Matt @ Alldayfootball.com

Future NFL Prospect of the Week

2009-11-19T18:12:00.000-08:00

Dexter McCluster
RB/WR Ole Miss

5'8" 165 lb.
Senior

Week 11 vs. Tennessee
25 rushes for 282 yards and 4 TDs, 4 recs for 42 yards

In one of the most lopsided games on the SEC calendar this season, the Ole Miss Rebels gashed Lane Kiffin's Tennessee Volunteers and that was mainly due to the absolutely stellar play of one Dexter McCluster. McCluster helped his Rebels to a victory by running over and around every Tennessee player on the field including seasoned veterans like Eric Berry, Rico McCoy and Dan Williams.

The Vols didn't stand a chance when McCluster got into the open field as he showed his incredible agility and burst by making Tennessee defenders look stupid as he zipped by them and left them grasping at air. He did most of his damage off tackle but he was also a reliable option out of the backfield as well, hauling in 4 receptions for 42 yards.

However, there was one play that stood out, on the goalline, Jevan Snead pitched him the ball and he look it off of a John Jerry block and waiting for him was Eric Berry, the top defender in the NCAA last year who lay a hit on him, McCluster bounced off, used his balance to collect himself and fight down to the 1 yard line. A true testament to the toughness of this running back. Congrats Dexter, a name none more fitting seeing as he carved up the Vol defense.

-Matty

Matty's Rookie of the Week

2009-11-18T08:08:00.000-08:00

The 2009-2010 season has begun and my weekly rookie of the week is back. We had a lot of great performances this week, from quarterbacks and wide receivers especially. So, without further delay here is All Day Football's ninth Rookie of the Week of the season.

Matty's Rookie of the Week

Josh Freeman
6'6" 248 lbs.
Kansas State
1st round selection, 17th overall
14/31 for 205 yards and 3 TDs, INT

Josh Freeman was efficient in his first start and lead the 0-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers to their first win of the season. Freeman did everything you expect from a cagey veteran QB, but what is most impressive is that it was his first start. Some might say that Green Bay was sorely unprepared for the Freeman onslaught, but I like to think that the Bucs have found their QB of the future. Freeman has the biggest amount of potential in the draft as he has great size and athletic ability and showcased his cannon and accuracy against a stout Green Bay pass defense featuring Charles Woodson, Al Harris and Nick Collins. So, congratulations go out to Freeman for his great performance and making sure the 2009-2010 campaign has no team go 0-16. Congrats Josh, you earned it! Also, NFL.com fans are ridiculous for not giving the Pepsi ROTW honours to Josh and instead giving it to Mike Wallace.

Runner Ups:

Offense

Mike Wallace
6'0" 180 lbs.
Ole Miss
3rd round pick, 84th overall
4 recs for 69 yards and TD

Defense

Jerraud Powers
5'10" 192 lbs.
Auburn
3rd round pick, 92nd overall
10 tackles, 1 INT

Be sure to check back next week for the Week 10 ROTW!

Future NFL Prospect of the Week

2009-11-10T17:01:00.000-08:00

Mark Ingram
RB Alabama

5'10" 212 lb.
Sophomore

Week 10 vs. LSU
22 rushes for 144 yards, 5 recs for 30 yards

Well, we had John Clay here last week and yet another Sophomore running back turned on the burners and made his mark (no pun intended) and that was the star Alabama running back Mark Ingram. It is just astounding to think that Alabama might be better off when Glen Coffee declared early for the NFL because now Ingram is getting the bulk of the carries and he is making teams pay.

Ingram went up against a pretty stout LSU defense and he ripped em' to shreds, it seemed that every time he got ball in his hands, be it on a hand off or a reception it was like he was always going for a first down and gaining huge chunks of yardage at a time. LSU didn't have an answer for him and he single handedly saved the game for McElroy who made some really bad mistakes but had them glossed over because of a big play to Julio Jones and a win against #9 ranked LSU.

Ingram will be an amazing back in the NFL as he can do everything and more that a team wants their running back to do. He can catch, run and block and he will no doubtedly be a first round selection whether he comes out two years from now or after his senior season, he'll only get better and the team the drafts him will be getting a stud in this writer's honest opinion.

-Matty

Matty's Rookie of the Week

2009-11-10T16:49:00.000-08:00

The 2009-2010 season has begun and my weekly rookie of the week is back. We had a lot of great performances this week, from quarterbacks and wide receivers especially. So, without further delay here is All Day Football's eighth Rookie of the Week of the season.

Matty's Rookie of the Week

Percy Harvin
5'11" 184 lbs.
Florida
1st round selection, 22nd overall
5 recs for 84 yards and TD, 5 returns for 175 yards

Percy Harvin was a one man wrecking crew against what was supposed to be a stout Green Bay defense. It seemed that every time a big play came around, young Harvin was making it. He hooked up with Brett Farve for a huge TD mid game and constantly had the Vikes in great field position. The contributions of this young receiver cannot be denied and I thought he was going to struggle a bit, I can honestly say that I would want him on my team, he plays tough, he plays smart and he plays with great speed and passion, he'll be a cornerstone for the Vikes for years to come and we haven't even begun to see the best that Harvin has to offer. So, congrats Percy on your first ROTW award, you earned it bud!

Runner Ups:

Offense

LeSean McCoy
5'10" 198 lbs.
Pittsburgh
2nd round pick, 53rd overall
11 rushes for 82 yards and TD, 2 recs for 10 yards

Defense

Brian Cushing
6'3" 262 lbs.
USC
1st round pick, 15th overall
10 tackles, 1 INT, 1 sack

Be sure to check back next week for the Week 9 ROTW!

Future NFL Prospect of the Week

2009-11-10T16:27:00.000-08:00

John Clay
RB Wisconsin

6'2" 247 lb.
Sophomore

Week 9 vs. Purdue
24 rushes for 123 yards and 3 TDs

Wisconsin is a team who love the big and bruising backs and John Clay is the next in line in a long line of talented backs. The most famous is Ron Dayne who is among the NCAA elite when it comes to rushing and P.J. Hill was looking to follow in his footsteps before subpar and injury filled junior season. Regardless of their past trials in the NFL, John Clay has all the potential to be a dominant runner in the NFL.

Clay loves to run inside and out, he'll punish you by lowering his shoulder into your face, he can run around you and he can stiff arm your helmet off. The boy is talented and then some and has all the size and skills a NFL team would love. To me, he reminds me of a Brandon Jacobs, LeRon McClain type of back, a physical, between the tackles and goalline back.

It'll be interesting to see what he does in the NFL, as it currently stands he could be part of a pretty stellar running back class that includes Alabama standout Mark Ingram, Virginia Tech's Darren Evans, Oregon State speedster Jacquizz Rodgers and Georgia's Caleb King. A pretty good crop of potential Senior RBs and John Clay could easily be among the best of the bunch.

-Matty

Matty's Rookie of the Week

2009-10-29T12:39:00.000-07:00

The 2009-2010 season has begun and my weekly rookie of the week is back. We had a lot of great performances this week, from quarterbacks and wide receivers especially. So, without further delay here is All Day Football's seventh Rookie of the Week of the season.

Matty's Rookie of the Week

Shonn Greene
5'11" 226 lbs.
Iowa
3rd round pick, 65th overall
19 rushes for 144 yards and 2 TDs

Shonn Greene burst onto the scene and single handed ran over, through and around the Oakland Raiders defense. In his first big chunk of playing time Mr. Greene has shown some serious skills and with Leon Washington succumbing to injury and ending up on injured reserve, Greene emergence couldn't come at a better time. Greene showed some break away speed that not a lot of people thought he had and average over 7 yard per carry. There's a good chance that anyone who faces the Jets from this point on are going to get a steady dose of Jones and Greene, strap up your chinstraps boys, Jets are going to test you. Congrats Shonn on your first ROTW award!

Runner Ups:

Offense

Hakeem Nicks
6'0" 215 lbs.
North Carolina
1st round pick, 29th overall
4 receptions for 80 yards and TD

Defense

Jairus Byrd
5'10" 200 lbs.
Oregon
2nd round pick, 42nd overall
2 tackles, 2 INTs

Be sure to check back next week for the Week 8 ROTW!

Future NFL Prospect of the Week

2009-10-29T12:31:00.000-07:00

Ricky Stanzi
QB Iowa

6'4" 218 lb.
Junior

Week 8 vs. Michigan State
11/27 for 138 yards and 1 TD

This game against Michigan State may not have been his best statistical output of the year, but it really shows how Stanzi is coming into his own as a NCAA quarterback. I am very impressed with his decision making, his accuracy and his poise. He's found a great target in tight end Tony Moeaki. I like his size and athleticism transitioning to the NFL and I think by this time next year he should be setting himself apart from the other potential senior QBs looking to make it big in the NFL.

Stanzi is part of the reason why Iowa is still undefeated and looking at a potential Big 10 crown. I like Iowa to win out the rest of the season and potentially make a case as the darkhorse for the National Championship. With Stanzi at the helm, the sky is limit for Kirk Ferentz and his Iowa Hawkeyes.

-Matty

Matty's Rookie of the Week

2009-10-23T07:32:00.000-07:00

The 2009-2010 season has begun and my weekly rookie of the week is back. We had a lot of great performances this week, from quarterbacks and wide receivers especially. So, without further delay here is All Day Football's sixth Rookie of the Week of the season.

Matty's Rookie of the Week

Ryan Succop
6'2" 218 lbs.
South Carolina
7th round pick, 256th overall
4/4 FGs, Long of 46

First time I have ever had a kicker as my rookie of the week, but in all honesty, I can't think of anyone more deserving who beat the odds to become a player who made an impact in the Chiefs getting their first win of the season. Succop kicked 4 FGs to help the Chiefs surpass he struggling Redskins, he was poised, he was consistent and he is reliable. Everything one could ask for from their kicker, Succop is 9/10 on FGs this season with a long of 53 and 9/9 on extra points. Congrats Mr. Irrevelant, not so Irrelevant now, are you?

Runner Ups:

Offense

Hakeem Nicks
6'0" 215 lbs.
North Carolina
1st round pick, 29th overall
5 receptions for 114 yards and TD

Defense

Clay Matthews
6'3" 250 lbs.
Southern California
1st round pick, 26th overall
5 tackles, 2 sacks, FF

Be sure to check back next week for the Week 7 ROTW!

Future NFL Prospect of the Week

2009-10-23T07:21:00.000-07:00

Max Hall
QB Brigham Young

6'1" 201 lb.
Senior

Week 7 vs, San Diego State
27/39 for 348 yards and 3 TDs, 14 rushes for 47 yards and TD

Max Hall is the versatile magician running the BYO freight train offense alongside future NFL draft picks Harvey Unga and Dennis Pitta. But, this article is about Max Hall and his great Senior season so far and how he projects as a future NFL QB. Like an earlier article I wrote on Case Keenum from Houston, Max Hall has a lot of the intangibles required to be a NFL QB, save for the size as he's a bit short at 6'1" and a bit slight at just a hair over 201 lbs.

Max Hall has a solid arm and good accuracy, he can easily take over a game once he gets into a zone. He can shred a defense with the simplest of ease when he is ready to go, he is also dangerous on the run as well. It is best shown how in the stat line above to the tune of 395 total yards and 4 total TDs against a rusurgent San Diego State defense. Max Hall projects to be a late round selection in the forthcoming 2010 draft but if he sits for a year or two in the right system, he could take over in the future, but he is likely destined to be a high level back up in the right system (WCO/Spread).

-Matty

Matty's Rookie of the Week

2009-10-23T06:58:00.000-07:00

Knowshon Moreno

5'11" 210 lbs.

Georgia

1st round selection, 12th overall

21 rushes, 88 yards and 4 receptions for 36 yards

Defense

Aaron Curry

6'2" 254 lbs.

Wake Forest

1st round selection, 4th overall

10 tackles, 1 sack, FF

Be sure to check back next week for the Week 6 ROTW!

Future NFL Prospect of the Week

2009-10-23T06:48:00.000-07:00

Brandon Spikes
LB Florida

6'3" 258 lb.
Senior

Week 6 vs. LSU
11 tackles, 2.5 sacks, FF

Brandon Spikes is a mountain of a man at linebacker, he has prototypical NFL MLB size and plays with incredible intensity and range. In the LSU game, Spikes took control of the interior and he was nearly unblockable coming on the pass rush and stuffing the run. Hilt and Hebert couldn't seal him in space and he was able to run free and cause all sorts of havoc against LSU.

Spikes offers scheme versatility for NFL teams as being able to play ILB in a 3-4 or a 4-3. He has the speed to play sideline to sideline, he can make tackles in the run game and stuff it behind the line of scrimmage, he is a solid blitzer as is evident with his 2.5 sacks against the LSU front five and he is deceptively good in coverage. He will no doubt be an early 1st day selection and probably an early candidate for DROY 2010, he'll provide a team with an immediate upgrade and provide an immediate impact.

-Matty

Dez Bryant to lose College Eligibility

2009-10-07T23:33:00.000-07:00

Oklahoma State's main playmaker and the potential #1 wide receiver in the 2010 draft may have no more college snaps left to pad his already impressive highlight reel. As reported by the New York Times Dez Bryant has lost his eligibility to finish his junior and senior seasons with the Cowboys because of an infraction that can be simply put "failed to openly disclose to the NCAA the full details of his interaction with a former NFL player not affiliated with OSU."

Who was that former NFL player not affiliated with Oklahoma State?

IT'S YA BOY PRIME!

Yup, good ol' Prime is the reason for another wide receivers strife, first Crabtree, now Dez Bryant and it is only a matter of time before the Devine one, Noel Devine of West Virginia finds a way to have his friendship with Deion Sanders blow up in his face.

Anyways, Dez Bryant was over at Prime's house having a good ol' time and he was questioned about it, he lied and said he didn't visit and the NCAA is not a fan of being lied to. So now Dez Bryant faces massive repercussions for a little white lie he told in a panic.

Bryant currently has 17 receptions, 323 yards and 4 TDs for the Oklahoma State Cowboys and has been an integral part of their three headed offensive attack along with QB Zac Robinson and RB Kendall Hunter. However, it is likely that Dez Bryant loses some huge stock in the draft and though he is eligible to declare he very well could find his way back into the NCAA for one more year if he deems so.

I think Dez would be well served to appeal to the courts and throw himself at the mercy of the board on the defense that he was a confused and panicked kid and didn't really know the consequences of his actions. That is his best recourse if he wants to knock off some of the flack that he is sure to get come draft prep and interview time, or he could take the Mike Williams route and head to Athlete's Plus and work his butt off in order to be in game shape for April and the draft. Either way, the poor kid has some real decisions to make ahead of him and I for one hope it works out well for him.

-Matty

Future NFL Prospect of the Week

2009-10-07T09:46:00.000-07:00

Jacory Harris
QB Miami

6'4" 190 lb.
Sophomore

Week 5 vs. Oklahoma
12/28 for 202 yards, 3 TDs and 2 INTs

Jacory Harris has helped bring the Hurricanes back to National prominence after a few shaky years when they were just average including breaking the 14 or so year streak of Miami Hurricane players getting drafted in the first round. Now, I don't think another will be drafted this year unless Eric Moncur plays lights out, but, two years from now, we could be looking at the start of a whole new streak when Harris become draft eligible.

Jacory Harris is a bit slight at 190 lbs. on a 6'4" frame, he is built like a wide receiver but he plays like a quarterback. He doesn't needlessly scramble, he is always trying to keep his eyes downfield to make plays and more often then not he does. He helped lead Miami from behind to beat the juggernaut Oklahoma Sooners. This is a defense with many potential stars, especially along the defensive line and although he was pressured and sacked very early on in the game he didn't let it get to him and made the big time throws to not only keep Miami in the game, but ultimately win it for them.

Harris will be an interesting prospect to watch in the coming years and if he keeps getting better and is maybe able to fill out that 6'4" frame a little better, he definitely has a shot at being a franchise signal caller for a team playing on Sunday.

-Matty

Matty's Rookie of the Week

2009-10-07T09:30:00.002-07:00

The 2009-2010 season has begun and my weekly rookie of the week is back. We had a lot of great performances this week, from quarterbacks and wide receivers especially. So, without further delay here is All Day Football's fourth Rookie of the Week of the season.

Matty's Rookie of the Week

Mohamed Massaquoi
6'2" 207 lbs.
Georgia
2nd round pick, 50th overall
8 receptions for 148 yards

Massaquoi exploded against the Bengals this past week and showed real promise for the future. So much so that Braylon Edwards was sent off to the Jets for a couple Mangini guys and a couple draft picks. But that is another story altogether, Massaquoi was an efficient target for Derek Anderson down the field, he made big catches and was very consistent and hopefully he can build on this success and give the Browns a more consistent big play target. Way to go Massaquoi, congrats on being named ADF ROTW for week 4.

Runner Ups:

Offense

Brandon Pettigrew
6'5" 265 lbs.
Oklahoma State
1st round pick, 20th overall
4 receptions for 64 yards

Defense

Brian Orakpo
6'3" 260 lbs.
Texas
1st round pick, 13th overall
7 tackles, 1 sack

Be sure to check back next week for the Week 5 ROTW!

Future NFL Prospect of the Week

2009-10-01T17:05:00.001-07:00

Chad Jones
S Louisiana State

6'3" 231 lb. Junior

Week 4 vs. Mississippi State
7 tackles, 1 pass break up
93 yard PR TD

Louisiana State fans every should be thanking their lucky stars for the two sport athlete that is Chad Jones as he may have kept their National Championship hopes alive for at least another week by keeping them undefeated by narrowly edging out the Mississippi State Bulldogs 30-26 in a knock down drag out. Chad Jones put the Tigers ahead with an amazing 93 yard punt return for a score and then on the goal line was the reason that Anthony Dixon and the QB Lee didn't celebrate a huge upset win as he was in the right place at the right time to deflect a play action pass to the tight end that would have sealed the win and helped on 4th and an inch with the game saving tackle.

Jones is a speedy and athletic safety who can also play in the box, off the hashes or in center field. He is an absolute beast at 6'3" and 230 lbs. he is built like Taylor Mays but may have better field awareness. He's only a junior right now but the future is bright for Jones if he continues to make plays like he has. No doubt LSU will rely on him when Tim Tebow and Joe Cox try and shred the Tiger defensive backfield.

Matty's Rookie of the Week

2009-09-30T10:02:00.000-07:00

The 2009-2010 season has begun and my weekly rookie of the week is back. We had a lot of great performances this week, from quarterbacks and wide receivers especially. So, without further delay here is All Day Football's first Rookie of the Week of the season.

Matty's Rookie of the Week

Matthew Stafford
6'3" 232 lbs.
Georgia
1st round pick, 1st overall
21/36 for 241 yards and 1 TD, 2 rushes for 23 yards

Matthew Stafford hasn't yet lived up to his billing as the 1st overall selection but he is well on his way to getting there leading the Lions to their first victory since 2007. He showed poise in the pocket, he showed mobility and escapability and showed the power and touch that his throwing arm possesses as he threw some very pretty passes to Calvin "Megatron" Johnson and Bryant "Wishes He Has Optimus" Johnson.

Runner Ups:

Offense

LeSean McCoy
5'10" 198 lbs.
Pittsburgh
2nd round pick, 53rd overall
20 rushes for 84 yards and 1 TD, 1 rec., 9 yards

Defense

Victor Butler
6'2" 246 lbs.
Oregon State
4th round pick, 110th overall
3 tackles, 2 sacks, FF

Be sure to check back next week for the Week 4 ROTW!

Matty's Big Board:10-1

2009-09-22T06:38:00.000-07:00

01. Russell Okung

OT Oklahoma State
6'5" 300 lbs.

1st team All American

02. Ndamukong Suh

DT Nebraska
6'4" 300 lbs.

115 tackles, 32 for a loss, 14.5 sacks

03. Taylor Mays

S Southern California
6'3" 230 lbs.

180 tackles, 18 pass break ups, 4 ints.

04. George Selvie

DE South Florida
6'4" 250 lbs.

189 tackles, 59.5 for a loss, 25.5 sacks

05. Ciron Black

OT Louisiana State
6'5" 322 lbs.

2nd team All SEC

06. Sergio Kindle

DE Texas
6'4" 255 lbs.

98 tackles, 19.5 for a loss, 10.5 sacks

07. Sean Weatherspoon

LB Missouri
6'2" 245 lbs.

299 tackles, 29 for a loss, 8 sacks, 3 ints.

08. Jermaine Gresham

TE Oklahoma
6'6" 258 lbs.

111 recs. 1629 yards, 26 TDs

09. Brandon Spikes

LB Florida
6'3" 258 lbs.

239 tackles, 25 for a loss, 3.5 sacks, 4 ints.

10. Syd'Quan Thompson

CB California
5'9" 191 lbs.

208 tackles, 26 pass break ups, 6 ints.

Matty's Rookie of the Week

2009-09-22T06:05:00.000-07:00

The 2009-2010 season has begun and my weekly rookie of the week is back. We had a lot of great performances this week, from quarterbacks and wide receivers especially. So, without further delay here is All Day Football's first Rookie of the Week of the season.

Matty's Rookie of the Week

Mark Sanchez
6'2" 225 lbs.
Southern California
1st round pick, 5th overall
14/22 for 163 yards and 1 TD

Week 2 and Sanchez already has his second rookie of the week award. Sanchez played like a cagey veteran against a stout New England Patriots team. He looked absolutely amazing in the game, he had great pocket presence and stood up to the rush of the Pats. He took what the defense gave him and never put his defense in a bad position by making a stupid turnover. The ball came out of his hands quickly which says that he is reading defenses well and he is getting the ball down field to his playmakers as he has instantly made Jericho Cotchery, Dustin Keller and Chansi Stuckey extremely dangerous. If he continues to play like he has the last two weeks and avoids the rookie wall, rookie of the year is his, guaranteed.

Runner Ups:

Offense

Percy Harvin
5'11" 184 lbs.
Florida
1st round pick, 22nd overall
5 receptions, 41 yards, 2 rushes, 14 yards and 1 TD

Defense

Rey Maualuga
6'2" 255 lbs.
Southern California
2nd round pick, 38th overall
4 tackles, 1 sack, 2 FF

Be sure to check back next week for the Week 3 ROTW!

Future NFL Prospect of the Week

2009-09-21T12:36:00.000-07:00

Jake Locker
QB Washington

6'3" 226 lbs. Junior

Week 3 vs. Southern California
21/35 for 237 yards
8 rushes and 1 TD

Though Jake Locker didn't have his biggest statistical output in the week 3 game against #3 ranked USC, Locker showed that he has the poise, the charisma and the intangibles that can help him lead a team on Sunday. Locker has the size, speed and strength to be a solid signal caller at the next level and that USC game proved it as he faced stiff competition with a subpar team and came out on top.

Jake Locker is known for his ability to improvise when the pocket breaks down but more and more this season he is sitting in the pocket and if his first read isn't open he progresses nicely instead of taking off. Granted, blocking from massive OT Ben Ossai helps out but Locker essentially puts the entire Huskie offense on his shoulders week in and week out and does what he can with them.

There is a good chance he will return to school to hone his craft and potentially up his stock where he could become a potential first overall selection in the 2011 NFL Entry Draft. As it currently stands, if he were to come out now I can't imagine him going earlier then round three just because of the more polished signal callers that will be entering this years draft. Regardless, Locker has a bright future and may be showcasing his talents for even bigger crowds on Sundays.

Matty's Big Board: 20-11

2009-09-21T02:37:00.000-07:00

11. Corey Wootton

DE Northwestern
6'7" 280 lbs.

135 tackles, 32 for a loss, 15.5 sacks

12. Terrence Cody

DT Alabama
6'5" 365 lbs.

24 tackles, 4.5 for a loss, 0.5 sacks

13. Greg Hardy

DE Ole Miss
6'5" 275 lbs.

131 tackles, 33 for a loss, 21.5 sacks

14. Javier Arenas

CB Alabama
5'9" 198 lbs.

83 tackles, 8 pass break ups, 1 int.

15. Brandon LaFell

WR Louisiana State
6'3" 206 lbs.

118 recs. 1723 yards, 14 TDs

16. Arthur Jones

DT Syracuse
6'4" 293 lbs.

126 tackles, 31.5 for a loss, 5 sacks

17. Trent Williams

OT Oklahoma
6'5" 318 lbs.

1st team All Big-12

18. D'Anthony Smith

DT Louisiana Tech
6'2" 300 lbs.

146 tackles, 18 for a loss, 9 sacks

19. Sam Young

OT Notre Dame
6'8" 330 lbs.

1st team Freshman All American

20. Vince Oghobaase

DT Duke
6'5" 305 lbs.

128 tackles, 29 for a loss, 11.5 sacks

Matty's Big Board: 30-21

2009-09-18T10:19:00.000-07:00

21. Boo Robinson

DT Wake Forest
6'2" 295 lbs.

108 tackles, 16.5 for a loss, 11.5 sacks

22. Jerry Hughes

DE Texas Christian
6'3" 257 lbs.

84 tackles, 24 for a loss, 17 sacks

23. Charles Brown

OT Southern California
6'6" 285 lbs.

Converted TE

24. Eric Norwood

LB South Carolina
6'1" 252 lbs.

174 tackles, 43 for a loss, 22 sacks

25. Tim Tebow

QB Florida
6'3" 245 lbs.

448/681, 6390 yards, 67 TDs, 11 ints.

26. C.J. Spiller

RB Clemson
5'11" 195 lbs.

390 rushes, 2335 yards, 20 TDs

27. Mardy Gilyard

WR Cincinnati
6'1" 187 lbs.

117 recs., 1812 yards, 14 TDs

28. Joe Pawelek

LB Baylor
6'2" 240 lbs.

313 tackles, 18.5 for a loss, 4 sacks, 8 ints.

29. Rico McCoy

LB Tennessee
6'1" 220 lbs.

231 tackles, 11 for a loss, 2 sacks, 1 int.

30. Trevard Lindley

CB Kentucky
6'0" 179 lbs.

157 tackles, 34 pass break ups, 9 ints.

Matty's Big Board: 40-31

2009-09-17T04:55:00.000-07:00

31. Jared Odrick

DT Penn State
6'5" 296 lbs.

