Texans34Life
I BLEED TEXANS!
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_y...F?slug=jm-mockdraft032207&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
ROUND 1
1. Oakland Raiders LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell. They could completely pass on quarterback and either select wide receiver Calvin Johnson or deal down several choices. They will narrow down the options to three or four by April 1 and then spend the final three weeks concentrating on those prospects.
2. Detroit Lions Wisconsin offensive tackle Joe Thomas. The Lions will not pick a quarterback here nor do they feel drafting Thomas or a defensive player is worth the value of this selection. I anticipate them making a draft-day deal with someone who wants a quarterback or receiver Calvin Johnson and then taking Thomas a few picks later.
3. Cleveland Browns Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn. The Browns have made a number of short-term free agent moves to help fill their most glaring needs, including running back, offensive line and their defensive front four. They are sure to address cornerback later on the first day, but this pick comes down to adding a new face to the franchise and getting the most bang for your buck. Quinn does both for the Dawg Pound."
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson. There is a very good chance that the Bucs try to deal up in order to secure the services of Johnson, who would bring their offense out of the stagnant shape it was in all of last season. They also have needs up front on defense, so they could deal down from this spot to select a defensive lineman.
5. Arizona Cardinals Arkansas defensive lineman Jamaal Anderson. He gives them a versatile defender capable of creating matchup problems. However, if they are desperate to add an offensive tackle, they could deal down with a team looking for a pass rusher.
6. Washington Redskins Clemson defensive end Gaines Adams. They can go after a pass rusher here like Adams or use this choice as part of a package to obtain the services of cornerback Dre' Bly from Denver. If a trade for Bly happens, they could possibly use the Broncos' pick to take a pass rusher at No. 21.
7. Minnesota Vikings Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson. This is the worst-case scenario for the Vikings. It's possible the top two quarterbacks and top two defensive linemen will be off the board, and they would likely be over-drafting if they selected a wide receiver or defensive back with this choice. The Falcons have already made their move to get ahead of the Texans in order to secure the top-rated safety on their board, but more than likely this would be a trade-up spot for a team that has extra draft choices on the first day. Ultimately, the Vikings will seek the best playmaking option to jolt one of the worst big-play offenses in the league.
8. Atlanta Falcons LSU safety LaRon Landry. Their trade with the Texans on Wednesday, sending quarterback Matt Schaub to Houston, gives them options. They have the ammunition to deal up into the back end of the first round, as well, or possibly make a last-minute push toward a top-3 pick as they have a total of four second-round picks in the next two drafts. Landry would give them an instant playmaker in the middle of the field to pair with All-Pro cover corner DeAngelo Hall. A pair of wild-card options would be for them to go after offensive tackle Levi Brown, who would give them the bigger, more physical type blocker that head coach Bobby Petrino prefers, or select Petrino's former man-child Amobi Okoye.
9. Miami Dolphins Louisville defensive tackle Amobi Okoye. They are ideally hoping to find 1-2 players for their secondary, a pass catching tight end and an interior defender to create havoc inside and allow their pass rushers less opportunity to be double-teamed. The fact that new head coach Cam Cameron has had a lot of success with Antonio Gates will lead them to take a long look at Greg Olsen, but their actual choice will come down to the defensive side of the ball. Okoyes ability to get up field, handle double teams and give them the type of force in the middle to allow Jason Taylor and Joey Porter easy lanes to the quarterback will make this an easy decision.
10. Houston Texans Penn State offensive tackle Levi Brown. With a new starter at quarterback (Schaub) and running back (Ahman Green), Brown would help fortify a position that has been one of the most inconsistent since the team began play in 2002. Not everyone is convinced Brown can be a shutdown left tackle and they cannot afford to miss with this selection. However, with Landry off the board, Brown is the best option. If both are off the board, the Texans could trade back and pick up an extra pick for the one they just traded.
11. San Francisco 49ers Nebraska defensive lineman Adam Carriker/ Picking Carriker over Amobi Okoye will simply come down to the type of scheme and versatility one player brings over the other. Okoye could easily be the choice here, but finding a guy who can make plays from defensive end in a 3-4 is far too rare to pass on since they have the expectation of challenging for a playoff spot this coming season.
12. Buffalo Bills Mississippi linebacker Patrick Willis. The loss of linebacker London Fletcher-Baker is weighing more on the minds of front office folks and coaching staffs than the recent trade of starting running back Willis McGahee. I expect them to stick with choice of Willis here and then go after a back in Round 2 or 3. If they trade up for someone such as Peterson, chasing down a linebacker in the second becomes a major necessity.
13. St. Louis Rams Pittsburgh cornerback Darrelle Revis. The Rams have needs at both defensive line and cornerback, and will likely use their second pick (No. 52 overall) on an interior defender to help them improve against the run. Revis seems to be on the fast track to start as a rookie and over time, could develop into one of the better young, man cover corners in the league. There will be an array of talented defenders on the board at this point, but Revis' size, speed (4.38) and return skills help put him over the top.
14. Carolina Panthers Miami (Fla.) tight end Greg Olsen. The Panthers have a number of needs for a team that was one of the trendy choices to win the NFC just a year ago. However, adding Olsen, who can flex out to receiver and even line up in the slot, would help open up an offense that was way too inconsistent last season. They would take a very close look at Brown if he were here, since he has the experience and ability to move Jordan Gross back to the right side of the line. A source close to the team also identifies linebacker and safety as positions they intend to monitor heavily in the first day of the draft.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers Michigan cornerback Leon Hall. Hall seems to resemble Ronde Barber, the All-Pro cornerback who thrived in the same defensive scheme and mentality that new coach Mike Tomlin is bringing to the Steelers. Cornerback and home-grown talent Darrelle Revis is also an option.
