Beantown Sports Guys

2011 Mock Draft

ESPN made my life easy once again by putting the Mock Draft Machine up. This is the 3rd and final iteration I came up with. As always I can't predict teams (read: New England) trading picks to move around. 

A few other notes:

• If Ingram slips to the Patriots I don't expect them to take him. They have plenty of RBs right now and Green-Ellis has been a beast. Woodhead is such a great weapon. Faulk is coming back. Morris and Taylor are great when they are healthy, but right now they are technically free agents. We have more pressing needs than RB at that point in the draft although I would love to have Ingram, as would any team. Oklahoma DeMarco Murray would be a great 2nd round pick if he is still on the board. Bilal Powell out of Louisville could also be that guy they grab later.
  
  
  
•  People need to stop saying DE/OLB Dontay Moch is a sleeper. He isn't. He can't be when everyone is saying he is. His body of work is decent, his combine performance was stellar. He isn't slipping under anyone's radar.
  
   
• Ahmad Black out of Florida will be a Patriot. Bank on it. Once again, another Gator will be suiting up if Belichick has his way - the kid can play safety and CB and has good speed. His size is in question but the Patriots have so many picks I won't be shocked to see him land on the roster later in Day 3.
  
   
• The Patriots need the most help on both sides of the trenches. We were hurt late in the season when we couldn't keep Brady on his feet and when we couldn't even get to Mark Sanchez. We need pass rushers and Belichick will do whatever he can to make sure the Pats draft wisely. I will not be shocked at all if he goes for sheer numbers and trades his 17th overall pick for a couple later picks and takes back to back lineman. Or even 3 in a row. Nothing would surprise me.
  
   
• The NFL Lockout is a bitch for teams that want to make trades. McNabb and Kolb both could be traded, but not before the draft, which means teams have to draft based on what they have on their roster now. Minnesota would love either McNabb or Kolb, but it's going to be a lot harder after the draft to work a trade.
  
   
• The Jets always fall in love with someone that blows it up at the Combine. Stephen Paea is that guy, at least on the bench. 49 reps is insane. They need a DT, but he may not be the best fit for them, but it wouldn't be the first time Rex Ryan drafted a guy that isn't suited for his team (hello Vernon Gholston).
  
  
  
•  Jake Locker will go to Seattle IF they can trade out of that 25 spot and move down a couple spots and still get Carimi.
  
   
• Torrey Smith is a 1st rounder, just not sure where. Atlanta could be a good spot as could Chicago.

2010 Mock Draft

I want to preface my mock draft by saying that even though I have no had time to write on here it does not mean I don't want to. I have been busy but am trying to find some free time because I love it so much. 

This year I am glad I waited to do my mock draft, because of all the wheeling and dealing that has been going on, between Santonio Holmes signing with the Jets, Donovan McNabb being traded to division rival Washington, and the potential trading of Ben Roethlisberger (Cleveland anyone?).

As my buddy James said to me, "Pitt could trade Roethlisberger to Cleveland for the # 7 overall, let Leftwich start this season and take their time to groom Jimmy Clausen. No one is expecting Pittsburgh to win this year with Ben missing 6 games."

The crazy thing is he's right.

I used the ESPN Draft Machine to make things easier on me. One thing to note is that Atlanta does indeed have the # 19 pick, but they put the Redskins logo there. Not to worry, it says Atlanta underneath.

Without further adieu, here is my Mock Draft:

 

Other things to note:

 

• Because the way the Draft Machine works, I can only do Round 1. This works out for me because I haven't had time to really study each time like I usually do. But. As always, I have some additional thoughts.
• I think there is no way Tim Tebow makes it past the 47th overall pick. In fact, I won't be shocked to see him go in the 1st round. If the Patriots don't trade down and move out of the 2nd round, I think they snag him with the 47th overall.
• Sean Weatherspoon is a beast. I don't have him going in the first round but he is one of those guys that could easily go to any team from 19 on.
• Colt McCoy might just end up with Indy at 31 but they need help on the O-line so much I think Iupati makes the most sense.
• If Terrence Cody can keep his weight in check and improve his attitude he could wind up being a top 3 DT behind Suh and McCoy.
• I see Golden Tate being reunited with Charlie Weis in KC at the 36th overall pick.
• Philly needs to replace Brian Westbrook. Why not with Jahvid Best from Cal at the 37th pick? He might go in the first round but this is good value here.
• I have heard Bruce Campbell (BOOMSTICK BABY!) from Maryland could potentially go top 7. Or drop out of the first round. I'm banking on top of the 2nd round for him.
• The Patriots should take Brandon Spikes from Florida in the 2nd round if he is still around by the time they pick. It's a reach, and yet another potential Florida guy but he is a beast and Belichick gets the true inside scoop from his BFF Urban Meyer. I think he would fit quite well in New England.
• While I am on Florida, TE Aaron Hernandez would be perfect for the Patriots. A pass catching TE that makes big plays. He might drop because of some late college trouble he had but Meyer will give Belichick the downlow on him. I can see him making a huge impact on the Patriots right away.
• Whoever lands Toby Gerhart will have someone that will not be outworked in training camp. Guaranteed. He's a stud and can do it all. Perfect 2nd round for me as a Patriots fan: Tim Tebow, Brandon Spikes, Toby Gerhart. Pipe dream but a guy can dream, can't he?

