NFL Draft - 2009 Mock Drafts - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com
They actually have us drafting the same player - Odrick. And if the draft unfolds the way they have it, I think it's the right choice.
I can't agree with you, Uncle Heatster.
First, I should not that Rob Rang has had Odrick to the Pats in his mock for at least 2 months. I don't think he's really looked at the team in detail and what our needs are. Reuter's drafts have changed as player ratings have changed. Rang's draft has a lot of guys listed in the first round who are very dubious 1st round picks at this point - Syd'Quan Thompson, Patrick Robinson, Brandon LaFell and Ryan Mathews, for example. All are much more likely to be 2nd rounders than 1st rounders right now. Not to mention Rutgers CB Devin McCourty at 19 - that's one from deep left field.
Second, I'm not sure that Odrick is a true first round talent. I think he's a 2nd round pick as well. I admit I haven't watched a ton of him play, but from what I've seen he's a blue collar worker somewhat similar to Ty Warren. I think he would be a solid 3-4 DE for us, but I'm not sure that I would rate him over Arthur Jones or Corey Wootten. Rang has Wootten going #17 (which is very high for him right now; he has 1st round talent but has been inconsistent coming off injury, and most people consider him a 2nd/3rd rounder pick right now), but Reuter doesn't have him in the 1st round and neither has Jones in the 1st. I don't see a lot of motivation to jump for Odrick at 22 when there are other guys with comparable talent available. At the very least I'd trade back.
Third, I really want a potential difference maker at 22, and I don't see that in Odrick. Again, I see a Ty Warren blue collar worker. We reached for Warren at 13, passing up guys like Troy Polamalu. Big mistake. I'd hate to pass up blue chip potential for red chip certainty. Brian Bulaga is available in both drafts, and he would be a stud RT for us. Move Vollmer to LT, trade Matt Light, and our OL would be immediately upgraded. Or put Bulaga at RG for a year, and then shift him to RT in 2011. Either way, I think he would make much more of a difference than Odrick.
Other guys who are available in one or both of these drafts who I would prefer over Odrick include:
-DT/DE Dan Williams, Tennessee. He goes 21 in Rang's draft, but 32 in Reuter's. Could play NT or 3-4 DE for us in the Haloti Ngata mold, and has much more upside than Odrick. Much more explosive and disruptive.
- DT Terrance Cody, Alabama. Not in either guy's 1st round. Massive 3-4 DT who would draw double teams and shut down the run, providing insurance if Wilfork leaves and allowing Wilfork to play DE if he stays. I'd take Warren-Cody-Wilfork over Warren-Wilfork-Odrick any day.
- OG Mike Iupati, Idaho. Going #31 in Reuter's draft, not in the 1st round in Rang's. Could possibly trade back a few spots and still get him. He would start day 1 at RG and upgrade our line. Light-Mankins-Koppen-Iupati-Vollmer would be a huge improvement. He may also be able to eventually move to RT.
- DE/OLB Jason Pierre-Paul, USF. Not listed in either draft's 1st round. Has more upside than just about anyone in the draft. If the draft fall's this way, we could probably trade back a few spots and still get him.
- DT/DE Brian Price, UCLA. Going #30 in Rang's draft, not in Reuter's 1st round (that's a joke). A bit short for 3-4 DE at 6-2, 300#, but a tremendous player. For all of those people lamenting that Suh is out of reach, here's the next best thing. He's better as a junior than Suh was, and if he stayed another year he would be a top 10, possible top 5 pick. I'd take him over Odrick any day. But I think he's a sure top-20, likely top-15 pick.
I think any of those guys would bring more to our team in both the short and long term than Odrick. And I'm unimpressed by either draft in terms of who they include and don't include in the first round, especially Rang's draft.
No, I'm afraid I don't agree.