TMac48
02-11-2009, 09:15 AM
1. Detroit Lions – Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest
In most mocks, you will see Stafford or Andre Smith here, but allow me to explain myself. Over the past decade, Detroit has made blunder after blunder trying to piece together a competitive team. Now that Millen is out, the last thing the new GM wants to do is make a mistake with his first ever draft pick. Couple that with the fact that the Lions have hired a former defensive coordinator for their head coach, and you have the recipe for a nice, safe, defensive pick here. Curry is one of the few (there might be 2) “can’t miss” picks in this draft. He has prototypical size, amazing athletic ability and he started 3 years for Wake without missing any time due to injury. Ideally, Detroit would like to trade down here, but it will be extremely difficult to find any takers.
2. St. Louis Rams – Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
The Rams allowed 45 sacks last season. Crabtree is a tempting pick here, but you can’t throw the ball if Marc Bulger is on the turf. Andre Brown has been a dominate lineman since high school, so there’s no reason to think he can’t handle the NFL.
3. Kansas City Chiefs – Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
With Aaron Curry off the board and the Chiefs making Arizona’s former offensive coordinator the new “Chief”, something tells me they will want to address the quarterback situation quickly so that the new coach and Stafford can take their lumps and grow together within the organization.
Note: With former Patriots GM Scott Pioli in charge in KC now, a bid for Matt Cassel is a possibility that could change the outlook of this draft.
4. Seattle Seahawks – Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
If they were to have a camera on Matt Hasselbeck after this pick is made, you’d probably be watching him pop open a bottle of champagne. After struggling with mediocre receivers for years now, the ‘Hawks finally get him a legitimate threat to fire to. Enjoy Matt…enjoy.
5. Cleveland Browns – Aaron Maybin, OLB/DE, Penn State
The Browns need help on defense and Maybin fits nicely into their 3-4 scheme as a pass-rushing outside linebacker. Chris Wells is also a possibility here, but with Mangini being a defensive-minded coach and the likelihood of some good backs falling into the later rounds, I think they will address the defense first.
6. Cincinnati Bengals – B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College
The Bengals need offensive line help pretty badly, but Raji’s stock is soaring right now and he is way too intriguing to pass on here. Besides, their run defense was horrible last year and that all starts up front.
7. Oakland Raiders – Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
Now that they have a new horse in the stable, they need to make room for him to gallop. McFadden has loads of potential just waiting to be unleashed, but he can’t go anywhere without an offensive line in front of him.
Note: If they let Asomugha go this off-season, this pick could very well be spent on a CB (Jenkins) to replace him.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars – Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
David Garrard was on his back more than Jenna Jameson last year, and the Jags will look to remedy this situation in order to find out if he really is the long-term solution at quarterback. Smith has the quickest feet of all of the OT prospects in this draft and his stock is rising quickly.
9. Green Bay Packers - Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
The Packers would have liked Raji here to plug up the middle in that new 3-4 alignment they will most likely be running, but with him off the board I believe they will look to sure up their aging secondary. Jenkins is a very promising corner and almost a steal with the 9th overall pick.
10. San Francisco 49ers – Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri
Mark Sanchez would be the trendy pick here (California kid from the big-time, pro-like school), but I just don’t see the 49ers taking a chance on another first round quarterback just yet, especially in what is a very shallow group of them this year. I’ve read that Alex Smith is willing to be a team player and take a pay cut and we all know how much Mike Singletary likes team players. I believe he will give him one more chance to prove himself with another weapon on offense to go to besides Frank Gore.
11. Buffalo Bills – Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas
The Bills are in need of another defensive end opposite the aging Schobel to help get pressure on the opposing quarterback and Orakpo is the guy. He has been one of the most dominate pass-rushers in college football and should slide nicely right into the 4-3 scheme played in Buffalo.
12. Denver Broncos – Rey Maualuga, LB, USC
This is a no-brainer for new Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels. They had one of the most abysmal defenses in the league last year and guess what, Maualuga lead one of the greatest defenses in the history of college football. Insert a guy like that on defense, along with a new coordinator and let’s see what happens…
13. Washington Redskins – Brian Cushing, LB, USC
Let the run on USC guys begin. The ‘Skins are aging on defense and need help at outside linebacker, and Cushing has helped himself immensely during workouts in the past month.
14. New Orleans Saints – Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
We know the offense is ok, but the Saints had some of the worst corners in the league last year and desperately need help in the defensive backfield. Davis is a very solid player and a great pick-up at 14.
15. Houston Texans – Everett Brown, DE, Florida State
Everyone got to see what Houston’s offense is capable of last season. Now the defense has step up if they are going to take the next step in the Bayou City. An end like Brown opposite Mario Williams will surely create havoc in any opposing team’s backfield, and when you play Peyton Manning twice a year, that’s a welcome addition.
16. San Diego Chargers – Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State
With LT hurt all the time, and Sproles leaving due to free agency, it’s time to draft a running back to take some carries. We’ve seen the two-back system work wonders in many other organizations, why not San Diego? Say hello to the LT-Beanie one-two punch.
