rookBoston
In the Starting Line-Up
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- Sep 13, 2004
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So, I've been reading too many Mock drafts where players like Kelly Jennings, Eric Winston and Gabe Watson are being taken in the first round. Craziness.
Fact is that the too many mock drafters are drafting on pure need. The WR class is totally over-drafted on most mocks, the RBs are sliding like an avalanche, the OTs were terrible at the Combine, and the best CBs are real high-risk prospects like Cromartie (who didn't even play last year), Marshall and Joseph (both Juniors and a bit raw).
In contrast, this will do down as one of the best LB classes in living memory, in terms of ability, experience and depth.
Add to that the fact that a lot of teams need solutions at LB: Titans, Saints, Packers, Niners, Lions, Cards, Rams, Eagles, Vikes, Chiefs, Pats, Bengals, Giants, Jags, Jets... to name a few.
With that in mind, I decided to make up a mock that I thought was more realistic.
1. Houston - RB Reggie Bush
2. Jets - QB Matt Leinart (from New Orleans) The Jets get ahead of the Titans to get the QB they want.
3. Denver - DE Mario Williams (from Tennessee) Stunned at losing Leinart, the Titans trade down and Denver gets it's DE playmaker
4. New Orleans - OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson (from Jets)
5. Green Bay - LB AJ Hawk
6. San Francisco - S Michael Huff
7. Oakland - DT Broderick Bunkley Frankly, I'm shocked that Bunkley is coming off the board before Ngata, but afterall this is the Raiders.
8. Buffalo - DT Haloti Ngata
9. Detroit - CB Jimmy Williams Who can ever know what the muttonheads are thinking up in the Motor City.
10. Arizona - TE Vernon Davis
11. St Louis - CB Tye Hill
12. Cleveland - LB Chad Greenway Hey, he fits Romeo's scheme just as well as he would for the Pats
13. New England - LB Bobby Carpenter (from Baltimore) for a 3rd plus 4th rounder. Yeah, this sucks, but there are two players that I like in the first round, and the other guy just came off the board. BB knows that he needs to get ahead of his buddy Saban, who is looking for a big, strong OLB too, and his old boss Parcells, who needs someone to pair with Demarcus.
14. Philadelphia - LB Ernie Sims Will press Dhani Jones as a rookie
15. Tennessee - QB Jay Cutler (from Atlanta via Denver)
16. Miami - LB Manny Lawson a little raw, but incredible upside, to replace Seau
17. Minnesota- QB Vince Young
18. Dallas - WR Chad Jackson Could take another OLB here...
19. Indianapolis - RB Deangelo Williams (from San Diego) for #30 plus their 2nd
20. Kansas City - DE Kamerion Wimbley
21. Baltimore - OT Winston Justice (from New England)
22. Tennessee - LB Demeco Ryans (from Denver) Lost Brad Kassel and now Bullock skipped offseason workouts
23. Tampa - WR Santonio Holmes
24. Cinci - TE Leonard Pope
25. Giants - LB D'Qwell Jackson Injuries at LB killed the team last year
26. Chicago - CB Antonio Cromartie
27. Carolina - LB Thomas Howard Lost Will Witherspoon in the offseason.
28. Jacksonville - RB Lawrence Moroney Fred Taylor insurance
29. New Orleans - LB Roger McIntosh (from Denver via Atlanta via Jets) Saints LB corp is a laughing stock, and even as the 9th LB taken, there's still a case for McIntosh as the BPA
30. San Diego- S Ko Simpson (from Indianapolis)
31. Seattle - DE Tamba Hali
32. Pittsburgh - FS Donte Whitner
For those of you who are going to object that Carpenter is a solid 2nd rounder, I'm convinced that Cleveland, Miami, Dallas, New England, Jets and Raiders will all be interested-- in other words, the entire Belichick coaching tree. With the trend back to 3-4 defenses, I'm sure both Carpenter and Greenway will be top-20 picks.
