SB Nation - Darius Butler

Buffs Release Top Strength and Conditioning Stats

irish1611 — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:43:45 -0000

Colorado Buffaloes offensive lineman, Nate Solder. Photo: Marty Caivano

The football program has released their strength and conditioning "award" winners for the winter and spring session. It's always fun to see the linemen bench stats and runningback forty times. Here are a few things that stood out to me:

OL Nate Solder - workout freak. He was the top performer in five out of the seven categories for the offensive line with an impressive 407 pound power clean and a 4.86 forty. All of this from a guy that was a converted tight end who is now 6'9" 300 pounds. Solder led the entire team, regardless of position, in total power clean weight and hang clean as well. I am little surprised that Ryan Miller only made one appearance on the list, coming in 3rd in the bench press for offensive linemen.

C Mike Iltis - a guy who shouldn't considered completely healed from last year's knee injury also has impressive numbers considering that injury. He ranked in the top three in five of the seven events for linemen. Iltis certainly won't be mistaken for Solder but he was definitely had the second best offensive lineman performance.

DE Marquez Herrod - he showed very well among the defensive linemen, specifically in the strength categories where he was the leader in power clean (370), hang clean (426), squat (677) and bench (405). Herrod also had the second best forty time among the line at 5.00 seconds. Hopefully that leads to increased quarterback pressures in 2009 . A year ago, Herrod played in 11 games but only for 187 total plays and still was tied for second on the team in sacks (4). I am sure the coaches want to see more consistency in his play this season, hopefully his workout performance transitions to the field.

No one on the defensive line outperformed another team unit in any single workout (i.e. an offensive lineman was the overall best in bench, a cornerback was the best in forty times, etc.)

LB Marcus Burton - just remember this guy is 6'0" 260 pounds. Low center of gravity, not too tall so he should be expected to do do well in some of the strength exercises but the guy pretty much blew it out of the water everywhere. The senior just keeps surprising this year. After being an afterthought a year ago, Burton quickly inserted himself as a starter this spring.

At first glance, he seemed like a strong candidate for a move to the defensive line. I mean he is 260 pounds. Forget that thought. Burton is not only the biggest linebacker on the team but also the fastest, running a 4.78 forty. He led the linebackers in power clean (381), hang clean (445 pounds which tied him with Nate Solder as the strongest on the team), squat (666 good for second on the team), bench and forty time. He finished second in vertical jump and third in pro agility. Right along with Solder, Burton had the strongest performance on the team.

No where on the linebacker list was Shaun Mohler and Jeff Smart made only a couple of apperances in the rankings.

Running backs - Demetrius Sumler and Kevin Moyd led the group in the strength categories while Brian Lockridge, Rodney Stewart and Darrell Scott showed well in the vertical, forty and pro agility. Brian Lockridge ran a 4.45 forty followed by Darrell Scott at 4.49 and Rodney Stewart at 4.54. Brian Lockridge had the best vertical on the team at 36.5 inches. Scott, Lockridge and Stewart's strength will catch up with experience. All three are considered coming off of injury.

Wide Receivers - Markques Simas or Scotty McKnight did not finish first in any one wide receiver workout with the best forty time coming in at 4.65 by walk-on Dustin Ebner. Markques Simas ran a 4.75. Jason Espinoza performed well among the receivers, leading in four of the seven workouts. These results confirm the importance of Andre Simmons, Terdema Ussery and Jarrod Darden coming in and excelling.

CB Jimmy Smith - he was in the top 3 of all seven workouts for cornerbacks, finishing first in three: hang clean, bench and forty time. His 4.44 forty was the best of any player on the team, edging out Brian Lockridge. Ben Burney had the best pro agility on the team at 4.0 seconds.

Quarterbacks - once again, the quarterbacks are extremely even across the board, surprisingly in the forty time as well. Both Cody Hawkins and Tyler Hansen ran a 4.88 forty.

For fun, I put some of the team leaders for the Buffs against last year's 40 yard dash NFL combine results to see how the Buffs stack up in speed. The rank column assumes if the player(s) would have ran in the combine for their position in last year's event, where would they have been slotted:

Forty Time (seconds)
Position	Buffs Leader	Potential Rank	Top Combine Result
Offensive Line	OT Nate Solder - 4.86	1st	OL Lydon Murtha - 4.89
Defensive Line	DL Nick O'Neill - 4.84	t-7th	DL L. Sidbury - 4.64
Linebackers	LB Marcus Burton - 4.78	11th	LB Aaron Curry - 4.56
Tight Ends	TE Pat DeVenny - 4.79	t-11th	TE Jared Cook - 4.50
Runningbacks	RB Brian Lockridge - 4.45	t-1st	RB Cedric Peerman - 4.45
Defensive Backs	CB Jimmy Smith - 4.44	1st	CB Darius Butler - 4.46
Wide Receivers	WR Dustin Ebner - 4.65	30th+	WR D. Heyward-Bey - 4.30
Quarterbacks	QB Hawkins/Hansen - 4.88	t-8th	QB Pat White - 4.55

With the 41st pick, the New England Patriots select CB Darius Butler, Connecticut

MaPatsFan — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 13:58:25 -0000

CB Darius Butler, Connecticut

View full size photo »

One of the top CB's in the draft, Darius is a real find, in my opinion. Projected as a first rounder, the fact that he slid this far is a testament to just how crazy this draft has been. Over the coming weeks, I'll have a hard time fighting my enthusiasm for this kid. Sure, second year guys Terrence Wheatley and Jonathan Wilhite, along with vets Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden, have it covered. But, Ellis Hobbs' contract is up in '09 and drafting Butler gives them both insurance if he goes and leverage if he stays. Are you worried about Hobbs' return game? He is, afterall, one of the leagues most productive return men. Don't be worried. This from his bio on nfl.com:

Regarded as the premier cornerback in the Big East Conference, Butler added a new wrinkle to his game that would make New England Patriots fans clamoring for him to be their next Troy Brown. Always willing to help the team in any way he can, Butler was highly productive wearing two hats last season, seeing action as a receiver in addition to taking over kickoff return duties full-time.

Could Butler be the next Asante Samuel? All I know is corner has been a weak spot for the New England secondary since the departure of Samuel to Philadelphia and if Butler can serve as a return man AND receiver every once in a while, that'd work just fine. Belichick loves players who can wear many hats and I think Darius fits the bill.

NFL Draft Day One Wishlist

Matty I — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 04:30:10 -0000

Be sure to cast your vote in our "pick #25 poll."

We're now just hours away from the Detroit Lions being put on the clock - officially, that is - to begin the 2009 NFL Draft. So as we count down the final hours and minutes until the Miami Dolphins are on the clock, I wanted to talk quickly about my official wishlist for day one off the draft. Then, once you finish reading my ramblings, tell us your wish list for day one.

I also quickly want to remind you all that we will have complete coverage of the draft all weekend long. We'll have live threads and we'll have wrap ups at the end of each day. We'll also have a separate post for each pick made by the Dolphins. So be sure to check in early and often. And it'll all begin with our pre-draft fanpost early this afternoon.

