This is the 2nd Mock Draft for PhilSteele.com. We have decided to wait this long as we wanted to wait for all the Combine, Pro Days, Free
Agency & trades to settle down. We have included the Eagles/Bills trade that went down as we were doing the mock. Also included is the
potential trade of Braylon Edwards to the NY Giants. There will be one more mock draft posted the night before the actual draft on April 25th.
The positions in parenthesis at the end are the 3 biggest remaining needs.
1) Detroit Lions - QB Matthew Stafford - Georgia
The Lions are taking the long-term approach with this pick. With only 2 of 11 underclass
QB’s having achieved any success since 1999 (Ben Roethlisberger & Aaron Rodgers) &
their OL having given up 156 sacks over the last 3 years, Stafford will be red-shirted. This
will allow Detroit to upgrade the roster before he takes to the field & give him a higher rate
of success. If he doesn’t comply with the Lions desire to have him under contract before
the draft they will go LT. (DE, CB, S)
2) St Louis Rams - LT Eugene Monroe - Virginia
By drafting Monroe the Rams improve their passing game by keeping Marc Bulger upright
& their running game by giving Steven Jackson more rushing lanes. The Rams desperately
need to stabilize their OL before they can focus on other needs in the draft. (LB, CB, WR)
3) Kansas City - LB Aaron Curry - Wake Forest
The Chiefs are switching to a 3-4 scheme & take advantage of having Mike Vrabel & Zach
Thomas on board to mentor Curry & ILB Derrick Johnson. They will seriously consider
Brian Orakpo but Curry is widely held to be the top player on most draft boards in 2009.
While he doesn’t have the sack numbers that would support taking a LB this high in most
drafts he wasn’t sent in to pass rush much at Wake Forest. (OG, WR, S)
4) Seattle Seahawks - QB Mark Sanchez - USC
Seattle will take a serious look at Jason Smith since LT Walter Jones had micro-fracture
surgery on his knee & may not play again. However the rule is that if a potential franchise
QB is available then you have to take one especially with durability questions surrounding
Matt Hasselbeck’s back. Sanchez is the better fit for them as he’s played in a West Coast
style offense & will red-shirt in 2009 to acclimate to the NFL. (OT, WR, OG)
5) Cleveland Browns - WR Michael Crabtree - Texas Tech
The Browns are in dire straits at the WR position. The biggest knock on Crabtree is the
lack of a 40 time due to a stress fracture in his left foot, which restricted him to 97 receptions & 1165 yards in 2008 with 19 TD’s. He is a high character player who will have to
make some adjustments to the NFL. CLE then trades Braylon Edwards to the Giants
afterwards. (OLB, CB, S)
6) Cincinnati Bengals - LT Jason Smith - Baylor
This is the perfect player for the Bengals at this spot. With Carson Palmer returning from
a serious elbow injury they need a solid pass protector to help get the offense on track.
Jason Smith allows to Bengals to focus the rest of the draft on shoring up their front 7 on
defense. (DT, LB, DE)
7) Oakland Raiders - WR Jeremy Maclin - Missouri
The Raiders only have WR Javon Walker & TE Zach Miller available as proven options
for JaMarcus Russell. Russell’s development is a priority for Al Davis & Maclin is a complete player who will help open up the run game as well. (DT, OG, WR)
8) Jacksonville Jaguars - LT Andre Smith - Alabama
While the Jaguars do have a glaring need at WR the best weapon they have is the run
game with Maurice Jones-Drew. While they did pick up Tra Thomas in FA for the LT spot,
Smith upgrades the RT spot & gives the Jaguars the depth that they sorely lacked in
2008. (WR, DT, OG)
9) Green Bay Packers - DE/OLB Brian Orakpo - Texas
With the Packers switching to a 3-4 defense under DC Dom Capers they are elated to
have Orakpo slide to them at this point. Orakpo gives them an OLB to pair with Aaron
Kampman as the team starts it’s transition & he can also play DE in a 4-3. (CB, DE, OT)
10) San Francisco 49ers - CB Malcolm Jenkins - Ohio St
Mike Singletary takes the best available player on his board to reinforce a secondary
that gave up a 61% completion rate with a 22-12 ratio. Jenkins is a perfect fit for a team