Always excited for the NFL Draft. I just hate Goodell for breaking it up like he has and putting it on a Thursday night. Gone are the days of having a huge spread with all my buddies and watching the Draft for hours on end. Unless he gets the big picture and starts on a Friday. 

So there you have it. Flack - as always, you get the field, and I am banking on the Patriots selecting Dez Bryant this year. He slips because of potential character issues but that is fleshed out during interviews and the Combine. The Patriots rarely take a WR, but I am banking on them needing a big playmaker with Welker being hurt and Moss potentially leaving after this season.

 

Mock Draft

It's been far too long since my last post. This has been a true labor of love - I've always felt overwhelmed to keep updating all the time, and being in New England there is a lot to write about. But I've realized I don't need to write 1000 word breakdowns of what went on that day or week, so here is to revitalizing the blog.

This is my favorite time of year. Traditionally I've done Mock Drafts that were written, with really long descriptions. They took me forever because I put a lot of thought into every pick and explained each. This year I am switching it up a bit. I used ESPN's Mock Draft machine and will post my 1st Round Mock and give thoughts and insights into some of the picks. I did this for a very specific reason - it used to take me so long to finish that sometimes major trades happened while I was writing. I'd have to shift things around and that is very tough since each pick depends on the last.

So here we go. My first round mock:

Earlier this week I had my mock done and then Buffalo went and traded OT Jason Peters to Philly (giving them another 1st round, #28) and it shifted everything. Oh and you may have heard: the best TE (numbers wise) in NFL history was just traded from the Chiefs to the Falcons.

Stafford is a foregone conclusion, right? Right. Detroit needs someone to believe in like Atlanta did with Matty Ryan. They need Stafford to be the savior. Or at least they think they need him. Maybe all they need to do is not draft a wide receiver with the 1st overall.

If the Rams didn't have Chris Long they would be after Curry here, but Smith is a want and a need because of Orlando Pace's exit.

Curry is the hype in the draft - awesome character, great build and speed, but can he pass rush? KC needs it.

Seattle is that mystery team in the top 5 - do they go Sanchez or do they stay with Hasselbeck and snag Crabtree? Could be interesting.

Cleveland likely snags Mr. Crabtree, especially if they ship Braylon Edwards off the the Giants for Kiwanuka and a future 1st rounder. That deal probably won't be happen but I've been surprised before.

Cincy needs to protect Palmer, so Monroe is a no brainer. I would have said Andre Smith but people question his maturity level. And do you blame the Bengals for not taking a chance with a potential character issue?

Defensive Ends fly off the board in picks 8-10. Flip a coin. Any could land on any of these teams.

Andre Smith is a great value here. Sure he's immature, but he can play. Protecting Edwards to give him enough time to get to Owens and Lee Evans and company is paramount to succeed in the AFC East.

Raji is fantastic value here with Denver. Could go top 10 easily.

Ayers is like a Jevon Kearse type - that Tweener that has speed and presence. Washington would kill to get Sanchez, but they'll likely have to kill many GMs to get him. And that is unlikely. Kinda.

Cushing was dumbed a New Jersey Meathead by Mike Mayock at the Combine. And loved it. He's a thumper, smart, fast, and trains with Joe DeFranco. Awesome work ethic, and I'd be stupid happy if somehow he fell to the Pats at 23. But he won't.

Houston would snag Raji here but he won't be there. Jerry is the 2nd best DT in the draft, and it's a bit of an early reach but its a need and he is talented so I can see this happening.

Jenkins is a shutdown corner. San Diego has Cromartie, Weddle, and Jammer in their secondary, so why would they take Jenkins? Because they are drafting for best available right here. They need a pure Right Tackle. But there isn't one even close in this area of the draft. Jenkins will be great for Nickel and Dime packages.

