Hasselmock Version 3.0 (04/18/09)

[Hasselbeck]

So usually I only do 3 mocks.. but this year, I still am feeling out a few teams so will be doing four.. with the final one obviously being sometime next week prior to the real thing.

That means two things.

One, the Raider fans will probably hate me again.

And two.. Senser gets more Hasselmock.. it's a sweet deal for him, kind of like going to a baseball game and seeing it go 12 innings..

I'll still project trades in this one as well.. and once again.. it'll be a two rounder.

Enjoy.

1. Detroit Lions - QB Matthew Stafford - Georgia
I think this pick is about 95% locked in, I suppose there is still a small chance that contract negotiations break down and they freak out and pick an Aaron Curry or Jason Smith.. but I really don't see that happening. If you've read my posts on Stafford all offseason, you already know why I think this is a pick the Lions need to make.

2. St. Louis Rams - OT Jason Smith - Baylor
While some believe Eugene Monroe is more NFL ready, I think Jason Smith is the better player with more upside and raw talent than Monroe.

3. Kansas City Chiefs - OT Eugene Monroe - Virginia
The more I think about the Chiefs, the more I begin to think the Pioli regime will look to retool from the inside out instead of taking an Aaron Curry who doesn't really fit a 3-4 as well as he does your conventional 4-3 defense.. nor do I really believe they reach on a Brian Orakpo or take a WR in Michael Crabtree. Instead I think they will take Eugene Monroe and move Branden Albert over to guard (or even right tackle), giving the Chiefs a potentially solid left side of the offensive line.

4. Seattle Seahawks - QB Mark Sanchez - USC
I think trade is a very strong possibility, but I also believe Tim Ruskell will realize that Seattle won't be picking 4th overall every year either and that he has a chance to find Matt Hasselbeck's heir apparent. No one has seen their stock rise as much in the last month as Sanchez, and suddenly the decision to declare early doesn't look so bad anymore.

5. Cleveland Browns - WR Michael Crabtree - Texas Tech
Also projecting that the Browns trade WR Braylon Edwards to the Giants for one of the Giants 2nd round picks (60th overall), as well as their 5th round selection (164th overall).. and in doing so, they immediately fill the void left behind by Braylon Edwards departure by drafting the best WR in this years draft - Michael Crabtree.

6. Buffalo Bills (from Cincinnati) - OT Andre Smith - Alabama
In a projected move, the Bengals move down 5 spots in exchange for the Bills two first round picks (11th overall and 28th overall), with a couple day 2 pick swaps.. allowing the Bills to replace the void at LT left by Jason Peters. As much as I think Smith will be a major bust, it appears as though he averted disaster in the offseason by running around without a 'bro' and quitting at the combine.. as he still should be a Top 10 pick come next Saturday.. and if the Bills are to get the most out of Smith, they may actually receive the best tackle in the draft for a relatively small price.

7. Oakland Raiders - WR Jeremy Maclin - Missouri
While it still would not surprise me to see Al Davis make a really funny pick like.. I don't know .. Charles Johnson.. I will invest enough faith in the old crypt keeper that he will not mess this pick up. Maclin makes a lot of sense for the WR deprived Raiders, and would give Jamarcus Russell a much needed weapon to throw the ball to.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars - LB Aaron Curry - Wake Forest
What was once seen as unthinkable becomes reality as somehow the top defensive player in the draft slides into the Jaguars laps.. and even though the Jags may have bigger needs, particularly at WR and at CB, passing on Curry is just something they would not do.

9. Green Bay Packers - DT BJ Raji - Boston College
Raji could be to the Packers new 3-4 scheme what Haloti Ngata is to the Ravens 3-4/46 hybrid defense. For his size, Raji is a tremendous athlete and a prototypical nose tackle in this defense.

10. San Francisco 49ers - OLB/DE Brian Orakpo - Texas
Manny Lawson has been a disappointment and the Niners defense desperately needs a designated guy to go get after the quarterback. Brian Orakpo could be that player, but it could take time to transition him from a 43 DE to an upright OLB in the 34 scheme. Still, his abilities to rush the passer are too good to ignore.

