NFL Mock Draft-TJ
Football Jabber Mock Draft
UPDATED 1/5/09
1) Detroit Lions - Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia
The Lions need a tackle and a quarterback. Stafford is the logical pick here because the QB class is weak without the junior talent. I just don’t think Colt McCoy, Matt Stafford and Mark Sanchez come out.
2) St. Louis Rams - Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
Smith has already declared for the draft. Hell, he was talking to an agent well before he was allowed to. You can make a case for Mike Oher here but I like Smith better for the Rams because he will be able to play right tackle until the wheels completely fall off Orlando Pace. St. Louis missed out of Jake Long and the solid play of the tackle class underneath Long (Clady, Otah, Baker and Brown) have burned Rams brass. They won’t miss their lineman twice in a row.
3) Kansas City Chiefs - Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas
15 weeks ago, this pick is a quarterback, hands down. But the emergence of Tyler Thigpen as a legitimate option has convinced me that QB is not the highest need right now. But trading away your best player before the season started and he goes on to out-sack your entire team (KC had 10 sacks last year) was not a wise decision and it forces the hand . Orakpo is the best end in the draft and is a relative no-brainer pick here.
4) Seattle Seahawks - Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
I think you can make a case for a lineman, running back or improvements to the secondary but when a team is forced to start guys like Michael Bumpus and Courtney Taylor because of injury and your best receiver is 37 and riddled with injuries, this pick is necessary. Crabtree has separated himself from the rest of the WR class this past year and I believe he declares soon.
5) Cleveland Browns - Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
Probably the first coin flip pick of the draft. The Brownies have enough holes and enough players make sense in this spot that I can see Cleveland going many different ways. Many people have Cleveland drafting a first round RB. While RB is a need, I think 5th overall is too high for any RB in this class. LB is a possibility as well, both inside and outside, but Beau Bell still hasn’t been given a shot and Alex Hall proved to be playable in certain situations. I’m thinking the Browns choose to upgrade their secondary, Eric Wright is a legit NFL cover corner but Brandon McDonald is not. Malcolm Jenkins works here because I think he’s the best player available at this point and he fills a big hole for Cleveland
6) Cincinnati Bengals - Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss
I really want to say the Bengals go defensive line but the need to protect Carson Palmer, coming off injury no doubt, is too glaring. The Bengals gave up 51 sacks last year. Unacceptable when your best player is your QB.
7) Oakland Raiders - Taylor Mays, S, USC
A pick made by Al Davis that I agree with? Surely it won’t happen, will it? Possibly. Taylor Mays is a physical specimen and will blow away scouts at the combine, something that Al Davis judges his players on almost exclusively. The thing is that Mays can actually play football too and his drafting would fill a hole for Oakland since Mike Huff was benched for Hiram Eugene at FS. Move Huff to corner again and hope you can resign Asomugha would be the plan after that. In the last decade, the Raiders have drafted secondary in the first round 6 times so history sides with the pick.
8 ) Jacksonville Jaguars - Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
Easy pick here, after the Richard Collier tragedy, multiple other offensive line injuries and the lackluster play of Khalif Barnes, David Garrard was running for his life. And secretly hidden away in Pittsburgh with Big Ben’s jock in tow, Byron Leftwich snickers to himself. Jacksonville needs a good tackle to shore up their line.
9) Green Bay Packers - William Moore, S, Missouri
I think Atari Bigby has worn out his welcome at Green Bay and the Pack cannot afford to keep moving Woodson back to safety from his natural corner position. The secondary needs help and Moore should be solid along with Nick Collins. This pick is assuming that Green Bay actually stays here even though I fully expect Ted Thompson to dangle this pick and find a trade partner.
10) San Francisco 49ers - Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
Another team who can’t block anybody. Argue QB all you like but I think San Fran will be smart enough to understand that they can probably get away with Shaun Hill for a year or two if they hit on a good tackle.
