Mock Draft - 2.0

The Seahawks could be players in a Michael Crabtree sweepstakes

As we head into April, very few things are getting any clearer, except that it is almost certainly down to Jason Smith and Matthew Stafford at #1 for the Lions. Time to try mock 2.0.

1. Detroit Lions - Matthew Stafford – QB – Georgia - Lions would like to take Smith but Stafford is worthy of the #1 pick and there won't be a decent QB at #20. The Lions can get a good OT at that spot.

2. St. Louis Rams - Jason Smith – OT – Baylor - Rams will look long and hard at Curry, but left tackles are a building block position and Alex Baron won't cut it there.

3. Kansas City Chiefs – Aaron Curry – ILB – Wake Forest - Crabtree will undoubtedly tempt them but Curry is a big play guy who can play anywhere on the second line of defense. Could be the next Ray Lewis. Will probably try to trade down from this spot but good luck.

4. Seattle Seahawks – Michael Crabtree – WR – Texas Tech – They really should take the QB of the Future in Mark Sanchez but they will probably go with Crabtree and see if they can get the Faiders or Jags to cough up some picks to move up for him. They could trade down to either spot and still probably net Sanchez. Depending on what the Broncos do with Jay Cutler, they could also be players to move into this spot, along with the Eagles and even the Lions. (See our previous post).

5. Cleveland Browns - Brian Orakpo – DE – Texas – Browns were miserable at rushing the passer last year and defensive minded coach Eric Mangini will love what Orakpo brings to the chase. He is big, fast and heavier than most of the DE's in this draft and his workout numbers push him to this spot.

6. Cincinnati Bengals – Eugene Monroe – OT – Virginia – Bengals will face a tough choice here between Monroe and BJ Raji. They could use help on both lines but Monroe would really solidify their pass protection problems, and they can get a decent DT early in the 2nd round.

7. Oakland Faiders - Jeremy Maclin – WR – Missouri – Count Chocula always tries to make a splash with his 1st round pick, and Maclin could help make the inaccurate JaMarcus Russell look better by breaking some long runs after the catch. Assuming of course that the ball is anywhere near him.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars - Mark Sanchez – QB – USC – Jags need OL help more, but Andre Smith is more likely a RT and Jags need a LT. Sanchez will be an organizational pick, not a Jack Del Rio pick. It's about time the Jags re-invested in a top talent at the QB position. Or they could just bring Byron Leftwich back.

9. Green Bay Packers - B.J. Raji – DT – Boston College – The Packers need to shore up the defense and Raji will replace and upgrade the position after the loss of Colin Cole, who signed with the Seahawks. Will be a nice fit for their new 3-4 defensive scheme at nose tackle.

10. San Francisco 49’ers – Andre Smith – OT – Alabama – The 49’ers need a pass rushing end or rush LB, and there are several players available with this pick that fit the bill. But, they were horrendous at RT last year and Smith projects at that position in the NFL. He's also a proper value at the #10 pick.

All he needs to do now to be a great player is to learn to say two words: "I'm full."

11. Buffalo Bills – Everette Brown – DE – Florida State – The Bills need LB’s and DE’s, and Brown is the best pass rusher at this point in the draft.

12. Denver Broncos – Robert Ayres - DE - Tennesse – Depending on how the Jay Cutler situation shakes out, the Broncos may not even be in this pick, but as of now, they are and they still need to fix the defense. Ayres is shooting up draft boards right and could even make a late run into the top 10. He'll be a nice fit as a pass rusher in the Broncos new 3-4 defensive scheme.

13. Washington Redskins - Tyson Jackson – DE\OLB – LSU - Jackson is big and strong and can even swing inside some to 3-technique tackle. After spending so many picks last year on offense to help out the mediocre Jason Campbell, they need to emphasize the defense this time out.

14. New Orleans Saints - Rey Maualuga – ILB – USC – The Saints need to add some talent around LB Jonathon Vilma, and maybe even replace him if his legal troubles mount. A lot of mocks have Beanie Wells going here, but RB can be addressed in the 2nd or 3rd round.

15. Houston Texans - Brian Cushing – OLB – USC – Texans need some rush help for Mario Williams and somebody to stand up and help Demeco Ryans. Cushing’s great versatility gives them both.

16. San Diego Chargers -Aaron Maybin – DE\LB – Penn State - Maybin is a hybrid DE\OLB type who is athletic enough to make an impact outside. Chargers probably wanted an ILB but Maybin is a very productive player who will help fill the Shawne Merriman void if he leaves via free agency.

17. New York Jets - Josh Freeman - QB – Kansas State - Unless they come up with Jay Cutler somehow, Jets will forced to take a flyer on Freeman as their QB situation is dire.

18. Chicago Bears - Peria Jerry – DT – Mississippi - Bears will probably be sorely tempted by Jerry's Missisippi teammate Oher, but they signed Kevin Schaffer and spending a 1st round pick on the same position 2 years in a row makes fans think you are clueless, and Bears GM Jerry Angelo can't afford that right now. Jerry's presence may awaken slumbering giant Tommie Harris along the Bears DL.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Darrius Heyward-Bey – WR – Maryland - After gutting their roster in the offseason the Bucs could go in a number of directions. Adding a big reciver to replace Joey Galloway is the best fit for this pick.

20. Detroit Lions -Michael Oher – OT – Mississippi – Oher's slide finally stops and the Lions get a tackle who may be as talented as Smith and Monroe at #20. Somehow, the Lions managed to play this draft just right.

21. Philadelphia Eagles - Percy Harvin – WR – Florida – Eagles need more weapons for Donovan McNabb, and Harvin gives him a legit target opposite DeSean Jackson.

22. Minnesota Vikings - Kenny Britt - WR - Rutgers – The run on WR's begins. The Vikings made a strong play for TJ Houshmanzadeh, and Britt is a young T-Ho in the making.

23. New England Patriots - Malcolm Jenkins – CB – Ohio State – Pats need LB's but with Jenkins falling to them they pull the trigger. There are some pretty good LB prospects in the 2nd round and Pats have 3 picks in that round. Smart, instinctive player who will help the Pats in the defensive backfield for years.

24. Atlanta Falcons - Clay Matthews - OLB - USC – Falcons lost 2 LB's in the offseason in Keith Brooking and Michael Boley. Matthews is a strong replacement.

25. Miami Dolphins - Brian Robiskie - WR - Ohio State – What a difference a year makes. Instead of picking 1st overall the they are at the bottom of round one. Robiskie gives the ‘Phins the same threat on the outside that Chris Chambers used to.

26. Baltimore Ravens - Darius Butler – CB – Connecticut – Ravens need to get younger all over their defense. Butler jumps ahead of Vontae Davis, who is more athletic but has too many character and consistency concerns.

27. Indianapolis Colts - Evander Hood – DT – Missouri – Colts need DT’s badly, and with Robiskie and most of the 1st round WR's gone, Hood is a solid player to get here.

28. Philadelphia Eagles -Knowshon Moreno – RB – Georgia – Eagles will be sorely tempted by one of the remaining tackles here, but a back-up\starter to replace Brian Westbrook is a must and Moreno can do it all; run, block and catch.

29. New York Giants - Hakeem Nicks – WR – North Carolina – Giants desperately need a big WR who can create space for their running game. Especially one who won't shoot himself in the foot. Literally.

30. Tennessee Titans – Alex Mack – C – Cal - Signing Kelly Washington and Javon Haye makes this a luxury pick for the Titans. Mack can start if Kevin Mawae is done and play G if he’s not. Would have probably been happy with one of the wideouts here but none merit this pick.

31. Arizona Cardinals – Chris Wells – RB Ohio State - Great passing game masked a myriad of sins for the Cards during their Super Bowl run. Adding to the defense would seem to be the top priority but Wells is just too good a value at this point and fills a need.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers - Eben Britton– OT – Arizona– Steelers need to get help everywhere on the OL.

Seahawks Mock Picks in Other Rounds

2 – 37 - William Beatty – OT – Connecticut – Seahawks could use a big, athletic tackle like Beatty to replace Walter Jones in a year or two.
3 – 68 - Michael Hamlin – SS – Clemson – Seahawks need a big DB to solidify the secondary.
4 – 101 - Patrick Turner – WR – USC – Despite signing T-Ho, the Seahawks could use a set of young, fresh legs to catch passes. Turner is a huge (6’5”) fast (4.65) receiver who will have to make his name on special teams to start with. Just too much upside to pass up with a pick this late.
5 – 137 - Kyle Moore - DE - USC - Seahawks continue their USC centric drafting ways. Will take the spot held by one year rental Cory Redding in 2010. Say goodbye to Baraka Atkins.
6 – 178 - John Phillips - TE - Virginia – Seahawks need a back-up TE who can run and catch.
7 – 213 - Cory Smith - OLB - Cinncinati - An athletic guy who can compete to replace Julian Peterson and play special teams.
7 - 245 - Devin Moore - RB - Wyoming - Small, quick scatback (4.36) who can potentially provide a change-up from the lumbering TJ Duckett.
7 - 247 - Dallas Reynolds - C - BYU - Let's face it, Chris Spencer hasn't done much.
7 - 248 - Ryan McKee - OT - Southern Mississippi - "Timmay!" likes his late round OL's.

MB - 4/2/2009