1 – Detroit Lions – Matthew Stafford – QB

Not much to say really. Right move.

2 – St. Lois Rams – Jason Smith – OT

The debate was Monroe vs. Smith and I think Smith won out because whilst he lacks in pass protection compared to Monroe, he has the athletic framework that can potentially be developed into a great pass blocker and already is a dominant lane opener in the running game. Eugene Monroe looks like he’s hit his ceiling, albeit a very talented ceiling.

3 – Kansas City Chiefs – Tyson Jackson – DE

Shocking! Aaron Curry at 3 was my lock of the draft and the Chiefs choose Tyson Jackson over the best player in the whole draft? I’m still trying to work this out; does Glenn Dorsey, a prototypical defensive tackle who will struggle at nose tackle, slide to DE with Jackson opposite and Tamba Hali at rush linebacker – meaning Hali and Dorsey are out of position. Or do you put Dorsey at nose tackle and Hali at 5 technique and watch them both struggle, now relying on Tyson Jackson to bail you out at left end? What stupidity will the Chiefs try next? Trading for a QB with one season under his belt since high school when they already have an adequate QB in place? Oh wait…

4 – Seattle Seahawks – Aaron Curry – OLB

Seattle isn’t a 4 win team and will likely return to the playoffs, meaning they won’t get a shot at number one overall talent like Curry for a long time to come. It’s no wonder they didn’t hesitate to pull the trigger on him.

5 – New York Jets (trade from Cleveland) – Mark Sanchez – QB

AWESOME DRAFT MOMENT! The Radio City Music Hall is absolutely rocking. 5 down to 17 is a long fall for Cleveland who probably should have secured more than backups and a second, but having said that I like Brett Ratliff and obviously Mangini is thinking the same way. Projecting what Sanchez does in New York is useless, since he’ll live or die by his numbers, but one thing is for sure; Sanchez’s reaction to the news he’s getting top 5 money from a playoff caliber team is almost as good as those three Jets’ fans who were disgusted by him. Who could of possibly made those three guys happy?

Mike Mayock seems to think New York jumped all that way because someone else was sniffing about and I tend to agree. None of the Browns, Bengals or Raiders would have taken him, so I’m thinking Denver or Washington were prowling.

6 – Cincinnati Bengals – Andre Smith – OT

Off field issues and Cincinnati go hand in hand. This guy was being mocked as high as two a few months so I guess the Bengals value talent over character. What a surprise.

7 – Oakland Raiders – Darrius Heyward-Bey – WR

Crabtree is on the board… but our worst nightmares are realised. Al Davis you moron. Reggie Bush had speed and production but neither translated to the NFL, enter Heyward-Bey who doesn’t have the production and you’re sitting on a bust Davis. Oakland will not make the playoffs until Al Davis is gone.

The Jags want out. They’re using all of their 15 minutes, but there seems to be no biters with Sanchez off the board. I think they’re trying to move back for Vontae Davis.

8 – Jacksonville Jaguars – Eugene Monroe – OT

With 20 seconds left, the Jags settle for Monroe. What a ringing endorsement when a team uses all of its 15 minutes trying to get out of drafting you. Khalif Barnes sucks and is gone, so without a top 10 worthy corner this makes sense.

9 – Green Bay Packers – BJ Raji – NT

Puuurfect. Green Bay couldn’t have planned this better; exactly who they want at the nose of their 3-4.

10 – San Francisco 49ers – Michael Crabtree – WR

No one thought he’d be here, so I’m not sure what to make of this. Mike Singletary will have found passing on Michael Oher very difficult, but Crabtree is too talented not to take when you haven’t had a franchise receiver since Jerry Rice.

11 – Buffalo Bills – Aaron Maybin – DE/OLB

You had to replace Jason Peters. You had to. I honestly don’t think they realised Michael Oher was on the board, and considering they picked Aaron Maybin over Brian Orakpo I think the Bills need to seriously look at drafting a new guy to maintain the board.

12 – Denver Broncos – Knowshon Moreno – RB

You just switched to the 3-4. You just brought in a whole bunch of running backs. What are you doing with your franchise Denver? Seriously. You were meant to be contending the AFC championship and now you’ve just condemned yourself to picking inside the top 10 next year. This is in no way anti-Moreno – I think he’s a phenomenal player – but this is the second stupidest pick behind Heyward-Bey so far.

