Mel "Asshat" Kiper, Jr. released his first NFL mock draft off the year. Looks okay, but some of his picks are questionable. ---------------- 1. San Diego Chargers: Eli Manning, QB, Ole Miss Drew Brees has not proven himself as a player who will ultimately be a starter in the NFL, and while the Chargers also have needs at OT, WR, DT and LB, passing up a blue-chip quarterback like Manning is tough to do, especially considering they passed on Michael Vick a couple years ago. Larry Fitzgerald has the hands and body control to make the tough catches. 2. Oakland Raiders: *Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Pittsburgh The Raiders certainly could use a quarterback, with Rich Gannon getting up there in age, but Fitzgerald would be a good complement to the big, athletic Jerry Porter at wideout. There is also need at DL and S, but Fitzgerald has all the skills you look for in a receiver. 3. Arizona Cardinals: *Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Miami-Ohio Josh McCown is an adequate QB, but Roethlisberger will give new coach Dennis Green a potential star. DL is also a need area, but no linemen are worthy of the No. 3 pick, so the Cardinals would do well to upgrade the most important position on the field. 4. New York Giants: Robert Gallery, OT, Iowa Getting a player like Gallery -- the prototype left tackle -- would be a huge help to QB Kerry Collins, who was beaten up big-time this season. The Giants also need help along the DL and at S, but Gallery will step in immediately and fill a big hole. 5. Washington Redskins: *Kellen Winslow, TE, Miami-Fla. The TE position is always important in a Joe Gibbs offense, and Winslow will give the Redskins a multi-dimensional talent at that position, one that could be utilized creatively by Gibbs and his staff. DL and RB are also need positions in Washington, but it will be hard to pass up an athlete like Winslow at this spot. 6. Detroit Lions: *Sean Taylor, S, Miami-Fla. The Lions need to get the best impact player still on the board at either WR, RB, DE, CB or S, and Taylor looks to be that guy. Taylor is to the safety position at Miami what Ray Lewis was to the MLB spot and has tremendous toughness. 7. Atlanta Falcons: *Tommie Harris, DT, Oklahoma DT, OT, CB and WR are the need areas for the Falcons, and Harris wreaks havoc behind the line of scrimmage. He can cause problems for opposing QBs and was constantly triple-teamed in college. 8. Cleveland Browns: *Chris Gamble, CB, Ohio State Gamble might be a slight reach here, but his upside is tremendous, and he capped his college career with a terrific game in Ohio State's Fiesta Bowl win over Kansas State. A roll of the dice, but if he can be coached up and improve his cover skills Gamble could be an impact player down the road. 9. Jacksonville Jaguars: Roy Williams, WR, Texas The Jags need a complement to Jimmy Smith at wideout, and a reliable No. 2 option would certainly help the development of QB Byron Leftwich. Jacksonville also has needs at CB and DE. 10. Houston Texans: *Kenechi Udeze, DE, USC A pass-rusher is the No. 1 need in Houston, and Udeze fits the mold. Originally a DT, Udeze has developed into a terrific strong-side DE and is ideally suited to the 3-4 scheme with his rush skills and ability to hold up against the run. 11. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dunta Robinson, CB, South Carolina The Steelers' secondary has been torched in recent years and Robinson is definitely worthy of a high pick. He is fundamentally sound and prepared to step in and become an immediate starter. 12. New York Jets: Jonathan Vilma, LB, Miami-Fla. New York definitely needs help at WR and CB, but Vilma would give the Jets speed, athleticism and instincts to boost their LB corps. 13. Buffalo Bills: Will Smith, DE, Ohio State A perfect fit. Smith would be the best player available at this point in the first round and fill a big-time need for the Bills, who could also use help at CB or WR. 14. Chicago Bears: *Kevin Jones, RB, Virginia Tech Jones has size, breakaway speed and the ability to catch and block. He would be a good complement to Anthony Thomas, who is not quite the home run hitter Jones could be. The Bears might also look to upgrade at WR, DT or DB. 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: *Shawn Andrews, OT, Arkansas Andrews is a devastating run blocker who is also light on his feet and would upgrade the RT position dramatically for the Bucs. WR and TE are also areas of need in Tampa. 16. San Francisco 49ers: *Vince Wilfork, DT, Miami-Fla. With his ability to stuff the run and also explode upfield, Wilfork is in the mold of current NFL DT Keith Traylor. Wilfork would solidify a unit that had problems all season long. 17. Cincinnati Bengals: *Randy Starks, DT, Maryland Coach Marvin Lewis needs a big presence in the middle of the defensive front, and Starks is a guy who can make plays. He had 14½ tackles for loss last season and is very strong with great athletic ability. Starks is definitely a good fit and has tremendous potential. 