April 19th, 2009: New Mock Draft

I had to discontinue the team series in the ever changing world of mock drafts. We are closing in on draft day and with the Jay Cutler and Jason Peters trades my mock needed to be changed.

So now let's get to the mock draft.

1. Detroit Lions – Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
There is dissension inside the Lions organization about Stafford, but it seems that he's going to be the pick. But if Detroit can agree to a deal with Jason Smith or Aaron Curry first, I would not be surprised if they made the deal. Jason Smith and Matthew Stafford share the same agent, Tom Condon, which creates some conflict of interest. The big question is whether or not Stafford can be a franchise quarterback. There's so much risk that goes into taking a quarterback first overall, Detroit could set the franchise back even further with this pick. I still think the right move is to go after one of the offensive linemen, but Stafford more and more is seeming like the pick.


Either way, the Lions Front Office has been mixed on Stafford. If they can sign Jason Smith or Aaron Curry before the draft, to a cheaper deal (which it would be), then Stafford would get, they will do it.

2. St. Louis Rams – Jason Smith, LT, Baylor
Smith is probably my least favorite tackle of the Big Four, but he's got the highest stock by far right now--and that's with Michael Oher's stock jumping way back up after a great off-season.

Smith is considered to have the highest upside, and is also considered a better run blocker then Eugene Monroe, which is what makes him the pick here. Smith has only played left tackle for a few years, which should concern anyone picking him about his lack of experience. Smith converted from tight end.

3. Kansas City Chiefs – B.J. Raji, NT, Boston College
This is, to me, the pick that can change Kansas City around. Implementing a 3-4 is difficult, and doing it without the proper pieces is just plain unintelligent. We've seen teams do it in the past without all the pieces, but Kansas City lacks quite a few of them. First and foremost then they'd better get a nose tackle, and it's just there fortune that the best nose tackle prospect since Vince Wilfork is going to be available at 3rd overall.


Raji is my #1 rated player in this draft because of his incredible versatility. He can play in any system, and he'd be able to do it as a nose tackle or an undertackle. Hell, he'd be out of position, but he'd even draw some attention as a 3-4 DE.

This would move Glenn Dorsey over to defensive end, though how he'd transition in the 3-4 is still a good question. Regardless, this is the pick that Kansas City MUST make if they expect to thrive as a 3-4 team.

4. Seattle Seahawks – Mark Sanchez, QB, USC
A few weeks back when I started doing my "team per day" mock I thought that Sanchez to Seattle was a serious possibility. Jim Mora Jr. commented on the importance of upgrading the position because of Matt Hasselbeck's injuries being potentially long-term. Sanchez fits the Seattle offense to a tee, and he wouldn't have to start right away with Hasselbeck and Seneca Wallace ahead of him on the depth chart. Now it's seeming like what was once a long shot pick is now a reality. Sanchez's stock has been soaring in the past week and a half with the after shock of his Pro Day. Today, two scouts for both the Rams and the Ravens commented on the risk involved in Sanchez, who has only started sixteen games in his entire collegiate career.


The risk is there, but the reward is high for a guy like Sanchez. Giving him a lot of guaranteed money is not going to be pleasant though, because I don't think Sanchez will see much playing time for the first two years of his career.

5. Cleveland Browns – Brian Orakpo, OLB, Texas
I don't believe that the Browns are going to trade Braylon Edwards--yet. Edwards wants to be paid in excess of ten million a year (Larry Fitzgerald money) so I think the Browns will eventually trade him. I think right now Cleveland is trying to drum up interest for Michael Crabtree so someone can take him ahead of Oakland. Cleveland is doing the same thing for Brady Quinn I think. The opportunity for a deal is not out of the question for Edwards, but I just beleive after trading Kellen Winslow II that the Browns won't do it right now. Especially with so little depth at receiver.


Now as for the pick, I'm not Orakpo's biggest fan. He didn't really excel against a high level of competition, getting only 4.5 sacks in Big 12 play. Still, Orakpo is a marvelous athlete with production on the football field to back him up. And if you want to take a look at a combine number that actually matters, Orakpo's 10-yard split of 1.58 was a very solid number to put up. Only four players at his position posted better 10-yard splits.

6. Cincinnati Bengals – Eugene Monroe, LT, Virginia
Monroe's stock has taken a hit recently as there is a report surfacing that some teams are concerned about his knee. By now, it should be obvious that teams will leak false information to try and get a team to bite and have a player they want fall to them. Regardless though, the reason that Monroe falls to six is because Mark Sanchez has jumped into the Top 5, something I didn't think was going to happen.


Monroe presents a major upgrade to Levi Jones. He's an excellent pass blocker, though he is a lackluster run blocker. On pulls and blocking in space are Monroe's best assets in the running game.

