2009 NFL Mock Draft IV (official three rounds)

[cubuffsman78]

(This is what I submitted as a column for the main site. Just sharing it here with you guys.)

The NFL Draft is now less than two weeks away. This is about the time things start to clear up on who each team is considering drafting.

Not in Detroit. Instead, the ploy of talking to Baylor OT Jason Smith in order to bargain with QB Matthew Stafford goes on. While I wrote in a previous column that the Lions should take Smith, I don’t believe it will happen. I still believe Stafford is the pick.

Look for a seven-round mock from me, projecting all 256 picks by next Friday.

Let’s get right to it. Here’s my current look at the first round. Two rounds in separate posts to follow.

1. Lions: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
I still believe new GM Martin Mayhew and coach Jim Schwartz would be sacrificing their careers in three seasons with this pick. Still, they’re going to probably go QB, since apparently that’s where one has to start with building a team. I still say starting in the trenches is a much more brilliant idea.

2. Rams: Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
No team will be more pumped about Stafford going No. 1 than the Rams. They’ll be more excited than even the Lions. It means the Rams get the premier OT they’ve desired for two seasons.

3. Chiefs: Brian Orakpo, OLB, Texas
If the move to the 3-4 is going to be made, then a great pass rusher is needed. Orakpo is the best pass rusher no matter what the defensive scheme is. Aaron Curry is possible, but does he answer a need in the 3-4 like Orakpo does? No. And taking Orakpo here isn’t a reach either. I am iffy on the projection, though. I’m not entirely convinced the Chiefs will make the move to the 3-4, particularly because of the presence of last year’s first-round pick Glenn Dorsey, who doesn’t fit into the scheme at all. At the same time, why bring in LBs like Zach Thomas and Mike Vrabel, who are experienced in the 3-4 and haven’t played in a 4-3 in years if you aren’t going to make the change?

4. Seahawks: Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
This is a value pick that addresses a significant need for Seattle. The Seahawks traded Julian Peterson to Detroit, but replace him with perhaps the best player in the draft. Eugene Monroe might fill a bigger need, but finding a playmaker to replace Peterson has to be high on Seattle’s list of priorities and Curry is the best player in the draft.

5. Browns: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
The injury isn’t going to send Crabtree spiraling too far. The Browns are unhappy with Braylon Edwards and have openly shopped him. Even if they keep him, don’t be surprised if they pull the trigger on Crabtree. Some in the organization doubt Edwards is the top-flight receiver they once hoped he could be.

6. Bengals: Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
The Bengals have plenty of needs, but protecting Carson Palmer needs to be at the top of the list. Monroe is overrated, but still an upgrade at either OT position.

7. Raiders: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri
Al Davis loves speed. Maclin is a sexy pick and the perfect replacement for Jerry Porter, who Davis had a lot of admiration for. JaMarcus Russell has a big arm that should complement Maclin nicely.

8. Jaguars: Mark Sanchez, QB, USC
The Jags are being diligent in their scouting of Sanchez and all signs point to them bringing in the one-year starter. Don’t be surprised to see some movement to this pick or to the Raiders’ selection just ahead of the Jags as teams start bidding for Sanchez’ services.

9. Packers: Aaron Maybin, LB, Penn State
The Packers are making a switch to a 3-4 scheme defensively. Maybin can give them a pass rusher off the edge on the weak side. He’s probably the most explosive player coming around offensive tackles in the draft.

10. 49ers: B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College
I once projected Raji as the first pick overall. It didn’t work out that way. I still believe he has that type of ability, though. His latest failed drug test hurt him, but he’s not going to fall past the Broncos at 12.

11. Bills: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee
The Bills have needs in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Ayers is continuing to fly up draft boards and has emerged as a solid option for a team looking for a pass rusher off the edge in the 4-3 scheme.

12. Broncos: Malcolm Jenkins, DB, Ohio State
Forget about 40 times for a minute. Jenkins is still the most technically sound CB in the draft and technique can make up for plenty in football. I think he's still a CB in the NFL over a FS.

