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| Authored by Jeff Risdon - 8th March, 2006 - 9:19 pm
 After my trip to Indy to catch the Combine festivities and pry into "Insider" status, here's my latest mock draft. This one goes two rounds, so grab a glass of your favorite beverage and it'll help you digest these 64 picks. I'll do one more adjustment, if needed, the weekend before the draft.
1. Texans--Reggie Bush, RB, USC. Don't believe the trade rumors, Bush will be a Texan barring a stupid offer.
2. Saints--Matt Leinart, QB, USC. Consensus top QB picked by QB guru/head coach Sean Payton.
3. Titans--D'Brickashaw Ferguson, OT, Virignia. His gaining 15 pounds of bulk cements him as best T in years.
4. Jets--Jay Cutler, QB, Vanderbilt. Senior Bowl darling flies up the draft board to the QB-desperate Jets.
5. Packers--Mario Williams, DE, NC State. Physical marvel upgrades both pass rush and run defense.
6. 49ers--AJ Hawk, LB, Ohio St. Could be a trade for someone reaching up for Vince Young. If it's SF, it's Hawk.
7. Raiders--Vince Young, QB, Texas. Raiders surprise by taking embattled Rose Bowl star.
8. Bills--Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon. Giant man fills a giant hole in the middle of Buffalo's defense. Another pick that might be traded.
9. Lions--Michael Huff, DB, Texas. A disciplined, physical hitter who can also play nickel CB, and the Lions need both.
10. Cardinals--LenDale White, RB, USC. Will be Chad Greenway if the Cards sign a name FA RB.
11. Rams--Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland. Great speed for such a large, sure-handed target.
12. Browns--Chad Greenway, LB, Iowa. If he's gone (see above), they'll take Winston Justice or Marcus McNeill.
13. Ravens--Jimmy Williams, DB, VA Tech. Cocky speedster has the bulk and mentality to play safety too.
14. Eagles--Tamba Hali, DE, Penn State. Heady pass rusher can impact right away for team looking to rebound quickly.
15. Falcons--Winston Justice, OT, USC. Can play either side at T, important trait with a mobile QB like Vick.
16. Dolphins--Demeco Ryans, LB, Alabama. Prime candidate to trade up, though Ryans infuses much-needed youth on D.
17. Vikings--Laurence Maroney, RB, Minnesota. Local stud RB stays home to a team desperate for fan support.
18. Cowboys--Marcus McNeill, OT, Auburn. Aging line gets a huge bookend with good agility.
19. Chargers--Chad Jackson, WR, Florida. Great size and speed at Combine elevate him to top WR, but...
20. Chiefs--Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio St. ...Holmes was significantly better in college and is best blocking WR in years.
21. Patriots--Bobby Carpenter, LB, Ohio St. Fiery leader can play any
LB spot, fits right in with Pats' MO.
