Post-Super Bowl NFL Mock-Draft Update

Little things annoy me, although they are not really a big deal at all. Not knowing the NFL Draft order while doing a mock draft is that way. Although the order is the same now as we projected a few weeks ago, there is some relief that it is now set for certain and we can get down to business. 

With that, the latest NFL Mock Draft has been posted…

Two things have happened in recent weeks that have shaped where we are now. The Senior Bowl and the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl was really only for my OCD satisfaction of getting the order straight as the needs for the teams there at the end did not change and the picks would not have changed much given the results.

As for the Senior Bowl, we got to see what some of the talent could do under a microscope.  Some players gave their stock a push while some higher profile players chose not to participate.

Next Stop…the NFL Combine. WOW, it is only a couple of weeks away!

Anyway, we were here about a Mock Draft, right? Here is a look at some of the picks…

No. 1 Detroit- Matt Stafford

Yes there is a debate between Stafford and Sanchez being the top QB.  It is a two horse race and Stafford leads.  Sanchez has some huge upside but you cannot make him the first overall pick based on the little game experience he has.  You hear this phrase often and it rarely works out as well as it did for Matt Ryan…Matt Stafford is the most NFL ready of the available QB’s in the draft.  There is also debate as to whether the Lions should even use this on a QB.

No. 7 Oakland- Jeremy Maclin

The logical pick here is to take an Offensive Tackle to protect the last two first round picks for the Raiders (insert Al Davis logic joke). We did in fact have the Raiders taking Baylor OT, Jason Smith in a previous mock. In all the other Mocks we have done though this season, the man has been Jeremy Maclin.

No. 9 Green Bay-Malcolm Jenkins

This is actually a tough spot to call. We now know that Dom Capers is going to bring the 3-4 to town, causing many a mock to insert LB’s and all-stud DT, B.J. Raji here. Capers and McCarthy have said though that they are not going to force the 3-4 right away and are going to work with the talent they have. Drafting Jenkins is a no brainer no matter the system.

They certainly could draft for the system but we are going to wait a bit to see how that plays out before moving Jenkins.

No. 14 New Orleans-Brian Cushing

You hear it every year…CB or LB for the Saints. Well, it is still needed. In previous mocks we have assumed that the Saints did not retain Jonathan Vilma and went with James Laurinaitis and Rey Maualuga here.

Yes, there has even been a Vontae Davis sighting a few weeks ago here. This time around we went with a “What if Vilma stays?” approach. Cushing would make a fantastic addition on the outside with Vilma on the inside.

There is a few snips from the top half.  To see the whole mock draft and some prospect videos, GO HERE.