Now to my wishlist. Note that these are in no particular order and I've left out the players who will obviously be gone - players like Michal Crabtree and Aaron Curry.

Wide Receivers
Kenny Britt, Hakeem Nicks, Brian Robiskie

I know I've been pretty vocal of late about how strongly I feel on not drafting a wide receiver with the 25th pick. But if they must, I'll be hoping and praying it's either Britt or Nicks. But what would be even better would be to land any of the three listed above with either the 44th pick or the 56th pick.

One name noticeable absent from my list is Darrius Heyward-Bey. He has "bust" written all over him. I also removed Percy Harvin from my wishlist. Too many red flags (marijuana, attitude, injuries) for my taste.

Outside Linebackers
Everette Brown, Aaron Maybin, Clay Matthews, Larry English, Robert Ayers, Clint Sintim, Connor Barwin, Cody Brown, Lawrence Sidbury

Lots of names up there because there are a lot of options. Unfortunately, with the increase in the number of teams running a 3-4 defense - coupled with the obvious general need for pass-rushers in this league - there is going to be a run on this position at some point in round one. That means many of the names above will be long gone by the 25th pick. And the ones that remain probably won't deserve to be picked that high. But I'll tell you this - if the Dolphins come out of the first day of the draft with one of the players listed above, I'd be very content.

One notable player I left off my wishlist is Brian Cushing. I just don't trust him and really don't want him in a Dolphins' uniform.

Cornerbacks
Vontae Davis, Darius Butler, Sean Smith, Alphonso Smith, Sherrod Martin, D.J. Moore

You all know by now that I'm really pushing for a corner with the 25th pick. I'd be thrilled with Davis or Butler at 25. I'd also be happy with Sean Smith at 25 - though some think he could still be on the board at 44. The other three, Alphonso Smith, Sherrod Martin, and D.J. Moore, I wouldn't consider drafting until 44 at the earliest. Of those three, I'd prefer Smith or Martin over Moore. I just don't think Moore has enough upside to warrant a high pick. He could be a terrific nickelback, but he doesn't have the speed to cover an outside receiver.

Players from various positions
ILB - Rey Maualuga, James Laurinaitis
NT - Ron Brace
DE - Tyson Jackson
OL - Andy Levitre (OG), Max Unger (G/C), Tyronne Green (OG), Herman Johnson (OG), Jamon Meredith (OT)
TE - Brandon Pettigrew, Jared Cook
S - Louis Delmas, Rashad Johnson

If the Dolphins can come away with any two of the players I've mentioned above with their three day one picks, I'll be simply ecstatic entering day two.

So now let's hear all of your wishlists...

Gonzo's Final 2009 NFL Mock Draft

Gonzo — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:59:02 -0000

Again with the late start, I am, fair readers. And, again, I apologize for that. It was a long day to conclude a long week here at the Gonzo house, aided primarily by the fact that truck drivers seem to have had a lot of difficulty staying on Interstate 10 over the course of the past week. Unfortunately for me, I-10 is my main road from Keesler to home, so my commute hasn't been quite what it usually is. Throw in a few dozen other things happening all at once, and it's been quite an adventure.

Speaking of adventure, tomorrow marks the date we've been waiting for ever since the final gun sounded at Super Bowl XLIII, and that's the NFL's Annual Selection Meeting. . .otherwise known as the draft. I know I haven't done a mock draft since my pre-Combine version back in February, but now I'm finally getting my final version up there after having taken everything in over the past couple of months. There have been many significant changes since the Combine, obviously, and those will be greatly reflected in this mock draft. Here, then, is the finished product. Enjoy, everybody, and we'll see you here bright and early tomorrow to prep for the draft!

Player Power Rankings
Pick	Team	Selection	Commentary
1	Detroit Lions	Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia	I'm not sold on the guy as a franchise QB. But, the Lions apparently are. . .and that's all that matters.
2	St. Louis Rams	Jason Smith, OT, Baylor	They lost Orlando Pace, the only guy on their offensive line last year that played at a level above "awful." They're rebuilding, and Smith is their cornerstone.
3	Kansas City Chiefs	Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia	Without Tony Gonzalez, I think Crabtree is a real possibility here, but in the end the Chiefs need more of a sure thing.
4	Seattle Seahawks	Mark Sanchez, QB, Southern Cal	Matt Hasselbeck is getting up in age, and the Seahawks are getting perilously close to having to blow things up and start over. If they have to do that, Sanchez gives them a nice start.
5	Cleveland Browns	Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest	Cleveland's defense was terrible, and they haven't done much to change that. Enter Curry. . .who, in time, could be the best defender in this draft.
6	Cincinnati Bengals	Andre Smith, OT, Alabama	A guy with huge potential, but with discipline and work ethic issues as well? If that doesn't have Cincinnati written all over it, I don't know what does.
7	Oakland Raiders	Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland	Surprised by Heyward-Bey over Crabtree AND Maclin? Let me introduce you to Raiders' owner Al Davis.
8	Jacksonville Jaguars	Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech	The Jags have drafted some real flops at WR in the first round in their brief history. I don't foresee Crabtree joining the likes of Matt Jones and Reggie Williams.
9	Green Bay Packers	B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College	The Packers are shifting to the 3-4, and don't have the personnel right now to do it. Raji would be a nice start for them as the nose in the middle of the defensive line.
10	San Francisco 49ers	Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas	San Francisco could go a couple different directions here, but they need to generate more pressure on the QB, and Orakpo can give them that.
11	Buffalo Bills	Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee	One of the biggest risers in the draft in recent weeks, he fills a spot at DE for the Bills, which is one of their big needs. What about tackle? Wait until #28.
12	Denver Broncos	Tyson Jackson, DE, Louisiana State	The Denver defense needs some serious re-tooling, and Jackson was born to play end in a 3-4 scheme. He'll be a great fit in Denver.
13	Washington Redskins	Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi	Don't be surprised to see the 'Skins try to trade up for one of the big two quarterbacks. If they stay at this spot, they could use some help on the O-line, and Oher is a grea talent.
14	New Orleans Saints	Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State	The Saints' secondary has been awful since. . .well, for a long time. Some folks aren't sure whether Jenkins is a corner or a safety, but whichever he is, he'll be an instant upgrade in the Big Easy.
15	Houston Texans	Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn State	One of the draft's more interesting players, he could be a big asset to a Houston team that needs to build a defense that's on par with their explosive offense.
16	San Diego Chargers	Rey Maualuga, LB, Southern Cal	The draft's best pure MLB won't have to move far to reach his NFL home, and he'll give Charger fans visions of Junior Seau sooner rather than later.
17	New York Jets	Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State	Josh Freeman would be a bit too big a reach here, in my opinion, so the J-E-T-S grab the best TE in the draft. He'll provide a nice target for whatever warm body the Jets start at QB.
18	Denver Broncos (from Chicago)	Everette Brown, DE/OLB, Florida State	Did I mention earlier that Denver needs defense? Because they do. Brown could be a terror off of the edge if he can stay healthy
19	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri	The Bucs are allegedly in love with Josh Freeman, but Maclin falling to this spot would just be too big a gift for Tampa to pass up.
20	Detroit Lions (from Dallas)	Clay Matthews, LB, Southern Cal	Having passed on Aaron Curry at #1, the Lions fill one of their linebacker spots with the son of the former Cleveland Browns great. His teammate, Brian Cushing, could get a look here, too.
21	Philadelphia Eagles	Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia	The Eagles filled their OT hole by acquiring Jason Peters (for too high a price, IMO). Now, they get themselves some Brian Westbrook insurance.
22	Minnesota Vikings	Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois	We detailed this pick yesterday, and I still maintain that Davis is the best CB in the 2009 NFL Draft. Great value for Minnesota here.
23	New England Patriots	Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut	The Patriots' secondary was exposed as pretty awful when their offense wasn't scoring 50 every time out and they actually had to cover somebody. Butler is a great athlete who should start right away for the Pats.
24	Atlanta Falcons	Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi	Having acquired the TE they were looking for, the Falcons can look for some space eaters in the middle, and Jerry is a damn good one. Should start immediately.
25	Miami Dolphins	Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest	The multi-faceted Smith will upgrade a suspect Miami secondary, and can also assist Ted Ginn's family in the return game, should the need arise.
26	Baltimore Ravens	Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina	So much for receivers getting pushed to Round 2, huh? Nicks will give Joe Flacco a nice target as he continues his development from 2008.
27	Indianapolis Colts	Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State	The Colts need a better RB than Joseph Addai, and though a WR might be tempting for them here, Wells is a better fit, in my opinion.
28	Buffalo Bills (from Carolina via Philadelphia)	Eben Britton, OT, Arizona	Now the Bills can get a good value in Britton, who can slide in at RT and immediately contribute to what could be an explosive Buffalo offense.
29	New York Giants	Percy Harvin, WR, Florida	Guy that likes to smoke pot before job interviews and seems to enjoy the spotlight? Welcome to New York, Percy!
30	Tennessee Titans	Evander Hood, DT, Missouri	The Titals don't like to draft receivers in Round 1, and so they set about trying to find someone to replace Albert Haynesworth. Good luck with that.
31	Arizona Cardinals	Donald Brown, RB, Connecticut	Edgerrin James is angry, and none of Arizona's other running backs are really anything special, so the defending NFC Champs grab the best running back left in Brown.
32	Pittsburgh Steelers	Alex Mack, C, California	Mack just has "Steeler" written all over him. Tough, smart, hard-working. . .it's not every day a guy could walk in and just immediately start for the World Champs, but Mack has a distinct chance at doing so if he's the pick.

