The Answer
04-05-2007, 03:41 PM
http://www.realfootball365.com/nfl/articles/2007/04/nfl-another-mockdraft050407.html
1. OAKLAND RAIDERS: JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU. Does Russell really love football with his whole heart and his whole soul? Who cares? Brady Quinn will make someone a nice NFL quarterback, but Russell is a freak of nature -- Vince Young with a stronger arm, Daunte Culpepper before his knees went south.
2. DETROIT LIONS: Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame. I can hear you whispering out there in Lionland -- "Joe Thomas. Pick Joe Thomas." But while it's true that a quarterback, no matter how highly rated, can't do much without blocking, Thomas would be just one upgrade among five on the O-line. On the other hand, can anyone see Jon Kitna leading Detroit to the playoffs? I didn't think so.
3. CLEVELAND BROWNS: Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma. Jamal Lewis is not the answer to Cleveland's offensive problems, but Peterson could be -- if not this season, then in the not-so-distant future. Had it not been for a bone-headed dive into the end zone against Iowa State that broke his collarbone, Peterson would have recalibrated the Sooner career record books in three seasons. He's powerful and fast -- what's not to like?
4. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech. If Brady Quinn is still available here, the Bucs will face a quandary -- what good is a top wide receiver without a top quarterback, and what good is a top quarterback without good wide receivers? Nevertheless, the odds are that the multi-talented Mr. Johnson will be too tempting to pass up. Wide receivers with his size, speed, hands and confidence don't come along every year -- or even every decade.
5. ARIZONA CARDINALS: Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin. This is a matter of "best available" at this spot in the draft. The Cardinals also need help in a number of other areas, but Thomas was more dominant at his position in college than the top defensive backs or linebackers, and something has to be done to squeeze out more running room for Edgerrin James. Thomas did suffer a rather severe knee injury two years ago, but it didn't seem to affect him last season.
6. WASHINGTON REDSKINS: Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson. The Redskins ranked 31st in total defense last year, and an anemic pass rush was part of the reason. Jamaal Anderson of Arkansas is also a possibility here, but Adams -- a senior -- is more polished than the Razorback junior.
7. MINNESOTA VIKINGS: Ted Ginn Jr., WR-KR, Ohio State. The only question mark with Ohio State's rocket man is his relatively small size (175 pounds). Otherwise, he would fill two needs for the Vikings, who lack a big-play wide receiver and lost 2006 kickoff return man Bethel Johnson to free agency.
8. ATLANTA FALCONS: LaRon Landry, S, LSU. Atlanta moved up two spots thanks to the Matt Schaub deal with Houston, and team officials reportedly have their sights set on the top DB in the draft, a player who could be be plugged right into the first-team secondary as a Falcon. Landry, whose brother started as a rookie for the Ravens last season, is smart, a hard hitter and wicked fast (one stopwatch had him at 4.29 at the Combine).
9. MIAMI DOLPHINS: Levi Brown, OT, Penn State. Miami could use a quarterback, for sure, but Russell and Quinn should be long gone by the time the Dolphins pick. Instead, they'll take hulking LT Brown of Penn State to help protect whatever live body winds up under center.
10. HOUSTON TEXANS: Justin Blalock, G, Texas. As recently departed quarterback David Carr can tell you, a weak offensive line has been killing Houston -- and nearly killing Carr -- ever since the franchise was created. Blalock is big, mean, a crushing run blocker, adequate on pass defense and able to play either guard or tackle. And already a Texan, to boot.
11. SAN FRANCISCO 49ers: Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska. Super-sized (6-foot-6, 296 pounds) and smart, Carriker is the ideal bookend for the 3-4 defense the 49ers have planned. He has keen football instincts that translate in attacking either the run or the pass, and he proved his durability as a Cornhusker.
12. BUFFALO BILLS: Marshawn Lynch, RB, California. Of course, if Buffalo succeeds in making a deal for San Diego's Michael Turner, the pick here could be LB Patrick Willis of Ole Miss. But with Willis McGahee gone, the Bills could find themselves entering the 2007 season with Anthony Thomas -- who averaged 3.5 yards a carry backing up McGahee last season -- as their ground game. At 5-10, 220 pounds and with 4.45 speed, Lynch offers a burst that Thomas can't deliver.
13. ST. LOUIS RAMS: Patrick Willis, LB, Mississippi. Willis wouldn't play in the middle in St. Louis -- Will Witherspoon has that position locked down -- but he could be an asset to an otherwise mediocre linebacking corps. By all accounts, Willis has a strong work ethic, possesses the speed (4.4) to be a threat on blitzes and plays the run well.........
