2nd Last mock
I had to bite on a few picks here, going with the growing consensus. This doesn't mean that I truly believe these things will happen, and my last mock coming out 2 weeks from now may be back to my gut feelings, but for this one I thought I'd do a lil more of a consensus top 10.
Round 1
1. DET - Matt Stafford, QB Georgia
Now that Cutler is a Bear, Stafford is almost a lock for this spot.
2. STL - Jason Smith, OT Baylor
Here's my first bite. I think there's a 50% chance they take Smith, and a 50% chance they take Curry, but I'll go with the consensus and give them Smith here.
3. KC - Aaron Curry, LB Wake Forest
BPA here. Curry is the best prospect in the draft, I can't see him making it past this point.
4. SEA - Eugene Monroe, OT Virginia
With Curry, Smith and Stafford off the board, this really is a no brainer.
5. CLE - Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB Texas
Cleveland could be looking at Crabtree or Maclin, depending on what plays out with Braylon Edwards. Pressure on the QB is still the most pressing need for now.
6. CIN - BJ Raji, DT Boston College
Without Monroe still on the board, the Bengals will take BPA and address a big need on defense. I don't buy the Andre Smith talks at all.
7. OAK - Jeremy Maclin, WR Missouri
Here's the next bite, Maclin before Crabtree. It's well known that Al Davis loves speed, however, I think it's a little bit of an over exaggeration. There are rumors of DHB here, but I don't buy that for a second, no way is he even close to the level of Maclin or Crabtree. But since Maclin fills both the talent, and speed categories, I'll throw him here.
8. JAC - Michael Crabtree, WR Texas Tech.
The Jags used to only have big possession WRs. Now with Reggie Williams, Matt Jones and Earnest Wilford gone, their left with a couple of small speed receivers in Troy Williamson and Dennis Northcutt. No way do they pass on Crabtree here.
9. GB - Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB Penn St.
With Orakpo off the board, they go with the next best OLB prospect. That could be Everette Brown or Maybin, however I believe Maybin is a better prospect at OLB than Brown is.
10. SF - Michael Oher, OT Ole Miss.
I've seen a number of people say that Singeltary believes OT is the biggest need for SF. Unless Stafford is available, I think Oher is pretty much a lock here.
11. BUF - Everette Brown, DE Florida St.
I have this pick penciled in from day one, I don't know why I'd change it now.
12. DEN - Brian Cushing, LB USC
Even with Sanchez still on the board, I think Denver sticks to upgrading their defense. Kyle Orton is not a bad QB, and should only be better this year in McDaniels' system and with the weapons they have. Cushing is great fit for their switch to a 3-4 defense.
13. WAS - Robert Ayers, DL Tennessee
I said a long time ago Ayers is a top 15 pick, and I think he's finally getting the attention he deserves. The Redskins need to find a pass rusher to compliment Albert Haynesworth.
14. NO - Chris Wells, RB Ohio St.
I'm not a fan of Wells this high, especially before Moreno. However, there are a lot of rumors swarming about the Saints interest in Beanie. They think he's a perfect replacement for McAlister, and would bring back the smash and dash running game the Saints had in their NFC Championship season.
15. HOU - Malcolm Jenkins, DB Ohio St.
While the consensus seems to be that the Texans want to upgrade their front 7, I can't see them passing on Jenkins if available. They need help at CB and S, so Jenkins is a perfect fit for them here.
16. SD - Rey Maualuga, MLB USC
Rey's stock is apparently sliding, however I can't see him falling any lower than this. He's a great fit for SD's defense, and with him Merriman, and Shaun Phillips, they would have one of the best LBing groups in the league.
17. NYJ - Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR Maryland
The Jets will almost certainly go WR here. I know Sanchez would be very tempting, but they seem to like Ratliff and Clemens, so I think they can pass on QB here. DHB has the potential to be great, but the key word is potential.
