Free Agency: TE Daniel Graham RT Leonard Davis CB Asante Samuel These are all the same from my first mock off-season. Now the trickier part... Draft: 1. Patrick Willis - LB, Ole Miss To answer some questions about why a MLB, he's a very versatile player and a tackling machine. Scott Wright projects him to play either ILB or OLB in the pros, and I can see Willis being the pick due to his versatility to play both. 2. Josh Beekman - G, Boston College BC produces a lot of solid linemen and Beekman should be no exception to the rule. Most likely a starter from day one. 2. Brian Leonard - FB, Rutgers 3. Kareem Brown - DT, Miami Since all the crap with Tank Tyler has been brought to my attention (in addition to his smaller size), how about Brown who apparently really stepped up his game in his senior season. Move DeWayne over to DE. 5. Jon Cornish - RB, Kansas I've changed my mind on Dwayne Wright, and I think I'd rather get Cornish. A pretty big guy with decent speed and very good college production the last two years. 6. Chinedum Ndukwe - S, Notre Dame My new homer pick b/c I decided that Richardson is just not athletic enough for the NFL level. Besides, Ndukwe was easily the best player in the secondary (although that is saying very little). 7. Matt Trannon - WR, Michigan State A late pickup of a fairly productive WR. He's a big guy, not much speed, but there aren't many decent burners late in the draft this year. Sticking with my homer pick.
I don't think you need to defend the Willis pick, I think he could be the best Middle Linebacker to come out since Jonathon Vilma. With us running the 3-4 we always need linebackers and Barton isn't going to be playing at a high level much longer. Willis would be a great value pick. My big concern is the continued lack of a pass rush. I can't argue with the Beekman and Leonard picks because they are pretty good values and pretty big needs, but if we are going to take mroe of a luxury pick in the first with Willis, I think we need to make sure we address either DE, NT or OLB in the second. Their should be a lot of good prospects available still at those positions, especially at OLB and would consider replacing Leonard with one and perhaps even deferring OG until later in the draft where good prospects will be around still. I like the idea of signing Leonard Davis because he is a load and Matt Trannon would be a great pick to give us 1 big, jump ball sepecialist.
