SI.COM/Don Banks Mock Draft [Archive] - BillsZone.com

The Answer

04-10-2007, 02:46 PM

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/don_banks/04/10/mock.draft5.part1/index.html

Tough calls up top

Raiders, Lions face difficult decisions at top of draft

Posted: Tuesday April 10, 2007 11:34AM; Updated: Tuesday April 10, 2007 11:34AM

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In our fifth attempt at mocking out the 2007 NFL Draft, we hold these truths to be self-evident (for now):
• The Raiders are in love with the idea of drafting Georgia Tech receiver Calvin Johnson, but they haven't solved the dilemma of how he would throw himself the ball.
• Burned too often in the recent past, the Lions seem determined to stay away from the game's skill positions. Either they stick at No. 2 and take an offensive tackle, or trade down a few notches for a defensive end.
• Cleveland and Brady Quinn are a match that was meant to be.
• Amobi Okoye won't come even halfway close to lasting until the draft slot that corresponds with his age (19).
• All the veteran running back re-locations this offseason might cost Adrian Peterson a home in the draft's top 10.
In another 18 days we'll know for sure.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=300 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%"><STYLE></STYLE><TABLE style="BORDER-RIGHT: #666 1px solid; BORDER-TOP: #666 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #666 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #666 1px solid" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=554 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=topper colSpan=8>Mock NFL Draft No. 5</TD><TR><TD class=categories>Pick</TD><TD class=categories>Team</TD><TD class=categories>Pos.</TD><TD class=categories>Player</TD><TD class=categories>College</TD><TD class=categories>Class</TD><TD class=categories>Ht.</TD><TD class=categories>Wt.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=pick>1</TD><TD class=player>http://i.cnn.net/si/images/football/nfl/logos/raiders_30.gif</TD><TD class=player>QB</TD><TD class=player_name>JaMarcus Russell</TD><TD class=player>LSU</TD><TD class=player>Jr.</TD><TD class=player>6-6</TD><TD class=weight>260</TD></TR><TR><TD class=analysis colSpan=8>You can't blame the Raiders for wanting Georgia Tech receiver Calvin Johnson -- who wouldn't? -- but you also can't escape the fact that Oakland needs a quarterback in order to launch its long climb back to respectability. Even if the Raiders deal for Detroit backup Josh McCown, he's just the short-term starter in the Bay Area. </TD></TR><TR><TD class=pick_a>2</TD><TD class=player_a>http://i.cnn.net/si/images/football/nfl/logos/lions_30.gif</TD><TD class=player_a>OT</TD><TD class=player_name_a>Joe Thomas</TD><TD class=player_a>Wisconsin</TD><TD class=player_a>Sr.</TD><TD class=player_a>6-8</TD><TD class=weight_a>315</TD></TR><TR><TD class=analysis_a colSpan=8>If there's a top-five deal in the offing, this is the slot where the action should take place (no news there). The Lions would love to throw open the Calvin Johnson Sweepstakes to all bidders and see if they can extract a package from someone who just has to have the draft's cleanest prospect. If the Lions trade down a few slots, Clemson DE Gaines Adams could be their goal. But Thomas remains the pick if they stick. </TD></TR><TR><TD class=pick>3</TD><TD class=player>http://i.cnn.net/si/images/football/nfl/logos/browns_30.gif</TD><TD class=player>QB</TD><TD class=player_name>Brady Quinn</TD><TD class=player>Notre Dame</TD><TD class=player>Sr.</TD><TD class=player>6-4</TD><TD class=weight>228</TD></TR><TR><TD class=analysis colSpan=8>I wouldn't assume the Browns' interest in trading for Trent Green is an indicator of their first-round thinking, because Green would merely be playing the same temporary stand-in role filled last year by Kurt Warner in Arizona, Kerry Collins in Tennessee, and Jake Plummer in Denver. And remember, two years ago Cleveland signed Trent Dilfer and then made Charlie Frye a first-day pick.
</TD></TR><TR><TD class=pick_a>4</TD><TD class=player_a>http://i.cnn.net/si/images/football/nfl/logos/buccaneers_30.gif</TD><TD class=player_a>WR</TD><TD class=player_name_a>Calvin Johnson</TD><TD class=player_a>Georgia Tech</TD><TD class=player_a>Jr.</TD><TD class=player_a>6-5</TD><TD class=weight_a>235</TD></TR><TR><TD class=analysis_a colSpan=8>I'm not buying the Jon Gruden babble about drafting either a quarterback (Quinn) or a running back (Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson). That's either trying to stoke some trade interest in Peterson, or the ramblings of a coach who never met an offensive weapon he didn't love. Whether they sit tight or deal with No. 2 Detroit, the Bucs are determined to land Johnson if he slips past Oakland.
