Mock NFL Draft (January)

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It’s the week of the Super Bowl, and Detroit is the focal point of the football world. Yet as we keep our eyes on the Steelers and Seahawks, we’re also already sneaking a peek at the upcoming NFL draft. This year’s rookie class is loaded with talent – not to mention fantasy impact – with future stars such as Reggie Bush, Vince Young, and Matt Leinart preparing to enter the league. Which up-and-comers will land where? It’s early days yet, but here’s a preview.

1. Houston: Vince Young – QB, Texas
Houston would probably be well advised to take D’Brickashaw Ferguson with this pick, but football is still a business and no draft pick will generate more immediate revenue than Vince Young, a hometown kid who will be a ticket- and merchandise-selling machine for the Texans.

2. New Orleans: Matt Leinart – QB, USC
Go ahead and put this one in the books. Aaron Brooks’ days as a Saint are likely done, and New Orleans is looking to put a face on the team for the next ten to fifteen years. Leinart will fill that role nicely.

3. Tennessee: Reggie Bush – RB, USC
The Titans aren’t desperate for a running back, and have many other holes that need filling more desperately, but they will not be able to pass up on Reggie here. The kid has far too much potential to be passed up with the number three pick…

4. New York Jets: D’Brickashaw Ferguson – OT, Virginia
You can only lose so many quarterbacks before you have to do something to upgrade your protection. Ferguson is probably not the stud that Orlando Pace is, but he deserves to be mentioned right up there with the best offensive tackle prospects of the past decade.

5. Green Bay: AJ Hawk – OLB, Ohio State
The Packers will likely lose Grady Jackson in the off-season, and they were not stopping the run even with him on the field. AJ Hawk will be an immediate starter, and has the ability to fill the immediate need on defense.

6. Oakland: Mario Williams – DE, North Carolina State
Oakland’s defensive needs are numerous. They will likely draft the best defensive player available with this pick, and there is no doubt that Mario Williams, if available, meets that criterion.

7. San Francisco: Michael Huff – S, Texas
The Niners had one of the worst secondaries in the NFL this past season. They need immediate help, and Michael Huff is a guy who not only provides an immediate upgrade in pass coverage, but also can make plays stopping the run. Jimmy Williams will likely be considered here, as well, but Huff is more versatile.

8. Buffalo: Haloti Ngata – DT, Oregon
By all accounts, if Ngata is available when the Bills go on the clock, he will be their pick. They need a force in the middle of that line to help bolster their league-worst run defense. Ngata fills the Bill (so to speak)…

9. Detroit: Winston Justice – OT, USC
There are a lot of ways the Lions could go with this pick, but having spent so many consecutive first-round draft picks trying to upgrade the passing game, only to watch their quarterback run for his life more often than not, it’s time they address their protection.

10. Arizona: Jay Cutler – QB, Vanderbilt
The Cardinals could use a running back at this spot, but I believe they will address that need through free agency rather then burn another draft pick on a boom-or-bust running back like JJ Arrington. They will also likely consider an OT with this pick, but I think Jay Cutler has too many skills to ignore.

11. St. Louis: Vernon Davis – TE, Maryland
The Rams really should be going defense with this pick, but I suspect they will fill those immediate needs with veteran free agents, and pick up a tight end, a position they have been lacking for a very long time. Davis is a rare find at TE. He has the ability to line up as a wideout or as a fullback, and provides the intermediate receiving threat the Rams have lacked since Marshall Faulk and Isaac Bruce began to show their age.

12. Cleveland: Demeco Ryans – OLB, Alabama
No doubt the Browns go with a defensive player here, and I think after the combine, Demeco Ryans will be considered the best guy left on the board. The kid is a ball hawk with an unbelievable knack for being at the right place at the right time. He is a guy who could be the face of this defense for many years to come, and who will be in on nearly every tackle. If you want to get an idea of what to expect from Demeco as a pro, go watch some film of Derrick Brooks.

13. Baltimore: DeAngelo Williams – RB, Memphis
Jamal Lewis and Chester Taylor are both free agents this year, and I think the odds of the Ravens being able to sign both are slim. Their defense is aging, and they could probably stand to pick up a defensive player with this pick, but I think they will be in need of a running back by the time the draft rolls around.

