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2009 NFL MOCK DRAFT - (April 24th Update) Cont’d
17. New York Jets: Chris “Beanie” Wells, RB
Ultimately, Rex Ryan will attempt to recreate the glory days of the Baltimore Ravens in New York. However, one major ingredient the team is missing is a power back.
Thomas Jones is getting old, and Leon Washington surely can’t carry the load. Wells will be well complemented by Leon Washington, who will probably handle a fair amount of third down and change-of-pace situations.
18. Denver – From Chicago: Ron Brace, NT, Boston College
Ultimately, in recent years, the Broncos quarterback play hasn’t been the deciding factor in victories. Much of that may explain why the team is switching to a 3-4 defense.
Brace steps in at nose tackle, where he’ll use his big body to make guys like Jarvis Moss appear to not be the busts they’ve been billed as. He’s a reach, but fits a need in a four-deep DT draft.
19. Tampa Bay: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri
Maclin’s been projected as a Top-10 pick by some, and probably hasn’t fallen to Tampa in most mocks in quite a while. Last year’s receiver-less first round has draftniks struggling to distinguish up from down.
I doubt this year’s draft will bring an equal result, but I do think many teams are changing the way they value receivers. Maclin gets drafted to a team that lost Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard this offseason, and franchised the enigmatic, inconsistent Antonio Bryant.
20. Detroit – From Dallas: Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss
Offensive line is a priority, but as I stated in Denver’s pick, this year’s draft is a four-deep defensive tackle class. After the top-four, the talent level drops off a cliff.
New Detroit head coach Jim Schwartz was in his second season in Tennessee when the team drafted Albert Haynesworth in the first round. The Lions have lost Cory Redding and Shaun Rogers in consecutive seasons.
21. Philadelphia: Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn State
The Eagles traded their pick at No. 28 for Jason Peters, so this pick is certainly no longer an offensive lineman.
The Eagles love to blitz and Aaron Maybin may be best suited as a rush-linebacker. He won’t be able to play every down at linebacker, or on the defensive line, until his career playing weight becomes consistent. He’s going to be out-muscled by every tackle in the league at his slow 250 lbs.
22. Minnesota: Sean Smith, CB/S, Utah
In 2007, had the Redskins passed on LaRon Landry, there’s a good chance that the Vikings would have a very different fate to this point, as they may have passed on Adrian Peterson for the standout safety.
Smith is a fast-rising defensive back prospect, one who can play both CB and safety, and while the Vikings drafted Tyrell Johnson last year, Smith offers depth and a potential, eventual starter at either CB or safety.
23. New England: Michael Johnson, DE/OLB, Georgia Tech
Trade Alert: Perhaps Julius Peppers has gone under the radar, but he’ll be on the forefront of many analysts’ tongues as this pick approaches. I think this pick is Johnson either way, as he’ll be a great prospect at 3-4 OLB, but could ultimately by a Carolina Panther by the end of the draft.
The Patriots traded Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel to the Chiefs for a second-round pick. That either added a dimension to the team’s pursuit, albeit a quiet pursuit, of Julius Peppers, or opened up their first-round draft possibilities.
Johnson’s an absolute monster athlete, he went rep-for-rep and step-for-step with Brian Orakpo at the combine, but doesn’t seem to have the discipline at this point to play with his hand on the ground. Is he Shawn Merriman or Manny Lawson? Jevon Kearse or Andre Carter?
24. Atlanta: Evander Hood, DT, Missouri
Atlanta needs help on their defense, and will be in good shape to pick someone here, as the just acquired Tony Gonzalez from the Chiefs, and won’t need a tight end in the draft.
Hood’s the last of the upper-echelon DT’s in this draft, and a reach. However, the Falcons showed last year that they’re willing to reach to fill a need, see Sam Baker.
25. Miami: Clay Matthews, LB, USC
The Dolphins will eventually need a replacement for Joey Porter, and Matthews can be that guy. He had the fastest timed-speed of the three USC standout linebackers, and has ties to Bill Parcells.
Miami may look at Darius Butler here, as he’s got similar measurables to Terrence Newman, who the Bill Parcells drafted while in Dallas.
26. Baltimore: Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
The Ravens would love to take a receiver here; however, if Davis falls here he’s an excellent value, despite his character issues.
Davis is a big, physical corner. The Ravens need a replacement for Chris McAllister, and will eventually need a replacement for Samari Rolle. If Sean Smith falls here, the Ravens may take him over Davis, as he’d have potential to eventually replace Ed Reed also.
27. Indianapolis: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
The Colts want Evander Hood, but Moreno is a great combination of value, scheme-fit, and helps to push or spell Joseph Addai. The NFL has turned into a runningback-by-committee league, and Moreno is an excellent complement to Addai.
Moreno’s stock has fallen as a result of poor timed-speed, but he’s shifty and quick. I doubt Joseph Addai has a lot of trade value around the NFL, but his time in Indianapolis could be limited.
28. Buffalo – From Philadelphia: William Beatty, OT, Connecticut
The Bills have had problems on their line since the drafting of Mike Williams. To compound those problems, the team, entering its second year of negotiations with Jason Peters traded the veteran tackle to Philadelphia.
William Beatty is a guy who has flown up draft boards. He’s got excellent measurables, and is very athletic. He’ll probably step in at left tackle early in his career, and never look back.
29. New York Giants: Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers
The Giants are a tough team to gauge. Going into the draft, this pick seemed like a defensive lineman. However, the team signed Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard, and probably won’t be drafting a defensive lineman until day two.
Britt will be an immediate replacement for Plaxico Burress, unless the Giants swing a trade for Braylon Edwards.
30. Tennessee: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
Titans fans have been screaming for a receiver for what seems like an eternity. The team’s had problems at the position since trading for Yancy Thigpen. Those problems seemed to be solved when the ageless Derrick Mason became the team’s leading receiver, but he’s since departed.
Pettigrew isn’t a receiver, but a tight end akin to what Jeff Fischer wants in a tight end. He’ll open up outside running lanes for Chris Johnson and be a very good option for Kerry Collins or Vince Young in the passing game.
31. Arizona: Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State
When Ken Whisenhunt’s Steelers drafted Ben Roethlisberger they didn’t have an immediate need at quarterback. Whisenhunt’s offensive scheme is fairly traditional, even old school, in that he sets up the pass with the run, and likes the deep pass.
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, there isn’t a power back worthy of a first-round pick, and they’ll have to address the position later. Donald Brown doesn’t fit the team’s scheme.
32. Pittsburgh: Eben Britton, OT, Arizona
Pittsburgh needs help across their offensive line, but brought just about every player from last year back. Britton’s perhaps the best lineman left.
One thing that has gone somewhat understated is that Britton’s value is probably higher because he can likely play at least three positions on the offensive line. He may end up, ultimately, being the team’s replacement for Alan Faneca.
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