Paranoidmoonduck
08-26-2008, 02:58 AM
You know the deal...
Trade:
Arizona sends their 2009 1st and 3rd and their 2010 3rd to San Francisco for the 49ers 2009 1st.
1. Detroit Lions : Matthew Stafford* : Quarterback : Georgia
If Detroit suffers a season like this, who knows where that team is. Marinelli might well be gone, and along with him that Tampa 2 defense. Even the amazingly resilient Matt Millen could find himself in look of a job. No matter where this team sits, I don’t think anybody on the roster could be confused for a franchise passer. Stafford, in terms of production, is a ways away from being worth the top pick of the draft, but the skills are there in excess and the situation looks right.
2. Kansas City Chiefs : Michael Oher : Offensive Tackle : Mississippi
I’m sure the Chiefs would have loved to take a shot at Stafford from this spot, but with him out and the option to move 2008 1st rounder Branden Albert inside to guard or to right tackle, I don’t see them passing on a guy like Oher. That team is still bound to the running game by that Larry Johnson contract, and Oher would improve that left side of the line immensely.
3. Miami Dolphins : Michael Johnson : Edge Rusher : Georgia Tech
Michael Johnson is the ultimate projection pick here. Making only two starts in his first three years with the Yellowjackets, Johnson still made an impact last season on passing downs. Now, with the starting job finally his, most people fully expect this immensely talented player to wreak havoc. Miami has proven they’re dedicated to the 3-4 defense and they are severely lacking that guy to come around the corner and pound quarterbacks.
4. Atlanta Falcons : Vontae Davis* : Cornerback : Illinois
It’s hard not to be impressed by Vontae Davis. The immensely strong and fast corner made big waves last year and I fully expect him to continue that this year for the Illini. Atlanta invested a first day pick in Chris Houston a couple drafts ago, but he has been a bit disappointing to date and the team could still use a top notch corner after dealing the troublesome DeAngelo Hall. All Davis needs is a strong junior campaign, because all the talent to go top 5 is there.
5. Tennessee Titans : Rey Maualuga : Linebacker : Southern California
The Rey Maualuga hype keeps growing. It started when he pratically beheaded UCLA quarterback Patrick Cowan and reached epic heights when he completely destroyed the Illinois offense in last years Rose Bowl. Although I personally think that Maualuga has a lot to work to do in regards to his recognition and discipline, and while there are some worrisome off the field stories surrounding him, truly disruptive defenders are few and far in between and Rey deserves that title. A rough season like this and the potential loss of Albert Haynesworth motivates the Titans to boost their run defense.
6. Arizona Cardinals (from San Francisco): Chris Wells* : Halfback : Ohio State
For a couple years worth of third rounders, this is a great move for Arizona. Ken Whisenhunt set up everything in his successful years with the Steelers with the inside run, something that has been sorely lacking in his desert stint. Wells is a bit one-dimensional, but he accomplishes it as well as anyone I’ve seen. Wells might go even higher if he puts up the kind of year he’s capable of.
7. Chicago Bears : Tim Tebow* : Quarterback : Florida
Tebow will be a very interesting prospect, but the expected emphasis to be placed on his passing this coming year and some reduced running should help NFL teams feel better about him. The Bears could probably use help elsewhere, but quarterback has been an issue with that team for so long and Tebow is such an intriguing talent, I don’t think they can afford to pass here.
8. Oakland Raiders : Darius Heyward-Bey* : Wide Receiver : Maryland
This would be a pretty classic Raider move, but it would actually make sense. Although Heyward-Bey has been part of a less than great pass attack in his career, he’s demonstrated good leaping ability, nice body control, and some truly epic speed. The guy Oakland brought into stretch the field, Drew Carter, just tore his ACL for the second time in the pros. Heyward-Bey fits that mold and bring more talent to the table. Oakland could use offensive line help badly, but I think wideout is more likely.
9. Baltimore Ravens : Eugene Monroe : Offensive Tackle : Virginia
With Jonathan Ogden retiring, we’ll get to see Jared Gaither get a crack at that left tackle spot. Somehow, I just think he’ll fit better on the right side. At the very least, a physical talent like Monroe would add some extra incentive. Monroe could well challenge Oher to be the top offensive tackle selected.
10. Washington Redskins : Malcolm Jenkins : Cornerback : Ohio State
That Washington cornerback corps has talent, but all of it seems to either be habitually injured or aging. This might be a bit high to draft depth, but Jenkins is such an all around talent and plays the ball so well, this might be really hard to pass on.
