**Updated 4/24** My top-20 Mock Draft
Posted: Sat Apr 4, 2009 4:30 pm
1. Detroit- Matt Stafford
---> As stated before, the Lions are taking Stafford. No need to change my analysis on this one.
Apparently Detroit never made any serious offers to get in on Cassell or Cutler. I think that says it all. BTW, if Stafford doesn't get picked here the Lions will be starting Daunte Culpepper. Not a good way to start your first season if you are a new head coach and GM. Not to mention, they need to utilize Calvin Johnson as much as possible, making Stafford the easy pick.
2. Rams- Jason Smith
---> Same as Stafford, no change necessary. This one seems like a lock
Released Orlando Pace, have needed an OT for several years now. It will be Smith or Monroe at this pick and I think its Smith since he is more athletic and has more potential to be elite than Monroe.
3. Chiefs- Aaron Curry (previously Monroe)
Although I think they'd be better served getting a guy like Monroe, Curry seems to be talking up the likelihood of going to KC. He would become their top playmaker immediately on a team that has always played smashmouth football.
4. Seahawks- Eugene Monroe (previously Curry)
The Hawks get lucky and have Monroe fall to them at #4. The team needs a run blocker and a tackle to protect Hasselback's blindside. Easy pick for them.
5. Browns- Tyson Jackson (previously Everette Brown)
Cleveland should be looking WR or OLB here, but with the huge upswing in Jackson's value and his ability to be an excellent 3-4 DE, he becomes the pick. Should be able to pressure the QB, stop the run, and give guys like Wimbley the freedom to roam and make plays.
6. Bengals- Andre Smith
----> Pick stays the same
The Bengals are thin on the OL all of the sudden. If they want to compete in the AFC North they will need a tough running game and a healthy Carson Palmer, so Andre Smith is the pick.
7. Raiders- Michael Crabtree
----> Despite Crabtree "dissing" the Raiders, they pick him anyways, as stated in last mock
A fairly obvious choice, as Al Davis will want to have a WR added to his QB/RB tandem of Russell and McFadden. The Raiders have perhaps the worst set of WR's in the league, so this pick has to be made.
8. Redskins (TRADE from Jaguars for #13 and picks)- Mark Sanchez
The Skins finally bite the bullet and trade up to get Sanchez. I don't know why they are after the kid so much when it seems that Jason Campbell is a very capable young QB, but Dan Snyder doesn't need reason to do what he does. Sanchez becomes the starter and Campbell likely gets dealt, perhaps to the Jets at #17.
9. Packers- Brian Orakpo
----> Pick stays the same as last mock
I think Orakpo could be a bust since he is more of an amazing athlete than a technically sound player. But the Packers need a guy that can get to the QB and at #9 this is a good value.
10. Niners- BJ Raji
----> Pick stays the same
I wanted the Niners to maybe take Oher here, since its important that they get help at tackle, but Raji is simply too good to let pass by. He would absolutely be huge in their 3-4 defense, providing an Albert Haynesworth-like ability to stuff the run and pressure the QB. Would tremendously improve the play of the entire defense, perhaps elevating Patrick Willis to DPOY status.
11. Buffalo Bills- Michael Oher
The Bills just traded Jason Peters, so its no surprise that they'd want Oher here. I like the kid a lot and think he could be a big time LT within a few years, paving the way for Lynch and using his athleticism to protect the talented but fragiel Trent Edwards.
12. Denver Broncos- Everette Brown
Brown will be a great fit in their new 3-4 defense. They are in need of a fast, rush OLB, as their current guys are not great sack artists (save Dumervil, who had a very down year).
13. Jacksonville Jaguars- Jeremy Maclin
If things turn out this way, it will be a skillful play by their GM, as Maclin is who they'd likely draft at #8 anyways. Gives them the speed at WR they want and the return man they need to boot. Suddenly their dire WR problems are fixed between Maclin and Torry Holt.
14. New Orleans Saints- Malcom Jenkins
They need help in the secondary in a major way. Jenkins is the first CB off the board and they are happy to get him.
15. Houston Texans- Darius Butler
The Texans are becoming a well rounded football team. Their offense is set, but their secondary is pretty atrocious. I think they'd kill for Jenkins but are content with Butler, as he fills a huge need at the second CB spot next to Dunta Robinson. (They should try to trade down, but it may be tough to do.)
16. SD Chargers- Aaron Maybin
SD suffered last year defending the pass due to their lack of ability to get to the QB. Maybin should provide the speed off the edge to make a difference.
17. WSH Redskins (TRADE: Jason Campbell to NY Jets for #17, Kellen Clemens, and picks): Darius Heyward Bey
The Skins need a new WR to help spread the field and give Mark Sanchez opportunity to make plays. Heyward Bey has the speed and size that the team's other WR's do not have.
18. Denver Broncos: Knowshon Moreno
Moreno will be the feature back that the Broncos are lacking, and really have lacked since Terrell Davis hung up his cleats.
19. Tampa Bay Bucs: Josh Freeman
Sort of the obvious pick, but the team could go in a lot of different directions as they have a lot of needs. I could easily see them going for a LB here, but they have such a horrible QB situation that they probably have to go for Freeman.
20. Detroit Lions: Rey Maualuga
The type of guy a new franchise trying to rebuild needs. The Lions are lacking in mental toughness, as their 0-16 record suggests, and Maualuga could be the cornerstone the team needs to build with.
