Rick Gosselin's first NFL mock draft

cowboyjoe

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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
 

Ren

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I'm gonna be sick if the Skins pick Orakpo :bang2:
 

DFWJC

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Goose usually does very well with his mocks....and often wins most-accurate awards (mainly due to good research). But I see him missing badly on who goes where and when this time around. Ex. percy harvin at #7? Macklin to the bengals? Freeman @#12? Oher not until #29? Orakpo not until #13?

Guess we'll see.
 

AdamJT13

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DFWJC;2724768 said:
Goose usually does very well with his mocks....and often wins most-accurate awards (mainly due to good research). But I see him missing badly on who goes where and when this time around. Ex. percy harvin at #7? Macklin to the bengals? Freeman @#12? Oher not until #29? Orakpo not until #13?

Guess we'll see.

His final mock is the one that's usually quite accurate. Like he said, his first mock is typically based on his draft board. His second is based mostly on needs. His final mock is the one that's based on his research and sources.

Why he does it this way, who knows?
 

DFWJC

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AdamJT13;2724774 said:
His final mock is the one that's usually quite accurate. Like he said, his first mock is typically based on his draft board. His second is based mostly on needs. His final mock is the one that's based on his research and sources.

Why he does it this way, who knows?

Oh yeah. I forgot that's what he does each year...and I was too lazy to read before looking at his picks. He still has Harvin too high :)

Thanks
 

Rick_Deckard

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In his first mock, he picks his top ranked players and where he thinks they SHOULD go. It won't be until his final mock on the day of the draft that he will try to line up the players with where he thinks they WILL go.
 

cowboyjoe

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DallasGirl50;2724796 said:
I'm hoping the Cowboys do something to move up to the first round.

Goose usually does very well with his mocks....and often wins most-accurate awards (mainly due to good research). But I see him missing badly on who goes where and when this time around. Ex. percy harvin at #7? Macklin to the bengals? Freeman @#12? Oher not until #29? Orakpo not until #13?

Guess we'll see.

like adam says his first mock is generally real close, then his 3rd mock the day before the draft is right on the mark, the goose does great research,
 

MWILL

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DallasGirl50;2724796 said:
I'm hoping the Cowboys do something to move up to the first round.

I see them moving up if Dallas gets an extra 2nd for Austin.
 

big dog cowboy

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DallasGirl50;2724796 said:
I'm hoping the Cowboys do something to move up to the first round.
The cost is to much.

Both in terms of draft picks and the increased salary you have to pay the player.

Moving up 10 to 15 spots is much more reasonable.
 

28 Joker

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I hope the Eagles don't get that big TE from Oklahoma State. He's compared to Witten.

The Giants and Eagles are about to tap into the deep TE class. A bigger, strong safety who can play up and deep and take the TE one on one would be a good idea.

1-800-Chip Vaughn SS Wake Forest

Andre Smith may be a "knucklehead", but he's a top 10 talent for sure.

Oher has questions, but he will not fall out of the top 20, imo.

His top 32 looks like a plausible list of players.

He doesn't have Sean Smith in the top 32. That is interesting.

The Titans will not draft a WR in round 1. Britt should fall out of round one unless the Giants take him, and they don't like drafting WRs, either.

Harvin has no shot at the top 10, imo. He will be lucky if he doesn't fall to 51 where Dallas would pass on him, too.
 

Bob Sacamano

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41gy#;2725027 said:
I hope the Eagles don't get that big TE from Oklahoma State. He's compared to Witten.

The Giants and Eagles are about to tap into the deep TE class. A bigger, strong safety who can play up and deep and take the TE one on one would be a good idea.

1-800-Chip Vaughn SS Wake Forest

Andre Smith may be a "knucklehead", but he's a top 10 talent for sure.

Oher has questions, but he's will not fall out of the top 20, imo.

His top 32 looks like a plausible list of players.

He doesn't have Sean Smith in the top 32. That is interesting.

The Titans will not draft a WR in round 1. Britt should fall out of round one unless the Giants take him, and they don't like drafting WRs, either.

Harvin has no shot at the top 10, imo. He will be lucky if he doesn't fall to 51 where Dallas would pass on him, too.

I'm betting the Eagles draft James Casey
 

28 Joker

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JerryAdvocate;2725029 said:
I'm betting the Eagles draft James Casey


He's good, too. I'll take my chances with him. Pettigrew has some off the field issues. I hope they pass on him. That guy is 6-6, 260. Plus, he can block.
 

jazzcat22

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AdamJT13;2724774 said:
His final mock is the one that's usually quite accurate. Like he said, his first mock is typically based on his draft board. His second is based mostly on needs. His final mock is the one that's based on his research and sources.

Why he does it this way, who knows?

