A Look Back: 2007 Mock Draft

I am continuing to review my mock drafts so here is my mock draft of the 2007 NFL Draft. I had properly predicted 6 players and 5 other position needs right. Had I not been stubborn in my argument for the Raiders taking Calvin Johnson I might have had a few more right, but oh well.

Oakland Raiders

Projected Pick: Calvin Johnson WR Georgia Tech

Actual Pick: Jamarcus Russell QB LSU

This pick was one I stubbornly made. I had a strong feeling that the Raiders would sign Culpepper and everyone was saying Moss was on his way out. I thought the Raiders would bring in Culpepper and provide him with the next best thing to Randy Moss, Calvin Johnson. The combination worked reasonably well in Detroit with very little practice time. However, the Raiders wanted their franchise QB, something that they can hardly be blamed for.

Detroit Lions

Projected Pick: Jamarcus Russell QB LSU

Actual Pick: Calvin Johnson WR Georgia Tech

I thought that the Lions would want an eventual replacement for Kitna. They would draft Drew Stanton later in the draft, but they added the Superfreak Calvin Johnson with the 2^nd overall pick. Johnson right now is the hands down best player on the Lions squad. Johnson was a great pick up.

Cleveland Browns

Projected Pick: Adrian Peterson HB Oklahoma

Actual Pick: Joe Thomas T Wisconsin

Joe Thomas has been phenomenal for the Browns, who had one of the best lines in football that season. Can you imagine what they may have been like though with Peterson in the backfield? It would have been a devastating combination, but the Browns seemed content with Lewis.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Projected Pick: Gaines Adams DE Clemson

Actual Pick: Gaines Adams DE Clemson

The Bucs needed a replacement for Rice at DE and Gaines Adams was the best in this draft class.

Arizona Cardinals

Projected Pick: Joe Thomas T Wisconsin

Actual Pick: Levi Brown T Penn State

When Wisenhunt and Grimm went to Arizona it was almost obvious that the Cardinals would go after an offensive lineman. I thought Thomas would fall to them, but while he didn’t the Cardinals were happy to draft Brown with the 5^th overall.

Washington Redskins

Projected Pick: Amobi Okeye DT Louisville

Actual Pick: LaRon Landry S LSU

I thought the Redskins would want the young DT to be a longtime anchor for their shaky defensive line. However, with rumors of the late Sean Taylor’s departure the Skins thought they would add the punishing Landry to the roster. Landry has been great for the Skins.

Minnesota Vikings

Projected Pick: Brady Quinn QB Notre Dame

Actual Pick: Adrian Peterson HB Oklahoma

I’m pretty much positive that the Vikings made the better decision in this draft. They had both Quinn and Peterson to pick from and they picked the much better player even though they already had a good running back on roster. This was probably the best pick in the 2007 draft.

Atlanta Falcons

Projected Pick: Laron Landry S LSU

Actual Pick: Jamal Anderson DE Arkansas

I thought the Falcons would want a safety. I’m willing to bet that after Milloy’s performance against Arizona safety will be a priority in the 2009 draft. However, they went with Anderson who has been an adequate compliment to Abraham.

Miami Dolphins

Projected Pick: Levi Brown T Penn State

Actual Pick: Tedd Ginn Jr. WR Ohio State

I could not believe the Dolphins made this pick. Brady Quinn was on the board and the Dolphins clearly had the need for a QB after Culpepper’s departure. Instead they take Tedd Ginn Jr. way ahead of his value. Ginn has developed nicely, but Quinn would probably helped give the Dolphins more than one win that season though.

Houston Texans

Projected Pick: Denver Broncos Adam Carriker DE Nebraska

Actual Pick: Amobi Okeye DT Louisville

This pick is why I don’t generally mock trades. I believed a rumor that the Broncos would trade up to get Carriker. I was very wrong and the Texans decided to shore up their defensive line for the foreseeable future. Denver would later draft DE Jarvis Moss in the first round so I had the need addressed, I just wanted it more than Denver did.