13. Redskins: Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss
Washington has had a tough time keeping Jon Jansen healthy during his 11-year career. If he is, he and Chris Samuels make up a fantastic tackle tandem. That's a big if, though, and the 'Skins need to get some insurance. Oher is a natural at RT and has the ability to develop into a solid LT. Don't be surprised if Dan Snyder tries to package a deal to move up and take Mark Sanchez.

14. Saints: Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State
I haven't made it a secret. I don't like Beanie Wells. I question his heart and desire to play. No one can deny his ability, though, and the Saints need a back who can bash out tough yards up the middle. Having a runner like Wells maximizes the talent of Reggie Bush. The Saints don't pick again until the fourth round. They can't delay in adding a key piece to their offense.

15. Texans: Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
Houston addressed one of their biggest needs at OLB by signing Cato June. They could use help on the DL and Everette Brown is a possibility here to play weakside DE. There are a lot of questions about his ability to do so, though. Harvin would be a luxury here, but he gives a fantastic offensive mind like Gary Kubiak's a chance to be incredibly creative.

16. Chargers: Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
Smith has sunk his own ship. The Bolts need a run-blocking RT and Smith is as good as anyone in this draft at driving his man off the line.

17. Jets: Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU
This writer is not a fan of Jackson's, but he is widely considered the top 3-4 DE available. That'll mean a team running that particular defensive scheme will highly value him.

18. Broncos (from CHI): Everette Brown, LB, Florida State
Brown was once considered a top 10 pick, but questions about his size and consistency have plummeted him down draft boards. He could be a good option in the 3-4 at OLB in the same mold of the Steelers' LaMarr Woodley. The Broncos are making the switch to the 3-4 scheme and need to pick up as many players who fit the scheme as possible.

19. Buccaneers: Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State
I’m convinced – like many draftniks are – that the Bucs will find a way to land Freeman one way or another. New coach Raheem Morris has a past with Freeman and the Bucs have not been secretive in their interest in the QB. No team in the NFL needs a starting QB more than the Bucs do, either. However, Freeman is not an immediate answer. The battle to be this year’s starter just got more crowded with the recent signing of Byron Leftwich. Luke McCown and Brian Griese will also figure into the equation. One of those three will not make the team if Freeman is the pick and the Bucs need two good years out of whoever wins the battle.

20. Lions (from DAL): Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss
The Lions are probably hoping one of the top four OTs fall to this spot, but that's a no-go in this projection. The debate here is between Jerry, USC LB Rey Maualuga and Illinois CB Vontae Davis. DT might be the biggest need on the defensive side for Detroit since the trade of Cory Redding to Seattle for LB Julian Peterson.

[cubuffsman78]

21. Eagles: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
Moreno is a perfect fit for what the Eagles want out of their RBs. He's one of the better receivers out of the backfield in this draft class. Everyone says the Eagles need a power back. That simply isn't what Andy Reid likes to do. Moreno is a complete back, though, and could eventually replace Brian Westbrook.

22. Vikings: Darius Butler, CB, UConn
I'm moving Butler ahead of Vontae Davis because of his skill set, not because of allegations of drug use on Davis' part. In fact, there is no proof of anyone failing a drug test at the combine. So far, it appears a third-rate website was just trying to make a name for itself. Butler has the best ball skills of any CB in the draft. He's a playmaker in the secondary and teams stopped throwing the ball his way during his senior year at UConn.

23. Patriots: Brian Cushing, LB, USC
Cushing is a two-down linebacker, who will struggle in pass coverage. However, he is fantastic at the point of attack and those skills will be on full display in the Patriots' scheme. He's a fitting replacement for the versatile Mike Vrabel, who was traded to Kansas City earlier this offseason.

24. Falcons: Clay Matthews, LB, USC
I liked Matthews at No. 15 overall to Houston because of his ability to defend the pass. However, he’ll fall to the Falcons who need to replace both their starting OLBs as Keith Brooking (Dallas) and Michael Boley (Giants) have both departed. Matthews would play opposite Mike Peterson, who was signed as a free agent from Jacksonville. Curtis Lofton will man the middle, giving Atlanta great potential at the position.

