The NFL Draft is fast approaching. In the coming months, these future NFL players will have gone through the riggers that is the NFL draft process. I, having no life, will be following this process closely right up until draft day. As free agency and workouts begin to affect each team’s wants and needs, I will update my draft accordingly.
1. Miami Dolphins – Jake Long. LT. Michigan.
Needs: (LB, DB, WR, DT, QB)
A trade seems like the most logical option for the struggling Dolphins, but its too early to know if an teams may want to move up, let alone try to figure out if they have the package to do so. Although Glenn Dorsey will probably be the better player, I can’t see Parcells investing #1 money on a DT. If you’re going to spend big money, it should be on a player you almost certainly know will perform. With that said, Jake Long is arguably the safest pick of the draft class and is without question the best OL available.
2. St. Louis Rams – Glenn Dorsey. LT. LSU.
Needs: (WR, OG, DE, LB)
Dorsey is a rare talent in the Warren Sapp mold. The Rams 4-3 base fits him more than say the Jets 3-4 front. I think the Rams emphasize defense with their first few picks. The Rams can team Dorsey with last year’s first round pick, Adam Carriker, and you have yourself a pretty disruptive D-line for quite awhile.
3. Matt Ryan. QB. Boston College.
Needs: (QB, RB, WR, S, DT)
This may be too obvious of a pick for me, but the Falcons are in desperate need of a QB and Ryan is the best signal caller by far. The problem I see with the QB position this year is that after Ryan, there are three or four QB’s that are neck and neck with each other. So I wouldn’t be surprised if the Falcons shocked the world and went in a different direction and targeted a QB in the second round. But for the mock draft’s sake, we will say Ryan is the selection.
4. Oakland Raiders – Darren McFadden. RB. Arkansas.
Needs: (RB, WR, DL)
First let me start off by saying McFadden is not Purple Jesus. Adrian Peterson is a different breed of running back. However, McFadden is extremely talented and provides the home run threat the Raiders offense needs, not to mention furthering the development of JaMarcus Russell. Offensively, they need all the help they can get.
5. Kansas City Chiefs – Ryan Clady. OT. Boise State.
Needs: (LB, DB, WR, DT, QB)
The Chiefs are in dire need of offensive linemen. Once known for their dominant O-line, the Chiefs will definitely address their O-Line problems in this draft. Clady is a great start. Protecting Croyle should be there main goal heading into free agency and the draft.
6. New York Jets – Chris Long. DE. Virginia.
Needs: (QB, DL, OL, LB, CB)
The absolute perfect fit for the NY Jets and, of course, he is Howie’s kid. The Jets need a ton of help defensively, primarily on the front 7. It doesn’t get any better than this kid, who also played in the 3-4 at Virginia.
7. New England Patriots – Aqib Talib. CB. Kansas.
Needs: (LB, DB)
The Pats only real need is at LB and DB. With Belichick saying he needs LB’s he can trust, and Asante Samuel most likely pursuing big dollars via free agency, their need at corner is huge. I like Talib the best out of the corners so far.
8. Baltimore Ravens – Vernon Gholston. OLB. Ohio State.
Needs: (QB, OL, LB, DB, DL)
Death, taxes, the Ravens needs a quarterback. However, I don’t see the Ravens addressing their QB situation so early in the draft, not with Terrell Suggs testing the free agent waters coupled with their aging defense. Gholston is a great fit to stand up on the outside of the 3-4. Jake Long of Michigan gave up one sack all year. Can you guess who it was to? That’s all you need to know about Gholston.
9. Cincinnati Bengals – Kenny Phillips. CB. Miami.
Needs: (OL, DL, TE, LB)
Sedrick Ellis could get a look here, but I think Phillips is the better athlete. He will help solidify the secondary that spent a first rounder on Leon Hall last year. Just imagine if the Bengals could stop anyone on D.