11) Buffalo Bills - Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest
I think the Bills would like to draft to help their outside pass rush but none of the DEs past Orakpo really stand out. Perhaps a good combine could push Mike Johnson or Everette Brown into this spot but for now, I’m banking that Buffalo drafts to replace Angelo Crowell after that knee injury debacle where he was placed on IR after a simple scope. Crowell likely plays elsewhere in 09. Curry is a good talent that is big enough to shed blockers and produce as a SAM backer.
12) Denver Broncos - Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC
Mark my words, Rey Maualuga will be a future stud no matter where he lands but Denver would be foolish to allow him to land elsewhere. A good nose tackle can be found later in the draft. Nate Webster, as a MIKE, plays a good SAM LB game. He can shed blocks and he hits like a Mack Truck but that hit usually happens after a 5 yard gain. The Broncos need a stud LB who can shoot holes and terrorize defenses like Al Wilson used to, Rey is that guy.
13) Washington Redskins - Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech
Great measurables, great potential, not the best results. This guy is the Calais Campbell of this year’s draft; absolute physical freak but poor translation into performance but I think Washington takes the bait. The Jason Taylor experiment has proven to be a failure, the Skins may as well try to get Taylor to teach a young end something before he eventually packs it in.
14) New Orleans Saints - James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio State
For the record, I do not like James Laurinaitis as an NFL Mike LB. I think he has poor instincts and an inability to cover effectively. However, the hype machine tends to push up the value of certain players and this year, Laurinaitis is the beneficiary. This pick is an insurance pick. New Orleans cannot extend Jonathan Vilma without forfeiting this pick to the Jets. Therefore the Saints have a choice; resign him now and lose a first rounder or gamble that you can resign Vilma in FA. If New Orleans fails to resign Vilma, they have a replacement in the middle for him. If they succeed, they have a backup for him and a possible replacement for the woefully ineffective Scott Shanle at WILL.
15) Houston Texans - Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
Houston needs to upgrade their secondary. Dunta Robinson can walk if he so chooses and the safeties are dreadful. This pick could easily be William Moore is he falls but I think the Texans take Davis to give them three good corners and insurance on Robinson.
16) San Diego Chargers - Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
San Diego just cannot figure out how to manage their RBs properly. You let Mike Turner walk for nothing when LT is being run into the ground and getting a major knee injury. Your scat back, Darren Sproles, turns out to be a gem and you fail to resign him during the year despite all the signs that LT is not getting any better. Your battering ram RB that you drafted to take those tough carries gets moved to fullback. If Sproles leaves (and even if he doesn’t), the writing is on the wall with LT, San Diego needs another RB.
17) New York Jets - Brandon Spikes, ILB, Florida
Eric Barton is likely gone and an injury this year to David Harris proved how weak the Jets LB corps really was. Spikes is a scary specimen for a LB and should make the inside alot tighter for opposing running backs.
18) Chicago Bears - Duke Robinson, OG, Oklahoma
Matt Forte has been a huge boost to an anemic offense. A better offensive line would afford him even more opportunity. The fans are calling for a QB but unless the Bears trade for Matt Cassel or Sage Rosenfels, Kyle Orton is going to be your starter, like it or not.
19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State
I was one half of football away from saying that Cadillac was back until he injured his other knee. Same injury, less severe. Runningbacks with two bad wheels don’t last very long in the NFL. Earnest Graham is coming off of a knee injury and Warrick Dunn is steadily approaching 80 years old. Wells would give the Bucs a power RB for first and second downs. His injury this season has probably depressed his stock more so than it should so the Bucs would probably be ecstatic to get Wells here.
20) Detroit Lions - Eben Britton, OT , Arizona
The Lions come back and get their tackle with the Cowboys’ pick. Gosder Cherilus is a better right tackle than left so Britton probably gets the reins from day one. Wouldn’t be surprised to see a trade up to get Baylor’s Jason Smith.