It's April 22, 2009--What Do You Want Your Houston Texans To Do With The Fifteenth Pick?

Tim — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:00:12 -0000

Now that we're approaching the zero hour, let's change the rules of the exercise a bit. First, let's assume that Malcolm Jenkins is off the board. I honestly think he will be gone by the time the Texans go on the clock, so that's not a stretch. Secondly, let's put the option to trade the pick in play. The caveat to selecting this option, however, is that you must propose a realistic and reasonable trade offer in the Comments below, as well as opine on who Smithiak would be targeting after the trade.

By way of reference, here's a link to the infamous draft value chart that was popularized by Jimmy Johnson & Co. so many years ago. Keep in mind that the points assigned therein aren't gospel; the game has changed a bit (e.g., the higher picks aren't nearly as desirable as they used to be, considering the money that must be invested in the player selected).

With those things in mind, I ask you: What do you want your Houston Texans to do with the fifteenth overall pick on Saturday? For what it's worth, I'll be drafting a separate post on Friday detailing what I hope happens. Have at it.

Poll

It's Day One of the 2009 NFL Draft. What do you want your Houston Texans to do with the fifteenth overall pick?

Draft Clay Matthews III (LB--USC)

164 votes

Draft Robert Ayers (DE--Tennessee)

23 votes

Draft Darius Butler (CB--UConn)

18 votes

Draft Sean Smith (CB/FS--Utah)

33 votes

Draft Michael Johnson (DE--Georgia Tech)

8 votes

Draft Beanie Wells (RB--Ohio State)

25 votes

Draft Brandon Pettigrew (TE--Oklahoma State)

4 votes

Draft Knowshon Moreno (RB--Georgia)

25 votes

Draft Rey Maualuga (LB--USC)

39 votes

Draft Brian Cushing (LB--USC)

58 votes

Draft Vontae Davis (CB--Illinois)

24 votes

Draft someone else (tell us who in the Comments)

12 votes

Trade UP (tell us what the proposed deal would be and who Smithiak would be targeting in the Comments below)

12 votes

Trade DOWN (tell us what the proposed deal would be and who Smithiak would be targeting in the Comments below)

113 votes

558 votes | Poll has closed

With the 30th pick in the BBV Mock Draft, the Titans select ...

Ed Valentine — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 10:00:13 -0000

I know it is anti-climactic now that we have done the Giants' selection, but we have picks remaining in our Big Blue View Community Mock Draft. Here is 'GullySully77's' choice at 30 for the Tennessee Titans.

30. Darius Butler, CB, UConn

The Titans need a big play corner to line up across from Finnegan. The “obvious” pick would be a DT but there are enough of those available later in the draft to focus on a more pressing need, not to mention they have good depth and Jason Jones, who will be a star. While the offensive line needs some depth added nothing can be done add this spot other than to maybe grab a center to fill an eventual need with Unger or Mack, but I think Butler makes more of an immediate impact. Plus, after Finnegan you have a 35-year-old Nick Harper and the depth beyond those two is rather anemic.

While his height is questioned by some, he did have the second highest vertical and broad jumps of the cats in Indy. While his 40 time was lower than you would want from a first round CB I don’t believe that translates into his field speed at all after watching some film. He has big play ability and was used on offense at times as a wr/scat back type and can catch pretty well. He will need to add some strength to improve against the run and handle contact from bigger NFL receivers but he should be able to compensate with his athleticism until his strength catches up. If he doesn’t start right away he can be used as a KR/PR as well.

My thoughts: Probably not a bad 'need' pick. I have seen Butler's name at the end of the first round in some mocks. I am just not sure there are three first-round corners in this draft, though, and Butler is the third one to hit our board. I will buy 'GullySully's' explanation, though.

-- This puts 'cgerycz' on the clock for the Arizona Cardinals. E-mail the pick to bigblueview@gmail.com. I am going out on a limb here and predicting Chris 'Beanie' Wells, RB, Ohio State as the choice.

