NFL Mock Draft
Pratik and Izzy's Picks
The 10-minute clock has winded down, and NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue steps up to the podium. "With the first overall pick of the 2005 NFL draft, the San Francisco 49ers select…" Well, we can't give you their pick now, not yet, not for another couple weeks, but we can make a guess by writing up a mock draft. Here are Izzy and Pratik's mock drafts for the first round of this year's NFL rookie draft. Click on the names to learn the reasoning behind the picks.
1.San Francisco 49ers
Alex Smith, QB, Utah
Coach Mike Nolan seems to want to go the path of upside and brains over the athletic ability and immediate impact. Of course, Alex Smith will most likely be an immediate starter, and his hailing as a very, very intelligent man should help him conquer the playbook, but it definitely comes as a surprise to many who believed Aaron Rodgers to be a better pro quarterback… if the Niners were to go with a quarterback anyways. At any rate, this pick looks like it has been locked up, as the Niners have already begun contract negotiations with Smith. Unless something comes up, look for this to become official leading up to the draft.
2.Miami Dolphins
Ronnie Brown, RB, Auburn
The Dolphins have multiple holes to fill as well, as the entire middle section of their offense is horrendous and their defense is aging. That being said, at this number two overall pick, the Dolphins draft Ronnie Brown. This RB spiked his value by running in the low 40's in the 40-yard dash. Considered by many as a faster, more powerful Corey Dillon, Nick Saban will draft Brown to try to fill the shoes left by Ricky Williams (minus the smoking and the quitting) in order to hide the offensive line's deficiencies. Quarterback is a tempting position for them to fill, but given the bad offensive line and the lack of a running game, they will most likely opt with the safer runningback pick.
3.Cleveland Browns
Aaron Rodgers, QB, California
Despite the defensive tendencies of Romeo Crennel and the proven ability of low-round quarterbacks to succeed, the Browns will play it safe with Aaron Rodgers of California. This QB has answered questions of his throwing motion with a solid if not spectacular pro-day, and scouts appear to like his readiness for the Pros because of the offense he ran in California. None of the defensive players are really worth drafting at third overall, so barring a trade, the Browns will take a chance again on a quarterback in the hopes of starting their new era on the right foot.
4.Chicago Bears
Braylon Edwards, WR, Michigan
Muhsin Muhammad was a start, and the Bears are said to still be enamoured with the upside of third-year WR Justin Gage, but the Bears desperately need to upgrade their offense, so using a pick on Braylon Edwards, who automatically gives them one of them best receiving tandems in the NFC, will be the better pick than drafting Cedric Benson to play second fiddle to a solid Thomas Jones. Of course, knowing the Bears, they could very well end up drafting a defensive player, but with their team's needs so glaring, it would be a shocker if they end up without a WR or a RB.
5.Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Carnell "Cadillac" Williams, RB, Auburn
Carnell "Cadillac" Williams will be the Bucs' choice at number five overall, as their running corps is filled by an aging Charlie Garner and Michael Pittman. Gruden loves versatile runners, and with the passing game slowly solidifying behind Brian Griese and Michael Clayton, it just makes sense to draft the most all-purpose RB. Cadillac solidified his draft status by bulking up and still running a solid 40 time, answering some doubts about whether he could handle the wear and tear of being a full-time NFL draft. Drafting Derrick Johnson also makes sense, but the Bucs have been transforming into an offensive team amidst questionable defensive moves.
6.Tennessee Titans
Antrel Rolle, CB, Miami (Fl.)
Of the free agents the Titans had to release this year, the loss of Samari Rolle stings the most. Losing a Pro Bowl CB is painful for any team, but having to cut one? Along with the impending loss of Andre Dyson (they cannot resign him), that leaves the Titans with… no cornerbacks. The jury is still up for whether Pac-Man Jones or Antrel Rolle is better, but look for the Titans to draft Antrel Rolle, as he most fits the type of player Samari was. Big, tough and physical, Rolle will step in and contribute from the start. If the Titans could work with Samari, there is little doubt they can harness Antrel's physical play and turn it into success as well.