14. Philadelphia: Chad Greenway – OLB, Iowa
The Eagles’ number one need is a linebacker. I can’t see them going in any other direction with this pick. They could look to pick up a wide receiver to replace Terrell Owens, but if they’re smart, they will wait until later in the draft, as Greenway is a far better NFL prospect than any of the WRs available in this class.

15. Atlanta: Ko Simpson – S, South Carolina
The Falcons need a safety. It’s just that simple. And Simpson will likely be the best prospect on the board. Darnell Bing is another possibility, but I have a feeling he will be the third-rated safety following the combine, behind Huff and Simpson.

16. Miami: Eric Winston – OT, Miami
This pick is something of a no-brainer. The Dolphins will address their need for a QB via free agency, and look to upgrade the line in the draft. Winston is a hometown kid, who at one point before his injury was considered a top 5-10 prospect. If he’s available, I think the Dolphins will pull the trigger without hesitation.

17. Minnesota: LenDale White – RB, USC
This pick may seem a little odd with the Vikings currently carrying a “boat load” (pardon the pun) of running backs on their roster, but I think the Vikings will seek to cut ties with most of those backs, many of whom have done very little over the past few years, and keep Mewelde Moore on the roster. Moore is too small to handle goal-line duty, or to receive 30 carries a game. He is a threat in the passing game, and an excellent change-of-pace back, but I think the Vikings are in serious need of a workhorse at RB, and LenDale White could easily end up being mentioned with Jerome Bettis one day when we talk about the all-time great short-yardage backs. He would be an excellent compliment to Mewelde Moore, and the pair could easily be one of the best one-two punches in the game.

18. Dallas: Darnell Bing – S, USC
No coach in the NFL loves good defense more than Bill Parcells. He spent two first-rounders on defense last year, and I look for him to spend a third this year. Darnell Bing is a punishing hitter who really seems like a Parcells kind of guy. The Cowboys could also go with an OT or WR here, but I feel those positions can be addressed through free agency or a little later in the draft.

19. San Diego: Jimmy Williams – CB, Virginia Tech
It’s been a long time since the Chargers had a cornerback of note, and Jimmy Williams can not only be an immediate starter, but has the potential to be an all-time great. He’s a steal with the number 19 pick, and San Diego will pull the trigger quickly if he falls this far.

20. Kansas City: Santonio Holmes – WR, Ohio State
Eddie Kennison is just about done, Samie Parker has shown flashes of brilliance, but is just as likely to drop the big one as he is to catch it, Tony Gonzalez doesn’t have that many more years in him, and with the age of most of the other offensive players in Kansas City, the Chiefs need to bring in some youth in the worst way. Santonio Holmes is a good place to start, and he fills an immediate need. The combination of Holmes (Santonio, that is) and Larry Johnson could be a force for many years to come.

21. New England: Laurence Maroney – RB, Minnesota
Simply huge if he falls this far, Maroney fills an immediate need for New England, and could be just what the Patriots need to make a run at another championship.

22. Denver Broncos: Brodrick Bunkley – DT, Florida State
The Broncos fared pretty well with their imported defensive line this year, but the imports from Cleveland failed them when it counted. Brodrick Bunkley is a rare find at defensive tackle. He had 25 tackles for losses in 2005 and nine QB sacks. For a guy playing defensive tackle, that is tremendous. He would be an immediate starter for the Broncos, and upgrade their pass-rush significantly. I don’t think they can pass him up if he falls this far.

23. Tampa Bay: Marcus McNeill – OT, Auburn
Gruden had good luck with Cadillac Williams in 2005, and I look for him to bring in another key component of that 2004 Auburn team that dominated the NCAA. Marcus McNeill is a monster. He has all the natural talent and size to be a top-five draft pick, but his work ethic leaves a little to be desired, and there are some questions about his ability to stay healthy due to back issues. Yet Gruden cannot pass up a guy this size with this late a pick. At 6′ 9″, 340 lbs, McNeill adds some much needed mass to the Tampa line, and he has the potential to be something special.

