http://www.nfl.com/combine/story?id...s&confirm=true&icampaign=DW_Combine_wednesday 1. Detroit Lions Jason Smith OT, Baylor Right now, it would appear there is a bit of doubt about Matthew Stafford being worthy of the top pick in the draft. An underclassman under 6-foot-3 who ran close to 4.9 in the 40-yard dash on a number of watches has a lot to prove. Jason Smith had a fine workout, passed the eyeball test and can be plugged into the lineup for the next 10 years. 2. St. Louis Rams Eugene Monroe OT, Virginia The Rams could get serious about Michael Crabtree if the medical news about his foot is positive, but right now Monroe is a safe pick, and it transitions with the end of Orlando Pace's career. If Pace plays in 2009, Monroe can start at guard just like Jonathan Ogden did during his rookie season in Baltimore. 3. Kansas City Chiefs Aaron Curry LB, Wake Forest The Chiefs are going to build a 3-4 defense and Curry gives them a critical piece at outside linebacker. If Stafford drops to them, they will think long and hard about him because the jury is still out on Tyler Thigpen. 4. Seattle Seahawks Michael Crabtree WR, Texas Tech Only the foot injury would allow Crabtree to fall to the No. 4 spot, but his 231 receptions in just two seasons in college should be enough for the Seahawks to draft him. He's just what the doctor ordered for this offense. 5. Cleveland Browns Malcolm Jenkins CB, Ohio State The Browns have a lot of needs, and cornerback is one of them. An outside linebacker who can rush the passer is priority No. 1, but with Curry gone, local Ohio State product Malcolm Jenkins is perfect. Keep in mind that new coach Eric Mangini took Darrelle Revis in the first round when he was with the Jets. 6. Cincinnati Bengals Brian Orakpo DE/LB, Texas The Bengals have lots of needs, and they tend to ignore defense early in drafts. A wide receiver would work here, and if Crabtree slid they might do it. But they need help on defense. Orakpo is versatile and helps with a pass rush that has to improve. 7. Oakland Raiders Jeremy Maclin WR, Missouri As the Raiders release high-priced veterans, they need playmakers. I could see an offensive or defensive tackle at this spot, but Al Davis loves speed, and Maclin has a lot of it. He led the nation with over 200 all-purpose yards per game, and he could team up with Johnnie Lee Higgins to make a dangerous tandem. 8. Jacksonville Jaguars Matthew Stafford QB, Georgia The Jaguars were probably thinking they had a shot at Mark Sanchez, but it's possible Stafford slides to the No. 8 spot. If the quarterbacks are gone, then Jacksonville could take a left tackle like Andre Smith or Michael Oher. Stafford would not have to take the field for a year or two while David Garrard runs the offense, which would be ideal for the Georgia star, who would become a fan favorite in a city right on the Georgia border. 9. Green Bay Packers Brian Cushing LB, USC The Packers are switching to a 3-4 defense, and they have to be thinking about an outside linebacker opposite Aaron Kampman. Cushing has played OLB, ILB, safety, defensive end and is just an all-around solid football player. At the combine, he measured in at 6-foot-3, 243 pounds, put up the 225-pound bench press 30 times, ran sub-4.7 in the 40-yard dash on a number of handheld watches and looked good in his drill work. 10. San Francisco 49ers Darrius Heyward-Bey WR, Maryland The 49ers have so many needs, and after Heyward-Bey ran a sub-4.3 in the 40 at his size, he moved up draft boards. He can stretch the field, which is critical as teams try to stop Frank Gore in the running attack. He will need to catch the ball better at his pro day to keep up the momentum he built at the combine. 11. Buffalo Bills Everette Brown DE/LB, Florida State The Bills need a pass rush and an outside linebacker. Brown could satisfy both issues. After Brown measured in at 6-foot-1½ and 256 pounds, he really moved to the linebacker group instead of the defensive end group that he worked out with in Indianapolis. His 20 sacks over the last two years can't be overlooked. 12. Denver Broncos B.J. Raji DT, Boston College The Broncos have a long way to go to convert their defense from a 4-3 to a 3-4. They simply aren't big enough up front to be a two-gap team or have enough pass rush to protect the corners. Raji is a good fit in any front, and while the Broncos are playing a mix of the two fronts, at least they would add a big man (337 pounds) inside to help stop the run and collapse the pocket. 13. Washington Redskins Andre Smith OT, Alabama Smith created quite a stir at the combine by leaving unannounced and not working out. He is immature in some respects and could have some weight issues, but he's one heck of a talent. He's a guy who can maul opponents and has extremely long arms (35 3/8) to pass block. Washington takes him as it prepares for the end of Chris Samuels' career. 14. New Orleans Saints Vontae Davis CB, Illinois Defense is the reason the Saints haven't made a run at the Super Bowl. They paid a lot of money to the defensive line, and while they could be considered underachievers, the secondary also needs help. Davis is a big corner and could start from day one. 15. Houston Texans Tyson Jackson DE, LSU Jackson is one of the few true 4-3 left defensive-end candidates in the draft. He weighed in at 295 pounds, and he could really help opposite Mario Williams. As teams run the ball away from Williams, the Texans need a stout player holding up the strong side. Jackson will never get the protection schemes his way and he should generate some needed pass rush from the left side. His 4.96 time in the 40 is a bit pedestrian, but his 27 tackles for a loss and 18.5 sacks during his career at LSU make him a solid pick. 16. San Diego Chargers Rey Maualuga LB, USC Maualuga is a perfect fit as the strong inside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. He would bring the passion that hasn't been around at the position since Junior Seau.