21) Arizona Cardinals - Alex Mack, C, California
How many times have you seen Kurt Warner stand in shotgun formation and survey the field only to see the snap come unexpected and hit him square in the chest this year? Mack is regarded as one of better centers to come along in a very long time. Arizona would be wise to grab him to eliminate those miscues and improve the interior blocking.
22) Philadelphia Eagles - Phil Loadholt, OT, Oklahoma
LOADholt is right. This kid is monster. Perfect fit for Andy Reid’s squad of beefy offensive linemen. Philly’s tackles are both aging and eligible for free agency. I expect Philly’s draft to be heavy on the O-line as they are probably kicking themselves for trading Carolina their first rounder last year who ended up being Jeff Otah.
23) Minnesota Vikings - Ciron Black, OT, LSU
Many will argue WR or DT here. Both reasonable choices here but Minnesota is a power running team. Don’t mess with your bread and butter. They draft a tackle as insurance on McKinnie.
24) New England Patriots - DJ Moore, CB, Vanderbilt
Could you really envision them drafting any other position? When you are resorting to rostering Fernando Bryant and Deltha O’Neal, your cornerbacks aren’t that great. What? Was Troy Brown not interested? DJ Moore adds the speed and skill necessary to cover opposite Ellis Hobbs.
25) Atlanta Falcons - Brian Cushing, OLB, USC
Atlanta has three big needs this offseason; outside linebacker, nose tackle and safety. Mike Boley got benched late in the season for Coy Wire on running downs and Keith Brooking is getting long in the tooth. Both are impending free agents. I have to think that Boley leaves in free agency. Atlanta needs to hope Brooking resigns and they can get another year out of Grady Jackson and Lawyer Milloy while they try to hit with later round picks.
26) Miami Dolphins - Clint Sintim, DE/OLB, Virginia
Miami is still a half breed in terms of their defense; they haven’t quite gotten all of their personnel for their 3-4. The ‘Phins need a pass rusher opposite Joey Porter and Matt Roth needs to keep his hand down on the turf. Sintim should fill the gap.
27) Baltimore Ravens - Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri
Derrick Mason is a stud but he is a 35 year old stud who will hit free agency next year. Maclin is great deep threat who has legitimate ball skills. With a young QB at the helm, it would be wise to draft a WR he can grow up with.
28) Indianapolis Colts - BJ Raji, DT, Boston College
The Colts need help stopping the run, period. A DT carousel between injury and disciplinary release caused the Colts to be weaker than ever against the run. Terrence Cody would be a better run stuffer but Tony Dungy would never draft a 365 pound tackle. Raji is the lighter, more athletic and more versatile tackle.
29) Philadelphia Eagles - Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
I really want to call a double dip on offensive tackle here because that’s just something that Andy Reid would do but I don’t like any of the remaining tackles as good value here. So I’m going to say something that makes sense (which probably means it won’t happen). Reid drafts Pettigrew to replace LJ “Stone Hands” Smith because the Eagles like to use their TE as a red zone and short yardage target. It’s just that LJ doesn’t have the skill to be effective nor the durability. The Eagles tried to land Kellen Winslow before the deadline and failed. Why not draft a TE Andy?
30) Pittsburgh Steelers - Max Unger, C, Oregon
The Steelers have to draft offensive line. They just have to. Ben Roethlisberger will be out of the league by 2011 if he keeps getting hit like he has. No tackles make sense here so the Pittsburgh go with interior line. Unger can play guard as well so the Steelers will fine room for him to play.
31) New York Giants - Darius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland
Plaxico Burress has likely played his last down as a Giant. But that doesn’t mean that the Giants don’t need him. New York lacks a big play guy to scare safeties from cheating up. DHB is a big guy who can run and would give them that deep threat dimension back to their offense.
32) Tennessee Titans - Victor Harris, CB, Virginia Tech
This pick hinges on the Titans’ ability to resign their all-pro defensive tackle, Albert Haynesworth. If they cannot, this pick likely becomes Terrence Cody or Peria Jerry. Harris becomes insurance for a team who needs secondary help and a possible replacement for Nick Harper upcoming.
