Mock II

[cubuffsman78]

My latest mock I posted on the main FFJ site.

1. Detroit Lions
Mark Sanchez, QB, USC
Top 3 alternatives: Andre Smith, Matt Stafford, Aaron Curry
Sanchez or Matt Stafford? That’s the question when it comes to the draft’s top quarterback. Sanchez is currently flying up draft boards and, if he tests well, could propel past Stafford. I have the Lions going QB over OT now because of the lack of quality QBs available in this draft in the second and third rounds.
Last mock: Andre Smith

2. St. Louis Rams
Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
Top 3 alternatives: Aaron Curry, Michael Crabtree, Brian Orakpo
Smith is the top OT in the draft and St. Louis has needed help at the position for two and a half seasons. Marc Bulger still has some ability left, but he hasn’t had time to prove it in the pocket.
Last mock: Michael Crabtree

3. Kansas City Chiefs
Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
Top 3 alternatives: Michael Crabtree, Brian Orakpo, Matt Stafford
Curry is the best defender in this class. He can play inside or outside and has incredible athleticism for his size. Kansas City ranked in the bottom five vs. the run last season.
Last mock: Sam Bradford

4. Seattle Seahawks
Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
Top 3 alternatives: Brian Orako, Malcolm Jenkins, Eugene Monroe
Crabtree is the top player on my board, meaning Seattle gets a steal here at a position of need. The Seahawks have a bunch of great No. 2 WRs and not a single No. 1. Crabtree is a No. 1.
Last mock: Michael Oher

5. Cleveland Browns
Aaron Maybin, LB, Penn State
Top 3 alternatives: Malcolm Jenkins, Brian Orakpo, Everette Brown
Cleveland’s biggest need? A pass rush. Maybin is a pure tweener prospect in a draft producing maybe the best class of 3-4 OLBs ever.
Last mock: Aaron Maybin

6. Cincinnati Bengals
Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
Top 3 alternatives: Brian Orakpo, Jeremy Maclin, Everette Brown
The Bengals have the opportunity to address their biggest need. Everyone thinks it’s on defense where Cincy needs help and there’s no denying that. However, the Bengals offense was one piece – and offensive line – from still being a dominant force last season. I’m not a big fan of Monroe’s, but he’s got the hype right now.
Last mock: Brian Orakpo

7. Oakland Raiders
Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri
Top 3 alternatives: Brian Orakpo, James Laurinaitis, Everette Brown
I can hear the screams now that this is too high for Maclin. Simply watch the film. He’s not just a deep route runner. Maclin went across the middle often in Missouri’s offense. His talent and speed is undeniable. Not to mention, he’s a sexy pick Al Davis will love.
Last mock: Gerald McCoy

8. Jacksonville Jaguars
Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
Top 3 alternatives: James Laurinaitis, Rey Maualuga, Eben Britton
If Maclin’s here, the Jags jump all over him. There’s also a need at LB, but it might be a couple picks too high for Laurinaitis and Maualuga. Jenkins is a value pick here. There isn’t a huge need at CB for the Jags, but Jenkins is too good to pass up on.
Last mock: Aaron Curry

9. Green Bay Packers
Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas
Top 3 alternatives: Everette Brown, B.J. Raji, James Laurinaitis
The Packers should take the top DL whether it be a DE or a DT. Orakpo is a steal at this point. Green Bay shouldn’t take long getting their card to the commissioner for this pick if he’s available.
Last mock: Everette Brown

10. San Francisco 49ers
Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia
Top 3 alternatives: Everette Brown, B.J. Raji, Rey Maualuga
San Fran has plenty of needs on defense, particularly in the front 7. However, it’s time to take another chance at picking up the QB of the future. It’s hard to imagine Stafford slipping much lower.
Last mock: Matt Stafford

