New SI Mock

Jauron had Rogers. Unless he's somehow stuck to a strict one-gap defense suddenly (and considering he hired Ted Washington and Keith Traylor, well, he's not), Ngata's a relatively perfect fit. The constant listing of the two together's annoying, yes.

 

I agree. I just don't see them getting superfluous at DE when there are other picks there that fill a need. I'd say Leinart more than Ferguson as I've heard Brees has what amounts to a 2 year contract, but Gandy is getting up there in years so it's not completely out of the question to take the franchise LT.

I keep seeing this projection, and I just don't get it. Johnson is injury-prone, yes, but the man led the NFL in catches for about half of the 2004 season, IIRC. A lot of Niner fans are geeked about the possibility of Davis, but I agree that defense makes a lot more sense here, even considering how putrid their O was last year. They need a beast NT, and Ngata fits that description. Anthony Adams and Sopaoga aren't going to get it done. Huff also makes sense here, as they need help in the secondary badly. They've got some young corners who look promising, but it's hard to say how good they are because their DBs were playing musical chairs last year. Huff and Parish at safety would not be a bad thing, especially if they traded down a bit to grab him.

With all due respect to Coop, their safeties have been awful since Eric Turner died. Schweigert is a complete waste of roster space and so is Gibson. Cooper might be decent, but he needs a complimentary FS to go with him -- he's not good enough to carry the secondary by himself.

I think everyone's picking Ngata here because Buffalo misses Washington and Adams, and some analysts and fans are convinced they can't be good on D without a 375 lb. defensive tackle.

Yes. They've got offensive weapons -- what they desperately need is to fix the OL to make it all work. Justice would be a big step in the right direction.

Makes sense. Seems to me like Cutler has the kind of skill set that would do reasonably well in Linehan's offensive scheme.

Yeah, 14 is high for Jackson, but it's funny that they seem to be taking the Detroit approach to fixing their WR problem -- keep throwing #1's at it until something sticks -- and no one's making fun of them yet.

Agreed. White may be in serious danger of dropping out of the first round altogether. Hope the turkey and stuffing was worth it, although I can't imagine a thanksgiving meal worth $20 million.

 

I think Jammer dug himself in hole with the holdout, but he really got hosed with the 'Patriot rule' on pass coverage. RMJ did, too. Being physical with receivers was the core of his game, and that got taken away from him. If corners were still being allowed to mug receivers 10 yards downfield, Jammer would be viewed in a much better light, IMO.

 

Something about that Mangini cat rubs me the wrong way. A tad too much on the bells and whistles, rah, rah BS. I dont buy him as a leader, at least from the interviews ive seen. Im betting he loses that gig quickly.

 

Here's another one.

http://www.realfootball365.com/nfl/articles/nfl-mock-draft040506.php

1. Houston Texans - Reggie Bush [RB, USC]
Every time the ball was handed off to Bush last season at USC, he carried it for 8.9 yards. Enough said. The Texans will confidently select Bush at the one spot and he should make every member of the Texans’ ballclub better in 2006.

2) New Orleans Saints – Mario Williams [DE, N.C. State] – It’s nearly impossible to pass on a guy like Mario Williams. Defensive end may not be the Saints number one priority, but to let Mario Williams pass beyond their pick would be thoughtless. In his last year with N.C. State, Williams racked up 13 sacks and 23.5 tackles for a loss.

3) Tennessee Titans - Matt Leinart [QB, USC]
Tennessee must have been ecstatic when New Orleans picked up Drew Brees. They now will be able to get their quarterback of the future in Matt Leinart. The 2004 Heisman Trophy winner will become the answer to all of Tennessee’s problems when beaten up 33-year old Steve McNair calls it quits—which could be very soon, especially after the Titans sent him home after showing up to practice at Baptist Sports Park on Monday.

4. New York Jets - D'Brickashaw Ferguson [OT, Virginia]
For once, New York fans might finally harmonize with their team’s first-round draft choice. D'Brickashaw would be the perfect fit for the Jets, who allowed the third-highest sack total in the NFL last season with 53. Ferguson would immediately come in at the tackle position and help to anchor an offensive line that has been detrimental to the quarterback behind it for the last several seasons.

5. Green Bay Packers – A.J. Hawk [OLB, Ohio State]
Brett Favre will only return with a solid team around him, and A.J. Hawk is more than solid. Adding Hawk to a linebacking crew that already has Nick Barnett at the center will help the defense immensely. The Ohio State linebacker is one of those few players who can immediately impact his team in his first year as a pro.