San Francisco 49ers

Projected Pick: Alan Branch DT Michigan

Actual Pick: Patrick Willis MLB Ole Miss

I thought the 49ers would want to upgrade their DT spot, but it was not to be. Instead they added phenom Patrick Willis. Overall, that is a better decision as I had Branch overvalued at this spot. Apparently I was told by a friend that if I had ESPN Insider I would have known the Niners were going to draft Willis. This is my shameless plug for ESPN.

Buffalo Bills

Projected Pick: Patrick Willis MLB Ole Miss

Actual Pick: Marshawn Lynch RB Cal

I thought that the Bills would want an ILB to fill the void London Fletcher left. They did draft Posluszny in the second, but with their first they added Lynch to replace Willis Mcgahee, seems like a no-brainer now that I think about it. Oh well, the Bills did eventually draft an ILB.

St. Louis Rams

Projected Pick: Jamal Anderson DE Arkansas

Actual Pick: Adam Carriker DE Nebraska

The Rams needed help along the defensive line that much was obvious. Even though they drafted Carriker as a DE, he played mostly DT in the hybrid system the Rams ran. Thus, there was still a need for a DE in the next year’s draft.

New York Jets

Projected Pick: Carolina Panthers Reggie Nelson S Florida

Actual Pick: Darrelle Revis CB Pittsburgh

The Jets traded up to get Revis before the Steelers could draft him. I can’t really blame them as Revis has been very valuable to the Jets Defense. I thought the Jets would go tight end, but the Jets had other ideas. They would get with my line of thinking the next draft with Keller, but getting Revis was the much better idea.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Projected Pick: Darrelle Revis CB Pittsburgh

Actual Pick: Lawrence Timmons OLB Florida State

If I had bowed down to conventionality I would have put Timmons down. Every mock draft under the sun had the Steelers taking Timmons to fill the void left by Joey Porter. I thought however that the Steelers would draft Revis to help their secondary and the return game. Revis would have been great! However, the Jets must have had the same idea I had because they made a substantial trade to get ahead of the Steelers. I have nothing to complain about however as Timmons has played great this year.

Green Bay Packers

Projected Pick: Marshawn Lynch HB Cal

Actual Pick: Justin Harrell DT Tennessee

This was probably my favorite moment of the draft. ESPN panned to Green Bay after the pick was made and you could see a bunch of kids looking at one another asking “Who?” Harrell was a pick no one expected. I and most people thought they would add a RB to the roster with this pick given that Ahman Green had left. Harrell has thus far not been a factor. One wonders that because this pick has not produced what it would have meant to trade for Randy Moss that off season.

Denver Broncos

Projected Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars Michael Griffin S Texas

Actual Pick: Jarvis Moss DE Florida

The Broncos did decide to trade up for a DE, but not until here. My rumors were wrong. Denver traded up for Moss and Jacksonville would later take Reggie Nelson. Thus I had two positions and suspicion of a trade properly assessed. I just had the players very wrong.

Cincinnati Bengals

Projected Pick: Leon Hall CB Michigan

Actual Pick: Leon Hall CB Michigan

The Bengals got assaulted through the air in the 2007 season. They needed to address their problems with this pick. Although their air problems continued Hall was a valuable pick.

Tennessee Titans

Projected Pick: Tedd Ginn Jr. WR Ohio State

Actual Pick: Michael Griffin S Texas

The Titans needed a WR for Vince Young, but the Titans refused to draft one. They went defense and while Michael Griffin has been great for them, you have to wonder if they would have benefited from a WR.

New York Giants

Projected Pick: Joe Staley T Central Michigan

Actual Pick: Aaron Ross CB Texas

I thought the Giants would want to upgrade their offensive line with the athletic Staley, but they felt it was better to address their secondary issues. Ross has been valuable starting for most of the season. It would seem I had this pick all wrong.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Projected Pick: Houston Texans Aaron Ross CB Texas

Actual Pick: Reggie Nelson S Florida

I thought Jacksonville would go safety in the draft, but then again I also thought Houston would be picking this low. Secondary seemed to be a concern for the Texans and I thought this low they would be able to get Ross.