11. Buffalo Bills
James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State
Top 3 alternatives: Rey Maualuga, B.J. Raji, Eben Britton
Many are pushing Laurinaitis down their draft boards. He and Maualuga are still 1a and 1b in my LB rankings. Laurinaitis gets the nod here because of his versatility to play OLB or ILB along with fellow former Big Ten linebacking great Paul Posluszny.
Last mock: James Laurinaitis

12. Denver Broncos
Rey Maualuga, LB, USC
Top 3 alternatives: B.J. Raji, Knowshon Moreno, Everette Brown
Strong safety and LB are easily Denver’s most pressing needs for what was a putrid defense in 2008. Maualuga has nice value there and he could be the early favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year if he ends up with the Broncos.
Last mock: Taylor Mays

13. Washington Redskins
Everette Brown, DE, Florida State
Top 3 alternatives: D.J. Moore, Vontae Davis, B.J. Raji
Once again, Washington struggled to put consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Maybe it’s time to draft a top DE? Of course, the ‘Skins haven’t had the picks to do so either. They do this season and Brown has Top 10 potential.
Last mock: Malcolm Jenkins

14. New Orleans
D.J. Moore, CB, Vanderbilt
Top 3 alternatives: Vontae Davis, B.J. Raji, Jason Smith
The Saints need playmakers on their defense capable of turning an offense’s mistakes into points. Moore is a threat to score every time he has the ball in his hands, not to mention, he’s an elite kick returner.
Last mock: Rey Maualuga

15. Houston Texans
Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
Top 3 alternatives: Percy Harvin, B.J. Raji, Eben Britton
Houston’s Dunta Robinson hasn’t been the same since an injury last season and becomes a free agent this offseason anyway. That leaves the Texans in dire need in the secondary.
Last mock: Jeremy Maclin

16. San Diego Chargers
Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
Top 3 alternatives: B.J. Raji, LeSean McCoy, Michael Oher
San Diego selecting a back depends on what the Bolts do with LT and Darren Sproles. Expect Sproles to cash in on a nice deal elsewhere. Moreno is an option to be an eventual replacement for LT, which the Chargers could need sooner rather than later. LeSean McCoy would be a nice explosive compliment with a second gear and should be considered.
Last mock: Eben Britton

[cubuffsman78]

17. New York Jets
B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College
Top 3 alternatives: Percy Harvin, Jason Smith, Brian Cushing
Raji gives the Jets options in their rotation at both NT and DE in the 3-4. He’s got the size for NT and he’s got the quickness for DE. Very similar to Haloti Ngata, whom potential new head coach Rex Ryan coached in Baltimore.
Last mock: Vontae Davis

18. Chicago Bears
Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
Top 3 alternatives: Jason Smith, Michael Oher, Peria Jerry
The Bears unwisely allowed their best target Bernard Berrian go before the 2008 season and missed him badly down the stretch. Kyle Orton seems to have solidified his status as the QB for right now, meaning he needs a deep threat to get the ball too. Harvin is going in late Round 1 in most mocks right now and that’s too low. He’s got elite speed and is an incredible playmaker.
Last mock: Greg Hardy

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
LeSean McCoy, RB, Pitt
Top 3 alternatives: Peria Jerry, Jason Smith, Eben Britton
The Bucs have plenty of options at RB, but it’s hard to be thrilled about any of them. Earnest Graham is the most solid, but he’s coming off an injury and more of a power back. Warrick Dunn seems ageless, but it has to catch up with him at some point. Cadillac Williams is in his mid-20s, but his body is around 40. The speedy McCoy would be a fantastic compliment to Graham in a platoon.
Last mock: Knowshon Moreno

20. Detroit Lions (from Dallas)
Eben Britton, OT, Arizona
Top 3 alternatives: Jason Smith, Michael Oher, William Beatty
Britton, Jason Smith and Michael Oher grade out similarly. It all depends on what a particular team needs. In my estimation, Britton is more of an LT than Smith or Oher and Detroit better try and protect its QB if one is drafted with the top pick.
Last mock: Mark Sanchez

