April 12, 2008

2003
1. DT Kevin Williams (1-9)
2. LB E.J. Henderson (2-40)
3. WR Nate Burleson (3-71)
4. RB Onterrio Smith (4-105)
5. P Eddie Johnson (6-180)
6. LB Michael Nattiel (6-190)
7. WR Keenan Howry (7-221)

2004
1. DE Kenechi Udeze (1-20)
2. LB Dontarrious Thomas (2-48)
3. DE Darrion Scott (3-88)
4. OT Nat Dorsey (4-115)
5. RB Mewelde Moore (4-119)
6. LB Rod Davis (5-155)
7. DB Deandré Eiland (6-184)
8. TE-FB Jeff Dugan (7-220)

2005
1. WR Troy Williamson (1-7)
2. DE Erasmus James (1-18)
3. OG Marcus Johnson (2-49)
4. DB Dustin Fox (3-80)
5. RB Ciatrick Fason (4-112)
6. DT C.J. Mosley (6-191)
7. CB Adrian Ward (7-219)

2006
1. LB Chad Greenway (1-17)
2. CB Cedric Griffin (2-48)
3. OT Ryan Cook (2-51)
4. QB Tarvaris Jackson (2-64)
5. DE Ray Edwards (4-127)
6. S Greg Blue (5-149)

2007
1. RB Adrian Peterson (1-7)
2. WR Sidney Rice (2-44)
3. CB Marcus McCauley (3-72)
4. DE Brian Robison (4-102)
5. WR Aundrae Allison (5-146)
6. LB Rufus Alexander (6-172)
7. QB Tyler Thigpen (7-217)
8. WR Chandler Williams (7-233)

Still on roster during '07 season*: 18
Starters*: 10
Pro Bowlers: 3

The team has done fairly well with first-round picks, hitting big with Kevin Williams and Adrian Peterson and finding starters in Kenechi Udeze, Erasmus James, Troy Williamson and Chad Greenway. The last four have yet to fulfill expectations, but there is time. Past the first-rounders, other than the ’07 draft, you have to go back to 2003 (E.J. Henderson) to find a difference-maker. Mewelde Moore, Darrion Scott, Cedric Griffin, Ryan Cook, Tarvaris Jackson and others have started at one point or are starters now, and Nate Burleson had a few moments. But the lower-round value hadn’t been there before ’07, with few exceptions (e.g., Ray Edwards, Jeff Dugan).

* — See Three- and five-year draft history for criteria in determining this number.

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