25. Dolphins: Rey Maualuga, LB, USC
Make it three Trojans in a row. Maualuga is one of the most vicious players in this draft. His attitude on the field is similar to Ray Lewis'. He has a habit of overrunning plays, though, and that is the biggest reason he's slipping in this draft. He's a solid fit in the 3-4 and the Dolphins should benefit greatly from having him man the middle of their defense. He's a tackling machine and should be considered a prime candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

26. Ravens: Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland
The Ravens get a hometown boy with the ability to be the premier wide receiver they have always lacked as a franchise. He's underrated right now and the Ravens should consider him a steal.

27. Colts: Donald Brown, RB, UConn
Arguably, Brown might be the back geared to make the biggest difference during his rookie season over any other back in the NFL. The Colts have to find a reliable back to take some of the pressure and carries from the suddenly injury-prone Joseph Addai.

28. Eagles: Eben Britton, OT, Arizona
Longtime RT Jon Runyan is yet to be re-signed and William Thomas also appears on his way out once he becomes a free agent. The Eagles did sign Stacy Andrews, who fits at RT, but Britton could be the future at LT.

29. Giants: Brian Robiskie, WR, Ohio State
Robiskie has quietly moved up draft boards. That kind of goes with his personality. He’s a Marvin Harrison-type of worker, who just comes in and does his job. The limelight is not needed for Robiskie to shine. That’s a change the Giants DO need, though.

30. Titans: Evander Hood, DT, Missouri
Hood won’t relieve all the pain caused by the departure of Albert Haynesworth, but he’s a step in the right direction. Hood’s stock is rising and he could be off the board as early as 23 to New England.

31. Cardinals: Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
This is a significant drop for a player once thought to be a potential top 10 pick. Turns out he’s not as athletic as expected and some questions about his character have also been brought up. Still, he’s a playmaker on defense and special teams and will be a welcome addition in both regards by Arizona.

32. Steelers: Alex Mack, OC, Cal
Mack could be off the board as high as Pick 24 to Atlanta. He’s the best interior lineman in this draft and fits the Steelers power blocking scheme well.

[cubuffsman78]

Second round
33. Lions: James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State
Ernie Sims has lived up to his high pick a few years ago. A trade for Julian Peterson sews up the OLB position opposite Sims. Now, the only question is who will play in the middle? The Lions answer it with this pick. Laurinaitis has been overevaluated and is a steal at this spot.

34. Patriots (from KC): Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
This isn’t a need pick, but more of a luxury. Pettigrew is the best player available and New England drafts with that style regardless of position.

35. Rams: Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina
Nicks has the best hands of the WRs in this draft and his circus catches at the end of UNC’s season put him high on many draft boards.

36. Browns: Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest
Size matters in the draft only. Once a player is on the field, it can easily be overcome. Smith plays bigger than he is. He’s a couple inches away from being a surefire first rounder.

37. Seahawks: Louis Delmas, S, Western Michigan
Delmas is going to be a hot commodity by this point and several teams will probably make a bid to move up for him.

38. Bengals: Michael Johnson, DE, Ga. Tech
Athleticism is not a problem for Johnson. His skill set as a pass rusher is. He’s raw, but with his size and speed, someone is going to fall in love with him.

39. Jaguars: Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers
The Jags made wholesale changes at the WR position and need to use the draft to try and replace them. They get a great possession receiver in Britt here.

40. Raiders: Max Unger, OC, Oregon
The Raiders allowed their center from last season Jake Grove to go to Miami. Unger might already be an upgrade, though.

41. Packers: Connor Barwin, LB, Cincinnati
Barwin has flown up draft boards with his versatility and athleticism. He could sneak into the first round.

42. Bills: Jared Cook, TE, South Carolina
Cook is the fastest TE in the draft and has the potential to be the Bills’ version of Dallas Clark.