21. Philadelphia Eagles
Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
Top 3 alternatives: Michael Oher, William Beatty, Chris Wells
Smith could end up being the answer for Philly on the right or left side, since both Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan are free agents. I expect Winston Justice, the Eagles second round pick a couple years ago, moves into the right side, while Smith mans the left. He fits their system well on the left side.
Last mock: Jermaine Gresham

22. Minnesota Vikings
Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
Top 3 alternatives: Michael Oher, William Beatty, William Moore
Minnesota’s problems with getting consistent production from its tight ends might have more to do with shoddy QB play. However, Pettigrew would be the second-best receiving option the Vikings would have, behind only Bernard Berrian.
Last mock: Eugene Monroe

23. New England Patriots
Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State
Top 3 alternatives: Brian Cushing, Clint Sintim, William Beatty
Wells will test well and he looks great on film – when he’s playing. It isn’t his ability that comes into question. It’s his heart and desire. A coach can’t teach him to have those things. That’s why he’ll slip. However, Bill Bellichick has inspired what we thought was a hopeless case in Randy Moss. Winning has a way of doing that.
Last mock: Vontae Davis

24. Atlanta Falcons
Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss
Top 3 alternatives: William Beatty, Brian Cushing, Peria Jerry
I am a big Oher fan. I like him more than Eugene Monroe and other OT prospects in this draft. He’s not a sure-fire LT, though. He is, however, the most dominant run blocking OT in this draft. Atlanta is a run-first offense and Oher could play LT or RT in it.
Last mock: Peria Jerry

25. Miami Dolphins
Brian Cushing, OLB, USC
Top 3 alternatives: Clint Sintim, William Beatty, Hakeem Nicks
The Dolphins ran a hybrid 3-4/4-3 offense last season and Cushing fits the scheme perfectly. He can play as a 3-4 inside or outside LB and as an OLB in the 4-3.
Last mock: Brian Cushing

26. Baltimore Ravens
Clint Sintim, LB, Virginia
Top 3 alternatives: William Moore, Hakeem Nicks, Darrius Heyward-Bey
The Ravens are allowing Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs and Bart Scott to enter free agency. All three will command fairly lucrative contracts. I believe the Ravens will franchise Suggs for his versatility. Scott is probably the most likely to move on. Regardless, Sintim fits the Ravens’ hybrid defense as an OLB in either the 3-4 or 4-3.
Last mock: Percy Harvin

27. Indianapolis Colts
Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss
Top 3 alternatives: Sen’Derrick Marks, Max Unger, Alphonso Smith
Jerry looks and plays like a DT from the Colts’ system. He’s quick and capable of shooting gaps relentlessly. Tony Dungy would have liked Jerry a lot.
Last mock: Alphonso Smith

28. Philadelphia Eagles (from Carolina)
William Moore, S, Missouri
Top 3 alternatives: Shonn Greene, Paul Kruger, Michael Johnson
Brian Dawkins is a free agent after this season and it’s hard to picture him in any other jersey than a Philly one. Even if he stays, he needs a playmate in the defensive backfield. Moore could learn from one of the greats. He’s the best safety prospect in this draft.
Last mock: Jason Smith

29. New York Giants
William Beatty, OT, Connecticut
Top 3 alternatives: Max Unger, Sean Smith, Sen’Derrick Marks
Beatty is flying up many draft boards, mostly because of his stellar performance in UConn’s bowl win. He’s probably the most athletic OT in the draft and don’t be shocked if he ends up being a Top 20 pick.
Last mock: Brandon Spikes

30. Tennessee Titans
Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina
Top 3 alternatives: Darrius Heyward-Bey, Paul Kruger, Alphonso Smith
No player helped his stock more with a bowl performance than Nicks. His stock should be firmly planted in the late first round for now. He might have the best hands in the draft. Maybe this is the season Tennessee gets a prime target for its QB, whoever it may be.
Last mock: Hakeem Nicks

