A look back: The 2005 NFL Draft

The 2005 NFL
Draft didn’t have the sizzle that others in recent memory have. The
top 10 picks have only produced three Pro Bowlers, and none of those
players own superstar status. In fact, it was the later rounds that
produced some of the more notable names. There were even five
undrafted players that went on to appear in Pro Bowls. Needless to
say, 2005 wasn’t exactly the year of the scout. A look back now at
the first round and grades on how those players and teams have fared
in the five seasons since.

Pick, Player, Team, Pos., School

1 Alex Smith, San
Francisco 49ers, QB, Utah

Analysis:
At least Smith is still with the 49ers, something that didn’t seem
likely just a year ago at this time. Despite his 16-24 career record,
head coach Mike Singletary still believes Smith is the guy, even more
so than another former number one disappointment, David Carr.
Injuries and a lack of stability on the 49ers coaching staff have
hampered Smith’s development, which might help explain his 37-43
TD-INT ratio. Credit the organization for sticking by him. 2010 could
be his last hurrah in the Bay Area for a San Francisco club that is
on the rise in the NFC West.
Grade: C-

2 Ronnie
Brown, Miami Dolphins, RB, Auburn

Analysis:
Brown has played 16 games in a season just once in five seasons, in
2008 when he earned his lone Pro Bowl berth. When healthy, Brown has
given the Dolphins the hard-nosed, every-down runner that fits their
offensive system – even with Ricky Williams in the mix. But having
ended two of the last three campaigns on injured reserve make
Williams’ presence all the more necessary. Brown averages 4.4 yards
per carry and has scored 31 touchdowns thus far. Pretty good, but a
tad sub par for a second overall pick.
Grade: B-

3 Braylon
Edwards, Cleveland Browns, WR, Michigan

Analysis:
The often enigmatic Edwards ultimately wore out his welcome in
Cleveland and was shipped off the Jets early last season. He amassed
1,000 yards just once in four full seasons with the Browns, in 2007
when he reached his only Pro Bowl. He seems to have found his groove
in New York, providing Mark Sanchez a go-to target for a team that
reached the AFC Championship Game last year. But the Browns never got
the big-time playmaker they sought when they selected Edwards, just
another in a long line of misses by the Mistake by the Lake Browns.
Grade: C

4 Cedric
Benson, Chicago Bears, RB, Texas

Analysis:
Much like Edwards, Benson eventually became more of a headache than a
success for the team that drafted him. Unlike Edwards, however, it
was Benson’s off-the-field antics that rubbed the Bears organization
the wrong way. He failed to outperform Thomas Jones, even when the
team reached the Super Bowl after the 2006 season. 674 yards was his
high-water mark in three years in the Windy City, but the Bengals saw
something in Benson and indeed he resurrected his career there. Last
season, Benson rushed for 1,251 yards in just 13 games, including a
career-high 189 against his former team.
Grade: C-

5 Carnell
Williams, Tampa Bay, Buccaneers, RB, Auburn

Analysis:
“Cadillac” has given the Bucs quite a ride when healthy, but that
has been a novelty. He played just 10 games from 2007-08 after
suffering a devastating knee injury. Since his stellar, 1,178-yard
rookie campaign, Williams has struggled to produce consistently, in
part because the Bucs have turned to several other backs to help
contribute. His 3.8-yard per carry average won’t wow anyone, but the
team is holding out hope that a healthy Williams will return to his
2005 form.
Grade: C

6 Adam
Jones, Tennessee Titans, CB, West Virginia

Analysis:
“Pacman” may be the most well-known name in the draft, but for
all the wrong reasons. He lasted just two seasons in Tennessee before
the NFL suspended him for the 2007 campaign. He earned a brief stint
with the Cowboys before spending the 2009 season out of football.
Numerous off-the-field issues, all of which have been
well-documented, have completely tarnished Jones’ image. He may get
another shot with the Bengals, but that is of little consolation to
the Titans at this point. As former GM Floyd Reese said, Jones may
have been solid when he played, but he was “nothing but a disaster
off the field.” This might help explain why Reese no longer has a
job in Tennessee.
Grade: F

7 Troy
Williamson, Minnesota Vikings, WR, South Carolina

Analysis:
The Vikings did hit big on a receiver they drafted from South
Carolina this decade, only it wasn’t Williamson. Sidney Rice did not
enter the fold until 2007, two years after Williamson’s sub par
tenure in Minnesota began. Following the 07 campaign, Williamson
found his career in Minnesota over and ended up in Jacksonville. He
has 87 catches in five years, 79 of those coming in purple. He often
dropped key passes and it soon became evident he wasn’t going to pan
out with the Vikings. Though the Jaguars are still holding out hope
he can be a productive receiver, the Vikings have long realized they
made an error in judgment on his talents.
Grade: D

