First Draft of My Mock Draft

As I said in my last post, every year I do a first round mock draft. Usually I do it a week or two before the draft. However, now that I am blogging I figured it would be good to have something earlier. Feel free to comment on my mock draft. Before you read it I should warn you, this is a first draft. There will be many more revisions before the actual draft. I'll be sure to post my revisions. Also, you will notice that Matt Ryan is absent. I believe that he will fall in the draft. It happened to Roethlisberger, Rodgers, and Quinn. Later on I may decide he is fit to be in the first round. However, I honestly believe that if he falls far enough, some team will trade up for him. This mock does not account for trades and so Matt Ryan falls. So, with this being said, take a look and comment if you like.

1. Miami Dolphins: Chris Long DE Virginia

It’s no secret that the Dolphins are looking to shop their first overall pick, but it does not seem that there will be any takers. So now the organization must decide what position they need to shore up the most. They could look to Matt Ryan considering that all they have is John Beck. They could draft Jake Long and have a sound offensive line. They could also draft a DT to take care of the middle of the DL. I think all of these are viable options, but I feel that Chris Long is the hands down best pick for Miami at this point for a few reasons. First, no one was worst against the run than Miami last year and if nothing else Chris Long’s constant motor would help Miami stop hemorrhaging rushing yards. Second, if Jason Taylor stays in Miami Long would operate on the same side with Joey Porter and that combination could lead to a veritable sack fest. Third, if Jason Taylor does get traded, the void at DE would be too noticeable not to fill up with Long. For those reasons and his phenomenal combine, it seems like a no-brainer for Miami to select the Virginia DE.

2. St. Louis Rams: Sedrick Ellis DT USC

I have a great amount of difficulty making this pick and will probably change this as time goes on. The Rams have two needs that have to be addressed in the first two rounds of the draft. One is Offensive Line the other is the Defensive Line. It would make complete sense for the Rams to draft Jake Long and provide some much needed depth to the O-line. However, the amount of talent for the DL in the early second round is not as great as the talent for the O-line. Also, Orlando Pace and Alex Barron provide “stability” making O-line a secondary need. So I have the Rams selecting the talented DT first and therefore an OT second. With Ellis the Rams can move Carriker back to the end spot and shore up that D-line that let Najeh Davenport rush 100 plus yards.

3. Atlanta Falcons: Jake Long OT Michigan

Atlanta signed Burner Turner and so it is highly unlikely that they will go after McFadden. Atlanta wants to accomplish two things offensively. First, foster a power running game. Second, protect the QB. Jake Long will go a long way towards accomplishing those goals. So many mock drafts have Matt Ryan going here, but while I like Matt Ryan I think the signing of Redman fosters “stability” and with him the Falcons can pursue a very deep Quarterback class in the second round. Also, if Matt Ryan freefalls in the draft I could see the Falcons trading some of their many picks to move up and grab him.

4. Oakland Raiders: Vernon Gholston DE/OLB Ohio State

Al Davis has made a lot of questionable moves in his long history as Raiders owner, but do I see him really being attracted by the flashy running back with character questions…yes I do. It could very well happen, but I say the combination of Gholston being as fast as a linebacker and as strong as a tackle, no Warren Sapp, and the 6^TH BEST RUSHING ATTACK IN THE NFL RETURNING makes it seem ludicrous that Davis goes after the Arkansas running back. That rushing attack featured not only Justin Fargas, Dominic Rhodes, and Lamont Jordan, but also has at its disposal former Louisville standout Michael Bush. This, for most NFL owners, would be considered a full house and non-priority especially for a 4-12 team.

5. Kansas City: Ryan Clady OT Boise State

Herm Edwards has stated that offense is a priority for the draft, which makes sense considering that the Chiefs were near the bottom in almost every offensive stat. I would say that if McFadden falls here, it might be worthwhile for them to trade the pick to the highest bidder, but if that falls through working on their abysmal offensive line would make perfect sense. Clady is the next best thing to Jake Long as far the O-line goes, so it makes sense to go after him here.