1. Detroit Lions (selected by 'cjmulrain')

Jason Smith, OT, Baylor: Conventional wisdom says that the Lions are going to select quarterback Matt Stafford of Georgia, but since I'm running the show I'm going in a different direction. I'm not convinced that Stafford is going to be a star QB in the league, and when you're taking a guy with the first pick I don't think you can have any doubts about it, especially when you're coming off the first ever 0-16 season in NFL History. Even if Stafford does have the tools to be a great quarterback, the Lions have no semblance of an O-line to protect him, putting him at risk to develop David Carr syndrome if he were brought in to play right away. To address this, I went with Smith, who profiles as a potential franchise left tackle. I strongly believe in the philosophy of building a football team from the lines out and think a team as devoid of talent as the Lions would be better served with a rock at left tackle. I was tempted by Aaron Curry but think there will be better value on the defensive side of the ball at the 20th pick than there will be on the O-line. As for QB, let's just say that I'm not too optimistic about the prospects for the 2009 Lions and like the thought of Colt McCoy in silver and blue.

2. St. Louis Rams ('Woogie526')

Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest: Well this decision was originally going to be a selfish one by the new coach. However, with Jason Smith off the board, it became a no-brainer. I choose Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest. He would be the brain of Spag's defense. In the crazy schemes Spags uses, he needs a general on the field to organize blitzes and coverages.

3. Kansas City Chiefs ('jrs1940')

Brian Orapko, OLB, Texas: Orakpo is an NFL ready defensive end. He is 6-4 and 258 pounds and a great athlete who can power or finesse his way into the backfield. He tallied four tackles-for-loss and a half a sack as a freshman and earned Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors. The following year he managed 4.5 sacks and six tackles-for-loss. As an upperclassman last season Orakpo improved those numbers and ended up with 5.5 sacks and nine tackles-for-loss, although his playing time was limited due to a knee injury. He is much better than that guy the Rams stole from us, I’m glad we didn’t get him.

4. Seattle Seahawks ('bkurcz')

Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia: I know its not the sexy pick, with Stafford and Crabtree still out there, but it's the pick that makes the most sense. The three main areas that Seattle needs to improve are O-line, WR and secondary. The WR depth in the draft is pretty good, I'm sure there is going to be an attractive prospect early in the second round at that position. Number 4 is a little early to take any of this year's DBs and a future replacement for Matt Hasselback can wait 'til late in the draft or next year. So, my pick for a guy that has proven himself at guard and tackle is a smart way to go. Especially because Walter Jones isn't getting any younger.

5. Cleveland Browns ('jp2y')

Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech: With stud pass-rushing talent Brian Orakpo fresh off of the board, Mangini and Kokinis select the gifted receiver from Texas Tech, Michael Crabtree. His off-the-charts production at Tech proved that he was not merely a system product of Mike Leach's high-octane offense. There have been rumblings of a Giants-Browns trade for Braylon Edwards for weeks now, and the Browns have done nothing to dispel those rumors. Crabtree will replace the talented yet drop-prone Edwards, and replace him as Cleveland's deep threat for the next decade, and most likely develop into an All-Pro talent. The extra picks obtained from the Edwards trade will allow Mangini to focus on the defensive side of the ball.

6. Cincinnati Bengals ('ETVal')

Andre Smith, OT, Alabama: The Bengals are like the baggage claim service at the airport. They love to collect players with suitcases full of it, and that makes the enigmatic Smith the perfect pick in this spot. The fact that Cincinnati desperately needs someone who can help keep Carson Palmer in one piece, and that the 6-foot-4, 332-pound Smith should do that quite well, is just a bonus.

7. Oakland Raiders ('hoyadestroya85')

Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland: Throwing it deep is what the Raiders are all about. We already have our Howitzer Armed Quarterback, so now what we need is a guy to go over the top of defenses. There is no better person for this role than Darrius Heyward-Bey from Maryland. I know he doesn't have the "production" and he may be a "workout warrior" but this guy is what the Raiders are all about. We don't want little dump off passes like the Rich Gannon/Jon Gruden days. Chicks dig the long ball and that's what we're gonna give them.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars ('mymanren')

B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College: Jacksonville has glaring needs at WR and in their interior defense. Maclin is a very tempting pick here, but his skills are still pretty raw and will need time to develop. Jacksonville is one season removed from an 11-5 record, and will probably make a safer pick that can have more of an immediate impact. Raji will wreak havoc in the middle with John Henderson and will take attention away from the two DEs they drafted last year. Jacksonville definitely missed Stroud last season, and are now also without Mike Peterson. Jacksonville still needs a WR with Jones, Williams, and Porter all gone, but this is a receiver rich draft and the Jags have been burned by high WR picks. I think they'll go for offense with their other picks. Also, David Garrard is their guy they won't throw this pick away on a QB. In the real draft I think Jacksonville is a prime candidate to trade down.

9. Green Bay Packers ('Dick Murdock')

Malcom Jenkins, CB, Ohio State: After nearly wetting themselves when B.J. Raji almost slipped to this spot, the Pack must recollect themselves and get as much value as possible. There are a bunch of pressing needs at DE, DT, and OT. They also have two elder CB in Harris and Woodson. I was tempted to take Everette Brown, however, he doesn't fit the mold of a 3-4 DE. I also gave other consideration on the defensive line, but decided on Malcolm Jenkins because both of their CBs are on the wrong side of 30.

This is a reach and I don't think entirely too much of this player, but my plan got spoiled when Raji was selected. I would also consider selecting one of the QBs and later trade in a package, but that's a whole new can of worms.

10. San Francisco 49ers ('Free Bradshaw')

Aaron Maybin, OLB, Penn State: 49ers get probably the second best DE prospect in the draft. Like Orakpo and Everette Brown, I think they all would be better suited to play their natural position, 4-3 DE. But as a 3-4 OLB, Maybin can use his speed, strenght and pass-rushing ability to help the Niners do what they had trouble doing, get to the QB. Since the Niners go in this direction, they have confirmeed that Manny Lawson is a true bust. They won't cut him, but at least him and Maybin will push each other for playing time It could work out well cuz Giants fans know that too many pass rushers is a good thing.

This was a tough pick cuz I don't really think the Niners want Maybin. I could have grabbed either QB, but I think Shaun Hill is their starter and they like him. Also Alex Smith is still on the roster. I also thought about Jeremy Maclin, but the Niners have a bunch of young WR they want to develop. OT- Oher was also an option, but they signed Marvel Smtih.

11. Buffalo Bills ('Greek')

Everette Brown, DE, Florida State: The Bills are in a tough spot with this pick as they can go in several directions. A lot depends on how negotiations with starting LT Jason Peters progress. Assuming that Jason Peters is still a Buffalo Bill when the draft starts, the biggest area of need for this team is an improved pass rush. With 13.5 sacks last year, Brown will make an immediate impact for a team that totaled only 24 sacks in 2008. Brown will be able to play outside in a 4-3 scheme and not be forced to convert to a rush linebacker, allowing him to contribute right away. Many experts have the Bills looking at Oklahoma State TE Brandon Pettigrew with this pick. However, with Dick Jauron having to win now to keep his job next year, and the addition of TO on the offensive side of the ball, an impact defensive pass rush specialist is the smart pick here.

