Tirico Suave

It’s April and the second installment is way overdue. It’s been quite a while since I’ve had Raider and Eagle fans inform me how little I know about just about everything. My apologies, but document scanning season is like tax season only longer and more intense. Anyway, I have updated my previous mock and there will be one final update before the draft that will include two rounds that way I can provide more completely random guesses thoroughly researched projections. So here it is for your dissection.

1. Detroit Lions. Jason Smith. OT. Baylor.
Previous: Eugene Monroe.
Despite an impressive pro day from Stafford, I see the Lions playing it smart here and grabbing one of the OL here. 0-16 teams have a lot of holes and worse comes to worse, terrible LTs can become serviceable RTs.

2. St. Louis Rams. Michael Crabtree. Texas Tech.
Previous: Same.
Torry Holt is gone, thus so are the days of the “Greatest Show On Turf”. The Rams need to get younger on offense and be able to get the ball down field. Offensive tackle is also a need, I just think Crabtree is the best talent in the draft and will be very hard to pass up at #2, even with the injury.

3. Kansas City Chiefs. Aaron Curry. LB. Wake Forest.
Previous: Matthew Stafford.
Usually when you leave a job without giving two weeks notice to go with a competitor, you aren’t bestowed a gift from your former employer. Scott Pioli wouldn’t know that feeling. With Cassel now in the fold, the Chiefs can now head to the next huge need, the defense. Curry by some is regarded as the best player in this draft. I am not 100% sold on that but he is definitely worthy of a top five pick and probably won’t get passed this slot.

4. Seattle Seahawks. Matthew Stafford. QB. Georgia.
Previous: Jason Smith.
Stafford continues to do and say the right things. Truth be told, I actually like this pick for the Seahawks. They are a team that could pick Stafford and let him sit a year or two behind Hasselbeck. This is the best scenario for Stafford because if he goes anywhere in the top 10, the Seahawks or Jacksonville gives him the best chance to succeed.

5. Cleveland Browns. Brian Orakpo. DE. Texas.
Previous: Aaron Curry.
I have absolutely little or no faith in Brian Orakpo. In fact, I took a cue from Pat Riley and trademarked the phrase “the black Mike Mamula”. By 2016, I’ll should be a rich man.

6. Cincinnati Bengals. B.J. Raji. DT. Boston College.
Previous: same.
The Bengals missed out on Sedrick Ellis last year, but land what I feel is a superior in talent in Raji. Over the last few days, it seems that Raji may have tested positive for weed, but with DTs always in demand, I don’t see his stock falling too much, if at all.

7. Oakland Raiders. Eugene Monroe. OT. Virginia.
Previous: Andre Smith.
The Raiders may have already fallen in love with Andre Smith’s ability to do stupid shit and underachieve but this could be the year when Oakland makes a wise draft choice. Jeremy Maclin or Percy Harvin are possibilities here as well. Then again, with Al Davis, so is a long snapper, a goalie or they could even say ‘No thank you. Pass’.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars. Percy Harvin. WR. Florida.
Speaking of possible failed drug tests……the Jags WR corp has been intramural at best over the last few seasons and outside of MoJo this team is in dire need of offensive talent. They also could get better on the offensive line so if any of the OTs that slip will get a serious look, but I think Harvin is the type of player that a lot teams would love to scheme for, especially as more and more teams become enamored with the Wildcat, enjoyment of recreational drugs aside.

9. Green Bay Packers. Aaron maybin. DE. Penn State.
Previous: Rey Maualuga.
The Packers are switching to a 3-4. The biggest issue they face is they don’t have the players for said switch. Therefore selecting a player like Maybin who can play the outside will be a great start. Maybin has been rising up draft boards as of late and I am not sure I know why.

10. San Francisco 49ers. Mark Sanchez. QB. USC.
Previous: Vontae Davis.
The Niners began rebuilding seemingly the moment right after Steve Young threw that sixth Super Bowl touchdown. the Niners hope Sanchez can help them forget Alex Smith and his downright adorable fingers.

