kc rush
04-28-2006, 03:09 PM
LINK (http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=85966)
Down to the wire: Packers take one for Favre
April 28, 2006
Dan Pompei
More mock drafts: War Room scouts | TSN correspondents
After consulting dozens and dozens of scouts, coaches and general managers around the league, here is my take on the first round of the draft:
1. Houston Texans -- Reggie Bush, RB. Mario Williams, you say? The Texans are trying to create negotiating leverage with Bush and entice other teams to trade up for the top spot.
2. New Orleans Saints -- Mario Williams, DE. The Saints ideally would trade down, but that doesn't appear probable. They won't take QB Matt Leinart, though.
3. Tennessee Titans -- Matt Leinart, QB. There is a split in the draft room. Some want Leinart; some want Vince Young. Owner Bud Adams is expected to cast the deciding vote.
4. New York Jets -- D'Brickashaw Ferguson, OT. If Leinart is there, the Jets could take him. Another possibility is a trade down to the 10 to 12 range.
5. Green Bay Packers -- Vernon Davis, TE. The Packers throw Brett Favre a bone and pass on A.J. Hawk.
6. San Francisco 49ers -- A.J. Hawk, ILB. They can't pass up Hawk even though they really don't need another inside linebacker for their 3-4 defense. They'd really like Davis.
7. Oakland Raiders -- Vince Young, QB. Raiders officials like quarterback Andrew Walter, their third-round pick last year, so cornerback/safety Jimmy Williams is a dark horse possibility here.
8. Buffalo Bills - Michael Huff, S. Buffalo is a bit of a wild card, because the team has a number of needs. Can the Bills pass up QB Jay Cutler? DT Broderick Bunkley also is in the picture, and a wild-card possibility is safety Donte Whitner.
9. Detroit Lions -- Ernie Sims, OLB. The popular pick would have been Huff, and he can't be ruled out. But Sims might be a better fit for the Lions' blueprint.
10. Arizona Cardinals -- Jay Cutler, QB. OT Winston Justice and DT like Broderick Bunkley also are possibilities here.
11. St. Louis Rams -- Broderick Bunkley, DT. It appears the player the Rams really want is QB Jay Cutler. If they can't have him, the Rams probably go defense.
12. Cleveland Browns -- Haloti Ngata, NT. It's clear this team needs help in the front seven. If Bunkley still is on the board, he could be the choice. OLB Kamerion Wimbley also is in the picture.
13. Baltimore Ravens -- Jonathan Joseph, CB. He could provide immediate help as a nickel back. Don't discount RB Laurence Maroney or Whitner. A trade down is possible.
14. Philadelphia Eagles -- Santonio Holmes, WR. The Eagles could trade down, but if they are stuck here, a wide receiver makes sense.
15. Denver Broncos -- Manny Lawson, OLB/DE. The Broncos also could go for a running back, such as Maroney or DeAngelo Williams.
16. Miami Dolphins -- Donte Whitner, S. He has visited the team twice, which is unheard of. It's time for Miami to get some good young defenders.
17. Minnesota Vikings -- Jimmy Williams, CB/S. Many suspect the Vikings will trade up to get Cutler. They have the ammo to trade up, but they'd like to keep the extra picks. A linebacker also is possible.
18. Dallas Cowboys -- Kamerion Wimbley, DE. A young wide receiver would make sense, but there might not be one worthy of the No. 18 pick.
19. San Diego Chargers -- Winston Justice, OT. If Justice falls this far, the Chargers can't pass on him. A cornerback also is possible.
20. Kansas City Chiefs -- Antonio Cromartie, CB. The defensive rebuilding continues, but the Chiefs also could use some reinforcements for a rapidly aging offense.
21. New England Patriots -- Richard Marshall, CB. Coach Bill Belichick has learned repeatedly that he can't have enough defensive backs. A trade up, possibly for Ngata or Whitner, also is possible.
22. San Francisco 49ers -- Bobby Carpenter, OLB. If the 49ers help their offense at No. 6, they must help their defense here. A trade down could happen.
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- Nick Mangold, C. Coach Jon Gruden keeps trying to get it right on the offensive line. A trade up, possibly for OLB/DE Manny Lawson, could happen.
24. Cincinnati Bengals -- Jason Allen, S. The Bengals figure to go defense and also could take a cornerback or a pass rusher.
25. New York Giants -- Tye Hill, CB. The signing of OLB LaVar Arrington frees up the Giants to draft a player at another position.
26. Chicago Bears -- John McCargo, DT. They could go for a linebacker, such as Carpenter, but this team never has too many defensive linemen. The most likely scenario is the Bears will trade down.
27. Carolina Panthers -- Laurence Maroney, RB. A linebacker is a possibility, but running the ball is central to the Panthers. Would they really consider LenDale White?
28. Jacksonville Jaguars -- Chad Greenway, OLB. The Jaguars would have a hard time passing on S Jason Allen, if available. They also like TE Marcedes Lewis.
29. New York Jets -- DeAngelo Williams, RB. At some point, the Jets have to come up with a successor to RB Curtis Martin.
30. Indianapolis Colts -- Thomas Howard, OLB. Losing RB Edgerrin James and OLB David Thorton created big holes in the depth chart.
31. Seattle Seahawks -- Greg Jennings, WR. A cornerback like Ashton Youboty can't be dismissed. A trade down is possible.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers -- Sinorice Moss, WR. The Steelers could use a receiver, and and Moss' toughness would appeal to coach Bill Cowher. Moving up also is a possibility.
Senior writer Dan Pompei covers the NFL for Sporting News. E-mail him at pompei@sportingnews.com.
