| Published:
Apr 25, 2008 5:20 PM EST |
Untitled Document
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2009
NFL Mock Draft by Bryan Pinkston |
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| This mock draft has a total score of
6773 from
1611 users for an average of
4.2
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| Picks 1-16
| 17-32
| 33-48
| 49-64
| 65-96
| 97-128
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1.
Detroit Lions
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| ***FINAL DRAFT***
THE DOLPHINS HAVE SIGNED JAKE LONG AND WILL OFFICIALLY DRAFT HIM. I have had Jake Long as my top pick since I created this mock the week after the regular season ended. I want to thank whoever runs this site for leaving my mock in the top 3 featured spots for so long, even when my score dipped to 3.8 for leaving J. Long in the top spot. I'm not going to get too happy though. I've been giving S. Ellis and B. Brohm more credit than others and it remains to be seen if I have them rated too high. |
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2.
St. Louis Rams
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| I stated earlier that C. Long wasn't fast enough to play in a 4-3, but he has been working out heavily since the season ended and it showed at the combine. He dropped his weight to a lean 272 lbs. and has become a very well rounded DE, combining athletism with his high motor (4.21 short shuttle, 4.71 40 and a 34" vertical). The Rams currently have L. Little manning RDE, but he is coming of injury and only has one more year on his contract. A player of Long's calibur will be too tempting to pass up. |
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3.
Kansas City Chiefs
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| What an awful year the Falcons had. They've got nowhere to go but up but they need electrifying players to bring the fans back to the games. They picked up one in FA in RB M. Turner, but they also need to fill the void left by R. Coleman or G. Jackson. I haven't seen any indication that the Falcons brass has much interest in S. Ellis and I believe mocks should reflect what at team would do with a pick, not the writer, so I'm going with G. Dorsey. Dorsey didn't dominate in every game he played this year (he made virtually no impact against Kentucky), but when he did it was a sight to see! He is best against the run (posted 60+ tackles the past two seasons) and can get penetration as a pass rusher. He put up some good numbers at his pro day and his 3-cone time was particularly impressive at about 7.52. His presence will help all levels of this defense look better: D-line, LB's and secondary. |
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4.
Seattle Seahawks
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| Due to the trade between the Chiefs and Vikings I am much more confident about this pick. They have picked up K. Edwards in their latest FA move which means they now have someone serviceable at RB and DE. However, with the Chiefs in dire need of a DE I doubt Al Davis will just let Gholston slide to their biggest rival where he'll have to watch Gholston pummel his O-line for the next 10 years. Since the Raiders can no longer pick up a top tier D-lineman and RB they will likely go with the bigger need and take Gholston. Al Davis is too old to learn new tricks and he loves exceptional athletes. That's where Gholston comes in as he showed up and showed out at the Combine. Gholston is an excellent pass rusher with great timed speed (4.67 40) and upper and lower body strength (37 bench reps and a 35.5" vertical). This power allows him to play the run well (nearly 30 tackles for a loss). Gholston didn't set the world on fire in the national championship, but he certainly made up for it at the combine. Word from Gholston's pro day was that his measurables are still impressive, but all that muscle doesn't allow him to drop his hips or change direction as well as scouts had hoped. This means next to nothing if he doesn't have to stand up and play OLB which is the case in Oakland where he will put a hand on the ground and wreak havoc. |
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5.
New York Jets
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| What the Chiefs really need are offensive tackles and guards (heck, I remember writing in my mock draft last year that they needed them), but Long will be long gone by the time this pick rolls around. They could also use a QB, CB or DT and with Ellis still available a worthy candidate has emerged. He was more productive in college as far as sacks and TFL's and put up better numbers at his pro day. Ellis posted a 40 time of 5.00, thus proving he is worth the top 5 status he was in when I first generated this mock draft in February. Ellis just may be a better fit for the under tackle position than Dorsey. He's more explosive and is better suited for interior pass rushing than Dorsey. Dorsey is better against the run but Ellis holds his own. Ellis' game film and 36 bench reps show he has the agility and strength to greatly improve the Chief's defense. |
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6.
Cincinnati Bengals
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| The performance level of many of the Jets players, to quote their head coach "is just..not..good enough". This is what best describes their running game and pass rush, but with no pass rushers worth taking here McFadden should be the pick. I repeat: He's no A. Peterson as he doesn't have the same vision and McFadden fumbles more often, but he's fast (4.33 40) can catch and runs with just as much power as AP. He'll even throw a few passes for scores. Overall, McFadden is a pretty good value at this point in the draft. |
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7.
Oakland Raiders
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| With their defeat in the Super Bowl in the rear view mirror it's back to the drawing board for the Pats. The Pats need upgrades at LB and CB. The Pats had the best O-line in the league during the regular season, so I don't think they'll bench anybody over one game against an outstanding pass rush. Rodgers-Cromartie is a cousin of A. Cromartie and looks to have very similar play-making ability. He is a little undersized, but that gives him an advantage in shifting his hips around and shadowing receivers. He's another player that had a great week in Mobile and showed solid tackling ability. He had an outstanding Combine in both drills and measurables (4.33 40, 38.5" vertical, 10'11" broad jump, 6.74 3-cone) thus proving he deserves to be selected this high. |
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8.
