derza222
01-16-2009, 12:42 PM
This is my first shot at a mock this year. I did my best with this for the first time this year and did put a little effort into it, so please be kind. +rep for good constructive criticism, I'd like to be able to put together some better mocks as we get closer to the draft so your thoughts really are appreciated.
1. Detroit Lions- Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia- The Lions need a QB of the future, not really a difficult pick to make unless they end up preferring Sanchez. Right now though, Stafford has to have the edge.
2. St. Louis Rams- Andre Smith, OT, Alabama- Alex Barron has had his struggles, and the Rams were said to be contemplating Jake Long last year if Miami didn’t take him. Smith provides a potential franchise LT that can start off at either tackle spot or guard if need be and take over covering the blindside down the road.
3. Kansas City Chiefs- Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas- The Chiefs’ pass rush was pretty awful next year. Whoever they bring in to coach will want to be able to get after the passer, and Orakpo helps there. He could potentially stand up in a 3-4 of that’s what Pioli wants to run as well, though he probably fits the 4-3 a little better.
4. Seattle Seahawks- Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech- Seattle’s wideouts are either aging or not very good. Apparently the plan is to win now, so they grab one of the most prolific receivers in college history to help out Hasselbeck.
5. Cleveland Browns- Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State- This pick was a little difficult, because a pass rushing OLB could definitely make sense here. That said, the Browns could use a back to take over for Lewis, and Wells is a bruiser from a local that should be able to handle the NFC North well. Keep in mind Mangini is by nature a pretty conservative guy, and he’ll probably want to run the ball to take some pressure off of Quinn.
6. Cincinnati Bengals- Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia- This is a pick that could go a lot of ways. Everette Brown is one of them, because the Bengals never did get Derrick Harvey last year and though they have some money invested in their DE’s they could still use some help there. Aaron Curry is another because he’s a solid value at a position they could use some help at. Ultimately though, the priority has to be protecting Carson Palmer. In most divisions, Anthony Collins could probably be a serviceable LT next year, and perhaps solid down the road. But the Bengals have to play three 3-4 schemes in their division, so tackles need to be able to handle quicker ends. Monroe can help the Bengals protect their most important investment in Palmer, and should help the run game out as well.
7. Oakland Raiders- Jason Smith, OT, Baylor- The Raiders certainly have a need at offensive tackle, so this more or less came down to Smith and Oher. Ultimately though, protecting the quarterback is the most important role of a LT in the NFL and why it’s such a valuable position. Smith is better in pass pro than Oher and probably a slightly safer pick as well, though he presents less overall upside. Plus he fits the ZBS better, provided their new HC doesn’t change the scheme.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars- Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi- A bit of a run on tackles here, a position where the Jags have a need as well. Oher is projected all over the place, but in Jacksonville his size can help them out in the run game and he’s got the potential to be a very good pass protector as well. Not the easiest pick to predict but it’s not a bad landing place for Oher.
9. Green Bay Packers- Everette Brown, DE, Florida State- The Packers really struggled to get to the passer this year, and Brown has the potential to really help them out there. I’m a pretty big fan of his, and I wonder if he actually ends up higher than this on draft day. As an aside, I almost gave them Malcolm Jenkins here, so thoughts on this pick from Packers fans would be awesome.
10. San Francisco 49ers- Mark Sanchez, QB, Southern California- I know San Francisco fans don’t want a quarterback, but Sanchez just makes the most sense to me here. I could see Taylor Mays if he came out or maybe even Brown if available, but ultimately it’s still up in the air as to whether or not Shaun Hill actually is the answer. Quarterbacks take time to develop and if Hill isn’t the guy there they’ll really regret passing on Sanchez, who is a decent value here.
11. Buffalo Bills- Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State- This is a pick I struggled with some, because a lot of the better fits are off the board at this point. Maybin is a tremendous athlete with oodles of potential, and the Bills could use some help with their pass rush. He’ll probably start of as a situational pass rusher but if he develops, watch out. I’m definitely open to suggestions here if Bills fans think there’s a better option than Maybin.
12. Denver Broncos- B.J. Raji- NT, Boston College- With the Broncos probably moving to a 3-4 defense, they’ll need a nose tackle to plug things up in the middle. After watching Dewayne Robertson trying to play nose for a couple years in New York, I know how painful it is to watch a 3-4 defense without a solid nose tackle. Raji is probably the best option at the position in the draft, the only guy that has a chance to go this high, and the Broncos really can’t afford to try and get his teammate Ron Brace in a later round in case he gets picked up by another team.