7. Oakland Raiders – Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
His off-season hasn't been great, but the tape speaks for itself. While Crabtree is going to have to learn more professional routes, he's got the skillset to be a very good receiver in the NFL. Soft hands, a thick body that can take and dish punishment, and crisp route running will be a big asset to any team.


In Oakland, Crabtree won't necessarily have a standout career unless JaMarcus Russell improves his short and intermediate accuracy.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars – Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest
Curry takes a fall because of his position. The fact is that he just doesn't play a position that is all that important. He projects to weakside linebacker, and while he's enormously versatile, he'd probably play 3-4 ILB in a 3-4 defense, and that's not all that important either compared with other positions.


So Jacksonville gets an absolute steal right here. The only concern I have about Curry is his abilities in coverage. He's going to be an enforcer against the run and when asked to blitz he's got Julian Peterson like ability for a 4-3 OLB, but his poor shuttle time is a cause for concern about his fluidity and ability to change direction.

9. Green Bay Packers – Michael Oher, LT, Ole Miss
To me, Oher is an absolute steal at 9th overall. While there have been some complaints about his consistency, he's the most well-rounded linemen of the entire Big Four.


He is just as good a run blocker as a pass blocker, and the only question is whether Oher can put it all together, all the talent, for a sixteen game schedule.

10. San Francisco 49ers – Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
Whether or not Andre Smith plays left or right tackle, I can't imagine him getting past San Francisco. He's the most dominant run blocker to come out since Marcus McNeill in 2006. The big question is what position will Smith play? Smith struggled at times against speed rushers, which may disqualify him from LT. Still, if he keeps his nose clean, and some do feel that his antics at the Combine were overblown, then Smith can be a dominant offensive linemen at the next level.


With his size and skill he projects to several different positions along the line.

11. Buffalo Bills – Everette Brown, DE, Florida State
Unless they trade up I do think Buffalo is going to miss out on the Big Four offensive tackles. I could see them trading up, as they have the ammunition to do so, but I don't like projecting trades. So I'm sticking them with Everette Brown.


I'm a big fan of Brown. He had a terrific final year with Florida State racking up double digit sacks. He's a little small at 6-foot-1 inches and 256 pounds, but he's got incredible burst to make up for it and will take a lot of pressure off of Aaron Schobel.

12. Denver Broncos – Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State
The Broncos have the ammunition to trade up for Sanchez, but I think they're content just sitting on their picks. Freeman's got the elite skillset that you look for in a franchise quarterback, but lacks the elite production to back him up. One thing working for Freeman is the fact that he played with some truly awful receivers at Kansas State. One of his starters was 5-foot-7 inches, 142 pounds. For the record, I weigh more than that.


Denver could snag Tyson Jackson or Aaron Maybin here, but I think Denver wants someone who can sit and learn under Kyle Orton for a year and be ready to jump in.

13. Washington Redskins – Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State
At 6-foot-3 inches and 249 pounds size is definitely a concern for Maybin. Still, he's got very good raw talent and while I disagree with his coming out this early in his collegiate career, there are teams with needs and one of them is Washington, who very much needs to overhaul the defensive line.


Adding Albert Haynesworth will help Andre Carter get his career back on track, but adding another defensive end to play across from Carter will help equally. The quicker Maybin can succeed, the better things will get for Andre Carter and the Redskins defense.

14. New Orleans Saints – Malcolm Jenkins, CB/FS, Ohio State
From what I've heard, New Orleans will only take Beanie Wells if they think the elite defensive players are all off the board. Well, the best defensive back in a very weak year is still available.


This is the odds on favorite to be the pick, especially since Jenkins can actually play man-to-man.

15. Houston Texans – Brian Cushing, OLB, USC
Cushing's instincts are questionable, but he's a very good pass rusher in either the 4-3 or the 3-4. Cushing is a very good athlete though, and should be able to cover pretty well at the next level.


He'd be a very good addition for a Houston team that is on the cusp of a playoff birth.

16. San Diego Chargers – Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU
While the Chargers will give Beanie Wells a hard look here, Tyson Jackson has a higher stock right now and will be more important to San Diego's success in the future. The Chargers are still in "win-now" mode because they have a young quarterback in Philip Rivers, but how much longer will they be in "win-now" mode? Tomlinson's best days are behind him, but he can still provide one more good season for the Chargers at least. The team is getting a little older in the trenches and Shawne Merriman is coming off that terrible knee injury.


So the Chargers, who let Igor Olshansky walk this off-season, have found his replacement in Tyson Jackson. Jackson has been recently compared to Richard Seymour, and would be a terrific addition to San Diego's 3-4 defense who has already got one great DE in Luis Castillo. NT Jamal Williams is getting older, and finding his successor is going to be very important in the next year or two.

