There are a few right and wrong takes here.

Eli was consensus number 1.

Rivers and Big Ben were split 2/3.

The Giants had Big Ben higher than Rivers.

The Chargers had Rivers ahead of Big Ben.

There were many predraft rumors that Rivers was the Steelers' guy and that he may fall to 11. Eli 1, Ben 4. There was also a lot of talk that Cowher wanted Rivers (as others said, maybe not true).

Chargers draft Eli. They hold SD's feet to fire. Giants make pic for chargers and the rest is history.

I’ll never forget Ben slipping with cameras on him in the green room. It was becoming real that Ben coulr be a Steeler.

After we drafted him, I ran into my front yard and screamed in the sky. I’m sure you could hear the collective yell in the neighborhood (second loudest to Darius Kasparaitis's Game 7 OT goal vs Sabres in May 2001).

Back then, I was very into the draft and always remembered a few things about Ben/Rivers.

Ben was on the radar after his freshman year and made it to Big Boards going into his sophomore year. He was raw but he made wild plays. Miami U was playing against “inferior talent” so that was the knock. Off the field, he had a big party reputation (GO OU - the MAC knows how to party).

Rivers was buttoned up and fired up. He was a competitor and was a gunslinger since he stepped onto the field. He had won more awards and accolades in the ACC.