If we dont move up, Miami at #16 needs to replace Junior Seau. If Carpenter lasts past the Fins, Dallas is looking for someone at #18 to pair up with Demarco Ware.
Fact is that the too many mock drafters are drafting on pure need. The WR class is totally over-drafted on most mocks, the RBs are sliding like an avalanche, the OTs were terrible at the Combine, and the best CBs are real high-risk prospects like Cromartie (who didn't even play last year), Marshall and Joseph (both Juniors and a bit raw).
In contrast, this will do down as one of the best LB classes in living memory, in terms of ability, experience and depth.
Add to that the fact that a lot of teams need solutions at LB: Titans, Saints, Packers, Niners, Lions, Cards, Rams, Eagles, Vikes, Chiefs, Pats, Bengals, Giants, Jags, Jets... to name a few.
With that in mind, I decided to make up a mock that I thought was more realistic.
1. Houston - RB Reggie Bush
2. Jets - QB Matt Leinart (from New Orleans) The Jets get ahead of the Titans to get the QB they want.
3. Denver - DE Mario Williams (from Tennessee) Stunned at losing Leinart, the Titans trade down and Denver gets it's DE playmaker
4. New Orleans - OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson (from Jets)
5. Green Bay - LB AJ Hawk
6. San Francisco - S Michael Huff
7. Oakland - DT Broderick Bunkley Frankly, I'm shocked that Bunkley is coming off the board before Ngata, but afterall this is the Raiders.
8. Buffalo - DT Haloti Ngata
9. Detroit - CB Jimmy Williams Who can ever know what the muttonheads are thinking up in the Motor City.
10. Arizona - TE Vernon Davis
11. St Louis - CB Tye Hill
12. Cleveland - LB Chad Greenway Hey, he fits Romeo's scheme just as well as he would for the Pats
13. New England - LB Bobby Carpenter (from Baltimore) for a 3rd plus 4th rounder. Yeah, this sucks, but there are two players that I like in the first round, and the other guy just came off the board. BB knows that he needs to get ahead of his buddy Saban, who is looking for a big, strong OLB too, and his old boss Parcells, who needs someone to pair with Demarcus.
14. Philadelphia - LB Ernie Sims Will press Dhani Jones as a rookie
15. Tennessee - QB Jay Cutler (from Atlanta via Denver)
16. Miami - LB Manny Lawson a little raw, but incredible upside, to replace Seau
17. Minnesota- QB Vince Young
18. Dallas - WR Chad Jackson Could take another OLB here...
19. Indianapolis - RB Deangelo Williams (from San Diego) for #30 plus their 2nd
20. Kansas City - DE Kamerion Wimbley
21. Baltimore - OT Winston Justice (from New England)
22. Tennessee - LB Demeco Ryans (from Denver) Lost Brad Kassel and now Bullock skipped offseason workouts
23. Tampa - WR Santonio Holmes
24. Cinci - TE Leonard Pope
25. Giants - LB D'Qwell Jackson Injuries at LB killed the team last year
26. Chicago - CB Antonio Cromartie
27. Carolina - LB Thomas Howard Lost Will Witherspoon in the offseason.
28. Jacksonville - RB Lawrence Moroney Fred Taylor insurance
29. New Orleans - LB Roger McIntosh (from Denver via Atlanta via Jets) Saints LB corp is a laughing stock, and even as the 9th LB taken, there's still a case for McIntosh as the BPA
30. San Diego- S Ko Simpson (from Indianapolis)
31. Seattle - DE Tamba Hali
32. Pittsburgh - FS Donte Whitner
For those of you who are going to object that Carpenter is a solid 2nd rounder, I'm convinced that Cleveland, Miami, Dallas, New England, Jets and Raiders will all be interested-- in other words, the entire Belichick coaching tree. With the trend back to 3-4 defenses, I'm sure both Carpenter and Greenway will be top-20 picks.
If we dont move up, Miami at #16 needs to replace Junior Seau. If Carpenter lasts past the Fins, Dallas is looking for someone at #18 to pair up with Demarco Ware.