NFL Mock Draft #3

Order now based on real NFL Draft order

1. Detroit Lions 0-16

If Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford comes out, the Lions need to take him. The Falcons proved this season, with Matt Ryan, that when you have a good quarterback, you can mask up a bunch of other holes, which the Lions, at 0-16, certainly have. If Bradford can do what Ryan did this year for the Falcons, and management can bring in some small name, but helpful free agents, like Atlanta did with Michael Turner, and the Lions can be smart with their 2nd first round pick, from Dallas, as Atlanta did when they took Sam Baker, the Lions could once again be a respectable team very quickly.

2. St. Louis Rams 2-14

The Rams have huge problems with their offensive line. Marc Bulger is a frail injury prone quarterback, who takes a long time to get rid of the ball. On the left side of the line is frail injury prone Orlando Pace and on the right side of the line is a rotating door of frail injury prone right tackles. Michael Oher is the best offensive lineman available, but Alabama OT Andre Smith is right behind him and he fills more of a need for the Rams because he’s a natural right tackle. All of a sudden, if Pace can stay healthy, they have Pace and Smith at the tackle positions, which is a very strong duo to help keep Marc Bulger healthy, as he was in 2006 when the team won 10 games, or for a young quarterback to mature behind, if they decide to go that direction.

3. Kansas City Chiefs 2-14

I’ve heard quarterback here, but Tyler Thigpen is too good and the rest of the team is too bad for the Chiefs to focus on that position early in the draft. Defensive end is clearly their biggest weakness, but they can still can a capable end in the 2nd round in this deep defensive end draft class. Ole Miss OT Michael Oher is the best player available here and their offensive line could use some work, giving up 37 sacks, 11th most in the league. He would be the franchise offensive tackle this team needs to protect Thigpen and he would also allow 2008 first round pick Brandan Albert to move back to his natural position, guard, thus upgrading two positions at once and solidifying the line for the future.

4. Seattle Seahawks 4-12

Matt Hasselbeck is back, I don’t know why though. Every time he looks up to pass, there’s no one there. It is no longer at the point where they are taking random wide receivers and lining them up like it was earlier in the season, however, his top 2 options are Bobby Engram, 35 years old and counting, and Deion Branch, who hasn’t been healthy since 2005. After them, it gets even worse as Koren Robinson, Jordan Dent, and Courtney Taylor, whose claim to fame is being named a Lindsey Hunter All-Star by Bill Simmons, prove week after week that they just can’t catch the football. With Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree still in the board, they need to take him. He might be the most athletically gifted wide receiver prospect since Calvin Johnson, and that’s saying something.

5. Cleveland Browns 4-12

The Browns biggest need might be running back, but that is a position that can be addressed later. With Texas DE Brian Orakpo available they need to take him to fix up their awful pass rush. They mustered only 17 sacks last year, 2nd worst in the league, behind the Chiefs, who set a league record for least sacks in a season. Brian Orakpo, who had 11.5 last season at Texas to become an elite draft prospect, should be able to fix that tremendously. Once their pass rush improve, or at least becomes existent, their 26th ranked pass defense should improve.

6. Cincinnati Bengals 4-11-1

The Bengals’ offensive line is still awful and Carson Palmer is still going to take some hits when he returns next season. However, Palmer’s backup Ryan Fitzpatrick was only sacked 3 times in his final three games, all wins, after being sacked 35 times in his first 9 starts, which is improvement. With that, as well as the fact neither of the two top offensive tackles remaining on the board, the Bengals can wait to fix their offensive line, without fearing for Carson Palmer’s life. They can look at other needs. Cedric Benson had a good final 2 games this season, but I doubt he fits into their long terms plans which means they can take a running back here. Ohio native Ohio State RB Chris Wells is still available and makes a lot of sense. If Palmer comes back 100% next season and Wells continues to run the way he did in college, this could be a dangerous offense once again.

