Update Mock Draft #3….With most of free agency over, teams have addressed some needs or heighten those needs even more. Also their has been work outs and injuries that have either helped or hurt the players stock.
1.Miami Dolphins – Chris Long- DE- Virgina Other possibilities are Matt Ryan and Jake Long. I think Chris Long is a franchise player who will be a staple of that Miami defense for a while. Perfect edge rusher for the 3-4 scheme.
2. St. Louis Rams- Glenn Dorsey DT- LSU Chris Long would have been the ideal pick; Dorsey adds an inside threat to a medicore defense
3. Atlanta Falcons- Matty “ICE” Ryan QB Boston College With the void that Mike Vick left the Falcons desperately need a QB and Joey Harrington, Chris Redman and/or Byron Leftwich are not going to cut it. While I wish that Matt Ryan (since I am a BC fan) does not end up here, he will probably be the pick. WIth the signing of Micheal Turner that rules out McFadden at this spot; Ryan will be the future in Atlanta.
4. Oakland Raiders – Darren McFadden RB Arkansas The Raiders have many needs and even though Justin Fargas came on big at the end of the year (and now has resigned with Oakland) McFadden is the pick here. Paring McFadden with Russell could spell great things in the future. I love McFadden and think he ll be next years Adrian Peterson.
5. KC Chiefs- Chris Long OT_ Michigan With Willie Roaf and Will Shields retiring there is a glaring hole at OT; They can hope and wish that Jake Long lasts til this pick if he doesnt Ryan Clady is the pick
6. NY Jets- Veron Gholston- OLB/DE Ohio State The Jets have been one of the busiest teams in the NFL with the addition Clavin Pace, Alan Faneca, Damien Woody. Gholston is impressing scouts and is roaring up the draft borad. The Patriots are also eyeing Gholston, so the Jets do two good things here block him from the Pats and fill a need.
7. THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS- Aqib Talib CB Kansas
Patriots needs : CB and LB. I look for the Patriots to trade down here but if no one takes the bait Talib or McKlevin will fill a hole at CB. Talib is a playmaker who is physical and loves to jump routes ala Assante. Although at the NFL Combine numerous scouts said his technique was flawed. The NFL Network anyalists were all over Talib’s footwork.Watching more and more film and reading more about the corners in this draft I am not too impressed. I would rate them:
1. Aqib Talib a slight first, -
2. Leodis McKelvin- Troy- Playmaker, Great tackler, excellent returner,
-3. DRC (Tennesee St)- small school player roaring up draft boards, tall, agile, fast
4. Mike Jenkins (S Fla)
I believe that they are all in the same catergory and could all be had in the first round so if we trade down we would be able to swoop one of them up later on in the draft while gaining more draft picks. *I will have more on these four CBs later on in the weekI also see them looking at Kieth Rivers OLB at USC with Colvin leaving. My hope is trade down, get some more picks. TRADE DOWN!
8. Baltimore Ravens – Brain Brohm- QB – LousivilleBoller sucks, McNair is over the hill. The Ravens need a QB and Brohm it is.
9. Bengals - Sedrick Ellis- DT- USCBengals need help on defense and fast. Ellis is quickly moving up everyones draft board. Defense is the pick here. Kieth Rivers is also an option.
10. Saints – Keith Rivers OLB USCThe Saints did some work in FA too adding CB Randall Gay, Dan Morgan and Johnathan Vilma which all help their defense. Rivers will add an outside rusher to an improved defense.
11. Bills- Malcom Kelley- WR- OklahomaBills could use a big WR to go along Lee Evans. Kelley is the first WR off the board because of that height.
12. Broncos- Ryan Clady- OT- Boise -Broncos have a big need at the Oline and have not addressed it in FAgency.
13. Panthers – Derek Harvey DE- FloridaPanthers could have lost both of there tackles to Free agency but the signed them back so OT is no longer the pick. DE Harvey will fill Mike Rukers spot
14. Bears- Joe Flacco- QB – DelewareYes, Joe Flacco from Deleware. Bears just signed both Kyle Orton and Rex Grossman to one year deals and are set up for failure. Look for them to be the bridge to a new QB. While it might be a reach at 14 Flacco has been impressing scouts.
15. Lions- Rashard Mendenhall- RB Illinois Kevin Jones and TJ Duckett are gone, leaving RB very slim. Now if Johnathan stewart had not need surgery which will keep him out 4-6 mths he would have been the pick but the Lions go with the Illnois RB.
16. Cardnals- Leodis McKlevin –CB TroyCardinals are extremely thin at CB and McKlevin is the best on the board.
17. Minnesota Viks- Phillip Merling – DE ClemsonViks filled a need with Berrian now they go to the Defensive side of the ball with Merling who gives them a legitmite rusher.
18. Texans- Chris Williams OT- VandyChris Brown sort of fills the RB need; OT is the pick.
19. Eagles- Deshawn Jackson WR- CaliforniaA gamebreaker in Jackson is just what McNabb and the Eagles need.
20. Buccaneers- Mario Manningham- WR MichiganTo Play along side aging Galloway
21. Redskins Clais Campell DE MiamiSkins need a compliment to Andre Carter.
22. Cowboys- Felix Jones RB ArkansasWith Julius Jones gone Marion Barber needs a running mate. While Jones is not the Arkansas RB that Jerry Jones covets he will do.
23. Steelers- Brendan Albert- GBadly need help on the interior OL because of the lost of Faneca.
24. Titans- Limas Sweed- WR TexasGives Young someone to throw to.
25. Seattle- Fred Davis- TE USCFill a big need at TE with Pollard leaving and Davis gives them another threat on offense.
26. Jags. – Kentwan Balmer- DT NCSTAnother addition to a solid defense
27. Chargers- Kenny Phillips- S – MiamiSafety a need to be filled
28. Cowboys- DOMINIQUE RODGERS-CROMARTIE CB Could bloom into a star with the Stars.
29. Niners- Dan Connor LB Penn StateAre kicking themselves they traded away a Top 10 pick. Issac Bruce and Bryant Jonhson fills the WR need for now. So they go with Dan Connor who can play Inside or Outside.
30. Packers- Antoine Cason- CB Arizona Gives them depth at Corner behind Harris, woodson and Blackmon.
31. Giants- Quentin Groves- DE/OLB AuburnWith the loss of Wilson and Mitchell that means this pick will either be Safety or LB. Groves played DE in college but projects as a OLB. As the rounds go on look for the Giants to pick up my friend Chris Burnz of out Mariner Grille University, 6’3 with 4.3 speed (of course this is a joke so don’t go googling Chris Burnz, Mariner Grille Univesity)
