Dan's Mock Draft: Final Edition

[Blazedestin]

I figured that explanations weren't necessary, nor were positions. If my thinking deviated from the "Obvious need filled here", I did mention it. Or if my picks went against the grain some.

2007 Final Mock

1. Dolphins - Jake Long

2. Rams - Chris Long

3. Falcons - Sedrick Ellis
- Ellis lacks Dorsey's knee concerns. In this case, a slightly lesser talent who is percieved to be more reliable takes precedence.

4. Raiders - Vernon Gholston
- Clemons left, Gholston is also a freakish athlete.

5. Chiefs - Glenn Dorsey

6. Jets - Darren McFadden

7.Patriots - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
- Higher upside, better size, better hands, comparable speed.

8. Ravens - Matt Ryan

9. Bengals - Keith Rivers

10. Saints - Leodis McKelvin

11. Bills - Derrick Harvey

12. Broncos - Rashard Mendenhall
Projected Trade: Their primary needs (LB, DT/DE, WR) are all reaches at this point. I think the Broncos are much more receptive than the Bills to a first round trade. Recall, the Broncos will probably start Ryan Harris at LT this season. Broncos may want to trade down to the late first round, targeting Dan Connor/Kentwan Balmer.

13. Panthers - Ryan Clady

14. Bears - Chris Williams

15. Lions - Jonathan Stewart

16. Cardinals - Mike Jenkins

17. Chiefs - Branden Albert

18. Texans - Antoine Cason

19. Eagles - Jeff Otah
Projected Trade: The Eagles would like to figure out some way to deal Lito Sheppard. Either a package deal to move up (And grab a top flight OT) (Maybe with the Broncos?), or acquire another second rounder (For a big WR: Jordy Nelson comes to mind)

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - DeSean Jackson
- An electric receiver to replace Joey Galloway when he retires. Jackson should immediately contribute as a #3 option and as a KR/PR.

21. Washington Redskins - James Hardy

22. Dallas Cowboys - Limas Sweed

23. Pittsburgh Steelers - Gosder Cherlius

24. Tennessee Titans - Devin Thomas

25. Seattle Seahawks - Fred Davis
- A bit of a reach, but a first round DT (Kentwan Balmer) would be a bit of a waste, and the other positions of need (RB, WR) wouldn't be adequately addressed here.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars - Phillip Merling

27. San Diego Chargers - Carl Nicks

28. Dallas Cowboys - Chris Johnson

29. San Francisco 49'ers - Kentwan Balmer

30. Green Bay Packers - Tracy Porter

31. New York Giants - Kenny Phillips

Round Two!

32. Miami Dolphins - Aqib Talib
- Character concerns abound, but Talib is a pretty good cornerback and if he stays out of trouble, could be a legitimate #1 cornerback eventually.

33. St. Louis Rams - Dan Connor
- They need help everywhere in the linebacking corps, especially after watching Brandon Chillar walk.

34. Atlanta Falcons - Jerod Mayo

35. Kansas City Chiefs - Lawrence Jackson
- Say hello to Jared Allen's replacement.

36. New York Jets - Quentin Groves
- Calvin Pace might not be worth 7 million a year, but we might not notice it if Quentin Groves is starting opposite him.

37. Atlanta Falcons - Brian Brohm
- This wouldn't shock me if it's actually Joe Flacco or Andre Woodson. But Brohm is a bit more polished than either, especially Flacco.

38. Baltimore Ravens - Early Doucet

39. San Francisco 49'ers - Anthony Collins

40. New Orleans Saints - Dre Moore

41. Buffalo Bills - Dustin Keller

42. Denver Broncos - Duane Brown

43. Carolina Panthers - Terrell Thomas
- Thomas would replace Mike Minter here, and not play very much CB.

44. Chicago Bears - Felix Jones
- Jamaal Charles is out. Why would they take another Texas running back? Don't count out another OT here.

45. Detroit Lions - Curtis Lofton

46. Cincinatti Bengals - Jamaal Charles
- What's up with this? Another Cincinatti RB taken early...

47. Minnesota Vikings - Joe Flacco
- Tavaris Jackson sucks, but I maintain he may have value as a WR. He's not small (6'2", 230), really. Jordy Nelson is touted as a larger reciever and he's the same height and 20 pounds lighter. Joe Flacco should be able to win the job pretty quickly in a system that doesn't require much out of the QB.

48. Atlanta Falcons - Chilo Rachal
- Maybe a guard isn't the best way to improve your line, but Chilo Rachal is the best lineman on the board right now.

