Ol' Bag of Donuts » Jermaine Gresham

Final Mock Draft: 3 man weave

admin — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 10:30:17 +0000

Here we are, hours before the 2010 NFL draft kicks off and we are sure that you haven’t had your fill on mock drafts yet. Chris has done a great job so far in his not one, not two, but three mock drafts so far. We also gave scouting reports for 71 different players from first rounders to deep sleepers that the Packers should have their eyes on. It is true that all of this is an inexact science, but on the morning of draft night (still sounds awfully weird to me), how about one last mock draft to get you ready? This time all three of us will rotate picks and just a quick teaser, the Packers have a new choice from our last mocks.

1. St. Louis (1-15) – Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma. No doubt in my mind he’s the pick here. The Rams have no real quarterback after releasing Marc Bulger and they are clearly in love with Bradford, especially after his strong pro day showing. He’ll bring some buzz back to a team that has lacked it in recent years. (Chris Lempesis)

2. Detroit (2-14) – Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma St. A lot of people have Suh or McCoy pegged here, but the Lions have a bigger hole on the offensive line. Okung will quickly become Matt Stafford’s best friend and hopefully prevent him from becoming another Joey Harrington. (Adam Somers)

3. Tampa Bay (3-13) – Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma. You could go with Ndamukong Suh just as easily here, but McCoy gets the nod for his pure pass-rushing ability, which the Bucs badly need in the middle of their line. McCoy projects nicely as a three-technique tackle in their scheme who could give them some burst. (Gene Bosling)

4. Washington (4-12) – Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa. Even with Okung no longer available here, the ‘Skins will still look to upgrade their o-line. The unit is horrible, as of now, and Donovan McNabb will get punished playing behind it. Bulaga is an above-average athlete with excellent footwork. He’ll be a major addition for that group. (CL)

5. Kansas City (4-12) -Ndamunkog Suh, DT, Nebraska. Even though the Chiefs have drafted d-lineman in their last two first rounds (Glen Dorsey, ‘08 and Tyson Jackson, ‘09) they still go with perhaps the most dominate player in college football last year to form a young, scary unit. Suh is not necessarily a need, but is the best player available and if he lasts this far look for a possible trade-up. (AS)

6. Seattle (5-11) – Eric Berry, S, Tennessee. There are a number of directions the Seahawks could go with this pick — offensive line has been mentioned, and Clemson running back C.J. Spiller’s name has also come up on multiple occasions. But playmakers of Berry’s reputation don’t come around often, and new coach Pete Carroll could use an athlete like Berry, who has drawn comparisons to Ed Reed. (GB)

7. Cleveland (5-11) – Earl Thomas, S, Texas. The addition of Sheldon Brown was a nice upgrade for Cleveland’s secondary (one of the worst in football last season). The Brownies still need help there, though. Thomas is a big-time playmaker with speed to burn. Those qualities more than make up for his lack of size (just 5-feet, 10-inches). Good pick for Mikey. (CL)

8. Oakland (5-11) – Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers. Al Davis loves measurables, he loves potential and he loves raw skill. Davis has all of that and the Raiders have never shied away from character issues. If Davis had his head screwed on straight he might be the top tackle prospect in this draft and now he has the duty of protecting another offensive tackle in JaMarcus Russell. (AS)

9. Buffalo (6-10) – Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Trent Edwards and Brian Brohm. Yep, those are the quarterbacks for Buffalo. The Bills can not expect to do anything significant until they upgrade at that spot. I have doubts about Clausen, but I still think he’s better than those three. Plus, he brings hope – something Bills fans need in a major way. (CL)

10. Jacksonville (7-9) – Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech. Morgan is smallish (6-foot-3, 265 pounds), but is a good edge rusher for a team that needs help in that area. That’s a big part of the reason the Jaguars threw so much money at Aaron Kampman, but it can’t hurt to have another good, young, healthy option in case Kampman’s knee isn’t ready to go. (GB)

11. Denver (8-8) — From Chicago (7-9) – Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma St. Maybe the easiest pick to peg in this draft so far, besides Bradford, after trading Brandon Marshall. Bryant is a playmaker the Broncos desparately need and McDaniels has had a good history with questionable character wideouts (see Moss, Randy). Bryant has the talent to start right away. (AS)

