Fan Mock Draft

Alright, now that the Combine is over, we’ve started our fan mock draft.  We’re planning on going three rounds, so check in often.  Drafters will have 12 hours to email us a pick for their respective team.

1.  BJ Raji – DT- Boston College – “It came down to three players; Raji, Aaron Curry or Jason Smith. I went with Raji because Detroit had huge problems stopping the run last year after trading Shaun Rogers to Cleveland. Detroit was dead last in defense among the 32 teams. At least the offense was 27th !”

2. Eugene Monroe – OT – Virginia – “The Rams could use an improvement at just about every position on the field.  Orlando Pace has played like 11 games in the last three years and Alex Barron is a human false start.  Jason Smith got consideration here, but his meteoric rise since the end of the season has me concerned.  Andre Smith would have been the pick, but he blew that this past weekend.”

3. Aaron Curry – LB – Wake Forest – “Not satisfied with Sanchez or Stafford, and the Chiefs really need another LB to team up with Derrick Johnson.”

.

.

4. Michael Crabtree – WR- Texas Tech – “I toyed with the Baylor OT Jason Smith, but figured that Crabtree is not only the best WR, but the best character guy I’ve seen in this draft.  I can’t see any TO antics coming to haunt us, and the foot injury is unlikely to curtail him for too long.  He’s had the problem all season.”

5. James Laurinitis – LB – Ohio St. – “Everyone has made a big deal about Curry winning the Butkus award this year.  Know who won it last year?  This guy.  Hometown kid, fast, big,never missed time with an injury, no character issues, just the kind of payer that we need and will start alongside D’Qwell Jackson from day one.”

.

6. Jason Smith – OT- Baylor – “This is a no brainer.  Solid citizen, athletic, huge upside. Bengals biggest need is in the offensive line at tackle and center.  Too soon for a center.”

.

.

7. Jeremy Maclin – WR – Missouri – “Oakland NEEDS an explosive guy from the outside and Maclin is it.  I don’t know if he can be a #1 guy, but he would def. be a matchup nightmare from LBs from the slot.  Another option was Maualuga but once again, I just think it is too much of a reach and I don’t think he is one the level of a top 10 pick.”

8. Malcolm Jenkins – CB – Ohio St. – “The jags starting corners are Drayton Florence and Brian Williams. They need a better secondary especially considering the division they’re in. Malcolm Jenkins is probably the best player available at this point and he fills a pretty big need. I thought about taking Andre Smith but the personality issues are too much of a concern.”

9. Aaron Maybin – LB/DE – Penn St. – “I don’t buy into Kampman at Linebacker. I think Maybin is young enough and talented enough to play that standing DE/OLB for their new 3-4”

.

.

10. Everette Brown – DE – Florida St. – “Brown gives Coach Singletary the top pass rusher he wanted so badly…his speed, non-stop motor, and ability to stop plays behind the line of scrimmage is just what the Niners need to propel their defense to the next level.  DC Manusky will absolutely love this guy…he was the LB coach of the Chargers before joining SF two seasons ago, so understands how to employ a player like Brown to create some havoc for opposing offenses.”

11. Jared Cook – TE – South Carolina – “I Mel Kiper, pull your hair out! TE is one of several critical needs for the Bills. Draft pundits defaulted Brandon Pettigrew to the Bills, but Cook brings a degree of athleticism that puts him in a class by himself. Not only can he stretch the field with blazing speed for his position, he  can jump out of the gym! Think Antonio Gates with the Jets and hops! Cook would also be devastating out of the slot! (SF pulling Everette Brown out with the preceding pick makes this choice a no-brainer for me)

12. Rey Maualuga – ILB – Southern California – “Shifting to the 3-4 this year, the Broncos were eyeing B.J. Raji first. With him going early, the next choice had to be this exciting and talented kid out of USC. The new look defense will need a strong linebacking corps and Maualuga more than fits the bill with speed and toughness. An immediate impact player, Denver is thrilled with the opportunity to take him.”

13. Brian Orakpo – DE – Texas – “He gives the ability to add some youth at the DE position and can also step back and play the 3-4 OLB if Washington decides to go to the 3-4 with the signing of Haynesworth.”

.

.

14. Vontae Davis – CB – Illinois – “The Saints have Randall Gay and Jason David but I feel like David has been a disappointment and that we could still definitely improve at this position. Vontae Davis is a great young talent that I think could help out the secondary.”

.

.

15. Clay Matthews – OLB – Southern California – “I still want the Texans to get a DE in the first two rounds, but with Orakpo and Brown off the board, there’s no DE I feel is worth the #15 pick.  Still, it frees the team up to address another need, but since I wasn’t able to trade down, I’m forced to make a reach here.  Clint Sintim was also considered, but in the end I went with Matthews because of his versatility and hardnosed, nasty attitude.  He might last into the late part of this round or even early into round 2, but he won’t be there at my next pick.”

16. Peria Jerry – DT – Ole Miss – “I went DT here because Jamal Williams is 32 and Jerry is the second best DT on the board.  I strongly considered taking the other Ole Miss product, Michael Oher here.  I think Oher would be good value at this point and he would be an upgrade over McNeill and Clary, but both are only 25.  I know people doubt Jerry will be able to be a nose tackle in a 3-4, but they’ll be able to bulk him up.”

17. Matt Stafford – QB – Georgia – “A quarterback is something the Jets desperately need (no apologies to Kellen Clemens).  No brainer right here.”

.

.

18. Brian Cushing – OLB – USC – True story. I called Bryan to tell him I was going to draft Mississippi OT Michael Oher. Bryan told me Andre Smith from Alabama was still there, so I said I would take him. Then I remembered the Bears started Hunter Hillenmeyer at OLB beside Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs for the past three seasons at least. Then, last year, Hillenmeyer was replaced by some guy named Nick Roach. Needless to say, I think we could use an OLB, especially since Urlacher has slowed down a bunch – and was never really as dominant as most people thought he was anyway.

19. Hakeem Nicks – WR – North Carolina – “Bucs need another go to WR to help out Bryant & a WR that has good hands & Nicks can be a big help at WR for the Bucs & for Bryant. Other then Bryant the Bucs have nobody the can count on at WR. Hilliard & Galloway are gone, they just resigned butterfingers (Clayton) to a 5 year deal (like he deserves it) & they have Dexter Jackson who they drafted last year from Appalachian St. as a WR/kickoff returner & he did nothing for them at WR or on special teams & they dont use Maurice Stovall so I think Nicks would be a good pick here.”

20. Mark Sanchez – QB – Southern California – “Left Tackle ? There are four potential first rounders still available … Cornerback ? Only one off the board so far …. Let’s just say the Devil made me to this !”

.

.

21. Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss – “A lot of people  have said he’s inconsistent……………He gave up ZERO sacks this year in the SEC. I’ll gladly take that for 10+ years.”

.

.

22. Brandon Pettigrew – TE – Oklahoma St. – “The Vikings are built to win a title now outside of QB so why draft one and have to waste 3 years of the best running back in the league. I’d rather see an OT in free agency so we’re not waiting for a few years to see if it works. That and Pettigrew is a great blocker and fairly good pass-catcher, lets get Rosencopta some weapons.”

23. Larry English – LB – Northern Illinois – “The loss of Mike Vrabel really accelerates the need at outside linebacker.  English was a guy that Belichick spoke of at the combine.  The Pats have a history of turning a 4-3 Defensive End into a 3-4 linebacker.  This draft has more depth than I originally thought, especially at LB, and that’s a good thing.”

.

24. Andre Smith – OT – Alabama – “I don’t know how he fell to me at the 24th pick but I’ll certainly take him. The Falcons drafted Sam Baker last year in the first round but our other starting OT, as well as another starting offensive lineman and a backup OT are all free agents now. With Sam Baker on one side and Andre Smith on the other, it’ll be a lot harder for people to get to Matt Ryan.”

25. D.J. Moore – CB – Vanderbilt – “We desperately need help at cornerback, especially now that we’ve lost Andre Goodman to free agency. I considered Alphonso Smith and Darius Butler as well as a few others but Moore was who really jumped out at me. I also considered a few other positions but this just made the most sense in my mind.”

.