NOTE: Regarding Tyson Jackson, don't be surprised if the Chiefs trade back up to get Jackson and play him across from Dorsey in there 3-4. The other option, if the Chiefs find a suitor, is for Kansas City to trade down to around the 10-15 area and snag Tyson. Watch out for it on draft day.

17. New York Jets – Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers
This is what my gut has been telling me for a few weeks, and I've nailed the Jets three straight years. With all the quarterbacks gone and the best 3-4 DE gone as well, the Jets look to fill their biggest hole. Kenny Britt hasn't been mentioned here by anyone else except for Sporting News. But I agree with them.


The Jets lack a big receiver, and at 6-foot-3 inches, 218 pounds Britt provides that. Britt is just a hair behind Michael Crabtree in my eyes with his combination of size, route running, and speed. Britt, people forget, was very limited as a sophomore--he was only a deep threat, which is why I am shocked whenever someone says he doesn't have deep speed. It was Britt's great off-season work that allowed him to be a more complete receiver as a junior.

18. Denver Broncos (from Chicago Bears) – Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC
Mauluga is taylor-made for a 3-4, and while I'm not positive he's going to be all that great in coverage, he's going to do very well rushing the passer and playing the run.


The Broncos have a ton of needs to fix their 3-4 defense. They're likely to have one of the oldest defenses in the league next year, so stopping the run is going to be tough for them.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri
Not only does this fill a need but Maclin is the best player available. He put up great numbers at Missouri and is a terrific athlete, but he comes in knowing almost no pro routes because of the Missouri system.


He'll need to be ready to start at the latest by his 2nd season, because Antonio Bryant could be out of Tampa Bay if his contract situation isn't settled soon. Even so, Bryant is an inconsistent player. He's talented, but he doesn't break big-time games out enough.

20. Detroit Lions (from Dallas) – Eben Britton, LT, Arizona
After missing out on one of the Big Four, Britton is a nice consolation prize. The Lions took Gosder Cherilus last season to play right tackle, and he received mixed reviews after his first season.


Jeff Backus would have lost his job by now on any other team, but these are the Detroit Lions. Britton is a pick that must happen here.

21. Philadelphia Eagles – Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State

With the trade for Jason Peters, Philadelphia's biggest need is now a thing of the past. The Eagles are free to steal Brandon Pettigrew from Atlanta. Pettigrew is an all around talent who can catch and block with the best of them.

22. Minnesota Vikings – William Beatty, LT, Connecticut

William Beatty may be the sleeper of the first round. With Bryant McKinnie possibly on his way out of Minnesota, William Beatty will be the insurance policy. He needs only one year in an NFL weight room and he should become one of the best pass blocking tackles in the league.

23. New England Patriots – Michael Johnson, OLB, Georgia Tech

Johnson has been plagued by consistency issues throughout his career, but the former Yellow Jackets defensive end has an absolute plethora of talent. His great size, power, and ability make him a player that really shouldn't get past New England. If the Pats do the job right, Johnson will go from being a 7-8 sack player to a 12-14 sack player.

24. Atlanta Falcons – Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee
Ayers is not a player I'm particularly fond of, but he's been rocketing up the boards and I'm still having a hard time figuring out why. Ayers has bust written on his face. He failed to put up good production at Tennessee and his workout numbers were very below average at the combine. Still, Mike Mayock has pointed out that Ayers game film is excellent. Ayers plays the run well and does collapse the pocket, but finishing the job is very important in the NFL, as the sack takes away yards, downs, and momentum.


Do the Falcons want this to be the guy that replaces Jamaal Anderson? Good question. If anything, at least Ayers will collapse the pocket, even if he doesn't get after the quarterback.

25. Miami Dolphins – Chris “Beanie” Wells, RB, Ohio State

Rumor is that Ronnie Brown is on his way out of Miami for the right price. Brown has yet to regain his full pre-injury form. In the beginning of the 2007 season Brown looked like he may very well be one of the best running backs of the year, and then he tore his ACL. Wells has the ability to be one of the best backs in the league also, but nagging injuries have been an issue for him. He hits holes really hard, and Miami is likely going to be moving away from their gimmicky wildcat offense.

26. Baltimore Ravens – Darius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland

Heyward-Bey has the lightning speed that teams absolutely covet. He's got the ability to be one of Joe Flacco's best weapon going up for the deep ball. While I'm not Heyward-Bey's biggest fan, I think he could at least have a Bernard Berrian like career. Baltimore has some work to do. Flacco needs more weapons around him, and they have already really screwed up once this off-season by letting center Jason Brown walk to St. Louis.

27. Indianapolis Colts – Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss

This has probably been the safest bet of the whole draft for weeks now. Peria Jerry jumped into the first round with a good off-season and he fits the Colts scheme perfectly as an undertackle.

