Mock NFL Draft (April)

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Is Mario Williams a Houston smokescreen, or might the Texans actually pass on Reggie Bush? Does Tennessee prefer Vince Young or Matt Leinart? Do the Jets truly have no interest in drafting an elite quarterback? When will the first running back who doesn’t share a name with the president be chosen? And which teams will swing last-minute deals in order to grab the player they covet? Questions abound as we head toward this year’s draft; here is an attempt to find the answers.

1. Houston Texans – Reggie Bush, RB, USC Trojans

Losing to the 49ers could be one of the worst things to happen to the Texans thus far. Everyone and their grandmother knows that Houston needs offensive line help and that D’Brickashaw Ferguson is the perfect fit for them. However, due to fan and media pressure it has become apparent that the team will draft an elite prospect at a position they already have filled. Bush is a great talent, but devoting so much money (between Bush and Domanick Davis) to one position is just bad business. Bush is blazing fast, has good size, is one of the best receiving backs I have ever seen, and has moves on top of moves. Mark my words though, every team knows where Reggie Bush is on every play of the game. If he is on the sidelines getting a drink, the opposing team has a linebacker attempting to spy on him. He is a jack-of-all-trades and will be an instant asset to the Texans. Vince Young is also a popular pick but he is not #1 overall quality, and just like Bush he does not make (dollars and) sense. While I don’t like the Bush selection, it is hard to fault someone for going with the best player available.

2. New Orleans Saints – Mario Williams, DE, North Carolina St. Wolfpack

Up until the beginning of free agency this looked like it would be the easiest pick to project in the entire draft. But with the signing of Drew Brees, Matt Leinart is no longer the obvious pick, and while he isn’t completely out of the question, he is not likely to be the selection here. The Saints have great talent at DE (Charles Grant and Will Smith) but are apparently very interested in Mario Williams. Super Mario is a very athletic, exceptionally fast (runs a 4.6 40), very skilled defensive end. He is such a talent that I can’t disagree with the Saints for drafting him here, and it is even possible that he goes #1. Linebacker is also a major problem area, so AJ Hawk would be an option here if he were available. Finally, with the release of Wayne Gandy, adding D’Brickashaw Ferguson would make a lot of sense because it would give the Saints amazing young bookend tackles, but it looks like this pick will probably be Williams, with Hawk as an outside possibility.

3. Tennessee Titans – Matt Leinart, QB, USC Trojans

There are so many holes on the Titans that it would be hard for them to go wrong with this pick. The defence was unimpressive all year, and the offensive line has more holes than a golf course. This pick will invariably be a quarterback, and no one is sure whether it will be Vince Young or Matt Leinart. A lot of talk has come out of the Titans camp about possibly selecting Young, but I think Leinart is too good a talent for the team to make a risky pick like VY. Southern California’s golden boy will step in right away and provide stability at the QB position, something the Titans have not had since Steve McNair’s MVP year. Leinart has great accuracy, plays excellently in big games, and has all the intangibles you could ask for. People can knock his arm strength and say that he has always looked good because of the exceptional talent that has surrounded him, but no matter what you say about him, everyone knows that Matt Leinart wins games and that is exactly what Tennessee needs to start doing. D’Brickashaw Ferguson is also an option as he would be a massive upgrade on the line for the Titans.

4. New York Jets – D’Brickashaw Ferguson, OT, Virginia Cavaliers

The Jets looked like they had a promising season in front of them last year, but it was derailed with injuries to Chad Pennington, Curtis Martin, and a number of other difference-makers. QB is obviously a need with Chad Pennington playing like a man made of glass, but I think Ferguson provides too much value here to pass up. Jay Cutler has also been the recipient of a lot of hype recently in the media and could easily be the pick, but I don’t feel he is of top five calibre. Ferguson is a more than adequate consolation prize. Adrian Jones has done an admirable job at left tackle for the Jets, and while he struggled on the right side, I think that was more a matter of inexperience than a specific response to playing on the right. Ferguson is an elite-level tackle; he is extremely athletic, has very quick feet, and is highlyy intelligent. The knock on him is that he could stand to put on more weight, but he has already added nearly 40 pounds since coming to Virginia, so it shouldn’t be a problem.

