The arduous journey to the NFL draft in April continues, as we look back at some of the past drafts that are shaping our current NFL. If you want to take a look at previous draft reviews click to see 2003 and 2004. The next draft we are looking at is the 2005 draft and what made it special.
The first question of this draft starts at the first pick, Alex Smith, and ends at the 24th pick, Aaron Rodgers. The San Francisco 49ers had the first pick in 2005. In the months leading up to the draft many experts had decided the 49ers would pick Alex Smith. Whereas the 49ers fanbase preferred to have the “hometown hero”, and University of California QB, Aaron Rodgers selected by the 49ers.
Let’s take a brief look at their college stats:
Alex Smith was the starting quarterback at Utah for 2 years. Altogether he recorded 5,199 yards, 47 touchdowns, 7 interceptions and a completion percentage of 66.3.
Aaron Rodgers, comparatively, was the starting QB at California for 2 years resulting in 5,469 yards, 43 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and a completion percentage of 63.8.
If all you knew was their college stats who would you pick? The dopey looking guy from Utah or the dopey looking guy from California?
In an interview on Bill Simmons’ HBO show Any Given Wednesday in 2016. Aaron Rodgers told the story of why the 49ers didn’t draft him first overall. The reason is just as crazy as you may think it is.
“The story that I heard, and I don’t know if it’s true or not, was that Mike Nolan said that when he saw Alex open the car door for his mom, he knew that was the quarterback he wanted,” Rodgers said.
He added:
“I was at lunch with them, (the 49ers). My mom wasn’t there. My dad wasn’t there,” Rodgers said. “I just laugh at stories like that because it has nothing to do with being a quarterback.” (Rodgers here)
Former 49ers head coach Mike Nolan told NFL network that he found Aaron Rodgers to be “very cocky, very confident, arrogant” and Alex Smith was the “safe” pick. (Nolan interview here)
Seems like a legit reason—since hindsight is 20/20.
Not every team needs a ‘do-over’. There are plenty of teams that would desperately like one—the 49ers are surely one of those teams. The problem is you can’t go back. As they say, one team’s trash is another team’s treasure. A few guys not drafted in the 1st or 2nd rounds that some teams would like another chance to pick include:
Frank Gore, Rnd 3 Pick 65 – San Francisco 49ers:
Gore has played in 196 games. He has 5 Pro Bowl selections. He has recorded 14,026 rushing yards with 77 touchdowns and 3,672 receiving yards with 17 touchdowns.
Justin Tuck, Rnd 3 Pick 74 – New York Giants:
Tuck played in 147 games. He has 2 Pro Bowls and 1 First Team All-Pro selections. Most importantly, he has 2 Super Bowl championships. He had 353 tackles, 66.5 sacks, and 20 forced fumbles.
Darren Sproles, Rnd 4 Pick 130 – San Diego Chargers:
Sproles has played in 171 games. He has 3 Pro Bowl selections and 1 Super Bowl Championship. He has recorded 3,366 rushing yards with 49 touchdowns and 4,656 receiving yards with 30 touchdowns.
Derek Anderson, Rnd 6 Pick 213 – Baltimore Ravens:
You may laugh at this, but Anderson got his start in Cleveland. He was the QB for the Browns last winning season in which the record was 10-6, in 2007! FRICKIN’ WHAT!? Anderson has played in 76 games. He has collected 10,413 yards, 60 touchdowns, and 60 interceptions. At least he’s consistent somewhere? Maybe on a better team, things could have been different for him? I mean, Tom Brady was a 6th round pick…
Mr. Irrelevant of this draft was a tight end from William Penn University by the name of Andy Stokes. The New England Patriots drafted him, but he only saw practice squad action. Stokes was on the practice squads for Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks before calling it a career. Nowadays, he is the head coach for a high school football team in Utah—the Timpview Thunderbirds.
In previous articles I have stipulated that a “successful” career lasts 200 games. In this draft class there is, currently, only 1 player who has played over 200 games. Dustin Colquitt, a punter, has played 206 games with Kansas City. The next closest player is Frank Gore at 196 games. Upcoming articles will feature a list players who have been selected to Pro Bowls and are still active.
There are currently 11 players on that list. I have them listed by name, position and current team along with the team that drafted them and which round number and pick they were.
Alex Smith, QB – Washington Redskins
– San Francisco 49ers, Rnd 1 Pick 1
Adam “Pacman” Jones, DB – Free Agent
– Tennessee Titans, Rnd 1 Pick 6
Thomas Davis, LB – Carolina Panthers
– Carolina Panthers, Rnd 1 Pick 14
Derrick Johnson, LB – Kansas City Chiefs
– Kansas City Chiefs, Rnd 1 Pick 15
Aaron Rodgers, QB – Green Bay Packers
– Green Bay Packers, Rnd 1 Pick 24
Frank Gore, RB – Free Agent
– San Francisco 49ers, Rnd 3 Pick 65
Richie Incognito, G – Buffalo Bills
– St. Louis Rams, Rnd 3 Pick 81
Dustin Colquitt, P – Kansas City Chiefs
– Kansas City Chiefs, Rnd 3 Pick 99
Darren Sproles, RB – Philadelphia Eagles
– San Diego Chargers, Rnd 4 Pick 130
Derek Anderson, QB – Carolina Panthers
– Baltimore Ravens, Rnd 6 Pick 213
Matt Cassel, QB – Tennessee Titans
– New England Patriots, Rnd 7 Pick 230
Of the 255 picks in the 2005 draft there were 33 that became Pro Bowlers. There were many players that went undrafted, but 11 of those players became Pro Bowlers. Here are a couple players of note: Josh Cribbs and Robbie Gould. Gould is a personal favorite because he was “Good as Gould” with the Chicago Bears.
Cribbs was a wide receiver and a return specialist who gained fame and fortune with the Browns. While with Cleveland, Cribbs had 3 Pro Bowl and 1 First Team All-Pro selections. He had 222 punt returns collecting 2,375 yards and 3 touch downs and 426 kick returns amassing 11,113 yards and 8 touch downs. As a receiver he brought in 110 receptions for 1,175 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Gould has kicked for the Chicago Bears, New York Giants, and San Francisco 49ers. He owes his success to his time with the Bears. Gould holds the Bears team record of Most Points Scored with 1,207 points. Additionally, other team records he set are Most Field Goals Made with 276 and Career Field Goals of at least 50 Yards with 23. In 2006, Gould got a Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro selection. A bit of irony occured on December 3, 2017, Gould who is now the kicker for the 49ers was going against his old team Bears. The final score of that game was 15-14 in favor of the 49ers. All 15 points for the 49ers came from field goals kicked by Gould.
This draft wasn’t bad. There were and are plenty of stars that came from it. There are many players on their way to Canton (*COUGHING* Rodgers *COUGH* *COUGH*). But, even now, knowing who some of those players are is hard to tell.
