Tom Coughlin has never been a patient man. He wanted another "big guy" offensive lineman before the 2001 NFL draft expired, so he traded a 2002 fifth-round pick to the New England Patriots for a sixth-round pick today. With that choice, the Jaguars selected 6-4, 339-pound guard/tackle Chad Ward from Washington.
"The player was the most important thing at this time," Coughlin said in weighing the loss of a fifth-rounder next year for a sixth-round this year. Of course, this year's draft is considered to be especially deep.
"Solid offensive lineman; another size pick; a guy who could be a road-grader. His strength is as a mauler; a push guy," Coughlin said.
How does someone with Ward's size and his list of accomplishments, which include All-American honors and four years as a starter at Washington, last until the sixth round?
"I can't answer that. All I know is he was there," Coughlin said.
Though he has impressive straight-line speed, Ward is not considered to be as agile or as mobile in space as most teams would like. He needs to play in a system that does not require him to pull or trap. That is what caused him to last into the sixth round.