5. Green Bay Packers – AJ Hawk, OLB, Ohio St. Buckeyes

The Packers performed well below the reduced expectations that were held for them this season. Injuries can be blamed for a lot of their struggles, but there are still numerous positions that need upgrading on both offence and defence. Out of all the prospects remaining on the board, AJ Hawk is the best fit for them. It pains me to see a Buckeye head to Wisconsin, but once he dons the green and gold I forget all about his exploits killing the maize and blue. Hawk is the consummate playmaker. He is all over the field on every play and seemingly makes every tackle. He is very fast (running a 4.59 40 at OSU’s pro day) and is strong both in coverage and against the run. He can overpursue but that is about as far as his weaknesses go. He and Nick Barnett will form a dominant duo of linebackers and he will instantly be one of the top defensive players on the team. Mario Williams is even better than Hawk and could easily be snapped up by the Packers, but he is not likely to be around at this point. Also, safety is a perpetual issue in Green Bay (since the loss of Darren Sharper and Leroy Butler) and Michael Huff would be a nice fit. Finally, Ahman Green is getting long in the tooth and if the Packers choose to replace him through the draft, they could do a lot worse than DeAngelo Williams if they decided to trade down.

6. San Francisco 49ers – Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland Terrapins

The 49ers have so little talent on either side of the ball that they could realistically select any position (except QB) and it would fill a need. That said, their defence in particular is a major issue. The secondary needs upgrading and a safety prospect like Michael Huff would be a nice fit, or someone like Antonio Cromartie or Jimmy Williams if they were to trade down. As of now LB is not a massive hole, but since they lost Julian Peterson it will need to be addressed. However, this pick will ignore their defensive deficiencies and add the best available playmaker in the draft. Vernon Davis is an absolute animal and has the skills to play WR. He is a phenomenal athlete that runs under a 4.4 and is as strong a TE as you will find. He is built like a Greek god (the last guy I labelled as such was Sean Taylor) and has the production on the field to go along with all of his physical gifts. He led the ACC in receiving yards this year and he looks to have elite TE potential. The main knock on him is his height (6’2’’) but he is not small by any stretch of the imagination. Eric Johnson currently mans the TE spot and while he is solid, he is not in the same league as Vernon Davis. The 49ers have so many holes that this pick could easily be traded to add more talent to their terrible defense.

7. Oakland Raiders – Vince Young, QB, Texas Longhorns

Vince Young to the Raiders looks like a match made in heaven. The flashy National Champion is the type of player Al Davis loves, but he is probably going to need the better part of two seasons to develop. The recent addition of Aaron Brooks to Oakland’s roster affords Young the chance to do that. Brooks will play at least one more season as the starter, and he will be a more than adequate stopgap while Young adjusts to the NFL game. Vince has ideal size for an NFL QB and is as athletic as any passer that you will find. Also, he has made strides in his passing game over the last year, and while he still has a strange delivery on his passes, he looks a lot more like an NFL QB than most would have ever suspected. Young is a boom or bust prospect who could either change the way defensive coordinators look at quarterbacks or could be the biggest bust this side of Ryan Leaf. The Raiders have a lot of other weaknesses, especially on defense, and adding a Michael Huff or Haloti Ngata would certainly be a smart move here. They are also said to covet Vernon Davis, so if he slipped to this spot, he would be a definite possibility.

8. Buffalo Bills – Michael Huff, S/CB, Texas Longhorns

The Bills regressed in 2005 and have a lot of holes on both the offensive and defensive lines. Haloti Ngata, Winston Justice, and Brodrick Bunkley would all be nice additions at this point, but I believe that Buffalo will go another direction with this pick. Michael Huff looks to be a nice fit and he would be a great addition to the Bills secondary. Huff had a great season, winning the Thorpe Award, and has all the physical tools you could ask for. His versatility also makes him very attractive. Buffalo’s secondary needs an infusion of youth and talent, and with the depth at both offensive and defensive line later in the draft he looks like a solid pick here.

