NFL Mock Draft: 2.0
By Brian Miller
Once again our resident Mock writer Shane takes a stab at his 2nd mock draft of the season. With only the final two slots up in the air, the order is set and now we await the Super Bowl winner. Here is the official Phinphanatic NFL Mock Draft 2.0.
2009 NFL Mock Draft
1. Detroit – Mark Sanchez, QB, USC. I know this is a shocker right now, but I think come April it will not be. Detroit needs a young QB to build this franchise around they have a young receiver in Johnson and RB in Smith, Sanchez could give them the young trio they need. Detroit could look a few different ways and I would not be shocked if they went offensive line or defensive end. Schwartz is a defense guy and the GM Martin Mayhew is a former DB as well. The sleeper pick here is Everett Brown DE out of FSU, while a face of the team is needed, a pass rushing DE is the biggest team need and Mayhew is a FSU grad, so he will know everything there is to know about Brown.
2. St Louis – Andre Smith, OT, Alabama. The Rams wanted Jake Long last year and with the hiring of Spagnuolo they will look at the trenches in this year’s draft. Pace’s productivity fell off last year and they will need to replace him. Smith gives them a tough guy that will help open holes for Jackson.
3. Kansas City – Everett Brown, DE/OL, Florida State. Now that Scott Pioli is calling the shots in KC we can look at New England’s past history to get a glimpse of how he may draft. First and foremost he will look to trade down, and with Stafford or Sanchez there, somebody may be willing to move up. Since we aren’t sure who will be coaching the team we don’t know what kind of offensive or defensive scheme will be run. With Tyler Thigpen behind center the offense did show some signs of life, but the defense ranked 31st last year. Brown gives them a guy that can play DE in a 4-3 or OLB in a 3-4. He is very athletic and his 12.5 sacks and 23 tackles for loss in 2008 will translate to a guy that can play on the offensive side of the line of scrimmage.
4. Seattle – Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech. With Holmgren gone and Mora in place now Seattle will be looking to get a quick turn around. Injuries killed the offense last year, but even without the injuries the lack of a playmaker at receiver was a glaring weakness. Crabtree is head and shoulders above the draft class of receivers in the 2009 draft. He will give Hasselbeck a big target on the outside that will make plays.
5. Cleveland – Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State. Mangini is a defensive guy. The offense has a lot of playmakers on the team, but they will just need to get them to play. Cleveland’s secondary is horrible and Jenkins could step in day one and start. He is big and physical. Cleveland could also look at Aaron Curry here, but I think the bigger need is at CB.
6. Cincinnati – Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest. No telling what is going on in Cincinnati, but Palmer is coming back and Benson started looking like a NFL running back. They will lose one of if not both Ocho Cinco and Houshmandzadeh, so they will put weapons in for Palmer but not sure they will want to go WR here, there is some quality for the second and third round. Curry gives the anemic defense and instant upgrade. Keith Rivers should be back, throw Curry in and all of the sudden the back half of the Bengals defense does not look bad at all.
7. Oakland – Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia. Al gets one right. They have a lot of money tied up in QB and RB, now they must upgrade the O Line. In reality who knows what Al will do, but he could look at a DB as well.
8. Jacksonville – Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri. Jags could go a lot of different ways, and Del Rio has no say so any longer in personnel decisions. The Jags need a play making WR. Garrad needs someone that can stretch the field and Maclin may run the fastest time at the combine.
9. Green Bay – Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas. GB needs a pass rush off the edge for the other side of Kampman. Orakpo would give them stability on the DL and is strong against the run and can bring pressure on the QB. Orakpo and Kamoman would help get pressure on the QB and give some relief to the aging DBs.
10. San Francisco – Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia. Do we really think Shaun Hill is the answer at QB, and the Alex Smith experiment should be over. Singletary would love to take defense here, or possibly someone like Duke Robinson, but they can’t pass on Stafford if he’s there.
11. Buffalo – Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech. Buffalo needs a pass rush. They would have loved to have Brown or Orakpo available and give serious consideration to Aaron Maybin, but his lack of bulk as a DE makes them turn to Johnson. Johnson isn’t much heavier than Maybin, but he is more rounded and at 6’7” he has room to grow and not lose much of his burst.
12. Denver – Rey Maualuga, LB, USC. Even with the hiring of McDaniels there is little doubt yet they must improve on defense. Denver can’t stop the run at all, so they will could invest picks in the defensive line and go with someone like Raji or Marks. In the end I think they will take the best defensive player on the board, and there is a good change Maualuga might be that player before the draft even starts.
13. Washington – Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi. Samuels, Fabini and Jensen are all over 30 and Jensen’s future with the Redskins is in Question. The Redskins struggled on offense once Samuels went down. Oher has more snaps at LT than any other player in this year’s draft. He could sit a year or he could step in right away or even be moved to the right side if they decide not to bring Jensen back.
