2003 NFL Draft Re-mix

Here’s a look back at the 2003 (the year of the Cornerback) draft, to see who the teams would take if they could do it over, knowing what they know today. This was a lot of fun making. I hope you enjoy it

1) Cincinnati Bengals—Carson Palmer
There are some other solid choices, but none better at the quarterback position. Palmer helped bring the Bengals back to respectability. Unfortunately, the team’s inability to stay on the right side of the law has crushed their potential. The former Heisman is a two-time Pro Bowler.

2) Detroit Lions—Kevin Williams
Sorry Millen, I’m not taking your collarbone breakin’, weed smokin’ Charles Rogers. I’m going with three-time Pro Bowl/All-Pro Kevin Williams to team with Shaun Rogers to form one of the league’s best defensive lines.

3) Houston Texans—Andre Johnson
I’ll stick with Houston’s pick. Andre is a two-time Pro Bowler with a pair of 1,000 yard seasons. He’s really coming into his own.

4) New York Jets—Lance Briggs
Briggs is a three-time Pro Bowler (two-time All-Pro), and he started his career with four-straight 100-tackle seasons. He’s averaged close to 109 tackles per season in his career and added six INTs.

5) Dallas Cowboys—Larry Johnson
LJ is an absolute beast, having recorded two 1,700 yard seasons already. He is a two-time Pro Bowler/All-Pro with 60 career TDs.

6) New Orleans Saints—Troy Polamalu
A good way to upgrade a defense that has been struggling for years would be to add a four-time Pro Bowler (two-time All-Pro) safety. He is seemingly everywhere on defense. He has tallied 359 tackles, seven sacks, and 10 INTs.

7) Jacksonville Jaguars—Anquan Boldin
Jacksonville hasn’t had a good receiver since Jimmy Smith retired. Boldin would have helped in the last few years of his career, and gave them a No. 1 going forward. He has earned two Pro Bowl trips in his young career, has three seasons with 1,200+ receiving yards, and a couple of 100+ reception seasons.

8) Carolina Panthers—Terrell Suggs
With Kris Jenkins and Julius Peppers up front, Terrell Suggs would have been even more disruptive with the Panthers. The two-time Pro Bowler has 300 career tackles and 45 Sacks.

9) Minnesota Vikings—Osi Umenyiora
The Vikings hit a home run with Kevin Williams, but with him off the board, they would turn to two-time Pro Bowler Umenyiora. He has 41.5 career sacks (including six in a game vs. the Eagles last year).

10) Baltimore Ravens—Asante Samuel
With the main pass-rushers gone, the Ravens would turn to the best defensive back available. Asante is a true shutdown corner that would team with Chris McAllister and Ed Reed to make it impossible to complete a pass. He has 232 career tackles and 22 INTs (three of which he took to the house).

11) Seattle Seahawks—Marcus Trufant
I’ll stick with Seattle’s pick here. Trufant has been named to one Pro Bowl, recorded 394 tackles, and picked off 16 passes. Can’t complain about that.

12) St. Louis Rams—Ty Warren
Not many players plug up the middle like Ty Warren. He has 286 career tackles and 17.5 Sacks. He’d certainly be a better pick than Jimmy Kennedy was.

13) New England Patriots—Nick Barnett
The Patriots would go head over heals for a solid, young LB like Barnett. He’s recorded 100+ tackles every year in the league (609 total, 121.8 average). He also has 11.5 Sacks and nine INTs. Amazingly, he’s never made a Pro Bowl.

14) Chicago Bears—Willis McGahee
The Bears help solve their offensive woes by adding the dynamic Willis McGahee, who earned his first Pro Bowl trip last year. He won’t help immediately, as he sat out the 2003 seasons, but he ran for 1,000 yards every years since (2006 he ran for 990, but close enough). He’s averaged 1,143 rushing yards and 184 receiving yards in his career. He’s scored 32 TDs.

15) Philadelphia Eagles—Jason Witten
The Eagles add a great weapon to the arsenal in Witten. He only has been selected to four Pro Bowls (2004-2007). His career stats are impressive with 348 receptions, 3,983 receiving yards and 21 TDs. He had his first 1,000+ yard season last year. Witten tied an NFL record with 15 receptions in one game. Witten is the complete tight end who has great size, soft hands, and exceptional athleticism, who can make the big plays anywhere on the field.

