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First Off-Season Mock Draft
Authored by Jeff Risdon - 6th February, 2007 - 1:43 pm
Playoff-bound teams and impersonators alike were able to pad their records at an astounding rate this season against the likes of Detroit, Kansas City, and St. Louis.
Between Lane Kiffin at Tennessee and openings at Clemson, Washington, Syracuse, Mississippi State and Purdue, there are fertile jobs out there.
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1st Round
#1 Oakland Raiders-Jamarcus Russell, QB, LSU. New head coach Lane Kiffin spoke highly of Russell and his strong arm, which endears the young coach to deep-ball aficionado owner Al Davis. Russell will either be the next Daunte Culpepper or the next Aaron Brooks, whom Oakland cannot wait to replace with Russell. Calvin Johnson is the only other possibility at this point.
#2 Detroit Lions- Joe Thomas, T, Wisconsin. The Lions started 5 RTs in 2006, and LT Jeff Backus is no better than adequate. Most Lions fans and national pundits will bemoan not taking Brady Quinn, but if we’ve learned anything from Matt Millen, it’s that he isn’t afraid to buck conventional wisdom in the draft. Getting a legit bookend tackle will make whomever the Lions start at both QB and RB look much better. Quinn is a possibility here, though the Lions have spent an inordinate amount of time scouting the 2nd tier QBs.
#3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech. The best overall talent in the draft, there’s basically nothing that Johnson doesn’t do very well. With an aging Joey Galloway and a regressing Mark Clayton, this is as much a “need” pick as it is taking the best player available (BPA). Alan Branch, Russell, and Gaines Adams are still possibilities. The Browns and Bucs will flip a coin for the 3rd and 4th picks, but the teams have very different needs and draft boards, so these two picks should be considered safe regardless of who wins the coin toss.
#4 Cleveland Browns-Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma. His propensity for getting hurt is a legit issue for a Browns franchise ravaged by injuries, but his propensity for big plays and excitement, two sorely needed elements, makes AP worth the risk. Word is the Browns are almost desperate to trade down and have the Quinn or Peterson decision made for them.
#5 Arizona Cardinals-Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson. One of those rare DEs who makes his presence felt on every snap, whether in the pass rush or stopping the run. The Cards crave his impact and tenacity in the offense-oriented NFC West. Don’t be surprised if the Cards trade down a few spots and allow another team to select Brady Quinn here.
#6 Washington Redskins-Alan Branch, DT, Michigan. Excellent run stuffer who has enough agility and quickness to make an impact in the pass rush and play in any style of defense. The Skins need help at the point of attack, and Branch never stops attacking.
#7 Minnesota Vikings-Dwayne Jarrett, WR, USC. Hands-check. Size-check. Ability to get open and make space for himself-check. Winning pedigree-check. Everything the Vikings want and need in a WR-check. His lack of speed and long stride present more risk than most people think, though Jarrett is more Keyshawn Johnson than Mike Williams in the pantheon of former Trojan WRs in the NFL. One of the top-shelf DEs (Johnson, Anderson) or even a safety is not out of the question with this pick either.
#8 Houston Texans-Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame. A lot of people will find this egregiously low, but if the Lions and Browns both bypass Quinn, this is the next team with any interest in using a 1st rounder on a QB, a la Matt Leinart last year. And if Quinn, a top 5 caliber talent, doesn’t go here, he could be waiting a long time to hear his name called, barring a trade.
#9 Miami Dolphins-Charles Johnson, DE, Georgia. In early games Johnson benefited from the preseason hype surrounding the Bulldog’s other talented end, Quentin Moses. By the end of 2006, it was clear Johnson was a pass rushing force and a steady run defender in his own right. Miami takes him as the eventual replacement for Jason Taylor. One of the teams allegedly in the market to move up for a QB
#10 Atlanta Falcons-Laron Landry, S, LSU. Strong playmaker who is very good in coverage and fast enough to handle deep cover-2 assignments, but physical enough to be an asset in run support. It’s almost a given the Falcons are taking a safety here, though it could be Reggie Nelson (unlikely) or Michael Griffin (a distinct possibility) and not Landry.
#11 San Francisco 49ers-Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh. Probably the top cover CB in this draft, with great technique and very strong instincts. He reminds me of Nate Clements, who will be the top free agent CB this offseason, and the 49ers could very well get them both. They certainly need them, as they play 3 of the premier passing teams in the league in the NFC West. Revis has ability as a return man, which trumps his lack of ideal size or vertical leap for the Niners.
#12 Buffalo Bills-Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville. He’s only 19, but he’s got more than a little of the prime-era Warren Sapp to him. Okoye is still a project, but with his athleticism and quick learning curve, he’ll pay dividends for the Bills sooner than later. Could be the best defensive player from this draft by the time the rookie contracts are done, a potential perennial All Pro. Patrick Willis will be a strong consideration here as well.
#13 St. Louis Rams-Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas. Anderson emerged as a premier pass rushing DE as the season progressed, with his excellent first step and ability to beat tackles with both speed and power. The Rams desperately need a complement to Leonard Little, and Anderson fits the bill. Any of the above defenders who might fall would be snapped up here, and Adam Carriker is a possibility as well.
#14 Carolina Panthers-Reggie Nelson, S, Florida. I’m not as high on Nelson as some people, but he would provide an upgrade at a position of need for the aging Panthers defense. Very solid all-around safety that plays better when the game is bigger. Patrick Willis and Paul Posluszny could happen, and a sleeper choice would be Sidney Rice, particularly if Keyshawn Johnson follows through on his threat to retire.
