Mock Draft 6

[Icness]

Posted on 4.9 but the picks were basically done Monday (4.7) with a couple of last-second twitches.

http://www.realgmfootball.com/src_wiretap_archives/7921/20080409/2008_mock_draft_version_60/

A couple of recent developments since then might have some impact:

Miami has reportedly started talking contract with Jake Long. That does not make it a given they take him, but it does tip their hand. I've maintained all along that signability will play a major role in who they take, and Chris Long might be tougher to get into camp on time.

Malcolm Kelly and Reggie Smth both ran real slow at Oklahoma's pro day. Kelly's best time was 4.67 and the other was 4.72. Smith was also in that range, which wasn't so unexpected. We all know Kelly plays a lot faster than that, and the fact everyone there ran slower-than-expected times probably mitigates some of the fallout. I do expect that it pretty much guarantees Limas Sweed and Devin Thomas go ahead of Kelly but nothing more.

Also of concern is that Mario Manningham and Aqib Talib tested positive for drugs (reportedly pot) at the Combine. That will get them off at least half the draft boards completely--no chance either guy winds up in Buffalo or Cincy or Carolina or Pittsburgh, among others. Just from fingering the wind a little Talib could really fall a long way, perhaps into the 50s. Manningham might still go late 1st but he probably toked his way down about 10-15 slots.

[NeedsMoreCheese]

Posted on 4.9 but the picks were basically done Monday (4.7) with a couple of last-second twitches.

http://www.realgmfootball.com/src_wiretap_archives/7921/20080409/2008_mock_draft_version_60/

A couple of recent developments since then might have some impact:

Miami has reportedly started talking contract with Jake Long. That does not make it a given they take him, but it does tip their hand. I've maintained all along that signability will play a major role in who they take, and Chris Long might be tougher to get into camp on time.

Malcolm Kelly and Reggie Smth both ran real slow at Oklahoma's pro day. Kelly's best time was 4.67 and the other was 4.72. Smith was also in that range, which wasn't so unexpected. We all know Kelly plays a lot faster than that, and the fact everyone there ran slower-than-expected times probably mitigates some of the fallout. I do expect that it pretty much guarantees Limas Sweed and Devin Thomas go ahead of Kelly but nothing more.

Also of concern is that Mario Manningham and Aqib Talib tested positive for drugs (reportedly pot) at the Combine. That will get them off at least half the draft boards completely--no chance either guy winds up in Buffalo or Cincy or Carolina or Pittsburgh, among others. Just from fingering the wind a little Talib could really fall a long way, perhaps into the 50s. Manningham might still go late 1st but he probably toked his way down about 10-15 slots.

Toked down nice

Oh and about the list of teams, are the Cowboys on that list? (I really doubt it, because out of the problems theyve had, the only notable one for weed was Nate Newton, and even then that didnt really cause problems until he retired)
I assume it wouldnt be in round 1 (partly because i havent read anywhere that they have interest in him), but if he does fall all the way to the cowboys 2nd rounder is there a good possibility they grab him?

[ReasonablySober]

Icness, what do you know about Ikegwuonu that others don't? He still has to stand trial for residential burglary and criminal trespass, to say nothing of the fact that it was only a couple months ago that he tore his ACL, MCL and damaged his kneecap.

How could a guy that might never play football again become a 2nd round pick?

[Ex-hippie]

I was rather surprised by this:

55. Seattle Seahawks: Shawn Murphy, G, Utah State

Having never heard of Murphy, I did a little research. One tidbit I found is that he's the son of Dale Murphy, which is mildly interesting, I guess. But every site I visited refers to him as a fringe late-round prospect, something like the 12th best OG or thereabouts. What makes him suddenly a second-rounder (and the third OG taken after Albert and Rachal)?

[UrbanLegendMD]

Why are the Ravens taking two QB's in the first two rounds?

[hermes]

73. Minnesota Vikings (from DEN): Charles Godfrey, CB, Iowa

ha i'm a big fan of godfrey

[Manhattan Project]

For the Jets I would rather trade down if that happened with Jake Long being there, but you do have valid points. He would solidify the rest of the line, though im not sure if were that down on Moore. I do love Hardy in the second, though with his issues I dont know if the Jets are warm to him.

Cant wait to see the What Id do mock...

[Jose7]

Jets taking Long makes no sense and he's going to play RT. Why would they spend money on him and then bench him? The Jets loved what they saw from him at the RT position and sure we overpaid but the offensive line has been immensely improved from Clement and Clarke.

