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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 18, 1997)
ON THE TUBE National Football League NFL Draft, Saturday, ESPN, (34) Noon Effufakl Jets trade No. 1 pick to Rams ■ TRADE: With the top pick in the draft the Rams will likely pick Orlando Pace HEMPSTEAD, N.Y, — The St. Louis Rams obtained the first pick in the NFL draft from the New York Jets today, giving them the chance to select Orlando Pace, the offensive tackle coach Dick Ver meil desperately seeks. In return, the Jets received the sixth overall choice and the Rams’ choices in the third, fourth and seventh rounds. That will allow Jets coach Bill Parcells to get the defensive player he wants. Vermeil, who didn’t have a first or second-rounder his first two years in Philadelphia, didn’t specifically say he would take Pace. “Needless to say I’m very excit ed,” he said. “It’s so super to be in this situation. To be in a position to start a new program with the number one, number one is al most overwhelming.” Parcells was equally happy. “At the sixth spot we’ll still get a real good player and the addi tional picks let us address our pressing needs,” Parcells said. “It’s a win-win situation for both teams.” In effect, the Jets are reclaiming the third- and fourth-round picks they gave up to New England as compensation for Parcells’ release from his contract with the Patriots. The Rams, who consider offen sive tackle their most pressing need, are certain to use the pick Saturday to take Pace, the 340 pounder from Ohio State who is rated the best player available. The Jets, who wanted a defen sive player rather than Pace, now will have a shot at either Alabama linebacker Dwayne Rudd or Texas cornerback Bryant Westbrook. They might even have a shot at de fensive end Peter Boulware of Florida State if Baltimore, as ex pected, trades out of the fourth overall spot. In Parcells’ mind, there was no clear-cut top prospect this time. D-Day for former Ducks MARK McTYRE/Emerald Former Oregon offensive tackle Paul Wiggins is expected to be selected no earlier than the third round in this weekend’s NFL Draft. Six other former Ducks should hear from an NFL team some time this weekend. Seven former Ducks could be drafted or picked as a free agent By Ben Kwasney and Ryan Frank Oregon Daily Emerald Seven former Oregon foot ball players will surely be sit ting within arm’s reach of their telephone this weekend. The 62nd NFL Draft begins at noon Saturday in New York, and there is a possibility that seven former Ducks could ei ther be selected in the draft or be picked up as a free agent fol lowing the draft. Former Oregon cornerback Kenny Wheaton, who left the Ducks after his junior season, and former Oregon offensive tackle Paul Wiggins will most likely be the first two former Ducks selected in the draft. Five other former Ducks could also receive a call this weekend. Quarterback Tony Graziani said he could be tak en as early as the third round, and tight end Josh Wilcox, de fensive end Mark Schmidt and linebackers Reggie Jordan and Derrick Barnes will all most likely be taken in the latter rounds or picked up as a free agent following the draft. The following is a projection for each player in the draft. Paul Wiggins: Listed by some as the sixth best offensive tackle in the draft, Wiggins’ stock may have dropped some what because of injuries. Wiggins played most of the 1996 season while injured. Expect Wiggins to be taken no earlier than the third round. Projection: Third round or later Tony Graziani: Several NFL teams looking to fill needs at quarterback have contacted the Turn to DUCKS, Page 16 St. Louis expected to select Orlando Pace with top pick ■ FIRST ROUND: Seattle is expected to take Shawn Springs with the third pick 1. St. Louis (6-10) NEEDS: Overall defense, offen sive line. FREE-AGENT SIGNINGS: RB Craig Heyward, LB Mike Jones, K Jeff Wilkins, QB Mark Rypien, who returns as backup for second year-man Tony Banks PROBABLE PICK: Orlando Pace, ot, Ohio State 2. Oakland (7-9) (from New Or leans) NEEDS: Offensive line, line backer, defensive line. FREE-AGENT SIGNINGS: QB Jeff George, WR-KR Desmond Howard. PROBABLE PICK: Pace was the choice until the trade. Now it’s Shawn Springs, cb, Ohio State or Derek Russell, dt, Southern Cali fornia. 3. Seattle (the higher pick from Atlanta) NEEDS: Offensive line, run stopping linebacker, perhaps run ning back. FREE-AGENT SIGNINGS: LB Chad Brown and CB Willie Williams from Pittsburgh, plus S Bennie Blades and QB Warren Moon, who will back up John Friesz. PROBABLE PICKS: Springs, Russell: Peter Boulware, de, Flori da State; Bryant Westbrook, CB, Texas, with the high choice. With other spot, LBs James Farrior or Jamie Sharper, Virginia; Tom Knight, CB, Iowa; Rae Carruth, WR, Colorado; Jim Drucken miller, QB, Virginia Tech. 4. Baltimore (4-12) NEEDS: Overall defense — sec ondary, linebackers, and front four, hurt by injury last season. FREE-AGENT SIGNINGS: OL Leo Goeas, DE Michael McCrary, who satisfies need for pass rusher and probably forces trade down to save cap money. PROBABLE PICK: Trade down with team that wants Boulware. Probably draft day deal. 5. Detroit (5-11) NEEDS: Overall defense, partic ularly at linebacker, where the Li ons tried and failed to replace the departed Chris Spielman. Sec ondary, where Blades defected to Seattle. Fullback to block for Bar ry Sanders, a nonexistent position in the old offense. FREE-AGENT SIGNINGS: P John Jett. PROBABLE PICK: Westbrook, Springs, Boulware or Dwayne Rudd, lb, Alabama. 6. New York Jets (1-15) NEEDS: Defense, particularly the line, where only four players Eire signed; offensive line. FREE-AGENT SIGNINGS: LB Pepper Johnson, RB Lorenzo Neal, DE Ernie Logan. PROBABLE PICK: Westrbook or Rudd. 7. New York Giants (6-10) NEEDS: Offense, Offense, Of fense, particularly line, wide re ceiver and perhaps quarterback. FREE-AGENT SIGNINGS: None. PROBABLE PICK: Rudd; Jones; Yatil Green, WR, Miami; Warrick Dunn, RB, Florida State; Farrior. 8. Tampa Bay (6-10) (the lower pick from San Diego) NEEDS: Offense, particularly at wide receiver, where Alvin Harp er has never become the consis Tum to FIRST ROUND, Page 16 NFL DRAFT ■ WHAT: 62nd NFL draft. ■ WHERE: The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City. ■ WHEN: Noon EDT, Satur day, April 19 (Rounds 1 -3); 11 a.m. EOT, Sunday, April 20 (Rounds 4-7). ■ TIME LIMITS: 15 minutes per team for Round 1; 10 min utes per team for Round 2; 5 minutes perteam Rounds 3-7.