22. Broncos--Mathias Kiwanuka, DE, Boston College. Rough Senior Bowl means Broncos get motivated speed rusher.
23. Buccaneers--Sinorice Moss, WR, Miami. Small speedster fills needs at WR and special teams.
24. Bengals--Leonard Pope, TE, Georgia. Big target also a strong run blocker and fills a major need.
25. Giants--Tye Hill, CB, Clemson. Best DB at Senior Bowl, a great ballhawk with good instincts.
26. Bears--Ashton Youboty, CB, Ohio St. Does everything very well in relative anonymity.
27. Panthers--DeAngelo Williams, RB, Memphis. This year's surprise plummeter, thanks to an oversaturated RB market.
28. Jaguars--D'Qwell Jackson, LB, Maryland. Sideline to sideline playmaker fits right into Del Rio's schemes.
29. Broncos--Nick Mangold, C, Ohio St. Smart, mobile lineman a perfect fit for their blocking schemes.
30. Colts--Dominique Byrd, TE, USC. Not a pressing need but he's too good to pass up.
31. Seahawks--Joseph Addai, RB, LSU. If they lose both RBs via FA. If not, then it's Ko Simpson.
32. Steelers--Brodrick Bunkley, DT, Florida St. Run stuffer with burst provides needed depth.
2nd Round
33. Texans--Claude Wroten, DT, LSU. Another postseason board climber. Might go for Gabe Watson here.
34. Saints--Max Jean-Gilles, OG, Georgia. Saints have great history in drafting linemen.
35. Jets--Thomas Howard, LB, UTEP. Versatile backer with speed and great hands.
36. Packers--Ko Simpson, S, So Carolina. Sure tackler fills a major hole. They'll go OL here if he's gone.
37. 49ers--Marcedes Lewis, TE, UCLA. Good big target for Alex Smith to grow with.
38. Raiders-- Gabe Watson, DT, Michigan. Big guy with a big motor can learn from/succeed Warren Sapp.
39. Titans--Brodie Croyle, QB, Alabama. Proven winner would go higher if he had good knees.
40. Lions--Darryl Tapp, DE, VA Tech. Blazing speed rusher fits perfectly with Marinelli's attacking D.
41. Cardinals--Orien Harris, DT, Miami. They will go LB if any above fall here.
42. Bills--Darnell Bing, S, USC. Strong tackler also good in TE coverage.
43. Browns--Eric Winston, OT, Miami. If he's gone then they'll go for a CB.
44. Ravens--Ernie Sims, LB, Florida St. With 3 starting LBs likely gone by 2007, it's time to reload.
45. Eagles--Greg Lee, WR, Pittsburgh. Sure handed and runs good routes, another board climber.
46. Rams--Abdul Hodge, LB, Iowa. Big hitter in a small package. The next London Fletcher?
47. Falcons--Antonio Cromartie, CB, Florida St. Bad injury dropped him, but he was a top-10 caliber talent.
48. Vikings--Rodrique Wright, DT, Texas. Builds needed D-line depth. Could go OL here as well.
49. Cowboys--Charlie Whitehurst, QB, Clemson. Efficient, accurate scion played hurt a lot.
50. Chargers--Davin Joseph, OG, Oklahoma. Pile mover with attitude. Pick might be packaged to move up earlier.
51. Dolphins--Derek Hagan, WR, Arizona St. Great athlete with shaky hands has fallen from 1st round.
52. Patriots--Garrett Mills, TE/FB, Tulsa. The utility receiver/blocker/inside runner Belichick loves and needs.
53. Redskins--Donte Whitner, S, Ohio St. Insurance in case Taylor is incarcerated. Could be dealt to move up.
54. Chiefs--Anwar Phillips, CB, Penn St. A good start for overhauling their terrible secondary.
55. Bengals--Demario Minter, CB, Georgia. Fast, savvy cover man. Will take a TE here if not in the 1st round.
56. Giants--Terna Nande, LB, Miami OH. Fastest LB in draft. If he went to big-time school he'd go in the 1st round.
57. Bears--Alan Zemaitis, CB, Penn St. Not real fast, but has great size and instincts.
58. Panthers--Anthony Fasano, TE, Notre Dame. Jack-of-all-TE-trades does nothing great, nothing poor.
59. Buccaneers--Manny Lawson, DE, NC St. Overshadowed by linemate Williams but a worthy steal here.
60. Jaguars--Pat Watkins, S, Florida St. Basically a light extra LB to shore up run support.
61. Broncos--Maurice Stovall, WR, Notre Dame. Big guy to open the outside for Smith and Leile.
62. Colts--Charles Spencer, OL, Pittsburgh. Can play T and G and looked good at both at Senior Bowl
63. Seahawks--Ray Edwards, DE, Purdue. Fast playmaker could also play OLB in a 3-4 down the road.
64. Steelers--Reggie McNeal, QB/ATH, Texas A&M. Replaces Randle El, but will be counted on as QB more. |
