Mock Drafts
 

I am so tired of mock draft, bring on the real deal. BTW what is up with the late start, they should have started earlier and handled the 1st 3 rounds.

What I hope happens if we do not add picks:
18- Chris Williams OT, Vandy
79 - Matt Forte, RB, Tulane
118 - Orlando Scandrick, CB, Boise State
151 - Ezra Butler, OLB, Nevada
223 - Jalen Parmale (RB)-Toledo

What I think will happen, if we do not add picks
18 - Jerod Mayo (LB) Tennessee
79 - Duane Brown (OT)-Va. Tech
118 - Jason Jones (DE)-Eastern Michigan
151 - Zackary Bowman (CB)-Nebraska
223 - Chauncey Washington (RB)-USC

There are so many ways ways this draft can go and most of it happens on Sunday.....

With the exception of the first round choice I liked the "predicted" draft a whole lot more than the hoped for draft.

What I hope happens if we do not add picks:

18 - CB Antoine Cason - Arizona 6'0" 190
79 - DE Jeremy Thompson - Wake Forest 6' 4 3/8" 264
118 - OT Carl Nicks - Nebraska 6' 5" 341
151 - RB Thomas Brown - Georgia 5' 8 3/8" 204
223 - LB Ben Moffitt S. Florida 6' 1" 234

What I think will happen, if we do not add picks
18 - LB Jerod Mayo - Tennessee 6' 1" 242
79 - OT Jeremy Zuttah - Rutgers 6' 4" 303
118 - S Quentin Demps - UTEP 6'0" 206
151 - DE Chris Harrington Texas A&M 6'5" 264
223 - CB Darnell Terrell Missouri 6'2" 203

How did I do with regard to players ranking?

18 - Mayo went 10th and Williams went 14th, so I was wishful thinking with my picks.
79 - Brown went to us @ 26, Forte went 44th, again wishful thinking, but at least I wanted Brown to be the OLT we drafted
118 - J.Jones was long gone taken 54th by the Titans, Scandrick was taken at 143 which is before our next pick.
151 - Bowman was taken 142 again with acceptable range (acceptable to me). Butler went undrafted, whiff.
223 - Parmala went 176, Washington not until 213.

So as i have said before, what do I know? Not much

26 - Cason
102 - Thompson
164 - Nicks
172 - Brown
Undrafted - Moffitt

10 - Mayo
83 - Zuttah
117 - Demps (so we would have just missed on him)
185 - Harrington
Undrafted - Terrell

The Cason/Zuttah combo is going to be intriguing.

What I would have done:
26 - LT Duane Brown (Would've come down to Brown or Phillips, very tough choice but I went with the harder position to fill. Besides, considering how much I advocate building from the trenches out it would have been a bit irresponsible to choose a S over LT if the choice was close. If I'd have been in the room when we were at 18 I would have wept over the 11-16 sequence, briefly considered Mendenhall, then tried desperately to trade down. If I didn't get any offers I would have taken the national scorn and picked Brown, with the hope that more people would focus on the Cherilus pick at 17.)

79 - WR Early Doucet (Not really an area of need, but I think Doucet and Slaton were the best two players on the board. Of course, I would have also probably ended up regretting not making a stronger attempt to improve our secondary. If I didn't take Duane Brown, I would have gone with Anthony Collins for one of the third round picks, which would prove to be a reach of nearly a round, but he's the only player left by this point that I think could become a successful OT.)

83 - RB Steve Slaton (I think that, in a few years, we're going to be very, very happy with this pick.)

118 - OLB Xavier Adibi (Once again the Texans pick stands out as the clear pick for me. Would have also considered CB Zack Bowman, who was a top prospect before a pre-season injury)

151 - DT Frank Okam (If we needed a FB, the pick would have been Owen Schmitt, hands-down. But with the unlikelihood of carrying two FBs and a glut of RBs overall, I think I'd pass for this round. With that ruled out, it'd have been down to DT Frank Okam and C Steve Justice. With Chris Myers acquired and Greg Eslinger on the roster, I'd have likely chosen Okam for DL depth and the outside hope that once he was out of school and focused more on football he might actually play up to his talent.)

173 - C Steve Justice (And I do a little dance. If I'd have taken Justice in the 5th, I'm not sure where I'd have gone here. Maybe Donald Thomas, because he fits our profile, but I'm not terribly sure about him. Then again, this is the 6th round.)

223 - T King Dunlap (Other considerations: OLB Erin Henderson, RBs Justin Forsett and Allen Patrick)

The biggest problem with my draft is that there are several unadressed glaring needs. The secondary needs as much help as any unit, yet I didn't draft a single player for it after strongly considering Kenny Phillips in the first. Much like the Texans real draft (which my draft obviously bears more than a striking resemblance to), my draft also ignores the need for a speed rusher opposite Mario. But you can't address everything and after the early picks I tend to slide the "need" priority down, as evidenced by grabbing a C and another T in the the last two rounds because I felt they were the two best players for us.