With Rex Ryan as the coach for the Jets now, I had a tough time. Do they go defense? Or offense? They really need a QB, but do they take Josh Freeman? I think they address other needs first and hope for pulling in a veteran QB from around the league and maybe using a 5th round pick on a QB. That's why they go WR here. Coles is gone, and Heyward-Bey is solid.

Speaking of Freeman, Denver takes him here. Why? Because McDaniels thinks he can use him now. He needs to use him now. He thinks he fits into his system and he is the only QB left probably for a few rounds that can likely run his system effectively. He wants Sanchez and likely could package Denver's 1st round picks together and slide into the top 5, but will Sanchez be there? Yes...if they give those picks to Seattle. Other than that all bets are off.

Matthews is a solid pick. His pedigree is untouched - his father and uncle both played forever in the NFL as did his grandfather if I'm correct. He's smart, grew up all around football at a high level and fits an aging LB Corps in Tampa.

Oher is what Detroit needs - provided they take Stafford with their #1 pick. Protect your investment.

Moreno is so talented it's almost shocking he is this far down the board. It's all based on need for the most part in the top part of the draft, and interestingly enough, the Eagles need another RB, one that can stay healthy. He'll work in tandem with Westbrook who is is modeled after. Awesome fit.

Minnesota lacked the deep threat, someone that can make you miss. They also lack a good QB and they let Cutler get away. They'll go with Harvin here.

The Patriots are the hardest team to read. If you look at 10 mock drafts you'll see 10 guys in that spot. My gut says they take Laurinaitis here. My brain says they might opt for Donald Brown because of the uncertainty about Maroney. Personally, I doubt that - they picked up Fred Taylor, and have Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk, and the emerging Benjarvis Green-Ellis. I think Maroney will bounce back, but if not, those are good insurance policies. They need to get younger at defense and hit another home run like they did with Mayo last year. With this pick they can do that.

Atlanta made a huge upgrade on offense getting Tony G, and they need safety help. Delmas is the best available so why not make the move?

Miami could use another CB to shore up their secondary, and Davis helps with that. He has speed and size, and he's a competitor. Just like his brother in San Fran, Vernon Davis.

Baltimore loved Todd Heap. I say loved because it's like he's been slowly dying on the field (and my fantasy teams) for the last couple years. They need to go TE here for Flacco, he needs a reliable TE and Pettigrew falls into their lap because of Tony G going to Hotlanta.

Indy needs a DT. Simple as that. Evander Hood is the 3rd best (behind Raji and Jerry). He may be a little reach here but he is talented and has some size, plus he fits their need.

Buffalo lucks out again here - Marshawn Lynch is in trouble with the NFL, they trade a OT, get a solid one in Andre Brown, they get TO, and now they get what I think is the best most complete back in the entire draft in Donald Brown. They should be a force to reckon with this season on offense.

The Giants are preparing for life without Plaxico, which is why they are trying to get Braylon Edwards. Only they don't want to pay for him it seems. Oh well, you need to give something to get something right? If they don't get him, Hakeem Nicks is the pick. Bet on it. Houshmazilly.

Tennessee needs a little more defensive firepower. They will be hurting losing their big man up front in Haynesworth but there are no stud DT up the middle here so they go LB and take Rey Maualuga. He's smart, levels people and can cover. Word has it they might be working on a trade to Arizona for Boldin, so if they do, don't be shocked if they give up a LB to get him and take Maualuga here.

Arizona needs a sturdy game breaking RB that is young. Beanie Wells has that explosion, he has the hands. Coach Ken will love him.

Pittsburgh takes a OT. Because it's an unsexy pick. And they always do that.

Mock Draft 2.0

Normally I don't change things up, because I am confident the first time I do a Mock that if I do shake it up later that all my original picks will be more accurate.

But things change. I was dead on with my first pick with Jake Long, but the Chiefs just traded DE Jared Allen to the Vikings for their 1^st round (17^th overall) pick and both of their 3^rd rounders (which won't impact my Mock, but the first will).

With that said, I've looked over my Mock a few times since the trade and see guys climbing and falling so I'll make the changes now. Some are subtle, some are big, but there aren't that many.