7. Oakland Raiders 5-11

Allow me to step into the shoes of Al Davis for this selection (man am I ugly!). Hmm, I like fast and I like USC. That 6-3 230 kid just ran a 4.4 40, and he goes to USC, draft him now. That kid is USC FS Taylor Mays, who is an athletic free of nature. With Michael Huff now officially a bust, Mays could be his replacement and hopefully be a little bit less of a bust. He doesn’t fit a need necessarily for the Raiders, but Al Davis is going to fall head over heels in love with him after the combine, so Mays is the pick. If a sane owner were running the show, this pick would have to be Eugene Monroe. This offensive line is awful. Unfortunately for Raider Nation, a sane owner is not running the show.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars 5-11

The Jaguars, as any 5-11 team, have a lot of needs. Interior linemen are much needed, but unless they want to draft Eugene Monroe and try to convert him into a guard, this is way too early to draft a guard or center. On the defense, interior linebackers are needed, with Mike Peterson on bad terms and a free agent this off season. However, the pass defense is still awful, ranking 30th in terms of yards per attempt. They tried to fix their pass defense with better pass rushers last off season, but that didn’t work. It’s gotten so bad that Drayton Florence has had to step in alongside Rashean Mathis. They need a long term cornerback to play alongside Mathis and who better than Ohio State CB Malcolm Jenkins. He’s the only cornerback worth taking here and he makes more sense for the Jags than Monroe or a linebacker like Rey Maualuga or James Laurinaitis.

9. Green Bay Packers 6-10

What the Packers like to do is take best available. While defensive line is their biggest need, I doubt they’ll reach here for an end like Michael Johnson, though that might not be a huge reach, or a defensive tackle like Terence Cody. Virginia OT Eugene Monroe is the best player available here and he can really be a help to the Packers. He can play both tackle and guard. Their tackles combine to be 63 years old and while their guards combine to only weigh 605 pounds. The 21-year-old 325 pound Monroe can help with both. Their offensive line is in the bottom half of the league in terms of sacks allowed, despite having the swift Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, and the bottom third in terms of rushing yards per carry, despite having both Ryan Grant and Brandon Jackson at running back.

10. San Francisco 49ers 7-9

I started out liking the idea of the Niners drafting a quarterback of the future. Then Shaun Hill started playing well, and conservative coach Mike Singletary looked like he would return so I went with the idea of a defensive lineman. However, in the next mock, no defensive lineman merited selection here, with Michael Johnson already off the board, so I went quarterback once again. And wouldn’t you know it; I have to flip flop again because Georgia Tech DE Michael Johnson is back on the board here this week. He can play left end to take the pressure off of Justin Smith on the right side and allow 2008 first round pick Kentawn Balmer to play defensive tackle once again. If Johnson is on the board, he’s the pick. If he isn’t, I think the pick is Stafford, even with a conservative coach and a decent quarterback already in place.

11. Buffalo Bills 7-9

The Bills decline this season is a head scratching one but I think it can be credited to their decline in pass defense. Their corners are fine, in fact they used a first rounder on Leodis McKlevin last year and he has done fine. However, with Aaron Schobel, injury and age, possibly done as an elite pass rusher for his career, they need to get a #1 pass rusher quick. Quarterbacks are getting too much time in the pocket against them. Penn State DE Aaron Maybin is the best pass rusher left on the board.

12. Denver Broncos 8-8

The Broncos gave 5 yards per carry to opposing running back this season. They are very vulnerable down the middle, with a combination of Marcus Thomas, Dewayne Robertson, and Nate Webster playing on the inside of their defense at defensive tackle and middle linebacker. They’ll probably go with the best player available at either of those two positions. USC MLB Rey Maualuga has already slipped some and I can’t see him slipping much further than Denver at #12.

13. Washington Redskins 8-8

The ‘Skins pass rush was awful this season after Jason Taylor, brought in to save the rush, got hurt. Taylor is going on 35 years old and not very healthy right now so they need someone to play end in case Taylor cannot. Unfortunately, Orakpo, Johnson, and Maybin are all off of the board at this point, so they should lose elsewhere for an end, maybe the 2nd round. Marcus Washington is likely to be cut as a cap causality so they could use a replacement for him. Wake Forest OLB Aaron Curry has slipped too far and shouldn’t slip past the ‘Skins.