7.Minnesota Vikings
Mike Williams, WR, USC
When asked by Coach Mike Tice about replacing Randy Moss' shoes, Williams responded with a confident, "I'll bring my own shoes." He'll be given a chance to here. The big knock on Williams has and will always be his 4.56 speed, which is supposed to turn him into a decent every-down player. He will still be close to unstoppable in the end zone and on short patterns, however, so combining him with speedy Nate Burleson and Marcus Robinson should give the Vikings a talented receiving corps again.
8.Arizona Cardinals
Adam "Pac Man" Jones, CB, West Virginia
Despite the obvious need for a quarterback, Dennis Green looks to shore up his defense by drafting Adam "Pac Man" Jones to beef up the worst position on any team in the league. Despite the defense's improvements last season, there is no greater weakness in the NFL.
9.Washington Redskins
Demarcus Ware, DE, Troy
The big knock on Demarcus Ware is that he's raw at the DE position. That being said, the Skins boast one of the best defensive staffs in the league, so coaching Ware up should be a far less daunting task. What makes teams drool, however, is Wares' athletic abilities which rank him very close to becoming a Dwight Freeney type of player. No, he doesn't run a 4.3 in the 40, but a 4.5 time is dazzling in its own right for an end. His draft stock has risen a lot ever since his impressive showing at the combine and is showing no signs of going back down.
10.Detroit Lions
Alex Barron, OT, Florida State
Despite the obvious defensive shortcomings, the Lions would rather not over-pick on a defensive player when they could draft an offensive starter and fill up a hole. That means they'll draft Alex Barron out of Florida State to have an impact as an OT. Replacing Stockar McDougle is important to make sure Kevin Jones continues his stellar production and to prevent the quarterbacks from being smashed… especially if Jeff Garcia emerges as a starter this season.
11.Dallas Cowboys
Shawne Merriman, DE/OLB, Maryland
Bill Parcells must be ecastatic about this one. The Cowboys are shifting to a 3-4 scheme this season, given them a need at the DE or OLB position. In comes Shawne Merriman, being touted as a perfect 3-4 linebacker. Assuming Merriman is still available for the Cowboys here, it will be an extreme shocker to see him being passed up, particularly with the Cowboys' apparent inability to rush the passer at all last season.
12.San Diego Chargers
Derrick Johnson, OLB, Texas
The Chargers happily thank the Giants for this pick and snatch up Derrick Johnson to further boost their 3-4 scheme. It's a mystery as to how such a big, fast linebacker could fall this far, but the Chargers waste no time in picking up a player sometimes compared to Derrick Brooks. There're never enough linebackers in a 3-4 scheme.
13.Houston Texans
Thomas Davis, SS, Georgia
The biggest need for the Texans is the LB position, but at this point, every single LB would be a huge reach. They're tempted to pick up Benson here, but they'll continue to roll the dice on Domanick Davis. The defense fell off last season, and with the salary cap cuts by the staff, drafting defensive help is a priority. The strength of this defense is quickly becoming the defensive line and the secondary, so they'll beef up their secondary with Thomas Davis, who may be a bit slow but definitely lays on punishment. If all else fails, the Texans could convert him to LB, where he's been touted by many teams anyways.
14.Carolina Panthers
Cedric Benson, RB, Texas
Considering the Panthers have little reason to trust the durability of their runners, the drafting of Cedric Benson should not be that much of a surprise. Running is such an important facet to this team that, even without the injuries, RBs are a commodity, but especially with Stephen Davis almost always nicked up and DeShaun Foster acting like Steve McNair, the Panthers will be more than happy to roll the dice on a runner whose draft stock has fallen largely because of questions about his wear and tear.
15.Kansas City Chiefs
Carlos Rogers, CB, Auburn
Despite the obvious temptation to draft Troy Williamson here (coupled by the imminent addition of Patrick Surtain), the Chiefs will stick to their goal and draft Carlos Rogers who, at the very least, fill up the starting job across from Surtain. The Chiefs' inability to win games last season is no secret, after all.
