NFL Mock Draft Aces 1-27-08

[Mat'hir Uth Gan]

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

Pioli saw firsthand what a deep threat in Randy Moss can do. Haley, the Cardinals OC and future Chiefs Head Coach, saw first hand what a deep threat like Larry Fitzgerald can do. More importantly, the entire world is seeing what Fitzgerald can do. Micheal Crabtree's value is going to be the best player in this draft. The absolute best player.

The Chiefs have no deep threat. Bradley, who is always injured, as he was again this year, was picked up off the street. You can't depend on him. He could be a valuable #3 WR while he's healthy though. Haley prefers to run 3 WR sets.

I understand that RDE is the team's biggest need. Everyone knows that. The problem is that #1) There are no 4-3 RDEs worth taking in the 1st Round of this draft, and #2) Jason Babin played excellent, and I mean excellent, the last 1/3rd of the season last year at RDE for them.

While they still need a Rush End for depth and development, and possibly to push Babin, they do not HAVE to have one. And on top of all that, they should have their pick of two talented Rush Ends at the Top of the 2nd, in Georgia Tech's Micheal Johnson and Utah's Paul Kruger. Both of which are 4-3 DEs.

[AC1]

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.

My concern with Ellerbe is primarily that he played behind two very good DTs (one very good DT this past season). I would prefer your guy Jason Phillips or Scott McKillop, since they have performed without the benefit of top-notch DT talent.

As for the mock itself, I would love it if we got Raji, Rashad Johnson and Ellerbe with the first three picks.

[fraguela09]

Pioli saw firsthand what a deep threat in Randy Moss can do. Haley, the Cardinals OC and future Chiefs Head Coach, saw first hand what a deep threat like Larry Fitzgerald can do. More importantly, the entire world is seeing what Fitzgerald can do. Micheal Crabtree's value is going to be the best player in this draft. The absolute best player.

The Chiefs have no deep threat. Bradley, who is always injured, as he was again this year, was picked up off the street. You can't depend on him. He could be a valuable #3 WR while he's healthy though. Haley prefers to run 3 WR sets.

I understand that RDE is the team's biggest need. Everyone knows that. The problem is that #1) There are no 4-3 RDEs worth taking in the 1st Round of this draft, and #2) Jason Babin played excellent, and I mean excellent, the last 1/3rd of the season last year at RDE for them.

While they still need a Rush End for depth and development, and possibly to push Babin, they do not HAVE to have one. And on top of all that, they should have their pick of two talented Rush Ends at the Top of the 2nd, in Georgia Tech's Micheal Johnson and Utah's Paul Kruger. Both of which are 4-3 DEs.

I think it's fair to guess... almost a certainty... That a QB, 2 OTs, Crabtree & Jenkins all get drafted before we pick. That's 5 guys off the board... Erase another 6 and we'll get the next BPA.

Curry, Raji, Maualuga, Brown, Orakpo could very well be those 5 guys. In a nightmare scenario... ALL FIVE are gone. THEN, we might just have to draft Wells/Moreno, or reach for another defensive prospect. Still, chances are... we do get one of those five guys.

[Mat'hir Uth Gan]

I think it's fair to guess... almost a certainty... That a QB, 2 OTs, Crabtree & Jenkins all get drafted before we pick. That's 5 guys off the board... Erase another 6 and we'll get the next BPA.

Curry, Raji, Maualuga, Brown, Orakpo could very well be those 5 guys. In a nightmare scenario... ALL FIVE are gone. THEN, we might just have to draft Wells/Moreno, or reach for another defensive prospect. Still, chances are... we do get one of those five guys.

Personally, I'd be excited to get either Wells or Moreno. I think both are very rare RBs that will be insanely successful. I particularly favor Moreno.

I would draft BJ Raji, Malcolm Jenkins, and Everette Brown before either RB for our particular team needs. But it would be a toss up between Orakpo, Curry, and Maualuga. I'd probably take Orakpo, but I'd take either RB before the LBs.

[fraguela09]

Personally, I'd be excited to get either Wells or Moreno. I think both are very rare RBs that will be insanely successful. I particularly favor Moreno.

I would draft BJ Raji, Malcolm Jenkins, and Everette Brown before either RB for our particular team needs. But it would be a toss up between Orakpo, Curry, and Maualuga. I'd probably take Orakpo, but I'd take either RB before the LBs.

I think if all five are gone... we have to go RB (unless we trade down of course). I wouldn't pass on Curry or Maualuga... I think the only one I might pass on is Orakpo. Maybe even Raji (If I felt he couldn't perform as a NT in the 3-4).

I realize LB isn't as big as a need... especially when you look at the secondary and the DL... BUT, I think Curry, Maualuga & Brown are safe bets to be AT LEAST productive starters... I think Raji and Orakpo have potential... but... they may take longer to develop and they both have HIGH BUST factor involved in their respective selections.

I am intrigued with Wells or Moreno... Have to leave it up to Turner and the scouts to determine just how good they are. BUT, getting the #1 RB in any draft class is enticing, isn't it?

[iowabronco24]

Rashad Johnson may not have all the physical tools, but this kid is a football player, and I would love to see him be our starting FS next year. I would also be happy with Chung, Moore, or Delmas. However I don't see any of these players being worth taken at 12. I'm really not sold on what we should do in the 1st. I've heard a lot of people saying how Raji is projected better as a 4-3 DT than a 3-4 NT and that kind of scares me..it will be interesting to see what we do here..

[fraguela09]

Rashad Johnson may not have all the physical tools, but this kid is a football player, and I would love to see him be our starting FS next year. I would also be happy with Chung, Moore, or Delmas. However I don't see any of these players being worth taken at 12. I'm really not sold on what we should do in the 1st. I've heard a lot of people saying how Raji is projected better as a 4-3 DT than a 3-4 NT and that kind of scares me..it will be interesting to see what we do here..

Depending on what we do in free agency... I would sense that a S in the 2nd round makes sense. However, with so many options in f/a... We might fill that need before the draft.

In the first round... I would think Curry, Brown, Maualuga or RB (Wells, Moreno). I doubt Jenkins & Raji slip to us... We might not even see Curry, Brown or Maualuga. I could see JAX taking Rey-Rey.

SO... Do you go with Orakpo? Or, if even hes gone, do you reach for a Maybin (or someone else). OR, simply "settle" on this draft class' #1 RB?