43. 49ers: LeSean McCoy, RB, Pitt
Reports say the Niners are looking for a reliable back to split carries with Frank Gore. McCoy was once thought of as a first round pick. He slipped some because of injuries, but remains a home run threat every time he touches the ball.

44. Dolphins (from WAS): Larry English, LB, Northern Illinois
English’s stock slipped some after a fantastic Senior Bowl. He still projects as one of several tweeners in this draft class who can contribute at OLB in the 3-4.

45. Giants (from NO): William Beatty, OT, UConn
There are some discouraging feelings coming from the Giants about the performance of RT Kareem McKenzie. They provide McKenzie some competition by drafting Beatty, who could end up being a LT prospect.

46. Texans: Ron Brace, DT, Boston College
Houston is finally getting fed up with the inconsistency of Travis Johnson, who they took first overall four years ago. Brace is a big body capable of replacing Johnson, whose contract is almost up.

47. Patriots (from SD): D.J. Moore, CB, Vanderbilt
Moore ran much slower than expected, but he’s a proven playmaker on offensive, defense and special teams. The Pats will find a spot for him to succeed.

48. Broncos: Clint Sintim, LB, Virginia
When making the switch from a 4-3 scheme to a 3-4, one can never acquire too many LBs to maximize the talent at the defense’s most important position.

49. Bears: Duke Robinson, OG, Oklahoma
The Bears are still aging rapidly on the line and need to make an investment to help out dynamic RB Matt Forte.

50. Browns (from TB): James Casey, TE, Rice
A replacement for Kellen Winslow is much needed. Casey is a versatile athlete that a creative offensive coordinator could do a lot of things with.

51. Cowboys: Patrick Chung, S, Oregon
Chung is the most underrated player in this draft right now. He’s undoubtedly the best strong safety in this class, in my opinion, and would compete for the starting job in Dallas as a rookie.

52. Jets: Sean Smith, DB, Utah
Smith could fill one of two holes for the Jets. He could go to FS and give them a solid option next to Pro Bowler Kerry Rhodes. Or he could lineup across the field from Darrelle Revis at CB. Their choice.

53. Eagles: Louis Murphy, WR, Florida
Murphy was consistently overlooked on the Gators’ electrifying offense. He was the best receiver they had, though, and should find a spot in the Eagles’ rotation at the position.

54. Vikings: William Moore, S, Missouri
Moore has had a bit of a rollercoaster ride with his draft stock. It started in the top 10, plummeted to the middle rounds after the Senior Bowl, but has made a resurgence to the second round.

55. Falcons: Sen’Derrick Marks, DT, Auburn
Marks gives Atlanta a replacement for the once dominant Rod Coleman. One could easily call Marks’ style of play similar to Coleman’s.

56. Dolphins: Jarron Gilbert, DE, San Jose State
Already a YouTube phenom, Gilbert projects as a solid DE in a 3-4 scheme and could line up at DT in the 4-3.

57. Ravens: Jairus Byrd, CB, Oregon
Byrd was one-fourth of one of the most talented secondaries in the country at Oregon. The Ravens need to find a CB with the potential to eventually replace Chris McAllister.

58. Patriots: Jamon Meredith, OT, South Carolina
Meredith is undersized for the Pats’ scheme, but has the frame to add some bulk and not lose any of his athleticism. He’s a good pass protector, which makes him attractive to the pass-heavy Pats.

59. Panthers: Fili Moala, DT, USC
The Panthers like their DTs big in order to occupy blockers. Moala fits that bill and would play the same role he did in college with Maualuga playing behind him.

60. Giants: Kaluka Maiava, LB, USC
That’s right. There was a fourth talented LB at USC. Maiava was the Defensive MVP at the Rose Bowl. How does that team ever lose with all the talent they store away on a depth chart? Maiava doesn’t have the size Maualuga or Cushing possess, but is quick and instinctive. He’ll need to play on the weakside, though.