13. Washington Redskins- Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest- Great value pick for the Redskins, who could probably use an OLB to take over for the aging Marcus Washington. Curry should have gone a lot higher IMO, so if any fans of other teams think I should’ve pulled the trigger with an earlier pick lemme know. But this time around, the Redskins get lucky with Curry and add a fantastic young piece to an already talented defense.
14. New Orleans Saints- Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State- Another great value pick here for the Saints. Same deal as Curry, I think he should have gone considerably higher than this. Jenkins is a great athlete in the secondary who can pretty much do it all when it comes to covering, making plays on the ball, and filling against the run. He’s got the versatility to play some FS if the Saints want him too because they have a need there, but I’d guess will primarily play corner there.
15. Houston Texans- Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois- The Texans have some nice talent defensively and on the offensive side of the ball, but still have a lot of trouble in the secondary. A safety would be great, but value is off, so they go with possibly the most physically talented corner in the draft Vontae Davis. Davis has great speed and size, and could be a very solid player across from Dunta Robinson if he plays to his physical tools.
16. San Diego Chargers- Rey Maualuga, ILB, Southern California- The Chargers could use some youth at inside linebacker and Maualuga is a fantastic fit to play there in the 3-4. With great size and strength, the local product can really help out in the run game and getting after the quarterback, and isn’t too bad in coverage either.
17. New York Jets- Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri- The Jets primary needs are probably ILB and FS where starters are free agents and could be upgraded even if they were to remain with the team. Unfortunately Maualuga is gone, Brandon Spikes did not declare, and neither did Taylor Mays though he probably would not have reached their selection anyway. One thing the Jets do lack is a guy who can stretch the field at WR. With Coles aging, Maclin can step in and provide a big play/deep threat immediately in 3 WR sets and eventually take over to start across from Cotchery.
18. Chicago Bears- Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland- The Bears could really use a defensive end to get after the passer, but arguably the two best left on the board are not great fits for the Bears defense/needs (Tyson Jackson) and probably don’t have the value to go at 19 (Michael Johnson). Greg Hardy would have been a nice option but he didn’t declare. Heyward-Bey has the size and speed to be an elite NFL WR, along with solid hands. He’ll be great on vertical plays initially while he gets a better feel for intermediate routes, but should take some pressure off of, and add some size across from, Devin Hester.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Percy Harvin, WR, Tampa Bay- Harvin is a unique athlete that can do a lot of things on the football field when the ball is in his hands. He’ll be a nice toy for Jon Gruden, and should provide a solid threat across from Antonio Bryant.
20. Detroit Lions- Eben Britton, OT, Arizona- Britton provides value at a primary position where the Lions are not completely set. Being able to get a potential franchise QB and a potential franchise LT in the same draft is not so common, so the Lions jump on the opportunity. James Laurinaitis is another solid option here, but LT is a much more important position than LB and got the nod.
21. Arizona Cardinals- LeSean McCoy, RB, Pittsburgh- McCoy is an incredibly talented running back with very nice quickness and change of direction ability. He’ll provide the ability to hit home runs and be a nice change of pace from Tim Hightower. I went McCoy over Moreno mostly because I feel he fits the Cardinals a little better as a compliment to Hightower. An interior offensive lineman could be another solid option.
22. Minnesota Vikings- Max Unger, C, Oregon- The Vikings have had some struggles at center and grab Unger to help them out. Unger will be battling Alex Mack to be the top center selected, but ultimately his superior versatility allows him to win out.
23. New England Patriots- Clint Sintim, LB, Virginia- New England still needs some youth at linebacker even after selecting Jerod Mayo in the first round last year. Sintim provides excellent talent, versatility, and pass rushing ability. He can play both inside and outside in the Patriots scheme and really get after the quarterback.
24. Atlanta Falcons- Brian Cushing, OLB, Southern California- The Falcons could use an outside linebacker to play the strong side across from Michael Boley and grab Cushing. A good athlete who is a little stiff but has really nice measurables and comes from a solid USC program, Cushing is a nice pick and can be a nice asset for an up and coming Falcons team.
25. Miami Dolphins- Sean Smith, CB, Utah- Unfortunately the Dolphins have two players that would probably be very high on their board and great fits in Sintim and Cushing go back to back before their selection. A very talented athlete with the ability to play corner or safety, Smith should test out relatively well and has great experience and is not a bad consolation prize for another up and coming team.
26. Baltimore Ravens- Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest- While the Ravens defense is incredibly talented, their secondary is both banged up and aging. Smith provides a pure cover guy who, despite his lack of size, will be able to help out a very aggressive Ravens defense with his skill set.