</TD></TR><TR><TD class=pick>5</TD><TD class=player>http://i.cnn.net/si/images/football/nfl/logos/cardinals_30.gif</TD><TD class=player>DE</TD><TD class=player_name>Gaines Adams</TD><TD class=player>Clemson</TD><TD class=player>Sr.</TD><TD class=player>6-5</TD><TD class=weight>260</TD></TR><TR><TD class=analysis colSpan=8>The Cardinals would be the likely benefactor if Joe Thomas gets past No. 2 Detroit, and it's still possible that Arizona could look to move down a couple notches (No. 7 Minnesota?) and select Penn State offensive tackle Levi Brown as Leonard Davis' replacement. But if it comes down to Adams vs. Brown, the ex-Tigers pass rusher carries the clear-cut higher grade and represents the safer pick. </TD></TR><TR><TD class=pick_a>6</TD><TD class=player_a>http://i.cnn.net/si/images/football/nfl/logos/redskins_30.gif</TD><TD class=player>DT</TD><TD class=player_name>Amobi Okoye</TD><TD class=player>Louisville</TD><TD class=player>Sr.</TD><TD class=player>6-1</TD><TD class=weight>315</TD></TR><TR><TD class=analysis_a colSpan=8>On our board, the Redskins should be able to shop this pick as the Adrian Peterson slot. That could get some interest from No. 10 Houston or No. 12 Buffalo. Washington could also still move this pick as part of a Lance Briggs trade with Chicago, or perhaps inquire whether No. 8 Atlanta wants to move up two spots for Okoye? Barring any of that, we'll give them Okoye, who continues to rise. </TD></TR><TR><TD class=pick>7</TD><TD class=player>http://i.cnn.net/si/images/football/nfl/logos/vikings_30.gif</TD><TD class=player>S</TD><TD class=player_name>LaRon Landry</TD><TD class=player>LSU</TD><TD class=player>Sr.</TD><TD class=player>6-2</TD><TD class=weight>202</TD></TR><TR><TD class=analysis colSpan=8>The ex-Tiger is the only defensive back who rates as a lock for the top 10. His 4.4 combine speed, and strong pro day results only solidified his ranking. The Vikings pass defense was abysmal last year, and Landry is a big, athletic presence who would give Minnesota an immediate impact. A trade up for Quinn (to No. 2 Detroit) or Adams (No. 5 Arizona) are other options to keep in mind. </TD></TR><TR><TD class=pick_a>8</TD><TD class=player_a>http://i.cnn.net/si/images/football/nfl/logos/falcons_30.gif</TD><TD class=player>OT</TD><TD class=player_name>Levi Brown</TD><TD class=player>Penn State</TD><TD class=player>Sr.</TD><TD class=player>6-5</TD><TD class=weight>328</TD></TR><TR><TD class=analysis_a colSpan=8>This pick could wind up feeling kind of disappointing for new Falcons head coach Bobby Petrino, who would love to land either the safety he covets in Landry or the play-making defensive tackle in Okoye (who he had at Louiville). But Brown fills another need, and his first-round grade fits the Falcons' improved draft slot. </TD></TR><TR><TD class=pick>9</TD><TD class=player>http://i.cnn.net/si/images/football/nfl/logos/dolphins_30.gif</TD><TD class=player>DT</TD><TD class=player_name>Alan Branch</TD><TD class=player>Michigan</TD><TD class=player>Jr.</TD><TD class=player>6-6</TD><TD class=weight>330</TD></TR><TR><TD class=analysis colSpan=8>The Dolphins could have used Okoye, Brown or Landry, but will be forced to sit and watch as all three of their prime prospects go off the board just before their turn comes up. Branch has his flaws, and his stock has fluctuated this spring, but the Dolphins need a big-bodied presence on run defense in the rugged AFC East. </TD></TR><TR><TD class=pick_a>10</TD><TD class=player_a>http://i.cnn.net/si/images/football/nfl/logos/texans_30.gif</TD><TD class=player_a>RB</TD><TD class=player_name_a>Adrian Peterson</TD><TD class=player_a>Oklahoma</TD><TD class=player_a>Jr.</TD><TD class=player_a>6-2</TD><TD class=weight_a>220</TD></TR><TR><TD class=analysis_a colSpan=8>Yes, Michigan cornerback Leon Hall would be the safe pick, and the Texans' need in the secondary outweighs their need in the backfield. But are Ahman Green and Ron Dayne really the answer at running back, and can the Texans afford to alienate their fan base by passing on the draft's top-rated rusher for a second year in a row? The Texans could always shop this pick to the running back-lacking No. 12 Bills, too. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE style="BORDER-RIGHT: #666 1px solid; BORDER-TOP: #666 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #666 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #666 1px solid" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=554 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=categories>Pick</TD><TD class=categories>Team</TD><TD class=categories>Pos.</TD><TD class=categories>Player</TD><TD class=categories>College</TD><TD class=categories>Class</TD><TD class=categories>Ht.</TD><TD class=categories>Wt.</TD></TR><TR><TD class=pick>11</TD><TD class=player>http://i.cnn.net/si/images/football/nfl/logos/49ers_30.gif</TD><TD class=player>DE</TD><TD class=player_name>Adam Carriker</TD><TD class=player>Nebraska</TD><TD class=player>Sr.</TD><TD class=player>6-6</TD><TD class=weight>295</TD></TR><TR><TD class=analysis colSpan=8>The 49ers are looking for talent to help them fully transition to the 3-4 defense that Mike Nolan wanted to install -- but couldn't -- upon arriving in 2005. Carriker is versatile along the defensive line, so whether it's the 4-3 or the 3-4 formation that San Francisco has on the field, he'll fit in regardless. </TD></TR><TR><TD class=pick_a>12</TD><TD class=player_a>http://i.cnn.net/si/images/football/nfl/logos/bills_30.gif</TD><TD class=player_a>CB</TD><TD class=player_name_a>Patrick Willis</TD><TD class=player_a>Mississippi</TD><TD class=player_a>Sr.</TD><TD class=player_a>6-2</TD><TD class=weight_a>240</TD></TR><TR><TD class=analysis_a colSpan=8>The Bills can't acquire their much needed starting running back in the first round unless they consider a trade up to Houston's No. 10 slot for Peterson. But they'll still have their choice between taking the highly regarded Willis as a replacement for London Fletcher, or Michigan cornerback Leon Hall as the successor to Nate Clements. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
~The Answer