49. Philadelphia Eagles - Malcolm Kelly

50. Arizona Cardinals - Ray Rice

51. Washington Redskins - Trevor Laws

52. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Brandon Flowers

53. Pittsburgh Steelers - Reggie Smith

54. Tennessee Titans - Sam Baker
- Sam Baker would replace the recently departed Jacob Bell at guard.

55. Seattle Seahawks - Jordy Nelson

56. Green Bay Packers - Pat Sims

57. Miami Dolphins - Chad Henne
- Woodson will be better than Henne, but Henne can start much faster. Plus, he'll feel comfortable with Jake Long guarding his blindside.

58. Jacksonville Jaguars - Donnie Avery

59. Indianapolis Colts - Xavier Adibi

60. Green Bay Packers - Martellus Bennett

61. Dallas Cowboys - Josh Barrett

62. New England Patriots - Roy Schuening
- Everyone's clamoring for Branden Albert at #7. I don't see that happening, but Roy Schuening is a good guard who should fit in well with the New England line.

63. New York Giants - Erin Henderson

ROUND THREE

64. Miami Dolphins - Patrick Lee

65. St. Louis Rams - Andre Caldwell

66. Kansas City Chiefs - John Greco
- John Greco and Branden Albert. Not a bad way to rebuild the line.

67. Carolina Panthers - Red Bryant

68. Atlanta Falcons - Brad Cottam

69. New England Patriots - Jonathan Goff
- I know it's early for Belichick to take a linebacker, but they really could use one.

70. Chicago Bears - Mario Manningham

71. Jacksonville Jaguars - Tom Zbikowski

72. Buffalo Bills - Mike Pollak

73. Kansas City Chiefs - Terrence Wheatley

74. Carolina Panthers - Calais Campbell

75. San Francisco 49'ers - William Franklin

76. Detroit Lions - Ahtyba Rubin

77. Cincinatti Bengals - Pat Sims
- Great value here, really.

78. New Orleans Saints - DaJuan Morgan

79. Houston Texans - Matt Forte
- I know they already have a bruiser back in Ron Dayne, but his "Best" years are behind him. Best is naturally a relative phrase.

80. Philadelphia Eagles - Justin King
- Lito Sheppard's probably gone. Justin King can play in nickel packages, and at the least, he should be an explosive kick returner.

81. Arizona Cardinals - Tyrell Johnson
- They could use an upgrade over Adrian Wilson, and Johnson has been flying up draft boards lately.

82. Kansas City Chiefs - Drew Radovich

83. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Mike McGlynn
- This pick took longer to decide than the entire first round combined. The Buccaneers are lacking in offensive line depth: McGlynn can play four positions on the line, and that last one was just filled by the most expensive center in the league.

84. Washington Redskins - Marcus Harrison

85. Tennessee Titans - Earl Bennett

86. Seattle Seahawks - Tony Hills
- Walter Jones is 34: He might not have much left in him. Tony Hills can provide depth for a season or two before becoming the starter.

87. Detroit Lions - Jermichael Finley

88. Pittsburgh Steelers - Tashard Choice

89. Jacksonville Jaguars - Eric Young

90. Chicago Bears - Oniel Cousins

91. Green Bay Packers - Kirk Barton

92. Dallas Cowboys - Phillip Wheeler
- More depth than anything, Wheeler is good value here and the Cowboys must be crazy if they think Zach Thomas is the answer at ILB.

93. Indianapolis Colts - Donald Thomas

94. New England Patriots - Antwuan Molden

95. New York Giants - Zack Bowman

96. Washington Redskins - Jeremy Zuttah

97. Cincinatti Bengals - Chris Ellis

98. Atlanta Falcons - Craig Steltz

99. Baltimore Ravens - Kevin Smith
- Who's there besides Willis McGahee? Musa Smith doesn't scare much of anyone. Smith could use a few years as a backup RB to rest himself: Look at how much he ran at UCF.

[Matt McGuire]

Numbers next to picks? Geez.

[Blazedestin]

I'm not done with it. I didn't feel like wasting time on formatting.

Fine, fine. Will you at least give me reprieve enough so I can reformat my draft in the morning?

[PuppyPuncher]

-Dorsey and Ellis are in separate tiers.
-DRC over McKelvin? I think you depends on combine and Senior Bowl. Which isn't that big a deal
-I really like your second round. Especially the Doucet to Ravens pick.
-But I don't like Lawrence Jackson to Kansas City since they just invested a second rounder on Turk McBride last year.

[Blazedestin]

-Dorsey and Ellis are in separate tiers.
-DRC over McKelvin? I think you depends on combine and Senior Bowl. Which isn't that big a deal
-I really like your second round. Especially the Doucet to Ravens pick.
-But I don't like Lawrence Jackson to Kansas City since they just invested a second rounder on Turk McBride last year.

I don't think Dorsey is really that much better than Ellis. Both are going to be great players, but Dorsey's problem is that if his knees get worse, he's screwed. If I'm playing with a top 5 pick, I'm reluctant to take a guy like that. I think we differ in how much worse Ellis is compared to Dorsey. Dorsey is Tier 1, and Ellis to me is Tier 1.25.