6. New York Jets: Darren McFadden HB Arkansas

The Jets have been very aggressive in the off-season giving themselves a very impressive offensive line. Now if they draft McFadden and have him in a tandem with Thomas Jones, the Jets could very well be a contender again. Having McFadden takes stress off of every position on the offense. Thomas Jones will run better being part of a tandem, whichever quarterback plays will have a strong running game to back them up, and McFadden is a back that requires very little blocking. Needless to say Run DMC would make this Jets offense very dangerous.

7. New England Patriots: Leodis Mcklevin CB Troy

Vernon Gholston could be tempting here, but it is not the Patriots’ MO to draft a first-round linebacker, especially a converted 4-3 DE. Had Laurinitus entered he would have been the hands down pick for the Pats, but he did not and the Patriots are faced with drafting elsewhere. Asante Samuel and Randall Gay have both left for “Greener” pastures and so CB seems to be the pressing need, even if they sign Ty Law. Mcklevin can help make an immediate impact on an almost perfect team.

8. Baltimore Ravens: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Tennessee St.

Matt Ryan is still on the board and this causes the Ravens to look through their options at QB. Steve Mcnair feels he still has it, despite his performance against the Steelers on Monday Night. Kyle Boller has shown competency if not dynamic play. Troy Smith has shown that he can run the offense and can only improve. So, there is “stability” at QB. Plus, if Matt Ryan has fallen this far, chances are that a good QB will be available in the 2^nd round. So, the Ravens look at providing their aging, injury prone CB crew with some depth and youth. However, the Ravens are not copping out in the least. DRC seems to be just as much of a playmaker as his relative in San Diego and will help revitalize a fearsome defensive unit.

9. Cincinnati Bengals: Glenn Dorsey DT LSU

The Bengals are thrilled that this dynamic player has fallen to them. Dorsey was a standout LSU DT who was looking like the best player in the draft class. His absence from the combine and injury reports could potentially lead to him dropping this far, but I would be surprised if he fell any further considering Cincinnati’s horrible defense. Now, if Thurman gets his suspension lifted and Pollack decides he can play (although I wish he wouldn’t) that Cincinnati defense can have the powerful front seven it has been working on.

10. New Orleans Saints: Mike Jenkins CB USF

The Saints had a mediocre run defense that was hurt by their 30^th ranked pass defense. Even though they signed Randall Gay they should still look to add talented depth at the CB position and Mike Jenkins, with a 4.38 and a 34 in. vertical, can at times appear to be the best CB in this draft class. The Saints would be ecstatic to see the USF man fall to them.

11. Buffalo Bills: Malcolm Kelly WR Oklahoma

It seems obvious that the Bills need a large, talented receiver to help their young QB and take some coverage away from the dynamic Lee Evans. Malcolm Kelly at 6’3 224lbs seems to fit the bill (pun intended) in Buffalo.

12. Denver Broncos: Chris Williams OT Vanderbilt

Matt Liepsis has retired and why not grab Williams who formerly blocked for Jay Cutler. I could see them going elsewhere in this draft, possibly going after a defensive player. The OT depth is considerable in this draft and the Broncos did draft OT Ryan Harris in the 3^rd last year to possibly take over this role. Denver has already signed Boss Bailey so the need at linebacker isn’t great making Chris Williams a viable choice.

13. Carolina Panthers: Kenny Philips S Miami

Many mock drafts have the Panthers taking an OT in the first round so that Travelle Wharton can move inside to fill the hole Mike Whale has left. It makes sense, but not when there is seemingly very thin safety class and a very deep OT class. The Panthers have very little at safety so Philips can come in and make an immediate impact. The Panthers take Kenny Philips and bring one of Miami’s super safeties to Charlotte.

14. Chicago Bears: Jeff Otah OT Pittsburgh

This is a very difficult pick for me to decide on. Matt Ryan has fallen this far, but will a QB be the Bears primary concern? I don’t think Lovie has quit on Grossman just yet. Grossman did lead them to a playoff run. Even if Grossman can’t handle it, Orton has played well. While he isn’t dynamic, Orton can run the offense without making too many mistakes. The Bears strength has been their defense for years and I’ll consider this year a fluke. Meanwhile, Otah can help a dismal offensive line get by. He can power block and with his help Benson may rebound and be a useful running back.