11. Cincinnati Bengals (from Buffalo) - RB Chris Wells - Ohio State
Insiders say Wells may be the Bengals pick at 6 should they not move down, which would be quite the shock, but Wells at 11 would not be as big of a surprise. Even though Cedric Benson had a decent season for Cincinnati, he's still not the most ideal back to hang your hat on.. and with the Bengals taking a popular ex-Buckeye, they may actually draw some mild interest in the state of Ohio.

12. Denver Broncos - DE Tyson Jackson - LSU
I think despite the Broncos being linked to trying to find Jay Cutler's replacement, the true goal of their draft will be to repair a defense that could not stop anyone last season. With the Broncos being one of several teams transitioning to the 3-4 defense, look for them to find playmakers on their defensive line, with Tyson Jackson being the best fit as a bookend for this scheme.

13. Washington Redskins - DE Aaron Maybin - Penn State
The Redskins are rumored to be clamoring for a move up to get Mark Sanchez, but I think this is a smoke screen and that they will likely stand pat at 13.. should they do that, I think they will look to take the best pass rusher on the board at that point, and if Aaron Maybin were to slide to them at this point, I think he's almost a lock to go to the Redskins.

14. New Orleans Saints - CB/S Malcolm Jenkins - Ohio State
The Saints have dual needs at corner and at free safety, and Jenkins actually projects as a better safety than he does a corner by many scouts.. so with that said, this pick makes a lot of sense. Don't discount the Saints looking strongly at Beanie Wells either though should he be available at this point in the draft.

15. Houston Texans - LB Clay Matthews Jr. - USC
From those I have spoke to, one potential surprise pick I keep hear get mentioned is Clay Matthews to the Texans. It might be considered a reach, but with no really glaring needs to address aside from a corner or safety.. the Texans can afford to take a guy they really like a little bit earlier.

16. San Diego Chargers - OT Michael Oher - Ole Miss
Oher seems like a natural fit at right tackle, and the Chargers right side of the offensive line could use some help. Given how many talented tackles are in this draft, the Chargers may get a gift here with the 16th overall.

17. New York Jets - QB Josh Freeman - Kansas State
Very rarely do you have a mid round pick that seems like a safe bet, but it just seems barring a huge trade by the Jets that Josh Freeman is destined to be headed to the Meadowlands. Freeman is one of a handful of prospects with heavy bust potential but also the possibility to be one of the best players in the draft. It's all dependent to how he is developed and brought along in his career.

18. Denver Broncos - DE/OLB Everette Brown - Florida State
After getting their anchor bookend on the defensive line the Broncos add their pass rushing specialist to come off the edge in Everette Brown. Brown seems like a more natural fit for the OLB position in a 3-4, but doesn't have the raw pass rushing ability that Orakpo brings to the table and that's why he is available here.

19. Tampa Bay Bucs - DE/OLB Larry English - Northern Illinois
Was tipped off by this potential selection by none other than Ryan Leaf.. no not that Leaf.. the resident VSN Bucs guru. And after hearing that and researching it a bit, the pick makes a lot of sense. English is the type of player that can play a number of positions on the field, and simply makes plays.. and for new coach Raheem Morris, that is something the young coach will want.

20. Detroit Lions - DT Peria Jerry - Ole Miss
Standing pat on this projection, the Lions have yet another need (really, where are they ok?) .. but this one was created by the trade of Cory Redding to Seattle for linebacker Julian Peterson (okay their LB's are pretty good).. Jerry is graded slightly lower than Raji, but there are not many teams in the Top 20 with a pressing need for a defensive tackle.. given that, the Lions could get a real player here and arguably an immediate upgrade.

21. Philadelphia Eagles - RB Knowshon Moreno - Georgia
With Brian Westbrook's durability concerns, coupled with him turning 30 (widely considered the age when RB's greatly deteriorate) coming more into the forefront the past couple of years, and the fact the Eagles addressed their need for an offensive tackle with the aforementioned acquisition of Jason Peters.. the ability to find Westbrook's future replacement and present split carry guy may not be better than it is this season with a talent like Knowshon Moreno sitting right there for the taking.

