Mock Drafts

N Barnetts 1/16/07 2 round Mock Draft

1) Oakland Raiders select QB JaMarcus Russell from LSU.

Is this the year the Raiders finally break down and select their franchise QB? Russell has the big arm and the athletic ability that Al Davis likes. The Raiders are also searching for a offensive minded head coach. I also wouldn't be suprised to see several teams try to trade up with the Raiders for the #1 overall pick.

2) Detroit Lions select QB Brady Quinn from Notre Dame.

Though they may be tempted to make the safe pick here, the Lions can't pass up a QB like Quinn. I'm imagine that they start off with Jon Kitna and end the season with Brady Quinn at the helm. Joe Thomas and Calvin Johnson will be very high considered here as well but they need a franchise QB to build upon.

3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers select WR Calvin Johnson from Georgia Tech.

The Buccanneers were potentially looking at QB but with the top 2 QBs off the board they take the next best option. Johnson has the makings of an elite player and should really help out Chris Simms. Joey Galloway is nearing the end of his career and Michael Clayton has been a huge disapointment since his stellar rookie season.

4) Cleveland Browns select RB Adrian Peterson from Oklahoma.

The Browns need a run game to take the pressure off of Charlie Frye. Peterson is a combination of power and speed and would be a big upgrade over Reuben Droughns. They may target Joe Thomas here as well but they can't pass up a talented player like Adrian Peterson.

5) Arizona Cardinals select OT Joe Thomas from Wisconsin.

With little interest in retaining Leonard Davis the Cardinals might look to get their replacement here with Thomas. A very athletic player who should anchor the left side of the offensive line for year. The new coaching staff might go more for one of the more flashy players here but Thomas is the right pick for them.

6) Washington Redskins select DE Jamaal Anderson from Arkansas.

Looking to boost their defensive line, the Redskins target one of the nation's premier DEs. Anderson is a big time prospect who has the size, speed, and strength to be an every down player. Anderson is a complete player unlike Gaines Adams and should have an immediate impact on the defense.

7) Minnesota Vikings select WR Dwayne Jarrett from USC.

After trading away Randy Moss then selecting a big disapointment in Troy Williamson the Vikings will very likely be looking to take yet another WR. Jarrett has reat size and good hands but may lack the speed. Shades of another Mike Williams may scare some teams away as well. In then end, I'd look for the Vikings to try and trade up to get Calvin Johnson.

8) Houston Texans select RB Marshawn Lynch from California.

A year after passing on Reggie Bush, the Texans are in need of a RB and it's looking like Domanick Williams (formally Domanick Davis) is no longer the man in Houston. Lynch is a fast, agile, and catches the ball well out of the backfield. They may also be looking at QB or CB here as well.

9) Miami Dolphins select DE Gaines Adams from Clemson.

Though the Dolphins have more pressing needs they won't be able to pass up a guy like Adams. Jason Taylor flirted with retirement talk this year so they should start to look for an eventual replacement. Adams has the same size and about the same speed as Taylor and should fit in well if the Dolphins play either the 4-3 or 3-4 defense.

10) Atlanta Falcons select DT Alan Branch from Michigan.

The Falcons need a big run stopper in the middle of their defensive line. Branch is younger and more active than Grady Jackson. He would also be a building block for the defensive line. If Patrick Kerney leaves in free agency, Rod Coleman may move to DE opening up a position for Branch.

11) San Francisco 49ers select CB Leon Hall from Michigan.

The 49ers desperately need help in the secondary. They have a potential star in Shawntae Spencer but Walt Harris is getting older and they really lack depth after that. Hall is a physical player but might not have the speed to play CB. A shift to safety isn't out of the question but fortunately the 49ers need help there as well.

12) Buffalo Bills select OT Levi Brown from Penn State.

J.P. Losman really started to come around and showed some flashes of potential this year. The priority should be to protect him so he has time to sit in the pocket. Brown is a massive tackle who could also potentially play guard. Either way he should find his place and be a good pro.

13) St. Louis Rams select S LaRon Landry from LSU.

The Rams have begun to retool their defense and Landry would be a leader in the secondary for them. A good tackler who is a hard hitting playmaker is just what they need at safety. He should be Corey Chavous's eventual replacement and could even challenge him for the starting job from day one.

14) Carolina Panthers select LB Patrick Willis from Ole Miss.

The Panthers are potentially losing alot of pieces on defense so I'd look for them to go defense here. Willis is a pure tackling machine who can play all 3 of the LB positions. Good new is that Dan Morgan is expected to be back so along with Thomas Davis they should make for a great LB corps.

15) Pittsburgh Steelers select OG Justin Blalock from Texas.

With no real pressing needs, the Steelers will very likely look to trade down here. But drafting Blalock would keep their options open since both Kendall Simmons and Alan Faneca are free agents after the 2007 season. Ben Roethlisberger was also sacked twice as much as last season so protecting him should be priority #1.

16) Green Bay Packers select CB Marcus McCauley from Fresno State.