61. Colts: Marcus Freeman, LB, Ohio State
Freeman fits the Colts scheme well as he’s very athletic in pass coverage and is a solid tackler once the reception is made underneath him. Finally, the Colts have a player capable of replacing the production Cato June once had.

62. Titans: Austin Collie, WR, BYU
Collie is a bit underrated right now. He’s got a great size/speed ratio with solid hands and comes from a pass-happy scheme. He would project as a starter for Tennessee.

63. Cardinals: Ian Johnson, RB, Boise State
Johnson is starting to climb back up boards after having to share carries at Boise in his senior season. He’s a very good complement to the bigger Tim Hightower.

64. Steelers: Mike Mickens, CB, Cincinnati
Mickens is one of the better technicians at the CB position in the draft. He doesn’t have elite athleticism, but plays well within himself.

[cubuffsman78]

Man I hate character restrictions on these posts. Had to reply three times to get it done.

Third round
65. Lions: Phil Loadholt, OT, Oklahoma
Loadholt is appropriately named and can play RT for the Lions, while Gosder Cherilus takes on LT duties.

66. Rams: Paul Kruger, DE, Utah
Kruger is a fighter and has been his entire life. He draws comparison’s to Green Bay’s Aaron Kampman.

67. Chiefs: Herman Johnson, OG, LSU
Johnson is huge. That might be an understatement. When he was born, he set the record as the largest baby ever. Teams with a power blocking scheme will value him highly.

68. Seahawks: Eric Wood, OC, Louisville
Center might actually be Seattle’s biggest need. Wood is being overlooked because of Max Unger and Alex Mack, but he’s not far behind them.

69. Cowboys (from CLE): Pat White, QB, West Virginia
Owner Jerry Jones has publicly said he wants to draft a player capable of running the Wildcat offense efficiently. No one projects better for that scheme than White.

70. Bengals: Andre Brown, RB, NC State
Brown is a big back, who might not be available this late. He’s so athletic and has had scouts in awe since he was in high school. He’s never lived up to his potential, though.

71. Raiders: Darcel McBath, S, Texas Tech
McBath is a ballhawk and fits at FS for the Raiders next to fellow Texan Michael Huff.

72. Jaguars: Rashad Jennings, RB, Liberty
Jennings has impressed scouts with his size/speed ratio. The Jags need a bruiser to pair with Maurice Jones-Drew since they decided not to bring back Fred Taylor.

73. Packers: Kraig Urbik, OG, Wisconsin
The Pack get a kid from their home state capable of playing OG or OT on the strong side of their line.

74. 49ers: Juaquin Iglesias, WR, Oklahoma
Some questions were brought up about Iglesias’ ability to separate, thus why he falls to the third round.

75. Bills: Jason Williams, LB, Western Illinois
Williams is beginning to fly up draft boards with his solid workouts and impressive athleticism. His selection here would make him the first non-combine invitee drafted.

76. Jets (from NO): Shawn Nelson, TE, Southern Miss
Nelson is one of the most athletic TEs in this draft. He was productive at Southern Miss for the past three seasons. Draws a lot of comparison’s to Denver’s Tony Scheffler.

77. Texans: Gerald McRath, LB, Southern Miss
Back-to-back Southern Miss studs taken here. McRath has unbelievable straight line speed for a linebacker with good instincts.

78. Chargers: Chip Vaughn, S, Wake Forest
Vaughn has the size to be a weakside LB in a 4-3, but the speed and agility to fit at safety. He’s not a phenomenal defender against the pass, but is enough of a threat over the middle to make WRs think twice.

79. Broncos: Dorell Scott, DT, Clemson
Quality defensive linemen who fit a 3-4 defense can be hard to find because the scheme is not used heavily at the college level. Scott has the ability to play DE or DT in the scheme and could find a late surge in his draft stock because of it.

80. Redskins: Kyle Moore, DE, USC
The Redskins have needed to fill a hole at DE for quite some time. They finally try with a rookie here. Moore is overlooked because of the talent at USC. He’s a reliable pass rusher, though.

