I posted this mock over at Stampede Blue, the blog I write for with an explanation behind every pick. If you are interested read through it.
1. Detroit: Mathew Stafford, QB, Georgia
I know a lot of people don't like Matt Stafford. I don't think he's the greatest QB ever either, and he certainly isn't going to be the next Peyton Manning, but this is definitely the right move for Detroit. Jim Schwartz doesn't come off to me as a stupid guy. I think he totally understands what a winning football team is comprised of: a franchise QB, a dominant o-line, and a great defense. There's no doubt he'll be working to turn that defense into something that resembled the Titans defense, but picking Aaron Curry here would be a bad move in my opinion. Taking one of the top OTs wouldn't be bad either, but I don't think they need one. Even though Stafford would have the pressure of being the #1 overall pick going into the 2009 season, I don't think there were be that much pressure. These Lions, until they win a game next season (IF), are still considered to be the worst team in league history. So how much worse could Stafford do really? If they win just 2 games, that's a step in the right direction. So I don't see much pressure on him to come in and pull a Matt Ryan considering most of the team is in shambles.
The other reason I think this pick is a no-brainer is because of the cast surrounding Stafford. Some of you may think I'm nuts, but I think they have a lot of good pieces on their offense to win more than 0 games next season. I know Detriot is going to get a lot of crap for going 0-16, but they were very competitive in most of those games, they just couldn't finish. All Stafford would have to do next season is try his best to NOT mess up. He has THE best receive in the league to throw to. Yes, I said that, Calvin Johnson is THE best receiver in the league. I think he blows Larry Fitzgerald, Randy Moss, Brandon Marshall, all of those guys out of the water. He just happens to have the misfortune of playing for the Lions, and had to play with a new QB every other week. And then Stafford also has a really good second year running back in Kevin Smith. They could end up picking up another receiver or two or three eventually, but I don't think they're going to need one right off the bat. If he shows up and works his ass off to create some chemistry with Calvin Johnson, although all he really has to do is throw it within 20 square miles of Calvin to complete a pass, I think their offense could be pretty good.
2. St. Louis: Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
These next two picks are the obvious "you need a franchise LT" picks. Don't really need to explain them.
3. Kansas City: Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
4. Seattle: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
I thought about going a few different ways here, but ultimately I kept looking at Crabtree. I know they just picked up T.J. in free agency, but they still need another receiver. The rest of the guys on their roster are trash, and a combo of T.J. and Crabtree would be pretty sick, especially with Hasselbeck back and healthy.
5. Cleveland: Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest
I'm not really sure what Mangina would do here, but I know what I would do: build my defense up to be better than Shittsburgh and Baltimore. This whole division is defense lead, and you have to build your team around your division first, then the league second. If Shaun Rogers would stop being an idiot and just play some football for once, their d-line could be pretty good, with a few key additions here and there. But their LB corps worries me. I think Curry could be the anchor for that LB corps and move them one step closer to being a respectable defense.
6. Cincinnati: Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss
What to do...what to do. WR seemed like a good idea at first, but I don't really like Maclin at this spot. There are rumors Ocho Sucko may be traded, not that Cincy fans care. The Bengals just need to work on their foundation positions. I don't know what the hell Marvin Lewis is thinking, but he needs to stop being an idiot for once. I don't know how he went from forming that insanely awesome defense in Baltimore, to completely whiffing here. You could easily argue that they need to work on their defense first, but I would disagree. They need someone to watch Palmer's blindside so he doesn't end up having to retire too early from all the injuries he is racking up.
7. Oakland: Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC
This was the easiest pick to make so far honestly. Oakland needs a leader, a captain, and a great play maker at (arguably) the most important position in a defense. This would probably be the best draft move Al Davis ever made. But it won't happen I'm sure.
8. Jacksonville: B.J. Raji, NT, Boston College
These guys have a lot of needs, a lot. And I hope they make some horrible draft picks, but if I were the Jags, I'd easily pick Raji. Their d-line, well ok, their entire defense blows, and since the best ILB is gone, might as well go with the second most important position in a defense, a stud NT.
9. Green Bay: Clay Mathews, OLB, USC
Eh, I don't know what the hell Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy are doing here. Why on earth would you take a 13-3 team, run them into the ground a year later, and then completely change the defensive system? I don't get it, but since they are changing, they need to fill the massive holes they are going to have since none of their linebackers are really capable of playing in a 3-4.