He has a method to his madness....and that usually works for people, no matter what it is, when other people can't figure it out.
 

Chocolate Lab

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41gy#;2725027 said:
I hope the Eagles don't get that big TE from Oklahoma State. He's compared to Witten.
I'm with you. Pettigrew is really, really good.

But I think they might go for an OT.

BTW, as others pointed out, some of these are way off. But that what happens with a guy who think Roy Williams is a 34 OLB makes his own mock.
 

Hostile

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[SIZE=+2]Rick Gosselin's first NFL mock draft

[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]06:29 PM CDT on Friday, April 10, 2009

[/SIZE] 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.
0411mstafford700.jpg

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.


http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-det.gif
1. Detroit Lions:
Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia

Lions are hoping Stafford can be their next Bobby Layne
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-stl.gif
2. St. Louis Rams:
Jason Smith, OT, Baylor

Huge hole at left tackle with release of Orlando Pace
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-kcc.gif
3. Kansas City Chiefs:
Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest

The NFL's 31st-ranked defense needs a playmaker
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-sea.gif
4. Seattle Seahawks:
Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech

Seahawks desperate for a threatening offensive weapon
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-cle.gif
5. Cleveland Browns:
B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College

Success starts with run defense in AFC North
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-cin.gif
6. Cincinnati Bengals:
Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri

Bengals need WR/KR to replace T.J. Houshmandzadeh
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-oak.gif
7. Oakland Raiders:
Percy Harvin, WR, Florida

Raiders need more weapons to give QB Russell a chance
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-jac.gif
8. Jacksonville Jaguars:
Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia

Jaguars allowed 42 sacks last season
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-gbp.gif
9. Green Bay Packers:
Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU

Going to a 3-4, the Packers get best 3-4 DE in draft
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-sf9.gif
10. San Francisco 49ers:
Mark Sanchez, QB, USC

Success has always started at QB for the 49ers
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-buf.gif
11. Buffalo Bills:
Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State

The NFL's 29th-ranked pass rush needs help
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-den.gif
12. Denver Broncos:
Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State

Without Jay Cutler, the Broncos need a quarterback
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-was.gif
13. Washington Commanders:
Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas

Like Buffalo, the Commanders managed only 24 sacks in 2008
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-nos.gif
14. New Orleans Saints:
Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois

The NFL's 23rd-ranked pass defense needs a shutdown corner
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-hou.gif
15. Houston Texans:
Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee

Pro Bowler DE Mario Williams had 12 of Texans' 25 sacks
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-sdc.gif
16. San Diego Chargers:
Rey Maualuga, MLB, USC

Maualuga plays with same reckless abandon as Junior Seau
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-nyj.gif
17. New York Jets:
Darius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland

Jets need to replace the speed of Laveranues Coles
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-den.gif
18. Denver Broncos:
Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi

The NFL's 29th-ranked defense needs across-the-board help
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-tbb.gif
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
Beanie Wells, HB, Ohio State

With Gruden gone, Bucs become power-oriented on offense
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-det.gif
20. Detroit Lions:
Ziggy Hood, DT, Missouri

Detroit's two starting DTs gone from a year ago
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-phi.gif
21. Philadelphia Eagles:
Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State

Eagles lost TE L.J. Smith in free agency
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-min.gif
22. Minnesota Vikings:
Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State

Vikings need a physical presence in 18th-ranked pass defense
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-nep.gif
23. New England Patriots:
Clay Matthews, OLB, USC

Bill Belichick also coached Clay's dad at Cleveland
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-atl.gif
24. Atlanta Falcons:
Brian Cushing, OLB, USC

The Falcons lost their two starting OLBs in free agency
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-mia.gif
25. Miami Dolphins:
James Laurinaitis, MLB, Ohio State

Give him a month and Laurinaitis will be running Miami D
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-bal.gif
26. Baltimore Ravens:
Andre Smith, OT, Alabama

Another gift for the Ravens – great player, bad workout
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-ind.gif
27. Indianapolis Colts:
Knowshown Moreno, HB, Georgia

Joseph Addai can't stay healthy, so help is on the way
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-phi.gif
28. Philadelphia Eagles:
LeSean McCoy, HB, Pittsburgh

McCoy is a clone of Brian Westbrook
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-nyg.gif
29. New York Giants:
Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi

Gives Giants the luxury of moving Dave Diehl back to G
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-ten.gif
30. Tennessee Titans:
Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers

Deep speed eases pressure on Pro Bowl RB Chris Johnson
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-ari.gif
31. Arizona Cardinals:
Donald Brown, HB, Connecticut

NFL's worst rushing attack gets a boost
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/logos/football/circlelogo-pit.gif
32. Pittsburgh Steelers:
Alex Mack, C, California

Steelers need to re-establish identity as running team
 
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