Off-season Tidbits & Ant's First Ever Mock Draft

Yes, the NFL is still in the midst of its long, painful off-season, but that doesn’t mean things haven’t been happening. In fact, as sabbaticals go, this one has witnessed some major happenings in the league, including:

a) A new collective bargaining agreement – Other sports have set themselves back with player strikes and/or owner’s lockouts during labor strife. The NFL launched a pre-emptive effort to avoid such a catastrophe (and fall Sundays with no football would constitute a catastrophe).
b) The resignation of Paul Tagliabue – With the labor situation settled, the commissioner opted to walk away, leaving the game in good shape for the foreseeable future.
c) Player movement – Some big names have relocated, some via trade and some seeking greener pastures via free agency. Daunte Culpepper was dealt to the Dolphins (when he’ll play is still in question as he continues to rehabilitate his shredded knee), Drew Brees signed with the Saints, ending the illustrious Aaron Brooks era in New Orleans. Brooks will attempt replace Kerry Collins as the Raiders starter. The Redskins and Browns have been very active in free agency, with the ‘Skins inking receivers Antwaan Randle El (PIT) and Brandon Lloyd (SF), safety Adam Archuletta (STL), tight end Christian Fauria (NE) and linebacker Andre Carter (SF). Cleveland has added center LeCharles Bentley (NO), receiver Joe Jurevicius (SEA), and linebacker Willie McGinest (NE). The Colts let enigmatic kicker Mike Vanderjagt sign with the Cowboys, and upgraded by bringing in Adam Vinatieri, whom the Patriots chose not to re-sign (for reasons unbeknownst to anyone, really).
d) T.O. signs with the Cowboys – In theory, I could have lumped this in with the previous category, but it really deserves special consideration. Could there be a more perfect union than this? Now when God looks down on the toilet that is Texas Stadium, he’ll see a giant piece of crap in the middle of it. With any luck, T.O. will do what T.O. does and the Cowboys will suffer merely from his presence. With even more luck, he’ll go across the middle against the Eagles and Brian Dawkins will just absolutely crush him.
e) New coaches – This wasn’t the normal off-season in terms of coaching changes. Usually, teams will recycle the same old crummy coaches that have been dismissed by another team. Sure, a couple of guys have previous head coaching experience. Herman Edwards left the Jets for Kansas City, and the Raiders re-hired Art Shell (where has he been?). But this year, there are a handful of first-time NFL coaches, including Brad Childress (Vikings), Gary Kubiak (Texans), Rod Marinelli (Lions), Mike McCarthy (Packers), and Sean Payton (Saints).
f) No more touchdown celebrations – I, for one, have yet to make up my mind on this one. I love the guys who score a touchdown, act like they’ve been there before and just hand the ball to the referee (a la Barry Sanders). But the guys who choreograph their celebrations, use props, jump in the crowd and things like that are entertaining, too. They say that these types of actions show up the other team, and maybe they do. But if you’re a corner who just got burned by Chad Johnson or Steve Smith, you shouldn’t be offended by them dancing and carrying on. You should be pissed at yourself for letting them score. Next time, keep your man out of the end zone so they have nothing to celebrate. Just my opinion.
g) The scouting combine – Basically, the combine is five days loaded with tests of speed, strength, and intelligence that can either help or hurt your stock in terms of the draft. The most notable development from the combine had to be Texas quarterback Vince Young scoring a 6 (out of 50) on the Wonderlick test. He actually claims to have scored a 16, which sounds more like it (since he could probably score a 6 by simply spelling ‘Vince Young’ correctly). Personally, I think the Wonderlick scores are irrelevant. Why? Take for example two quarterbacks whose names you know with distinctly different NFL careers. One scored a 29, the other a 16. The guy with the 16? Dan Marino. The 29? Ryan Leaf. I rest my case.

