Draft thoughts

My 1st round draft thoughts.

Detroit: Matt Stafford, QB Georgia

The Lions go with the textbook pick. I would've taken Jason Smith, but Stafford is a fair choice.

St. Louis: Jason Smith, OT Baylor

Well, I started out the day 2 for 2. It didn't last. It's a good think at least 1 GM had his brain plugged in today.

Kansas City: Tyson Jackson, DE LSU

What the heck was Scott Pioli thinking? You took a 3-4 end last year. You pass up on the most talented player in the draft (Aaron Curry) for a probable bust.

Seattle: Aaron Curry, ILB Wake Forest

Inside line backer might only be a minor need, but Curry is WAY too much talent to pass up here.

New York Jets (via Cleveland): Mark Sanchez, QB USC

I really hadn't considerd the Jets trading up for Sanchez. I thought it would be Denver or Washington trading up to #8. The Jets really won out on this trade, only giving up a 1st rounder, a backup QB and 2 defensive lineman.

Cinncinatti: Andre Smith, OT Alabama

Unlike others, I thought that Smith was higher than Monroe on the Bengals' big board. Smith will have more immediate impact that Monroe, and with Marvin Lewis on thin ice, immediate impact is what the Bengals need.  

Oakland: Darius Heward-Bey, WR Maryland

As I'm watching the draft, I'm thinking: Man, wouldn't it be classic if Al Davis picked Heward-Bey over Crabtree? And that's exactly what he did. I guess Davis really only cares about 40 times.

Jacksonville: Eugene Monroe, OT Virginia

I totally disagree with this pick. With such a gaping hole at receiver, and Crabtree still on the board, they should've taken Crabtree here. Monroe will fit in well at right tackle, where the Jags have a gaping hole.

Green Bay: B.J. Raji, NT Boston College

Crabtree wasn't an option here because of the depth at receiver, and with the switch to 3-4, it was Jackson or Raji. Scott Pioli chose Raji for them in all reality.

San Fransisco: Michael Crabtree, WR Texas Tech

I'll be the first to criticize this pick. Mike Singletary will not like Crabtree's work ethic. He just isn't a "winner". Crabtree just isn't a good pick for the 9'ers

Buffalo: Aaron Maybin, DE Penn State

Thank god I'm not a Bills fan. Maybin or Everette Brown would be avalible at 28 (Brown actually was). This definately should've been Brian Orakpo.

Denver: Knowshon Moreno, RB Georgia

The draft of brainless GM's continues. COME ON! Beanie or Knowshon (probably both) will be there at 18 (Beanie was). They pass up on Oher, Orakpo. 

Washington: Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB Texas

Finally! Daniel Snyder is the first GM to realize Orakpo's value! This pick seriously only took 20 seconds, if I was Snyder it would take me 2 seconds.

New Orleans: Malcom Jenkins, CB/FS OSU

Unless Aaron Curry, Jason Smith or Mark Sanchez was avalible here, this was Jenkins as a lock. Perfect fit in the Saints' secondary.

Houston: Brian Cushing, OLB USC

Well, this was either Cushing or Clay Matthews. Of course, I chose Matthews which means it has to be Cushing.

San Diego: Larry English, DE/OLB Northern Illinois

If I were a Chargers fan, I'd want to kill their GM. You pick LARRY ENGLISH over REY MALALUGA and CLAY MATTHEWS???? This was a little bit ridicoulous.

Tampa Bay (from Cleveland, Jets): Josh Freeman, QB Kansas State

Smart move jumping over Denver here. Freeman is a very possible bust though. Expect Leftwitch to start most of the year.

Denver (from Chicago): Robert Ayers, DE Tennessee

2 horrible picks by the Broncos. Picking Ayers over Michael Oher? Seriously?

Philadelphia (from Cleveland, Tampa Bay): Jeremy Maclin, WR/KR Missouri

Cleveland trades down yet again. What was the point of trading up exactly? The Lidowns weren't going to take Maclin.