10. San Francisco: Eben Britton, OT, Arizona
I bet some of you were thinking I was going to rig this so the Colts would take Britton, but I didn't. I went with the BPA and team needs, no matter who the guy was, or where the pick was in the first round, and this is who I picked. The 49ers are an interesting team right now. They don't have a franchise QB, and their receiving corps is shite. So, if you think taking Sanchez here is a great move, you're wrong. First off, Dirty Sanchez doesn't warrant a 10th overall pick imo. And if they did draft him, who is he going to throw to? Frank Gore? No. What they need to do is address their ACTUAL biggest need, and that's o-line. The great thing about Britton is his versatility. He can play basically anywhere on the line, but I think he'd be best used as a franchise LT. If the 49ers work on their o-line so Frank Gore could be even that much better, then they can go after a franchise QB. Because if they have a great running game right off the bat for the QB, it will take a lot of pressure off of him and he'll be able to progress a lot more smoothly.
11. Buffalo: Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas
This pick was easy too. Pass rush is the Bills biggest need. With a great pass rush, you take a lot of pressure off of your DBs. And considering the Bills main competition is the Patriots, and we've all seen that a good pass rush can destroy that team, they HAVE to go DE here.
12. Denver: Brian Cushing, OLB, USC
Well, their defense blows, in every fathomable way. This is yet another case of of a team converting defensive systems without the right personnel on board. This is another combination of BPA and need imo.
13. Washington: Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
Let me set the record straight and say that no, I didn't make this move because Dan Snyder is the owner. I made this move because this is a complete steal at pick 13. Washington's o-line is getting pretty old, and it wasn't that long ago that Andre Smith was the top rated OT in the draft. The combine incident killed is draft stock but imo, it still didn't take him out of the top 20. They also have some needs on defense, but this is just too good of a player to pass up.
14. New Orleans: Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
This was easy, they need defense, specifically a good corner who can actually play man coverage. He's the best in the draft, so I don't think it's a reach at all.
15. Houston: Darius Butler, CB, UConn
This may be a slight reach, but I don't think so. I seriously thought about taking Sanchez here because Schaub is made of paper mache, but then I remembered they signed Orlovsky from the Lions. If Schaub inevitably goes down, I'd have a lot of confidence in see Orlovsky fill in as the starter. So then, where do you go? Well, the Texans do have to play the Indianapolis Colts twice a year, and the Colts do have two great receivers and the best QB of all time, so yeah, let's get a guy who can actually cover those receivers. Brilliant!
16. San Diego: Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
Cromartie sucks, plain and simple. He's also injury prone, so it's time he hit the bricks.
17. NY Jets: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
Thomas Jones isn't going to be around much longer, especially since he is asking for another pay day. You're too old Thomas, and Moreno is better. A Moreno/Washington backfield would be pretty sick. It would also take a lot of pressure off of whoever the QB is going to be. It'd be easy to think Rex Ryan would go defense here, and that's a good possiblity, but Moreno is too good to pass up, especially with the soon to be problem known as Thomas Jones.
18. Denver: Brian Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
I don't really know why I like this move, but I just do. Marshall, Royal, Stokley, and Pettigrew? Yikes, that'd be a pretty sick offense.
19. Tampa Bay: Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State
They need a franchise QB, and I don't like Dirty Sanchez. Easy pick.
20. Detroit: James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio State
And here comes my first shocker pick. This is exactly the type of move I think someone like Schwartz would make. Laurinaitis fits the mold that every defensive coordinator looks for in a leader on his defense. He's got the physical abilities, he's got the smarts, he has the leadership, and he has the work ethic and determination to be the best. There really is no other pick here I would consider. I don't even think most Lions fans have really thought of this idea.
21. Philadelphia: Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State
They need a power back. That's all I have to say about that.
22. Minnesota: Everette Brown, DE, Florida State
I don't think I've seen anyone make this pick in any mock. Everette Brown is a pass rusher, period. If the Vikings picked him up, they would without a doubt, have the best defensive line in the entire league. They'd have two elite pass rushers, and two of the best DTs in the league. I thought about picking up a corner because they need the help there, but it would be pointless if you could make their pass rush unstoppable. I'm smart, I know.
