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MocK Draft from Pro football weekly
Team concerns could adversely affect Lynch, Moss, Jarrett
By Nolan Nawrocki
April 13, 2007
Teams have begun meeting with their coaches and are either amidst or entering their final set of meetings to finalize their draft boards. Decision time is drawing nearer, and while teams have not completely settled on their targets, they are narrowing down their choices. With Draft Day barely two weeks away, the following is how we see the cards being called if the draft were held tomorrow. As is the case every year, we see a lot of bad picks about to be made, starting with the very first, but projections are based heavily on inside information and what we hear teams are planning to do, not what we think is best for teams.
With character and medical meetings beginning to take place, some players could be adversely affected, the way Jimmy Williams and Winston Justice were a year ago. Partly for those reasons and because of team needs, we are projecting that Marshawn Lynch, Jarvis Moss and Dwayne Jarrett could be this year's losers. (Juniors are denoted by an asterisk.)
1. Oakland Raiders — QB JaMarcus Russell, LSU*
With a 29-year-old quarterback coach and an offensive coordinator who struggled dealing with prima donnas Michael Vick and Terrell Owens, Russell will enter a situation set up for failure. But with Josh McCown expected to be in town before the season starts, the Raiders will not have to rush him into the lineup.
2. Detroit Lions — WR Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech*
Lions president Matt Millen is worried he will be heavily scrutinized for selecting a fourth receiver in five years in the top 10, but Johnson has the most value at this spot and will afford the Lions a chance to move down and select the pass rusher they desire.
3. Cleveland Browns — RB Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma*
Jamal Lewis is a one-year solution, and it’s been proven that two good backs are needed to tote the rock in the NFL. GM Phil Savage will have to fight off ownership’s desires for a local quarterback who will excite fans in order to get the player he desires.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — OT Joe Thomas, Wisconsin
A trade up to nab Johnson is tops on the Bucs' agenda, but GM Bruce Allen is still hoping Johnson will fall to him and is not likely to pull the trigger until a team in front of him first selects Johnson.
5. Arizona Cardinals — DT Alan Branch, Michigan*
Trading back would be a better scenario for the Cards, but finding a buyer willing to move up could prove difficult. Ken Whisenhunt knows how important Casey Hampton was in Pittsburgh, and a run-stuffing clogger in the middle could immensely improve the Cards’ defense.
6. Washington Redskins — FS LaRon Landry, LSU
Redskins coaches have taken a strong liking to Amobi Okoye, but Landry still has a lead.
7. Minnesota Vikings — QB Brady Quinn, Notre Dame
Brad Childress likes the prospects of Tarvaris Jackson but will not make the same mistake the Raiders did a year ago at this spot and live to regret passing on a franchise quarterback.
8. Atlanta Falcons — DE Gaines Adams, Clemson
Adams could be nabbed by the Lions earlier if a trade unfolds, but he has too much value for the Falcons to bypass after losing Patrick Kerney and not being able to count on injury-prone John Abraham.
9. Miami Dolphins — OT Levi Brown, Penn State
Cam Cameron knows how important establishing a dominant offensive line was to the Chargers’ success.
10. Houston Texans — CB Leon Hall, Michigan
Texans must get better on the back end, and Hall’s versatility and consistency will appeal.
11. San Francisco 49ers — LB Patrick Willis, Mississippi
Immediately upgrades the 49ers’ defensive team speed and provides the leadership in the locker room to help the team take the next step.
12. Buffalo Bills — CB Darrelle Revis, Pittsburgh*
With a glaring hole at cornerback following Nate Clements’ departure, Revis brings the size and toughness to immediately compete and brings added value where Clements did not, in the return game.
13. St. Louis Rams — DT Amobi Okoye, Louisville
With La’Roi Glover aging, Okoye could bring an upfield presence to disrupt the middle.
14. Carolina Panthers — DL Adam Carriker, Nebraska
John Fox loves smarts and versatility, and Carriker brings both. He’s a safe pick if the Panthers cannot trade down.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers — LB Jon Beason, Miami (Fla.)*
With the top two corners off the board, Beason can step into the starting lineup immediately and fit in either an even or an odd front should the Steelers eventually transition to the 4-3.