that has to deal with the Cardinals high-octane pass offense twice a year. (WR, DE, QB)
11) Buffalo Bills - LT Michael Oher - Mississippi
The Bills refused to be held hostage to Jason Peters contract demands & traded him to
Philadelphia. This created a glaring need on the OL, which they fill with the best available
OT here. Oher is an opening day starter for the Bills though he may need to be coached
up some. (DT, DE, RB)
12) Denver Broncos - DT BJ Raji - Boston College
The priority for the Broncos in this draft is shoring up their #xx defense from LY. This is
compounded by the shift to a 3-4 defense. Raji is the best 3-4 NT in the draft & is an
instant starter here when training camp opens. (DE, DT, LB)
13) Washington Redskins - DE Aaron Maybin - Penn St
Despite the big splash in signing Albert Haynesworth in FA the Redskins are still short
pass rushers outside of DE Andre Carter. Maybin had a standout Pro Day to move him
up draft boards. He is a speed rusher that should thrive with Haynesworth tying up opposing OL. (RT, LB, S)
14) New Orleans Saints - OLB Brian Cushing - USC
GM Mickey Loomis said the Saints priority in the draft would be defense & that they would
address their RB situation later. With Jenkins gone they move onto Cushing to bolster a
LB unit that outside of Jonathan Vilma is average at best. Cushing can play any of the 3
LB spots & would add another depth to their pass rush. (RB, CB, OG)
15) Houston Texans - LB Clay Matthews - USC
The Texans are in good shape on offense & while they could use one, Alex Gibbs doesn’t
want a 1st RD RB to work with. Outside of Dunta Robinson & DeMeco Ryans the Texans
are in need of playmakers in the back 7. Matthews is a bit raw but has lots of upside &
athleticism for the team. (CB, RB, DE)
16) San Diego Chargers - MLB Rey Maualuga - USC
Need matches the best talent available, as the Chargers defense is in pretty good shape
except at the ILB position. Maualuga is a fierce tackler & did very well at his Pro Day easing concerns that he would be just a 2 Down LB. He compares very favorably to Junior
Seau but with less freelancing. (RB, WR, S)
17) New York Jets - WR Darrius Heyward-Bey - Maryland
The Jets only have 1 proven WR with Jerricho Cotchery & Heyward-Bey has seen his
stock rise the closer the draft. He has a solid size/speed mix at 6-1 210 with 4.26 speed.
He is a big play threat that needs to improve his route running skills but fills a big void for
the Jets. (QB, TE, OG)
18) Denver Broncos - DE Tyson Jackson - LSU
With the pick acquired from Chicago in the Cutler trade the Broncos take the best pure 5
technique DE for a 3-4 scheme in the draft. Jackson is a big (6-4 296) body who can play
DT in a 4-3 system & will go a long ways towards improving a defense that allowed 146
ypg (5.0) rushing last year (LB, RB, DT)
19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - DT Peria Jerry - Mississippi
The Bucs are revamping their defense & need a big body DT that can tie up OL while providing a pass rush. Jerry is quick off the snap, very strong (28 reps) & the type of player
that new HC Raheem Morris needs in his youth movement. (LB, CB, DT)
20) Detroit Lions - DE Everette Brown - Florida St
The Lions have virtually no quality pass rushers & Jim Schwartz knows he needs to find
building blocks on this side of the ball. In a division with Aaron Rodgers & Jay Cutler the
Lions need Brown to step in as a rush DE & give Jim Schwartz a building block for the
future. (CB, DT, LB)
21) Philadelphia Eagles - RB Knowshon Moreno - Georgia
While Brian Westbrook remains an elite RB he is starting to show his age & had arthroscopic surgery on one of his knees. The Eagles had 2 losses in 2008 due to the fact
they lacked a goal line back that could punch it in & Moreno is also very capable catching
balls out of the backfield. (CB, S, DE)
22) Minnesota Vikings - RT Eben Britt - Arizona
The Vikings OL isn’t in as good a shape as many believe thanks to the outstanding play of
Adrian Peterson. The right side of the OL wasn’t very stout in run blocking or pass blocking. Bryant McKinnie is billed as an elite LT but has some off field issues. Britt improves