26. Darrius Heyward-Bey – WR – Maryland – “Baltimore needs a receiver who can stretch the field and work with our golden arm qb Joe Flacco. (hopefully, the original golden arm, Johnny Unitas, is watching and working his magic). Heyward-Bey has strength and speed plus he’s a local boy with a decorated past and a natural fit.”

27. Knowshon Moreno – RB – Georgia – “I have absolutely no idea how Moreno fell to me at the 27th pick, but I like it. He’s a great receiving back out of the back field to give Peyton another weapon and he will be a great compliment to Joseph Addai. I’ve heard/read things saying the Colts want to go to a two-back system and I can’t think of another back I’d rather have to do that with. On top of everything else the Colts ranked 32nd (yes, dead last) in yard per rush attempt for the 2008 season. That is dreadful, and needs to change. I believe Moreno can help fix this problem.”

28. Chris “Beanie” Wells – RB – Ohio St. – “The Eagles need a RB to replace Buckhalter, and a power runner to help in short yardage. Wells is both of those things and will be the long term replacement for Brian Westbrook.”

.

.

29. Fili Moala – DT – Southern California – “I’m looking at either WR Hakeem Nicks — or a SS, but I don’t really see any worth taking that high right now. Jerry Reese mostly signs cheap free agents or an occasional trade to fill gaps. Our first round picks of late have been chosen precisely to become backups until their predecessors pass on. I’m looking at this kid from USC though — Fili Maola at DT.”

30. Max Unger – C – Oregon – “He is the best center available and can fill in at other positions until Mawae retires.  Only other thought would be a CB at this point.”

.

.

31. LeSean McCoy – RB – Pittsburgh – “Tim Hightower isn’t going to be the every-down type of running back anytime soon, and Edge is coming close to the end of his career. McCoy will be the best back coming out of this draft in years to come.”

.

32. Eben Britton – OT – Arizona – “The Steelers are in definite need of improvement on the o-line. We gave up 49 sacks last year which was 4th worst in the league, and while some can be chalked up to Roethlisberger’s incompetence, we still basically need an entirely new offensive line. The only other direction I considered going here was cornerback.”

************ROUND 2************

33. William Beatty – OT – Connecticut – “With the first pack of the second round does Detroit go offense or defense ? The top MLBs are both gone as are the top three OLBs; Detroit has signed on two cornerbacks in Free Agency, so that leaves me with the option to take someone to protect the Quarterback I drafted at #20.”

.

TRADE NOTICE: We just had our first trade of the draft go through in quick succession. The first trade was between the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts. The Patriots traded their current pick and the later of their remaining two second round picks (58 overall) to the Colts for the Colts third round pick (92 overall) and the Colts 2010 first round pick.

TRADE NOTICE: Almost immediately after the first trade we had our second trade of the draft go through. This time between the Indianapolis Colts and the Cleveland Browns. The Browns trade their two second round picks (36 and 50 overall) for the Colts current pick (acquired via the Patriots) as well as their original second round pick (61 overall) and the Colts fourth round pick (123 overall) so to sum it all up. The Browns are the ones with the 34th pick of the draft.

34. Tyson Jackson – DE – LSU – “At one point in the season we had exactly one backup defensive lineman healthy.  Jackson is about the only worthwhile true 3-4 DE in the draft and I’m really pumped to land him in the 2nd round.  Even if Jackson doesn’t start right away, he will most certainly be in the rotation.  And playing next to Shaun Rogers wont hurt.”

35. Robert Ayers – DE – Tennessee – “I wanted Jackson, but I was beaten to it.  Ayers is the next best DE, so with Leonard Little getting old and knowing that Victor Adeyanju is a capable backup only, I’m taking Ayers.  He can play behind Little and Long this year and hopefully step into a starting role in 2010.  I really thought about one of the corners here, but I didn’t do it.”

36. Evander “Ziggy” Hood – DT – Missouri – Ziggy is easily the third best DT in this draft in my opinion so with BJ Raji and  Peria Jerry being taken before my pick in the first round I decided to steal Knowshon and then trade back up in the second round to grab Hood. At 6’3 – 300 he’ll already be the second biggest defensive lineman we have and should be able to make an impact immediately.”

37. Alex Mack – C – California – “Our O-line, when fully fit, is sufficient.  Problem is, it’s never fully fit, and Pork Chop (who perennially has more opportunity to chase after nurses than our opponents DT’s) ended last year as our most consistent and healthy option in the front three.  Notwithstanding this pick, I would not be surprised to see the Hawks select a Guard as well in Rounds 6 or 7, although another DT would be preferable. “

38. Connor Barwin – DE – Cincinnati – “He is from Cincy, he can play TE, DE, and OLB.  He will make the transition to outside backer easier than most of the Orakpo, Maybin, etc. group.  He can be the third TE, a third down DE or LB who can rush the passer, or bulk up a little and be an everydown DE.  This is good pub for the Bengals who need it in Cincy, but he reminds me of Jevon Kearse coming out of college.”

39. Donald Brown – RB – Connecticut – “With Fred Taylor gone we need a guy who will be able to go along with Maurice Jones-Drew and compliment his running style well. I believe Donald Brown is a guy who can do this. He’s a little bit smaller than what I would like for a guy who’s replacing Taylor’s 6’1 – 228 frame but he should be able to get the job done.”

40. Alphonso Smith – CB – Wake Forest – “His only flaw is his height. He breaks on routes better than anyone in the draft, he is the most well round CB, and he is faster and more athletic than Jenkins who many think is the best CB in the draft. They say he plays the ball like a receiver at times and just has an instinct like an Ed Reed… he just gets the damn ball… I was going to go with a hybrid guy (don’t wanna give it away) but I figured that Nnamdi needs another cover corner to help him out and Brach will probably stay at safety.”

41. Sen’Derrick Marks – DT – Auburn – “Although they having a pressing need to be addressed at the OT position, the safer bet here is to continue building the new 3-4 defense. It came down to Ron Brace and Sen’Derrick. In Marks, the Packers get a 300+ pound nose tackle who is explosive (4.88 and 5.01 40 times in college/combine) and athletic for his size. He could’ve used another year maybe in college but his upside is too much for the Packers to pass on in round 2. Brace was in the mix because of his 340+ pound frame but the Packers have two huge run stuffers to rotate already in Jolly and Pickett.”

42. Michael Johnson – DE/LB – Georgia Tech – “A big play, through the roof potential athletic freak- 6′7″, fluid going forward or back, great hip action,sometimes compared with Julius Peppers. Although not excessively productive throughout his career at GT, he had a great final season, and was selected top 10 in more than one of the mock drafts. This was my #1 player on defense from the start! To get him in the second round is grand larceny!”

43. Jamon Meredith – OT – South Carolina – “Meredith will play RT for Coach Singletary…and will solidify his OL to implement the power running game both he and new OC Jimmy Raye want.  Incumbent Jonas Jennings is more than capable, but can’t seem to stay off the injured list.  Meredith played in a pro-style offense under Steve Spurrier, so his transition to the NFL should be no problem.  While not listed among the elite OT’s, he’s a very steady player who should fit in nicely with Singletary’s OL.”

44. Ron Brace – DT – Boston College – “I thought about going with a safety to replace Renaldo Hill, or a center but our I think our current centers aren’t bad, they just lack experience. We really need a new nose tackle so that’s what I decided to go after this round and Brace fits the need nicely.”

45. Phil Loadholt – OT – Oklahoma – “I also considered going wide receiver here as well as outside linebacker and strong safety but we really need both better starters and more depth at offensive tackle and I thought Loadholt would be a good choice.”

.

46. Sean Smith – CB – Utah – “I had planned on taking Paul Kruger here, but I’m surprised to see Smith fall to 46.  I think very highly of him, and his versatility is a HUGE advantage to this team, which still has a lot of issues in the secondary – especially with the Dunta Robinson situation that might lead to him not returning in 2010.  Smith can backup Eugene Wilson at FS or get in the mix for the nickel corner right away. I’m excited to have Smith fall here.  He’s one of the only players that I was willing to take over a DE in round two, despite the free agent acquisition of Antonio Smith.  You can never have too many talented defensive linemen – but Sean Smith is going to be an impact player in the NFL, either as a safety or corner.”