22. Minnesota Vikings - OT Eben Britton - Arizona
The left side of the Vikings line may be the best in football, the right side...? Not so much. Ryan Cook has been borderline terrible at right tackle, and really has been playing out of position since he was drafted a couple of years ago. By selecting Britton, the Vikings find a true right tackle and have the ability to move Cook back on the inside of their already very talented offensive line.

23. New England Patriots - LB Rey Maualuga - USC
The Patriots lone need is at linebacker, where Tedy Bruschi is aging quickly in the middle of the Pats D.. and the trade of Mike Vrabel to Kansas City left a hole on the outside of it.. Maualuga seems like a great fit to man the inside in a 3-4 scheme, and Bill Belichick would definitely use a talent like this to his benefit. Brian Cushing could also be an option here, but I believe Maualuga would be too good to pass up.

24. Atlanta Falcons - LB Brian Cushing - USC
Like the Patriots, the Falcons have a major need at linebacker after losing Keith Brooking and Michael Boley to free agency. Cushing has Top 15 potential and if he were to drop all the way to 24, the Falcons would be very happy to snatch him up.

25. Arizona Cardinals (from Miami) - DE Robert Ayers - Tennessee
In this projected trade, the Dolphins give up their 25th overall pick to the Cardinals along with their 3rd round pick in exchange for disgruntled WR Anquan Boldin. The Dolphins make this trade because there is no WR they can get at 25 with the skill set Boldin would bring, and Arizona makes this trade to stock up on picks and ship Boldin to the AFC where they will only see him once every 4 years barring a Super Bowl appearance. With the pick sent to Arizona, the Cards address their need for a defensive end with Robert Ayers out of Tennessee. Ayers would figure to take over the role Bertrand Berry filled a season ago.

26. Baltimore Ravens - WR Darrius Heyward-Bey - Maryland
The Ravens desperately need a guy that can stretch the field and open up their conservative offense. For that, they go with quite possibly the WR with the best raw speed in Darrius Heyward-Bey, however.. he is a very raw prospect and would require a lot of work so his boom/bust potential is exceptionally high.

27. Indianapolis Colts - WR Hakeem Nicks - North Carolina
With the release of Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne being on the verge of being 31 years old (hard to believe in itself).. the Colts could use another young WR to add to the offense and Hakeem Nicks seems like a perfect fit for the Colts attack.

28. Cincinnati Bengals (from Buffalo through Philadelphia) - OT William Beatty - UConn
With the second first rounder from the previous trade, the Bengals select William Beatty out of UConn to give the Carson Palmer led Bengals a much needed boost to their offensive line.

29. New York Giants - TE Brandon Pettigrew - Oklahoma State
After their projected trade to bring Braylon Edwards in from Cleveland, the Giants can make this pick more of a value selection than a need selection.. and Pettigrew would actually provide the Giants with both. Kevin Boss is a solid player, but not really an ideal #1 TE, while Pettigrew would just add another weapon on offense for Eli Manning to utilize.

30. Tennessee Titans - WR Percy Harvin - Florida
Despite supposedly testing positive for marijuana at the combine, the Titans roll the dice on the explosive athlete out of Florida, Percy Harvin. Harvin would immediately join a Titans offense with 2008 Rookie of the Year Chris Johnson at Running Back to give the Titans a lot of speed.

31. Arizona Cardinals - RB Donald Brown - UConn
Gives the Cardinals their replacement for the soon to be released Edgerrin James.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers - CB Vontae Davis - Illinois
Davis is a gifted athlete that has had his cover skills come into question of late, but on a defense like the Steelers, those man on man skills could be masked due to the great amount of pressure their defense usually generates on an offense. Because of that, I think Davis would be a great fit on a team like Pittsburgh.

