JetFanInPA NFL Mock: 3/16

Almost two weeks later, some free agency and draft prospect news has reshaped the draft a bit. Take a look.

ROUND I
1. Detroit: Matt Stafford QB: It just makes too much sense here. Even if they don’t feel he’s ready, he can sit behind Culpepper for a while to avoid getting shell-shocked.

2. St. Louis: Jason Smith OT: The release of long-time LT Orlando Pace almost ensures he or Eugene Monroe is the pick. The Rams need help at both ends of the line.

3. Kansas City: Aaron Curry LB: The Chiefs may move to a 3-4 defense (which would be a huge mistake), but regardless of what they do, Aaron Curry could play inside in either and is a great value at a position of need.

4. Seattle: Mark Sanchez QB: With Cory Redding and Houshmandzadeh coming to Seattle and Ray Willis resigning, this is an interesting spot. Don’t forget the team still has Deion Branch opposite TJ along with a core of solid young players. Sanchez could sit for a season or two or three and learn behind 12 year veteran Matt Hasselbeck and take over down the line. With not many glaring needs and value not matching need, this is the best choice unless Curry somehow makes it past Kansas City.

5. Cleveland: Brian Orakpo OLB/DE: Mangini gets this year’s Vernon Gholston. Orakpo has some question marks like all prospects, but he’s been a dominant player on the field as well.

6. Cincinnati: B.J. Raji DT: People forget that Anthony Collins is on this team and looks like a solid OT. If Raji is here, they should go for the run-stopping and pass-rushing force that could become one of the league’s best interior linemen.

7. Oakland: Michael Crabtree WR: Don’t be surprised if Al Davis goes for Jeremy Maclin here, but WR is far and away the Raider’s weakest position on the 53-man roster not counting its ownership.

8. Jacksonville: Jeremy Maclin WR: With WR Matt Jones’ trouble and Tra Thomas now holding down the left side of the line, this pick comes down to a WR, CB or perhaps a QB. Jones and Reggie Williams are possession guys, but Maclin is an explosive playmaker and can return kicks too.

9. Green Bay: Eugene Monroe OT: The steal of the draft so far, Monroe could easily go 2nd overall to the Rams. The Packers have a hole at RT and a 33-year old LT who is past his prime. The BPA happens to fill a big need here. Always a great scenario.

10. San Francisco: Vontae Davis CB: With Sanchez gone, the 49ers opt for secondary help. Walt Harris is 35 and they need an heir or immediate starter. Davis gets the nod over Malcolm Jenkins since he’s the purer CB, but lookout because they also could use safety help, so Jenkins would make just as much sense.

11. Buffalo: Everette Brown DE: A nice value here, Brown is an undersized lineman, but would provide much needed pass rush to a team that was lacking it last year especially since Aaron Schobel was out.

12. Denver: Tyson Jackson DE: The Broncos signed about 10 free agents this offseason, but many of them aren’t of starting quality. This is a bit of a reach I suppose, but they really need to build their defensive line if they’re moving to a 3-4 and Jackson is natural in that defense.

13. Washington: Michael Oher OT: Like the Packers, the Redskins need help at both tackle positions and this guy looks like a prototypical LT. He has the talent to go much higher, but he has his share of question marks that allows him to be around here.

14. New Orleans: Brian Cushing LB: Jonathan Vilma is one starter, but there are questions at the other two spots. Cushing can play inside or outside and is the 2nd best pure 4-3 linebacker prospect in this draft next to Aaron Curry.

15. Houston: Malcolm Jenkins DB: A tough spot to project, the Texans look like a team with few glaring weaknesses. Jenkins could upgrade a safety or corner spot, however and would be an excellent value pick. He’s versatile and a gamer and could be a top five pick if he had better speed.

16. San Diego: Rey Maualuga ILB: Not a glaring weakness, but San Diego could use a run-stopping 3-4 ILB that can help their run defense. This is the best value when matched with potential need at this spot. Lookout for an OT or DE here as well, but Maualuga should be the pick.

17. NY Jets: Hakeem Nicks WR: With Laveranues Coles gone, this team needs WR help for the mystery QB. Nicks is a similar player to Anquan Boldin and is tough, physical, polished, has great hands and runs terrific routes. An underrated player, but hey, Boldin was a second round pick and had 200+ yards receiving in his first
career game.

18. Chicago: Aaron Maybin DE: Maybin has higher bust potential than some may think because he is undersized and looked sluggish carrying an extra fifteen pounds at the combine. But even if he starts as a situational pass rusher, he should be terrific in spot duty.

19. Tampa Bay: Peria Jerry DT: A pass-rushing DT with the ability to get the QB, Jerry has injury concerns, but is a complete player. The Bucs’ need a lot of help
inside and Jerry is a nice fit.

20. Detroit: William Beatty OT: Now that they have their QB of today or tomorrow, they need their LT of today. Beatty would allow Jeff Backus to move inside to guard and should create an actually solid offensive line for Detroit.

21. Philadelphia: Darrius Heyward-Bey WR: His measurables are phenomenal, but his game tape is often less then impressive. Maryland wasn’t the best team, but it doesn’t change the fact that Heyward-Bey isn’t physical and not polished and is a similar prospect to Troy Williamson. However, his numbers will intrigue someone and possibly earlier than this.