27. Indianapolis Colts- James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State- Laurinaitis was overrated by most early on in the season and probably should end up falling somewhere around this area. He very well could have gone earlier to Detroit, but is a nice fit for the defense the Colts run and should be able to help them out right away. A wideout that runs good routes would be a solid pick for Indy with Marvin Harrison probably on the outs but nobody really seems to fit the bill here.
28. Philadelphia Eagles- Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia- This is a pick I’m really just playing around with that I think could make some sense but may not, so I’d like some feedback from Eagles fans. Philadelphia has had their struggles running the ball this year with Brian Westbrook taking a slight step back. A guy like Chris Wells would be a nice fit with his size for short yardage but is long gone at this point. Moreno could be a pretty good compliment to Westbrook despite his lack of size because he runs very hard, is a nice value here, and his receiving skills out of the backfield fit the Eagles’ offense nicely.
29. New York Giants- Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers- The Giants offense seemed to really struggle without Plaxico Burress, and a WR should be a real priority heading into the draft for them. Their offense just doesn’t run the same without a target that can get open and make plays on his own. Britt provides some nice size they’ve been missing without Plax and is a local product with a lot of talent, and should be a very popular pick for some fans as well.
30. Tennessee Titans- DJ Moore, CB, Vanderbilt- The Titans could use both a corner and a WR but with most of the better wideouts gone the local product Moore is a good option at this point. His knack for making big plays when the ball is thrown his way should fit in very well across from Cortland Finnegan.
31. Philadelphia Eagles- Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State- Philadelphia could really use a tight end with LJ Smith a free agent and without Jermaine Gresham declaring Pettigrew is probably the best option left in the draft. He’s got nice hands, solid athleticism, is a very good blocker, and should get a lot of looks from McNabb in the Eagles’ pass-happy offense.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers- Tyson Jackson, DE, Louisiana State- The Steelers could really use some help on the offensive line but also probably would like to bring in some youth on the defensive line. They elect to pass on some of the more solid interior linemen in the draft to bring in Jackson, a tremendous athlete for a 3-4 end who will bring some youth to the Steelers’ line and start down the road.
Not really a big fan of how it played out, some fits are alright, some are kind of generic and get picked a lot, and some picks were really tough to make with the needs some teams have and the players that were left on the board. Some players (namely Curry and Jenkins) fell too far for my liking as well.
1. Detroit Lions- Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia- The Lions need a QB of the future, not really a difficult pick to make unless they end up preferring Sanchez. Right now though, Stafford has to have the edge.
2. St. Louis Rams- Andre Smith, OT, Alabama- Alex Barron has had his struggles, and the Rams were said to be contemplating Jake Long last year if Miami didn’t take him. Smith provides a potential franchise LT that can start off at either tackle spot or guard if need be and take over covering the blindside down the road.
3. Kansas City Chiefs- Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas- The Chiefs’ pass rush was pretty awful next year. Whoever they bring in to coach will want to be able to get after the passer, and Orakpo helps there. He could potentially stand up in a 3-4 of that’s what Pioli wants to run as well, though he probably fits the 4-3 a little better.
4. Seattle Seahawks- Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech- Seattle’s wideouts are either aging or not very good. Apparently the plan is to win now, so they grab one of the most prolific receivers in college history to help out Hasselbeck.
5. Cleveland Browns- Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State- This pick was a little difficult, because a pass rushing OLB could definitely make sense here. That said, the Browns could use a back to take over for Lewis, and Wells is a bruiser from a local that should be able to handle the NFC North well. Keep in mind Mangini is by nature a pretty conservative guy, and he’ll probably want to run the ball to take some pressure off of Quinn.
6. Cincinnati Bengals- Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia- This is a pick that could go a lot of ways. Everette Brown is one of them, because the Bengals never did get Derrick Harvey last year and though they have some money invested in their DE’s they could still use some help there. Aaron Curry is another because he’s a solid value at a position they could use some help at. Ultimately though, the priority has to be protecting Carson Palmer. In most divisions, Anthony Collins could probably be a serviceable LT next year, and perhaps solid down the road. But the Bengals have to play three 3-4 schemes in their division, so tackles need to be able to handle quicker ends. Monroe can help the Bengals protect their most important investment in Palmer, and should help the run game out as well.
