Dr. Z Charts Round 1
1. PATRIOTS
Rick Mirer, QB, NOTRE DAME
It's either Mirer and his nimble feet or Drew Bledsoe and his big arm. Mirer had a terrific workout for the Patriot scouts.
2. SEAHAWKS
Drew Bledsoe, QB, WASHINGTON STATE
His long-range gun and overall savvy could cure Seattle's persistent quarterbacking woes. The team could use a local hero to draw the fans.
3. JETS
Marvin Jones, LB, FLORIDA STATE
Jones is a big hitter with sub-4.6 speed, but the Jets need defensive-line help and could decide to dip into the Big Three (John Copeland, Eric Curry and Dan Williams).
4. CARDINALS
Garrison Hearst, RB, GEORGIA
Phoenix viewed him as bait to lure Joe Montana, but grabbing the nation's premier runner makes sense anyway. His knee injury is not a worry.
5. BENGALS
John Copeland, DT-NT, ALABAMA
A hard choice: Do you shore up a soft defense or go for the best offensive lineman, tackle Willie Roaf? Cincinnati's defensive needs are greater.
6. BUCCANEERS
Willie Roaf, T, LOUISIANA TECH
Tampa Bay was looking for some pass-rushing help and never figured that Roaf would still be on the board. Skilled offensive tackles are the league's scarcest commodity.
7. BEARS
Curtis Conway, WR, SOUTHERN CAL
His sub-4.4 speed swings it, unless Marvin Jones drops this far. Early rumors had Chicago trading down for a lineman plus an extra pick.
8. LIONS
Eric Curry, DE, ALABAMA
A formidable outside rusher with 4.8 speed. Massive offensive tackle Lincoln Kennedy once made sense, but lately the Lions have been collecting free-agent offensive linemen.
9. FALCONS
Patrick Bates, S, TEXAS A&M
Atlanta says Kennedy, but that's just a smoke screen to keep teams from trading up to get Bates, who's a 6'3", 224-pound terror.
10. RAMS
Jerome Bettis, FB, NOTRE DAME
A 248-pound reincarnation of Earl Campbell. He'll be the hammer in Chuck Knox's beloved Ground Chuck offense.
11. EAGLES (trade from Browns)
Dan Williams, DE-DT, TOLEDO
The Eagles rub their eyes and make the trade. They can't believe this relentless inside and outside rusher is still available.
12. RAIDERS
Lincoln Kennedy, T, WASHINGTON
His sore wrist and excess poundage are the negatives; his savvy and thrust are the positives. The Raiders like to gamble.
13. BROWNS (trade from Eagles)
Steve Tovar, LB, OHIO STATE
Tovar—6'3" and 244 pounds, with 4.67 speed—brings back memories of Bill Belichick's Giant days, when the defense was built around oversized linebackers.
14. BRONCOS
Sean Dawkins, WR, CALIFORNIA
Defensive end Dan Footman is a possibility, but the idea of a 6'4", 213-pound, sure-handed receiver's teaming up with John Elway is too enticing.
15. PACKERS
Wayne Simmons, LB, CLEMSON
The Pack wants defense, and so will pick either Simmons, who runs a 4.67 40, or a lineman.
16. COLTS
Dan Footman, DE, FLORIDA STATE
This 6'5", 288-pounder's exceptional athletic talent gives him the nod over North Carolina's bowling-ball tailback, Natrone Means.
17. REDSKINS
Carlton Gray, CB, UCLA
A need pick. Darrell Green is aging and Martin Mayhew is gone. Another cornerback, Notre Dame's Tom Carter, had fine combine workouts, but Gray is a natural.
18. CHIEFS (or 49ers, trade from Chiefs)
Brad Hopkins, T-G, ILLINOIS
A smooth, athletic 306-pounder, Hopkins is the best O-lineman on the board. He would help either team.
19. OILERS
Ernest Dye, T, SOUTH CAROLINA
Free-agent left tackle Don Maggs is gone. Dye, 6'4½", 337 pounds, has quick feet and good balance as a pass blocker.
20. CARDINALS
Kevin Williams, WR-KR, MIAMI
Williams, who has 4.46 speed, is still in-proven as a receiver, but he has outstanding return skills. But the Cards could still go for an offensive lineman.
21. VIKINGS
Lester Holmes, G, JACKSON STATE
Coach Dennis Green's personal choice, Holmes is an aggressive 300-pounder with a nasty streak. Run blocking is his forte.
22. CHARGERS
O.J. McDuffie, WR, PENN STATE
San Diego's offensive-line worries eased when they retained free-agent left tackle Harry Swayne. McDuffie is a super-productive pass catcher.
23. STEELERS
Demetrius DuBose, LB, NOTRE DAME
Pittsburgh lost two linebackers in the free-agent marketplace and picked up only one. The speedy DuBose, who can play inside or out, will fill the hole.
24. EAGLES
Tony McGee, TE, MICHIGAN
McGee and Mark Bavaro will bookend Philadelphia's two-tight-end set, and Keith Byars—if he stays—will return to the backfield.
25. DOLPHINS
Ben Coleman, T-G, WAKE FOREST
A project, but the Dolphins lost free-agent guard Harry Galbreath and need tackle-to-tackle help for a line that gave up too many sacks last year.
26. SAINTS
Irv Smith, TE, NOTRE DAME
New Orleans can't believe it—Smith is still available. Many observers consider him the best tight end in an exceptional year for the position.
27. 49ERS
Tom Carter, CB, NOTRE DAME
Not a pressing need for San Francisco, but Carter broke the bank at the combine workouts with a 4.42 40 and a 43-inch vertical jump.
28. BILLS
Deon Figures, CB, COLORADO
His lack of blazing speed is a concern, but Buffalo likes his ball savvy and his toughness. Losing left tackle Will Wolford might change the Bills' priorities.
29. COWBOYS
Troy Drayton, TE, PENN STATE
The Cowboys might get lucky and land Drayton, a sure-handed 255-pounder, in this spot, or they might have to trade up, a maneuver with which they are familiar.
PHOTO
JOHN BIEVER
Hearst is first in an off year for running backs.
PHOTO
PETER READ MILLER
Conway (above) and Kennedy are two of five players from the Pac- 10 who should go in the first round.
PHOTO
TOM TREICK
[See caption above.]