61 tackles, 14.5 for a loss, 7.5 sacks

32. Geno Atkins

DT Georgia
6'1" 290 lbs.

84 tackles, 23 for a loss, 8 sacks

33. Micah Johnson

LB Kentucky
6'2" 258 lbs.

180 tackles, 17 for a loss, 2.5 sacks, 2 ints.

34. Sean Lee

LB Penn State
6'2" 236 lbs.

239 tackles, 18.5 for a loss, 9 sacks, 2 ints.

35. Brandon Lang

DE Troy State
6'4" 256 lbs.

88 tackles, 27 for a loss, 16 sacks

36. Sergio Render

OG Virginia Tech
6'3" 313 lbs.

2nd team All ACC

37. Adam Ulatoski

OT Texas
6'6" 310 lbs.

1st team All Big-12

38. Mike Johnson

OG Alabama
6'6" 305 lbs.

1st team All American

39. C.J. Wilson

DE East Carolina
6'4" 278 lbs.

135 tackles, 35 for a loss, 21.5 sacks

40. Stevenson Sylvester

LB Utah
6'2" 230 lbs.

182 tackles, 19.5 for a loss, 7 sacks, 1 ints.

Matty's Big Board: 50-41

2009-09-16T20:56:00.000-07:00

41. Brandon Graham,

DE Michigan
6'2" 263 lbs.

74 tackles, 30 for a loss, 19 sacks

42. Kam Chancellor

S Virginia Tech
6'4" 230 lbs.

140 tackles, 14 pass break ups, 4 ints.

43. Patrick Robinson

CB Florida State
5'11" 194 lbs.

65 tackles, 10 pass break ups, 7 ints.

44. Selvish Capers

OT West Virginia
6'5" 298 lbs.

Converted TE

45. Darrell Stuckey

S Kansas
6'1" 205 lbs.

202 tackles, 16 pass break ups, 7 ints.

46. Kyle Wilson

CB Boise State
5'10" 186 lbs.

117 tackles, 23 pass break ups, 8 ints.

47. Chris Brown

RB Oklahoma
5'10" 200 lbs.

445 rushes, 2174 yards, 35 TDs

48. Eric Decker

WR Minnesota
6'2" 215 lbs.

176 recs. 2364 yards, 19 TDs

49. Brandon Ghee

CB Wake Forest
6'0" 190 lbs.

98 tackles, 17 pass break ups, 1 int.

50. Justin Cole

DE San Jose State
6'3" 240 lbs.

135 tackles, 21 for a loss, 10 sacks

Future NFL Prospect of the Week

2009-09-15T23:11:00.000-07:00

Case Keenum
QB Houston

6'2" 210 lbs. Junior

Week 2 vs. Oklahoma State
32/46 for 366 yards and 3 TDs
5 rushes, 16 yards and 1 TD

Case Keenum has shown why he is one of the most prolific passers to come to the University of Houston by leading the 2-0 Cougar team past #5 ranked Oklahoma State. Case Keenum out performed opposing offense littered with potential NFL draft picks by lighting them up to the tune of 382 total yards and 4 touchdowns.

Case Keenum has solid mechanics and skills and could be a future NFL star if he can overcome the pass happy Cougar offense and turn his spread offense mechanics into under center mechanics. He has a strong enough arm, he has decent accuracy and he is sneaky athletic when moving around the pocket and making things happen when said pocket breaks down. He projects right now to be a mid-late second day pick if he were to come out this year, but if he waits a year and goes back to hone his skills he could easily move into the second round much like his predecessor Kevin Kolb.

Keenum has 725 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2 games this season, but the game against #5 Ok. State will put Houston on the map as a potential BCS buster and if Keenum can keep it up he might have a chance at some Heisman votes.

Matty's Rookie of the Week

2009-09-15T22:48:00.000-07:00

The 2009-2010 season has begun and my weekly rookie of the week is back. We had a lot of great performances this week, from quarterbacks and wide receivers especially. So, without further delay here is All Day Football's first Rookie of the Week of the season.

Matty's Rookie of the Week

Mark Sanchez, QB
6'2" 225 lbs
Southern California
1st round pick, 5th overall
18/31 for 272 yards and 1 TD

The first time starter unleashed on the unsuspecting Texan defense and they often didn't have an answer for the sensational rookie. Though his completion percentage was just a little north of 50% he put up massive yardage and a score to Chansi Stuckey. If this is how he is playing in his first game as an NFL QB then I think he has a very bright future ahead of him. Congrats on the first of presumably many ROTW's to come Mark!

Runner Ups:

Offense

Louis Murphy, WR
6'2" 200 lbs
Florida
4th round pick, 124th overall
4 receptions, 87 yards and 1 TD

Defense

James Laurinaitis, LB
6'2" 247 lbs
Ohio State
2nd round pick, 35th overall
14 tackles, FR

Be sure to check back next week for the Week 2 ROTW!

Freshman to Watch: Defense

2009-09-07T10:59:00.000-07:00

Manti Te'o
LB Notre Dame

Freshman
6'2" 244 lbs.

Week 1 vs. Nevada
2 solo tackles

This freshman linebacker didn't have the biggest impact in his first game but he is definitely going to be something special in the future. The strength and speed he has at his size is incredible. On one play he lined up at the line of scrimmage and rushed the passer, he was pushed past the passer by the OT and as the QB stepped in the pocket and took off, Te'o easily caught him from behind showing some of the most amazing burst I have seen in awhile.

Te'o is a prospect who may not see the NFL in awhile because he's said he wants to go on a two year mormon mission in 2010 which means he probably won't see himself declaring until he is about 22 or 23 (he's 18 now) but he could very well have all the essential skills needed to be a LB in the NFL, but until then he is just going to continue making plays for the a tough Fighting Irish defense.

Freshman to Watch: Offense

2009-09-07T10:42:00.000-07:00

Denard Robinson
QB Michigan

Freshman
6'0" 174 lbs.

Week 1 vs. Western Michigan
2-4 18 yards, 11 rushes 74 yards TD

Denard Robinson was a highly touted freshman coming to play for Rich Rodriguez at Michigan and after watching him play on Saturday vs. a pretty solid Bronco team, Denard Robinson could easily be the next great Rodriguez QB following in the shoes of Pat White... only "Shoelaces" as Denard is known might be more explosive when running and might have a stronger, albeit less consistent arm.

During a broken play in the 2nd quarter on a botched QB read/run play, Robinson dropped the snap and when things broke down, he turned it up by taking the ball 43 yards while evading tackles, stopping and juking on a dime and then taking it through a safety and cornerback by accelerating through their angles.

He is definitely the future and could see himself moving into a solid role in the future, however, starting QB Tate Forcier won't give up the job willingly as he burned the WMU defense to the tune of 13-20 for 179 yards and 3 TDs.

Future NFL Prospect of the Week

2009-09-07T10:29:00.000-07:00

Michael Floyd
Notre Dame WR

6'3" 220 lbs.
Sophomore

Week 1 vs. Nevada
4 recs. 189 yards 3 TDs

Michael Floyd played opposite the incredibly talented Golden Tate during his freshman season and without a doubt learned a thing or two as he exploded out of the gate against a solid Nevada Wolfpack team for 189 yards and 3 touchdowns. He showed incredible speed, strength and poise as he hauled in 4 passes from Jimmy Clausen and bolted to the endzone.

Floyd has the typical size and speed that will no doubt make him a prospect to watch this season and next as he prepares himself for a likely long career in the NFL as draft scouts will be salivating over his potential. He could easily be the next Terrell Owens with his size and skill set and I look forward to see what he'll do to opposing defenses this season.

NFL Post Preseason Mock: Picks 49-64

2009-09-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

64 - Pittsburgh Steelers: Adam Ulatoski, OT Texas

Max Starks and Willie Colon... *shudders* worst tackle tandem for a Super Bowl team EVER! Ulatoski should come in and stabilize the LT spot and allow Starks to kick back over to RT and that will move Colon to the bench where he is much better suited as a back up G/T.

63 - New England Patriots: Chris Brown, RB Oklahoma

Maroney is a bust if he doesn't break out this season. Taylor has a season or two left. BJGE is a preseason nightmare but a regular season snoozer and Sammy Morris is a capable but not game breaking back... all this leads to the drafting of the beast back from Oklahoma in Chris Brown.

62 - Indianapolis Colts: Dezmon Briscoe, WR Kansas

Marvin Harrison is gone and I wonder if Gonzo and Collie can make up for what was lost. If not, Dezmon Briscoe is available and he is one of the best possession receivers in the draft. He doesn't have the speed, but he has the hands and intelligence and after a year or two with Peyton... I think he'll be a nice addition.

61 - San Diego Chargers: Anthony Davis, OT Rutgers

Jeromey Clary is a sack machine! Unfortunately he's a RT and that isn't a compliment... San Diego likes big and nasty offensive linemen and Anthony Davis fits the bill. He's big. He's nasty. He's the future for the Bolts at RT.

60 - Minnesota Vikings: Morgan Burnett, S Georgia Tech

Despite the emergence of Tyrell Johnson and drafting of Jamarca Sanford, Vikings still need help on the back end and Georgia Tech's Burnett is easily the best available as he could play strong safety or free safety, he is physical, fast and a solid football player. He'll provide a solid safety duo with Tyrell Johnson for the Vikings future.

59 - Baltimore Ravens: C.J. Wilson, DE ECU

The Ravens have solid 3-4 DE's but Trevor Pryce is getting up there in age. Bringing in Wilson from ECU would help them a lot, he can learn from guys like Pryce and Ngata and he can provide more pass rush then Pryce can right now at LE.

58 - New York Giants: Mike Johnson, OG Alabama

Giants need DB's and oline depth. Mike Johnson provides them with a solid back up at either guard spot. Nice, safe pick here.

57 - New Orleans Saints: Stevenson Sylvester, LB Utah

New Orleans needs linebacker help bad. They lost Arnoux and Simoneau to IR, Morgan to early retirement again and that leaves them with Fujita, Vilma and Dunbar... and I think that is about it. Dunbar is a decent player with youth on his side... Fujita is flat out bad... Stevenson Sylvester would take over right away for him.

56 - Green Bay Packers: Sergio Render, OG Virginia Tech

Darryn Colledge is solid and Lang and Meredith may prove to be good additions in the future. But to get the best OG in the draft here who fits perfectly into Green Bay's zone scheme is too good for Ted Thompson to pass up, and since defensive backfield and oline depth are the main concerns for the Pack, seems fitting they draft the Hokie guard Render.

55 - Miami Dolphins: Brandon Lang, DE/LB Troy State

Something tells me Cameron Wake and Jason Taylor won't work out for the Dolphins. If this is the case, the Dolphins will need a new pass rush threat to learn from Joey Porter, though Matt Roth is solid against the run, he doesnt play the pass well enough so here comes Troy State DE Brandon Lang. FYI, last time Parcells drafted a Troy State DE... his name was Demarcus Ware.

54 - Philadelphia Eagles: Sean Lee, LB Penn State

Stewart Bradley was lost for the season and his back up is a question mark, opposite him, Akeem Jordan and Omar Gaither are average to above average at best. Sean Lee is an instant upgrade be it at ILB or WLB. He provides solid depth, help on special teams and gives the Eagles one of the smartest defensive players in the draft, not to mention the versatility to play inside or out.

53 - New England Patriots (from Tennessee Titans): Micah Johnson, LB Kentucky

Burschi is retired and the Pats need someone opposite Jerod Mayo to play on 1st and 2nd down at least as Gary Guyton is too small to play the run at TED backer. Insert Kentucky MLB Micah Johnson who has the size and strength to play the run and also has the coverage skills to stay on the field on third down.

52 - Chicago Bears: Geno Atkins, DT Georgia

The Bears need some steady consistency on the inside, they have two solid tackles in Tommie Harris and Marcus Harrison. Everyone after that is a stop gap at best, the Bears get the big and nasty Georgia tackle, plug him in at one tech and spell Tommie Harris and get some more pressure on the QB.

51 - Arizona Cardinals: Lee Ziemba, OT Auburn

Mike Gandy was exposed in pass protection against James Harrison in the super bowl and an upgrade for him might be required soon. Lee Ziemba is an absolute monster protecting the Auburn Tigers blindside. He's 6'8" and 315 lbs. of sheer athletic dominance and he would be a good blindside protector for Kurt Warner... or a frontside blocker for Leinart.

50 - Kansas City Chiefs (from Atlanta Falcons): Josh McNeil, C Tennessee

Niswanger might as well be Dutch for bad center. An immediate upgrade is required and with KC missing out on O'Dowd, they get the second best center in Tennessee lineman Josh McNeil who would easily provide the Chiefs with a new starting day center come September 2010.

49 - Carolina Panthers: Marvin Austin, DT North Carolina

The Panthers have little to no depth inside on the defensive line with injuries mounting and a long season ahead of them, they'll need some young blood inside to help stuff the run and despite some inconsistency issues Marvin Austin is a first round talent. The Panthers land him here and start to rejuvinate their defensive tackle line up.

NFL Post Preseason Mock: Picks 33-48

2009-09-05T10:56:00.000-07:00

48 - Dallas Cowboys: Jared Odrick, DT/DE Dallas Cowboys

Chris Canty was a huge loss even if they replaced him with Igor Olshansky, Jared Odrick is able to play DT or DE in a 3-4 and should be able to help contribute nicely to the front 3 of the Cowboys 34 defense.

47 - Seattle Seahawks: Trevard Lindley, CB Kentucky

When it gets to week 6, the Seahawks will be so happy Trufant is back and they will realize it is essential that they draft another cornerback. Though Lindley has potential to be a first round selection, I think his size helps him slip into the middle of the second round and sends him to the Pacific Northwest of Seattle.

46 - Houston Texans: Reshad Jones, S Georgia

Eugene Wilson and Domonique Barber are not the greatest starting safety duo and could use an upgrade. Reshad Jones from Georgia would be an immediate upgrade at either free or strong safety depening on which player is more likely to be replaced by the UGA playmaker.

45 - Washington Redskins: Joe Pawelek, LB Baylor

Redskins need a replacement for London Fletcher, though H.B. Blades plays tough I don't think he is the future, same goes with 2009 draft pick Robert Henson. Pawelek has that same innate ability to be around the ball at all times like Fletcher. He had 6 ints and a wealth of tackles at Baylor and is easily one of the most consistent and safe backers in this draft.

44 - New York Jets: Mardy Gilyard, WR Cincinnati

Mardy Gilyard stretches the field better then almost any of the receivers in this draft not to mention he is a capable kick and punt returner. Gilyard is insurance if Leon Washington can't be retained or he is used more in the offense, not to mention he provides another down the field target for QB Mark Sanchez.

43 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rico McCoy, LB Tennessee

Phillips didn't work at backer and Crowell was lost for the season, McCoy fits the mold of what Jim Bates would like from his backers. He is fast, strong and good in coverage. He could stand to fill out a bit but I think by the time he is ready for draft time, he'll be a physical specimen worthy of a first day selection.

42 - Cincinnati Bengals: C.J. Spiller, RB Clemson

Bernard Scott may or may not be the answer to the Bengals tailback question, but with C.J. Spiller available I don't think the Bengals are going to let him get past them as he can be a more every down back then Scott, he can return kicks and punts and be a more then capable third down back when they pound the rock with Benson.

41 - San Francisco 49ers: Tim Tebow, QB/ATH Florida

Mike Singletary wants winners and he hasn't exactly found a winning combination with Shaun Hill and Alex Smith, Nate Davis may never get his chance and Tim Tebow may just be a 2 time Heisman winner and 3 time National champ when he enters the draft, it is hard to bypass those accolades even with his sub par mechanics but I think he'll find a spot on the 49er roster. Worst case scenario, he gets converted to a fullback.

40 - New England Patriots (from Jacksonville Jaguars): Eric Norwood, LB South Carolina

Tully Banta-Cain, Pierre Woods and Shawn Crable are all unproven. With Adalius Thomas coming off injury, Tedy Bruschi retired and Mike Vrabel a Chief, Gamecock LB/DE Eric Norwood would be a welcome addition to the Patriots linebacking core as he can get to the QB, play the pass and stop the run.

39 - Cleveland Browns: Evan Royster, RB Penn State

Cleveland will likely see its last season from Jamal Lewis and if James Davis doesn't work out then Cleveland is definitely in the market for a new RB, since they missed Dwyer in the first they get Royster here who is a big and physical back who will pound the defenses in a very tough AFC North division.

38 - Buffalo Bills: Charles Brown, OT USC

Bills got their new franchise guy, now they need someone to protect him. Charles Brown is athletic and strong and will compliment the new and youthful Bills offensive line with Levitre, Wood and Hangartner and allow Langston Walker to move back to RT where he is better suited based on his skill set.

37 - St. Louis Rams: Everson Griffen, DE USC

Rams would probably have liked to get Carlos Dunlap in the first but ended up with massive DT Suh, now they get their RE in Everson Griffen who is one of my personal favourite players and I think he sits nicely into RE and Chris Long moves over to LE as he is much better at playing the run then current LE Leonard Little who may or may not still be with the Rams after next season.

36 - Kansas City Chiefs: Jerry Hughes, DE/LB TCU

Kansas City has an aging LB and a converted LE playing rush backer... they need help big time so they get the 2008 NCAA National sack leader in TCU defensive end Jerry Hughes. Hughes came in as a running back so there is no doubt he has the athletic ability to stand up and rush the passer and with a guy to learn from in Mike Vrabel, he could see some real success surprisingly quick.

35 - Denver Broncos: Boo Robinson, DT Wake Forest

Denver needs a massive two gapper inside and Boo Robinson is easily the best available. Combine Robinson with Spikes and the Broncos defense should get even more stout against the run which they had problems stopping last year and may still have problems stopping without the correct personnel for the 3-4 defense new DC Mike Nolan employs.

34 - Oakland Raiders: Vince Oghobaase, DT Duke

The Raiders picked up a massive DE in Carlos Dunlap in infuse some pass rush and run stopping on the front four, now the Raiders add the massive Duke DT Oghobaase to stuff inside and hopefully help Tommy Kelly reach his potential and the Oakland Raider defense is going to play the run better and get to the passer just as well.

33 - Detroit Lions: Sam Young, OT Notre Dame

The Lions finally select their LT of the future in the monstrous and athletic Sam Young from Notre Dame. Shifting Jeff Backus from LT to RG should help along with consistent play from Gosder Cherilus, Domonic Raiola and Daniel Loper and the Lions offensive line might actually not be a liability anymore.

NFL Post Preseason Mock: Picks 17-32

2009-09-04T10:12:00.000-07:00

32 - Pittsburgh Steelers: D'Anthony Smith, DT Louisiana Tech

The Steelers are yet again the tops of the league and I think they don't really have any glaring needs, so I think they grab Smith from Louisiana Tech to learn from Casey Hampton as Hampton could use some fresh legs to spell him and Chris Hoke is aging behind him. Add Smith to the roation with Hood and such and the front three for the Steelers will be just as nasty but have youth on their side.

31 - New England Patriots: Trent Williams, OT Oklahoma

Kaczur is a weak link despite his Canadians roots and Matt Light has an expiring contract. OT is going to be a very big need this offseason for the Patriots if they want to keep Tom Brady up right.

30 - Indianapolis Colts: Arthur Jones, DT Syracuse

Jim Caldwell is going to find out why 260 lb. DTs can't hold up against the run first hand and after that, they'll be moved to DE to make room for the big guys. They already drafted Fili Moala and Terrence Taylor, now add in Arthur Jones and the Colts actually have a DT rotation that won't be mistaken for DE or LB.

29 - San Diego Chargers: Rolando McClain, LB Alabama

The Chargers need some help at ILB where Dobbins and Wilhelm aren't holding up. If free agent pick up Kevin Burnett shows to be more then a special teams guy then this pick could change to an OT like Trent Williams but considering what they have and the talent on the rest of the defense, ILB needs to be upgraded and McClain provides an amazing force inside.

28 - Minnesota Vikings: Kristofer O'Dowd, C/G USC

The Vikings will experience this year why letting Matt Birk go and replacing him with an inconsistent Ryan Cook or inexperienced John Sullivan is not a good mix with a QB like Brett Favre. I have a feeling center and QB will be the biggest needs for this team come the 2009-2010 offseason.

27 - Baltimore Ravens: Brandon LaFell, WR LSU

The Ravens were looking for a receiver in the last draft, albeit a veteran one like Anquan Boldin, but a guy like Brandon LaFell has to appeal to them. One of the more complete receivers in the game and would provide a solid weapon for Joe Flacco on deep and intermediate routes along with his superb blocking in the run game.

26 - New York Giants: Javier Arenas, CB Alabama

Rich get richer, the Giants have few needs and may look for a pass rusher or cornerback, they get the amazing Javier Areans who is a stellar corner and probably the number one return man in the game, he'll start on special teams and contribute immediately as a dime or nickel cornerback.

25 - New Orleans Saints: Greg Hardy, DE Ole Miss

Once Will Smith and Charles Grant serve their star caps suspension, the Saints will realise just how thin at DE they really are and that is where they should focus their attention in the 2010 draft. Defensive end and defensive tackle, though they could go D'Anthony Smith to give the front four that Minnesota feeling with an active 3-tech (Ellis) and an immovable 1-tech (Smith), I think Hardy provides more value with what the Saints are going to do with new DC Gregg Williams at the helm.

24 - Green Bay Packers: Ras-I Dowling, CB Virginia

Charles Woodson and Al Harris are aging, Patrick Lee, Tramon Williams and Will Blackman don't have much game time experience and Ras-I Dowling is an amazingly talented and athletic cornerback who is more physical then his size would indicate. Not to mention Ted Thompson loves going BPA and Dowling could easily fit that bill.

23 - Miami Dolphins: Terrance Cody, DT Alabama

Jason Ferguson will be almost 36 going into the 2010 season, the Dolphins need to start grooming his replacement and I believe Coach Sporano and Bill Parcells can turn Cody from inconsistent and lazy to a hard working beast of a NT.

22 - Philadelphia Eagles: Corey Wootton, DE Northwestern

The Eagles have little to no needs and could easily be challenging for the Super Bowl, if they end up here I imagine it is because they couldn't stop the run because of their smaller DE's and missing inside backer Bradley. So, I think Wootton would be a great pick for the Eagles as he will be their LE for years to come, he is an absolute monster at 6'7" 274 lbs. and he stacks up well against the run and can also rush the passer, he is an immediate upgrade over Juqua Parker and Darren Howard.

21 - Tennessee Titans: Syd'Quan Thomspon, CB California

The Titans have very few needs, Britt has shown some real skills, Nate Washington is looking to be a good pick up which leaves the Titans with two real needs which are at cornerback where Nick Harper is aging and at linebacker where Bullock and Thornton are aging. However, I think Bullock and Thornton have more left in them and thus CB becomes the pick, I think SQT will have a huge season and vie for the top CB spot, the Titans would be thrilled to get him here.

20 - Denver Broncos (from Chicago Bears): Brandon Spikes, LB Florida

Though Denver needs a big nose tackle to occupy multiple gaps, Terrence Cody's work ethic scares some people and he might not fit into McDaniels system well. However, a guy like Brandon Spikes might make some more sense and considering I had him going to the Broncos before he decided to return for his Senior year I can't imagine a better pick here.

19 - Arizona Cardinals: Jermaine Gresham, TE Oklahoma

The Cardinals need a consistent tight end threat, they have not gotten much from Leonard Pope, Ben Patrick will be spending some time riding the pine because of a substance abuse violation and add in terrible acquisitions like Domonique Byrd and Anthony Becht and I think Gresham becomes even more appealing as a vertical threat. He'll need to work on blocking, but most tight ends now a days have to and playing for a run heavy team like Oklahoma might make him more ready then other tight ends.

18 - Atlanta Falcons: Sean Weatherspoon, LB Missouri

Coy Wire starts at WLB. Nuff' said.

17 - San Francisco 49ers (from Carolina Panthers): Sergio Kindle, DE/LB Texas

Sergio Kindle is a pass rush specialist and the 49ers might be looking his way if Manny Lawson can't handle the starting role for yet another year. Kindle has all the physicality and talent to rush the passer from a stand up position as he often transitions between down and space when he rushes and I think add him to the class with Bulaga and the 49ers are another step closer to challenging for the NFC West crown.

NFL Post-Preseason Mock: Picks 1-16

2009-09-02T22:26:00.000-07:00

16 - Dallas Cowboys: Damian Williams, WR USC

Romo needs guys to throw to, plain and simple. Williams is the best available if he declares, this pick could also be depth on the defensive line, someone like Cody to spell Ratliff or a big guy like Arthur Jones who moves well to spell at defensive end. But if Roy Williams doesn't work out, a big time threat is needed in the passing game and this Williams ca provide that spark.

15 - Seattle Seahawks: Jonathan Dwyer, RB Georgia Tech

No brainer. Best RB + Team needing RB desperately = great fit. The Seahawks get their franchise QB early and now their franchise back... Seahawks are set for the future.

14 - Houston Texans: Joe Haden, CB Florida

The Texans have few needs on either side of the ball, especially on offense, but they really could use upgrades in the defensive backfield and getting the best corner in the draft at this point is a huge gain for the Texans. Though they could go DT with a guy like Arthur Jones, Marvin Austin or even Terrence Cody, I think CB is a bigger need, especially with the future of Dunta Robinson up in the air but DT is a very close second with former first rounder Travis Johnson wearing Charger's powder blue now.

13 - Washington Redskins: Bryan Bulaga, OT Iowa

The Redskins could use a DE but with the selection of Jeremy Jarmon from Kentucky and not addressing the Oline in the last draft it is integral that the Skins find a replacement at OT in this draft and if Bulaga declares he is easily the top and most balanced LT available and should move Samuels to RT to take over the oft-injured Jon Jansen. Bulaga could also start at RT but his future is protecting the blindside for a franchise QB.

12 - New York Jets: Ciron Black, OT LSU

The New York Jets don't have many needs going into the 2010 season and probably even less going into the 2011 season if Gholston, Sheppard and the other draft and free agent acquisitions pan out. At this point, they grab the best player available and that is OT Ciron Block who could kick inside to guard or be a solid RT to replace Damien Woody.