All of the aforementioned off-season activity is merely an appetizer, leading to the main course and one of my favorite occurrences of the spring – the NFL draft. I am one of the junkies who will actually sit and watch the draft. I love the draft for many reasons, but maybe the most of which is watching Mel Kiper Jr. scramble to re-write his big board of top prospects as they all get picked out of order. Every time I watch Mel Kiper, two thoughts invariably creep into my mind: a) other than your local meteorologist, is anyone wrong more often than Mel Kiper?, and b) how in the world did he get his job, and why can’t I get a gig like that?

Inspired by Kiper, I have decided to publish my first ever Mock Draft this year, simply because, much like I like to see how I stack up to the other “experts” when it comes to picking games, I’d love to see how I do versus ESPN’s draft guru. Without further ado, I present to you Ant’s First Ever Mock Draft.

1. Houston Texans: Reggie Bush, RB (USC) – The Texans opting to pay David Carr an $8 million roster bonus was a pretty good indication that they’re going to take Bush, who appears to be a can’t-miss prospect. He’s quick, explosive, and versatile, maybe more dangerous as a receiver out of the backfield than he is as a runner. Houston could trade the pick and shore up the offensive line, but they’ll have to be overwhelmed with a trade offer to move down, and I don’t see that happening.
2. New Orleans Saints: Mario Williams, DE (NC State) – Even though he’s probably not a long-term solution, the Brees signing means one of two things for the Saints. They’ll either trade down, or take Williams, who has been compared favorably to Carolina’s Julius Peppers.
3. Tennessee Titans: Matt Leinart, QB (USC) – Quarterback is an obvious choice for Tennessee, and with all three top quarterbacks still available, the Titans will most likely take Leinart. Not only does he project well at the next level, but he could be reunited with Norm Chow, Tennessee’s offensive coordinator who coached him at USC.
4. New York Jets: D’Brickashaw Ferguson, OT (Virginia) – The Jets have many options, including trading up or staying put and selecting a quarterback. My guess is that they’ll take Ferguson to anchor the left side of the line and protect Chad Pennington’s blind side.
5. Green Bay Packers: A.J. Hawk, LB (Ohio State) – This should be something of a no-brainer, however the Packers have had holes on the defense for years that have not been addressed in the draft. Hawk, however, is too good to pass up. He’s got the speed to go sideline to sideline and the toughness to stuff the run.
6. San Francisco 49ers: Haloti Ngata, DT (Oregon) – 49ers head coach Mike Nolan was a defensive coach with the Ravens, so he witnessed first-hand how a good defense can carry you to a championship. I look at Nolan to re-build San Francisco’s defense from the line back, and Oregon’s Ngata is a beast in the middle.
7. Oakland Raiders: Vince Young, QB (Texas) – Young may not be NFL-ready yet, but he’s got tremendous upside. Think Ron Mexico, only bigger, quicker, and with a stronger arm. But don’t expect Young to come in and start right away. He’ll have some mechanics in his throwing motion to work out, but once he does that, look out. Just as a joke, he should wear # 6.
8.Buffalo Bills: Michael Huff, S (Texas) – The Bills will be thrilled to find Huff still on the board at #8, even if Ngata is the guy they really want. Huff is one the high-risers in the draft because of his versatility. He’s big, fast, and a great tackler, which means he’ll be a cornerback-safety hybrid along the lines of Dallas’ Roy Williams.
9. Detroit Lions: Jimmy Williams, CB (Virginia Tech) – Even Matt Millen wouldn’t be stupid enough to take an offensive player this year, would he? Plain and simple. The Lions need defense, specifically in the secondary. Huff may be the most versatile player, but Williams is clearly the best cover corner, and he can return kicks and punts, making him a great pick for Detroit.
10. Arizona Cardinals: Jay Cutler, QB (Vanderbilt) – Arizona could go any number of ways here. They could look at a tight end like Maryland’s Vernon Davis or help along the offensive line in USC’s Winston Justice. But Dennis Green likes quarterbacks, and he’ll love Jay Cutler. The Vanderbilt prospect has a strong, accurate arm and will be groomed as Kurt Warner’s successor.