47. Louis Delmas – FS – Western Michigan – “No one has taken a Safety yet, and I feel that is the weakest area of the field for the Patriots.  Was a 4 year starter in college, and a very good tackler. Plus, he has dreadlocks just like SS Brandon Meriweather.”

.

48. Paul Kruger – DE/OLB – Utah – “Kruger is a solid Linebacker who should fit Denver’s new 3-4 system well.  We considered Safety William Moore out of Missouri as well with this pick but need to shore up the line badly.”

.

49. Kenny Britt – WR – Rutgers – Wide receiver is a pressing need for the Bears. It has been a pressing need really since the team was allowed to start throwing the football. I think the Bears have had maybe two guys you could say were legitimate No. 1 receivers. Willie Gault in the 1980’s and Curtis Conway in the 1990’s. Marty Booker has the Bears franchise record for catches in a season with 100. That says something. I chose Britt mainly because he is bigger (6’4″) than the other receivers still on the board. I figure at worst he would be a factor in the red zone and at best he would immediately be the Bears top option at wide receiver.

50. Kenny Britt – WR – Rutgers… Chase Coffman – TE – Missouri – “I guess Jet decided to take my receiver so I’m going with my second Mizzou Tiger and picking Coffman. We don’t really need help at tight end at all but with him and Dallas Clark we could just do a lot more two-tight end sets and then have them line up in the slot a lot, like we already do with Clark. I can’t honestly say I put a whole lot of thought into this pick. I really thought Britt was going to fall to me and when he didn’t I just threw this up here.”

51. William Moore – S – Missouri – “Cornerback has become a more pressing need with the Anthony Henry trade (Newman, Jenkins, and Scandrick as a 1-2-3 isnt appealing) but there is no real CB value here. Will Moore’s stock has dropped, but he is a great athlete and can be coached. He is in the mold of a physical Roy Williams type, but has superior coverage skills. A bit of a question mark, but too talented to let fall past 51.”

52. Duke Robinson – OG – Oklahoma – “The Jets really need help on the offensive line at both the tackle and guard positions. I thought about going for a defensive lineman or an inside linebacker here but went o-line instead. Duke played well at Oklahoma and helped their record breaking offense. Now he can come protect Matt Stafford.”

53. Percy Harvin – WR – Florida – “Safety was a concern until Sean Jones was signed.  Percy Harvin is just too good of a value to pass up this late in Rd 2. He and DeSean Jackson bring great speed to an offense that has lacked playmakers at the WR spot for a long time.”

54. Victor Harris – CB – Virginia Tech – “The Vikes need CB depth and a return man, he gives us both.”

.

.

.

55. Darius Butler – CB – Connecticut – “I seem to be getting lucky with the players that are falling to me. First Andre Smith and now Butler. With this pick I have now addressed two of the Falcons three biggest needs in my opinion. Butler has late first round talent, so getting him this far down in the second round is a steal.”

56. Darry Beckwith – ILB – LSU – “Beckwith will be able to learn under Crowder for a few years to develop into the starter that we’ll need him to be.”

.

.

57. Herman Johnson – OG – LSU – “The guy is a beast at 6-foot-7, 355 LBS. First team All SEC who will be a great addition to the Ravens offensive line.  Quick feet give him stellar lateral movement. Guys this big aren’t supposed to be this quick- his 40 time is 5.5 seconds.”

.

58. Clint Sintim – OLB – Virginia – “He’s the best player left on the board in my opinion and I considered taking him with the 50th overall pick so with him still being here at 58 I couldn’t let him go by me twice. Both of our starting OLBs  from last year, Tyjuan Hagler and Freddy Keiaho, are free agents now so Sintim should be able to help fill the void they left behind.”

59. Jarron Gilbert – DE – San Jose St. – “Our defensive line is easily our biggest need at both defensive tackle and defensive end. Gilbert should at least start to help that problem. There really wasn’t anybody else I was considering taking at this point. He was there, he fills our biggest need so I took him.”

60. Patrick Chung – SS – Oregon – “There were a few players I considered taking here. It was a really tough decision between Jairus Byrd, Brian Robiskie, and Patrick Chung. I decided to go with Chung because it’s sounding more and more likely that we’ll get Plax back and I think that safety is a bigger need for us than corner, especially with James Butler becoming a free agent.”

61. Jairus Byrd – DB – Oregon – “I looked a couple of hours ago and thought I was in the clear, the two guys i wanted were still there and only three picks to go.  I log back in and Clint Sintim and Patrick Chung are both gone. I was going DB regardless unless Sintim was here, since he wasnt i took the next best DB available.  As the Browns don’t have another pick until round 4 this year, I needed this one to compete for a starting spot right away.  I think he’s our next starting SS to replace Sean Jones.”

62. Brian Robiskie – WR – Ohio St. –“This is too easy.  Best hands in the draft.  Not Blazing, but he runs great routes.  Ready to contribute right away, so he will have a lot of catches.  How did he manage to fall to me.”

.

.

63. Jonathan Luigs – OC – Arkansas – “I toyed with taking Coye Francies, but you can never have too much depth on the o-line. The Cards already signed Bryant McFadden and doesn’t need another corner. Luigs is a great value pick here and is athletic and mobile. He can also help pave the way for McCoy and Hightower.”

64. Eric Wood – OC – Louisville – “We need all the o-line help we can get. I took an offensive tackle with my first round pick, and I’m going with a center here. We need both starter caliber players and depth at o-line, so this should start us down the right path.”

.

************ROUND 3************

65. Jasper Brinkley – ILB – South Carolina – “6’2″ 260 lbs of pure meaness ! Scouting Report: Great at stuffing the hole and dropping a runningback in their tracks. Is very good in pass coverage and rushing the quarterback. When he is at full speed he can run under 4.7 in the 40, a scary element to go along with being 6’2” and 260 pounds. It is definitely not fun for opposing running backs to see Brinkley coming their way. Nor is he fun to see in blitz packages, as Brinkley is great at getting into the backfield and taking care of quarterbacks.”

66. Mike Mickens – CB – Cincinnati – “I didn’t take a corner in the second round because I figured I could get Mickens here.  He’s the same as Darius Butler or Alphonso Smith to me.  The Rams will also have Justin King, who didn’t play at all last year because of a toe injury. Mickens will add some much needed depth to our secondary.”

67. Joaquin Iglesias – WR – Oklahoma – “Chiefs needs…QB? Check.  LB? Double-check!  Another solid receiver will really help this team. Igleasias is a reliable WR and can make the big plays.  He can stretch the field and can make tough catches in traffic.”

68. Rashad Johnson – S – Alabama – “Johnson hasn’t got the greatest speed and isn’t huge, but possesses game awareness, intelligence and leadership. He can play FS/SS/ST and was once a running back. I figure we’d put him at SS and move Deon Grant back to FS dumping Russell on the bench or offloading him. Both our starting safeties are in their 30s.”

69. Pat White – QB/WR – West Vriginia – “Pat White was very productive in college, and also proved his raw skill at the combine. White is an underrated passer, and can give Dallas a dynamic player to replace TO. White’s mobility from the QB position and ability to make plays from the slot receiver position would take pressure off of everyone. A Wildcat offense with one of the better college QBs in recent memory? Great value at the beginning of the 3rd”

70. Antoine Caldwell – C – Alabama – “I need a center and my three are gone, so I am using George Young’s theory that you take a long time starter at an elite program.  I could have taken Shipley, but the short arms may be a detriment against the division’s nose tackles.”

.

.

71. Kraig Urbik – G – Wisconsin – “Although he is listed as a guard, he can play either guard or tackle and that is what sold me. Wisconsin seems to produce a good lineman every year and Urbik is the next in line. He has a big fram at 6-6 335 but is surprisingly athletic and can move decent. Oakland has to replace the right side of their line with Cooper Crlisle getting old and Cornell Green somehow remaining on the roster let alone starting.”

72. Mohamed Massaquoi – WR – Georgia – “I addressed two of my top needs when I took a corner in the first round and a running back in the second round. The only other thoughts I had here besides wide receiver were defensive line and offensive line but I felt that either way I went there would be too much of a reach. I debated between Massaquoi and Derrick Williams but decided that I’d go with Massaquoi because he had faced better defenses in his college career and because of this would probably be better prepared for the NFL.”