81. Buccaneers: Victor Harris, CB, Va. Tech
Harris is one of the most impressive CBs in this draft on film. He’s a little limited athletically and that’s the only reason he’s not a late-first or early-second round pick.

82. Lions (from DAL): Kevin Barnes, CB, Maryland
Barnes is a little off the radar right now, but he was a productive CB at Maryland and plays a key position for a team in the rebuilding stages like the Lions.

83. Packers (from NYJ): Troy Kropog, OT, Tulane
Kropog is probably a RT in the NFL as he’s a more refined run blocker than pass protector. As a junior at Tulane, Kropog was directly responsible for 18 rushing touchdowns by current Chicago running back Matt Forte.

84. Broncos (from CHI): Scott McKillop, LB, Pitt
McKillop has phenomenal instincts and an uncanny ability to sense blockers and sift his way through traffic to get to a ball carrier. Those skills project him as a solid ILB in the 3-4 scheme.

85. Eagles: Cornelius Ingram, TE, Florida
If not for a season-ending injury at the beginning of the year, Ingram might have been a first-round pick. Instead, the Eagles get a proven player and a steal if he recovers completely from injury.

86. Vikings: Stephen McGee, QB, Texas A&M
McGee has probably made the biggest move among QBs this offseason. He’s never played in a pro-style offense, but is athletic and has a better-than-expected arm. Teams wanting to add a player to initiate the Wildcat offense should target him.

87. Dolphins: Asher Allen, CB, Georgia
Allen probably should have gone back to school, but he’ll still be picked in the first three rounds. He’s raw, but has loads of potential.

88. Ravens: Fenuki Tupou, OT, Oregon
Tupou is massive, standing at 6-6. He’s got great potential to be a stalwart at LT for many years.

89. Patriots: Rashad Johnson, S, Alabama
Character might be what keeps Johnson was emerging as the first safety taken in this draft. He’s an electrifying player at FS with great instincts.

90. Falcons: Antoine Caldwell, OC, Alabama
Back-to-back players from Alabama. The Falcons have two major needs on offense at center and TE. Caldwell is a good answer to one of those questions.

91. Giants: Chase Coffman, TE, Missouri
Coffman was once thought of as a first-round pick, but injuries have set him back. The Giants get a nice, more talented compliment opposite Kevin Boss.

92. Colts: Derrick Williams, WR, Penn State
Williams is faster on the field than his 40 time indicates. He’s a poor man’s Percy Harvin in this class.

93. Panthers: Zack Follett, LB, Cal
Carolina has some definite needs on the DL still, but get better value at another need position with Follett.

94. Titans: Coye Francies, CB, San Jose State
Interesting to see San Jose State have two players off the board before more illustrious programs such as Michigan, Notre Dame or Miami even has one.

95. Cardinals: Andy Levitre, OG, Oregon State
Running the ball more efficiently has to be priority No. 1 for the Cards’ offense this offseason. Levitre is technically sound and has experience at OG and OT. He’ll probably be an OG due to his lack of height, though.

96. Steelers: Ricky Jean-Francois, DE, LSU
Jean-Francois is a prime fit as a 3-4 DE. He probably came out a year early, though, but the potential is there to warrant a third round selection.

97. Patriots: Jasper Brinkley, LB, South Carolina
Brinkley looks the part of a 3-4 ILB with his size and has the athleticism to succeed in any defensive scheme.

98. Bengals: Jonathan Luigs, OC, Arkansas
Luigs is a technician more than anything and needs to add some strength in order to readily handle the bigger NTs he’d face in the AFC North. He’ll get by on his great technique, though.

99. Bears: Lawrence Sidbury, DE, Richmond
This might be too low for Sidbury, who is flying up draft boards thanks to his extreme athleticism. The Bears are in need of a resurgence of young speed off the edge.

100. Giants: Sherrod Martin, CB, Troy
Martin could be a CB or a FS. He’s another player that could easily sneak up quite a few spots come draft day. He’s a great value here.

