Rotoworld mock draft - 3/21

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http://fantasyfootball.rotoworld.com...&storyid=20475

2006 Mock Draft
By Gregg Rosenthal
Senior Editor, RotoWorld.com
March 21, 2006


Exactly one month ago, the Detroit Lions brass all agreed: Joey Harrington was their starting quarterback. By the time Detroit’s offseason program opened Monday, the Lions had signed three new quarterbacks. Harrington, meanwhile, was traveling in China, looking for the last remaining place on Earth where he isn’t heckled. A lot can change in a NFL month.

That’s why Mock Drafts made before free agency are now as useful as another No. 4 on the Lions roster. Welcome Corey Bradford! So with all the recent movement in mind, here’s a look at how we see the first-round of the NFL Draft unfolding in April.

Editor’s Note: Most Mocks don’t allow trades because they are impossible to predict, but we allow a few here. Here’s a dirty secret: The entire draft is impossible to predict. No one knows what they are talking about it. If they did, they wouldn’t be writing about it on the internet.

1. Houston Texans – Reggie Bush – USC RB

It’s hard to believe the team with the worst offensive line in football wouldn’t consider a trade down for D’Brickashaw Ferguson. But Bush will reign in Texas again because he’s a once-in-a-generation athlete capable of filling the seats. We also don’t see a huge desire for another team to trade up for him.

2. New York Jets – Matt Leinart, USC QB (from Saints)

The Jets are going to have extra ammunition to trade up once they deal John Abraham. Both Chad Pennington and Patrick Ramsey are one-year solutions, so look for the team to truly rebuild by drafting a true quarterback of the future. The Jets will be happy to use Leinart’s mug to try to squeeze the Yankees of the back page come September.

3. Tennessee Titans – Jay Cutler, Vanderbilt QB

Tennessee may try to move up a spot, but they will be happy with either quarterback that falls to them. After coaching Cutler at the Senior Bowl, the Titans should feel comfortable projecting him as their 2007 starter.

4. New Orleans Saints – D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Virginia T

Ferguson is one of the best left tackle prospects in years. This move makes so much sense, the Saints probably won’t make it. One thing to keep in mind is that Drew Brees essentially signed a one-year contract. If the Saints don’t move down, they can absolutely still draft Matt Leinart.

5. Green Bay Packers – Mario Williams, N.C. State

The Packers will look hard at A.J. Hawk, but they can’t pass up the best pure defensive player in the Draft. KGB is one of the most overrated players in football and the new coaching staff knows it.

6. San Francisco 49ers – Michael Huff, Texas DB

Huff can play cornerback and safety and the 49ers need help at both positions. Huff is an intelligent and instinctive player that showed off surprising speed at the Combine. He has the most value at cornerback. If any team is desperate for Vince Young or A.J. Hawk, this would be the spot to move up.

7. Oakland Raiders – Vince Young, Texas QB

Controversial and insanely athletic? Vince Young sounds like an Al Davis guy. If Young gets past Oakland here, he could experience an Aaron Rodgers-like freefall to Minnesota or further.

8. Buffalo Bills – Haloti Ngata, Oregon DT

Some are projecting Brodrick Bunkley, but he’s more of a tbree-technique tackle who will provide a pass rush. The Bills will use newly signed Larry Tripplett in that role. The Bills need and want a run-plugger to clog their interior line. They swung and missed at Ryan Pickett in free agency.

9. Detroit Lions – A.J. Hawk, Iowa LB

GM Matt Millen has spent enough picks on offense, so he should take the surest defensive bet in the entire draft. The team would be thrilled if Hawk fell this far.

10. Arizona Cardinals – Ernie Sims, Florida State

The next Jonathan Vilma will finish a meteoric rise up draft boards, landing in the middle of Dennis Green’s defense. The Cardinals have done a nice job drafting defensive athletes since Green arrived.

11. St. Louis Rams – Vernon Davis, Maryland TE

He deserves to go higher, but we can’t see a great fit except with the 49ers. The 254-pounder is famous for his 4.38 forty, but he can play football too. The Rams offense needs to get younger.

12. Cleveland Browns – Kamerion Wimbley, Florida St. DE/LB

The DeMarcus Ware effect. Wimbley will be converted to outside linebacker, just like Willie McGinest once did.

