[HolyHat]

Dr. Z's Mock Draft from 99

Here's how SI senior writer Paul Zimmerman thinks the first round of the NFL draft, which begins on Saturday, will play out.

1. BROWNS
Tim Couch, QB, Kentucky
New coach Chris Palmer, with the future of the organization riding on his shoulders, takes the experienced-under-fire field general over the rocket-armed Akili Smith.
2. EAGLES
Donovan McNabb, QB, Syracuse
First-year coach Andy Reid faces an agonizing decision. Why McNabb over Smith? McNabb reminds him of young Brett Favre, whom Reid worked with in Green Bay.

3. BENGALS
Akili Smith, QB, Oregon
Cynics say Cincy won't pay top dollar for a quarterback, but Smith is a franchise player, and the Bengals haven't produced a star passer by way of the draft since Ken Anderson.

4. SAINTS (FROM COLTS)*
Ricky Williams, RB, Texas
Indianapolis gets an offer it can't refuse from Mike Ditka, who believes that this heavy-duty, 230-pound Heisman Trophy winner is the Saints' ticket to glory.

5. REDSKINS (FROM PANTHERS)
Champ Bailey, CB, Georgia
This rocket with high-4.3 to low-4.4 speed defends like a dream, catches passes and returns kicks. Washington gets a three-way player for the price of one.

6. RAMS
Edgerrin James, RB, Miami
Dick Vermeil rode Wilbert Montgomery's legs to a Super Bowl with 1980 Eagles, and he has been looking for a workhorse back since taking over the Rams in '97. James qualifies.

7. VIKINGS (FROM BEARS)*
Chris McAlister, CB, Arizona
Chicago, with only six picks, trades down to get more choices. Dennis Green, who lost left corner Corey Fuller to free agency, jumps at the chance to get this 4.38 speedster.

8. CARDINALS (FROM CHARGERS)
Torry Holt, WR, North Carolina State
This 4.45 burner is a narrow choice over middle linebacker Chris Claiborne. Holt is expected to be a third wideout, but so was Randy Moss for the Vikings last year.

9. LIONS
Chris Claiborne, MLB, Southern Cal
Stephen Boyd mans the middle in Detroit, but Butkus Award winner Claiborne is so gifted that he can play either outside linebacker position.

10. RAVENS
Daunte Culpepper, QB, Central Florida
Baltimore is also looking for help at wideout and cornerback, but vice president of player personnel Ozzie Newsome is intrigued with this 6' 3 1/2", 255-pound tank with a big arm.

11. BEARS (FROM VIKINGS)*
Anthony McFarland, DT, LSU
Could trade up for a quarterback. Interior line isn't area of need but getting the best on the board at his position, plus the extra picks in the trade down, isn't a bad move.

12. COLTS (FROM SAINTS)*
Jevon Kearse, OLB-DE, Florida
"Half a dozen guys look good to us," says club president Bill Polian. Kearse, a linebacker in college projected to rush the passer as a weakside end in the pros, is one of them.

13. STEELERS
David Boston, WR, Ohio State
Pittsburgh had no speed at wideout last year, and quarterback Kordell Stewart went blooey. Enter this 6' 1", 215-pounder with 4.38 speed and watch the offense take off.

14. CHIEFS
John Tait, T, Brigham Young
Finding a left tackle is a must. The 317-pound Tait gets the nod over Eastern Michigan's L.J. Shelton based on mobility and athleticism.

15. BUCCANEERS
Cade McNown, QB, UCLA
Tampa Bay isn't giving up on Trent Dilfer. It's just good drafting sense. If you can get a high-production quarterback this far down, you take him.

16. TITANS
Andy Katzenmoyer, MLB, Ohio State
There's a big argument between coach Jeff Fisher, who's intrigued by the Big Kat, and Tennessee scouts, who would rather go for defensive line help.

17. SEAHAWKS
Damien Woody, C, Boston College
Wideout Troy Edwards is the rumor, Woody is the reality. Age and injuries make 35-year-old Kevin Glover iffy and make the quick, 328-pound Woody a sensible need pick.

18. RAIDERS
L.J. Shelton, T, Eastern Michigan
Last year's first-round pick, Mo Collins, struggled at left tackle, and Oakland gave up an NFL-high 67 sacks. The quick-footed 340-pound Shelton could help.

19. GIANTS
Aaron Gibson, T, Wisconsin
Are we ready for the NFL's first 400-pounder? Gibson is only 14 pounds shy. He could play tackle, with Scott Gragg moving inside, or guard. Or both.

20. PATRIOTS
Ebenezer Ekuban, DE, North Carolina
Running back is top priority, but unless it can move way up, New England won't get a top-echelon ballcarrier. The Pats will get the pass rusher here, the runner later.

21. CARDINALS
Matt Stinchcomb, T, Georgia
A smart, tough 306-pounder. With free-agent defection of left tackle Lomas Brown, something has to be done to ensure that quarterback Jake Plummer stays healthy.

22. COWBOYS
Pat Kerney, DE, Virginia
Dallas's 1998 sack total was an anemic 34. Kerney is a 265-pounder with 4.74 speed and a nonstop motor. He's gifted rushing off the edge and technically sound.

23. BILLS
Antoine Winfield, CB, Ohio State
The only knock on this tough little hitter is his lack of size -- he's 5' 8 1/2" -- which scares people in this era of big wide receivers.

24. DOLPHINS
Rob Konrad, FB, Syracuse
"We could move up, or we could move down," Miami coach Jimmy Johnson says. Or he could keep the pick and take Konrad, who reminds him of young Daryl Johnston.

25. PACKERS
Antwan Edwards, CB, Clemson
Remember what Randy Moss did to the Pack last year? So does general manager Ron Wolf. At 6 feet, 210 pounds, Edwards can get physical with the Vikings' wonderboy.

26. JAGUARS
Lamar King, DE, Saginaw Valley State
Jacksonville needs someone on the strong side to play opposite Tony Brackens. King's pluses: 6' 3", 299 pounds and a 4.9 40. His minus: small-college competition.

27. 49ERS
Shaun King, QB, Tulane
Terrifically productive but undersized. So's Doug Flutie. If the Niners play it cute and trade down thinking they can get King later, someone will beat them to the punch.

28. PATRIOTS (FROM JETS)
Sedrick Irvin, RB, Michigan State
Kevin Faulk of LSU? Amos Zereoue of West Virginia? Both have been mentioned, but Pats prefer the bigger Irvin (223 pounds) to replace the injured Robert Edwards.

29. VIKINGS
Reggie McGrew, DT, Florida
Status of free agent Jerry Ball is uncertain. Jason Fisk is gone. The 307-pound McGrew is an ideal strongman to take pressure off John Randle, who'll return to tackle full time.

30. FALCONS
Troy Edwards, WR, Louisiana Tech
Long-ball threat Tony Martin was released. Coach Dan Reeves can't believe that Edwards (5' 9 1/2", 191 pounds, 4.5 in the 40), the third-best wideout on the board, is still there.

31. BRONCOS
Al Wilson, MLB, Tennessee
Ferocious competitor who flies at the enemy with 4.55 speed. So why does he fall this far? His size -- 6 feet, 239 pounds -- worries some. Forget it. He can play.