You are currently browsing jliskiew's articles.
Disclaimer: Mock drafts in September are not accurate! This is by no means something to live by until next April. However, what this does offer is a chance get an early idea of talent level, and assess team needs.
The draft order is based on a non-scientific and non-redeeming combination of current team records and my final outcome predictions. I preemptively apologize for the boring Super Bowl prediction, and am not and have never been a ”fan” of either team.
Basically I am both accountable and completely exempt from the followiing content…
1. St. Louis Rams Andre Smith, OT Alabama
In 2008 St. Louis took Chris Long with the #2 overall pick, so this year they address the other side of the ball with their other glaring need left unfilled. Right now they are wasting an awful lot of talent at their skill positions because of their porous O-Line.
2. Kansas City Chiefs Matthew Stafford, QB Georgia
It will be tough for the Chiefs to pass on a talent like Stafford here, even though they are still in the process of evaluating Brodie Croyle and Tyler Thigpen. As with any rookie quarterback, don’t expect Stafford to set the world on fire in his first year, but he has all the necessary tools to be a solid franchise quarterback.
3. Detroit Lions Michael Johnson, DE Georgia Tech
Could the Matt Millen era finally be over? If so, expect whoever comes in to make it a point to build the franchise the right way – starting from the trenches. The Lions have several defensive line “projects” right now, but Johnson is a potential pass rushing star if they can get consistent output from him.
4. Oakland Raiders Michael Crabtree, WR Texas Tech
As I am writing this, Lane Kiffin is expected to be fired at any moment. With Al Davis clearly the man in control, expect him to go the playmaker route, in the hopes of giving his young, struggling QB some much needed help on the outside.
5. Cleveland Browns Chris Wells, RB Ohio State
The Browns have been possibly the biggest disappointment so far this year, and while they desperately need to improve their pass rush and secondary, it will be tough to pass up on Wells, who is the best player available and will not have to travel far from Columbus.
6. Cincinnati Bengals Rey Maualuga, MLB USC
As usual, Cincinnati is a mess, and I expect some major changes for next year, not that we won’t see more of the same under current ownership. Reuniting Maualuga with Keith Rivers would make for a better tandem than TJ Houshmandzedah and Chad “Eight-Five” Johnson.
7. Houston Texans Vontae Davis, CB Illinois
Like Detroit, Houston is a team that consistently promises improvement in July and August only to disappoint during the regular season. This year, however, they do get not only the best DB prospect in the draft, but possibly the best of the last several years.
8. Miami Dolphins Malcolm Jenkins, CB OSU
I imagine several of the teams picking before Miami here wish they had offered the moon to Parcells last year to come in and rebuild their organization… Houston makes this decision easier for The Tuna, as he takes the next best corner available, after addressing the defensive front 7’s in 2008.
9. Atlanta Falcons Percy Harvin, WR Florida
Mike Smith addressed a number of positions in his first draft, and while Matt Ryan looks to have already developed some chemistry with Roddy White, he would benefit greatly from a playmaker like Harvin who can line up all over the field and create match-up problems.
10. Chicago Bears Jeremy Maclin, WR Missouri
While I feel Josh Freeman may be warranted here, I have the Bears selecting Maclin here based on the notion that the organization will not take a quarterback in the first round. Either way, Chicago needs an offensive playmaker outside of Devin Hester.
11. San Francisco 49ers Duke Robinson, OG Oklahoma
Mike Nolan might still have a job after all! This is pretty remarkable considering their former #1 overall pick in Alex Smith is a bust, and while I expect Mike Martz to pine for a quarterback, non-sexy picks worked in 2008, so San Francisco will continue the trend in 2009.
12. Seattle Seahawks Darius Heyward-Bey, WR Maryland
With the season nearly down the drain because of so many injuries at WR, Seattle finally uses the draft to address the gaping hole, finally getting a legitimate homerun threat, to go along with a host of guys who are #2’s and #3’s when healthy.
13. Baltimore Ravens Brian Cushing, OLB USC
I think Baltimore will address the lack of depth on their offensive line in rounds 2 and 3, and take the best outside linebacker in the draft, whose versatility and playmaking ability is coveted by the Ravens.
14. New York Jets Knowshon Moreno, RB Georgia
The Jets faithful wanted Darren McFadden in 2008, but gets its game changing RB in 2009. Moreno has top 5 talent, but falls to the middle of the first round based solely on team needs. Don’t be surprised if Moreno jumps to #1 if the toe of Beanie Wells continues to be a problem.
15. Washington Redskins George Selvie, DE South Florida
Jason Taylor was supposed to be a quick fix for the Washington pass rush, but Selvie is a long term project who has the explosion teams look for at defensive end.