16.New Orleans Saints
Travis Johnson, DT, Florida State
This team has been looking for a DT for so many years, and with Jonathan Sullivan not being able to stay away from food, the Saints pick up Travis Johnson and hope that, for once and for all, they have a solid DT who can help their pass rushing defensive ends. There will also be a temptation to pick up Troy Williamson, who can actually catch the ball, to either push or knock down butter-finger Donte Stallworth.
17.Cincinnati Bengals
Shaun Cody, DT, USC
Marvin Lewis now needs to fill up his interior defensive with playmakers, so he will start with Shaun Cody- an elite defensive tackle. Cody has been one of the most consistent playmakers at the position, but he is considered slightly more limited in terms of upside, which would explain his draft stock falling in the middle of the first round. That being said, he's too good to pass up for a team with such an obvious need.
18.Minnesota Vikings
Troy Williamson, WR, South Carolina
They set out with a mission: to help offset the loss of Randy Moss. And they leave having fulfilled it, drafting Troy Williamson with one of the steals of the draft. Williamson saw his draft stock rising with his 4.38 time at the combine, and although he is not as amply rewarded with that performance as he would have liked (he was slated to go in the middle of the first round to begin with), going to a team with Daunte Culpepper at the helm should be good enough consolation.
19.St. Louis Rams
Jammal Brown, OT, Oklahoma
What with Kyle Turley's career in jeopardy, the Rams look at Jammal Brown, having fixed up their defense quite a bit by signing a new linebacking corps. While defensive end is a position with quite a few question marks on this team (Grant Wistrom was a harder hit than they imagined), they do not want Marc Bulger to get beat up every few snaps because of deficiencies at the tackle position opposite Orlando Pace.
20.Dallas Cowboys
Erasmus James, DE, Wisconsin
Now to look at another problem area for this team: defensive ends. The Cowboys have two enticing possibilities here in David Pollack and Erasmus James. Erasmus James turns out to be the decision here because he is considered the best pure pass-rusher in the draft, which the Cowboys desperately need. James was originally considered a top 15 pick, so this is quite a slide for him, particularly because of his slow combine time, but as evidenced by Terrell Suggs, the 40 yard dash is not as important to DEs as some would think.
21.Jacksonville Jaguars
Justin Miller, CB, Clemson
The Jags are tempted by David Pollack, as they did not expect him to be here, but they also did not expect Justin Miller to fall this far, particularly with the spotlight on cornerbacks in the league. Jack Del Rio likes to focus on the defensive side of things, and as he feels the defensive line is sufficient at this point (he would like a defensive end, though), the Jags will turn their eye towards their secondary, where Rashean Mathis needs help.
22.Baltimore Ravens
Khalif Barnes, OT, Washington
The Ravens are seeing their offensive tackles age, which gives them a necessity to ensure there is a backup plan in case one of them retires or gets injured. That means drafting Khalif Barnes out of Washington despite the need for a wide receiver. The Ravens can be patient with their young core of wide receivers, who have neither shown flashes nor disappointed (particularly Devard Darling and Clarence Moore). This is the time for a safe pick with Barnes, who has raised his draft stock with great showings at the combine and the Senior Bowl.
23.Seattle Seahawks
David Pollack, DE, Georgia
The Seahawks have two problems: DE and OLB. There're also happens to be a good player on the board for both positions, but the Seahawks will go on the edge and try to solidify their defensive line. Providing help for Grant Wistrom will be David Pollack, who will replace the position held by Chike Okeafor, who left in free agency. Another thing pushing them towards Pollack is the fact that he would be a steal this far down in the draft.
24.Green Bay Packers
Brodney Pool, S, Oklahoma
The Packers need to replace Darren Sharper, and while the looming retirement of Brett Favre remains an issue, they believe they can draft a quarterback in the second round if need be (of interesting note is Adrian McPherson in the second round). That means the Packers will draft Brodney Pool, who is considered the best all-around safeties in this draft. He won't be a Darren Sharper, but he will be a pretty good replacement.
25.Washington Redskins
Jason Campbell, QB, Auburn
I can't stop myself any longer.
WHAT ARE THE REDSKINS DOING!?