12. Miami (7-9) – Sergio Kindle, DE/OLB, Texas. The Dolphins could take a look at Spiller here, with Ronnie Brown coming off an ankle injury. But this is a Bill Parcells team now, and it’s also a team that needs an impact pass rusher. For both of those reasons, Kindle makes sense here. A trade down isn’t out of the question, either — the Seahawks like Spiller, and the Dolphins might be able to get a pass-rusher a few spots down. (GB)

13. San Francisco (8-8) – Joe Haden, CB, Florida. The Niners’ war room will be going crazy if Haden’s still on the board at this point. He’s the best corner in this draft and fills a real need for San Fran. He’s got the skills to start – and excel – right away. The Niners need o-line help, too, but they can address that later in round one. (CL)

14. Seattle (5-11) — From Denver (8-8) C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson. This would be the dream scenario for the Seahawks landing Spiller here. They are in desperate need of playmakers and Spiller fills that void. He’s not an every down back, but is the biggest homerun threat in this draft and can help the new Carroll regime is multiple ways. (AS)

15. New York Giants (8-8) — Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama. The Giants’ defense has shown its age a little in the last two seasons, and with Antonio Pierce gone, McClain makes sense here. He’s probably only on the board because of slipping draft stock – which might or might not have something to do with reports that he might or might not have Crohn’s disease. This draft stuff is cooky. Anyway, McClain is a big, prototype linebacker who would fit well in New York. (GB)

16. Tennessee (8-8) – Jason Pierre-Paul, OLB, South Florida. The Titans would love it if Morgan or Kindle were still on the board. But with those two both gone, they’ll turn to Pierre-Paul. He doesn’t have much in the way of stats (just six sacks last season, his only year of Division I ball), but he’s got fantastic measurables (6-feet, 6-inches, 260 pounds with 4.64 speed). He’s a freak and, last time I checked, Tennessee likes freaks (see: Kearse, Jevon). (CL)

17. San Francisco (8-8) — From Carolina (8-8) – Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma. After addressing CB issues with Haden earlier the 49ers turn to the other side of the ball to upgrade their offensive line. Alex Smith showed a little bit of life last year and if has any chance to improve on that he’ll need protection. Some have Williams going as high of #4 to Washington, so he is a great value here at #17 and can be plugged into right tackle immediately. (AS)

18. Pittsburgh (9-7) — Mike Iupati, G, Idaho. There’s probably some concern in Pittsburgh about the quarterback position with Ben Roethlisberger continuing to prove what a meathead he is, but there’s nothing of value the Steelers could do at that position with the 18th pick. So they shore up a bad offensive line with Iupati, a road grader of a guard who’s got the size, if not the polish, to move to tackle. (GB)

19. Atlanta (9-7) – Sean Weatherspoon, OLB, Missouri. Atlanta’s pretty much set, offensively. The Falcons’ defense could still use some work, though, and Weatherspoon would help that cause tremendously. He’s a high-energy player who knows how to tackle (and can hit like a ton of freakin’ bricks). (CL)

20. Houston (9-7) – Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise St. After losing Dunta Robinson in free agency, the Texans have a void to fill. With Haden gone, Wilson is arguably the second-best prospect at this position and joins an intriguing young defense with Brian Cushing, DeMeco Ryans and Mario Williams. Texans could look at RB at this spot, but there will be plenty of good backs available come Friday. (AS)

21. Cincinnati (10-6) – Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma. He’s been called “the most dynamic tight end prospect since Keith Jackson,” and the Bengals’ rapidly aging offense could use another weapon for Carson Palmer. They’ll get one here by taking Gresham, a 6-foot-5 tight end who ran a 4.73 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine. (GB)

22. New England (10-6) – Brandon Graham, DE/OLB, Michigan. If you know anything about The Hoodie’s draft approach, you know that he’s never been scared off by “Tweeners.” Graham is certainly one of those, although he’s more likely an outside linebacker in the pros. He goes 120 MPH on just about every play and he’ll need to in the pros because of his short arms. (CL)

23. Green Bay (11-5) – Maurkice Pouncey, G/C, Florida. Last year you could probably peg a few different guys Thompson would be drafting. This year? It could go in so many directions. Do they draft tackle? Do they pull the trigger on a heat-seeking missile like Mays? What about an outside rusher to pair up with Matthews? Charles Brown has been a popular pick on our past mocks and with many of our readers, but there has been a lot of buzz lately that he is more of a project than an immediate impact player. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, that isn’t good enough. There has been little doubt that Pouncey can provide immediate impact on the line and is one of those versatile lineman that Thompson has loved in the past. Josh Sitton is solid at RG, but you would have a hard time convincing me that Pouncey wouldn’t beat out the LG/C contingent of Colledge/Spitz/Wells. An outside pass rusher could be a very real possibility here for an immediate impact this team needs in the first round, but with Weatherspoon, Kindle and Graham off the board, Pouncey is the pick here at #23. (AS)

