Enjoy. 1) Detroit ? Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia- Not the pick I would make but when you?re gutting everything, conventional wisdom says you start at the QB position. 2) St. Louis - Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia- There?s no doubt that the Rams are going to go O-line. It just depends on which guy. Smith may have more upside than Monroe..but Monroe is much more polished and can start right away. The rams OL needs immediate help. 3) Kansas City ? Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest- KC got their QB?and now it?s time to go D. Curry is the safest pick in this draft and will help in many areas. 4) Seattle ? BJ Raji, DT, BC- When Crabtree had the infamous MRI?everything changed in the Hawk?s war room. They can go a lot of different directions. W/ Raji, Seattle upgrades a DL in dire need of help..and gets the only elite DT in this entire class. 5) Cleveland ? Brian Orakpo, OLB, Texas- Mangini will opt to bring in a hybrid OLB to play opposite Wimbley. 6) Cincinnati ? Jason Smith, OT Baylor-This is an O-line that aged and detracted quickly. Smith brings a ton of upside and quality character..as well as great value at this spot. 7) Oakland ? Jeremy Maclin, WR Missouri- The Raiders need to find out once and for all if Russell is the answer at QB. The only way to find out for sure is to get him some help at their weakest position. Davis will go Maclin over Crabtree due to raw speed and the fact that maclin is a safer pick at this stage. 8) Jacksonville ? Percy Harvin- RB/WR Florida- My shocker pick of the 1st round. Jax flat out needs playmakers around Garrard and Jones-Drew. Harvin is the type of guy who can do a little bit of everything and the type that OC?s fall in love w/ pre-draft. 9) Green Bay ? Everette Brown, DE/OLB FSU- GB is making the transition to the 3-4. After NT, the most important/hardest position to fill is OLB. Brown fills that role and if he adds some weight to his frame..has a chance to be special. Let?s just hope the cheese heads can forget about Jamal Reynolds after the commish announces this pick. Yeesh. 10) San Francisco ? Andre Smith, OG/OT Bama- San Fran is in a similar position to that of Oakland. They need to find out once and for all what Alex smith is at QB. Unlike the Silver and black, however.. their biggest need is along the OL. Smith has displayed some serious character flaws this offseason.. but if there?s one HC whose attitude maybe able to straighten him out..it?s mike Singletary. 11) Buffalo ? Aaron Maybin, OLB PSU- Buffalo will consider the TE Pettigrew here..but will opt instead for Maybin?s upside and their huge need for a pass rusher. 12) Denver ? Tyson Jackson, DE LSU- This picks depends heavily on what happens w/ Cutler..but as of right now..Jackson is a logical fit as Denver is switching to the 34 where Jackson will thrive as a 5 technique end. 13) Washington ?Michael Crabtree WR TTU- Washington has bigger needs.. but Snyder loves to make a big splash and this would be huge. Great value and would compliment Santana Moss very well. 14) New Orleans - Brian Cushing, LB, USC- Good value pick and a versatile overachieving guy who can play anywhere along the LB corps at a long time soft spot for the Boys of the Bayou. 15) Houston ? Knowshon Moreno, RB Georgia- Houston is a franchise looking to take the next step. What?s missing is some firepower to compliment Andre Johnson. Moreno has elite lateral quickness?and putting him in their Zone Blocking scheme is a match made in heaven. 16) San Diego ? Michael Oher OT Ole Miss- SD still has a top 3 roster. The question has always been coaching. W/ that said, Oher creates competition among their inconsistent OL and presents great value. 