NFL Mock Draft Aces 1-27-08

[getlynched47]

http://www.nflmockdraftaces.com/

12. Denver Broncos

The Pick: BJ Raji, NT, Boston College

Every year it seems the Broncos are ranked near the bottom of the league in run defense and this year is no different as they were ranked 29th out of 32. They also fielded one of the worst pair of starting safeties I have ever seen and will need to address the position at some point in the draft. With William Moore, James Laurainitis, and BJ Raji on the board Denver really can't miss here and which ever way they go it will be an upgrade to that defense. With new D-Coordinator Mike Nolan in town, Denver will look to put the pieces in place to make the transition to a 3-4 defense which might prompt them to grab their nose tackle of the future here in BJ Raji. Raji is huge and a dominant force against the run who also gets in the backfield to disrupt plays. He will be a nice centerpiece to build around as Nolan will try to get this defense back on the map.
Team needs: S, NT, ILB
Alternative pick: MLB - James Laurinaitis

A valid assessment IMO.

48. Denver Broncos

The Pick: Rashad Johnson, FS, Alabama

The Broncos need an upgrade at both safety spots. Their starting safeties managed a total of zero INTs and are on the downsides of their careers. Rashad Johnson is a projected FS and will instantly improve this defense and give them the playmaker they have been lacking.
Team needs: S, DT, ILB

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79. Denver Broncos

The Pick: Dannell Ellerbe, ILB, Georgia

[Mat'hir Uth Gan]

Ellerbe is awesome. He was neck and neck with Maualuga and Laurinaitis entering the season as a MIKE, but he got hurt. He's a bit smaller then the other two guys though but would still fit just fine as an ILB in a 3-4.

I think the mock is good. I have Raji and Johnson as our first two picks in my current mock, though Johnson is moving up after the Senior Bowl and Houston may snatch him before us in the 2nd Round. Regardless, we should be able to nab one of the top safeties in the mid 2nd.

In the 3rd Round I have Denver taking OC Antoine Caldwell, though I'm thinking of changing that to DE Jarron Gilbert or DE Fili Moala. I'm a big supporter of Ellerbe, but I also believe we have two starting ILBs in DJ Williams and Spencer Larson. I don't really see the need for another, though if we had to take one, Ellerbe in the 3rd would be MUCH better value then Maualuga or Laurinaitis in the 1st.

[lottaphil]

Great first 2 picks

I would be stoked about the first two picks, we'd have to get pretty lucky for Raji to fall to us and Rashad Johnson is exactly what we need at safety, a ballhawking cover safety we could let Josh Barrett and Wesley Woodyard battle it out for the SS spot.

Although I really like Dannell Ellerbe as a player he would have to play WILB in the 3-4 because of his size, and IMO DJ Williams will lock that spot up. What we need is a run stuffing SILB which I think Larsen has a good chance at being.

I'd rather draft Jasper Brinkley, Worrell Williams, McKillop, or Holtzclaw for that position.

[lottaphil]

2) Beanie Wells and Knowshon Moreno are both Top 10 selections (1/5/09)
3) William Moore is the best Safety in this draft and a Top 15 selection (1/5/09)
4) Tyson Jackson is a 1st Round selection (1/5/09)

No way to all three of these. Neither Beanie Wells or Knowshon Moreno will be in the top ten, guarantee it.

[hilife]

Moore is the tatol package you look for in an NFL safety who can play either FS or SS. He is big at 6-1, 225 who plays the run as well as the pass.

I just lost all faith in that site.

[getlynched47]

I just lost all faith in that site.

I would take William Moore over Rashad Johnson in the 2nd ANYDAY!!!

[fraguela09]

I would take William Moore over Rashad Johnson in the 2nd ANYDAY!!!

It appears DEN will be in great shape to draft an excellent S prospect in the second round. No doubt!

I like Rashad Johnson... Sabean called him the smartest player he's ever coached. He's a tad small... but... I would prefer a ballhawk FS right now over a smash-mouth SS. I want both... but...

There's also Patrick Chung, Williams Moore, Louis Delmas, Sherrod Martin & Emanuel Cooke... Along with CBs Sean Smith & Alphonso Smith...

Imagine we draft Jenkins in the first and Smith in the second? Never happen... BUT... DB is an issue as well.

SO... it definitely makes sense to draft a CB/S in round two!

As for BJ RAJI... I wouldn't flip if we drafted him. Raji, along with Carlton Powell and a free agent, would be a good start... at finding our nose tackle. We could be set...

I think DEN needs to grab an extra DAY-1 pick... I think they need to find a NT prospect (and let that rookie & Powell groom themselves as our future NT)... but, at the same time, we need immediate help... This could come with a LB and a DB.

Of course, it depends on what we do in free agency... I mean, if we sign a FS & a SS... THEN, obviously... we don't draft a safety early... maybe instead draft a Smith at CB or even a DE. AND, if we sign an ILB, then we wouldn't draft one early either, we might go OLB.

SO... we need NT, DE, FS, SS, ILB, OLB & CB. RIGHT? SO... we should address 3-4 of these needs in free agency... OF the other 3-4 needs... we be drafting them early... Hence, an extra 2nd would be nice.

[Mat'hir Uth Gan]

2) Beanie Wells and Knowshon Moreno are both Top 10 selections (1/5/09)
3) William Moore is the best Safety in this draft and a Top 15 selection (1/5/09)
4) Tyson Jackson is a 1st Round selection (1/5/09)

No way to all three of these. Neither Beanie Wells or Knowshon Moreno will be in the top ten, guarantee it.