14. New Orleans – James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio State. Vilma will not be resigned because they do not want to have to give the Jets a #1 pick. Laurinaitis will give a big boost to the middle of the Saints defense.
15. Houston – William Moore, S, Missouri. Houston has not been able to get that defensive backfield fixed. Moore will give them a big safety that can play either position. He is a hard hitting ball hawk that should help create turnovers and make receivers think twice about going over the deep middle of the field.
16. San Diego – Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia. LT will turn 30 this off-season and just post his worst season as a pro. He is also scheduled to make $8.8 million next year. ESPN is reporting that Spanos has reached out to Tomlinson about the situation and if something can’t be worked out the LT era in San Diego could be over. Moreno is similar is size and stature to LT and I am not sold that Sproles is and every down back in the NFL.
17. New York Jets – Vontea Davis, CB, Illinois. Now that Ryan has been names the coach we know the 3-4 defense will stay as is. He will have to improve the defensive secondary. Davis is big and physical. He should fit well into the scheme Ryan will run.
18. Chicago – Percy Harvin, WR, Florida. Harvin’s 40 time wont be far off Maclin’s. Devine Hester has not been effective at WR or in the return game this year, so they need a WR and move Hester back to what he does best. Harvin gives the Bears on offense what Hester does for the special teams. Harvin reminds me a lot of Steve Smith and while he doesn’t play as angry as Smith he does play with a bit of a chip on his shoulder.
19. Tampa Bay – Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State. With Grudenand Allen out and Morris and Dominik in not sure which way Tampa will go, but they have an aging defense and an aging offense at the skilled positions. Tampa has a young and talented offensive line and Tampa may be shipping the Cadillac out and bring the Beanie in.
20. Detroit (f/Dallas) – Jason Smith, OT, Baylor. Detroit still could go a few ways, but they will need to protect Sanchez and open holes for Smith. Many people have Jason Smith ranked in the top 10 in the draft and the Lions are thrilled he is there at 20.
21. Philadelphia – Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State. Philly could go a few different directions but there is a very good possibility LJ Smith leaves to free agency, but even if he stays he has been often injured. Pettigrew will give the Eagles a very good middle of the field threat.
22. Minnesota – Max Unger, OL, Oregon. He can play any spot along the offensive line and if the Vikings can’t resign Matt Birk he could step in and start day one. Minnesota will more than likely try and move down because they need to get a QB and unless one of the tier 2 guys really impresses ala Flacco last year they can drop back and get a QB later in the round or in round 2.
23. New England – Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn State. They could very well go DB but Maybin’s ability is just too hard to pass up in this spot. The patriots have had a hard time of getting pressure on the QB and Maybin should help that.
24. Atlanta – B.J. Raji, DT, BC. Atlanta was ranked 25th against the rush. They have to get stouter in the middle. Raji can stuff the run and can get pressure on the QB when needed. At 6’1”, 330 lbs he is very athletic and can anchor the defensive line for years to come.
25. Miami – D.J. Moore, CB Vanderbilt, Miami needs to improve the secondary Moore is a playmaker who can do it all. He returns kicks, plays WR and takes end abounds. He is a dynamic player with Devon Hester abilities with the ball in his hands, but better coverage skills.
26. Baltimore – Clint Sintim, OLB, Virginia. Baltimore could go a few ways in this spot, but the fact is three of their 4 starting line backers are UFAs this off-season. Sintim played OLB in a 3-4 scheme already so there should be very little learning curve.
27. Indianapolis – Jerry Peria, DT, Mississippi. The Colts need help in the middle. Peria is big enough to stuff the run, but is also quick enough on his feet the pressure the QB. He is a perfect fit for the Tampa 2 defense.
28. Philadelphia – Sean Smith, DB, Utah. This pick will more than likely come down to a need and Philly may very well move this pick or use both picks to move up in the draft. Smith can play safety or corner and Philly could lose Dawkins in the off-season. He is a big DB and fast. He would fit in nicely with Johnson’s attacking style defense.
29. New York Giants – Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers The Giants could look at a big WR to take the place of Burgess. Britt is big and fast and the home town Jersey guy would do well in the Giants offense.
30. Tennessee – Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina. Nicks gives Tennessee a solid receiving threat for whoever the QB is in Tennessee. Nicks didn’t get the press at Carolina, but he did lead the Tar Heels in receiving the last three years. He has very good hands and good size frame.
31. Arizona – Tyson Jackson, DL, LSU. There is not much doubt AZ will be looking defense in the draft. Jackson gives them a true DE for the 3-4 scheme they are running. He is stout against the run and can get pressure in passing situations..
32. Pittsburgh – Duke Robinson, OL, Oklahoma. Pittsburgh doesn’t have many needs, but the O Line is not as good as past years. Robinson is a perfect fit for the Steelers pound the rock attitude. He can play 4 of 5 spots on the offensive line, but look for him to line up a guard and be a road grater for the running game.