13. Baltimore Ravens – Winston Justice, USC T

Baltimore could go a lot of ways, including linebacker, defensive line, and running back. But look for them to groom a replacement for Orlando Brown on the right side of the O-line. Tony Pashos doesn’t count.

14. Philadelphia Eagles – Brodrick Bunkley, Florida St. DT

Philadelphia should look to bolster their front seven before adding a power running back to complement Brian Westbrook. They can fill that need later or through free agency.

15. Atlanta Falcons – DeAngelo Williams, Memphis RB

Atlanta greases the skids for Warrick Dunn’s eventual departure by taken a younger version of him.

16. Miami Dolphins – Jimmy Williams, Virginia Tech CB

Williams’ size would make him a perfect press corner in Nick Saban’s system. The Dolphins seem to ignore the attitude question marks that are plaguing Williams right now.

17. Minnesota Vikings – Chad Greenway, Iowa LB

His stock has fallen because of poor postseason workouts, but Greenway is still an instinctive player with as much raw potential as any linebacker in this class. He’s been called a boom-or-bust type by some.

18. Dallas Cowboys – Nick Mangold, Ohio State C

Bill Parcells completes his offensive line makeover by selecting the best center prospect in years.

19. San Diego Chargers – Santonio Holmes, Ohio State WR

They probably won’t expect him to last this long, but the Chargers will gladly snap up the best receiver in the 2006 class. He could start by mid-season.

20. Kansas City Chiefs – Mathias Kiwanuka, Boston College DE

Herm Edwards and company will take the best defensive athlete available, and pass-rushing “Kiwi” qualifies here.

21. New England Patriots – Chad Jackson, Florida WR

The Patriots should look hard at all available wideouts and linebackers. Jackson is more toolsy than the Patriots usually go for, but Bill Belichick was on Florida’s campus to personally check out Jackson last week. He found time to speak to Florida’s basketball team before it left for the NCAA tournament. “Congratulations on winning the SEC championship,” Belichick reportedly told them. “That doesn't mean ---- now.”

22. Denver Broncos – LenDale White, USC RB

He’s the perfect one-cut running back. Enjoy the Ron Dayne sleeper talk while you can.

23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Marcus McNeil, Alabama T

The Bucs haven’t addressed their tackle issues in free agency, so look for them to dip into a deep tackle pool.

24. Cincinnati Bengals – Gabe Watson, Michigan DT

The Bengals will have a hard time not drafting a cornerback, but look for them to take either Watson or Brodrick Bunkley if either slip this far.

25. New York Giants – Tye Hill, Clemson CB

After loading up on every mediocre cornerback they could find in free agency, the Giants should get a quality option in the draft.

26. Chicago Bears – Leonard Pope, Georgia TE

Pope, UCLA’s Marcedes Lewis and USC’s Dominique Byrd are all possibilities here. The Bears need offensive options.

27. Carolina Panthers – Sinorice Moss, Miami WR

Moss could step in to the No. 3 receiver role and help out on returns immediately.

28. Jacksonville Jaguars – Laurence Maroney, Minnesota RB

Coming soon to a fantasy football sleeper list near you. Jacksonville’s young offense should continue to get younger as Fred Taylor heads into the sunset.

29. Denver Broncos – Marcedes Lewis, UCLA TE

The Broncos should also look at defensive tackle, where LSU’s Claude Wroten makes sense. But this is a fantasy site, and projecting the next Shannon Sharpe wannabe is a lot more fun.

30. Indianapolis Colts – Joseph Addai, LSU RB
The buzz started on this exact pick sometime after the NFL Combine. The Colts should look at Laurence Maroney if available, but any running back taken here is hitting the fantasy football jackpot.

31. Seattle Seahawks – Antonio Cromartie, Florida St. CB

This pick could go to the Jets in a John Abraham trade. Both teams would be happy with Cromartie. While gifted with size and speed, he is still an unknown because of an ACL injury which took away his junior season.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers – D’Qwell Jackson, Maryland LB

It’s not a sexy pick, but the Steelers aren’t about making a splash. While they have ammunition to move up in the round if they choose, Jackson is a perfect fit as a heady inside linebacker. He looks better on the field than in workouts.