11. St. Louis Rams: Vernon Davis, TE (Maryland) – Thanks to guys like Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates, the tight end position matters again, and Davis is the best tight end in the draft. The Rams have always thought offense first, and tight end is the biggest offensive need for St. Louis. If Davis is still available, the Rams will scoop him up.
12. Cleveland Browns: Tamba Hali, DE (Penn State) – If you’ve read this post regularly, you know that I’ve already tabbed the Browns as my sleeper team for next year. I see the Browns addressing a need either at linebacker or on the D-line. Hopefully for them, Hali will work out better than the last first brown defensive lineman they drafted from Penn State (Courtney Brown, 2000).
13. Baltimore Ravens: Broderick Bunkley, DT (Florida State) – Bunkley is another of the fast risers, and while not as big as Ngata, he might be a better fit for a team like Baltimore. In fact, some people have him rated higher. The Ravens would love to add a talent like Bunkley to an already stout defense.
14. Philadelphia Eagles: Chad Jackson, WR (Florida) – The good news? T.O. is gone. The bad news? The Eagles have done nothing to address the tremendous void they now have at wide receiver. Unless a Javon Walker trade is in the offing, look for the Eagles to go with Jackson, the best wide receiver in the draft. Though only 6’1”, he’s got a great vertical leap and blazing speed, and will pair with Reggie Brown as the Eagles’ receiving tandem for the next 7-8 years.
15. Denver Broncos: Santonio Holmes, WR (Ohio State) – Denver has two first round picks, so a trade up is a distinct possibility. Or, since they lost out on the T.O. sweepstakes, the Broncos could stand pat and draft a receiver. I can’t predict trades, so I have to assume that they’ll stay put and that Jackson will be gone. All that being said, they will take Holmes.
16. Miami Dolphins: Winston Justice, OT (USC) – Justice figures to be the second bookend tackle to be taken in this draft, and it wouldn’t surprise me if someone moved up to get him. Again, I don’t have the crystal ball in terms of trades, so we’ll leave Justice here as Daunte Culpepper’s new best friend.
17. Minnesota Vikings: DeAngelo Williams, RB (Memphis) – Take a look at the Vikings’ depth chart at running back and you’ll see Mewelde Moore, Chester Taylor, and Ciatrick Fason. Yikes. Minnesota should definitely be thinking running back, and Williams rates as #2 behind Bush. The question remains, will they need to make a move up to get him? Either way, Williams is their man.
18. Dallas Cowboys: Ernie Sims, LB (Florida State) – Prior to the T.O. signing, Dallas had to be thinking wide receiver. With that position all settled (for now), Bill Parcells can continue to re-build his 3-4 defense. Dallas cut La’roi Glover, so a defensive tackle is a possibility, as is a safety to pair with Roy Williams. But I think they’ll go linebacker with Sims, whose idol is former Seminole great Derrick Brooks.
19. San Diego Chargers: Tye Hill, CB (Clemson) – The Philip Rivers era begins this year for the Chargers, and he’ll be OK with LaDanian Tomlinson behind him and Antonio Gates at the end of the line. But there are holes at receiver, on the O-line, and in the secondary. With Jackson, Holmes, and Justice off the board, I feel the Chargers will look at a cornerback. Ergo, Tye Hill.
20. Kansas City Chiefs: Donte Whitner, S (Ohio State) – Whitner is on a lot of teams’ wish list, so there is a chance that he won’t be available for the Chiefs. But if he’s there, they’ll grab him in about three seconds.
21. New England Patriots: Chad Greenway, LB (Iowa) – Assuming they don’t draft a kicker to replace Adam Vinatieri (and let’s face it, only Armando Cuko is that clutch, and he’s not NFL-eligible yet), the Patriots will look at the defensive side of the ball, maybe to find the next Willie McGinest. Greenway might not be McGinest, but he is the kind of versatile linebacker that Bill Belichick loves.
