NFL draft.

ARIZONA CARDINALS

DRAFT DISH: A pass rusher desperately was needed, but the team passed on DE Terrell Suggs, who had 24 sacks last year for Arizona State. Instead, the team made a trade with the Saints for two picks in the middle of the first round and took WR Bryant Johnson and DE Calvin Pace. The team's top three receivers from 2002 are gone, so Johnson should start. He also fills a void as the punt returner. Pace wasn't expected to go until the second or third round, but the team was desperate to take an end after a run on them occurred. It coveted Jerome McDougle, but he went two picks earlier. The club could have stayed at No. 6 and taken Suggs or DT Johnathan Sullivan and still taken a receiver, perhaps even Johnson, in Round 2. Or it could have accepted an offer from the Dolphins that included a second-round pick this year and a first-rounder next year. Coaches initially will put Pace on the right side behind Kyle Vanden Bosch. Eventually, Pace could move to the left side and compete with Red Wakefield.... The best pick of the first day was WR Anquan Boldin. He isn't a burner, but he's shifty and often makes the first tackler miss. He could be great in the slot, working the middle of the field.... MLB Gerald Hayes will contribute on special teams, but he'll have a hard time getting snaps on defense behind Ronald McKinnon. Hayes could move outside.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: The team would like to add a veteran receiver before training camp, even after acquiring WR Larry Foster, who used to play for coordinator Jerry Sullivan in Detroit. The team has interest in former Bear Marcus Robinson. And coaches are high on Bryan Gilmore, a young speedster, and Jason McAddley, who played well as a rookie. Kevin Kasper also is in the mix. That group should give Sullivan enough weapons to run the wide-open offense he envisions.... The team isn't relying solely on Pace to improve a pass rush that produced 21 sacks. It would like to add a veteran or two before camp and expects some players with pass-rushing skills to be available after June 1 cuts. The front four eventually should feature Pace and Vanden Bosch at the ends and Russell Davis and Wendell Bryant at tackles. Not one has proved he consistently can put pressure on quarterbacks.--Kent Somers

 
the PICKS 
 
Rd./Pick   Player, School                             Pos.   Ht./Wt. 
 
1/17       Bryant Johnson, Penn State                 WR     6-2/214 
Nice size and decent speed; will contend for a starting job. 
1/18       Calvin Pace, Wake Forest                   DE     6-4/269 
Not a pass-rushing demon but is dependable and physical. 
2/54       Anquan Boldin, Florida State               WR     6-1/216 
Former QB still is developing; could play slot for a thin unit. 
3/70       Gerald Hayes, Pittsburgh                   MLB    6-1/238 
A solid run stopper who should help on special teams in 2003. 
5/141      Kenny King, Alabama                        DT     6-2/281 
Might rush passer better from inside; could play in the nickel. 
6/177      Reggie Wells, Clarion                      G      6-3/302 
Developmental player who also can be used at tackle. 
6/210      Tony Gilbert, Georgia                      ILB    6-0/251 
Good leader who's thick enough to take on lead blockers. 

ATLANTA FALCONS

DRAFT DISH: The team traded its first-round pick for WR Peerless Price, but it still was able to address some needs. Bryan Scott provides size, speed and youth at cornerback and eventually could push starter Ray Buchanan to free safety. Scott has some experience at safety, too; he should help immediately in passing situations. He appears to have good closing speed, has been quick to react to plays in front of him and is a good leaper.... FB Justin Griffith was somewhat of a surprise pick because he's known more for his receiving than blocking skills. The team passed on superior blockers at the position, such as Ovie Mughelli of Wake Forest and Brandon Drumm of Colorado. But the Falcons had Griffith rated as the top fullback in the draft and tried to move up in the fourth round to get him. Griffith's overall athletic ability and running and receiving skills were coveted by coach Dan Reeves. Griffith should compete with George Layne for the starting job.... WRs Jon Olinger and LaTarence Dunbar have good size but may be best suited to play on special teams. However, their selections could be an indication that Quentin McCord and Trevor Gaylor aren't set as the backups to Price, Brian Finneren and MarTay Jenkins.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: The team entered the draft with a shorter list of obvious needs than it has had in any April in recent memory. Glaring concerns at receiver and cornerback have been addressed. The Falcons will look for rookie and pro free agents for depth at tight end, defensive tackle and guard.... The team needs two solid tight ends for its power formations, and after losing starter Reggie Kelly as a free agent, it signed Lamont Hall to play behind Alge Crumpler. But another tight end is needed.... An area that the Falcons did not address in this draft is inside linebacker. Depth is needed there behind starters Chris Draft and Keith Brooking.... Perhaps the most important remaining question the team faces is whether the combination of Griffith and Layne can replace Bob Christian at fullback, which is an important position in Reeves' offense. Layne has played in only two games on offense in his career.--Charles Odum