24. Cincinnati: Tamba Hali – DE, Penn State
If Carson Palmer comes back from his injury, the Cincinnati offense leaves little to be desired. The team will address defense with this pick, and could go in a lot of different directions, but I believe Tamba Hali will be the best defensive player on the board at this point. The Bengals could also consider going with Antonio Cromartie here, but his injury will likely prevent him from being an immediate starter. Hali, on the other hand, has the potential to help the Bengals on defense from day one.

25. New York Giants: Rodrique Wright – DT, Texas
The Giants have two of the best defensive ends in football, but the interior of their defensive line needs a lot of work, and Rodrique Wright is a guy who can provide help in that department right away. Were it not for some questions regarding his work ethic and durability he would be a much higher draft pick. His frame is such that he has the ability to pack on a few more pounds, and if the Giants can get him up to about 320, he could be an elite DT in the NFL.

26. Chicago: Marcedes Lewis – TE, UCLA
Rex Grossman needs more targets. It’s that simple. The Bears leave nothing to be desired on defense, and the wide receiver class in this draft is so thin that the best available receiver at this spot in the draft will actually be a tight end. We will have to see what happens in the combine, as Leonard Pope could end up being the better prospect here, but one way or the other, the Bears draft a tight end at number 26..

27. Carolina: Leonard Pope – TE, Georgia
The Panthers will take either Pope or Lewis, whomever the Bears do not draft. They are very similar in terms of ability, and the Panthers can probably afford to address their other needs later in the draft. Either Pope or Lewis can be an immediate starter for the Panthers, and with Steve Smith drawing so many double- and triple-teams, whichever tightend they select will often find himself wide open across the middle. It’s scary to think of what the Panthers could do with one of these guys.

28. Jacksonville: Antonio Cromartie – CB, Florida State
Cromartie is a gifted athlete with great size, speed, and ability. Were it not for a season-ending injury in 2005, he would probably be the highest-rated corner in this year’s draft, and if he had decided to return for his senior year, he’d be a virtual lock for a top-five pick in 2007. As is, the Jaguars are likely to get a steal on him this late, and he’d make an excellent addition to the team opposite Rashean Mathis. The Jaguars are building one of the best young teams in the NFL, and Cromartie will only make them better. He has the potential to be a perennial pro-bowler, and the Jags, just an hour and a half from Tallahassee, where he was a high-school superstar considered one of the best recruits of the past five years in the state of Florida, have no doubt kept a close eye on his progress.

29. Denver: Mathias Kiwanuka – DE, Boston College
At one point Mathias was considered a top-ten pick. His stock has fallen a little bit lately, but he’s still a solid first-rounder. The Broncos will still be looking for help across the defensive line with their second pick of the round, and Mathias could be a steal. If they can pick up Bunkley and Kiwanuka in the first round, they will have one of the top-rated drafts of the year, and one of the better defensive lines in the NFL for years to come.

30. Indianapolis: Ernie Sims – OLB, Florida State
The Colts will have many options with this pick, and if they lose Edgerrin James in the off-season as expected, they could be looking at RBs. Yet with Maroney, Williams, White, and Bush all off the board by the time they pick, they can probably afford to wait and target a guy like Joseph Addai or Maurice Drew in round two. With that said, they could use some depth at LB, and Ernie Simms is a guy whose intensity is unmatched. He could be a solid player for years to come, and Tony Dungy will likely be looking to continue building his defense.

31. Pittsburgh: Chad Jackson – WR, Florida
Wide receiver is about the only glaring need for the Steelers, and Chad Jackson should be the best available WR at this point in the draft. Personally, I’m not sure if he is worth first round consideration, and if I were running the show in Pittsburgh I would look to trade this pick to someone targetting Jonathan Scott (OT, Texas), but if the Steelers pick here, I think Jackson is a pretty safe bet as their guy.

32. Seattle: Claude Wroten – DT, LSU
Wroten is quite simply the best defensive player available at this point, reason enough for the Seahawks to add him to their already formidable roster.