73. Alex Boone – OT – Ohio St. – “Alex Boone is a massive (6’8” 330) OT from The Ohio State University. He is a very big, strong, aggressive and smart lineman. Coaches say he is a student of the game and spends hours in the film room. He will most likely be moved to RT in the NFL because he lacks the ideal speed for a LT. The Packers vacancy at RT is enormous with loss of Mark Taucher, who had been starting since his rookie season after an injury to Earl Dotson. Boone has great upside if he can improve his speed. He can become an effective pass protector because of his combination of footwork and balance. For now, he’ll slot in most likely on the ride side and compete with Tony Moll and Breno Giancomini (my personal favorite), while an aging Chad Clifton will holster the left side for a couple more seasons.”

74. Shonn Greene – RB – Iowa – “Greene fits the role perfectly of the power RB Coach Singletary wants in his offense.  Along w/OC Jimmy Raye, they want a bigger RB to compliment Frank Gore.  The 2-back system is just about a necessity in the NFL nowadays…if you can spread the carries out, you save a lot of wear ‘n tear on them.  Greene will also improve what has been a weak short yardage game.  His consistency at Iowa is as impressive as his figure…5-11, 235.”

75. Josh  Freeman – QB – Kansas St. – “This is not one of the real need picks for the Bills, but a value pick too good to let pass. Why? I am no sold on Trent Edwards, nor the current back-ups (who are they?), as the ultimate answers at QB for Bills. Edwards is a great student, quick to learn and apply in game settings, and a good leader. However he has been injury-prone throughout his care er, and does not have a particularly strong arm. Freeman is a physical specimen, 6’6″, strong with a very strong arm, and is an equally strong leader. I think he has more of the tools needed to win in Buffalo in the wonderful winter wonderland weather! Besides, he could step on TO if need be!”

76. Derrick Williams – WR – Penn St. – “I was considering a defensive player here but with Lito Sheppard, Jim Leonhard and Bart Scott helping to fill the voids on defense the Jets had at their respective positions.  Young Derrick although he never lived up to his ridiculous hype that he had when he arrived at Penn State won’t be asked to do as much with Rex Ryan’s run-first philosophy and with the Jets being a team that’s content to throw short quick passes, a man with his athleticism and excellent changing of direction could be a viable player for the Jets for sure.  You can even have him alongside Leon Washington returning kickoffs.”

77. Lawrence Sidbury Jr. – DE – Richmond – “Signing DE Antonio Smith away from the Cardinals should only be phase one of the Texans’ pass rush makeover.  By far the best DE left on the board, Sidbury will be an excellent member of the D-line rotation.  He’s more of a speed rusher, which is good because it will bring a great change of pace off the bench in pass rush situations.
While it’s true that Sidbury didn’t play against elite competition, he was often dominant against whoever he faced.  He notched FOUR SACKS in his team’s FCS (formerly I-AA) Championship-winning game in 2008, proving he can step it up in big game situations.
The Texans figure to continue their practice of rotating the defensive line.  He can bring the heat off the bench, and help keep offenses off-balance by causing problems for coaches who are already trying to find ways to handle Mario Williams.

78. Coye Francis – CB – San Jose St. – “We usually go with a ‘best player available’ approach in the draft unless there is a certain position that we really need to address. That year this position was DT, and seeing how I filled that hole with my first pick and Francis is the best player available in my opinion he is who I went with.

.

79. Dorell Scott – DT – Clemson – “Listed at 6’4″ and 320 lbs. Scott should go a long way to helping Denver mend their defensive woes.  There were some tempting options and Denver considered CB Asher Allen out of Georgia as well but the defensive front needs the most help immediately and Scott is a gem at this point in the draft.”

.

80. Marcus Freeman – OLB – Ohio St. –

.

.

.

81. Sammie Lee Hill – DT – Stillman – “Bucs could use a big DT to help Hovan & somebody that can help stop the run & put pressure on the QB. Somebody that’s much better than Jovan Haye was last year (who doesn’t even have the size for a DT). Sammie Lee Hill is a big DT that the Bucs need who’s similar to Albert Haynesworth. He’s 6’4 330 lbs. I’m sure not many people have heard of him because he’s from a small college but I think he’d do well in the NFL & with the Bucs D. He even helped rescue a man from a burning building, now that’s saying something about the guy.”

82. Tyrone McKenzie – OLB – South Florida – “With the 82nd pick the Detroit Lions continue to shore up their defense and add to the premier DT BJ Raji and stellar MLB Jasper Brinkley picked previously Outside Linebacker Tyrone Mckenzie of South Florida. An athletically gifted linebacker who runs well and has excellent sideline to sideline range. I also looked at OL and WR here but expect to be able to pick usable NFL caliber individuals in later rounds.”

83. Captain Munnerlyn – CB – South Carolina – “Charles Woodson is 32 and Al Harris is 34 so this is a plan-for-the-future pick. We have Will Blackmon, Tramon Williams, and Atari Bigby, who are all in their mid 20s, so adding Munnerlyn to the group gives us a great CB corp for the future.”

.

84. Troy Kropog – OT Tulane.

I’ll tell you right now, I have no idea who this guy is. But I looked up some OT prospects – which is something the Bears could use and this guys name came up as a second or third round option. Obviously nobody else really knows who it is because he hasn’t been picked yet. I figure he can now block for his old Tulane teammate Matt Forte. He’s pretty tall at 6’5″, but weighs 309 pounds. So ideally he could use another 10 or so for an NFL OT.

85. Travis Beckum – TE – Wisconsin – “No DE worth taking here, and Beckum is a good receiving TE that’ll contribute in the passing game immediately.”

.

.

86. Gerald Cadogan – OT – Penn St. – “We need help at both OT and OC but I thought Cadogan was definitely my best choice from those two positions. Bryant McKinnie and Artis Hicks will both be 30 when the season starts and backup OT, Marcus Johnson is a free agent. So we need both somebody who can provide depth now and be built into a starter for the future and I think Cadogan fits the bill.”

87. Louis Murphy – WR – Florida – “Well the choice was pretty hard because we are still hurting in a few places, but we needed another good receiver to back up Bess and Ginn in case of injury.  Hopefully he will be able to fill those shoes well.”

.

.

88. Kevin Barnes – CB – Maryland – “I’m a homer, so I’m sticking with the hometown theme the Ravens have set. Plus I’m anticipating Samari Rolle is gone and Dominic Foxworth will need some help. Ravens choose: Kevin Barnes, CB, MD. He has great speed, is a sure tackler and outstanding corner cover in college.  He could compete for nickelback in rookie year. This is much needed depth in the secondary with Rolle, McAllister and Ivy outta here.”

89. Xavier Fulton – OT – Illinois – “He has only been an O-Lineman for 2 seasons. Has the size and speed, but he has much to learn. Current OT’s Matt Light and Nick Kaczur are now 30 and 31. He should have the time to learn under them.”

.

90. James Casey – TE – Rice – “This is an absolute steal in my opinion. I think Casey is one of the best TEs in the draft this year. I’m not sold on Ben Hartsock, Jason Rader or Justin Peelle and none of them are exactly really young. Casey will give Matt Ryan a nice big target to throw to in short yardage situations and down near the endzone.”

91. Darcel McBath – FS – Texas Tech – “This was a really hard decision here. I considered going in a lot of different directions with this pick. WR, OT, OLB, CB, ILB and FS were all positions I was strongly considering. I didn’t feel that there were any OTs or ILBs left worth using this pick on with the players that were available at the other positions I mentioned. I went with FS because we literally only have two safeties on the roster right now after losing James Butler to free agency. Our secondary as a whole is thin right now with Sammy Knight, Sam Madison and RW McQuarters all free agents and Kevin Dockery being a restricted free agent. I filled the hole at SS with Chung so I went with McBath to fill the hole at FS.”

92. Vance Walker – DT – Georgia Tech – “Wilfork, Seymour and Jarvis Green are all entering their final year of their contracts in 2009.   There will be no way the Pats can keep them all under the cap. I’m expecting they will keep Wilfork and Seymour will be a FA. He should fit best in a 3-4 Defense.”

.

