WholeHogSports
NFL NUGGETS : 2007 NFL Mock Draft: Pair of former Hogs go in first round
Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2007
URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/nwat/52468/
The recent surge of NFL players clashing with law
enforce-, new - sioner Roger Goodell’s lack of tolerance for such trouble-makers, could pay dividends in Saturday’s NFL Draft for a straight-laced guy like former Arkansas defensive end Jamaal Anderson. With his size-speed combination, Anderson would be a perfect fit for any NFL defense. He could go as high as No. 6 to Washington, but there is no way he slips past St. Louis at No. 13.
Defensive back seems to be a heavily-drafted position in the first round every year, and this year is no different. I have eight defensive backs (four corners, four safeties ) going on Saturday.
That’s good news for former Hog Chris Houston, who is among the top three or four cornerbacks in this year’s draft. I have him going to the Jets at No. 25, but who knows ? A rough Senior Bowl outing could have knocked tackle Tony Ugoh out of the first round, but he looks like a solid early second round pick to me.
It’s likely that defensive lineman Keith Jackson will be selected early on Sunday, the second day of the draft. I would think he’d go somewhere in the fourth or fifth round. And despite his lack of height, I think linebacker Sam Olajubutu’s name will be called before the end of the draft, maybe in the fifth or sixth round. Surely some team will have the foresight to take a chance on the 5-9 powder keg. Safety Randy Kelly, cornerback Darius Vinnett, guard Stephen Parker and linebacker Desmond Sims all have a chance to sneak in before it’s all said and done. 2007 NFL Nuggets
Mock Draft 1. Oakland — JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU. He’s big, strong, fast and can throw the football a mile. And Russell’s decision-making steadily improved as last season went on. What’s not to like ? Oh yeah, he’ll be playing for the Raiders so he’s already doomed to fail.
2. Detroit — Joe Thomas, T, Wisconsin. As much as the Lions would love to draft Calvin Johnson here, another first-round wide receiver bust might cause GM Matt Millen to get a stern talkingto from the owner. No one wants that. Expect Detroit to entertain trade offers right up until the pick is due.
3. Cleveland — Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame. This pick makes so much sense that it probably won’t happen. Though Quinn is an Ohio guy and has expressed his desire to play for Cleveland, head coach Romeo Crennel and GM Phil Savage need a player who can help them win now.
4. Tampa Bay — Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech. The closest thing to a “ can’t miss” in this year’s draft. Johnson, at times, is unstoppable on the field and you can’t coach that. It’s unlikely that Tampa will be able to stand pat here and still land him.
5. Arizona — Gaines Adams, DE / OLB, Clemson. The Cards would love for Thomas to fall here or to trade down to get Levi Brown. Whoever drafts here will get Adams, a speed rusher who will man a Derrick Thomas / Terrell Suggs rush end position.
6. Washington — Alan Branch, DT, Michigan. The ‘ Skins need to improve against the run, and Branch is the kind of long-armed, wide-bodied powerhouse that can clog up the middle.
7. Minnesota — LaRon Landry, S, LSU. The Vikings, soft against the pass, get one heck of a football player here. Landry is tough and competitive, and close to being a “ can’t miss” pick in his own right.
8. Houston — Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma. If the Texans don’t grab him here, Peterson could possibly tumble all the way to Green Bay at No. 16. He’s got a prototypical NFL body (6-2, 220 ) and big-play speed. Injuries are a concern.
9. Miami — Levi Brown, T, Penn State. Brown has all the tools and ability to be a stud left tackle. If he works hard, he could be great. If not, he’ll be a bust.
10. Atlanta — Ted Ginn, WR, Ohio State. In their never-ending quest to add speed at the wide receiver position, the Falcons make a bad pick, in my book. Ginn is a blazer, but LSU’s Dwayne Bowe presents a better overall package.
11. San Francisco — Leon Hall, CB, Michigan. There’s some debate over which cornerback is best out of the draft’s top four or five. Hall is a physical ballhawk who can cover and support the run.
