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2004 NFL Draft facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The NFL held its 68th yearly Draft in 2004. This is an event where all 32 NFL teams pick college players to join their teams. It happened in Madison Square Garden in New York City on April 24 and 25. Fans could watch the draft on ESPN. A total of 255 players were chosen that year.

The draft began with the San Diego Chargers picking Eli Manning. He was soon traded to the New York Giants. Some teams got extra picks because they lost players who became free agents. The Philadelphia Eagles, St. Louis Rams, and New York Jets each had four extra picks.

The 2004 NFL Draft set some new records!

  • It had the most wide receivers picked in the first round (7).
  • It also had the most trades in the first round (28).
  • The University of Miami had six players chosen in the first round.
  • Ohio State University set an NFL draft record with 14 players picked across all rounds.

As of 2012, this draft was also special because two quarterbacks chosen that year each won more than one Super Bowl. These were Ben Roethlisberger, who won his second Super Bowl in 2008, and Eli Manning, who won his second in 2011.

The players chosen in the draft played many different positions:

Key Players Picked in 2004

Many talented players were chosen in the 2004 NFL Draft. Here are some of the most well-known players from that year:

First Round Stars

  • Eli Manning (Quarterback): Picked first overall by the San Diego Chargers, he was quickly traded to the New York Giants. He became a two-time Super Bowl champion.
  • Larry Fitzgerald (Wide Receiver): Chosen by the Arizona Cardinals, he became one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history.
  • Philip Rivers (Quarterback): Drafted by the New York Giants, he was traded to the San Diego Chargers for Eli Manning. He had a long and successful career.
  • Sean Taylor (Safety): A very strong and popular player for the Washington Redskins before his career was cut short.
  • Ben Roethlisberger (Quarterback): Picked by the Pittsburgh Steelers, he also won two Super Bowls and became a legendary quarterback.
  • Steven Jackson (Running Back): Drafted by the St. Louis Rams, he became their all-time leading rusher.
  • Vince Wilfork (Defensive Tackle): Chosen by the New England Patriots, he was a key player in their defense, making five Pro Bowls and winning two Super Bowls.

Later Round Gems

Sometimes, amazing players are found in later rounds of the draft or even after the draft is over!

  • Chris Cooley (Tight End): Picked in the third round by the Washington Redskins, he became a top tight end for the team.
  • Jared Allen (Defensive End): A fourth-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs, he became a dominant pass rusher, leading the league in sacks twice.
  • Michael Turner (Running Back): Drafted in the fifth round by the San Diego Chargers, he later became a Pro Bowl running back for the Atlanta Falcons.
  • Antonio Smith (Defensive End): A fifth-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals, he became a Pro Bowl defensive end.
  • Andy Lee (Punter): Chosen in the sixth round by the San Francisco 49ers, he became one of the best punters in the league, making the Pro Bowl.
  • Wes Welker (Wide Receiver): Interestingly, Wes Welker was not picked in the draft at all! He signed with a team after the draft and went on to become a five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver. This shows that not all great players are first-round picks.

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2004 NFL Draft Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.