Round 1

 

1. Miami Dolphins - Jake Long: OT - Michigan

2. St. Louis Rams - Chris Long: DE - Virginia

3. Atlanta Falcons - Glenn Dorsey: DT - LSU

4. Oakland Raiders - Darren McFadden: RB - Arkansas

5. Kansas City Chiefs - Matt Ryan: QB - Boston College

6. New York Jets - Vernon Gholston: DE - Ohio State

7. New England Patriots - Keith Rivers: LB - USC

8. Baltimore Ravens - Limas Sweed: WR - Texas

9. Cincinnati Bengals - Sedrick Ellis: DT - USC

10. New Orleans Saints - Leodis McKelvin: CB – Troy

11. Buffalo Bills - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie: CB – Tennessee State

12. Denver Broncos - Ryan Clady: OT - Boise State

13. Carolina Panthers - Rashard Mendenhall: RB – Illinois

14. Chicago Bears - James Hardy: WR – Indiana

15. Detroit Lions - Branden Albert: OG – Virginia

16. Arizona Cardinals – Derrick Harvey: DE - Florida

17. Kansas City Chiefs (from Minnesota) - Jeff Otah: OT – Pittsburgh

18. Houston Texans - Mike Jenkins: CB – South Florida

19. Philadelphia Eagles - Devin Thomas: WR - Michigan

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Chris Williams: OT – Vanderbilt

21. Washington Redskins - Kenny Phillips: Safety – Miami

22. Dallas Cowboys - Felix Jones: RB – Arkansas

23. Pittsburgh Steelers - Aqib Talib: CB – Kansas

24. Tennessee Titans - Jerod Mayo: LB - Tennessee

25. Seattle Seahawks - Dustin Keller: TE – Purdue

26. Jacksonville Jaguars - Kentwan Balmer: DT – North Carolina

27. San Diego Chargers - Jonathan Stewart: RB – Oregon

28. Dallas Cowboys - Brandon Flowers: CB – Virginia Tech

29. San Francisco 49ers - Mario Manningham: WR - Michigan

30. Green Bay Packers - Antoine Cason: CB – Arizona

31. New York Giants - DeSean Jackson: WR – California

 

 

Round 2

 

1. Miami – Brian Brohm: QB - Louisville

2. St. Louis – Trevor Laws: DT – Notre Dame

3. Oakland - Gosder Cherilus: OT – Boston College

4. Kansas City - Calais Campbell: DE – Clemson

5. New York Jets – Joe Flacco: QB - Delaware

6. Atlanta – Chad Henne: QB - Michigan

7. Baltimore – Fred Davis: TE – USC

8. San Francisco - Malcolm Kelly: WR - Oklahoma

9. New Orleans – Quentin Groves: DE - Auburn

10. Buffalo - Phillip Merling: DE - Clemson

11. Denver – Ray Rice: RB - Rutgers

12. Carolina – Justin King: CB – Penn State

13. Chicago – Andre Caldwell: WR - Florida

14. Detroit – Duane Brown: OT – Virginia Tech

15. Cincinnati – Jordy Nelson: WR – Kansas State

16. Minnesota – Sam Baker: OT – USC

17. Atlanta from Houston – Tracy Porter: CB – Indiana

18. Philadelphia – Curtis Lofton: LB – Oklahoma

19. Arizona – Dan Connor: LB – Penn State

20. Washington – Tyrell Johnson: S – Arkansas State

21. Tampa Bay – Jamaal Charles: RB – Texas

22. Pittsburgh – Eddie Royal: WR – Virginia Tech

23. Tennessee – Early Doucet: WR – LSU

24. Seattle – Charles Godfrey: CB - Iowa

25. Cleveland - Anthony Collins: OT – Kansas

26. Miami from San Diego – Chris Johnson:  RB – East Carolina

27. Jacksonville – John Carlson: TE – Notre Dame

28. Indianapolis – Dre Moore: DT - Maryland

29. Green Bay – Martellus Bennett: TE – Texas A&M

30. Dallas – Reggie Smith: CB – Oklahoma

31. New England – Patrick Lee: CB – Auburn

32. New York Giants – Chilo Rachal: G – USC

 

Notables:

Erin Henderson out of Maryland is a great linebacker, and is the brother of Minnesota Vikings EJ Henderson, so he has good bloodlines. He should do well at the next level.

Vanderbilt Inside Linebacker Jonathan Goff did very well at the Combine, and has excellent size (6'4", 230) and speed to complement his size (4.53). If the Patriots trade down, or they don't take Rivers at 7 like I predicted, I could see them taking Goff at the end of the second round and being very happy with him there.

Everyone five or six years you get a safety with the skills of someone like Sean Taylor. I think Miami Safety Kenny Phillips falls to Washington in the first round. They have other needs, but Phillips is the best safety in the draft by far and it's a need.

