Manning deal sets off wild, action-packed first round

The two-day event finished with a record 28 trades.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Eli Manning had no idea what he was setting in motion when he told the San Diego Chargers not to start off the NFL draft by selecting him.
The Chargers did anyway, then dealt him an hour later to the New York Giants in the first of a record 28 trades in one of the busiest drafts ever.
The New York Giants picked Philip Rivers with the fourth overall pick, and then the bartering began. New York sent the North Carolina State quarterback to San Diego for the Mississippi QB, while also surrendering a third-rounder in this draft, and a first and fifth in 2005.
A hefty price to pay, but teams were more than willing to do so in probably the strongest draft in decades.
"We all had the unanimous opinion this was a special quarterback, and you don't get a chance very many times, for decades, to select someone like him," Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi said.
Manning, who showed little emotion during the short span he belonged to San Diego, was all smiles when he became a Giant.
"That is what we were hoping," said Manning, brother of last season's NFL co-MVP, Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning. "We were hoping something would happen, a trade would happen hopefully."
First-round family
The Mannings are the only family with three members selected in the first round of the draft. Peyton went first to the Colts in 1998, and their father, Archie, was second overall in 1971.
Among the big winners, along with the Mannings were Iowa tackle Robert Gallery, who went second to Oakland; Pitt wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (third to Arizona); Rivers; and Miami Hurricanes' Sean Taylor, a safety taken fifth by Washington.
In fact, the Hurricanes were the hit of the draft, hardly a surprise because they've had 19 first-rounders in the last four years. They had a record six this time, with Taylor and tight end Kellen Winslow (Browns) joined by linebackers Jonathan Vilma (Jets) and D.J. Williams (Broncos), offensive lineman Vernon Carey (Dolphins) and defensive tackle Vince Wilfork (Patriots).
"It doesn't surprise me at all," Winslow said. "We have a great program at Miami."
Seven wide receivers
Fitzgerald and Jenkins were among seven receivers selected in the opening round. Wideout was, by far, the deepest position in the draft, with five going in the first 15 spots.
Atlanta even traded back into the first round, getting the Colts' No. 29 overall slot and taking Jenkins.
"When they started to run fast and get away from us, we felt that we had to make a move," said general manager Rich McKay, overseeing his first draft for the Falcons.
Four quarterbacks went in the top 22. After Manning and Rivers, Miami (Ohio's) Ben Roethlisberger was the 11th overall choice, by Pittsburgh. J.P. Losman of Tulane went 22nd to Buffalo, which acquired Dallas' first-rounder and gave up a 2005 first-round pick in the process.
Co-national champions Southern California and LSU each had a first-round presence. The Trojans' defensive end, Kenechi Udeze, went 20th to Minnesota. Tigers wide receiver Michael Clayton was chosen by Tampa Bay at No. 15.
On Sunday, the Chiefs sent Philadelphia their fifth-round pick this year and fourth-round choice in 2005 for John Welbourn, a five-year veteran guard/tackle who probably will replace John Tait at right tackle. Tait signed with the Chicago Bears as a free agent.
Welbourn recently criticized the Eagles' front office and wanted a new contract.
Another veteran was moved when the Jaguars dealt receiver Kevin Johnson to Baltimore for the Ravens' fourth-round pick.
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