Jacksonville Jaguars
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| The Ravens now have Harbaugh as their head coach and he will likely want to start reshaping his new team with new face at QB. I happen to think T. Smith looked okay in his last couple of games this season, but he will likely be a career backup. I still think Brohm is the better QB but his ability to stay healty is becoming a concern since he was injury riddled in college and missed the Senior Bowl due to an injury. Ryan didn't do much of anything at the combine and he didn't do anything at his pro day worthy of being selected any higher. Ryan has a strong arm, is pretty accurate and has that special something that makes other players want to play harder for him. He doesn't have the quickest release and gets flustered when he is pressured in the pocket. However, he will be great in the right system and the Ravens could definitely use a solid QB and we all know that isn't McNair. |
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9.
Green Bay Packers
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| With all the good DT's gone and no DE worth taking at this spot the Bengals go with their next need which is LB. Rivers is a very quick, athletic OLB and is a solid tackler. He will make an excellent WLB. He had a solid showing at his pro day, posting a 40 time of 4.55 and an incredible 42" vertical. His nose for the football as well as his coverage skills will be useful in the multiple defensive looks the Bengals utilize. |
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10.
San Francisco 49ers
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| The greatest need the saints have isn't CB, but that didn't stop them from taking R. Bush when they had Deuce. McKelvin is just too good of a man coverage guy to pass up. McKelvin is a player I've really come to like as I've found out more about him. I like to give details on a player based on what I've seen for myself in live games and his highlights look great. He's very quick and is adept at tracking the receiver and ball simultaneously. He also had a solid combine (4.38 40 and a 33.5" vertical leap). He'll also be a big boost as a kick returner which is another position where the Saints could use an upgrade. |
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11.
Buffalo Bills
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| With Mitchell signed the Bills can use this pick for another area of need. Due to the success of the Giants many teams will be looking to upgrade their pass rush and the Bills in particular could use another DE. Harvey is a relentless pass rusher and now that he's made it clear he will leave early for the NFL, he deserves to be selected at this spot. He's not a polished product yet, but he has all the physical tools to succeed in this defense. He's equally adept at stopping the run and rushing the passer. The only adjustment he would have to make in this defense is playing RDE, as he played LDE at UF. |
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12.
Denver Broncos
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| With the retirement of Lepsis the Broncos could use a new OT on the roster that fits their style of offense. Clady is agile, athletic and very good in pass protection. He did well at his pro day (6'6" 309 lbs., 5.19 40, 31" vertical, 36.5" arms) his bumps him up to this spot in the draft. His agility is a great fit for Shanahan's cut-blocking scheme. He'll help the Broncos take their offense to the next level. |
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13.
Washington Redskins
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| The Panthers could probably use 3 new safeties on the roster, but there aren't any worth taking at this spot. I believe Brohm is the most NFL ready QB in this class. He makes great reads, he has a quick release and he's accurate. Brohm had a pretty good showing at the combine, showing his usual accuracy with his passes. Delhomme is decent when healthy but he's at the end of his career so J. Fox would be wise to get a head start on grooming his replacement. |
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14.
New Orleans Saints
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| There just aren't many teams where RB is their biggest need. However, with A. Woodson not showing he is worth this high of a pick in Mobile, the Bears will address another need with a RB. Stewart can get the tough yards that Benson doesn't and has the speed to bounce to the outside. Steward doesn't have break-away type speed, but he showed at the Combine (36.5" vertical, 4.48 40, 28 bench reps) that he has all the tools L. Smith thought he was getting when they drafted C. Benson. I'm well aware that Stewart has undergone surgery and will be out 4 months. However, I feel any guy that can post the combine numbers he did while apparently needing surgery shouldn't move down a draft board. If anything, he's proved his toughness should be moved up! All he has to learn in training camp are pass protection schemes and a few receiving routes. The running part is natural; there is no learning curve so he'll be ready when needed. |
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15.
Houston Texans
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| Maybe Marinelli hiring his son-in-law as his D-coordinator wasn't such a good idea after all. Or maybe its just hard to make chicken salad out of chicken feathers and he just needs better players. Connor is a smart, talented LB who hustles to the ball on every play. He often reads plays before the ball is snapped and is as adept in pass coverage as he is at stuffing the run. He did well at his pro day (4.67 40, 35" vertical). These skills would serve him perfectly in the Tampa 2 defense as a MLB. Penn St. is known as "Linebacker U" and Connor is a prime example of how they earned such a nickname. |
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16.
San Diego Chargers
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| The Cardinals have many needs such as a CB, but they also need a RB as "The Edge" always leaned on his blockers a little too much to make holes when he was in Indy and he doesn't always have that luxury in Arizona. Though he is still pretty good in pass protection he isn't the runner he used to be. Mendenhall on the other hand is the most well rounded RB in this draft. He's quick, has good vision and also catches the ball well. He showed at the combine that he has speed, power and most importantly elusiveness (4.18 shuttle, 4.45 40, 26 bench reps., 33.5" vertical). He can be the next step in upgrading this offense. |
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