9. Detroit Lions – Winston Justice, OT, USC Trojans

Where to begin? Every year the Lions look like they are primed to bust out, but year after year they continue to disappoint. For a few years now the offensive line has been a revolving door and the Lions have yet to fix the problem. Drafting Winston Justice would be a great addition to their line. He played RT in college (protecting Leinart’s blind side) but he has the ability to play on the left side if necessary. He has all the talent in the world and would help the development of whoever is playing QB for the Lions and also give Kevin Jones a lot more to work with than he has had so far. If he is available, I am sure that the Lions would take a long hard look at Michael Huff as they have no real depth behind Dre Bly at corner and their safeties are very pedestrian. I will save you from the lame joke I have read in every single mock draft about the Lions taking a wide receiver.

10. Arizona Cardinals – Jay Cutler, QB, Vanderbilt Commodores

All signs point towards the Cardinals sticking with Kurt Warner for next year, but it is obvious that he is not the long-term answer. Cutler’s meteoric rise up draft boards is reminiscent of Alex Smith or Philip Rivers. Cutler has all the physical tools and is a gunslinger in the mold of Brett Favre. Despite being surrounded by subpar talent he had a good season and his size, skills, and intangibles make him very attractive. I personally do not believe he is worth a top ten pick and see him as more of a 13-18 pick, but a lot of people have fallen in love with him and some even regard him as the top overall QB. Offensive line is a need, but there is a dropoff after Ferguson and Justice and Arizona would probably wait until the second round or trade down if they were targeting one.

11. St. Louis Rams – Haloti Ngata, NT, Oregon Ducks

The off-season hit the Rams hard, especially on the defensive line. Former first round defensive tackles Damione Lewis and Ryan Pickett both departed for other teams. While Lewis was widely considered a bust, Pickett has developed into a solid DT and needs to be replaced. The Rams made a splash by nabbing La’roi Glover, and adding Ngata seems to be a perfect fit. Glover is a one-gap DT that is extremely effective as an interior pass rusher, whereas Ngata is a massive two-gap player who excels in stopping the run. He is 6′5″ and weighs upwards of 340 pounds. He is virtually impossible to run on and demands double-teams on every play of the game. He also has good moves and good speed for someone of his size, which helps him to make plays outside of the box. His only real downside is that he is a two-down DT and will need to be taken off the field in obvious passing situations. If Vernon Davis or Michael Huff were to slip to this slot they would invariably be the Rams’ choice, and Brodrick Bunkley and Jimmy Williams are also attractive options if St. Louis chooses not to go with Ngata.

12. Cleveland Browns – Kamerion Wimbley, DE/OLB, Florida St. Seminoles

Browns fans will all groan if Ngata does in fact go off the board one pick before their team’s as he would be the ideal fit for head coach Romeo Crennel’s 3-4 defense. Personally, while he is talented, I do not think Kamerion Wimbley is worth a top 15 pick (he is more in the 20-25 range in my opinion). The Browns are supposedly enamoured with him and the word is that he will be the pick if Ngata is off the board. Wimbley is a great athlete with excellent speed and spades of potential in addition to solid intangibles, and while he does lack size, he would be an ideal candidate for the OLB position in the 3-4 defense.

13. Baltimore Ravens – Brodrick Bunkley, DT, Florida St. Seminoles

As per usual for a Ravens pick in a mock draft, I will toss out the disclaimer “If a top QB is on the board, he will be Baltimore’s pick here.” The team could potentially go a lot of directions with this pick as they could use some new blood in the offensive line or in their secondary. Holding true to Ravens practices, however, I see them selecting the best player available at a position where they could use an upgrade. Bunkley had a great senior year in Tallahassee, which has really raised his stock. He has great athleticism, quickness, and power that make him able to consistently play deep in his opponent’s backfield. He is a truck and could be even better than Travis Johnson who was the Texans first-round pick last year. Winston Justice and Jimmy Williams are also possibilities here, but I think Bunkley will be pulling on a Ravens jersey on draft day.