8 Antrel
Rolle, Arizona Cardinals, CB, Miami (FL)

Analysis:
Rolle took a year to get going, but he blossomed in 2006 and has been
one of the league’s steadier performers since. He has missed just one
game in the last four years, and was converted to free safety in 2008
when the Cardinals went to their first Super Bowl. Showing a knack
for the big play, the Giants signed Rolle to a 5-year, $37 million
contract this offseason, leaving a hole in Arizona’s secondary. For
an organization that had struggled to hit big on draft picks, Rolle
represents a number of key young players that helped transform the
franchise.
Grade: B+

9 Carlos
Rogers, Washington Redskins, CB, Auburn

Analysis:
Solid if not spectacular would best describe Rogers’ five years in
Washington. He has started 29 of 32 games played the last two years,
but did not register an interception in 2009. Unfortunately the
Redskins have been far from a top-tier team during his time there, so
his lack of big plays haven’t singled him out.
Grade: C+

10 Mike
Williams, Detroit Lions, WR, USC

Analysis:
It’s hard to believe Williams has a chance to make the Seattle
Seahawks roster this season given how big of a bust he is. After
failing to earn draft eligibility and missing the 2004 season at USC,
Williams failed miserably in Detroit (sound familiar?). He hasn’t
caught a pass in the NFL since 2007, and has just 44 receptions in
his career. He never seemed to be in proper shape, and eventually
even the Lions had enough.
Grade: F

11 DeMarcus
Ware, Dallas Cowboys, LB, Troy

Analysis:
Bill Parcells and the Cowboys brass actually took some heat for this
pick when Shawne Merriman’s career got off to a fast start. The
Cowboys were perceived to have taken the wrong pass rusher, but
things have gone just swimmingly for Ware and the Cowboys in recent
years. Ware has recorded double-digit sacks every year since 2006,
and led the league with a franchise-record 20 sacks in 2008. He has
proved to not only be a great pass-rusher but also a game-changer.
Grade: A

12 Shawne
Merriman, San Diego Chargers, LB, Maryland

Analysis:
Merriman was once the toast of the NFL after two remarkable seasons
to start his career, but even in a 17-sack campaign in 2006 there was
controversy when he was suspended four games for steroid use. After
another steady season in 2007, Merriman lost all of 2008 with a
serious knee injury and hardly regained his Pro Bowl form in 2009
with a paltry 4 sacks. There have been rumors the Bolts are trying to
move him, as he has been unhappy in addition to struggling on the
field. Still, given what he provided the team his first three
seasons, this was one of general manager A.J. Smith’s finest
selections.
Grade: A-

13 Jammal
Brown, New Orleans Saints, OT, Oklahoma

Analysis:
It’s a shame that Brown missed the Saints’ Super Bowl season with a
sports hernia, because he had been a steady performer during his
tenure with New Orleans. He started 58 games the previous four years,
and helped protect Drew Brees’ blind side admirably. Jermon Bushrod’s
performance last year helped force Brown out of the door, and now he
is trying to revive his career in Washington. Still, a strong pick by
the Saints.
Grade: B+

14 Thomas
Davis, Carolina Panthers, LB, Georgia

Analysis:
Davis has seemingly gotten better each year, but has a long road to
recovery after missing most of 2009 and now possibly all of 2010 with
a torn ACL. A tackling machine with a knack for the big play, Davis
has probably been the Panthers’ most consistent defensive player
since 2006, when he came a full-time starter. 11 sacks and eight
fumbles in four-plus years shows that the Panthers made the right
selection in Davis.
Grade: B+

15 Derrick
Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs, LB, Texas

Analysis:
Johnson hit a low point last year when he lost his starting job, but
has still given Chiefs fans reason for hope during his five-year
tenure. He finished 2009 with a bang, returning two interceptions for
touchdowns in helping the team to its first win in Denver since 2000.
His career numbers are relatively strong (13 sacks, 6 interceptions,
11 forced fumbles), but he has been inconsistent at times. Still, a
stabilizing force for a team that desperately needs one.
Grade:
B

16 Travis
Johnson, Houston Texans, DT, Florida State

Analysis:
Texans fans will likely remember Johnson most for taunting an
unconscious Trent Green in a 2007 game, because his production was
minimal at best during four years with the team. Two sacks and no
forced fumbles with limited tackles will vouch for that, and Johnson
now serves as a backup in San Diego. The Texans have long craved a
dominant force on their interior defensive line, and Johnson failed
to be that force.
Grade: D-

17 David
Pollack, Cincinnati Bengals, LB, Georgia

Analysis:
A promising rookie campaign in 2005 had Bengals fans excited for
Pollack’s future, but his career was quickly derailed two games into
the 2006 season with a severe neck injury. Pollack was never able to
recover and left fans wondering what if. A bad grade here despite the
fact that right off the bat it looked like the team made a big splash
with Pollack.
Grade: F