11 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers: George Selvie, DE South Florida

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took several steps back last season and now with Gruden gone and Raheem Morris running the show, who knows what will happen. However, one thing that does need to happen is that the defense needs to get younger and more talented and Selvia is the BPA who fills a need. Gaines Adams is playing solid but he needs a threat opposite him to bring the pressure even more. Though the Bucs need a defensive tackle even more, it might be too early for Marvin Austin and I think Terrence Cody might be too big, so, they get the best available pass rusher in Selvie.

10 - Cincinnati Begals: Taylor Mays, S USC

The Bengals have done a lot to help their team, they have the offense, they have the linebackers, now they just need help at defensive tackle and at defensive back and considering their corners are pretty solid and safeties are lacking, they would grab the big time USC playmaker Mays to play alongside former teammates Rivers and Maualuga. Mays has the talent and speed of a corner but hits like a linebacker, if the Roy Williams experiment doesn't workout, here is the replacement.

09 - San Francisco 49ers: Russell Okung, OT Oklahoma State

Marvel Smith is a stop-gap at best with his severe back issues and should Joe Staley struggle at LT then this pick is an absolute no brainer, the best OT in the class getting snatched off the board at 9 is a great value selection for the 49ers as he will help upgrade their offense, especially in the run game where Okung is an absolute monster.

08 - Jacksonville Jaguars: Eric Berry, S Tennessee

The Jaguars need some consistency in their back four, they have some solid units at corners but they need more from their safeties, Reggie Nelson is a solid player when not battling injuries but the player lining up at strong safety is not going to be much of a compliment be it Considine or Alexander but Eric Berry is a playmaking defensive nightmare and if the Jags are picking here they may be looking at a QB to replace Garrard but Berry is the best bet right now with the promise the Jags have.

07 - Cleveland Browns: Dez Bryant, WR Oklahoma State

Cleveland is going to have to decide whether or not Braylon Edwards is worth a contract extension or if they are going to let him go test the free agent waters. Something tells me that the cheap and stingy Mangini won't be willing to pay Edwards what we wants and he is going to need another big play wide receiver to replace him to compliment possession receiver Robiskie, developing Massaquoi and return man Cribbs. Dez Bryant is the best big play threat in this draft and should help immediately.

06 - Buffalo Bills: Sam Bradford, QB Oklahoma

If the Bills are picking here, it is because Trent Edwards couldn't get the job done and should be run out of town or least be a well paid and talented back up. Bradford is the reigning Heisman winner and has all the necessary talents minus the cannon arm to be an elite NFL QB. Not to mention Bradfod will be able to get the ball to Owens, which is something I doubt Edwards could do.

05 - St. Louis Rams: Ndamukong Suh, DT Nebraska

The Rams could use a defensive end but this is a deep class for that position and they lost out on Dunlap so I think they go with the best playmaking defensive tackle in Suh from Nebraska. He has that Kevin Williams look, he's a big tough and nasty defensive tackle who can rush the passer, collapse the pocket and stuff in the run. Combine him on the inside with Ryan, Carriker and Scott and the Rams will have a nice solid interior rotation.

04 - Kansas City Chiefs: Arrelious Benn, WR Illinois

The Chiefs need receivers for Todd Haley's pass first offense and Benn will remind Haley a lot of a weapon he had in Arizona in Anquan Boldin. Benn is a hard nosed wide receiver and doesn't go down easily. He'll be a match up problem for most defenses as he can come from almost anywhere and provide a mismatch as he is faster then any linebacker, bigger and more physical then any corner and is not afraid of a lurking safety.

03 - Seattle Seahawks (from Denver Broncos): Jevan Snead, QB Ole Miss

The Seahawks could not be happier to get their next franchise guy in Ole Miss signal caller Jevan Snead... but the way they do it is incredible. Denver blows their brains out and Seattle picks up the pieces, not to mention they get another first rounder a little later on. No pressure for Snead, time to learn the system and a good mentor in Hasselbeck.

02 - Oakland Raiders: Carlos Dunlap, DE Florida

The Raiders released draft pick Stryker Sulak and traded away their only really credible pass rush threat in Derrick Burgess and are left with Jay Richardson and Greg Ellis. so they will need a defensive end for the future and Dunlap will impress Al Davis without a doubt. I believe that the beast from Gainesville will be entering the black hole and being that nasty feared pass rusher that the Raiders sorely need to upgrade their pass rush and run defense.

01 - Detroit Lions: Gerald McCoy, DT Oklahoma

The Lions bypassed OT all last draft even with William Beatty and Michael Oher available so I think maybe DT is the way they go since they have zero depth there and McCoy may be the best player in the country. He has a Tommie Harris vibe and should give Coach Schwartz his penetrating undertackle here and hopefully address LT later.

Pre-Season 2010 Mock Draft 23-32

2009-07-18T12:31:00.000-07:00

Hey ADF Readers, it is now time for Matty's pre-NCAA and pre-NFL season Mock Draft for 2010 NFL Entry Draft. Thanks to Dunn's Power Rankings that I will be using as the draft order, lets finish strong as we present the last 10 teams who will be on the clock come April, so without further delay, here are the final 10 potential 2010 draft selections.

23. San Francisco 49ers (from Carolina) - Bryan Bulaga, OT Iowa

Joe Staley is athletic and if he can make strides after his contract extension and become a better LT and then Bulaga comes in and mans the right side, the San Francisco offensive line could potentially be a strength instead of a weakness. Bulaga is a big, mean and nasty offensive lineman from Iowa known for producing quality football players.

24. Denver Broncos (from Chicago) - Terrence Cody, DT Alabama

The Broncos need a space eating NT and Cody falls right into their laps. A no brainer as far as I am concerned but you never know what McDaniels might do.

25. Tennessee Titans - Rolando McClain, LB Alabama

MLB, DE or CB. Best player at any of those positions available is the pick and McClain is the best and fills the MLB need where Stephen Tulloch could use some competition.

26. Philadelphia Eagles - Brandon Graham, DE Michigan

Few needs so Andy Reid goes back to his usual mantra of loading up on the offensive and defensive lines and considering the next best pass rusher on the team is Darren Howard slated to play inside and out in a rotation role, a guy like Graham could be very useful as a LDE to stop the run and rush the passer opposite Trent Cole.

27. Indianapolis Colts - Brandon LaFell, WR LSU

The Colts always decide to go offense instead of defense in the first round and with only one worthwhile receiver left on the board I think the Colts grab the tough blocking, clutch catching and dynamic wide receiver from LSU in Brandon LaFell.

28. San Diego Chargers - Trent Williams, OT Oklahoma

Jeromey Clary is a horrible RT and Marcus McNeil is due a contract extension soon, another OT would be a nice insurance policy incase one or both of the aforementioned becomes a serious problem for the Chargers. Not to mention Williams could have been the first Oklahoma lineman taken had he come out in 2009.

29. New York Giants - Javier Arenas, CB Alabama

Rich get richer, the Giants have few needs and may look for a pass rusher or cornerback, they get the amazing Javier Areans who is a stellar corner and probably the number one return man in the game, he'll start on special teams and contribute immediately as a dime or nickel cornerback.

30. Baltimore Ravens - Golden Tate, WR Notre Dame

The Ravens were looking for a receiver in the last draft, albeit a veteran one like Anquan Boldin, but a guy like Golden Tate has to appeal to them. One of the more underrated receivers in the game and he could come on like gangbusters and overtake some of the second tier first rounds like LaFell or Williams.

31. New England Patriots - Sergio Kindle, DE/LB Texas

Rich get richer again, pass rush beast goes to a team that loves versatility from their linebackers.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers - Kristofer O'Dowd, C/G USC

Steelers need a new center, Hartwig wasn't holding up well in pass protection and isn't fast enough for the ZBS that will be implemented by the Steelers. O'Dowd will be a welcome addition to the defending champs in the Gold and Black.

Pre-Season 2010 Mock Draft 12-22

2009-07-17T11:11:00.000-07:00

Hey ADF Readers, it is now time for Matty's pre-NCAA and pre-NFL season Mock Draft for 2010 NFL Entry Draft. Thanks to Dunn's Power Rankings that I will be using as the draft order, now it is time for teams 12-22 who will be on the clock come April, so without further delay, here are the next 11 potential 2010 draft selections.

12. New York Jets - Ciron Black, OT LSU

The New York Jets don't have many needs going into the 2010 season and probably even less going into the 2011 season if Gholston, Sheppard and the other draft and free agent acquisitions pan out. At this point, they grab the best player available and that is OT Ciron Block who could kick inside to guard or be a solid RT to replace Damien Woody.

13. Washington Redskins - Everson Griffin, DE USC

This pick makes no sense based on the fact the Redskins drafted Orakpo, but what makes even less sense is the decision to use Orakpo as a linebacker instead of defensive end and considering defensive end is one of their biggest concerns, it would be silly for them not to draft one. Everson Griffin is who I believe will be the second end off the board after an impressive junior campaign and hopefully the Skins keep him at defensive end.

14. Houston Texans - Trevard Lindley, CB Kentucky

The Texans have few needs on either side of the ball, especially on offense, but they really could use upgrades in the defensive backfield and getting the best corner in the draft at this point is a huge gain for the Texans. Though they could go DT with a guy like Arthur Jones, Marvin Austin or even Terrence Cody, I think CB is a bigger need, especially with the future of Dunta Robinson up in the air.

15. Seattle Seahawks - Dez Bryant, WR Oklahoma State

Two selections in the top 15 should get the Seahawks back to dominating the NFC West. They need a dominant possession wide receiver and Dez Bryant is that player, combine him with Houshyamomma and the Seahawks will have a much more potent passing attack. This selection could also be a running back or quarterback, like C.J. Spiller or Colt McCoy but Bryant is too good to pass up here, the other WR possibility is Damian Williams from USC.

16. Green Bay Packers - Joe Haden, CB Florida

Charles Woodson and Al Harris are aging, Patrick Lee, Tramon Williams and Will Blackman don't have much game time experience and Joe Haden is a freaky athletic cornerback who is more physical then his size would indicate. Not to mention Ted Thompson loves going BPA and Haden could easily fit that bill.

17. New Orleans Saints - Greg Hardy, DE Ole Miss

Once Will Smith and Charles Grant serve their star caps suspension, the Saints will realise just how thin at DE they really are and that is where they should focus their attention in the 2010 draft. Defensive end and defensive tackle, though they could go Terrence Cody to give the front four that Minnesota feeling with an active 3-tech (Ellis) and an immovable 1-tech (Cody), I think Hardy provides more value with what the Saints are going to do with new DC Gregg Williams at the helm.

18. Dallas Cowboys - Damian Williams, WR USC

Romo needs guys to throw to, plain and simple. Williams is the best available if he declares, Golden Tate follows closely if Williams goes back for another year.

19. Miami Dolphins - Brandon Spikes, LB Florida

Dolphins need a stalwhart inside next to Crowder, preferably someone more active and Spikes is a very active backer and will make the necessary big plays for Tony Sporano and Bill Parcells, Terrence Cody is also a possibility to replace Ferguson at NT but I think Cody may slide a bit much like Michigan DT Alan Branch did some years ago.

20. Atlanta Falcons - Sean Weatherspoon, LB Missouri

Coy Wire starts at WLB. Nuff' said.

21. Minnesota Vikings - Tim Tebow, QB/ATH Florida

If the Favre experiment doesn't work out then I believe King Tebow will be the next logical choice for the Vikings to try and get to a super bowl. He may not have the arm, accuracy and stereotypical starting QB look but Tebow wins games in the clutch, put him together with Peterson, Harvin, Berrian and Rice and their offensive line, the Vikings should hopefully live up to the hype.

22. Arizona Cardinals - Jermaine Gresham, TE Oklahoma

The Cardinals need a consistent tight end threat, they have not gotten much from Leonard Pope, Ben Patrick will be spending some time riding the pine because of a substance abuse violation and add in terrible acquisitions like Domonique Byrd and Anthony Becht and I think Gresham becomes even more appealing as a vertical threat.

Pre-Season 2010 Mock Draft 1-11

2009-07-16T09:16:00.000-07:00

Hey ADF Readers, it is now time for Matty's pre-NCAA and pre-NFL season Mock Draft for 2010 NFL Entry Draft. Thanks to Dunn's Power Rankings that I will be using as the draft order, we are ready to get rolling and we start with the first 11 teams who will be on the clock come April, so without further delay, here are the top 11 potential 2010 draft selections.

1. Detroit Lions - Russell Okung, OT Oklahoma State

The Detroit Lions selected their franchise quarterback but Jim Schwartz will realise this season why statistically Jeff Backus was one of the worst NFL blindside protectors in the league so they grab former teammate of 2009 1st rounder Brandon Pettigrew, put together solid blockers with familiarity and the Lion offensive line should gel fairly quickly and turn Kevin Smith into a more dangerous weapon and give Stafford more time to hit Calvin Johnson deep.

2. Oakland Raiders - Carlos Dunlap, DE Florida

Though the Raiders released draft pick Stryker Sulak, they need a defensive end for the future and Dunlap will impress Al Davis without a doubt. Burgess will be a likely cap casualty after the 09-10 season and Greg Ellis is injury prone and past his prime so I believe that the beast from Gainesville will be entering the black hole and being that nasty feared pass rusher that the Raiders sorely desire.

3. Kansas City Chiefs - Arrelious Benn, WR Illinois

The Chiefs need receivers for Todd Haley's pass first offense and Benn will remind Haley a lot of a weapon he had in Arizona in Anquan Boldin. Benn is a hard nosed wide receiver and doesn't go down easily. He'll be a match up problem for most defenses as he can come from almost anywhere and provide a mismatch as he is faster then any linebacker, bigger and more physical then any corner and is not afraid of a lurking safety.

4. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver) - Eric Berry, S Tennessee

With the selections the Seahawks received from Denver they select one of the best defensive playmakers in the entire country in Eric Berry from Tennessee. Berry can do it all and with the Seahawks not addressing their safety situation in the 2009 draft it seems only likely they'll grab Berry to play alongside Deon Grant in the backfield and jack up the big play potential of the Seahawk defense.

5. St. Louis Rams - Gerald McCoy, DT Oklahoma

The Rams could use a defensive end but this is a deep class for that position and they lost out on Dunlap so I think they go with the best playmaking defensive tackle in McCoy from Oklahoma. He has that Kevin Williams look, he's a big tough and nasty defensive tackle who can rush the passer, collapse the pocket and stuff in the run. Combine him on the inside with Ryan, Carriker and Scott and the Rams will have a nice solid interior rotation.

6. Cleveland Browns - Jonathan Dwyer, RB Georgia Tech

The Browns still have Jamal Lewis running the ball for them and that is a mistake, they have a young talented back in Jerome Harrison and need someone to compliment him and wear down defenses and Dwyer can be that back. He is without a doubt my consensus #1 RB and in the scrappy AFC North the Cleveland Browns will need him, especially in those winter months.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars - Ndamukong Suh, DT Nebraska

The Jaguars replenished their offensive line this past draft and now they need to replenish their defensive line and Suh is the perfect replacement for the departed Stroud who was sorely missed last season. Suh is a big man with great movement and playing alongside big John Henderson will give the Jags a nasty interior tackle rotation again.

8. San Francisco 49ers - Jevan Snead, QB Ole Miss

The 49ers need a QB and Snead has the same intensity and competitive edge that coach Mike Singletary has, he has the arm, the accuracy and the moxxy to be the next 49er QB and since he's not the 1st overall pick his contract wont set back the franchise like the selection of Alex Smith did.

9. Buffalo Bills - Sam Bradford, QB Oklahoma

If the Bills are picking here, it is because Trent Edwards couldn't get the job done and should be run out of town or least be a well paid and talented back up. Bradford is the reigning Heisman winner and has all the necessary talents minus the cannon arm to be an elite NFL QB. Not to mention Bradfod will be able to get the ball to Owens, which is something I doubt Edwards could do.

10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - George Selvia, DE South Florida

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took several steps back last season and now with Gruden gone and Raheem Morris running the show, who knows what will happen. However, one thing that does need to happen is that the defense needs to get younger and more talented and Selvia is the BPA who fills a need. Gaines Adams is playing solid but he needs a threat opposite him to bring the pressure even more. Though the Bucs need a defensive tackle even more, it might be too early for Marvin Austin and I think Terrence Cody might be too big, so, they get the best available pass rusher in Selvie.

11. Cincinnati Bengals - Taylor Mays, S USC

The Bengals have done a lot to help their team, they have the offense, they have the linebackers, now they just need help at defensive tackle and at defensive back and considering their corners are pretty solid and safeties are lacking, they would grab the big time USC playmaker Mays to play alongside former teammates Rivers and Maualuga. Mays has the talent and speed of a corner but hits like a linebacker, if the Roy Williams experiment doesn't workout, here is the replacement.

2009-2010 NFL Fantasy Football DEF Rankings

2009-06-30T13:04:00.000-07:00

This is the final post about the All Day Football Fantasy Guide to the 2009-2010 Season. Lastly, we've got the game changing Defense/Special Teams units. DEF/ST units can make or break a game, if your defensive team gets blown out, there is a possibility that you could be blown out. If your special teams unit however destroys the other team and scores mass amounts of points with DEF TDs and KR TDs then there is a good chance you could cake walk the week. So here are the top 10 DEF/ST units.

Top DEF/ST:

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (Bye Week 8)

2. Minnesota Vikings (Bye Week 9)

3. Chicago Bears (Bye Week 5)

4. Tennessee Titans (Bye Week 7)

5. Baltimore Ravens (Bye Week 7)

6. New York Giants (Bye Week 10)

7. Philadelphia Eagles (Bye Week 4)

8. Miami Dolphins (Bye Week 6)

9, San Diego Chargers (Bye Week 5)

10, Carolina Panthers (Bye Week 4)

2009-2010 NFL Fantasy Football K Rankings

2009-06-29T12:22:00.000-07:00

This is the fifth post about the All Day Football Fantasy Guide to the 2009-2010 Season. Next up for you we've got the extra points of your fantasy team which is a rangey and clutch kicker. Kickers are people too and they help you on Fantasy Sunday with clutch kicks to give you that edge you need to pull out a victory and here are the 10 guys that will best serve your fantasy team this upcoming season.

Top Ks:

1. Rob Bironas, Tennessee (Bye Week 7)

2. Stephen Gostkowski, New England (Bye Week 8)

3. Mason Crosby, Green Bay (Bye Week 5)

4. Neil Rackers, Arizona (Bye Week 4)

5. Josh Brown, St. Louis (Bye Week 9)

6. Robbie Gould, Chicago (Bye Week 5)

7. Nick Folk, Dallas (Bye Week 6)

8. David Akers, Philadelphia (Bye Week 4)

9. Nate Kaeding, San Diego (Bye Week 5)

10. Kris Brown, Houston (Bye Week 10)

2009-2010 NFL Fantasy Football TE Rankings

2009-06-28T12:12:00.000-07:00

This is the fourth post about the All Day Football Fantasy Guide to the 2009-2010 Season. Next up for you we've got the grunt of your fantasy team which is a solid outlet for QBs young and old, the old fashioned tight end. Tight ends aren't the statistical giants of your fantasy team but they can help you in a pinch especially if your team has a young qb or nothing else to throw to so ADF is going to help you in your drafts because tight end is such a tough position to rank so here is our top 10 list for TEs.

Top TEs:

1. Jason Witten, Dallas (Bye Week 6)

2. Antonio Gates, San Diego (Bye Week 5)

3. Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta (Bye Week 4)

4. Dallas Clark, Indinianapolis (Bye Week 6)

5. Greg Olsen, Chicago (Bye Week 5)

6. Dustin Keller, New York (Bye Week 9)

7. Kellen Winslow, Tampa Bay (Bye Week 8)

8. Owen Daniels, Houston (Bye Week 10)

9. Chris Cooley, Washington (Bye Week 8)

10. John Carlson, Seattle (Bye Week 7)

2009-2010 NFL Fantasy Football WR Rankings

2009-06-27T11:51:00.000-07:00

This is the third post about the All Day Football Fantasy Guide to the 2009-2010 Season. Next up for you we've got the flare and dynamic firepower of your fantasy team which is a couple of speedy and diva wide receivers. Wide receivers have been gaining more and more steam in fantasy leagues, especially in point per reception leagues and ADF is going to help you in your drafts because wide receiver is such a vital position and can be so versatile so here is our top 20 list for WRs.

Top WRs:

1. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona (Bye Week 4)

2. Andre Johnson, Houston (Bye Week 10)

3. Calvin Johnson, Detroit (Bye Week 7)

4. Randy Moss, New England (Bye Week 8)

5. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis (Bye Week 6)

6. Greg Jennings, Green Bay (Bye Week 5)

7. Roddy White, Atlanta (Bye Week 4)

8. T.J. Houshmanzadeh, Seattle (Bye Week 7)

9. Brandon Marshall, Denver (Bye Week 7)

10. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City (Bye Week 8)

11. Steve Smith, Carolina (Bye Week 4)

12. Marques Colston, New Orleans (Bye Week 5)

13. Anquan Boldin, Arizona (Bye Week 4)

14. Wes Welker, New England (Bye Week 8)

15. Vincent Jackson, San Diego (Bye Week 5)

16. Terrell Owens, Buffalo (Bye Week 9)

17. Roy Williams, Dallas (Bye Week 6)

18. Santonio Holmes, Pittsburgh (Bye Week 8)

19. Antonio Bryant, Tampa Bay (Bye Week 8)

20. Bernard Berrian, Minnesota (Bye Week 9)

2009-2010 NFL Fantasy Football RB Rankings

2009-06-26T05:44:00.000-07:00

This is the second post about the All Day Football Fantasy Guide to the 2009-2010 Season. Next we've got the backbone of your fantasy team which is a couple of efficient, hard hitting and yard gaining running backs. A couple good RBs can take your team from weakness to strength and ADF is going to help you in your drafts because running back is such a vital position so here is our top 20 list for RBs.

Top RBs:

1. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota (Bye Week 9)

2. Michael Turner, Atlanta (Bye Week 4)

3. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina (Bye Week 4)

4. Matt Forte, Chicago (Bye Week 5)

5. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville (Bye Week 7)

6. Steve Slaton, Houston (Bye Week 10)

7. Chris Johnson, Tennessee (Bye Week 7)

8. Steven Jackson, St. Louis (Bye Week 9)

9. Frank Gore, San Francisco (Bye Week 6)

10. Clinton Portis, Washington (Bye Week 8)

11. Brandon Jacobs, New York (Bye Week 10)

12. Marion Barber, Dallas (Bye Week 6)

13. LaDanian Tomlinson, San Diego (Bye Week 5)

14. Ronnie Brown, Miami (Bye Week 6)

15. Ryan Grant, Green Bay (Bye Week 5)

16. Pierre Thomas, New Orleans (Bye Week 5)

17. Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia (Bye Week 4)

18. Joseph Addai, Indianapolis (Bye Week 6)

19. Derrick Ward, Tampa Bay (Bye Week 8)

20. Knowshon Moreno, Denver (Bye Week 7)

2009-2010 NFL Fantasy Football QB Rankings

2009-06-25T10:31:00.000-07:00

Here is the first line of posts about the All Day Football Fantasy Guide to the 2009-2010 Season. First we'll start off with the driver's seat of your team in your primary signal caller, the quarterback. A good QB can be the difference between a first place finish and going home the loser, not to mention losing a guy like Brady can have you pulling your hair out so here is our top 10 list for QBs.

Top QBs:

1. Drew Brees, New Orleans (Bye Week 5)

2. Philip Rivers, San Diego (Bye Week 5)

3. Tom Brady, New England (Bye Week 8)

4. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis (Bye Week 6)

5. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay (Bye Week 5)

6. Kurt Warner, Arizona (Bye Week 4)

7. Jay Cutler, Chicago (Bye Week 5)

8. Matt Schaub, Houston (Bye Week 10)

9. Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia (Bye Week 4)

10. Tony Romo, Dallas (Bye Week 6)

2009 NCAA Pre-Season Rankings:

2009-06-25T08:51:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time coming but Matty and the All Day Football team has got the top 25 teams for the upcoming NCAA 2009 Season. Some selections will surprise, others will not but when it all boils down to it, here are the teams that I think will be ones to watch when it comes to post-season bowl and BCS games.

Top 10

1. Florida Gators - Surprise, surprise, the defending National Champions are #1 on my pre-season list. Although they lost talented receivers Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy the Gators have a wealth of talent at running back and not to mention King Tebow is still at school looking for a second Heisman and a third National Championship. Mix the high octane offense with a suffocating defense including Dunlap, Cunningham, Spikes and Haden and the Gators could easily three-peat.

2. Oklahoma Sooners - The Big 12 Champion is going to be a two horse race between Texas and Oklahoma and I think that Oklahoma has the edge since they return 2008 Heisman winner Sam Bradford, two 1000 yard rushers in Chris Brown and DeMarco Murray and a nasty nasty defense with 3 potential first round defensive linemen (Granger, McCoy and English), I think Oklahoma will be a very dangerous team.

3. Texas Longhorns - The Longhorns actually bested the Sooners last season but lost out on a big time BCS Bowl Game but with Colt McCoy back at the helm and a pretty solid receiving corps still intact and a great offensive line the Longhorns could easily find themselves playing long into December and maybe even a game in January but they'll have to go through the Red River Shootout to get there as I feel the winner of that game will represent the Big 12 as Champ.

4. Penn State Nittany Lions - The Nittany Lions felt a lot of big time losses this past season with losing Aaron Maybin, Gerald Cadogan and receivers Deon Butler and Derrick Williams but they will still be a force in the Big Ten as they return QB Daryl Clark who is an electric playmaker along with running back Evan Royster and a defense with yet again some of the best linebackers in the country with the returning Sean Lee and emerging Navarro Bowman. I think Joe-P has another potential BCS contender on his hands.

5. Southern California Trojans - Despite big time losses on defense the Trojans still look to be the class of the Pac-10 and having Pete Carroll outside of the top 5 in pre-season rank just seems silly. It looks as though the Trojans will have an incredibly potent offense despite losing Mark Sanchez at QB. They can rely on the beastly backfield including Stafon Johnson, C.J. Cable and CBK (Cut Back King) Joe McKnight along with the best offensive line in the country and some of the best wide receivers with potential 1st rounder Damian Williams leading the way.

