Mock
Draft: (dateline: 23 April, 11:05 EDT)
Mock drafts, being a futile exercise in arranging bad information, were to be avoided here.� However, the pull, like that of a black hole, is irresistible.� Still, like all of the ilk, the following is best read as fiction; therefore, only those trades imagined here are noted below, so:
�
|
|
Team |
Player |
Pos. |
Remarks |
|
1 |
Tampa
Bay (from SF) |
Alex
Smith |
QB |
Smith
doesn�t want to pay California�s state income tax.� Niners don�t want to pay any prospect #1 money.� Gruden needs a QB and the Bucs need a
headline |
|
2 |
Miami |
Ronnie
Brown |
RB |
A
prospect with both franchise ability and great character |
|
3 |
Washington
(from Cleveland) |
Braylon
Edwards |
WR |
Washington
takes the plunge, moving up to get a big WR opposite Santana Moss.� |
|
4 |
Chicago |
Pac
Man Jones |
CB/KR |
Lovie
Smith is a D-side coach; it figures he�ll take the top defender on his
board.� For sure, he�ll take
speed.� |
|
5 |
San
Francisco (from TB) |
Aaron
Rodgers |
QB |
Niners
move down and still get the hometown hero. |
|
6 |
New
Orleans (from Tenn.) |
Antrel
Rolle |
CB |
The
Titans have to move down.� They won�t
get market value, but they get something.�
Here, the Saints get a lockdown CB, previously absent in the Quarter. |
|
7 |
Minnesota |
Troy
Williamson |
WR |
Reportedly,
at the top of the Vikings board.� |
|
8 |
Arizona |
Cadillac
Williams |
RB |
Carlos
Rogers may be a better fit but Denny Green figures to go O-side. |
|
9 |
Cleveland
(from Wash.) |
Shawne
Merriman |
OLB/DE |
Romeo
understands what Willie McGinest meant to the Pats |
|
10 |
Detroit |
Mike
Williams |
WR |
3rd
successive draft taking WR R1.� Trouble
is, the others can�t stay on the field.�
|
|
11 |
Dallas |
Marcus
Spears |
DE |
Big
Bill likes big guys upfront. |
|
12 |
San
Diego |
Demarcus
Ware |
OLB/DE |
Ware
has a lightning first step.� San Diego
was near the bottom in sacks last season; no more. |
|
13 |
Baltimore
(from Houston) |
Derrick
Johnson |
OLB |
Johnson
doesn�t fit in a 3-4 but the Ravens are no longer a 3-4 team.� Protected behind DE Anthony Weaver, he�ll
be free to run to the ball.� |
|
14 |
Carolina |
Jamaal
Brown |
OT |
Panthers
must rebuild their O-line.� Brown is
the best RT in this draft. |
|
15 |
Kansas
City |
Thomas
Davis |
S/OLB |
Chiefs
have needs everywhere but none greater than toughness.� Davis doesn�t have a position but he is a
blow-up hitter.� |
|
16 |
Tennessee
(from NO) |
Alex
Barron |
LT |
Not
BPA, but the Titans must get a replacement for Brad Hopkins |
|
17 |
Cincinnati |
Carlos
Rogers |
CB |
Bengals
need D-line help more but Rogers would be too good to pass.� |
|
18 |
Minnesota |
Erasmus
James |
DE |
Quality
edge rusher, when healthy can hold up at the POA; however, is only
intermittently healthy |
|
19 |
St.
Louis |
Matt
Jones |
WR |
Who
is more likely to grab up Jones than the mad genius of mid-America, Mike
Martz?� |
|
20 |
Pittsburgh
(from
Dallas) |
David
Pollack |
OLB/DE |
Steelers
move up to get the next Kevin Green. |
|
21 |
Jacksonville
|
Mark
Clayton |
WR |
Jags
have size outside but they need a slot WR.�
Clayton is good to go, right out of the box. |
|
22 |
Houston
(from Baltimore) |
Cedric
Benson |
RB |
One
of the top three RB may take a Deuce McAlister type fall.� Benson, a highly durable RB and an
in-state product, would fit.� Here,
the Texans move back to recoup those picks they gave Oakland to land CB
Phillip Buchanon.���� |
|
23 |
Indianapolis
(from Seattle) |
Fabian
Washington |
CB |
Anticipating
a run on CB, Indy moves up to get the fastest guy flying. |
|
24 |
Green
Bay |
Marlin
Jackson |
CB/S |
Played
every DB position at Michigan.� Cold
weather, big school prospect; a natural fit.�� |
|
25 |
Cleveland
(from Wash.) |
Roddy
White |
WR |
Has
#1 ability.� Has some attitude
too.� |
|
26 |
Oakland |
Justin
Miller |
CB/KR |
Clemson
bad boy would be a direct replacement for Phillip Buchanon.� |
|
27 |
Atlanta |
Mike
Patterson |
DT |
Rich
McKay Jr., the man who drafted Warren Sapp, gets Baby Sapp here.� |
|
28 |
San
Diego |
Shaun
Cody |
DE |
With
Ware sideboard, the Chargers pass rush figures to be formidable.� |
|
29 |
Seattle
(from Indy) |
Odell
Thurman |
MLB |
Instinctive
MLB.� |
|
30 |
Dallas
(from Pittsburgh) |
Luis
Castillo |
D-line |
As
noted, Bill likes �em big.� Castillo
has size, strength and smarts; plus, he�s a Jersey guy.� |
|
31 |
Philadelphia |
Heath
Miller |
TE |
Chad
Lewis can�t go forever.� This year,
Philly waits and gathers the top guy in a shallow class.� |
|
32 |
New
England |
Chris
Spencer |
IOL |
Regarded
as the best OC prospect since Damien Woody.�
Falls to the team that drafted the original. |