Mock Draft V2

The draft talk is heating up. Here is my second take on the mock draft.

By the way, check out Billy the Kid, a heartbreaking documentary about a dorky 15 year-old kid in small town Maine. It was funny watching it how much I was reminded of my own trials and travails as an underclassman. Not that I was any different as an upperclassman (or now for that matter) but you lose some of your awkwardness at the age of 16 - or you care less about it.

1. Detroit: Matthew Stafford. No change. Detroit would trade down if anybody really wanted to move up. They could go with Eugene Monroe at take their chances later in the draft. I don't really like any QB other than Stafford and Sanchez as a potential franchise QB.

2. St Louis: Eugene Monroe No change. Monroe is the safest pick in the draft, whatever that means. Highly drafted OL bust as easily as QB. Monroe needs some more development but not much. He can step in on Day 1 and do fine. There aren't many complex defenses in the NFC West nor are there any dominant front sevens. Seattle will be a challenge but that's it.

3. KC: Aaron Curry. He's the best prospect in the draft hands down. He can play outside in either a 40 or 30 front, which Clancy Pendergrast reportedly will use as KC switches to a 3-4. Funny, most 40 teams show a 30 front a considerable percentages of snaps per game to mix up defensive looks.

4. Seattle: Jason Smith. This could change as there is more talk about the Seahawks going QB with Sanchez. I don't see it. They are poised for a big rebound but their OL is in shambles and just saying their OL is healthier is not a cure.

5. Cleveland: Orakpo. No change. I think he's Mike Mamula Jr, but we'll see.

6. Cincinnatti: Andre Smith. They are inviting everybody in for private workouts but I think it's a smoke screen. Chris Wells is reportedly a favorite. No way. Their OL is, to quote Silky Johnson, like the nation of Afghanistan: bombed out, and in tatters.

7. Oakland: Michael Crabtree. I'd take BJ Raji if I were the Raiders but if I was making that pick, I would be a senile old man in a track suit. I don't bash Al Davis - he is perhaps one of the greatest innovators in the history of the NFL. They could go Maclin here too or Derrius Heyward-Bey. Al loves speed. DHB is speed. May go with DHB in subsequent drafts.

8. Jacksonville: Jeremy Maclin. They aren't going with Sanchez. David Garrard is their man. At least for another year. They need OL help badly but they can get good value in the second round. Plus they might pick up some more picks if Denver trades up to take Sanchez. I don't think they will. Interstingly enough McDaniels made the deal with Chicago because he likes actually likes Kyle Orton.

9. Green Bay: Changing up and going Tyson Jackson. Green Bay could go BJ Raji but they have two guys at NT they like already though the key to a 3-4 is the NT and it's not like they are ferocious run defenders now. Michael Lombardi has the Pack taking Michael Oher. I don't see it. I think GB has linemen they feel they can run out to RT. Jackson is perhaps the best 30 front end in the draft. He's ready to contribute now.

10. San Francisco: Changing it up and going with Aaron Maybin. Maybin can play OLB and pressure the QB in a 30 front. They could go Sanchez but I don't see them taking a QB.

11. Buffalo: Buffalo is shopping the pick maybe to the Jets if Denver puts smokescreens up they are going for Sanchez. Otherwise I like them to take Everette Brown. Brown can be a RDE or WILL backer in a 40 front to generate pressure on the QB.

12. Denver: changing it to BJ Raji. They need a NT badly.

13. Washington: Sticking with Michael Oher though the desparation at DE is obvious when the best they could muster is a pair of 30 something retreads (Phillip Daniels and Reynaldo Wynn). I think these guys are serviceable and will provide good locker room presence, but the objective of the offseason is to get younger, stronger, and faster.

14. New Orleans: stick with Brian Cushing. Sean Payton gushed over Chris Wells at the NFL meetings and made some comments about how Wells would be a good fit with the Saints. They could still take a LB but there are good thumpers in the second and third rounds. They could also go for Malcolm Jenkins but they signed Jabari Greer.