93. Ricky Jean-Francois – DT – LSU – “Darwin Walker is a free agent which basically leaves us with just three DTs on the roster. Maake Kemoeatu and Damione Lewis are the two starters and they’re 30 and 31 respectively. Backup Gary Gibson is only 26 but is also a restricted free agent. Ricky Jean-Francois should help solve these problems and taking Jarron Gilbert with my second round pick means I’m on my way to fixing our d-line issues. I also considered going o-line here but thought the d-line was was more pressing of a need.”

94. Shawn Nelson – TE – Southern Miss – “This is a no brainer for me as he is the third TE  on some lists.  Unlike the kids from Rice and South Carolina, he will attempt to block someone.  He has soft hands, is quick, and is not just an overgrown wide receiver.  He will learn from Crumpler for a year or two and then be good to go.”

.

95. Cody Brown – OLB – Connecticut – “We really need help at LB, and definitely at OLB. I thought about going o-line here but thought a defensive pick would be a good idea since I hadn’t addressed that side of the ball yet. We are thin at OLB and we need starter talent. I don’t know if Brown will be able to start right away but he’ll at least help provide some depth and should get some good playing time and would also probably be pretty useful on coverage teams.”

96. Asher Allen – CB – Georgia – “We lost Bryant McFadden in free agency which really hurts. We still have Ike Taylor and Deshea Townsend but Townsend is 33. Fernando Bryant is 31. It’s definitely time to start looking at some corners. I considered going o-line or d-line here as well but I think Allen was one of the top three players left so I couldn’t pass him up.”

.

97. Nic Harris – SS – Oklahoma – “Not a cornerback, not really a linebacker, and not built like a true safety.  But, he can tackle and is versatile, and that has the making of someone who can fit into the Patriot system.”

.

.

98. Scott McKillop – ILB – Pittsburgh – “Not the fastest MLB, but he gets to the ball and makes the tackle.”

.

.

.

99. Michael Hamlin – SS – Clemson

Saftey is another position I would say the Bears could use. They cut ties with longtime starting safety Mike Brown this offseason and I’m unsure exactly what the plan is to replace him. They have signed Josh Bullocks, formerly of the New Orleans Saints. The other safety position has Kevin Payne – who had 89 tackles last year, but I’m not completely sold on him. Hamlin was a 4-year starter at Clemson and has six interceptions last year as a senior. I’d be happy with him on the Bears.

100. Dannell Ellerbe – ILB – Georgia – “Linebacker is definitely one of our top needs, and while OLB is a higher priority, I think that this pick is a great value.”

.

.

************ROUND 4************

101.Keenan Lewis – CB – Oregon St. – “The Pac 10 isnt as big on talent as the Big XII or the SEC, but does feature some good pass catchers and quite a few pro-style offenses. Lewis has seen significant playing time for 4 years yet still hasnt turned 23 and has a lot of work ethic. He is a very smart player, and more than held his own at Senior Bowl practice. A tough corner in the mold of Anthony Henry, whom Dallas traded away in the Jon Kitna deal. Lewis could pick up the Cowboy defense quickly and challenge for the 3rd Corner spot with Orlando Scandrick, assuming 2008 1st rounder Mike Jenkins holds on to the #2 spot.”

102. Gerald McRath – ILB – Southern Miss – “We need help at both inside linebacker and outside linebacker. I drafted Aaron Curry in the first round who can really play either, but will most likely play outside and now McRath can help him out on the inside.”

.

.

103. Mike Thomas – WR – Arizona – “Since we released our leading receiver, Torry Holt, I think it would be best to take a WR here. I probably would’ve addressed this earlier if I knw Holt was going to get cut. Obviously Thomas is no Holt, but maybe he can step in and be what Drew Bennett was supposed to be when we signed him. Maybe he can also return some kicks.”

.

104. Chip Vaughn – SS – Wake Forest – “Hard hitting strong Safety.  As far as I know, we currently have exactly 2 safeties on the roster, and this guy will compete for a starting spot immediately with Mike Adams.  Thought about a TE or or a WR but with another pick in this round, i thought I would get some value there and I think there is a serious drop off in safety talent after this guy.”

.

105. Andy Levitre – OG – Oregon St. – “Given that the personnel output from the state of Washington this year is as spectacular as the combined win total for the state, picking an Oregon State guy is the closest thing we have have to a local boy (even if he does come from Cal). I imagine he’s gone off a lot of peoples radar after the Senior Bowl, but was played at RT for that game (and clearly that is beyond him). Apparently he has one of the best first pushes in the draft and would do better with someone to the right of him. Right tackles we have anyway. It’s a left we need.”

106. Matt Shaughnessy – DE – Wisconsin – “Not a flashy player, but stout and tough.”

.

.

.

107. Trevor Canfield – OG – Cincinnati – “Offensive guard is one of our top two remaining needs since I’ve alread draft a corner, running back and wide receiver. Canfield is the best guard availiable in my opinion.”

.

.

108. Mitch King – DE/OLB – Iowa – “Our top two needs at this point are outside linebacker and defensive end. Mitch King can play either. We run a 3-4, so he’d probably work best at the oustide linebacker position but he can definitely play either.”

.

.

109. David Bruton – FS – Notre Dame – “4.46 40 time. 41+ inch verticle. Great young, athletic safety. Ballhawk on defense and great special teams player. He has great range and is fantastic when allowed to roam free. He was a 2 year starter at ND where he finished with over 200 tackles. He’ll need to put on a little weight and improve his hands a bit but a nice looking safety for the Packers.”

110. Phillip Hunt – DE – Houston – “The defensive player of the year in his conference, Hunt brings the Bills a significant upside for their pass rush. Quick off the snap and blessed with excellent closing speed, Hunt will provide another pass rush specialist for a team having a dire need in this area. Although a bit undersized right now, he has the frame to add more muscle and his speed should not be negatively impacted. He is rising up the NFL draft boards and is a possible 3rd round pick in April.”

.

111. Alex Magee – DT – Purdue – “Magee will give the Niners some good flexibility on their DL.  He’s a big body, but at 6-5 @ 300 lbs (much like Kentwan Balmer) he can play DE or DT.  He has the frame to add weight and play NT, which will give Coach Singletary a nice option to starter Abrayo Franklin in time. Magee’s a very solid DL whose role should grow after a season or two of mentoring from DL Coach Tomsula.”

.

112. Rashad Jennings – RB – Liberty – “It’s absolutely astounding that this guy is still on the board here.  Most draft sites I use have him going in the 2nd, and some have him in the 3rd.  The Texans need a good fit for their zone-blocking scheme, and more specifically – they need a
bigger back to compliment Steve Slaton – a guy who can grind it out in short-distance yardage situations.

Jennings is 6-1, 231 pounds.  He doesn’t have elite speed, but he’s VERY quick to and through the holes.   He’s literally a perfect one-cut power runner, and would be an absolute STEAL in the fourth round,  but when the real draft comes, I think he’ll go much earlier.  The Texans are thrilled to get him here.”

113. Fenuki Tupou – OT – Oregon – “Offensive tackle is our top need at this point and he’s also decent value with this pick.”

.

.

114. David Veikune – DE – Hawaii – “I took Paul Kruger earlier, who we will be able to turn into an outside linebacker and keep the less versatile, Veikune, at his natural position of defensive end.”

.

.

115. Kyle Moore – DE – USC – “Defensive end is one of our top two needs at this point. I thought about grabbing another receiver but Derrick Williams I decided to go d-line this time.”

.

.

116. Sherrod Martin – FS – Troy – “Our defense needs help everywhere and Martin is one of the top three players still on the board in my opinion so I couldn’t pass on him.”

.

.

117. Jason Phillips – ILB – TCU – “May slide a little bit because of a knee injury, but Phillips is a good player and a great value for this far into the draft. His injury isnt as bad as Maualuga’s, and Phillips also was in the middle of one of the nation’s best defenses. Not a physical freak, but alongside Bradie James and DeMarcus Ware he need only be hard-working, smart, healthy, and efficient. Theres not much doubt he can be. Played a lot over his time at TCU (is the school’s all-time leading tackler) and is the kind of guy who leads with his play and not with his mouth, something the Cowboys locker room desperately needs.”