13 – Washington Redskins – Brian Orakpo – DE/OLB

Orakpo escapes the top 10 and Maybin is taken over him; so despite whiffing on a Sanchez trade, this is mighty fine compensation.

14 – New Orleans Saints – Malcolm Jenkins – CB/FS

This has been a lock for a while.

NFL Network’s Pieces of the Puzzle graphic being used to compare the 2008 New Orleans secondary to the 2009 secondary with Jabari Greer and Jenkins inserted is pretty redundant, but slick nonetheless. The Saints are a REALLY dangerous team. Possible NFC Superbowl representatives?

15 – Houston Texans – Brian Cushing – OLB

I don’t think that Houston were thrilled with the talent available at this point and neither am I. I’ve always maintained that Houston would trade down, or reach at 15 and they decided to do the latter. Cushing is a meh for me; this guy looked so serious at the combine, and even his family can’t crack a smile in the green room. The whole Cushing family looks thoroughly miserable at the prospect of their son making tens of millions of dollars in a NFL uniform.

16 – San Diego Chargers – Larry English – DE/OLB

Larry English isn’t an Igor Olshansky replacement so this pick knocks me sideways a little. A right tackle made more sense, especially with Michael Oher still there.

The NFL Network crew are loving that last selection; Gruden is beside himself at the prospect of Shawne Merriman AND Larry English blitzing. I think you’re the only one Jon.

In time honored tradition of this post, just as I finish it a big deal breaks forcing me into a scrambling re-write. Well, it was Detroit and Seattle’s turn to trump me as they finalized a deal taking 5 time Pro Bowl outside linebacker Julian Peterson to the Motor City in exchange for defensive tackle Cory Redding and a 2009 5th round selection.

Whilst I personally found the selection of Aaron Curry 1st overall a no go, this should put those rumors definitively to bed; Peterson will apply pressure despite looking a little shaky in coverage last year, and will make an athletic combo with willing tutee Ernie Sims. As for the Seahawks, I don’t really understand what they get out of this. The defensive tackle of the worst run stopping team in the league coming off an injury hit season and a draft selection in a round where you will likely cut, don’t seem healthy compensation for a player contributing a sixth of your total sacks. I understand that Seattle was maneuvering for cap room and Peterson was aging, but it seems so risky. Maybe I’m being too conservative on this one, but if Crabtree is yours at 4 then you can cut Deion Branch and save money. If you’re guaranteed Aaron Curry as his replacement then I understand beefing up your D-line with a 28 year old who is considered to have some talent, but Curry falling past Kansas is unlikely. Expect Clint Sintim at linebacker or Sean Smith at safety to be their second round pick, with their third being spent on whatever position they don’t fill.

I don’t really want to harp on Terrell Owens becoming a Bill since we’ve heard enough, but to all those expecting him to blow up consider this: if he makes it 4 for 4 on GM fallout’s, he will see minimal interest and little money next season. The Bills need to keep him on a tight leash, not let him demoralize a wavering quarterback and give him a year extension max at the end of the season and not a day before if they want to utilize Owens as the talent he is. Also, poor James Hardy: he loses his number and likely his spot given he’s too big to be an effective slot guy. I was really interested to see his progression next year.

Here’s my one sentence whip-round of the best of the rest of free agent additions in the last week: Bryant McFadden when healthy is a talent, good news for his new home of Arizona; Tra Thomas is a nice addition on the Jacksonville line, and the Eagles were probably done with him being 34 and expensive anyway; and the character issues of a has-been player are the prime reason why Mike Peterson may not make it to Atlanta’s opening game.

Who’s Out

Trades didn’t materialize for Orlando Pace and Tory Holt who were subsequently cut by the Rams. I expected at least one to find a late round trade, but if everyone else in the league knows you want to ship players out they’ll dig their heels in and risk the auction of free agency. I’ve heard rumblings about the Jets as a possible destination for Holt, and the Titans were trying to trade for him pre-cut but didn’t want his large St Louis contract. Has he lost a step, or was his poor season a product of being a Ram? Either way I don’t think you sign him as a number 1 like Tennessee would, but a trusted pair of hands amongst a young receiving core (similar to Amani Toomer) is a better fit. The Eagles or Washington might be interested in that sort of player, though Marvin Harrison might be in front of Holt in the free agent receiver line.

3 to Watch…

1)  Does Jay Cutler get a trade, and if so where? Likely destination: still a Bronco. Long shot: Tampa or Detroit (Cutler won’t want to be a Lion though).