31. Pittsburgh Steelers
Max Unger, OL, Oregon State
Top 3 alternatives: Duke Robinson, Sean Smith, Sen’Derrick Marks
Unger would be a guard in Pitt’s power blocking scheme. He can play anywhere on the interior line. The Steelers never replaced Alan Faneca at guard and the run game has suffered because of it.
Last mock: Duke Robinson

32. Arizona Cardinals
Donald Brown, RB, Connecticut
Top 3 alternatives: Shonn Greene, Alphonso Smith, Sean Smith
Yes. I think the Cards are winning it all. Crazy right? Some will say the same about this pick. Arizona having a pick this late means a fourth RB could sneak into the first round. Why Brown over Greene? Speed. Greene is a more powerful back, while Brown is shiftier and has that illustrious second gear, meaning he would better compliment Tim Hightower.
Last mock: LeSean McCoy

[cubuffsman78]

Second round
1 Lions Paul Kruger DE Utah

2 Chiefs Michael Johnson DE Ga. Tech

3 Rams Alphonso Smith CB Ga. Tech

4 Browns Shonn Greene RB Iowa

5 Seahawks Sean Smith DB Utah

6 Bengals Sen'Derrick Marks DT Auburn

7 Jaguars Darrius Heyward-Bey WR Maryland

8 Raiders Duke Robinson OG Oklahoma

9 Packers Tyrone McKenzie LB USF

10 Bills Jared Cook TE South Carolina

11 49ers Larry English LB No. Illinois

12 Dolphins (WAS) Victor Harris CB Va. Tech

13 Giants (NO) Patrick Chung S Oregon

14 Texans Connor Barwin DE Cincinnati

15 Patriots (SD) Mike Mickens CB Cincinnati

16 Broncos Emmanuel Cook S South Carolina

17 Bears Derek Peques S Mississippi St.

18 Buccanneers Ricky Jean-Francois DT LSU

19 Cowboys Herman Johnson OG LSU

20 Jets Juaquin Iglesias WR Oklahoma

21 Eagles Chase Coffman TE Missouri

22 Vikings Kenny Britt WR Rutgers

23 Falcons Evander Hood DT Missouri

24 Dolphins Jamon Meredith OT South Carolina

25 Ravens Derrick Williams WR Penn State

26 Patriots Clay Matthews LB USC

27 Panthers Tyson Jackson DE LSU

28 Giants Fili Moala DT USC

29 Colts DeAngelo Smith CB Cincinnati

30 Titans Trevor Canfield OG Cincinnati

31 Steelers Phil Loadholt OT Oklahoma

32 Cardinals Alex Mack C Cal

[bowler533]

Its wierd the same number of picks that our mocks contain. Thus, I agree with alot of your picks. I would like to see Alex Mack higher. He is playing well at senior bowl week.

Nice mock. I'll add more later.

[kevmvp]

I like the Aarron Curry pick to the Cheifs. With Pioli in place i dont see them going QB anymore and Curry is a player that can definitley help them.

In my opinion your dead on with Macklin. I dont know if he goes to Oakland but he's going high in this draft. You see it happen all the time with guys with game breaking ability or guys that really impress at the combine and Maclin is a guy who I think will have a good combine. JMO.

I like both Jet picks. I would love a guy like Maualuga but I think the Jets will have to trade up in order to do it. I'm not going to complain if the Jets take a defender though. I really want to see Rex Ryan build a tough defense in New York. Iglasius or Britt are both possibilities in the second round if there still on the board.

Michael Johnson in my opinion is a guy who is going to rise up draft boards.

[porky88]

Beatty and Brown I don't think are first round picks.

I don't believe Williams Moore is a first round pick, but the lack of safeties in this draft is ridiculous actually so he could benefit from that.

I actually feel Minnesota got decent play out of their tight end this year. I still think they need a receiver more. Brandon Pettigrew should go top 20 though.

James Laurinaitis over Rey Maualuga I don't think will happen.

Tyron McKenzie to the Packers I don't think is a fit. Green Bay is going 3-4 and they're going to have to find an outside rusher, defensive end, and nose tackle for the 3-4. They have inside backers for it.