18 Erasmus
James, Minnesota Vikings, DE, Wisconsin

Analysis:
A big swing and a miss by Minnesota, as James started just 11 games
in three extremely disappointing years in purple. He logged a paltry
five sacks before he was let go, then failed to catch on in
Washington and has not played in an NFL game since 2008. His failures
forced the Vikings’ hand in trading for All-Pro Jared Allen to give
them the pass rusher they coveted, but it cost them two first-round
draft picks.
Grade: F

19 Alex
Barron, St. Louis Rams, OT, Florida State

Analysis:
Don’t let the fact that Barron has started all but one game the last
four years fool you. He was unable to fill Orlando Pace’s shoes at
left tackle, and in the last three years the Rams’ offense has become
one of the worst in the league as the franchise has won just six
games during that span. Barron was dealt to Dallas this offseason for
linebacker Bobby Carpenter. The feeling was that Barron was not only
penalty prone but that the effort was not always there. A major
underachiever thus far.
Grade: D

20 Marcus
Spears, Dallas Cowboys, DE, LSU

Analysis:
Spears has played all 80 games in his five seasons in Big D, but the
production has not always been there. He has recorded just 8 sacks
and 3 forced fumbles despite starting 71 of those games, so suffice
it to say Spears has been far outperformed by fellow first-rounder
DeMarcus Ware. But considering Spears is still on the roster and
still has a chance to become the player the Cowboys envisioned, they
still get a moderate mark.
Grade: C

21 Matt
Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars, WR, Arkansas

Analysis:
Jones is looking to rebuild his career and his life in Cincinnati
(sounds repetitive doesn’t it?) after spending 2009 out of football
following an arrest and a release from the Jags, the team that
drafted him. Envisioned as a hybrid receiver-QB type, Jones never
really made an impact in either facet. He did catch 166 passes for
2,153 yards and 15 touchdowns from 2005-08, but he rarely came up
with big games or clutch plays when needed. He also failed to crack
the starting lineup until 2008, when he made 10 starts (15 career).
His off-the-field troubles forced him out the door and left the
Jaguars with a hole at the receiver position.
Grade: D

22 Mark
Clayton, Baltimore Ravens, WR, Oklahoma

Analysis:
Clayton seems to epitomize the first round of the 2005 draft – at
least among the players still with the clubs that selected them.
Despite staying healthy and playing in all but four of the team’s
games since he was drafted, he hasn’t emerged as the go-to guy the
team thought he would be, and has now fallen to fourth on the team’s
depth chart. His career numbers are fair – 234 receptions for 3,116
yards and 14 touchdowns (2 rushing). But Joe Flacco and the Ravens
needed reinforcements as Clayton has failed to be the playmaker they
had hoped.
Grade: C+

23 Fabian
Washington, Oakland Raiders, CB, Nebraska

Analysis:
It’s the Raiders, so give Washington some credit for putting up three
decent seasons there before ending up in Baltimore. Despite being an
afterthought and overshadowed by All-Pro CB Nnamdi Asomugha,
Washington tallied 5 interceptions in 2006-07, including 4 during the
team’s dismal 2-14 season of ’06. He has logged 22 starts in two
seasons since leaving the Black Hole, so he is steady if
unspectacular. But the Raiders’ moves rarely make sense, like letting
go a steady performer amidst a slew of disappointments on the current
roster.
Grade: C

24 Aaron
Rodgers, Green Bay Packers, QB, California

Analysis:
It took four years to finally grade this pick, but Rodgers has paid
off in a big way and then some. When Brett Favre’s annual drama queen
act became unbearable, the Packers entrusted their faith and future
in Rodgers. In return, Rodgers became the first passer in NFL history
to throw for 4,000 yards or more in his first two seasons as a
starter while leading the Packers to 11 wins last year. Developing an
excellent rapport with his receivers, Rodgers is already considered
one of the top quarterbacks in the game with room still to improve.
Though he rode the bench for three seasons behind Favre, Rodgers’
selection was well worth the wait.
Grade: A

25 Jason
Campbell, Washington Redskins, QB, Auburn

Analysis:
Drafting a quarterback in the first round can be tricky – if you’re
the Redskins, that is. Campbell quickly fell out of favor, in part
because he never had stability in his offensive system or coaching
staff. His stats (namely a 55-38 TD-INT ratio) were respectable, but
fans chastised him for his 20-32 record as a starter. He still feels
he has something to prove, even if it is in Oakland. Given the plight
of the Redskins franchise, Campbell performed admirably, at least up
until last season’s 4-12 debacle.
Grade: C