118. Jonathan Casillas – OLB – Wisconsin – “Like I mentioned with my last pick, we need a ton of help on defense. I have now taken three defensive players, and plan on taking more. This should help.”

.

.

119. Chris Baker – DT – Hampton – I’ve never seen Baker play, and the fact that he went to Hampton scares me a little bit. But he weighs 326 pounds – which is a plus – and he sounds like a very good athlete for his size. He ran a 5.02 in the 40 and posted a 35.5 inch vertical. I don’t think I could post that vertical and I’m a pretty good leaper who weighs half of what Baker does. Health at DT has been a problem for the Bears. The more depth they have there, the better they probably are.

120. Domonique Johnson – CB – Jackson St. – “NO PHILLIP BUCHANON, RONDE BARBER IS SLOWING DOWN (showed last year) & even though they have Talib he’s inexperienced.  Only other CB they have is ELBERT MACK who was an undradfted FA last year who didn’t see the field much last year & TORRIE COX has had a history of knee injuries.  It’s pretty sad when Buchanon is leaving for Detroit who has had a hard time winning gmaesfor a while  now. HAVE FUN BUCHANON!  Plus Domonique Johnson is a fast CB which they can use now that Barber is slwoing down & who knows how much longer he’ll be around.”

.

121. Maurice Evans – DE – Penn St. – “In 2007 Evans looked like a 1st round lock. A run-in with the law and his job lost to Aaron Maybin put Evans stock waaaay down. If he keeps his nose clean he’s a steal.”

.

.

122. Zack Follett – OLB – California – “It’s not exactly a well-kept secret that the Texans need an OLB in this draft.  What’s not discussed quite as much is that there’s actually room
for the team to draft TWO linebackers, and with Follett still on the board – I can’t possibly pass him up.  He plays with incredible aggression, and he has the frame to hold another 10-15 pounds of muscle, according to scouting reports.  First round pick Clay Matthews along with Follett, plus returning linebackers Zac Diles, Xavier Adibi, Kevin Bentley, and DeMeco
Ryans give the Texans quite a linebacker corps if the drafted guys work out like I think they would.

I had every intention of taking a safety with this pick, but one of the only players I would have taken ahead of my target safety is Follett.  I think he’s going to be a hell of a player, and it’s my hope that he can bulk up a little, improve his coverage skills, and be in the mix to play the strong-side linebacker position.”

123. Jason Williams – OLB – Western Illinois – The Ravens lost Bart Scott, Nick Greisen,  and Robert McCune all to free agency.  Williams can help alleviate some of those holes.

.

.

124. Cornelius Ingram – TE – Florida –  “The Patriots will select at least one Tight End in this year’s draft.  I would be surprised to see Ben Watson back after the ’09 season.  Ingram tore his ACL in August and is on the comeback trail.  He’s a gamble, but one that has the potential to pay off if he can prove his health.”

.

125. Kaluka Maiava – OLB – USC – “We need some help/depth at linebacker and Maiava was the best OLB left on the board at this point, I think.”

.

.

.

126. Jason Watkins – OT –  Florida –Amid the calls for an enforced time limit, I (Bryan) am making this pick.  I’ve heard from a couple places that Oakland will be looking at OT at some point.  As of right now, The Raiders have yet to take a true tackle, but they picked up a solid guard/tackle in Kraig Urbik at pick 71.  Watkins might be able to develop into a good option for them.

127. Patrick Turner – WR – USC – “A big target at 6 foot 5 and 220 pounds.  Not a speedy guy but a very good route runner who should be great for the intermediate routes.  Also, with loss of Joe Jurevicious, Kellen Winslow and maybe Donte Stallworth, we are in trouble for ball catchers. Plus, Braylon Edwards will be a free agent at the end of next year.  This guy will be the begininng of a re-build at the pass catching positions.”

128. Anthony Hill – TE – North Carolina St. – “Probably a reach here, but my other Tight End had been taken.  The Panthers are in need of a TE and Hill is from a home state school.”

.

.

129.Jeremiah Johnson – RB – Oregon – “Johnson will be a good change of pace back for the G-Men.”

.

.

.

130. Brandon Long – DE/OLB – Michigan State – “The Titans need linebacking help and also guys to rush the passer.  Long has good speed, good measurables, and seems to just be starting to live up to his potential.  He dazzled at the Pro Day.”

.

.

131. T.J. Lang – G – Eastern Michigan – “You can never have too much depth at O-Line,  I now have a new center and guard to block for my first rounder, LeSean McCoy.  Lang can back up Reggie Wells or push him for a starting role.”

.

132. Austin Collie – WR – BYU – “The loss of Nate Washington and Hines Ward’s age caused me to make this pick.  Ward and Holmes are the go-to guys.  Maybe Limas Sweed catches more than 6 passes.  Hopefully Collie can step in a give Big Ben another option.”

.

133. Brandon Tate – WR – North Carolina – “The other wide receiver from North Carolina.  Tate can take some pressure off Vincent Jackson and Chris Chambers.”

.

.

134. Courtney Greene – SS – Rutgers – “Another depth move.  Greene can help push Clinton Hart and Steve Gregory or, best case, become the starter.”

.

.

135. Myron Pryor – DT – Kentucky – “He is short, he is stumpy, and he is a load!  He is not Albert Haynesworth, but as Washington may find out, he plays every down.  The defensive line on TN is going to be a more rotational thing this year and Pryor should help fill the gap.”

.

136. Augustus Parrish – OT – Kent State – “We still need o-line depth and I’m still not sold on Charlie Johnson or Tony Ugoh. Parrish can play both OT and OG which obviously helps with the depth seeing how it adds it to 4 of the 5 o-line spots. Also when Jeff Saturday retires (he’s going to be 34 years old in June) this will help because Mike Pollak, Steve Justice or Jamey Richard will take over the starting center spot, one will be a starting guard, and the other will be a back-up, which will take away from our depth even more. Parrish is a bit of a reach here, but I think it should pay off. The only other positions I would have considered here are CB or MLB.”

************ROUND 5************

137. Javon Ringer – RB – Michigan St. – “I’m picking Javon Ringer over Andre Brown.  I read that Ringer can’t change direction much, but if he put in almost a record time for a RB in the shuttle drill, I figure that might have more to do with the injury he’s coming off.  Brown can block where Ringer can’t so much, but historically, I can’t remember us having a RB that could cut, get through holes, put on the burners like Ringer can since, well, Curt Warner, I suppose…What’s he doing still here in Round 5?  Good Welsh name too, Ringer.”

138.  Frantz Joseph – ILB – Florida Atlantic – “The Rams want to move Will Witherspoon to the outside, something I wasn’t aware of, nor do I understand.  That means that last year’s Mr. Irrelevant, David Vobora, would get a starting spot.  Joseph will give him some competitionn.”

.

139. Andre Brown – RB – NC State – “There is absolutely no way that Brown should have fallen to the 5th round. He is arguably one of the top 5 backs in the years draft. On top of that, I don’t think much of Larry Johnson.  We drafted Jamaal Charles last year and I like to think he’s going to be good.  Brown gives the Chiefs a second option, maybe a chance at a two back system.”

.

140. James Davis – RB – Clemson – “Now that it looks like our quarterback is going to be traded, we will probably be running the ball a lot more this year. James Davis will help us out with that.”

.

.

141.Aaron Kelly – WR – Clemson – “Measured 6’5 205 at the combine and ran in the 4.4’s. Suffered through Clemson’s terrible season in 08 but he’ll be a great redzone target.”

.

142. Cedric Peerman – RB – Virginia – “

.

.

.

143. Derek Pegues – FS – Mississippi St. – “We need a lot help at both safety positions and Pegues should be able to aid us a little. I also thought about going with a center here or going d-line, but Pegues is arguably one of the top 5 remaining players at this point.”

.

.

144. Cameron Morrah – TE – California – “I know we have 4 TEs on our roster, but behind Marcedes Lewis, none of them are good (and Lewis is debatable).  Morrah can be a reliable backup and will allow us to get rid of the dead weight.”

.

145. Jon Cooper – C – Oklahoma –

.

.

.

