I'm going to do things a little bit differently though. I'm not going to go with "leads" and "credible inside information" about what the teams will actually do. Mostly because I don't have any. I'm going to break out my rational thinking cap and tell you what these teams should ACTUALLY do... even though you know they won't. I look forward to people looking back 10 years from now and saying "HOLY CRAP, WE TOTALLY WOULD HAVE HAD A BENGALS/SEAHAWKS SUPERBOWL IF ONLY THEY HAD LISTENED TO ADAM MAN!". Or not, whatever. Let's get this over with.
1. Detroit Lions - Jason Smith, T, Baylor
- Matthew Stafford is not going to bring your team back to relevance. Your team is HORRIBLE, in general, and you need to build a foundation before you put that big shiny ornament on top. Smith is an Orlando Pace/Jonathan Ogden type of centerpiece. Wait until next year and draft a better QB than Matty S.
2. St. Louis Rams - Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
- Do you know who your starting strong side linebacker is? Somebody named Quinton Culberson. Oh, you've never heard of him either? Then take the best defensive player in the draft and don't overpay for a tackle not named Jason Smith.
3. Kansas City Cheifs - Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
- You just traded away your second best receiving option in Gonzo. The only problem is, you only had 2 receiving options. Old ass Bobby Engram is not the answer. Take a guy who will continue to make Matt Cassel look good. Also a good option: BJ Raji.
4. Seattle Seahawks - BJ Raji, DT, Boston College
- The urge to take the top-rated QB in this class and stash him for a year or two until Hasselbeck's back finally snaps in half will be strong... but this defense is a dominant interior lineman and a pass rushing LB away from being one of the best in the league. Since Curry is gone, go with Raji. Also acceptable: Euegene Monroe.
5. Cleveland Browns - Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas
- Your pass rush was atrocious last year, and Orakpo has the size and pass rushing ability to be your defensive spark plug. Aaron Maybin would also work, but I think Orakpo is more of the sure thing Cleveland needs.
6. Cincinnati Bengals - Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
- They could take Maybin here as well, but their offense was actually worse than their defense last year, and a big part of that was because Palmer got hurt. Invest in protecting him and things will get better fast.
7. Oakland Raiders - Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri
- When you can hear the phrase "Javon Walker is your best WR and there is a sharp dropoff after that"... and it's 2009... you need to take the best receiver available.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars - Aaron Maybin, DE/LB, Penn State
- I was very tempted to put Stafford here, because I don't beleive in Garrard, but with the contract they gave him they can't afford to pay top-10 QB money to a backup. Maybin adds some young explosiveness to an aging defense.
9. Green Bay Packers - Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
- I was back and forth on this pick, but on value Smith is the best and they need their starting LT of the future. I wouldn't blame them for picking Knowshon Moreno either, as Ryan Grant has shown he's very good but not consistent enough to be counted on.
10. San Francisco 49ers - Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
- Stafford finally gets out of the green room and on a team that's a good fit. Again, this will never happen, but I think it should. He wouldn't have to start right away here, but he could if he really impressed and it wouldn't ruffle any feathers.
11. Buffalo Bills - Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
- When TO starts dropping balls, Trent Edwards will need another solid set of hands to pull defenders off Lee Evans.
12. Denver Broncos - Mark Sanchez, QB, USC
- They really need defensive help, but anybody who's left they'd have to make a reach for. Sanchez makes sense because Orton is the guy of today, not of the future.
13. Washington Redskins - Brian Cushing, OLB, USC
- They're going to do whatever they can to get Sanchez, which is dumb. You've gone out and gotten Haynsworth, now build the second level of your defense. Also, I can't tell Cushing and Clay Matthews apart, so feel free to interchange them here.
14. New Orleans Saints - Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
- Everybody is talking about replacing Deuce with a RB here, but how about you fix your 23rd ranked defense instead of your 1st ranked offense? Take Jenkins so you can stop pretending Randall Gay is a starting CB.