They're going to draft Campbell over Frye, who is most likely a better quarterback anyways. That gives them a truly honorable distinction: the highest paid quarterback tandem in the history of the NFL, from top the bottom. Heck, they have the highest paid third string quarterback, too, and they can't even cut him. Genius. Congratulations, Redskins hopefuls.
26.Oakland Raiders
Fabian Washington, CB, Nebraska
Having traded Phillip Buchanon to the Texans, the Raiders enter the draft with a clear-cut need: a cornerback, especially with the potential removal of Charles Woodson. Unfortunately, Fabian Washington is the highest rated cornerback available here, but they'll jump at the opportunity, regardless of the fact that they failed horribly with Phillip Buchanon in the first place.
27.Atlanta Falcons
Mark Clayton, WR, Oklahoma
Atlanta would like to help out its superstar with more weapons in the passing game, particularly with the disappointment Peerless Price has been, so they will pick up Mark Clayton. Although they drafted a wide receiver early last year as well, there definitely needs to be something done about the passing game.
28.San Diego Chargers
Marcus Spears, DE, L.S.U.
Continuing to add depth are the Chargers, who look to either add depth or upgrade the DE position. Marcus Spears is 307 pounds- he definitely has the bulk to play as an end in a 3-4 scheme. He is considered extraordinary in terms of pass-rush skills, although his 40 time has dropped his draft stock a bit (deadly in a draft so heavy with DE), but the Chargers will be more than happy to pick him up and add him to their roster.
29.Indianapolis Colts
Marlin Jackson, CB, Michigan
The Colts need help in the secondary, so they'll reach down and pick Marlin Jackson, who has size but not great speed. Even if he's not the best of options, the Colts cannot simply sit around idly, so they'll draft Jackson, even if the pick is quite a bit high, to try to help this horrible part of the team.
30.Pittsburgh Steelers
Matt Jones, QB/WR, Arkansas
What is with Bill Cowher and mixture players? Drafting Matt Jones in the first move is something people would generally not expect, but Cowher has two reasons why he would: first, he absolutely loves players who could pull off trick plays (read: Hines Ward and Antwaan Randle El both were quarterbacks). Also, the Steelers need to replace Plaxico Buress with a huge wide receiver. Jones, who is 6'6 and played quarterback in college, is an intriguing project to play wide receiver, particularly with his amazing speed (4.39).
31.Philadelphia Eagles
Roddy White, WR, U.A.B.
6[1" and able to fly at 4.45, Roddy White has seen his draft stock rise with a solid combine. With the Eagles having problems with Terrell Owens and needing a second receiver anyways (Todd "Curl Up" Pinkston is not going to cut it), White will see his name picked by this Super Bowl contender.
32.New England Patriots
Channing Crowder, ILB, Florida
Although Channing Crowder has been marred with durability and character concerns in his career, the Patriots need to do something about the linebacker spot with Tedy Bruschii possibly done. Then again, don't be surprised if the Pats draft someone out of the blue again, knowing something no one else does.
1.San Francisco 49ers
Alex Smith, QB, Utah
What with San Francisco already well underway in contract negotiations with Alex Smith, it seems to be a foregone conclusion that he will be the face of the 49ers organization for the next decade or so.
2.Miami Dolphins
Ronnie Brown, RB, Auburn
Let's see the numbers for Mr. Brown: a 4.4 40, 6'0" tall, 220 pounds and ridiculously good hands for a running back. Unless they can convince a certain someone who has retreated to concentrate on "spiritual matters" to come back and play, the Dolphins are going to need all the help they can get.
3.Cleveland Browns
Aaron Rogers, QB, California
While I don't believe that Rogers will start this year for the Browns, especially since they've brought in Trent Dilfer, they are going to need a better leader down the road and there's no harm in making Rogers sit and learn for a year before handing him the reins.
4.Chicago Bears
Braylon Edwards, WR, Michigan
All of a sudden, the Bears could have a very potent receiving corps with Braylon Edwards on one side and Mushin Muhammed on the other. Edwards is probably the best player in this weak draft and the Bears would be happy to get him here.