16) Pittsburgh Steelers—Ken Hamlin
With Troy Polamalu gone, the Seahawks would go with Hamlin, the next best safety. He has 360 career tackles and 13 INTs. In Pittsburgh, where the team and players are more revered, he probably wouldn’t have got his skull crushed in, which would give him even better numbers.

17) Arizona Cardinals—Nnamdi Asomugha
The Cardinals select Asomugha, who is one of the game's better cover corners. He doesn’t get thrown to much, so his 217 tackles and nine INTs seem low, but the Pro Bowler has the skills.

18) Arizona Cardinals—Rashean Mathis
Why not go for the gusto and add another starting cornerback. Mathis is a Pro Bowler with 334 career tackles and 21 INTs. This duo would make it tough to pass on the Cards.

19) Baltimore Ravens—E.J. Henderson
The Ravens go with a solid LB in Henderson. He took a little while to get his groove, but playing under the leadership and guidance of Ray Lewis, E.J. would likely hit his stride sooner. He has 227 tackles and 7.5 sacks over the past two seasons.

20) Denver Broncos—Terrence McGee
Terrence McGee is a solid CB, as well as an explosive return man. He has 351 career tackles and 13 INTs to go along with six career return TDs. He has made one Pro Bowl and named an All-Pro twice.

21) Cleveland Browns—Terence Newman
The Browns would bolster their secondary with the selection of Pro Bowler Terence Newman. He has 319 tackles and 16 INTs.

22) Chicago Bears—Charles Tillman
The Bears would select Peanut here (instead of with the 35th pick like they actually did) because he’s been an important part of their defense. He has 335 tackles and 17 INTs.

23) Buffalo Bills—Dallas Clark
The Bills would grab Clark, who is the best tight end in the draft. He would provide Drew Bledsoe a solid target in the immediate future, and J.P. Losman a security blanket down the road. He has 2,234 Yards and 25 TDs. Last year he went for 616 and 11.

24) Indianapolis Colts—Robert Mathis
Instead of taking him with the 138th pick, the Colts would grab Mathis here. He has 207 tackles and 42 sacks. He’s averaged 9.6 sacks the past four years.

25) New York Giants—Calvin Pace
Calvin didn’t get going until last year for the Cardinals, but his 98 tackles and 6.5 sacks were pretty impressive. He would give the G-Men a flexible defender who could line up at LB or DE.

26) San Francisco 49ers—Dan Coppen
The 49ers would take care of their offensive line by adding Pro-Bowl center Dan Coppen.

27) Kansas City Chiefs—Cato June
The Chiefs would add a playmaker on the defense rather than grab another offensive weapon (as they did with LJ). The Pro-Bowl LB has averaged just over 107 tackles the past four years, including an impressive 142 in 2006. He also has an impressive 11 career INTs.

28) Tennessee Titans—Ricky Manning, Jr.
In a draft full of CBs, the Titans sure missed the boat with Andre Woolfolk. If they could get a mulligan, they would take Ricky Manning, Jr., who has 265 tackles and 14 INTs.

29) Green Bay Packers—Kawika Mitchell
The Pack would grab LB Kawika Mitchell here. He has 380 tackles, eight sacks, and four INTs. He’s averaged 95 tackles the past three years.

30) San Diego Chargers—Nate Burleson
The Chargers would go with Nate Burleson to give them another option to go along with LT and Gates. He has 195 Receptions for 2,675 Yards and 23 TDs. He’s had two nine-TD seasons.

31) Oakland Raiders—Eric Steinbach
The Raiders would help their pathetic offensive line by adding Steinbach, a solid guard.

32) Oakland Raiders—Jeff Faine
The Raiders would further improve their line by adding center Jeff Faine. With two solid OL choices to end the first round, perhaps the Raiders wouldn’t be such a joke.

Previous Re-Mixes

2000 Re-mix

2001 Re-mix

2002 Re-mix