2006 Mock Draft:
Last
year�s mock had this injunction:
� Mock drafts, being a futile exercise in arranging bad information, were to be avoided.� However, the pull, like that of a Black Hole, is irresistible.� On balance then, the following is best read as fiction��
Filed
Saturday, an hour before the whistle blew, that work, even tossed off, still pegged
29 of 32 prospects selected in R1.� Not
bad (I guess) so this: three rounds, now nearly 8 days in front.� Expect nothing.�
The
trades imagined here are in boldface, in column 2; the Steelers picks
are shown in column 4.� Ok then.
Round 1:�
|
Team |
Pos. |
Player |
Remarks
|
1 |
Texans |
DE |
Mario Williams
|
In
2002, the Texans selected David Carr, leaving Julius Peppers on the
board.� Not again; permitted to chose,
say, between Gale Sayers and Reggie White, the answer is easy.� White.�
|
2 |
Saints |
Weapon |
Reggie
Bush |
In
2001, the Saints took Deuce McAlister, even though they then had Ricky
Williams on-board.� As is true for
most RB, not for long.� For a couple
seasons, they�ll find a way to get both Reggie and Deuce on the field
simultaneously. |
3 |
Titans |
QB
|
Matt
Leinart |
Knows
Norm Chow�s system.� |
4 |
Jets |
LT |
D�Brickashaw
Ferguson |
Long
Island native will handle pressure from both NFL DE and from the NYC media
better than any prospect in this class.��
|
5 |
Broncos(f/
Green Bay) |
TE
|
Vernon
Davis |
Denver
moves to get the best receiver in the draft.�
Green Bay receives 1.15, 2.37 and 4.119.� |
6 |
Niners |
LB
|
AJ
Hawk |
Top
playmaker; Niners might prefer a 3-4 OLB but, in this projection, can�t deal down
to value.� |
7 |
Raiders |
QB
|
Vince
Young |
Aaron
Brooks is a stopgap.� Young would generate
some buzz among the aging and apathetic in Raider Nation.�� |
8 |
Bills |
DT |
Broderick
Bunkley |
Bills
get a top DT to pair with Larry Triplett and protect London Fletcher |
9 |
Lions |
OT
|
Winston
Justice |
Jeff
Backus is an OG, if that.� |
10 |
Cardinals |
FS |
Michael
Huff |
Robert
Griffith is 34 years old.� |
11 |
Vikings (f/St.
Louis) |
QB
|
Jay
Cutler |
Minnesota
has done a good job in FA, upgrading at RB, OG and SS.� Now QB, in the same slot they got
Culpepper (in �99).� St. Louis
receives 1.17 and 2.51; the teams flip picks 3.77 and 3.95.� |
12 |
Browns
|
DE �(OLB) |
Manny
Lawson |
Ranked
#2 among DE but will be an OLB in the Browns� 3-4.� As such, Lawson is the only big frame, quick twitch OLB in this
draft.� Well, maybe Mark Anderson too.
|
13 |
Ravens
|
CB
|
Jimmy
Williams |
Bad
boy DB for a bad team of bad boyz. |
14 |
Eagles
|
OLB
|
Ernie
Sims |
A
playmaker; 2005 Eagles� LBs made no plays at all.� |
15 |
Packers(f/Denver) |
DT
|
Haloti
Ngata |
A
big DT in the Gilbert Brown/Grady Jackson mode.� |
16 |
Miami |
CB
|
Antonio
Cromartie |
Cromartie
has all the tools to be a Pro Bowl CB.�
Initially, his KR ability will factor in the field position
battle.������� |
17 |
Rams(f/Minnesota)
|
CB |
Tye
Hill |
Small
but fast and combative.� Figures as a
top dome CB.� |
18 |
Colts(f/Dallas) |
RB
|
DeAngelo
Williams |
Clear
need pick for Indy. Boys move back towards FS or ILB value at 1.30, and get
2.62 too. |
19 |
Chargers |
WR
|
Chad
Jackson |
Has
the speed to stretch it.� |
20 |
Chiefs |
DE/OLB
|
Kamerion
Wimbley |
Coach
Cunningham will try to make this prospect into the next Derrick Thomas.� Good luck with that.� |
21 |
Patriots
|
RB
|
Laurence
Maroney |
Pats
were 30th rushing last year.�
Maroney can run to the edge, just as Corey Dillon did so effectively
in 2004.� |
22 |
Niners |
WR
|
Santonio
Holmes |
Holmes