14. New Orleans Saints 8-8

The Saints defense needs helps everywhere, most notably at outside linebacker, defensive end, and safety. Outside linebacker is out of the question, unfortunately, with Curry just going to Washington. Curry could have definitely helped them out a lot more. As for defensive end, Everette Brown is a possibility. However, Kevin Kaesviharn was starting at safety before he got injured. His replacement is going to be worse. That free safety position is a mess, and one that needs to be cleaned up quick otherwise teams will continue to beat them deep next season. They ranked 23rd against the pass in terms of yards per game and with mega talent Missouri FS William Moore on the board, they need to take him. He helps them more that Brown would.

15. Houston Texans 8-8

The Texans likely would have had their eyes on both Curry and Moore and now have to go elsewhere. Coach Gary Kubiak, historically, picks defensive lineman and with a few holes on their defensive line, that could be the direction they go in this year. That might mean a defensive end, as the Texans need an upgrade at left end over Anthony Weaver. However, instead of reaching for Everette Brown, they’d be wiser to take the best defensive lineman available, Alabama DT Terrence Cody. Defensive tackle isn’t their biggest need but it is a need, as Travis Johnson looked subpar at times. Pairing 350 pound Terrence Cody, along with 2006 first round pick Mario Williams and 2007 first round pick Amobi Okoye on the defensive line would give the Texans one of the best defensive lines in the game, which would help out tremendously a defense that ranked 27th in the league in terms of points per game allowed. Okoye and Cody could be Houston’s own version of Minnesota’s purple people eaters and stabilize a defense that, when paired with this dangerous offense, could make this a playoff team next year.

16. San Diego Chargers 8-8

The Chargers, despite their 8-8 record, do not have a lot of glaring needs, except for maybe offensive line. Eugene Monroe, as well as Andre Smith and Michael Oher, is off the board, so they probably shouldn’t go that route and reach for someone like Jason Smith or Ciron Black. Because of that they can go the route of best available player that’s not a quarterback. That player would be Ohio State MLB James Laurinaitis. Their middle linebackers could stand to be upgraded. Maualuga would be an upgrade both Tim Robbins and Stephen Cooper. He would fit well into San Diego’s 3-4 defense because he wouldn’t be the only middle linebacker out there. This way he wouldn’t be overwhelmed as a rookie and could ease into the system.

17. New York Jets 9-7

Who knows if Brett Favre will be back, but even if he is, it wouldn’t be for too long, as he showed this year that he just doesn’t have a lot of life left in his arm (he also left his heart in Green Bay). The Jets shouldn’t even have to think before taking Georgia QB Matt Stafford, a potential top 5 pick who has slipped out of the lack of need for quarterbacks. Stafford will be ready to take over when Brett is done. He’d be an upgrade, by a lot, over current backup quarterbacks Kellen Clemens and Erick Ainge and with no glaring needs for the Jets, they almost have to take Stafford.

18. Chicago Bears 9-7
It’s weird to think of the Bears as not having a good pass rush or defensive ends, because that’s been their signature for years, but that is the case this season. No end has more than 6 sacks this season. Florida State DE Everette Brown, who has 12.5 sacks this season, should help them regain their once great pass rush by modernizing their defensive line, from the era of power rushers to the era of speed rushers. Brown runs a 40 in the 4.5s.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-7

Joey Galloway and Ike Hillard were the starting wide receivers to start the year. They were a combined 69 years old and both lost their starting jobs. Antonio Bryant and Michael Clayton will prove that this year is a fluke for both of them with a year, Bryant possibly even with another team seeing as he’s a free agent this off season. They need to draft a number one option for the future and with Maryland WR Darrius Heyward Bey still on the board, he needs to be the pick. Heyward Bey runs a 4.3 40 and is 6-2 and is regarded as one of the best pure athletes in the draft. If Colt McCoy comes out for the draft, this pick could be him, as coach Jon Gruden continues his never ending search for the perfect quarterback, but I believe McCoy when he says he’s staying in college for his senior season.

20. Detroit Lions (via DAL) 0-16

The Lions have defensive issues, but they should postpone those until the 2nd round. They should really look to follow Atlanta’s model from last off season. I already have them taking their franchise quarterback in Sam Bradford, now they need a franchise left tackle. LSU OT Ciron Black is long overdue to be drafted. He is not a natural left tackle, but can certainly play there. This would allow them to move Jeff Backus inside to guard where he belongs and successfully upgrade two positions at once.

