MaddHatter
Footballguy
New mock draft for Christmas
round two can be found here
round two can be found here
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — DT Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska)
Everybody loves this kid now. I have loved him for the last two years, back when nobody could pronounce his name. Never before have I been as awe-struck about a defensive tackle as I am with Suh. Well, maybe I was with Sedrick Ellis (right Draft Guys). His ability to penetrate gaps and attack is uncanny. He is worth the goods and should be the first defensive tackle selected first overall since 1994.
2. St. Louis Rams — QB Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame)*
This franchise is in such disarray that if I were to advise the front office, I would tell them to draft safety Eric Berry. This is not the NBA where one player can reverse the fortunes of a franchise. While you may refer to my previous statements on Jimmy Clausen being “great,” I still would hope that the Rams would first try to build a wall around their quarterback. Then again, things were ugly last week when thousands of Rams fans were left watching rookie QB Keith Null start behind center.
3. Detroit Lions — OT Russell Okung (Oklahoma State)
This team can not continue to pass up on elite offensive tackle prospects like Matt Millen is still running the show. Jeff Backus needs to go. He is absolutely terrible yet the coaching staff continues to gas him up like he is Ryan Clady. Okung could be a ’swing and a miss’ but at least the Lions would be swinging at a hanging curve ball over the plate instead of a splitter down and out.
4. Cleveland Browns — S Eric Berry (Tennessee)*
Some Browns fans want a quarterback here, others want the best available. With Washington passer Jake Locker making an enormous mistake by not declaring, the Browns should take the best player available. Eric Berry can always been found around the ball. I watched the Tennessee-Florida game again and Berry really put on a show. He had one strtech where he made six consecutive tackles. He is like LaVar Arrington but from the secondary.
5. Kansas City Chiefs — LB Rolando McClain (Alabama)*
The Chiefs need to better protect their quarterback but the only legit offensive tackle for the taking here is Bruce Campbell and even he may slide due to injury concerns once we delve into the combine (which seems like years away). I watched McClain play every linebacker position as well as defensive end, depending on the defensive scheme. He is a monster off of the ball and would provide the Chiefs with a great fit for their new 3-4 defense.
6. Washington Redskins — OT Bruce Campbell (Maryland)*
If Campbell declares, he will have some questions to ask about his knee. I think he is too risky of a pick to land in the top ten but if Andre Smith can go No. 6 overall in 2009 than Campbell should be worthy of a top three selection. But back to the point. With Jason Campbell somehow flourishing late in the year (it is a mirage people), he will likely be around next year. More importantly than whoever is behind center, the ‘Skins need two offensive tackles. They would land a high risk/high reward guy in Campbell here.
7. Oakland Raiders — DE Carlos Dunlap (Florida)*
Nevermind the D.U.I., Al Davis doesn’t care about anything but athleticism. The last three drafts have focused on offensive power and speed but it is about time for Uncle Al to blossom with a freak on defense. Carlos Dunlap is a great college football player with tremendous upside. If Al Davis does not take him here, he will more than likely slide due to the red flags popping up around him.
8. Buffalo Bills — QB Sam Bradford (Oklahoma)*
His multiple shoulder injuries are frightening but not all general managers will worry about that as much as others. Buffalo needs a quarterback. They would love to have Jim Kelly back in his prime but that was nearly 20 years ago. Bradford gives this franchise a face, someone other than Terrell Owens, all while the defense looks to get better with age.
9. Denver Broncos (from Chicago) — CB Joe Haden (Florida)*
I am not sure if Denver would draft a quarterback with this pick. That thought is a good talking point when you are out at the bar but Kyle Orton has been somewhat effective, after all, he is faring better than former Bronco Jay Cutler and has the Broncos on the verge of the playoffs. The secondary is getting old and needs help. Haden would be a terrific fit.
10. Seattle Seahawks — QB Ryan Mallett (Arkansas)*
With two first round picks, Seattle has to use the first one to represent the best value and snatch up a passer. They can not continue to fumble around with Matt Hasselbeck. Mallett, an underclassman, may need some time to develop provided he declares but his arm strength combined with pocket awareness makes this an intriguing pick for the ‘Hawks.
11. San Francisco 49ers (from Carolina) — DT Gerald McCoy (Oklahoma)*
The best player available will be grabbed here. McCoy’s style of play may not be a match made in heaven with San Francisco but I can not see him being drafted in the top five. Maybe the top ten but due to circumstance, I have him falling.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers — S Earl Thomas (Texas)*
I can’t believe the Steelers would be picking this high. Usually they are in the late 20’s or 30’s in the first round. Regardless, they need help at safety. Pittsburgh can not tackle and Ryan Clark will be a free agent in the spring. Tyrone Carter is also set to walk.
13. Atlanta Falcons — DE Derrick Morgan (Georgia Tech)
No one is really talking about Morgan right now but as we start seeing workouts leading up to the draft, Morgan will rise back into the first half of the first round. The Falcons could use a cornerback here too.
14. Tennessee Titans — CB Donovan Warren (Michigan)*
Nick Harper will be four years away from 40. He no longer has the goods to continue to start alongside Finnegan and Rod Hood has proved to be nothing more than a journeyman as he has bounced from Philly to Arizona and now Tennessee.
15. Houston Texans — DT Jared Odrick (Penn State)
I would like to see Houston take a player like Golden Tate here but the run defense has been atrocious as Amobi Okoye can not do it all on his own. Odrick is flying under the radar right now but he is arguably the best defensive tackle after Suh.
16. San Francisco 49ers — OT Anthony Davis (Rutgers)*
The Niners need an upgrade at right tackle. They still need a cornerback too. Regardless, Davis is the best right tackle prospect remaining and would do well with the 49ers system.