146. Glover Quin – CB – New Mexico – “There’s a saying in the NFL…that you can never have too many CB’s.  It’s true…so Quin’s a guy who was All-MWC first team.  Good speed, nose for the ball, and stout enough to stick his nose into ball carriers, bring ’em down plus handle the big WR’s.  The Niners need someone to step up and move veteran Walt Harris back to a nickel or dime, and this kid will compete to do that.”

.

147. Daniel Holtzclaw – ILB – Eastern Michigan – “This is a depth pick for the Bills. Holtzclaw started at middle linebacker from his first college game and led his team in tackles each season. He is big enough to play inside in the NNL, but also as adequate quickness and ability to drop into coverage to make the move outside. He will be a valuable back-up and special teams player, with enough upsode to potentially develop into a starter.”

148. Brandon Williams – DE – Texas Tech – “

.

.

.

149. Tyronne Green – OG – Auburn – “My only other thoughts here were wide receiver or center. If there had been a really good safety still available I guess I would have taken him, but taking a guard adresses one of our top remaining need.”

.

150. Joel Bell – OT – Furman – “He’s the best offensive tackle still available and that’s easily our top need at this point. I don’t think it’s really a reach at all at this point in the draft either.”

.

.

151. Jarett Dillard – WR – Rice – “Outside linebacker and wide receiver are the two positions I considered drafting here. Cornerback and maybe a tight end if the right player was available but receiver and olb were the two positions I was really looking for.”

.

152. Bear Pascoe – TE – Fresno St. – “The Texans need a blocking TE, and Pascoe is a EVASTATING blocker.  He’s also a special teams demon, and has a phenomenal work ethic.  In short, he’s a perfect fit for the Texans, who will always use special teams ability as a tiebreaker if all other things are equal.”

.

153. Terrence Knighton – DT- Temple – “The Eagles use smaller, quick DT’s. But at 317 lbs, Knighton ran a 4.93 so athleticism is no problem.”

.

.

154. Antone Smith – RB – Florida State

Yes, we have Matt Forte, Kevin Jones and even Garrett Wolfe, but Smith’s physical tools jumped off the page at me when I was looking at running back prospects. At Florida State’s Pro Day he ran 4.33 seconds in the 40, benched 225 pounds 31 times, had a 32-inch vertical and broad jumped 10′ 2″. The Bears could always use better athletes in my mind – and Smith seems to fit the role of athlete very well. He could definitely make an impact on kick coverage teams with that kind of speed and strength.

155. Louis Vazquez – G – Texas Tech –  “6’5″ 330 lbs.  Enough said.  Nobody was able to get any pressure on Graham Harrell becayse of this Texas Tech offensvie line & the Bucs O-line plays like a bunch of girls.  My 86 year-old grandmother could get pressure on the QB & register a sack against them.  Bucs need to do ometihng about Jeremy Trueblood.  John Abraham kicked his @SS in the Atlanta game at the end of the year recoring 3 sacks on Trueblood.  I know some may be wondering why I haven’t selected a QB.  Bucs should consider giving McConw & Johnson a chance.  If they draft another QB they’d have 3 inexperienced QBs no older than 27 they should work with what they have now. 

156. Rhett Bomar – QB – Sam Houston St. – “Dallas has Romo and Kitna, but the latter of the two wont be here long at all. Already took Pat White, but who is to say what he will be able to and at what position he will able to do it. Bomar was the #1 recruit out of HS and played well at OU before he had to leave, then continued to play well at SHSU. Big arm and the confidence it takes to lead America’s Team. He is much more mature and very athletic. And I like how he handled the OU scandal; its not like playing for Dallas keeps you out of the headlines. Little doubt he’ll be the 2nd or 3rd best QB out of this class.”

157. Kory Sheets – RB – Purdue – “His receiving skills and quickness out of the backfield should be a perfect compliment to our future feature back Chris Wells.”

.

.

158. Emanuel Cook – SS – South Carolina – “There were quite a few positions I was looking at taking with this pick but I think among those available at the positions I was considering Emanuel Cook got me the best value from the pick as well.”

.

159. Jason McCourty – CB – Rutgers – “5’11 190 and ran a 4.32 at his pro day. He’ll take a little time to develop but he can be a solid special teams guy until then.”

.

.

160. Corvey Irvin – DT – Georgia – “I also thought about going offenisve guard here and if the right players would have been available I’d have looked at another safety or defensive end. Irvin went to Georgia and we can keep him in state by drafting him to the Falcons.”

.

161. Brandon Underwood – FS – Cincinnati – “I really wanted to take a safety here and Underwood is the best one available and I don’t feel like it’s a reach at all to get him here.”

.

.

162. Michael Bennett – DE – Texas A&M – “I definitely wanted to go defensive line with this pick and it was either Michael Bennett or Terrance Taylor. I settled on Bennett because I think he would fit better in our defense.”

.

TRADE NOTICE: The Panthers traded their current pick (163 overall) to the Colts for the Colts 7th round pick (236 overall) this year and next years 5th round pick.

163.  Ramses Barden – WR – Cal Poly – “This was an easy pick for me here. This is an absolute steal in my opinion. He’s 6’6 and I think would be much higher on people’s draft boards if he hadn’t gone to an FCS school just because he hasn’t had the opportunity to prove himself against better competition yet. He’s big, strong and powerful, but much quicker and more athletic than you’d expect from somebody with his size.”

164. Morgan Trent – CB – Michigan – “I was hoping Morgan Trent would fall to me. I was worried that the Panthers were going to take him but then they traded out of the pick. I thought about going OLB here or maybe TE but I would have had to reach for either of those positions and getting Trent here is a steal so it wasn’t a hard decision.”

165. Joe Burnett – CB/KR – Central Florida – “This is a reach but I got a lot of value out of the Ramses Barden pick so I’m not too worried about it. On top of that I think this is just a reach based on his cornberback skills. That’s not what I’m drafting him for. I’m definitley drafting him for his returner abilities. He was named first-team all-american by multiple sources as a return man. I have absolutely no faith in keiwan ratliff as a returner. He sucks. Three fumbled punts in one game? Come on, that’s pathetic. They could just stick me out there and tell me to fair catch everything. Now with Burnett and Pierre Garcon coming back from injury, the two of them will be able to compete for the starting return man spot or will be able to share the duties.”

166. Nick Reed – LB – Oregon – “He didnt get invited to the combine, but he is productive and can play. Reminds me of another undersized Pac-10 DE who made a name for himself at LB, Tedy Bruschi. He may be able to play OLB or ILB at the next level. Between him and Jason Phillips (the TCU LB i took earlier) one of these guys is bound to be an NFL-caliber player. Reed is a pass-rusher, something you can never have too much of, and is good in space. Hes also only 21 and still was very productive in college at DE.”

167. DeAngelo Smith – CB – Cincinnati – “It seems like a lot of defensive backs are being taken now and it’s something that I need to address so I thought I’d grab one before they’re all gone. Smith is also a great value here so I couldn’t pass him up. Easy decision.”

.

168. Terrance Taylor – DT – Michigan – “Our biggest needs a easily on both lines. The offensive line needs improvement and the defensive line needs improvment. I’ve already taken two offensive linemen, so now I’m taking a defensive lineman that I feel like I’m getting pretty good value out of as well.”

.

169. Jaimie Thomas – OG – Maryland – “Like I mentioned in the pick just before this one, the lines are our biggest needs. I’ve drafted a tackle. I’ve drafted a center. Now I’m drafting a guard. Our o-line was so bad last year that I’m definitely justified in doing this. Thomas is also a decent value at this spot.

.

170. Glen Coffee – RB – Alabama – “It is pretty safe to say that he probably made a big mistake coming out early, since he is still out there in Round 5.  Has an odd build to him, and I think would be best used a pass blocker, if he could make it off the practice squad.”

.

171. John Parker Wilson – QB – Alabama – “Wilson had his ups and downs at Alabama…but, he has the makings of a decent NFL QB.  He played four years in the SEC…and QB’s in that conference face tough competition just about every week.  A mature senior, he’ll get an opportunity to compete for a b/u position with the Niners.”

.

172. CJ Davis – OG – Pittsburgh – “a little undersized, but with Dallas’s big OLine it wont be a big deal. Mature, team leader type. Blocked for McCoy. Very tough in the running blocks”

.