I don't think Alex Mack has been that great at the Senior Bowl so far, but I don't think he falls to the last pick of the second round.

Same with Tyson Jackson.

[bbbtalb0]

I like it. There's some interesting things in this mock like Sanchez going one overall, Maclin to the Raiders, Wells to New England, and 4 RBs going in the first.

I don't think Kansas City will be able to pass up on Matt Stafford. Thigpen did play well but I don't think he has what it takes to play like that next year(s).

I'm with Porky, I don't think Laurenaitis will go ahead of Maualuga. Nothing against J.L. I love him as a prospect but I get the feeling he'll be passed on by many teams in the top half of round 1.

Maclin and McCoy are interesting, but I could see both happening.

I think Tyson Jackson, Alex Mack, and Kenny Britt are too low.

Btw, I love the Hakeem Nicks pick.

[cubuffsman78]

I'm not as high on Jackson or Mack as many are. Jackson is another Calais Campbell to me. I wasn't off on Campbell going in the late second round at the earliest. I see Jackson in the same spot.

Mack is a nice prospect, but he's not a first round talent and not close to it actually. I could see him going well into the third.

Britt has great size, but he's limited speedwise. He doesn't always get the separation needed to play at the next level, either. He's a second round pick. I can't see him getting into the first.

As for Beatty, he's going to shoot up boards some more in my mind. He's the fastest rising OT right now.

I did forget about Green Bay's hiring of Dom Capers and the switch to a 3-4. Makes Larry English a very attractive prospect for them there.

[kc5950]

Hate Crabtree to Seahawks, though its considered a lock by many outsiders. It won't happen, I'll put money on it, but it probably won't change alot beyond the Seahawks as Crabtree probably doesn't fall past 7.

I don't hate Monroe that early, though I don't like him before Oher. I truly think if Oher falls past 10 there will be a rush to draft him like when the Vikings missed their pick.

I like all the LB destinations outside the top-10. I'm not sold on Curry in the top-5, nor Aaron Maybin.

I REALLY REALLY REALLY like McCoy over Wells. Not only do I think he's a better fit in Tampa, and that he's a more complete back, but it is a mock that doesn't have him going to Arizona. I think most people are drawing parallels to Whisenhunt's success w/ Willie Parker, but I don't think that Parker was/is an ideal fit there. I feel Whisenhunt wants to utilize a power running game in conjunction with a fairly open passing game, not a finesse back.

I like the Patriots adding a "bullet in the clip" to their then five-headed runningback tandem, though I don't think Wells will be the guy, nor do I think it will be in the first round. I don't see them passing on Sintim and Cushing if both are available.

Herman Johnson to the Cowboys is a savvy pick I think. Knowing the owner, the better version of Al Davis that Jerry Jones is. While Johnson isn't a sexy pick, he's huge, and the pick will probably be in my next mock. You may have found a scenario where I could see Duke Robinson being the 2nd guard off the board.

I hate the fit of Hakeem Nicks to the Titans, though I feel its the type of uninspiring addition that the Titans may make. They seem to make a lot of "for the sake of..." picks on offense. Looking back, I think the last WR they picked that I felt had #1 potential was Tyrone Calico, which turned out to be a disaster.

[Saint33]

Just going to comment on the Vikings pick to start. Visanthe Shiancoe played fantastically this year, he was every bit a consistent TE. They won't go TE that high.

Mack is MUCH too low. Jason Smith and Oher are too low as well in my mind.

Beatty is a fantastic athlete, and has very solid footwork, but he's too undersized to be a first round pick. He'd be great if he could add about 15-20 pounds, but at this point he's not big enough to be a 1st round pick.

Moore has played himself out of a first day selection at the Senior Bowl practices. He looks like linebacker out there in coverage, Louis Delmas is the #1 safety by far in this draft. I'd even put Rashad Johnson and even Patrick Chung ahead of Moore at this point. That's how poor he's looked out there.