12. Denver Broncos ('lizard')

Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia: This is one of the Broncos two first round picks after the Cutler deal. Many of the football talking heads believe the Broncos might package this pick and the #18 pick to move up and take a QB, probably Sanchez. I don't see that happening. I think Orton will be the starter and if the Broncos trade two first round picks for a QB, what are they really gaining from the Cutler deal? The Broncos are switching from a poor 4-3 to a 3-4 and need the right personnel. If B.J Raji was available, he would have been the pick here without hesitation. Raji would have become the all-important 3-4 nose tackle. If Stafford actually did fall to the Broncos, they would probably trade out of this pick to acquire more picks in later rounds. Some team would definitely trade up to get Stafford here. McDaniels is a Belichick disciple and knows the value of trading down in the draft. Although Denver has more pressing defensive needs, Stafford is too good a value to pass on him right here. And since I can't trade out, Stafford is the pick.

13. Washington Redskins ('Rick Snider')

Mark Sanchez, QB, USC: Seriously, I can't believe Sanchez will be around for the 13th pick. But given in this mock draft that he is, the Redskins would gladly grab him. In fact, don't be surprised to see them trade up to do it. The Redskins missed trading for Denver quarterback Jay Cutler and incumbent Jason Campbell is in his last year. The Redskins don't want to re-sign Campbell so grabbing a quarterback to groom for one year under coach Jim Zorn is a given. (Uh, whatever happened to second-year passer Colt Brennan that everyone wants to anoint as the next Sonny Jurgensen? Last year's model, baby. Dan Snyder likes shiny new toys.) So, Sanchez is the pick for this draft.

14. New Orleans Saints ('CodyK')

14. Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee: The choice here is easy. I wanted to further upgrade thedefensive line at first. So at first glance, I wanted Maybin here, but missed him by four slots. Then I thought about LB - but with Fujita and Vilma (JV resigned in February for 5 years and the Saints gave up a decent amount to get Vilma in the first place) I thought the Saints were actually ok at the LB spot. So to look for a true need, its gotta be playmaker in the secondary. Jenkins would be perfect here, but the Packers picked him up already. So I'm going with Robert Ayers, DE from Tennessee.

15. Houston Texans ('one-bar')

Brian Cushing, OLB, USC: I thought long and hard about this pick with so much talent still left on the board. My first instinct would was to take Vontae Davis here but the Texans already have a productive Jacques Reeves on the other of Dunta Robinson and drafted Antwaun Molden with their 2nd pick last year. Plus, their bigger pressing need in the secondary is at Safety and not Cornerback. I also considered taking Beanie Wells who would compliment Slaton as a great change-of-pace running back, but I also figured with no RB taken yet there will still be plenty of talent at this position in the later rounds - it worked well with Slaton.

So this leaves me with Cushing - an intense player who never quits and should be productive at the NFL level who also fits a serious need at OLB. Cushing can stop the run inside or out and holds his own in the passing game as he played Safety throughout high school. I am bothered about the steriod allegations and it almost stopped me from picking him. But then again nothing has been confirmed and passing on this kind of talent at a position the Texans are hurting at wouldn't justify any other choice I would have made. He is considered a top value player at a top position need, I believe that if Cushing is available here come 4/25/09 the Texans won't be able to get their selection up to Roger soon enough.

16. San Diego Chargers ('Bajaserge')

Rey Maualuga LB, USC: So now that 'one-bar' took my pick I will not go far (just like Mel Kiper) on my pick. Although I was thinking about getting a running back because we all know Tomlinson (I refuse to call him LT) only plays about 12 games a season. But as we all know you can get a good RB on the 5th round.

So with my 16th pick I choose Rey Maualuga LB, USC Merriman is coming from an off season and I think the chargers need to improve in that area. Who knows how good Merriman will be this season recovering from surgery and with free agency next year (although they may not share same spot). I think Maualuga will bring intensity and has the tools to be a "good" LB in the San Diego defense just like Cushing the USC LB's are a good trio that has not been on the spotlight because of the USC offense, but when required Maualuga has been right on the money.

17. New York Jets ('mwilli')

Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri: Laveranues Coles has committed himself to purgatory by signing with the Bengals, and the Jets are now left with Jerrico Cotchery, a former QB, one guy named Clowney and another named Stuckey -- not the point guard for the Pistons -- playing at WR. The Jets need a receiver. They have made it known they need a receiver. If wheelin' n' dealin' were a part of this mock, I would be throwing all sorts of picks at jp2y and ETVal (for the Browns and/or Bungles slots) so the Giants' tenant could draft Michael Crabtree or Mark Sanchez. Alas, Ed (properly) rules his roost with a no trade policy. I am left with the choice between Jeremy Maclin, Percy Harvin, and if the comedy gods allow... Josh Freeman.

Seeing as this is the Jets I am speaking for, I am tempted to draft the wild card Harvin, reach for a stiff like Freeman, or attempt to redraft Roger Vick because it would be a terrible pick in typical Jets fashion. (See here for enjoyable explanation.) I can't in good conscience do this... and I think GM Mike Tannenbaum is a fairly smart guy -- Vernon Gholston excepted. Maclin is the choice. This is a bit of a drop for the Mizzou speedster, and the Jets would (should) be falling all over themselves to grab this guy. He immediately becomes a solid compliment to an already talented Cotchery, and could eventually become a player in the Panthers' Steve Smith mold and the #1 option for Brett Ratliff/Kellen Clemens/Eric Ainge/Colt McCoy/Browning Nagle.

18. Denver Broncos ('lizard')

Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU: Jackson is considered the best 3-4 defensive end in this years draft. The Broncos need personnel that can play in a 3-4 and Jackson's size would allow him to occupy blockers so linebackers can run free. Although the Broncos also need a nose tackle, like Ron Brace from Boston College, he would be a reach at this position. A linebacker could also be the pick here, but I think Jackson fills a greater need.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers ('DaBigBlue')

Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss: All of the talk down here in Central Florida has been about the Bucs taking a QB here – and that with Stafford and Sanchez off the board, Josh Freeman would be the next best available. But with the April 13 signing of Byron Leftwich, it appears Tampa fans no longer need to worry about seeing Luke McCown under center on opening day. The Bucs already have a project in second-year QB Josh Johnson, so it makes no sense to me as to why they would throw first-round money at Josh Freeman. The rest of the offense is solid with a good OL, and the addition of Winslow and our former “wind” at RB means the QB, whoever it is, will have some good skill players around him. So turning to defense, the primary needs are the DB’s and DL. Only because the Bucs took a DB in the first round last year will I arbitrarily look to shore up the DL instead, by selecting DT Peria Jerry of Ole Miss.

20. Detroit Lions (from Dallas Cowboys, 'cjmulrain')

Clay Matthews, OLB, USC: I initially wanted to go defensive line here, but I think Matthews is the best defensive player available and when you're a team that literally has "needs" at every position, you might as well take the best guy you can. Matthews is solid in every aspect of the game if not spectacular in any, he's an intelligent self-made player (former walk on at USC), and he has a good pedigree (father and uncle both played in the NFL). I don't know that he'll ever be a superstar, but he should be a very solid LB for years to come.

