NFL Draft
Seahawks get defensive on first two picks; Manning No. 1 overall

Times staff and The Associated Press

	GETTY IMAGES Texas defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs runs a 4.96 40-yard dash.
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Tubbs, 6 feet 4 and 321 pounds, was chosen shortly after 1 p.m. local time, and the Seahawks waited until they had 30 seconds left on their 15-minute first-round draft clock to make the pick.

Tubbs fills a critical need at defensive tackle for the Seahawks, who were lacking depth at the position with the departure of Norman Hand (signed with New York Giants), John Randle (retired) and Chad Eaton (released). Tubbs is the third former Texas player on Seattle's roster, joining defensive tackle Cedric Woodard and linebacker D.D. Lewis.

"You talk about a need player and the best player on the board. Here was one of those instances where those two things came together," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said. "It's nice. That's the way you'd like to have it go."

Tubbs adds size to a defense that ranked 14th against the run last season. He also has the quickness to rush the quarterback, which should boost Seattle's No. 27 ranking against the pass.

"He's the total package," Holmgren said. "He's a big, powerful man who can stop the run, but a lot of times those guys don't have the type of movement on the pass rush. He can do both those things."

Tubbs is scheduled to arrive in Seattle on Monday for a media conference.

In the second round, the Seahawks went for defense again. The choice was Florida State outside linebacker Michael Boulware, the 53rd overall selection. He is expected to play safety in the NFL.

"I'm really excited about the move," Boulware said. "I really think that's fitting for my body type. I love the run and I work very well in space. I think I'll do very well. Coverage is my favorite part of the game."

He is the younger brother of Baltimore linebacker Peter Boulware, who moved from defensive end in college and won the NFL's Rookie of the Year award in 1997. He also went on to the Pro Bowl.

"It's going to be an adjustment," said Peter Boulware, on hand for his brother's draft party. "It's going to take a lot of effort, but he'll do fine. He'll do great. Mike is such an athlete and he'll do whatever his team wants."
 
Seattle's third-round pick, the 84th overall, was guard Sean Locklear of North Carolina State. He's considered smart and athletic, a 6-3, 301-pound pulling guard who can lock up linebackers.

Earlier, San Diego chose Eli Manning to open the draft, despite pleas from his family not to, then traded him to the New York Giants for quarterback Philip Rivers.

"I'm a lot happier now than I was 10 minutes ago," Manning said during a second news conference; his first came when he still belonged to the Chargers.

"We wanted a trade to happen. We never had favorite teams."

Manning and his family had requested that the Chargers not select the Mississippi quarterback, but San Diego made him the No. 1 overall pick. An hour later, after the Giants chose North Carolina State's Rivers, the deal was announced.

The Chargers get New York's third-round pick this year and the Giants' first and fifth-rounders in 2005 in addition to Rivers, whose stock soared after private workouts and interviews.

Manning joined brother Peyton, the NFL's co-MVP last season, and father Archie in being picked in the first two spots of a draft. Peyton went first overall in 1998 to Indianapolis, and Archie was the No. 2 pick in 1971. They are the first family to have three players selected in the first round of the draft.

The crowd at Madison Square Garden booed lustily when Eli Manning's name was first called and as he held up a Chargers jersey and hat. They yelled just as loudly when the trade to the Giants was announced.

"I've heard boos before," Manning said. "I've been in a lot of stadiums where they've booed."

Manning went back on stage after the trade to take photos holding up a Giants jersey. He was joined by Archie, Peyton and his mom, Olivia Manning.

Through Archie and agent Tom Condon, the Mannings told San Diego general manager A.J. Smith not to take Eli, and that Eli was prepared to sit out the season if they did choose him. The Mannings preferred New York, and got what they sought.

With the second pick, Oakland selected Iowa tackle Robert Gallery. Several teams, including the Giants and Browns, were eager to get Gallery, who is considered the best offensive line prospect since Orlando Pace went No. 1 overall to St. Louis in 1997.

"I am going in there to get a starting job and earn respect," he said. "I want to be a part of that legacy and end up in the same category" as Hall of Famers Art Shell and Gene Upshaw. Arizona also did the expected, taking wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who was eligible after his sophomore season because he attended prep school before going to Pitt. Fitzgerald was a ball boy for the Vikings when current Cardinals coach Dennis Green was at Minnesota.

By acquiring Manning, the Giants might have signaled the end of Kerry Collins' stay in New York because he has only one year left on his contract at about $8 million.

Just before the Chargers-Giants trade was announced, Washington took Miami safety Sean Taylor, who should be an instant starter. He was the first of six Hurricanes chosen in the opening round, a record.

Detroit traded the sixth overall spot to Cleveland, which moved up just one place and surrendered this year's second-round selection to get Miami tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. Browns coach Butch Davis recruited Winslow to the Hurricanes.

Winslow, the son of Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow, said going to Cleveland was "an ideal situation."

The Lions went for Texas wide receiver Roy Williams, who they will team with Charles Rogers, taken second overall last year. Williams' stock also rose significantly in the postseason.

Atlanta grabbed Virginia Tech cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who is a buddy of former college teammate Michael Vick, the Falcons' starting quarterback. Hall says his NFL idol is Deion Sanders, who began his career with the Falcons.

Jacksonville surprisingly took Washington wide receiver Reggie Williams, who was projected to go in the middle of the round — not in the top 10. But the Jaguars are weak at wideout.

The 10th pick was South Carolina cornerback Dunta Robinson, taken by Houston, which likely will move starting cornerback Marcus Coleman to safety.

Ben Roethlisberger of Miami of Ohio became the third quarterback chosen, going to Pittsburgh, which also had expressed interest in Rivers.

The Jets, who were most interested in cornerbacks Hall and Robinson, instead went for Miami inside linebacker Jonathan Vilma, who also might wind up on the outside.

Buffalo took Wisconsin receiver Lee Evans, who was one of the fastest players in the draft but has a history of knee injuries. And Chicago, with a need on the defensive line, got the highest-rated tackle, Tommie Harris of Oklahoma.

Tampa Bay, perhaps looking for a tall receiver to replace the deposed Keyshawn Johnson, chose Michael Clayton of LSU, who also was projected to go lower. Clayton was the fifth wideout in the first 15 selections.

Philadelphia moved up from No. 28, sending that pick and its second-rounder to San Francisco, then selected 366-pound offensive tackle Shawn Andrews.

Denver followed by taking Miami outside linebacker D.J. Williams with the 17th selection. Williams should replace Ian Gold or John Mobley.

Will Smith of Ohio State was the first defensive end chosen, going 18th to New Orleans.

The Dolphins moved up one spot to 19th, sending their fourth-rounder to Minnesota for the chance to pick Miami Hurricanes guard Vernon Carey.

Southern Cal DE Kenechi Udeze went to Minnesota with the next pick. And when New England took tackle Vince Wilfork, that made for six Hurricanes in the first round, breaking the record for one school set by Southern California in 1968 and Miami in 2002.

Buffalo, seeking a quarterback to groom behind Drew Bledsoe, traded next year's No. 1 spot and this year's No. 2 pick to Dallas to get back into the first round to select J.P. Losman of Tulane.

Seattle, in need of bulk on the defensive line, got it with tackle Marcus Tubbs of Texas.

St. Louis moved up two spots for the first running back chosen, Oregon State's Steven Jackson, indicating the Rams are concerned about Marshall Faulk's longevity. The Rams sent a fourth-rounder and their first pick (26th overall) to Cincinnati.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company