There are a lot of sleeper running backs in the draft this year, most of them out of smaller schools like Ray Rice out of Rutgers, and Chris Johnson out of East Carolina. They will be more than serviceable wherever they land.

Safeties Tom Zbikowski (Notre Dame) and James Silva (Boston College) are both special playmakers and whoever lands them will be happy with their end product. A lot of people liken Silva to the late Pat Tillman, not just because he looks like him with the long flowing blond hair but because he has the heart to back up his big plays. Zbikowski is not afraid of contact, a professional boxer in the offseason, this kid likes to mix it up. I could see either of them landing with the Patriots, Steelers, or Ravens.

I see Tampa snagging John David Booty if he is still there later in the draft, because he's a West Coast offense guy and runs a pro style offense, and Jon Gruden loves QBs. You can never have too many, right?

In that same vein, I can see Andre Woodson hooking up with someone like the Titans, and Dennis Dixon out of Oregon landing somewhere that needs an athletic QB with some upside. He was a Heismann candidate before he blew out his knee but that means nothing really (look at Troy Smith).

Steve Slaton won't slide long. He is a game breaker, and could be a fantastic RB to replace Kevin Faulk in New England eventually.

Purdue OLB Stanford Keglar has decent size, but even more upside. He's one of those guys that if you can light a fire under him he will produce. He just needs to kick it up a notch.

Long wait not so long afterall for Miami

The Miami Dolphins signed Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long to a multiyear contract and will select him with the No. 1 overall pick in Saturday's draft. The contract is for five years, $57.75 million, with $30 million guaranteed.

Rather than find themselves in the same situation the Raiders did last year with No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell, who held out well into the year, the Dolphins shored up Long well in advance to the draft even starting.

Now Miami fans are left wondering what could have been if Brady Quinn was actually drafted instead of Ted Ginn…

Mock Draft 1.0

My Mock is always "late" in the sense that I like to wait until Free Agency has died down for the most part. It gives me a more clear picture on team needs and what I think will happen. As usual, my mock won't take into account trades, even though this could be a draft with a ton of movement, from the Jets and Pats at spots 6 and 7 respectively, to Dallas potentially jumping up into the top 3. I've also changed up the look and format of my Mock, for ease of reading, and also ease of putting together.

That said, let's get this going! Round 1 with analysis, Rounds 2 and 3 will be quick and dirty with just the team and the pick. I will post the 2^nd and 3^rd rounds in a bit.

 

