| Published:
Apr 24, 2009 8:45 PM EST |
Untitled Document
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2010
NFL Mock Draft by Matt Chase |
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| This mock draft has a total score of
2760 from
522 users for an average of
5.3
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| Picks 1-16
| 17-32
| 33-48
| 49-64
| 65-96
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17.
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| Jet fans I don’t have to tell you that your team is at a major cross road. You invested a lot of money into major free agents and gambled away a lot of your future in going for it all last year with Brett Favre. You now have a nice Defense with a bright coach in Rex Ryan, a real solid Offensive Line and running game, but you lack the most important piece to the puzzle at QB. I hear a lot of nice things about Brett Ratliff, but I don’t think that he is the answer for a fan base like New York. Between him and Kellen Clemens the Jets remind me of the Baltimore Ravens from 2002 – 2007, a solid team that has absolutely no shot because they don’t have a QB. Although Josh Freeman is a decent sized reach here it makes sense for this team. In any other year Freeman would be a borderline 1st rounder, but this year, because of the weak crop at QB, he propels himself to a sure fire 1st round grade. Don’t get me wrong, he is a nice player and I can see why there is intrigue with him. First off, his arm is nice. He also has good athleticism and I think he can move well enough in the pocket to make plays as he is tough to sack. He is tough and confident and given the proper caching could be a poor man’s Ben Roethlesberger. However, he has a lot of work before he gets to that point and certainly will need some time before he gets thrown into the fire. Investing in a top signal caller is the right move for this Franchise and hopefully a Joe Flacco type of result happens. If New York passes on Freeman there is a good shot they are picking much higher next year. |
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18.
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| A lot of people have mixed emotions on Brian Cushing. Some think he is a clone of a younger Mike Vrabel; only effective in a 3-4 scheme. Others think he is a tremendous OLB with good speed, and natural instincts to get by in a 4-3, with the ability to play the 3-4 ILB spot. I guess I am in the middle on this, but am a little biased as he is my favorite prospect this season. I love the way he plays the game. He is highly instinctive, has the best motor in this class, is a tremendous tackler/hitter/rusher and has the height/speed/size necessary to play a 3-4 OLB and a 4-3 OLB in the NFL. I like him for Denver as I feel this team needs help at ILB for their 3-4. Cushing has value here as well as I think he is the best LB prospect left on the board. Ideally the Broncos would like to add a D Lineman here, but the best one available is Peria Jerry and he is not suited for the 3-4 Defense. |
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19.
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| Sorry Buc fans, I have to break it to you, your team is rebuilding. It may not be obvious, but you are rebuilding and trying to get younger. Firing Jon Gruden, letting Monte Kiffin and Jeff Garcia walk and cutting some of the best players that ever strapped up a chin strap for your franchise is evidence enough for me. Truthfully, the reason Morris is the new coach, and not Gruden is mostly because he didn’t rebuild through youth and the affects of that neglect have shown as many of their veteran players have been released. Peria Jerry is perfect for the Tampa 2 Defense Indy likes to run. Jerry is a non-stop motor player who can play both the run and the pass. In the Tampa 2, DT’s have a responsibility to pass rush as well as eat up space, and I think Jerry can offer that type of game. A good value here in Round 1, Jerry is my 2nd highest rated DT in this class. With the cast of characters in place on Tampa’s D Line (namely at DT) this pick makes all the much more sense as they don’t have a quality player outside of the aging veteran Chris Hovan in DT rotation. From everything I am reading the Bucs are in love with Josh Freeman. I am sure they would love to grab him, but their Defensive Line needs a lot of help and with their next being at the bottom of Round 3 there will be little DT value available for them at that spot. |
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20.
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| I am on the record as saying I think Michael Oher has gotten a real bad wrap this Draft season and I think he will be a real good Pro. Because he was featured in a book, “The Blind Side”, and played in a bubble at Ole Miss, he has been scrutinized more than most other Prospects for quite a while. I think he would have been a 1st rounder last year had he declared and I think his talent warrants a top 15 selection this year. Oher is tough, strong and has a great frame for the position. He has considerable upside still as he has real good feet, very long arms and plays with nice balance. He excels in Pass Pro and once he locks his mitts on a defender he normally controls the line of scrimmage and handles his job. Oher would fit well with Detroit and fill a major void for them. The Lions could put him at L OT opposite Gosder Cherilus and then move Jeff Backus inside to OG where he is better suited. Many people think because he was raised in utter poverty Michael Oher will loose focus once he signs a contract, and I think that is extremely short sided. Truth be told, Oher was brought up in an upper class household in high school and has been a celebrity in Mississippi since his freshman year. The limelight is definitely not a new thing for this kid. He stayed through his Senior year at Ole Miss showing his dedication, and if he was a truly selfish he would have came out as a Junior and would of went ahead of the likes of Cherilus, Sam Baker and Duane Brown. The NFL is a copy cat league and just like the Falcons did last year with Matt Ryan and Sam Baker, the Lions could help themselves by building the foundation for their Offense for years to come with Stafford and Oher. Also it is important to note that the DT, DE and CB value here is nowhere close to that of Oher for the Lions at # 20. |
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21.
