cowboyjoe
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 28,432
- Reaction score
- 750
Rick Gosselin's first NFL mock draft
04:17 PM CDT on Friday, April 10, 2009
The Detroit Lions obviously do not know what a Pro Bowl quarterback looks like.
The last time a Detroit quarterback went to the Pro Bowl was 1972 (Greg Landry). The Lions have used a first-round draft choice on a quarterback three times since then and whiffed each time: Chuck Long in 1986, Andre Ware in 1990 and Joey Harrington in 2002.
Three strikes and you're out, right? Not when it comes to quarterbacks. If you don't have one in the NFL, you don't stand a chance. The Lions won three NFL titles in the 1950s in large part because they had a Hall of Fame quarterback in Bobby Layne. So the search continues.
Georgia's Matthew Stafford is the top-rated quarterback in the 2009 NFL draft, and the Lions have the first overall selection. Coincidentally, Stafford attended the same high school as Layne – Highland Park in suburban Dallas. So pencil in Stafford to the Lions at the top of this draft board.
Here's the first of three mock draft offerings from The Dallas Morning News this month. The second will come next Sunday, and the final mock on the actual day of the draft. The first mock is based on my draft board of the top 32 players, the second focuses more on team need and the third is how I see the draft playing out.
Getty Images
Matthew Stafford attended the same high school (Highland Park) as Detroit Lions' legendary quarterback – Bobby Layne.
View larger More photos Photo store
1. Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford. QB, Georgia
Lions are hoping Stafford can be their next Bobby Layne
2. St. Louis Rams: Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
Huge hole at left tackle with release of Orlando Pace
3. Kansas City Chiefs: Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest
The NFL's 31st-ranked defense needs a playmaker
4. Seattle Seahawks: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
Seahawks desperate for a threatening offensive weapon
5. Cleveland Browns: B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College
Success starts with run defense in AFC North
6. Cincinnati Bengals: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri
Bengals need WR/KR to replace T.J. Houshmandzadeh
7. Oakland Raiders: Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
Raiders need more weapons to give QB Russell a chance
8. Jacksonville Jaguars: Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
Jaguars allowed 42 sacks last season
9. Green Bay Packers: Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU
Going to a 3-4, the Packers get best 3-4 DE in draft
10. San Francisco 49ers: Mark Sanchez, QB, USC
Success has always started at QB for the 49ers
11. Buffalo Bills: Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State
The NFL's 29th-ranked pass rush needs help
12. Denver Broncos: Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State
Without Jay Cutler, the Broncos need a quarterback
13. Washington Commanders: Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas
Like Buffalo, the Commanders managed only 24 sacks in 2008
14. New Orleans Saints: Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
The NFL's 23rd-ranked pass defense needs a shutdown corner
15. Houston Texans: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee
Pro Bowler DE Mario Williams had 12 of Texans' 25 sacks
16. San Diego Chargers: Rey Maualuga, MLB, USC
Maualuga plays with same reckless abandon as Junior Seau
17. New York Jets: Darius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland
Jets need to replace the speed of Laveranues Coles
18. Denver Broncos: Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi
The NFL's 29th-ranked defense needs across-the-board help
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Beanie Wells, HB, Ohio State
With Gruden gone, Bucs become power-oriented on offense
20. Detroit Lions: Ziggy Hood, DT, Missouri
Detroit's two starting DTs gone from a year ago
21. Philadelphia Eagles: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
Eagles lost TE L.J. Smith in free agency
22. Minnesota Vikings: Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
Vikings need a physical presence in 18th-ranked pass defense
23. New England Patriots: Clay Matthews, OLB, USC
Bill Belichick also coached Clay's dad at Cleveland
24. Atlanta Falcons: Brian Cushing, OLB, USC
The Falcons lost their two starting OLBs in free agency
25. Miami Dolphins: James Laurinaitis, MLB, Ohio State
Give him a month and Laurinaitis will be running Miami D
26. Baltimore Ravens: Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
Another gift for the Ravens – great player, bad workout
27. Indianapolis Colts: Knowshown Moreno, HB, Georgia
Joseph Addai can't stay healthy, so help is on the way
28. Philadelphia Eagles: LeSean McCoy, HB, Pittsburgh
McCoy is a clone of Brian Westbrook
29. New York Giants: Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi
Gives Giants the luxury of moving Dave Diehl back to G
30. Tennessee Titans: Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers
Deep speed eases pressure on Pro Bowl RB Chris Johnson
31. Arizona Cardinals: Donald Brown, HB, Connecticut
NFL's worst rushing attack gets a boost
32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Alex Mack, C, California
Steelers need to re-establish identity as running teamRick Gosselin's mock draft
04:17 PM CDT on Friday, April 10, 2009
The Detroit Lions obviously do not know what a Pro Bowl quarterback looks like.