ROUND 1
1. Oakland Raiders LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell. They could completely pass on quarterback and either select wide receiver Calvin Johnson or deal down several choices. They will narrow down the options to three or four by April 1 and then spend the final three weeks concentrating on those prospects.
2. Detroit Lions Wisconsin offensive tackle Joe Thomas. The Lions will not pick a quarterback here nor do they feel drafting Thomas or a defensive player is worth the value of this selection. I anticipate them making a draft-day deal with someone who wants a quarterback or receiver Calvin Johnson and then taking Thomas a few picks later.
3. Cleveland Browns Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn. The Browns have made a number of short-term free agent moves to help fill their most glaring needs, including running back, offensive line and their defensive front four. They are sure to address cornerback later on the first day, but this pick comes down to adding a new face to the franchise and getting the most bang for your buck. Quinn does both for the Dawg Pound."
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson. There is a very good chance that the Bucs try to deal up in order to secure the services of Johnson, who would bring their offense out of the stagnant shape it was in all of last season. They also have needs up front on defense, so they could deal down from this spot to select a defensive lineman.
5. Arizona Cardinals Arkansas defensive lineman Jamaal Anderson. He gives them a versatile defender capable of creating matchup problems. However, if they are desperate to add an offensive tackle, they could deal down with a team looking for a pass rusher.
6. Washington Redskins Clemson defensive end Gaines Adams. They can go after a pass rusher here like Adams or use this choice as part of a package to obtain the services of cornerback Dre' Bly from Denver. If a trade for Bly happens, they could possibly use the Broncos' pick to take a pass rusher at No. 21.
7. Minnesota Vikings Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson. This is the worst-case scenario for the Vikings. It's possible the top two quarterbacks and top two defensive linemen will be off the board, and they would likely be over-drafting if they selected a wide receiver or defensive back with this choice. The Falcons have already made their move to get ahead of the Texans in order to secure the top-rated safety on their board, but more than likely this would be a trade-up spot for a team that has extra draft choices on the first day. Ultimately, the Vikings will seek the best playmaking option to jolt one of the worst big-play offenses in the league.
8. Atlanta Falcons LSU safety LaRon Landry. Their trade with the Texans on Wednesday, sending quarterback Matt Schaub to Houston, gives them options. They have the ammunition to deal up into the back end of the first round, as well, or possibly make a last-minute push toward a top-3 pick as they have a total of four second-round picks in the next two drafts. Landry would give them an instant playmaker in the middle of the field to pair with All-Pro cover corner DeAngelo Hall. A pair of wild-card options would be for them to go after offensive tackle Levi Brown, who would give them the bigger, more physical type blocker that head coach Bobby Petrino prefers, or select Petrino's former man-child Amobi Okoye.
9. Miami Dolphins Louisville defensive tackle Amobi Okoye. They are ideally hoping to find 1-2 players for their secondary, a pass catching tight end and an interior defender to create havoc inside and allow their pass rushers less opportunity to be double-teamed. The fact that new head coach Cam Cameron has had a lot of success with Antonio Gates will lead them to take a long look at Greg Olsen, but their actual choice will come down to the defensive side of the ball. Okoyes ability to get up field, handle double teams and give them the type of force in the middle to allow Jason Taylor and Joey Porter easy lanes to the quarterback will make this an easy decision.
10. Houston Texans Penn State offensive tackle Levi Brown. With a new starter at quarterback (Schaub) and running back (Ahman Green), Brown would help fortify a position that has been one of the most inconsistent since the team began play in 2002. Not everyone is convinced Brown can be a shutdown left tackle and they cannot afford to miss with this selection. However, with Landry off the board, Brown is the best option. If both are off the board, the Texans could trade back and pick up an extra pick for the one they just traded.
11. San Francisco 49ers Nebraska defensive lineman Adam Carriker/ Picking Carriker over Amobi Okoye will simply come down to the type of scheme and versatility one player brings over the other. Okoye could easily be the choice here, but finding a guy who can make plays from defensive end in a 3-4 is far too rare to pass on since they have the expectation of challenging for a playoff spot this coming season.
12. Buffalo Bills Mississippi linebacker Patrick Willis. The loss of linebacker London Fletcher-Baker is weighing more on the minds of front office folks and coaching staffs than the recent trade of starting running back Willis McGahee. I expect them to stick with choice of Willis here and then go after a back in Round 2 or 3. If they trade up for someone such as Peterson, chasing down a linebacker in the second becomes a major necessity.
13. St. Louis Rams Pittsburgh cornerback Darrelle Revis. The Rams have needs at both defensive line and cornerback, and will likely use their second pick (No. 52 overall) on an interior defender to help them improve against the run. Revis seems to be on the fast track to start as a rookie and over time, could develop into one of the better young, man cover corners in the league. There will be an array of talented defenders on the board at this point, but Revis' size, speed (4.38) and return skills help put him over the top.
14. Carolina Panthers Miami (Fla.) tight end Greg Olsen. The Panthers have a number of needs for a team that was one of the trendy choices to win the NFC just a year ago. However, adding Olsen, who can flex out to receiver and even line up in the slot, would help open up an offense that was way too inconsistent last season. They would take a very close look at Brown if he were here, since he has the experience and ability to move Jordan Gross back to the right side of the line. A source close to the team also identifies linebacker and safety as positions they intend to monitor heavily in the first day of the draft.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers Michigan cornerback Leon Hall. Hall seems to resemble Ronde Barber, the All-Pro cornerback who thrived in the same defensive scheme and mentality that new coach Mike Tomlin is bringing to the Steelers. Cornerback and home-grown talent Darrelle Revis is also an option.