7. Oakland Raiders- Jason Smith, OT, Baylor- The Raiders certainly have a need at offensive tackle, so this more or less came down to Smith and Oher. Ultimately though, protecting the quarterback is the most important role of a LT in the NFL and why it’s such a valuable position. Smith is better in pass pro than Oher and probably a slightly safer pick as well, though he presents less overall upside. Plus he fits the ZBS better, provided their new HC doesn’t change the scheme.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars- Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi- A bit of a run on tackles here, a position where the Jags have a need as well. Oher is projected all over the place, but in Jacksonville his size can help them out in the run game and he’s got the potential to be a very good pass protector as well. Not the easiest pick to predict but it’s not a bad landing place for Oher.
9. Green Bay Packers- Everette Brown, DE, Florida State- The Packers really struggled to get to the passer this year, and Brown has the potential to really help them out there. I’m a pretty big fan of his, and I wonder if he actually ends up higher than this on draft day. As an aside, I almost gave them Malcolm Jenkins here, so thoughts on this pick from Packers fans would be awesome.
10. San Francisco 49ers- Mark Sanchez, QB, Southern California- I know San Francisco fans don’t want a quarterback, but Sanchez just makes the most sense to me here. I could see Taylor Mays if he came out or maybe even Brown if available, but ultimately it’s still up in the air as to whether or not Shaun Hill actually is the answer. Quarterbacks take time to develop and if Hill isn’t the guy there they’ll really regret passing on Sanchez, who is a decent value here.
11. Buffalo Bills- Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State- This is a pick I struggled with some, because a lot of the better fits are off the board at this point. Maybin is a tremendous athlete with oodles of potential, and the Bills could use some help with their pass rush. He’ll probably start of as a situational pass rusher but if he develops, watch out. I’m definitely open to suggestions here if Bills fans think there’s a better option than Maybin.
12. Denver Broncos- B.J. Raji- NT, Boston College- With the Broncos probably moving to a 3-4 defense, they’ll need a nose tackle to plug things up in the middle. After watching Dewayne Robertson trying to play nose for a couple years in New York, I know how painful it is to watch a 3-4 defense without a solid nose tackle. Raji is probably the best option at the position in the draft, the only guy that has a chance to go this high, and the Broncos really can’t afford to try and get his teammate Ron Brace in a later round in case he gets picked up by another team.
13. Washington Redskins- Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest- Great value pick for the Redskins, who could probably use an OLB to take over for the aging Marcus Washington. Curry should have gone a lot higher IMO, so if any fans of other teams think I should’ve pulled the trigger with an earlier pick lemme know. But this time around, the Redskins get lucky with Curry and add a fantastic young piece to an already talented defense.
14. New Orleans Saints- Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State- Another great value pick here for the Saints. Same deal as Curry, I think he should have gone considerably higher than this. Jenkins is a great athlete in the secondary who can pretty much do it all when it comes to covering, making plays on the ball, and filling against the run. He’s got the versatility to play some FS if the Saints want him too because they have a need there, but I’d guess will primarily play corner there.
15. Houston Texans- Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois- The Texans have some nice talent defensively and on the offensive side of the ball, but still have a lot of trouble in the secondary. A safety would be great, but value is off, so they go with possibly the most physically talented corner in the draft Vontae Davis. Davis has great speed and size, and could be a very solid player across from Dunta Robinson if he plays to his physical tools.
16. San Diego Chargers- Rey Maualuga, ILB, Southern California- The Chargers could use some youth at inside linebacker and Maualuga is a fantastic fit to play there in the 3-4. With great size and strength, the local product can really help out in the run game and getting after the quarterback, and isn’t too bad in coverage either.
17. New York Jets- Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri- The Jets primary needs are probably ILB and FS where starters are free agents and could be upgraded even if they were to remain with the team. Unfortunately Maualuga is gone, Brandon Spikes did not declare, and neither did Taylor Mays though he probably would not have reached their selection anyway. One thing the Jets do lack is a guy who can stretch the field at WR. With Coles aging, Maclin can step in and provide a big play/deep threat immediately in 3 WR sets and eventually take over to start across from Cotchery.
18. Chicago Bears- Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland- The Bears could really use a defensive end to get after the passer, but arguably the two best left on the board are not great fits for the Bears defense/needs (Tyson Jackson) and probably don’t have the value to go at 19 (Michael Johnson). Greg Hardy would have been a nice option but he didn’t declare. Heyward-Bey has the size and speed to be an elite NFL WR, along with solid hands. He’ll be great on vertical plays initially while he gets a better feel for intermediate routes, but should take some pressure off of, and add some size across from, Devin Hester.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Percy Harvin, WR, Tampa Bay- Harvin is a unique athlete that can do a lot of things on the football field when the ball is in his hands. He’ll be a nice toy for Jon Gruden, and should provide a solid threat across from Antonio Bryant.