11. Denver Broncos : Williams Moore : Safety : Missouri
That Denver secondary outside of Champ Bailey has fallen off greatly the last few seasons. There might not have been a defensive back better than Moore last season.
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers : Michael Crabtree* : Wide Receiver : Texas Tech
This is going to be a popular pick. Crabtree fits that model for Gruden’s offense and is about as good after the catch as you can want from a west coast offense receiver.
13. San Francisco 49ers (from Arizona): Andre Smith* : Offensive Tackle : Alabama
If San Francisco has a rough season again and Mike Nolan is shown the door, what does that mean? I’m not entirely sure, but I do know that the team could still use a top notch lineman and they don’t come much better than Smith.
14. Cleveland Browns : James Laurinaitis : Linebacker : Ohio State
Maybe if Cleveland falls off this much, they look to make a bigger impact move. A runner could be a possibility, as well as any sort of impact defender. That said, getting a guy who could be moved around Crennell’s defense and who plays as smartly as Laurinaitis is always valuable.
15. New York Jets : Tyson Jackson : Defensive End : Louisiana State
To make this work, Jackson is going to have to revert back to this sophomore year form, but a guy his size who can move like that will always have a place in Eric Mangini’s defense.
16. St. Louis Rams : Taylor Mays* : Safety : Southern California
St. Louis has need greater than safety, but perhaps no better option here. Mays may have top 5 talent, but he needs to play like it to reach those heights. Still, he’s way too physically gifted to fall far.
17. Buffalo Bills : Maurice Evans* : Defensive End : Penn State
Buffalo’s defense is on the rise, but that Tampa 2 scheme still needs a guy who can consistently burst around the edge and bring pressure. Evans should open eyes this coming season.
18. Cincinnati Bengals : Brian Orakpo : Edge Rusher : Texas
Realistically, considering that Vernon Gholston went 6th overall this past draft, this might be way too low for Orakpo. You want to talk about physical specimens; this guy should just light up the combine. A great player for Cincinatti’s 3-4 defense.
19. Jacksonville Jaguars : Jeremy Maclin* : Wide Receiver : Missouri
Jacksonville has had some trouble at wideout lately, and I don’t think Jerry Porter fixed things for the long run. Although the rule in Jacksonville has been bigger wideouts, it might be time to get a smaller explosive guy like Maclin in town.
20. New Orleans Saints : Victor “Macho” Harris : Cornerback : Virginia Tech
That Saints front office poured a lot of money into that defense, but I still think they’re a playmaking corner away from getting the point they need to be at. Harris has been around the ball as much as any corner in college football, drawing comparisons to Charles Woodson.
21. New York Giants : Fili Moala : Defensive Tackle : Southern California
I balked when people started talking about Moala like a top 10 pick. He’s well away from that. However, I think the Giants are going to realize they need some more bulk in the middle of that line and Moala would be a great fit in New York.
22. Green Bay Packers : Mike Mickens : Cornerback : Cincinnati
Every year experts note that Green Bay is thin at cornerback, and every year they went out and played great. Well, after starter Al Harris suffered what might have been his worse professional season (which somehow resulted in a pro bowl berth), the Packers need to find answers quickly. Mickens is a physical guy who has the skills to be left out on an island like that Packer defense requires.
23. Houston Texans : Knowshon Moreno* : Halfback : Georgia
If Steve Slaton works out for the Texans, than you should completely disregard this. But something tells me he won’t show enough to convince Kubiak to pass on a guy who fits the scheme as nicely as Moreno. A small but very quick and heady runner, Moreno would go much higher if not for concern about his ability to be a feature back.
24. Philadelphia Eagles (from Carolina): Alex Mack : Center : California
Normally I’d say the Eagles need exterior offensive line help, but with the erratic behavior of guard Shawn Andrews and age creeping up all over that line, the safe thing is to stock the Eagles with the most versatile lineman in the draft.
25. Minnesota Vikings : Travis Beckum : Tight End : Wisconsin
The Vikings have had high hopes for Visanthe Shiancoe, but those should be starting to fade. A running team like them needs to have a security blanket for whomever ends up quarterbacking for them, and Beckum has the skills to be a very dangerous receiver in both the short and long pass game. His blocking undoubtedly needs work, but the strength is there.
