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Notes From Lombardi: First Round Mock

Michael Lombardi

Bookmark and Share Print This Send This March 25, 2009, 05:09 PM EST
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FROM MICHAEL LOMBARDI:

The names are essentially the same, but the order has changed between my first mock draft almost two weeks ago and today’s projected first round. I still believe the Lions will begin their rebuilding with a quarterback, but offensive tackle is a critical position, and I have three going in the first six.

*Please note:  this mock reflects a trade at #11 that I am PROJECTING.

1.     Detroit Lions:  Matthew Stafford    QB    Georgia:  A rebuilding team has to start by addressing the quarterback position.

2.     St. Louis Rams:  Aaron Curry    OLB    Wake Forest:  The Rams could go in any direction.  They need players

3.     Kansas City Chiefs:  Eugene Monroe    LT    Virginia:  Can play right or left tackle, a perfect fit for the Chiefs.

4.     Seattle Seahawks:  Jason Smith    LT    Baylor:  The Seahawks need to upgrade their offensive line.

5.     Cleveland Browns:  Brian Orakpo    DE/OLB    Texas:  Sanchez may be a possibility here.

6.     Cincinnati Bengals:  Andre Smith    OT    Alabama:  The Bengals never seem to care about character issues.

7.     Oakland Raiders:  B.J. Raji    DT    Boston College:  The Raiders need to stop the run.  What better way than by drafting a top-flight run defender.

8.     Jacksonville Jaguars:  Mark Sanchez    QB    Southern Cal:  Sanchez will be the Jaguars’ quarterback of the future.

9.     Green Bay Packers:  Tyson Jackson    DE    LSU:  Drafting a front-seven defensive player here is a must.

10.  San Francisco 49ers:  Aaron Maybin    DE/OLB    Penn State:  The 49ers need to find somebody who can rush from the outside.

11.  New York Jets (via trade):  Josh Freeman    QB    Kansas State:  The Jets trade up to address their need at quarterback.

12.  Denver Broncos:  Robert Ayers    DE    Tennessee:  One of the best front-seven players in this year’s draft.

13.  Washington Redskins:  Michael Crabtree    WR    Texas Tech:  The Redskins need help along the offensive line, but they need a playmaker to pair with Santana Moss just as much.

14.  New Orleans Saints:  Malcolm Jenkins    CB    Ohio State:  A versatile player who can play inside and out.

15.  Houston Texans:  Peria Jerry    DT    Mississippi:  The second best defensive tackle in the draft.

16.  San Diego Chargers:  Knowshon Moreno    RB    Georgia:  The Chargers have depth at running back this year, but will they have it in 2010?

17.  Buffalo Bills:  Brandon Pettigrew    TE    Oklahoma State:  The Bills need a tight end that can block as well as catch.

18.  Chicago Bears:  Jeremy Maclin    WR    Missouri:  The Bears have to add a playmaker to this offense.

19.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers:  Everette Brown    DE    Florida State:  The Bucs need a rusher from the edge to play wide in their new defense.

20.  Detroit Lions:  Eben Britton    OT    Arizona:  The Lions have to draft a tackle and move Backus inside.

21.  Philadelphia Eagles:  Michael Oher    OT    Mississippi:  He will be a project, but is the last top-tier offensive tackle available.

22.  Minnesota Vikings:  Percy Harvin    WR    Florida:  Harvin can make plays in all phases of the game.

23.  New England Patriots:  Larry English    DE    Northern Illinois:  Has the potential to be a real force off the edge.

24.  Atlanta Falcons:  Clay Matthews    OLB    Southern California:  Has the capabilities to play all three downs.

25.  Miami Dolphins:  Brian Cushing    OLB    Southern California:  A Jersey player for the Jersey boss.

26.  Baltimore Ravens:  Ziggy Hood    DT    Missouri:  A young, athletic defensive lineman.

27.  Indianapolis Colts:  Jarron Gilbert    DE    San Jose State:  A big, quick, athletic defensive lineman.

28.  Philadelphia Eagles:  Shawn Nelson    TE    Southern Mississippi:  Nelson is an athletic tight end that can block.  Something the Eagles have been missing.

29.  New York Giants:  Kenny Britt    WR    Rutgers:  A size-speed wide out.

30.  Tennessee Titans:  Vontae Davis    CB    Illinois:  An athletic corner who fills a need for the Titans.

31.  Arizona Cardinals:  Donald Brown    RB    Connecticut:  A young, athletic running back that will fit the Cardinals offense.

32.  Pittsburgh Steelers:  Max Unger    C    Oregon:  The Steelers need a young offensive lineman, and Unger can fill that void nicely.

Comments

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scott
Mar 25, 2009
06:45 PM

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.

Matt M.
Mar 25, 2009
06:52 PM

"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.

Matt M.
Mar 25, 2009
06:56 PM

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.

Matt M.
Mar 25, 2009
07:00 PM

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.

Mac
Mar 25, 2009
07:01 PM

Scott,

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

James
Mar 25, 2009
07:07 PM

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.

DC
Mar 25, 2009
07:48 PM

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.

Fred
Mar 25, 2009
07:49 PM

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.

4shortof100
Mar 25, 2009
07:51 PM

Still, though, no Maualuga?

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

Bud
Mar 25, 2009
07:57 PM

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.

Aaron
Mar 25, 2009
08:11 PM

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

The Invisible Guest
Mar 25, 2009
08:16 PM

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

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