28. Buffalo Bills (from Carolina through Philadelphia) – Evander “Ziggy” Hood, DT, Missouri

There's no offensive tackle worth this selection to replace Jason Peters, but sticking Ziggy Hood next to Marcus Stroud will be a good thing. Unlike John McCargo, Hood actually can back his draft selection up with strong game film and off-season workouts.

29. New York Giants – Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina

The Giants may land Braylon Edwards on draft day, but if not, the talented but inconsistent Hakeem Nicks will be the compilation prize.

30. Tennessee Titans – Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois

Despite his excellent athleticism Vontae Davis takes a surprising fall in the first round all the way to Tennessee who needs a replacement for Nick Harper whose age is going to become a concern. The Titans still need to find a replacement for Albert Haynesworth though. Good luck with that.

31. Arizona Cardinals – Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia

The Cardinals have emphasized all off-season the need to get faster at running back. Enter Knowshon Moreno.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers – Louis Delmas, FS, Western Michigan

Alex Mack or George Robinson are definite possibilities here with the porous pass blocking in Pittsburgh, but Louis Delmas falling to Pittsburgh would be too hard to pass up. Not only does he fill a need, but many teams would make a case that he's the best player available.

You Are On the Clock: Oakland

This is everybody's favorite team to rag on. I can understand why of course. They have the most fickle (and senile) owner in sports. Al Davis fired Lane Kiffin after 20 games as head coach, and instead of letting it go, he actually held a press conference and made a case against him. It was as if Mr. Davis needed to explain to everyone why he fired Kiffin. But would it really be so different then any other firings by Davis? Kiffin didn't produce right away, and Davis feels that should be possible.

So now the Raiders have basically reversed everything about their previous off-season. Javon Walker restructured his deal. Gibril Wilson and DeAngelo Hall are gone. Kwame Harris is long gone. Justin Fargas took a pay cut. Tommie Kelly took a pay cut. The Raiders are trying to reverse everything that went wrong a year ago.

Still, the Raiders haven't had a terrible off-season. Adding Erik Pears, Khalif Barnes and Samson Satele will be a huge improvement for the Raiders who run zone blocking almost exclusively on the offensive line. If one thing is clear, Al Davis loves the extreme, because his secondary is almost totally man-to-man (which is why DeAngelo Hall failed miserably and Michael Huff may get traded).

Now the big news early in the off-season was the 3-year 45 million dollar deal that cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha signed pretty much broke the market wide open. At that point, it became evident that the Raiders had screwed over the Titans, because there was no way that Albert Haynesworth would accept a deal for only twelve million dollars per season when there was bigger money to be had.

And Washington ate it up and gave Haynesworth what he wanted, and his agent is the guy who gets to say, "I negotiated the 100 million dollar deal."

Regardless, the Raiders are a team constantly in flux because Al Davis doesn't accept anything less than the best, but doesn't realize that he himself is a detriment to his team.

With that being said, Oakland isn't terribly far off if JaMarcus Russell pans out, but I have many many doubts about that.

Oakland Raiders Team Needs:
OT
NT
WR
DE
OLB
OG
FS

For Oakland this isn't going to be an easy selection. There are two very talented players that Oakland is going to be looking at hard, among several others.

1. B.J. Raji, NT, Boston College
This one is going to be hard for Tom Cable to pass up, but if Al Davis passed on Dorsey a year ago, I'm sure he won't be too bothered passing on Raji. While Raji is a superior nose tackle to Dorsey, the Raiders are in the process of building around JaMarcus Russell. They are giving him a terrific three-headed attack to run the ball and now they just need some receiving threats. Still, the Raiders would be doing the right thing in drafting Raji though. Their run defense has struggled badly the last few seasons, and Raji would slide in with Tommy Kelly and certainly help out the struggling Kelly. Raji would have more impact on the Raiders then any other player as he'd open up some major holes for the linebackers and force double teams away from Kelly and Burgess. The Raiders don't lack talent, just good coaching and stability.

2. Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
He's fallen this far after a disappointing off-season that included injury concerns and a poor combine weigh-in. Crabtree also doesn't necessarily fit what's best for Oakland's offense because he lacks the elite deep speed and height to go up for one of Russell's deep balls. On the other hand, Crabtree offers a serious upgrade to Javon Walker and Chaz Schilens. Russell has a lot to improve upon, and adding Crabtree could make him a more complete quarterback.

3. Michael Oher, LT, Ole Miss

While he's clearly not a top five pick like he was during the season, Oher is still a good bet to go in the first half of round one. He could easily go as high as the Top 10, and while Oher is a wonderful athlete he really isn't the best fit for a zone blocking system. Add in the questions about his football IQ and the fact that the Raiders already have signed Khalif Barnes and expressed major confidence in Mario Henderson (a mistake I think) it seems unlikely that the Raiders take Oher. Still, it's a definite draft day possibility.

