2004 NFL Draft Recap: BAL/BUF
How did the Ravens and Bills fare in the 2004 NFL Draft
Part two of an ongoing series.
Baltimore Ravens: (F)
DT Dwan Edwards (2nd Round, 51st Overall)
WR Devard Darling (3rd Round, 82nd Overall)
LB Roderick Green (5th Round, 153rd Overall)
QB Josh Harris (6th Round, 187th Overall)
WR Clarence Moore (6th Round, 199th Overall)
WR Derek Abney (7th Round, 244th Overall)
OT Brian Rimpf (7th Round, 246th Overall)
The overall grade of Baltimore's draft is, oddly enough, heavily influenced by a pick they didn't get to make. In 2003, the Ravens traded their 2004 first round pick (21st overall) to New England as part of a trade that allowed them to draft QB Kyle Boller. That pick turned into DT Vince Wilfork, considered to be one of the better defensive linemen in the NFL. This wouldn't be a problem if Boller developed into the franchise quarterback many people expected him to, but as we now know, if Kyle Boller is your quarterback, your team should probably hold off on printing playoff tickets.
But even without considering the lost first rounder, this draft class is terrible. Edwards has not stood out, and remains just a rotation player. Of the three wide receivers the Ravens drafted, only Darling remains on the team. Not that that is an indicator that he's a valuable member of that offense; quite the opposite. Darling has been plagued by injuries and an inability to earn playing time despite Baltimore not being exactly loaded at the position. His future with Baltimore is probably nonexistent. 5th round choice Green is, sadly, probably best known for getting stabbed at a bowling alley than being a football player.
Overall, this is as bad as a draft can get for a team. Mortgaging a first round pick for a player that can be nicely described as a huge bust, then watching that pick become a Pro Bowl caliber player for another team, AND THEN having none of your other picks develop into even backups. If any Ravens fans reading this are wondering why Baltimore will be picking high in 2008, stop.
Buffalo Bills: (C-)
WR Lee Evans (1st Round, 13th Overall)
QB J.P. Losman (1st Round, 22nd Overall)
DT Tim Anderson (3rd Round, 74th Overall)
TE Tim Euhus (4th Round, 109th Overall)
OT Dylan McFarland (7th Round, 207th Overall)
WR Jonathan Smith (7th Round, 214th Overall)
The Bills had two first round choices in 2004 due to a trade with Dallas, who obtained Buffalo's 2005 first round pick in exchange for the #22 pick. Buffalo had high hopes of Losman-to-Evans becoming the next Montana-to-Rice or Manning-to-Harrison, but Evans, while a big play threat, has been plagued by a lack of consistency (as his fantasy owners, like myself, are well aware), and Losman has been plagued by a lack of talent. Losman will be gone after 2007, as Trent Edwards has emerged as the new QB of the future.
Only Evans and Losman remain with Buffalo. Anderson, in the rare moments he played, was ineffective, and released before the 2007 season. Euhus was traded to New Orleans before the 2006 season, and has spent time with several teams since. Smith was picked up by New England after being waived by Buffalo after the 2006 season, but ended up back in Buffalo after one season, proving that not every player the Patriots touch turns into gold.
The only thing preventing Buffalo from receiving an F is Evans, and if he fails to develop the consistency required of a top wide receiver, this class will be a complete, colossal failure, if it isn't already.
2004 Draft Day Trades. 25 April 2004. 27 Dec 2007
<http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFLDraft/Draft+Day/2004/Trades.htm>
2003 Draft Day Trades. 27 April 2003. 27 Dec 2007
<http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFLDraft/Draft+Day/2003/Trades.htm>
NFL Draft History: Baltimore Ravens. 2007. 27 Dec. 2007
<http://www.drafthistory.com/teams/ravens.html>
NFL Draft History: Buffalo Bills. 2007. 27 Dec. 2007
<http://www.drafthistory.com/teams/bills.html>
Ravens LB Green stabbed outside bowling alley. 9 July 2006. 27 Dec. 2007
<http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2514911>
ESPN - Roderick Green Stats, News, Photos - San Francisco 49ers - NFL Football. 27 Dec. 2007
<http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6912>
ESPN - Devard Darling Stats, News, Photos - Baltimore Ravens - NFL Football. 27 Dec. 2007
<http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=5607>
ESPN - Dwan Edwards Stats, News, Photos - Baltimore Ravens - NFL Football. 27 Dec. 2007
<http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=5576
ESPN - Saints send LB Watson to Bills for TE Euhus - NFL. 6 June 2006. 27 Dec. 2007
<http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2473398>
ESPN - Tim Euhus Stats, News, Photos - Arizona Cardinals - NFL Football. 27 Dec. 2007
<http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6868>
ESPN - Patriots claim WR Jonathan Smith off waivers - NFL. 3 Sept 2006. 27 Dec. 2007
<http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nfl&id=2572211&campaign=rsssrch&source=billy+yates+nfl>
Buffalo Bills claim Jonathan Smith. 21 July 2007. 27 Dec. 2007
<http://www.realfootball365.com/nfl/articles/18757.html>