18. New Orleans Saints: Will Poole, CB, USC The Saints passed on Marcus Trufant last year and still need help in the secondary. Poole turned into a shutdown corner when he became a starter three games into the season and could turn into a special player. 19. Minnesota Vikings: D.J. Williams, OLB, Miami-Fla. Minnesota needs some athletic ability on the outside of its defense, and former FB Williams has that. He is not as instinctive as teammate Jonathan Vilma, but with his speed and overall physical ability, Williams would give the Vikings a solid presence at OLB. 20. Miami Dolphins: J.P. Losman, QB, Tulane With Jay Fiedler and Brian Griese not looking like the long-term answer at QB, the Dolphins could upgrade here with Losman. He has a quick release, mobility and a strong arm. Losman got beat up at Tulane thanks to a terrible supporting cast but is ideally suited to an NFL offense. 21. New England Patriots (from Baltimore): *Steven Jackson, RB, Oregon State The Pats did not run the ball consistently this season and need a quality RB to take some pressure off Tom Brady and the short passing game. Jackson has size and can bounce it to the outside as well as being an excellent receiver out of the backfield. 22. Dallas Cowboys: Chris Perry, RB, Michigan Troy Hambrick does not look like the answer at RB, and Perry is the kind of all-around back Cowboys coach Bill Parcells likes. Perry is multi-talented, a good short-yardage runner, has hands out of the backfield and is a very good blocker. A complete back who can be on the field every down. 23. Seattle Seahawks: Dwan Edwards, DT, Oregon State Seattle had problems stopping the run and getting pressure on the QB, so Edwards would be a big help. He played in the shadow of some more-heralded teammates but had a heck of a career and would be a significant upgrade. 24. Denver Broncos: Ben Troupe, TE, Florida Shannon Sharpe is near the end of the road and Troupe is a TE in the Sharpe mold. Troupe can run, catch and block and his combination of size and speed is impressive. The Broncos might also look for a WR or CB here. 25. Green Bay: *Antwan Odom, DE, Alabama Alabama lost three starters on the DL before last season, yet Odom still managed to get eight sacks despite being the focus of opposing offenses up front. He has tremendous size and potential and would give the Packers a three-down DE who can play the run and the pass. Green Bay could also look for a QB or OLB. 26. St. Louis Rams: *DeAngelo Hall, CB, Virginia Tech A multi-talented player, Hall has great recovery speed as a CB and could significantly upgrade the punt return game. OG and TE are also need positions for the Rams. 27. Tennessee Titans: Vernon Carey, OL, Miami-Fla. The Titans need a versatile lineman, and Carey played both guard and both tackle positions while at Miami. He would give the Titans some much-needed flexibility along the offensive front. 28. Kansas City Chiefs: Keith Smith, CB, McNeese State The Chiefs had all kinds of match-up problems in their playoff loss to the Colts. Smith had a great career at the Division I-AA level and looks ready to step up to the NFL level. Reminiscent of former McNeese and NFL CB Leonard Smith (no relation). 29. Philadelphia Eagles: *Reggie Williams, WR, Washington The Eagles showed how badly they need a WR in their loss to the Panthers in the NFC championship game, and Williams is a big, fast target who would be an upgrade over any wideout currently on the roster. 30. Indianapolis Colts: Karlos Dansby, OLB, Auburn The Colts need a complete OLB, and Dansby is just that. Speed and athleticism make blitzing off the edge his forte, and Dansby would give Indianapolis a good outside pass rusher and upgrade that area of the defense. 31. Carolina Panthers: *Michael Clayton, WR, LSU Clayton has size and can make the difficult catch look easy. He showed his toughness by playing special teams and some at safety in college and would be a great bargain at this point in the first round. The Panthers also need LB help. 32. New England Patriots: Michael Jenkins, WR, Ohio State The Patriots have some undersized receivers in Deion Branch, Troy Brown and David Givens, and Jenkins would give them the big target they lack. He is a complete player who will block downfield and make unselfish plays. --------------- WTF? If Shawn Andrews is there at #10, why wouldn't we take him? Also, is Udeze really better than Will Smith? Also, Reggie Williams drops to #29? J.P. Losman taken in the first round? Atlanta taking Tommie Harris over Roy Williams? Kiper, you've got some 'splaining to do...
... Except that we ALREADY got Oakland's 2nd rounder last year and used it on Tony Hollings in the supplemental draft. So, if you mean FUTURE 2nd rounders (i.e. 2005 and on), then I'm all for it.