4. Everette Brown, DE, Florida State

This would be a major upset pick if it happened, as Brown may not crack the Top 10 on draft day (though it is a legitimate possibility). Brown's combination of size and speed is one of the things that would have Al Davis running this pick up to the podium. Davis loves an athletic football player, and Brown's burst off the edge is unparalleled in this year's draft class. If Davis does fall in love, it could very well be Everette.

I don't think Oakland would be wrong to take any of these four players, but there is definitely a worst choice in my opinion. And he's the player I think Oakland will take. He's not the best fit, but if he pans out, he'll make the entire offense better.

With the 7th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft the Oakland Raiders select Michael Crabtree, wide receiver, Texas Tech.

You Are On the Clock: Cincinnati

There are so many teams just waiting to break out of their perpetual state of losing, and Cincinnati is no different. When healthy, they have one of the best quarterbacks in the league and a potent passing game.

But Cincinnati doesn't offer much else. Defensively, they've drafted okay in the secondary, but have been burned by a mediocre, if not bad front seven for most of Marvin Lewis' tenure is the team's head coach. Where Cincinnati in 2009 could differ from teams of the past, is that their interior line, for the first time in a very, very long time may not be a source of weakness, but a source of strength. The pass rush still needs a major overhaul, and the Bengals have to be seriously concerned about a chronic foot injury to former 1st round pick Jonathan Joseph.

The offensive line seems to have broken down, and it isn't helped by the departure of Stacey Andrews to Philadelphia. Andrews may have struggled this season (mostly due to nagging injuries and a position change), but Andrews has proven to be one of the better run blocking guards in the league when he's healthy.

At receiver, the Bengals are banking 28 million dollars on the abilities of Laveranues Coles matching T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Coles wanted that big pay day, and it came to my surprise that he got it. He's a major injury concern, and while he plays hurt, it limits his effectiveness substantially. Gone are the days where Coles could run a 4.17 40 yard dash. He's a possession receiver now, and the Bengals should think it a win if Coles plays in 14 games and breaks 700 receiving yards.

Cincinnati Bengals Team Needs:
OT
CB
DE
MLB
OLB
RB
FB
OG

Levi Jones has struggled immensely as the teams blindside protector. He plateaued it seems for one season and has gone back to his old ways. The Bengals struggled to run the ball for almost the entire season last year, so an offensive lineman seems like the way to go, but there are other possibilities.

1. Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
Obviously, the Bengals have filled their need at receiver. Crabtree would simply be a BPA pick at this point. Nobody seems to know what's going on in Chad Ocho Cinco's mind, and he's a total liability towards any idea of team stability. Coles isn't likely to last very much longer in his career, and Chris Henry has had a plethora of legal difficulties. The Bengals could easily select Crabtree, who probably wouldn't contribute much this year, and groom him as their future.

2. B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College

Cincinnati is going to have a hard time passing Raji up. While they signed Domata Peko to a long-term extension last June, their other defensive tackle Pat Sims, has a lot of potential, but may not necessarily wind up being as good as Raji. The rush defense was far better towards the end of the season during Cincinnati's three game winning streak, and Peko-Sims were a big part of that. While Sims could easily start and contribute in run support, the Bengals are still searching for pass rushing talent. Sims could become a run-support guy, while Raji would be a do-everything guy. The Bengals defensive line would certainly by deep and scary when it came to stopping the run if they took Raji, which is another situation where value comes into play.

3. Andre Smith, OT, Alabama

While Smith would face some seriously scary pass rushers in the AFC North, he'd fair no worse then Levi Jones. And more importantly, he's a better run blocker then anyone you'll find in this draft class. Smith could play RT or guard with Andrew Whitworth moving over to LT. Chances are that Smith would play LT and Whitworth would stay at LG. Levi Jones' future is very much in question.

4. Chris "Beanie" Wells, RB, Ohio State
Cedric Benson struggled, as did the Bengals running game as a whole, but he finished with 282 yards and one touchdown in his final two games to earn a 2-year 7 million dollar deal to return to Cincinnati. I'm expecting Cincinnati to add competition at running back, but not with a first round pick, and certainly not in the Top 10. Still, that doesn't make this any less of a realistic possibility.

5. Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
If Jonathan Joseph returns to full health, and the Bengals were to draft Jenkins, they'd stick him at free safety and have a very young, talented secondary. But Jonathan Joseph, who finally turned the corner (literally) last year has a chronic foot problem that may completely destabilize his long-term future in Cincinnati. Leon Hall did a terrific job this year at guarding the deep ball, improving exponentially in his last twenty four games with the Bengals. So far, the 2007 CB class is looking really good, and Cincinnati probably isn't going to feel the need to draft a guy who may wind up being no more then a #2 corner or free safety at 6th overall.

6. Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State

While I prefer Everette Brown, teams are in love with Maybin's potential. He's got a very high ceiling, but he's incredibly raw--coming out as a redshirt sophomore amid draft buzz created by ESPN's Todd McShay. Maybin put together a very good season for Penn State, leading the Big Ten in sacks with 12. After Maybin weigned in at 6'4'', 250, teams became enamored with him as a blind side pass rusher. He may very well go in the Top 10, and while I don't anticipate it happening, I also won't be stunned if it does.


Cincinnati will look at these six players, but Crabtree, Raji, and Smith make the most sense among the potential draftees. Marvin Lewis has expressed his faith in Pat Sims as the UT for Cincinnati, and the Bengals are going to walk a tight rope to keep Chad Johnson happy. With the woes of the offensive line last year, it becomes apparent how the Bengals need to pick.

With the 6th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select offensive tackle Andre Smith from Alabama.

You Are On the Clock: Cleveland

Cleveland has a fanbase that deserves a lot better then they've gotten. The Dawg Pound faithful have been treated to just two winning seasons in the ten years since Cleveland rejoined the NFL. Only once have they made the playoffs in that span.

But the Browns aren't terribly far off. Despite their major issues last season, the Browns have a lot of talent, but very little chemistry and zero discipline. Low and behold, the Browns hire former Jets head coach Eric Mangini who is a master of discipline. For one, at least there won't be Browns players accused of giving up on the season, because Mangini won't stand for it. It's his way or the highway, and he'll get that through your head after the first day of training camp.


Once again, the Browns aren't terribly far off. It may just be posturing to increase Anderson's trade value, but Mangini is a believer in open competition, and the Browns will have an open battle at quarterback to start the season. Quinn will likely be the starter, and there will likely be a draft day trade for Derek Anderson (low value), but if both are on the roster when training camp opens, the Browns will have an open competition for sure. My money is still on Quinn, who is a technician on the field, as opposed to Anderson who is a gunslinger with a big arm and below average short-to-moderate accuracy.

Mangini has brought over a slew of ex-Jets for depth purposes. David Bowens and C.J. Mosely will both be back-ups, but Eric Barton will likely start next to D'Qwell Jackson. The Browns are still searching for a valid pass rusher across from Kamerion Wimbley, who has struggled immensely since a great rookie year.

What the Browns need the most to get back to their old school winning ways is for Shaun Rogers to adapt to a 2-gap system (which Mangini should be able to accomplish), and for Corey Williams to drop about 10 pounds and do the same. These two have a ton of talent, but don't exactly fit the 2-gap 3-4 system that Romeo Crennel, and now Eric Mangini, are running. The Browns invested big money in these two, so they'd better adjust, because Cleveland needs to be able to stop the run this year.

In the secondary, the Browns have a lot of potential. Brandon McDonald and Eric Wright have shown flashes of brilliance, but neither have been able to put it all together. Brodney Pool has shown similar flashes, but has been dealing with injury problems. The Browns are expected to upgrade at safety during the draft.

Cleveland Browns Team Needs:
OLB (3-4)
RT
WR2
ILB (3-4)
SS
DE (3-4)
RB
RG
CB
C

Expect Mangini to try and get out of the fifth overall pick, but it's unlikely that he's going to be very successful unless the Seahawks pass on Matthew Stafford and he falls to Cleveland. In that case, the Browns might be able to get a QB starved team to trade up for Stafford.

But the Browns have some really good options to look at. They still have a lot of work to do, but I can imagine Mangini using similar smoke and mirrors from the 2006 Jets squad to hide the Browns potential flaws next season.

1. Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
Crabtree is a great compliment for Braylon Edwards, who is likely going to remain in Cleveland now that Kellen Winslow II is gone. Edwards was the right choice to stay in Cleveland as he has the longer shelf life, even though he has not endeared himself to the Cleveland fans, and may find himself out of Cleveland after this season. While Edwards is a terrific deep threat, Crabtree will get the tough yards and over the middle routes that Brady Quinn excels at. Crabtree would be lethal with Quinn as his quarterback, because Quinn can best utilize Crabtree's superb route running and soft hands. The Browns will look hard at Crabtree on draft day.

2. Brian Orakpo, OLB, Texas

Orakpo was a defensive end in college, finishing this season with 10.5 sacks, but he's going to play rush outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense, and there's a very high probability that he winds up in Cleveland. He's considered the best pass rusher in the draft, and he's got quite a bit more size, but similar athleticism to Kamerion Wimbley. Adding a pass rusher will benefit Wimbley and Cleveland as a whole. They've been missing this for a very long time. One thing to note is that it's a very deep draft class for 3-4 outside linebackers.