will start opposite Antonio Bryant and make plays in the return game
too.� Niners could do worse than the
twin Buckeyes projected here, and probably will. |
23 |
Bucs |
OT
|
Marcus
McNeill |
Re-united
with Cadillac |
24 |
Texans (f/Cincinnati) |
OT |
Eric
Winston |
Having
selected Mario Williams 1.01, the Texans absolutely must get a LT.�� With Winston, a homegrown product,
Houston can return Chester Pitts to OG.��
Cost is 2.33 and 4.97.� |
25 |
Giants |
OLB
|
Chad
Greenway |
The
Giants� 2005 LB corps was abysmal.��� |
26 |
Bears |
DT |
John
McCargo |
Tank
Johnson has some legal entanglements.�
.� |
27 |
Panthers |
TE
|
Mercedes
Lewis |
2005
playoffs made it absolutely clear Delhomme must have a 2nd
receiving option.�� |
28 |
Jaguars |
CB
|
Johnathan
Joseph |
Could
develop as the best cover CB in this class.��
|
29 |
Jets |
I/OLB
|
Bobby
Carpenter |
Projects
best at SILB where he can protect Vilma.�
Eric Barton is not the answer.�
|
30 |
Cowboys (f/Indy) |
FS
|
Donte
Whitner |
FS
was a glaring weakness last season. Now, Whitner and Roy Williams will give
Dallas one of the better S tandems in football. |
31 |
Seahawks |
OG
|
Davin
Joseph |
Best
available replacement for Steve Hutchinson |
32 |
Steelers
|
RB
|
LenDale White |
Third
straight year that the PS harvest a fall.�
The first two worked out fine.�
|
R1
notes:�
- (16) O-side including:
3 QB, 4 RB, 2 WR, 2 TE, 4 OT and 1 IOL.�
- (16) D-side including:
3 DE, 3 DT, 4 LB and 6 DB.�
Round 2:
|
Team |
Pos. |
Player |
Remarks
|
33 |
Bengals
(f/Houston) |
CB
|
Jason Allen
|
Has
size/speed/COD to cover and is excellent in run force, a plus for a team that
can�t play the run at all.� Will move
in for Tory James ASAP.�� |
34 |
Patriots (f/New
Orleans |
CB
|
Richard
Marshall |
A
Pats� kind of guy straight out of Fresno State.�� New Orleans does not now have a R3 pick.� In this deal, they would get 2.52 and
3.86. |
35 |
Jets |
RB |
Joseph
Addai |
Tough
call but Curtis Martin is nearing the end.�
|
36 |
Packers |
OC |
Nick
Mangold |
Two
years ago, the Pack had the best IOL trio this side of KC.� Now, all three are elsewhere.� Mangold is the new cornerstone.��� |
37 |
Packers(f/Denver) |
DE |
Tamba
Hali |
Productive
player with bad measurables.�� |
38 |
Raiders |
SS |
Darnell
Bing |
Raiders
draft the next Derrick Gibson, and that�s not good.� .� |
39 |
Titans |
MLB |
D�Qwell
Jackson |
Titans
get the #1 MLB in this class. |
40 |
Lions |
WR
|
Sinorice
Moss |
Born
to play in Mike Martz�s system.� |
41 |
Cardinals |
OLB |
DeMeco
Ryans |
High
character player who is a 3-down LB; projects either at WOLB or MLB in
AZ.��� |
42 |
Bills |
SS |
Daniel Bullocks
|
Athletic,
competitive and intelligent; would learn fast alongside Troy Vincent |
43 |
Browns |
NT |
Gabe
Watson |
Massive
space eater with some motivation issues. |
44 |
Ravens
|
OG
|
Deuce
Lutui |
Mulitalo
bloated last year and may not be back.�
Keydrick Vincent wasn�t great either.�
|
45 |
Eagles |
DT |
Claude
Wroten |
The
Eagles Fr. 7 played poorly last year.�
Philly acquired FA DE Darren Howard but still need some rotation
DT.�� |
46 |
Rams |
DE |
Mathias
Kiwanuka |
BPA
at a position of need: the Rams DE set consists of Leonard Little, Tony
Hargrove and nothing at all. |
47 |
Falcons |
CB
|
Ashton
Youboty |
The
Falcons need a CB opposite DeAngelo Hall.�
Youboty has the skill set to develop into an acceptable #2.��� |
48 |
Vikings |
CB
|
Kelly
Jennings |
Best
NCB in the class.� |
49 |
Cowboys |
OG
|
Max
Jean-Gilles |
Maximum
Max has more than enough heft to fill the void left by Larry Allen.� |
50 |
Chargers |
LT
|
Daryn
Colledge |
Roman
Oben can�t go on forever.� |