---> As stated before, the Lions are taking Stafford. No need to change my analysis on this one.
Apparently Detroit never made any serious offers to get in on Cassell or Cutler. I think that says it all. BTW, if Stafford doesn't get picked here the Lions will be starting Daunte Culpepper. Not a good way to start your first season if you are a new head coach and GM. Not to mention, they need to utilize Calvin Johnson as much as possible, making Stafford the easy pick.
2. Rams- Jason Smith
---> Same as Stafford, no change necessary. This one seems like a lock
Released Orlando Pace, have needed an OT for several years now. It will be Smith or Monroe at this pick and I think its Smith since he is more athletic and has more potential to be elite than Monroe.
3. Chiefs- Aaron Curry (previously Monroe)
Although I think they'd be better served getting a guy like Monroe, Curry seems to be talking up the likelihood of going to KC. He would become their top playmaker immediately on a team that has always played smashmouth football.
4. Seahawks- Eugene Monroe (previously Curry)
The Hawks get lucky and have Monroe fall to them at #4. The team needs a run blocker and a tackle to protect Hasselback's blindside. Easy pick for them.
5. Browns- Tyson Jackson (previously Everette Brown)
Cleveland should be looking WR or OLB here, but with the huge upswing in Jackson's value and his ability to be an excellent 3-4 DE, he becomes the pick. Should be able to pressure the QB, stop the run, and give guys like Wimbley the freedom to roam and make plays.
6. Bengals- Andre Smith
----> Pick stays the same
The Bengals are thin on the OL all of the sudden. If they want to compete in the AFC North they will need a tough running game and a healthy Carson Palmer, so Andre Smith is the pick.
7. Raiders- Michael Crabtree
----> Despite Crabtree "dissing" the Raiders, they pick him anyways, as stated in last mock
A fairly obvious choice, as Al Davis will want to have a WR added to his QB/RB tandem of Russell and McFadden. The Raiders have perhaps the worst set of WR's in the league, so this pick has to be made.
8. Redskins (TRADE from Jaguars for #13 and picks)- Mark Sanchez
The Skins finally bite the bullet and trade up to get Sanchez. I don't know why they are after the kid so much when it seems that Jason Campbell is a very capable young QB, but Dan Snyder doesn't need reason to do what he does. Sanchez becomes the starter and Campbell likely gets dealt, perhaps to the Jets at #17.
9. Packers- Brian Orakpo
----> Pick stays the same as last mock
I think Orakpo could be a bust since he is more of an amazing athlete than a technically sound player. But the Packers need a guy that can get to the QB and at #9 this is a good value.
10. Niners- BJ Raji
----> Pick stays the same
I wanted the Niners to maybe take Oher here, since its important that they get help at tackle, but Raji is simply too good to let pass by. He would absolutely be huge in their 3-4 defense, providing an Albert Haynesworth-like ability to stuff the run and pressure the QB. Would tremendously improve the play of the entire defense, perhaps elevating Patrick Willis to DPOY status.
11. Buffalo Bills- Michael Oher
The Bills just traded Jason Peters, so its no surprise that they'd want Oher here. I like the kid a lot and think he could be a big time LT within a few years, paving the way for Lynch and using his athleticism to protect the talented but fragiel Trent Edwards.
12. Denver Broncos- Everette Brown
Brown will be a great fit in their new 3-4 defense. They are in need of a fast, rush OLB, as their current guys are not great sack artists (save Dumervil, who had a very down year).
13. Jacksonville Jaguars- Jeremy Maclin
If things turn out this way, it will be a skillful play by their GM, as Maclin is who they'd likely draft at #8 anyways. Gives them the speed at WR they want and the return man they need to boot. Suddenly their dire WR problems are fixed between Maclin and Torry Holt.
14. New Orleans Saints- Malcom Jenkins
They need help in the secondary in a major way. Jenkins is the first CB off the board and they are happy to get him.
15. Houston Texans- Darius Butler
The Texans are becoming a well rounded football team. Their offense is set, but their secondary is pretty atrocious. I think they'd kill for Jenkins but are content with Butler, as he fills a huge need at the second CB spot next to Dunta Robinson. (They should try to trade down, but it may be tough to do.)
16. SD Chargers- Aaron Maybin
SD suffered last year defending the pass due to their lack of ability to get to the QB. Maybin should provide the speed off the edge to make a difference.
17. WSH Redskins (TRADE: Jason Campbell to NY Jets for #17, Kellen Clemens, and picks): Darius Heyward Bey
The Skins need a new WR to help spread the field and give Mark Sanchez opportunity to make plays. Heyward Bey has the speed and size that the team's other WR's do not have.
18. Denver Broncos: Knowshon Moreno
Moreno will be the feature back that the Broncos are lacking, and really have lacked since Terrell Davis hung up his cleats.
19. Tampa Bay Bucs: Josh Freeman
Sort of the obvious pick, but the team could go in a lot of different directions as they have a lot of needs. I could easily see them going for a LB here, but they have such a horrible QB situation that they probably have to go for Freeman.
20. Detroit Lions: Rey Maualuga
The type of guy a new franchise trying to rebuild needs. The Lions are lacking in mental toughness, as their 0-16 record suggests, and Maualuga could be the cornerstone the team needs to build with.