It’s earth day today, and that means companies and people are trying to make themselves feel good and go green. In fact, so are the Detroit Lions as they try to negotiate a contract with Matthew Stafford and give him all the “green” he could ever want. I still strongly believe that the Lions are making a mistake in trying to sign Stafford as he is too big of a gamble for that kind of money he will command. With Jason Smith or even Aaron Curry, you know exactly what you are paying for, or with the city of Detroit being in a huge economic downturn, they could even go after a guy like Brian Orakpo as long as he understands he will be getting pick 5 or 6 type money. Similar to what happened with Mario Williams for the Houston Texans. However, its their money, not mine, and I have never nor never will be a lions fan. So their misfortune is good to me. With that said, here is my mock draft with the strong assumption that the lions will be reaching a deal with Stafford.
- Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford QB
- St. Louis Rams: Jason Smith OT
- Kansas City Chiefs: Aaron Curry OLB – Even in a 3-4 offense, you can easily find a place for a player like Curry
- Seattle Seahawks: Eugene Monroe OT – Some would say that the Seahawks are smarter off drafting their future QB in Sanchez but logic says that Matt Hasselback cant throw the ball to their new WR if he cant have an O-line to block for him. The Seahawks play in a division with the NFC champions so the pressure to win now is a lot higher than the pressure to win in the future. Plus, like I said, it would be dumb to waste the money you just spent on TJ Houshmandzadeh.
- Cleveland Browns: Brian Orakpo DE – The Browns could go with Crabtree with this pick, and it would not be a dumb move at all. However, the WR position is pretty deep this year and I bet they would be happy picking up one in the 2nd round. The D-line really needs help as the Browns were the 2nd worst team in defensive sacks with 17. Orakpo could get half of that amount by himself.
- Cincinnati Bengals: Andre Smith OT – The Bengals like troublemakers and they need to boost the O-line. Sounds like a match made in heaven.
- Oakland Raiders: Jeremy Maclin WR – Michael Crabtree sounds like the more logical choice, but that would go against everything Al Davis stands for. Maclin is the faster of the two WRs and Davis prefers speed, so Maclin is the choice.
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Crabtree WR – The Jags are gonna be so excited to see that Crabtree is available for them to get. Yes, they just signed Torry Holt, but after that, their next best WR is Reggie Williams. Obviously they need help at WR.
- Green Bay Packers: B.J. Raji DT – Once again a team that will be excited to pick when they see their options. The Packers would love a great nose tackle for their 3-4 defensive scheme and Raji would fit the bill.
- San Francisco 49ers: Mark Sanchez QB – This pick is the toughest one to figure out. The 49ers could go with Aaron Maybin at DE, Michael Oher to bolster their O-line, or even Malcolm Jenkins to convert into a safety. However, Sanchez would be a great insurance policy for their future QB position. They can let him ride the bench while they provide Shaun Hill and Alex Smith with one more final shot. If Hill or Smith finally work out, then they have their QB and maybe a trade bargaining chip in Sanchez. If not, then they just gave Sanchez a year to learn the system.
- Buffalo Bills: Aaron Maybin DE – Plain and simple, the team has two needs, DE and TE. This is too high of a pick for Brandon Pettigrew, and Aaron Maybin could have even been a top 10 pick.
- Denver Broncos: Tyson Jackson DE – As long as Sanchez is already gone, I consider this my first lock pick. Jackson is suited for a 3-4 defense and Denver is in dire need of help on the D-line.
- Washington Redskins: Everette Brown DE – This one is pretty much a coin flip between Brown (the best DE left) or Michael Oher (the best OT left). I choose Brown considering the investment that Dan Snyder has already put into the D-line with Haynesworth. He already has the meat, now just needs the bread.
- New Orleans Saints: Malcolm Jenkins CB – The Saints will be happy if Jenkins is still around. He is exactly what they need in the secondary with his versitality. As long as he is available, he is my second lock of the draft.