6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish - If there is any year for Weis to get a National Championship win it is this year, he has Jimmy Clausen playing efficiently, he has a solid offensive line led by Sam Young at left tackle and an emerging receiving group who could prove to be one of the nation's best. The Fighting Irish could easily be among the top 5 when the season ends and could see themselves playing for a ring especially if they can get by Carroll's tough as nails Trojan team.

7. Alabama Crimson Tide - Nick Saban had a dominant Crimson Tide team last year but they lost a lot of players including passer John Parker Wilson, RB Glen Coffee, LT Andre Smith, C Antoine Caldwell and defensive leader Rashad Johnson. That is pretty brutal and a newcomer at QB is going to have to rely on the former freshman phenom Julio Jones. Luckily they return a pretty solid defense including potential first rounder Rolando McClain.

8. Mississippi Rebels - In past season, losing multiple first rounders and a bunch of draft picks would cripple the Rebels but Head Coach Houston Nutt still has a great team that will compete game in and game out in the amazingly tough SEC. Jevan Snead is the leading man and could easily be the #1 overall draftpick when the season is out and despite losing Michael Oher and Peria Jerry, the Rebels still return a great offensive and defensive line including future first rounder DE Greg Hardy (so long as he can bounce back from injury).

9. Ohio State Buckeyes - Buckeyes had a brutal season last year and lose defensive leader James Laurinaitis and offensive work horse Chris Wells but they return Terrelle Pryor with a new knowledge of the game and playing experience and should be a big help. The Buckeyes still have a solid defense but will have to find a vocal and physical presence to replace Baby Animal's production on the inside and Donald Washington and Malcolm Jenkins on the outside.

10. Oklahoma State Cowboys - The Cowboys are on the outside looking in when Big 12 contention is the subject but with the triad of Zac Robinson at QB, Dez Bryant at WR and RB Kendall Hunter leading the offense the Cowboys could surprise a lot of teams. Though they do play Texas and Oklahoma, if they surprise those two top 3 teams then the Cowboys could vault themselves right into BCS conention.

The Rest:

11. Virginia Tech Hokies

12. California Golden Bears

13. Brigham Young Cougars

14. Georgia Bulldogs

15. Boise State Broncos

16. Louisiana State Tigers

17. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

18. Iowa Hawkeyes

19. Texas Christian Horned Frogs

20. Illinois Illini

21. Pittsburgh Panthers

22. Nebraska Cornhuskers

23. California, Los Angeles Bruins

24. South Florida Bulls

25. Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles

There you have it folks, my top 25 teams for the upcoming 2009 NCAA Division 1-A season.

2009 NFL Draft Grades

2009-04-30T18:20:00.000-07:00

So as is customary after the NFL Draft, it is time to rate the classes per team. I'm not going to go into great detail over all of them but I will address teams who I thought did a great job in drafting, did a mediocre job and teams that really need to improve their scouting and front office staff.

Best Draft Classes:

Jerry Reese and the Giants showed why they are the such a great team year in and year out, they had multiple picks with few needs and filled those needs while getting certain players with tremendous value. The best pick by far was Hakeem Nicks, one of my personal favourite players in the entire draft and ranked #25 on my big board. He fills an immediate need and will help Eli Manning out now that Plaxico is no longer an option. They got tremendous value in the 2nd round with Clint Sintim who is another favourite of mine and wrapped it up with a potential franchise LT in William Beatty, a talented and low mileage back in Andre Brown and a very talented possession wide receiver in Cal Poly's Ramses Barden. Amazing work by Reese and company.

Grade: A+

I think the Bengals surprised a lot of people with their drafting strategy and I gotta say I think it will pay serious dividends for this franchise. They got an absolute mauler in the run game with Andre Smith, a lot of people want to knock him for his immature offseason but the kid has immense talent and will likely be the day one starter. The Bengals got good value with their second rounder Rey Maualuga who many projected to be a mid 1st round guy. Then they got a HUGE steal with Georgia Tech DE Michael Johnson in the third round and followed it up by finally getting a tight end who can stretch the field in Chase Coffman. They also got good value on guys like Luigs who will replace what they lost at center in the free agency along with role player/projects like Clinton McDonald, Morgan Trent and Bernard Scott. They also got a boomin' Punter!

Grade: A

The Cleveland Browns quietly had a superb draft, they got a lot of players who can contribute from day one and have set themselves up pretty nicely. The reason they don't get a higher grade is for allowing a team like the Jets to get so much for so little. Mangini got a couple of his Jet scrubs and two selections, hardly seems worth it for the number 5 selection. But the remainder of their draft was solid, they got an amazing player in Mack who could start at C or OG. They got two great receiving options to compliment (or replace) Braylon Edwards. They got some good developmental corners in Carey and Francies and great value on linebackers Maiava and Veikune who could be immediate impact players in situational spots and on special teams. They also got a solid back late in James Davis.

Grade: A-

Best of the Rest: Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texans, Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots.

Mediocre Classes:

The Rams had a decent class last draft and followed it up with a decent class this year. Nothing ground breaking, nothing revolutionary, just basic and essential. They picked what they thought was the #1 tackle in Jason Smith from Baylor who will give them some mean on the outside. They got a solid inside backer in Baby Animal and added quality depth throughout the remainder of the draft, solid but nothing that will change the franchise dramatically.

Grade: B-

The Detroit Lions had their first decent class in awhile, the Matt Millen era is long gone but some of the effects are still being felt. I just can't understand why with Michael Oher sitting there at #20 they went with a blocking tight end who has trouble stretching the field in Brandon Pettigrew. I think the Lions had a solid draft, they weren't a mover and shaker like other teams but they quietly addressed their needs and helped the team out. Nothing ground breaking, but a couple bad picks. DeAndre Levy was a huge reach and then grabbing another blocking tight end late in the draft? Not a big fan.

Grade: C+

The Vikings had few picks and addressed most of their concerns but it really isn't all that ground breaking. The get Percy Harvin who is decent but will probably need time to develop and may see the brunt of his work in the slot. Loadholt is a solid RT, Asher Allen isn't big or physical enough to play the Cover 2, Jasper Brinkley is a steal and Jamarca Sanford could be a nice project. But all in all, fairly forgettable.

Grade: C

Best of the Rest: Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, San Diego Chargers, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins, Tennessee Titans, San Francisco 49ers.

Worst Classes:

The Broncos had a lot of picks and didn't do a lot with them. They are trying to make the transition to a 3-4 and didn't get any of the essential parts where they need it. No NT, no 5-Tech and the DE they did draft is more likely a base 4-3 end then a stand up backer. Moreno was a good pick but considering the ridiculous amount of backs on the Denver roster it seemed like overkill and they got rid of a lot of future picks for subpar talent. Not a very great draft in my opinion.

Grade: D

The Chiefs had plenty of ammunition to start building their roster and they failed pretty miserably. They got a nice first rounder in Tyson Jackson, whom I love. But after that, the draft just looks fairly pathetic. Magee is an UT and lacks the size and range to be a 3-4 DE, Donald Washington is a year or two away from being NFL ready and the rest of the no names just seem like reaches. A fairly terrible draft.

Grade: D-

Terrible, just absolutely terrible. I know Al Davis loves speed but jeezum crow. Reach city all over the board. The only good picks were Louis Murphy and Stryker Sulak and that won't save this class from getting the lowest grade.

Grade: F

"Best" of the Rest: Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints.

There you have it ladies and gents, the 2009 NFL Entry Draft Grades courtesy of All Day Football.

-Matty

Matty's Top 20 To Watch In 09'

2009-04-30T14:30:00.000-07:00

Well ladies and gentleman, the NFL draft is behind us, training camps are looming ominously ahead of us which means that the 09-10 NFL season is on its way and I for one couldn't be happier. However, it is a sad time as draft scouting is over and done with for awhile, but it doesn't mean we can't get a jump on the 2010 NFL Entry Draft. So, in honour of the big time event next April I present you with my top 20 prospects to watch in college football and could very likely be coming to a team near you.

1. Jevan Snead, QB Ole Miss

The number one guy on my board as of right now. He has the arm, the mobility, the accuracy, the spirit and passion to be the leader of a team next year. He was originally supposed to be the replacement for Vince Young at Texas before being beaten out by potential 1st rounder Colt McCoy. I think it'll be a dogfight for the #1 overall pick between him and my next guy.

2. Carlos Dunlap, DE Florida

The Mario Williams factor will help greatly for this animal from Gainesville. Carlos Dunlap is 6'6" and 290 lbs. of sheer animal intensity and will eat opposing quarterbacks for breakfast, he has the size teams are looking for to play the run and the elite athleticism everyone covets in a defensive end who gets to the QB. I think between Snead and Dunlap, there's your 2010 #1 overall pick.

3. Gerald McCoy, DT Oklahoma

You've got the Mario Williams factor, now you've got the Kevin Williams factor. Gerald McCoy is a massive human being at 6'5" and just over 300 lbs. and he has the strength to stay stout against the run and the athletic ability to collapse the pocket and harass the QB as is evidence from his 6 1/2 sacks last year from his DT position opposite potential 1st day selection DeMarcus Granger.

4. Eric Berry, S Tennessee

For awhile, I thought this kid was seriously overrated until I actually sat down and watched his tape, the kid just flat out makes plays. He is always around the ball, he is always causing turnovers and he becomes an offensive minded player one the ball is in his hands. He plays coverage like a corner and hits like a strong safety, a far better prospect Taylor Mays.

5. Ciron Black, OT LSU

I think Ciron Black would have been a top twenty selection had he come out this past season, but more time to mature means more time to dominate and up his draft stock. I think he has the physicality and athleticism to be the best left tackle in this upcoming draft and though there are a couple juniors and seniors nipping at his heels, I like him the best.

6. George Selvie, DE South Florida

Another guy who could have gone top twenty in the previous draft, he has a serious pass rush and I think it was injuries that slowed him down and kept him from coming out this past draft class. He is an elite RDE who will be able to play DE in a 4-3 or even transition to a stand up backer in a 3-4. I think he's another dominant force in the 2010 defensive end class which is shaping up to be legendary.

7. Russell Okung, OT Oklahoma State

Another guy I believe was on the cusp of being a first round selection had he come out in 2009. Okung and Pettigrew together made one of the nastiest blocking tandems in all of Div 1-A last year and Okung intends to continue that trends with dominating play in the trenches. He'll beat you up in the run game and then stand you up in the pass game, he and Ciron Black will be neck in neck in terms of which tackle will be taken first but my money is still on Black.

8. Sam Bradford, QB Oklahoma

At one point I had Bradford declaring and going #1 overall, but I just don't think he is that quarterback in this upcoming draft class. He is an elite talent and will probably be in considerations for the #1 overall selection but he doesn't have the arm strength or the maturity to be the starting signal caller for a team yet. Snead turned a perennial bottom feeder into a contender, Bradford was given his job and had a talented cast around him. He's a solid QB but not #1 overall material.

9. Greg Hardy, DE Ole Miss

Yet another defensive end, I'm telling you, if you need a pass rusher, this is the class. Greg Hardy is a beast rusher from Ole Miss who alongside Snead, Oher and Jerry has turned around the Rebel program. Hardy is stout and athletic, he'll rush the passer, he'll stop the run, he'll trick or treat on Halloween and then buy you a flag day gift. He does it all and he does it well, another guy who could have been a potential first rounder had he come out this past draft.

10. Arrelious Benn, WR Illinois

Speaking of defensive ends, another crops that is pretty decent is the amount of high level and elite wide receivers there are. Benn is my favourite of the bunch because of mix of size and speed at 6'2" 220 lbs. and the likelihood of running a 4.4 something in his future. He is a stellar athlete who will probably contribute pretty quickly, but he has 2 other elite guys nipping at his heels as well, one of them being my next guy.

11. Dez Bryant, WR Oklahoma State

Another Cowboys with the potential to go earlier, he may not be Benn in terms of size and speed but he gets it done and he will most certainly warrant some consideration as the #1 wide receiver in this draft class. He runs well, he catches well and he is tough to bring down. Not to mention he has a nose for the end zone, everything a coach could want from a wide receiver he provides.

12. Ndamukong Suh, DT Nebraska

Yet another deep position in this draft, the defensive tackle position where there could be as many as five going in the first round and as many as eight going in the first day. Suh is right behind McCoy and just ahead of Cody, his combination of size and speed makes him an ideal candidate for any defense as he can excell at any interior position in a 4-3, he could play nose in a 3-4 and he could even slide to end in a 3-4 considering his range and length at 6'4" 305 lbs.

13. Jermaine Gresham, TE Oklahoma

About as good as it gets in terms of pass catching tight ends. He is a HUGE target at 6'7" and he runs like a gazelle. He could have easily been the top tight end in this past draft had he come out and though he is not an accomplished blocker, his size, stature and athleticism is too great to pass up as he is a vertical and underneath threat who can beat you on just about any kind of route and is an absolute mismatch against a linebacker.

14. Mark Herzlich, LB Boston College

As active as they come at the linebacker position. The reigning and defending ACC defensive player of the year is a sure fire first round selection and is probably as safe a pick as they come, he is scheme diverse and plays with intensity. He tackles everything that moves, he can move well and cover in space and he can rush the passer. He is an ideal fit as a SLB in a 4-3 or a 3-4 inside backer, but he also has the size and ability to play the 3-4 WOLB spot as well.

15. Everson Griffin, DE USC

One of my personal favourite players in the next draft and yet another top notch defensive end. Griffin still has some time and may not come out this next year but if he blows up like I expect he will, he could easily be one of the first defensive ends taken in this draft. He rushes the passer well, he plays the run nicely and he still has a lot of untapped potential just waiting to be unleashed. I think he projects as an ideal 4-3 RDE and that's about it. I haven't seen him in space so I don't suggest he move to a 3-4 OLB.

16. Terrence Cody, DT Alabama

An absolute force inside, will be the 3-4 NT that everyone is gunning for in the next draft. He will need to drop his weight down as he was playing around 380 lbs. and even for a guy his size, it was too much. He gets another year with the Crimson Tide to improve his stock and considering the wealth of teams moving to a 3-4, there is no doubt in my mind he will be a sought out player considering how hard it is to find a big man with his gifted skill set.

17. Taylor Mays, S USC

Another athletic freak from USC who could play just about anywhere on the field. He could line up at either safety spot, he could play cornerback if necessary, he is even physical enough to line up at linebacker. He will be a highly touted prospect and look for the Raiders to make a move for him when he tears up the combine with his sub 4.4 speed at 6'4" and 225 lbs.

18. Brandon Spikes, LB Florida

This beast on the inside is another guy who was up in the air about whether he would stay or leave school early and before he decided to stay I had him in the middle of the first round. He is easily the top inside backer and offers scheme diversity as he can play in a 3-4 or 4-3. He will lead in a defense in the future as he has everything a team is looking for from their quarterback of the defense.

19. Jonathan Dwyer, RB Georgia Tech

The hard hitting, hard running and hard to bring down Georgia Tech running back leads a crop of so-so backs. It seems that the backs in the next draft are either one extreme or the other, you have speed/cut back running backs like Joe McKnight, DeMarco Murray and Jahvid Best, and then you have guys like Evan Royster and LeGarrette Blount who are trains. Dwyer is the best of the both worlds and should be the first running back taken in 2010.

20. Bryan Bulaga, OT Iowa

Last guy to look out for is the athletic and imposing offensive tackle from Iowa in Bryan Bulaga. He is a franchise left tackle and is without a doubt from a program with a lot of prestige and known for churning out quality offensive linemen, Bulaga just seems to be another in a long line of talent.

Honourable Mention:

-Sergio Kindle, DE/LB Texas
-Jerry Hughes, DE/LB TCU
-Trevard Lindley, CB Kentucky
-Joe Haden, CB Florida
-Sean Weatherspoon, LB Missouri

Matty's Big Board Prospect Countdown: 1!

2009-04-25T08:30:00.000-07:00

Hey folks, the Super Bowl is a long forgotten memory and next season is looming larger in the future which means that it's time to focus on the next big event and that is the all powerful and mighty NFL Entry Draft! The Draft has the ability to take a team from the bottom of the barrel and turn them into a playoff caliber team (ex. Dolphins and Falcons). So, without further delay, I bring you the player who ranked number 1... this is the moment you've been waiting for people!

1. Aaron Curry, LB Wake Forest Demon Deacons

2008 Season Stats:
101 tackles, 2 sacks, FF, INT

Career Stats:
320 tackles, 9 sacks, 5 FFs, 6 INTs, 3 TDs

Personal Stats:
6'2" 254 lbs. SR

Strengths:

Great size, speed and measurables. An extremely strong and physical presence at the linebacker position, he takes on offensive linemen with the greatest of ease and will run them over, run around them or stack and shed them as he has the ability to do any of those. Plays with great intelligence and poise and commits to what he sees showing raw aggression. He is about as sure a tackler as there is, doesn't always go for the big hit but can lay the wood when an opposing player is in his sight. Plays sideline to sideline and keeps everything in front of him, sifts through trash well and despite his limited pass rush variety he is solid on the blitz and when rushing the passer. In coverage, almost second to none, he is comfortable in space and has great ball skills and even knows what to do with the ball once it is in his hands as he has three INT return touchdowns in his career. He's been amazingly productive and durable his entire college tenure, he works hard, he studies harder and he leads his team with intensity and ferocity. Potentially, is the next Ray Lewis.

Weaknesses:

Curry has very few weaknesses, he can be considered over aggressive at times. He also has tighter hips then scouts would like and a limited pass rush variety.

Overall:

The best defensive player in the draft and fits in absolutely any scheme. He'll be a SLB in a 4-3 or a MLB in a 4-3, he could also be an ILB in a 3-4 and some think he could even project outside as 3-4 OLB. The sky is the limit for this prospect and he is easily the best, safest and most pro ready of all the players in this draft class. Defensive Rookie of the Year, almost guaranteed.

Projected NFL Destination:

With the 2nd pick in the NFL Draft the St. Louis Rams select...

There it is folks! Prospect #1, hope you enjoyed reading my Countdown as much as I did writing it.

Final Mock Draft ver 9.0

2009-04-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

Round 1:

1. Detroit Lions – Matt Stafford, QB Georgia

With the first selection the Detroit Lions select the Georgia Bulldog quarterback Matthew Stafford. First and foremost, I don't believe the Lions should use the number one overall selection on any of these quarterbacks as all three first round guys don't have that potential to be franchise quarterbacks and I think they should wait and as soon as one slips trade up to grab him. Regardless, the first selection for the Detroit Lions needs to be a quarterback to be the face of the franchise despite how the Lions feel about the guys on the roster. Matthew doesn't have the amazing stats that pro scouts look for especially his touchdown to interception ratio, but regardless of that fact he has all the intangibles and measureables to be a great quarterback for the future and considering new OC Scott Linehan has Dante Culpepper and Drew Stanton on the roster they can spend some time developing him as he won't necessarily be thrust into duty right away as Culpepper did some pretty good things with the poor Lions offense and I think that with Stafford's arm, Kevin Smith's running ability, Calvin Johnson's freakish athleticism, the Detroit Lions might be able to have a formidable offense in a few years when everyone is physically and mentally mature to handle the rigors of the NFL. This pick could also be a LT but what with the Lions absolutely loving Matt Stafford and his impressive private workout, the Lions do the traditional thing and use the number one selection on QB despite his deficiencies and hopefully get this franchise turned around.

2. St. Louis Rams – Aaron Curry, LB Wake Forest

With the second selection in the NFL Draft, the St. Louis Rams select the freak linebacker from Wake Forest in Aaron Curry. With new coach Steve Spagnuolo already hard at work bringing in quality free agents like Jason Brown, James Butler and Mike Karney, the Rams are likely to go with the beastly linebacker himself Aaron Curry. The Rams have a wealth of undersized backers to play the weakside position but have absolutely no one to play strongside or middle. Though they may have bigger needs at offensive tackle and wide receiver, they have the opportunity to pick up the safest and best player in the NFL draft in Curry from Wake Forest who was an absolute beast during his senior campaign where he amassed 105 tackles, 16 tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks and an interception. Curry is a physical defender and reliable tackler who has no problems shedding blocks, he is great in coverage as he has great speed and is incredibly smart when reading the quarterbacks progressions. I think he needs to improve his blitzing as he didn't amass very many sacks while at Wake Forest and Spagnuolo really likes using his linebackers on the blitz, so I think if he gets coached up on that aspect of the game he becomes an on the field leader, he becomes an icon for the St. Louis defense and helps bring them back to prominence. However, like I said earlier I believe this pick could also be an offensive tackle like Eugene Monroe to replace Orlando Pace or potentially Michael Crabtree to replace Torry Holt but considering how safe Curry is and that Spags is a defensive minded head coach, I think they go Curry.

3. Kansas City Chiefs – Michael Crabtree, WR Texas Tech

With the third selection the Kansas City Chiefs select the uber productive and game breaking wide receiver from the Red Raider nation in Michael Crabtree. The Chiefs have a lot of talent on offense but they could stand to improve their receiving core where only Dwayne Bowe is any kind of consistent threat. Bringing in Crabtree will be huge as I believe Todd Haley would like to recreate the match up problems his wide receivers in Arizona provided, not to mention this selection will help out new franchise quarterback Matt Cassel as having to throw to Jeff Webb and Mark Bradley when Tony Gonzalez and Dwayne Bowe are covered is not exactly a good thing. Crabtree has been more productive and consistent a weapon for the Texas Tech program than any wide receiver in their history. He runs routes incredibly well, and he can stretch the field with the best but he can also get the tough yards after the catch and doesn't go down easily as is evidence from the Texas vs. Texas Tech game with that last second clutch play. With quarterback no longer a need and Aaron Curry off the board, Todd Haley and new GM Scott Pioli go after the best player available and despite surgery and a stress fracture in his left foot, Crabtree is still hands down the best available.

4. Seattle Seahawks – Eugene Monroe, OT Virginia

With the fourth selection, the Seattle Seahawks select the big and athletic pass blocking tackle who some consider to be the top tackle available in the entire draft in Virginia's Eugene Monroe. The Seahawks offensive line suffered incredibly this past season with season ending injuries occurring to pretty much every single member of the offensive line. So, having some quality depth that can move into a starting role seems to be beneficial for the Seahawks. Monroe however, is a franchise tackle who will likely start his career off in a competition at LT or RT considering the Seahawks brought back Ray Willis. I also think that with Walter Jones still in the fold he can teach the young man from Virginia how to be an elite NFL tackle and it doesn't necessarily rush Monroe into the big money spot right away but when Walter is ready to move on Eugene will most definitely be ready to take over at LT. Either way, this selection helps out the Seahawk offense immensely as Eugene Monroe is probably the most talented and NFL ready offensive lineman in this draft and could ultimately have the best career of all the first round offensive linemen as he has a lot of upside that I believe will be brought out at the next level but is still an elite pass protector. He is athletic, he's strong, he has great feet and can handle elite speed and he will most definitely keep Matt Hasselbeck, Seneca Wallace or whoever else winds up at QB upright for the next decade or so as he settles into the franchise position as Walter Jones' successor.

5. Cleveland Browns – Brian Orakpo, DE/LB Texas

With the fifth selection, the Browns select the hybrid pass rusher from the lone star state Texas, the dangerous and impressive Rak Attack Brian Orakpo. The Browns have a wealth of needs and could go a couple of other routes, they could select Chris Wells to be the dominant and punishing RB as is custom in the AFC North. They could also select an impact player like Malcolm Jenkins, but considering their depth at CB I think they go with the speedy and strong DE/OLB from Texas, Brian Orakpo. He has shown a real knack for getting to the QB and the Browns really need to spice up their pass rush as Kamerion Wimbley has been marginal in his last two seasons, adding some added pressure opposite him with guidance from the sagely Willie McGinest will go a long way to helping out the Browns defense, both in stuffing the run and shutting down opposing QBs as Brian Orakpo is a freak of nature, he's ridiculously fast, strong and athletic and I believe that if it wasn't for the little injury he suffered at the combine he could very well have solidified himself as a top three selection. However, Orakpo falls here and with Curry off the board the Browns still need to infuse some youth and intensity into their linebacking core and I think the Rak Attack will do just that… jack…

Trade Alert:

6. Denver Broncos (from Cincinnati) – Mark Sanchez, QB USC
Cincinnati sends: #6 overall
Denver sends: #12 and #48 overall

With the sixth selection the Denver Broncos acquired via trade with Bengals, they select the Southern California QB Matt Sanchez to replace the recently traded Jay Cutler. The Broncos made one of the stupider moves this offseason by trading away their young, Pro Bowl quarterback to the Chicago Bears. Who'd they get to replace him? Kyle Orton. Yeah, bone chilling, if you're a team like Chicago where QB play doesn't matter that much and the front office is ok with you going into the season starting with Rex Grossman or Kyle Orton, that's one thing, but when you replace one of the NFL's young elite with that… you need a replacement and regardless of whether Orton can win or not, he doesn't have the live arm to get the ball into the hands of their playmaking wide receivers so they need a guy who can do that and Sanchez fits the bill. He has all the intangibles you look for from a QB, he is a leader, he is passionate, he has a great arm and great accuracy and best of all, with Orton around he won't be thrust into duty right away which should be good since he only started 16 games in college. Regardless, Sanchez has a lot of upside and considering all the ammunition the Broncos now have this year and next year, it is silly to think they won't get one of the best QBs available in Sanchez who fits the Broncos style of offense nicely. This pick could also be B.J. Raji, the NT from Boston College to anchor the 3-4 front, but QB seems to valuable a need now.