20. Detroit Lions- Eben Britton, OT, Arizona- Britton provides value at a primary position where the Lions are not completely set. Being able to get a potential franchise QB and a potential franchise LT in the same draft is not so common, so the Lions jump on the opportunity. James Laurinaitis is another solid option here, but LT is a much more important position than LB and got the nod.
21. Arizona Cardinals- LeSean McCoy, RB, Pittsburgh- McCoy is an incredibly talented running back with very nice quickness and change of direction ability. He’ll provide the ability to hit home runs and be a nice change of pace from Tim Hightower. I went McCoy over Moreno mostly because I feel he fits the Cardinals a little better as a compliment to Hightower. An interior offensive lineman could be another solid option.
22. Minnesota Vikings- Max Unger, C, Oregon- The Vikings have had some struggles at center and grab Unger to help them out. Unger will be battling Alex Mack to be the top center selected, but ultimately his superior versatility allows him to win out.
23. New England Patriots- Clint Sintim, LB, Virginia- New England still needs some youth at linebacker even after selecting Jerod Mayo in the first round last year. Sintim provides excellent talent, versatility, and pass rushing ability. He can play both inside and outside in the Patriots scheme and really get after the quarterback.
24. Atlanta Falcons- Brian Cushing, OLB, Southern California- The Falcons could use an outside linebacker to play the strong side across from Michael Boley and grab Cushing. A good athlete who is a little stiff but has really nice measurables and comes from a solid USC program, Cushing is a nice pick and can be a nice asset for an up and coming Falcons team.
25. Miami Dolphins- Sean Smith, CB, Utah- Unfortunately the Dolphins have two players that would probably be very high on their board and great fits in Sintim and Cushing go back to back before their selection. A very talented athlete with the ability to play corner or safety, Smith should test out relatively well and has great experience and is not a bad consolation prize for another up and coming team.
26. Baltimore Ravens- Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest- While the Ravens defense is incredibly talented, their secondary is both banged up and aging. Smith provides a pure cover guy who, despite his lack of size, will be able to help out a very aggressive Ravens defense with his skill set.
27. Indianapolis Colts- James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State- Laurinaitis was overrated by most early on in the season and probably should end up falling somewhere around this area. He very well could have gone earlier to Detroit, but is a nice fit for the defense the Colts run and should be able to help them out right away. A wideout that runs good routes would be a solid pick for Indy with Marvin Harrison probably on the outs but nobody really seems to fit the bill here.
28. Philadelphia Eagles- Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia- This is a pick I’m really just playing around with that I think could make some sense but may not, so I’d like some feedback from Eagles fans. Philadelphia has had their struggles running the ball this year with Brian Westbrook taking a slight step back. A guy like Chris Wells would be a nice fit with his size for short yardage but is long gone at this point. Moreno could be a pretty good compliment to Westbrook despite his lack of size because he runs very hard, is a nice value here, and his receiving skills out of the backfield fit the Eagles’ offense nicely.
29. New York Giants- Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers- The Giants offense seemed to really struggle without Plaxico Burress, and a WR should be a real priority heading into the draft for them. Their offense just doesn’t run the same without a target that can get open and make plays on his own. Britt provides some nice size they’ve been missing without Plax and is a local product with a lot of talent, and should be a very popular pick for some fans as well.
30. Tennessee Titans- DJ Moore, CB, Vanderbilt- The Titans could use both a corner and a WR but with most of the better wideouts gone the local product Moore is a good option at this point. His knack for making big plays when the ball is thrown his way should fit in very well across from Cortland Finnegan.
31. Philadelphia Eagles- Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State- Philadelphia could really use a tight end with LJ Smith a free agent and without Jermaine Gresham declaring Pettigrew is probably the best option left in the draft. He’s got nice hands, solid athleticism, is a very good blocker, and should get a lot of looks from McNabb in the Eagles’ pass-happy offense.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers- Tyson Jackson, DE, Louisiana State- The Steelers could really use some help on the offensive line but also probably would like to bring in some youth on the defensive line. They elect to pass on some of the more solid interior linemen in the draft to bring in Jackson, a tremendous athlete for a 3-4 end who will bring some youth to the Steelers’ line and start down the road.
Not really a big fan of how it played out, some fits are alright, some are kind of generic and get picked a lot, and some picks were really tough to make with the needs some teams have and the players that were left on the board. Some players (namely Curry and Jenkins) fell too far for my liking as well.