15. Detroit Lions: Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois

Jon Kitna got sacked 51 times and the Lions had the 31^st worst rushing game. However, these stats could be misleading considering the nature of the Mike Martz offense. This could mean offense may not be a priority, especially considering the Lions had one of the worst defenses in the league. If the Lions had not gone after Leigh Bodden and Brian Kelly I would say corner should be a priority, but it no longer is. Then, Kevin Jones was fired so it would appear that the Lions may be after a dynamic half back and Mendenhall is just that. Mendenhall has the running and pass catching ability to really help improve the offense.

16. Arizona Cardinals: Keith Rivers OLB USC

Arizona lost Blaystock and Pace, thus there is a considerable void at outside linebacker. I could also see a running back here. I had Jonathan Stewart going here until his surgery. So now the Cardinals look to repair their weakened linebacker corp.

17. Minnesota Vikings: Derrick Harvey DE Florida

Minnesota was rather aggressive in free agency and was probably upset that Kearse decided to return to Music City. However, acquiring Bernard Berrian makes WR less important in the first round. The Vikings did have the best rush defense, but paradoxically the worst pass defense. I look at the talent the Vikings have in the secondary and am doubly confused. It just seemed that they were unable to make any plays in that respect and so I’ll call this season a fluke for the Vikings defense. So, with Udeze departing because of his leukemia the Vikings should pursue a dynamic DE and Harvey with his 30 plus tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks in two seasons fits the bill perfectly.

18. Houston Texans: Aqib Talib CB Kansas

I don’t know that the Texans will pursue corner with their first round pick considering they overpaid Reeves. However, a good secondary is necessary The Texans have been pretty smart so far with their drafting. They stay away from flash and go with substance. Talib is a good corner and can provide depth to a very weak secondary.

19. Philadelphia Eagles: Limas Sweed WR Texas

Philly was a pretty good team last year, they are just in the most competitive division in the NFL. When Mcnabb is healthy, it is pure magic. His main problem was him being sacked so much…44 times. That could be an offensive line problem, it could be a problem with receivers getting open, or it could be a Mcnabb problem. The only reason I have them going after Limas Sweed is that Philly was so aggressive in going for a receiver. Desean Jackson is still on the board, but Philly already has a speed demon in Kevin Curtis, so the big receiver could be very helpful. He can be a release valve for Mcnabb when he is in trouble.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kentwan Balmer DT North Carolina

Tama Bay has stated that they like all of the players in this draft and are happy to take anyone. This complicates things considerably. For one, Matt Ryan is on the board and Jon Gruden loves to collect QBs. I could see Matt Ryan’s freefall ending in Tampa Bay, but I go with Balmer for the simple reason that Tampa Bay allowed 106 rushing yards per game. So, Tampa Bay goes with the third best DT in the draft and gives Gaines Adams some more help. I could also see receiver unless Tampa Bay lands a free agent before the draft.

21. Washington Redskins: Calais Campbell DE Miami

The Redskins have actually been very smart thus far in the off-season and it’s amazing. For once, the Skins might actually build through the draft! If they do, it would be wise to put some youth into the defensive line and give Andre Carter a partner on the Dline. They could also go after an offensive lineman considering that at times it looked like Portis was running into a brick wall. They could also go receiver, but the D-line is priority.

