Try NFL Sport Channel Seach:
Selected searches:
NFL Football Players Draft Injuries Rookies Season Superbowl
Items by
My Final Mock Draft: A Sucker Punch At The Top
Published: April 24, 2009
No Comments
It has been about three weeks since I wrote my three part mock draft, and a lot has changed since then. A flurry of moves has altered some teams draft priorities, or at least it appears that way.
-The Atlanta Falcons traded for future HOF TE Tony Gonzalez, essentially filling their only need on offense with one of the leagues best.
-The Chicago Bears sold their souls, I mean traded, for former Broncos QB Jay Cutler (When you lose your first game, and the death threats pour in, your going to wonder why you had to open your petulant mouth Jay).
-The Philadelphia Eagles traded for All-Pro T Jason Peters, and now have a great young line that can stay together for many years to come.
-The Jacksonville Jaguars signed WR Torry Holt, and as a Seahawks fan, I know how good this guy is. He basically murdered us on a routine basis.
-The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed QB Byron Leftwich, who I believe will be the Bucs’ starting QB, ending speculation about drafting Kansas State QB Josh Freeman. They also traded for Cleveland Browns TE Kellen Winslow, essentially ending their pursuit of Oklahoma TE Brandon Pettigrew.
-Cincinnati Bengals signed DT Tank Johnson. Now, you may act surprised but I would mark this as a draft altering move. I would bet my bottom dollar Boston College DT BJ Raji will not be a Bengal.
-The Houston Texans signed LB Cato June, quelling speculation that they may take one of the USC trio of LB’s.
After taking all those moves into account, here is how my new mock draft shakes out. I hope you enjoy.
Note: I will include potential trades at the bottom, and the changes that will occur if those trades commence. I would like to be at least half right you know?
1- Detroit Lions- Mathew Stafford, UGA, QB
They are in ongoing contract talks and it seems highly unlikely they would spend No. 1 money on LB Aaron Curry. Trading out is just not going to happen as well.
2- St Louis Rams- Jason Smith, BAY, OT
He is the top rated tackle, and they let go of Orlando Pace, so a perfect match.
3- Kansas City Chiefs- Tyson Jackson, LSU, DE
He is the best 3-4 DE in the draft, and Jackson has soared up to this spot based on that. An extreme reach, and Chiefs fans will feel “sucker punched”.
4- Seattle Seahawks- Aaron Curry, WFU, LB
I can only pray that they take WR Michael Crabtree, as snagging him would give them without question the deepest four WR set in the league. If Curry is still here, and a QB desperate team like the Redskins doesn’t overpay to nab Sanchez, then this is the most likely pick.
5- Cleveland Browns- BJ Raji, BC, DT
The Browns have a disgruntled blob of a DT in Shaun Rogers. Getting Raji would give them an immediate starter, and security in case Rogers whines his way out of town.
6- Cincinnati Bengal’s- Eugene Monroe, UVA, OT
People don’t seem to remember that Stacy Andrews is gone and there is a gaping hole at tackle.
7- Oakland Raiders- Jeremy Maclin. MIZZ, WR
Al Davis is a fossil and does not realize that Michael Crabtree is still on the board, he will make the mistake of drafting someone inferior.
8- Jacksonville Jaguars- Beanie Wells, OSU, RB
Maurice Jones Drew is a stud, but I don’t think he can do it all by himself, Wells here, or Moreno, will be the perfect complement.
9- Green Bay Packers, Andre Smith, ALA, OT,
They have a need, and he fills the need, end of story.
10- San Francisco 49ers- Michael Crabtree, TTU, WR
The 49ers will have a wet dream if Crabtree falls here
11- Buffalo Bills- Aaron Maybin, PSU, DE
The Bills already addressed needs at TE and WR, and one could argue for T Michael Oher here, but there are also going to be tackles available like William Beaty there at pick No. 28. They can find a guard later as well.
12- Denver Broncos, Brian Orakpo, UT, DE
The Broncos should feel thrilled if he falls here. It most likely won’t happen, but hey, maybe I at least get the position right.
13- Washington Redskins, Mark Sanchez, USC, QB
I highly doubt Sanchez falls this far, I only put him here because I believe they will trade up for him, thus making the Redskins the team he goes to.
