Rob Rangs Mock

[nunusguy]

4/10/2009
Round 1
1. Detroit Lions
Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia: The decision between Stafford and USC's Mark Sanchez could be the most important choice GM Martin Mayhew and coach Jim Schwartz make in their Lions tenure. Some teams like Sanchez more, but expect the Lions to go with the stronger-armed, more experienced Stafford.
2. St. Louis Rams
Jason Smith, OT, Baylor: The release of Orlando Pace leaves a huge hole - literally and figuratively - up front. New coach Steve Spagnuolo and GM Billy Devaney know the value of the left tackle position in today's NFL. Smith, a former tight end, is a potential Pro Bowl combination of size, agility and nastiness.
3. Kansas City Chiefs
Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia: The Chiefs were pleased with the play of rookie LT Branden Albert last year, but still are thought to be considering Monroe. A former college teammate of Albert's, Monroe would give Kansas City a set of bookends to protect its investment in QB Matt Cassel.
4. Seattle Seahawks
Mark Sanchez, QB, Southern California: When healthy, Matt Hasselbeck remains one of the league's few legitimate franchise quarterbacks, but at 33 years old and coming off a season in which he was limited to only seven games due to a bulging disk in his back, some believe the Seahawks would be wise to begin looking toward the future. Sanchez is skyrocketing up draft boards amid the belief that with more development, he could also be a franchise passer.
5. Cleveland Browns
Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest: As talented as Curry is, there remains a belief among many teams that the linebacker position rarely warrants a pick higher than this one - some of the reason why A.J. Hawk is the only linebacker selected in the top five since 2000. Curry, who likely would be moved inside considering the Browns run the 3-4 defense, could give the team an immediate jolt similar to the one the Patriots received last year with Jerod Mayo.
6. Cincinnati Bengals
Andre Smith, OT, Alabama: Paul Alexander, the Bengals' offensive line coach, has been a fixture at pro day workouts for many of the most highly-touted offensive tackles. prompting speculation in the scouting community that the Bengals are focusing their attention on that position. Smith's stock has rebounded well since his disappearing act at the Combine and would provide a significant upgrade to the Bengals' running game.
7. Oakland Raiders
Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi: Oher would provide the Raiders with a better option at left tackle than recent free-agent addition Khalif Barnes, who allowed more sacks last year with the Jaguars than any other starting left tackle in the NFL.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars
Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech: The Jaguars invested high first-round picks in receivers Reggie Williams and Matt Jones in the past and have nothing to show for it, making the gamble on another wideout here perhaps less likely. Considering that player is Crabtree, ranked by some as a top three talent, could force their hand.
9. Green Bay Packers
Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State: Most presume the Packers are going to take a defensive lineman or linebacker with this pick, and considering their needs in making the transition to the 3-4 defense, it could happen. However, Wells is viewed by many teams as a top five talent. GM Ted Thompson has never been one to shy from controversial picks and with the top offensive tackles off the board and character concerns surrounding B.J. Raji, he pulls the draft's first stunner.
10. San Francisco 49ers
Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri: Young wideouts Josh Morgan and Jason Hill have each flashed for the 49ers, but for this offense to take the next step, adding a more consistent playmaker is necessary. No one made more plays over the past two seasons than Maclin, whose all-purpose totals after each year rank among the top six in NCAA history.
11. Buffalo Bills
Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas: The run on offensive tackles and skill position players could have the most impact on Orakpo, who scouts seem to have cooled on over the past two weeks. There is some concern that Orakpo is a bit of a 'tweener who lacks the agility for coverage at linebacker and isn't as explosive off the snap as teams would prefer in a defensive end taken with a top 10 selection.
12. Denver Broncos
B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College: Raji could slip down the board a bit on draft day due to character concerns, but isn't likely to fall past Denver, which needs a run-plugger at nose guard for its transition to the 3-4 defense.
13. Washington Redskins
Everette Brown, DE, Florida State: The sizeable addition of free-agent Albert Haynesworth could allow the Redskins to give up a bit in size at defensive end. Brown, 6-2, 255 pounds, may lack the size some teams prefer at defensive end, but is the most explosive and technically refined pass rusher of this class.
14. New Orleans Saints