18. DEN (via CHI) - Tyson Jackson, DE LSU
Again they have a chance at Sanchez, and this maybe even crazier that they would pass on him twice. But like I said, I think they'll stick with Orton, and continue to beef up their defense. They need a prototypical 3-4 DE if their going to switch to the scheme, so Jackson makes a lot of sense here.
19. TB - Mark Sanchez, QB USC
This is a no brainer here, and the Bucs would likely have to trade up to get Sanchez. But I don't predict trades, and I think when it's all said and done, TB has will be the team that lands him.
20. DET (via DAL) - Andre Smith, OT Alabama
Smith's fall stops here. The Lions take the same draft plan as the Falcons last year, getting the QB with the first pick, and getting the LT with their second 1st.
21. PHI - Knowshon Moreno, RB Georgia
Moreno is exactly what the Eagles are looking for in a compliment to Westbrook. He's physical, and can catch the ball out of the backfield, which goes a long way in Andy Reid's scheme.
22. MIN - Alphonso Smith, CB Wake Forest
Smith is dropping on a lot of mocks because of his size, however I really think it'll surprise people how high he goes. He's a football player, plain and simple. If he were taller, he'd be a top 10 pick and the best CB in this draft. Smith is a perfect replacement for Antoine Winfield.
23. NE - Darius Butler, CB Connecticut
Butler is rising up boards quickly, and NE is in desperate need of a long term answer at CB. He can compete with Wheatley for the nickel spot in his first year, and the 2 of them can take over next year after Leigh Bodden and Shawn Springs are gone.
24. ATL - Lames Laurinaitis, LB Ohio St.
The Falcons lost Keith Brooking and Michael Boley this off season, so they'll be looking for a LB early. Laurinaitis could compete at inside LB with Curtis Lofton, but both are versatile enough to play outside as well.
25. MIA - Larry English, DE/OLB Nothern Illinois
English is a great fit in Miami, I really can't see them passing him up if he's still available.
26. BAL - Percy Harvin, WR Florida
With the concerns about Harvin's apparent drug test failure at the combine, he could slip. Adding a weapon like Harvin to help out Joe Flacco would help him avoid a sophomore slump.
27. IND - Peria Jerry, DT Ole Miss.
There isn't a better fit in this draft than Jerry to the Colts. If he falls this far, Bill Polian and co. will take about 30 seconds to hand in their card.
28. PHI (via CAR) - Eben Britton, OT Arizona
The Eagles have their choice of upgrading any of their weaknesses here, either going Brandon Pettigrew, Eben Britton, Louis Delmas or Clay Matthews. Britton has the best value at this point, and T is a huge need for Philli, losing both tackles in FA.
29. NYG - Clay Matthews, OLB USC
Even with the signing of Michael Boley, Matthews is just too perfect to pass on at this point. He's exactly what the Giants are looking for in a LB, with great speed and pass rushing ability, this can permanently move Mathias Kiwanuka back to DE where he belongs.
30. TEN - Brian Robiskie, WR Ohio St.
Here's the biggest surprise of the first round so far. A lot of people like Hicks and Britt better than Robiskie, but I think Robiskie is the most underrated WR in this draft. The Titans have had a knack for "reaching" in recent drafts, and landing studs like Robiskie.
31. ARI - Alex Mack, C Cal
With the 2 RBs off the board, the Cardinals have only a few options. They could reach a bit for Donald Brown, or they could take the best C in the draft, who I believe is a top 15 prospect, who'll fall only because of position. I think taking the best C makes more sense here for them since they still haven't let Edgerrin James go.
32. PIT - Vontae Davis, CB Illinois
One of the top corners will likely fall, and I personally think it'll be Davis. He may be a great athlete, but he's very inconsistent on the football field. The Steelers don't have a lot of needs, so BPA is the smartest choice here, and CB does fill a need anyway.
Last edited by Saint33; 04-11-2009 at 01:02 AM.
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