I'm not going to lie. 4 hours until the draft starts and I have been through three mock drafts today. I was waxing and waning about some picks all day (see San Francisco, Carolina, New England, Washington) and then stumbled across the possibility of a few trades. So...I think my preliminary/ abandonned -UNFINSHED ANAYLYSIS (due to my changing thought patterns) mock goes first- just so you can see the thought process
1. Oakland Raiders- JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU
The Raiders don’t have the stones to take the gamble on Calvin Johnson. He is hands down the best, almost questionless, prospect in the draft, and will make a huge impact on whatever team he ends up with. The Raiders will go with Russell, a QB whose stock has risen dramtically the last few months. He is not far and above the best QB in the draft, nor the best player, but Al Davis will fall in love with his height, speed and cannon arm. Here’s hoping the Russell pans out for the Raiders.
2. Detroit Lions- Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech
The Lions will do the smart thing. The smartest thing Matt Millen will have done in years. Draft Calvin Johnson. That doesn’t mean he’ll stay a Lion. Some team will be willing to pay a huge price for Johnson, allowing Detroit to maximise their Draft experience with a multitude of picks. Look for a Tampa Bay trade.
3. Cleveland Browns- Brady Quinn-, QB, Notre Dame
Brady Quinn is the face of Note Dame, and is soon to be the face of one of the NFL’s worst franchises. Romeo Crennel will take advice from Charlie Weis and steal his protégé for the NFL. There’s no denying a need for a QB in Cleveland- Romeo is on his last legs.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson
D’Wayne White bolted in free agency, and it’s rumoured that Simeon Rice may have, in fact, invented the wheel. The Bucs’ would love Calvin Johnson, and I
think will trade up. Adams is a great player, with great upside, who fills an immediate need on the defensive line, and may well start right away.
5. Arizona Cardinals- Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin
Joy on the worst offensive line in football. Finally, a lineman that doesn’t play like a small hippo on downers. The point is, Thomas is a very safe pick, who fits a need on the Cardinals offensive line, and should prove to be great value at pick 5. The Cards are rumoured to like Adrian Peterson, but you can’t run the ball without adequate blocking, as Edgerrin James found out last year.
6. Washington Redskins- Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville
This pick will be traded. God Knows the Redskins will want to. They have one pick in the first four rounds, and will most definitely trade back at least two spots. (See trade draft) For now, Okoye is the best lineman on the board, and the front four atrocities in Washington last year were countless. Justification? Solidification.
7. Minnesota Vikings- Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma
This pick…I’m not sure how much sense there is for the Vikes to draft a back when they have the productive Chester Taylor (and his salary) on the roster. But this is a situation where