26 Chris
Spencer, Seattle Seahawks, C, Mississippi

Analysis:
Spencer lost his job at center towards the end of last year, and
finished the previous season on injured reserve. But he is still
around, and figures to give Seattle a boost if he can stay healthy as
he did when the team was last successful (he started 29 of 32 games
in 06-07 when the Seahawks won their division both years). With
Walter Jones gone and a new coaching regime in place, 2010 could be a
make-or-break year for Spencer.
Grade: B-

27 Roddy
White, Atlanta Falcons, WR, UAB

Analysis: White
was more of an afterthought during the Michael Vick era in Atlanta,
catching just 59 passes in his first two seasons. When he became a
full-time starter in 2007, White exploded onto the scene, even during
a dismal 4-12 campaign in which his primary quarterbacks were Joey
Harrington and Byron Leftwich. 2008-09 were Pro Bowl years for White,
and from 07-09 he has averaged 85 catches for 1,246 and 8 touchdowns.
A big, physical target, White is now considered a top-flight if not
vastly underrated receiver. He and Matt Ryan have a chance to take
the Falcons far in 2010. Grade: A

28 Luis
Castillo, San Diego Chargers, DE, Northwestern

Analysis:
Castillo’s draft stock took a hit when he admitted in a letter to all
32 teams that he used performance-enhancing drugs in college, but
Bolts GM A.J. Smith decided to take a chance on him anyway. He hasn’t
been a dominant force, but a steady performer nonetheless. He notched
7 of his 16.5 career sacks in just 10 games in 2006, a stat that left
fans craving more from him. Instead, his numbers have declined
somewhat. But given his ability to stay relatively healthy and be a
good locker room presence, the Chargers shouldn’t be knocked too hard
for this one. Grade: B-

29 Marlin
Jackson, Indianapolis Colts, CB, Michigan

Analysis: Colts
fans will always remember Jackson for his game-clinching interception
of Tom Brady in the 2006 AFC Championship game to send the Colts to
Super Bowl XLI, but after performing steadily from 2005-07, Jackson
has barely been able to find the field. After tearing his ACL 7 games
into the 2008 season, Jackson played just 4 more last year before
reinjuring the knee and ultimately losing his roster spot. He tore up
his knee again before ever getting to play a down for Philadelphia,
another setback in what has become a sad saga for a once-promising
player. But the Colts got plenty from Jackson in those first three
years, so as usual, a good job of evaluating talent by GM Bill
Polian. Grade: B-

30 Heath
Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers, TE, Virginia

Analysis: It is no
coincidence the Steelers won the Super Bowl in Miller’s first year.
He gave their offense a much-needed threat in the middle of the
field, and has not stopped producing since arriving in Pittsburgh. He
has missed just two games in five years while recording 244 catches
for 2,721 yards and 27 touchdowns, numbers that won’t put him in the
Hall of Fame but certainly at the top of this class. The 2009 Pro
Bowler’s role will be even more critical in 2010 following the loss
of Santonio Holmes. Grade: A-

31 Mike
Patterson, Philadelphia Eagles, DT, USC

Analysis:
Patterson has shown flashes of brilliance during an otherwise-steady
five years with Philly, although some might argue that by USC
standards he has been average in the NFL. He has yet to miss a game
with the Eagles, and has made 70 of 80 possible starts (all but one
of those non-starts came his rookie year). From the interior line,
Patterson has tallied 11 sacks, 5 fumble recoveries, and an
interception to go along with 196 tackles. The Eagles have also been
among the top teams in rush defense during Patterson’s time there, so
it would only be fair to give the Eagles a solid mark here. Grade:
B

32 Logan
Mankins, New England Patriots, OG, Fresno State

Analysis: Not
surprisingly, the Patriots hit the jackpot on a player that was
hardly a household name before he was drafted. Even at an unglamorous
position like guard, Mankins has been a shining star. He has started
every game in five years, helping protect Tom Brady (he was only
sacked 16 times last season) while paving the way for an offensive
that at times has been historically good, like in 2007 when they set
a league-record by scoring 589 points. Currently in the middle of a
potentially-nasty contract dispute, Mankins is one of the few
Patriots players that may be difficult to replace. Grade: A

Other notable
players drafted in 2005: Frank Gore, 49ers RB (3rd round,
65th overall), 2-time Pro Bowler who rushed for 1,695
yards in 2006; Darren Sproles, Chargers RB/KR (4th round,
130th overall), 4 career touchdowns on returns; Trent
Cole, Eagles DE (5th round, 146th overall),
2-time Pro Bowl pick who has notched 47 sacks in five seasons; Jay
Ratliff, Cowboys DT (7th round, 224th overall),
2-time Pro Bowler with 21 career sacks and 10 fumble recoveries from
the interior line; Joshua Cribbs, Browns WR/KR (undrafted), 2007 and
09 Pro Bowler who has emerged as one of the game’s most exciting
players; Cribbs has scored 10 touchdowns on returns in just five
seasons while also adding 908 yards from scrimmage.

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