16. Philadelphia Eagles Michael Oher, OT Mississippi
(From Carolina)
It’s ironic that the Panthers traded away this pick, when if they had stayed the course they would have been able to draft a better prospect at the same position in 2009. Right now it might be a toss up as to who is the better prospect between Oher and Andre Smith. I will side with Smith for now, as Oher’s intelligence is a huge questionmark.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars Marcus Freeman, OLB OSU
Like Baltimore, I expect Jacksonville to go heavy on offensive line in rounds 2-4, but they need to add depth to their linebacking corps as well, and Jenkins is the best available pick on the outside, even though I would consider this pick a bit of a stretch (something Del Rio certainly did not shy away from in the 2008 draft).
18. New Orleans Saints William Moore, S Missouri
Snatching up Jonathan Vilma was a move that will pay huge dividends for the Saints, but their secondary is still clearly lacking. New Orleans can address either corner or safety here, but with the top two corners gone by this point they will opt for Moore.
19. Minnesota Vikings Brandon Pettigrew, TE Oklahoma State
The Vikings would be elated to get Pettigrew here, as he may be the best all-around TE prospect since Jeremy Shockey. Based on team needs he is available here for Minnesota, but expect someone in the top 10 to fall in love with him, and look past his recent off the field issues.
20. San Diego Chargers Aaron Curry, ILB Wake Forest
This time last year I made the mistake of surrendering to media expectations and putting both Andre Woodson and Dan Connor in my first mock draft, when I knew from my own evaluations that I would not grade Woodson higher than a 7th rounder, and Connor higher than a 4th. I will not make that same mistake again this year, and that is why you will not see James Laurinaitis in this mock, who I believe is severely over-hyped.
21. New England Patriots Victor Harris, DB Virginia Tech
I think New England might be better served by re-evaluating their offensive line talent, but their secondary is clearly another big issue. With rival San Diego taking Curry off the board, the Patriots settle for Harris, who has the versatility they look for in their defensive backs.
22. Arizona Cardinals James Davis, RB Clemson
I know what you’re thinking – Arizona drafting after New England?! It certainly may happen with the injury situations in New England and Seattle this season, and look for Arizona to take whoever they believe is the best runningback left on the board.
23. Buffalo Bills Tyson Jackson, DE LSU
He may not be flashy, but he will make for an excellent strong side end in the NFL, stout against the running holding up the point of attack. Hmm, not flashy but effective… Sounds like a perfect fit in Buffalo!
24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Vance Walker, DT Georgia Tech
His own teammate at Georgia Tech, Michael Johnson, calls him the best defensive lineman in the country, and his play thus far has shown nothing to prove otherwise. His motor is awesome, and he is much stronger than you might expect at 290 lbs, and I would expect him to actually play NT in the Tampa 2 scheme of the Buccaneers.
25. Tennessee Titans Louis Murphy, WR Florida
While the Titans could go QB here, I think they will give Chris Simms his fair shot and finally get some help at WR. Murphy may not have the best total package here but his speed is what moves him into the first round.
26. Philadelphia Eagles Taylor Mays, S USC
After taking BPA with their first pick, Philadelphia addresses a major area of need, as they look to find an eventual replacement for the aging Brian Dawkins. Mays, however, still must utilize his considerable athleticism to demonstrate consistent production.
27. Indianapolis Colts BJ Raji, DT Boston College
While Raji does not fit what the Colts normally look for at DT in their scheme, their struggles against the run in recent years should convince them to finally take a true space eater who can control two gaps on the inside.
28. New York Giants Travis Beckum, TE Wisconsin
Beckum could help the Giants forget all about the loss of Jeremy Shockey, and give Eli Manning another dangerous weapon. While he is a liability blocking, the Giants already have that role covered with their current roster, and Beckum will bring a completely new dimension to the offense.
29. Denver Broncos Alex Mack, C California
While the early season has shown the Broncos could use some help defensively, Mack is too good a prospect and too perfect a fit to pass up here, as rarely has their been an interior lineman with his combination of size, strength, and athleticism. He will be a 10-15 year starter in the NFL and a perennial pro-bowler.
30. Green Bay Packers Mike Mickens, CB Cincinnati
Green Bay desperately needs to add youth at corner, and they hope the combination of Mickens and 2008 draft pick Patrick Lee will be the future of the franchise at the position.
31. Pittsburgh Steelers Eugene Monroe, OT Virginia
In the 2008 draft the Steelers were fortunate to draft some offensive playmakers, but were not able to fix their offensive line. Monroe could be exactly what they are looking for when they look to replace Marvel Smith.
32. Dallas Cowboys Pat White, WR West Virginia
For the record, I am not a big Pat White fan in terms of his translation to the NFL, but knowing the Cowboys needs, and knowing Jerry Jones, this would not be a surprising pick. Getting a speedy homerun threat opposite T.O. will be priority number one for Jones in 2009.