26. San Diego Chargers : George Selvie : Edge Rusher : South Florida
A lot of pressure is going to fall on Jyles Tucker this coming season, as he tries to replace the best pass rusher in the NFL. If Tucker can’t effectively replace Merriman, and Shawne’s injuries are as drastic as reported, you bet the Chargers will be looking elsewhere fast. Selvie wreaked havoc last year in opponents backfield, but his size (reported as low as 235 last season) might restrict him to a defense like San Diego’s.
27. Pittsburgh Steelers : George “Duke” Robinson : Offensive Guard : Oklahoma
Losing a interior lineman like Alan Faneca will hurt every time, but a guy like Robinson would help. Robinson would have to play very well to make it this high, because guards who go this high are usually top class, but the skills are there and the talent players to take advantage of his blocking exist.
28. Seattle Seahawks : James Davis : Halfback : Clemson
You can already tell this is going to be a popular pick for quite a while. Seattle doesn’t figure to pick low enough to snag one of the promising underclassmen who might declare and until someone steps forward, Davis is the consensus top senior runner in the country.
29. New England Patriots : Brian Cushing : Edge Rusher : Southern California
Some people love Cushing, but I’m a bit dubious. That said, I doubt he falls out of the first round, and I certainly can’t imagine a team like the Pats passing on a guy who has the requisite experience in a 3-4.
30. Dallas Cowboys : Percy Harvin* : Wide Receiver : Florida
Another pick that will get a lot of usage. Although the Cowboys appeared to be targeting bigger wideout last draft (and ended up picking none), one look at their roster suggests they could use some smaller speed guys. Harvin has the skills to add a dimension to that already formidable Dallas offense.
31. Philadelphia Eagles : Everette Brown : Defensive End : Florida State
With offseason acquisition Chris Clemons going down, the Eagles might well be looking for another small defensive end to harass the passer next year. Brown is small like Clemons, so much so that you wonder if he’d work in their defense, but the skills seem to be there.
32. Indianapolis Colts : Vance Walker : Defensive Tackle : Georgia Tech
The Colts defense played great last year, but that interior line could still obviously use some help. Walker is bigger than the average Indy defensive tackle, but he put up 8.5 sacks last year and has a great build for the defense. He and Michael Johnson should help highlight each other.
Trade:
Arizona sends their 2009 1st and 3rd and their 2010 3rd to San Francisco for the 49ers 2009 1st.
1. Detroit Lions : Matthew Stafford* : Quarterback : Georgia
If Detroit suffers a season like this, who knows where that team is. Marinelli might well be gone, and along with him that Tampa 2 defense. Even the amazingly resilient Matt Millen could find himself in look of a job. No matter where this team sits, I don’t think anybody on the roster could be confused for a franchise passer. Stafford, in terms of production, is a ways away from being worth the top pick of the draft, but the skills are there in excess and the situation looks right.
2. Kansas City Chiefs : Michael Oher : Offensive Tackle : Mississippi
I’m sure the Chiefs would have loved to take a shot at Stafford from this spot, but with him out and the option to move 2008 1st rounder Branden Albert inside to guard or to right tackle, I don’t see them passing on a guy like Oher. That team is still bound to the running game by that Larry Johnson contract, and Oher would improve that left side of the line immensely.
3. Miami Dolphins : Michael Johnson : Edge Rusher : Georgia Tech
Michael Johnson is the ultimate projection pick here. Making only two starts in his first three years with the Yellowjackets, Johnson still made an impact last season on passing downs. Now, with the starting job finally his, most people fully expect this immensely talented player to wreak havoc. Miami has proven they’re dedicated to the 3-4 defense and they are severely lacking that guy to come around the corner and pound quarterbacks.
4. Atlanta Falcons : Vontae Davis* : Cornerback : Illinois
It’s hard not to be impressed by Vontae Davis. The immensely strong and fast corner made big waves last year and I fully expect him to continue that this year for the Illini. Atlanta invested a first day pick in Chris Houston a couple drafts ago, but he has been a bit disappointing to date and the team could still use a top notch corner after dealing the troublesome DeAngelo Hall. All Davis needs is a strong junior campaign, because all the talent to go top 5 is there.