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| The Eagles need the following: WR, TE, S. So of course I have them going with a RB in Knowshon Moreno. The reason being is that I really love him as a Prospect and I think that it would be a major mistake to pass him up for this team, and mostly for where they are right now as an Offense. Let’s be honest, the Eagles lost 2 games last year because they could not convert on the ground. They are awful at running the football, and I am sick of them being this uber-West Coast Offense using the short pass as an extension for their ground game ALL THE TIME. This works during the regular season against sub .500 teams for the most part, but it gets you killed in cold weather in the Playoffs. They could get away with this in the past when they had a healthy Brian Westbrook, but the sad truth is that he cannot be depended upon to be healthy 16 games a year anymore. And another humbling truth is that if the Eagles ever want to get back to the Super Bowl, while Donovan McNabb is still their QB, they will need to stop being so one dimensional and create a running game. Moreno isn’t a burner, but he is an elusive runner with great vision and the ability to make people miss (Wells is a thumper, which is not a match for Philly). Also, Moreno is nice in pass Pro and as a Pass Catcher out of the backfield (big plus for Philly right there). But don’t pigeon-hole Moreno with a slashing type of RB, as he can also mix up and play physical. He is the type of player than can push through a pile as well. Moreno can take 33% of the burden off of Brian Westbrook, extend his career and health and at the same time grind out the yards they need on the ground. My one knock on Moreno is that he timed slow at both Indy and at his Pro Day and it makes me wonder if he is an example of the dreaded “Great College RB/Marginal Pro” syndrome. I don’t think he is that, but that is definitely out there with him. I am also really high on Brandon Pettigrew (I have see-sawed between the 2 quite a bit) here for Philly, but at the end of the day I think Moreno adds a different dimension to their team that will help them more. Plus, there is a lot of depth at TE this year and they can grab a solid one in Round 2 or 3. |
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22.
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| I have real mixed emotions on Harvin. I think he is dynamic; in the Reggie Bush mold as far as making plays with the ball in his hands. However, I have 3 major concerns: 1) I don’t know how polished of a WR he is as he comes from the gimmicky Spread Option from Florida. 2) He has an injury history that is hard to ignore. 3) He failed a marijuana test PRIOR to the Combine. That last one takes the cake as it shows a real lack of judgment to fail a drug test that YOU KNOW you are going to have to take. With that being disclaimed, his value for a team like Minnesota is real nice. I can see him being that speed deep threat the Vikings have craved since Randy Moss left town. Taking some burden off of their excellent ground game is a huge priority and Harvin adds an electrifying weapon to their Offense. An OT like Eben Britton will be highly considered as Ryan Cook is not cutting mustard at R OT. Brandon Pettigrew will also be a viable option at TE and as a blocker, but Harvin is a game breaker that has to be accounted for on every play. That type of speed and ability is something that is hard to resist. |
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23.
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| I really like the potential of Larry English. Mike Mayock compares him to Lamar Woodley which is more than enough praise for me. He is a tenacious pass rusher who I think is underrated because he played for Northern Illinois. Best suited as a 3-4 OLB, English could add that Pass Rush dimension that was lacking for the Pats last year. No offense to Mike Vrabel, but he had a hard time getting to the QB last year and with him now playing in KC a new Pass rushing addition is needed in New England. I think English provides that and will be a big success in the NFL. A player like Vontae Davis or Darus Butler will be awfully intriguing here, but it appears New England will hold off on drafting a CB here (very typical) as they signed some vets in Free Agency, and will instead look to upgrade their 3-4 LB corps. Don't be shocked if a player like Larry English jumps other guys and makes into the late 1st round. |
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24.
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| Atlanta will use this pick on Defense as they just acquired Tony Gonzalez. Otherwise I would have Brandon Pettigrew slated here in a heart beat. The needs at Defense are large at DT, OLB and at CB. The debate here is between the best available CB (Vontae Davis or Darius Butler) and Clay Matthews. I give the nod to Matthews as I think the OLB spot is that much more of a need and because I like him a lot as a football player. Matthews, although an initial walk-on, should not be misconstrued as an overachiever. He proved he was good enough by playing for a USC team stacked with 1st round LB’s and also showed his merit by blowing away scouts at the Combine. He can flip his hips and drop into coverage and is also very adept to playing the run and making tackles. He will also be a demon on special teams and I can see him becoming a starter for this team. Should Peria Jerry somehow fall, then this will no doubt be too tempting for the Falcons to pass on. |
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25.