17) New York Jets - Mark Sanchez, QB, USC- Jet fans get their wish and Sanchez has a chance to be the toast of New York. 18) Chicago ? Eben Britton, OT, Arizona- Britton is a guy that projects to be a great Right tackle. W/ Chris Williams selection a year ago for LT?the bears now have a pair of elite Bookends for an OL that still needs help. 19) Tampa Bay ? Josh Freeman, QB, KSU- Somebody is going to jump on Freeman..and w/ their gaping hole at QB..it may very will be the Bucs. 20) Detroit ? Rey Maulugua LB USC- This would be a great pick in my opinion. Detroit wants to get bigger defensively and is in desperate need of some nastiness/leadership. Maulugua would bring a hard hitting attitude and combining him w/ Ernie Sims and recently acquired Julian Peterson, would give Detroit a playmaking trio to build around. 21) Philadelphia ? Donald Brown, RB Uconn- Just a great fit. Tough, durable inside runner w/ great vision. Would compliment Westbrook very well and take more pressure off Mcnabb. 22) Minnesota ? Hakeem Nicks, WR UNC- Minnesota added some speed to the WR corps last offseason..now they add some size and toughness. Too bad Freeman or Sanchez didn?t fall. 23) New England ? James Lauranitis LB OSU- Seems like a natural born Patriot. Smart, disciplined, versatile and tough. Would pair up well w/ Mayo. 24) Atlanta - Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State- Atlanta desperately needs a TE. Pettigrew may not be an elite receiver but has Jason Witten?s upside and is a heckuva blocker. 25) Miami ? Jarron Gilbert, DE SJU- Gilbert is really moving up the boards. He fits very well in a 3-4 scheme, and w/ the way Miami is coaching up their players they can afford to go best player available at this spot. 26) Baltimore ?Michael Jenkins CB/S OSU- After losing so many defensive players..Balty will take Jenkins as a value pick and figure out where he fits once mini-camp arrives. 27) Indianapolis ?Vontae Davis CB Illinois- Great value pick who can come in and excel right away in the cover 2 scheme. 28) Philadelphia ? Alfonso Smith CB Wake Forest- After losing Sheppard and Dawkins, the Eagles need a playmaker in the secondary. Smith lacks speed and size..but always seems to be around the ball and has the confidence to play in an aggressive man-to-man scheme. 29) New York Giants ? Clay Matthews LB USC- Great value pick and a versatile guy who can play a number of spots for big blue. 30) Tennessee ? Derrius Heyward-Bey wr Maryland- Referring to the Titans need at WR would be stating the obvious. Let?s just say that they are desperate enough to take a chance on DHB?s freakish physical ability. 31) Arizona- Beanie Wells RB OSU- W/ Edgerin James departure looming?this is a great fit schematically and value wise. Wisenhunt loves a power running game..and Wells could?ve easily gone in the top 15. 32) Pittsburgh ? Will Beatty OT Uconn- By far the Steelers biggest need.The Steelers seem to have too much size and not enough athleticism. Beatty could change that and eventually take over at LT for the next decade.
i honestly hope we don't take Sanchez. I don't think he's the fans wish. I think we had a private workout with him as a smoke screen for someone to trade up so we can slide down. I also don't think there is any way any WR is taken before Crabtree.
nice mock Kurt....my only question mark would be your pick for the Skins. Didn't they load up on Wideout last year when the grabbed Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly in the 2nd round? Not sure if they would grab Crabtree over someone like Michael Oher....the Skins' Oline is getting up there in age.
It's funny that you mention that b/c I actually had Oher pencilled in to the skins..and after completing 2 other picks, I went back and changed it to Crabtree. The fact is..This is just a Skins type of pick. Crabtree is a big play guy that frankly is a far superior prospect to that of Kelly and Thomas...and we all know Snyder loves to make a big splash. There's plenty of OL depth in rounds 2 and 3 for the Skins to grab someone like Duke Robinson or Alex Mack. This is also a prime spot for someone like the Titans,Houston, Tampa or even the Jets to trade up for the likes of Crabtree,Sanchez or one of the RB's.
