Defensive Back, Jackson State: Completing a horrendous three selections in a row, Anderson played just two years of football before being suspended for violating the league's substance abuse policy in 2002 and again in 2003. He has not played since.
24. San Francisco 49ers (from Washington) – Ahmed Plummer, Cornerback, Ohio State: Plummer was injury prone for much of his career, and he retired from football before the 2006 season.
25. Minnesota Vikings – Chris Hovan, Defensive Tackle, Boston College: Hovan had a great start to his career before a falling out there led him to Tampa Bay, where he remains an active player.
26. Buffalo Bills – Erik Flowers, Defensive End, Arizona State: Flowers played just five seasons in the NFL, and had a total of five sacks to show for it. He was last with Toronto in the CFL.
27. New York Jets (from Tampa Bay) – Anthony Becht, Tight End, West Virginia: Becht was a pretty good player for most of his time in New York. His career has spiraled down after 2004, and though he has played for Tampa Bay for three seasons, he is not the starter there.
28. Indianapolis Colts – Rob Morris, Linebacker, Brigham Young University: Morris has been a solid player for the Colts, and a leader of their defense. However, he played in just two games in 2007 due to a torn ACL.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars – R. Jay Soward, Wide Receiver, USC: Soward was with the Jags for a single season, and caught 14 balls. He was suspended for violating the league's substance abuse policy, and was soon out of the league. Most recently, he played for Toronto in the CFL.
30. Tennessee Titans – Keith Bulluck, Linebacker, Syracuse: Bulluck is one of the best linebackers in the game today, and has been a Pro Bowl player and leader of the Titans defense.
31. St. Louis Rams – Trung Canidate, Running Back, Arizona: Candidate had tremendous speed, but little else to offer. He was with the Rams for three seasons before being traded to Washington. He was out of football a short while later.
First Round Review
- Players who made the Pro Bowl: 12
- Out of football as of 2008: 10 players
OTHER NOTABLE SELECTIONS
- Second Round: Marvel Smith, Mike Brown, Ian Gold, Jerry Porter, Marcus Washington
- Third Round: Laveranues Coles, Reuben Droughns
- Fifth Round: Shane Lechler, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, Dante Hall
- Sixth Round: Tom Brady, Marc Bulger, Neil Rackers, Dhani Jones
(Photo: Flickr)
