Diner Morning News: Mock Breakdown

Great article Michael. One question though...won't Theodork Thompson do everything in his power to trade out of 9? He could deal with one of the QB needy teams and still get Tyson Jackson.

Mike,

Agree with you totally on the mock draft and some of the players slipping into round 2. My question is which teams if any do you see who might try and jump back up into round 1 to take a player like Wells if he begins to fall? Similar to what the Browns did a few years ago with Quinn once they saw him slipping? I am sure there are some teams at the end of round 1 (Patriots, Colts, etc) that wouldn't mind dealing out of the 1st round depending on what it brought back.

wouldnt moreno be a better fit as he's a better option out of the backfield for receiving than wells who has 15 rec's in his 3 years at ohio state?

Mike- it's a pleasure reading your mock as opposed to the "experts" who just assign picks via team need and do not even reference past drafts when it comes to what positions actually get chosen in the first round.

I have been saying this for weeks and Peter King wrote about it on Monday:
"Aaron Curry fifth? I thought he might go to Detroit first.'' Well, he might. But here's the question you ask yourself with Curry: Do you want to take a linebacker who doesn't sack the quarterback first overall and hand him $34 million? Can you justify that financial outlay for a three-down linebacker, but a linebacker who doesn't rush well, a linebacker who averaged one sack for every 17 quarters of college football he played? "

I know he is a sure thing, but do you want to have that cap number on an ILB?

"My mock draft is based on tape, not on hearsay or reading about players."

then

"I keep hearing the Jaguars are looking long and hard at the quarterbacks and are giving strong consideration to Mark Sanchez of USC."

Something doesn't jive about these two statements.

I'm a sucker for mock drafts, but if you look back at them from years past, you see how comically inaccurate they always are. Lombardi's is far more similar to how they usually turn out than the big names publications and sites. For example, compare TSN's 2008 mock with reality and their 'War Room Scouts' make a good case for why they don't have jobs in the NFL. Among the insight was Jake Long to Denver at #12, and Brian Brohm and Quentin Groves coming off the board in the Top 10. 16 of TSN's first rounders didn't even go in the first round. The media pundits seem to overvalue WR's and players that do one thing well or with flash and undervalue versitility and production. They undervalue 'boring' positions like OL (especially 'stiffs' who don't project to LT) and 5 technique DE's, as if right tackle is a throwaway position in the league and that run stopping DL maulers are a dime a dozen....

Anyway, probably preaching to the chior here, but Lombardi's mock seems to reflect reality trend wise. As 'fun' as players like Crabtree and Maualuga are too fans, they aren't as appealing to guys who love their jobs more than the potential entertainment value of the players available to them.

I can't see my 49ers skipping out on Crabtree. When you are counting on Isaac Bruce for this season---it shows you dont have a lot there.

I think the only thing in Mike's mock that really doesn't make sense to me is the degree to which he has Crabtree falling. With picks 5 through 10 being held by teams that either have a definite need, history or inclination to take a guy like Crabtree, I can't see him dropping that far. He's the one truely special receiver in the bunch this year - I just can't see ALL of those teams passing him up. Wouldn't surprise me to see him be the target of a trade-up if he makes it all the way to GB at #9.

I think Michael Crabtree will do a wonderful job with whichever NFL team chooses him in the NFL DRAFT. And Mark Sanchez out of USC as well. I am definetely looking forward to this years NFL Draft. Go DT C. Bradwell!

Nice article. I didn't care for the mock, but it was different. Shake things up a bit. An article like this follows suit with all of your leadership quotes. Good show man.

WHY would Washington draft a WR after taking Malcom Kelly and Devin Thomas in the first 2 rounds last year? Crabtree to the 'Skins in ludicrous.

I'd be wary of Crabtree. He comes out of a system that hasn't translated well to the NFL, he doesn't have a hard 40 time, and he already has a posse and handlers that are far larger than anything he has accomplished on the big stage. Last year's best rookie reciever (Eddie Royal) resulted in his a gain of 1 extra victory by his team, and he also came with a special teams role. Teams picking in the Top 10 usually have match up problems much bigger than the one out on an island, away from were the game is really won.