51 |
Rams(f/Minnesota) |
IOL
|
Chris
Chester |
Exceptional
athleticism, played TE, OG and OC at Oklahoma.� The Rams� IOL are old and older. |
52 |
Saints(f/NE) |
TE
|
Leonard
Pope |
Gives
Drew Brees a target at TE.� Pope isn�t
Antonio Gates but he projects as a decent receiving TE. |
53 |
Steelers (f/Washington) |
FS |
Ko Simpson |
13th
DB selected; Simpson is the last big school R2-worthy S remaining on the
board.� Presently, the Skins don�t
have a pick until R5; this deal would give them 2.64 and 3.96.� PS would gain the Skins� 2007 R4.� |
54 |
Chiefs |
WR |
Greg
Jennings |
Quick
WR with exceptional hands; good fit in the Chiefs� system.� |
55 |
Bengals |
Athlete |
Devin
Hester |
The
Bengals have talked to him about playing both ways.� |
56 |
Giants |
RB/RT |
Maurice
Drew |
Can
spell Tiki Barber, and contribute in the return game.� |
57 |
Bears |
TE
|
Anthony
Fasano |
Davis
is the impact receiver, but Fasano may be the best all-around TE in this
class. |
58 |
Panthers |
DB/RT |
Danieal
Manning |
Figures
to start year 2; would make an immediate impact in the return game |
59 |
Bucs |
OLB |
Rocky
McIntosh |
High
character prospect with a high degree of athleticism.� Does have some injury history |
60 |
Jaguars |
DE |
Daryl
Tapp |
Openside
pass rusher opposite Reggie Hayward.��
Would convert plays out of the leverage created by the Jags� DT
tandem.�� |
61 |
Broncos |
WR |
Derek
Hagan |
Pac-10
all time leading receiver.� Good
hands, marginal burst; Hagan has some Rod Smith attributes.��� |
62 |
Cowboys(f/Indy) |
DE
(I/OLB) |
Chris
Gocong |
Will
be a LB in Dallas� 34.� The Boys
worked him out both inside and out.� |
63 |
Seahawks |
DE |
Mark
Anderson |
High
try guy who came on in his senior season, later impressing both at the Senior
Bowl and the Combine. |
64 |
Redskins(f/Pittsburgh) |
LB
|
Gerris
Wilkinson |
Greg
Williams will like his versatility.�
Played OLB, MLB and DE at Georgia Tech.� Was a team leader.�� |
R2
notes:
- (12) O-side including:
2 RB, 3 WR, 2 TE, 1 OT and 4 IOL.�
- (19) D-side
including:� 5 DE, 2 DT, 4 LB and 8
DB.�
- (1) Undecided: Devin
Hester.
Round 3:
|
Team |
Pos. |
Player |
Remarks
|
65 |
Texans |
TE
|
Joel
Klopfenstein |
BPA
pick.� Jeff Putzier is not a #1 TE. |
66 |
Texans |
OLB
|
Thomas
Howard |
Exceptional
speed; in transitioning to the 4-3, the Texans do need a coverage LB.� |
67 |
Packers
|
WR
|
Demetrius
Williams |
A
developmental target for Favre, or Rodgers |
68 |
Broncos |
S |
Anthony
Smith |
Plays
faster than he times, had (6) INT last year even while yoked to a wretched
Syracuse team. |
69 |
Raiders |
LB
|
Clint
Ingram |
R1
athlete with UDFA instincts.�
Over-drafted at this spot. |
70 |
Bills |
LT |
Rashad
Butler |
Has
a vast wingspan, decent athleticism but lacks strength.� Still, was a fairly durable player at The
U.� May start year 2.� |
71 |
Jets |
QB
|
Kellen
Clemens |
Good
fit for the Jets� version of the WCO |
72 |
Cardinals |
NT |
Babatunde
Oshinowo |
AZ
needs a stuffer to make their UT 4-3 go.�
Oshinowo will rotate with former Steeler Kendrick Clancy.� |
73 |
Bills |
OG |
Charles
Spencer |
Converted
DT who played both LG and LT at Pitt.�
Raw but may have more upside than either Lutui or Jean-Gilles. |
74 |
Lions |
DE |
Victor
Adeyanju |
The
Lions take character over production. |
75 |
Patriots |
OLB (SS) |
Jon
Alston |
3-4
SS: Rodney Harrison doesn�t figure to make it back.� Athletically, Alston has some similarities with Polamalu.� |
76 |
Eagles |
WR |
Maurice
Stovall |
A
big WR for the Philly WCO.� Has TE
size and, unfortunately, TE speed too. |
77 |
Vikings(f/St.
