Now that the Combine and the start of free agency have passed, it's time to unveil my second mock draft of the year. And remember, the Cowboys don't have a first round pick because Jerry Jones is an idiot.
1. Lions - Matthew Stafford, QB Georgia - If the Lions hold on to this pick I think they have to take a quarterback. Stafford has the strongest arm I've seen since David Klingler and he would be a major upgrade over anything the Lions currently have at quarterback. However, Stafford needs to work on staring down receivers or his NFL career will be a short one.
2. Rams - Eugene Monroe, OT Virginia - The Rams line was atrocious in 2008, so they will likely look to upgrade it with this pick. Monroe is the main beneficiary of Andre Smith's freefall down the draft board.
3. Chiefs - Aaron Curry, OLB Wake Forest - Curry is shooting up draft boards and he would make a great addition to a young KC defense. He is a monster off the edge and a physical marvel. This is a little too high for him in my opinion but it's not a huge reach.
4. Seahawks - Michael Crabtree, WR Texas Tech - Seattle badly needs a gamebreaker at receiver and Crabtree possesses all the physical tools to be a future star. No one goes up and gets the football like Crabtree. Just ask Texas.
5. Browns - Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB Texas - The Browns pass rush was miserable last year and Orakpo is my top rated defensive player. He will instantly give new coach Eric Mangini a dangerous edge rusher to plug into his 3-4 defense. I think Orakpo will be an instant star in the NFL.
6. Bengals - Jason Smith, OT Baylor - The Bengals have a lot of needs like always but if they want to keep Carson Palmer upright, they will invest in the offensive line. Taylor has been shooting up draft boards since the Combine so there is a chance he may not even be on the board this late.
7. Raiders - Everette Brown, DE/OLB Florida State - The Raiders need someone who can get to the quarterback and Brown certainly fills that role. The more tape I watch on Brown, the more I like him. This would be a great pick for the Raiders, which means they probably won't make it.
8. Jaguars - Michael Oher, OT Ole Miss - The Jags really need to upgrade their offensive line and Oher is a beast. I think this would be an excellent pick for Jacksonville. Andre Smith could also be a possibility here but I have Oher moving up the draft board, while Smith is plummeting.
9. Packers - Tyson Jackson, DE LSU - This is one of the easiest spots to predict. The Packers will take the best pass rusher available. Jackson is a blur off the edge and will help improve Green Bay's meager pass rush.
10. 49ers - Mark Sanchez, QB USC - In my opinion, San Fran is a quarterback away from being a pretty good team. If Sanchez is still on the board here, it will be awfully hard for the 49ers to pass on him. However, I wouldn't touch Sanchez with a 10-foot pole.
11. Bills - Aaron Maybin, DE Penn State - I think this is way too high for Maybin but I try to predict selections I think the team will make, not who I would take. Maybin is a good pass rusher but I think he still needs to get bigger and stronger. Risky pick this high.
12. Broncos - B.J. Raji, DT Boston College - With the Broncos switching to the 3-4 defense, they need an anchor in the middle. When talking to NFL people, the hardest thing to find in a 3-4 is a dominant NT. Raji is a monster on the inside and should start for the Broncos from Day 1. Denver would be lucky if Raji is still on the board at this point.
13. Redskins - Andre Smith, OT Alabama - My how the mighty have fallen. Smith was once projected to be the first pick in the draft but after showing up to the Combine fat and uninterested, he'll be lucky to get drafted this high. The Redskins need an OT and they are a team that's known to take risks, so I'll plug him in here. But fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life son.
14. Saints - Malcolm Jenkins, CB Ohio State - New year, same story for the Saints. They need help at corner and selecting Jenkins may finally give them the ballhawking playmaker they have been looking for at that position.
15. Texans - Jeremy Maclin, WR Missouri - The Texans badly need another weapon to go along with Andre Johnson in their passing game. Maclin would give Houston a deep threat to help draw double teams away from Johnson, who may be the best receiver in all of football right now.
16. Chargers - Rey Maualuga, LB USC - This would be a steal here for the Chargers. I have Maualuga rated as a Top 5 talent. He's big, fast and plays with a mean streak that Dick Butkus would be proud of. The Chargers could use some help in the middle of their 3-4 defense and Maualuga would provide that help.
17. Jets - Percy Harvin, WR Florida - Harvin is one of the most explosive players in this draft. The only question mark he has is durability issues but on the field Harvin is a game changer. I think getting him in this spot would be a steal for the Jets.
