2003 NFL draft
The 2003 NFL draft was the 68th annual player selection meeting held by the National Football League (NFL).[1] It took place over two days, April 26 and 27, at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.[2][1] The draft consisted of seven rounds and 262 total selections among 32 teams, including the Houston Texans in their second season.[3][4][5] The Cincinnati Bengals held the first overall pick, selecting quarterback Carson Palmer from the University of Southern California.[6] The first round featured a strong class of quarterbacks and wide receivers, with the top 10 selections as follows: (1) Cincinnati Bengals, QB Carson Palmer (USC); (2) Detroit Lions, WR Charles Rogers (Michigan State); (3) Houston Texans, WR Andre Johnson (Miami); (4) New York Jets, DT Dewayne Robertson (Kentucky); (5) Dallas Cowboys, CB Terence Newman (Kansas State); (6) New Orleans Saints, DT Johnathan Sullivan (Georgia); (7) Jacksonville Jaguars, QB Byron Leftwich (Marshall); (8) Carolina Panthers, OT Jordan Gross (Utah); (9) Minnesota Vikings, DE Kevin Williams (Oklahoma State); (10) Baltimore Ravens, DE Terrell Suggs (Arizona State).[6] Other notables: No. 11 Marcus Trufant (Seahawks), No. 16 Troy Polamalu (Steelers, acquired by trading up 11 spots from No. 27 with the Chiefs), No. 31 Nnamdi Asomugha (Raiders), No. 32 Tyler Brayton (Raiders).[7] This draft class produced multiple future Pro Football Hall of Famers, including wide receiver Andre Johnson (inducted 2024), safety Troy Polamalu (selected 16th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers, inducted 2020), and tight end Antonio Gates (undrafted free agent by the San Diego Chargers, inducted 2025).[6][8][9] Other standout players included All-Pro defensive tackle Kevin Williams, who anchored the Vikings' defense for a decade, and second-round wide receiver Anquan Boldin of the Arizona Cardinals, who won Offensive Rookie of the Year honors with 1,377 receiving yards.[10] The class also featured notable undrafted free agents who became stars, such as Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates, the latter of whom amassed over 11,000 receiving yards and eight Pro Bowl selections.[11] A memorable off-field moment occurred when the Vikings nearly forfeited their ninth overall pick due to a communication delay in notifying the league of their intent to retain it amid trade talks.[10]Overview
Background and Context
The 2002 NFL season was marked by strong defensive performances and explosive offenses, culminating in Super Bowl XXXVII on January 26, 2003, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers decisively defeated the Oakland Raiders 48-21 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. This victory secured the Buccaneers' first Super Bowl title in their 27-year franchise history, highlighting their league-leading defense that allowed just 12.3 points per game during the regular season. As the champions, the Buccaneers received the final pick (32nd overall) in the 2003 NFL draft, while the outcome underscored the contrast between the Raiders' pass-heavy attack, led by quarterback Rich Gannon, and Tampa Bay's suffocating secondary.[12] The draft order for 2003 was established in reverse order of the 2002 regular-season standings, with the team posting the worst record selecting first and the best record picking last. For teams with identical records, tiebreakers began with strength of schedule—the opponent win percentage from the prior season—awarding the higher draft position to the team that faced the weakest opponents, followed by additional criteria like head-to-head results if needed. The Cincinnati Bengals secured the No. 1 overall pick after finishing 2-14, the league's poorest mark, continuing a pattern of struggles that included heavy defeats and offensive inconsistencies under head coach Dick LeBeau.[13][14][15] Entering the draft, the pool of college underclassmen was considered underwhelming at quarterback, with the class largely comprising seniors lacking the typical blue-chip junior or sophomore talent that had defined recent years. Prominent prospects like Carson Palmer of USC, a fifth-year senior and Heisman Trophy winner, headlined the group alongside other experienced but unproven arms such as Byron Leftwich of Marshall and Kyle Boller of California, both seniors. This maturity at the position reflected a broader scarcity of elite young signal-callers, prompting teams to prioritize immediate readiness over long-term developmental upside.[16] Amid these dynamics, the NFL in 2002-2003 exhibited growing emphasis on offensive playmakers, particularly in the passing game, as rule interpretations began favoring quarterbacks and receivers by curbing defensive contact downfield. The season's average passing yards per game reached 227.0 league-wide, a modest increase from prior years, driven by innovative schemes that stretched defenses vertically, as seen in the Raiders' league-best 4,689 passing yards.[17][18] This trend influenced team needs heading into the draft, with rebuilding franchises seeking dynamic receivers and linemen to bolster aerial attacks in an era of evolving offensive complexity.Draft Logistics