12. Buffalo — Patrick Willis, ILB, Mississippi. The Bills could take Peterson here if he falls, but Willis might be a better fit. As Arkansas fans already know, the Ole Miss star can make plays sideline-to-sideline.
13. St. Louis — Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas. Leonard Little, the Rams’ only rush threat at DE, is aging and constantly double-teamed. Anderson is brimming with potential and upside and can be on the field on any down.
14. Carolina — Reggie Nelson, S, Florida. No matter what, the Panthers have to come out of this draft with a starting safety. Nelson has been steadily climbing most draft boards.
15. Pittsburgh — Paul Posluszny, OLB, Penn State. Posluszny’s not a bad player, but I like Miami’s Jon Beason and Florida State’s Lawrence Timmons better.
16. Green Bay — Marshawn Lynch, RB, California. There are some character issues here, but the Packers desperately need a running back. Who knows, with all the recent hubbub over player conduct, the bruiser from Cal might drop out of the first round completely.
17. Jacksonville — Michael Griffin, S, Texas. A big, athletic player who can tackle. Inconsistent in pass coverage.
18. Cincinnati — Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville. The Bengals jump for joy when the 19-year-old Okoye, a cat-quick one-gap penetrator, falls to them. The best news of all: He’s not a thug !
19. Tennessee — Aaron Ross, CB, Texas. Titans owner Bud Adams loves former Longhorns and the team just so happens to be looking for a replacement for the suspended Pacman Jones.
20. N. Y. Giants — Jon Beason, OLB, Miami. This pick might seem like a reach, but it’s not. Beason is an attack linebacker who hits really hard once he gets to the ballcarrier. He’d be a needed dose of attitude on a moribund Giants defense.
21. Denver — Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska. Not the fastest end on the board, but Carriker is stout and plays with good leverage. Could move inside on third down.
22. Dallas — Dwayne Bowe, WR, LSU. The Cowboys get an absolute steal in Bowe, a powerful receiver who can punish defensive backs over the middle.
23. Kansas City — Dwayne Jarrett, WR, USC. Another receiver named Dwayne goes off the board, and another team gets a steal. Don’t let Jarrett’s pedestrian 40 time fool you; he’s fast enough. Don’t confuse him with Mike Williams.
24. New England (from Seattle ) — Jarvis Moss, DE / OLB, Florida. Bill Belichick loves versatile athletes, and Moss has the speed to play in a two- or three-point stance. Can he play tight end, too ?
25. N. Y. Jets — Chris Houston, CB, Arkansas. Houston earned a spot in the first round with dynamite workouts. Houston will bring strength and solid man cover skills to New York, where he will join former Hog David Barrett in the Jets’ secondary.
26. Philadelphia — Lawrence Timmons, OLB, Florida State. The best strongside linebacker in this class. Can blitz and cover extremely well.
27. New Orleans — Darelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh. With Houston off the board, the Saints go with the next-best available corner. Needs to stay healthy.
28. New England — Bran don Meriweather, S, Miami. His part in the infamous Miami-Florida International brawl aside, Meriweather is a heck of a ballplayer.
29. Baltimore — Anthony Spencer, DE / OLB, Purdue. The Ravens desperately need offensive line help, but they always seem to go defense first. Spencer would help ease the loss of OLB Adalius Thomas to the Patriots.
30. San Diego — Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee. I really like Meachem. Good guy. Good receiver. Good pick.
31. Chicago — Greg Olsen, TE, Miami. The Bears go with the best player available, and Olsen can be a difference-maker for an offense needing to improve through the air.
32. Indianapolis — Justin Harrell, DT, Tennessee. Champs get big body to improve run defense. Harrell has durability issues. Just outside the
first round: • Tony Ugoh, T, Arkansas. • Joe Staley, T, Central Michigan. • Sidney Rice, WR, South Carolina. • Ben Grubbs, G, Auburn. • Ryan Kalil, C, USC. • Tenard Jackson, CB, Syracuse. • Justin Blalock, G, Texas.