And who's playing across from Turk McBride? I'll acknowledge that I don't know the Chiefs all that well, but I don't seem to recall any other impact pass rushers on that team beyond Jared Allen. And as the Giants showed, two pass rushers = good. three pass rushers = Better.

[Flounder87]

If I were the Eagles I'd stay put and possibly trade down and get Gosder. He reminds me a lot of Jon Runyan and would be a nasty run blocker on the right side. LT would still be a ? but Andrews could move outside if needed. I'm not done with Justice yet, either. He was in the meadowlands, silent snap count, and didnt seem to know what the f*ck was going on. The verdict, in my opinion, is still out on him.

[PuppyPuncher]

I don't think Dorsey is really that much better than Ellis. Both are going to be great players, but Dorsey's problem is that if his knees get worse, he's screwed. If I'm playing with a top 5 pick, I'm reluctant to take a guy like that. I think we differ in how much worse Ellis is compared to Dorsey. Dorsey is Tier 1, and Ellis to me is Tier 1.25.

And who's playing across from Turk McBride? I'll acknowledge that I don't know the Chiefs all that well, but I don't seem to recall any other impact pass rushers on that team beyond Jared Allen. And as the Giants showed, two pass rushers = good. three pass rushers = Better.

Tamba Hali, 20th pick overall in 2006, 15.5 sacks in two years, 8 forced fumbles.

[Matt McGuire]

Hali is a LDE though. I think McBride is a 3 technique.

[PuppyPuncher]

Hali is a LDE though. I think McBride is a 3 technique.

Most draft mags and analysts thought of him as a DE who could play the 3 technique on 3rd down.

[Matt McGuire]

Most draft mags and analysts thought of him as a DE who could play the 3 technique on 3rd down.

What a great way to draft a 2nd rounder. Versatility like that? LOL horrible.

[PuppyPuncher]

What a great way to draft a 2nd rounder. Versatility like that? LOL horrible.

I really can't comment because I haven't watched him play at either level.

[ZN0rseman]

First off, if the Vikings select Andre Woodson with their only first day pick, I'd serously have to consider finding a damn Aaron Rogers jersey and becoming a Packers fan. Woodson would be a reach (of Tarvaris Jackson proportions) at that spot. On top of that, the system the Vikings run requires a smart QB (not Woodson or Jackson) with good accuracy (not Woodson or Jackson) who can read defenses (not Woodson or Jackson) and who has a quick release (not Woodson or Jackson). So I don't think Woodson fits there at all... of course, neither does Jackson and that didn't stop them from drafting him.

Second, if they took Woodson with Flacco still on the board, I would be compelled to drive to Minnesota and behead Childress, Speilman and Wilf for being so damn stupid.

Other than that, I agree with what you said about it being painfully obvious that Jackson can't make it as a QB. However I must choose to sort of disagree with you about him being a Kordell Stewart "Slash" type of player. Jackson has roughly the same 40 speed as Ben Rothlisberger and Jackson is nowhere near as athletic as some of the media pundits would have you believe. He's really just an immobile pocket passer, with a cannon arm, crap accuracy and an IQ similar to that of Ricky Williams and Moe from the 3 Stooges.

[NoNonsenseCoach]

Amen Z

[Blazedestin]

First off, if the Vikings select Andre Woodson with their only first day pick, I'd serously have to consider finding a damn Aaron Rogers jersey and becoming a Packers fan. Woodson would be a reach (of Tarvaris Jackson proportions) at that spot. On top of that, the system the Vikings run requires a smart QB (not Woodson or Jackson) with good accuracy (not Woodson or Jackson) who can read defenses (not Woodson or Jackson) and who has a quick release (not Woodson or Jackson). So I don't think Woodson fits there at all... of course, neither does Jackson and that didn't stop them from drafting him.

Second, if they took Woodson with Flacco still on the board, I would be compelled to drive to Minnesota and behead Childress, Speilman and Wilf for being so damn stupid.

Other than that, I agree with what you said about it being painfully obvious that Jackson can't make it as a QB. However I must choose to sort of disagree with you about him being a Kordell Stewart "Slash" type of player. Jackson has roughly the same 40 speed as Ben Rothlisberger and Jackson is nowhere near as athletic as some of the media pundits would have you believe. He's really just an immobile pocket passer, with a cannon arm, crap accuracy and an IQ similar to that of Ricky Williams and Moe from the 3 Stooges.

I think it's worth a shot. We realize he can't make it as a quarterback, so why not convert him? I really wasn't sure if Flacco was the better pick for them.

[fivas14]

Absolutely no way Jerod Mayo makes it past the 9ers