22. Dallas Cowboys: James Hardy WR Indiana

The Cowboys have two picks in the first round and need a running back, wide receiver, and a cornerback. I have them going for James Hardy here because before they get to pick again, they have the receiver needy Titans going. The Titans would love to draft James Hardy, a big target, who can get open easily, for their scrambling QB. So, the Cowboys have to draft him now if they want him. Hardy is a big receiver who could benefit greatly from the advice (such as it is) of the sizeable Terrell Owens.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers: Branden Albert G Virginia

I have been looking forward to this pick for two years. Two years I have said the Steelers should go after a good offensive lineman in the draft. I can’t really complain though. Santonio Holmes was a great pickup. No good lineman was available in the 2007 first round so Lawrence Timmons made sense. It was cruel fate though to see our second round pick come up with Ryan Kahlil, the versatile center from USC, on the board only to see Lamar Woodley come off. I was upset, but it seems that Woodley will be a good player so once again I cannot complain. I would not be upset to see them take Otah from Pittsburgh, if for nothing else that he would be used to the poor quality of Heinz Field. O-Line should be the only concern for the Steelers in this round. The QB that just received $108 million has been sacked 93 times in the past two years. Its time to protect him.

24. Tennessee Titans: Desean Jackson WR Cal

The Titans need to open up their offense. Running Lendale White up the middle and the occasional play action pass does not make an NFL offense (clearly). With Desean Jackson’s speed the Titan’s offense has no choice but to open up. Vince Young is used to running multiple receiver formations in Texas, but when you don’t have receivers, multiple receiver formations are tough. Desean’s speed and ability to get open will provide Young with a viable target for years to come and open the offense. He will help Vince Young live up to his potential.

25. Seattle Seahawks: Mario Manningham WR Michigan

If Balmer was still available I would imagine him being the Seahawks pick, but he is gone here. So with Hackett on the way out and Engram near retirement, the Seahawks look to beef up their receiver corps with Super Mario. He is a vertical threat and playmaker that will add to the very talented receiver corps that Seattle already has. They could also look for an OT to be an eventual replacement for the legendry Walter Jones.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars: Quentin Groves DE/OLB Auburn

The Jaguars have a very talented team. There only weak point would be DE. Hayward, even though he was hurt, did not perform very well. Not to mention the fact that McCray is now a Saint. So the Jags look to pick up the versatile Groves. The Jags did suffer some linebacker injuries so it would seem that Groves could help in that respect as well. Groves would be the Renaissance man this Jacksonville Defense could use to get it through another season healthy enough to make a serious playoff run.

27. San Diego Chargers: Brandon Flowers CB Virginia Tech

The Chargers have considerable depth in their skilled positions. They will be looking for the best player available here. Brandon Flowers will be a valuable corner to take the place of Florence in San Diego. If San Diego feels that they are good with their corners (one being Paul Oliver a potential first rounder if he hadn’t failed at UGA). If they don’t draft corner look for them to pick off a lineman defensive or offensive.

28. Dallas Cowboys: Felix Jones RB Arkansas

See the Cowboys previous pick for background. Dallas needs a change in pace back for Marion the Barbarian. Jones can do just that and help the return game as well. I could also see the Cowboys going after a corner and pursuing Chris Johnson.

29. San Francisco 49ers: Gosder Cherilius OT Boston College

The 49ers had the worst offense in the league…a far cry from better days. San Fran took Joe Staley last year and still had 55 sacks. Now Larry Allen and Justin Smiley are gone. The 49ers line could be worse off than before (hard to believe). San Fran desperately needs an offensive lineman and will be willing to take the best one available.

30. Green Bay Packers: Reggie Smith DB Oklahoma

Woodson and Al Harris play well, but are also aged. Al Harris looked desperate against Burress in the playoff game. Will Blackmon is not the ideal nickel back. Nick Collins had gotten hurt for part of the season. Reggie Smith was a safety who moved to corner recently, and played well. He is projected to be a great prospect at either position in the NFL. Reggie Smith could provide a good secondary with the depth it needs, not to mention a future. Reggie Smith is very physical and no one press covers like Al Harris. Smith can immediately help the Pack defense and learn from two of the premier corners in the league.

31. New York Giants: Dan Connor ILB Penn State

With Mitchell gone the Giants have a void at LB and pick one of the best linebacker prospects out of Linebacker U. Posluszny , had he not gotten hurt, was looking to be a major player in Buffalo and the Giants should expect the same from Dan Connor. Connor can immediately fill the void that Mitchell has left in the G-Men.