During the upcoming 2016 NFL Draft there might be some references to the draft that was held 12 years ago. The 2004 NFL Draft was unique for a couple of reasons. It was a draft that included an NBA-esque trade of first round picks after those picks were made. The San Diego Chargers selected Mississippi quarterback Eli Manning with the first pick. The New York Giants selected North Carolina State quarterback Philip Rivers with the fourth pick. The Chargers then traded Manning to the Giants for Rivers, the Giants 3rd-round pick in this draft, and their first and fifth-round picks in 2005. That got the 2004 NFL Draft off to an exciting start. This draft also got pretty exciting for the University of Miami. The Hurricanes had six of their players selected in the first round. That's a record number of players from s single school. It's a record that Ohio State might threaten three weeks from today. Here's a look at the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft.
1. San Diego Chargers-Eli Manning, QB, Mississippi
2. Oakland Raiders-Robert Gallery, T, Iowa
3. Arizona Cardinals-Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Pittsburgh
4. New York Giants-Philip Rivers, QB, North Carolina State
5. Washington Redskins-Sean Taylor, S, Miami (FL)
6. Cleveland Browns-Kellen Winslow Jr., TE, Miami (FL)
7. Detroit Lions-Roy Williams, WR, Texas
8. Atlanta Falcons-DeAngelo Hall, CB, Virginia Tech
9. Jacksonville Jaguars-Reggie Williams, WR, Washington
10. Houston Texans-Dunta Robinson, CB, South Carolina
11. Pittsburgh Steelers-Ben Roeethlisberger, QB, Miami (OH)
12. New York Jets-Jonathan Vilma, LB, Miami (FL)
13. Buffalo Bills-Lee Evans, WR, Wisconsin
14. Chicago Bears-Tommie Harris, DT, Oklahoma
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Michael Clayton, WR, LSU
16. Philadelphia Eagles-Shawn Andrews, G, Arkansas
17. Denver Broncos-D.J. Williams, LB, Miami (FL)
18. New Orleans Saints-Will Smith, DE, Ohio State
19. Miami Dolphins-Vernon Carey, T, Miami (FL)
20. Minnesota Vikings-Kenechi Udeze, DE, USC
21. New England Patriots-Vince Wilfork, DT, Miami (FL)
22. Buffalo Bills-J.P. Losman, QB, Tulane
23. Seattle Seahawks-Marcus Tubbs, DT, Texas
24. St. Louis Rams-Steven Jackson, RB, Oregon State
25. Green Bay Packers-Ahmad Carroll, CB, Arkansas
26. Cincinnati Bengals-Chris Perry, RB, Michigan
27. Houston Texans-Jason Babin, DE, Western Michigan
28. Carolina Panthers-Chris Gamble, CB, Ohio State
29. Atlanta Falcons-Michael Jenkins, WR, Ohio State
30. Detroit Lions-Kevin Jones, RB, Virginia Tech
31. San Francisco 49ers-Rashaun Woods, WR, Oklahoma State
32. New England Patriots-Benjamin Watson, TE, Georgia
The 6 first round Hurricane players:
Sean Taylor
Kellen Winslow Jr.
Jonathan Vilma
D.J. Williams
Vernon Carey
Vince Wilfork
It's no real stretch to say that Vince Wilfork had the best pro career. For most of that career he was one of best, if not the best, nose tackles in the game. The "best Hurricane" honor might have gone to Sean Taylor if his life hadn't been cut short by a dipshit with a gun. Each of the six had an NFL career that can be described as at least solid. Winslow was arguably the biggest disappointment but even he has a Pro Bowl appearance on his short list of NFL achievements.
Speaking of Pro Bowls, nearly half of the players (15) in this first round made at least one Pro Bowl. That's a real solid number.
Eli Manning
Larry Fitzgerald
Philip Rivers
Sean Taylor
Kellen Winslow Jr.
Roy Williams
DeAngelo Hall
Ben Roethlisberger
Jonathan Vilma
Tommie Harris
Shawn Andrews
Will Smith
Vince Wilfork
Steven Jackson
Jason Babin
Dunta Robinson, Lee Evans, and D.J. Williams each had a season, or more, that was worthy of a Pro Bowl nod.
Larry Fitzgerald and Ben Roethlisberger are probably the most likely to be tapped for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Fitzgerald might have to wait a bit because of the receiver line that the voters have insisted on creating. Eli Manning will have some detractors for the seasons that he had in which the Giants didn't make the playoffs. His playoff successes should be enough but you never know.
The 2004 NFL Draft will probably be best remembered for the surprising trade that kicked off the festivities. And for the six Hurricanes that were selected in the first round. That should keep this draft in mind as we cruise through the first round of the upcoming draft.
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