24. Philadelphia (11-5) – Taylor Mays, S, USC. There’s a lot of talk about Mays going to the Packers at No. 23, but if he’s still here, it’s going to be hard for the Eagles to pass on him. He struggles in coverage, but he’s a sledgehammer of a safety, and that fits more in the Eagles’ scheme than a safety like South Florida’s Nate Allen. (GB)

25. Baltimore (9-7) – Dan Williams, NT, Tennessee. I think the Ravens would love to see Gresham fall to them here, but since he’s gone, my guess is that they’ll turn their focus to the defensive line. Kelly Gregg is still very good, but he’s getting older. Williams brings pure strength, and decent enough athleticism, with him and will look good playing next to Haloti Ngata for the next 10 years. (CL)

26. Arizona (10-6) – Jared Odrick, DT, Penn St. The Cardinals would love to see Williams fall to them to anchor the defensive line, but will settle for 2009 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. The birds want to improve their pass rush and with many of the top linebackers gone, they will look toward the versatile and athletic big man up front. (AS)

27. Dallas (11-5) – Charles Brown, OT, USC. Rumors have had the Cowboys making a play for Ravens’ tackle Jared Gaither, so there is a need on the offensive line, especially with Flozell Adams out the door in Dallas. Brown may not be ready to start right away, but is a far safer pick than Bruce Campbell. Taylor Mays could be a real option here if he is available. (AS)

28. San Diego (13-3) – Ryan Matthews, RB, Fresno St. With Tomlinson out of the picture, the Bolts can finally land their running back of the future. Sproles was and never will be an every down player and now can go back to his multi-faceted position. Matthews runs as hard as anyone in the draft and can take heat off Rivers and their vaunted passing game to make that offense even more scarier. (AS)

29. New York Jets (9-7) – Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida. It is clear that Rex Ryan holds no regard for character as long as it helps the team win, so I don’t think Ryan is scared away by Dunlap’s off the field issues and inconsistent effort. The kid is a physical freak and has the talent to produce right away, bringing back flashes of Terrell Suggs. Jets need an outside pass rusher and fill find a way to fit Dunlap into their scheme. (AS)

30. Minnesota (12-4) – Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama. Even though the Vikings just signed Lito Sheppard, I don’t think it will affect their draft plans. Cedric Griffin is probably out for at least the first six weeks and Antoine Winfield is showing his age more every day. Jackson is pro-ready and can step in right away in a now pass-heavy division. He will be groomed to take over for Winfield when that time comes. (AS)

31. Indianapolis (14-2) – Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers. Did you watch the Super Bowl? Granted Drew Brees can pick apart just about any defense, but the Colts’ secondary is average without Bob Sanders. With many of the top AFC contenders having strong passing games (Chargers, Patriots, maybe Jets now) McCourty is a quick injection of talent the Colts need. (AS)

32. New Orleans (13-3) – Everson Griffen, DE, USC. After parting ways with Charles Grant the Saints need a new pass rusher. Griffen fits that bill bringing strength and size to the position. Jerry Hughes of TCU could get a strong look here, but Griffen is a better fit in the Saints’ 4-3 scheme. (AS)

Strap in boys and girls, Christmas morning in April is almost here.

-Adam Somers, Chris Lempesis and Gene Bosling

The third OBOD mock draft (aka, “OBOD’s Thirteen”)

admin — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 06:02:13 +0000

Two mock drafts down, two more to go until draft day (15 days from now!!).

Since our last mock, three weeks ago, there have been a handful of trades/signings that have caused this third mock to change. But more than anything, the array of pro days and increased overall chatter amongst “insiders” (which we at OBOD are definitely not) has had the biggest effect on this new mock.

What does it look like now? Well, let’s find out, shall we?

(By the way, the “Ocean’s Thirteen” reference is strictly a joke. I can guarantee this mock will not be as bad as that film. God help me if I’m wrong.)