10. New Orleans Saints – Mike Jenkins. CB. South Florida.
Needs: (WR, DB, S, TE)
This season, in fantasy leagues, if your wide receiver was being covered by Jason David, there is a good chance you won that week. The Saints would have rather of had Phillips but settle for Jenkins, who will help improve an absolutely horrid secondary
11. Buffalo Bills – Limas Sweed. WR. Texas.
Needs: (OL, WR, TE)
The Bills will look to help out this year’s version of their QB of the future, Trent Edwards. Sweed is the perfect complement to Lee Evans, being he is 6′4″, and has great hands. DeSean Jackson is another option, but unless you want to feature two six-feet-on-their-tippy-toes receivers, Sweed is the better choice.
12. Denver Broncos – Sedrick Ellis. DT. USC.
Needs: (DL, S, OL)
I honestly believe I could run for 125 yards on the Broncos. They are weak up front and need a ton of help stopping the run. They have the corners and there LB’s are solid. If they sure up the D line, we are looking at one scary unit. Ellis shouldn’t slip this far but the Broncos would be happy if he does.
13. Carolina Panthers – Sam Baker. OT. USC.
Needs: (QB, WR, TE, S, OL)
The only chance the Panthers take Baker here is if both Phillips and Ellis are gone. Which in this mock they are, so the Panthers go with their next pressing need, which is help on the O line.
14. Chicago Bears – Malcolm Kelly. WR. Oklahoma.
Needs: (RB, WR, S)
Pre-workout numbers, I like Kelly a lot more than Limas Sweed. Especially since Sweed is still not all the way back from his wrist injury. The Bears need help in multiple areas. QB would be there first option but there isn’t a QB left that really warrants a first round selection. If the Bears can re-sign Bernard Berrian and draft Kelly, they will have themselves a solid WR corp for years to come. Figure in Greg Olsen and you have yourself quite a potent attack.
15. Detroit Lions – Jeff Otah. OL. Pittsburgh
Needs: (OL, DB, LB, DL, TE)
This was the toughest selection I had to make thus far mainly because, as usual, the Lions need a ton of help. Outside of Ernie Sims there really isn’t a playmaker on the defensive side of the ball. So a LB like Dan Connor or Keith Rivers could makes sense. However, the Lions biggest problem is they can’t block anyone. Jeffrey Otah will help fix that problem. Plus if they don’t take a lineman here, how in the hell is Jon Kitna going to predict 60 TD’s next year?
16. Arizona Cardinals – Reshard Mendenhall. RB. Illinois.
Needs: (OL, DB, DL, RB)
It’s been a tremendous run for Edge. He may have one or two decent years left in the tank, but with the NFL being the copycat league that it is, I see the Cardinals going with a two back system. It’s Mendenhall or Jonathan Stewart here and right now, Mendenhall gets the nod.
17. Minnesota Vikings – DeSean Jackson. WR. California.
Needs: (DL, WR, TE, LB, S, QB)
It’s obvious the Vikings running game is unbelievable. Their passing game however is horrid. Personally, I would be thinking QB here but if Brad Childress wants to ride Tarvaris Jackson into unemployment, then so be it. He will, however, try to put some weapons on the outside for him. DeSean Jackson is a playmaker and, at the 17 spot, may very well be a steal. After getting away with robbery last year by selecting Purple Jesus at seven, Childress may be doing it again with Jackson.
18. Houston Texans – Jonathan Stewart. RB. Oregon
Needs: (RB, DB, OL)
The Ahman Green experiment didn’t work and Ron Dayne is nothing more then a backup. Stewart is a big guy at 233 lbs. and will be perfect for Coach Gary Kubiak’s zone blocking scheme. Not to mention this will take a ton of pressure off Matt Schaub and possibly help Andre Johnson become the best WR in the league (which he already is).
19. Philadelphia Eagles – Keith Rivers. LB. USC.
Needs: (LB, WR, OL, DL)
Let’s face it. The Eagles can’t possibly roll out Chris Gocong, Omar Gaither, and Akeem Jordan as their starting LB’s next season. Rivers is the logical choice and he will start immediately on the outside.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Kentwan Balmer. DT. North Carolina.
Needs: (DL, WR, RB)
The Bucs need some youth on D. Balmer wouldn’t have to be the guy right away, but he also wouldn’t ride the pine either. Durability is a question with Balmer, but he is a good player when on the field.
