Bush goes No. 2, Young No. 3, Ferguson No. 4

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NEW YORK -- Mario Williams, Reggie Bush and Vince Young all went in the top five of the NFL draft Saturday as expected.
AP Photo/Julie Jacobson
Mario Williams was first onto the stage Saturday.
Not Matt Leinart.
The 2004 Heisman Trophy winner took a slide to No. 10, finally picked by Arizona after several teams in desperate need of a signal caller passed on the Southern California quarterback.
"I went No. 10. There could be worse things in life, you know?" Leinart said, cracking a smile. "I think things happen for a reason, I fell to Arizona for a reason, and I look forward to going there. ... I think it's a good fit for me."
Williams went No. 1 overall to Houston, one day after the North Carolina State standout defensive end signed a six-year, $54 million contract. Bush, who teamed with Leinart at USC and was projected to be the top pick overall, next went to New Orleans.
The Titans went for a younger, faster version of the aging Steve McNair, taking Young of national champion Texas at No. 3. And the Jets, who have Chad Pennington recovering from his second rotator cuff injury, pleased their large, loud contingency by choosing Virginia left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson fourth.
Leinart then dropped out of the top five when Green Bay selected Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk, and slipped further when San Francisco -- which has its future quarterback in 2005 No. 1 pick Alex Smith -- took Maryland tight end Vernon Davis.
And Leinart kept falling -- past Oakland, Buffalo and Detroit.
It was something of a surprise, considering he would likely have been the top overall pick last year if he left school early as a junior. The left-hander, who has played in a pro-style offense, succeeded Pro Bowl quarterback Carson Palmer at USC and fits the classic dropback model.
But there have been questions about his arm strength that might have contributed to his slide.
Along came Arizona, which needed a quarterback to learn behind Kurt Warner. The addition of Leinart is another huge piece to offense for the Cardinals, who signed Colts running back Edgerrin James as a free agent and have the best receiver tandem in the NFL in Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.
Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler, the final quarterback of the "Big Three," went to Denver at No. 11 after the Broncos traded up four spots to get St. Louis' pick. The Rams get Denver's No. 15 pick, and also got a third-round selection (No. 68 overall).
Though the suspense was already gone by the time the No. 1 pick was announced -- and with the crowd booing and chanting "overrated" -- Williams proudly hugged commissioner Paul Tagliabue after his name was called at Radio City Music Hall, home to the famed Rockettes.
Defensive Ends Taken No. 1
Player
Team
College
Mario Williams
'06 Texans
NC State
Courtney Brown
'00 Browns
Penn State
Steve Emtman
'92 Colts
Washington
Bruce Smith
'85 Bills
Virginia Tech
Lee Roy Selmon
'76 Buccaneers
Oklahoma
Ed Jones
'74 Cowboys
Tennessee State
John Matuszak
'73 Oilers
Tampa
Walt Patulski
'72 Bills
Notre Dame
"I came from behind. I'm an underdog, basically," Williams said. "There's kind of a chip on my shoulder."
Though Bush was projected as the top selection, the Texans made the surprising and bold move for Williams. The defensive disrupter got a deal worth $26.5 million guaranteed.
Williams, who has been described as a cross between Julius Peppers and Lawrence Taylor, saw his stock soar after his amazing performance at the NFL combine in February. The 6-foot-6{, 292-pound Williams ran the 40-yard dash in 4.73 seconds and had 35 reps on the 225-pound bench press.
He becomes the first defensive end taken No. 1 overall since Courtney Brown went to the Browns in 2000, and the 12th defensive lineman to be picked at the top of the draft. The Texans, who haven't had a winning season in their four-year existence, got the first pick after going 2-14 this past season.
"He can be another Reggie White," Texans owner Bob McNair said. "That's what our people think."
Throughout the college football season, Bush dazzled with his with his electrifying moves and stunning speed en route to the Heisman Trophy.
Now the running back will bring his act to New Orleans, teaming with newly signed free-agent quarterback Drew Brees and running back Deuce McAllister, who is rehabilitating a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.
"I'm coming in there strong, I'm coming in there to help win some games, and I'm coming in there to help the city get turned around," Bush said, wearing a hat with the Saints' fleur-de-lis.
Bush has had more on his mind than the draft after questions were raised concerning who paid the rent for a home his parents lived in, and whether an agent was involved, which could violate NCAA rules. He's adamantly insisted there was no wrongdoing.
The 6-foot, 200-pound Bush, who wore San Diego's 619 area code painted underneath his eyes during USC games, had 1,740 yards rushing and 2,890 all-purpose yards this past season for the Trojans as a junior. He decided to leave school early to enter the draft after USC lost to Texas in the national championship game.
Though Leinart played for Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow at USC, general manager Floyd Reese was said to prefer Young, who passed for 267 yards, ran for 200 more and scrambled 8 yards on fourth down with 19 seconds left for the winning touchdown in a 41-38 win over Leinart and USC in the Rose Bowl. Though he has terrific running ability and a great arm, many are unsure how he will fit into a pro-style offense.
The Titans are in messy negotiations with McNair, who was told to stay away from team headquarters until talks to reduce his salary cap number are resolved.
Though Green Bay needs a replacement for Brett Favre, the Packers must be content with backup Aaron Rodgers, who was their first-round pick last year.
Oakland took Texas defensive back Michael Huff at No. 7, Buffalo chose Ohio State safety Donte Whitner eighth and Detroit finally went for a defensive player, taking Florida State linebacker Ernie Sims at No. 9.
AP Photo/Ed Betz
The number is right, but the colors are a surprise for No. 2 pick Reggie Bush.
The trading continued at No. 12, where the Ravens made a deal for the Browns pick. Baltimore then took Oregon defensive tackle Haloti Ngata.
The Browns got the No. 13 pick and took Kamerion Wimbley, a defensive end from Florida State.
Teammate Brodrick Bunkley went next at No. 14 to the Philadelphia Eagles.
St. Louis then exercised one of the picks it got in the trade with Denver for Clemson defensive back Tye Hill.
The Miami Dolphins took Jason Allen, a defensive back from Tennessee, at No. 16.
At No. 17, the Minnesota Vikings opted for Iowa linebacker Chad Greenway.
The Dallas Cowboys took Ohio State linebacker Bobby Carpenter at No. 18.
The Chargers took another Florida State defensive player at No. 19, grabbing Antonio Cromartie.
Kansas City took Penn State defensive end Tamba Hali at No. 20.