The 2003 NFL Draft took place over two days, April 26 and 27, at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.[1] The event began at noon EDT on Saturday, April 26, with the first three rounds, and continued on Sunday, April 27, starting at 11:00 a.m. EDT for rounds 4 through 7.[2] This schedule allowed for a structured progression, with the initial rounds aired in prime time to maximize visibility.[1] The draft consisted of seven rounds, resulting in 262 total selections, including 32 compensatory picks awarded to 15 teams based on net free agent losses from the prior offseason.[1] These compensatory selections were distributed across various rounds to balance team rosters under NFL guidelines. All 32 NFL teams participated, including the expansion Houston Texans in their second season, with each team allocated one pick per round unless traded or forfeited per league policies on penalties or prior agreements.[2] To manage the pace, teams faced strict time limits: 15 minutes per pick in the first round, 10 minutes in the second round, and 5 minutes for each pick in rounds 3 through 7.[2] This format ensured efficient proceedings while accommodating strategic deliberations and potential trades, though failure to submit a selection within the allotted time could result in the pick passing to the next team.[10]Pre-Draft Preparation
Scouting and Evaluations
The NFL Scouting Combine, held from February 18 to 24, 2003, at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana, represented a pivotal pre-draft event where over 300 prospects underwent standardized physical testing, medical evaluations, and interviews with all 32 NFL teams.[19] This week-long showcase allowed scouts to assess athleticism through drills like the 40-yard dash, bench press, and vertical jump, while also evaluating prospects' character and injury history via formal interviews and physician exams. Top participants included quarterback Carson Palmer of USC and wide receiver Andre Johnson of Miami (FL), who impressed with their performances; Palmer clocked a 4.65-second 40-yard dash, demonstrating solid mobility for his 6-foot-5 frame, while Johnson ran a 4.41-second dash and recorded a 39-inch vertical leap, highlighting his explosive speed and leaping ability.[20][21] Complementing the Combine were all-star games and campus workouts that provided additional context for evaluations. The Senior Bowl, conducted on January 18, 2003, in Mobile, Alabama, featured top seniors in a competitive setting, enabling scouts to observe on-field decision-making and matchup skills under pro-level coaching; Palmer's strong showing there, including accurate passing in practices, bolstered his status as a top prospect.[22] University pro days further refined rankings, with events like USC's March 2003 workout allowing Palmer and other Trojans to perform position-specific drills in a familiar environment, often addressing any Combine shortcomings through targeted demonstrations of technique and arm strength.[23] These opportunities influenced final draft boards by offering nuanced insights beyond raw metrics, helping teams weigh intangibles like work ethic and scheme fit. Mock draft projections leading into the event underscored a quarterback-heavy emphasis at the top, reflecting league-wide needs for franchise signal-callers after a 2002 season marked by inconsistent performances at the position. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. consistently forecasted Palmer as the No. 1 overall pick in his January and April 2003 mocks, praising his prototypical size, arm talent, and leadership while projecting early selections for passers like Byron Leftwich and Kyle Boller.[24] Kiper also cautioned about bust risks among wide receivers, noting that prospects like Charles Rogers required verification of route-running precision and hands reliability, as college dominance did not always translate amid the NFL's physicality.[25] Evaluation processes integrated quantitative metrics with qualitative analysis, prioritizing tools like the Wonderlic intelligence test—where Palmer scored 26, indicating above-average cognitive processing for a quarterback—and speed benchmarks to project NFL success.[26] For skill positions, 40-yard dash times provided scale on explosiveness, but scouts emphasized film study to contextualize results; this was particularly vital for offensive linemen, as the 2002 season's run-heavy schemes (with teams like the Raiders and Eagles relying on ground games for playoff pushes) demanded prospects who excelled in leverage, footwork, and sustained blocking on tape rather than isolated drill performances.[27] Overall, these methods ensured a balanced assessment, focusing on prospects' potential to adapt to professional demands without over-relying on any single data point.Team Strategies and Mock Drafts