5. Tennessee Titans : Rey Maualuga : Linebacker : Southern California
The Rey Maualuga hype keeps growing. It started when he pratically beheaded UCLA quarterback Patrick Cowan and reached epic heights when he completely destroyed the Illinois offense in last years Rose Bowl. Although I personally think that Maualuga has a lot to work to do in regards to his recognition and discipline, and while there are some worrisome off the field stories surrounding him, truly disruptive defenders are few and far in between and Rey deserves that title. A rough season like this and the potential loss of Albert Haynesworth motivates the Titans to boost their run defense.
6. Arizona Cardinals (from San Francisco): Chris Wells* : Halfback : Ohio State
For a couple years worth of third rounders, this is a great move for Arizona. Ken Whisenhunt set up everything in his successful years with the Steelers with the inside run, something that has been sorely lacking in his desert stint. Wells is a bit one-dimensional, but he accomplishes it as well as anyone I’ve seen. Wells might go even higher if he puts up the kind of year he’s capable of.
7. Chicago Bears : Tim Tebow* : Quarterback : Florida
Tebow will be a very interesting prospect, but the expected emphasis to be placed on his passing this coming year and some reduced running should help NFL teams feel better about him. The Bears could probably use help elsewhere, but quarterback has been an issue with that team for so long and Tebow is such an intriguing talent, I don’t think they can afford to pass here.
8. Oakland Raiders : Darius Heyward-Bey* : Wide Receiver : Maryland
This would be a pretty classic Raider move, but it would actually make sense. Although Heyward-Bey has been part of a less than great pass attack in his career, he’s demonstrated good leaping ability, nice body control, and some truly epic speed. The guy Oakland brought into stretch the field, Drew Carter, just tore his ACL for the second time in the pros. Heyward-Bey fits that mold and bring more talent to the table. Oakland could use offensive line help badly, but I think wideout is more likely.
9. Baltimore Ravens : Eugene Monroe : Offensive Tackle : Virginia
With Jonathan Ogden retiring, we’ll get to see Jared Gaither get a crack at that left tackle spot. Somehow, I just think he’ll fit better on the right side. At the very least, a physical talent like Monroe would add some extra incentive. Monroe could well challenge Oher to be the top offensive tackle selected.
10. Washington Redskins : Malcolm Jenkins : Cornerback : Ohio State
That Washington cornerback corps has talent, but all of it seems to either be habitually injured or aging. This might be a bit high to draft depth, but Jenkins is such an all around talent and plays the ball so well, this might be really hard to pass on.
11. Denver Broncos : Williams Moore : Safety : Missouri
That Denver secondary outside of Champ Bailey has fallen off greatly the last few seasons. There might not have been a defensive back better than Moore last season.
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers : Michael Crabtree* : Wide Receiver : Texas Tech
This is going to be a popular pick. Crabtree fits that model for Gruden’s offense and is about as good after the catch as you can want from a west coast offense receiver.
13. San Francisco 49ers (from Arizona): Andre Smith* : Offensive Tackle : Alabama
If San Francisco has a rough season again and Mike Nolan is shown the door, what does that mean? I’m not entirely sure, but I do know that the team could still use a top notch lineman and they don’t come much better than Smith.
14. Cleveland Browns : James Laurinaitis : Linebacker : Ohio State
Maybe if Cleveland falls off this much, they look to make a bigger impact move. A runner could be a possibility, as well as any sort of impact defender. That said, getting a guy who could be moved around Crennell’s defense and who plays as smartly as Laurinaitis is always valuable.
15. New York Jets : Tyson Jackson : Defensive End : Louisiana State
To make this work, Jackson is going to have to revert back to this sophomore year form, but a guy his size who can move like that will always have a place in Eric Mangini’s defense.
16. St. Louis Rams : Taylor Mays* : Safety : Southern California
St. Louis has need greater than safety, but perhaps no better option here. Mays may have top 5 talent, but he needs to play like it to reach those heights. Still, he’s way too physically gifted to fall far.
17. Buffalo Bills : Maurice Evans* : Defensive End : Penn State
Buffalo’s defense is on the rise, but that Tampa 2 scheme still needs a guy who can consistently burst around the edge and bring pressure. Evans should open eyes this coming season.
18. Cincinnati Bengals : Brian Orakpo : Edge Rusher : Texas
Realistically, considering that Vernon Gholston went 6th overall this past draft, this might be way too low for Orakpo. You want to talk about physical specimens; this guy should just light up the combine. A great player for Cincinatti’s 3-4 defense.
