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.
9 comments Last one added 4 months ago — Leave a Comment
Mister Knowitall 6 months ago
Jenkins to Cleveland at the 5th spot? A team that saw all 3 of there QBs get knocked out of the season before it was all said and done? They need a lot of help in Cleveland. but I dunno if CB is the answer in the 1st round. Especially being that they ranked 13th in passing defense and was 2nd in caused turnovers behind the Ravens without a pass rush. I think they'll go pass rusher or look to trade for more picks and get protection for their qb. Maybe even Rey can work for them to add youth n speed to their LB corp.
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Octa 6 months ago
You are right, but for example they have 4 picks on one of their last games and they lost almost their entire depth at CB. Picking a LB could be an option by drafting Aaron Curry, and then I think the Bengals would pick Jenkins or a OT.
They weren't able to protect the QBs because of the injuries, mainly in the right side of their offensive line but they are not going to spend a first round pick in a OT for the second time in 3 years.
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curtis emrick 6 months ago
I read these predictions, and although I had a couple different laughs, especially how he used these 2 words in a sentence. "Beanie and reliable". I am a huge buckeye fan, I can tell you this much. If he was as reliable as this guy says.........he would be a top 5 pick, (if he comes out).
The guys is a beast, 10-15 carries a game...TOPS!!! No way he can handle 20-25 carries in the NFL, not if college ball roughed him up. Don t get me wrong, I hope he makes it.
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Octa 5 months ago
This year the top RBs heading to the draft are underclassmen. They are very talented but yet unproven.
I think that Chris Wells, Knoshown Moreno and LeSean McCoy needed at least one more year at college level to really prove what they got. They are first round prospects, but that only denotes the "lack" of talent at the position in this year draft.
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Al Dittrick 5 months ago
i feel the browns need to add the hard hitting presence of Rey Maualuga to the defense, i used to think corner was the way to go, but i like the interceptions i have been seeing and even though drafting jenkins would probably help i feel the browns would benefit more by getting Rey. Incumbant LB Andra Davis will probaly be gone through free agency and Rey should have success slamming ball carriers, running rampant behind the dominating shawn rogers.
The browns also need an alternative for Ryan tucker at RG With our second pick we should look for some one to back him up untill he gets injured again. he is almost guarenteed to be injured at some point. tucker only played one game this last year, in the win against the giants. Coincidence? I think not. He is an outstanding lineman when he is healthy, but he is aging and i dont trust his knees to allow him to remain in the NFL much longer.
In the fourth and sixth rounds(I think thats right) draft clay mathews Jr. (if he is available)and a safety if sean Jones is let go.
Next year draft terrence cody to start alongside rogers at end. Immagine that kind of powerful defense. i say we should draft cody partly because injuries hurt the defense this year with robair smith out with his season ending injury against the steelers, cory williams shoulder issues, shaun smiths broken hand(true he did play with a cast but still), we need more depth and with the current line up plus cody can make a powerful in game rotation of the line to keep players fresh, and last longer to have a bigger impact
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Octa 5 months ago
If Eric Mangini become the head coach he might try a 4-3 scheme because they are rumors that Rob Ryan will become the defensive coordinator so if that happens they will problably want to go for a dominating LB with Rey Maualuga but they lack of players to transform their scheme form a 3-4. Corey Williams could be back at DT and if Orakpo is still availabe (with Bradford heading to the draf this year he could be picked by the Chiefs, or Stafford if the Lions pick Bradford 1st) they could go after him.
Free agency is a key for heading to the draft and 3 Baltimore linebackers will be available (Scott, Lewis and Suggs) and at least one won't be back to the Ravens and the Browns could go after him. With Scott or Lewis they won't need Maualuga anymore, and with Suggs they won't go after Orakpo. I still think Cleveland need a playmaker CB and not the current "solid" ones, but so far it looks that it's major needs are in the front 7.
Also they could grab some picks by trading Kellen Wilson Jr. or Derek Anderson. Tampa Bay is a candidate to move down in the draft and you now how Gruden loves QBs, or the Eagles could trade away one of his 1st round picks and if McNabb is released or they don't want to pick a TE in the draft they could make a trade with the Browns.
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mike sopa 5 months ago
i really have a hard time beleiving the packers are going to select a CB in round one that high.....especially if Jenkins is gone. they are changing defensive schemes and their corners are no longer going to be pressing every play, instead they will be covering a zone. Tramon williams doesnt screw up every play, dont know what games you are watching....6 Int in limited action.....Woodson is slowing down? thats a bold statement considering his play this year....Considering the fact that we are changing the way our front 7 line up i think it is much more logical to assume that we will be looking for a big body to plug it at DE or OLB. Im sure they dont plan on picking in the top ten often, so this opportunity needs to be used to get a pass rushing specialist or big NT. Pat Lee was a 2nd round pick last year, and as much as i hate to say it J. Bush is still on the squad.....unless one of these guys are going to turn into Champ Bailey i would hope they look another direction, especially if the 2nd best is all thats available at that spot.
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Octa 5 months ago
A lot of changes around the league had been made since I make this mock draft, the Packers didn't decided yet to change their defensive scheme and a cuople of teams didn0t have Head Coach.
And yes, it seems we didn't see the same games. A CB doesn't only cover the the pass, they also need to give run support, in many plays Tramon Williams and Charles Woodson don't help to much in that area.
I also believe the defensive scheme had a lot to do with that, the Packers hand a lot of picks and even Nick Collins was in the top list of interceptions but that also was a shadow of the lack of run defense they have.
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mike s 4 months ago
True it is nice to have a good run supporting CB, however, our scheme was bump and run not cover 2, and our corners were not expected to be watching the running back like say...Ronde Barber. Their defensive scheme in many sitautions calls for them to play a flat zone, or an area....so that can come downhill at a runner. Our CBs are asked to press and run with their man. Either way our new scheme calls for zone coverage so lees will be asked of them, and they wont be put on an island every play.
Dont forget their defense took a nosedive after Cullen Jenkins and Barnett went down, we lost Bigby for the year, and Harris missed 3 with a spleen. Im glad you made reference to their lack of run stopping. We need a few more QUALITY big bodies up front, whether its a big 3-4 DE or OLB, or a NT i just want to see am athletic defender up front to go along with what we have, and what we missed last year. Kampman is now a OLB and apparently Johnny Jolly is slotted at DE. there are at least 4 DE/OLB available and worthy of an early pick....all i want is one.....
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