[Saint33]

Profootballtalk.com reports that it has confirmed Florida WR Percy Harvin tested positive for marijuana at February's Scouting Combine.
The original report came from NFLDraftBible. Harvin's camp never denied the news and the underclassman is reportedly already being removed from teams' draft boards. Draft-eligibles often admit during Combine interviews that they smoked marijuana in college, but actually producing dirty drug tests in Indy sends up a huge red flag. Harvin may fall out of the top-32 picks.

PFT is a pretty successful and believable source. Not to mention Harvin nor his agent never denied the allegations. This is of course in response to the statement that no one was proved to have tested positive.


As for the draft goes, I'll comment on the Viking picks just for now.

Butler I like, think he's a possibility, however I don't think he's a great fit in Minnesota, as they value tackling ability in their CBs and that is by far Butler's biggest concern.

I don't like the 2nd round pick at all. They drafted Tyrell Johnson last year to be Sharper's replacement and he faired well in his first year when starting for injured Madieu Williams. The Vikings don't need to take a safety til later in the draft, and Moore is not a good fit at all for the Vikings defense.

McGee is way too high, I don't see a single QB getting drafted til round 5 after Freeman gets taken. MAYBE, MAYBE Pat White, but even that I don't know about.

[bowler533]

Second the point that Percy Harvin may just sneak into round one, but just barely if he does.

Brian Orakpo at 3 is too high. I admitt he does fit the best needs for the Cheifs, but he is worth the 3rd pick? I say no. Orakpo plays soft and has the potential to be surpassed by Maybin. On my board Curry is much better value for the Chiefs, and he could probably play MLB for them. I also think that Monroe to Kansas City is a better pick then Orakpo.

Thats the only pick I really had a problem with.

Im also happy to see the Crabtree to Cleveland pick. As I projected awhile ago, I thinks its a need and great value at #5 for the Browns.

For the Broncos picks:

For the Denver picks, I think Tyson Jackson is the pick for #12, but a very good case can be made for Jenkins. I think Everette Brown would be a great pick at #18 as well. I also like Clint Sintem choice in the second round.

[mrdv1]

i'm not going to comment in detail yet because I don;t have the time at the moment... but this is a tale of 2 drafts.

I'd give ure top 20 an A, because mine might only be about 2 picks different and i like ure picks alot there.

After 20.... C, maybe C+, theres just some picks I don't get, or some that yea ok i get it but wouldnt they be better with this guy?... i'll offer some more commentary on that later for you, but real nice top 20.

[cubuffsman78]

About the positive test on Harvin, I don't believe it's going to be a big deal at all. Guys have failed tests for marijuana and been drafted high (as in draft position, not state of mind). There are worse things, much worse, to test positive for and teams look past it. I don't think he's going to slip that far at all. The reliability of reports are also going to be an issue whether or not he or his agent say anything. Reports are tainted this year because of how many ended up being reported as false.

I'll agree Harvin probably falls by the Texans due to the report, but I don't think he'll fall out of the first round. I think Vontae Davis is actually going to hurt more from reports and his were apparently false.

Stephen McGee is flying up draft boards. His workouts have impressed many. Quite honestly, I personally grade him as the third-best QB in the draft ahead of Freeman. He won't be taken ahead of him, though. He's going to go higher than people expect. I'm confident about that. It will be one of my draft day guarantees.

Pat White won't make it out of the third round. I don't think he'll get by Dallas' third round pick honestly and I don't like that fact as a Cowboys' fan. I hate the idea of drafting a guy that high for a scheme you'll use a few times a game. Makes absolutely no sense to me at all. Many think the Patriots will take a waiver on White late in the second.