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17. Jacksonville Jaguars — QB Tim Tebow (Florida)
Pro Football Talk has started a conspiracy theory about NFL owners agreeing to let Tebow fall into Jacksonville’s lap, primarily for monetary purposes. I will be breaking down Tim Tebow in full detail here shortly after the bowl games. You may like what I have to say about him.
18. New York Jets — WR Dez Bryant (Oklahoma State)*
Oh, I don’t know. New York is in a position to take the best player available. The trade for Braylon Edwards has not worked out the way the Jets expected and Jerricho Cotchery is better suited to play alongside someone better than him. Really.
19. New York Giants — OT Bryan Bulaga (Iowa)
Bulaga is an aggressive run blocker. With Kareem McKenzie starting to show his age, the Giants will need to look to plug a hole at right tackle. Bulaga fits the description of what this franchise usually pursues.
20. Baltimore Ravens — WR Golden Tate (Notre Dame)*
More explosiveness is needed from the wide-out position in Baltimore. Who knows if Derrick Mason will retire again and then unretire, etc. Aside from him, Mark Clayton has been lousy and the rest of the depth chart is riddled with journeymen. Tate would expand the offense and levy pressure off of Joe Flacco.
21. Miami Dolphins — DT Dan Williams (Tennessee)
Miami needs a nose tackle. Since Bill Parcells arrived, they have gotten by with Jason Ferguson. Ferguson is 34 years old and is set to be a free agent this March. Bring in Dan Williams, a player with experience under Monte Kiffin at Rocky Top, and we have a nice solution for the ‘Phins.
22. Dallas Cowboys — S Taylor Mays (USC)
Taylor Mays should have cashed in last year but by sticking around for his senior year, this gifted athlete lost a lot of money. Still, Dallas needs some stability at free safety and Mays’ athleticism and pedigree would have Jerry Jones sitting in his suite with a big smile on his face.
23. Arizona Cardinals — OT Jason Fox (Miami Fl.)
Arizona needs to replace Mike Gandy. This is more evident than ever and I fully expect Fox to become a first rounder by the time April swings around.
24. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver) — OT Trent Williams (Oklahoma)
The left tackle position is not available. The only thing we see on the field is a sign reading ‘Now Hiring: Inquire Within.”
25. New England Patriots — OLB Jerry Hughes (TCU)
The Patriots need help at linebacker. Despite their woes, they have still been able to piece together some good plays from the position but this is a situation where the rich get richer.
26. Green Bay Packers — OT Charles Brown (USC)
Things have gotten better in the protection department lately but relying on that quilted-offensive line going into 2010 would make things rough for this team.
27. Philadelphia Eagles — OG Mike Iupati (Idaho)
Andy Reid loves to surprise us on draft day. Most of you may have never heard of Mike Iupati but you can bet your last dollar that he will be a guy everyone is raving about come draft day. The Eagles need help on the interior of the offensive line and Iupati has the build of someone that Reid likes to take out to eat cheese steaks.
28. Cincinnati Bengals — WR Damian Williams (USC)*
This has nothing to do with the Chris Henry tragedy. The Bengals offense is struggling through the air and another player is needed to play alongside Chad Ochocinco.
29. San Diego Chargers — DT Terrence Cody (Alabama)
Cody may be a little bit out of shape but that does not deter him from excelling on the gridiron. San Diego should have secured a nose tackle last year but they will get their guy in 2010.
30. Minnesota Vikings — RB C.J. Spiller (Clemson)
Chester Taylor and his $3 million contract could be expendable in 2010, the final year of his contract. Taylor has been an adequate piece to the offense in Minnesota but his lackluster play at times in 2009 may have paved the road for his way out of town. It is obvious that Brad Childress loves speed and playmakers and Spiller could add another dimension to the special teams’ unit, alongside Percy Harvin as well as provide a nice change of pace to Adrian Peterson.
31. Indianapolis Colts — OT Joseph Barksdale (LSU)
Once again, a need on the offensive line overwhelms Indianapolis on draft day. Will they follow through or surprise us with a defensive player?
32. New Orleans Saints — OLB Travis Lewis (Oklahoma)*
Assuming he declares, Lewis could be drafted in the top 15 but we all know that linebackers have a tendency to slide.
Don't see Gresham either.
I was going to post the same thing.....Rex Glows talking about Braylon - I know the haters love to shine a spotlight on him but, Rex went up against this guys for years and has a lot of respect for him and loves the way he's handled himself in NY and on the practice field so far. He's working hard and makes a difference on the offense with or without the ball. Every Braylon drop is magnified but, in NY he's got a clean slate and he does have excuses, namely Sanchez. Rex talks like there's no doubt he'll be here - I can see the Jets taking a WR but, not in round 1....AND.. #1 priority IMO will be the health of Kris Jenkins - If he's not 100% then look for possibly the DT you gave to Miami.... Even if he's 100%, I think Rex is going to want to go defense here and fortify that spot... #2 is like TLEF said, the situation with Rhodes - While glowing about Braylon, Rex talks about how Rhodes was supposed to be the playmaker and he's a dissapointment - and unlike Braylon, this is in the games and practice, on the field and off.The Jets need to fortify both Lines.... I think the Braylon haters are way off on how Rex thinks about Bray Bray.RB is something to look at later depending on Leon's recovery...But, IMO, the Jets go DEFENSE in round 1... They need a Pass rusher, they need DL, they need DT, they need S and they need another CB.... Rex wants to make this unit Dominant, I think this year is nothing but a flash for what he really wants.....