Also in the 2nd round, I definitely take Andre Caldwell over Hardy.

[Next Coming]

[quote="Jose7

[Bulltalk]

Icness, you put a lot of time and thought into this, and I appreciate it. Again, however, as somewhat of a reasonable Seahawks' fan, I just can't see how the Hawks would pick a TE in the first round with the 25th pick? It makes little sense to me.

I've said this before, but of the top 3-4 TE's none is anywhere near a "can't miss" prospect, and none of the top 3-4 stands out from among the others as being clearly better. To the contrary, there's quite a lot of disagreement as to who will "pan out" the best. They all have their strengths and weaknesses.

For this reason, I can't believe the Seahawks would draft a TE with their top pick, as one of the best 3-4 TE's will be available to them in the 2nd round. We would be overpaying for a TE there, and our GM, Ruskell, is pretty much a pick-the-best-player-available type of guy. There will be a handful of better talents at that pick than a TE, like one of the top 3 RB's, one of the top DE's, or one of the top OLmen, all of whom will be rated higher than a TE at that spot in the draft.

I could be wrong about this, but I don't think so.

PS>There's a rumor around these here parts that the Hawks will be picking Calais Campbell or Merling in the first round, and either Keller, Jones, or Bennett in the 2nd round to fill in their needs for a young TE.

PSS>The last time the Hawks made a TE their first round pick it was Jeremy Stevens. I think they're a bit paranoid about picking a TE so high in the draft.

[NoSkyy]

Iceness, are you pretty sold on the Bears taking Felix Jones in the second round? This is about the second or third draft that you have him taken there.

[A.J.]

Iceness:

Do you see a possibility of the Vikings moving up to take Derrick Harvey?

[treiz]

Loving the Hardy pick. But I really do believe that we are gonna move down the draft. Hopefully around the 20s so we can get a couple of extra picks.

[Icness]

Tweaked yet again, thanks to input from a Pro Football Weekly staff writer and another NFL source who told me I was full of it on a couple of items.

http://www.realgmfootball.com/src_feature_article/82/20080411/2008_mock_draft_version_61/

Notable changes:
Brian Brohm at #20 to TB
Malcolm Kelly out of the 1st
Mario Manningham drops, but SF still takes him after taking Sam Baker 1st
Balmer back up to JAX in the 1st--I'm not sold on that at all but he had to go somewhere and I know from the Combine they like him. And pay close attention to the comments at the end of that pick too

Felix Jones and Matt Forte swapped--and I have it on very reliable authority that both those picks are extremely likely to happen if those players are still on the board.

Coming soon:
both the "what ICness would do" mock and my busts/sleepers picks, including a review of last year where I batted well over .500 on those.

[Icness]

Iceness:

Do you see a possibility of the Vikings moving up to take Derrick Harvey?

I'm not sure they are willing to part with what it will cost to get ahead of Cincy, which is where Harvey starts to enter the equation. It would really help the Vikings if Carolina does what I believe they are going to and trade up to #7 to get Matt Ryan--that means Harvey would only have to fall past CIN, BUF, and DEN and he is theirs. From what I hear the Bengals would take Rivers before Harvey, so that passes. Buffalo is up in the air. Denver loves Harvey but I know Shanahan is tired of spending every alternate draft pick the past 3 years on his DL. Denver is probably the best bet for a trading partner actually. Moving up to #12 probably only costs them a 3rd this year, but going higher is going to cost them a 2nd either this or next year and I don't see them doing that.

My Groves pick there is pure speculation--it could very well be a CB or a T, esp. if Branden Albert is still on the board, which looks less likely every day.

[NeedsMoreCheese]

Well it looks like the Wiretap answered my question now.

IRVING -- The Dallas Cowboys had hoped to get an up-close look at Kansas cornerback and first-round prospect Aqib Talib on Friday at Valley Ranch.

But Talib did not attend the Cowboys' Dallas Day workout because of a scheduling problem with his other visits. The workout is designed for invited local-college or high school products. Talib, a Richardson Berkner graduate, is regarded as one of the top five cornerbacks in the draft and of high interest to the Cowboys.

Though that does leave it questionable still how they now view him.

[SpeedyG]

Hey Icness, is the Talib selection for the Jaguars based on any rumblings you've heard or just on what you think the pick will be based on where things fell in your mock?

I ask because the Jaguars already have three relatively high priced CBs in Mathis (who played hurt all season long, and attributed to his struggles according to JDR), Brian Williams (who aside from when he's facing Reggie Wayne, had a good year), and new pickup Florence.