#	Team	Player	Analysis
1	Miami Dolphins	Jake Long OT – Michigan	It's old news now that the Dolphins are negotiating with a number of the top potential picks right now. I think Parcells looked at game film from last year and decided whoever is taken first overall they will need protection. Jake Long does just that.
2	St. Louis Rams	Chris Long DE – Virginia	If I'm wrong in the 1 slot and Chris Long is taken, I see the Rams grabbing Dorsey here. They need to build on defense. Chris Long is exceptional, and with genes like his he will be something special. He is more than likely going to be a DE, but has the versatility to drop back and play OLB.
3	Atlanta Falcons	Glenn Dorsey DT – LSU	People are constantly questioning Dorsey's health, but why? Even when he was hurt he played, never missing a game. Isn't that what teams want?? Some think Matt Ryan goes here, I don't, and here is why: the new GM for the Falcons is coming from the Patriots, an organization that won 3 Superbowls because of building their team around a stellar defensive line, and draft skill positions later. They do that here, trying to emulate that blueprint.
4	Oakland Raiders	Darren McFadden RB – Arkansas	Every free agent pickup seems to fly in the face of what Lane Kiffin wants, and is all about Al Davis. If that is true, McFadden is the sexy pick here. If Dorsey is still around here, maybe they use the pick to replace Warren Sapp, but McFadden is something special and won't make it out of the top 6 regardless.
5	Kansas City Chiefs	Matt Ryan QB – Boston College	A lot of Mocks have the Chiefs taking a CB here, but who is their QB? Huard? Croyle? Matt Ryan could provide consistency here early on, and I think Herm Edwards needs some consistency to help save him his job. Ryan is not only a safe pick but a smart one.
6	New York Jets	Vernon Gholston DE – Ohio State	A lot of people think the Jets will take Gholston just because the Pats want him. I tend to agree. Aside from the super success of guys like Patrick Willis and David Harris, the Jets could have two of the best young linebackers if they take Gholston and put him next to David Harris. They've spent a ton of money in free agency, and I don't see them dropping down to avoid paying money here.
7	New England Patriots	Keith Rivers LB – USC	My Mocks don't take into account teams trading down. But if I was a betting man, I'd say the Patriots would trade out of this pick if Gholston isn't there if they get good value. Rivers is a great linebacker, and he was even brought into New England recently, but the Pats are down a pick this year, and there is great depth at CB.
8	Baltimore Ravens	Limas Sweed WR – Texas	The Ravens need to get home run threats on the field for Boller or whoever they put out there at the helm. Sweed does just that. Originally I had them taking Rodgers-Cromartie here, but there is a new coach in town and unlike Brian Billick, he really COULD be an offensive genius…
9	Cincinnati Bengals	Sedrick Ellis DT – USC	Cincy is not only thrilled that they get a stud DT here, but they get someone that more than likely will not end up in jail in the first 18 months of his NFL career. What a welcome change that would be! Ellis could go higher, but the way I see things shaking out, he would be a great fit here and will have an immediate impact.
10	New Orleans Saints	Leodis McKelvin CB – Troy	This is one of those names people throw around when they talk about the Pats or Ravens for their picks. Generally I don't see small town school guys going within the top 10, not because they aren't talented, just because of the level of play and comparables there are out there with some of the bigger school guys. The Saints signed Randall Gay, but still need depth and skill at the position.
11	Buffalo Bills	Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB – Tennessee State	If you're even a casual NFL fan, last year you were always hearing the name "Cromartie" when it came to play making ability. The Bills need some of that, and some think this is a bit of a small reach here, but Rodgers-Cromartie is a stud, and posted a top three 40 time (4.33) for CB, a top vertical leap (38") and a strong showing on the bench (17). The Bills need athletic fast corners to keep up with Randy Moss and company, so they snag him here.
12	Denver Broncos	Ryan Clady OT – Boise State	At first I had the Broncos taking Mendenhall here, but they love those RBs they pull out of nowhere, so I'll build on that. I also had them taking a WR, especially with Brandon Marshall out for an extended period of time for slashing his arm open. I am still leaning towards that a bit…if not, Clady is the pick. You can never have enough offensive linemen that know how to zone block and Clady is a great value pick here.
13	Carolina Panthers	Rashard Mendenhall RB – Illinois	DeShaun Foster is not walking through that door. But does it matter? I don't think so. The Panthers could grab a LB here to replace Dan Morgan, or a RB. I saw RB, as Mendenhall did superbly at the Combine (4.45 dash, 26 reps, 33" vert), and his last collegiate contest was a great showing, running all over USC (155 yards) and showing people he can succeed in the NFL.
14	Chicago Bears	Malcolm Kelly WR - Oklahoma	Who didn't the Bears lose in free agency? They lost Muhammed and Berrian and basically signed no one. They need a QB, they need WRs, they need another RB, they need everything. This team totally confuses me. Kelly is the smart pick here and he'll make any QB they plug in look half decent. Note: if Lovie Smith goes with Kyle Orton or Rex Grossman at QB someone needs to kick him in the face to wake him up.
15	Detroit Lions	Aqib Talib CB – Kansas	Talib's stock dropped noticeably (was going to the Patriots for a while in many Mocks) and not too many people understood why. He has good speed (4.47), decent times in shuttles, and a fantastic vertical (38"). But he is super weak. 10 reps on the bench for a guy that is 6'1, 205? Come on. People question whether he is a tackling Corner or a pusher (aka Deion Sanders). He had a great Pro Day though and that keeps him in the top 15.
16	Arizona Cardinals	Kenny Phillips Safety – Miami	The University of Miami is widely known to produce great running backs and safeties. Phillips could develop into one of those safeties. He has decent speed (4.54) and strength (19 reps) for someone that is 6'2", 210lbs. I expect more strength from a guy his size, but he hits like a truck and has excellent instincts. The Cardinals need someone like that in their secondary.
17	Minnesota Vikings	Derrick Harvey DE – Florida	Harvey is one of those tweeners, and has the raw talent and skill to jump as high as to the Patriots. Being an Urban Meyer guy, Belichick has the inside scoop on Harvey so if he goes up at 7 you know he is something special. Can he play OLB if needed? That's the question. The Vikings need to get a bit younger on their defensive line and by adding Harvey here they get just that.