#15 Pittsburgh Steelers-Patrick Willis, LB, Ole Miss. Willis is a tackling machine in the vein of 2006 Defensive Rookie of the Year Demeco Ryans, a guy who piles up gaudy tackle totals without forcing lots of turnovers or sacks. Really helped himself at the Senior Bowl, where he showed better speed and range than anticipated.
#16 Green Bay Packers-Marshawn Lynch, RB, Cal. Lynch shows good power and runs downhill quite well for a guy of his size, and he’s capable of breaking the run outside and making arm tacklers look silly. Good insurance against an aging, banged-up Ahman Green, though Lynch strikes me as a boom/bust type. The Packers might also look to upgrade their chronically-depleted secondary here as well.
#17 Jacksonville Jaguars-Michael Griffin, S, Texas. Griffin is a Roy Williams-type safety, a strong run support guy who isn’t going to help you much in deep coverage. Not the biggest need for the Jags, but when Donovan Darius gets injured by Week 6 for the 3rd year in a row and Deon Grant leaves via free agency, they’ll thank themselves for taking Griffin. Another team that could move up via trade, packaging one of their QBs to snare Quinn or Russell.
#18 Cincinnati Bengals-Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska. A 300-pound guy who plays like he’s 260, and he’s very adept at using one move to set up another. With Justin Smith a free agent and a need for more solid run support from their defensive front, the rising Carriker is a great fit.
#19 Tennessee Titans-Ted Ginn Jr., WR/KR, Ohio State. He’s perhaps the fastest player ever to enter the draft, and his hands and route running have steadily improved enough that he’ll command safety help and still get open deep for Vince Young to launch bombs, or run reverses, or let Young scramble for 20 yards in his wake. Could go DT/DE here as well.
#20 New York Giants-Demarcus Tyler, DT, LSU. “Tank” is an appropriate moniker for this guy. Reminds me of Hollis Thomas, a bulky run stuffer with surprising agility and lateral quickness for a man of his build. The G-Men sorely need an active widebody to anchor their DL. WR is a distinct possibility here as well.
#21 Denver Broncos-Dwayne Bowe, WR, LSU. Better-than-advertised speed and he’s proven quite good at making catches in traffic and turning short passes into long gains. Will make an excellent complement to Javon Walker. Broncos would love if Carriker or Anderson falls here.
#22 Dallas Cowboys-Levi Brown, T, Penn State. An absolute monster in run blocking, and Brown should be able to play either OT position. He’s more of the “solid starter” type than a dominant bookend tackle, but if he’s motivated he could very well start for 10+ years. A power runner with good acceleration would thrive behind him, and the Cowboys have one in Marion Barber.
#23 Kansas City Chiefs-Sidney Rice, WR, South Carolina. I watched Rice play twice, and he was not open on exactly three plays. Great size, very good at creating space for himself and using his non-elite speed wisely. The Chiefs sorely need weapons at WR, where they currently have a should-be-#3 WR and spare parts.
#24 New England Patriots-David Harris, LB, Michigan. Not the biggest, not the fastest, but Harris is an intelligent LB with good range and a very solid tackler. If Tedy Bruschi retires, the Patriots will go LB either here or at 28 for certain, though it could wind up being HB Blades or Paul Posluszny.
#25 New York Jets-Leon Hall, CB, Michigan. Hall has fallen based upon his last two games, where WR-stacked USC and Ohio State made him look ordinary, but he’s a physical corner with great instincts and loads of top-level experience. He’ll be an asset in run defense, where the Jets are in dire need of help.
#26 Philadelphia Eagles-Lawrence Timmons, LB, Florida State. Heat-seeking missile of an OLB with great speed and a relentless drive. Much like former teammate (and last year’s #9 pick) Ernie Sims, he’s in need of lots of work in the passing game and will run past some tackles, but if properly harnessed Timmons should be an impact LB.
#27 Aaron Ross, CB, Texas. Anyone who watched the Saints in the playoffs knows the biggest hole is at CB. Ross has great size, strong instincts, and plays the run very well. Reminiscent of Marlin Jackson of the Colts, another big CB lacking great speed but seemingly not affected by it.
#28 Daymeion Hughes, CB, California. “Dante” has decent size and a great nose for the ball. Opposing QBs avoided his side of the field with the Deion Sanders treatment, yet he still was in the top 10 in INTs and passes defended two years in a row. Great durable athlete, something the Patriots sorely need at CB, even though he lacks great speed and has a bad habit of arm tackling.
#29 Baltimore Ravens-Quentin Moses, DE/OLB, Georgia. He didn’t have the breakout campaign many expected, but Moses still showed lots of potential. His size and speed combo translate well to the Ravens defense, and his pass rush skills mean he could find lots of playing time early. An interior OL is a distinct possibility too.
#30 San Diego Chargers-Robert Meacham, WR, Tennessee. An early entrant trying to capitalize on one strong season after two disappointing years, Meacham has great speed and showed good ability to get open. The Chargers need to replace aging Keenan McCardell, and a deep threat who can block downfield like Meacham is a good fit.
#31 Indianapolis Colts-Quinn Pitcock, DT, Ohio St. Agile multi-gap lineman with enough speed and drive to make plays in the backfield. The Colts need size and strength on the D-line and Pitcock fits that bill. Taking a LB or even a WR would not be a huge surprise.
#32 Chicago Bears-Joe Staley, T, Central Michigan. Converted TE who kept his agility despite adding lots of functional bulk. The Bears love physical linemen who don’t commit penalties, and Staley was flagged just once the last two seasons.