~The Answer
1. OAKLAND RAIDERS: JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU. Does Russell really love football with his whole heart and his whole soul? Who cares? Brady Quinn will make someone a nice NFL quarterback, but Russell is a freak of nature -- Vince Young with a stronger arm, Daunte Culpepper before his knees went south.
2. DETROIT LIONS: Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame. I can hear you whispering out there in Lionland -- "Joe Thomas. Pick Joe Thomas." But while it's true that a quarterback, no matter how highly rated, can't do much without blocking, Thomas would be just one upgrade among five on the O-line. On the other hand, can anyone see Jon Kitna leading Detroit to the playoffs? I didn't think so.
3. CLEVELAND BROWNS: Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma. Jamal Lewis is not the answer to Cleveland's offensive problems, but Peterson could be -- if not this season, then in the not-so-distant future. Had it not been for a bone-headed dive into the end zone against Iowa State that broke his collarbone, Peterson would have recalibrated the Sooner career record books in three seasons. He's powerful and fast -- what's not to like?
4. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech. If Brady Quinn is still available here, the Bucs will face a quandary -- what good is a top wide receiver without a top quarterback, and what good is a top quarterback without good wide receivers? Nevertheless, the odds are that the multi-talented Mr. Johnson will be too tempting to pass up. Wide receivers with his size, speed, hands and confidence don't come along every year -- or even every decade.
5. ARIZONA CARDINALS: Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin. This is a matter of "best available" at this spot in the draft. The Cardinals also need help in a number of other areas, but Thomas was more dominant at his position in college than the top defensive backs or linebackers, and something has to be done to squeeze out more running room for Edgerrin James. Thomas did suffer a rather severe knee injury two years ago, but it didn't seem to affect him last season.
6. WASHINGTON REDSKINS: Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson. The Redskins ranked 31st in total defense last year, and an anemic pass rush was part of the reason. Jamaal Anderson of Arkansas is also a possibility here, but Adams -- a senior -- is more polished than the Razorback junior.
7. MINNESOTA VIKINGS: Ted Ginn Jr., WR-KR, Ohio State. The only question mark with Ohio State's rocket man is his relatively small size (175 pounds). Otherwise, he would fill two needs for the Vikings, who lack a big-play wide receiver and lost 2006 kickoff return man Bethel Johnson to free agency.
8. ATLANTA FALCONS: LaRon Landry, S, LSU. Atlanta moved up two spots thanks to the Matt Schaub deal with Houston, and team officials reportedly have their sights set on the top DB in the draft, a player who could be be plugged right into the first-team secondary as a Falcon. Landry, whose brother started as a rookie for the Ravens last season, is smart, a hard hitter and wicked fast (one stopwatch had him at 4.29 at the Combine).
9. MIAMI DOLPHINS: Levi Brown, OT, Penn State. Miami could use a quarterback, for sure, but Russell and Quinn should be long gone by the time the Dolphins pick. Instead, they'll take hulking LT Brown of Penn State to help protect whatever live body winds up under center.
10. HOUSTON TEXANS: Justin Blalock, G, Texas. As recently departed quarterback David Carr can tell you, a weak offensive line has been killing Houston -- and nearly killing Carr -- ever since the franchise was created. Blalock is big, mean, a crushing run blocker, adequate on pass defense and able to play either guard or tackle. And already a Texan, to boot.
11. SAN FRANCISCO 49ers: Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska. Super-sized (6-foot-6, 296 pounds) and smart, Carriker is the ideal bookend for the 3-4 defense the 49ers have planned. He has keen football instincts that translate in attacking either the run or the pass, and he proved his durability as a Cornhusker.
12. BUFFALO BILLS: Marshawn Lynch, RB, California. Of course, if Buffalo succeeds in making a deal for San Diego's Michael Turner, the pick here could be LB Patrick Willis of Ole Miss. But with Willis McGahee gone, the Bills could find themselves entering the 2007 season with Anthony Thomas -- who averaged 3.5 yards a carry backing up McGahee last season -- as their ground game. At 5-10, 220 pounds and with 4.45 speed, Lynch offers a burst that Thomas can't deliver.
13. ST. LOUIS RAMS: Patrick Willis, LB, Mississippi. Willis wouldn't play in the middle in St. Louis -- Will Witherspoon has that position locked down -- but he could be an asset to an otherwise mediocre linebacking corps. By all accounts, Willis has a strong work ethic, possesses the speed (4.4) to be a threat on blitzes and plays the run well.........
~The Answer