1. St. Louis Rams – Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma. Monday’s release of Marc Bulger, coupled with Bradford’s very good pro day showing last week, make the likelihood that he goes to the Rams exponentially greater. They clearly need a guy and, while my doubts about Bradford remain, he’s the best of the bunch and a pick St. Louis can sell to its fans.

2. Detroit Lions – Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska. Truth be told, I think the Lions would love to trade out of this spot. But I’m just not sure anyone will want this pick badly enough to make a move. In the event Detroit hangs on to the pick, Suh has to be the guy. He’s equally good against the run and the pass and would give the Lions a genuine difference-maker in the front seven, something head coach Jim Schwartz desperately needs.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma. I’ve had the Bucs going with Eric Berry in my first two mocks. This time around, I think McCoy will be pick. The Bucs, much like Detroit, need an impact player along the line as they only recorded 28 sacks last season (tied for 26th in the league). McCoy isn’t quite as good against the run as Suh is, but his pass rush skills will allow him to make an immediate difference.

4. Washington Redskins – Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State. Sunday’s trade for Donovan McNabb eliminates any speculation that Washington will select Jimmy Clausen. That trade also leaves the ‘Skins with just one pick in the first three rounds and you have to think they’d love to trade down. Like the Lions, though, I doubt they find much interest. In that case, they’ll go with Okung, the best o-lineman in the draft and someone who can help cover McNabb right away.

5. Kansas City Chiefs – Eric Berry, S, Tennessee. People seem to be cooling on Berry a little bit, and I’m not sure why. Forget about all the postseason workout stuff and just put on the tape. This kid’s a star in the making. Works out well for the Chiefs, then, as they need secondary help – particularly at safety – in a major way. In five years, we very well could be looking at Berry as the best player to come out of this draft.

6. Seattle Seahawks – Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa. While questions initially existed as to how high Bulaga’s ceiling really is, he seems to be gaining momentum in recent weeks. His size (6-feet, 6-inches, 312 pounds) and the recent track record of former Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year winners (Jake Long, Joe Thomas) likely have a lot do to with this. Plus, Peter King reported in his “Monday Morning Quarterback” column this week that Seattle GM John Schneider – remember him? – loves Bulaga. Makes too much sense not to happen.

7. Cleveland Browns – Earl Thomas, S, Texas. Another change from my first two mock drafts comes in this spot, where I originally had the Brownies going with Florida corner Joe Haden. But last week’s trade for former Eagle Sheldon Brown crosses corner off Cleveland’s list of needs. The Browns will still look to upgrade their secondary, one of the worst in football in 2009, but will do so with Thomas. A bit undersized (5-feet, 10-inches, just under 200 pounds), Thomas makes up for it with dynamic playmaking skills and excellent speed.

8. Oakland Raiders – Jason Pierre-Paul, OLB, South Florida. Crazy Al loves measurables. Pierre-Paul has measurables (6-feet, 6-inches, 265 pounds, amazing speed). Crazy Al loves Pierre-Paul. Done and done.

9. Buffalo Bills – Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame. Where Clausen lands is quickly becoming one of the big stories surrounding this year’s draft. Some think he could go top five, while others have him a bit lower. Put me in the latter group as I still think Buffalo is his likely destination. As I’ve said before, the Bills need hope of some kind, any kind. As of now, they have nothing. While my doubts about Clausen are even bigger than those of Bradford, he’ll definitely provide some hope.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars – Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State. I’ve said all along this is where Bryant goes and I’m sticking to it. The Jags need a big-time threat in the passing game. And Bryant, despite some character issues (mainly listening to Deion Sanders), is the closest thing to a big-time wideout in this draft. He’s not overly fast, but is big and tough with very good hands. Could be an immediate impact player for Jacksonville.

11. Denver Broncos (from Bears) - Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama. No movement here, either. McClain is by far the best ILB in this draft and a perfect fit for the 3-4 scheme that Denver runs (it’s the scheme he played in at Alabama). With a (presumably) healthy Jamal Williams eating up space in front of him, McClain should be able to punish ballcarriers for quite some time in Denver.

12. Miami Dolphins – Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee. Same position, different play for this pick as I originally had Miami going with UCLA’s Brian Price. I’ve got the Dolphins going with Williams this time, though, as he’s more of a prototypical 3-4 nose tackle. He’s got the size (325 pounds) and strength to be a force at the position, good because Jason Ferguson is old (35) and will miss the first eight games of the year (performance-enhancing drugs).