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| The biggest need for the Dolphins is at WR, and the obvious pick here is Darius Heyward-Bey because of his speed. However, knowing who is drafting for a team is as important as identifying a need, and with that being said I cannot see the Big Tuna (Parcells) taking a WR with his # 1 pick. Rather, I see Parcells going with Defense and there are some major concerns heading into this season with the Dolphin secondary as they lost some key people. Darius Butler gets the nod over Vontae Davis as there are far less questions about his character. Although physically Davis is probably a better prospect, Butler isn’t too far behind him. Darius Butler is a real nice CB prospect from UConn who as we get closer to Draft day will likely catch some steam as there will be a run on CB’s I the late 1st/early 2nd round as this years class is average at best. Butler is highly athletic with nice size (5’11) and under-rated speed. He is a fluid athlete who is also the cousin of Willis McGahee. Another player to watch here is DE Everrett Brown who could add a nice pass rush dimension to the Dolphins 3-4. But I think that there are more questions than answers with Brown and Butler is a safer pick in an area of high need. |
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26.
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| Brandon Pettigrew is hands down the best TE prospect in this class and is the total package. I doubt Pettigrew makes it this far as teams will likelyjockey up to get him once he starts sliding past #20. At 6’5, 265 lbs Pettigrew has great size and strength for his position. He ran 4.8 at Indy and so what; he isn’t that type of player. He is more in the mold of Heath Miller and will be a TE who can do it all. He is an excellent blocker, a sure handed pass catcher and will create mismatches with LB’s and in Red Zone situations. He isn’t a Dallas Clark type of H-Back, he is a true good old fashioned TE who will block as much as he will run routes. Baltimore has far bigger needs than at TE, but they cannot pass on Pettigrew here as his value is just too good. Ozzie Newsome has shown time and again that he will always take the best player on the board, regardless of need, and that blueprint has paved the way for great Draft success throughout his tenure. Case in point, he drafted Todd Heap in 2001 when he already had a future HOF’er in Shannon Sharpe because ehis value was to good to pass on, that pick proved to be a great call and there are a lot of similarities between this selection and that Draft as Todd Heap’s production is waning and he is likely played his best football already. A CB like Vontae Davis or a WR like Darius Heywad-Bey are very real possibilities, but Pettigrew is a better football player than both of them. |
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27.
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| Darius Heyward-Bey is a bit of a risky pick as he represents the age old dilemma of potential vs. production. DHB has all of the physical tools one could want at WR. He is the fastest prospect this year (sub 4.3 40), has nice size (6’1, 210 lbs) and is naturally very athletic. However, he was not a consistent playmaker at Maryland and there are times where he went the whole game without touching the ball. I think his inability to be a top notch College WR stems from Maryland’s ineptitude on Offense and I am willing to give him a slight benefit of the doubt. With Marvin Harrison no longer playing for the Colts a 3rd WR will be sorely needed. I like Anthony Gonzalez at the slot, so adding a WR like DHB on the outside will go a long way in stretching defenses for Peyton Manning. Many people will have DHB higher than #27 and I can seee why, but really he is not ready to be an impact player right away. He has too much Troy Williamson in him for my taste, but in the Indy system he can develop into a home run threat. Another option here is Hakeem Nicks, Vontae Davis, RB Donald Brown or a sleeper in Evander Hood as the holes at DT are scary for the Colts. |
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28.
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| The Bills traded away disgruntled veteran Jason Peters and now have a major hole to fill at OT. Britton doesn’t have a whole lot of upside, but his floor is good enough to be taken as the 5th OT in this talented class. Truth be told he is really only a first rounder because of the high need at this position, and he is probably no more than a R OT because he lacks quick feet and long arms. However, what he lacks in natural ability he makes up for in how he plays (through the whistle, aggressive) and in football IQ as people are raving about his leadership ability and his awareness. Offensive Line is a very big need for the Bills and if they don’t go with Britton here I can see them grabbing Alex Mack to hold down the Center position. |
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29.