SECOND ROUND

33. Detroit Lions - LB James Laurinaitis - Ohio State

34. Carolina Panthers (from New England through Kansas City) - DE Michael Johnson - Georgia Tech
*Projected trade with New England sending DE Julius Peppers to Patriots in exchange for 2009 2nd round pick, 2009 5th round pick and 2010 Conditional 2nd Round Pick*

35. St. Louis Rams - WR Kenny Britt - Rutgers

36. Cleveland Browns - LB Clint Sintim - Virginia

37. Seattle Seahawks - WR Brian Robiskie - Ohio State

38. Cincinnati Bengals - C Alex Mack - Cal

39. Jacksonville Jaguars - WR Ramses Barden - Cal Poly

40. Oakland Raiders - S Louie Delmas - Western Michigan

41. Green Bay Packers - T Phillip Loadholt - Oklahoma

42. Buffalo Bills - TE Jared Cook - South Carolina

43. San Francisco 49ers - T Jamon Meredith - South Carolina

44. Miami Dolphins (from Washington) - DT Ron Brace - Boston College

45. New York Giants (from New Orleans) - LB Connor Barwin - Cincinnati

46. Houston Texans - CB Darius Butler - UConn

47. New England Patriots (from San Diego) - RB Shonn Greene - Iowa

48. Denver Broncos - CB Alphonso Smith - Wake Forest

49. Chicago Bears - WR Juaquin Iglesias - Oklahoma

50. Cleveland Browns - CB/S Sean Smith - Utah

51. Dallas Cowboys - S William Moore - Missouri

52. New York Jets - WR Derrick Williams - Penn State

53. Philadelphia Eagles - TE Shawn Nelson - Southern Miss

54. Minnesota Vikings - CB D.J. Moore - Vanderbilt

55. Atlanta Falcons - DT Fili Moala - USC

56. Miami Dolphins - QB/WR Pat White - West Virginia

57. Baltimore Ravens - LB Darry Beckwith - LSU

58. New England Patriots - S Rashad Johnson - Alabama

59. Carolina Panthers - CB Coye Francies - San Jose State

60. Cleveland Browns (from New York Giants) - TE Cornelius Ingram - Florida
*Projected trade sending WR Dominik Hixon, 60th overall pick and 2010 5th round pick to Browns for WR Braylon Edwards*

61. Indianapolis Colts - DT Alex Magee - Purdue

62. Tennessee Titans - DT Sen' Derrick Marks - Auburn

63. Arizona Cardinals - DT/DE Jarron Gilbert - San Jose State

64. Pittsburgh Steelers - C Max Unger - Oregon

 

[Goober]

I'd be very happy with Jackson and Brown in the first round for Denver, but I think they would take Sean Smith over Alphonso Smith.

 

[DSpydr84]

Interesting trade. I think the Bills could easily get Andre at 11 but you never know with Al Davis drafting ahead of you. Another Stafford/Jerry too for Detroit which I can't exactly shake my fist at.

 

[Aso]

I believe the Raiders will take Darrius Heyward-Bey over Maclin because of his forty time at the combine. I think the Raiders will take a WR #7 overall though.


EDIT: Interesting, New England will send Peppers to the Patriots....
EDIT 2: The Bills will not trade both #1's to trade up to #6 to take Andre Smith. That definitely will not happen.

 

[ThunderHorse]

good mock indianapolis wise.

I don't agree with your DT pick but I do agree that it WILL be a DT in the second round...

great mock

 

[Sportsbuck]

I know you'd love getting Robo in Seattle, Hass.

 

[Blick]

I hate the Monroe pick. I'll be really surprised if they go in that direction.

Albert has the potential to be a great LT. I think he'll have a better career at LT than Monroe. The Chiefs would be stupid to move Albert to RT. That would be a waste of his athleticism and he's more of a finesse tackle than a mauler. It would be even dumber to move him to guard because the Chiefs still have Brian Waters and then they would have wasted the 15th overall pick on a guard. The draft is deep at O-line, and it's the Patriot way to pick up O-linemen later in the draft.

 

[Hasselbeck]

I know you'd love getting Robo in Seattle, Hass.