6. Minnesota Vikings (**Via trade with the San Francisco 49ers) – Jay Cutler [QB, Vanderbilt]
Daunte Culpepper is gone and Brad Johnson is 37 years old. In a trade with San Francisco, Minnesota will find an answer to their dilemma behind center with the simple phrase: “With the sixth pick in the 2006 NFL Draft the Minnesota Vikings select Jay Cutler, quarterback—Vanderbilt.” It’s time to see what the hype is all about.

7. Oakland Raiders - Vernon Davis [TE, Maryland]
This definitely isn’t the most logical choice for Oakland at seven, but it’s going to be nearly impossible for Al Davis to circumvent this specimen. Davis awed scouts at the combine, running an implausible 4.38 40-yard dash. At 6’3, Davis seems to be the model player for the Raiders’ owner whom he shares a last name with. With the addition of the Maryland tight end, Oakland would undoubtedly posses one of the best receiving crews in the league.

8. Buffalo Bills - Haloti Ngata [DT, Oregon]
Many Bills fans want to think that Ngata won’t be their selection here at eight, but he seems to be the best option for the club. Buffalo lost Pat Williams in 2004 and just recently lost Sam Adams and Ron Edwards this offseason. Not too long ago, the team acquired Larry Tripplett; however, the former Colts tackle is not a pure dominant force up front. And adjacent to Triplett lays a massive void that 6’4, 338-pound tackle Haloti Ngata would fill nicely.

9. Detroit Lions - Michael Huff [DB, Texas]
Detroit won’t be able to ignore the versatility of Texas defensive back Michael Huff. The Lions have both voids at cornerback and safety—both of which are positions that Huff could play. Whether he would start as a corner alongside Dre’ Bly or as a safety beside Kenoy Kennedy is still an unknown, but the potential and versatility that Huff possesses is already widely recognized.

10. Arizona Cardinals – Vince Young [QB, Texas]
Beyond 34-year old quarterback Kurt Warner, the quarterback situation looks bleak in Arizona. And after injuring his right MCL in December of last season, Warner is not as durable as the Cardinals would hope for. Young seems as if he would need one to two years to adapt to life in the NFL, and Kurt Warner would provide that grace period for him to do so.

11. St. Louis Rams - Jimmy Williams [DB, Virginia Tech]
Corey Chavous was a huge step in the right direction for St. Louis, and Jimmy Williams would be an equally long stride. The Rams are extremely weak at the cornerback position, and Williams could jump right into the mix to help diminish this problem. At 6’2, he possesses a great balance of size and speed for a defensive back.

12. Cleveland Browns - Broderick Bunkley [DT, Florida State]
The 6’3, 286-pound tackle has seen his stock soar as of late, and Cleveland will buy right into him. Bunkley played outstanding in his senior year at Florida State and would see playing time with Cleveland immediately. In free agency, the Browns temporarily filled their hole at defensive tackle with Ted Washington, but the 37-year old’s days are numbered.

13. Baltimore Ravens - Chad Greenway [OLB, Iowa]
Baltimore’s previous defensive anchor, Ray Lewis, is still recovering from hamstring surgery and wants out of Baltimore. Enter Greenway, whose best 40-time was clocked in at 4.58 seconds on Pro Day. I’m going to stop short of comparing him to one of the game’s greatest linebackers of all time, but with the acquisition of Greenway, Baltimore could let Ray Lewis roam the market without having to worry about as much about losing ground on the defensive side of the ball.

14. Philadelphia Eagles - Winston Justice [OT, USC]
Philadelphia needs to do a lot of work to bring themselves back to their Super Bowl XXXIX form. USC’s 6’6, 319-pound tackle won’t be the flashiest pick, but will help the offense to a great extent. Above all, with the departure of Terrell Owens, McNabb and Westbrook will need somebody reliable working in front of them. Winston could provide that reliability in his first season.

15. Denver Broncos - Chad Jackson [WR, Florida]
Jackson seemingly came out of no where last season with Florida, but has emerged as one of the best receivers in the 2006 draft. The Florida wideout registered a 38 1/2-inch vertical jump at the combine and ran a 4.32 in the 40-yard dash. And at 35-years old, Rod Smith’s best years may finally be behind him. Looking ahead to the future, Chad Jackson would be a very nice complement to 6’3 speedster Ashley Lelie.

16. Miami Dolphins – Tye Hill [CB, Clemson]
Hill has blazing speed—and he made everyone aware of that by running a 4.30 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. With Sam Madison leaving the team, Hill would receive a great amount of playing time as a second or third corner on a Dolphins secondary that seems in disarray thus far.

 

17. San Francisco 49ers (**Via trade with the Minnesota Vikings) – Ernie Sims [OLB, Florida State]
San Francisco’s best player, Julian Peterson, has left the Bay Area. This adds a huge hole at outside linebacker, especially in the 3-4 scheme utilized by the Niners. Sims is both quick in coverage, as he showed by running the dash in 4.50 seconds, and is a solid tackler. It would be in San Francisco’s best interest to fill in Peterson’s shoes with the potential that Sims possesses.

18. Dallas Cowboys – Manny Lawson [DE/OLB, N.C. State]
Lawson really helped his case at the NFL combine by running a 4.41 in the 40-yard dash. As a defensive end/linebacker tweener, Lawson looks as if he would be most effective in the NFL as a linebacker in a 3-4 defense. The Cowboys run a 3-4 defense, so grabbing Lawson at 18 could help to round out an already solid overall defensive unit. With the loss of linebacker Scott Fujita this offseason, Lawson could help to alleviate the pressure on the remaining linebacking crew in Dallas.

19. San Diego Chargers - Santonio Holmes [WR, Ohio State]
If San Diego is looking to make Philip Rivers’ job a bit easier, they should take Holmes here at 19. The Ohio State standout clocked in at 4.34 seconds in the 40 at his private workout and was an outstanding route runner during his collegiate career. San Diego desperately needs a 1,000+ wide receiver on their ballclub, and Holmes could turn out to be just that.

20. Kansas City Chiefs – Tamba Hali [DE, Penn State]
The Chiefs have some major renovation to do on their defensive front. They started off doing so with the acquisition of defensive tackle Ron Edwards from Buffalo. Stealing Hali here could be the next major stop in Kansas City’s plan. Defensive end Eric Hicks is turning 30 in June and has seen his numbers slip as of late. Getting the Penn State end here to rush on the left side of the line opposite Jared Allen could help to balance off the 11 sacks picked up last year by Allen on the right.

21. New England Patriots - DeAngelo Williams [RB, Memphis]
Williams has had an outstanding offseason; and members of the Patriots’ organization will not be able to turn their heads to it. In the 40-yard dash, he ran 4.40 with his back to the wind and a 4.80 against it. He ran the short shuttle in 4.10 seconds, had a 34 ½-inch vertical jump, and posted a broad jump of 10 feet 9 inches. Starter Corey Dillon is 31-years old, and missed four games last season with ankle and calf injuries. A smart team will make a smart decision here with the 21st pick.

22. Denver Broncos - Donte Whitner [S, Ohio State]
At pick 15, the Broncos snatched up wide receiver Chad Jackson from Florida. Seven picks later, they will go defensive. John Lynch is turning 35 in September and, with the exception of a few, the shelf-life of safeties in the NFL is not far beyond that age. Donte Whitner could impact the Broncos defense as both a cornerback and safety in his rookie season and could fill in for John Lynch at his retirement.

23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Marcus McNeill [OT, Auburn]
The NFL rookie of the year needs someone to run behind; Marcus McNeill is that “someone.” The tackle out of Auburn is 6’7, 334 pounds but is as agile as a cat. He clocked in at 5.07 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the combine and is an equally as good pass protector as run blocker. Chris Simms and Cadillac Williams would benefit greatly from the acquisition of McNeill here in the latter part of the first round.

24. Cincinnati Bengals - Gabe Watson [DT, Michigan]
Watson is considered somewhat of a risk in the first round, but it’s difficult to ignore the success he has enjoyed since the end of the season. Watson had an outstanding outing at the Senior Bowl and would bring a bit of muscle to a defensive tackle crew that is lacking just that. The Michigan DT could easily step in to quickly become the Bengals’ top tackle in his early years with the team. And if anybody can motivate this sometimes sluggish lineman, Coach Marvin Lewis is just the guy to do so.

25. New York Giants – Bobby Carpenter [LB, Ohio State]
To start, Bobby Carpenter’s father played for the NY Giants for five years in the 1980’s—so this could just be fate talking. But at any rate, Carpenter would be an excellent fit for New York. Listed at 6’2, 256 pounds, the Ohio State linebacker ran a 4.66 in the 40; and this speed shows on the playing field. He has the ability to cover the field laterally and to blitz straight up the gut of the offensive front. Carpenter would be a great fit to stand upright behind the impressive defensive line of the Giants.

26. Chicago Bears - Leonard Pope [TE, Georgia]
The Bears could use some help at wide receiver, but tight end Leonard Pope has the hands and route running ability equal to a wideout. He is a massive target at 6’7, 256 pounds and could really open up the Bears offense, which needs to improve upon a less-than-stellar 2005 outing. Adding Pope to the offensive roster could help to take some of the pressure off of the dominant Bears’ defensive unit.

27. Carolina Panthers - LenDale White [RB, USC]
Carolina boosted their wide receiver corps by recently adding Keyshawn Johnson to their roster. To round out their offense, LenDale White would be the best choice; and with the recent speculation surrounding him, he could fall this late in the first round. White called it quits at USC’s Pro Day last Sunday after putting up nine less bench reps than teammate Reggie Bush, who weighs 42 pounds less than White. For the Panthers, DeShaun Foster wasn’t the 1,000-yard back that they hoped he would be in 2005. Much of the reason was as a result of his constant battle with toe and ankle injuries late last season. Foster finally had to sit out with a broken right fibula in January last season and Nick Goings was forced into action. For next season, the straight ahead running of White would be a great accent to the east-west technique of Foster.

28. Jacksonville Jaguars – Thomas Howard [OLB, UTEP]
Jacksonville lost Akin Ayodele this offseason and could really use some help at outside linebacker. Howard is extremely fast for his position and had a great season last year at UTEP, registering 85 tackles, three sacks, and an interception. On the whole, he is an extremely intense player on the field and a focused practice player. Although he is going late in the first round, Howard could surprisingly pan out to become one of the top selections in April’s draft.

29. New York Jets - Mathias Kiwanuka [DE, Boston]
The Jets’ best pass rusher, John Abraham, has been shipped to Atlanta, leaving a huge hole to fill at defensive end. At 6’5, 256 pounds, Kiwanuka stands tall enough to trouble quarterbacks with both a pass rush and pass blocking dimension. Drafting Kiwanuka here at 29 would round out a very solid first round for the Jets, which would address problems on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball.

30. Indianapolis Colts - Laurence Maroney [RB, Minnesota]
With Edgerrin James out of the picture, not much is left for the Colts at running back. Dominic Rhodes is solid as nothing more than a backup, which leaves no true starter at the position in Indianapolis. Maroney could fall to the Colts at pick 30 and, by then, should be the top name on their draft board. He has a great balance of power and quickness for a running back, which is what made Edgerrin James a great fit in Indianapolis. The Minnesota running back is by far the best option here for the Colts.

31. Seattle Seahawks - Ko Simpson [FS, South Carolina]
The NFC Champions lost safety Marquand Manuel this offseason and have a hole to fill alongside Michael Boulware. Overall, Simpson is a smart defender who possesses a great tackling ability. Coming out of college as a true sophomore, he will have plenty of time to develop in the NFL and could still positively impact the Seattle defense in his first year out of South Carolina.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers – Sinorice Moss [WR, Miami (FL)]
The Steelers will get their new Antwaan Randle El with the last pick of the first round. He may not be able to throw the ball 40 yards downfield, but Moss is one of the premier wideouts in this year’s draft. Although he is only 5’8, Moss compensates his height with his tremendous speed and jumping ability. At the NFL combine, he ran a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash and posted a 42-inch vertical jump.

—Any comments or suggestions on this mock draft? Let Anthony Carroll know at

 

I know he has incredible measureables, but has anyone really thought that Mario Williams is on the level of Peppers in terms of being a potentially revolutionary force? Even State fans? I haven't seen anyone suggesting that, but somehow he's now impossible to pass up at #2. Makes no sense at all to me, but I would be absolutely thrilled if the Saints went in that direction.

And regarding New Orleans maybe taking Leinart, it makes some sense given the structure of Brees' contract (which might be a one year deal, not a two year deal since I believe the big bonus is in his second year), but that would be awfully confusing to the fanbase. First Brees was sold as the new face of the franchise and then you send a clear message that he's only going to be around for one year? I don't know if they could pull that off from a P.R. perspective, but maybe the Saints will be gone in one year too and it won't matter.


Oakland taking Vernon Davis makes too much sense for me not to have thought of that earlier, although it makes Al Davis sense and not really team needs sense.

Gah, this moron also thinks that Sims could be a 3-4 OLB. Jesus. It's like anyone can write these things and pretend they know what they're talking about.

DeAngelo Williams to the Patriots makes a lot of sense too. They know a good thing when they see it.

 

I never saw Williams as great.

 

I honestly couldn't see Sims in the 3-4 inside or outside. Lawson opposite Ware could be ridiculous assuming that whoever coaches the Cowboys next keeps the 3-4.

Saints are enigmatic. They could take Ferguson and be fine, they have that odd QB issue, they need defense and defense isn't there. That'll be the tonesetter, since #1 is basically picked.

Tampa getting McNeill would be interesting, but it seems like he's big for what they're after. They can run block well without a 335 lb RT, and already signed Walker back (no idea why).