Full Round One (and a bit) Mock Draft
No need for jibber jabber, lets GO!
1.1 – Detroit Lions
Pick – Matthew Stafford (QB) –The franchise needs to be built around a QB. Stafford is the top rated signal-caller in 2009 and the Lions are stupid enough to pick him despite the fact he’s a junior with poor accuracy (57.1%) and low yards per attempt (7.83). Ever heard of David Greene??? No?? He was the guy before Stafford in Georgia who played in basically the same system, with the same HC (Mark Richt) and posted better numbers (59% & 8.01). Greene has now retired, having never taken a NFL snap. Even Matt Millen would turn in his grave.
1.2 – St Louis Rams
Pick – Jason Smith (OT) – After releasing Orlando Pace the Rams have big O-Line needs. Yes they need a wideout badly too, but elite Offensive Tackles are a rare breed that must be taken when they can. The former Tight-End Jason Smith edges out the more polished Eugene Monroe with his intangibles, agility and potential.
1.3 – Kansas City Chiefs
Pick – Eugene Monroe (OT) – Many people see them taking Aaron Curry, but Pioli will want to take Monroe to protect Cassell. Monroe and Brandon Albert will provide a great pair of tackles to keep the anti-Cutler upright. They might even get a semblance of a running game going too.
1.4 – Seattle Seahawks
Pick – Aaron Curry (OLB) – Trading away a multi-threat OLB like Julian Peterson can leave you with a hole, even if you get Cory Redding in exchange. Curry = safe and a position of need.
1.5 – Cleveland Browns
Pick – Brian Orakpo (OLB) – The Browns have several needs but DE/OLB hybrid Orakpo looks like he might tempt them. If he can generate some pass-rush the much maligned Cleveland corners will have an easier job too.
1.6 – Cincinnati Bengals
Pick – Andre Smith (OT) – OT is a GAPING need for the Bengals. The Bengals also like drafting ASSHOLES. Andre Smith is a GAPING ASSHOLE….winner!
1.7 – Oakland Raiders
Pick – Michael Crabtee (WR) – Al Davies loves the hype. The only danger is that Davis has worked himself into a bloodlust over Maclin’s speed and return abilities, but it’s likely Crabtree’s college production should be enough to counter.
1.8 – Jacksonville Jaguars
Pick – Jeremy Maclin (WR) – They need wideouts badly following the last years Free Agent flops (Porter & Williamson) and the release of a coked-up Matt Jones. Maclin is the clear #2 receiver in the draft class.
1.9 – Green Bay Packers
Pick – Everette Brown (DE/OLB) – The transition to a 3-4 means that although B.J. Raji is a safer pick, the Packers will want Brown to play opposite Kampmann. A decent enough pass-rush might prolong the usefulness of ageing defensive backs Al Wilson and Charles Woodson.
1.10 – San Francisco 49ers
Pick – Michael Oher (OT) – The Whiners need to give whichever replacement–level QB that starts for them time to look downfield, so Oher can slot in at RT while Staley plays LT. They might take Sanchez. I hope they do. 16 starts = learning curve!
1.11 – Buffalo Bills
Pick – Brandon Pettigrew (TE) – The best dual-purpose TE by a mile. Will be a nice checkdown alternative to T.O and Lee Evans, while also a competent blocker. It’s as much of a last option as the clear top DEs and OTs are gone.
1.12 – Denver Broncos
Pick – B.J.Raji (DT) – A dream come true for the Broncos to get their ideal player here. Shame McDaniels has totally messed things up with his dealings surrounding Jay Cutler. This should be a ‘win’ though to offset the ‘loss’ with Cutler.
1.13 – Washington Redskins
Pick - Aaron Maybin (DE/OLB) – The loss of Taylor and OLB Marcus Washington has exposed serious depth issues. Maybin is a tweener with massive bust potential. They might prefer Tyson Jackson’s size.
1.14 – New Orleans Saints
Pick – Malcolm Jenkins (CB) – Due to a slower than expected 40 time Jenkins slips to the team that needs him most. Lucky S.O.Bs.
1.15 – Houston Texans
Pick – Chris ‘Beanie’ Wells (RB) – As much of a value pick as anything else as Wells is the classes top RB talent. His bruising running style will compliment Slaton and give Schaub more exploitable coverage, not that Andre Johnson has ever needed it.
1.16 – San Diego Chargers
Pick – Ray Maualuga (ILB) – The elite OTs are gone and Tyron Jackson is a riskier bet at DE than Maualuga to play with Merriman and Phillips. A good value pick as much as anything.
1.17 – New York Jets
Pick – Marck Sanchez (QB) – Favre is gone – hallelujah! Clemens isn’t their man. Same with the Detroit strategy, if you see a “franchise QB” available and you don’t have one, you take them. Ryan will also want to mould his ‘own guy’.
1.18 – Chicago Bears
Pick – Darrius Heyward-Bey (WR) – The Bears have nothing that resembles a passing offense outside of a gimmick-player who no longer has a gimmick at WR and a drunk at QB. They might like Harvin, but a Harvin and Hester would just be flat out end-around madness!