7. Oakland Raiders – B.J. Raji, DT Boston College

With the seventh selection the Oakland Raiders select defensive tackle B.J. Raji from Boston College. Raji has been on an absolute tear for most of the 'offseason' as he dominated the Senior Bowl and the Scouting Combine. Not to mention he was an absolute monster for the B.C. Eagle squad this year, notching 16 tackles for a loss to go along with 8 sacks. That kind of production from a defensive tackle in the ACC warrants serious consideration, especially considering the Raiders could use some youth inside to go along with the couple massive bodies already in place. Raji could play either the UT in a 4-3 as he has a serious knack for disrupting opposing offenses in their own backfield but he can also be a NT in 4-3 as well, which allows the Raiders to use their defensive tackles in a rotation as they have some serious heavy hitters with Tommy Kelly and Terdell Sands still on the roster. However, this pick could also be a DE like Everette Brown to play and learn from Derrick Burgess to increase the pass rush or potentially Zombie Al could go gaga for Jeremy Maclin or Darrius Heyward-Bey enough to pick em' a round earlier then they should go because you never know with the Raiders.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars – Jason Smith, OT Baylor

With the eighth selection the Jacksonville Jaguars select the athletic tackle from Baylor in Jason Smith. The Jaguars had a real problem keeping their quarterback upright last season and with Khalif Barnes now playing for the Raider Nation and newly acquired William "Tre" Thomas filling in, the Jags would do well to find his future replacement seeing as he probably doesn't have much time left out at left tackle and considering the Jaguars don't have much depth at the tackle position they could definitely use the skills that Smith would provide them with. I also think that with William Thomas still in the fold he can teach the young man from Baylor how to be an elite NFL tackle and it doesn't necessarily rush Smith into the big money spot right away but when Tre is ready to move on Jason will most definitely be ready to take over at LT. Either way, this selection helps out the Jaguar offense immensely as Jason Smith is probably the most talented offensive lineman in this draft and could ultimately have the highest ceiling of all the potential first round offensive linemen as he has a lot of untapped ability that I believe will be brought out at the next level. Smith has really seen his stock increase since the combine and he has done nothing but help himself, he is a solid pass blocker and an emerging run blocker, he finished well and he has all the athleticism required to be a franchise left tackle so I think despite all the other needs for the Jaguars they have the luxury of taking the best player available at number eight and that is Smith. He is athletic, he's strong, he has great feet and can handle elite speed and he will most definitely keep David Garrard upright for the next decade or so as he settles into the franchise position.

9. Green Bay Packers – Tyson Jackson, DE LSU

With the ninth selection the Green Bay Packers select the Baton Rouge Tiger in Tyson Jackson. The Green Bay Packers need to finish their conversion into the 3-4 and they require a big body 3-4 defensive end to play opposite Cullen Jenkins and I believe Tyson Jackson is without a doubt the best candidate for that job and the best guy to help Green Bay make that transition, though he may be going a tad earlier then some people may have him, I absolutely love his intensity, motor, strength and skill set and I believe the Green Bay has enough space eaters inside but they lack that long and rangy 3-4 defensive end and since they missed out on Chris Canty, they get Tyson Jackson instead and he is still a solid pick and he will help give the Packers some more stoutness in the front 3 with Jenkins, Pickett, Jolly, Harrell and now Jackson. This should give the Packers a solid rotation to keep fresh legs in the game and keep the defense strong which is where the Packers lacked last season and after seeing how good Tyson looked at the combine, I can definitely see him going as high as nine to the Packers, especially if Orakpo and Raji are off the boards… which in this scenario they are.

10. San Francisco 49ers – Everette Brown, DE/LB Florida State

With the tenth selection, the 49ers select the dangerous and talented defensive end outside linebacker hybrid from Florida State in Everette "Bad News" Brown. Brown would play as a down lineman in a cover 2 scheme like Dwight Freeney; I also think he has enough spatial awareness and ability to be the pass rushing OLB that San Francisco has been looking for from Manny Lawson. Brown might just be a tad undersized and may need to put on some weight to be stout against the run, but considering his upside and limitless potential, I think he has to be the pick here, he gets to the QB, he wreaks havoc in the backfield and Mike Singletary will love his intensity. This pick is an absolute steal because I had Everette Brown going to the Browns at five in my last update and now with all the other OLB hybrids moving down, Brown slides all the way down here to the 49ers who are psyched to get him as they will plug him into their new scheme and hope he wreaks havoc in opposing teams backfields. This selection could also be an offensive lineman like Andre Smith or Eben Britton considering the 49ers need to sure up their offensive line so their QB isn't being assaulted brutally every game by opposing defenses but I like Brown too much and don't like Andre Smith enough to have this pick be anything but the electric Florida State defensive end.

11. Buffalo Bills – Michael Oher, OT Ole Miss

With the eleventh selection the Buffalo Bills select the hard working and big tackle from Ole Miss in Michael Oher. With Jason Peters now in Philadelphia the Bills have a gaping hole at left tackle and they can use the eleventh over all selection to fill it with Oher. Michael may be slipping in people's eyes after sub par outings at the Senior Bowl and Scouting Combine but I still think he's one of the best of the bunch and fits the style of offense that Buffalo will be using, he's an athletic tackle that can protect Edwards's backside and keep him from constantly getting knocked out. Oher has an incredibly quick first step and a very good pass set, like I said, he struggled a bit at the Senior Bowl (Clay Matthews jacked him up) but I think he is still an elite talent regardless, I really hope that Michael Oher bounces back as his Pro Day workout was pretty good and I also feel there is a lot of unjust criticism thrown his way and he is what he is, I think that he knows how to work hard especially after hearing about his upbringing and he'll make a great cornerstone for a franchise and protect the blindside of Trent Edwards for years to come. He's the kind of player you want on your team because he is a hard worker and when he puts his mind to something, he makes it happen.

12. Cincinnati Bengals (from Denver) – Andre Smith, OT Alabama

With the twelfth selection that Cincinnati acquired from the Denver Broncos, the Bengals take the big tackle from Alabama Andre Smith. Andre may be slipping in people's eyes after his shenanigans at the Scouting Combine but I still think he's one of the best of the bunch and fits the style of offense that Cincinnati uses, he's a fairly athletic tackle that can protect Palmer's backside and a dominant blocker in the run game so the Bengals can move incumbent veteran Levi Jones over to RT and now that they have let Stacy Andrews go as he has been a disappointment after getting the franchise tag Smith will go a long way in helping out the struggling Cincinnati offense. Andre has an incredibly quick first step and a very aggressive demeanor when blocking and even though he has had some problems with leaving the combine early and be out of shape I think the Bengals still select him because he'll make sure Carson stays pretty and on his feet the first day in camp until the end of his career, and considering plans with Levi Jones are not looking good, offensive tackle is definitely a pressing need. I really hope that Andre Smith bounces back from his Pro Day (where he jiggled all the way down the forty) as I feel there is a lot of unjust criticism thrown his way for how he has handled himself this draft season, I think that he knows how to work hard and he'll make a great cornerstone for an offensive line and be able to protect a big money quarterback for years to come, in this case it just happens to be in Cincinnati and for Carson Palmer.

13. Washington Redskins – Eben Britton, OT Arizona

With the thirteenth selection and Coach Jim Zorn still on board it's likely he continues to upgrade the offense because it really slowed the Skins down to the point where they played themselves out of the playoffs. Clinton Portis has had no running room and the pass protection was breaking down. Considering the age of the offensive line currently in place and the value of Eben Britton rising, I can't imagine the Redskins passing him up. This pick could also be Robert Ayers from Tennessee as a DE who can run stop and potentially move in on certain situations to play DT like division rival Justin Tuck. But I believe they need a talented tackle who can play on the right side for the oft injured Jon Jansen, I'm not sure what the Skins plan to do with Heyer and whether they may kick him in at guard, but the Redskins need upgrades at Tackle and Britton provides that, he's athletic, he's strong, he has a good punch and good footwork. He'll be a solid RT to begin his career and could potentially move to LT when Samuels moves on and considering the Skins grabbed Dockery back, adding Britton will only help solidify the line, especially if Heyer kicks inside where only Rabach would be the weak link.

14. New Orleans Saints – Malcolm Jenkins, CB/S Ohio State

With the fourteenth selection the New Orleans Saints select the big and talented cornerback who can double as a free safety from the mighty Buckeyes in Malcolm Jenkins. He played cornerback for the Buckeyes where he showcased that he has the versatility, play recognition and skills to be a great cornerback in the NFL but that he can also double as a starting safety as well and this selection and where Malcolm Jenkins plays is really going to dependant on what the Saints want to do at safety, they brought in Darren Sharper to play free safety but he only has a few good years left in him and behind him are the struggling Roman Harper and Kevin Kaesviharn whom are quality depth but hardly starters worthy enough to turn the Saints defensive woes around. This pick also might have a lot to do with Mike McKenzie now being without a team as he was recently cut and I feel that his release would potentially dictate Malcolm Jenkins playing corner alongside the returning Tracy Porter, free agent signee Jabari Greer and incumbent veteran Jason David. Like has been previously said, Malcolm Jenkins has very good instincts and is a reliable tackler and he will help improve the Saints defensive backfield which was actually looking fairly good before Tracy Porter and Mike McKenzie went down with injuries towards the beginning of the season. I feel they were on to something with that combination and now with adding Malcolm Jenkins at the corner spot alongside the all pro Darren Sharper would potentially put them over the top as Jenkins possesses all the ability, strength and skill to become a leader in the Saints secondary. Regardless, the Saints plug him in at safety or at cornerback and they'll find themselves with an even more impressive secondary and though I feel Jenkins slow speed has hurt him a bit, the game tape is there and that boy got it done on Saturday, if Pro Day and Combine workouts were all we went on then a lot of players would not see the light of draft day and I feel that Jenkins highlight reel speaks for itself, I think he can be a solid cornerback for the Saints and pairing him up with the young talents of Greer and Porter will hopefully give them a cornerback unit that they can hang their hat on so the offense doesn't have to go out and score 30 points to keep themselves competitive and in the game.

15. Houston Texans – Brian Cushing, LB USC

With the fifteenth selection the Houston Texans grab the beach built backer from Southern California in Brian "Blue Collar" Cushing. Cushing has seen his stock rise after playing incredibly well in the Senior Bowl and showing he can lay the wood and drop back in coverage as well (not to mention all the free publicity he gets from the NFL Network). The Houston Texans have some good, young linebackers to work with, DeMeco Ryans is without a doubt a stud while Zac Diles and Xavier Adibi will likely be competing during training camp for the starting spot at weakside backer, it leaves a big gaping hole at the strongside backer position, especially now that Morlon Greenwood has been released. I feel that Brian Cushing gives them the ability to not regret releasing that underachiever and instead replace him with a playmaker who can go sideline to sideline as Cushing is big enough to play strongside backer as he plays the run well, he is a devastating blitzer (he even spent time playing some DE at USC) and he does well in pass coverage to boot and I think bringing him in will solidify the Texans linebacking core and not to mention give them an incredibly young and diverse front seven that can run, cover, blitz and tackle. This selection could also be their top ranked strong safety as well, perhaps Patrick Chung but that would be way too much of a reach and I think Cushing fills more of a need right now as Cushing is intense, a great leader and a great player and he will contribute nicely alongside Ryans and Adibi and behind Williams, Smith, Johnson and Akoye, all that is left for them is to address the secondary and the Texans defense may finally be able to catch up to their renegade offense.

16. San Diego Chargers – Clay Matthews, DE/LB USC

With the sixteenth selection the San Diego Chargers select White Nation and USC linebacker/defensive end hybrid Clay Matthews. Shawne Merriman is coming back from injury and Shaun Phillips didn't hold up as well without his buddy last season so some pass rush addition would be a welcome site in San Diego. Clay Matthews has come on strong since the beginning of the draft season and could easily go as high as sixteen. Matthews has NFL pedigree in his father Clay Matthews Sr., he has incredible versatility as he played with his hand in the ground and he played stand up linebacker as well and he could be incredibly dangerous coming off the edge, he'll be able to learn from Merriman and compete with Phillips for time at the other OLB spot. Like I said, I think Clay Matthews has absolutely killed it in terms of helping his stock; he was a potential third round selection when the draft season. He has showed great speed, athleticism, strength, burst, intelligence and fluidity and I believe of all the USC linebackers in the draft Matthews will have the most productive career, San Diego gets a real hard worker and great player to help strengthen their defense.

17. New York Jets – Chris Wells, RB Ohio State

With the seventeenth selection in the draft the New York Jets select Chris 'Beanie' Wells from Ohio State. The Jets got an all-pro season from Thomas Jones and Leon Washington but considering the age of Jones and the ability of Wells, the Jets would do well to grab him as they would be well served to grab the most explosive offensive player still on the board as he can help Thomas Jones be more effective with less carries taking its toll on his body and allow Leon Washington to do what he does best and that's take advantage of tired legs. Now, Wells could go earlier because he really turned it on at his Pro Day workout and showed he has the explosive and long speed that he didn't show at the Combine by running in the 4.4 range and I think he may have even broken into the 4.3's which is incredible for a back of his size and stature. I think because of durability issues and because of the fact that no one in the top 16 really needs a back with any dire need he will fall and unless a team like Cincinnati or Cleveland trades up ahead of the Jets, I believe he falls here and Rex Ryan grabs him and gives his offense something similar to what he had in Baltimore as he can run the I form bruiser offense with Chris Wells, Thomas Jones and Tony Richardson, similar to McClain and Neal and then gash defenses with the smaller guy in Leon Washington, kind of like the Ravens did with Ray Rice and Willis McGahee and I think with Thomas Jones not attending the voluntary mini-camps, the Jets might be best served to grab Wells as he'll be an instant starter and could potentially make Thomas Jones expendable if he doesn't bother showing up because of contract issues.

18. Denver Broncos (from Chicago) – Aaron Maybin, DE/LB Penn State

With the eighteenth selection the Denver Broncos received from Chicago in the Jay Cutler deal, they select the speed rusher from Happy Valley in Penn State defensive end Aaron Maybin. Like has been stated all through out this mock draft, with the Broncos switching over to the 3-4 alignment they'll require an outside rush linebacker and I think Aaron Maybin has the ability to be that player for them. He has experience with his hand in the ground and while standing up as well and considering his 12 sacks and 20 tackles for a loss, he knows how to disrupt opposing offenses and hurry the quarterback, he still may need to put on some weight to better play the run and shed blockers, but I definitely think he needs to be the pick here considering his upside. I feel he really impressed scouts at the Scouting Combine with his explosion, physique and fluidity, despite running a slower time then I would have liked, but he showed to be loose in the hips, solid when it comes to staying tight to the line in pursuit of the quarterback and I think though he is doing everything necessary to make sure he has enough meat on his bones to stay stout at the point of attack and continue to have the speed and explosion he possess as he will surely be able to harass the quarterback for the Broncos and he's essentially the last part they needed to fully transition from 4-3 to 3-4, all that is left is the run stuffing 2 gap filling nose tackle.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Josh Freeman, QB Kansas State

With the nineteenth selection the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select the big and talented QB from Kansas State, Josh Freeman. Freeman has immense potential, he's 6'6" and 240 pounds and he runs very well and has a great arm, he needs to work on his accuracy, but that's not unlike most rookie QBs coming out of the college ranks. I think he'd be a great talent for Raheem Morris (who apparently has the nice connection to Kansas State as his former coordinator and might have the inside scoop on Freeman) to grab to usher in a new era for the Tampa Bay Bucs as he can be the type of player they need to get the ball to the deep receiver and also wear defenses out with bootlegs and play action. Now, Gruden wasn't a fan of young QBs but Morris may be a different kind of coach and considering new regimes, be it coach and/or GM like to bring in their own guys to do the grunt work I don't think they will be able to turn Josh Freeman down considering his potential even if they have the athletic Josh Johnson on the roster as Freeman has all the tools to become an elite QB in the NFL and give the Bucs some consistency at the franchise position that they have not had in a long time as Gruden was constantly pulling guys out and putting in old veterans who wouldn't last long. (i.e. Brad Johnson, Jeff Garcia, Brian Griese)

20. Detroit Lions (from Dallas) – William Beatty, OT Connecticut

With the twentieth selection, the Detroit Lions select the athletic tackle from Connecticut who is probably the closest to Ryan Clady potential in this draft in William Beatty. I believe the Lions select one of the best pass blocking offensive tackles that has the most potential upside in this draft in the 6'6" 307 lb. William Beatty. Beatty has been a consensus second round tackle for the majority of this offseason draft process and with a great Senior Bowl workout, Scouting Combine performance and Pro Day, he has moved himself into contention for first round consideration. At the combine, Beatty proved he's athletic, he's strong, and he has great feet and can handle elite speed. Bringing in William gives the Lions even more help on the offensive line as they'll be able to move Jeff Backus to LG as he has a better skill set to be a guard than tackle and if Gosder Cherilus can make some enormous strides after last season then the Lions will have a great offensive line to build around. It is obvious after last season that rebuilding teams are going to try the Atlanta Falcons model, get the QB of the future and the offensive tackle later. Well, Stafford is their Matt Ryan (same representation as well in Tom Condon) and William Beatty is their Sam Baker, hopefully this set things right for the Lions franchise.

21. Philadelphia Eagles – Hakeem Nicks, WR North Carolina

With the twenty-first selection, the Philadelphia Eagles select the productive and talented wide receiver from North Carolina in Hakeem Nicks. Nicks is 6'1" and runs like a bull, he can take an easy slant pass to the house or he can burn you on a fade down the field. Nicks doesn't have very many weakness but I would like to see him improve his jump ball skills because a guy his size should be able to go up and high point the ball and take it away from smaller defenders. Nicks is a bigger framed wide receiver who can get down field but is exceptional when it comes to blocking and the Eagles really have lacked a big red zone threat that can go out and high point the ball and come down with it in a jump ball situation or catch a pass in the flats and bull his way into the endzone. The Eagles saw first hand what a dangerous and tall receiver is capable of when Larry Fitzgerald and Kurt Warner shredded their defense to the tune of 3 touchdowns in the first half of the NFC Championship game. Nicks is not supremely massive but at 6'1" and 220 pounds he provides quarterback Donovan McNabb with a large target he has sorely lacked since Terrell Owens took his theatre act on the road. Even though he doesn't have the speed to get separation from elite cover corners he can use his strength, size and huge hands to his advantage to come down with the ball and I think with the Eagles needing help at WR, Nicks is the kind of guy they need on their team, Nicks has amazing hands and catches everything (even with his legs) and he has a great run after the catch demeanor and he doesn't go down easily. Some fans may think that Nicks is a bit of a reach at this point considering his recent Pro Day miscues but I think Nicks could potentially have the most value as a first round receiver coming off the bench (second to maybe Robiskie though) as he is polished and I feel that this pick is definitely not a reach as it would be a great help to Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb in offensive production, especially in the red zone where Philly really struggled this past post-season.

22. Minnesota Vikings – Vontae Davis, CB Illinois

With the fifty-fourth selection, the Minnesota Vikings select the physical cornerback from Illinois in Vontae Davis. Davis has all the potential to be a top ten selection but because of false drug allegations and all sorts of factor that are out of his hands, he falls to the Vikings here. The Vikings have had some inconsistencies from cornerback Cedric Griffin who sometimes shines in coverage and other times is a liability. Bringing in Davis gives the Vikings an immediate upgrade at the nickel corner and a potential starter as well. I feel Davis' best football days are ahead of him and he definitely has the ability to be a solid corner in Minnesota's scheme as he has all the talent to play the Cover 2 and then some, he had a solid 22 pass break ups and 7 interceptions in his tenure at Illinois. He is also lucky enough to have the safety help in Madieu Williams and Tyrell Johnson and he has a couple savvy veterans to learn from in the All Pro Antoine Winfield and Cedric Griffin. The unfortunate part for Minnesota is that I always feel they need to select secondary help but it's only because their run defense is so dominating that teams can only pass against them and if they can find the right corner opposite Winfield, then look out and I'm sure they're hoping Davis is the guy they're looking for to fill that void.

23. New England Patriots – Connor Barwin, DE/LB/TE Cincinnati

With the twenty-third pick, the Patriots select the defensive end outside linebacker hybrid from Cincinnati in Connor Barwin. I think he fits the mold of a Belichick player, a high motor and versatile linebacker who has all the experience needed to be a stand up pass rusher as Barwin was a dominant force this year tallying 16 tackles for a loss and 11 sacks. Not to mention, when you consider the age of Tedy Bruschi, Adalius Thomas, Junior Seau and the various other linebackers for the Patriots and I think they would be well served to select Barwin who has a high ceiling and could flourish in the Patriots system now that Vrabel has moved on to the Chiefs and the Patriots would also use Barwin on the goal line as a TE considering how talented he was at the position at Cincinnati and at the Senior Bowl. Although Barwin may seem like a reach at this point in the draft considering his abilities in coverage and inexperience but the Patriots are known for going off the draft board and taking the type of player who would best fit their system, but I think they need to spice up their pass rush and I believe Barwin may be the key especially after how he lit up the combine.

24. Atlanta Falcons – Brandon Pettigrew, TE Oklahoma State

With the twenty fourth selection the Atlanta Falcons select the productive pass catching TE from Oklahoma State in Brandon Pettigrew. Pettigrew is the best and most balanced TE prospect in this draft. In terms of blocking, he is second to none, he handled Brian Orakpo himself and didn't even need Okung beside him and as a pass catcher he is definitely qualified to become a new weapon for Matt Ryan and gives the Falcons stud QB a reliable target underneath as a safety blanket and this selection would also go towards helping the Falcons even more as it'll give Roddy White more opportunities over the top as someone will have to keep an eye on Pettigrew as he may not be the fastest guy but his route running and skill will make a defense pay. I feel he really raised his stock through the Senior Bowl and Combine as he has speed, hands, blocking ability and all the abilities one might ask for from their tight end and with Matt Ryan's emergence last year and the Falcons not wanting to rope in hands of stone and penalty king L.J. Smith who is now a Raven they grab the Oklahoma State tight end and put together an even more explosive offense under head coach Mike Smith that will also translate into more open holes in the run game for Michael Turner.

25. Miami Dolphins – Darius Butler, CB Connecticut

With the twenty fifth selection the Miami Dolphins select one of Deion Sander's babies from Prime U in Connecticut cornerback Darius Butler. The Dolphins have been one of the better stories this year and with this selection they get a player to help out their ailing secondary which has undoubtedly been their Achilles heel all season. Darius Butler is the kind of corner I think Coach Sparano would covet as he is amazing in man to man coverage and is not a liability when left alone on an island as he has great feet, great ball skills and some of the best recovery speed of all the corners in this draft and I feel that is what Miami wants most from their cornerbacks. I feel his abilities are very similar to a corner they already have on the roster in Will Allen who may not be the biggest and best cornerback in the league but he gets the job done with sound technique and natural speed. As for Butler, like I said before, he has great cover and ball skills to track and make plays on the long ball and he'll stick his nose in the backfield and play the run. He has all the tools to become an elite cover corner in a division where he has to face Randy Moss and Lee Evans twice a year as he has great footwork and mechanics to face the onslaught of deep balls that will be thrown his way.

26. Baltimore Ravens – Kenny Britt, WR Rutgers

With the twenty-sixth selection the Ravens select the productive wide receiver from Rutgers in Kenny Britt. The Ravens have had a great season, their run game is amazingly successful, and the offensive line has put up great protection for Joe Flacco, not to mention the Flaccinator has been an absolute stud at QB. Now, he just needs a new target to throw to as Derrick Mason, though talented is aging and they need a youthful and spry WR who can make all the tough catches and then some opposite the inconsistent Mark Clayton. Enter Kenny Britt from Rutgers who is rocketing up my draft board and will give Flacco another talented receiver to get the ball to and Cam Cameron another weapon on offense. Britt is a bigger framed wide receiver who can get down field but is exceptional when it comes to blocking. Britt is a solid player with great straight line speed for a guy his size, he has exceptional run after the catch ability, I think he runs crisp routes, he catches with his hands and he knows how to get into the end zone. This boy is an absolute player and would definitely be a great addition to the Ravens, especially if he can learn from Mason and I feel after looking really good at the combine, he could potentially go a tad earlier than this as well but the Ravens grabbing him here fills a need and is nice value for his talent and potential, not to mention he will be joining former Scarlet Knight teammate Ray Rice on offense and Ray just might give GM Ozzie Newsome some insight on his former teammate to make them more likely to pull the trigger on the beast from Jersey considering their need at the position despite guys like Darrius Heyward-Bey and Brian Robiskie still on the board.

27. Indianapolis Colts – Peria Jerry, DT Ole Miss

With the twenty-seventh selection, the Colts select the disruptive force from the Ole Miss Rebels in Peria Jerry. The Colts have sorely missed Quinn Pitcock and Ed Johnson in the interior of their defensive line where they currently have absolutely no one and that means that the Colts should definitely look into grabbing the top DT available so that teams aren't double teaming Freeney and Mathis, well, more so than they already are and this is where big ol' Peria Jerry comes in. Jerry himself is actually fairly slender as far defensive tackles go at 6'2" and a slightly anorexic 299 pounds, but there is one thing you can't deny and that is he knows how to get into the backfield from his defensive tackle position and disrupt opposing offenses. I feel that by putting Jerry alongside Freeney and Mathis, someone is definitely going to be harassing the opposing quarterback every time they drop back to pass as Jerry has proved he is extremely athletic, very compact, explosive and he has very good technique and hand placement (as was evident when he left Herman Johnson grasping at air during every one on one at the Senior Bowl), I feel that he is both a one gap penetrator and a nose tackle as he as the ability to stack against the run but I feel collapsing the pocket and providing a body to keep blockers off their undersized linebackers be his primary concern as he knows leverage and has the ability to take on all comers, including the double team, but regardless, his skills are too much for the Colts to pass up at this point in the draft as he could have easily been a top twenty selection had he been able to work out at the Scouting Combine but after his Pro Day workout he is definitely a first round prospect but he unfortunately falls all the way here despite being #13 on my Big Board.

Trade Alert:

28. Oakland Raiders (from Buffalo via Philadelphia/Carolina) – Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR Maryland
Buffalo sends: #28 and #121 overall
Oakland sends: #40 and #71 overall

With the twenty-eighth selection the Raiders trade up with the Philadelphia Eagles to select a guy they could have very well selected with the twentieth selection in the first round and swoop in and steal him away from the Giants and that player is the speedster from Maryland, Darris Heyward-Bey. DHB is a very raw talent and has a serious lack of experience so I think he slides all the way down to the Raiders in the Raiders here despite the fact he was an absolute beast at the combine, he tested incredibly well, he ran incredibly fast (4.30 which lead all combine invitees) and I think with common knowledge about how we all know how much Al Davis values speed and Darris Heyward-Bey's potential is too much for him not to move up to twenty-eight from thirty-three to make this pick and give the Raiders a young and dynamic trio of cornerstone pieces in Maclin, McFadden and Russell, with these guys now in place all that is left for the Raiders to do is find a new LT to replace the spot vacated by Kwame Harris and currently occupied by incumbent veteran Khalif Barnes who might be better served at RT and with some solid pieces already in place, the Raiders might soon have an incredibly dynamic offense that isn't purely on the shoulders of the running game, especially if this is Jamarcus Russel's break out year.