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| It seems like a foregone conclusion that the G Men are drafting a WR with pick #29 this year. 4 months ago I thought there would be no way this would be the case as they have a lot invested in guys like Steve Smith, Sinorice Moss, Mario Manningham and Domenick Hixon, let alone their 2 stars (Burress and Toomer). But with a solid Free Agency fixing other needs (OLB, DT, DE) and the uncertainty surrounding Amani Toomer (potential retirement) and the departure of Plaxico WR went from a strength to a question mark for New York. So with WR being the area they go, it comes down to Hakeem Nicks or Kenny Britt. I have been very high on Kenny Britt since the Fall and I think he has Brandon Marshall type ability. The problem is, he apparently has a Brandon Marshall type personality and is considered to be a diva. For the Giants sake lets hope barely cracking the 1st round humbles him, because between the lines he is a real special player and if the off-field stuff is all rumor mill he will likely have a very promising NFL career. Britt has tremendous size and real nice speed for his size, however his hands are very suspect, which is why he has fallen on my board. He is under-rated as a blocker and is a mismatch waiting to happen in the Red Zone, giving them that tall WR they need now that Plaxico is gone. I think he has a good amount of upside as well and could be, if he reaches his potential, one of the better players that is produced in this draft. If the Giants trade for Anquan Boldin or Braylon Edwards all bets are off. |
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30.
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| Many will have Tennessee taking a WR here, and with Hakeem Nicks still on my board I was highly tempted. However, I think Tennessee will look to add to their strength which is their Defense. The Titans do have a big need at CB opposite Cortland Finnegan as Nick Harper has definitely lost a step, not to mention the very little depth behind him. Vontae Davis (just like his brother Vernon) is a freak of an athlete. At 5’11, 200 lbs he ran a 4.49 40 and benched 225 lbs 25 times. He is one of the better athletes in this entire class, and can turn his hips and run with the best of them. From a measurables standpoint he is an elite prospect, but what holds him back is that he, like his brother, is more of a workout warrior than a true football player. When I say that I mean that he is not always consistent, as he has questionable work ethic and gets by more on sheer talent than on his football IQ and on being instinctive. In shorts, Davis is a top 10 pick, but in pads I don’t know if he is worth a top 15 selection as his bust potential is very real. If Davis can tap into 75% of his potential he is a lock for one of the top players in this class, but that is assuming he can reach that point. In the NFL there is a large premium on height/weight/speed, and at his position Vontae Daivs is aces all around, so his value here is more than nice. The Titans are pretty stacked personnel wise, and although a DE like Michael Johnson or a WR like Nicks will be awfully hard to pass up, I think they will look to add youth and quality to their Secondary. There isn’t a whole lot that separate the top 3 CB’s this year and grabbing one of those guys is a good idea as their will likely be run on CB’s in the early 2nd round, which is problematic for Tennessee as they will likely miss the boat at that point. |
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31.
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| The Edgerrin James era in Arizona is officially over and the Cardinals would love for a talent like Donald Brown to fall to them at the end of Round 1. Donald Brown is a legitimate 1st round talent, who like Moreno and Wells, falls only because of the lack of need for RB’s in the NFL right now. Brown is a fast player who moves well laterally as good as he does vertically. A guy who can really make you miss, Brown is work horse of a RB who will likely be a starter in the NFL. Highly under-rated because he played his college at UConn, Brown will likely be a riser come Draft day. He has tremendous value here as the perfect match of need and “best player available” for He would be a terrific compliment to Tim Hightower and would give Ken Whisenhut a dual RB threat he would love to deploy. A lot of teams are high on Brown so if he is gone at this point (New England or Indianapolis perhaps) then I can see the Cardinals grabbing Everette Brown here to help them with their transition to the 3-4 (still a work in progress). The Cards lost a good pass rusher in Antonio Smith and will need to find some players who can get to the QB. |
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32.
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| The Super Bowl was a great game for the Steelers, but if you want to be critical of that game watch the tape and you will see that Justin Hartwig got abused by Darnell Dockett. The Steelers made moves to re-sign their OG’s and OT’s, but I am willing to bet they are looking for a replacement at Center, especially since Hartwig is no spring chicken. Alex Mack is arguably the best Center in this class and is considered by some to be a 1st rounder (a rarity for a Center). He is smart, very strong, aggressive and plays with real nice technique. I think he would translate seamlessly and start on Day One with the added bonus that he is versatile enough to kick outside to OG if needed be. It is rare to say that picking a Center in Round 1 is great value, but with Mack it is warranted as some are comparing him favorably to Nick Mangold. Another option here is a CB and Alphonso Smith has decent value here for the Steelers. However, Mack is a sure fire starter and Smith will be a Nickel CB, inn the first round you need to find starters and Mack could be the next great Pivot in Steeler history. |
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Picks 1-16
| 17-32
| 33-48
| 49-64
| 65-96
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Untitled Document
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This mock draft has a total score of
2760 from
522 users for an average of
5.3 |
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