11. Buffalo Bills. Brandon Pettigrew. TE. Oklahoma State.
Previous: Same.
I guess I could some analysis here this time around. An offense of Edwards, Beast Mode, TO, Lee Evans, and Pettigrew could put up a lot of points. Happy?

12. Denver Broncos. Tyson Jackson. DE. LSU.
Previous: Aaron Maybin.
A year later and nothing has changed. I still believe I can run for 125 yards on the Broncos. Acquiring crappy DeWayne Robertson wasn’t the answer, surprise! Jackson can play DE or DT a la Richard Seymour, which boosts his value some.

13. Washington Redskins. Andre Smith. OT. Alabama.
Previous: Michael Oher.
Like most bad teams the Redskins need help up front. Smith has the potential to be a Pro Bowler for the next 10 years. But right now he is heading towards the Lawrence Phillips route. Dan Snyder jumps at the chance to overpay him while he’s still in the league.

14. New Orleans Saints. Malcolm Jenkins. DB. Ohio State.
Previous: Same.
The Saints biggest concern is on defense. Especially on the corners where Jason David and Randall Gay are the starters. Bringing in Jenkins will add depth to a position that really needs it, given, of course, that Jenkins stays at corner as opposed to moving to safety.

15. Houston Texans. Rey Maualuga. LB. USC.
Previous: Brian Orakpo.
The Texans have landed the steal of the draft up to this point. Mauluga in my opinion is a top ten pick and the recent talk that he isn’t a three down linebacker is crazy. Anyone who watched this kid play at USC knows two things. He plays downhill and he hits like a truck.

16. San Diego Chargers. Robert Ayers. DE. Tennessee.
Previous: Knowshon Moreno.
Despite bringing LT back, I still could see the Chargers going with Moreno, but they could use some help on the defensive side of the ball particularly at DE. Ayers has quickly risen up draft boards after great workouts.

17. New York Jets. Jarron Gilbert. DL. San Jose State.
Previous: Hakeem Nicks.
I still think WR is a huge need for the Jets. I just have a feeling it’s not happening here. What I do know is their preparing for their defense to be special and the only impact type player they are missing on defense is at end. This may be a little high for Gilbert but anybody who can jump out of a pool has a chance to be special.

18. Denver Broncos. Chris Wells. RB. Ohio State.
Previous: Jeremy Maclin (to CHI).
By my last count, 36 of Denver’s 53 allotted roster spots were filled by a running back. Problem is, they’re all shitty. They could use a rotational system where all the RB’s can get about six touches per game. Or they can draft Beanie and have a horse.

19. Tampa Bay Bucs. Josh Freeman. QB. Kansas State.
Previous: Brian Cushing.
Tampa is in complete rebuilding mode. They released half their team and have a ton of cap space. After missing out on both Haynesworth and Jay Cutler, I see them leading the pack for Braylon or Anquan or whatever other grumpy wideout comes on the market. They have too much money and not enough talent to just sit tight. Selecting Freeman will be the right move in rebuilding this franchise. I have already said that Freeman is my favorite QB in this draft (followed by Curtis Painter).

20. Detroit Lions (From Dallas). James Laurinaitis. ILB. Ohio State.
Previous: Same.
New coach Jim Schwartz goes defense with this pick by getting someone not named Paris Lenon to play alongside Ernie Sims. The Lions not only get themselves a solid player in Laurinaitis, but also the one-man Black Hole that is his father.

21. Philadelphia Eagles. Jeremy Maclin. WR. Missouri.
Previous: Clay Matthews.
The Eagles should be thinking linebacker here, but Maclin without question would be the best player available. I’m obviously more down on Maclin than most, but the thought of DeSean Jackson and Maclin in the same offense has to put a smile on the face of most Eagle fans. Still same can be said about the thought of Tony Romo walking into oncoming traffic.