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So I send this guy an e-mail, asking "Did you forget about Tamba Hali?"

Response: "I dont think he's a first-round pick. Just my opinion. He had a disasterous Pro Day. Seems too slow to play LB, too small to play DE."

Which is just fine by me. Hopefully many more will feel the same, and a proven playmaker falls in our lap.

[Tribal Warfare]

coryt I sent him an E-mail to tell him to watch the Senior Bowl, and how Kiwi got owned by D'Brick.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by coryt

So I send this guy an e-mail, asking "Did you forget about Tamba Hali?"

Response: "I dont think he's a first-round pick. Just my opinion. He had a disasterous Pro Day. Seems too slow to play LB, too small to play DE."

Which is just fine by me. Hopefully many more will feel the same, and a proven playmaker falls in our lap.

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

coryt I sent him an E-mail to tell him to watch the Senior Bowl, and how Kiwi got owned by D'Brick.

so you two are pimping Hali to drive up his stock so we can't pick him?

[Tribal Warfare]

Originally Posted by Laz

so you two are pimping Hali to drive up his stock so we can't pick him?

Well if some experts have going to late late 1st or early 2nd round then it's going to suck when we lose out if KC has up their ass and allows him to slip. Their's the fact that Herms head is firmly planted in King Carl's royal orpheus as we speak. So anything can happen

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

Well if some experts have going to late late 1st or early 2nd round then it's going to suck when we lose out if KC has up their ass and allows him to slip. Their's the fact that Herms head is firmly planted in King Carl's royal orpheus as we speak. So anything can happen

so maybe Hali can fall into round 2...

1. bunkley
2. hali
3. jennings/croyle






let Hali fall ... let every quality defender fall imo

[tk13]

He found time to speak to Florida’s basketball team before it left for the NCAA tournament. “Congratulations on winning the SEC championship,” Belichick reportedly told them. “That doesn't mean ---- now.”

[Tribal Warfare]

Originally Posted by Gregg Rosenthal

Im basing it on a number of things. I agree you shouldn't overrate Pro Days and don't forget production. But ive also heard from a few people that all the Mocks that had Hali so high to begin with were off. I dont think the pro scouts love him because he's such a tweener, but a little slow for LB, light for DE. I think he's a second round guy.

This is his response why Tamba Hali will fall

[Miles]

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

This is his response why Tamba Hali will fall

Its not all that unreasonable of an evaluation. Though I think he is overplaying the weight thing. Even when he weighed in 10lbs light at pro days, 265 really isnt really undersized for his height.

[Tribal Warfare]

Originally Posted by Miles

Its not all that unreasonable of an evaluation. Though I think he is overplaying the weight thing. Even when he weighed in 10lbs light at pro days, 265 really isnt really undersized for his height.

I wonder if this guy ever saw Jared Allen or Dwight Freeney play

[Miles]

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

I wonder if this guy ever saw Jared Allen or Dwight Freeney play

Seems like the same happens every year. There are those that are good college players and fall due to their numbers that work out quite well and those that fall and do nothing.

Though I do agree with you that the good/great college players tend to be less of a crap shoot than the numbers guys. There is always that possiblity that a great technique player will simply not have the athleticism to excel in the NFL but I feel its less of a risk than some raw talent developing the tecnique and instincts.

[Tribal Warfare]

Originally Posted by Miles

Though I do agree with you that the good/great college players tend to be less of a crap shoot than the numbers guys. There is always that possiblity that a great technique player will simply not have the athleticism to excel in the NFL but I feel its less of a risk than some raw talent developing the tecnique and instincts.

The last Penn State Senior Bowl MVP we drafted worked out pretty good for us.

[Tribal Warfare]

Originally Posted by Gregg Rosenthal

I dont know the Chiefs are interested in him specifically but I've heard they are looking hard at all the fast twitch-type ends like him and Kiwanuka, maybe Wimbley. But nothing 'inside' or anything.

this is his response when I asked who KC was really eyeing during their Pro Days.

[htismaqe]

9. Detroit Lions – A.J. Hawk, Iowa LB

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

9. Detroit Lions – A.J. Hawk, Iowa LB

why funny ... isn't he projected as a top 10 pick


or you just laughing because he has to join the black hole in detroit?