Detroit (from Dallas): Brandon Pettigrew, TE Oklahoma State

I seriosuly thought Matt Millen stepped into our room and made this pick for us. I was chanting Oher, Oher, Oher! I couldn't bear this. We needed a lineman.

Cleveland (from Philadelphia): Alex Mack, C California

Cleveland finally drafts somebody! Alex Mack is a bit of a reach here, but it was a rather smart choice for Eric Mangini standards. They needed a major interior O-line upgrade.

Minnesota: Percy Harvin, WR Florida

Brad Clueless strikes again. Harvin over Oher. Seriously? When you having a gaping hole at tackle?

Baltimore (from New England): Michael Oher, OT Mississippi

Oher is an absoulute STEAL here. What would've made more sense to me is Baltimore trading up with the Browns, because Mack would still be on the board at 26.  

Atlanta: Peria Jerry, DT Mississippi

Good pick here. The D-line could use a upgrade and Jerry is slightly better than Ziggy Hood.

Miami: Vontae Davis, CB Illinois

Very un-characteristic pick here. Bill Parcells seriously looks at character issues, so they must have thought Davis was very talented. 

Green Bay (from New England, Baltimore): Clay Matthews, OLB

The Packers linebackers aren't getting any younger, any one of the USC linebackers would be a good choice here.

Indianapolis: Donald Brown, RB Connecticut

My intial reaction was: Why not Beanie? He's a better back that Brown. I need to look into that. RB was inevitable here.

Buffalo (from Philadelphia): Eric Wood, C Louisville

2 centers in the 1st round?!?! 2 very bad picks by the Bills, the Maybin pick is made worse by the fact that Everette Brown is still on the board here.

New York Giants: Hakeem Nicks, WR UNC

With the current board, Nicks was inevitable. He fits in Plaxico's shoes perfectly.

Tennessee: Kenny Britt, WR Rutgers

Smart choice here. The have a gaping hole at receiver, and Britt is the best one on the board

Arizona: Chris 'Beanie' Wells, RB Ohio State

It was clear the Cards were jumping for joy that Beanie made it to 31. Perfect fit to make Edgerinn James a free agent.

Pittsburgh: Evander 'Ziggy' Hood DT Missouri

With Mack, Wood, and Jerry off the board, this pick was a lock for Hood. 

That's all for my thoughts, sorry about the spelling mistakes because I'm half asleep.

NFL Draft

The NBA Playoffs are kind of absorbing it up, but the NFL Draft starts Saturday April 25th. Here's my first round mock:

Last Updated 4-24-09 10:00 PM, Next update 4-25-09 2:00 PM.

DET: Matthew Stafford, QB Georgia

No-brainer here. The 0-16 team needs the franchise QB.

STL: Jason Smith, OT Baylor

Either Smith or Monroe, Smith is slightly more athletic.

KC: Aaron Curry, ILB Wake Forest

A perfect fit into the new Chiefs system, and less injury-prone than Orakpo.

SEA: Eugene Monroe, OT Virginia

Either Monroe or Crabtree. Crabtree has more bust potential (being a wideout). I'm just not buying Sanchez, they have Hassleback and aren't going to give up on him yet.

CLE: Michael Crabtree, WR Texas Tech

I think they'll let go of Braylon Edwards, and you can't have your only real wideout be having leagal problems (Donte Stallworth).

CIN: Andre Smith, OT Alabama

It's either this or Raji. I'll pick Smith because the Bungals just need to give Palmer some time in the pocket.

OAK: Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB Texas

Orakpo slides because he's injury-prone, Michael Johnson is too big of a reach and nobody wants to trade up. Al Davis isn't afraid to go against the grain, so he still might choose Johnson here.

DEN: Mark Sanchez, QB USC

The whole point of trading up with Jacksonville is to get Sanchez. Orton just isn't the answer in the new system.

GB: B.J. Raji, NT Boston College

A great deal at this point on the board, this could also be Maybin or Brown depending on what the Packers think about DE or NT being a greater need.

