Round 1 Round 3  

 

 

> For those of you who don't know, New England received this selection in exchange for QB Matt Cassel and LB Mike Vrabel. New England needs a solid strong safety to pair with Brandon Meriweather, and William Moore has shown enough at the college level to be that. Poor showing in the postseason assessment events (Senior Bowl, Scouting Combine) have sufficiently moved Moore out of the first round, but if New England typically does their homework on a player, they'll know just what they're getting with William Moore.

 

> Smith's stock is skyrocketing after an impressive combine, and he could now easily go towards the end of the first round. If he falls into the second, then St. Louis wouldn't hesitate to take him as he would be an immediate upgrade at either free safety or cornerback (he plays both).

 

4. Cleveland Browns- LeSean McCoy, RB (Pittsburgh) [Previously: Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State]

> Jamal Lewis has no excuse for this past year. He was running behind one of the best lines in football, and he couldn't muster a single 100 yard rushing game. A replacement is needed, and McCoy will do nicely.

 

> Unbelievably, Seattle traded for DT Cory Redding right after I changed this pick to Evander Hood. So now I have to change it back , because Seattle still needs a lot of help for their last-ranked pass defense.

 

6. Cincinnati Bengals- Larry English, DE (Northern Illinois) [Previously: Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech]

> Cincinnati managed a paltry 17 sacks in 2008. That said, it should be obvious to just about everyone that Cincinnati needs to add a pass rusher some time in the first two rounds. English may not be theflashiest DE in the draft, but his high motor helps a lackadaisical defense. If English is off the board here, look for them to go after a center like Antoine Caldwell or Eric Wood to replace the departed Eric Ghiaciuc.

 

Jacksonville missed out on B.J. Raji in the first round, so they'll look to take a new defensive tackle in the second round. Luckily for them, first round prospect Evander Hood slides to them in round 2.

 

> As usual, Al Davis will throw out all scouting reports and go with the fastest 40 times left. As a result, Florida's Percy Harvin becomes the pick. Not that there's anything wrong with that; Harvin is a dynamic playmaker who will give Oakland a real deep threat who could also be used on screens, reverses and Wildcat plays. However, Harvin's injury history will keep him out of the first round.

 

> With Green Bay's switch to the 3-4, they need to draft as many players as they can who fit the new scheme. After adding a pass rushing OLB with their first pick, they look to fortify their 3 man front with their second pick. Moala is a dominant inside player who will be a good fit at the five technique in the 3-4.

 

10. Buffalo Bills- Robert Ayers, DE (Tennessee) [Previously: Duke Robinson, G, Oklahoma]

> Buffalo badly needs to add some juice to its pass rush after only mustering 22 sacks in 2007 and 24 in 2008. Ayers has been climbing draft boards after an impressive Senior Bowl, and is projected by some as a first round. I think that's a little high for someone with only one year of real production, so I think he'll be a solid second round pick for the Bills.

 

11. San Francisco 49ers- Victor Harris, DB (Virginia Tech) [Previously: Donald Brown, RB, Connecticut]

> San Francisco may need to explore, younger, cheaper options at defensive back because their "$100 Million Secondary" just isn't getting the job done. Harris may not have the most desirable 40 time, but that doesn't matter on SF's side of the bay. He's a tough playmaker, and that's what Mike Singletary loves.

 

> Miami already has its speed guys in Ted Ginn Jr. and Davone Bess, all it needs now is a solid possession receiver. Ernest Wilford ended up as a bust last year, so they'll need to draft one. Robiskie is quietly moving up draft boards after a good combine, and will be a solid receiver for Miami.

 

13. New York Giants (from New Orleans)- Phillip Loadholt, OT (Oklahoma) [Previously: Clay Matthews, OLB, USC]

> There has been some talk of moving LT David Diehl back to guard, and if so, New York will need a new tackle. Even if they don't move him back inside, New York could use some capable depth along the offensive line. Loadholt is a massive lineman who can play either tackle spot, and will provide depth at the very least, if he doesn't unseat Kareem McKenzie as the starter on the right side 

 

> With Dunta Robinson's future in Houston an uncertainty, Houston may look to add another CB early in the draft. Moore was once a first round prospect, but poor workouts and measurements have dropped him out. Still, he'll be a good CB2 for Houston, as well as an upgrade for the return game.

 

> New England recently signed Fred Taylor, but he's in the twilight of his career and won't be a feature back. Laurence Maroney has been a bust, and Sammy Morris is too old to be counted on. With all that in mind, New England really needs a new running back. Brown slips due to the lack of need at running back, but he'll fit in great as a Patriot. (Interesting side note: Brown torched UBuffalo when playing for a New England college, so that may increase his stock with the Patriots. Maybe.)

 

> As the Jets found out in 2008, the right nose tackle can make or break a 3-4 scheme. Dewayne Robertson broke it for two years, but Kris Jenkins made it in Pro Bowl fashion last year. Denver needs a NT for its new 3-4 scheme, and the massive other half of Boston College's version of the Williams Wall (B.J. Raji/ Ron Brace) will do just fine.

 

> Chicago now has its franchise QB after trading for Jay Cutler, but now Cutler needs someone to throw the ball to. Devin Hester has yet to prove himself as a viable receiving option, and Rashied Davis is not much more than #3. While the Bears are still hoping that Earl Bennett will pan out, they could use more size and speed at WR,and Louis Murphy, who at 6'3" runs a 4.40 40, can provide a solid target for Cutler.

 

> Freeman will likely free fall into the second round after Tampa Bay's signing of Byron Leftwich. Word is that neiter Eric Mangini nor GM George Kokinis are thrilled with Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson, so they may look to take their new franchise QB here in round 2, much like Mangini did when he took Kellen Clemens in the second round in 2006, his first year as the Jets head coach.

 

19. Dallas Cowboys- Patrick Chung, SS (Oregon)

> Dallas could certainly use a new strong safety after releasing Roy Willams, and Chung is good enough in coverage to succeed where Williams failed.

  

> Gilbert is flying up draft boards after lighting it up at both the Scouting Combine and the East-West Shrine game. The Jets have been talking about getting younger and more athletic at the defensive end spot, and Gilbert is both. He'll easily unseat Kenyon Coleman as the starter opposite Shaun Ellis.

 

> Andy Reid loves drafting large offensive lineman, and Herman Johnson certainly fits the bill at 6'7", 364. Reid will be looking hard for linemen in the second round after passing on one with both of his first round picks.

 

> Minnesota badly needs a pass rusher across from Jared Allen. Kruger lit up Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, and will be a welcome starter in Minneapolis, replacing the ineffective Brian Robison.

 

23. Atlanta Falcons- Shawn Nelson, TE (Southern Miss) [Previously: Connor Barwin, DE, Cincinnati]

> Atlanta passed on Brandon Pettigrew, but they get a faster receiving tight end in the second round with Shawn Nelson. Nelson is the checkdown TE that Matt Ryan didn't have in his rookie year, not to mention a solid edge blocker for Michael Turner. Nelson can also stretch the middle of the field with his speed, leaving more room for Roddy White and Harry Douglas. 

 

> Miami could use some depth at LB, so they'll likely look for one in the first few rounds. Joey Porter is obviously on the decline after the way he faded down the stretch last year, and Cameron Wake is not a guaranteed contributor, seeing that he was just signed out of the CFL. Brown has the speed to be a good pass rusher in Miami's 3-4 scheme, something they desperately need.

 

 

> After trading Matt Cassel, New England needs a new backup QB. After Jabar Gaffney and Kelley Washington skipped town as free agents, New England needs a new WR. So why not take a player who fits both needs?

 

> Regardless of what happens with Julius Peppers, Carolina needs another pass rusher. Barwin had a phenomenal combine, and is a steal this late in the second round. Carolina could also look at a QB with this pick, but there really aren't any left that are worth a second round pick.

 

> The Colts need as many 300 pound defensive tackles as they can get their hands on, because their novel but useless "speed over size" mentality on defense doesn't do anything for their pathetic run defense.

 

29. New York Giants- Jared Cook, TE (South Carolina)

> New York doesn't have much at TE past Kevin Boss, who's not much to begin with anyways. Cook lit up the combine, and will give Eli Manning a speedy threat at tight end, much like Jeremy Shockey was before being traded to New Orleans.

 

> Kevin Mawae just made the Pro Bowl, but the fact of the matter is that he's 37. Tennessee needs a solid young replacement for him, so they'll take the best center available.

 

31. Arizona Cardinals- Clint Sintim, OLB (Virginia) [Previously: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee]

> Arizona is switching to more of a 3-4 look, and will need to add players who fit the scheme. Sintim played in a 3-4 scheme at Virginia, and will be an injection of youth for a defense that features players like Bertrand Berry (34) and Chike Okeafor (32). 

 

> Pittsburgh needs to keep upgrading its offensive line. Unger can play four spots (left guard, right guard, right tackle and center) and would be able to fill in wherever the Steelers need him to.