29. New York Giants – Brian Robiskie, WR Ohio State

With the twenty-ninth selection, the New York Giants select the large and polished receiver from Ohio State in Brian Robiskie. It's a real shame that the Giants are having a heck of a time keeping receivers on the field and since Burress is looking at some serious repercussions for concealing a weapon and shooting himself in the leg and Amani Toomer will likely not get the veteran minimum and offer to come back due to his age and salary, it means that the Giants have a great big gaping need for a taller target that Manning can throw the ball up to and currently Robiskie provides the best outlet at 6'3" 210 pounds. Robiskie is polished and more importantly productive as his numbers over his career though not monumental were consistent as he finished his tenure at Ohio State with 127 receptions 1800+ yards and 24 touchdowns. I believe Robiskie also really helped himself at the Senior Bowl where he separated himself as the top senior wide receiver and a solid prospect amidst all the talented underclassmen. Even though he doesn't have the speed to get separation from elite cover corners he can use his strength, size and huge hands to his advantage to come down with the ball and I think with the Giants not being able to get Kenny Britt or Darrius Heyward-Bey they grab Robiskie here at twenty nine here as he didn't disappoint at the Combine. Some fans may think that Robiskie is a bit of a reach at this point but I think Robiskie could potentially have the most value as first round receiver coming off the bench as he is the most polished as his father is a coach for the Falcons and considering his size, speed, frame and the Giants mighty large need, he will be a welcome addition to the Giants from East Rutherford.

30. Tennessee Titans – Alphonso Smith, CB Wake Forest

With the thirtieth selection, the once top seeded Titans select the tiny bodied but big hearted cornerback from Wake Forest in Alphonso "Prime" Smith. Tennessee's front office knows what to draft to win and with their secondary aging and number two cornerback opposite up and coming stud Cortland Finnegan looking to be the only weak spot I think they go out and draft the Prime corner Phonso Smith. As we all know, Phonso is a bit of an undersized cornerback at around 5'9" and 190 pounds but he plays bigger than he is and is a solid all around corner back that will likely be a nickel back when he first enters training camp and then I believe he will eventually move into a starting role when Tennessee lets Nick Harper go because of his age and contract size. Smith is great in man to man coverage and is not a liability when left alone to fend for himself as he has great ball skills and I feel that is what Tennessee covets most from their cornerbacks, allowing the defensive front four to generate pressure and let the three active linebackers make plays because they know their corners have their targets covered like white on rice. Alphonso Smith has been on the rise all offseason but he kind of stunted his rise to the mid first round when he ran a fairly poor forty yard dash, though not for the class, but for his skill set and body size it was very surprising. But as far as the rest of the tests went, he looked very fluid in the hips, he moved out of breaks nicely and he didn't get over extended or off balance in his back pedal (plus, he held it up at the Combine) and I feel with the Titans having very few needs and with their cautious approach to first round picks (at least in the wake of the Pacman debacle) they go with Alphonso Smith who will help them greatly a year or two from now.

31. Arizona Cardinals – Knowshon Moreno, RB Georgia

With the thirty-first selection the Arizona Cardinals grab the talented and productive back from Georgia in Knowshon Moreno. The Cardinals showed some poise in their rushing attack during their fabled run in the playoffs but they lack that tank who can wear down defenses to that they can be gashed later on by the small and faster backs and I think Knowshon Moreno will EASILY provide that for them as he is the kind of back who can truck a defender and he is also fast enough where he can cut it to the outside and take it to the house. Now, considering J.J. Arrington is a Bronco and the Edge is more than likely going to be a cap casualty, it is a definite need to the Cardinals to grab a back, if Tim Hightower can learn to stop shimmying all play long and hit the hole hard the Cardinals will be a much better team because Hightower has the skills to be an elusive and speedy cutback runner who can come in and produce on limited reps and Moreno can be the every down kind of back that combines power and speed and will wear down the defense, I think Moreno has seen his stock drop after the combine and after his sub-par Pro Day workout where he didn't look as explosive as he does on tape and I think he falls here and the Cardinals are ecstatic to get what some have deemed as the best back in the Draft towards the latter end of the first day of the draft, a very nice selection here for them, however, this selection could also be a guy like Aaron Maybin to amp up their pass rush.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers – Sean Smith, CB/S Utah

With the thirty-second selection in the draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select the athletic freak cornerback from Utah in Sean Smith. The Steelers could definitely add some youth to the cornerback position, Ike Taylor is a solid player but with Deshea Townsend getting older, Bryant McFadden moving on to the Super Bowl runner up Cardinals, the Steelers could use a cornerback who could come in right away and play the nickel package and eventually move into a starting role if William Gay can't lock down the starting position opposite Taylor. Sean Smith has all the talent to play for the Steelers and then some, he had an amazing 9 pass break ups and 5 interceptions in his junior campaign. Sean Smith moves incredibly well for his size and he could easily be a cornerback or a safety as he has great speed at 6'3" 215 lbs. as he posted one of the faster forty yard dash times at the combine and that kind of speed is fine by me for what the Steelers do and I feel their front office grabs him immediately and improves their already top ranked defense even more. But like I mentioned, I feel that if he burns up the track at his Pro Day there is no doubt in my mind that he would go top twenty and considering his career production in only two years (9 interceptions and 16 pass break ups) and his game breaking ability, there is no reason to let him sit by the phone any longer then the thirty second selection and give the Steelers secondary a big time playmaker to go with the three others currently entrenched there.

Final Mock Draft ver 9.0 Round 2

2009-04-23T10:59:00.000-07:00

Round 2:

33. Detroit Lions – Evander Hood, DT Missouri

With the thirty third pick the Detroit Lions select the disruptive and athletic Missouri defensive tackle Evander "Ziggy" Hood. Magee had a fairly productive season this past year with 62 tackles, 7 tackles for a loss and 5 sacks not to mention he has all the intangibles and numbers that the Lions should be looking for in a DT at 6'3" 300. Ziggy is the type of big bodied disruptive pocket collapsing defensive lineman I believe new Head Coach Jim Schwartz will love as he knows how to get into the backfield and with the right coaching I think he'll be the dominant force inside that Detroit needs, not to mention he can learn from long time NFL veteran defensive tackle Grady Jackson and hopefully help fill the void opened up since Corey Redding is now a Seahawk and considering the Lions have absolutely nothing at the defensive tackle and Ziggy has a wealth of potential and could possibly be gone before the Lions select again, so I think he needs to be the pick. He kicked it up a notch at the Scouting Combine where he looked speedy and very strong as he pressed among the most for the defensive line group and his first day and almost first round potential was cemented when he threw up the barbell 36 times at his Pro Day and ran well and did positional drills well to boot, a very solid pick for the Lions.

34. New England Patriots (from Kansas City) – William Moore, S Missouri

With the forty-seventh selection, the New England Patriots select the strong safety potential weakside linebacker 'hybrid' from Missouri in William Moore. The Patriots are in dire need of finding a replacement for Rodney Harrison who I believe has played his last downs in the NFL. William Moore is a bigger safety who has spent time at free safety and strong safety and who would probably play WLB in a 4-3 if it were up to some scouts but I believe that the Patriots would covet his versatility. He's a big hitter and will be that dominating presence in the secondary that the Patriots lacked this season. However, I do believe that at the Scouting Combine William Moore tested well enough to get back into consideration as a safety, he ran well, he looked good in the defensive back drills and he was all around smooth, I think with him getting over his injury concerns he can focus on his pro career and make a name for himself. Regardless, this pick could also be an OT but considering the talent available at this pick they would have to reach on one, so they select William Moore to pair with their current safeties and give them a youthful and dynamic safety core.

35. St. Louis Rams – Jamon Meredith, OT South Carolina

With the thirty-fifth selection, the Rams make the smart selection in grabbing the athletic and mauling tackle from South Carolina in Jamon Meredith. Meredith is not as massive or imposing as any of the 1st round tackles like Jason or Andre Smith but I think he'll be the better tackle in the long run and considering the Rams were likely to pounce on Jake Long had he slipped to number two last year there is no way they don't go out and grab one of the top tackles on the board at this point. I think Meredith is the better fit for what the Rams plan to do with Coach Spags now in place as the Rams would like to feature Jackson heavily and take some of the pressure of Bulger who has been an absolute catastrophe this past year. Bringing in Meredith to play opposite Alex Barron should help out the Rams ailing offense, especially in the red zone. I believe Meredith will make his mark and start his career off as a RT now that Alex Barron is the new starting LT. I think Jamon Meredith is the perfect compliment; he may be an athletic guy but he also very strong and can be the type of prototypical right tackle the Rams need to replace Barron who is better suited as a LT based on skill set. With the addition of Jason Brown at Center and if Barron can hold up at LT and Meredith makes a splash at RT, the Rams offense could be completely different this coming season as opposed to last season.

36. Cleveland Browns – Donald Brown, RB Connecticut

With the thirty sixth selection, the struggling Browns select the big and productive back from Connecticut, Mr. Donald Brown. In all likelihood, Jamal Lewis has played his last season with the Browns, he's lost all his get up and go and is looking more like a slug coming through the hole than a truck. If the Browns can get Brown they can team him up with Jerome Harrison and have the two-headed beast of a backfield that is becoming the norm with NFL teams nowadays. For the Browns, teaming up the speedy Harrison and talented and tough Brown will do them some good, not to mention take some of the pressure off whoever is at QB as they pound the rock against division opponents who enjoy milking the clock with their beast running games as well. Brown has proved to be an upper echelon back and he is an absolute steal here for the Browns as he is considered by some to be one of the top backs in this draft and Cleveland gets him here in second round without lifting a telephone… Well, it did cost em' K2 but I feel that he has looked great and performed really well, especially at the combine (though I was hoping he would run a little bit faster) and I just feel his power style makes him more valuable to a teams like the Browns who already have their speedy cut back guy who can take screens the distance, catch out in the flats and exploit a weakened defensive line in the third and fourth quarters. Plus, Brown playing for the Browns makes sense, right?

37. Seattle Seahawks – Louis Delmas, S Western Michigan

With the thirty-seventh selection, the Seattle Seahawks select the versatile safety from Western Michigan in the hard hitting field general Louis Delmas. The Seahawks need some serious retooling in their secondary and I think it begins with getting rid of Brian Russell and moving Deon Grant to SS as he is better served as an in the box safety. Louis Delmas has seen his stock drop a bit after providing an underwhelming 12 on the Wonderlic but his style of play and on the field presence dictates something entirely different and I highly doubt Seattle can pass him up as he is a defensive playmaker with 12 career picks. I believe Louis Delmas has come on like gangbusters since the Senior Bowl, he looked really good there leading his defense, barking out calls and making plays and it only continued at the Scouting Combine and Pro Day work outs where he ran well, looked fluid in position drills and was all around outstanding. Delmas is the kind of player Jim Mora Jr. would love to have on his team and would give the Seahawks another young defensive leader to go along with Lofa Tatupu and Marcus Trufant. I think Delmas will be a starter from day one and will make the Seattle secondary much more sound and productive since they really were exposed last season, especially Kelly Jennings and Josh Wilson.

38. Cincinnati Bengals – Alex Mack, C/G California

With the thirty-eighth selection, the Cincinnati Bengals put tabs on one of my personal favourite players in this year's draft, the man beast from California with a mean streak a mile long in Alex Mack. Alex Mack is a big and nasty lineman with limitless potential and projects as a quality center in the NFL as he was a man of many talents for California. Mack is a solid offensive lineman who can play just about every position on the offensive line, so not only is he a tremendous value at this point in the draft he is a great pick up because he can replace the vacated center Eric Ghauicic at center as well as any other offensive linemen for playing time as he is too good to leave on the bench and his versatility will save the Bengals a roster spot on game day which is huge nowadays considering all the offensive sets teams like to employ, which allows the coaches to dress to impress, in terms of best usable talent of course. Alex Mack is incredibly strong at the point of attack and knows how to place his hands and control opposing defensive tackles without getting pushed around and that'll be monumental if he wants to play in the AFC North as he will be forced to be deal with some big mothers in the middle like Haloti Ngata, Casey Hampton and Shaun Rogers. His pass set is great as he is a natural knee bender with very quick feet, he is also incredibly smart when it comes to on the field awareness and makes the correct calls in terms of blocking assignments but he is going to have to make sure he can seal blocks at the second level as it will be integral for him to seal off guys like Ray Lewis, James Farrior and D'Qwell Jackson. I feel that he looked really impressive at his Pro Day where he needed to look good after not working out at the combine and I feel that with his versatility he has all the potential and talent to be a first round pick, but the Bengals are more then happy to get him here.

39. Jacksonville Jaguars – Jeremy Maclin, WR Missouri

With the thirty-ninth selection the Jacksonville Jaguars select the explosive and talented wide receiver from Missouri in Jeremy Maclin. Maclin is the kind electric player who can take a short bubble screen or slant route to the house in no time at all, he also adds great versatility as being one of the most explosive kick returners available in the draft and with the likelihood of Reggie Williams not being brought back to fill the void at WR, the Jags will be looking for a quality receiver and they have plenty of spots to fill now that Porter and Jones are gone and all that is left is the inconsistent Dennis Northcutt and ball-dropping Troy Williamson and I believe Maclin is the answer to bolstering their pass as he'll be a quality target for David Garrard and either way, the Jaguars need help at WR and Maclin is the kind of guy they need on their team, Maclin has great hands and catches almost everything and he has a great run after the catch demeanor and he doesn't go down easily and will always fight for the extra yardage and that's impressive from a guy his size as the Jaguars need this kind of tough player to spark some life into their offense, essentially Maclin can be the Maurice Jones-Drew of the passing game, though he may seem small and fragile for being a 6'0" receiver, he'll fight you the first chance he gets and fight for every inch and though some Jaguar fans may think he is a reach, I think he is tremendous value as Maclin is by far a lot of people's number two receiver and with a serious need at this position, the Jags would do well to grab the Missouri speedster.

40. Buffalo Bills (from Oakland) – Michael Johnson, DE Georgia Tech

With the fortieth selection, the frigid Buffalo Bills select the long necked, huge bodied speed rusher from the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets program in Michael Johnson. Michael Johnson has seen his stock fluctuate exponentially after his senior performance as he was at one point a potential top ten selection based on potential and ability but then he slid all the way into the mid second round after the season where his production didn't match his skill set and now after blowing up at the Scouting Combine and Pro Day it is hard to fathom where he will be drafted. But for years, the Bills have had nothing opposite DE Aaron Schobel and they were able to get by because he was a relentless machine but as soon as he went down, the Bills lost all pass rush which leads me to believe they'll make Michael Johnson their pick as he has all the potential in the world to become a star and would give the Bills a very dangerous defensive line with Schobel back from injury, and tackles Stroud and Williams clogging the middle. I believe Johnson will start his career as a rotational player because of the issues with his motor and consistency and eventually he could play the RDE spot and rush the passer but it is really up to MJ himself if he wants to reach his full potential and become a boom over a bust as he definitely has a high ceiling… but he also has a very low basement… and someone made an awful mess down there.

41. Green Bay Packers – Larry English, DE/LB Northern Illinois

With the forty-first selection, the Packers select the defensive end outside linebacker hybrid from Northern Illinois in the devastating Larry English. I think he fits the build of a player Ted Thompson would covet, he's a high motor defensive lineman who can stand up and has all the natural tools to rush the passer as English was an absolute force his entire time at Northern Illinois tallying 57 tackles for a loss and an astounding 32.5 sacks. Not to mention, when you consider the current crop of linebackers the Packers have, none really stand out as a rushing outside linebacker and I think they would be well served to select English who has an incredibly high ceiling and could flourish in their new 3-4 system. Although English may seem like he should go earlier than this point in the draft a sub par combine workout may be the key to him falling here and considering the Packers and Ted Thompson are known for going with the best player available, I feel they may be inclined to select English because I think they need to spice up their pass rush first and I believe he may be the key as he would be able to compliment Aaron Kampman who will be standing up as a player who has experience getting to the quarterback on a regular basis but is playing out of position. The Packers should be able to harness English's explosive ability and in a few years he could be incredibly dangerous coming off the edge.

42. Buffalo Bills – Shawn Nelson, TE Southern Mississippi

With the forty second selection the Bills get the second best TE in the draft though it may seem like a bit of a reach for a tight end, the Bills needs his skills badly in Southern Miss's Shawn Nelson. They have released Robert Royal and that leaves them with the two Derek's, Fine and Schouman… and neither of those two deserves to be the starter for the Bills so they go and grab Nelson. Nelson is a solid TE prospect who could stand to put on some weight as he can still be considered a "rocked-up" wide receiver at 6'5", 240+, he has the frame to add some weight to better produce in the run game as a blocker but considering what he did to Rey Maualuga I think he may be ok. On the other hand, as a pass catcher he is definitely qualified to become a new weapon for Trent Edwards and gives the Bills QB a new target underneath as a safety blanket and this selection would also go towards helping the Bills even more as it'll give Lee Evans and Terrell Owens more opportunities over the top as someone will have to keep an eye on Nelson. I feel he really raised his stock through the Senior Bowl and Combine and him dropping Rey Rey will be a highlight of that week. Some might consider this to be a gargantuan reach but I think Shawn Nelson is an absolute freak and I've always been a big advocator for him as I feel he was slighted for going to a smaller school, he has speed, hands, blocking ability and all the abilities one might ask for from their tight end

43. San Francisco 49ers – Phil Loadholt, OT Oklahoma

With the forty-third selection the San Francisco 49ers select the mammoth offensive tackle from the Oklahoma Sooners in 'Big' Phil Loadholt. The 49ers have had a real problem keeping their quarterback upright this past season and it is integral for the team to get some consistency from the big men up front. Big Phil has seen his stock rise with some great play at the Senior Bowl and fairly decent combine workout where he has even proven that he might be able to be a left tackle in the NFL, however, the 49ers have already selected their franchise left tackle of the future in the draft two years ago when they traded up to select the Central Michigan OT Joe Staley who is far more athletic and has more potential upside and considering the 49ers released last years starting RT Jonas Jennings, it is now time to book end Staley with the massive Loadholt. Big Phil is a beast in the run game and will help pave open holes for Frank Gore and help keep QB Shaun Hill or Alex Smith upright. I think Loadholt is deceptively good in pass protection and gets a lot of needless flack because of his lack of athleticism, but when he gets his hands on you, it is over and he'll drive you into the ground. Add Loadholt to current starters Staley and Heitmann, factor in Davis Baas, Adam Snyder and Chilo Rachal and hopefully the 49ers will be able to concoct a starting lineup that will bring them back to the glory days, or at least put them on the right track.

44. Miami Dolphins (from Washington) – Duke Robinson, OG Oklahoma

With the fourty fourth selection the Miami Dolphins select the mammoth offensive guard from the Oklahoma Sooners in Duke Robinson. Bill Parcells has always been a fan of drafting big, sloppy offensive linemen and turning them into studs and Duke Robinson fits exactly that, he is a big and sloppy offensive lineman at 6'5" 325 lbs. This is a huge steal for the Dolphins as I have Duke Robinson ranked in my top twenty-five players and with him falling all the way to fixty six and with the Dolphins having had a real problem with the size and girth of their interior linemen he seems like a perfect addition to bring some stability to one of the guards positions. Duke is a big and hefty offensive lineman who has fairly good speed and quickness for a man of his stature, he mauls defensive linemen in the run game and is very nimble on his feet when in a pass set, though he does have the occasional mental breakdown that gets the quarterback hit, but I feel with great coaching and the tough Tony Sporano getting everything he can out of his players, I think Duke will help out big time and when pairing him up with Jake Long, Vernon Carey, Jake Grove and Justin Smiley would give the Dolphins an even bigger and tougher offensive line ready to maul defenders in the AFC East.

45. New York Giants (from New Orleans) – Clint Sintim, LB Virginia

With the forty-fifth selection, the Giants select the pass rush specialist from Virginia in Clint Sintim. The Giants don't have many needs but they could definitely stand to upgrade their linebacking core as they have a lot of solid special teams guys but no real impact player, Clint Sintim is one of my top 25 players and with him available here I can't imagine the Giants being able to pass him up as they plug him into the strongside backer role which has seemingly become a revolving door for the Giants as they can not really find anyone to stay there for more then a season or so. I feel they need to bring in some young talent to compete and bring the heat and Clint Sintim is the kind of player than can do that better than maybe any other collegiate linebacker save for potentially Zack Follett. This past season he tallied 11 sacks to go along with a stellar 13 tackles for a loss. He is a defensive playmaker that will help the Giants immensely as he'll be another player to bring intense pressure along with stellar defensive ends Mathias Kiwanuka, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora. Essentially, this pick is best player available and since the Giants addressed their wide receiver need with the first selection, they can easily afford to grab Sintim since they still have another second round selection, this is just a case of the rich getting richer and though Sintim isn't necessarily a three down backer I believe he can become one as he just needs to be coached the finer points of pass coverage and he's good to go, but on first and second down, he brings it.

46. Houston Texans – Patrick Chung, S Oregon

With the forty-sixth selection the Texans grab Patrick "Everybody Wang" Chung, the hard hitting safety from the Oregon Ducks. Chung is the type of hard hitting, in the box, run stuffing strong safety the Texans really need in their secondary. He can do a lot for the Texans secondary that has really never had an elite safety to hang their hat on, they've gotten by on vagrants and journeymen but now the Texans will have a monster and if Dominique Barber pans out as well, the Texans could have a very talented and young safety duo. Patrick Chung has been a solid and consistent player in the Oregon secondary since his freshman year and just continues to get better and better, he's a tackling machine, he's a ball hawk and he's very dangerous when he has the ball in his hands as well as he was known for his return skills early in his career before his full time duties at the safety position took precedent. I know the Texans and especially Texan fans are high on this guy and considering they were able to fill one need at strong side linebacker with their first round selection, they sure up the defensive secondary with this selection and adding to the front four that is already in place to go along with the talented linebackers and defensive backs and the Houston Texans might finally have a defensive unit that can keep up with their offense.

47. New England Patriots (from San Diego) – Percy Harvin, WR Florida

With the twenty-third selection in the NFL draft the Patriots select WR Percy Harvin. Bill Belichick is a big fan of drafting Florida WRs and Percy Harvin is probably the best one to come out in a long time, more consistent and explosive than Chad Jackson and aims to be a better athlete and receiver then Jabar Gaffney. The Patriots could use another weapon in the slot while Welker and Moss get double covered and considering Gaffney's mental lapses in missing catches and the Patriots offense lacking a pure slot receiver I think they go WR and Percy Harvin fits right into what the Patriots want to do with their offense and provides who ever starts at QB with another weapon, not to mention he also has spent time in the backfield and can also be a change of pace back on third down, his versatility is something the Patriots and specifically Tom Brady, will absolutely adore now that Jabar Gaffney has joined former OC Josh McDaniels in Denver. Percy Harvin looked extremely explosive at his Pro Day coming in and out of cuts and I think he has moved himself into first round contention, I was never really a big fan of his but his talents are too much to pass up and though the Patriots traded for Greg Lewis something tells me he won't be more then a special teams guy, kind of similar to their acquisition of Kelly Washington a couple seasons ago. I feel Percy will be the slot weapon they'll cherish who can also line up in the backfield and be that third down compliment back, kind of similar to how they use Kevin Faulk, only Harvin is far more explosive.

48. Cincinnati Bengals (from Denver) – Robert Ayers, DE Tennessee

With the forty-eighth selection that Cincinnati acquired in their first round trade, the Bengals select absolutely sky rocketing Tennessee Volunteer defensive end Robert "Ay-Ay-Ay" Ayers. Robert Ayers has really seen his stock rise from a potential mid second day prospect to a now mid first day prospect, though he doesn't have the sack numbers scouts are looking for I believe his best days are ahead of him. I feel that after his Senior Bowl performance he can now be considered an early second round selection to as early as a mid first round selection if someone really values his talent enough. I feel that he also helped himself again by performing very well at the Scouting Combine and considering Marvin Lewis and company could some added pizzazz on their defensive front where Antwan Odom and Robert Geathers just aren't producing like they should be, Ayers seems like the perfect pick. Ayers has all the potential to be a high quality player who can get to the QB he just needs someone to keep on him and work him hard and I think Marvin Lewis is that kind of coach and like I said before, I fully believe that his best football is ahead of him and I think he can be a dangerous defensive end. I believe he'll start his career as a rotational player and situational pass rusher and eventually he could play the RDE spot and rush the passer for the Bengals and give themselves a young and dynamic defensive line with Peko and Sims in the middle and Odom, Ayers and Geathers rushing the passer.

49. Chicago Bears – Ramses Barden, WR Cal Poly SLO

With the forty ninth selection the Chicago Bears select the behemoth wide receiver from Cal Poly SLO in Ramses Barden. Ramses Barden is a monster who was unstoppable at Cal Poly, he finished his career with over two hundred receptions, over four thousand yards and fifty touchdowns. Production like that on any level is amazing and considering he has the build to be a solid NFL possession receiver the Bears should really into drafting him. They have speed threats in Hester and Davis and a slot guy in Earl Bennett but they need a redzone target like Cutler had in Denver with Brandon Marshall. Barden won't beat you vertically but he'll make you pay with jump balls, moving the chains on third down and inside the twenty. He will be contested at the next level by physical press cover corners but when he learns to beat the jam he could be scary.

50. Cleveland Browns (from Tampa Bay) – Rey Maualuga, LB USC

With the fiftieth selection the Cleveland Browns select the intense inside linebacker from Southern California in Rey Maualuga. This pick might seem like overkill for Browns fans but considering he is probably the best player available and he fills a need I can't imagine Mangini passing him up. The Browns need to replace Andra Davis inside and get a young stud to put next to their other game breaking inside backer in D'Qwell Jackson and backup Leon Williams, Rey Maualuga would be a nice compliment to either of those backers. I think Maualuga has slipped into the second round because of some injury woes during the scouting combine, a lackluster senior bowl week and a moderately successful pro day that doesn't completely take him out of first round consideration. I feel he is a down player in a 4-3 but that he can be a 3 down player in a 3-4 and considering his hitting ability, his intensity and his potential I think the Browns would be getting a solid pick to build up their front seven again. With Wimbeley and Orakpo rushing the passer and Jackson and Maualuga inside, their linebacking group could go from weakness to strength if everyone reaches their potential.