The Packers have a good tandum at CB with Al Harris and Charles Woodson but both are in their 30s and there is not depth behind them. McCauley has blazing speed and the size the Packers defense calls for. A bit raw but he should have time to develop before taking a starting role.

17) Jacksonville Jaguars select LB Paul Posluszny from Penn State.

The Jaguars need another presence at LB and Posluszny would be an ideal fit at the weak side LB position. Mike Peterson is an underrated player but without him they don't have another 100+ tackle guy. Posluszny is ideal for the defense and would team up well with Peterson and Clint Ingram.

18) Cincinnati Bengals select DE Adam Carriker from Nebraska.

In shifting full time to the 3-4 defense the Bengals are going to have to let Justin Smith leave in free agency. They resigned Robert Geathers to a big contract extention but I still think they will look to draft a DE in the 1st round. Carriker has the size, speed, and strength to fit in very well as a 3-4 DE.

19) Tennessee Titans select WR Ted Ginn Jr. from Ohio State.

The Titans found their franchise QB in Vince Young so priority number one should be to get some weapons around him. Leading receivers Drew Bennett and Bobby Wade are free agents this offseason as well. Ginn is a bit raw as a receiver but he has elite speed, return skills, and very high potential.

20) New York Giants select CB Darrelle Revis from Pittsburgh.

Although the Giants have quite a few needs that could be filled here, they could seek to get younger at CB here with Revis. Both of their starting CBs are in their 30s and Corey Webster is still developing as the nickleback. Revis is a physical CB who could come in and compete with Webster for the nickleback role right away.

21) Denver Broncos select DE Quentin Moses from Georgia.

The Broncos hired Jim Bates to install his defensive scheme that has worked extremely well in Miami. Quentin Moses is very comparable to Jason Taylor and the Broncos would be thrilled if they got him this late in the draft. While he isn't the best run stopper, the speed that the Broncos have at LB makes up for that weakness in his game.

22) Dallas Cowboys select DT Amobi Okoye from Louisville.

Jason Ferguson's contract starts to get expensive after the 2007 season so the Cowboys might start looking at a replacement NT. Okoye is going to be the youngest player in the NFL at age 20 and still learning but has a ton of potential. Also, if the Cowboys switch back to the 4-3 defense they would have their defensive line set with Okoye.

23) Kansas City Chiefs select DT DeMarcus Tyler from NC State.

The Chiefs are expected to part ways with their former 6th overall bust Ryan Sims. Tyler is very strong and gets a good push up the middle. Still learning but already a very talented athlete who is still getting better.

24) New England Patriots (from Seattle Seahawks) select S Reggie Nelson from Florida.

The Patriots are in need of secondary help and they've landed a gem in Reggie Nelson. Rodney Harrison is getting older and becoming an injury liability so they should start to look at eventual replacementts. Nelson has good speed and is a playmaker in the secondary who could also play a little CB if needed.

25) New York Jets select RB Michael Bush from Louisville.

Curtis Martin's career is officially over and the Jets aren't sure if Leon Washington is capable of being a feature RB. The big man Michael Bush could be an option here, especially in a division that is notorious for tough defenses. Bush's size could allow him to plow through the 3-4 defenses of the Patriots and Dolphins.

26) Philadelphia Eagles select S Michael Griffin from Texas.

Griffin finds himself in a good spot because he gets to learn from one of the best in Brian Dawkins. He could even challenge Sean Considine for a starting job. Griffin has good enough speed that he may be able to play a little CB if needed as well.

27) New Orleans Saints select LB Lawrence Timmons from Florida State.

The Saints need help badly at LB and Timmons would be ideal for them here. DE Charles Johnson is another option here if they lose Charles Grant in free agency. Timmons is a nice addition since they were planning to take A.J. Hawk 2nd overall last year until Reggie Bush fell into their laps.

28) New England Patriots select WR Sidney Rice from South Carolina.

Every year the Patriots seemingly make due without a star WR. Rice has excellent size and hands but has just ok speed. Still, he is a consistant player who has a top notch QB throwing him the ball.

29) Baltimore Ravens select DE Charles Johnson from Georgia.

Trevor Pryce had probably his best season last year but the Raven should look for an eventual replacement. Johnson also has the measurables that fit well into the Ravens defense. CB might also be an option here as well.

30) San Diego Chargers select WR Robert Meachem from Tennessee.

Meachem has the size that the Chargers look for at WR to go along with good speed. Keenan McCardell is nearing the end of his career and Eric Parker and Vincent Jackson have yet to really prove themselves.

31) Indianapolis Colts select DT Quinn Pitcock from Ohio State.

The Colts payed have alot of money tied up in Cory Simon and they traded a 2nd round pick for an expensive Anthony McFarland. Something has got to give soon so they could look to replace one of the two players. Pitcock has good size and speed and fits well into the cover 2 defense.

32) Chicago Bears select LB Buster Davis from Florida State.

The Bears don't have any real major needs but they could potentially lose Pro Bowl LB Lance Briggs. Even if they do franchise him, they could potentially look for a replacement to either him or Hunter Hillenmeyer.