21. Philadelphia Eagles ('queler')

Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss: I'm all for taking best value available, but seeing as I don't have my own team of scouts, I'm going to draft based on need. After receiving a detailed analysis from my buddy psudrozz, it seems the Eagles are in need of new OT and a complimentary RB to keep Westbrook healthy. I think tackle is the way to go to here as Runyan can't have a lot left in the tank (besides elbow dropping people after the whistle), and unlike Giants fans, Eagles fans do not ever want to see Winston Justice at tackle ever again. I almost flipped a coin here between Oher and Britton, but ultimately based on random google search results and a last minute text message to my buddy, went for Oher.

22. Minnesota Vikings ('NYG 28')

Percy Harvin, WR, Florida: We all know about Percy Harvin. He played running back his last year at Florida, but is known for his wide receiver skill set. He helped Tim Tebow lead the Gators to a national championship. He is a straight up, bonafide playmaker. And that is why the Vikings take him over an OT.

With Bernard Berrian as the deep threat, and Adrian Peterson being the most lethal running back in the NFL, the Vikings just need the drop off guy for Rosenfels/Jackson to throw to. Berrian, Rice, Wade, and Shiancoe were good last year with there short catches... but picture this... Percy Harvin in the slot, Berrian on the outside, A.D. in the backfield, and the opposing defense playing to stop the run while still trying to keep Berrian from breaking deep. Harvin will be there to catch and weave through traffic like nobody's business. Or what if they took up the ever popular wildcat with Tarvaris Jackson, Percy Harvin, and Adrian Peterson? That would be a three-headed monster no defense would want to mess with (if it worked, that is). All in all the Vikings do need another receiver (which is why they went after T.J. Houshmandzadeh), and who better than Harvin at pick 22?

In the real draft I am looking for the Vikings to trade back out of this pick in order to get a few more, especially since they don't have a 4th round pick.. Maybe the G-men could trade their 29th pick and a 5th or 6th rounder for #22 to secure an elite LB or WR.

23. New England Patriots ('potroast')

Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois: The biggest need coming into the draft for the Pats is an OLB/DE that can get to the ball, but the best of this crop is already off the board and the Pats have three 2^nd round picks with an early round selection (#34) and will be able to get good value there at that position (Barwin or English would be ideal). James Laurinaitis is also an option here as the heir apparent to Teddy Bruschi, but I’m not sold on him so I’m passing. Therefore I’m picking the best defensive player left on the board and someone that also fills a real need in their secondary … Vontae Davis. Davis is big, fast and athletic … a guy who takes risks and gets to the ball and can fill that role that’s been missing since Asante Samuel left. The knock on him seems to be a lack of discipline (much like his brother) and over-aggressiveness, therefore there is no better team that can set him straight and make him a star.

24. Atlanta Falcons ('kingofatlanta')

James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State: Let's face it, if any body has defensive needs in this draft it’s the Falcons. The loss of Grady Jackson, Keith Brooking, Domonique Foxworth and Michael Boley this off-season, as if they had room to lose anyone. James Laurinaitis has the ability and the intellect to step in and impact this sub-par defense.

Laurinaitis is the son of world-renowned wrestler; Joe Laurinaitis who competed as the "Animal" in the 1980s and 1990s as part of the tag team called the Road Warriors (Legion of Doom). How can you go wrong with that? Laurinaitis won All-Big Ten Conference first-team honors, and for the second consecutive year was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year. He ranked second in the Big Ten and 14th in the nation with an average of 10.0 tackles per game.

25. Miami Dolphins ('gobs56')

Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina: Knowing Parcells the way we all do LB seems like the spot to go with this one but being that all the best ones are gone and there will be plenty left for the Fins next pick(12th, round 2) and they also desperately need a CB with Will Allen getting older and contract ending, his partner in crime on the other side of the field, Jason Allen, is more built for the safety position, that being said they also have a second pick in the 2nd round at #24 and with the mediocre CBs in this draft I took the best available talent on the board being Nicks, my pick for the Dolphins is probably shocking.

I juggled three names in my head forever and consulted with my friends who by choice wear Teal jerseys(their secure with their sexuality LOL) after many long days of not doing work all week and instead researching this pick I decided to go with the best talent which also happens to be a need so it work out. The other names I was looking at were hometown hero Darius Butler, a beast of a man Larry English (Demarcus Ware written all over him, if it weren't for his injuries that would have been my pick) and Michael Johnson (way too much of a reach at this point). Honorable mention Clint Sintim and Ziggy Hood.

Also, Miami fans remember clearly the day Nicks shredded the Hurricanes like they were a high school defense, this guy is loved down here and the Fins defense actually did quite well last year as is, plus with the added safety who we might be familiar with (Gibril) will make a big difference in the secondary. Nicks might not be a star right away or ever but he has the tools for both and will be nice for the franchise to have him learning along with Chad Henne for 2010 when they say he is taking over at QB. OK, I said enough.

26. Baltimore Ravens ('mahmoodzaky')

Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State: With Hakeem Nicks off the board, the Ravens and Ozzie Newsome might be inclined to look towards their defensive needs, which are ILB to replace Bart Scott and CB to add some youth to their aging group, and to replace Samari Rolle. As we all know, the Ravens are great at drafting standouts on defense that contribute right away. Just look at Hroki Ngata. The close second to my choice of Pettigrew was Alphonso Smith , the corner from Wake Forest, because he is the prototypical aggressive DB that the Ravens love - last season he had 8 picks, 3 of which he returned for TDs. Reminiscent of any particular DB on the Ravens? Yeah, I thought so too.

However what this team need to take the next step as a team and become more competitive are targets for Joe Flacco. Pettigrew’s quick acceleration and excellent hands will make him a constant, reliable target up the middle. Most importantly, he will be productive—he plays physical and fights to pick up as many yards as possible, which is why 42 percent of his career yardage are YAC. He can catch the ball in traffic, and not only is he a willing blocker (unlike a certain guy we Giant fans are familiar with), he is an extremely talented blocker, both inline and in space. He will match up well against Pittsburgh and he will rally the Ravens offense like Ray Lewis does to their defense with his enthusiasm and vocalness on the sidelines and his natural leadership ability. This guy is easily the best tight end in the ’09 draft class and with a draft that goes like ours does, the Ravens will snatch him up.

27. Indianapolis Colts ('SBaker')

Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers: Britt (6’4, 215) gives the Colts’ something they haven’t, and maybe never had – a big, tall, physical wide receiver. Nobody is questioning the skill of guys like Marvin Harrison or Reggie Wayne, but both of them have been tagged as “finesse” (fairly or unfairly). One thing I can say is that neither Wayne nor Harrison play/played physical football like Britt. Expect the rookie out of Rutgers to line up as the number 2 next to Reggie Wayne. This will allow Anthony Gonzalez to go back to the slot where he’s most dangerous. With Dallas Clark lining up at tight end, the addition of Britt basically gives the Colts’ four legit receiver options for the genetically-superior Manning.

