Here it is, my greatly anticipated final mock.
I expect a number of trades Saturday, but I've done this without any.
I'll be updating from the Steelers headquarters Saturday night, letting you know what I'm hearing.
1. Detroit, Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia - As much as I’d love for the Lions to take somebody else – I was a Detroit fan growing up - it appears Stafford is the guy.
2. St. Louis, Eugene Monroe, OT, Virgina – The Rams have many needs, but upgrading the offensive line is a good place to start.
3. Kansas City, Jason Smith, OT, Baylor – Many have the Chiefs taking Aaron Curry, but they’ve signed three linebackers in free agency and Curry really doesn’t rush the passer well.
4. Seattle, Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech – Wide receiver was a huge problem for the Seahawks last year, though a trade down with somebody wanting Mark Sanchez is highly possible.
5. Cleveland, Mark Sanchez, QB, USC – I expect the Browns to move Brady Quinn, opening up a spot for Sanchez.
6. Cincinnati, Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest – The Bengals continue to build their front seven.
7. Oakland, B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College – The Raiders really need to bulk up the run defense.
8. Jacksonville, Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri – Maclin gets time to work with Torry Holt.
9. Green Bay, Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi – The Packers need a starter at RT and Oher can handle the job and is a little safer pick than Andre Smith.
10. San Francisco, Andre Smith, OT, Alabama – The 49ers gave up more sacks than the Steelers last year - that’s right, more.
11. Buffalo, Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas – The Bills need to add to their non-existent pass rush.
12. Denver, Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU – The Broncos get the best 3-4 end in this draft.
13. Washington, Rey Mauluga, LB, USC – The Redskins really want to move up and get Sanchez. That will be the key to this draft.
14. New Orleans, Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State – This is a no-brainer. He could be a corner, he could be a safety. Either way, he’ll help the Saints, who need both.
15. Houston, Clay Matthews, LB, USC – Surprise, surprise. This one is picking up some steam.
16. San Diego, Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia – The Chargers are concerned that LaDainian Tomlinson is close to the end and know that Darren Sproles isn’t an every-down back.
17. N.Y. Jets, Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State – Jets have to get their quarterback of the future.
18. Denver, Everette Brown, OLB, Florida State – The Broncos get a top pass rusher to convert to OLB.
19. Tampa Bay, Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi – The Bucs haven’t been fearsome up front for several years.
20. Detroit, Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee – None of the remaining OTs deserve to be take this high, so the Lions go for a DE.
21. Philadelphia, Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State – The Eagles pair Beanie with Brian Westbrook.
22. Minnesota, Darius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland – The Vikings badly need playmakers on the outside to open things up for the running game.
23. New England, Brian Cushing, LB, USC – The Patriots need to continue to get younger at linebacker.
24. Atlanta, Darius Butler, CB, UConn – The Falcons get a great playmaking cornerback.
25. Miami, Larry English, LB, N. Illinois – Bill Parcells doesn’t mind taking defensive ends from small schools and making them linebacker ala. DeMarcus Ware.
26. Baltimore, Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois – The Ravens are making over their cornerback position.
27. Indianapolis, Evander Hood, DT, Missouri – The Colts started a pair of tackles that barely topped 500 pounds combined in 2008.
28. Buffalo, Eben Britton, OT, Arizona – The Bills got their pass rusher with their first pick, now they get an offensive tackle to replace Jason Peters.
29. New York Giants, Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina – He’s not quite as big as Plaxico Burress, but he’s faster and has better hands.
30. Tennessee, Brian Robiskie, WR, Ohio State – The Titans are working to get Anquan Boldin away from Arizona, but Robiskie is a solid, safe pick.
31. Arizona, Aaron Maybin, LB, Penn State – Running back is a possibility, but Maybin is good value here.
32. Pittsburgh, Max Unger, G-C, Oregon – Unger started at all five offensive line positions for the Ducks, but his best position is center. He’ll start at guard for the Steelers before eventually shifting inside.
7 comments:
Dale,
If Nicks fell to 32 do you think the Steelers take him?
Thanks much.
Thanks for all your coverage!
I like Nicks, but word is that they won't take a WR in the first round after taking two in the first two rounds in the last three years.
unger, versatile, yes, tough, no
would much rather have mack or wood if youre going to pull the trigger on a center
Unger doesn't have the lower body power to start at guard. he's too slow at tackle. You better hope can play center in the pro's but big NT's are likely to abuse him. But he can reaplce Essex as the utility man. Kinda of a waste of a #1 pick.
If the Steelers really were going to a zone blocking scheme, Unger wouldn't be a bad pick. But the problem is that Max Starks and Chris Kemo aren't exactly ZBS types. Granted Max is only signed for 1 year and Kemo has a cap friendly contract, ie he could be cut without too much dead money. But it still doesn't make sense to me.
I think the pick is either Wood or Gilbert.
We'll see. (Not that I care who is right or wrong. This just makes more sense to me. At the end of the day, I will root for whomever they draft.)
OH YEAH OH YEAH!!!
Hines Ward 4 Year extension!!
According to ESPN, Ward signed 4 year 22 million dollar extension that keeps him with the Steelers through 2013. That is so awesome.
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