14. Philadelphia Eagles – Chad Greenway, OLB, Iowa Hawkeyes

Few would have guessed the Eagles would be picking this high, but after the TO debacle and a season-ending injury to Donovan McNabb, a poor record might be a blessing in disguise. Greenway has good coverage skills, speed, and great tackling instincts. Despite his poor workouts, he is much better on the field than he looked in practices. He wraps up and takes down anyone who is close to him. He is a gamer and has made more than his share of plays for the Hawkeyes. Greenway would be an instant upgrade over Keith Adams and would benefit an Eagles LB corps that has been unimpressive for the last few years. OT is also an area of need considering the respective ages of Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan, so don’t be surprised if Philadelphia chooses to go that route with this pick. Finally, with the departure of Terrell Owens, the team’s receiving corps is less than impressive and they could benefit from a speedster like Santonio Holmes or Chad Jackson. No matter who the Eagles settle on with this pick, chances are that they will be picking at least in the high 20s next year.

15. Denver Broncos (from Atlanta) – Chad Jackson, WR, Florida Gators

After failed attempts to package their two first-round picks (now one) into a top five pick with offers to the Titans and Packers, it appears as though the Broncos will have to do without Vernon Davis and be happy with what they can get at this pick. The obvious choice at this slot is Chad Jackson because Rod Smith is aging and despite his physical talents, Ashley Lelie is just not a #1 quality WR. After being a top recruit out of high school, Chad Jackson never really met expectations at Florida. That is, until this year. He and Chris Leak developed a strong chemistry, and it is did wonders for Jackson’s draft stock. He has size (6′1″ and 200 pounds) and speed (sub 4.4 40 time), the two main assets any WR needs to have. After having a dominant performance at the combine his stock rocketed and he surpassed Santonio Holmes on most draft boards. The Broncos are said to covet him and I would be really surprised if this pick ends up being anyone other than Chad Jackson (assuming the Broncos keep the pick).

16. Miami Dolphins – Jimmy Williams, CB/S, Virginia Tech Hokies

The need for the Dolphins every year is a young QB that will finally become the replacement to Dan Marino. After adding Daunte Culpepper, however, for the first time in a while, no one is expecting the Fins to look at a passer with their pick. The secondary has been decimated in the off-season, leaving very little to work with, especially at safety. Touted as the top cornerback in the draft at the beginning of the season, Williams had some problems in coverage this year, leading many to start considering him more as a safety. He has great speed, size, and is very athletic. Add that he is a great tackler and you have the complete package in a DB. OLB is also a concern and Manny Lawson could be the pick here. And as usual, the Dolphins could use an upgrade on their offensive line, but with Ferguson and Justice off the board, they are probably better off waiting until later for a lineman as no one really stands out as a top 20 calibre pick.

17. Minnesota Vikings – Ernie Sims, LB, Florida St. Seminoles

It seems like every year the Vikings throw money and draft picks at their problems on defence, and despite all the resources the team has put into that defence, it is consistently mediocre. Linebacker seems to be their problem that never really gets solved and adding someone like Sims is definitely a step in the right direction. Sims has the talent to be ranked much higher than this. He is very fast, has decent size, and hits as hard as anyone else that you will find. He makes plays all over the field and should develop into a nice cover linebacker in the future. He has had off the field problems however, mainly a domestic violence charge over the summer for which he was suspended for a game. If he smartens up, he will be a great NFL player, if not, it is hard to tell how he will turn out. In spite of his off the field difficulties, I think he will be a fantastic pro, and he has really been flying up the draft boards (reminiscent of how he flies around the field) and could be gone at this point.