28. Buffalo Bills (from Philadelphia Eagles, 'Greek')

Eben Britton, OT, Arizona: If I knew then what I know now, I might have played this draft a little differently, but in one of the deeper drafts for for offensive lineman, the Bills could certainly do worse with the number 28 pick. Obviously there is a glaring hole or 2 on the offensive line after the trade of Jason Peters to the Eagles. This pick will do something to help solidify one of the positions. Britton played the left side his last year in school and worst case, can start on the right and work his way over as the season progresses. Some have compared his skill set to that of Ryan Clady. If he can get close to that production level in his rookie year, a lot of people in upstate NY will be very happy.

29. New York Giants ('ETVal')

Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia: Moreno is simply the best talent left on the board and by a large margin. ... There are really no clear 1st rounders left at our need positions (WR, LB, & OL) in this draft. ... This is the Mathias Kiwanuka situation from a few seasons back all over again. Moreno is clearly the best player available the way our draft has worked out, and when the disparity is that obvious you don't ignore it.

30. Tennessee Titans ('GullySully77')

Darius Butler, CB, UConn: The Titans need a big play corner to line up across from Finnegan. The “obvious” pick would be a DT but there are enough of those available later in the draft to focus on a more pressing need, not to mention they have good depth and Jason Jones, who will be a star. While the offensive line needs some depth added nothing can be done add this spot other than to maybe grab a center to fill an eventual need with Unger or Mack, but I think Butler makes more of an immediate impact. Plus, after Finnegan you have a 35-year-old Nick Harper and the depth beyond those two is rather anemic.

While his height is questioned by some, he did have the second highest vertical and broad jumps of the cats in Indy. While his 40 time was lower than you would want from a first round CB I don’t believe that translates into his field speed at all after watching some film. He has big play ability and was used on offense at times as a wr/scat back type and can catch pretty well. He will need to add some strength to improve against the run and handle contact from bigger NFL receivers but he should be able to compensate with his athleticism until his strength catches up. If he doesn’t start right away he can be used as a KR/PR as well.

31. Arizona Cardinals ('cgerycz')

32. Pittsburgh Steelers ('squid92')

Have You Ever Been LESS Excited About The Texans' First Round Draft Position?

Tim — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:00:11 -0000

I know I haven't. And that's a strange feeling, because I normally look forward to the Texans going on the clock as much as the first game of the season. So what's the reason for my malaise?

Is it the fact that this draft seems as though it's more uncertain at the top than any other in recent memory? Perhaps; I really don't recall a draft of anything resembling recent vintage that seemed to be more fluid. I mean, we all have an idea of what Detroit, St. Louis, and the like might do, but there's nothing approaching any sort of inevitability for the first few picks, so it seems like it's even more of a crapshoot to speculate as to what your Houston Texans will do at 15.

In conjunction with that increased muddiness, I think my relatively even keel about this draft is based on the fact that there is not a single player likely to be there at No. 15 who excites me. Malcolm Jenkins? Unlike my co-blogger here at BRB, I won't be throwing a parade if Jenkins becomes a Texan on Saturday. Clay Matthews III? I like him fine, but I won't breathlessly proclaim him as the missing piece at OLB. That's worlds better than how I feel about Brian Cushing, of course; I might feel stronger about him (read: against him becoming a Texan) than any player who could realistically become a Texan. Sean Smith? Like him quite a bit, but not enough to embrace him at 15 with no reservations. Darius Butler? I'm a fan, sure, yet he doesn't elicit any real fire in my belly right now. The same lack of emotion is present for every other player likely to be there at 15. Oddly enough, I think I'm more excited about the possibilities in Rounds Two through Seven than I am about Round One.

So the question is: Am I nuts? Or are you with me, feeling this strange sense of pensiveness about our first round pick?

The Phinsider Mock Draft 4.0

Matty I — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:15:07 -0000

We are now just over one week away from draft day. And now seems like a good time to update my mock draft for the first time in April.

1. Detroit Lions - Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
It's beginning to look more and more like Stafford will be Detroit's pick. And I agree with it. I think Stafford can be a franchise quarterback. He has all the physical tools you want in a quarterback. The Lions have a new coaching staff, new logo, new uniforms, and will now have a new face of their franchise.

2. St. Louis Rams - Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
The Rams took their first step towards improving their offensive line by signing center Jason Brown. They can take that next step by getting their stud left tackle to replace their previous stud left tackle, Orlando Pace, who they released earlier this offseason. Jason Smith and Eugene Monroe are the top 2 tackles in the draft. I think that Smith is a better fit for the Rams and what they want to do - be a power running team with Steven Jackson.

3. Kansas City Chiefs - Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
I think that the Chiefs will go one of two ways here. They could decide to take Virginia OT Eugene Monroe and bookend him with his former college teammate, Branden Albert, who KC took in round one last year. That would make a lot of sense as well, investing in Matt Cassel's protection. But I think that KC's need for a linebacker - especially when it happens to be the draft's top defensive player - will win out here. He'll also have a damn good mentor in the recently signed Zach Thomas.

4. Seattle Seahawks - Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
With the signing of T.J. Houshmandzadeh, I don't see Seattle taking Crabtree here as I once thought. I don't think B.J. Raji is the pick, either, following their acquisition of Cory Redding. With OT Walter Jones getting up there in age and coming off oc microfracture surgery, investing in a top tackle has got to be a priority. Monroe is probably the least risky tackle in this draft and would be a great way to improve upon a unit that allowed 36 sacks in '08 - 13th most in the league last year.

5. Cleveland Browns - Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas
I previously thought that Malcolm Jenkins could go here because Cleveland's secondary is terrible. But his stock is falling. Meanwhile, a top pass rusher is still a need. The Browns only tallied 17 sacks in 2007 - the 2nd fewest in the league. Orakpo performed very well at his pro day - which was important following his early exit from the Combine drills. He's probably the top pass rusher available in this draft and would provide an instant upgrade as a pass rusher right off the bat.

6. Cincinnati Bengals - Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
Leave it to the Bengals to make the controversial pick in the top 10. Smith might have the most physical talent of all the tackles in the draft. But his off-the-field issues have raised some red flags. However, the Bengals must invest in protecting their franchise quarterback. Cincinnati allowed 51 sacks in '08 - the third most in the league. Smith might be a bit risky, but his talent is unquestionable. And the Bengals never seem to shy away from players who have "character red flags."

7. Oakland Raiders - Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
This would be a shame, really, for a guy like Crabtree to land in Oakland - where great potential seems to be wasted on a regular basis. And while many out there think that Al Davis needs a 40 yard dash time to draft a skill position player, I don't think he's dumb enough to pass on the draft's best receiver here. I could see Oakland deciding to sure up their interior defensive line by taking B.J. Raji here instead. But I think Al's obsession with skill positions will lead him to select the talented receiver.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars - B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College
The Jaguars need a left tackle, but the top three are already off the board. They could also use a corner, but I just don't think that the top corners deserve to be taken this high. They also need a wide receiver. But I think they can wait until their second round pick (39th overall) to fill that void. Raji makes sense here for the Jags. They lack that big, physical presence along their interior defensive line to team with John Henderson like the used to have. And that's what Raji is.

