Post-Dispatch's Mock Draft
Post-Dispatch's Mock Draft
Friday, Apr. 22 2005
About our mock draft
Year in and year out, the Post-Dispatch mock draft is among the most reliable.
We use a panel of football writers throughout the nation to make the picks,
with each writer picking for the team that he or she covers. Jim Thomas of the
Post-Dispatch staff makes the Rams' pick. The mock draft reflects the latest
draft order of teams and does not allow for potential draft-day trades.
Last season, our mock draft correctly picked seven of the first 12 picks. Of
the first dozen players taken, we had 11 of the actual 12 players chosen going
somewhere. But this year there's uncertainty at the top, with QBs Aaron Rodgers
and Alex Smith, and WR Braylon Edwards all possibilities for San Francisco:
1.) SAN FRANCISCO
Aaron Rodgers, QB (California)
It could come down to sign-ability between Rodgers and Alex Smith.
2.) MIAMI
Alex Smith QB, (Utah)
RB Ronnie Brown is the obvious pick, but Dolphins are smitten with Smith.
3.) CLEVELAND
Braylon Edwards, WR (Michigan)
Browns get a potential difference-maker for new head coach Romeo Crennel.
4.) CHICAGO
Cedric Benson, RB (Texas)
Bears have been looking for a back since Walter Payton and Neal Anderson
departed.
5.) TAMPA BAY
Ronnie Brown, RB (Auburn)
Jon Gruden says Brown has the best hands in the draft, including WRs!
6.) TENNESSEE
Cadillac Williams, RB (Auburn)
Under this scenario, and minus a trade down, the run on RBs continues.
7.) MINNESOTA
Mike Williams, WR (Southern Cal)
So who needs Randy Moss anyway? Williams should fill a desperate need.
8.) ARIZONA
Antrel Rolle, CB (Miami, Fla.)
With the big three RBs gone, Big Red are the first to draft a defensive player.
9.) WASHINGTON
Carlos Rogers, CB (Auburn)
Among the top CBs, he's faster than Rolle and bigger than Adam "Pacman" Jones.
10.) DETROIT
Derrick Johnson, LB (Texas)
A sideline-to-sideline player who joins Boss Bailey and Teddy Lehman at LB.
11.) DALLAS
Marcus Spears, DE (LSU)
But potential Darren Howard trade with New Orleans could affect this pick.
12.) SAN DIEGO
Shawne Merriman, DE/LB (Maryland)
Needing pass-rush help, the Chargers are ecstatic to land Merriman.
13.) HOUSTON
Troy Williamson, WR (South Carolina)
Texans land a burner to pair with Andre Johnson and stretch defenses.
14.) CAROLINA
Alex Barron, OT (Florida State)
Had targeted Williamson, but with Barron can move Jordan Gross back to RT.
15.) KANSAS CITY
Thomas Davis, S/LB (Georgia)
Whether it's at safety or linebacker, Dick Vermeil loves this guy.
16.) NEW ORLEANS
Adam Jones, CB (West Virginia)
With Davis gone, Jammal Brown is tempting, but so is Pacman.
17.) CINCINNATI
Erasmus James, DE (Wisconsin)
Bengals get a pass-rushing complement to former Mizzou Tiger Justin Smith.
18.) MINNESOTA
Shaun Cody, DL (Southern Cal)
Cody can play DE or DT; David Pollack, DeMarcus Ware are other DE options.
19.) ST. LOUIS
Jammal Brown, OT (Oklahoma)
Brown gives the Rams a prototype right tackle, with an attitude to boot.
20.) DALLAS
Mark Clayton, WR (Oklahoma)
After going defense at No. 10, the Cowboys want a speedy wide receiver.
21.) JACKSONVILLE
Fabian Washington, CB (Nebraska)
With the top two right corners cut from '04 squad, Washington fills a need.
22.) BALTIMORE
Travis Johnson, DT (Florida State)
It's Johnson in a close call over Georgia defensive end David Pollack and OU
safety Brodney Pool.
23.) SEATTLE
David Pollack, DE (Georgia)
Joins former Rams Grant Wistrom and Bryce Fisher to give Seahawks three high-motor DEs.
24.) GREEN BAY
DeMarcus Ware, DE (Troy)
Packers can now line up Ware and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila on the edge in passing situations.
25.) WASHINGTON
Roddy White, WR (Alabama- Birmingham)
Redskins need a big WR; White averaged 20 yards per catch last season.
26.) OAKLAND
Justin Miller, CB (Clemson)
It should be a Miller; if not Justin, then Virginia TE Heath Miller.
27.) ATLANTA
Justin Tuck, DE (Notre Dame)
A quick pass rusher who fills GM Rich McKay's character qualifications.
28.) SAN DIEGO
Khalif Barnes, OT (Washington)
After going defense at No. 12, Barnes is a good value here for Chargers.
29.) INDIANAPOLIS
Matt Roth, DE (Iowa)
LB is a bigger need, but Colts take a Hawkeye for the third consecutive draft.
30.) PITTSBURGH
Marcus Johnson, G/T (Mississippi)
Steelers lost their starting RG and starting RT in free agency.
31.) PHILADELPHIA
Matt Jones, TE (Arkansas)
TE Heath Miller is tempting, but Eagles go with the former college QB.
32.) NEW ENGLAND
Marlin Jackson, CB/S (Michigan)
A big corner who provides versatility; inside LB is another option here.
Re: Post-Dispatch's Mock Draft
My analysis...
Quote:
6.) TENNESSEE
Cadillac Williams, RB (Auburn)
Under this scenario, and minus a trade down, the run on RBs continues.
With big needs at OT and CB, the Titans take... a RB? Not buying it. I know Chris Brown has had problems staying on the field, but bigger needs have to be addressed at this pick.
Quote:
13.) HOUSTON
Troy Williamson, WR (South Carolina)
Texans land a burner to pair with Andre Johnson and stretch defenses.
Not as unbelievable as their Tenn pick, but it's hard to imagine the Texans passing on an offensive tackle in Barron here.
Quote:
14.) CAROLINA
Alex Barron, OT (Florida State)
Had targeted Williamson, but with Barron can move Jordan Gross back to RT.
I like this pick. Gross is more suited to play right tackle, IMO. While I wouldn't be surprised if they took someone like Brown, it would seem like a better option to take Barron if available.
Quote:
16.) NEW ORLEANS
Adam Jones, CB (West Virginia)
With Davis gone, Jammal Brown is tempting, but so is Pacman.
I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see Jones fall this far. I think his height may be a major hang-up for some teams.
Quote:
21.) JACKSONVILLE
Fabian Washington, CB (Nebraska)
With the top two right corners cut from '04 squad, Washington fills a need.
Reach. Miller would have been a better choice, even with his recent problems with the law.