17. New York Jets Hakeem Nicks WR, North Carolina Nicks is the big receiver the Jets have been looking for to play opposite Jerricho Cotchery. The Jets could be looking at a cornerback or defensive end, but Nicks should be the highest-graded player on the board. His postseason bowl performance removed any doubt about his first-round grade. 18. Chicago Bears Michael Oher OT, Mississippi The Bears got old at tackle in a hurry, and the retirement of John Tait created a sense of urgency. Chris Williams should be good at right tackle and Oher could man the left side. In one pick, Chicago cements its young bookends for the next 10 years. Always like a tackle with over 45 college starts. 19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Aaron Maybin DE/LB, Penn State Pay close attention to what the Bucs do in free agency. Former GM Bruce Allen left the team with more salary-cap space than anyone could imagine. For now, a young player like Maybin, who could be groomed at linebacker and rush the passer, makes sense. I'm not so sure Maybin can play linebacker. As one GM told me, "He's a 250-pound pass rusher who can't do much else." His combine performance in linebacker drills suggests he may be able to drop back in coverage. I might like him more in a 3-4 defense, but he is intriguing at this point in the draft. His lack of experience (10 college starts) could move him down the draft in the weeks to come. 20. Detroit Lions Mark Sanchez QB, USC It could work out that the Lions get their QB on their second pick in the first round. Sanchez needs a great pro day to get back into the top 10. If he doesn't wow the offensive coordinators, he could slide down in the draft to this spot. Sanchez has the skills to win in the NFL, but he will need time to develop -- and Detroit may not have the time to let him learn from the bench. 21. Philadelphia Eagles Eben Britton OT, Arizona The Eagles need an offensive tackle, and this is the last player at that position that grades out as a first-rounder. They might decide to take a look at Connecticut's William Beatty a bit later and take a running back or wide receiver here, but history shows Andy Reid likes to take guys in the first round who play with their hand on the ground. 22. Minnesota Vikings Percy Harvin WR, Florida Another playmaker for the passing game would be nice for whomever wins the QB job in Minnesota. The Vikings may be tempted to take a defenstive tackle like Peria Jerry to get in the rotation with Pat Williams, but they got good effort from their backups last year. Harvin would light up the Metrodome working out of the slot. 23. New England Patriots Knowshon Moreno RB, Georgia Kevin Faulk isn't getting any younger, Laurence Maroney has issues staying healthy and you can never have enough good running backs. Moreno has a chance to be like Tiki Barber, an all-around back. 24. Atlanta Falcons Peria Jerry DT, Mississippi The Falcons have to beef up the middle of their defense with solid young run stoppers. Jerry is a 300-pound run stuffer who will not be available later in the draft. His 32 tackles for a loss in the last two years at Mississippi tells you the kind of inside force he can be. 25. Miami Dolphins Larry English DE/LB, Northern Illinois I've interviewed English three times already, and he is an impressive young man who looks like Takeo Spikes and plays with a tireless motor. In the Dolphins' 3-4 defense, he could line up at OLB and get after the QB. His 31.5 sacks and 57 tackles for a loss in college make him the perfect complement to Joey Porter. He had two handheld 40-yard dash times under 4.8. 26. Baltimore Ravens Darius Butler CB, Connecticut The Ravens may want another corner, but for now the UConn corner gets the call. Some of the other corners are in the 5-foot-8 range and the Ravens may be looking for someone a bit taller. Butler measured in at 5-foot-10 3/8 and was impressive in his interviews. 