18. Dallas Cowboys – Jason Allen, S/CB, Tennessee Volunteers

Santana Moss exposed the massive problems that the Cowboys have in safety coverage in that fateful Monday Night Football game a few months ago. Watching Moss catch two bombs in Roy Williams’ face must have brought a tear to the eye of many a Cowboy fan. Jason Allen seems like a perfect fit here and he will fill what is probably Dallas’ biggest hole. He is a great prospect and his ability to play both CB and S makes him that much more attractive in my opinion. He is very athletic and has great coverage skills. He is also a very physical player who led the SEC in tackles as a junior. Allen’s senior campaign was cut short due to hip injury which jeopardized his draft stock, but he has worked out well and looks like he has fully recovered. An upgrade on Al Singleton as a 3-4 OLB might be an option with Manny Lawson and Bobby Carpenter on the board, and Santonio Holmes is even a potential option as their starting WRs (Owens and Terry Glenn) are no spring chickens, but I think Jason Allen makes too much sense here for them to pass on him.

19. San Diego Chargers – Antonio Cromartie, CB, Florida St. Seminoles

The Chargers had a great season only to miss the playoffs due to some bad luck and tough scheduling by the NFL. Despite their strong campaign, there are still a few positions that the Bolts could upgrade this off-season. I would probably have guessed this pick would be Santonio Holmes two weeks ago, but with the trade of Sammy Davis for Rashaun Woods, their already depleted secondary is even thinner than it was before, and they will likely want to give Woods a chance before investing a first-round pick on a WR. Antonio Cromartie would have likely been one of the top picks in next year’s draft and his decision to come out after suffering a major knee injury was probably not wise, but he has worked out well and he could very well be long gone at this point. Cromartie has great size and speed and if he lives up to his potential, could very well end up as one of the top corners in the NFL. In all honesty I am a huge Cromartie backer and think he is worth an early teens pick, but the knee injury is sure to have GMs worried so he may end up as a huge steal.

20. Kansas City Chiefs – Tye Hill, CB, Clemson Tigers

As per usual, the Chiefs will be going defence in the first round of the NFL Draft. While Patrick Surtain has one side of the field locked down, Lenny Walls is better suited to a nickel role on the other side and Tye Hill provides nice value at this point. Hill is blazing fast and was solid in coverage for the Tigers this year. He is a good athlete, plays smart football, and has a lot of upside. He is on the small side, however, and he has had some difficulties with bigger, stronger WRs, but he is still improving and once he learns how to play them more effectively he will probably be a very solid corner. WR is also a need in KC, and with Santonio Holmes on the board here it would be tough to pass on him, but it isn’t their offence that has been letting them down the last few years.

21. New England Patriots – DeAngelo Williams, RB, Memphis Tigers

The Patriots have more needs in this draft than they traditionally do, but since they are so adept at filling holes with late-round picks and other teams’ castaways, I think they will look to the future. With a prospect of DeAngelo’s talent still on the board, New England will draft a successor to Corey Dillion. DeAngelo has game-breaking speed, is very agile, and is effective as a receiver out of the backfield. The only real knock on him is the competition he has played, but the same was said of LaDainian Tomlinson when he came out, and he turned out all right. Corner is also a need so it could potentially be addressed, but traditionally New England has found diamonds in the rough in later-round secondary players, and the only other player at another position apart from RB or CB I could see being chosen here is Bobby Carpenter – or possibly Chad Jackson if he somehow slips.

22. San Francisco 49ers (from Denver, from Washington) – Manny Lawson, OLB/DE, North Carolina St. Wolfpack

While the player the 49ers would like most at this pick, Chad Greenway, will probably not be available, the hole that was left by All-Pro Julian Peterson’s departure needs to be filled and the 49ers could do a lot less than the supremely versatile and athletic Manny Lawson. Although he was overshadowed by stud teammate Mario Williams at NC State, Lawson is very good in his own right and opened a lot of eyes at the combine and Senior Bowl. He is an ideal fit as an edge rusher in the 49ers’ 3-4 defence as an OLB. Bobby Carpenter is also an option here as he would also make a terrific 3-4 OLB, and corner is also a possibility as the 49ers are very thin there and there is lots of talent on the board.