Nice work Kurt. Overall its as realistic a mock as you can get this time of year. I, for one, do like the Jets pick of Sanchez. I see this kid becomming a big time QB in the NFL. 10 year starter material. Poised, inteligent, and very athletic. Supprised the CB's fell as far as they diud, but again its not out of the real of possibilty. Its hard to poke big holes in any of your reasonnig for picks ahead of them. Harvin top ten and Crab at 13? While I'm low on harvin, its not out of the question. Some people get all caught up in speed at draft time. That said if Crabtree is there at 8 I really think the Jags try to finally change thier WR fortunes and make the pick. Still, very good work.
yeah...given Snyder's history, it's defenitly possible. But drafting a Wideout that high after last year's "wideout draft haul" by the Skins...would come across as something that Matt Millen would do. Crabtree would be a good pick in any case...I just don't think the Skins will go that route. I just noticed that you have Donald Brown going to the Eagles at 21....albeit, it's a good fit for that team (hell, i'm hoping he slips to the Jets in the 2nd round)....but that high? really? I thought Brown was rated a late 2nd, early 3rd round grade. hmy: EDIT: The "trade down" possibility seems more likely if Crabtree falls to WAS....good call on that one.
Good mock draft Kurt. I saw the same thing MB did in drafting Crabtree but you're right about Snyder, so I can see that scenario playing out. I got a question for you or hear your take on why the Texans would take a RB in the 1st round when Steve Slaton stepped up huge for them last year? Their Run D was among the worst last year. However, since there's no DL-men or OLB's (without reaching) at that spot, they could also try to bolster their DB talent by adding Davis or Jenkins. Robinson was hurt all--if not most--of last year and was tagged, so his future is questionable in Houston.
Brown is now considered a late first, high second type guy. Several teams reportedly had him clocked in the 4.4 range at the combine. If that is the case and he has a good pro day, he wont make it out of the first round. W/ his vision and toughness, the only reason he would slip is questionable long speed...and if he was indeed clocked that fast than there are alot of Gm's salivating.
I had the same thought, rmagedon...regarding Houston's pick. But didn't they release Ahman Green? I assume Kurt's thinking (and correct me if i'm wrong, Kurt) is that Houston will be going with the "Running back by committee" approach (same as what Kubiak implemented up in Denver as their OC)....Moreno could fill that role and be added to the mix.
I like Steve Slaton, but I question whether he can handle the load for a full 16 game stretch. He's more ideal as a change of pace or 3rd down back type. Moreno also just happens to be a ridiculously good match for the ZBS. Kubiak and Shanahan just absolutely DROOL for a guy w/ his lateral quickness who can make one cut and roll. Tough for them to pass on that when they are indeed in need of more offensive playmakers. Their DL run D is a concern but look at their 1st round picks over the last few years -Mario Williams, DE -Jason Babin, OLB/DE(no longer on team) -Travis Johnson, DT -Amobe Okoye, DT They have alot of money and picks invested in the DL.They've abandoned so many other facets of their team. It's time for the d-line all to live up to their potential and take the next step. I can buy the DB argument,although I think this DB class is gonna slip as evident by my overall mock. Davis has off the field concerns and nobody knows where Jenkins truly projects.
Looking at depth behind Slaton, I agree, there's virtually no one back there. So I can see why adding Moreno would make sense. But with regards to handling the load, Slaton has started 15 of 16 games. The second half (actually, the last 7 games) of the season the kid put up monster numbers. 4-100+yd games and the final 2 games, he was off by about 10 yards from making it 6-100+yd game. I think he's more than capable to handle the load. Those numbers alone could make the the Texans address RB depth in the later rounds.
Decent mock, but a lot of holes I don't think lions go with stafford(which then shifts the entire draft) Don't think washington would take crabtree either...although the harvin jax pick is exceptable I doubt they could write off reaching for another local hero though...but that's what they've been doing Hate the jets pick And I think the dolphins go oline over dline O yea...texans may have beenblowing smoke, but they want to take defense early and get the) to split after the first
Kurt, having done so many of these myself, I know how much time and effort you put into this one ... its carefully considered and a job well done, my friend :up:
