Benson Heads Draft Class of Slackers

Sports Commentary

Cedric Benson disputes that he operated his 30-foot boat while intoxicated and resisted arrest on a lake near Austin May 3.

But Benson cannot dispute that this off-the-field distraction is just the latest to overshadow his paltry on-the-field production since the Chicago Bears selected him fourth overall in the 2005 NFL Draft.

He missed training camp his rookie year because of a contract clash. He toiled behind veteran backup Thomas Jones for two seasons. And he averaged a pedestrian 3.4 yards per carry in his first full season as a starter in 2007.

All of this has him on the verge of being stamped with the ultimate indignity for a blue-chip rookie: BUST.

Benson, though, isn’t alone.

That word is associated with many of the top 10 picks of the 2005 NFL Draft, giving them the dubious distinction of being one of the worst classes ever and certainly within the last decade.

The San Francisco 49ers insist that Alex Smith (first overall) is in a battle for the starting spot with two journeymen (Shaun Hill and J.T. O’Sullivan) who have played in a combined eight NFL games in 11 combined NFL seasons.

Cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones (sixth overall) was banished the entire 2007 season because of an array of arrests.

Receiver Troy Williamson (seventh overall) was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this offseason for a sixth round pick.

Cornerback Antrel Rolle (eighth overall) was demoted at the start of last season and could be shifted to safety.

Cornerback Carlos Rogers (ninth overall) has been dogged by injuries.

And receiver Mike Williams (10th overall) is already on his third NFL roster.

The exceptions are receiver Braylon Edwards (third overall), the lone top-10 pick to be named to the Pro Bowl, and running backs Ronnie Brown (second overall) and Cadillac Williams (fifth overall), who both topped 1,000 yards in a single season but have endured serious injuries.

“That was one of the strangest drafts I’ve ever done,” ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper said. “A lot of the insiders, a week and half before the draft, had Aaron Rodgers going No. 1, and he went No. 24. Alex Smith is still to be determined. Benson has been a bust. The other running backs were OK. Williamson has been a bust. Williams has been a bust. Braylon has been the best of the group, but he hasn’t been all-world.

“That was the year you didn’t want to pick in the top 10,” Kiper said. “There was nobody.”

One of the popular lines from personnel executives regarding a draft pick or class is, “Don’t judge them for at least three years.”

Well, even the positively delusional American Idol judge Paul Abdul would have a hard time concocting a compliment for the 2005 class.

After Edwards, the next impact player is linebacker Demarcus Ware, who was selected 11th overall by the Dallas Cowboys. That Edwards was the lone Pro Bowl player among his class’s top-10 is stunning, especially since seven of the 1999 class’s top-10 played in the Pro Bowl and that two from the 2007 class’s top-10 (Joe Thomas and Adrian Peterson) have already been to Hawaii.

Kiper and former Dallas Cowboys player personnel director Gil Brandt highlighted that Ware, Shawne Merriman and Jammal Brown, picks 11 through 13, respectively, have all developed into Pro Bowl players, and that other first-round selections like Derrick Johnson, Luis Castillo, Heath Miller and Logan Mankins spared 2005 from being a colossal disappointment.

Still, after his positive spin, Brandt couldn’t mask the obvious.

“Overall, the quality in that draft was not as good as some other drafts,” said Brandt, now a senior analyst for NFL.com.

Take the quarterbacks.

Kiper recalled how Rodgers was projected to be the No. 1 pick, ahead of Smith, and he ended up going 24th to the Green Bay Packers. While he hasn’t shined thus far, Brandt noted that Smith has endured coaching changes and he highlighted an unprecedented scene.

“He put on a show at his Pro Day,” Brandt said, “and he got a standing ovation. “I’ve never seen that happen.”

Kiper also isn’t ready to label Smith a bust. But he said Smith might be the third- or fourth-best quarterback in this year’s class, surely behind Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco and possibly behind Brian Brohm or Chad Henne by some clubs.

At running back, Ronnie Brown, Benson and Williams would certainly have been selected after Darren McFadden, who was the fourth overall this year.

“They would have been battling for the second spot,” Kiper said of Brown, Benson and Williams. “Those three backs are pretty highly regarded, but there wasn’t anything distinguishing (about any of them).

McFadden is more explosive than any of those guys.”

Kiper said this year’s class has seven “elite” guys: Ryan, McFadden, Jake Long, Glenn Dorsey, Chris Long, Vernon Gholston and Sedrick Ellis.

“In terms of 2005,” Kiper said, “you couldn’t find seven elite guys.”

The teams that whiffed have paid the price. The 49ers have won 16 games, largely because they consistently field one of the league’s worst offenses. The Bears, behind Benson, had the 30th ranked run offense in 2007. The Titans gambled on Jones and missed a chance to land a player who spent more time on a football field than in bars and clubs. The Minnesota Vikings could have addressed their pass-rushing woes with Merriman. The Arizona Cardinals and the Washington Redskins could have shored up their offensive lines with Jammal Brown. And the Lions could have taken just about anyone but Williams, who had limited speed and an unlimited appetite.

The aforementioned teams may quietly bemoan the lack of quality that year. But the fact is, there was plenty of talent. Two teams missed on Edwards, one of the game’s most promising young receivers, and six other teams missed on Merriman, a cornerstone defensive player. There was also a cornerstone middle linebacker (Lofa Tatupu, second round, 45th overall pick), a cornerstone running back (Frank Gore, third round, 65th pick), a cornerstone defensive end (Trent Cole, fifth round, 146th pick) and a cornerstone quarterback (Derek Anderson, sixth round, 213th pick).

Hindsight is always 20/20.

But teams would avoid much of the embarrassment if they can avoid being blinded by needs (think 49ers and Bears), measurables (think Vikings) or pedigree (think Lions). And don’t invite trouble, by spending a high pick on a character-flawed individual (think Titans).

And if you’re still having trouble, then trade away the pick, value charts and criticism be damned.

Sean Jensen can be reached at nothinbutlovefor@aol.com.