23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio St. Buckeyes

This is not a common pick as a lot of mocks don’t have Santonio slipping this far, but if he does I am sure the Bucs would jump on him. Joey Galloway is getting on in years and Michael Clayton had a disappointing sophomore campaign. A small burner whose stock has gone up with the recent success of Santana Moss and Steve Smith, Holmes would add another dimension to the Bucs’ passing game and will be a nice successor to the lightning-fast Galloway. Holmes has exceptional speed, good hands, nice route-running skills, and pretty good run-after-the-catch ability. He can also be a useful kick returner if he is used in that aspect of the game. Cornerback is very thin in Tampa, but there is great depth in cornerback in the draft, and the same can be said for their biggest hole at offensive tackle. In my opinion, Holmes is too good a fit and too good a value for the Bucs to pass on.

24. Cincinnati Bengals – Donte Whitner, S, Ohio St. Buckeyes

The Bengals really made strides this year, moving from a middle of the pack team to a contender in the AFC. Safety is an area of concern. Madieu Williams is a stud, but former teacher Kevin Kaesviharn is better suited to a backup role. Whitner lacks size but has great athleticism and is a ballhawk that is always making plays. He is also very effective in run support. A corner like Richard Marshall or Ashton Youboty is also an option here, and a stud defensive tackle like Gabe Watson would also be a great fit. In the end though, a safety like Bing is exactly what the doctor ordered for the Bengals and he seems like the best fit here.

25. New York Giants – Gabe Watson, DT, Michigan Wolverines

You would be hard pressed to find a better tandem of defensive ends than the Giants Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan. The interior of the Giants defensive line is a different story, however. William Joseph is fairly solid, but the Giants could improve their defensive line greatly by adding a huge, athletic difference-maker like Watson. He occupies two blockers on every play and is a great run-stopper. He helps every player on the defence by eating up blockers. Despite being strong against the run, he is weak against the pass because of his size. Were he to lose some weight he might be more effective. He also struggled a bit last year, at one point being benched to give him a wakeup call. He was not considered a first round prospect because he has not always exerted himself, but he played well in the Senior Bowl and has worked his way back into the first. Ashton Youboty and Richard Marshall are also options here because the G-Men lack secondary depth. The Giants would also have to take a long look at Maroney here, as he would be a nice replacement for Tiki Barber when the time comes. Watson is a great character guy, and if anyone can get a player with a questionable motor and a ton of talent to succeed it is Tom Couglin.

26. Chicago Bears – Ashton Youboty, CB, Ohio St. Buckeyes

This pick was going to be going another direction until Ricky Manning Jr. reportedly decided to bully someone at Denny’s and throw Chicago’s secondary depth back into question. Vasher is solid on one side, but no one knows what the situation will be with Manning Jr. That said, you can never have too much secondary depth. Youboty has excellent size and is very athletic. He plays the ball well, and traditionally Ohio St. corners have turned out pretty good (Ohio St. recently was crowned CB U by Rivals.com). Leonard Pope is also an option here, as I would’ve projected him going to the Bears if not for the Manning debacle.

27. Carolina Panthers – Lendale White, RB, USC Trojans

White had generally been considered a top 15 talent until he had an indescribably bad Pro Day, which looked even worse when Reggie Bush blew the doors off during his. Regardless, White is a great talent and has supposedly been given a promise by the Panthers. This makes sense as Deshaun Foster is constantly injured and White would be an ideal replacement to Stephen Davis as the bruiser back. White is a horse who is ready to come in and contribute from the get-go. He is a huge back who will carry an offence on his shoulders and run the ball over 20 times a game. He is hard-nosed, has good vision, and has deceptive speed. Had he not been featured in the same backfield as Reggie Bush, he may have been a Heisman candidate this past year as he led the nation in TDs. Will Witherspoon was an underrated but integral part of this defense so a replacement for him here would also make a lot of sense, especially with Demeco Ryans and Bobby Carpenter on the board. Eric Winston couls also be in the mix because the spot opposite Jordan Gross on the Panthers’ offensive line needs to be addressed.