19. Jacksonville Jaguars : Jeremy Maclin* : Wide Receiver : Missouri
Jacksonville has had some trouble at wideout lately, and I don’t think Jerry Porter fixed things for the long run. Although the rule in Jacksonville has been bigger wideouts, it might be time to get a smaller explosive guy like Maclin in town.
20. New Orleans Saints : Victor “Macho” Harris : Cornerback : Virginia Tech
That Saints front office poured a lot of money into that defense, but I still think they’re a playmaking corner away from getting the point they need to be at. Harris has been around the ball as much as any corner in college football, drawing comparisons to Charles Woodson.
21. New York Giants : Fili Moala : Defensive Tackle : Southern California
I balked when people started talking about Moala like a top 10 pick. He’s well away from that. However, I think the Giants are going to realize they need some more bulk in the middle of that line and Moala would be a great fit in New York.
22. Green Bay Packers : Mike Mickens : Cornerback : Cincinnati
Every year experts note that Green Bay is thin at cornerback, and every year they went out and played great. Well, after starter Al Harris suffered what might have been his worse professional season (which somehow resulted in a pro bowl berth), the Packers need to find answers quickly. Mickens is a physical guy who has the skills to be left out on an island like that Packer defense requires.
23. Houston Texans : Knowshon Moreno* : Halfback : Georgia
If Steve Slaton works out for the Texans, than you should completely disregard this. But something tells me he won’t show enough to convince Kubiak to pass on a guy who fits the scheme as nicely as Moreno. A small but very quick and heady runner, Moreno would go much higher if not for concern about his ability to be a feature back.
24. Philadelphia Eagles (from Carolina): Alex Mack : Center : California
Normally I’d say the Eagles need exterior offensive line help, but with the erratic behavior of guard Shawn Andrews and age creeping up all over that line, the safe thing is to stock the Eagles with the most versatile lineman in the draft.
25. Minnesota Vikings : Travis Beckum : Tight End : Wisconsin
The Vikings have had high hopes for Visanthe Shiancoe, but those should be starting to fade. A running team like them needs to have a security blanket for whomever ends up quarterbacking for them, and Beckum has the skills to be a very dangerous receiver in both the short and long pass game. His blocking undoubtedly needs work, but the strength is there.
26. San Diego Chargers : George Selvie : Edge Rusher : South Florida
A lot of pressure is going to fall on Jyles Tucker this coming season, as he tries to replace the best pass rusher in the NFL. If Tucker can’t effectively replace Merriman, and Shawne’s injuries are as drastic as reported, you bet the Chargers will be looking elsewhere fast. Selvie wreaked havoc last year in opponents backfield, but his size (reported as low as 235 last season) might restrict him to a defense like San Diego’s.
27. Pittsburgh Steelers : George “Duke” Robinson : Offensive Guard : Oklahoma
Losing a interior lineman like Alan Faneca will hurt every time, but a guy like Robinson would help. Robinson would have to play very well to make it this high, because guards who go this high are usually top class, but the skills are there and the talent players to take advantage of his blocking exist.
28. Seattle Seahawks : James Davis : Halfback : Clemson
You can already tell this is going to be a popular pick for quite a while. Seattle doesn’t figure to pick low enough to snag one of the promising underclassmen who might declare and until someone steps forward, Davis is the consensus top senior runner in the country.
29. New England Patriots : Brian Cushing : Edge Rusher : Southern California
Some people love Cushing, but I’m a bit dubious. That said, I doubt he falls out of the first round, and I certainly can’t imagine a team like the Pats passing on a guy who has the requisite experience in a 3-4.
30. Dallas Cowboys : Percy Harvin* : Wide Receiver : Florida
Another pick that will get a lot of usage. Although the Cowboys appeared to be targeting bigger wideout last draft (and ended up picking none), one look at their roster suggests they could use some smaller speed guys. Harvin has the skills to add a dimension to that already formidable Dallas offense.
31. Philadelphia Eagles : Everette Brown : Defensive End : Florida State
With offseason acquisition Chris Clemons going down, the Eagles might well be looking for another small defensive end to harass the passer next year. Brown is small like Clemons, so much so that you wonder if he’d work in their defense, but the skills seem to be there.
32. Indianapolis Colts : Vance Walker : Defensive Tackle : Georgia Tech
The Colts defense played great last year, but that interior line could still obviously use some help. Walker is bigger than the average Indy defensive tackle, but he put up 8.5 sacks last year and has a great build for the defense. He and Michael Johnson should help highlight each other.