26 - CB Antoine Cason
79 - OT Jeremy Zuttah
89 - DE Jeremy Thompson
118 - RB Tashard Choice
151 - OT Carl Nicks (I can play Zuttah at RG)
173 - DT Athyba Rubin (since we wanted a run plugger)
223 - QB Paul Smith (since we wanted a QB)
UDFA - LB Moffitt and Woodyard

Is this from your pre-draft board?

My cherry pick?

26 - Duane Brown OT,Sr Va. Tech
79 - Jeremy Zuttah G Sr Rutgers
89 - Philip Wheeler LB Sr Georgia Tech
118 - Jack Williams CB Sr Kent State
151 - Trae Williams CB Sr South Florida
173 - Jalen Parmele RB Sr Toledo
223 - Anthony Alderidge RB Sr Houston
UDFA - LB Moffitt and Woodyard, DE Tommy Blake

what i would have done:

sat on my couch, drank a nice cold beer, and hope the texans make the right picks in the draft . . .oh, wait

Not really. Cason, yes. I realized that Nicks would fall due to off-field issues, I just didn't think he'd drop that far. I wanted Thompson in the 3rd, simply because I didn't see him being there for us in the 4th, so I would have "reached" in that instance. I wanted a RB and Choice was the best who could potentially be a "3-down" RB and I wasn't sure if Thomas Brown would slide to us later in the 6th (he went right before us). Rubin and Smith were not on my board, but if I were to follow what the Texans wanted, then those two guys seem to be better value here.

Time to add a few more mocks.

This one from NFL draft dog has us picking 20th and taking my preference William Moore from Mizzou.

Also I have been quoting a 3 rounder from WalterFootball and hope you go look at the mock yourselves.

They have us picking 17th, one after the Titans BTW, and taking My cherry pick: @ 17 I take William Moore who they have going #27, or Myron Rolle, SS/FS, Florida State who they have going #21, also it I have to look hard at Brian Cushing, OLB, USC.

@49 I don't dislike the James Davis pick, but I might have to look hard at Greg Middleton, DE, Indiana who they have going #53, or
Tim Jamison, DE, Michigan who they have going #60

@ 81 Again I would not complain about Harris, might look hard at Bear Pascoe, TE, Fresno State, at some point Bruener has to retire and Pascoe is a stud, added to Daniels and Dreessen that is a nice young core of TEs.

Just to show how much opinion varies about the players and the way the teams stack up ranking wise here is the mock from Rivals.com

They have us picking 14th one before the Titans, taking Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR Maryland*. Funny thing is they never mention a need for WR on our team. They have the Titans taking Greg Middleton, DE, Indiana* who in the Walters mock was a 2nd rounder, this ranking my be closer to his true draft position.

They do not have William Moore as a 1st rounder.

Time will tell where these guys truly are ranked.

i've read up a bit on william moore, he sounds like the real deal at safety. certainly wouldn't mind adding a power like that to be the cherry on top of our defense.

Did you see the video?
William Moore

For equal time
Taylor Mays

And just to twist the LB knife a little
Rey Maualuga

yes, no and damn.

i would take rey rey in a heart beat, that dude is intensity in ten cities!!

A couple of notes on Rey Rey, first he should be a top 10 pick if not a top 5 pick, at least that is how it's seems to be shaking out. 2nd most of the hits in the video would be fines in the NFL, he seems to come in a little high and lead with his helmet, no no's in the pros.

But as you said what a stud.

yea, i'm guessing we don't fall flat on our faces so he's probably out of the question unless we start trying to trade up for him...but if you have a guy that big and fast who is willing to lay it out like that, i'm betting you can teach him how to do it without incurring the penalties and fines he no doubt would get for a few of those helmet to helmet hits.

i realize it's way to early, but the seedling of hope has been planted that won't be seen until about february. the hope is that a legit safety talent falls into our laps around the early 20's area....i guess that would be 2 hopes if i go back too much...one for a safety and one for playoffs to get into that spot hahaha....

I am hoping that we don't have to start the draft talk in ernest before the regular season ends. That is so freakin' depressing. I am hoping and praying we are discussing how we are going to make the playoffs, and win our first playoff game, rather than where we are drafting.

Dude, we could have a record of 16-0 and I will have already been talking about the draft for months, it's what I do.

[goldmember]

then i shee there is no pleashing you...

[/goldmember]

Another mock, this one from NFLDraftBlitz.

In the subscription side this is a 7 rounder. They did this last week and we were picking 6th due to our position in the ESPN power ranking.

They have us taking:
1 Chris Beanie Wells (RB) – Ohio State
2 Nic Harris (S)-Oklahoma
3 Dannell Ellerbe (LB)-Georgia
4 Andy Levitre (OG)-Oregon State
5 Curtis Taylor (S)-LSU
6 Ryan McDonald (C)-Illinois
7 Jon Cooper (C)-Oklahoma


Not a bad effort but not my favorite either. It's early.

I would like a trade down, Philly has 2 first round picks IIRC. That could give us two guys, William Moore (S) Missouri , Greg Middleton (DE)-Indiana perhaps?