28. Jacksonville Jaguars – Thomas Howard, OLB, UTEP Miners

Personally, I would spend this pick on a Richard Marshall or a Tamba Hali, but with the gaping hole left by Akin Ayodele and the Jaguars’ alleged affinity for workout warrior Thomas Howard, I think this will end up being the pick. Howard is a speedy, extremely athletic linebacker who can help improve the Jags’ already strong defense. He can lay the wood, has potential to be a nice cover linebacker, and from what I have heard plays with great intensity and is a good leader. However, I watched him play twice and came away unimpressed both times. I suppose that is why I am not a scout for the Jaguars.

29. New York Jets (from Denver) – Bobby Carpenter, OLB, Ohio St. Buckeyes

This is really a steal for the Jets, as they will probably look to address the hole left by John Abraham (who coincidentally netted them this pick). Carpenter has all the necessary intangibles to be a very good linebacker for the Jets. He has good size, speed, athletic ability, and really knows how to play the game. Carpenter was very productive at Ohio St. and excels in coverage. The Jets have a lot of needs and Laurence Maroney could potentially be taken as a Curtis Martin replacement, or they could choose to upgrade the offensive line with Nick Mangold or Eric Winston. However, I doubt they can pass on this value at a position they have a need at.

30. Indianapolis Colts – Laurence Maroney, RB, Minnesota Gophers

I guess it was inevitable that Indy would eventually have to break up their “triplets.” Keeping three players of that talent around for so long was an achievement in itself. Each of them deserved the big payday they got. With Edge out of the fold this pick should probably be put towards a replacement, and if Maroney is on the board it doesn’t make a lot of sense to pass on him (unless of course, Thomas Jones gets traded to Indy, which, by the way, will never happen). Maroney is a burner who can take any play and turn it into a touchdown at the drop of a hat. He has the agility and moves to make people miss. He is not that big, however, and is a pretty poor pass-catcher. He would probably end up splitting time with Domonic Rhodes to start if he was the pick. The Colts could also add a corner or linebacker with this pick, but I think Maroney will be their man when all is said and done.

31. Seattle Seahawks – Tamba Hali, DE, Penn St. Nittany Lions

The Seahawks looked great last year, and despite losing stud OG Steve Hutchinson in free agency, they look poised to make another run at the title in 2006. The Seahawks made an effort to get John Abraham, and while they weren’t successful, an upgrade at DE is not a bad idea. Hali is a great athlete, has a great motor and is effective against the pass or the run. He had a great senior season in Happy Valley and has the ability to play defensive tackle in a pinch. His stock has slipped a little lately, but I think he provides nice value for the Seahawks here. Richard Marshall could also be a potential pick.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers – Sinorice Moss, WR, Miami (Florida) Hurricanes

The champs look to be in nice shape heading into next season, but no team is without flaws and the Steelers are no different. After losing Plaxico Burress to free agency last spring, Antwaan Randle El stepped up his game and filled his role admirably. After watching Randle El bolt this off-season for greener pastures (money-wise, certainly not team-wise), WR needs to be taken care of again. Sinorice is the younger brother of Santana Moss, and like his older brother, he is a burner. He has great after-the-catch ability and has been solid for the U for a few years. He is undersized, but the turn towards smaller receivers came at the ideal time for him with the new rule changes favoring speedy guys. Richard Marshall is also an option here as the Steelers secondary is somewhat thin.

 
Ben Kearon can always be found talking football in the Cafe’s forums, where he posts as Canadian_Cheesehead.