14- New Orleans Saints- Knowshon Moreno, UGA, RB
The Saints need some thunder to go with lighting RB Reggie Bush.
15- Houston Texans- Malcolm Jenkins, OSU, CB
He gives the Texans a good value pick and a guy who can step in and start from day one.
16- San Diego Chargers- Robert Ayers, TENN, DE
I’m not as sold on Ayers as much as some other people are, but he has been flying up Mock Draft boards. He would fill the void left by DE Igor Olshansky.
17- New York Jets- Josh Freeman, KSU, QB
On top of them needing a QB, Freeman just sounds like a god Jets name, honestly.
18- Denver Broncos- Rey Maualuga, USC, LB, could either be Cushing Matthews, Maualuga here
They addressed the DL, they already revamped the secondary in Free Agency, and now they can start to fill the holes at LB
19- Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Everette Brown, FSU, DE/LB
They need to revamp the defense. Brown slides a bit here and the Bucs get great value by snagging him.
20- Detroit Lions- Michael Oher, MISS, OT
They got the QB, now they need to protect him.
21- Philadelphia Eagles- Donald Brown, UCONN RB
They already got their tackle, now they need to find a complement for RB Brian Westbrook. They could go for a LB here as well, maybe Brian Cushing out of USC.
22- Minnesota Vikings- Brandon Pettigrew, OSU, TE,
Shocker! But really? Who’s their TE again?
23- New England Patriots, Brian Cushing, USC, LB
Any of the three USC LB’s could go to any team who seeks a LB in this mock. Failing to trade for Peppers leaves the team with one hole, and it’s at LB, could either be Cushing Matthews, Maualuga here
24- Atlanta Falcons, Peria Jerry, MISS, DT
The Falcons will choose a DT, a LB, or a DB, plain and simple. But since were not in the war room, we don’t know who they prefer. Jerry would pair with Babinuex to give them a good young duo up the middle.
25- Miami Dolphins, Vontae Davis, ILL, CB
Most mocks I have seen have them going LB, or WR. Those could be a possibility as well.
26- Baltimore Ravens- Clay Mathews, USC, LB,
Ravens need to fill the hole left by LB Bart Scott. Could either be Cushing Matthews, Maualuga here
27- Indianapolis Colts- Darrius Heyward-Bay, UM, WR
He falls here and gives Reggie Wayne a perfect blazing complement.
28- Buffalo Bills- Phil Loadholt, OU, OT
They take care of having to unload Peters by getting even bigger at the tackle position.
29- New York Giants- Hakeem Nicks, UNC, WR
I’m smug because I know this is the pick, unless there’s a trade.
30- Tennessee Titans, Larry English, NIU, DE
I have no clue what to pick now that the Anquan Boldin rumors are intensifying. Javon Kearse is old, but English could even sit if needed. A center is a possibility here too.
31- Arizona Cardinals, Ebbon Britton, AZ, T
Wayne Gandy is getting old and the Cardinals get his replacement here. RB a strong possibility as well.
32- Pittsburgh Steelers, Alphonso Smith, WFU, CB
Fills void left by CB Bryant McFadden departure. They could go with an OL here as well.
Notable Possible Trades (and the changes for the team trading)
Washington Redskins to Seattle, Jacksonville, Green Bay, select: Mark Sanchez
Kansas City Chiefs (2nd round) to, Buffalo Bills (1st round), select: Brandon Pettigrew
Cleveland Browns to NYG select: Alphonso Smith
New York Jets to Seattle, Jacksonville, Denver, select: Mark Sanchez
Denver Broncos to Seattle select: Mark Sanchez
Buffalo Bills to Jacksonville select: Andre Smith
Arizona Cardinals to Denver Broncos select: Knowshon Moreno
New England Patriots to New Orleans select: Any USC LB
An Apology To The Eagles
Published: April 24, 2009
No Comments
I think the Philadelphia Eagles just transformed their team into a legit Super Bowl contender.
I recently wrote an article called “Three 2008 NFC Playoff Teams: Who Won’t Be Back.” This was a speculation piece that called out the Cardinals, Falcons, and Eagles for a lack of truly effective offseason movement.