5.Tampa Bay Bunccaneers
Carnell Williams, RB, Auburn
Gruden coached Carnell Williams in the Senior Bowl and reportedly tried to sell him on going to the Bucs there. With the fourth pick of the draft and no proven rusher in Tampa Bay, the two of them will be reunited and hopefully, for Bucaneers fans, going to stay together for a while.
6.Tennessee Titans
Antrel Rolle, CB, Miami
Anrel Rolle is the best cornerback available in the draft according to many league experts and he will help to assuage the loss of Samari Rolle (no relation) and to help their injury plagued defense.
7.Minnesota Vikings (through Oakland)
Mike Williams, WR, USC
This is simple. Nate Burleson isn't Randy Moss. Then again, neither is Mike Williams. But you could do a whole lot worse than him at wideout.
8.Arizona Cardinals
Adam Jones, CB, West Virginia
Arizona needs a CB and Pac-Man will gobble up the opportunity to start right away for the Cardinals.
9.Washington Redskins
Demarcus Ware, DE, Troy
After the horrible trade they made, all I can say is, "The Redskins are idiots."
10. Detroit Lions
Derrick Johnson, OLB, Texas
Defense is seriously lacking in Motown and Derrick Johnson would be a huge step in the right direction.
11. Dallas Cowboys
Thomas Davis, S, Georgia
There are very few playmakers on the Dallas defense right now and help is needed, especially in the secondary. With the loss of Dexter Coakley and Davis weighing in at a stout 230 and running a pretty slow 4.65 40, it wouldn't surprise me if he got converted into a linebacker at the next level.
Davis is a hard-hitting tackler who is a workout warrior. Sometimes, he overpursues and he is slow to diagnose plays, but he'll help give the Dallas D some intimidation.
12. San Diego Chargers
Shawne Merriman, DE/LB, Maryland
San Diego has an explosive offense already, but the one area they could improve on is defense. Also, Shawne Merriman is pretty much a perfect fit for San Diego's 3-4 defense.
Merriman is one of a new breed of defensive end/outside linebackers who have gained prominence because of a new emphasis on the 3-4 defense. With decent speed and amazing athleticism, Merriman was an all-American in his last year at Maryland. He does have injury issues, however, and is not yet adept at pass coverage.
13. Houston Texans
Brodney Pool, S, Oklahoma
Houston is now a team with some respect after going 7-9 last year, beating Jacksonville twice along the way. The Texans are a young team loaded down with a lot of offensive superstars and they could really use a boost in their secondary, especially since they are playing in the same division as the Colts, who torched them for 42 points last year.
14. Carolina Panthers
Cedric Benson, RB, Texas
A big-time back will be the cure for whatever ails the Panthers offense.
15. Kansas City Chiefs
Justin Miller, CB, Clemson
Kansas City doesn't need any more offensive firepower; they need help on defense, especially after missing out on Samari Rolle in free agency (As a complete side note, what the heck is anyone going to do against the Ravens defense? There could be as many as nine Pro-Bowlers on defense for Baltimore!). They'll probably go with Justin Miller out of Clemson and pray that their defense can stop someone or something…
Basically, Justin Miller is a great cornerback. He can leap with the best of them and he is aggressive going after the ball. However, he lacks proper tackling technique and is more of a collision rather than wrap-up tackler.
16. New Orleans Saints
Travis Johnson, DT, Florida State
The Saints are the most inconsistent team in the league. If all of their players played up to their potential, New Orleans would be a perennial Superbowl contender. However, you've got Aaron Brooks – Michael Vick's cousin nonetheless – and Donte Stallworth, two offensive juggernauts that can't seem to click at the same time. Furthermore, the New Orleans defense is loaded everywhere. Everywhere that is except for the defensive line. From 1994 to 2004, the Saints have drafted 13 defensive linemen. Wow. That's enough linemen for three teams! But I guess they have to keep trying until they get it right.
Travis Johnson was touted as one of the best defensive linemen in the country and underwhelmed during the 2000-2003 seasons. Finally in 2004 he appeared to have rededicated himself to football and played up to his potential. He does have character problems, however, as he was charged with (but later acquitted of) sexual assault of a female student.