8. Atlanta Falcons- LaRon Landry, S, Washington
9. Miami Dolphins- Levi Brown, OT, Penn State
10. Houston Texans- Leon Hall, CB, Michigan
11. San Francisco *****- Adam Carriker, DL, Nebraska
12. Buffalo Bills- Patrick Willis, LB, Ole Miss
13. St. Louis Rams- Jamaal Aanderson, DE, Arkansas
14. Carolina Panthers- Reggie Nelson, S, Florida
15. Pittsburgh Steelers- Darelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh
16. Green Bay Packers- Marshawn Lynch, RB, California
17. Jacksonville Jaguars- Michael Griffin, S, Texas
18. Cincinnati Bengals- Alan Branch, DT, Michigan
19. Tennessee Titans- Ted Ginn. Jr, WR, Ohio St.
20. New York Giants- Joe Staley, OT, Central Michigan
21. Denver Broncos- Anthony Spencer, DE, Purdue
22. Dallas Cowboys- Dwayne Jarrett, WR, USC
23. Kansas City Chiefs- Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee
24. New England Patriots- David Harris, ILB, Michigan
25. New York Jets- Aaron Ross- CB- Texas
26. Philadelphia Eagles- Paul Posluszny- LB- Penn State
27. New Orleans Saints- Chris Houston- CB- Arkansas
28. New England Patriots- Justin Blalock- OG- Texas
29. Baltimore Ravens- Aaron Sears, T, Tenessee
30. San Diego Chargers- Dwayne Bowe, WR, LSU
31. Chicago Bears- Lawrence Timmons, LB, Florida
32. Indianapolis Colts- Justin Harrell- DT- Tennessee
Mock Number Two contains trades
* Denotes trade
Tampa/Detroit
Atlanta Washington
Houston/ Denver
1. Oakland Raiders- JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU
2. *Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech
3. Cleveland Browns- Brady Quinn-, QB, Notre Dame
4. *Detroit Lions - Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson
5. Arizona Cardinals- Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin
6. *Atlanta Falcons- LaRon Landry, S, Washington
The Falcons will be willing to sacrifice the thirsd they
7. Minnesota Vikings- Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma
8. *Washington Redskins- Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville
9. Miami Dolphins- Levi Brown, OT, Penn State
10. *Denver Broncos- Patrick Willis, LB, Ole Miss
11. San Francisco *****- Adam Carriker, DL, Nebraska
12. Buffalo Bills- Marshawn Lynch, RB, California
13. St. Louis Rams- Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas
14. Carolina Panthers- Greg Olsen, TE, Miami
15. Pittsburgh Steelers- Darelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh
16. Green Bay Packers- Robert Meachem, WR, Tennesse
17. Jacksonville Jaguars- Reggie Nelson, S, Florida
18. Cincinnati Bengals- Leon Hall, CB, Michigan
19. Tennessee Titans- Ted Ginn. Jr, WR, Ohio St.
20. New York Giants- Chris Houston, CB, Arkansas
21. *Houston Texans- Joe Staley, OT, Central Michigan
22. Dallas Cowboys- Dwayne Jarrett, WR, USC
23. Kansas City Chiefs- Dwayne Bowe, WR, LSU
24. New England Patriots- Michael Griffin, S, Texas
25. New York Jets- Aaron Ross- CB- Texas
26. Philadelphia Eagles- Paul Posluszny- LB- Penn State
27. New Orleans Saints- Chris Houston- CB- Arkansas
28. New England Patriots- David Harris, ILB, Michigan
29. Baltimore Ravens- Justin Blalock- OG- Texas
30. San Diego Chargers- Sidney Rice, WR, South Carolina
31. Chicago Bears- Lawrence Timmons, LB, Florida
32. Indianapolis Colts- Justin Harrell- DT- Tennessee
THE BAR-BQ FINAL FIRST ROUND PROJECTION
1. Oakland Raiders- JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU
2. Detroit Lions- Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech
3. Cleveland Browns- Brady Quinn-, QB, Notre Dame
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson
5. Arizona Cardinals- Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin
6. Washington Redskins- Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville
7. Minnesota Vikings- Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma
8. Atlanta Falcons- LaRon Landry, S, Washington
9. Miami Dolphins- Levi Brown, OT, Penn State
10. Houston Texans- Leon Hall, CB, Michigan
11. San Francisco *****- Patrick Willis, LB, Ole Miss
12. Buffalo Bills- Marshawn Lynch, RB, California
13. St. Louis Rams- Adam Carriker, DL, Nebraska
14. Carolina Panthers- Greg Olsen, TE, Miami
15. Pittsburgh Steelers- Darelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh
16. Green Bay Packers- Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee
17. Jacksonville Jaguars- Reggie Nelson, S, Florida
18. Cincinnati Bengals- Alan Branch, DT, Michigan
19. Tennessee Titans- Ted Ginn. Jr, WR, Ohio St.
20. New York Giants- Joe Staley, OT, Central Michigan
21. Denver Broncos- Anthony Spencer, DE, Purdue
22. Dallas Cowboys- Dwayne Jarrett, WR, USC
23. Kansas City Chiefs- Ben Grubbs, OG, Auburn
24. New England Patriots- Michael Griffin, S, Texas
25. New York Jets- Aaron Ross, CB, Texas
26. Philadelphia Eagles- Paul Posluszny, LB, Penn State
27. New Orleans Saints- Chris Houston, CB, Arkansas
28. New England Patriots- David Harris, ILB, Michigan
29. Baltimore Ravens- Aaron Sears, T, Tenessee
30. San Diego Chargers- Dwayne Bowe, WR, LSU
31. Chicago Bears- Lawrence Timmons, LB, Florida
32. Indianapolis Colts- Justin Harrell- DT- Tennessee
Linear Mode