Louis) |
DT |
Kyle
Williams |
Not
a good athlete but a good player.� Trivial
pursuit: Vikes would have 3 DT named Williams. |
78 |
Browns |
DT (DE) |
Rodrique
Wright |
Will
be a DE in the Browns� 3-4.� Boom or
bust but it is worth noting that Texas D-linemen typically have performed
well in the NFL. |
79 |
Falcons |
RB |
Jerious
Norwood |
Two
straight seasons with over 1000 yards rushing, when playing for a Miss. State
team that had no air game at all.� |
80 |
Cowboys |
WR/RT |
Brandon
Williams |
A
slot receiver who can contribute in the return game.� Small, touches must be limited. |
81 |
Chargers |
ILB |
Abdul
Hodge |
Good
player, bad athlete, excellent leader.�
|
82 |
Dolphins |
DT
|
Dusty
Dvoracek |
Quality
rotation DT.� Will die for it. |
83 |
Vikings |
TE |
Tony
Scheffler |
Highly
intelligent player with some ability to stretch it.� An Eagles� type TE for the Vikes� new HC, Brad Childress. |
84 |
Niners |
DE (OLB) |
Brent
Hawkins |
Buchanon
finalist; will be an OLB in the Niners 3-4. |
85 |
Chiefs |
DB |
Cedric
Griffin |
Not
a great athlete but a good player.�
Package DB initially, future may be at FS.� |
86 |
Saints
(f/NE) |
OT |
Andrew
Whitworth |
Made
52 straight starts for LSU at LT.�
Figures as a RT in the show.�
Would give the Saints an option to fragile Jon Stinchcomb.� |
87 |
Giants |
OT
|
Jonathan
Scott |
Boom
or bust.� It is worth noting that
Texas O-linemen typically have disappointed in the show. |
88 |
Bears |
CB
|
DeMario
Minter |
Good
size, fair speed; good in zone, limited on-man.� Quality package DB with a high degree of want-to. |
89 |
Panthers |
WR/ST |
Brandon
Marshall |
Exceptional
size/speed developmental WR.� Will
perform effectively on coverage teams too. |
90 |
Bucs |
CB |
Alan
Zemaitis |
Good
fit in the Bucs� Cover 2. |
91 |
Bengals |
WOLB |
James
Anderson |
Coverage
LB with some speed.� |
92 |
Jaguars |
OG |
Fred
Matua |
After
Davin Joseph, the best pulling OG in this class.� |
93 |
Falcons |
QB
|
Brodie
Croyle |
Reportedly,
Atlanta is shopping Matt Schaub.� If
so, they�ll need a backup.� Croyle is
an excellent leader but has a long and troublesome injury history |
94 |
Colts |
DT |
Jonathan
Lewis |
Another
penetrating DT |
95 |
Rams(f/Minnesota) |
FS |
Roman
Harper |
Plays
faster than he times, and did 4.48 at Pro Day.� Son of a coach, and a coach on the field. |
96 |
Washington(f/Pittsburgh) |
DB |
Antoine
Bethea |
Small
school DB with 4.39 speed and good COD.�
Over-drafted here, but the Skins won�t go again �til deep in R5.� |
97 |
Jets |
DT
(DE) |
Barry
Cofield |
A
natural for the 3-4; will be a DE in the Jets� new set.� Best Combine tests among all DT, excluding
Bunkley.�� |
R3
notes:
- (14) O-side: 2 QB, 1
RB, 4 WR, 2 TE, 3 OT and 2 IOL
- (19) D-side: 2 DE, 6
DT, 5 LB and 6 DB.
Three
round totals:
- (42) O-side including:
5 QB, 7 RB, 9 WR, 6 TE, 8 OT and 7 IOL.�
- (54) D-side including:
10 DE, 11 DT, 13 LB and 20 DB.�
(Note: both Lawson and Gocong are counted as DE here, Alston as a
LB and Cofield and Wright as DT.�
Switching those to the facts of various 3-4 aggregates yields: 10
DE, 9 DT, 14 LB and 21 DB.)
- (1) Undecided: Devin
Hester.��
Steeler-centric
notes:
- In this projection, the
PS land LenDale White and then scramble for a R2 safety.� That costs their R3 but, on the plus
side, the possibility of moving up in R4 (using their negotiable R5) does
remain.�
- In this projection, WR
picks run a round behind standard, with most of that differential taken up
in Fr. 7 personnel.� On the plus
side, possession receivers do remain into (this) Day 2, and nearly all
WR/RT too.� The former figure as R4
comp values; it is likely that OLB may be had in that spot as well.�
- The Steelers� invitee
list suggests they�re looking at the left side of their O-line.� Too bad since, in this projection, Guy
Whimper is the only mid-round worthy LT remaining.� Mainly, the available (per this
projection) OT are R4 stiffs like Ryan O�Callaghan and Jeremy Trueblood,
both over-valued as Day 1 prospects, IMO.�
Either Whimper or a DE like Julian Jenkins may be available via
that R4 move noted previously.�
- Deep Day 2 value, R5
comp and on, figures at LB, WR/return, receiving TE, S and IOL.
Coming
attractions:�
- Final SBBV.