17. Cincinnati Bengals
Erasmus James, DE, Wisconsin
With a rapport established between Chad Johnson and Carson Palmer, the Bengals have a duo that may in time rival Manning and Harrison. Couple that with bruising runner Rudi Johnson and a pretty good offensive line and the Bengals are set on offense. The problem is they need to get more pressure on the quarterback.
James is a 6'4" athlete with long arms to keep away and pass by offensive linemen. He is not as strong as most teams would like him to be, however, but that can be fixed with a dedicated weightlifting effort.
18. Minnesota Vikings
Troy Williamson, WR, South Carolina
By adding a great possession receiver in Mike Williams and by adding a flat-out speedster in Troy Williamson, the Vikings may be able to cope with the loss of Randy Moss.
19. St. Louis Rams
Shaun Cody, DT/DE, USC
Ah, the beleaguered Rams. "The Greatest Show on Turf" needs some defense to go along with their electrifying offense. After picking up Chris Claiborne and Dexter Coakley in free agency, the Rams have a very respectable linebacking corps. A good pass rusher or two will give the Rams a defense that doesn't need the offense to score 30 a game to win.
Cody is a versatile athlete with the ability to play any of the positions on the defensive line as well as possessing good quickness and burst off the line. Cody struggles maintaining his balance at times and can be taken out of the play by a good drive blocking center or guard.
20. Dallas Cowboys
Mark Clayton, WR, Oklahoma
The Cowboys need a big time wide receiver opposite Keyshawn Johnson to get their anemic passing offense to really produce. Expect them to draft Mark Clayton out of Oklahoma.
Clayton is very dangerous after the catch and can simply burn people with his 4.41 speed. The only knock on him is the fact that he is only 5'10" 193 and may not be able to take the physical nature of the NFL.
21. Jacksonville Jaguars
Jammal Brown, OT, Oklahoma
Protecting Byron Leftwich is priority number one for the Jaguars and they will continue to invest in the young quarterback's future by drafting Jammal Brown out of Oklahoma.
22. Baltimore Ravens
Jerome Mathis, WR, Hampton
Well, I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that the Ravens aren't going to draft someone on defense. To give Boller a nice, speedy target to throw to, expect Baltimore to draft Jerome Mathis.
4.28 in the 40. Need I say more?
23. Seattle Seahawks
Carlos Rogers, CB, Auburn
Seahawks and great D are not exactly synonymous. Although Seattle did shut down the Rams last year, no one can have too many fast, talented corners.
24. Green Bay Packers
Josh Bullocks, S, Nebraska
Green Bay needs a safety now that Darren Sharper is gone to greener pastures in Minnesota and Bullocks would fit the bill perfectly. On a side note, expect the Packers to draft a QB in the second or third round.
25. Washington Redskins
Jason Campbell, QB, Auburn
The Redskins are idiots…
26. Oakland Raiders
Fabian Washington, CB, Nebraska
Drafting this speedster out of Cornhusker territory would definitely more than make up for the loss of Phillip Buchannan.
27. Atlanta Falcons
Jamaal Brimmer, S, UNLV
Atlanta, like Kansas City, is set offensively. All they need is some defense and Brimmer will help shore up their underwhelming secondary.
28. San Diego Chargers
Ernest Shazor, S, Michigan
If anything, the Chargers have too much offense with both Phillip Rivers and Drew Brees along with LT and Antonio Gates, and they could stand to improve on D.
29. Indianapolis Colts
Antajj Hawthorne, DT, Wisconsin
Indy needs to get a better defense if they ever hope to beat New England and drafting a run stopping lineman would be a step in the right direction.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers
Matt Jones, QB/WR, Arkansas
The Steelers will add to their repertoire of slashes with this exciting prospect out of Arkansas.
31. Philadelphia Eagles
Roddy White, WR, UAB
Freddie Mitchell and Todd Pinkston have been busts and Philly needs someone on the other side of T.O. to produce.
32. New England Patriots
Channing Crowder, ILB, Florida
What do you get the team that has everything? Well, their linebacking corps is getting pretty old (Bruschi having to go to the hospital) and especially with a 3-4 defense, an athletic crop of linebackers is essential.
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