Notes From Lombardi: First Round Mock

Why would the Bills trade away the 11th pick to a division rival? Doesn't make sense.

No Rey Maualuga in the first round???

No Chris Wells Either?

makes no sense....why would the Jets want Freeman when you have three untested qb's and add a fourth...to have another brad smith??? Jets are gonna picks wells or moreno with 17

GB will pick an OLB (Maybin) before a DE. OLB is also a need for GB & OLB has a much more dynamic impact on a 3-4 than DE. DE in the 3-4 is pretty much a rotational position. Not worthy of a #9 pick.

These things will always draw criticisms, but the biggest "no way" pick I see is Crabtree to Washington. After they picked 3 second round pass catchers last year with Zorn...he has a lot riding on those investments and won't pull the plug so soon

St. Louis passes on their highest-rated OT? Cleveland with a QB when they already have Quinn and Anderson? Didn't the Redskins draft Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly last year, so why would they go after Crabtree?

I'm all for differing opinions, but this one seems a little strange.

I hope for the Lions' sake that they don't pick a QB. History has proven that there is a much greater risk of QB failure/bust when forced to start on a team with as many holes as the Lions have. (There are only so many Peyton Mannings in the world that can carry a terrible team and even he struggled severely in his first season.) Better to go for a franchise LT. Safer pick and a definite need.
Besides, the Lions will have a top 3 pick again next year and there will be a few very good QB's available.

Woody I'm not sure if I agree with that. The 3-4 requires a lot of force from it's DE's.

I see it as a critical position.

Im really tired of everyone being lazy and just putting Center to the Steelers at 32. Kevin Colbert has said numerous times they have to get younger on the DL. Myabe even a DB.

Why draft a center in the first round in a center deep draft? Also the steelers OLine is very very young as it is. The steelers always draft for positions they cant fill through Free Agency, and that would be DB and DTS this year.

The Jets are going to trade up to 11 to pick a QB? Do you pay any attention to what is being said by Rex Ryan? Maybe you believe he is just blowing smoke but I think you have been smokin somethin funny.......

I have to believe if Maualuga is there at 23 the Pats will take him. This is a deep draft for DE/OLB. They can always grab one in the second round.

Do you even follow football? The Redskins drafted two receivers last year - they won't burn another first rounder ona receiver. In addition, the Texans just signed Shaun Cody - they won't burn a first rounder on a DT - they want a starter with the first pick. No wonder you are now a blogger and not a GM.

"Woody I’m not sure if I agree with that. The 3-4 requires a lot of force from it’s DE’s.

I see it as a critical position."

mark F
March 25, 2009
6:13 pm

I agree here Woody you dont know what your talking about. Without the Defensive Ends eating up blockers and taking on double teams OLB's are useless. See Pats as an example where they built from the line out (Wilfork 04, Warren 03, Seymour 01) all 1st round picks and any coincidence they went on to win championships those years they were picked?

That is the most important part of the defense right there. Tyson Jackson is in the Seymour mold where he will require double coverage freeing up whatever backer is there to beat one on one.

Woody you see the glamor picks like Ware and Merrimen but those guys are special and its hard to find em. Its all about the trenches man and you guys have no defensive line with the switch to the 3-4 alignment. You need to replace Kampman and who better than a 6"4 300lb lineman to do that. I do like Everette Brown or Robery Ayers for you guys. Tweeners who could play either position and have a little mush rush potential than Jackson.

Scott: If I were a Redskins fan I would welcome Crabtree with open arms. Its either him or an O-lineman and who loves when they pick an OT. Thats no fun.

Also Houston has been trying to get that line right since their inception. They have burned alot of first round picks on it but they still need help and Shaun Cody in no way is an reason to not snag another d-lineman. See NY Giants who have the best dline in football yet they still signed two more guys for depth this season. Build form strength. And that is not a strength for them.

Scott,

I must have missed it. Which team are you the GM for?

Not a bad mock.
RB and WRs the darling of fans and fantasy league players, always drop in "REAL FOOTBALL" drafts. You win with the people who block and disrupt things at the point of attack.

I know it is hard to process for some but you cannot win football games without good lines.

Sanchez to the Browns? Uhhh.. no. Unless you are predicting that someone will trade up to #5 for Sanchez. The Browns have Anderson and Quinn and don't need another young, unproven QB. Your initial pick of Orakpo is more likely.

Why would the Jets trade up for Freeman? Who is going to select him ahead of them at their original spot? Tampa could I guess, but they don't even have a 2nd round pick.

Still, though, no Maualuga?

I'm guessing Lombardi knows more than I do, but wow.