As the 2003 NFL Draft approached, teams balanced the philosophies of selecting the best player available (BPA) regardless of positional need against addressing specific roster gaps to accelerate rebuilding efforts.[28] This tension was evident in pre-draft analyses, where personnel departments emphasized high-upside talents like quarterbacks and skill-position players while weighing immediate necessities such as offensive line protection or defensive reinforcements. For instance, the Cincinnati Bengals, coming off a dismal 2-14 season and seeking to replace underperforming quarterback Akili Smith, prioritized finding a franchise signal-caller to stabilize their offense, viewing the position as the cornerstone of their turnaround under new head coach Marvin Lewis. Similarly, the Detroit Lions, who had struggled with wide receiver production following the departure of veteran Herman Moore, focused on injecting speed and size into their passing attack to complement quarterback Joey Harrington.[29][30] The Houston Texans, in just their second year of existence, centered their strategy on bolstering support around rookie quarterback David Carr, their inaugural draft pick from 2002, by targeting explosive playmakers to enhance his development and create a vertical threat in an otherwise underdeveloped offense.[31] In contrast, the New York Jets, fresh off a 9-7 playoff appearance in 2002, leaned toward defensive reinforcements to maintain their competitive edge, emphasizing front-seven talent to sustain the run-stopping improvements that had propelled them into the postseason.[32] These approaches highlighted a broader league trend where rebuilding teams like the Bengals and Lions favored need-based selections at premium positions, while established contenders like the Jets incorporated BPA principles to avoid reaching for fits. Mock drafts leading into the event reflected a strong consensus on the top prospects, with Carson Palmer (QB, USC) universally projected as the No. 1 overall pick to the Bengals, Charles Rogers (WR, Michigan State) slotted second to the Lions for his big-play potential, and Andre Johnson (WR, Miami) third to the Texans to pair with Carr.[33][34] The fourth and fifth spots often went to defensive talents like Dewayne Robertson (DT, Kentucky) to the Jets and Bryant Johnson (WR, Penn State) to the Chargers, underscoring evaluators' high regard for athleticism at skill positions and the trenches. Discussions in these projections frequently included scenarios of teams trading up for quarterback Byron Leftwich (Marshall), such as the Jacksonville Jaguars potentially moving into the top 10 or the Baltimore Ravens packaging picks to secure a successor to aging starter Chris Redman.[33][34] Personnel directors and agents played pivotal advisory roles in shaping these strategies, providing teams with insights on player fit and risk factors drawn from private workouts and medical evaluations. For example, Jacksonville's director of player personnel James Harris influenced their focus on quarterback upgrades, while agents for prospects like Rogers offered assurances on his physical durability despite minor college tweaks for shoulder stability, helping alleviate concerns in a draft class rich with wideouts.[35] These consultations ensured teams like the Lions and Texans aligned their boards with both talent grades and scheme-specific needs, fostering a collaborative pre-draft process amid the event's high stakes.[36]The Draft Event
First Round Proceedings