Eugene Monroe is possibly the most overrated player in this draft. He at least deserves to be in the conversation. I'm not overly impressed by the guy at all. If I rated OTs by what I thought of them and not just where I think they'll get drafted, I'd put him way down the list at No. 6 with both Smiths, Oher, Britton and Beatty ahead of him. Enough teams are going to rank him high, though. I place Orakpo well ahead of him and, while I like Maybin, Orakpo is more NFL ready than Maybin. I came very close to changing the KC pick to Curry. I'm iffy on it completely as I talk about in the explanation. Curry won't surprise me one bit. I'm sticking with Orakpo for now, but if I switch the pick, it's for Curry and not Monroe.

[Saint33]

Originally Posted by cubuffsman78 About the positive test on Harvin, I don't believe it's going to be a big deal at all. Guys have failed tests for marijuana and been drafted high (as in draft position, not state of mind). There are worse things, much worse, to test positive for and teams look past it. I don't think he's going to slip that far at all. The reliability of reports are also going to be an issue whether or not he or his agent say anything. Reports are tainted this year because of how many ended up being reported as false. I'll agree Harvin probably falls by the Texans due to the report, but I don't think he'll fall out of the first round. I think Vontae Davis is actually going to hurt more from reports and his were apparently false. Stephen McGee is flying up draft boards. His workouts have impressed many. Quite honestly, I personally grade him as the third-best QB in the draft ahead of Freeman. He won't be taken ahead of him, though. He's going to go higher than people expect. I'm confident about that. It will be one of my draft day guarantees. Pat White won't make it out of the third round. I don't think he'll get by Dallas' third round pick honestly and I don't like that fact as a Cowboys' fan. I hate the idea of drafting a guy that high for a scheme you'll use a few times a game. Makes absolutely no sense to me at all. Many think the Patriots will take a waiver on White late in the second. Eugene Monroe is possibly the most overrated player in this draft. He at least deserves to be in the conversation. I'm not overly impressed by the guy at all. If I rated OTs by what I thought of them and not just where I think they'll get drafted, I'd put him way down the list at No. 6 with both Smiths, Oher, Britton and Beatty ahead of him. Enough teams are going to rank him high, though. I place Orakpo well ahead of him and, while I like Maybin, Orakpo is more NFL ready than Maybin. I came very close to changing the KC pick to Curry. I'm iffy on it completely as I talk about in the explanation. Curry won't surprise me one bit. I'm sticking with Orakpo for now, but if I switch the pick, it's for Curry and not Monroe.

Well if he tested positive at the combine, the teams will have access to that. The media and fans can't find out that stuff, but it is available to the teams.

And I don't remember anyone testing positive at the combine in the past, maybe because those reports are supposed to stay confidential, but I don't recall it happening before. I remember Aqib Talib admitting to testing positive a number of times in college, and I remember Calvin Johnson and Amobi Okoye admitting to smoking weed in the past, however, I think testing positive for marijuana at the combine is different and a huge red flag, especially on a guy like Harvin, who apparently has other character issues to go along with that. Personally, I don't care at all about players smoking pot, I don't think it should be illegal. However, there's a huge difference here. Harvin knows it's illegal, and he's knew he would be tested at the combine. This is the biggest drug test he'll probably ever have in his life, and he couldn't even pass? That shows to me, that either he's a moron, or he just doesn't really care that much. It's not the kind of player I want on my team.

Also, this mean's that he's already on strike 1 on the NFL's substance abuse policy, meaning he'll be instantly suspended if he tests positive again, and he will be monitored and tested much more often. If he can't hold back from doing it when he knows he'll be tested, why would you expect him to say no to doing it when he isn't sure if he'll be tested or not.

To me, I think Harvin is already off many people's 1st round draft boards, and teams like Minnesota who take character very seriously, probably have him off their board completely.

[cubuffsman78]

Originally Posted by Saint33 Well if he tested positive at the combine, the teams will have access to that. The media and fans can't find out that stuff, but it is available to the teams. And I don't remember anyone testing positive at the combine in the past, maybe because those reports are supposed to stay confidential, but I don't recall it happening before.

Warren Sapp. He dropped to 12th, when he should've gone between 6-10.

I think he did all right.