In most mocks, you will see Stafford or Andre Smith here, but allow me to explain myself. Over the past decade, Detroit has made blunder after blunder trying to piece together a competitive team. Now that Millen is out, the last thing the new GM wants to do is make a mistake with his first ever draft pick. Couple that with the fact that the Lions have hired a former defensive coordinator for their head coach, and you have the recipe for a nice, safe, defensive pick here. Curry is one of the few (there might be 2) “can’t miss” picks in this draft. He has prototypical size, amazing athletic ability and he started 3 years for Wake without missing any time due to injury. Ideally, Detroit would like to trade down here, but it will be extremely difficult to find any takers.
2. St. Louis Rams – Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
The Rams allowed 45 sacks last season. Crabtree is a tempting pick here, but you can’t throw the ball if Marc Bulger is on the turf. Andre Brown has been a dominate lineman since high school, so there’s no reason to think he can’t handle the NFL.
3. Kansas City Chiefs – Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
With Aaron Curry off the board and the Chiefs making Arizona’s former offensive coordinator the new “Chief”, something tells me they will want to address the quarterback situation quickly so that the new coach and Stafford can take their lumps and grow together within the organization.
Note: With former Patriots GM Scott Pioli in charge in KC now, a bid for Matt Cassel is a possibility that could change the outlook of this draft.
4. Seattle Seahawks – Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
If they were to have a camera on Matt Hasselbeck after this pick is made, you’d probably be watching him pop open a bottle of champagne. After struggling with mediocre receivers for years now, the ‘Hawks finally get him a legitimate threat to fire to. Enjoy Matt…enjoy.
5. Cleveland Browns – Aaron Maybin, OLB/DE, Penn State
The Browns need help on defense and Maybin fits nicely into their 3-4 scheme as a pass-rushing outside linebacker. Chris Wells is also a possibility here, but with Mangini being a defensive-minded coach and the likelihood of some good backs falling into the later rounds, I think they will address the defense first.
6. Cincinnati Bengals – B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College
The Bengals need offensive line help pretty badly, but Raji’s stock is soaring right now and he is way too intriguing to pass on here. Besides, their run defense was horrible last year and that all starts up front.
7. Oakland Raiders – Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
Now that they have a new horse in the stable, they need to make room for him to gallop. McFadden has loads of potential just waiting to be unleashed, but he can’t go anywhere without an offensive line in front of him.
Note: If they let Asomugha go this off-season, this pick could very well be spent on a CB (Jenkins) to replace him.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars – Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
David Garrard was on his back more than Jenna Jameson last year, and the Jags will look to remedy this situation in order to find out if he really is the long-term solution at quarterback. Smith has the quickest feet of all of the OT prospects in this draft and his stock is rising quickly.
9. Green Bay Packers - Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
The Packers would have liked Raji here to plug up the middle in that new 3-4 alignment they will most likely be running, but with him off the board I believe they will look to sure up their aging secondary. Jenkins is a very promising corner and almost a steal with the 9th overall pick.
10. San Francisco 49ers – Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri
Mark Sanchez would be the trendy pick here (California kid from the big-time, pro-like school), but I just don’t see the 49ers taking a chance on another first round quarterback just yet, especially in what is a very shallow group of them this year. I’ve read that Alex Smith is willing to be a team player and take a pay cut and we all know how much Mike Singletary likes team players. I believe he will give him one more chance to prove himself with another weapon on offense to go to besides Frank Gore.
11. Buffalo Bills – Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas
The Bills are in need of another defensive end opposite the aging Schobel to help get pressure on the opposing quarterback and Orakpo is the guy. He has been one of the most dominate pass-rushers in college football and should slide nicely right into the 4-3 scheme played in Buffalo.
12. Denver Broncos – Rey Maualuga, LB, USC
This is a no-brainer for new Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels. They had one of the most abysmal defenses in the league last year and guess what, Maualuga lead one of the greatest defenses in the history of college football. Insert a guy like that on defense, along with a new coordinator and let’s see what happens…
13. Washington Redskins – Brian Cushing, LB, USC
Let the run on USC guys begin. The ‘Skins are aging on defense and need help at outside linebacker, and Cushing has helped himself immensely during workouts in the past month.
14. New Orleans Saints – Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
We know the offense is ok, but the Saints had some of the worst corners in the league last year and desperately need help in the defensive backfield. Davis is a very solid player and a great pick-up at 14.
15. Houston Texans – Everett Brown, DE, Florida State
Everyone got to see what Houston’s offense is capable of last season. Now the defense has step up if they are going to take the next step in the Bayou City. An end like Brown opposite Mario Williams will surely create havoc in any opposing team’s backfield, and when you play Peyton Manning twice a year, that’s a welcome addition.
16. San Diego Chargers – Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State
With LT hurt all the time, and Sproles leaving due to free agency, it’s time to draft a running back to take some carries. We’ve seen the two-back system work wonders in many other organizations, why not San Diego? Say hello to the LT-Beanie one-two punch.