Sunday, March 8, 2009

Updated NFL Mock Draft: Max Davis

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Team

Player/ Position/ College

Analysis

1

Detroit Lions

Matthew Stafford/ QB/ Georgia

Following the worst season in NFL history the Lions have more than enough holes to fill. They may as well start with most important position on the field and Stafford is the best QB in the draft.

2

St. Louis Rams

Jason Smith/ OT/ Baylor

I originally had Andre Smith at this spot but after his monumental collapse at the combine (not working out then leaving a day early) Jason Smith has taken over the #1 tackle spot.

3

Kansas City Chiefs

Aaron Curry/ OLB/ Wake Forest

In my opinion the best player in the draft. Curry solidified himself as a top prospect by running the fastest 40 time of any LB (4.56).

4

Seattle Seahawks

Eugene Monroe/ OT/ Virginia

By signing T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the Seahawks filled their biggest hole and now won’t take Michael Crabtree. The ‘Hawks do have arguably the best tackle in the game in Walter Jones, but at 35 it’s time to find his replacement.

5

Cleveland Browns

B.J. Raji/ DT/ Boston College

New coach Eric Mangini has already angered his best defensive player, Shaun Rogers, who reportedly wants out. Drafting Raji, who is a 337 pound beast, would allow the Browns to trade Rogers away.

6

Cincinnati Bengals

Andre Smith/ OT/ Alabama

Haven’t we seen this before: the Bengals taking the most talented and most troubled player on the board? In this case, it makes sense. Smith is too good to pass up at 6.

7

Oakland Raiders

Michael Crabtree/ WR/ Texas Tech

Despite not being able to workout for scouts due to a foot injury, Crabtree is still the best offensive prospect in the draft. If the Raiders can complete the trio of Jamarcus Russell, Darren McFadden, and Crabtree then there would be as much potential in three young players as we’ve ever seen.

8

Jacksonville Jaguars

Jeremy Maclin/ WR/ Missouri

Watch for the Jaguars to trade this pick as they don’t have any pressing needs and teams looking for a QB will attempt to trade up and snag Mark Sanchez. If they do hold this pick, Maclin is the deep threat the Jags desire.

9

Green Bay Packers

Brian Orakpo/ DE/ Texas

DE is definitely not the Pack’s biggest need but the Giants have proven that you can never have enough talent on the D-line. Orakpo is a high-energy guy whose motor never seems to stop, unless he’s hurt which happens too often. When healthy though, he can be a force on D.

10

San Francisco 49ers

Mark Sanchez/ QB/ USC

After trying (and failing) to get Kurt Warner the Niners officially ended the Alex Smith era. Sanchez proved his worth at the combine and will likely remain in California for years to come.

11

Buffalo Bills

Aaron Maybin/ DE/ Penn State

Much like the Packers, DE is not the Bills biggest need. They need help in the secondary but Michael Jenkins is too slow to go this high and Vontae Davis is too risky.

12

Denver Broncos

Ray Maualuga/ ILB/ USC

The Broncos linebackers are old and slow. A player like Maualuga could change that.

13

Washington Redskins

Everette Brown/ DE/ Florida State

The biggest noise-makers in free agency, the Skins signed Albert Haynesworth, kept DeAngelo Hall, and cut Jason Taylor. Brown is a freakish physical specimen who will cause havoc alongside Haynesworth.

14

New Orleans Saints

Vontae Davis/ CB/ Illinois

Speaking of freakish physical specimens, Davis takes the cake. 6 feet tall, over 200 pounds, and a sub 4.5 40-time. A very attractive CB prospect.

15

Houston Texans

Malcom Jenkins/ S/ Ohio State

Jenkins hurt himself as much as anyone at the combine: he ran a 4.55 40-time which means he likely won’t be able to keep up with NFL receivers. Jenkins will have to switch to safety, which drops him from the top 10 to pick 15.