13. San Francisco 49ers – Joe Haden, CB, Florida. The 49ers will be doing cartwheels on draft night if Haden is indeed here, and I think he will be. His slight fall isn’t caused by anything he’s done (or hasn’t done), but rather because the teams above San Fran don’t really need a corner that badly. Haden is the best corner in this draft and should contribute right away.

14. Seattle Seahawks (from Broncos) – C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson. Spiller seems to be rising in the eyes of some “insiders”, but really, I doubt he goes before this spot. That doesn’t mean he’s lacking potential to be very, very good, because he isn’t. I just don’t think anyone else will look running back before here. That’s a good thing indeed for the Seahawks as Spiller could be Bush 2.0 for Pete Carroll. With Bulaga and Spiller in the fold, Seattle’s offense should be much better next season.

15. New York Giants – Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma. As I’ve stated previously, I have it on good authority – and by “good authority”, I mean my good friend/Giants superfan Matt Anderson – that Big Blue would love to snag McClain with this pick. I’m not sure he’ll be there, though, and if New York can’t get him, it will go with Williams. He’s got solid upside and would provide an instant upgrade at right tackle – his likely spot in the pros.

16. Tennessee Titans – Sergio Kindle, DE/OLB, Texas. The Titans struggled getting to the quarterback last season, their first without Fat Albert. That area looks to be even weaker now with Kyle Vanden Bosch’s departure to Detroit. In order to boost it back up, Tennessee will look to Kindle. At 255 pounds, you can forget about Kindle playing defensive end in the NFL. But as an outside linebacker, he brings much to the table, mainly his relentless nature and instinctive knack for getting to the QB.

17. San Francisco 49ers (from Panthers) – Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers. My previous mock had Davis to the Niners with the 13th pick. I still think this is where he ends up, though he’ll have to wait a little bit longer now. Davis’ solid pro day showing put some of the doubts surrounding him to rest, but questions about his work ethic and weight still remain. He’s got potential to be very, very good – if he can get with a coach that stays on him at all times. Enter Mike Singletary.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers – Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho. I still can’t believe the Steelers won it all two seasons ago with such a weak offensive line. That group wasn’t a whole lot better last season, either, and Pittsburgh must improve up front if it hopes to get back into serious AFC contention. Iupati could definitely help that cause. A 6-feet, 5-inch, 330 pound beast, Iupati is a throwback type of lineman. No zone blocking schemes for this guy – he just wants to maul.

19. Atlanta Falcons – Derrick Morgan, DE/OLB, Georgia Tech. I had Morgan going to Atlanta in my original mock. After a quick detour for our second mock, he’s back in Atlanta this time. Morgan is perhaps the best all-around defensive end in this draft. He’s solid against the run and a terror as a pass-rusher (12 sacks, two forced fumbles last season). His addition will be a big boost to Atlanta’s defense and should put the Falcons solidly back in playoff contention next season.

20. Houston Texans – Brian Price, DT, UCLA. Same position, different player for Houston this time around, as I previously had the Texans going with Penn State’s Jared Odrick. With Price still on the board, though, he’s likely the guy. He’s a hair better against the run than is Odrick, with equal pass-rushing skills. Houston hit a home run by taking a Pac-10 defensive player last season (USC’s Brian Cushing), so why not do it again?

21. Cincinnati Bengals – Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida. Toughness is lacking for the Bengals’ offense. That changes significantly with the addition of Pouncey, a physical, nasty lineman. He’s also intelligent, athletic and incredibly versatile (having played both guard and center for a big-time program). The Bengals could also look for another playmaker on offense here, but Pouncey is too good to pass up. They can grab a wideout in round two.

22. New England Patriots – Brandon Graham, DE/OLB, Michigan. Again, little change at this spot. New England still needs to improve its pass rush and Graham will give the Pats the best chance to do that. He’s an incredibly smart player who never stops coming at you and just knows how to get the job done (averaging nine sacks a year over his last three seasons at Michigan). The Hoodie has never been scared off by tweeners and I doubt that changes now. He’ll love this guy.