15. Houston Texans - Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU
- Their offense is really clicking right now, but I'd still consider Beanie Wells here to take some pressure off Steve Slaton... but Jackson is the right choice here to give the Texans a solid defensive end to go opposite Mario Williams.
16. San Diego Chargers - Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC
- I don't buy the Chargers drafting RB here either. Their defense is what held them back last year, and they get a solid ILB to go with Merriman and Phillips on the outside.
17. New York Jets - Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, North Carolina State
- This is a hard pick to judge, actually. I don't think Josh Freeman is right for them, so the obvious need of QB doesn't fit here. The Jets have improved a lot of weaknesses in free agency, so it's hard to tell what direction their pick will go in. This probably improves their team the most, but they could still go with a RB, OT, or LB here. Should be interesting. Expect boos no matter what.
18. Denver Broncos - Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee
- See Denver, you can be patient and still get the guy you want! I've seen mocks where the Broncos take Ayers with their first pick, but if teams actually acted the way they should, he'd be available here. Look for Sarah Palin to get confused and protest this selection.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State
- Sometimes I'll agree with what everybody in the world is saying, and here's an example. With Freeman's ties to the new Tampa coach and their bevy of mediocre signal callers, this just makes sense.
20. Detroit Lions - Everette Brown, DE, Florida State
- They HAVE to go defense here, and they get very good value with a great pass rusher than can take pressure off their secondary.
21. Philadelphia Eagles - Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
- Another instance of agreeing with everybody... Westbrook can't stay healthy and Moreno is the best back in the draft. If there was a safety worth taking here it would be better, but Moreno is the pick.
22. Minnesota Vikings - Michel Oher, OT, Mississippi
- Without a QB, WR, or CB really worth taking here, the Vikes pick someone to help give Tavaris more time to pick which bad decision to make.
23. New England Patriots - Clay Matthews, LB, USC
- The pundits are actually making sense here... based on value and need, whichever USC linebacker is left when they pick should be the Patriots' guy. Having someone to pair up with Jerod Mayo for the next 8 to 10 years is a pretty exciting thought. Going off the board though... I wouldn't rule out the Patriots taking Beanie Wells if he's still available like I say he will be.
*** Note: After the Patriots first pick is usually when I stop paying as much attention to the first round of the draft. You may see some similarities in regards to this post ***
24. Hotlanta Falcons - Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi
- They need an inside presence on defense, plus I hear they love guys with names that look like they're in reverse order.
25. Miami Dolphins - Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
- One of the best players available and at a spot where Miami needs help. Also consider Hakeem Nicks here to help that WR corps.
26. Baltimore Ravens - Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina
- Eventually teams will figure out that if you cover Derrick Mason, Joe Flacco curls into the fetal position and starts crying. Nicks will be another reliable target for Flacoo right away.
27. Indiannapolis Colts - Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
- Heyyy, it's just a little weed, right?! With Starvin Marvin gone, the Colts pick a playmaker that can keep defenses off-balance. Kind of scary when you think about it. Please god don't let this actually happen.
28. Buffalo Bills - Ebon Britton, OT, Arizona
- Blah blah, value, something about upside.
29. New York Giants - Larry English, DE/LB, Northern Ill.
- The Giants could use an upgrade in their pass rush and this guy comes from all angles.
30. Tennessee Titans - Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers
- Oh hey look! The Celtics game is starting! Huh? Oh right... Tennessee... receivers suck, or soemthing.
31. Arizona Cardinals - Beanie Wells, RB, Ohio State
- OHHHH SNAP! RAJON RONDO is a BEAST!
32. Pittsburgh Steelers - Max Unger, C, Oregon
- I dunno, Todd McShay said they would pick him. I don't even know who this is. Are we done here?
So there you have it... my prediction of what is almost definitely not going to happen. Also, this is assuming there will be no trades, which there obviously will be. Which is why mock drafts are always dumb and worthless and... oh who am I kidding, I love them. Have fun tomorrow kiddies!