the pass protection on the right & can also start on the left if needed. (WR, DT, S)
23) New England Patriots - CB Vontae Davis - Illinois
The Patriots have lots of ammunition to move up in the draft if they see a player they must
have. They also have the ability to upgrade an OL that is getting a little old & has been
dinged by injuries recently. Davis is very athletic & good in run support. While NE did
acquire Leigh Bodden & Shawn Springs in FA they are older & NE needs to get younger
here. (OG, DE, CB)
24) Atlanta Falcons - ILB James Laurinaitis - Ohio St
27) Indianapolis Colts - DT Ziggy Hood - Missouri
The Colts are shifting to a different style of Cover-2 under new HC Jim Caldwell & need a
space eating DT. Hood is a gym rat who will dramatically upgrade the Colts rush defense,
which allowed 123 ypg (4.2) while helping out DE’s Freeney & Mathis (LB, WR, DT)
28) Buffalo Bills - DE Robert Ayers - Tennessee
With this pick acquired from Philadelphia, the Bills address their pass rush, which was
non-existent when Aaron Schobel went out with a foot injury last year. Ayers only has
one year of starting experience but lots of upside to grow into & can play all along the
defensive front. (LB, OC, DT)
29) Cleveland Browns - CB Alphonso Smith - Wake Forest
This trade was locked in when Eli Manning publicly lobbied for Braylon Edwards a week
before the draft. The Browns could use a pass rusher here but the 3-4 pass rushing
OLB’s are gone & they have the picks to address their needs at FS/OC/RB later. They
simply take the best defender on their board & avoid any questionable projects at this
point. (FS, OC, RB)
30) Tennessee Titans - DE Michael Johnson - Georgia Tech
With the breakout of their offense in 2008 the Falcons under GM Tom Dimitroff are very
keen in upgrading their #24 defense. The Falcons have been very interested in Laurinaitis to upgrade their LB corps. While not the fastest LB in the draft he has good instincts,
is a sound tackler & simply makes plays. (DT, LB, S)
Even with the loss of Albert Haynesworth the Titans are in good shape as far as their
starting DL goes. However, the depth behind them is getting thin & DE Jevon Kearse may
not have much left in the tank. The Titans are very confident that DL coach Jim Washburn
can mold Michael Johnson who has tons of athletic ability into a successful pass rusher.
(WR, DE, KR/PR)
25) Miami Dolphins - WR Kenny Britt - Rutgers
31) Arizona Cardinals - RB Chris Wells - Ohio St
When the Dolphins faced the Ravens in the playoffs they only had 3 active WR’s & their
#1 WR Greg Camarillo is still recovering from an ACL tear. Britt is a big (6-3 218) possession WR that will learn how to play in the offense under Chad Pennington but is being
groomed for Chad Henne. (OG, WR, CB)
26) Baltimore Ravens - WR Hakeem Nicks - North Carolina
The Ravens are very interested upgrading their WR unit & they could very well acquire
Anquan Boldin before the draft. They would prefer a speed WR but settle on Nicks who
has very good hands, is an excellent route runner & will be able to grow with a young
Flacco. (CB, WR, OC)
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32) Pittsburgh Steelers - DE Jarron Gilbert - San Jose St
The consensus is that the Steelers will use their 1st pick to address an OL that let Roethlisberger get sacked 46 times last year. However, 5 of their top 6 DL will be 31 or older
this season. They have the luxury of being able to draft the athletic Gilbert, training him in
the system in 2009 & having him compete for a starting spot in 2010. They address their
OL in the 2nd round. (RG, DT, CB)
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STOP to ma
DON’T FORGET TO CHECK BACK !!!!
There will be one more mock draft
posted the night before the actual
draft on April 25th.
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Edgerrin James has lost a step & while an excellent pass blocker with leadership skills
he isn’t the answer here. Tim Hightower is limited & after a strong start he fell off during
the season. Wells gives the Cardinals a power rushing RB that get good yards when the
team is in a 3 WR set. The only thing he’ll need to work on is his skills in the passing
game. (DE, DT, KR/PR)