.

173. Sebastian Vollmer – OT – Houston –

.

.

.

************ROUND 6************

174. Mike Wallace – WR/KR – Mississippi – “They need his 4.3 speed for the return game and as a 3rd receiver.Like most other aspects of Detroit’s game an improvement is required here.”

.

.

175. A.Q. Shipley – OC – Penn St. – “After taking two linebackers and two offensive skill position players I had to go o-line here. Offensive tackle and center are probably two of our top three or four needs. I think Shipley will be a good late round pick up as well.”

.

.

176. Otis Wiley – SS – Michigan St. – “I would have preferred to take an offensive guard here, but there wasn’t one of good value and I’d have considered taking a defensive lineman but I had the same problem.”

.

.

177. Lardarius Webb – DB – Nicholls St. – “

.

.

.

178. Lee Robinson -OLB – Alcorn State – “Positionally, the pick wasn’t that difficult.  The Julian Peterson trade leaves us a LB short.  I had narrowed the suspects down to two after my pick 5 had gone, and liked the look of both Lee Robinson and Orion Martin from Virginia Tech.  I figured that although a DE at college, Martin sems to be projected as an OLB by most pundits.  If the vacancy was as a direct replacement for JP then I’d be looking for a potential sack-meister, and the selection of Martin might work.  But I’m not likely to find a perennial pro-bowler in round 6 and Robinson appears to fit our current defensive scheme better.  Martin would probably cope better in a 3-4.

Robinson also appears scarily like a “Tim Ruskell guy” and rounds 6 and 7 for us are really about finding unexpected gems, and that’s as likely out of a small college team as the large.”

179. Stanley Amoux – LB – Wake Forest –

.

.

.

180. Clinton McDonald – DT – Memphis State – “

.

.

.

181. Jerraud Powers – CB – Auburn – “This is the second corner I’ve taken in this draft and it’s because we need it. Hopefully Powers can come in and at least provide some more depth.”

.

.

182. Maurice Crum – LB – Notre Dame – “

.

.

.

.

183. Roger Allen – OG – Missouri Western St. – “The dominant offensive lineman in small college football, Allen brings an ideal combination of size, athletic ability, attitude and leadership to be an outstanding guard in the NFL. He plays nasty and loves the game! Apart from his not having played against consistently top-flight competition throughout his college career, Allen might have been rated a top 5 pick at his position. He adds immediate OL depth for the Bills and the prospect of becoming a long-term starter.”

184. Marko Mitchell – WR  -Nevada – Mitchell’s a big WR (6-4, 213), but has some nice speed (4.46 40), 57 catches, 1011 yds (@ 18 ypc), 9 TD’s. Last year, the Niners hit paydirt in the 6th rd drafting Josh Morgan, who looks
to have a very bright future.  Mitchell could be lighting in a bottle for the second straight year. Nevada.  Mitchell’s a big WR (6-4, 213), but
has some nice speed (4.46 40), 57 catches, 1011 yds (@ 18 ypc), 9 TD’s. Last year, the Niners hit paydirt in the 6th rd drafting Josh Morgan, who looks to have a very bright future.  Mitchell could be lighting in a bottle for
the second straight year.

185. Stephen McGee – QB – Texas A&M – “I don’t think this requires much explanation. He’s the best quarterback available and I need one.”

.

.

.

186. Cecil Newton – OC/OG – Tennessee State – “

.

.

.

187. Greg Paulus – QB – Duke – “http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4067162” Our Packers rep wanted this to be known. All he has to say is “Wow.” and wanted me to put up a link to this site: http://www.firetedthompsonnow.com/

.

188. Chris Clemons – SS – Clemson – “Nice value pick here, and a guy that could be solid depth or even be groomed to take over the starting position when Eugene Wilson’s time in Houston is over.  Clemons isn’t a big hitter, but he’s a reliable tackler, has good instincts, and has proven to be durable throughout his college career.

.

189. Andy Kemp – OG – Wisconsin – “It was either an offensive guard, a center or and outside linebacker so to me Kemp was the clear choice.”

.

.

.

190. Brennan Marion – WR – Tulsa – “NO REASON TO DRAFT A QB NOW WITH LEFTWICH COMING IN! Marion set all kinds of C-USA records over the last 2 years. Over the last 2 years hes had 82 catches for 2356 yards (28.9 avg.) & 19 TDs. I know he just suffered an injury recently but hes the type of WR the Bucs need. Sure some might think the competition wasnt the greatest but against Arkansas he had 2 catches for 60 yards against East Carolina he had 4 catches for 54 yards against Houston he had 2 catches for 75 yards & a TD. Some may wonder why am I drafting all of these players on offense. Simply because Clayton sucks, Stovall is never used, TE Winslow is always injured & they just signed him to an extension & he hasnt even played a game for them yet, Dexter Jackson did nothing for them last year as a rookie so they need some WRs. Bryant needs some help & is the only good WR right now.”

191. Ian Campbell – DE – Kansas State – “Defensive end is one of our top needs at this point and Campbell will be able to help us out.”

.

.

.

.

192. Greg Isdaner – OG – West Virginia – “The Lions are looking to add depth to their offensive line”

.

.

.

193. Brandon Gibson – WR – Washington State – “We need to take two wide receivers in this draft and this is my second. Gibson is an absolute steal this late. Easy pick.”

.

194. Donald Washington – CB – Ohio State – “At 6’0 197 he ran an average 40 (4.5) but had ridiculous vertical and broad jump #’s. 45” and 11+ feet so you know this kid will be an athletic contributor at some point.“

.

195. Tiquan Underwood – WR – Rutgers – “At 6’2 185 lbs Underwood ran a 4.34 at his pro day. He runs good routes and catches the ball well, an overlooked player because of Kenny Britt’s star status.”

.

196. Nate Davis – QB – Ball State – “Bulger is old and questionable.  We just signed Kyle Boller who is questionable.  Davis can come in an make the QB competition more interesting when Bulger gets hurt, plus he may be able to start one day down the road and at the end of the sixth round, he’s great value.”

.

197. Kenny McKinley- WR- South Carolina – “Great speed, and was very productive during his time at USC. Smaller guy but unafraid to work the middle of the field.”

.

.

198. John Phillips – TE – Virginia – “We’ve already addressed all of our major needs in the draft so this is a luxury pick. I think he’s great value at this point.”

.

.

.

199. Antonio Appleby – ILB – Virginia – “The last time the Patriots had pick #199, some guy named Brady was selected.  Appleby played in a 3-4, is 6’4″ and 243 pounds and can add depth at inside linebacker with this being Tedy Bruschi’s final season.”

.

.

200. Brooks Foster – WR – North Carolina –

.

.

.

201. Louie Sakoda – K/P – Utah – Weller is having internet problems, but he wants Sakoda.  Basically, he hates Adam Vinatieri and says Sakoda can kick and punt.

.

.

202. Dan Gronkowski – TE – Maryland – “I’m taking my second tight end here.  Gronkowski is an excellent blocker and can possibly develop into a good pass catcher.  Works for me in Round 6.”

.

.

203. Cary Harris – CB – USC – “Corner is easily our top need at this point and Harris is an amazing value this late.”

.

.

.

204. Richard Quinn – TE – North Carolina – “It was either a o-tackle or tight end and Quinn was clearly the best choice.”

.

.

.

205. Orion Martin – DE – Virginia Tech – “I had to take a defensive end here.”

.

.

.

206. Kevin Ogletree – WR – Virginia – “

.

.

.

207. Deon Butler – WR – Penn St. – “Some scouts have said he reminds people of Troy Brown.  That’s good enough for me.”

.

.

.

208. Bradley Fletcher – DB – Iowa – “I was thinking about taking Fletcher when i took Keenan Lewis at 101, which shows how highly i value the 2008 All-Big 10 selection. Great ball skills, a lethal size/speed combination, and can make a contribution on special teams. EIther Lewis or Fletcher is bound to turn into an NFL caliber defensive back. Some draft sites have him as high as the 11th best CB. So getting him as the 25th CB taken is a steal.”

.

209. Tony Fiammetta – FB – Syracuse – “I’d say one of the two best players available and is a GREAT value this late, AND fullback is our biggest need at this point.”

.

.