18. Bears - Darius Heyward-Bey, WR Maryland - Stop me if you've heard this before: The Bears need a receiver. I really like Heyward-Bey and he would finally give Chicago the vertical threat they've been lacking. If there was a faster player in CFB last year I didn't see him. And don't look at Heyward-Bey's college stats. He never played with a good quarterback at Maryland.
19. Bucs - Brian Cushing, LB USC - The Bucs need to get younger at the linebacker position and Cushing would be a perfect fit for their defensive scheme. Cushing has the versatility to play inside or outside and would help Tampa Bay replace the departed Derrick Brooks.
20. Lions - Peria Jerry, DT Ole Miss - Because the Cowboys like to give up first-round draft picks for useless receivers, the Lions pick for the second time in Round 1. Jerry would be a huge upgrade in the middle of Detroit's line. He's a very good player that could turn into a future Pro Bowler.
21. Eagles - Brandon Pettigrew, TE Oklahoma State - This guy is an absolute beast. His numbers weren't eye-popping in college but that's because Oklahoma State was a run-first team. Pettigrew has all the physical tools to be a star TE in the NFL. And since Philly won't acquire any receivers, perhaps they will draft a tight end.
22. Vikings - Vontae Davis, CB Illinois - Davis was one of the best players I watched in college last year. This guy was all over the field making plays. The Vikings could always use more offensive firepower but Davis would help improve a mediocre Minnesota secondary.
23. Patriots - Clay Matthews, LB USC - New England came away with one of the best linebackers in the NFL last year when they selected Jerod Mayo. By adding an outside edge rusher like Matthews, New England would be set with two young studs at linebacker. Matthews is tough, mean and versatile. This would be yet another steal for the Patriots in Round 1.
24. Falcons - Larry English, DE Northern Illinois - Just like I predicted, Jamaal Anderson is a huge bust. There is some talk that the Falcons may even cut the former No. 8 overall pick. Atlanta needs someone to rush the passer and English fits the bill. English was named the MAC's Most Valuable Player in 2007 and 2008. He compiled 57.0 tackles for a loss and 32.5 sacks during his college career.
25. Dolphins - Alphonso Thorpe, CB Wake Forest - Thorpe is one of my favorite players in this draft. He's always around the football making plays. He is really good at jumping a route and has textbook technique for a corner. The Dolphins need to get stronger in the secondary and Thorpe would be a great pick for them late in Round 1.
26. Ravens - Knowshon Moreno, RB Georgia - This would be a steal for the Ravens here and since they are one of the NFL's best drafting teams, I can see them making the pick. Willis McGahee stinks and the Ravens lack a home run hitter in the backfield. Moreno will solve that problem.
27. Colts - D.J. Moore, CB Vanderbilt - The Colts can always use help on the defensive side of the ball but I like Moore here for another reason. The Colts return game is terrible and Moore would be an instant weapon as a kick and punt returner.
28. Eagles - Chris "Beanie" Wells, RB Ohio State- I am not a big fan of Wells. I actually think he's going to be a bust in the NFL. In my opinion, Pitt's LeSean "Shady" McCoy is the best back in the draft but the Eagles are said to be intrigued with Wells, so I will go with him over McCoy here.
29. Giants - Hakeem Nicks - I love this guy. He's big and fast with huge hands that pluck the ball out of the air. This pick could depend on whether or not the Giants trade for Braylon Edwards but any team that drafts Nicks is going to get one helluva receiver.
30. Titans - Robert Ayers, DE Tennessee - The Titans love to stockpile defensive linemen and Ayers would make a nice value pick this late in the draft. Ayers is quick enough to play end but also big enough to line up inside on passing downs, something Jeff Fisher likes out of his linemen.
31. Cardinals - LeSean McCoy, RB Pitt - This would be the best pick in the draft if the Cardinals landed McCoy here. Arizona needs an every-down back they can depend on and I think McCoy is a future superstar. He's tough, shifty and racked up big yardage in college despite never playing with a good quarterback. McCoy would make an already dangerous Cardinals offense even more explosive.
32. Steelers - Max Unger, OL Oregon - The Steelers love stockpiling offensive linemen and to be honest, that's the weakest area of their team right now. Unger is a versatile guy who can play both guard and tackle. Plus, he has the nasty demeanor the Steelers like.
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