23. New England: Connor Barwin, OLB, Cincinnati
Proto-typical Patriots player, Mr. I want to do it all. All Barwin needs is some great coaching to become a great OLB in a 3-4. Belichick is about the best there is. This guy is a Vrabel clone, just a lot younger, and faster.
24. Atlanta: Peria Jerry, UT, Ole Miss
Yeah, I'm sure most of you are scratching your head here, but I think this pick makes a lot of sense. The one area the Falcons need to work on the most is their defense, I think that's fairly obvious. They could use another pass rusher to help out Abraham, but I think going DT here would help the the pass rush just as much as another pass rusher would.
25. Miami: Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State
Yes I'm a Dolphins fan, no I didn't rig this mock so I could get Maybin at the 25th pick. I like Maybin and all, but he wasn't my first choice. The Phins need another corner, really really bad, but they also had a horrible pass rush last year outside of Joey Porter. Porter racked up 17.5 sacks, but no one else on the Dolphins roster registered more than 5. They need more than Joey Porter (who is getting pretty old now) as a pass rusher, and since they play in the same division as the Pats, this pick makes a lot of sense. It doesn't hurt that most people think Maybin is a top 15 pick, so it's also a steal as well. I think the Dolphins can find another corner in round 2 maybe.
26. Baltimore: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri
Don't really have an explanation of this one, Flacco just needs more receivers.
27. Indianapolis: William Beatty, OT, UConn
With the remaining players to choose from, Beatty was easily the BPA. He also fulfills a need, so this was easy.
28. Philadelphia: Patrick Chung, S, Oregon
Their offense is set now that they have a compliment to Westbrook, so now it's time to start repairing that defense. Their defense basically collapsed in that playoff game against the Cardinals last year. And now that Dawkins is gone, they have a huge hole to fill. So, that's why I drafted Patrick Chung, the best safety in this entire draft imo.
29. NY Giants: Duke Robinson, G, Oklahoma
The Giants have one major need and that's a stud receiver, but I don't see one here. Hakeem Nicks, Heyward-Bey, and a couple other guys are available, but they aren't the type of receiver I think the Giants are looking for, or even want. They have a few other guys who can fill this role for now. But I do think they'll need to find a replacement for Plaxico eventually. Until they do find his replacement, they need to pump some more talent into an area that is their staple, and that's the running game. I don't care how good your o-line is, there is always room for improvement. Duke Robinson, like MRW has said numerous times, is a one of a kind talent. The only reason someone would be able to draft him so late is because he is a guard, and some people think those guys don't warrant a top 10 pick. Which is fine with me, and I'm sure the Giants won't care either, especially if Robinson is available at their pick. He would make their already dominant o-line unstoppable.
30. Tennessee: Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina
I don't like Nicks, I just get a bad vibe from the guy, which is why I say there is 0% chance of Polian wasting a pick on this guy. But there is always of course, the Titans, who could use at least ONE good receiver, and I do think Nicks is a good receiver, just not good enough for the Colts.
31. Arizona: Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
Crazy pick, I know right? The Cardinals need another running back, especially if/when they get rid of Edge, but there's no way I would ever pick Donald Brown or McCoy over Percy Harvin here. Could you imagine Harvin, Boldin, Fitzgerald, AND Steve Breaston? Dear god. Their passing game would be UNSTOPPABLE! They wouldn't need a running game, not that they used it before anyways. If all else fails, they could line Harvin up next to Warner in the shotgun and let him run draws and delays like Harvin did all the time at Florida. It may seem like a crazy pick, but I think it would be a GREAT move for the Cardinals.
32. Pittsburgh: Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest
Well, the only real weakness on their team is o-line, and DB. I went DB because the only o-lineman you could take here is Mack, but they don't need a center. It's possible they could convert him to a guard, but I wouldn't. Mack would be a franchise center on some team that actually needs one, so I went DB here. It was a coin flip between a safety and a corner, someone to take over for the injury prone Clark, or someone to replace McFadden who left in free agency. I went with corner. I just like this pick better than taking someone like Utah's Sean Smith, who is a tweener.
So what? It's fun. They are missing quite a few guys that are first round talent though. Oh well, still working...