The last time a Detroit quarterback went to the Pro Bowl was 1972 (Greg Landry). The Lions have used a first-round draft choice on a quarterback three times since then and whiffed each time: Chuck Long in 1986, Andre Ware in 1990 and Joey Harrington in 2002.
Three strikes and you're out, right? Not when it comes to quarterbacks. If you don't have one in the NFL, you don't stand a chance. The Lions won three NFL titles in the 1950s in large part because they had a Hall of Fame quarterback in Bobby Layne. So the search continues.
Georgia's Matthew Stafford is the top-rated quarterback in the 2009 NFL draft, and the Lions have the first overall selection. Coincidentally, Stafford attended the same high school as Layne – Highland Park in suburban Dallas. So pencil in Stafford to the Lions at the top of this draft board.
Here's the first of three mock draft offerings from The Dallas Morning News this month. The second will come next Sunday, and the final mock on the actual day of the draft. The first mock is based on my draft board of the top 32 players, the second focuses more on team need and the third is how I see the draft playing out.
Getty Images
Matthew Stafford attended the same high school (Highland Park) as Detroit Lions' legendary quarterback – Bobby Layne.
View larger More photos Photo store
1. Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford. QB, Georgia
Lions are hoping Stafford can be their next Bobby Layne
2. St. Louis Rams: Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
Huge hole at left tackle with release of Orlando Pace
3. Kansas City Chiefs: Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest
The NFL's 31st-ranked defense needs a playmaker
4. Seattle Seahawks: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
Seahawks desperate for a threatening offensive weapon
5. Cleveland Browns: B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College
Success starts with run defense in AFC North
6. Cincinnati Bengals: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri
Bengals need WR/KR to replace T.J. Houshmandzadeh
7. Oakland Raiders: Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
Raiders need more weapons to give QB Russell a chance
8. Jacksonville Jaguars: Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
Jaguars allowed 42 sacks last season
9. Green Bay Packers: Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU
Going to a 3-4, the Packers get best 3-4 DE in draft
10. San Francisco 49ers: Mark Sanchez, QB, USC
Success has always started at QB for the 49ers
11. Buffalo Bills: Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State
The NFL's 29th-ranked pass rush needs help
12. Denver Broncos: Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State
Without Jay Cutler, the Broncos need a quarterback
13. Washington Commanders: Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas
Like Buffalo, the Commanders managed only 24 sacks in 2008
14. New Orleans Saints: Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
The NFL's 23rd-ranked pass defense needs a shutdown corner
15. Houston Texans: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee
Pro Bowler DE Mario Williams had 12 of Texans' 25 sacks
16. San Diego Chargers: Rey Maualuga, MLB, USC
Maualuga plays with same reckless abandon as Junior Seau
17. New York Jets: Darius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland
Jets need to replace the speed of Laveranues Coles
18. Denver Broncos: Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi
The NFL's 29th-ranked defense needs across-the-board help
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Beanie Wells, HB, Ohio State
With Gruden gone, Bucs become power-oriented on offense
20. Detroit Lions: Ziggy Hood, DT, Missouri
Detroit's two starting DTs gone from a year ago
21. Philadelphia Eagles: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
Eagles lost TE L.J. Smith in free agency
22. Minnesota Vikings: Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
Vikings need a physical presence in 18th-ranked pass defense
23. New England Patriots: Clay Matthews, OLB, USC
Bill Belichick also coached Clay's dad at Cleveland
24. Atlanta Falcons: Brian Cushing, OLB, USC
The Falcons lost their two starting OLBs in free agency
25. Miami Dolphins: James Laurinaitis, MLB, Ohio State
Give him a month and Laurinaitis will be running Miami D
26. Baltimore Ravens: Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
Another gift for the Ravens – great player, bad workout
27. Indianapolis Colts: Knowshown Moreno, HB, Georgia
Joseph Addai can't stay healthy, so help is on the way
28. Philadelphia Eagles: LeSean McCoy, HB, Pittsburgh
McCoy is a clone of Brian Westbrook
29. New York Giants: Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi
Gives Giants the luxury of moving Dave Diehl back to G
30. Tennessee Titans: Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers
Deep speed eases pressure on Pro Bowl RB Chris Johnson
31. Arizona Cardinals: Donald Brown, HB, Connecticut
NFL's worst rushing attack gets a boost
32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Alex Mack, C, California
Steelers need to re-establish identity as running teamRick Gosselin's mock draft