22. Minnesota: Eben Britton OT: The new center on the Vikings will likely be 6th round pick (Like Birk) from Notre Dame John Sullivan. Their RT won’t be Ryan Cook though. He struggled this year and will have to beat out the physical run-blocking Britton, who should be able to open up more holes for Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor to run wild.

23. New England: Connor Barwin OLB/DE: The Pats continue to get younger at LB with this Mike Vrabel clone as he also can become their red-zone TE. A bit raw, Barwin wouldn’t start from day one, but would be eased into the lineup and should become the next great Patriots LB (uh oh…).

24. Atlanta: Alex Mack C: The Falcons continue to build their line as they get Mack, who would be a huge upgrade over the aging 285 pound Todd McClure. This is not a glaring need, but the Falcons don’t have too many. Mack is a terrific value and has Pro Bowl potential.

25. Miami: Alphonso Smith CB: The Dolphins just brought in Eric Green, but he’s far from a lock to start. Smith has everything you look for in a CB minus height. This would complete Miami’s secondary.

26. Baltimore: Darius Butler CB: Samari Rolle, Chris McAllister and possibly Corey Ivy are gone. They brought in Dominique Foxworth, but they still need at least one starting caliber quality CB.

27. Indianapolis: Juaquin Iglesias WR: And the surprise pick of the first round goes to the Colts. They like route-runners with polished games and Iglesias is a tough WR that fits the bill. An underrated prospect that’s similar to Hakeem Nicks in some ways, Iglesias is an ideal fit for the Colts, who need a starter opposite Reggie Wayne so Anthony Gonzalez can work the slot.

28. Philadelphia: Chris Wells RB: Wells ran very well at his Pro Day and he could go even higher (although personally not a fan), but his running style complements Westbrook perfectly.

29. NY Giants: Kenny Britt WR: The Jersey-boy from Bayonne is an ideal fit for the Giants who could be without Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer in 2009. This big, physical WR actually is comparable to Burress.

30. Tennessee: DJ Moore CB: Opposite CB Cortland Finnegan, the Titans have problems. Nicks Harper is in his mid-thirties and they could even use some depth. Moore is a playmaker and would fill a huge hole.

31. Arizona: Knowshon Moreno RB: An under-drafted player due to a lack of need at the position and average measurables, Moreno is simply a great football player minus the numbers.

32. Pittsburgh: Max Unger OL: The versatile Oregon lineman is primarily a center, but could also play guard or tackle. This is key since the Steelers could potentially use help at left tackle, center and guard.

ROUND II
33. Detroit: Jarron Gilbert DL
34. New England: Sean Smith DB
35. St. Louis: Brian Robiskie WR
36. Cleveland: LeSean McCoy RB
37. Seattle: Donald Brown RB
38. Cincinnati: Troy Kropog OT
39. Jacksonville: Josh Freeman QB
40. Oakland: Michael Johnson DE
41. Green Bay: Larry English OLB/DE
42. Buffalo: Clay Matthews LB
43. San Francisco: Jamon Meredith OT
44. Miami: Jared Cook TE
45. NY Giants: Darry Beckwith ILB
46. Houston: Andre Brown RB
47. New England: Jonathan Luigs OL
48. Denver: Mike Mickens CB
49. Chicago: Louis Delmas S
50. Cleveland: Percy Harvin WR
51. Dallas: Jason Watkins OT
52. Philadelphia: Duke Robinson OL
53. NY Jets: Evander Hood DL
54. Atlanta: Clint Sintim LB
55. Minnesota: Brandon Pettigrew TE
56. Miami: Ron Brace DT
57. Baltimore: Shawn Nelson TE
58. New England: James Laurinaitis ILB
59. Carolina: Robert Ayers DE
60. NY Giants: Andy Levitre OG
61. Indianapolis: James Davis RB
62. Tennessee: Eric Wood C
63. Arizona: Paul Kruger OLB/DE
64. Pittsburgh: Sherrod Martin DB

 

OK thanks for the feedback so far. I'll answer some questions.

As for Pettigrew, yes I believe he could because he's just not the type of TE teams are looking for. He's not fast and wouldn't be the type to make Pro Bowls. To me, he's not really worth that high of a pick. He's more of a second rounder IMO.

Hood does fall, but when I look at it, he very very well could go to Indy at #28, but otherwise, I could see him fall. I also doubt it, but that's how the mock played out. I didn't plan around us getting a certain player. It just did. So that's how he got to us in the 2nd.

As for Cakes' Nicks debate, maybe he went up against a scrub, but Boldin still caught over 100 passes that year without Larry Fitzgerald on the team. OK and even if you want to take that game away, that's still at least 90 catches in 15 games for a rookie. I completely disagree with you about Boldin, however. He may often face the #2 CB, but that's still a great starter sometimes. And when Fitzgerald was hurt, he still played very well. And if Nicks is as good as Boldin then he's worth more than the 17th pick IMO.

 

Fair enough. What's your reasoning?

 

It's the mock draft of tomorrow! If a mod could change the date, that would be good.

And yeah I agree Jabba. It is hard to read. I'll fix that.