Actually wouldn't mind it, I think he will be a great pro.

 

[Aso]

I hate the Monroe pick. I'll be really surprised if they go in that direction.

Albert has the potential to be a great LT. I think he'll have a better career at LT than Monroe. The Chiefs would be stupid to move Albert to RT. That would be a waste of his athleticism and he's more of a finesse tackle than a mauler. It would be even dumber to move him to guard because the Chiefs still have Brian Waters and then they would have wasted the 15th overall pick on a guard. The draft is deep at O-line, and it's the Patriot way to pick up O-linemen later in the draft.

I hate how people try to define the "Patriot way." The Patriots actually have drafted quite a bit of lineman early in the draft, Like Matt Light, Logan Mankins, Damien Woody, and Nick Kaczur. I remember when someone said it wasn't the "Patriot way" to pick receivers early in the draft when they drafted Chad Jackson, Deion Branch, Ben Watson, Daniel Graham, and Bethel Johnson all pretty early. Plus the only person they have from New England is Scott Pioli so its not like the Chiefs are gonna be the Bilicheck Patriots 2.0.

To me the Chiefs will only draft either B.J. Raji or Eugene Monroe. A NT is the most important part of a 3-4 defense. Plus if your gonna talk about the "Patriots way", they have drafted a lot of defensive lineman early because the Patriots defense is always built from the inside out. Then with so many holes on your defense it would be smart to fill really the only hole in your offense which is your offensive line. With Monroe at LT and Albert at RT you would have book end protection to go along with a lot of good players at the skilled positions.

 

[Kia Kaha]

good 1st for the ravens but id prefer Jarron Gilbert in the 2nd

 

[Blick]

I hate how people try to define the "Patriot way." The Patriots actually have drafted quite a bit of lineman early in the draft, Like Matt Light, Logan Mankins, Damien Woody, and Nick Kaczur. I remember when someone said it wasn't the "Patriot way" to pick receivers early in the draft when they drafted Chad Jackson, Deion Branch, Ben Watson, Daniel Graham, and Bethel Johnson all pretty early. Plus the only person they have from New England is Scott Pioli so its not like the Chiefs are gonna be the Bilicheck Patriots 2.0.

To me the Chiefs will only draft either B.J. Raji or Eugene Monroe. A NT is the most important part of a 3-4 defense. Plus if your gonna talk about the "Patriots way", they have drafted a lot of defensive lineman early because the Patriots defense is always built from the inside out. Then with so many holes on your defense it would be smart to fill really the only hole in your offense which is your offensive line. With Monroe at LT and Albert at RT you would have book end protection to go along with a lot of good players at the skilled positions.

Mankins is the only first round OL on the Pats' roster and he was the last pick in the first.

The point is that Pioli is a smart guy. He's not going to take a LT when he already has a good one and he can find a starting RT later in the draft. And, for the 1 millionth time, it would be fucking retarded to move Albert to RT.

Yeah, the Pats like taking D-linemen early...not O-linemen. I like Raji, but I don't think Pioli will take a guy that high with the character issues that Raji has. The Chiefs aren't playing a traditional 3-4 anyway so NT isn't a big need.

 

[dave]

If the Bills want Smith, I don't think they have to move up to get him.
And they would be crazy to give up both the 11 and 28 to get to 6 for a gamble like Smith.
The 11 and maybe their 4th round pick, but that would be it.

 

[Virix]

NFL Network says the talk of The Braylon Edwards trade was a 1st and 3rd. Ala the Roy Williams to Dallas deal. I think thats way too much for Edwards, but considering what Dallas gave up for Williams, I guess its possible. Id take that deal in a heartbeat lol.

 

[Goober]

NFL Network says the talk of The Braylon Edwards trade was a 1st and 3rd. Ala the Roy Williams to Dallas deal. I think thats way too much for Edwards, but considering what Dallas gave up for Williams, I guess its possible. Id take that deal in a heartbeat lol.

Edwards>Williams, IMO. But most people think Dallas gave up too much for Williams.