That still pisses me off to no end. That boneheaded Tony Hollings pickup cost us a chance at drafting a guy like Nathan Vasher, Derrick Strait, Marcus Tubbs, or Rashaun Woods this year. There are way too many needs to fill on this team, and Hollings is a bust, who runs like a puss. Either way, Kenichi Udeze is a total badass, who tore sh*t up in the Rose Bowl. Personally, I like Sean Taylor if he slips to #10, but that's unlikely. If big Shawn Andrews is there at #10, I say Houston should scoop him up as our franchise tackle, to protect David Carr's blindside. Vince Wilfork would be an ideal DT in a 3-4 set, and I'd love to land him as well. This is a VERY deep draft, and I see it as a win-win situation regardless of who Casserly takes in the 1st round, as long as it's not Tommie Harris. But if we don't take a DT in the 1st round, I say scoop up Marcus Tubbs in the 2nd.
When you have the advantage of hindsight, then of course it's a bad move. At the time, when the pick was projected to be a late 2nd rounder, it wasn't that bad a gamble. At the time, running back was a need. Also, who knows how Hollings would've turned out had Davis not emerged like he did?
Hollings can still pan out. Don't give up hope yet. Still, I DO wish we had that extra 2nd round pick. If we did, and if we could find a taker for Henson, we'd have the potential to have an AWESOME draft with our extra picks. We could move up! We could move down! We could stand pat! Flexibility would be really nice.
Udeze is a freak of nature. A 280 pound pass rushing machine like him isn't that easy to find. A guy that big should not be able to run a 4.6-4.7 40 time. I saw the USC-Michigan game and I came away more than impressed with USC's D-Line and udeze in general. I think he is the best DL in the draft. Andrews or Udeze are fine choices for the Texans and as long as they avoid Tommie Harris, they should be fine. I wish they had oakland's 2nd rounder because in my ideal world I'd get udeze/andrews, vilma and lavalais. Realistically, they may get none, one or two at the most. You might be shocked at vilma, but I really like intelligent football players with skill, and jonathan fits the mold.
It would seem that if Roy Williams falls to the Texans it would be a good pick for the local fans and possibly the team. Even though we need some defense. The triple threat offense would be spectacular in a few years.
We need to fill so many holes on D and OL, but I like USC product...We got to get something this year for Henson, right?
It would be nice if the Texans could get Champ Bailey and then trade Coleman and Drew Henson to the Panthers for their 1st rounder. Carolina needs a CB and a QB so it makes sense. We could take Reggie Williams or Mike Clayton with that pick to go along with our defensive stud at the #10 pick.
The Raiders hiring Payton makes me wonder if we'll draft Eli/Ben. The Texans would be lucky to get Sean Taylor, i doubt he slips past the top 9, Udeze's stock has skyrocketed from early 2nd to top 15 pick, DV and I were discussing last night just how badass he is. The only really stupid picks here are Shawn Andrews and DeAngelo Hall slipping that far.
Why do the Panthers need a quarterback? They have a young veteran who has just guided them to the Super Bowl.
I've got to believe the Raiders are drafting a QB. Al Davis likes a deep aerial attack. It only seems logical to me that they draft one of the two guys who are known for it. I guess in the past they have pulled out the old geezers to get it done at QB. And been very successful at it. So you could argue that's how Davis will continue to do it. Especially with Klingler, Marinovich, and other youthful failures. But I wouldn't pass on a QB for a WR. No way. If I'm a raider I draft the QB and sell some tickets.
The way the DMN is reporting it, it sounds like the wife stepped in and put the kibosh on moving to Oakland. Al must be a real PITA these days to run off a guy looking to make the jump from QB coach to Head Coach. I think I'd rather stick with Parcells a little longer, too, if I were him, rather than going off to what is likely going to be a nightmare of a job working for Al Davis and trying to coach a bunch of disgrunted, aging veterans.
You know, there seems to be this myth in the NFL that Al Davis is like a vampire who rises out of his coffin at midnight and proceeds to carry out vengeful wrath on all his lackeys. The man may be many things, but he is not an idiot... He gave guys like Mike Shanahan and Jon Gruden their first jobs as head coaches. The Raiders sucked an ass this season, mainly due to key injuries and a coach who apparently didn't give a ****, also adding to the sucking was the play of the defense, and the offense... and... the special teams. 0 Pro Bowlers for the first time since I can remember. 0-8 on the road. This is a proud franchise that has still hasn't recovered from the shellacking they received in Gruden Bowl I. They need to get their asses in gear, HIRE A ****ING GM, HIRE A ****ING COACH, CUT THE WHINEY ASS GANNON, DRAFT ME A ****ING STUD WITH THE #2 PICK AND STOP PLAYING LIKE A GROUP OF WALKING FILLOPIAN TUBES GODDAMNIT. except for you Shane... you rule.
The problem in Oakland isn't working with Al Davis. It's taking a coaching job on an old, bad team that's gotta be deterring potential candidates. Not enough young talent and salary cap issues will have da Raiders rebuilding for awhile before they're competitive again. Whoever they bring in, though, has to be better than Callahan.