2)  No one really noticed it, but these free agent fullbacks are quality: Tony Richardson re-signed with the Jets after gifting Thomas Jones 1000 yards, Lorenzo Neal is still available and could be the prime reason behind LT’s demise, top run blocker Mike Karney is a Ram, whilst the more offensive minded Heath Evans became his replacement at New Orleans. However it’s Seattle’s Leonard Weaver who is the cream of the crop; young, a solid blocker and a decent weapon in the passing game make him a candidate for New England and Minnesota. Give it up for the fullbacks.

3)  What trade will gazump this post next week? First it was Cassel and then it was Owens’ cut, so does Cutler move? Peppers? Someone else?

Andre Smith admitted to being out of shape and subsequently didn’t participate at all. Nice honesty, but why are you out of shape in the first place? The combine is the purest test of a collegiate athlete’s physical abilities and that’s when you choose to let yourself go? Smith falls back behind fellow left tackle prospects Jason Smith and Eugene Monroe in my eyes, though he’ll hope for redemption at his pro-day.

The much heralded Michael Crabtree fractured his foot and didn’t workout, making him 50-50 to run a 40 at his Texas Tech pro-day. Maybe a blessing in disguise? On a slow Lucas Oil Stadium that has provided most with slower-than-expected times, a projected 4.5 could slide to a worryingly sluggish 4.6; not running leaves scouts focusing on his stellar tape and elite route running. It is also worth noting that he measured in at 6-1 – Texas listed him as 6-3. He still won’t escape the top 7.

Brian Orakpo and Rey Maualuga both limped out of on-field drills, a blow for both of them. Orakpo, the undersized Aaron Maybin and Florida State’s Everette Brown are looking for any edge in the race to be the number one DE/OLB hybrid that 3-4 scheme teams covert, what Orakpo didn’t want to be doing was sitting on the sidelines. The shallow inside linebacker class will let Maualuga hold onto his mid-first round status.

Defensive Lineman
Connor Barwin: 40.5” vertical, 6-4 256lbs and the second fastest 40 of his class. Mature and articulate in his TV interviews, this guy tore up the combine and will be looked at by the Lions, Rams and Chiefs at the top of the second. Really good player.

Linebackers
Aaron Curry played with a smile on his face and had every right to: fluid in coverage, balanced, fast and took really tight lines in the ‘swim move’ drill. On the other hand, USC’s Brian Cushing didn’t get going. His head was locked on his feet during agility drills and in coverage he failed to follow instructions and turned his hips the wrong way. He just looked like he was trying too hard – the antithesis of the relaxed Curry.

Running Backs
What to say. Unless you were a receiver your 40 time was slow, ask the running backs. No Chris Johnson-esque performance. Chris Wells is 20lbs heavier but runs quicker than Knowshon Moreno. LeSean McCoy gets the flu, weighs in sub-200lb, doesn’t participate and has some of the smallest hands in the group. Ouch all round.

Quarterbacks
Not a lot to say for the QBs, it’s pretty much as you were. Pat White will be drafted inside 4 rounds but I would doubt if it’s at QB. Josh Freeman coupled his 6-6, 250lb prototype size with a sub-5 second 40, showing nice athleticism.

Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
Jared Cook is the modern collegiate tight end: a phenomenal athlete with great size. Excellent measurables mean all he needs to do now is plead his case as a blocker in interviews. Jeremy Maclin will be disappointed with his 4.45, but it was Hakeem Nicks who really stood out; he was fast and caught everything that was thrown at him in drills. Marques Colston ran a 4.5 40 at 6 foot 4 with a 37” vertical, Clemson’s Aaron Kelly ran a 4.49 at 6-5 and jumped 38 inches. You may not hear much about him, but this guy has serious sleeper potential.

Offensive Line
Jason Smith edged to the front of the left tackle debate, and the centre class remains arguably the strongest in the draft.

Defensive Backs
Top ranked corner Malcolm Jenkins had a nightmare; a slow 40 and poor showing in the drills may make him safety material. It was safeties Sean Smith and Chris Clemson who really raised their stock; Smith looked super smooth during coverage drills, has a phenomenal physique and exhibited strong hands as well, whilst Clemson ran faster than any DB… as a safety not a corner – impressive.

Be Sure to keep an eye out coming this week for our updated version of the 2009 NFL Mock Draft: 4.0 by Chad Ellis.