3. B.J. Raji, NT/DE, Boston College

There is no one player who could have a bigger impact in Cleveland then B.J. Raji. He's built like Casey Hampton, but plays like Kris Jenkins. There are two main issues with Raji. He's built to play NT in a 3-4 or a 4-3, or UT in a 4-3. However, he really doesn't have the correct build to play defensive end. He's shorter than a standard 3-4 DE, and his arms are far shorter then the prototypical 3-4 DE. If, however, the Browns feel that Shaun Rogers can kick outside to play 3-4 DE (he'd have to lose a little weight though), then the Browns could kick Raji inside and have their true 2-gapper at nose tackle. Rogers wouldn't have to be as disciplined at DE, though it would still require a lot of gap control. Raji would be a big risk for Cleveland to take, but if they feel that Rogers can play DE, this pick may be worth it, because Raji is going to be an elite NT (or 4-3 UT even) in the NFL.

4. Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
The Browns will entertain this notion briefly, before ultimately shooting it down. Smith would be a Hall of Fame right tackle in the NFL, but you don't take a player to play right tackle at 5th overall.

5. Chris "Beanie" Wells, RB, Ohio State

The Browns have a not-so-secret love affair with local college Ohio State, and Wells would be the eventual replacement for Jamal Lewis at some point during this season. The Browns still would need a scat back if they feel Jerome Harrison can't do the job. Wells would fit right in with Mangini's running philosophies.

6. Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State

The Browns will definitely entertain this one. Jenkins is an Ohio State graduate and a very physical corner who compares favorably to Nate Clements. Many think that his timed speed will limit him to free safety in the NFL, but there's no reason he can't play just as well as Darrelle Revis did for the Jets. This isn't a big enough need for Cleveland for them to take Jenkins this early, nor is he the best player available.

Two more names I want to throw out, but won't write about are Tyson Jackson (DE, LSU) and Evander "Ziggy" Hood (DE, Missouri). Both will play defensive end in a 3-4, and neither player is worth the 5th overall pick. I won't be surprised if Cleveland trades back to take either of these two players, or trades up to acquire one of them.

Be that as it may. It's decision time in Cleveland. Michael Crabtree puts way too much money in one position, B.J. Raji is too much of a risk for us, we won't draft a RT 5th overall, and CB isn't a huge need.

So it comes down to Brian Orakpo vs. Beanie Wells? In this case, the answer is obvious. The 3-4 defense is very specialized, and running backs are usually a dime a dozen. Beanie is talented, but Orakpo fills an enormous need and can excel from the rush linebacker position.

With the 5th overall selection in the 2009 NFL Draft the Cleveland Browns select Brian Orakpo, outside linebacker from the University of Texas.

You Are On the Clock: Seattle

Six wide receivers, five offensive linemen, two quarterbacks, and a starting running back to boot all got hurt this year for the Seattle Seahawks, who had dominated the mediocre NFC West for a very long time. But after a 4-12 crash down to Earth and the retirement of head coach Mike Holmgren, it's time for the Seattle Seahawks to reload.

The Seahawks still have confidence in Hasselbeck's ability, but they have not hidden their concerns about his health, and they don't believe Seneca Wallace is a viable long-term solution. They added T.J. Houshmandzadeh this off-season to a huge contract, which I think will blow up in their face, but it's unlikely that Seattle tries to upgrade the receiver position anymore, as they have their split end, flanker, and slot receiver all set.

The Seahawks also have to be concerned about their offensive line and running game. Walter Jones is coming off of a mediocre season (yet somehow made the Pro Bowl) and had microfracture surgery on his knee. The Seahawks may need to start thinking about getting their future blindside protector on the roster, unless they believe that Sean Locklear is their man. The Seahawks think highly of Locklear and center Chris Spencer, but both suffered season ending injuries, and Spencer is entering a contract year. In fact, Locklear, who got an extension last off-season, may be their only guarantee for the future on the offensive line.

On the defensive side of the ball, Seattle is a lot better off. They could have a lethal defense, and probably would have last year, but sometimes an offense can be so detrimental that it malaffects the defense. The most obvious example is an offense that can't stay on the field and causes their defense to have to keep coming out every couple of minutes. By the end of the year, it can add up to a defense having played an extra game or two.

Still, Seattle could have one of the deepest defensive lines in the NFL if they stay healthy next season. With young standout Brandon Mebane and Colin Cole will clog the middle effeciently, with potential breakout player Red Bryant backing them up. On the outside the Hawks will have Cory Redding returning to LDE, where he played his best football in Detroit. Redding is a terrific run stopping DE, and should excel if he stays healthy. Darryl Tapp will become a situational pass rusher, and Lawrence Jackson could take over at RDE if Patrick Kerney's second reconstructive shoulder surgery is career threatening. A return to full health for Kerney could be a game-breaker for Seattle.

