| Authored by Jeff Risdon - 19th January, 2009 - 6:43 pm
 Round 1
1. Detroit Lions: Andre Smith, T, Alabama
New Detroit GM Martin Mayhew saw the Joey Harrington experience first-hand, and early indications are that he has learned from Matt Millen’s mistakes. One of the biggest Millen gaffes was failing to provide adequate protection or run support with a good offensive line. Mayhew is on record that the team needs to get bigger and more physical in the trenches, and Smith certainly brings bulk and toughness. Smith also provides the ability to get out to the second level in run blocking, and Alabama’s offense was lost without him in their bowl game. It’s that kind of integral pillar the Lions desperately need to build the foundation of the rebuild. They will certainly consider QBs Stafford and Sanchez, but I give Mayhew the benefit of the doubt on his words.
2. St. Louis Rams: Jason Smith, T, Baylor
Watching the athletic, powerful Smith handle pass rushers reminds some (including myself) of a young Orlando Pace. The Rams offense sorely needs an infusion of youthful talent up front, and Smith can take over for el busto Alex Barron at RT until Pace is ready to hang up his cleats on the left side. New GM Billy Devaney is a big fan of Marc Bulger, whose recent extension dictates he must remain the starting QB for the foreseeable future. Just a hunch, but I believe this pick might wind up being dealt to a QB-hungry team.
3. Kansas City Chiefs: Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
New GM Scott Pioli hit the jackpot in New England last year with LB Jerod Mayo, the Defensive Rookie of the Year. Curry is just as special of a talent, and he also happens to fill the biggest of the Chiefs many holes--a versatile impact LB and defensive leader. I’m much more inclined to believe (right now anyways) that Pioli is far more apt to bring along Matt Cassel to compete with Tyler Thigpen at QB than he is to spend this pick on one.
4. Seattle Seahawks: Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia
Stafford has all the positives of Matt Ryan, and if he can handle the similar negatives the way Matty Ice did as a rookie, Stafford will be a perennial Pro Bowler. The Seahawks brass knows they cannot continue to depend on the aging Matt Hasselbeck to stay healthy, but his presence allows for Stafford to come along at his own pace. I have a hard time seeing them pass on Curry if he’s available, even if Stafford is on the board.
5. Cleveland Browns: Chris “Beanie” Wells, RB, Ohio State
The Browns are unusual for a team drafting so high in that they are set along the OL and at QB. Their primary needs are a pass rushing DE/OLB and probably CB ahead of a RB, but Beanie has a couple of things in his favor: he’s local and he runs with an aggressive, powerful style that is an ideal fit for both the OL and new coach Eric Mangini’s anticipated system. Jamal Lewis’ tentative plodding just isn’t getting it done anymore, and a more dynamic rushing attack will help Brady Quinn more than anything else.
6. Cincinnati Bengals: Everette Brown, DE, Florida State
Brown has a slightly lower ceiling than the other top-shelf pass rushing ends, but he also has fewer flaws and a higher floor than Johnson or Orakpo. The Bengals tend to lean towards the “safer” picks, though Brown has the potential to immediately upgrade an anemic pass rush.
7. Oakland Raiders: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
Perhaps the top overall talent in this draft, Crabtree is just as talented as Calvin Johnson or Anquan Boldin and plays in the same vein--phenomenal hands, great routes, size, ability to run after the catch despite not having great speed. JaMarcus Russell can’t make any more progress without a significant upgrade at WR, and Al Davis knows that better than anyone.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Oher, T, Ole Miss
The Khalif Barnes era is apparently over, and The Blind Side boy has grown into an impressive man. Oher has his lapses and needs some polish, but the Jaguars will live with that while he learns on the job and instantly upgrades the overall skill level of a shaky OL.
9. Green Bay Packers: Larry English, DE/OLB, Northern Illinois
The Packers are apparently switching to a 3-4 front, and paramount among the needs for doing that successfully is upgrading their pass rush from the OLB position. English is polished with more than just speed moves, and has decent ability to set the edge. The Packers might not draft any offensive players outside of a mid-round OL.
10. San Francisco 49ers: Mark Sanchez, QB USC
Sanchez will wind up atop some draft boards, and this almost certainly represents as low as he will go. The Niners would be ecstatic to have him here, as they covet his unassuming confidence and leadership as much as they need his accuracy and downfield touch. He throws as catchable a ball as anyone currently in the league. New Coach Mike Singletary is on record as not being sold on incumbent Shaun Hill, and both Alex Smith and JT O’Sullivan are on the way out, so taking an NFL-ready QB is paramount for the Niners, who don’t have much salary flexibility to sign a free agent.
11. Buffalo Bills: Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech
Upgrading a pass rush that ranked 31st over the last 8 games is crucial to any improvement in Buffalo. The Bills are chock full of “just another guy” players and need someone with the huge upside of Johnson. A very good athlete for his height (6’7”), Johnson has the highest ceiling of the pass rushers in this draft. It’s also at this point I feel compelled to remind readers that this mock represents not necessarily what I would do with the pick, but rather what I believe the teams will do if presented with the option.
12. Denver Broncos: Rey Maualuga, LB, USC
I like how Shannon Sharpe described Maualuga, “He comes at ball carriers with bad intentions and he knows what to do with them.” That sounds precisely like what the Broncos soft defense sorely needs. He brings the ferocity and intensity that exudes toughness and intimidation, which the Broncos hope will compensate for his oft-robotic movement and propensity for attacking the blocker and not the ballcarrier.
13. Washington Redskins: Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas
The theme in Washington is getting the most bang for their meager (they have just 4 picks) draft bucks. Orakpo is a weight room freak with exceptional closing speed off the edge, and he can handle the run adequately. He could move up from here if he handles the nagging questions about his durability well.
14. New Orleans Saints: B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College
It might seem superfluous to draft the massive Raji after taking fellow DT Sed Ellis in the first round last year, but this stems from a conversation I had with a Saints staffer. He was very fetched with what Minnesota does with the Williams Wall and told me he believes that sort of interior presence is exactly what underachieving ends Will Smith and Charles Grant need to thrive. Raji is probably a better fit as a 3-4 NT, but his brute power and instincts will suit him as a 1-technique DT.
15. Houston Texans: Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
The Texans have been looking for a legit secondary since their inception, and Jenkins brings them a whole lot closer. His size and big-play ability present a different dynamic than Dunta Robinson, and Jenkins has the fundamental steak to go with his considerable sizzle. One scout told me in November that Jenkins is the best prospect in this draft, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him go 10 spots higher than here.
16. San Diego Chargers: Eugene Monroe, T, Virginia
Monroe is game tested against several prominent pass rushers, both in this and the past couple of drafts, and has more than held his own. This is probably too low for a player as talented and highly regarded as Monroe, but in this scenario the Chargers would happily gobble him up, even though they have up-and-down Marcus McNeill already manning the left side.
17. New York Jets: Jeremy Maclin, WR/RS, Missouri
Maclin enters the NFL draft as a bigger, stronger, slightly slower version of Ted Ginn Jr., who went #9 overall to Miami in 2007. Like Ginn, Maclin needs some work on the intricacies of paying WR, but his rare speed and open field ability presents loads of undeniable potential, some of which can be achieved immediately in the return game. The Jets certainly need a playmaker at WR, and they’ll need Maclin’s KR skill if free agent Leon Washington departs. I’ve heard whispers they are looking to move up to get a QB.
18. Chicago Bears: Percy Harvin, WR/3DRB, Florida
Like Maclin one spot above, Harvin is a first rounder thanks to speed, open-field ability, and a real nose for the end zone. I see Harvin as a Reggie Bush-type player, a “lightning” RB who spends a lot of time in the slot, on reverses and direct snaps, and returning kicks. The Bears sorely need someone besides Matt Forte to touch the ball, and Harvin complements him nicely.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
With the sudden upheaval (this is written less than 12 hours after Gruden and Allen were fired), this selection has gone from somewhat educated guess to blindfolded dart throw. Moreno fits in this draft range and he fits the Bucs need for a reliable big-play RB, a guy with inside power and outside burst.
20. Detroit Lions (from DAL): Nate Davis, QB, Ball State
In keeping with the theme of the recent successful rebuilds in ATL and MIA, the Lions draft both their LT and QB in the first round. Detroit uses the Parcells blueprint in taking the stud T first and lowering the expectations for the QB by taking him in the later realms of the 1st round. Davis reminds me of a smaller Ben Roethlisberger with his toughness, rifle arm, his ability to prolong plays and make things happen outside the pocket, and a disturbing proclivity for turning the ball over in often hideous manner.
21. Philadelphia Eagles: Donald Brown, RB, UConn
Underclassman Brown is a strong between-the-tackles runner with good vision and enough wiggle to break the big one every so often. The Eagles sorely need a short-yardage back and inside pounder to handle the load for the 6 games a season where Brian Westbrook is nursing an injury.
22. Minnesota Vikings: Alex Mack, C, California
One of the best interior OL prospects to hit the draft in years, Mack excels at getting out to the second level in run blocking and sealing wide running lanes. Sounds like something that a team with Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor, not to mention a long-in-the-tooth C in Matt Birk, sure could use. If Mack proves he can handle bulkier tackles at the Senior Bowl, he will be long gone by this pick, and the Vikings will turn to Eben Britton or William Beatty.
23. New England Patriots: Eben Britton, T, Arizona
Britton has all the trappings of a Belichick lineman: very smart, very powerful with a hint of nastiness, good feet, and proven coachability and dedication to personal improvement. The Patriots OL needs an infusion of better young talent, and the powers that be are keenly aware of that.
24. Atlanta Falcons: Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi
Meet the next Grady Jackson, or at least what GM Tom Dimitroff hopes is the solution to the hole in the middle of the Falcons defense. Jerry shined in the SEC with his polished package of beef and athleticism. Though he’s not the heavyweight (Jerry’s estimated weight is a cheeseburger under 300), he brings many of the skills of Shaun Rogers. I could just as easily see the Falcons addressing their needs in the secondary here.
25. Miami Dolphins: D.J. Moore, CB, Vanderbilt
Smart, athletic cover man who fared quite well against a lot of NFL WRs in his days in the SEC, Moore shows good technique and an extra gear in closing speed. The Dolphins have gone from the #1 overall pick to being able to select the BPA in the late 1st round in one season. Lions fans, there is hope!
26. Baltimore Ravens: James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State
Baby Animal is almost the complete package for an NFL LB, but his shortcomings cause him to drop further than most folks expect. Laurinaitis can be a little stiff and too easy to block, though with a talented DL in front of him like the Ravens would feature, this Buckeye could thrive as a Patrick Willis-type tackling machine. The potential is there, and Ray Lewis cannot play forever (don’t tell him I said that!).
27. Philadelphia Eagles (from CAR): Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State
Pure speed rusher who racked up loads of sacks running around slow-footed Big 10 tackles, Maybin will have to prove he can anchor against the run and develop some countermoves to make it in the NFL. His athletic potential and willing attitude are worth the extra 1st round pick for the Eagles, as this pick is part of the payment from the Panthers for Jeff Otah, precisely the type of plodding tackle that Maybin regularly exploited.
28. Indianapolis Colts: Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest
Playmaking cover man who has a lot of Dre Bly in him, Smith has an uncanny nose for the ball. He also has strong self-confidence and field awareness, and showed in their bowl game he can capably provide run support. The Colts always draft for future needs and often trade down, so this pick is more of a player/slot fit and not necessarily a team/player marriage.
29. New York Giants: Brian Cushing, LB, USC
A freakish weight-room athlete with great sideline-to-sideline speed to go with Mike Vrabel-esque size, Cushing has perennial Pro Bowl potential if he can prove he can stay healthy and harness all that athletic ability into actual on-field production. He has struggled with both during his USC tenure, though he answered some of those questions with a strong senior year. The Giants have done well in drafting players with high ceilings but questionable elevators under Jerry Reese, and Cushing fits that mold.
30. Tennessee Titans: Tyson Jackson, DE/DT, LSU
Jackson gets tagged as a disappointment by many fans, but after his somewhat surprising return for his senior year he showed he has the potential to make a very good 3-technique DT. His quickness and lower body strength are useful for a team like the Titans, who had at least one scout at every LSU game this season. Jackson strikes me as a versatile player who might make a better pro than collegian.
31. Arizona Cardinals: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
Here’s all you need to know about what the Cardinals need most: they signed a street free agent to be their starting TE in the NFC Championship game. Pettigrew is NFL-ready as a blocker and has flashed the requisite hands and technique to make a solid impact in the passing game. His size makes him a very good red zone option.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
I initially pegged Davis much higher, but a few conversations with some NFL personnel talked me down. The underclassman has an outstanding size/speed package and demonstrated the ability to lock down a receiver, but there are questions about consistency and mental dedication to his craft. He might fit best in the NFL as a strong safety, and that versatility (not to mention his blitzing ability) make him attractive to the Steelers.