21. Washington Redskins – Calais Campbell. DE. Miami.
Needs: (DL, WR, S)
The Redskins best D linemen is Andre Carter. That says enough about their problems up front, making Campbell the choice here. He is a menacing figure at 6′8″ and 280 pounds.
22. Dallas Cowboys – Felix Jones. RB. Arkansas.
Needs: (WR, RB, DB)
Julius Jones has probably played his last game as a Cowboy and Dallas has made it clear they don’t want Marion Barber taking on a full load. I believe the ‘Boys really want McFadden being that he is, not only the most talented player in the draft, but also hails from Jerry Jones alma mater, Arkansas. That said, I see the Cowboys likely staying put here and opting for the other Razorback Felix Jones. Jones averaged 8.7 yards per carry this past season. Gun to my head, I say his career numbers are better than McFadden’s.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers – Branden Albert. OG. Virgnia.
Needs: (OG, DE)
This right now seems too easy. Its obvious Alan Faneca will walk and the Steelers don’t really have any other pressing needs. The only need that will come about is the open spot at left guard. The 6′7” Albert will fit in nicely in Pittsburgh.
24. Tennessee Titans – Mario Manningham. WR. Michigan.
Needs: (WR, TE, OL, DB)
Justin Gage. Roydell Williams. Eric Moulds. Brandon Jones. The Titans need to get Vince Young some weapons on offense. Manningham is a step in the right direction.
25. Seattle Seahawks – Fred Davis. TE. USC.
Needs: (TE, DT, RB)
Looking at the Seahawks’ roster, I don’t see any true needs except at the tight end position. Marcus Pollard is five years removed from his days as a productive tight end. Davis would be a nice addition to the Seahawks new look aerial attack.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars – Derrick Harvey. DE. Florida.
Needs: (DE, S, OL)
The Jaguars look to add to their already menacing defense. Their interior D line is probably best in the league. They just don’t have the “pin your ears back” type of guy on the outside. Harvey will definitely provide that for the Jaguars.
27. San Diego Chargers – Dan Connor. ILB. Penn State.
Needs: (DB, ILB)
The Chargers are another team without a serious need. I think they go with the best available player on the board. Connor will provide serious depth at linebacker for the Chargers. He will be joined inside with Stephen Cooper and Matt Wilhelm, eventually taking over as the starter for Wilhelm.
28. Dallas Cowboys – Early Doucet. WR. LSU.
Needs: (WR, RB, DB)
The Cowboys will go offense with their first two picks. Terry Glenn will be a cap casualty, Patrick Crayton is, at best, nothing more then a #2, and TO will be 35 by the end of next season. Clearly, the Cowboys need to get both better and younger at the WR spot. Doucet seems to have fallen as of late, but with a solid workout, he could move up many teams’ draft boards.
29. San Francisco 49ers – James Hardy. WR. Indiana.
Needs: (WR, OL, DL)
When Arnaz Battle is your biggest threat at the WR position, it’s time for an upgrade. Hardy is my favorite receiver in this year’s class. He is big, tall (unofficially 6′6”) and will provide Alex Smith with the big target he so desperately needs. Now the only question left is, can this pick make TE Vernon Davis look like he actually wants to play football?
30. Green Bay Packers – Leodis McKelvin. CB. Troy.
Needs: (DB, LB, OL)
The Packers are a very young team except at corner. Charles Woodson and Al Harris are starting to get up there in age. McKelvin will not have to start right away, giving him enough time to develop and eventually take over a starting spot.
31. New York Giants – Ali Highsmith. OLB. LSU.
Needs: (LB, WR, S, CB)
The New York football Giants can go in a number of directions. Amani Toomer and Sam Madison are not getting any younger, so a WR or a CB could be a possibility. Also safety may be a need with Gibril Wilson approaching free agency. Kawika Mitchell only signed a one year deal in March, so he may look to cash in, after helping the Giants advance to the Super Bowl. The Giants pick the best player on the board that also fits their needs (seems like a simple formula, right?). Highsmith is just what the doctor ordered and will help the Giants at OLB.
32. New England Patriots – Forfeited.
Needs: (sound engineer, boom mic operator, key grip)