- Houston Texans: Brian Cushing OLB – Cushing will be able to fill the void at LB that the Texans need. They could go with Clay Matthews instead, especially since his uncle is part of Kubiak’s staff.
- San Diego Chargers: Michael Oher OT – The chargers need help at OL and Oher will fit the bill if he falls this far.
- New York Jets: Darrius Heyward-Bey WR – With Coles gone, the Jets need to add to the WR depth chart, DHB is fast and big, and just what young QBs need for success.
- Denver Broncos: Chris “Beanie” Wells RB: I used to think that the Broncos going after a RB was a ridiculous idea considering how many they have to choose from currently. Ever since the Cutler trade though, I realize that the run game is going to become more dominant on this offense, and with that you need a more dominant RB.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Freeman QB: Yes the team signed Byron Leftwich and they have a full depth chart, but they are always looking for a franchise QB. Freeman would just be another piece of the offensive puzzle that the Bucs have been putting together this offseason with Winslow and Ward.
- Detroit Lions: Robert Ayers DE – Anyway the Lions can improve their defense they will take, especially if that means getting a DE which is something they lack.
- Philadelphia Eagles: Knowshon Moreno RB – Lock #3 for the draft as long as he is still available. Moreno has the hands to be the next Westbrook and help expand the playbook for Andy Reid.
- Minnesota Vikings: Percy Harvin WR – Perhaps the recent allegations of marijuana usage will make Harvin drop even a few more spots, but I think Harvin would make this offense a little more dangerous. You have your deep threat in Berrian, your stud RB in AP, and now to mess with defenses, throw in a playmaker like Harvin, who has been compared to Reggie Bush. Imagine an offense with Bush and Peterson, sound exciting to you?
- New England Patriots: Clay Matthews OLB – Jared Mayo is already perfect as a MLB, and this defense is still old. Add Matthews at OLB and you start turning the defense back into the multiple winning Super Bowl defense of the past.
- Atlanta Falcons: Peria Jerry DT – the Falcons could just as easily go with Brandon Pettigrew to give Matt Ryan another target, but I still think they will add to their D-line and a strong DT is what they need.
- Miami Dolphins: Vontae Davis CB – Unless they are blind, the Dolphins saw how a dominant young CB can help change a defense when Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie turned into Superman during the playoffs. The Dolphins would be smart to draft a playmaker in the secondary.
- Baltimore Ravens: Kenny Britt WR – The WRs on this team are old, and the QB is young. Therefore, it seems pretty obvious that the Ravens will draft a WR, its just a matter of which one that is still available. Britt will be the choice however based on his size and speed over the other WRs remaining in the draft.
- Indianapolis Colts: Evander Hood DT – The Colts want another WR with Harrison gone, but they need a DT to plug up the holes and slow down the opposing teams’ run game.
- Buffalo Bills: Brandon Pettigrew TE – The Bills do need a good OT to fill the spot that is now open with Jason Peters gone, and while Pettigrew isn’t a tackle or guard, he can do the job of blocking pretty well and is a great value pick at 28.
- New York Giants: Hakeem Nicks WR – The Giants showed last december how bad their team can be without a gamebreaker at WR. While Nicks isn’t one of the top 3 WRs in this draft, he does have talent and can be counted on when it matters. I still think the Browns could own this pick however if they trade Braylon Edwards to the Giants
- Tennessee Titans: Rey Maualuga OLB: The Titans will not address WR in the first round unless something odd happens in the draft due to the fact that they picked up Nate Washington in the offseason. They will however add to their dominant defense with Maualuga and hope that they don’t lose steam with the loss of Haynesworth.
- Arizona Cardinals: Eben Britton OT – The only other thing that the Cardinals do consistently besides winning titles is to have a weak offensive line. The O-line is getting good, but will be better with Britton.
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Alex Mack C – The Steelers still need a good Center to help keep Big Ben on his feet. There are two other centers that the Steelers could choose instead, so it is a bit of a toss-up, but I guarantee they choose a Center one way or another.
