NFL DRAFT : Draft Day Turns Into Daffy Day : Overview: Bucs, not Colts, get Dilfer; 49ers fill their needs, but the Cowboys appear lost.

The NFL’s 59th draft was as large as advertised Sunday, with the big trades, big risks, big surprises, big falls and Big Daddy.

As expected, defensive tackle Dan (Big Daddy) Wilkinson was the first overall pick by the Cincinnati Bengals.

And as expected, when Wilkinson finished his conversation with Bengal officials by asking if they wanted to speak to agent Leigh Steinberg, the Bengals hung up.

But other moments during the first two rounds in the seven-round draft were not so anticipated.

There were six trades in the first round, two by the Rams, who handed franchise players to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Trent Dilfer) and San Francisco 49ers (Bryant Young).

The Atlanta Falcons made the best defensive acquisition of the day, and they didn’t even have a first-round pick.

Nobody was luckier than the Charlotte Panthers, and they didn’t have any picks.

That team celebrating was the Bucs.

That team kicking itself was the Dallas Cowboys.

And there was more:

--A team with one of the worst-rated quarterbacks in the league traded up to earn two picks among the top five selections . . . and did not take a quarterback.

The Indianapolis Colts took San Diego State running back Marshall Faulk and Nebraska linebacker Trev Alberts while ignoring Fresno State quarterback Trent Dilfer.

They are apparently content to be led by Jim Harbaugh, who last year threw seven touchdown passes.

“We’ll do it a different way than what they’ve tried to do it in the past,” said Bill Tobin, the Colts’ new general manager who drafted Harbaugh when both were with the Chicago Bears.

Tobin later engaged in a nationally televised war of words with ESPN draft commentator Mel Kiper Jr., who was one of many “experts” criticizing Tobin’s decision.

“Who the hell is Mel Kiper, anyway?” Tobin said on ESPN. “Mel Kiper has no more credentials to do what he’s doing than my neighbor, and my neighbor’s a postman.”

--The 49ers took their first step in regaining NFC superiority over the Cowboys by filling two needs with Notre Dame defensive tackle Young (seventh overall) and Florida State fullback William Floyd (28th overall).

--The Cowboys, in their first draft in six years without former coach Jimmy Johnson, appeared lost.

They attempted to trade up for USC’s Willie McGinest, the fourth overall pick by the New England Patriots. They also wanted Michigan State linebacker Rob Fredrickson, but the Raiders took him first. So they settled for a third-down pass rusher, defensive end Shante Carver of Arizona State in the 23rd overall selection. They followed with tackle Larry Allen of Sonoma State in the second round, a sleeper who will need to be developed slowly.

“This is a lot easier than recruiting,” marveled new Cowboy Coach Barry Switzer.

--The Bucs, with one respectable first-round pick in the last 11 years, might have rewritten their history.

They acquired Dilfer after the Colts passed on him, giving them a potential star to replace erratic Craig Erickson. Then they picked up Florida running back Erict Rhett in the second round. Both players were ranked in the top three in their respective positions.

--The New York Giants made the first concession to the new rules by using their first round pick to take little-known wide receiver Thomas Lewis of Indiana.

Lewis wasn’t even ranked among the top 10 at his position, but Giant Coach Dan Reeves said it didn’t matter.

“With the kickoffs being moved back to the 30-yard line, there is a premium now on kick returners,” Reeves said. “Lewis is a good one.”

David Palmer, the Alabama running back who projects as a two-point quarterback, was taken as the 40th overall pick in the second round by the Minnesota Vikings.

--The Falcons, who gave up their early picks for quarterback Jeff George, rebounded by acquiring Pro Bowl defensive end Chris Doleman from the Minnesota Vikings for future draft picks.

--The Philadelphia Eagles also used future picks in acquiring standout San Francisco 49ers linebacker Bill Romanowski.

--The Denver Broncos, who signed receiver Anthony Miller earlier this spring, added receiver Mike Pritchard from the Falcons in another trade involving draft picks.

Rob Johnson, USC quarterback, became the happiest football player not drafted when the expansion Charlotte Panthers won a coin toss with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the No. 1 pick next year.

If Joe Gibbs becomes the Panthers coach as expected, it is likely he would want a quarterback to build around, and Johnson is expected to be the top prospect next year.

Some things were not a surprise.

Ten of the first 13 picks were defensive players, including nine of 10 in one stretch.

Heath Shuler, Tennessee quarterback, was selected as the third player overall by the Washington Redskins. This illustrated new Coach Norv Turner’s influence, as general manager Charley Casserly wanted Dilfer.

Charlie Ward, Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from Florida State, was not selected.

While the remaining five rounds of the draft drag to a conclusion today, the task of getting the top picks signed begins immediately.

Wilkinson looked prepared for the approximately $14.5 million contract that will be sought from Bengals by Steinberg. The suit he wore to the Newport Beach draft party was green.

Although the Bengals’ best offer is closer to $12 million, Steinberg said he does not expect a holdout. “This player will not be one minute late for training camp,” he said.