My top-10 Mock Draft
Posted: Sat Apr 4, 2009 4:28 pm
1. Detroit- Matt Stafford
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
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- Eugene Monroe
Must protect their new investment Matt Cassell and get Larry Johnson back to a Pro Bowl level. Monroe played next to Branden Albert, their #1 pick last year. Seems like a natural pick.
4. Seahawks- Aaron Curry
The Hawks have been penciled in to take Crabtree here, but the team already has a #1 guy with Housmanzadeh (sic?) and some decent #2's with Deion Branch and Bobby Engram. They need a playmaker on defense, especially with the trade of Julian Peterson. Curry should be an impact player immediately.
5. Browns- Everette Brown
Simply put the Browns need a pass rusher, as the team only had 17 sacks all of last season. Should make for a dynamic LB corps next to Wimberly and D'Qwell Jackson. A lot of teams have Orakpo as the better prospect, but I think Mangini will be skeptical after he picked the uber-athletic but big time bust Vernon Gholston last season. Brown is a more natural and experienced football player, so he gets the nod.
6. Bengals- Andre Smith
The Browns 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
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. Jaguars- Jeremy Maclin
The Jags have all but stated that they want a WR with speed. Maclin provides them with a threat downfield and a #1 WR option, a pressing need with the release of Matt Jones.
9. Packers-- Brian Orakpo
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
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.
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
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- Eugene Monroe
Must protect their new investment Matt Cassell and get Larry Johnson back to a Pro Bowl level. Monroe played next to Branden Albert, their #1 pick last year. Seems like a natural pick.
4. Seahawks- Aaron Curry
The Hawks have been penciled in to take Crabtree here, but the team already has a #1 guy with Housmanzadeh (sic?) and some decent #2's with Deion Branch and Bobby Engram. They need a playmaker on defense, especially with the trade of Julian Peterson. Curry should be an impact player immediately.
5. Browns- Everette Brown
Simply put the Browns need a pass rusher, as the team only had 17 sacks all of last season. Should make for a dynamic LB corps next to Wimberly and D'Qwell Jackson. A lot of teams have Orakpo as the better prospect, but I think Mangini will be skeptical after he picked the uber-athletic but big time bust Vernon Gholston last season. Brown is a more natural and experienced football player, so he gets the nod.
6. Bengals- Andre Smith
The Browns 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
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. Jaguars- Jeremy Maclin
The Jags have all but stated that they want a WR with speed. Maclin provides them with a threat downfield and a #1 WR option, a pressing need with the release of Matt Jones.
9. Packers-- Brian Orakpo
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
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.