21. Arizona Cardinals 9-7

Edgerrin James is done, at least in Arizona. He’ll likely be released this offseason and sign somewhere as a capable backup. Tim Hightower is a good back, but he only averaged 2.8 yards per carry, which shows me that the Hightower is more of a situational power back than an every down back. Georgia HB Knowshon Moreno is still available so he should be taken here. Hightower and Moreno would form a very solid running back combination, with Moreno as the feature speed back, and Hightower as the power back that takes it up the middle after Moreno has spread the defense out with his speed. That, combined with their amazing passing game, would give them one of the best offenses in the league.

22. Philadelphia Eagles 9-6-1

The Eagles line has been subpar this season, for an Andy Reid team, and it could get a lot worse with the possible free agent departures of both starting tackles, Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan. Even if neither leaves, they could use an offensive tackle of the future with Thomas and Runyan combining at be 69 years old. Baylor OT Jason Smith is a very raw offensive tackle with a lot of potential. He would make a lot of sense for them at this point. If it looks for sure like Runyan and Thomas will leave, this pick could be Phil Loadholt, a more polished offensive lineman who could step in right away. However, I’m making the assumption that they will be making this pick with the assumption of both returning and needing a future offensive tackle, who possibly could step in if needed in 2009, in the case that one were to leave. This pick, along with a later pick, could also be traded to Arizona, who would look to upgrade their defensive line with this selection, in exchange for Anquan Boldin if both teams decide that that’d the way they want to go with their organizations.

23. Minnesota Vikings 10-6

I understand this will not be a popular pick with many, but the pick here should be Florida QB Tim Tebow. Gus Frerotte has done well as a stopgap, but at 37 years old that's all he really is. Tavaris Jackson is not an NFL starting quarterback so this team needs to move in another direction at that position. Mark Sanchez would be a possibility here, but Tebow has more upside. He may be more of a project, but he has the talent to be a great NFL quarterback and where better to mature than Minnesota. He's got a great offensive line to protect him and can spend a year as a backup under Frerotte before taking over the job. He also has the liberty of not having to do too much. With Adrian Peterson anchoring the run game, he won't be asked to do too much which will be huge for him as a young maturing quarterback. This looks like the perfect place for Tebow to land and if the Vikings want to move into their bright future, this is the right move.

24. New England Patriots 11-5

The Patriots some how won 11 games this season despite the fact that their cornerback are awful. Ever since Asante Samuel left, Ellis Hobbs has been the #1 corner, and there really has been no legitimate #2 cornerback, with Belicheck using a weird rotation of Lewis Sander, Deltha O’Neal, and Jonathan Wilhite. Illinois CB Vontae Davis should be a top 5 or top 10 pick by potential, but he has slipped due to discipline problems. Davis has the potential to turn into that #1 corner, with Hobbs shifting back to the #2. Even if he does not reach his full potential, he is better than any corner they have other than Hobbs and better than any other corner available in the draft.

25. Atlanta Falcons 11-5

It’s amazing what good quarterbacks can do. Matt Ryan single handedly masked all of the Falcons other weaknesses that were so glaring last off season. However, just because he masked them, doesn’t mean they are gone, and they still have a huge hole right in the middle of their defense line at defensive tackle. Plugging that hole with 310 pound USC DT Fili Moala, once projected a top 10 pick, makes a lot of sense, especially since the Falcons are still giving up 4.9 yards per carry, good for 5th worst in the NFL.

26. Miami Dolphins 11-5

The Dolphins obviously ripped off the Redskins by getting a 2nd and 6th round pick for Jason Taylor, but Taylor still needs to be replaced. Jerry Porter had a great year this year so I wouldn’t be surprised if Bill Parcells trades him at a time when Porter’s value will probably never be higher. He already got rid of Taylor and Zach Thomas so I wouldn’t be surprised if Parcells tears the team up even more in an attempt to push forward the youth movement his way, assume he doesn’t leave as a “free agent” to another team. They would need some more pass rushers, such as South Florida DE/OLB George Selvie, to replace Taylor and possibly Porter. Selvie could play linebacker, as Porter’s replacement, or shift to end, where he would be an upgrade over Phillip Merling.

