2004 NFL Draft Recap: ARI/ATL
How did the Falcons and Cardinals fare in the 2004 NFL Draft
Analysis of the 2004 NFL draft classes of the Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons.
To properly analyze the value of the draft class of an NFL team requires time more than anything else, so now that the players selected in the 2004 NFL Draft have had four full seasons of experience, how successful the 32 teams have been can be accurately gauged. This is part one of an ongoing series.
Arizona Cardinals: (B+)
WR Larry Fitzgerald (1st Round, 3rd Overall)
LB Karlos Dansby (2nd Round, 33rd Overall)
DT Darnell Dockett (3rd Round, 64th Overall)
C Alex Stepanovich (4th Round, 100th Overall)
DE Antonio Smith (5th Round, 135th Overall)
C Nick Leckey (6th Round, 167th Overall)
QB John Navarre (7th Round, 202nd Overall)
Taking a wide receiver this high in the draft has been historically a big gamble for a franchise (see Warrick, Peter; Terrell, David; Rogers, Charles), but it paid off big for the Cardinals, as Fitzgerald has emerged as one of the top receivers in the NFL.
Dansby saw his stock fall due to durability concerns, but so far his tremendous athleticism has translated into production, with 95 total tackles this season and 20.5 career sacks. Dockett also had concerns regarding his work ethic, but has recently emerged as a feared pass rushing defensive tackle, with eight sacks in 2007 after recording only seven in his first three seasons combined.
The only other player from this crop to still be in Arizona is 5th round choice Smith, who stepped into the starting lineup due to an injury suffered by DE Bertrand Berry. The two centers, Stepanovich and Leckey, have both left Arizona to be backups for Cincinnati and St. Louis respectively, and Navarre is not on any team’s active roster.
The first day of the draft was a huge success, as all three picks are quality starters on the rise, and Fitzgerald has made a Pro Bowl appearance. The second day was considerably less productive, but the Cardinals did add depth to both lines.
Atlanta Falcons: (B)
CB DeAngelo Hall (1st Round, 8th Overall)
WR Michael Jenkins (1st Round, 29th Overall)
QB Matt Schaub (3rd Round, 90th Overall)
LB Demorrio Williams (4th Round, 101st Overall)
DT Chad Lavalais (5th Round, 142nd Overall)
S Etric Pruitt (6th Round, 186th Overall)
RB Quincy Wilson (7th Round, 219th Overall)
Hall, along with eventual 10th pick Dunta Robinson, were considered the top two cornerbacks in the draft, and both have lived up to the hype. Hall has had conduct issues during his short career, but has been precisely what the Falcons hoped he’d be on the field; an elite, shut-down cornerback.
Jenkins, on the other hand, has yet to develop into the #1 receiver the Falcons were hoping for, catching only seven passes his rookie season, and never more than 60 in a season. Schaub has developed into a quality starting quarterback, but for the Houston Texans, much to the chagrin of Falcons fans in the wake of Michael Vick’s jail sentence. The Falcons did receive two second round picks from Houston for Schaub, but Falcons management would like a do-over on that trade.
Demorrio Williams recorded 128 total tackles in his first season as a starter in 2005, with 100 of those being solo tackles. Although Williams has not racked up tackles at that prodigious pace since, he is still an effective outside linebacker and special teams contributor. The Falcons’ last three picks are no longer in Atlanta and struggling to stay in the League.
The overall grade of this class is considerably lowered by the slow development of second first-round choice Jenkins, but finding a starting-caliber QB in the third round brings it back up (even if Schaub no longer plays in Atlanta).
NFL Draft History: Atlanta Falcons. 2007. 26 Dec. 2007
<http://www.drafthistory.com/teams/falcons.html>.
NFL Draft History: Arizona Cardinals. 2007. 26 Dec. 2007
<http://www.drafthistory.com/teams/cardinals.html>.
Karlos Dansby Stats, News, Photos - Arizona Cardinals - NFL Football. 26 Dec 2007
<http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6792>
Demorrio Williams Stats, News, Photos - Atlanta Falcons - NFL Football. 2007. 26 Dec 2007
<http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6860>
Darnell Dockett Stats, News, Photos - Arizona Cardinals - NFL Football. 2007. 26 Dec 2007
<http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=5589>