The Falcons have still only made one impact signing, nabbing veteran ILB Mike Peterson to replace the departed Keith Brooking, and Michael Boley, at LB. They have made no efforts elsewhere on either side of the ball, letting four defensive starters on a playoff team leave for no compensation.
The Cardinals have still made no impact signings, other than the few I called them out on—DE Bertrand Berry and TE Leonard Pope.
They signed RB Jason Wright away from the Browns to fill the void left by RB JJ Arrington. I only mention this because Edgerrin James wants out even though he just played in a Super Bowl, and makes $7.5 million a year. Seems like a harsh reality in the current economy.
They also signed FB Dan Kreider, which fills a starting role and brings some more of that bad Pittsburgh blood to the desert.
Now onto the Eagles.
I criticized them for trading Sheppard, not replacing Tra Thomas, letting the face of their defense walk for a modest $3 million dollar paycheck, and not upgrading at any position. They made an earthshaker of a move, literally, in the recent days that has completely changed my mind and alters the draft considerably.
The Eagles recently traded for stud LT Jason Peters. If his young age (27) and ability to play 10 more years is taken into consideration, I would say he is the top T in the league, besides Walter Jones (even when he’s morbidly wounded he completely dominates people).
Jason Peters was not drafted out of college, worked his way onto the Bills roster and developed into a premier tackle. The Bills, unable to come to terms with his $10 million+ a year contract, unloaded him for a first, fourth, and sixth round pick. I would say it was a great trade for both sides.
Peters replaces longtime T Tra Thomas, who had been very good for the Eagles, but there is no doubt Peters represents a huge upgrade, and can stay where he is for at least the next six years.
The Eagles now feature what I believe is the top young OL in all the land, with Peters, Todd Herremans, Jamal Jackson, and the Andrews brothers playing side by side.
They boast a top QB and RB with the duo of Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook, and have a true playmaker at FB with Leonard Weaver, completing an incredibly solid line and backfield.
Now their WR’s are not the leagues best but they do have Desean Jackson and Kevin Curtis, who can stretch the field. With their running game they won’t have to pass that much and should do a more then adequate job when they have to.
They are solid on the defensive line at all four slots, and their only weak spot is at linebacker. They have some ability and youth there so they can only go up in terms of performance, and I expect all of them to step it up after reaching the NFC Championship game with a 9-7 record.
They let S Brian Dawkins walk, and traded CB Lito Sheppard, who was relegated to dime duty at the end of last season, for a second and a fifth round pick.
They signed S Sean Jones to start at safety, and he adds youth and playmaking ability to the secondary. They already boast CB’s Asante Samuel and Sheldon Brown, which is why they were able to trade Sheppard.
They have either replaced or upgraded at every position that has walked thus far. You can never replace a Brian Dawkins, but adding Jones gives them a younger, more athletic presence who can prove himself with his one year deal as Dawkins’ true heir.
The Eagles still have a first round pick, and two second round picks, putting them in a more than ample position to trade up if desired.
They have no positions that are crying and bleeding with the words “help me!” As has been the usual trend in Philly, they could always use a true No.1 WR. I remember once upon a Terrell Owens they were playing in the Super Bowl.
They could use a LB. Any of the three USC LB’s would be worthy of one of their first three picks, and could probably walk in and start.
If I were the Eagles I would find a way to land WR Anquan Boldin. He would give McNabb the dominant target he has been begging for, with justifiable reason. He would force defenses to double him, account for the play action even more, and leave Curtis and Jackson open. He will still catch anything that comes his way.
He is worth the TJ Houshmandzadeh contract he is seeking, every penny, and it seems like a perfect fit.
This seems somewhat unlikely to occur though, after the Peters trade, but this offense always seems to be a WR away from the Super Bowl.
My apology to all other Eagles fans, I didn’t think they had the balls to go out and trade for a guy like Peters. I think that now he’s happy, on a very successful team, and is in the long term really playing for another contract (33), he will perform at his highest level. I truly believe that he makes that much of a difference to an offensive line.
Now let’s see if they can go out and get that final piece in the WR puzzle, and give McNabb his second helping of a T.O.
