Mock Draft 1

[mussop]

Originally Posted by jppaul

Just noticed that the ESPN big board has changed and in recognition that there is not a chance that Taylor Mays will be around when we select:

1. Andre Smith* OT Alabama 98
2. Aaron Curry OLB Wake For. 98
3. Michael Crabtree** WR Texas Tech 98
4. Eugene Monroe OT Virginia 97
5. Malcolm Jenkins CB Ohio State 97
6. Taylor Mays* S USC 91
7. Aaron Maybin** DE/OLB Penn State 96
8. Gerald McCoy* DT Oklahoma 96
9. Sam Bradford** QB Oklahoma 96
10. Brian Orakpo DE Texas 95
11. Jason Smith OT Baylor 95
12. Mark Sanchez* QB USC 95
13. Matthew Stafford* QB Georgia 94
14. Jeremy Maclin** WR Missouri 94
15. Knowshon Moreno** RB Georgia 94
16. Jermaine Gresham* TE Oklahoma 94
17. B.J. Raji* DT Boston Coll. 93
18. Vontae Davis* CB Illinois 93
19. Brandon Pettigrew TE Okla. State 93
20. Rey Maualuga ILB USC 93
21. Everette Brown* DE Florida State 93
22. Russell Okung* OT Okla. State 92
23. Brandon Spikes* ILB Florida 92
24. Tyson Jackson DE LSU 92
25. James Laurinaitis ILB Ohio State 91
26. Brian Cushing OLB USC 91
27. Michael Oher OT Mississippi 91
28. Chris Wells* RB Ohio State 91
29. Percy Harvin* WR Florida 91
30. Greg Hardy* DE Mississippi 91
31. Terrence Cody* DT Alabama 91
32. Jerry Hughes** DE TCU 90

The prospect of a capped year is bringing out the best of the underclassmen. This is easily one of the best underclassmen drafts I have seen.

Just judging by what they say will be available when we draft, I like:

Maluluaga because I think he is an ideal candidate to shift to Strongside linebacker or we could shift Demeco outside. He is a real thumper, with great athleticism. I like Laurnitis to be a strongside linebacker. I also like Cushing. I know LB is not a need position but I think it could be a huge bump to our line to add an elite LB>

I am not sold on Everette Brown but might look at Beanie Wells for a one two punch.

Out of whats left??? Give me Raji 7 days a week and twice on sunday.

Wow I didnt see Oher way down there. Thats a tough choice between Oher and Raji for me. I think no way I pass up a franchise LT.

[jppaul]

Originally Posted by mussop

Out of whats left??? Give me Raji 7 days a week and twice on sunday.

Thats back to the same argument I had early with someone, maybe it was you, on this board. Can we really afford to draft 5 Dlineman in the first round out of the past 6 years.

[mussop]

Originally Posted by jppaul

Thats back to the same argument I had early with someone, maybe it was you, on this board. Can we really afford to draft 5 Dlineman in the first round out of the past 6 years.

But you can and you should if the best available player is a DL and it is a weekness on this team, which it is. Building the trenches is the most important part of any team. If youre lines are getting pushed around youre not going to be winning much. Our DL got pushed back an awfull lot this year. That is not something you can fix later. That is something you fix right now or dont expect to be winning consistanly.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by mussop

Out of whats left??? Give me Raji 7 days a week and twice on sunday.

Wow I didnt see Oher way down there. Thats a tough choice between Oher and Raji for me. I think no way I pass up a franchise LT.

Oher will not be available at #7, much less #27.

[Bigtinylittle]

Originally Posted by mussop

But you can and you should if the best available player is a DL and it is a weekness on this team, which it is. Building the trenches is the most important part of any team. If youre lines are getting pushed around youre not going to be winning much. Our DL got pushed back an awfull lot this year. That is not something you can fix later. That is something you fix right now or dont expect to be winning consistanly.

I could not agree more. If you don't bring pressure in the NFL these days, even mediocre QB's will eat you alive. I'm not saying that a DE we are sold on will be there at 15, but if he is it would seem dumb to me to pass him up just because Kubiak drafted Mario and Okoye. There are certain positions where we are solid, but for the ones where we aren't, I say go BPA.

[jppaul]

Originally Posted by Bigtinylittle

I could not agree more. If you don't bring pressure in the NFL these days, even mediocre QB's will eat you alive. I'm not saying that a DE we are sold on will be there at 15, but if he is it would seem dumb to me to pass him up just because Kubiak drafted Mario and Okoye. There are certain positions where we are solid, but for the ones where we aren't, I say go BPA.

Just out of curiousity if you could get Orakpo in the first and Moore in the second, or Mays in the first and Micheal Johnson in the second. Which would you do

[HPF Bob]

There ought to be other ways to get a pass-rusher besides using your first pick every year. How did the Giants get so many rushers? Other than Kiwi, I don't recall them using high draft picks on Tuck, Umiyura, etc. Yet they have arguably the best pass rush in the NFL. So, surely there are other ways to find a pass rush besides investing your first-rounder every year.

I'm not saying "don't do it" if that's your BPA on the board because we certainly need one but there ought to be ways to get pressure on a QB without stripping the rest of the team of #1 picks every year.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by jppaul

Just out of curiousity if you could get Orakpo in the first and Moore in the second, or Mays in the first and Micheal Johnson in the second. Which would you do

Mays & Johnson

[NBT]

Originally Posted by jppaul

Thats back to the same argument I had early with someone, maybe it was you, on this board. Can we really afford to draft 5 Dlineman in the first round out of the past 6 years.

If it was the DC and DL coach and their gameplan that was the problem, then yeah, we shouldn't draft DL again. BUT, on the other hand, we have needed that complementary DE to Mario for some time. I would say if the BPA available were a DE then go for it regardles of how many we have already picked. After all the DL is the heart and soul of a defense.

[Nconroe]

or the defensive problem was also aided by youth and by turnovers on offense.

I guess I need to see combine now and maybe Senior Bowl, but Safety, DE, LB, OC as BPA look ok. I'd lean toward Mays in first if available for now.

[James]

Way too early to give it a shot really, however; here is my shot at "3 months to go mock!"

Again, still sketchy, let me know what you guys think . . .