Editor's note: Raiders linebacker Bill Romanowski, Saints running back Deuce McAllister, Vikings defensive back Corey Chavous and Redskins offensive tackle Jon Jansen are panelists for ESPN's draft roundtable and have weighed in some of this year's picks.
Romo's takes
On Carson Palmer: This is the right pick for the Bengals. It seems they are finally serious about winning the Super Bowl and a way to accomplish that goal is with a great quarterback and Palmer is that guy. He's a guy with all the intangibles a team is looking for in a quarterback. Coach Marvin Lewis has already won a championship with a top-notch defense Â… now he can attempt to win one with a top-notch offense.
On Marcus Trufant: A perfect pick for Ray Rhodes in his first year as the Seahawks defensive coordinator. Rhodes now has a player who he can design blitz packages around and who can potentially shut down one side of the field. Trufant will be a very good player in this league.
On Seneca Wallace: I love facing a guy like Wallace at QB-- at only 5-feet-11, there's no way he can see over a guy like Jon Jansen who's 6-6. They throw a lot of interceptions.
On Onterrio Smith: He reminds me of a Charlie Garner-type of running back. I wonder how he's going to handle the intimidating environment of the Oakland Coliseum when he comes to play us. I look forward to seeing him.
Deuce's takes
On Charles Rogers: Charles Rogers is going through the same situation I went through when I was drafted by the New Orleans Saints. I was a Mississippi native and had left the University of Mississippi when the Saints drafted me. He's from Michigan went to Michigan St. and now has the opportunity to play for Detroit. There's a great deal of pressure inherent in playing for the hometown team on and off the field. The on the field pressures are easier to deal with because it's expected. But the off the field stuff can be more troublesome because you're constantly being asked for tickets and having to play in front of your family and friends.
On Wilis McGahee: I wonder what message this pick sends to Travis Henry. Henry is coming off a Pro-Bowl year where he rushed for over 1,400 yards, scored 14 touchdowns and just signed a contract extension. After a season like that you don't expect to see your team draft a running back in the first round and sign Olandis Gary in the offseason. Especially when they have more pressing positions to fill.
On Johnathan Sullivan: He should be able to step right in and contribute. Whether or not he'll be a starter initially is up to him. He has guys who are playing in front of him so it depends on how he comes in and how hard he works. He'll be a welcome addition to our pass rush and should help free up our linebackers to blitz more often.
On Wallace: I want him to be a "Slash"-type player. I think he's too indispensable at too many positions to just limit him to QB.
On O. Smith: He's a very shifty RB and will come in this year primarily as a third-down back to relieve Michael Bennett.
On dearth of RBs: I think with the injury to McGahee, there wasn't enough talent in the draft at the running back position to warrant picking a lot of guys in the first round. Now teams are able to get pretty good bargains -- like Smith -- in the 4-6 rounds.
Jansen's takes
On Terrell Suggs: One reason they may have passed on Suggs maybe because of the level of competition that he faced in college. Sure he was able to get 24 sacks but the tackles he faced weren't very good. Suggs did a great job of exploiting those tackles, but he will face an entirely different level of competition in the NFL. That may have put enough of a doubt in the Cardinals' minds that they felt it wasn't a good pick.
On Kyle Boller: This is a bad pick. I compare Boller to my teammate Patrick Ramsey. Ramsey was picked No. 32 by the Redskins last year and I don't see Boller having the same skill level as Ramsey. He doesn't justify being taken so highly in the draft this year.
On Terrell Suggs: One reason they may have passed on Suggs maybe because of the level of competition that he faced in college. Sure he was able to get 24 sacks, but the tackles he faced weren't very good. Suggs did a great job of exploiting those tackles, but he will face an entirely different level of competition in the NFL. That may have put enough of a doubt in the Cardinals' minds that they felt it wasn't a good pick.
On Willis McGahee: I don't understand why the Bills would risk spending a first-round pick on someone who may never see the field. McGahee will be playing in Buffalo on turf and the combination of cold weather and turf could adversely affect his career. Those late-season games played in near freezing weather will not help his knee recover from this injury.
On surprises: I'm surprised that Boss Bailey (wasn't picked in the first round). He's got great intensity, good football instincts and a great 40-time. I've talked to his brother -- my teammate -- Champ Bailey about Boss and I came away convinced that he's going to be a strong player in this league. If you're looking for strong football bloodlines they don't come much stronger than Boss'.
On Wallace: He's going to have to prove that he can throw through the passing lanes that are provided by his offensive line.
On O. Smith: He's the perfect guy to block for-- with the cuts that he makes and the moves he has -- he makes blockers look good. With the zone blocking schemes that a lot of teams are starting to play, he's going to be a great guy to block for.
On Drew Henson: This is a great pick for the Texans and Drew. The Texans have an opportunity to develop a potentially great QB in their system and Drew knows that the NFL world has a place for him. When Drew was contemplating leaving Michigan to pursue a career in baseball, I tried to talk him into staying for his senior year in college because I felt his future is in football. I still believe that and think he will one day be a difference maker in the NFL.
Corey's take
On Kevin Williams: If I'm Kevin Williams I'm feeling very loved because no one felt that he would be a top 10 pick in the draft and now he's the No. 9 guy. Someone in that draft room was a big Kevin Williams fan. He has high expectations and will be a very publicized pick. A lot of people will say that the Vikings didn't receive anything for their move from the seventh to the ninth spot, but the advantage is that they won't have to pay Williams seventh pick money. Williams should add an inside rush presence that will complement Kenny Mixon and Lance Johnstone very well. He also has the good fortune of playing with Chris Hovan next to him. Williams has the potential to be a Rookie of the Year candidate.
On Wallace: I'm tired of hearing about height. Michael Vick and Drew Brees are only 6-feet and no one is complaining about their inability to see over offensive lineman. Wallace is a poor man's Vick.
On O. Smith: He's coming in and will be behind a Pro-Bowl running back in Bennett. Smith is as smooth as Walt Frazier in his heyday and I look forward to having him on the team.
On Ken Dorsey: Dorsey had an outstanding college career while at Miami, he compiled a record of 38-2 and was a finalist for the Heisman trophy twice. Yet teams still are shying away from him because of his perceived lack of arm strength and the fear that he could turn into another Gino Torreta. I look at Dorsey and see that he has increased his weight to 220 pounds from his college weight of around 200. That shows that he's showing a desire to perform at a high level in the NFL and I believe that a team will take a chance on him before the draft is over.