51. Dallas Cowboys – Rashad Johnson, S Alabama

With the fifty-first selection, the Cowboys select what seems to be their most pressing need in a game changing safety who can be a presence in the run game and ball hawk in the secondary and Rashad Johnson is without a doubt the best player who can fill that void where Roy Williams and Michael Hamlin are not pulling their weight own weight. The Cowboys season can be summed up by their Saturday night late season battle against the Ravens, good until the end. The Cowboys played well until it mattered and then imploded as Willis McGahee and LeRon McClain ran over and through their safeties. Bringing in Rashad Johnson should be able to help them as he is a solid safety who can play the run, make the sure tackles and is a ball hawk as is evidence by his 11 career picks in the SEC, a notoriously brutal conference for cornerbacks and safeties alike. However, considering the Cowboys history this pick could potentially be a NT to spell Jay Ratliff or an ILB to replace Zach Thomas but considering no player is really worth the selection the Cowboys would be foolish to let Johnson go. I think Johnson really helped solidify his first day selection with his scouting combine and Pro Day workouts where he looked fast, fluid and aggressive and I think the Cowboys will likely put him at free safety and move Ken Hamlin to strong safety where I believe he is better suited considering his skill set.

52. Philadelphia Eagles – LeSean McCoy, RB Pittsburgh

With the fifty second selection, the Philadelphia Eagles select the versatile back from Pittsburgh in LeSean 'Shady' McCoy. I feel the playoff game against the Giants proved that though Westbrook is a solid weapon running and catching the ball but when it comes to the goal line he has absolutely no value unless he's catching passes out of the backfield or being used as a decoy. The Eagles proved to me that they need a bigger back to replace him who can put his head down and move the pile and lucky for them but also do all the things required of a west coast running back and since Shady, is the best running back that is still on the board he is far too valuable to pass up at this junction regardless of Andy Reid and the Philadelphia Eagles front office's stance on drafting. He's sort of built in the mold of a bigger Brian Westbrook as he can make the first tackler miss with a little shimmy and a shake but he also has enough get up to be able to go the distance when he gets into the second level, though he is faster back with home run hitting ability, he has all the strength and abilities to be the kind of back to wear down a defense with carries between the tackles so that later in the game Brian Westbrook (or Lorenzo Booker) can gash them for big gains. Shady has had his long speed called into question though after running poorly at the Scouting Combine and that might make some teams a bit wary of selecting him and with his Pro Day workout behind he has solidified himself as the third back, but he is definitely not a first rounder anymore and hopefully if he can get back to game form after being so sick for the combine so he should be ready to carry the rock and be a welcome addition to the Eagles locker room.

53. New York Jets – Ron Brace, DT Boston College

With the seventy-six selection in the draft the New York Jets select the massive defensive tackle from Boston College in Ron Brace. After all their spending in free agency the Jets have very few needs on either side of the ball but towards the end of the season it was evident that Kris Jenkins was wearing down and if the Jets are going to have a big time playoff run this year they're going to need him fresh so they bring in the fresh legs of Brace to help out big Kris. Ron Brace is an absolute beast at 6'3" 334 lbs. and he was an absolute force opposite teammate B.J. Raji and despite his size and explosion he still put up incredibly impressive numbers from his defensive tackle position including 27 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss and 3 sacks. Bringing in these massive fresh legs to spell Jenkins will only help the Jets defense dominate with Rex Ryan at the helm. This pick could very well be quarterbacks like Rhett Bomar or Nate Davis but I think GM Mike Tannenbaum is going to stick with Clemens and Ratliff for now.

54. Minnesota Vikings – Max Unger, C/G

With the fifty fourth selection the Minnesota Vikings select the versatile offensive lineman from Oregon in Max Unger. Unger is a solid offensive lineman who can play any position on the line, so not only being tremendous value at this point in the draft he is a great pick up because he can replace Matt Birk at center and even though fans are high on John Sullivan, Max Unger is an immediate upgrade and he is also a great addition because he can play either guard spot or even replace Ryan Cook at right tackle. Though Unger is a great and talented offensive line he could stand to get stronger at the point of attack as he has a tendency to lose control of some of the bigger defensive tackles and he'll get pushed around and stood up but his pass set is fine even though he could stand to play lower, but he really needs to work on his run blocking and making sure he can seal blocks at the second level, he looked really could at the Senior Bowl working against some of the elite defensive tackles in this class and at the scouting combine as well and with his versatility he has all the potential and talent to be a first round pick but he falls down to here because of the concerns I previously mentioned. Regardless, Max Unger's talent is too much to pass up here and it'll give the Vikings another young and talented offensive lineman to plug into their line up to help pave the way for Adrian Peterson.

55. Atlanta Falcons – James Laurinaitis, LB Ohio State

With the fifty-fifth selection, the Atlanta Falcons take the best defensive player available who has really slipped in my opinion since his poor Combine Performance in Ohio State inside linebacker James "Baby Animal" Laurinaitis. Like I mentioned, I believe that Baby Animal has seen his stock drop tremendously because of a poor performance at the Scouting Combine where he showed tight hips and poor long speed. However, I don't feel that he's that player as the tape on him shows how productive and aware he is of what is going and that he's the kind of linebacker who can cover, play the run and do pretty much anything else asked of a talented linebacker. The Falcons have some good linebackers, Curtis Lofton will be a stud but Keith Brooking and Michael Boley have moved on and that leaves them with Coy Wire in a starting spot… I'm sure Falcons fans don't want to drink that one in so I believe selecting Baby Animal gives them the ability to fill the void left by those underachievers and replace em' with a playmaker who can go sideline to sideline as Animal Jr. is big enough to play strongside backer and he will be a great when paired up with Curtis Lofton. I know a lot of people see Laurinaitis as a middle backer but I feel he is best served as an outside guy and the Falcons are really in need of one.

56. Miami Dolphins – Cody Brown, DE/LB Connecticut

With the fifty-sixth selection the Miami Dolphins select the explosive and tightly wound Connecticut Huskie hybrid defensive end outside linebacker Cody Brown. The Dolphins did a lot to help their team by re-signing Yeremiah Bell, Channing Crowder and Vernon Carey, as well as signing Gibril Wilson, it sures up most of their defensive needs and allows them to go best player available with this pick and there is no doubt in my mind that Cody Brown is the kind of player Bill Parcells wants playing for him, he has incredible versatility. He has experience with his hand in the ground and while standing up as well and considering his 24 career sacks and 45.5 tackles for a loss, he knows how to disrupt opposing offenses and hurry the quarterback, he still may need to put on some weight to better play the run and shed blockers, but I definitely think he needs to be the pick here considering his upside. I feel he really impressed scouts at the Senior Bowl and Scouting Combine, despite running a slower time then I would have liked, but he showed to be loose in the hips, solid when it comes to staying tight to the line in pursuit of the quarterback and I think though he will definitely need to put some weight on. Luckily for Brown, he'll be able to learn from Joey Porter and compete with Matt Roth for time at the other OLB spot.

57. Baltimore Ravens – D.J. Moore, CB Vanderbilt

With the fifty-seventh selection, the Baltimore Ravens select cornerback D.J. Moore from "Love is a Battlefield" Vanderbilt. Moore has all the potential to be late first to early second round selection but because of a slow forty time he falls to the Ravens here. Moore, like a couple other corners in this draft is a bit of an undersized at 5'8" and just over 190 pounds but he surely plays bigger than he is listed at. The Ravens still have some serious age at the cornerback position despite releasing Chris McAllister and Samari Rolle as veteran Frank Walker is still on the roster so they could use some added youth in the secondary as Fabian Washington is proving to be a valuable pick up and he needs a solid corner across from him. Though the Ravens did sign Domonique Foxworth from the Falcons I feel he is best served as a nickel corner because of his smaller stature and considering Moore is a potential first round selection there is no way Ozzie Newsome passes up his value towards the end of the second. I think that putting him across from Washington with the veterans mentoring them would give them an incredibly quick and ball hawking secondary, however, he would need to take lessons from the great corners and safeties already on the roster to improve his gameplay and keep his size from being an issue.

Trade Alert:

58. Pittsburgh Steelers (from New England) – Jarron Gilbert, DT/DE San Jose State
New England sends: #58 overall
Pittsburgh sends: #64 and #132 overall

With the fifty-eighth selection, the Super Bowl champions Steelers move up in the draft by trading their 2nd and 4th round selections to the Patriots to select the Spartan Army superstar in Jarron Gilbert. I think with the guys available on the board the Patriots would like to move back and get some more selections and I think Gilbert is definitely a guy the Steelers would love to grab as he is another player who has seen his stock rise dramatically and it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility to see him soar even higher than I currently have him. Regardless, the Steelers will draft him to play 3-4 defensive end alongside incumbent veterans Aaron Smith who is getting up in years and the big bodied Casey Hampton in the middle. This pick will make the Steelers defense even stingier than it already is. The Steelers could also potentially reach on an offensive lineman like Eric Wood from Lousiville or Jamon Meredith from South Carolina, but with Gilbert's skill set, upside, impressive numbers (22.5 tackles for a loss and 9.5 sacks for a DT!) I think he needs to be the pick. He's strong enough to play the run as a base end and he has more than enough zip and skill to be a credible pass rush specialist on passing downs giving the Steelers another defensive player who can get to the QB and making their defensive unit that much scarier.

59. Carolina Panthers – Victor Harris, CB Virginia Tech

With the fifty-ninth selection, the Carolina Panthers select the solid cover cornerback from Virginia Tech in the mighty moustached Victor "Macho" Harris. Victor Harris is a game changing cornerback, he is great in pass coverage and he's an amazing special teams player. In his senior season he had 44 tackles, 8 pass break ups, 6 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles and 2 return TDs. The Panthers could use more help at corner since Richard Marshall is struggling to keep his starting spot and Ken Lucas is testing the waters in free agency after his release and while Chris Gamble is locked up, the Panthers will need someone alongside him. I think Harris is the best fit as he can start on all your special team groups day one and play the nickel and dime defensive packages right away. Harris is the kind of corner I think John Fox would covet as he is great in man to man coverage and is not a liability when left alone on an island and I feel that is what Carolina wants to see from their cornerbacks. I feel his abilities are very similar to Brandon Flowers who came out last year and made a huge impact for the Chiefs, he has great cover and ball skills to track and make plays on the long ball and he'll stick his nose in the backfield and play the run. Putting Harris on one side and Gamble on the other will give the Panthers an incredibly talented pass defense however, this selection could be a defensive end to replace Julius Peppers but considering the guys on the board, I think they go corner.

60. New York Giants – Coye Francies, CB San Jose State

With the sixtieth selection the rich continue to get richer with the Giants selecting the talented San Jose Spartan warrior cornerback in Coye Francies. Francies has great size and instincts, he's quick to react to the ball when it is in the air and then can make a play on it. He is great in run support and he is an all around talented cornerback and will benefit the Giants secondary that is already quite talented with Webster and Ross starting and Thomas waiting in the wings. The only thing that might limit Francies in making the transition from college athlete to NFL starting corner is his long speed as he ran poorer then I expected him to run in the forty yard dash as he clocked in at 4.56 when I was expecting around 4.46, but I don't think Coach Coughlin will be overly critical about his corners speed considering he now has two great safeties playing over top and Francies is a very physical corner who jams well at the line of scrimmage and plays man to man well and not to mention, he will also stick his nose in the backfield in the run game and is not afraid to hit someone and make some noise, after that he has all the tools to be an elite cover corner and I think he is BPA that also fills a need.

61. Indianapolis Colts – Derrick Williams, WR Penn State

With the sixty-first selection, the Indianapolis Colts select the speedster and elusive return man from Happy Valley in Derrick Williams. Williams is a tad undersized and his measurables won't jump out at you but plain and simple, the boy gets it done, he is an explosive player who is great after the catch and is a solid return man as well and considering the Colts need help at both positions and love drafting guys from the Big 10, it seems like a natural fit. As for the Colts, there is no denying that they are looking to get younger and with Marvin Harrison phased out, the Colts will need a new weapon and Williams is that kind of player, he has great hands, he has the potential to be a great route runner and though he doesn't necessarily have the career production to back it up, he definitely has the talent. Williams has made a name for himself playing on Saturdays but I think it's on Sunday where he'll really shine, especially with Peyton Manning throwing to him. I think his combine workout really hurt him as he ran slow, he jumped poorly and lacked any sort of real explosion, but when you put the game tape on, it is all there and the boy can get it done and like I said, the Colts GM likes to go to the Big 10 to get his players and last I remember, Penn State has been dominating there for quite some time. Regardless, he is talented and riddled with potential and with Peyton Manning helping out, he should have a stellar career ahead of him.

62. Tennessee Titans – Sen'Derrick Marks, DT Auburn

With the sixty second selection the Tennessee Titans select the Auburn defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks. The Titans have very few needs and really don't much but they could use some more depth inside at defensive tackle. Jason Jones will be a stud in the future and Jovan Haye is a solid addition but I feel they still need another defensive tackle and Sen'Derrick Marks should fit in nicely. He has good speed as he used to play defensive end for Auburn so he and Jason Jones should be able to put serious pressure on the quarterback with Vanden Bosch and Kearse. Marks could stand to get stronger so he can be stouter at the point of attack but I feel that once he is introduced to an NFL training regiment he can become a better defensive tackle and play to his size and he is a tad underwhelming considering his stature.

63. Arizona Cardinals – Eric Wood, C Alabama

With the sixty-third selection, the Arizona Cardinals put tabs on the tough lineman from Louisville in Eric Wood. Wood is a big, nasty and limitless potential prospect and projects as a quality center in the NFL. With this recent Super Bowl run the Cardinals are proving to have very few weaknesses on offense, but establishing the running game is definitely one of them, if the Cardinals can balance their offense, dominate the clock and keep their defense off the field it will do wonders for them and I think Wood may be the key component in doing that and in most cases, I believe he will start from day one as well as he has a tremendous amount of upside and football IQ. He has the versatility to play center or guard for many years; he finishes blocks and is great in space, not to mention he anchors well in pass protection. He is without a doubt the next center on the board and even though Lyle Sendlein has played well in the playoffs, Wood is an upgrade at any interior position save for maybe Reggie Wells and with Sendlein's tendencies to botch snaps and step all over Kurt Warner's feet, I think he could definitely upgraded and by drafting Wood it also gives the Cardinals great depth should anything happen as Sendlein has proved that he can start and be productive but he has some minor flaws he still needs to exercise out. I feel that he looked really impressive at the combine and even better at his Pro Day and I feel that with his versatility he has all the potential and talent to be an early second round pick, but the Cardinals are more then happy to get him here.

64. New England Patriots (from Pittsburgh) – Fenuki Tupou, OT Oregon

With the sixty-fourth selection the another rich team gets richer so to speak as the New England Patriots select the versatile offensive tackle from Oregon in Fenuki Tupou. The Patriots moved back with the Pittsburgh Steelers to allow them to grab Jarron Gilbert as there was really no one on the board that fit the Patriots needs so they moved back, picked up some extra selections and now they have the opportunity to select Fenuki Tupou who can be a great offensive tackle and take over for the inconsistent (but Canadian!) Nick Kazcur or potentially move inside to guard if Stephen Neal isn't re-signed as he is 33 years old and probably not going to be re-signed and it is likely that the Patriots don't go into the season with a fresh faced youngster without any game time experience there. With that being said, I think the Patriots draft Tupou as a tackle to eventually replace Matt Light at left tackle by moving Kazcur over since I doubt Light will be re-signed considering the Patriots stingy approach to handing out extensions. I think Tupou is a bit of a project but a year in the system and allowing him to learn from the Patriot offensive lineman, I think he will be ready to be the protector of Tom Brady in a year. However, this selection could also be the best player available on their draft board as the Patriots have a lot of guys with expiring contracts coming up and they probably won't re-sign the entirety of them.

Final Mock Draft ver 9.0 Round 3

2009-04-23T10:58:00.000-07:00

Round 3:

65. Detroit Lions – Jared Cook, TE South Carolina

With the sixty-fifth selection in the NFL Draft the Detroit Lions select the interesting tight end prospect from the South Carolina in Jared Cook. I think the Lions need playmakers and more specifically, the Lions need a tight end who can be a reliable target underneath when Calvin Johnson is triple covered and I believe Jared Cook fits the bill. He can block and he can catch and at the Scouting Combine Jared Cook blew it up with a mid 4.5 forty yard dash and 40'+ broad jump and 10'+ broad jump. The kid was absolutely on fire and moved himself from a mid second day pick to a mid second round pick. He catches the ball nicely and he is a vertical threat and I feel he would be an instant upgrade giving the Lions a solid option at TE and viable targets when receivers are covered down field and I think that Detroit would do well to grab him and give new QB Matthew Stafford a reliable target and helpful athlete that can make plays for the offense when Calvin Johnson is busy. Jared Cook could easily go in the second round and considering Detroit needs just about everything, going BPA can't hurt em.

66. St. Louis Rams – Juaquin Iglesias, WR Oklahoma

With the sixty sixth selection the St. Louis Rams select the productive wide receiver from Oklahoma in Juaquin Iglesias. The Rams filled their linebacker need and offensive tackle need, now they just need a new target to throw to as Torry Holt is now a Jaguar and the Rams need a youthful and spry WR who can make all the tough catches and then some opposite the burner Donnie Avery. Enter Iglesias from Oklahoma who is rocketing up my draft board and will give Bulger another talented receiver to get the ball to and new offensive coordinator Shurmur another weapon on offense. Juaquin is another Oklahoma wide receiver in the mold of Mark Clayton, Malcolm Kelly and Mark Bradley, he is a bigger framed wide receiver who can get down field but is exceptional when it comes to blocking. Juaquin Iglesias in my opinion may be the better pro of all the Oklahoma wide receivers listed and though he may not be the fastest receiver I think he runs crisper routes, he catches with his hands and he knows how to get into the end zone on limited touches. This boy is an absolute player and would definitely be a great addition to the Rams and I think he will excel in their new west coast offense and I feel after looking really good at the combine, he could potentially go a tad earlier than this as well but the Rams grabbing him here fills a need and is nice value for his talent and potential.

67. Kansas City Chiefs – Dorell Scott, DT Clemson

With the sixty-seventh selection the Kansas City Chiefs select the hard nosed tackle from Clemson to anchor their new 3-4 defensive system in Dorell Scott. The Chiefs lack the essential big, bruising plugger for the 3-4 defense and considering last years first round selection Glenn Dorsey was already playing out of position as a 4-3 NT, there is no way he fits in the system now unless he moves to DE, but he lacks the range and ability to play there consistently so it makes me wonder if he'll see his way elsewhere before or after the draft. Either way, Dorell Scott is a big body who can occupy two gaps and keep defenders off the Kansas City backers, my guess is that Derrick Johnson and Rocky Boiman will be moved inside and Vrabel and a yet to be drafted/signed backer will play the weakside rush role. Dorell may need to put some more weight on considering he's only tipping the scales at about 315, but he has the size and strength to be the force inside that Kansas City requires, I also would like to note that he is deceptively athletic for a guy his size and he can easily collapse the pocket from his NT position to keep the QB from stepping up so that Vrabel and company can get into the backfield and cause disruptions sooner and with more effect. I think with this selection and a rush linebacker in the next round, the Kansas City Chiefs will have done a lot to help their defense and offense this offseason and could be a potential surprise come the 09' season.

68. Seattle Seahawks – Rashad Jennings, RB Liberty

With the sixty eighth selection the Seattle Seahawks select Liberty running back Rashad Jennings. Jennings was a productive beast at Liberty College and though he was one of only a select few to start as a true freshman at Pittsburgh he transferred to Liberty to be closer to his family. He is a great back as he rushed for over four thousand yards at Liberty and had forty three touchdowns to boot. He is a tough and strong runner who runs with authority and speed and he is more then capable of being the kind of back the Seahawks need. Julius Jones is a change of pace back and can't stand up to the rigors of a full NFL season, and as for the remaining Seahawk backs, they're fairly forgettable as well. Jennings will be a welcome addition and help take some pressure off the passing game when opposing defensive coordinators start stacking eight in the box.

69. Dallas Cowboys (from Cleveland) – Jasper Brinkley, LB South Carolina

With the sixty-ninth selection the Dallas Cowboys select the downhill thumping linebacker from South Carolina in Jasper Brinkley. The Cowboys have gotten very little out of their middle linebackers aside from Bradie James, Bobby Carpenter has been a bust, Zach Thomas is over the hill and on his way out and Kevin Burnett is was only a special teams and role player who is now playing for the Chargers. The Cowboys brought in Keith Brooking but he is hardly a long term solution for the Cowboys so I feel that bringing in Brinkley to play alongside James along with Spencer, Ellis and Ware will give the Cowboys an incredibly nasty linebacking core capable of stopping the run and playing the underneath passing routes so that the corners and safeties can focus on coverage. Brinkley has some durability issues and that’s why he falls so far but he is a 1st round talent but he comes roaring back up into the third round and potential first day talks after looking incredibly svelte and impressive at the Scouting Combine where he weighed in at just over 250, down from about 270 and ran really well considering. I feel he did the necessary things to show he has rehabbed well from his injury and is looking forward to joining a team and continuing his reign of terror by commanding the middle of a defense and punishing opposing backs for years to come in the Lone Star state.

70. Cincinnati Bengals – Dannell Ellerbe, LB Georgia

With the seventieth selection in the draft the Cincinnati Bengals bolster their defense again with the high motor middle linebacker from Georgia, Dannell Ellerbe. I believe that Ellerbe has seen his stock rise tremendously because of a great performance at the Scouting Combine where he showed fluid hips, great strength and that he's the kind of linebacker who can cover, play the run and do pretty much anything else asked of a talented linebacker. Ellerbe is a solid player all around and would be a nice replacement at MLB for Dhani "World Traveller" Jones since the Bengals have not had a consistent player who has been a force there since Odell Thurman's rookie season. Now, I realize that a lot of people are going to question this decision to go with Ellerbe but I really do feel that he is an incredible player and he has the versatility to do a lot for the Bengals as he can essentially play any of the three linebacker spots, though he has the most familiarity playing weakside and middle. Ellerbe is an incredibly smart and rangy backer who plays with more athleticism than he looks to have. He punishes the ball carrier and is a sure tackler who has a knack for finding the back while weaving through traffic. I believe Ellerbe is a more finished product then some of the other linebackers on the board but that he still has some potential to amp his game up to the next level when he gets to the Pros and I think the Bengals have a real need at ILB and Ellerbe may just be the answer they're looking for.

71. Buffalo Bills (from Oakland) – Andy Levitre, OG Oregon State

With the seventy-first selection the Buffalo Bills select the massive and athletic Oregon State guard in this draft class in Andy Levitre. The Bills had some seriously poor play from their offensive line this year, specifically from their "All Pro" Left Tackle Jason Peters who had the pass protection skills of a turnstile allowing Trent Edwards to take too many unnecessary hits. Now with Derrick Dockery back in the Nation's capital the Bills need to find another force in the middle who can open up lanes in the running game so that Marshawn Lynch can gain more than a handful of yards every carry as he was lucky to get over a thousand rush yards this season considering his rush average for nine games this season just barely topped 3 yards per carry. I think Andy Levitre is an incredibly talented and underrated guard and I feel the Bills grabbing him here to replace the inconsistent Dockery is a huge upgrade because they get rid of his cap number and get a younger guy who has a more balanced game. He can run block and he can pass block, he is athletic and strong and he will only get better and I think putting him next to Peters will be good for the Bills, so long as Peters can go back to All Pro form from two years ago and not last year because that was the biggest crock of an All Pro season in the history of the universe… okay maybe not the universe but it was still ridiculous.

72. Jacksonville Jaguars – Chris Baker, DT Hampton

With the seventy-second selection, the Jaguars select the disruptive force from Hampton (formally Penn State) in Chris Baker. John Henderson has looked lonely without his buddy Marcus Stroud next to him, not to mention the defense has managed to become a liability as opposed to strength, so they could definitely use a penetrating defensive tackle to put next to the gargantuan Henderson. Hood himself is a big fella at 6'2" and pushing 330 pounds and he knows how to get into the backfield as he had 16.5 tackles for a loss to go along with 8.5 sacks from his defensive tackle position. Baker is the type of big bodied defensive lineman I believe Jack Del Rio will love as he knows how to get into the backfield, though he has some off the field issues and that will trouble some scouts but I believe that Chris Baker can rise above that past mistake and he'll be the dominant force inside that Jacksonville needs not to mention he can learn from one of the best and most consistent defensive tackles in the game in John Henderson and considering after Henderson the Jaguars have little else at the defensive tackle and Baker is hands down the best defensive tackle left and could possibly be gone before the Jaguars select again, so I think he needs to be the pick. I think pairing him with Henderson will bring the Jags defensive line back to respectability especially if Groves and Harvey come on strong after not producing too much their rookie seasons.

73. Green Bay Packers – Mark Parson, CB Ohio

With the seventy-third selection, the Green Bay Packers select the productive corner from Ohio in Mark Parson. Parson is a great man to man cover corner who will fit nicely into the Green Bay defensive scheme that likes to play their corners man on man with opposing receivers and considering the age of Woodson and Harris and the inability of Blackmon, Williams and Lee to get onto the field, I think the Packers select Parson. He's an elite talent who doesn't have the career production numbers because he suffers from Nnamdi-itis as teams tried to throw to the corner opposite him as he has shown a knack for shutting down the receiver he's covering. It was an absolute travesty that he wasn't invited to the combine so that he couldn't increase his stock and he remains an early 2nd day pick as opposed to enhancing his potential and putting himself into contention for 1st day status, regardless, he is a talented player and many offensive coordinators will be having fits when he reaches his potential and becomes the shut down corner I believe he can be.