23. Green Bay Packers – Charles Brown, OT, USC. As usual, I’ll go a little longer here as this is a Packers blog. First, as draft night nears, I’m becoming more and more certain that Ted Thompson will trade out of this spot. The Packers have a few holes to fill, and if Thompson can pick up a couple more selections in the first few rounds, he can pretty much fill them all. He can not do so if he hangs on to this pick. As for the idea of taking an outside linebacker here, I’d say it’s certainly possible. But Brad Jones has a lot of potential and I think the Packers will wait on that spot. Hence, if they keep the pick, they’ll have to go with a tackle and Brown is the best left on the board. Again, yes, he’s got weight left to put on, but his pass protection skills are already very good. He could be the guy for a long, long time. This team can not wait any longer to find its left tackle of the future and history shows you have the best chance of getting Pro Bowl talent at that position in round one.

24. Philadelphia Eagles – Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State. While trading Brown filled Cleveland’s void for a corner, it opened a void at that spot for the Eagles. Wilson has excellent ball skills, can play both man and zone and is an excellent return man. He’d look good opposite Asante Samuel. Philly is flush with picks after its two trades and can address its need for a pass rusher in the second round.

25. Baltimore Ravens – Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma. Baltimore’s trade for Anquan Boldin originally had me thinking it would look defense with this pick. Then I remembered just how inconsistent/ineffective Todd Heap really was last season and changed my mind. Gresham has some concerns due to his knee injury from last season, but when you look at him on tape, it’s clear he can be a big-time playmaker. You can never give a young quarterback too many of those, right?

26. Arizona Cardinals – Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland. My first two mock drafts have had the Cards going defense, specifically outside linebacker. The recent addition of Joey Porter crosses that off the list, though, and I now believe Arizona will look to upgrade along the line. Campbell certainly has his share of question marks, but his upside is too much to pass on here. If anyone can get the most out of this guy, it’s Russ Grimm.

27. Dallas Cowboys – Taylor Mays, S, USC. Having recently cut Flozell Adams, it’s a good bet the Cowboys will be looking for his replacement at this spot. Unfortunately for them, the top six tackles are already gone. That being the case, Dallas will look to replace Ken Hamlin – also recently released – with Mays. Mays projects as a strong safety in the pros. In fact, he’s so big (230 pounds) and such a good tackler/hitter, some have suggested he could be moved to outside linebacker eventually. Either way, he’s got good value for Dallas here.

28. San Diego Chargers – Ryan Matthews, RB, Fresno State. My first two mocks have had the Bolts going with Alabama’s Terrence Cody. This time around, though, I think Matthews is the pick. San Diego needs a presence in the run game, something Darren Sproles just doesn’t provide. Matthews is a good combination of power and speed and his lack of pass-catching skills wouldn’t be a problem with Sproles in the fold.

29. New York Jets – Sean Weatherspoon, OLB, Missouri. The Jets are moving in the right direction, offensively, provided Mark Sanchez continues to develop. The defense is pretty damn good, too, but could use one more player, particularly another outside linebacker. Weatherspoon should quickly become a favorite of Rex Ryan’s. He’s a hard-hitting, hard-working linebacker who knows how to play the run and blitz the quarterback.

30. Minnesota Vikings – Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama. I still think Minnesota wants to snag a corner with this pick, but I don’t think there’s anyone left on the board worth taking this high. The Vikes will then turn their focus to the d-line. The possibility of dual four-game suspensions for Pat and Kevin Williams, plus Pat’s age (38 in October), make upgrading that spot a priority. Cody has some issues (weight, focus, etc.), but if he’s reigned in, he could become a dominant run-stuffer in the pros. Minnesota looks for a back to compliment Adrian Peterson in round two.

31. Indianapolis Colts – Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State. The Colts will likely hope one of the top six tackles fall to this spot (previously, I had them going with Campbell, for example) as Charlie Johnson just isn’t the long-term guy at that spot. Since they are all gone, however, Indy will look to solidify itself at d-tackle instead. The Colts need to get an impact player between Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. Odrick has decent size (306 pounds), recorded seven sacks last season and should help take some heat off those two.

32. New Orleans Saints – Carlos Dunlap, DE/DT, Florida. The recent release of Charles Grant leaves a void along the d-line for the defending champs (still feels weird writing that about the Saints). Dunlap lacks motivation at times – and has an unfortunate DUI arrest – but he’s also a monster talent. He recorded nine sacks in each of the past two seasons and, if New Orleans can keep a fire under him, it could end up with great value here.

One final note: This will be my last solo mock before the draft. Our final mock will be a three-man super mock, featuring Adam, Gene and myself. We’re going to run that the day before the draft, so stay tuned. It should be a lot of fun and will hopefully sound nothing like Asia (they were a super-group from the 80s…damn you kids).

-Chris Lempesis