Michael, now I get it. You recently made a comment to the effect, never believe a G.M., especially this time of the year. They are saying the exact opposite of what they really intend to do. This is what you would say if you were the G.M. of all these teams? They will really do just the opposite. Right? That is the only logic I see for many of these picks.

Probably one of the worst mocks I've seen. Tyson Jackson is not a top ten pick. Gross.

Packers fan here ... hope they don't pick Tyson Jackson at 9 .. that would be a reach, as the player is an underachiever.

Tyson Jackson isnt the best 3-4 DE in this years draft..

The Redskins drafted Kelly and Thomas last year.

Josh Freeman will be their at 17 IMO.

Chiefs drafted a LT last year in Albert. They will not use a Top pick on Monroe when they could move down and grab Oher.

Oher falls out of the Top 15?

No Rey or Wells?

Eagles going with a TE not named Pettigrew? I dont even know the last time when two TE's went in the 1st round.

Andre Smith over B.J Raji for the Bengals?

Maclin falls all the way to 18? I'd think someone would move up and snag him.

Echoing the omission of Maualuga. Can't imagine he falls out of the first. Once he hits the 20s he'll go on name value alone. Though as a Pats fan, would love them grabbing him at #34 ...

Matt M. Thanks for the response. If the Redskins pick Crabtree it will only cement their status as the worst front office in football - not that they need any more help. The Texans will take one of the USC LBs if they don't trade down.

Mac: not a GM but fan that has studied the game for 40 years. I watch every game every season multiple times and love football. Thanks for the reply.

Baltimore DT? 3rd best DT in the draft? Baltimore has Ngata,Gregg, & a re-signd Brandon McKinney ( wouldn' have been one of the first signings of FA period if the Ravens didn't like him). All the while DHB(4.3 slow track) Vontae Davis(2nd best CB in draft; still a need) & Laurinitus&Maualuga best ILB/Future Ray Lewis

Terrible

Probably also should not have taken such a brazen shot at Mr. Lombardi so I apologize for that.

Thomas Bonneau: I agree although I'll gladly take him at 23 =) then snag Connor Barwin or William Moore at 34/47. Theres something about Moore that I just love and I think he'll be the next Rodney Harrison for us or a Brian Dawkins type in Philly. Both guys weren't first round picks and fell in their prospective drafts.

Hey Mike, I guess you're not going to win that 42" Flat screen, not with this top 10!!!

"These things will always draw criticisms, but the biggest “no way” pick I see is Crabtree to Washington. After they picked 3 second round pass catchers last year with Zorn…he has a lot riding on those investments and won’t pull the plug so soon"
-James

James, you don't know the Redskins. I would not put this past them at all. Daniel Synder is like a spoiled kid a Christmas: He'll get a fancy new toy and play with it for a few hours and then discard it. It's happening with Jason Campbell now. It happened with Jason Taylor. He could easily pick up Crabtree despite picking two WRs early in last year's draft.

why the heck do you have M Jenkins at that spot? I hear he is slow as hell and even worse at the fast OSU track. He will not go in first round.

You guys are funny..
But I do agree with Mike that Wells is not a first round talent, I feel Brown is the Best RB out of the 3 top tier backs this year anyway.
I am not sure how Everette Brown fell to 19 though, I am sure they haven't had there Pro Day yet, He will be in the Top 10 again soon.
I don't really get my Clay Matthews is so high on everyone's charts either..I think he will end up being a bust. It will be seen that he was just prospering due to all the talent around him.

So, all the Pack needs now is for Al Davis to go for the speedy receiver and Raji falls to us? I like those odds!

I'm not sure I agree with all these picks but at the same time I'm not going to rip it apart. How many people, before he signed with them the day before, honestly saw Mario Williams going ahead of Reggie Bush? Who honestly thought Donte Whitner was a top 10 pick? Anyone trading into the top 10 to get Harvey? Rodgers going from a potential number 1 to the early 20's?

You guys who are flapping their opinions that are so accurate post your first round mock and compare it to this one when it's all said and done. I'm not completly deffending this mock, I see somethings I disagree. At the sametime I put my mock up there you guys will find plenty of "flaws".

hey lombardi

why isn't there more talk of ayers to the packers? he may not be as physically gifted as orakpo, but he sure looks like he has better "football skills". whats up?

I don't mind the Tyson Jackson pick, but I'm not sure if the Packers will "reach" for Tyson at #9... They can most likely trade down to the mid-teens to get him while picking up another late first day selection. With that, they have more of a chance at getting thier OLB in Barwin also.

You're crazy AB - if Crabtree is there at 13, you take him. Regardless of need. He's the best offensive talent in the draft.