If I am picking for us at #6 I am looking real hard at Duke Robinson (OG) Oklahoma.

Check out the 1st round, or the entire mock if you can.

lots can change before draft, and I like best available at pick, a trade down would be okay if we were that high, but I'd be leaning toward mostly defense a lot if draft were coming up soon.

I agree, not bad, but not my fav either. There are 4 things I want done before next year, either during the draft, or in FA, (this is after we have fired DC Richard Smith, and demoted Bobbie Grier) - (1) Get a complementary RB to Slaton, (2) draft a Mike LB so DeMeco can move to his natural Will position, (3) draft another CB/S, & (4) get a natural passrusher on that right side of the defense. Now I am not saying in which order I would like this done, or whether it be by draft of FA, but get Good Solid Types to fill a defense that has been consistantly underachieving under Smith.

Time for another mock, this is from the end of October, from newsportdraft.com. This is a 5 rounder.

They have us picking #12.
Top 21 picks are :
1. Oakland Raiders – Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi

2. Detroit Lions – Ciron Black, OT, LSU

3. St. Louis Rams – Percy Harvin, WR, Florida

4. San Francisco 49ers – Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia

5. Miami Dolphins – Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech

6. Atlanta Falcons – Ray Maualuga, LB, USC

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Tim Tebow, QB, Florida

8. Kansas City Chiefs – Andre Smith, OT, Alabama

9. Cincinnati Bengals – Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State

10. New York Jets – James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State

11. Seattle Seahawks – Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
12. Houston Texans – Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
13. Chicago Bears – Curtis Painter, QB, Purdue
14. Arizona Cardinals – Brian Cushing, LB, USC
15. Cleveland Browns – Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
16. Baltimore Ravens – Demetrius Byrd, WR, LSU
17. Tennessee Titans – Aaron Kelly, WR, Clemson
18. Green Bay Packers – Alex Boone, OT, Ohio State
19. Pittsburg Steelers – Jaison Williams, WR, Oregon
20. Philadelphia Eagles(Carolina) – Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
21. Buffalo Bills – George Selvie, DE/LB, USF

In the Mock they have the Texans taking:
12. Houston Texans – Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
44. Houston Texans – Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
75. Houston Texans – Tim Jamison, DE, Michigan
107. Houston Texans – Tyrone Byrd, OT, Miami
139. Houston Texans – Eric Peterman, WR, Northwestern


Not a great one, but not bad.

My cherry pick:
I can see where we need a stud CB and Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
would be one of the best to come out last year, so getting him at #12 would be sweet. We could let Reeves go, giving us a nice young set of CB. Dunta, Bennett,and Molden added to Jenkins.

In the 2nd, I like the pick of Curry, but they have Duke Robinson, OG, Oklahoma dropping and I have him as a 1st rounder, so he is my pick.

3rd round I want to go defense but Javarris James, RB, Miami and Graham Harrell, QB, Texas Tech are there, so I am going James, adding him to Slaton should make our RBs a little more stable.

4th round, I need defense, Maurice Evans, DE, Penn St.

5th round, Janthan Luigs, C, Arkansas, I do not see this guy lasting to the 5th, so this is a no brainer for me. I still need a safety and I missed that, but this is not a bad draft.


.

Walters Draft page now has us at the 8th spot in the pecking order for the 2009 Draft. They also have us taking SS Taylor Mays from USC. Not bad. Not too bad at all. Is it the defense we play is so hard for a safety, or are we just taking bad people at the position? We have thrown a lot of draft picks and FA money at the position(s) without getting much in return.

I agree with you PK. I have been a Draftnik for nigh onto.......well, a long time!

I kind of like PK's cherry picks too, by the way.

One more tid bit. While the Texas Tech/Texas game was going on, they were comparing Crabtree very favorably to our own Andre Johnson. High praise for an underclassmen.

Now that I have thought about it a little more, I really feel the OG can be had in FA. I want a defensive minded draft, except it one of the good TE's dropped to us I would be tempted to take one. Going to be the best TE draft in a long time with the Big 12 supplying Grisham, Pettigrew, and Coffman.

I would absolutely love that draft!! But if I were cherry picking I would go a little different direction. I would be happy if we ended up with any combination of these of these guys. I would probablyend up going with the ones in bold

In the first round I would choose between
Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
Vontae Davis CB, Illinois I believe V Davis will be the first CB of the board because of his speed and size.


In the second round
Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas
Duke Robinson, OG, Oklahoma This is my answer for Haynesworth and all the other big DT's we face. Breisal will make a fine backup.

in the third round
Scott McKillop, LB, Pittsburgh
BJ Raji, DT, Boston College
Jason Smith, OT, Baylor We have to build depth at OT and this guy fits our scheme perfect. He could actually start and Brown could take pitts spot in the very near future.


In the fourth round
Graham Harrell, QB, Texas Tech
Maurice Evans, DE, Penn St.
Jasper Brinkley, LB/DE, South Carolina This guys size/speed and motor combined with experience at LB makes him a steal this late.

In the fith round
Janthan Luigs, C, Arkansas Our OL is complete.