The 2005 Buccaneer draft review
The additional 3rd and 7th round picks from San Diego
came in the Keenan McCardell trade. The additional 5th
round pick from San Diego came in the Roman Oben
trade. The additional 7th round pick from the NY Giants
came in the Jason Whittle trade. A 6th round pick was
traded to Cleveland for QB Luke McCown.
DRAFT ANALYSIS - The selection of Cadillac was a good
one as no-one could have forseen the two terrible knee injuries
he would suffer down the road. Hits on both Ruud and Smith
followed and Buenning was a useful player in his first season
as a Buccaneer. The trade for McCown was a pretty good one too. Had Cadillac stayed healthy, it would
have been a super draft class.
Carnell Williams
Barrett Ruud
Alex Smith
Chris Colmer
Donte Nicholson
Anthony Bryant
1 - RB - Carnell Williams - Auburn
Had a promising career derailed by two separate ruptured patella knee injuries having posted the best first three games by a rookie in NFL
history to open the 2005 season. Both times came back from those injuries to start for the Bucs and also became an excellent pass
blocker and receiver out of the backfield. Moved to the Rams in a free agency move and played the 2011 season before retiring from the
NFL. Was the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2005. His nickname came from a sports director for an ABC affiliate in Birmingham,
Ala. during a Friday night football game in 1998 saying he "ran as smooth as a Cadillac". Went on to a coaching role at Auburn and
stepped in as interim head coach during the 2022 season.
2 - LB - Barrett Ruud - Nebraska
Was the Bucs middle linebacker and signal-caller for four seasons and led the team in tackles each of those seasons having spent his first
two seasons backing up Shelton Quarles and playing special teams. Was not offered a contract after the 2010 season free agency period
began and moved to continue his career with the Tennessee Titans but played sparingly for them and two other teams before leaving the
NFL in after the 2012 season. His father Tom played at Nebraska from 1972-74 and played in the NFL for several seasons and his cousin
John Howell was the Bucs fourth-round pick in 2001.
3 - TE - Alex Smith - Stanford
Spent four seasons with the Bucs but his numbers declined every season and he never lived up to the hype from his first NFL game when
he caught two touchdown passes in Minnesota. With the arrival of Kellen Winslow in the 2009 off-season, was deemed surplus to
requirements and was traded to New England for an undisclosed 2010 draft pick in May 2009. Never played for the Patriots but went on to
play and catch passes for Philadelphia, Cleveland and Cincinnati over the following five seasons. His father Edwin played for the Denver
Broncos from 1973-76.
3 - T - Chris Colmer - N.Carolina State
High draft pick who spent his entire rookie season as a gameday inactive and hence only played in pre-season games. Suffered a
recurrence of Parsonage-Turner Syndrome in the 2006 off-season and spent the entire year on Injured Reserve having been a gameday
inactive for every game in 2005. Was finally released in June 2007 after failing a team physical. Died in January 2011 in North Carolina at
a tragically early age
4 - G - Dan Buenning - Wisconsin
Played three seasons with the Bucs having started every game at left guard as a rookie. Was a great run blocker and deservedly was
named to every All-Rookie team in 2005. Lost his starting role in 2006 through injury and was then replaced for good by Arron Sears in
2007. Was traded to Chicago just prior to the start of the 2008 season for a low-round draft pick and appeared in 10 games for the Bears
that year before disappearing from the NFL
5 - S - Donte Nicholson - Oklahoma
Spent parts of four seasons with the Bucs primarily as a special teams player. Also saw a little time in the defensive backfield over his
career including as a rookie in the road game in Atlanta. Never played anywhere else in the NFL outside of his trips on and off the Tampa
Bay active roster.
5 - WR - Larry Brackins - Pearl River CC
Did not make the final roster but was re-signed to the practice squad where he remained all season. Was released the following pre-
season.
6 - DT - Anthony Bryant - Alabama
Played in the first three games of his rookie season as part of the defensive line rotation but then saw playing time in just one more game
having been named inactive in 11 others. Was released in training camp in 2006 and went on to play a handful of games with Miami,
Detroit and Washington in his sporadic NFL career.
7 - WR - Paris Warren - Utah
Was hampered by injuries during his time with the Buccaneers missing the entire 2007 season after injuring his knee scoring a touchdown
in the final exhibition game and missed the entire 2007 campaign. Had been a game-day inactive for the first five games of the 2005
season and saw no playing time and then was cut was re-signed to the practice squad for the remainder of the year. Was released in the
2008 pre-season and never played in the NFL again.
7 - S - Hamza Abdullah
Did not make the team out of camp but was signed by the Denver Broncos during the season and played in one regular season game and
both playoff encounters for the AFC team on special teams.
7 - FB - Rick Razzano - Mississippi
Probably set a team record for roster moves between the active roster and practice squad in 2005 but actually saw action in only one
game against the Jets. Sat out the first four games of the 2005 season following a steroid suspension from before he was drafted by the
Bucs. Was released in training camp in 2006 and never played in the NFL again.
7 - WR - JR Russell - Louisville
Was a game-day inactive for the first 11 games of the season and saw no playing time and then was cut was re-signed to the practice
squad for the remainder of the year. Did not make the team out of training camp the following season and never played in the NFL again.
Wore 14 during the 2005 pre-season but then switched to the 87 jersey when the regular season began
Paris Warren
Dan Buenning