Trade Alert:

74. Atlanta Falcons (from San Francisco) – Fili Moala, DT/DE USC
San Francisco sends: #74 overall
Atlanta sends: #90, #125 and #138 overall

With the seventy-fourth selection the resurgent Falcons select the big Samoan Bulldozer nose tackle from Southern California in Fili Moala. The Falcons have been an incredible surprise this season and I give credit to Mike Smith and Thomas Dimitroff for turning the franchise around so quickly. The team has very few needs at this point but they could definitely stand to upgrade their defensive line, especially the nose tackle. Babineaux has been a standout this season but he needs a big body next to him to occupy blockers and I think Moala is the best fit for what they need. He is the type of big body defensive tackle to anchor in the run game and still provide a solid pass rush. Fili Moala will be Mike Smith's version of Marcus Stroud as he has the frame to hold some extra weight (at 6'4") so that he can better clog the gap and like I said, he also has some pass rush ability so he won't just be a Grady Jackson type nose tackle and just hold down the fort, he's a solid player and it helps that he comes from USC which is a program known for churning out solid defensive linemen. I feel that after the Senior Bowl and Combine that Fili Moala is definitely on the Falcons radar and they pay to go up and get him by sending the 49ers their 3rd, 4th and 5th picks this year to move up and grab him but in the end it'll ultimately be worth it when he helps Jamaal Anderson and John Abraham get more sacks.

75. Buffalo Bills – Gerald Cadogan, OT Penn State

With the seventy fifth selection the Buffalo Bills select their second offensive tackle of this draft in the athletic Penn State tackle Gerald Cadogan. The Bills drafted Ole Miss offensive tackle Michael Oher earlier but I think they still need another tackle as Langston Walker is more of a depth guy then a versatile starter. Gerald Cadogan has really seen his stock in the draft rise with a great combine workout where he clocked one of the fastest forty times, looked athletic and had extremely long arms. I think he is a bit of a project but a year in the system and allowing himself to learn and mature I think he could be a solid bookend tackle opposite Michael Oher who is a more polished and finished product. The Bills need depth at tackle and Cadogan immediately provides that, not to mention he could also move inside if need be so this selection makes a lot of sense for the Buffalo Bills who need a lot of help with their offensive line now that Peters and Dockery are gone.

76. New York Jets (from New Orleans) – Kyle Moore, DE USC

With the seventy-sixth selection the New York Jets select the big defensive end from Southern Cal in Kyle Moore. The Jets need some depth at 3-4 defensive end so new head coach Rex Ryan can keep a rotation and fresh legs in the game and I think Kyle Moore is without a doubt the best available. He is strong enough to stack against the run and he still has a fairly good pass rush set, teaming him up with Kenyon Coleman and Shaun Ellis will give the Jets some options when it comes to first and third downs with how they want to stack against the run and get to the passer. The Jets already addressed their offense with the first two selections and considering what they did in the offseason with adding Bart Scott, Jim Leonhard and Lito Sheppard, this pick is a luxury and depth selection that will help them out and makes the Jets defense that much more impressive. This selection could also be a RT to replace Damien Woody like Xavier Fulton or Joel Bell or potentially a QB like Nate Davis if the Jets aren't set on Clemens or Ratliff starting the season.

77. Houston Texans – Trevor Canfield, OG Cincinnati

With the seventy-seventh selection the Houston Texans select the stout and athletic guard from Cincinnati in Trevor "Yes-I" Canfield. The Houston Texans found great success from their offensive line this season, especially from rookie tackle Duane Brown and incumbent Eric Winston, but the Texans could still stand to upgrade their interior line, specifically Mr. Oboe and Mr. Brisiel, Trevor Canfield has great athleticism, skill and strength, he moves well laterally and is very strong at the point of attack and would be a great addition to Alex Gibbs zone blocking scheme where is talents will more then surely be used to the Texans offensive advantage. I feel that he definitely has the talent to provide great depth and may even move into a starting role in before the season runs out as he is too talented to stay on the bench. He has great size and ability for a guy at 6'4" 307 lbs and should help pave more highways for Steve Slaton to take advantage of as well as give Matt Schaub more time to shred opposing defenses and I think he is the absolute perfect pick for the Texans and their offensive game plan and considering they addressed the defense with their last two selections, I think the focus on offense here and Canfield will be another nice stepping stone on their way to a hopeful playoff berth this season.

78. San Diego Chargers – Sammie Lee Hill, DT Stillman

With the seventy-eighth selection the San Diego Chargers select the massive Stillman defensive tackle Sammie Lee Hill. The Chargers have very few needs on either side of the ball but towards the end of the season it was evident that Jamal Williams was wearing down and if the Chargers are going to have a big time playoff run this year they're going to need him fresh so they bring in the fresh legs of Sammie Lee to help out big Jamal who may be on his last legs (especially with his recent legal troubles). Sammie Lee is an absolute beast at 6'4" 330 lbs. and though he didn't have the opportunity to play against the upper echelon of competition he still put up incredibly amazing numbers from his defensive tackle position including 59 tackles, 15.5 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks. Bringing in these massive fresh legs to spell Jenkins will only help the Chargers defense dominate.

79. Denver Broncos – Paul Kruger, DE/LB Utah

With the seventy-ninth selection, the Denver Broncos select the wonderfully nicked named defensive end from Utah in Paul "Freddy" Kruger. The Broncos found their weakside pass rusher earlier in Aaron Maybin, not they get the more stout strongside 3-4 outside backer who can stack against the run and still will generate pressure with his rush which leads me to believe they'll make the Utah Ute standout Paul Kruger their pick as he has all the potential in the world to become a star and would give the Broncos a very dangerous linebacking group that used to be their weakness as they'll have Maybin, Kruger, Dumervil and maybe even Moss rushing the passer in a solid rotation. Paul Kruger has really seen his stock rise, from a potential mid second day prospect to a now mid first day prospect, though he doesn't have the sack numbers scouts are looking for I believe his best days are ahead of him and if he gets into the right system I feel he can be an incredible asset to a team as he can stack, shed and stuff in the run game and he does have ability to rush the passer. He has the potential to go earlier than this as he is the kind of the player front offices want in their locker room, he works hard and he gets it done, he's a mature fella like all Utah graduates and I feel that he will be a tremendous asset to the Broncos in both defending the pass and the run.

80. Washington Redskins – Tyrone McKenzie, LB South Florida

With the eightieth selection the Washington Redskins select the productive South Florida strongside linebacker in Tyrone McKenzie. The Redskins could use some help at inside linebacker where London Fletcher-Baker is aging, undersized and potentially on his way out soon. But his back up is basically the same person in the undersized H.B. Blades who again, seems far too small to be a stout inside presence that Washington requires when they face the bruising run attacks of the Cowboys and Giants 4 times a year. So, with Marcus Washington being a cap casualty, the Redskins select the hard nosed Bull in Tyrone McKenzie to replace him opposite Rocky McIntosh. Now, since Redskins have landed the big and nasty defensive tackle from Tennessee in Albert Haynesworth, I'm less worried about their inside linebacker depth and size as both Blades and LFB can line up in behind him and use their athleticism and natural abilities to continue getting production from the inside linebacker spot but now they need to upgrade at SLB and with McKenzie's speed, strength, intensity and upside, I can't imagine them passing on him here as he is without a doubt a talented individual and could definitely bring some youth and tenacity to the linebacker position.

81. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Kevin Barnes, CB Maryland

With the eighty-first selection, the new and improved Tampa Bay Buccaneers select the speedster CB and internet sensation from Maryland in Kevin Barnes. When I say internet sensation, I mean it, just go on Youtube and look for Kevin Barnes hit and you'll see the majesty that is one of the Pac-10's best running backs in Jahvid Best puking all over himself and the field because Barnes jacked him up. Moving on to the analysis, Barnes is a solid cornerback and has immense talent and potential and he slides to here because of some injury concerns, as seems to be the common trend with cornerbacks this round. But he has speed, size and strength to be a solid cornerback for the Buccaneers who lost Phillip Buchanon to the Lions and will need some fresh legs to replace Ronde Barber soon enough. Barnes ran really well at the combine, looked fit and over his injury and if he's available here the Bucs will probably jump on him, that is unless Tyrone McKenzie slips and he becomes the selection for that Raymond James Stadium connection and the fact that the Bucs need backers bad.

82. Detroit Lions (from Dallas) – Lawrence Sidbury, DE Richmond

With the eighty second selection the Detroit Lions grab the speedy and productive defensive end from the Richmond Spiders in Lawrence Sidbury. Sidbury has seen his stock rise from mere unknown to an early second day selection with great performances at the Senior Bowl where he made some of the top offensive tackles scratch their head with a great first step and a quick dip and rip to the QB. He then turned scouts heads when he blew up the combine testing incredibly well and running the fastest time of any of the defensive linemen. I believe the Titans grab Sidbury here because new coach Jim Schwartz will probably try and replicate the defense he had with the Titans and that was a high pressure defensive system that focused on getting to the quarterback with the front four to take pressure off the defensive backs and considering the Lions don't have any real elite pass rushers and considering the age of DeVries and White, they would be well served to grab Lawrence Sidbury who has all the potential to be a situational pass rusher, but considering his size at about 6'3" 266 lbs, he has good enough size to be an every down player and considering his senior season production (56 tackles, 20 tackles for a loss and 11.5 sacks) he has all the tape and what have you to back this selection as the Lions really need to infuse some more youth and talent into their pass rush and though they have other needs, a solid pass rush will help take some pressure off a suspect secondary.

83. Green Bay Packers (from New York) – Troy Kropog OT, Tulane

With the eighty-third selection, the Green Bay Packers use this selection on the athletic offensive tackle from Tulane in Troy Kropog. The Packers are probably going to let Mark Tauscher test the waters in free agency when his contract expires as he's an older tackle with some serious years on him and it seems as though the Packers and Ted Thompson seem to be all about getting younger as all established vets seem to be given their pink slips sooner rather than later. Troy Kropog is another talent that has been rocketing up draft boards as of late, especially after a stellar performance at the Senior Bowl. A hard working and coachable offensive lineman who also has great pass blocking ability and showed he can also be a dominant run blocker despite his slender build as he fits very well into Green Bay's technique laden zone blocking scheme and I believe he is the pick Green Bay needs to make to protect Aaron Rodgers expensive blindside for the next decade as he'll probably start at LT since he's far more athletic and the Packers can move Chad Clifton to RT as he has started to see his production dwindle as he's getting up in the years, however, there is still likelihood that Clifton will man the left side still and Kropog may back him up or get the nod at right tackle, regardless of this, Kropog is a solid pick for the Packers and their youth movement.

84. Denver Broncos (from Chicago) – Sherrod Martin, CB/S Troy State

With the eighty fourth selection, the Denver Broncos go out and grab the top corner back available since they're having such a hard time covering the pass this year in Troy State's hybrid cornerback/safety prospect Sherrod Martin. The Broncos sure up their defense even more with the selecton of Martin as he is the kind of player who can provide depth at safety and also be a starting corner. He's a bit of an undersized safety but he's got great versatility as he can also play cornerback. Now, considering Marlon McCree has been replaced by Brian Dawkins and with the Broncos having little else at safety, including bringing back Josh Barrett who was cut during training camp so they could definitely use the upgrade and I think Martin will be a solid addition to McDaniels new 3-4 defense as he'll likely be their starting nickel corner once drafted as he has really shown that he is past his injury riddled past and is looking to improve a team's defensive secondary.

85. Philadelphia Eagles – Cornelius Ingram, TE Florida

With the eighty fifth selection the Eagles select arguably the most athletic and versatile tight end in the Draft in Florida's Cornelius Ingram. Ingram had a huge injury that sidelined him for his senior year and that is a travesty because he has the talent and skills to be a first day selection and I think the Eagles need more playmakers and more specifically, the Eagles need a playmaking tight end who can be a reliable target underneath when guys like Kevin Curtis and DeSean Jackson are double covered and I believe Ingram fits the bill. I feel he can be an H-back/Tight End hybrid for the Eagles, kind of similar to the way Washington uses Mike Sellers. He can block, he can catch out of the backfield and he can even carry if need be and after seeing him perform very well at the combine I think that Philadelphia would do well to grab him and give QB Donovan McNabb a reliable target and helpful athlete that can make plays for the offense.

86. Minnesota Vikings – Joel Bell, OT Furman

With the eighty-sixth selection the Minnesota Vikings select the big and nasty offensive tackle from the Furman Paladins in Joel Bell. The Minnesota Vikings could use some competition at the right offensive tackle spot and considering the potential upside of the gargantuan Bell, I think the Vikings would be hard pressed to pass him up. At just about 6'8" and 315 lbs. Joel Bell is an absolute monster with a frame to add some more weight and still keep his athletic ability and mobility in pass protection but also add to his run blocking ability. I believe is a sleeper pick from a small school, much like Michael Roos from several years back and I think Bell could easily solidify the Viking offensive line where the right tackle position has been like a turnstile letting defenders into the backfield more often than it should and hopefully selecting Bell would rectify this as Bell really opened some eyes at the Scouting Combine by running an impressive time for a guy his size and he looked solid in the positional drills, I think this pick may surprise a lot of Viking fans but I fully expect Joel Bell to be an interesting prospect towards Draft time and considering the value of offensive tackles and his upside, makes sense to me.

87. Miami Dolphins – Louis Murphy, WR Florida

With the eighty-seventh selection the Miami Dolphins select the other talented member of the Florida Gator wide receiver core in Louis Murphy. I believe Murphy is an immense talent and it seems like the Dolphins have become a team that likes to take receivers with potential but raw abilities and turn them into big game players as Ginn, Bess and Camarillio come to mind. Louis Murphy is another player in that mold as he didn't have huge amounts of field time at Florida but he has all the numbers and measurements to warrant a second round selection as he is 6'3", 200 pounds, is strong, explosive and fast and considering the Dolphins need a big target opposite all the little guys they have running around, Murphy fits the bill perfectly. I feel Murphy is another player who has seen his stock rise with a great performance at the Scouting Combine, he has natural hands, runs fairly good routes (but with coaching I believe he will be able to run incredibly crisp and precise routes) and he actually ran a lot better than I expected him too, and considering the Tuna likes big receivers I am more then inclined to bet that if Louis Murphy is available he is picked up to be what Ernest Wilford was supposed to be when he signed. This pick could also be interior offensive line depth or cornerback, but considering the value and potential of Murphy and the fact they have a pick later on in this round they grab the former Florida wide receiver now and fill a need.

88. Baltimore Ravens – Matt Shaughnessy, DE Wisconsin

With the eighty-eighth selection the Baltimore Ravens select Matt Shaughnessy from Wisconsin. Shaughnessy could be the kind of player in the mold of Terrell Suggs and Jarrett Johnson as a defensive end who plays both with his hand in the dirt and standing up. Shaughnessy possesses great athletic ability and could easily stand up and learn from guys like Suggs and Johnson on how to stop the run, rush the passer and cover in space. Shaughnessy has seen his stock drop as of recent with some real nagging injuries that have slowed his momentum and kept him from being as productive as he could be, but considering there is a real drop off in talent in terms of athletic big men who can play down or up, the Ravens will draft Shaughnessy and have him groomed so that if they do end up losing Suggs or Johnson down the road, they have a guy who can step in as the Ravens are always prepared, especially at linebacker.

89. New England Patriots – Darry Beckwith, LB LSU

With the eighty-ninth selection the New England Patriots grab the ridiculously productive Louisiana State inside linebacker in Darry Beckwith. The Patriots need some youth inside where Junior Seau and Tedy Bruschi should not be starters, pairing Beckwith with stellar rookie standout Jerod Mayo and improving Gary Guyton will give the Patriots a versatile, speedy and productive interior linebacking corps. They grabbed Barwin earlier which will spice up their pass rush, and once Adalius Thomas comes back from injury the Patriots will be able to bring the pressure on defense so their suspect secondary won't be taken advantage of when the front seven can't get to the QB. Beckwith himself is an incredibly tough player because he played for the legendary LSU Tigers team and during his tenure he had 3 consecutive 50+ tackle seasons to go along with 14 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks and 2 interceptions, regardless of the program you play for, that's production and I think the Pats would love to have him and considering his upside and potential, the Pats getting him here is of great value as Beckwith is a talented player who made a great case at the Scouting Combine for being a top inside backer by showing athleticism but I think his forty time hurt him a bit and that's why he's here for the Patriots to select.

90. San Francisco 49ers (from Atlanta) – Mike Mickens, CB Cincinnati

With the ninetieth selection the San Francisco 49ers select the Bearcat cornerback Mike Mickens. The 49ers have a solid cornerback in Nate Clements and a solid safety in Michael Lewis but opposite Clements is a fairly weak spot as Walt Harris is not the player he once was, he is still talented and probably would be a very good and versatile nickel corner but the 49ers need to upgrade and seemingly since they've gone defense with their first selection and their head coach is a former All Pro middle linebacker so they might as well go that route again and select Mickens who is a first round cornerback with the production to warrant it but slips due to some injury concerns. I think Singletary will build a great defense and run game to take pressure off of his quarterback Shaun Hill or Alex Smith and I think with the previous selections, Mickens and the moves they have made in free agency, I think the 49ers offense and defense will be that much better in 2009 and they'll likely use the remainder of their draft picks to sure up the offense, specifically at offensive tackle and at wide receiver and potentially in the back field as well to take some of the pressure off of Frank Gore's shoulders.

91. New York Giants – Andre Brown, RB N.C. State

With the ninety-first selection the Giants select the all-purpose running back from North Carolina State in Andre Brown. Now that we know the Giants won't be bringing Derrick Ward back because he'll be wearing the Pewter and Red next season the Giants will need another back to potentially compliment Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, though not really a dire need, the talent on the board coordinates with this selection and the Giants can grab a solid running back who will definitely provide a spark for their offense and probably won't be available later. The spark in question is the Wolfpack running back Andre Brown, the Giants need a smaller speedy back that can catch out of the backfield and be a compliment to Jacobs bruising running style but still is bigger and more physical then third back Ahmad Bradshaw, Andre Brown fits that description to the letter, he's 6' even and 224 pounds of pure intensity. He has really helped himself with great workouts at the Senior Bowl where he showed burst and acceleration he was thought not to possess and then killed it at the combine by running a 4.49 for a fella pushing 230, I think he'll be a great compliment and will be the new Wind in the Giants aptly named backfield Earth, Wind and Fire.

92. Indianapolis Colts – Jason Williams, LB Western Illinois

With the ninety second selection, the Indianapolis Colts select Western Illinois linebacker Jason Williams. The Colts need a lot of defensive help, they don't have much at linebacker, they finally got a defensive tackle to solidify the line and the secondary is banged up, lacks depth and for the most part is inconsistent. The Colts bring in Jason Williams who is a prospect who has been on the rise, he runs well, he hits hard, he covers and he is a hard working guy who will lead this no name Colts' defense. I think he really shocked some people when he turned in an official 4.49 forty yard dash, shows he has great straight line speed and could the kind of sideline to sideline backer the Colts are in desperate need of as Tyjuan Hagler, Clint Session and Gary Brackett don't necessarily inspire fear in opposing offenses so I think Jason Williams will come in, play the strongside or weakside role and be a productive member of the new Colts defense.

93. Carolina Panthers – Alex Magee, DT Purdue

With the ninety third selection the Panthers select the strong and mobile defensive tackle from Purdue in Alex Magee. With Kris Jenkins now stuffing gaps for the Jets and the Panthers basically having only Damione Lewis and Maake Kemoeatu on the roster at DT they sure could use a penetrating defensive tackle that can collapse the pocket, rush the QB and stuff the run. Magee had a fairly productive season this past year with 28 tackles, 6 tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks not to mention he has all the intangibles and numbers that the Panthers should be looking for in a DT at 6'3" 300. Magee is the type of big bodied disruptive pocket collapsing defensive lineman I believe John Fox will love as he knows how to get into the backfield, though he has some consistency issues and that will trouble some scouts but I believe that Alex Magee can rise above mediocrity and with the right coaching I think he'll be the dominant force inside that Carolina needs. With Magee alongside the aforementioned defensive tackles, the Panthers will be able to collapse the pocket from the interior and will likely address defensive end later on in the draft, though they won't likely find another Peppers, they should find a solid contributor who will start for them in his place.

94. Tennessee Titans – Marcus Freeman, LB Ohio State

With the ninety-fourth selection in the third round, the Tennessee Titans select the outside linebacker from the Buckeye State in Marcus Freeman. Freeman is likely to play WLB in the NFL and will probably need to put some weight on but I think he has a tremendous upside and though the Titans don't really need a linebacker, I think with his availability and talent, they snatch him up. Now, the Tennessee Titans like to groom their own players so I imagine they draft Freeman get him used to the system while using him on the special teams and when Bulluck and/or Thornton is ready to move on, he'll be waiting in the wings to step in and contribute. Freeman is an aggressive defender who knows how to play in opposing teams backfields as he amassed 6 sacks and 21.5 tackles for a loss during his tenure at Ohio State. I think he'll be a playmaker much in the way Bulluck is currently for the Titans, he has speed, toughness and intensity and can make big plays when it counts and he really stood out at the combine running incredibly fast and has definitely seen his stock rise after playing incredibly well in the Senior Bowl and showing he can lay the wood and drop back in coverage as well, he'll be a solid addition to the Titans.

95. Arizona Cardinals – Zack Follett, LB California

With the ninety-fifth selection, the Arizona Cardinals select a linebacker who knows how to get to QB in California's Zack Follett. Arizona has been a real story this year and I expect big things in the future, however, there needs to be some upgrades made at the linebacker spot. Karlos Dansby has been franchised but he is a much better inside backer and that leaves LaBoy, Okeafor, Berry and Haggens to rush the passer. They definitely need to bring in some young talent to compete and bring the heat and Zack Follett can do that better than maybe any other collegiate linebacker. This past season he tallied 10.5 sacks to go along with a ridiculous 23 tackles for a loss and more importantly 5 forced fumbles. He is a defensive playmaker that will help the Cardinals immensely. This pick could also be a corner as well considering Roderick Hood might as well change his name to toast but considering the age of the rushers currently on the Cardinals and the way Roethlisberger was able to elude their rush, they need someone who will bring the QB down and that is Follett.

96. Pittsburgh Steelers –Xavier Fulton, OT Illinois

With the ninety-sixth selection the Steelers grab the athletic Illinois offensive tackle Xavier Fulton. Xavier Fulton is another talent that has been rocketing up draft boards as of late, especially after a stellar performance at the Senior Bowl. He came to the Illini program as a defensive linemen so you know he has an aggressive and take no prisoner attitude but he also has great pass blocking ability and showed he can also be a dominant run blocker despite his slender build as he fits very well into Pittsburgh's new technique laden zone blocking scheme and I think he will fit well in the Steelers locker room as he has the potential and measurables to be a solid offensive tackle in the future and considering the Steelers have a lot of questions about the starters on their offensive line bringing in Fulton would be a welcome addition for the Super Bowl Champion Steelers despite the fact it is hard to criticize a team that brings back their entire offensive line that got them to a Super Bowl. Like I said, I definitely think Xavier Fulton will fit what Mike Tomlin wants to do with the offense as he is more athletic then some of the other tackles and if they want to employ a more finesse and explosive offense they'll need guys who won't tire out in pass protection while Ben Roethlisberger runs around trying to make something happen and I feel Fulton can be that guy, not to mention challenge Willie Colon in training camp making him better and by osmosis, the entire team better.

97. New England Patriots – Chase Coffman, TE Missouri

With the ninety seventh selection, the New England Patriots select Missouri tight end Chase Coffman. The Patriots will likely be losing Ben Watson to free agency as he is probably not worth the money to re-sign and they may lose David Thomas as well which would leave them pretty empty at tight end, luckily there is a first day talent guy still on the board who has slipped because he hasn't been able to workout this draft season in Chase Coffman. Coffman is a big target who catches naturally with his hands and is talented enough to be split out wide, come out of the backfield or line up on the line. He isn't the greatest blocker but he has all the ability to be a pass receiving threat and I think he fits the mold of a Patriots type player as a multifaceted guy with multiple uses and it'll be good to get him into the system early so he can be ready to start in a year or two from now.

98. Cincinnati Bengals – Javon Ringer, RB Michigan State

With the ninety-eighth selection the Cincinnati Bengals select the productive back from Michigan State in Javon Ringer. The Bengals actually found a capable starter in Cedric Benson and I think I am just as surprised as anyone to see him actually doing well after seeing him flounder in Chicago. Now, the Bengals are known for drafting running backs and I think Javon Ringer would provide a nice compliment to Benson now that the Bengals have re-signed him. Ringer is a speedier back who can do multiple things for an offense like catch out of the backfield and run outside or between the tackle and his senior season was very productive. He'll go a long way in helping take some of the pressure off Palmer who will look to shake off the rust from not playing for so long.

99. Chicago Bears – David Veikune, DE Hawaii

With the ninety ninth selection the Chicago Bears select the tad undersized but super aggressive pass rusher from Hawaii in David Veikune. The Bears have really suffered from injuries and poor play in the secondary this season and that is one of the main reasons as to why they didn't win the division as they couldn't contain Andre Johnson in the final game of the season in order to make the playoffs, but it is not because they don't have the talent but because they couldn't pressure the QB and opposing teams could shred them. David Veikune was able to get to and bring down the QB nine times this season and has amassed a career total of eighteen sacks, which is more than the Bears defensive ends can say about getting to the QB. He's might be considered a bit of a reach at this point but I think he'll probably be a situational rusher to start his career until he can pack on some pounds as I think he has a solid frame at 6'2" 260 pounds to carry an extra 10 pounds without losing a step so that he can play the run better and contribute more as an every down player. I just think after the Senior Bowl and Combine and seeing how relentless, fluid and dominating Veikune was the Bears would definitely do well to go out and make him a new Monster of the Midway, especially if he brings the Haka dance.

100. New York Giants – Travis Beckum, TE Wisconsin

With the hundredth selection the New York Giants select the game breaking tight end from Wisconsin in Travis Beckum. The Giants don't have any real needs so they can afford to draft one of the best available players who adds some versatility to their offense. Kevin Boss is an inline blocker and the other tight end Matthews isn't a consistent threat, but Beckum is explosive. Much like Dustin Keller, he is a rocked up wide receiver who can be split out and play inline, he is physical as he came to Wisconsin as a linebacker and he'll be able to play on all the special teams units for the Giants as well when he isn't catching passes from Eli. He also could potentially move to wide receiver as he has the capability and he could be the big time threat they are looking for.