The first round of the 2003 NFL Draft took place on April 26, 2003, at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, marking the event's return to its traditional venue after a brief relocation. NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue opened the proceedings by announcing the Cincinnati Bengals' selection of quarterback Carson Palmer from the University of Southern California with the first overall pick, a decision that drew boos from portions of the crowd due to the Bengals' longstanding struggles. Palmer, fresh off winning the 2002 Heisman Trophy, reacted with visible enthusiasm on stage, hugging Tagliabue and expressing his eagerness to revitalize the franchise despite pre-draft concerns from others about joining Cincinnati.[37][38][39] The round proceeded with offensive selections early on, as the Detroit Lions chose wide receiver Charles Rogers from Michigan State at No. 2 to bolster their passing attack, followed by the expansion Houston Texans selecting wide receiver Andre Johnson from the University of Miami at No. 3, providing a key weapon for their inaugural roster. The New York Jets then pivoted to defense with defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson from the University of Kentucky at No. 4, setting the tone for a defensive-heavy middle of the round. As the picks unfolded, surprises emerged with multiple defensive backs taken mid-round, including cornerback Terence Newman from Kansas State (Dallas Cowboys, No. 5), cornerback Marcus Trufant from Washington State (Seattle Seahawks, No. 11), and safety Troy Polamalu from USC (Pittsburgh Steelers, No. 16), highlighting teams' priorities in secondary reinforcement.[6][40][39] A dominant trend defined the round's pace, with 10 defensive players selected among the top 15 picks—specifically, 11 of the 13 choices from No. 4 through No. 16—mirroring the league's emphasis on defensive rebuilds after a 2002 season marked by strong defensive performances across the NFL.[37][39][6] This rush contributed to the round's deliberate tempo, lasting 4 hours and 58 minutes amid trade negotiations and on-stage celebrations. A notable incident occurred when the Minnesota Vikings nearly forfeited their ninth overall pick after an attempted trade with the Baltimore Ravens to move back to No. 10 was not processed by the league, causing their clock to expire; as a result, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers made their selections before them, but the Vikings still selected defensive tackle Kevin Williams from Oklahoma State just in time. Rob Brzezinski, Minnesota's VP of football operations, said: “We had called in the trade, and we thought it was done. We're all sitting there in the draft room, just watching on TV, and all hell broke loose.”[10] The proceedings concluded with the Oakland Raiders, who held the final two selections, picking cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha from the University of California at No. 31 to shore up their secondary, followed by defensive end Tyler Brayton from Colorado at No. 32. Crowd energy remained high throughout, with boos recurring for Bengals announcements and cheers amplifying for high-profile talents like Palmer.[37][39][6]Later Rounds and Overall Selections
The later rounds of the 2003 NFL draft, from round 2 through 7, encompassed the bulk of the 262 total selections across seven rounds, including 32 compensatory picks distributed to 15 teams to offset free agent losses the prior offseason.[1][41] These additional picks, such as the four awarded to the New England Patriots in rounds 3 through 6, allowed teams like the Patriots to bolster depth without trading assets.[41] The draft class showcased considerable depth beyond the first round, with a positional distribution of 15 wide receivers, 22 defensive linemen, and 22 linebackers selected overall.[40] Notable later-round selections included running back Clinton Portis, taken 51st overall by the Denver Broncos in round 2, who quickly emerged as a prolific rusher, and wide receiver Anquan Boldin, chosen 54th overall by the Arizona Cardinals via a compensatory pick in round 2, marking a steal for the franchise.[40] Round 2 highlights also featured defensive talents like end Kalimba Edwards (35th overall, Detroit Lions), underscoring the round's focus on immediate contributors on defense.[40] Subsequent rounds provided opportunities for teams to address needs in the trenches and secondary, with round 3 yielding offensive linemen like Bryant McKinnie (9th pick of the round, Minnesota Vikings) and round 4 adding versatile pieces such as safety Madieu Williams (97th overall, Minnesota Vikings).[40] All selections hailed from U.S. colleges, led by the University of Miami with eight picks—including wide receiver Andre Johnson, defensive end Jerome McDougle, running back Willis McGahee, defensive tackle William Joseph, and offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie—and the University of Southern California with five, featuring quarterback Carson Palmer, safety Troy Polamalu, running back Justin Fargas, wide receiver Kareem Kelly, and running back Malaefou MacKenzie.[6][42] This concentration highlighted the talent pipelines from these programs during a dominant era for college football.[43]Trades and Transactions