Round 2
33. Detroit Lions: Sean Smith, CB, Utah
34. Kansas City Chiefs: Derek Pegues, S, Mississippi State
35. St. Louis Rams: Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State
36. Seattle Seahawks: Lesean McCoy, RB, Pittsburgh
37. Cleveland Browns: Clay Matthews, OLB/DE, USC
38. Cincinnati Bengals: Max Unger, C/G, Oregon
39. Oakland Raiders: William Beatty, T, UConn
40. Jacksonville Jaguars: Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina
41. Green Bay Packers: Clint Sintim, LB, Virginia
42. San Francisco 49ers: Jason Phillips, LB, TCU
43. Buffalo Bills: Jonathan Luigs, C, Arkansas
44. Denver Broncos: Mike Mickens, CB, Cincinnati
45. Miami Dolphins (from WAS): Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers
46. New York Giants (from NO): Troy Kropog, T, Tulane
47. Houston Texans: Brandon Williams, DE, Texas Tech
48. New England Patriots (from SD): Shonn Greene, RB, Iowa
49. New York Jets: Deangelo Smith, S, Cincinnati
50. Chicago Bears: Andy Levitre, G, Oregon State
51. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Darius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland
52. Dallas Cowboys: Brandon Tate, WR, North Carolina
53. Philadelphia Eagles: Louis Delmas, S, Western Michigan
54. Minnesota Vikings: Fili Moala, DT, USC
55. New England Patriots: SenDerrick Marks, DL, Auburn
56. Atlanta Falcons: William Moore, S, Missouri
57. Miami Dolphins: Jarron Gilbert, DT, San Jose State
58. Baltimore Ravens: Victor “Macho” Harris, CB, Virginia Tech
59. Carolina Panthers: Jason Watkins, T, Florida
60. Indianapolis Colts: Darry Beckwith, LB, LSU
61. New York Giants: Trevard Lindley, CB, Kentucky
62. Tennessee Titans: Jarrett Dillard, WR, Rice
63. Arizona Cardinals: Cody Brown, OLB, UConn
64. Pittsburgh Steelers: Chase Coffman, TE, Missouri
Round 3
65. Detroit Lions: Tyrone McKenzie, LB, South Florida
66. St. Louis Rams: Eric Wood, C, Louisville
67. Kansas City Chiefs: Maurice Evans, DE, Penn State
68. Seattle Seahawks: Patrick Turner, WR, USC
69. Dallas Cowboys (from CLE): Juaquin Iglesias, WR, Oklahoma
70. Cincinnati Bengals: Ciron Black, T, LSU
71. Oakland Raiders: Antoine Caldwell, C, Alabama
72. Jacksonville Jaguars: Rashad Johnson, S, Alabama
73. Green Bay Packers: Londen Fryar, CB, Western Michigan
74. San Francisco 49ers: Domonique Johnson, CB, Jackson State
75. Buffalo Bills: Marko Mitchell, WR, New Mexico
76. Denver Broncos: Darcel McBath, S, Texas Tech
77. Washington Redskins: Connor Barwin, DE, Cincinnati
78. New Orleans Saints: Coye Franceis, CB, San Jose State
79. Houston Texans: Rashad Jennings, RB, Liberty
80. San Diego Chargers: Lydell Sargent, CB, Penn State
81. New York Jets: Nathan Brown, QB, Central Arkansas
82. Chicago Bears: Kevin Ellison, S, USC
83. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rhett Bomar, QB, Sam Houston State
84. Detroit Lions (from DAL): Jared Cook, TE, South Carolina
85. Arizona Cardinals: Augustus Parrish, G, Kent State
86. Philadelphia Eagles: Marcus Freeman, LB, Ohio State
87. Minnesota Vikings: Jamon Meredith, T/G, South Carolina
88. New England Patriots: Brian Robiskie, WR, Ohio State
89. Atlanta Falcons: Evander “Ziggy” Hood, DT, Missouri
90. Miami Dolphins: Ramses Barden, WR, Cal-Poly
91. Baltimore Ravens: Joe Burnett, CB, Central Florida
92. Carolina Panthers: Ron Brace, DT, Boston College
93. Indianapolis Colts: Jacoby Ford, WR, Clemson
94. New York Giants: Louie Sakoda, P/K, Utah
95. Pittsburgh Steelers: Phil Loadholt, T, Oklahoma
96. Tennessee Titans: Gerald McGrath, LB, Southern Miss
- Jeff Risdon is RealGM's senior football writer and draft expert. He may be reached at Jeff.Risdon@RealGM.com |