1.19 – Tampa Bay Buccaners
Pick - Peria Jerry (DT) – A great showing at the Senior Bowl made sure of Jerry’s round 1 status and the Buccs need a player with his skillset.
1.20 – Detroit Lions (from Dallas Cowboys)
Pick – Vontae Davis (CB) – You can argue they don’t have a single starter-level corner on the roster…
1.21 – Philadelphia Eagles
Pick – Knowshawn Moreno (RB) – After losing Buckhalter to the Broncos they lack depth in the backfield, especially when you consider how Westbrook likes to spend most the season on the Injury Report.
1.22 – Minnesota Vikings
Pick - Tyson Jackson (DT/DE) – The Williams Wall faces suspension. Jared Allen could be arrest for DUI at any moment.
1.23 – New England Patriots
Pick – James Laurinaitis (ILB) – A multi-year starter with over career 350 tackles. From Linebacker U too. He’d also look great alongside Tom Brady and Wes Welkahhh flying the flag of white boys in the NFL.
1.24 – Atlanta Falcons
Pick – Clint Sintim (OLB) – With Keith Brooking and Michael Boley out they’ll look to draft someone to replace them.
1.25 – Miami Dolphins
Pick – Alphonso Smith (CB) – Outside of Will Allen, who the hell are these guys that play corner for the Dolphins. They are Detroit standard CBs! A serious position of need for the Tuna.
1.26 – Baltimore Ravens
Pick – Percy Harvin (WR) – The Ravens showed a propensity for trick plays and wildcat-esque highjinks at times in 2008, so why not add a player with no defined position? Harvin has top-end speed and would provide so play-making ability opposite Mason and the RBBC that is the Baltimore backfield could do with another confusing element.
1.27 – Indianapolis Colts
Pick - Evander ‘Ziggy’ Hood (DT) – Their current starters are nobodies and he looks to be a solid and somewhat safe pick. A little boring, very Polian…
1.28 – Philadelphia Eagles
Pick - Louis Delmas (S) - Knowing Andy Reid he’ll probably trade this pick away. If not, Delmas is an on-field leader to replace a Brian Dawkins sized hole. The loss of Sean Considine also makes this a probable.
1.29 – New York Giants
Pick – Kenny Britt (WR) – When you lose you #1 wideout because he shot himself in the leg, then bomb out of the playoffs despite being a dominant force all year, you need to take action to prevent it happening again. I’m not sure Hixon is the answer, although Steve Smith Mk.II is a handy player. The new look G-Men will be Britt instead of Burress, Smith instead of Toomer and Boss instead of Shockey.
1.30 – Tennessee Titans
Pick – Hakeen Nicks (WR) – They have needed a receiver for at least 3 years. It might have cost them a SuperBowl last year, depending on who you listen to. They don’t want Holt it seems, so mebeb they will finally draft someone for Collins (or Young!?) to through to other than Justin Gage!
1.31 – Arizona Cardinals
Pick – Larry English (DE) – They’d like a runningback to replace Edge, but chances are Wells and Moreno will be long gone by this late in the first. English screams value here has he is first round talent and will help give bigger teeth to a pass-rush that already contains Darnell Dockett but flatters to deceive at the End position via Bertrand Berry and Antonio Smith.
1.32 – Pittsburgh Steelers
Pick – Eben Britton (OT) – Despite the Bowl win we all saw Big Ben spend most of 2008 scrambling away from pass rushers so the O-Line is clearly an issue. Britton would be a great pick-up if he was still on the board.
2.1(33) – Detroit Lions
Pick – William Beatty (OT) – It’s an “ideal” draft for the Lions as they got their ‘franchise play-caller’ at 1.1 (although he will crash and burn!) and then brought in a actual NFL calibre defensive back with 1.20 and now they get the O-Lineman they’d have been better served taking first. Oh well, all is well that end well, right?
2.2 (34) – New England Patriots (from Kansas)
Pick – Darrius Butler (CB) – Belichick’s mastery of defensive scheming didn’t manage to hide the fact that they Patriot’s secondary sucked in ’08. They might opt for Brian Cushing, but after taking Mayo last year and Laurinaitis at 1.23 I think it’s overkill…
2.3 (35) – St Louis Rams
Pick – Sean Smith (CB) – A slightly biased pick from a Utes fan, but Smith has size and speed which he’ll need in the NFC West against Fitzgerald and Houshmanzadeh. Also there is no legit starter opposite Bartell and would help complete the unit nicely (Bartell, Smith, Atogwe, Butler with Hill/King as the nickel). Other popular picks might be Robiskie (WR) or Brace (DT). Personally I think we can still grab Barsden or Iglesias (WR) in the 3rd while Brace benefitted from playing alongside Raji so might have been over-valued. Robert Ayers would be major value picks here as a long term prospect opposite Chris Long, but I feel Little can still do a starters job, whereas Hill/Wade/King can’t.