16. Green Bay Packers — DE Jamaal Anderson, Arkansas*
Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila is best as a situational pass rusher, not an every-down player, and Anderson can bring more pressure off the edge.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars — FS Reggie Nelson, Florida*
With serious questions at safety following the departure of Deon Grant and with Donovin Darius coming off a season-ending injury, safety is the Jaguars’ most pressing need. Jaguars vice president of player personnel James Harris was in Baltimore when the Ravens selected Ed Reed, and Brandon Meriweather could be difficult to pass, but questions about Meriweather’s character may scare the owner.
18. Cincinnati Bengals — CB-PR Aaron Ross, Texas
With a higher premium being placed on character, Ross looks even more appealing. His return ability pushes up his value.
19. Tennessee Titans — WR Ted Ginn Jr., Ohio State*
With Pacman Jones suspended for the season, a returner will be needed, and Ginn can be an immediate impact player on special teams and open up the passing game with his vertical speed.
20. New York Giants — OLB Lawrence Timmons, Florida State*
A corner may be more immediately needed, but the Giants can find one in the second round. It will be more difficult to find a linebacker with Timmons’ upside.
21. Denver Broncos — OT Joe Staley, Central Michigan
The Broncos have needed more of a pass rush for years and have elected to fill the void through free agency rather than the draft. With the league’s premier cover corner able to blanket half the field, the Broncos do not need a great pass rusher, and they could find a good one in the second round. Staley protects their investment in Jay Cutler at a position where they were forced to start an undrafted free agent last year.
22. Dallas Cowboys — WR Dwayne Bowe, LSU
Bowe has the swagger that Jerry Jones loves, and with an aging group of receivers, including a Terrell Owens who began to show his age a year ago, Bowe will be difficult to bypass.
23. Kansas City Chiefs — WR Robert Meachem, Tennessee*
The Chiefs need to begin thinking about replacing their offensive line, but they can turn their attention there in the next round. Carl Peterson has neglected the team's WR need for too long — and he could with Tony Gonzalez being the team's true No. 1 target — but with Trent Green likely to be dealt, he needs to find more weapons for Damon Huard to open up the passing game.
24. New England Patriots — FS Brandon Meriweather, Miami (Fla.)
The Patriots can feel comfortable selecting a supersmart, versatile talent because of the locker-room leadership that self-polices brash, young superstars.
25. New York Jets — TE Greg Olsen, Miami (Fla.)*
There is a premium on the TE position in the school of thought in which Eric Mangini was raised, because the position is like a knight on a chessboard. It can create a lot of favorable matchups and consistently put opponents in check. Although tight end is not the Jets' greatest need, Olsen will be difficult to pass.
26. Philadelphia Eagles — SS Michael Griffin, Texas
In many ways, Griffin is similar to the departed Michael Lewis, only he does not enter the NFL with the injury concerns that pushed down Lewis' draft value and he is much better on special teams, an area where the Eagles need to get back to previous form.
27. New Orleans Saints — LB Paul Posluszny, Penn State
Because Posluszny is such a safe pick, some old-school decision-makers such as Marv Levy and Tom Coughlin could fall in love with what he stands for and pull the trigger earlier. But Posluszny can be comfortable knowing he has a home awaiting in New Orleans, where head coach Sean Payton places a high value on character.
28. New England Patriots — DE Justin Harrell, Tennessee
With Ty Warren needing to be locked up with a long-term deal and the premium the Patriots place on their front, Harrell could be plugged in as a five-technique. It will be difficult to find another like him in the coming rounds, and the Patriots will always draft for value more than need. Cornerbacks can be found in the next two rounds.
29. Baltimore Ravens — C Ryan Kalil, USC
The Ravens could strike gold again in the first round as they seemingly do every year with a can't-miss pick.
30. San Diego Chargers — CB Chris Houston, Arkansas*
A.J. Smith has a sparkle in his eye for strong, physical, tough football players, and although cornerback is not his most pressing need, it could be difficult for him to pass on Houston, who fits the Chargers' system well.
31. Chicago Bears — OG Ben Grubbs, Auburn
The Bears have more need outside than inside, with age soon to catch up with them at the OT position, but Grubbs will give Cedric Benson the best chance to crease defenses now that he has the platform to himself, with Thomas Jones having been sent packing to New York.
32. Indianapolis Colts — LB David Harris, Michigan
Bill Polian loves Big Ten talent, and Tony Dungy loves speed, something Harris showed more at the Combine than he does on tape. A trade down may be more in order, but there is no way the Colts will be able to land Harris with their next pick. With Cato June having departed, more help is needed at linebacker.
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