27. Indianapolis Colts James Laurinaitis LB, Ohio State Laurinaitis may be slipping out of the first round after his 4.80 time in the 40, but his college production -- 375 tackles with nine interceptions and 13 sacks -- says he belongs among the top 32 players. His stats speak volumes about his playmaking ability. The combine didn't help him, but the game tapes will. 28. Philadelphia Eagles Kenny Britt WR, Rutgers The Eagles could take a big running back like Chris "Beanie" Wells from Ohio State here, but Britt gets the call this week. He's big (6-foot-2 7/8, 214 pounds) and explosive. He would be a nice complement to DeSean Jackson. If the Eagles sign T.J. Houshmandzadeh during free agency, then they're set to take a running back. 29. New York Giants Michael Johnson DE, Georgia Tech Johnson is not without his critics, but the combine really helped him regain some of his first-round status. There was no one like him physically in Indianapolis, as he checked in at 6-foot-6 7/8, 266 pounds with a 4.67 time in the 40. He can move like a linebacker, rush the passer and probably be a short-yardage tight end. In the weeks to come, he will be moving up the draft board and probably be gone by the time the Giants select. 30. Tennessee Titans Robert Ayers DE, Tennessee Ayers made a statement at the Senior Bowl that he can play the run, rush the passer and drop into coverage when asked. He thinks he's headed to a 3-4 team as an outside linebacker, which may be true, but he really fits in with the Titans. There are some concerns about his bench press (18 reps), but as one GM said, "The last thing I worry about is strength. We can fix that." 31. Arizona Cardinals Evander Hood DT, Missouri Hood had a good combine and looked impressive in drill work. He did not come to Indianapolis as a first-round candidate, but he may be leaving as one. At 6-foot-2 7/8 and 300 pounds with 34 reps on the bench press and a sub-4.9 40, his stock is rising. 32. Pittsburgh Steelers Jarron Gilbert DE, San Jose State The world champs need to find a 5-technique player to be in a rotation with starters Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel. Gilbert came to Indianapolis as a second- or third-round prospect, but the 6-foot-5, 288-pound player with 4.81 speed is moving up draft boards. ===== Here's a list of the next wave of players who could break into the first round by next week's mock draft: QB Josh Freeman, RB Chris "Beanie" Wells, TE Brandon Pettigrew, C Alex Mack, OT William Beatty, OLB Clay Mathews, CB D.J. Moore and CB Alphonso Smith.
Remember when I projected Gilbert to the Jets in RD 2 and some folks thought that was a reach, and I assured you this player would look like good value in that spot as we get closer to draft day Well I don't like to toot my own horn, but ... beep beep! :grin:
Jarron Gilbert sliding into the first is very possible. Who's the guy that tried to call me out for saying Evander Hood is a first round prospect? I knew he'd have a great combine and raise his stock. I don't know how this guy doesn't have Sean Smith going in the first.
Good Call on Hood, E .. my man over at draftdaddy has been projecting him in RD 1 too, and honestly I thought that was a reach, but post combines it looks like I owe both of you guys an apology As for Gilbert, I'm starting to wonder just how high he can rise and if the Jets might consider him at 17 hmy: I mean if you look at this kid on film .. WOW .. and he tore it up at the combines as well I don't think he'll rise into the TOP 20, but its possible .. he's running 4.8's and he's only a stones throw away from 300 Pounds, and IMO he'll easily carry 300 Pounds on that 6' 5" frame .. could be a lights out 34DE Senior Season [YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK_SxTr4jZs[/YOUTUBE] Junior Season [YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHoBtyuof_A[/YOUTUBE] [YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXDSPbZ_OUw[/YOUTUBE] [YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAqc85MT_-0[/YOUTUBE]
Kirwin's mocks have been very, very off the mark for several years and counting. I think he missed 24 first round picks last year. I don't think too much of this one either.
I think Kirwan is pretty good> He personally interviews alot of players and talks to every team. Hard to do Mocks with all the trades now.If this is how it shakes out we should trade down.