18	Houston Texans	Mike Jenkins CB – South Florida	Jenkins was one of those guys who people pegged as the best CB in the draft…prior to the Combine. His workouts didn't hurt him, but he didn't separate himself from the other guys, as he didn't participate in most of the drills, including the vertical, broad jump, the 20 and 60 yard shuttles or the 3 cone drill. He ran a solid 40 (4.38) and posted a pretty decent bench for a CB (18 reps), but again, being from a small school and not doing all the workouts sometimes hurt you. The Texans need a playmaker to shut down some of the bigger WRs in their division and Jenkins is good value here.
19	Philadelphia Eagles	Devin Thomas WR - Michigan	People that are ragging on McNabb are certifiably insane. He still has the skills, he's just had absolute dumb luck when it comes to injuries. Is it smart Andy Reid got him insurance in the form of Kevin Kolb? Absolutely. They have some aging holes on defense, but they need more weapons on offense than just Kevin Curtis, Brian Westbrook, and LJ Smith. Devin Thomas had a fantastic Combine and Pro Day workout and could be one of the very few rookie WRs to actually make an impact right away.
20	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Chris Williams OT – Vanderbilt	Jon Gruden loves offense. And Quarterbacks. When you have 39 QBs on your roster, it's great to have a solid line up front to protect all of them. Williams is a beast with quick feet and solid pass and run blocking ability. He is a natural leader and could be one of those Tackles that is the cornerstone of your line for years to come.
21	Washington Redskins	Jeff Otah OT – Pittsburgh	Otah could be gone here as his stock is rising fast than a loaf of bread. The Steelers would pounce on the local product if he fell to them at 23 but I don't see that happening. Like the Bucs they need someone that has an arsenal of skills and Otah has them. He doesn't have sexy Combine numbers (5.56 in the dash, 27 reps, 22" vertical), but you can't teach size, and at 6'6", 330lbs., he is one of the biggest linemen in the draft.
22	Dallas Cowboys	Felix Jones RB – Arkansas	This is the popular pick among Mocks right now simply because it makes sense: losing Julius Jones + Jerry Jones' alma mater = drafting Felix Jones. Jones is the "other back" from Arkansas, the "other" guy in McFadden's shadow, but he should have a pretty productive career, especially playing with Tony Romo and splitting time with Marion the Barbarian Barber.
23	Pittsburgh Steelers	Calais Campbell DE – Clemson	The Steelers are defined by their 3-4. But the need pieces to put in that 3-4 to make it effective. They need some serious pass rushing ability and depth at DE, and Campbell gives them that. A former high school TE, Campbell is great with his hands to go with very serviceable speed (5.03 dash) with some serious size (6'8", 285).
24	Tennessee Titans	Branden Albert OG – Virginia	Albert's stock is rising as well, but there is a high premium on versatile linemen, and Albert could be the best of the crop. The Titans would love to have him and protect Vince Young, but many think he will be long gone here, a potential top 5 pick and will go to the Chiefs. Nevertheless he's my 24 pick here, and the Titans could do a lot worse.
25	Seattle Seahawks	Dustin Keller TE – Purdue	This kid is a bonafide FREAK at the TE position: at 6'4", 240lbs. he is probably close to his max size for his frame, but his numbers are disgusting: he ran a 4.53 in the 40, clicked out 26 reps on the bench, jumped out of his shoes in the vert hitting 38", and had some of the best shuttle times overall. He's not bad at blocking, but he could become a premier pass catching TE very quickly.
26	Jacksonville Jaguars	Kentwan Balmer DT – North Carolina	Balmer could go much higher as there is a super premium on stud DT this year and he is easily in the top 3, right behind Dorsey and Ellis. After that it gets cloudy fast. The Jags need help up front, and although they could go DE here, I think DT makes the most sense for them. Originally had them taking Quentin Groves, but Balmer is still here and it makes the most sense.
27	San Diego Chargers	Jonathan Stewart RB – Oregon	The Chargers need to reload at RB. Losing Michael Turner hurts, but they need to move on, and Stewart has the explosiveness to make people say "Michael who?" in a few years. He complements LT very nicely. If they don't go RB here, they should probably try to draft a LB that won't test positive for banned substances…like oh, I don't know, Merriman and now Cooper.
28	Dallas Cowboys	Brandon Flowers CB – Virginia Tech	The Cowboys really have 3 needs: WR, RB, and CB. This could easily change between now and Draft day, based solely on getting Pacman Jones. If they get him I think they will snag DeSean Jackson here. Flowers has speed and good size, and he can tackle. Just what the Cowboys secondary needs…someone that knows how to tackle. Maybe he can teach Roy Williams how NOT to horsecollar people.
29	San Francisco 49ers	Dan Connor LB – Penn State	This is a reach, but bear with me: Connor is fantastic, and the 49ers saw how a great young LB (Patrick Willis) can make an immediate impact. If they draft Connor, they are basically set for the next 10 years as far as linebackers go. Everyone is saying they will snag Gosder Cherilus (OT) but with getting Joe Staley last year on the other side, I don't think they'll go that route here. Connor is a beast, and I so wish the Patriots still had that 31st pick and he could have fallen to them but alas, that's impossible.
30	Green Bay Packers	Antoine Cason CB – Arizona	Everyone knows the Packers are in need of depth at CB. Cason gives them some good height (6') and speed (4.49) and a solid vert (35"). He has the ability to bring an INT back for a TD, and did it quite well in Zona. His strength is pretty good (20 reps) but he could add some weight to himself (185lbs.) so he won't be thrown around when he tries to press.
31	New England Patriots	Forfeited	No pick because Roger Goodell deemed the Patriots violated league rules. The question that remains: will whoever is chosen first in the 2nd round be given 1st round money? Didn't think so…but some agents could make that argument…
32	New York Giants	DeSean Jackson WR – California	Plaxico Burress needs help. The credit for the Superbowl win has to go to the Giants d-line, and the o-line. They pressured Brady, they kept it off Eli just long enough. A play here or there and Wes Welker is the Superbowl MVP. That said, Jackson opens it up for Burress. If the Giants can reign Shockey in, they could repeat as NFC Champs. Jackson gives them some serious speed and athleticism to give Eli another option.

