A Look Back: The 2001 Draft

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

I don't think McCants and Cartwright are necessarily late-round gems in the sense that they have developed into Jessie Armsteads, Brad Johnsons, et al. What I was saying is that considering the number of late round picks that make the team that drafted them, let alone become valuable contributing members of the team, they are excellent pick-ups.

As to Sage Rosenfels being a bust.....When we drafted him I was excited. I thought he had a lot of potential. However, when I got a closer look I realized that I was wrong. Outside of the preseason, the only time I've seen him play was when Jay Fiedler was injured, Ray Lucas was injured after filling in for Fiedler, and Sage came in and looked god awful. I can't judge him based on his performance in the preseason and that one Miami game, but Washington apparently didn't think much of him. We were not exactly flush with good quarterbacks when we traded Rosenfels to Miami for a 7th round pick in the trade (remember, he was a fourth rounder). So, in my book, Rosenfels was a bust.

As to Santana Moss being a great wideout.....He looked very, very good last year. However, prior to week 3 or 4 of last season, Moss was very inconsistent. Jets fans hated Moss and often complained about how he was a wasted pick (I read the NY Time Sports Section; Online NY Jets Fan Discussion Forum). Remember the Jets brought in Curtis Conway last season to replace Coles. There was little talk of Moss filling Coles' shoes. Perhaps he just took some time to develop, but I think that overall (from their rookie years until the present) Gardner has been a better wideout. I'm not saying Gardner is an elite receiver, just that he was the second best WR from the draft.

I definately stand by my comment that Chad Johnson is best receiver to come out of the 2001 draft. I watched about 3 or 4 Bengals games last year and this guy has good hands, excellent agility and speed, and produces. Johnson is perhaps one of the best, young, underrated and emerging WRs in the league.