Key Trades in the First Round
The 2003 NFL Draft featured several notable trades in the first round, primarily driven by teams seeking to address specific positional needs or acquire additional selections to rebuild rosters. These transactions, executed on April 26, 2003, reflected the era's emphasis on defensive reinforcements and quarterback stability, with teams leveraging the Jimmy Johnson trade value chart to balance pick values—where a mid-first-round pick like No. 13 was valued at 950 points, compared to No. 4 at 1,800 points.[44][45] One of the most significant deals occurred early when the New York Jets traded their No. 13, No. 22 overall picks, and No. 116 (fourth round) (No. 13 originally acquired from Washington as compensatory for restricted free agent Laveranues Coles) to the Chicago Bears for the No. 4 overall selection. The Jets, coming off a 6-10 season and needing interior defensive line help after losing key players in free agency, aimed to secure Kentucky defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson, viewed as a cornerstone to bolster their front four alongside John Abraham. The Bears, who had finished 4-12 and held multiple roster holes, opted to trade down to accumulate more picks for a broader rebuild. Robertson, selected fourth overall by the Jets, showed initial promise with 4.5 sacks as a rookie but was derailed by injuries, playing only 38 games before leaving the league after 2006; meanwhile, the Bears used No. 22 on quarterback Rex Grossman, who started 25 games over three seasons but struggled with turnovers, No. 13 was later traded to the New England Patriots for Ty Warren, and No. 116 on Lance Johnstone.[44] Later in the round, the San Diego Chargers traded their No. 15 pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for the Eagles' No. 30 overall selection and No. 62 (second round). The Chargers, who had the league's worst record at 4-12 the prior year and sought secondary depth without overcommitting resources, prioritized accumulating volume to support new coach Marty Schottenheimer's defensive scheme. The Eagles, fresh off an NFC Championship appearance and targeting edge rushers to complement Jevon Kearse, moved up to draft Miami defensive end Jerome McDougle at No. 15. McDougle contributed 3.0 sacks over four seasons in Philadelphia before injuries ended his tenure; the Chargers, in turn, selected Pittsburgh cornerback Sammy Davis at No. 30, who earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2004 with 1 interception, and safety Terrence Kiel at No. 62, a special teams stalwart who played five seasons. This swap proved moderately successful for San Diego in adding immediate contributors without sacrificing long-term assets.[44][46] A pivotal late-first-round transaction saw the Baltimore Ravens trade their 2003 second-round pick (No. 41) and 2004 first-round pick (which became No. 23) to the New England Patriots for the No. 19 overall selection. The Ravens, two years removed from a Super Bowl title but lacking a long-term quarterback after Anthony Wright's inconsistency, aggressively pursued California signal-caller Kyle Boller to stabilize the offense under coach Brian Billick. The Patriots, defending champions with Tom Brady entrenched, capitalized by moving down to gain future capital for depth; they subsequently traded No. 41 to the Houston Texans for No. 36 (used on cornerback Eugene Wilson). Boller, taken 19th overall, started 54 games for Baltimore with a 71.9 passer rating and 44 interceptions (career: 69.5 rating, 54 INTs), leading to his release after 2007 and marking the trade as a misstep for the Ravens; conversely, New England selected defensive tackle Vince Wilfork (No. 23 in 2004), who became a Pro Bowl mainstay and Super Bowl contributor, underscoring the deal's lopsided long-term value.[44][47][48]| Trade | Teams Involved | Picks Received by Trading-Up Team | Picks Received by Trading-Down Team | Key Player Acquired | Approximate Trade Value (Johnson Chart) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jets for No. 4 | Jets ↔ Bears | No. 4 | No. 13, No. 22, No. 116 | Dewayne Robertson (Jets, No. 4) | Jets: 1,800 pts; Bears: 950 + 580 + 105 = 1,635 pts (Jets overpaid) |
| Eagles for No. 15 | Eagles ↔ Chargers | No. 15 | No. 30, No. 62 | Jerome McDougle (Eagles, No. 15) | Eagles: 850 pts; Chargers: 450 + 170 = 620 pts (Eagles overpaid) |
| Ravens for No. 19 | Ravens ↔ Patriots | No. 19 | No. 41, 2004 No. 23 (est.) | Kyle Boller (Ravens, No. 19) | Ravens: 700 pts; Patriots: 335 + 590 = 925 pts (Patriots gain) |