15. Houston: I think they would like it if Brian Cushing were still around. They signed Cato June who will be their new WILL backer. They signed Shaun Cody so I don't see them going DL again in the draft. At this point with Malcolm Jenkins still around, they take him. Chris Wells is a good fit, too. Steve Slaton can't hold up for 16 games again.

16. San Diego: change to Chris Wells. They could go Knowshon Moreno but Sproles already fills that fastback kind of role. Wells is a big guy who also has speed and is a good pro prospect though Greg Cosell doens't really like him that much. And I respect Greg Cosell as much as any analyst.

17. Jets: Matt Sanchez. No change. If he's around this long.

18. Denver: Everette Brown is available at this point in this mock. so they go with him. They really don't have anybody who can run from the outside backer spot. There is talk of Evlis Dumervil being a "tweener" or hybrid player who puts a hand down or stands up and rushes - but he hasn't done either exceptionally well in his pro career. They could also go Robert Ayers - they also don't really have any DE who can play the 3 technique in 3-4.

19. Tampa: change to Peria Jerry. They would like to take a QB here and just might reach for Josh Freeman, whom Raheem Morris coached at K State. But they lost Jovan Haye, a young DT, in free agency and last time I looked, it was the defense that collapsed in the stretch. They could go LB too as they need to get better and deeper at that position.

20. Detroit: change to Rey Maualuga. They need LB badly as they DE, but the value with Maualuga at 20 overall is enticing. He can step in and be a thumper from the MIKE position from Day 1.

21. Philly: no change from Knowshon Moreno.

22. Minny: no change from Percy Harvin.

23. New England: change to James Laurinitis. I may go back on this one again. I have a feeling Belichick might have some bad juju left over from Andy Katzenmoyer. But Laurinitis played inside and could kick to ROLB in the Pats 30 front nicely. If anybody was mentally prepared for the NFL in this draft, it's him.

24. Atlanta: no change from Brandon Pettigrew.

25. Miami: change to Kenny Britt. Good size, good hands, good athleticism. The Fins need to work on their passing game.

26. Baltimore: change to Clint Sintim. Played in ILB in the 30 front and inside in high school. Natural leader and instinctive LB.

27. Indianapolis: there was a good interview published on Pro Football Talk with Bill Polian who said, repeatedly, that he takes the best player available. At this point, I;m not going to change from Donald Brown. He never blocked in college but he seems to be a very coachable kid who would pick it up quickly.

28. Philly: change to Cornelius Ingram. I'm not sure what I'm thinking here but Reid seems confident that either Todd Herremans or Shaun Andrews can slide to LT. Some say that leaves a hole inside, but they have depth to fill inside, too. Donovan McNabb wants weapons and the division rivals showed with Marty B that you can create mismatches with two athletic tight ends on the field.

29. Giants: change to Hakeem Nicks. Not crazy that he showed up almost 15 pounds over his listed weight to private workouts. He can catch and he is competitive, so he will be a good pro. It's not a done deal that the Giants will take a wide out so early in the draft.

30. Tennessee: no change from Max Unger. I don't see them going WR at this point with the top guys off the board. If Kenny Britt were around, I think he would go to Tennessee. They don't have many needs. They could do corner but I don't trust either Vontae Davis or Darius Butler, two guys flying up draft boards now. Both have character issues of one kind or another and Pacman was enough.

31. Arizona: change to Clay Matthews. I haven't been a fan of his but he's had great workouts and has trended upwards in his college career - consistently. His athleticism offers a lot of flexibility to a team like the Cardinals. Matthews might be a better fit as a ROLB in a 30 looks, but he could bulk up and be a nice WILL who can play in nickel situations. The more I think about it, the more I like him. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

32. Pittsburgh: changes to William Beatty. They lost Marvel Smith. Beatty is a little lean in his build and needs to build up some strength but he could be their starting RT by Week 1. They can't afford to ingore the holes in the OL anymore or Roethlisberger will need more reconstructive surgery.