22. Denver Broncos: Laurence Maroney, RB (Minnesota) – With their second pick of the first round, would it surprise anyone if the Broncos took a running back? Denver loves running backs. Mike Shanahan loves running backs. Their line and their system churn out 1,000-yard backs like they’re coming off an assembly line. I was thinking about USC’s LenDale White here, but he’s tacked on a few pounds and has slipped. Besides, he’s being referred to as this year’s Maurice Clarett, a colossal bust drafted a year ago by…the Denver Broncos. They won’t make the same mistake twice.
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Sinorice Moss, WR (Miami) – The Bucs struck gold last year with Carnell “Cadillac” Williams, and they’re hoping to uncover another weapon on that offense. Like his brother Santana, Moss is a threat to score every time he touches the ball, and Tampa would love to have him as Chris Simms’ go-to guy.
24. Cincinnati Bengals: Marcedes Lewis, TE (UCLA) – You’ll have to forgive the Bengals, as they’re not used to drafting this late in the first round. Cincinnati is pretty set on offense except at tight end, and Lewis is a big target with great hands. Besides, all the Pac-10 guys go to Cincinnati – Carson Palmer (USC), Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh (Oregon State). Lewis will be the next left coaster in Marvin Lewis’ stable.
25. New York Giants: Bobby Carpenter, LB (Ohio State) – The surprise winner of the NFC East last season has needs across the defense, but specifically at linebacker. Carpenter was hurt at the end of the season, even missing the Fiesta Bowl. But he’s healthy now, had a great scouting combine, and would probably start from day one with big blue.
26. Chicago Bears: Leonard Pope, TE (Georgia) – On the strength of their defense, the Bears won the NFC North a year ago, and could have done more if they had some pass catchers on offense. Tight End is an obvious need, and after all the other dominos fall, Pope will march into Soldier Field.
27. Carolina Panthers: LenDale White, RB (USC) – Torn hamstring or not, White has fallen from a potential top-ten pick to a second-rounder in some people’s estimation. Not mine, however. White broke records at USC, a school famous for running backs (and alleged double-murderers). White will replace Stephen Davis as the big back in Carolina’s offense, and could carry the load if (or more appropriately when) DeShaun Foster gets hurt.
28. Jacksonville Jaguars: Antonio Cromartie, CB (Florida State) – The fact that Cromartie didn’t play a down last year but still projects as a first round draft pick is a testament to his talent and athletic ability. Jacksonville could use him in the secondary and as a return man on special teams.
29. New York Jets: Mathias Kiwanuka, DE (Boston College) – If the Jets keep this pick (they may need to package it to move up from the #4 spot), they have to find a replacement for John Abraham, who went to Atlanta. Kiwanuka is a pass rush specialist who could eventually fill the void left by Abraham’s departure.
30. Indianapolis Colts: Jonathan Joseph, CB (South Carolina) – The Colts could be hoping that LenDale White falls this far and snatch him to replace Edgerrin James. Or, they could make a move up to try and grab a back. If they stay put, its likely they will draft defense, at which time Joseph, while not of ideal size, would be the best talent available.
31. Seattle Seahawks: Kamerion Wimbley, DE (Florida State) – Seattle re-signed Shaun Alexander and has Matt Hasselbeck locked up for a couple more years, but lost all-pro Steve Hutchinson in free agency. But this late in the first round, the top tackles will be long gone, so defensive end is the way to go. Wimbley is a late bloomer, whose stock has risen dramatically of late.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Nick Mangold, C (Ohio State) – The Super Bowl champs finish out the first round with a prototypical Steeler. Mangold was a starter for three years at Ohio State and is big (6’3”, 300 lbs), tough and durable. He’ll be the second coming of Mike Webster in the ‘burgh.

So, there you have it. And no, I will not be publishing Mock Draft Version 2.0 or anything beyond that like some of these guys do. Instead, I’ll watch the draft as always, and probably write up a little something on the draft’s winners and losers (which is almost impossible to do, since it takes a couple of years before a draft class can really be evaluated). Then will come preparations for another important day – the Fantasy Football draft. I’m also planning further additions to the site, including a mailbag where you can fire questions, comments, and other snide remarks. In the interim, enjoy the off-season.