Kiper's First Round Mock Draft

[Rampage39]

Got this off another board.

Here's my first-round projection for the 2006 NFL draft. I put this list together by taking a look at the general area where each player should go, then placing the player on a team where he filled one of that particular team's top three needs.

In this projection, there are 17 underclassmen in the first round, with Reggie Bush and Vince Young leading the way as the first and third picks of the draft. This is my first projection, but it won't be my last of this season. I will submit another first-round projection after the Senior Bowl, followed by one after the NFL Combine.


2006 Draft Projection
* denotes underclassman
1. Houston -- *Reggie Bush, RB, USC
2. New Orleans -- Matt Leinart, QB, USC
3. Tennessee -- *Vince Young, QB, Texas
4. New York Jets -- D'Brickashaw Ferguson, OT, Virginia
5. Green Bay -- *Mario Williams, DE, NC State
6. Oakland -- A.J. Hawk, LB, Ohio State
7. San Francisco -- DeMeco Ryans, LB, Alabama
8. Buffalo -- *Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon
9. Detroit -- Jay Cutler, QB, Vanderbilt
10. Arizona -- DeAngelo Williams, RB, Memphis
11. St. Louis -- *Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland
12. Cleveland -- Chad Greenway, LB, Iowa
13. Baltimore -- Tamba Hali, DE, Penn State
14. Philadelphia -- *Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio State
15. Atlanta -- Michael Huff, DB, Texas
16. Miami -- *Winston Justice, OT, USC
17. Minnesota -- *LenDale White, RB, USC
18. Dallas -- Jimmy Williams, DB, Virginia Tech
19. San Diego -- *Ko Simpson, DB, South Carolina
20. Kansas City -- *Ashton Youboty, CB, Ohio State
21. New England -- Bobby Carpenter, LB, Ohio State
22. Denver (from Wash.) -- Mathias Kiwanuka, DE, Boston College
23. Tampa Bay -- Derek Hagan, WR, Arizona State
24. Cincinnati -- Claude Wroten, DT, LSU
25. New York Giants -- *Ernie Sims, LB, Florida State
26. Chicago -- *Leonard Pope, TE, Georgia
27. Carolina -- *Anthony Fasano, TE, Notre Dame
28. Pittsburgh -- *Antonio Cromartie, CB, Florida State
29. Jacksonville -- Thomas Howard, LB, UTEP
30. Indianapolis -- *Laurence Maroney, RB, Minnesota
31. Denver -- *Darnell Bing, DB, USC
32. Seattle -- *Chad Jackson, WR, Florida


Breakdown by positions in first round


Quarterbacks -- 3
Running backs -- 4
Wide receivers -- 3
Tight ends -- 3
Offensive linemen -- 2
Defensive linemen -- 5
Linebackers -- 6
Defensive backs -- 6


Most by school in first-round projection

USC (5) -- Bush, Leinart, Justice, White, Bing
Ohio State (4) -- Hawk, Holmes, Youboty, Carpenter
Texas (2) -- Young, Huff
Florida State (2) -- Sims, Cromartie

[MikeB1603]

I would be veryupset if the Rams took Davis with Jimmy Williams, Huff, Hali, and Kiwanuka still on the board. With 4 great TE's (Leonard Pope, Vernon Davis, Marcedes Lewis, and Anthony Fasano) in the draft, there is a good chance that one will fall to us in the 2nd round. Defense has to be the priority in this draft.

By the way, I would still rather the Rams pass up on one of those TE's in the second if a quality LB like Abdul Hodge, D'Qwell Jackson, or Ernie Sims were still available.

[AvengerRam]

Unless Mel knows who the Rams are going to hire as Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator, Defensive Coordinator and Director of Player Personnel, I'd say he's doing little more than guessing.

Given that - why would he guess TE?

Maybe because he knows less about the Rams than 99% of this board.

[chiguy]

I would lose my freaking mind, even if Davis was an All Star.

[jkramsfan]

mel kiper has no ideal what the rams are going to do,he has one of the best jobs in the world, sits around and watches football all day and then tries to figure out what each team is going to do,the first 5 picks are easy, and then after that its a big guessing game,and just like a weatherman kiper is only right maybe 50% of the time.

[Blankman17]

1.) If anyone selects Matt Leinart over Vince Young, they have serious talent evaluation issues.

2.) If the Rams select ANY TE with Huff on the board, someone needs to get beaned with an ice ball from the freezer.

[Nick]

1.) If anyone selects Matt Leinart over Vince Young, they have serious talent evaluation issues.

I disagree. I think there are plenty of teams who would rather have Leinart.

As for the TE, I don't like the pick. But it makes sense if Cameron becomes the coach, since he's used to running an offense with a big threat at TE (Gates). Still, the defense should be addressed.

[HUbison]

1.) If anyone selects Matt Leinart over Vince Young, they have serious talent evaluation issues.

2.) If the Rams select ANY TE with Huff on the board, someone needs to get beaned with an ice ball from the freezer.

On point 1, I've got to disagree. Leinart is much more refined and should be able to start immediately. Young is still a question mark. He certainly has the physical tools, but can he pass in the NFL? Time will tell.

On point 2, I have nothing but pure agreement.

[Blankman17]

IMO, Leinart is a product of his system. Take away Reggie and Lendale and an offensive line that, on the collegiate level, is the NFL equivilent and he doesn't do nearly as well. Look at how well Texas Tech QBs perform in the NFL. I suspect Matt will be much of the same.

(Waiting for the eventual Carson Palmer arguments to rip me asunder)

Anyway as far as Young vs. Matt? With one, sure, you've got a guy who's been in a WCO envrionment and knows how to operate within it. Okay, with Vince, you've got a physical specimen who gains way too much ground than he should when running and actually learned how to pass.

Given the opportunity? Give me the man from Austin.

[Blankman17]

And I did NOT mean to post that three times just to reiterate my point.

[RamJackson39]

IMO, Leinart is a product of his system. Take away Reggie and Lendale and an offensive line that, on the collegiate level, is the NFL equivilent and he doesn't do nearly as well. Look at how well Texas Tech QBs perform in the NFL. I suspect Matt will be much of the same.

(Waiting for the eventual Carson Palmer arguments to rip me asunder)

Anyway as far as Young vs. Matt? With one, sure, you've got a guy who's been in a WCO envrionment and knows how to operate within it. Okay, with Vince, you've got a physical specimen who gains way too much ground than he should when running and actually learned how to pass.

Given the opportunity? Give me the man from Austin.

1.)You cant argue with Leinarts passes. That pass on 4th down in the Notre Dame game was PERFECT. It was probably one of the best passes that I've seen all year. Leinart is a smart guy who has a decent arm. He wont be as good as Palmer, but he'll be a solid QB who will win you some games, but wont lose any for you.

2.)As far as Vince vs Leinart goes. Vince has proven nothing about his passing ability. Just how good is his arm? I dont know, I havent seen him really use it correctly. I havent seen him fire a ball between two defenders. I havent seen him place a ball right between the numbers as his receiver streaks across the field. So I still have questions about him. And dont forget, Vince played behind probably the best O-Line in the NCAA.

I would take the proven passer and the overall better QB in Matt Leinart, hands down.

[RamJackson39]

Double post

[ramstiles]

now that it looks like linehan as HC will he be tempted to draft a TE the missing link for the offense

[Blankman17]

I'm gonna get to you after I get home from class.

[general counsel]

I dont know enough to know which defensive player the rams will take, many guys on this board know TONS more than me in this area, but i dont care who the tight end is, we arent going to select him. It HAS to be defense.

ramming speed to all

general counsel