Mock Draft 2.0
1. Detroit Lions - Matt Stafford, QB
The Lions get their quarterback of the future. Trouble is, they need a lot for the present.
2. St. Louis Rams - Jason Smith, OT
The Rams grab Orlando Pace’s successor.
3. Kansas City Chiefs - Aaron Curry, LB
The Chiefs follow the Belichick mold by stockpiling linebackers.
4. Seattle Seahawks - Eugene Monroe, OT
I think coach Jim Mora will look to bolster the Seahawks running game.
5. Cleveland Browns - Michael Crabtree, WR
The Browns get a new wide receiver. Braylon Edwards, say Buh-Bye.
6. Cincinnati Bengals - Andre Smith, OT
Smith is drawing comparisons to Anthony Munoz, the Bengals’ only Hall of Famer. Plus, he’s got great man boobs.
7. Oakland Raiders - Jeremy Maclin, WR
The Raiders ignore their needs in the trenches and help out quarterback Jamarcus Russell.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars - B.J. Raji, DT
The Jaguars go back to their roots by giving defensive tackle John Henderson an imposing partner.
9. Green Bay Packers - Brian Orakpo, DE
Green Bay gets a new edge rusher for the team’s transition to a 3-4 defense.
10. San Francisco 49ers - Michael Oher, OT
This pick was made by former Dispatch staffer A.J. Fiore, who might be the only Niners fan in York. He says the 49ers need pass rushers and offensive linemen. And with Orakpo gone, Fiore likes the Ole Miss tackle.
11. Buffalo Bills - Everette Brown, DE
The Bills would like to get Oher, the last of the elite tackles here, but he’s now gone. That leaves them to take Brown, who might help Buffalo harass Tom Brady and the other quarterbacks on the schedule.
12. Denver Broncos - Mark Sanchez, QB
I’m not buying the Kyle Orton hype in Denver. The Broncos would be happy to get a fresh quarterback like Sanchez, who has a lot of potential and could be a good fit in Josh McDaniel’s offense.
13. Washington Redskins - Robert Ayers, DE
The Redskins could use a pass rusher in a division that features quarterbacks Donovan McNabb, Eli Manning and Tony Romo. Ayers fits the mold.
14. New Orleans Saints - Malcolm Jenkins, CB
The Saints need a cornerback. Jenkins was once considered a top 5 pick. He’s great value.
15. Houston Texans - Aaron Maybin, OLB
You catching a theme here? Pass rushers are important in the modern NFL. Maybin gives the Texans a force opposite Mario Williams. Watch out Peyton Manning.
16. San Diego Chargers - Knowshown Moreno, RB
Darren Sproles is playing under the franchise tag and LaDanian Tomlinson’s days might be numbered. Moreno would be a good fit for Norv Turner’s offense.
17. New York Jets - Tyson Jackson, DE
Common logic says the Jets will take a playmaker for their offense, but I think new coach Rex Ryan will stack his defense even more with Jackson, who is supposedly moving quickly up the draft boards.
18. Chicago Bears - Percy Harvin, WR
The Bears want weapons for new quarterback Jay Cutler. Harvin is explosive, even if he has some character flaws.
19. Tampa Bay Buccanneers - Rey Maualuga, LB
New coach Raheem Morris resists the urge to draft quarterback Josh Freeman and instead opts for a defensive playmaker.
20. Detroit Lions - Peria Jerry, DT
Coach Jim Schwartz had pretty good luck with a defensive tackle named Albert Haynesworth. He hopes Jerry can give him something similar.
21. Philadelphia Eagles - Beanie Wells, RB
Wells isn’t exactly in the mold of speedy running back Brian Westbrook, but Philly can’t resist him here.
22. Minnesota Vikings - Brandon Pettigrew, TE
The Vikings would happy to get Pettigrew here, a weapon that could enliven Sage Rosenfels and the passing game.
23. New England Patriots - Clay Matthews, LB
Bill Belichick has always loved linebackers and can’t resist passing one up with an NFL pedigree. Consider him Mike Vrabel 2.0.
24. Atlanta Falcons - James Laurinaitis, LB
The run on linebacker begins with a Buckeye heading south to strengthen the Falcons defense.
25. Miami Dolphins - Brian Cushing, LB
The Dolphins could use another playmaker on offense or maybe a cornerback, but Bill Parcells instead opts for a safe pick from a solid program.
26. Baltimore Ravens - Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR
Baltimore typically drafts well and a wide receiver or a cornerback makes a lot of sense here. Heyward-Bey is a nice complement to Joe Flacco’s big arm.
27. Indianapolis Colts - Vontae Davis, CB
Indianapolis ignores an aging offense and chooses to help out its secondary instead.
28. Buffalo - Eben Britton, OT
The Bills use their pick from the Eagles and attempt to replace the departed Jason Peters.
29. New York Giants - Darius Butler, CB
The Giants are content to trade for Browns wideout Braylon Edwards so they skip the receiver and select Butler.
30. Tennessee Titans - Hakeem Nicks, WR
Coach Jeff Fisher likes physical football players, but his offense needs more help.
31. Arizona Cardinals - Larry English, OLB
English is a smaller-school player who will have to adjust, but the Cards could use more of a pass rush after seeing the Super Bowl stolen from their hands.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers - Max Unger, OC
The Steelers need depth on the offensive line and Unger has experience playing both center and tackle. The Steelers are lucky to find a player who matches their needs perfectly.