Down to the wire: Packers take one for Favre
April 28, 2006
Dan Pompei
More mock drafts: War Room scouts | TSN correspondents
After consulting dozens and dozens of scouts, coaches and general managers around the league, here is my take on the first round of the draft:
1. Houston Texans -- Reggie Bush, RB. Mario Williams, you say? The Texans are trying to create negotiating leverage with Bush and entice other teams to trade up for the top spot.
2. New Orleans Saints -- Mario Williams, DE. The Saints ideally would trade down, but that doesn't appear probable. They won't take QB Matt Leinart, though.
3. Tennessee Titans -- Matt Leinart, QB. There is a split in the draft room. Some want Leinart; some want Vince Young. Owner Bud Adams is expected to cast the deciding vote.
4. New York Jets -- D'Brickashaw Ferguson, OT. If Leinart is there, the Jets could take him. Another possibility is a trade down to the 10 to 12 range.
5. Green Bay Packers -- Vernon Davis, TE. The Packers throw Brett Favre a bone and pass on A.J. Hawk.
6. San Francisco 49ers -- A.J. Hawk, ILB. They can't pass up Hawk even though they really don't need another inside linebacker for their 3-4 defense. They'd really like Davis.
7. Oakland Raiders -- Vince Young, QB. Raiders officials like quarterback Andrew Walter, their third-round pick last year, so cornerback/safety Jimmy Williams is a dark horse possibility here.
8. Buffalo Bills - Michael Huff, S. Buffalo is a bit of a wild card, because the team has a number of needs. Can the Bills pass up QB Jay Cutler? DT Broderick Bunkley also is in the picture, and a wild-card possibility is safety Donte Whitner.
9. Detroit Lions -- Ernie Sims, OLB. The popular pick would have been Huff, and he can't be ruled out. But Sims might be a better fit for the Lions' blueprint.
10. Arizona Cardinals -- Jay Cutler, QB. OT Winston Justice and DT like Broderick Bunkley also are possibilities here.
11. St. Louis Rams -- Broderick Bunkley, DT. It appears the player the Rams really want is QB Jay Cutler. If they can't have him, the Rams probably go defense.
12. Cleveland Browns -- Haloti Ngata, NT. It's clear this team needs help in the front seven. If Bunkley still is on the board, he could be the choice. OLB Kamerion Wimbley also is in the picture.
13. Baltimore Ravens -- Jonathan Joseph, CB. He could provide immediate help as a nickel back. Don't discount RB Laurence Maroney or Whitner. A trade down is possible.
14. Philadelphia Eagles -- Santonio Holmes, WR. The Eagles could trade down, but if they are stuck here, a wide receiver makes sense.
15. Denver Broncos -- Manny Lawson, OLB/DE. The Broncos also could go for a running back, such as Maroney or DeAngelo Williams.
16. Miami Dolphins -- Donte Whitner, S. He has visited the team twice, which is unheard of. It's time for Miami to get some good young defenders.
17. Minnesota Vikings -- Jimmy Williams, CB/S. Many suspect the Vikings will trade up to get Cutler. They have the ammo to trade up, but they'd like to keep the extra picks. A linebacker also is possible.
18. Dallas Cowboys -- Kamerion Wimbley, DE. A young wide receiver would make sense, but there might not be one worthy of the No. 18 pick.
19. San Diego Chargers -- Winston Justice, OT. If Justice falls this far, the Chargers can't pass on him. A cornerback also is possible.
20. Kansas City Chiefs -- Antonio Cromartie, CB. The defensive rebuilding continues, but the Chiefs also could use some reinforcements for a rapidly aging offense.
21. New England Patriots -- Richard Marshall, CB. Coach Bill Belichick has learned repeatedly that he can't have enough defensive backs. A trade up, possibly for Ngata or Whitner, also is possible.
22. San Francisco 49ers -- Bobby Carpenter, OLB. If the 49ers help their offense at No. 6, they must help their defense here. A trade down could happen.
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- Nick Mangold, C. Coach Jon Gruden keeps trying to get it right on the offensive line. A trade up, possibly for OLB/DE Manny Lawson, could happen.
24. Cincinnati Bengals -- Jason Allen, S. The Bengals figure to go defense and also could take a cornerback or a pass rusher.
25. New York Giants -- Tye Hill, CB. The signing of OLB LaVar Arrington frees up the Giants to draft a player at another position.
26. Chicago Bears -- John McCargo, DT. They could go for a linebacker, such as Carpenter, but this team never has too many defensive linemen. The most likely scenario is the Bears will trade down.
27. Carolina Panthers -- Laurence Maroney, RB. A linebacker is a possibility, but running the ball is central to the Panthers. Would they really consider LenDale White?
28. Jacksonville Jaguars -- Chad Greenway, OLB. The Jaguars would have a hard time passing on S Jason Allen, if available. They also like TE Marcedes Lewis.
29. New York Jets -- DeAngelo Williams, RB. At some point, the Jets have to come up with a successor to RB Curtis Martin.
30. Indianapolis Colts -- Thomas Howard, OLB. Losing RB Edgerrin James and OLB David Thorton created big holes in the depth chart.
31. Seattle Seahawks -- Greg Jennings, WR. A cornerback like Ashton Youboty can't be dismissed. A trade down is possible.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers -- Sinorice Moss, WR. The Steelers could use a receiver, and and Moss' toughness would appeal to coach Bill Cowher. Moving up also is a possibility.
Senior writer Dan Pompei covers the NFL for Sporting News. E-mail him at pompei@sportingnews.com.