SF: Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB Penn State

Without Sanchez on the board, they go with Maybin, who upgrades a faltering pass rush. He's over Everette Brown because he has more upside.

BUF: Everette Brown, DE Florida State

This pick is Maybin/Brown, whoever the 9er's don't take at 10. The Bills couldn't get to the passer at all last year, this could also be Michael Oher.

JAC: Jeremy Maclin, WR Mizzouri

Jacksonville needs a speedy wide receiver, I think Maclin is more athletic than Heward-Bey.

WAS: Michael Oher, OT Mississippi

Oher is the last top-tier OT left on the board, so Washington upgrades there. Daniel Snyder is fed up with Jason Campbell, so don't rule out Josh Freeman here.

NO: Malcolm Jenkins, CB/FS Ohio State

As close to a lock as you can get, a perfect versatile fit in the struggling Saints secondary.  

HOU: Clay Matthews, OLB USC

Yet another pick change here. The Texans could use help on in their linebacking corps, so Matthews is a good choice.

SD: Rey Malaluga, ILB USC

If Malaluga's on the board here, he has to be the pick. The Chargers secondary could use a major upgrade, and the only worth-while first round USC linebacker goes here.

NYJ: Josh Freeman, QB Kansas State

Kellen Clemens just isn't the answer. Josh Freeman is a quarterback that's built for a great career, his size will let him last a while.

DEN: Tyson Jackson, DE LSU

Jackson is a canidate to go to the Broncos at 12, so he's a no-brainer here. He's a perfect fit in their new defense.

TB: Peria Jerry, DT Mississippi

If Josh Freeman's still on the board, then he's the pick. Otherwise, Peria Jerry could probably start next year in an aging defensive line.

DET: William Beatty, OT Connecticut

This is either Beatty or Britton, and I think it'll be Beatty, because his measurements are a tiny bit better. If they don't get a tackle to back up Stafford, I'll never be a Lions fan again. Then again, I said that when we drafted Charles Rogers, didn't I?

PHI: Chris "Beanie" Wells, RB Ohio State

There's always one shocker pick on draft day, and it could be Andy Reid taking Beanie over Knowshon.

MIN: Ebon Britton, OT Arizona

They need to go offensive tackle, and Britton is the last first-round tackle on the board.

NE: Connor Barwin, DE/OLB Cinnicnati

The perfect 3-4 ILB for the Pats.

ATL: Brian Cushing, OLB USC

After the Tony Gonzalez trade, the linebacking corps need to be addressed. With only 1 USC linebacker left on the board, this is an obvious pick. 

MIA: Robert Ayers, DE Tennessee

Bill Paecells always addresses defensive line early in the draft, and Ayers is a steal at this point.

BAL: Derius Heward-Bey, WR Maryland

This is either Heward-Bey or Maclin, whoever the Jaguars don't take at #12.  Baltimore's receivers aren't all that good and Joe Flacco could use some targets.

IND: Sean Smith, FS Utah

Sean Smith helps them at safety, with Bob Sanders' injury problems, and the Colts secondary is starting to get pretty old.

BUF: Brandon Pettigrew, TE Oklahoma State

In the wake of the Tony Gonzalez trade, the odds of Pettigrew falling to 28 have risen astronomically. Pettigrew would be a perfect fit in the Bills offense.

NYG: Kenny Britt, WR Rutgers

This could be Vontae Davis, but if they don't land Braylon Edwards they'll probabaly go receiver here.

TEN: Vontae Davis, CB Illinois

The Titans have proved they don't get overly concerned with character issues, so Vontae Davis is a steal at this point.

ARI: Knowshon Moreno, RB Georgia

Arizona needs a running back here, Edregin James is old and slow, Moreno is an absolute steal at the #31 pick. 

PIT: Alex Mack, C California

Pittsburgh's o-line needs some help, this pick is either Mack or Unger.

Trade:

Denver gives Jacksonville 3rd round pick, 12th pick

Jacksonville gives Denver 8th pick