22. Minnesota Vikings. Darrius Heyward Bey. WR. Maryland.
Previous: Mark Sanchez.
Heyward-Bey has impressed many with his workout numbers. My biggest concern is none of those numbers match his collegiate performance. Bey has gone from a second round pick to one of the most overrated players in this draft. And is Sage Rosenfels really the QB you want to help you transition to the pros?

23. New England Patriots. Clay Matthews. LB. USC.
No one ever knows exactly who the Patriots are going to take and it kills me that they get a pass for being so secretive. I just wish they didn’t get lucky when they selected that arrogant cleft-chinned, super-modeling banging prick in the sixth round out of Michigan. It’s amazing how much I hate Mo Lewis now.

24. Atlanta Falcons. Peria Jerry. DT. Ole Miss.
Previous: Peria Jerry.
The Falcons should look on the defensive side of the ball early in this draft, particularly on the interior D-line or at safety. Jerry isn’t the exciting pick but he can come in and create havoc inside while Abraham and Anderson do work on the outside. More importantly, this is also the time where I say I told you so about Matt Ryan.

25. Miami Dolphins. Hakeem Nicks. WR. North Carolina.
Previous: Tyson jackson.
I am convinced that whoever Parcells takes is going to be a great player. But even Parcells will admit that the Dolphins still need a lot of improvement even though they won the division. Nicks will provide the Dolphins with the sure handed receiver they are looking for.

26. Baltimore Ravens. Brian Cushing. LB. USC.
Previous: DJ Moore.
The Ravens are extremely old and beat up at DB. However with the loss of Bart Scott and Ray Lewis getting up in age, the need to get young at LB is greater. No team can get more out of a defensive player then the Ravens because of Lewis, plus if Cushing ever needs advice regarding plea bargains, he’s covered.

27. Indianapolis Colts. Ron Brace. DT. Boston College.
Previous: Ron Brace.
The Colts are a team that is going to have to look real hard in the direction they want to go. Marvin Harrison is gone, but they should be fine at WR. Personally, I can’t get past how bad this defense is. Basically, if Bob Sanders plays, they’re good, but when he takes December off due to injury, they’re abysmal. They need a big guy up front to clog the middle. If I am the Colts I go defense hard this draft because Peyton has proven to be able to throw to anyone and be successful.

28. Philadelphia Eagles (from Carolina). Michael Oher. OL. Ole Miss
A solid pick for the Eagles. With the loss of Tra Thomas the Eagles are definitely in the market for an offensive lineman. Plus John Runyan can’t be the dirtiest player in the league forever so it’s time to start upgrading the position.

29. New York Giants. Ebon Britton. OL. Arizona.
Previous: Derrius Hayward-Bey.
The hole in Plaxico’s thigh is now matched by the hole in the Giants WR depth chart. However, if none of the top WRs make it here, I think they will look at the best available player. Britton would be a solid pick for the G-men. Their starting offensive line is top five in the league but there is absolutely no depth there whatsoever.

30. Tennessee Titans. Everette Brown. DE. Florida State.
Previous: Alex Mack.
Brown is projected to go in the top 15, but looking at the draft I am not sure I see it. Without question Brown is a talent, but with most teams using a 3-4 alignment I don’t see where he would go. He is a little undersized to play DE on a 3-4 defense.

31. Arizona Cardinals. Knowshon Moreno. RB. Georgia.
Previous: Chris Wells.
It’s amazing how Moreno has slipped this far in mocks. A solid college football RB with low mileage, I would figure him in the top 15. However poor workout numbers have him on the outside looking in of the top half of the draft. Arizona will get a more then suitable replacement for Edge in Moreno.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers. Vontae Davis. CB. Illinois.
Previous: Duke Robinson.
The Super Bowl Champs will look to add depth to their defensive backfield. Davis can come in right away and play the nickel and eventually take over a starting role. If you’re a corner you want to get drafted by the Steelers because outside of the Giants when there healthy no one gets to the passer better. Vontae’s stock is cooling with the rumors of a failed drug test not to mention scouts constantly reminding themselves that he’s a member of the Davis family.