It's that time of the year, where the mock drafts fly around the Web, so I decided to do mine.
1. Detroit Lions – QB Matthew Stafford, Georgia*
Everyone is thinking how the Lions will screw their 2009 Draft, but I'm more worried in how the Lions will screw a young talent career by selecting him. Here, the Lions could take an offensive tackle but he only way I could see that pick is if the Lions are willing to pay the price the Patriot will put over Matt Cassel.
Stafford gives Detroit a young, good and talented franchise QB they desperately need. And with a good passer (and protection for him) the stats of Calvin Johnson should break the sky (or the Ford Field sealing at least).
2. St. Louis Rams – OT Michael Oher, Ole Miss
A no-brainer here by selecting an offensive tackle, last two years they have selective defensive linemen but they haven't addressed their elderly offensive line.
Orlando Pace is old but still good, by selecting an LOT, Pace should move to ROT and still help the Rams in these hard times. Michael Oher seems like the perfect pick here with his aggressiveness, long arms, nice slide and size (6'6" 320lbs).
3. Kansas City Chiefs – DE/OLB Brian Orakpo, Texas
Three or four years ago, the Chiefs were "rebuilding" their defensive line, last year they start doing it again. By selecting Glenn Dorsey last year they added the big talented DT every pass rusher needs to be more productive, but there are not pass rushers in Kansas.
Orakpo will give the Chiefs the pass rusher they need, and with Dorsey there the rival offense should be worried. He is ready to play in the next level, and will be a strong candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year if Herm Edwards don't screw Kansas City this year (but we all know he will).
4. Seattle Seahawks – WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
The Seahawks could select an OT here but their receiving corps are as bad as their offensive line or worst. Deion Brach is a great WR, but he has given more job to the Seattle Doctors than the whole King County.
Crabtree has been the best WR in the nation two years in a row and he knows how to do big plays. With him, Branch, and John Carlson, the Seahawks could be a real threat by the air this year.
5. Cleveland Browns – CB Michael Jenkins, Ohio State
The Browns have huge coverage issues, their starting CBs were Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald (yes, that one that screwed it big time in front of the entire nation, twice).
With the addition of Jenkins they should really improve in that area, he could start since Day One and progress through the season.
6. Cincinnati Bengals – LB Aaron Curry, Wake Forest
The Bengals have used a lot of draft picks in LBs the last five years, but Aaron Curry have a superior ability. With Keith Rivers in the opposite side the Bengals offense should improve a lot in all the ways and mainly they could blitz more often.
7. Oakland Raiders – OT Andre Smith, Alabama*
The Raiders need a lot of thing in this draft: WR, CB, OT, a long term coach, a blitzing DC and a new owner. But just the first ones can be drafted.
Andre Smith seems like the perfect pick for the Raiders here, they will be able to protect JaMarcus Russell and slightly improve their running game.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars – OT Eugene Moore, Virginia
Jacksonville lost like 100 O-linemen this season and they need to add talent in the tackle position. Eugene Moore will give them a young, talented OT that in a couple of years will be Pro Bowl material, and they will be able to protect David Garrard.
9. Green Bay Packers – CB Vontae Davis, Illinois
Aging seems to be everybody’s problem this days, the starting CBs of the Packers are Al Harris and Charles Woodson but they are losing speed, strength and physical resistance to compete against top receivers, like Calvin Johnson.
Davis should be a starter from Day One, and that will help Patrick Lee or Tramon Williams to play in only nickel formations so they don’t screw up, play after play.
10. San Francisco 49ers – LB Rey Maualuga, USC
The 49ers are on the clock and Rey Maualuga is available, should they draft him? DUH!!
Drafting Maualuga and making him the starting ILB along with Patrick Willis should give San Francisco one of the best defenses in the league, or at least one of the top LB corp. With Singletary as Head Coach, this pick should be a no-brainier.
And maybe Rey could teach some dance moves to Willis.
11. Buffalo Bills – C/G Alex Mack, California
The only big time lineman in Buffalo is Jason Peters, and he was a lucky shoot. The Bills need to add some talent to their offensive line and Mack will boost their offense hugely.
If the Bills pick Mack, Trent Edwards and Marshawn Lynch will throw a party. And Peters is invited.
12. Denver Broncos – LB James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
Denver has huge defensive needs but the addition of Laurinaitis will be the best for them. Nate Webster was the starting MLB this season for god sake.
With Laurinaitis there, D.J. Williams will stop worrying if the MLB will screw the play.
13. Washington Redskins – OT Jason Smith, Baylor
The Redskins need a good tackle, and Jason Smith, with his feet, should be the perfect piece for the West Coast offense of Jim Zorn.
14. New Orleans Saints – LB Brian Cushing, USC
New Orleans need to address many positions in the draft but at this point Brian Cushing is the perfect pick for them. With Sedrick Ellis messing in the interior line, Cushing should be dominant at OLB: blitzing, stopping the run, covering the pass, etc…
(Remember that this pick will go to the Jets if Vilma is re-signed. But the Saint could wait and sign him in the first day of the FA to keep this pick.)
15. Houston Texans – S Taylor Mays, USC*
Houston have a lot of needs at the safety positions. Taylor Mays is the best safety in this year's draft, and his hard-hitting abilities (if you saw the Rose Bowl you know what I’m talking about) will make him dominant at the next level.
16. San Diego Chargers – DT B.J. Raji, Boston College
Jamal Williams is a great NT but the Chargers don’t even have a backup for him. By drafting Raji, they will be able to rest Williams more often during the games and in the near future he will become the starter.
We're going to send you the most entertaining NFL articles, videos, and podcasts from around the web.
9 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete