It’s obvious to anyone who watches sports that the NFL Draft has become much more than just 32 teams adding players to their rosters. What once was held in a conference room with a fixed camera on the podium for when then-Commissioner Pete Rozelle announced the picks, has now become a massive event televised on not one, but two networks.
ESPN will have their usual wire-to-wire coverage, with reporters huddled outside the “war rooms” of teams expected to be major players in the draft. The NFL Network debuts it’s draft-day coverage this year with Rich Eisen, Mike Mayock and Adam Schefter in New York, and Derrin Horton holding down the fort back in their Los Angeles studio.
Major League Baseball and the NHL could never dream to get this much attention for their drafts. The closest any of the other major sports came was the NBA, but when they started drafting high school players and Europeans that nobody had ever heard of, people found better ways to spend a summer evening in June. Though it is worth tuning in, if only to see suits with 34 buttons and families so big they severely test the occupancy limit.
The increased television coverage “The Draft” has created a cottage industry of “draftniks”. It all started with the late Joel Buschbaum, who published his own draft report and wrote draft analysis pieces for Pro Football Weekly. He lived for nothing but the NFL Draft and helped inspire the new breed of “expert”, most notably Mel Kiper. The “Hairdo” is brash and unafraid to verbally spare with NFL decision makers (like Colts GM Bill Polian when he drafted Trev Alberts, which Mel was right about). He’s good television, and that’s why he’s on there.
But here’s the thing: With all due respect to the passion that guys like Kiper, Mayock, et al. put into the draft, they really don’t have any more of an idea than you or I do about what a team is going to do.
Take Todd McShay’s 7-round mock draft (linked below) that he put up last week. What it doesn’t take into account are pre-draft trades (like Seattle sending a 6th round pick for S Mike Green, which is huge, because it reduces the likelihood of them drafting a safety), or trades made on Draft Day.
The New England Patriots have 11 picks this weekend. Does anyone actually believe that they’ll send 11 cards up to the podium? Of course they won’t. Last year, the Patriots traded down and wound up with a bevy of additional picks this year, which they’ll use to trade up. Right now, they’re sitting at #21. Don’t bet against them moving up on Saturday (possibly with Baltimore, who is looking to trade down) to get WR Chad Jackson out of Florida, this year’s top WR prospect.
Inspired by Todd McShay's effort, I’ve done a 255-selection mock draft of my own. I did this a few years ago, and just as I suspected, I was way off on 99% of the picks. Still, it’s fun to do, as long as you understand that you will be nowhere near accurate.
Anyways, here’s “Mac’s Mock”, and you can check back on Saturday for pick-by-pick analysis of the 1st round, as well as a Day 1 recap. I’ll also be comparing how I did against McShay’s mock draft and providing in-depth analysis of each of the Seattle Seahawks draft picks.
Round 1
1. Houston - RB, Reggie Bush, USC
2. New Orleans - LT, D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Virginia
3. Tennessee - QB, Vince Young, Texas
4. NY Jets - DE, Mario Williams, NC State
5. Green Bay - OLB, AJ Hawk, Ohio State
6. San Francisco - DB, Michael Huff, Texas
7. Oakland - DT Haloti Ngata, Oregon
8. Buffalo - TE, Vernon Davis, Maryland
9. Detroit - QB, Matt Leinart, USC
10. Arizona - OT, Winston Justice, USC
11. St. Louis - QB, Jay Cutler, Vanderbilt
12. Cleveland - DE/LB, Kamerion Wimbley, Florida State
13. Baltimore - DT, Brodrick Bunkley, Florida State
14. Philadelphia - WR, Chad Jackson, Florida
15. Denver - RB, DeAngelo Williams, Memphis
16. Miami - OLB, Ernie Sims, Florida State
17. Minnesota - CB, Jimmy Williams, Virginia Tech
18. Dallas - S, Donte Whitner, Ohio State
19. San Diego - CB, Tye Hill, Clemson
20. Kansas City - DE/LB, Manny Lawson, NC State
21. New England - OLB, Chad Greenway, Iowa
22. San Francisco - WR, Santonio Holmes, Ohio State
23. Tampa Bay - C, Nick Mangold, Ohio State
24. Cincinnati - CB, Johnathan Joseph, South Carolina
25. NY Giants - OLB, Bobby Carpenter, Ohio State
26. Chicago - TE, Marcedes Lewis, UCLA
27. Carolina - RB, LenDale White, USC
28. Jacksonville - DB, Antonio Cromartie, Florida State
29. NY Jets - RB, Laurence Maroney, Minnesota
30. Indianapolis - CB, Ashton Youboty, Ohio State
31. Seattle - CB, Richard Marshall, Fresno State
32. Pittsburgh - WR, Sinorice Moss, Miami
Round 2
33. Houston - OT, Eric Winston, Miami
34. New Orleans - OLB, Demeco Ryans, Alabama
35. NY Jets - QB, Brodie Croyle, Alabama
36. Green Bay - OG, Davin Joseph, Oklahoma
37. Denver - TE, Leonard Pope, Georgia
38. Oakland - OG, Max Jean-Gilles, Georgia
39. Tennessee - OT, Marcus McNeill, Auburn
40. Detroit - CB, Kelly Jennings, Miami
41. Arizona - DB, Jason Allen, Tennessee
42. Buffalo - DT, Gabe Watson, Michigan
43. Cleveland - DE, Mathias Kiwanuka, Boston College
44. Baltimore - OG, Deuce Lutui, USC
45. Philadelphia - OLB, Rocky McIntosh, Miami
46. St. Louis - DE, Tamba Hali, Penn State
47. Atlanta - DT, Claude Wroten, LSU
48. Minnesota - ILB, D'Qwell Jackson, Maryland
49. Dallas - OT, Andrew Whitworth, LSU
50. San Diego - WR, Demetrius Williams, Oregon
51. Minnesota - OLB, Thomas Howard, UTEP
52. New England - RB, Joseph Addai, LSU
53. Washington - DE, Darryl Tapp, Virginia
54. Kansas City - CB, Cedric Griffin, Texas
55. Cincinnati - TE, Anthony Fasano, Notre Dame
56. NY Giants - DT, Rodrique Wright, Texas
57. Chicago - CB, Alan Zemaitis, Penn State
58. Carolina - TE, Joel Klopfenstein, Colorado
59. Tampa Bay - DE, Mark Anderson, Alabama
60. Jacksonville - S, Ko Simpson, South Carolina
61. Denver - WR, Maurice Stovall, Notre Dame
62. Indianapolis - OLB, Jon Alston, Stanford
63. Seattle - OG, Charles Spencer, Pittsburgh
64. Pittsburgh - ILB, Abdul Hodge, Iowa
Round 3
65. Houston - S, Daniel Bullocks, Nebraska
66. Houston - OC, Chris Chester, Oklahoma
67. Green Bay - DT, John McCargo, NC State
68. Denver - DT, Orien Harris, Miami
69. Oakland - S, Darnell Bing, USC
70. Buffalo - OT, Daryn Colledge, Boise State
71. NY Jets - OC, Greg Eslinger, Minnesota
72. Arizona - QB, Kellen Clemens, Oregon
73. Buffalo - CB, Dee Webb, Florida
74. Detroit - ILB, Gerris Wilkinson, Georgia Tech
75. New England - WR, Greg Jennings, Western Michigan
76. Philadelphia - S, Patrick Watkins, Florida State
77. St. Louis - DT, Montavius Stanley, Louisville
78. Cleveland - S, Danieal Manning, Abilene Christian
79. Atlanta - RB, Brian Calhoun, Wisconsin
80. Dallas - CB, David Pittman, Northwestern State
81. San DIego - OT, Johnathan Scott, Texas
82. Miami - WR, Travis Wilson, Oklahoma
83. Minnesota - QB, Charlie Whitehurst, Clemson
84. San Francisco - DE, Parys Haralson, Tennessee
85. Kansas City - WR, Derek Hagan, Arizona State
86. New England - S, Bernard Pollard, Purdue
87. NY Giants - RB, Maurice Drew, UCLA
88. Chicago - DT, Kyle Williams, LSU
89. Carolina - OLB, James Anderson, Virginia Tech
90. Tampa Bay - WR, Jason Avant, Michigan
91. Cincinnati - DE, Victor Adeyanju, Indiana
92. Jacksonville - TE, Dominique Byrd, USC
93. Atlanta - OT, Guy Whimper, East Carolina
94. Indianapolis - RB, Jerome Harrison, Washington State
95. Minnesota - WR, Brandon Williams, Wisconsin
96. Pittsburgh - S, Anthony Smith, Syracuse
97. NY Jets - S, Brian Iwuh, Colorado
Round 4
98. Houston - WR, Brandon Marshall, Central Florida
99. New Orleans - DT, Babatunde Oshinowo, Stanford
100. San Francisco - CB, Demario Minter, Georgia
101. Oakland - QB, Omar Jacobs, Bowling Green
102. Tennessee - OC, Jason Spitz, Louisville
103. NY Jets - DT, Dusty Dvoracek, Oklahoma
104. Green Bay - DE, Ray Edwards, Purdue
105. Buffalo - WR, Michael Robinson, Penn State
106. New England - WR/CB, Will Blackmon, Boston College
107. Arizona - TE, David Thomas, Texas
108. Philadelphia - RB, Leon Washington, Florida State
109. St. Louis - TE, Tony Scheffler, Western Michigan
110. Cleveland - WR, Devin Aromashodu, Auburn
111. Baltimore - S, Roman Harper, Alabama
112. Cleveland - DT, LeKevin Smith, Nebraska
113. San Diego - OG, Rob Sims, Ohio State
114. Miami - OG, Fred Matua, USC
115. Minnesota - DT, Jesse Maholena, Tennessee
116. Philadelphia - OT, Jeremy Trueblood, Boston College
117. NY Jets - CB, Charles Gordon, Kansas
118. New England - ILB, Tim Dobbins, Iowa State
119. Denver - OT, Rashad Butler, Miami
120. Chicago - OT, Ryan O'Callaghan, Cal
121. Carolina - OT, Zach Strief, Northwestern
122. Tampa Bay - OLB, Brandon Johnson, Louisville
123. Cincinnati - S, Calvin Lowry, Penn State
124. NY Giants - WR, Mike Hass, Oregon State
125. Jacksonville - DE, Stanley McClover, Auburn
126. Denver - DE, Julian Jenkins, Stanford
127. Philadelphia - OG, Calvin Boothe, Cornell
128. Seattle - DE, Eric Henderson, Georgia Tech
129. Pittsburgh - CB, Tim Jennings, Georgia
130. Denver - WR, Johnathan Orr, Wisconsin
131. Pittsburgh - RB, Jerius Norwood, Mississippi State
132. Baltimore - QB, Bruce Gradkowski, Toledo
133. Pittsburgh - QB/WR, Reggie McNeal, Texas A&M
Round 5
134. Buffalo - WR, Todd Watkins, BYU
135. New Orleans - ILB, Freddie Kieaho, San Diego State
136. New England - CB, Derrick Martin, Wyoming
137. Tennessee - OLB, AJ Nicholson, Florida State
138. NY Jets - OT, Paul McQuistan, Weber State
139. Green Bay - CB, Anwar Phillips, Penn State
140. San Francisco - ILB, Leon Williams, Florida State
141. Detroit - RB, Andre Hall, South Carolina
142. Arizona - OLB, Spencer Havner, UCLA
143. Buffalo - DE, Elvis Dumervil, Louisville
144. St. Louis - DE, Chris Gocung, Cal Poly
145. Cleveland - ILB, Kai Parham, Virginia Tech
146. Baltimore - OT, Joe Toledo, Washington
147. Philadelphia - DT, Johnathan Lewis, Virginia Tech
148. Atlanta - CB, Dion Byrum, Ohio
149. Minnesota - TE, Owen Daniels, Wisconsin
150. Dallas - DT, Johnny Jolly, Texas A&M
151. San Diego - S, Greg Blue, Georgia
152. Cleveland - CB, Marcus Maxey, Miami
153. Washington - OG, Adam Stenavich, Michigan
154. Kansas City - QB, Tavaris Jackson, Alabama State
155. Carolina - DE, Jeremy Mincey, Florida
156. Tampa Bay - OT, EJ Whitley, Texas Tech
157. Cincinnati - DT, Barry Cofield, Northwestern
158. NY Giants - OG, Jahri Evans, Bloomsburg
159. Chicago - OLB, Clint Ingram, Oklahoma
160. Jacksonville - OT, Jeromey Clary, Kansas State
161. Denver - WR/RS, Jeremy Bloom, Colorado
162. Indianapolis - OG, Mark Setterstrom, Minnesota
163. Seattle - TE, TJ Williams, NC State
164. Pittsburgh - OG, Chris Kuper, North Dakota
165. Green Bay - OC, Ryan Cook, New Mexico
166. Baltimore - CB, Gerrick McPhearson, Maryland
167. Pittsburgh - WR, Greg Lee, Pittsburgh
168. Philadelphia - CB, John Walker, USC
169. Tennessee - ILB, Tim McGarigle, Northwestern
Round 6
170. Houston - OLB, Omar Gaither, Tennessee
171. New Orleans - WR, Hank Baskett, New Mexico
172. Tennessee - DE, Brent Hawkins, Illinois State
173. Washington - S, Marcus Hudon, NC State
174. New Orleans - OC, Patrick Ross, Boston College
175. San Francisco - OLB, Keith Ellison, Oregon State
176. Oakland - OLB, Terna Nande, Miami
177. Arizona - OG, Dan Stevenson, Notre Dame
178. Buffalo - RB/FB, Lawrence Vickers, Colorado
179. Detroit - OT, Derek Morris, NC State
180. Cleveland - ILB, Cameron Vaughn, LSU
181. Baltimore - WR, Cory Rodgers, TCU
182. Dallas - OG, Rob Meadow, Washington
183. St. Louis - OC, Marvin Phillip, Cal
184. Atlanta - S, Dwayne Slay, Texas Tech
185. Minnesota - S, Scott Ware, USC
186. Kansas City - FB/TE, Matt Bernstein, Wisconsin
187. San Diego - QB, Drew Olson, UCLA
188. San Diego - WR/RS, Skyler Green, LSU
189. Washington - CB, Darrell Hunter, Miami (OH)
190. Kansas City - S, Jahmile Addae, West Virginia
191. New England - CB, Josh Lay, Pittsburgh
192. San Francisco - WR, Martin Nance, Miami (OH)
193. Cincinnati - OLB, Anthony Trucks, Oregon
194. Tampa Bay - OLB, Travis Williams, Auburn
195. Chicago - WR/RS, Devin Hester, Miami
196. Washington - S, Antoine Bethea, Howard
197. Jacksonville - OLB, Jamar Williams, Arizona State
198. Denver - S, Dawan Landry, Georgia Tech
199. Indianapolis - ILB, Freddie Roach, Alabama
200. Chicago - FB, Gilbert Harris, Arizona State
201. Pittsburgh - OT, Terrance Pennington, New Mexico
202. Tampa Bay - RB, PJ Daniels, Georgia Tech
203. Baltimore - RB, Wendell Mathis, Fresno State
204. Philadelphia - ILB, Oliver Hoyte, NC State
205. New England - DE, James Wyche, Syracuse
206. New England - PK, Josh Huston, Ohio State
207. Indianapolis - WR/RS, Jovon Bouknight, Wyoming
208. Baltimore - DE, Brandon Guillory, UL-Monroe
Round 7
209. Cincinnati - OT, Troy Reddick, Auburn
210. New Orleans - RB, Gerald Riggs, Tennessee
211. NY Jets - OLB, Robert Iwuchukwu, Purdue
212. Miami - CB, Chijioke Onyenegecha, Oklahoma
213. San Francisco - OT, Dennis Roland, Georgia
214. Oakland - RB, Wali Lundy, Virginia
215. Tennessee - RB, Taurean Henderson, Texas Tech
216. Buffalo - S, Jarrad Page, UCLA
217. Detroit - OLB, Stephen Tulloch, NC State
218. Arizona - RB, De'Arrius Howard, Arkansas
219. Baltimore - DT, Kedrick Golston, Georgia
220. Philadelphia - QB, Paul Pinegar, Fresno State
221. St. Louis - S, Charlie Peprah, Alabama
222. Cleveland - OT, Brad Butler, Virginia
223. Atlanta - DE, Rob Nankovich, Purdue
224. Dallas - DE, Frostee Rucker, USC
225. San Diego - DT, Tony McDaniel, Tennessee
226. Miami - DE, Ryan Lacasse, Syracuse
227. San Diego - OLB, Will Derting, Washington State
228. Kansas City - DT, Domata Peko, Michigan State
229. New England - QB, DJ Shockley, Georgia
230. Washington - DT, Marcus Green, Ohio State
231. Cincinnati - WR/RS, Brad Smith, Missouri
232. NY Giants - TE, Jeff King, Virginia Tech
233. Miami - S, Darrell Brooks, Arizona
234. Carolina - OC, William Montgomery, Virginia Tech
235. Tampa Bay - DT, Titus Adams, Nebraska
236. San Francisco - RB, Dontrell Moore, New Mexico
237. Carolina - FB, JD Runnels, Oklahoma
238. Tennessee - S, Nate Salley, Ohio State
239. Seattle - PT, Ryan Plackemeier, Wake Forest
240. Pittsburgh - DE, Jason Hatcher, Grambling
241. Tampa Bay - WR/RS - Willie Reid, Florida State
242. St. Louis - CB, Reuben Houston, Georgia Tech
243. St. Louis - OC, Michael Degory, Florida
244. Tampa Bay - OT, Jimmy Martin, Virginia Tech
245. Tennessee - WR, Marques Colston, Hofstra
246. Tennessee - CB, Justin Wyatt, USC
247. Detroit - TE, Charles Davis, Purdue
248. Buffalo - OT, Will Allen, Texas
249. Seattle - S, Reed Doughty, Northern Colorado
250. Washington - DE, Mike Kudla, Ohio State
251. Houston - PT, John Torp, Colorado
252. New Orleans - PK, Jonathan Scifres, SW Missouri State
253. Green Bay - WR, Jeff Webb, San Diego State
254. San Francisco - ILB, Anthony Schlegel, Ohio State
255. Oakland - TE/H-Back, Anthony Mix, Auburn
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