16

San Diego Chargers

Knowshon Moreno/ RB/ Georgia

If Maualuga is still here the Chargers might have to jump on him but I don’t think he’ll be on the board at 16. LT is in the final stretch of his career and Sproles cannot be an every-down back; Moreno established himself as the top RB in the draft when he ran a 40-time only .01 seconds slower than Chris Wells who was thought to be the speed back.

17

New York Jets

Darrius Heyward-Bey/ WR/ Maryland

One of the big winners at the combine, Heyward-Bey leapfrogged Percy Harvin as the number 3 WR in the draft by running the fastest 40-time of any player at the combine.

18

Chicago Bears

Percy Harvin/ WR/ Florida

He is not the same player as Devin Hester. Harvin is a much more polished receiver coming out of college and will be ready to make an immediate impact. Also, just imagine the speed of Hester and Harvin lined up alongside each other and dream of the possibilities.

19

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Brian Cushing/ OLB/ USC

After releasing linebackers Derrick Brooks and Cato June the Bucs have made LB a top priority in the draft. Cushing is at the of the board.

20

Detroit Lions

Michael Oher/ OT/ Ole Miss

The Lions are weak at, well, everywhere, which means start at the core. Oher will help sure up an abysmal O-line.

21

Philadelphia Eagles

Tyson Jackson/ DE/ LSU

Andy Reid has a history of only drafting lineman early in the draft so I expect him to take the best one available on either side of the ball. In this situation, it’s Jackson.

22

Minnesota Vikings

Louis Delmas/ S/ Western Michigan

With Darren Sharper nearing the end of his career, the Vikings need to add a guy like Delmas to sure up an already vulnerable pass defense.

23

New England Patriots

James Laurinaitis/ ILB/ Ohio State

After trading away Mike Vrabel, the Pats have an opening at ILB. Laurinaitis is a high-energy guy who should fit in well to Belichick’s 3-4 scheme.

24

Atlanta Falcons

Peria Jerry/ DT/ Ole Miss

The Falcons defense line improved greatly this past year but they still struggled with the run. The key to stopping it? A big ol’ DT.

25

Miami Dolphins

Clay Matthews/ OLB/ USC

A big physical LB blessed with above-average speed, Matthews is an excellent run stopper already and with some solid coaching could become an elite all-around linebacker.

26

Baltimore Ravens

Alphonso Smith/ CB/ Wake Forest

Smith had an outstanding combine and assured himself that he would get drafted in the first round. The Ravens are in danger of falling apart on the defensive side of the ball due to free agency and Smith would be a key addition.

27

Indianapolis Colts

Larry English/ DE/ Northern Illinois

Larry English could fly under the radar coming from Northern Illinois but don’t expect the Colts not to notice the oversized DE/ DT hybrid.

28

Philadelphia Eagles

Chris “Beanie” Wells/ RB/ Ohio State

Brian Westbrook is one of the best running backs in the world but he can’t seem to get through a full season without appearing on the “inactive” list. With his backup, Correll Buckhalter, gone, the Eagles need to draft a solid #2 back. Beanie can be that man.

29

New York Giants

Hakeem Nicks/ WR/ North Carolina

Amani Toomer has said that he doesn’t expect to be a Giant next year and Plaxico Burress, well, let’s just call him unreliable. Most draft classes would never allow Nicks to fall this far but the Giants benefit from a stacked wide receiver class.

30

Tennessee Titans

Fili Moala/ DT/ USC

The Titans couldn’t match the Redskins $100M offer for all-pro DT Albert Haynesworth so look for them to fill that hole with Fili.

31

Arizona Cardinals

Lesean McCoy/ RB/ Pittsburgh

McCoy is an outstanding young back with unlimited potential. Maybe the most underrated player in the draft, he could absolutely explode on a team with Warner and Fitzgerald.

32

Pittsburgh Steelers

Duke Robinson/ OG/ Oklahoma

It is very rare for a Super Bowl champion to have a weak offensive line but that was the case this year with the Steelers. Look for the Steelers to fill that hole with the top Guard in the draft.

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