Brian Cushing, OLB, Southern California: The Saints had a sizeable contingent of representatives at the USC Pro Day, including coach Sean Payton, who had dinner the night before the workout with Cushing. The team would like to add more athleticism at outside linebacker, which currently features the solid, but unspectacular combination of Scott Shanle and Scott Fujita.
15. Houston Texans
Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State: With the free-agent additions of Antonio Smith and Shaun Cody on the defensive line, team insiders expect the Texans to focus on the back seven on the first day of the draft. Jenkins would provide the Texans with some flexibility against a lengthy holdout from Dunta Robinson, who is angry that the team franchised him after initially telling him they would not do so.
16. San Diego Chargers
Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU: Allowing Igor Olshansky to leave via free agency created a significant hole at defensive end. Jackson, considered by most to be the preeminent 5-technique prospect of this draft, could fill in immediately and has already been scheduled for a private workout with the Chargers.
17. New York Jets
Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland: The Jets haven't featured a legitimate home-run threat at wide receiver since trading Santana Moss. Freeman remains a possibility, but the defensive-minded Rex Ryan may want more of an immediate impact with this pick than a rookie quarterback will provide.
18. Denver Broncos (from Chicago)
Rey Maualuga, ILB, Southern California: The Broncos could take Freeman here, or elect to package their picks to move up into the top 10 for a chance at either Stafford or Sanchez. Perhaps the better idea would be to wait and see what they have in Kyle Orton and Chris Simms and build their defense first. The addition of Raji and Maualuga would make the transition to the 3-4 defense an easier one.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State: The Bucs may not be able to wait for Freeman to fall into their laps, but if he were still available point Raheem Morris is expected to nab him. Morris knows Freeman as well as any coach in the NFL, considering their time together at Kansas State, and quarterback is a clear area of need for the Bucs.
20. Detroit Lions (from Dallas)
Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi: The Lions currently have only four defensive tackles on their roster, with Chuck Darby (33 years old) and Grady Jackson (36) as their presumptive starters. Raji got the headlines with his play during the Senior Bowl practices, but Jerry was arguably just as impressive.
21. Philadelphia Eagles
Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia: Brian Westbrook remains a superstar, but at 30 years old and suffering from a degenerative knee condition, he may no longer be capable of full-time duties. With two first-round picks and having paid attention to their offensive line via free agency (Stacy Andrews), the Eagles would be wise to take the underrated Moreno.
22. Minnesota Vikings
Eben Britton, OT, Arizona: Former second-round pick Ryan Cook has struggled and might be better served moving back inside. Britton, experienced at left and right tackle, has the size and strength to upgrade the position immediately.
23. New England Patriots
Connor Barwin, OLB, Cincinnati: Outside linebacker was an area of concern for the Patriots before trading veteran Mike Vrabel to the Chiefs. His loss makes the position an area of legitimate need and one New England will almost certainly address on the first day of the draft.
24. Atlanta Falcons
Clay Matthews, OLB, Southern California: The addition of veteran Mike Peterson helps fill the void left by losing longtime starters Keith Brooking and Michael Boley, but the Falcons would be wise to address the position via the draft, as well. Matthews, Jr. was viewed as a borderline first-round pick, but certainly looked the part at his Pro Day, outshining his former teammates Cushing and Maualuga.
25. Miami Dolphins
Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State
26. Baltimore Ravens
Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina
27. Indianapolis Colts
Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee.
28. Philadelphia Eagles (from Carolina)
William Beatty, OT, Connecticut
29. New York Giants9. New York Giants
Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
30. Tennessee Titans
Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut
31. Arizona Cardinals
Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
32. Pittsburgh Steelers
Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/n...tscout-RobRang
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Rangs got 2 QBs and all 4 top-rated LTs going in the top 7 of his latest Mock.
See us taking CB Jenkins at 15.

[HPF Bob]

They make the Buccaneers look like possible trade down partners for us. Of course, Rang did this before the Bucs signed Leftwich this weekend. I'm not sure that would necessarily stop them from getting a raw tools type QB like Freeman who is going to need some coaching up before he is ready for the show.

The problem is that the Bucs have already traded their second to Cleveland for Winslow The F-in Soljah so they might be reluctant to part with a third to move up.