27. Baltimore Ravens 11-5

What happened to Mark Clayton? Suddenly Joe Flacco's only option is 34-year-old Derrick Mason. They need a wide receiver to breathe some live into that receiving core. Florida RB/WR Percy Harvin isn’t a true wide receiver, but, as Miami proved with Ted Ginn, speed doesn’t need a position to help your team and Harvin, who is projected to run a 40 between 4.27 and 4.31 at the combine, has plenty of speed. He would provide the playmaker, either out of backfield or lining up at receiver, that Joe Flacco lacked this year. He could also play some wildcat and help on some reverses and in the return game.

28. Philadelphia Eagles (via CAR) 9-6-1

There were some rumors, last draft, that Philly might trade their pick to Cleveland for Kellen Winslow Jr. That never happened and they traded the pick for a first rounder this year and some lesser picks last year. Still, LJ Smith might be one of the worst starting tight ends in the league and now it appears he is on bad terms with Andy Reid and might not be brought back this off season. There are plenty of tight ends that have late first to early second round potential, but the one I think is best is Oklahoma State TE Brandon Pettigrew. He is a good receiving tight end, with the potential to be like Kellen Winslow or any other good receiving tight end. If Dustin Keller can go first round in 2008, Pettigrew can go first round in 2009. If Philly trades their earlier pick to Arizona for Boldin, this pick could stay a tight end, or the Eagles could wait until the 2nd or 3rd round to pick up a tight end, definetely a possibility with the depth in the tight end class in the 2nd and 3rd round range, and take an offensive lineman, like Phil Loadholt, Eben Britton, or possibly Jason Smith, who the Eagles would take at #22 if that remains their pick, if he hasn’t already been snatched up.

29. Indianapolis Colts 12-4

They used to be able to stop the run. What happened? Even with Bob Sanders back they are still one of the worst run defenses in the league. They definitely need a defensive tackle. They were so desperate to get one at the trade deadline, they traded for Bills cast off John McCargo, before he failed his physical and the trade didn't go through. They are going to make a run at Albert Haynesworth this offseason, but that's no guarantee. The best defensive tackle available is questionable. BJ Raji, Sen'Derrick Marks, and Peria Jerry are all possibilities, but Auburn DT Sen'Derrick Marks fits the Colts system better and I think is the best of the three against the run.

30. New York Giants 12-4

Their defensive ends are amazing. They lost Michael Strahan to retirement and Osi Umenyiora to injury and they still rank 2nd in sacks. Justin Tuck is a pro bowler for sure, Mathias Kiwanuka might be too. However, with Kiwanuka moving up to defensive end, they lost a lot of the strength of their outside linebackers, forcing them to start Danny Clark, and since it looks like Kiwanuka is a defensive end to stay, they need to address that issue. Their outside linebackers have combined for four, count it four, interceptions, sacks, or forced fumbles this season. USC OLB Brian Cushing is the only outside linebacker, and therefore one player, who merits selection here. He could really breathe some life into their linebackers. Cushing would move Danny Clark, who in his career, 138 games, has 15 combined sacks, INTs, and forced fumbles, and has been cut by the Raiders because Al Davis didn't even think he could play defense, back where he belongs.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers 12-4

Their line was bad last year. Then they lose Alan Faneca and did not replace him. Now, Ben Roethlisberger gets sacked every time looks up seemingly and Willie Parker is struggling without that dominant run blocker to set up his cuts. They need to fix that; the fact that Oklahoma OG Duke Robinson is still available here only adds to that argument. Add in the fact that they have no other real needs and you have a team that needs to draft Duke Robinson.

32. Tennessee Titans 13-3

Corner is a definite need for the Titans, but the more I think about it, the less I see them reaching for Victor Harris. Jeff Fisher would probably be the one making the pick for them, so I think this will be a front 4 player. Albert Haynesworth is a free agent after the season, and if he goes, so could their success. They need a safety net at defensive tackle. Boston College DT BJ Raji is the best and biggest defensive tackle remaining, which the Titans love. Even if Haynesworth returns, Raji and Haynesworth together on the inside of that line would make this team even more dangerous.