Rob Rang 1st-Round Mock
 

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/11268534

"15. Houston Texans - Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas: Despite investing three first-round picks into the defensive line, the Texans still lack pass rushers to keep DE Mario Williams from being constantly double-teamed. Orakpo would provide a solid base end on the left side and be a public relations coup."

Other names frequently mentioned:

Raji at 9.
Cushing at 11.
Maualuga at 12.
Jerry at 13.

Those taken following:

Maybin
Maclin
Moreno
Laurinaitis
Wells

I'm wondering here on the 30th of January if the Browns might not want to draft Orakpo to replace Willie McGinest. Then, that might just allow Aaron Curry to fall into our laps at #15. At least that's my hope. Otherwise, Jeremy Maclin is just too good in my opinion to let go to the Jets.

i dont see macklin coming here. we are set at wr moreso than any other position. As much as I would love having Macklin as a weapon, can't see us using a #1 on him in any scenario with so many other holes needed to be filled. Although after watching Arizona, can't say it wouldnt be fun to have Andre Johnson, Macklin and Walters lining up and Andre Davis/Jacoby Jones coming in while running 4 wr sets

You have to have a great slot guy to make 3 wide sets work. The patriots used Troy Brown/Branch/Welker in this role. The Colts used Stokely/clark. Arizona uses Boldin.

Walter almost never plays in the slot. His size serves him very well on the outside and helped make him a great deep threat this year, but he is not a slot guy. AJ played there some but I would not want to turn him full-time into a slot guy catching 8 yard passes like Wes Welker.

Can Maclin be a slot guy with his slight build? Did he ever play there at Mizzou? Anyone watch them a lot?

Wes Welker is 5'9" 185lbs. Maclin is 6'1" 200lbs, so I wouldn't worry too much about his slight build. I wouldn't also dismiss the possibility that he'd be better than our current #2.

He could play the slot when we had 3 WR sets, but I'd have him on the field as much as possible. Imagine how successful Reggie Bush would be if he were a WR instead of a RB/WR hybrid.

One difference between Walter and Maclin is blocking. I doubt that Maclin will ever be as good of a blocker as Walter. With that being said, Maclin has a lot of potential as a weapon. Whether it develops is another thing.

I definitely think he'd be an upgrade as our #2 guy. But he would eliminate Walter's effectiveness by playing the only spot it appears Walter can play. That is my question. If we draft Maclin I assume he becomes our #2 WR. But can he play the slot in 3 WR sets so that Walter is still an asset?

As for Welker's and Maclin's build, Welker is far thicker. The guy has no neck, is as muscled as a WR comes, and plays extremely physical. Height and weight is extremely deceiving sometimes. For example Reggie Bush is 6' and 203 and is absolutely a slight build.

So I repeat what I asked. Did Maclin ever play the slot at Mizzou? Can he shift over there and be our slot guy in 3 WR sets? If he can he upgrades both our #2 and #3 WR spots by allowing Walter to keep a value on our team. He would obviously upgrade our return game as well. So if he can play the slot, I can see value that measures up with a first round pick even if the need isn't a perfect match.

Take a look...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWaqPMpqIWQ

0:43, 1:02, 1:11, 1:33

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wzrlt...eature=related

0:33, 0:45, 0:59, 1:58, 3:03


These plays are where he's going over the middle and making plays. I'm not 100% certain that he lined up in the slot for each of these plays. However, based upon what I see here along with his ability to return kicks, it's obvious that he can run through traffic.

He would be an upgrade over Jacoby Jones.

I don't think Walter gets anywhere near enough credit. Maybe it's because he's white:rolleyes:(100% joke guys) He runs great routes and can get open underneath. Good hands. Great blocker (For a WR). He's also capable of making a few big plays down the field. If he can be upgraded. Fine. I just think that it's going to be very difficult to find a guy who makes us better than Walter.