 

[RyanLeaf16]

Obviously I like the Bucs pick. It can still go one of 2 ways: Larry English and Michael Johnson. The Bucs met with Johnson earlier in the week and really impressed the staff. He was able to quell fears around One Buc regarding the fact that he "takes plays off."

Johnson is back on the table, Vontae Davis still has his supporters but the case being made in draft meetings is that the corners currently on the roster can excel and corner is not the most glaring need. Larry English is still getting a lot of love though. A few weeks ago, I said the two front-runners were English and Davis. It seems now that the front-runners are English and Johnson.

Either way, it is looking more and more like the organization is going to go with defensive line in the first round. Peria Jerry was also visiting this week, but, there are some concerns about his size and his ability to play defensive tackle in Jim Bates' defense. However, Peria Jerry is a name to look at if English and Johnson were off the board. Aaron Maybin is also moving up the Bucs' board as a "Plan B" if English or Johnson are gone.

To sum it up:

Front-Runners:
Larry English
Michael Johnson

"Plan B" picks:
Peria Jerry
Aaron Maybin


Sorry for all of the info at once, it can be overwhelming I am sure Hasselbeck, but, with JG out and some additional staff gone, it is a little tougher to get draft scoop...lol


Leaf

 

[MVP1991]

I am all for the Boldin trade but would be pissed if they didn't address the secondary with either of their 2nd round picks.

 

[Hasselbeck]

Obviously I like the Bucs pick. It can still go one of 2 ways: Larry English and Michael Johnson. The Bucs met with Johnson earlier in the week and really impressed the staff. He was able to quell fears around One Buc regarding the fact that he "takes plays off."

Johnson is back on the table, Vontae Davis still has his supporters but the case being made in draft meetings is that the corners currently on the roster can excel and corner is not the most glaring need. Larry English is still getting a lot of love though. A few weeks ago, I said the two front-runners were English and Davis. It seems now that the front-runners are English and Johnson.

Either way, it is looking more and more like the organization is going to go with defensive line in the first round. Peria Jerry was also visiting this week, but, there are some concerns about his size and his ability to play defensive tackle in Jim Bates' defense. However, Peria Jerry is a name to look at if English and Johnson were off the board. Aaron Maybin is also moving up the Bucs' board as a "Plan B" if English or Johnson are gone.

To sum it up:

Front-Runners:
Larry English
Michael Johnson

"Plan B" picks:
Peria Jerry
Aaron Maybin


Sorry for all of the info at once, it can be overwhelming I am sure Hasselbeck, but, with JG out and some additional staff gone, it is a little tougher to get draft scoop...lol


Leaf

English makes a lot of sense for you guys though.. he's kind of a jack of all trades defender with excellent sideline to sideline speed.. he can get after the passer and more importantly, should he be kind of what Derrick Brooks was for Tampa.. is he can cover. He's not a liability back there, and as is well known.. in the Tampa 2 scheme.. you need your LB's, particularly the Sam and Will ones.. to be able to cover the flats and the spots left vacant by the corners playing their zones.

 

[Palooza]

man, hasselfuck, me dont like the braylon edwards trade to the giants.. i love dominik hixon

 

[OnlyOneBeerLeft]

this is actually a really solid mock, and seems like you thought out the scenarios very well

 

[NAHSTE]

Great mock, hass. Hope you're wrong about the Falcons pick, because I think Cushing is a giant douche, but the Pettigrew pick everyone else thinks we'll make also has me shaking my head.

Ideally, we trade down. I also saw a crazy rumor posted on af.com about trading for Glenn Dorsey. He's probably touchable due to him not fitting in the 3-4, and we have assets to throw at them. Namely the #24 pick, or the #55 and Jamal Anderson or Jerious Norwood....The Gonzalez trade may still be in play as well. If we don't trade with the Chiefs maybe another team would be interested in moving into the first either way we do it I'm pulling for a trade or BDPA not named Cushing.

Like the Mioli pick in round 2. We need help at DT bad and he looks legit.