Also, Lombo, you're crazy too. The Eagles picking Oher and some 2nd-tier TE with their first two 1sy-rounders? Interesting theory, way to buck the trends and all, but not gonna happen.

Wow,is this one of those "lets be crazy and make some noise" mock drafts?

I would pick it apart but dont know where to start.

Ah what the hell,lets give it a try.

1.Bengals taking a chance on another guy with character concerns?No way.Lewis is on thin ice,one more bad decision and he is gone.wont happen.

2.Sanchez is a possiblity for the Browns??? I thought they had 2 QB's already,but I could be mistaken.And he goes to the Jags?

3.Tyson Jackson at 9? We get it,Packers are going 3-4 but why reach for a solid but not spectacular DE who is a terrible value that high?

4.The best one yet.....Jets trade up to 11 for Freeman.In one of the worst QB classes ever know to man the Jets are going to trade up to 11 to "make sure" they get an average QB. Brilliant.

5. Crabtree to the Redskins?They just spent 3 high picks last year on receivers,and have no pash rush.No way this is a WR here with a bunch of pash rushers available.

6.Texans with Jerry.Dont they already have 2 1st Round DT's from the last few years?Is he going to be a rotation guy at #15 to start off?

7.Maclin available at #18?

8.A DT for the Ravens at 26? maybe a Dlineman,but not inside.If they go Dline here it will be and end,or an OLB pash rusher.Ravens dont have a monster to get to the QB,thats what they need.

9.Jarron Gilbert to the Colts? Are they changing their scheme or something? He does his damage on the end,inside he couldnt use that quick first step like he can outside.Dont see how he fits in the Colts defense.

10.No Wells or Maualuga in the 1st?Oh I forgot Josh Freeman has one spot.

if this is the first round then this may just be the deepest draft class I have seen in quite some time. This make the Pats trade of Cassel for a second rounder all the more ingenious. Butler and Barwin still on the board for round two. Oh boy!

No heyward-bey i the first round?

WOW THIS GUY IS A IDOIT!!! The lions are not going to take statford anymore they need to start from the inside out, my guess is Jason Smith. That is if they dont make a trade for cutler. Why dont the lions, brwons, and broncos make a 3 way trade send cutler to det., quinn to denver, and lions and brown swap 1st rounders?

Hey Mike,

I do not know if you reply to comments on mock drafts like Wes does, but I will give it a shot.

Why would the Jets have to trade up to #11 to get Josh Freeman? Who picks between 11 and 17 that would take a QB? Unless you are assuming the Broncos trade Cutler (not to the Jets) and look to Freeman as a replacement?

11. Buffalo - Trent Edwards
12. Denver - Cutler
13. Washington - Campbell
14. Saints - Brees
15. Houston - Schaub
16. Chargers - Rivers

There seems to be many people who have a personal issue with Mr Lombardi over this mock draft. I feel that Lombardu has a seasoned knowledge of the league and knows much more than those who are posting on his web site.

I'd first like to respond to those who are killing the freeman pick- Where were you on Flacco last year?

Crabtree- several people mentioned the fact that they used several draft picks on WRs and won't want to give up on those players. Has anyone seen Daniel Snyder operate? He would most certainly pick Crabtree if he were available. FYI: NFL teams generally utilize more than one wr.

And to those screaming about WRs and RBs not being high enough- that's just the way of the NFL. It has become financially cumbersome, to guarantee these large contracts to hit or miss players high in the first round. SO there has been a trend towards safer picks that can be projected more readily by scouts and GMs.

With the 9th pick in the NFL draft, the Green Bay Packers select... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

Scott: Isnt that just the perfect move for Snyder? He takes the glamorous guy in Crabtree even though its not the right pick! haha Thats so Snyder.

hey lombardi,

wes would have answered my question by now.

Sorry, but agree with the masses that the list seems hastily put together without much thought.

It was mentioned in Lombardi's column earlier this year that you can tell which way teams are leaning position wise based on their needs/activity in free agency.

This doesn't make a lot of sense on a number of levels. Too many mistakes to list.

No way Everette Brown falls to #19, Mike - Brown is the best defensive prospect in this draft class in my view -

Kansas City has scheduled draft visits-private workouts with Brown, Jason Smith and Aaron Curry and they have pick #3 in the draft - You must think Scott Pioli is incapable of reviewing incoming talent to have Brown going at #19, while Pioli and his crew are considering him at #3 -

Sanchez goes before Stafford - Jason Smith still goes #1 -

Currently working on my newest mock 2.0 - It should be ready over the weekend and I will post it here on Monday when Wes posts his -

Good read as always -