Cleveland Browns

Projected Pick: Dallas Cowboys Anthony Spencer OLB/DE Purdue

Actual Pick: Brady Quinn QB Notre Dame

Finally the boy from Cleveland makes good. After an awkward waiting period the Notre Dame QB came off the board. I did have the Cowboys taking Spencer in the first round so I still got that pick right.

Kansas City Chiefs

Projected Pick: Dwayne Bowe WR LSU

Actual Pick: Dwayne Bowe WR LSU

Kansas City lacked dynamic WR play in their playoff run. Thus it seemed obvious that the Chiefs would select a WR in the first. Bowe was a good selection who has benefited the Chiefs immeasurably.

New England Patriots

Projected Pick: Chris Houston CB Arkansas

Actual Pick: Brandon Meriweather S Miami

If the Patriots needed anything they needed secondary players. I thought they would go corner, but the Patriots had other ideas.

Carolina Panthers

Projected Pick: New York Jets Greg Olsen TE Miami

Actual Pick: Jon Beason MLB Miami

This pick seemed a little odd to me. Carolina had a need for a tight end and with Olsen still on the board it seemed like they would pick him up, but instead they drafted Beason, Dan Morgan’s successor. Beason has been a dynamite defender for the Panthers and was a very smart pick up.

Dallas Cowboys

Projected Pick: Philadelphia Eagles Justin Harrell DT Tennessee

Actual Pick: Anthony Spencer OLB/DE Purdue

Spencer was a great fit for the Cowboys 3-4 defense. However, I debate the value of picking him up. After all they did draft Carpenter the year before. As far as Philly was concerned I thought they would need help on the D-line, but the last years pick Bunkley stepped up the next year and has started since.

New Orleans Saints

Projected Pick: Robert Meachem WR Tennessee

Actual Pick: Robert Meachem WR Tennessee

After the great year Drew Brees and Colston had, it only seemed to make sense to give Brees another dynamic weapon. Meachem has not really broken out as a primary target of Brees, but they say it takes three years for to catch up to professional football for some WR’s. We’ll see next season how much of an impact he will make.

San Francisco 49ers

Projected Pick: New England Patriots Lawrence Timmons OLB Florida State

Actual Pick: Joe Staley OT Central Michigan.

I thought the Patriots would go after a linebacker in this draft to eventually replace the aging Bruschi and Seau. However, they elected to trade this pick to the 49ers who added the dynamic blocker Staley to their roster. This was a good pick for the 49ers as he has started every game since his rookie year. That kind of durability is rare among NFL linemen,

Baltimore Ravens

Projected Pick: Ben Grubbs G Auburn

Actual Pick: Ben Grubbs G Auburn

The Ravens needed a great deal of help along their interior o-line. Grubbs, being the best lineman available seemed like a no-brainer.

San Diego Chargers

Projected Pick: Dwayne Jarrett WR USC

Actual Pick: Craig Davis WR LSU

The Chargers did not have a dynamic WR on their roster. Gates was obviously Rivers favorite target and a WR would free coverage off of him and take players out of the box against LT. However, the Chargers picked Davis who has yet to make a lasting impact. Although he did get hurt he has not been a factor. After all, the Chargers did trade for Chris Chambers later that same year.

Chicago Bears

Projected Pick: Paul Posluszny OLB Penn State

Actual Pick: Greg Olsen TE Miami

With rumors of Lance Briggs departing I thought the Bears would go after the dynamic Posluszny in this draft. He showed at Penn State the ability to play the inside and the outside linebacker positions very well. However, the Bears elected to pick a tight end who had had great production in the Bears system. Since the Bears were able to hold onto Briggs picking Posluszny would have been a waste.

Indianapolis Colts

Projected Pick: Jon Beason OLB Miami

Actual Pick: Anthony Gonzalez WR Ohio State

The Colts had two key departures in the off-season, LB Cato June and WR Brandon Stokley. I thought the Colts would draft to replace June who had a critical 142 tackles for the Colts in 2006, but the Colts decided to replace Stokley in the hopes on freeing up Wayne, Clark, and Harrison. This was not a bad decision as Harrison has struggled and will more than likely be replaced by Gonzalez soon enough.