9. Green Bay Packers - Everette Brown, DE/OLB, Florida State
The Packers are switching to a 3-4 defensive scheme this offseason and the team lacks that classic 3-4 pass-rushing outside linebacker. Brown is just that - a true pass rusher. A lot of people think a corner could go here, but I just don't see that as a higher priority than a pass rusher. After all, the 3-4 simply doesn't work without pass-rushing linebackers.

10. San Francisco 49ers - Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi
While many will make a case for Mark Sanchez landing in San Francisco, but I just don't see it. I'm torn here between a pass-rushing OLB like Aaron Maybin and a right tackle that they can pair with Joe Staley as bookends for the foreseeable future. And while the Niners did sign Marvel Smith, it's very risky to count on a guy who has missed 16 games over the past 2 seasons.

11. Buffalo Bills - Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State
The Bills need a pass rusher and Maybin, having recently turned 21, has a ton of upside.

12. Denver Broncos - Mark Sanchez, QB, USC
Sanchez would be an ideal fit to run the kind of offense that Josh McDaniels will be installing in Denver.

13. Washington Redskins - Brian Cushing, LB, USC
Would be an ideal fit replacing the recently released Marcus Washington at OLB.

14. New Orleans Saints - Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
The Saints still need secondary help and Jenkins could play either corner or safety in New Orleans.

15. Houston Texans - Clay Matthews, LB, USC
The "Matthews" name is like royalty in Houston. Oh - and they happen to need a solid linebacker to play along side DeMeco Ryans.

16. San Diego Chargers - Rey Maualuga, LB, USC
Maualuga is the reliable inside linebacker that the Chargers have been looking for who can step right in and have a positive impact on San Diego's defense.

17. New York Jets - Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State
The Jets need offensive firepower through the air. A wide receiver would be the pick, but I think Freeman offers NY too much value to pass up on - especially when your current quarterbacks are not very good.

18. Denver Broncos - Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU
The Broncos need help in their front seven as they make the switch to a 3-4 and Jackson is the prototypical 3-4 defensive end.

19. Tampa Bay Bucs - Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech
The Bucs need more help on their defensive line. Their starter opposite of Gaines Adams is the aging Kevin Carter. Johnson is a guy with tremendous physical ability and Raheem Morris is just the coach to tap into all that talent.

20. Detroit Lions - Eben Britton, OT, Arizona
Having gotten their franchise QB with their first pick, investing in protecting that QB makes a lot of sense.

21. Philadelphia Eagles - Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
Brian Westbrook isn't getting any younger and he's always been a "fragile" back. With Correll Buckhalter now in Denver, the Eagles need a guy who can compliment their aging star RB.

22. Minnesota Vikings - Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri
The Vikings could use a RT, but the top 5 tackles are gone already. So they take the biggest playmaker remaining on the board.

23. New England Patriots - Donald Brown, RB, Connecticut
Let's just chalk this pick up to a "hunch" I have. I will say, though, that I strongly feel that Brown is the second best back in this draft, trailing only Moreno.

24. Atlanta Falcons - Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma St.
Atlanta has a hole at tight end and Pettigrew is the draft's best all-around TE. He'll block well for Michael Turner and will provide a reliable target for Matt Ryan.

25. Miami Dolphins - Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut
I'll admit it - this is the first year in a while where I'm completely stumped on what the Dolphins will do with their first round pick. It's that wide open - and Bill Parcells never lets any info leak out. We all know that the Dolphins could go in a variety of directions here - with CB, OLB, and WR the three most likely. So why do I think Butler is now the guy?

I just don't think Bill Parcells and Jeff Ireland will spend a first round pick on a WR when it's known that Bill thinks receivers are "a dime a dozen." There is some good value at the receiver position in rounds 2 through 4 this year. And I don't think any remaining outside linebacker on the board is worthy of the 25th pick. Butler, meanwhile, has the ability to come right in and battle for the starting corner job opposite Will Allen. He has the best footwork of all the corners in the draft. He also probably possesses the best change of direction ability of all the corners. And his 43 inch vertical makes up for his lack of ideal size - though he certainly isn't short at 5'10 and a half.

26. Baltimore Ravens - Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
Davis has unquestioned talent. It's his character and work ethic that some worry about - though I'm not particularly concerned myself.

27. Indianapolis Colts - Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi
The Colts have an obvious need at defensive tackle and Jerry is a steal this late in round one.

28. Philadelphia Eagles - William Beatty, OT, Connecticut
The Eagles have a hole to fill following the departure of Tra Thomas and Beatty could step in and man the left tackle spot right from the get go.

29. New York Giants - Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland
The Giants have a clear need at wide receiver right now and, while a player like Hakeem Nicks or Kenny Britt might fit their style better, Heyward-Bey provides better draft value for the Giants.

30. Tennessee Titans - Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee
I think the Titans will hold off on taking a wide receiver and address their defensive line. Javon Kearse is aging and not as productive as he once was while Kyle Vanden Bosch had some injury issues last year.

31. Arizona Cardinals - Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State
Wells is the ultimate wildcard in terms of where he could be drafted in round one. If he does make it this far, there's no way the Cards pass on him - teaming him with Tim Hightower in their backfield.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers - Max Unger, G/C, Oregon
The Steelers surrendered too many sacks last year. They have to protect their franchise quarterback - who has taken a beating the past couple of years. Unger provides position flexibility along their offensive line.

So there is my latest mock draft. I'll update it one more time next week and then see how I fare.

Share your thoughts below...

With The Twenty-Fourth Overall Pick In The 2009 BRB Interactive Mock Draft, Atlanta Selects...

Tim — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 03:00:00 -0000

The people have spoken yet again, and they're saying Connor Barwin to the Pats. What will the resurgent Falcons do at 24?

Poll

With the 24th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons:

Select James Laurinaitis (LB--Ohio State)

9 votes

Select Clint Sintim (LB--Virginia)

2 votes

Select Vontae Davis (CB--Illinois)

11 votes

Select Larry English (DE/LB--Northern Illinois)

5 votes

Select Darius Butler (CB--UConn)

3 votes

Trade the pick (if selected, let us know the REALISTIC offer ATL would accept and who their trading partner would take at No. 24)

1 votes

31 votes | Poll has closed

With The Twenty Third Overall Pick In The 2009 BRB Interactive Mock Draft, New England Selects...

Jake — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:58:57 -0000

According to you, Minnesota is going to have to invest in some marijuana screening agents next year after they take Percy Harvin. Now it's time to get out your crystal ball because you have the daunting task of choosing what rabbit Bill Belichick will pull out of his hat.

Poll

With the twenty third overall pick, the New England Patriots...

Select Vontae Davis

9 votes

Select Darius Butler

4 votes

Select James Laurinaitus

25 votes

Select Connor Barwin

44 votes

Select Larry English

6 votes

Select Eben Britton

0 votes

Select Clint Sintim

6 votes

94 votes | Poll has closed