You guys love to refer to my SIG in other's threads, don't cha?


Well, Beanie is going to run a 4.3 at the Combine or Pro Day at 230lbs, so I see him going to Seattle at #4, since once they cut Julius Jones, they'll have no RB. He could also go to the Chiefs at #3 if they release/trade disgruntled Larry Johnson. And then of course, everyone in Cleveland wants him as a home town hero, and Jamal Lewis is winding down and coming off a bad year. One of the Chiefs or Seahawks is going to draft Crabtree. If KC takes him as the BAP, then Seattle takes Wells. KC is not going to take a QB. There are zero DEs worth the #3 pick. Everette Brown, similar to most FSU DEs, projects as a 3-4 OLB. Orakpo is too brittle to take that high. They aren't going to take a Right Tackle. Brandon Albert played well at Left Tackle last year. They don't need a CB nor a DT. The Chiefs do need LBs, but when was the last time a LB was drafted #3 overall? Its been awhile. So, the Chiefs either take Crabtree as the BAP, or if they get rid of Johnson, they can go with Beanie.


Knowshon is actually a better RB. Tremendous hands and flexibility out of the backfield. With Andre Smith's weight being an issue and questions continuing to rise about Micheal Oher, Cincinnati, which has only Cedric Benson, sure could use a complimentary piece. They've tried recently with Chris Perry, whom is a bust, and Kenny Irons, whom suffered a career ending injury. I expect Eugene Monroe to either go #1 or #2 Overall. Jason Smith is more of a zone blocking type that does not fit what the Bengals do. The only other option for the Bengals to draft at that point is a RB. So, it's either an OT that shows he's worth the #6 Overall slot, or its Knowshon Moreno.


Tyson Jackson will go in the 1st Round. The Jets could look at him in the middle of the round and Baltimore could use him towards the end. Not to mention, the Steelers need a young DE to groom as well.


In regards to William Moore, I made the predictions at the beginning of January, hence the date. I really thought he would blow up the Senior Bowl week and re-establish himself. He did not. Unless he rebounds at the Combine, and he is a very good athlete, so he will to a degree, he looks like a late 1st Rounder now. He still should be the 1st Safety taken though, but Louis Delmas is closing on him fast.

[getlynched47]

Seattle is taking Crabtree......GUARANTEED MUG

[hardcorebronco]

This is a great mock draft. I'd be ecstatic if our draft turned out like this. We'd lock up a NT that is the most important position of the 3-4. We'd have a younger Ed Reed ball hawking FS, and Ellerbe is only a third round pick because of his size, but his speed and instincts are of a top ten pick. His motor and heart would be a great asset to our defense. Criticize his size if you will, but I remember a particularly undersized MLB named Al Wilson that turned out ok.

These three players would all be a great upgrade for us. :salute!:

[Mat'hir Uth Gan]

Seattle is taking Crabtree......GUARANTEED MUG

You have to read my post thouroughly. There is no doubt that when Kansas City picks at #3 that Crabtree will be the best available player. He's probably the best player in this draft overall outside of maybe Eugene Monroe. This will be commonplace by draft time.

The new headcoach of the KC Chiefs will be Haley, the OC from Arizona. What does he do now? He throws the ball like a madman with Fitzgerald and Boldin. He values WRs.

The Chiefs have Dwayne Bowe and then a bunch of scrubs. TE Gonzalez is nearing the end of his career. The Chiefs have a horrific receiving corps.


To me, you take 1 + 1 + 1 = 3. Here, that's (Crabtree as the BAP in the draft at #3) + (Pass-centric new head coach that loves WRs) + (terrible WR crops outside of one guy) = (drafting Crabtree #3 overall).


And thus, Crabtree is not available for the Seahawks at #4. And thus, they take Beanie Wells because they don't have a RB once they cut Jones.

[getlynched47]

Orakpo or Curry is going to Kansas City at 3......or maybe Matt Stafford

Crabtree is going to Seattle

[Mat'hir Uth Gan]

Orakpo or Curry is going to Kansas City at 3......or maybe Matt Stafford

Crabtree is going to Seattle

Orakpo is not going that high. He's too injury-prone and he may project better as a 3-4 OLB then a 4-3 Rush End.

Aaron Curry is not going #3 Overall. LBs never go in the Top 3, and the few times they have, they've been massive busts. LB is too easy of a position to fill later on. Plus, they have an Aaron Curry clone in Derrick Johnson already.

Stafford is a possibility, but he's not going to be rated higher then Crabtree. Infact, none of the three players you listed will be graded higher then Crabtree. Sometimes you do take a player in a position of need ahead of a slightly higher ranked one, but the Chiefs appear to have a quality QB, they just need a better WR corps, O-line, and running game.

[elevation INC]

Orakpo or Curry is going to Kansas City at 3......or maybe Matt Stafford

Crabtree is going to Seattle

curry will not go to KC at 3......

[getlynched47]

They have their starters in Bowe and Bradley.....they're very happy with both of them...

The "best player on the board" logic doesnt work in this instance now....Pioli always go for need vs. best available.

They need a pass-rush.......statistically they had their worst pass-rushing season last year....and they want to upgrade. They miss Jared Allen badly.

It's going to be Orakpo, Curry, maybe even Brown.....or Stafford