LeRoy Hill was franchise tagged, and while his long-term future with Seattle is in question, he could have a huge year in Mora's defensive scheme playing a similar role to new Giants OLB Michael Boley.

The secondary needs a major overhaul. The team is expected to move to a Cover 2/Tampa 2 type of zone in the secondary, and while this will be fine for Marcus Trufant, it's going to create a hole at #2 corner. Josh Wilson will probably move to the slot, and Kelly Jennings (the 2006 1st round pick) may need to find a new home entirely. The Seahawks committed a lot of money to Deon Grant two off-seasons ago, and to Marcus Trufant last season. They're going to need to probably upgrade at free safety and #2 corner after having one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL last season (and worst pass rushes).

Seattle Seahawks Team Needs:
FS
QB
OT
OG
OLB
P

So now for Seattle, what's next?

1. Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia

The Seahawks are going to give Stafford a seriously hard look. He's considered the elite prospect at quarterback this year, and Stafford's got an absolute cannon for an arm. Coach Jim Mora Jr. is on the record that he believes the position needs to be upgraded this off-season because of potential lingering injuries to Matt Hasselbeck. Stafford would have no problem throwing a fastball through the rain and wind of Seattle, but he isn't really the right fit for the Seahawks. They call for a lot of shorter, accurate passes and Stafford's arm would be put to waste. Considering that there's been some concern about Stafford's consistency and short and moderate passing accuracy their is major cause for concern here. Stafford could fall even further.

2. Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech

Despite having over 90 million dollars tied up in their top three receivers, the Seahawks are going to give Crabtree a seriously hard look. Nate Burleson is expected to play split end next season according to SI's Bucky Brooks, and if he's right, then the Seahawks may need an upgrade. Burleson is coming off a torn ACL, and has only been running for a month. If the Seahawks feel that Burleson isn't going to be the same receiver (and he hasn't been all that great since one standout year in Minnesota), then it may be time to say goodbye to Burleson, who restructured his contract to stay in Seattle. While it's a lot of money to tie into the receiver position, Crabtree could be a truly special player with the Hawks, as he fits exactly what there system calls for--short, crisp route running and getting YAC.

3. Mark Sanchez, QB, USC

This could be a seriously scary match for the Seattle Seahawks, and they're going to give Sanchez the hardest look of any team picking so far. His best attributes are his pinpoint accuracy and poise in the pocket. His natural leadership is also highly valued (not as highly as Stafford's). His arm strength isn't elite, but neither is Matt Hasselbeck's, so he shouldn't have a problem in any bad weather. Plus, Sanchez needs a few years on the bench, and Hasselbeck/Wallace should be able to hold down the fort, because Sanchez really shouldn't start in the NFL until his 2nd or 3rd year.

4. Andre Smith, OT, Alabama

This pick would give the Seahawks a ton of versatility at the tackle position because Walter Jones may be moving to RT after his current injury. Smith could be drafted, stuck at either guard position, and groomed as a future tackle when Jones finally does decide to hang it up. The other option, of course, is Jones retiring and Smith starting immediately at tackle, but I don't see that happening. Any team that adds Smith will have the capability to be a dominant run blocking squad.

5. Chris "Beanie" Wells, RB, Ohio State

I will say this for the record that I've always been a big fan of Chris Wells, and I'm glad that his stock has jumped back up after taking a major hit this season. At one point considered a serious Heisman contender, an injury derailed Wells' season. He still finished with respectable numbers: 207 carries for 1197 yards and eight touchdowns, but his stock took a huge hit. Wells looked really good against Texas during the Fiesta Bowl. He was hitting the open holes really hard, and looked fully recovered from his injury. He ran a sub 4.4 which got him back into the mix as a top ten pick. While I don't think Wells is going to be an Adrian Peterson, I think he's going to have a very good career in the NFL as long as he can stay healthy. The Seahawks Julius Jones tailed off quite a bit, and T.J. Duckett is not the answer. Maurice Morris was hurt most of last season, so Seattle could be seriously enticed by a running back.


With that being said I think the true debate here is Matthew Stafford vs. Mark Sanchez. Talent vs. System. Stafford has fallen into Seattle's laps unexpectedly, and they've got a chance to acquire a game breaker at quarterback. On the other hand, Mark Sanchez fits their system and their need perfectly. He doesn't have to start right away, and can eventually replace Hasselbeck without the team missing much of a beat.

Sanchez has a ton of talent, and he fits the system better. But Stafford's overall talent level is better, and he's not such a misfit in Seattle that he'd bust. There are things he needs to work on, and no player is a finished product. With Hasselbeck and Wallace ahead of him, he should be ready to lead Seattle at some point during his first season or early in his second season.

With the fourth overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford.