Rick Gosselin's NFL mock draft (4/11)

[CowboyzAdam]

1. Miami Jake Long OT Michigan
Comment: Safest pick on the draft board

2. St. Louis Glenn Dorsey DT LSU
Comment: Won Lombardi, Lott, Nagurski and Outland trophies

3. Atlanta Matt Ryan QB Boston College
Comment: Falcons need reason for hope

4. Oakland Darren McFadden RB Arkansas
Comment: The next Adrian Peterson?

5. Kansas City Keith Rivers LB Southern California
Comment: Player who knows how to win championships

6. NY Jets Chris Long DE Virginia
Comment: The Long family stays in the AFC

7. New England Vernon Gholston DE Ohio State
Comment: Best pass rusher in the draft

8. Baltimore Ryan Clady OT Boise State
Comment: Heir apparent to Jonathan Ogden at left tackle

9. Cincinnati Sedrick Ellis DT Southern California
Comment: NFL's 27th-ranked defense starts building an identity

10. New Orleans Leodis McKelvin CB Troy
Comment: Best kick returner in draft

11. Buffalo Branden Albert G Virginia
Comment: Better blocking makes Marshawn Lynch a better runner

12. Denver Jonathan Stewart RB Oregon
Comment: A potential NFL rushing champion for the Broncos

13. Carolina Derrick Harvey DE Florida
Comment: The heir apparent to Mike Rucker on the weakside

14. Chicago Jeff Otah OT Pittsburgh
Comment: Best run blocker in the draft

15. Detroit Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois
Comment: Gives hope to the NFC's worst rushing attack

16. Arizona Dominique
Rodgers-Cromartie CB Tennessee State
Comment: Help for the NFL's 28th-ranked pass defense

17. Minnesota Devin Thomas WR Michigan State
Comment: Vikings desperate for speed on the flank

18. Houston Mike Jenkins CB South Florida
Comment: Help for the NFL's 25th-ranked pass defense

19. Philadelphia Chris Williams OT Vanderbilt
Comment: Heir apparent to William Thomas at left tackle

20. Tampa Bay Chris Johnson RB East Carolina
Comment: Give the fastest player in the draft to the Bucs

21. Washington Phillip Merling DE Clemson
Comment: You need muscle to compete in the NFC East

22. Dallas Felix Jones RB Arkansas
Comment: A speed complement to Marion Barber

23. Pittsburgh Kentwan Balmer DE North Carolina
Comment: Beefing up the NFL's best defense

24. Tennessee Fred Davis TE Southern California
Comment: An underneath target for QB Vince Young

25. Seattle Kenny Phillips S Miami
Comment: Seahawks still looking to replace Ken Hamlin

26. Jacksonville Brian Brohm QB Louisville
Comment: Quarterbacking depth to compete in AFC South

27. San Diego Jerod Mayo LB Tennessee
Comment: Chargers love linebackers

28. Dallas James Hardy WR Indiana
Comment: More TDs in fewer games in 2007 than Terrell Owens

29. San Francisco DeSean Jackson WR California
Comment: 49ers are desperate for offensive playmakers

30. Green Bay Aqib Talib CB Kansas
Comment: Packers like big, physical corners

31. NY Giants Malcolm Kelly WR Oklahoma
Comment: Giants like big, physical wide receivers


I do not think that Chris Johnson will go that early in the first round. I actually think he goes early 2nd round unless there is a big run on RB's in the early first. I do like Rick's pick of Felix Jones but do not want us to go WR first over CB. Look I know we need to get some young WR's in here. My problem is why don't we invest in a young CB with some starting capabilities to stop other teams from scoring on us so the 30+ points we averaged last year can be more than enough to keep winning games. If we can't get a WR by trade on draft day then go after one in the 2nd round.

[sweatthepipe]

In this scenario, I would take Talib over Hardy. I like Hardy and all, but CB is bigger need, and Talib is a player.

[Haynie]

I stopped reading after I saw he had Chris Long falling all the way to the 6th pick. My ass.

[ronmexico]

Adam should have put the lead in to this version of his mock draft. might make more sense. no offense Adam.

"This is the first of three Rick Gosselin mock drafts. It is based on a draft board compiled through discussions with NFL talent evaluators. This mock draft primarily adopts the best-player-available philosophy. Next weekend's mock draft will more heavily weigh team needs".

if you believe him or not really doesn't matter. he is one of, if not the best draft guy around who is not employed by an NFL team. he's not just a guy. he does know his stuff. the one that we should judge is his final mock, which will be out the morning of the draft.

http://www.thehuddlereport.com/FREE_...p100mock.shtml

[thevalleyranchreport]

that huddlereport has a really bizarre draft, outside the box on so many picks, its so weird its the kind of mock that could happen since most mocks are close on most picks, and the draft never comes close to any of the top mockers out there. I think that's why Gosslin's Mock seems off as well, there's some weird picks in there too

[SmilesAustin]

I think we'll all be surprised where Chris Johnson lands in the draft. Ron sent me a link in PM that says over half of the NFL teams have given CJ a first round grade. That tells me he's probably going to go in the first unlike we've all been assuming.

It's a bummer for me and RonMexico and the other CJ supporters out there. I do think he'll at least fall to our 22nd pick though. But remember what happened last year with Ted Ginn Jr. NFL teams have a hard-on for speed, and CJ ran the fastest electronically (otherwise, accurate) timed 40 in combine history. Speed like that usually inflates players' value a little higher than it really should go.

[sweatthepipe]

I would have no problem taking CJ in the 1st.

With no glaring needs, besides RB & CB, and two 1st rounders, it wouldn't bother me at all to "reach" for a player we really want.

Like CJ & Talib.

[SmilesAustin]

The biggest downside to guys like Felix Jones, Chris Johnson, Jamaal Charles, etc is the idea that "What if Marion Barber gets injured? Can this guy be an every down back if called upon?"

First of all, not many speed backs will ever be considered every down backs. In the first round, I see maybe 2 guys that could "hands down" handle a full load: Rashard Mendenhall and Jonathan Stewart. It's those heavier guys that can realistically handle a full load.

That being said, my argument against that is: How much does it really take to rush the ball 5-9 times per game to take the load off of a speed back if MBIII gets injured? Would it be so horrible to have a tandem of someone like Chris Johnson and Alonzo Coleman if MBIII got injured? I think Alonzo Coleman could muster up 5-9 carries per game and I'm sure a guy like Chris Johnson could handle 10-15 carries if needed.

[DCfan60]

I dont like it having us getting a RB at 22.. I dont think that will happen.

[sweatthepipe]

I think Coleman's whole deal will be how much he has improved in the passing game. If he has, or will, learned how to pass protect and read blitz pickups, I think he will be OK. By all accounts, he is a solid runner.