I know his life is a lot easier with AJ on the other side, but he had some big games when AJ was out too. He had 900 yards and 8 TD's. He also had a higher yards per reception than AJ (15.0 vs. 13.7). Not many rookie WR's will give you that kind of production, and that's not even factoring in his blocking in the running game.

Maclin would be nice. He could help in the return game, and I think be a very dangerous weapon for this team as a WR. He would present some major headaches for DC's. I think any WR we draft this year is going to spend time as at least the #3 guy for a year or two while he develops. That's not a bad thing at all. In fact it's probably a very good thing to start developing a talented WR, but I think if you want to go WR you better be prepared for him to have trouble getting on the field. Davis and Anderson have both had some success in that #3 role as well. Jacoby...I'll leave that one alone.

Yeah, let's be like the Detroit Lions and draft a WR when it's about the lowest area of need on the team. It's proven to work for them over the years. I'd rather draft Knowshon Moreno if we're looking for a guy who could possibly hit home-runs and do double-duty by returning kicks. At least he'd be a sensible pick and back up/provide insurance for Slaton. But please, I hope Kubiak and Smith have level heads and do the right thing by drafting defense.

I hope we end up with a defense heavy draft too, but if it's an offensive player who stands out when we're on the clock in the first then so be it. I would rather take a player the coaches have a lot of confidence in than for them to take a lesser player because he fills a need. My point wasn't to say don't take Maclin if he's far and away the best guy available. I was just pointing out to those who may be in favor of that realize what's the likely outcome because of my very high opinion of Kevin Walter.

This is exactly how I feel. We better go defense if it is even a reasonably possibility. If an offensive guy stands out so far above the defensive choices, then I hope we try to trade down to a spot where defense makes more sense.

If we get stuck going offense in round one, I would look OL first and WR/TE second. I would not draft a RB who is clearly going to be a specialist behind Slaton. After all, you often put 3 WRs on the field but almost never use 2 RBs at once, so you are talking about a guy who rotates in. It's a waste to go after that guy in round 1.

If we go WR I want one who can play the slot because Walter is very good and I don't want him moved from the outside. This way, AJ plays mostly X and takes a few snaps in the slot. Walter is the primary Z and plays outside. The rookie we draft plays the Y in three wide sets, and takes snaps at X and Z as well depending on situation. Maybe Maclin can do this. I trust Roy that if we go WR he is the way to go.

Any WR should additionally help our return game making sure I never see Jacoby Jones dropping another punt.

I've ranted about RB's in the first before, but I would be OK if we took one at 15....Yea, I would be OK, but not excited. I think a two headed monster in the running game could make our offense scary good. I know there will be plenty of later round guys who can fill the bill, but I'll be Ok if we grab one we like earlier. I actually salivate at the idea of Slaton + a bruising running back lined up in the backfield together. I'm not saying bring back the triple option or that we should jump on the wildcat bandwagon, and this negates the keep their legs fresh argument if you do it all the time. I just like all the possibilities that creates when you have two running threats in the back field...especially if they are both capable receivers as well.

Donald Brown is who we should take in round one. The kid is going to be this years Chris Johnson, a post bowl game 3rd rounder who becomes a 1st rounder by draft day.

Donald Brown and Steve Slaton gives us a top 5 backfield. Add that to our passing game, and the offense is done until much later in the draft. Now go defense.

BTW I did not say at 15, but he might be good enough to be taken there.

I'd be fine, even excited, about a 1st round RB if involved a trade down. I think we still too desperately need some OL depth and a few players on defense to stand pat and take a back. If they want to drop ten spots and get a RB and then have a 2nd, two 3rds, and two 4ths to hammer away at those postions, then great!

I don't see Brown as that kind of back at all. AT ALL... I see him as more of a Derrick Ward type of back. Maybe a little bit quicker... but similar in the way they run. I don't get the fascination with him from some of you guys. LeSean McCoy is a better back across the board in my opinion.

why Do You Bold Everything? Why Are You Yelling At Everybody?;)

Thats gonna be my trademark here :D