Mock Draft coming soon

My annual Mock Draft is coming soon. This is a very tough draft this year, especially given the fact that my Mocks specifically have no place for trades. This is one of those years where there could be a lot of movement. I'll do my best as always.

Let the Combine begin!!! Sorta...

The NFL Combine is ready to begin tomorrow in Indianapolis, Indiana at the RCA Dome.

For some very odd reason it won't be shown on TV as it is happening, with the sessions that are scheduled for tomorrow to be aired on Saturday.

Maybe it's because they want more viewers? I'm not quite sure, but last year when it was live I basically ran home to tune in after work.

It just doesn't make sense to me when the results will be posted on ESPN and NFL.com throughout the day.

Breaking News: Raiders and 1st pick overall Russell agree to contract

It's being reported right now that QB JaMarcus Russell and the Oakland Raiders have reached a 6 year deal which he will sign on Tuesday. It is being reported that the deal is worth over $68 million, $37.4 of which is guaranteed money.

Russell was the last first round draft pick to reach a deal.   

NFL tidbits

A few NFL tidbits I wanted to drop notes on:

• Fullback/H-Back/TightEnd Garrett Mills was cut by the Patriots this week and is off to the Vikings as they signed him shortly after he was cut. Mills is a unique talent, and a packed roster and oft injured status are the only things that kept him off the Pats roster. The University of Tulsa product is very similar to Washington Redskins utility man Chris Cooley and if the Vikings nurture him he will be something special for sure.


• I'm not so sure why the New Orleans Saints would draft someone in the beginning of the 4th round and cut him??? Antonio Pittman is a solid running back out of Ohio State, and they helped out the St. Louis Rams by cutting him outright. I'm not sure why they wouldn't want to try and trade away Deuce McAllister and keep the running game fresh and get some talent out of it.

• The Atlanta Falcons should sign Byron Leftwich before I wake up tomorrow. It's a no brainer. Help Joey Harrington out and give him a solid veteran behind him to support him. I think Harrington will be more than fine this season, leading the Falcons to 10 wins this season. He has the talent, he has always just been placed on awful teams that had no idea how to draft. With the Falcons, he has no excuses.

• The Browns are smart to not throw Brady Quinn to the wolves so early. They should use him sparingly in the first 6 games in my opinion, as he faces tough defenses in Pittsburgh, Cincy, Oakland, Baltimore, New England, and Miami. That said, I don't think he needs to sit on the bench for all of these games, as it will help his development to see different defenses and schemes so quickly and on the fly. The Patriots run a base 3-4 and out of it switch on the fly to a 5-3, 3-5, 4-4, 4-3, and 3-3. You never know what Belichick is going to throw at you and that experience could be priceless. At the same time, you don't want him getting knocked out of the season early on. There is a fine line that Romeo Crennel
  will need to walk and I hope he is up for the task.


• The Colts will win 11 games this season and they will be lucky to get that many wins. They've lost a ton of starters on defense and will most likely give up 30 a game, which puts even more pressure on Peyton Manning to put up 40 to win it. Most of the time he will come through, but he won't always. Losing his blindside tackle is a huge loss and putting a rookie there to take his spot, even though Tony Ugoh is legit, will be rough on Manning for a while.