2006 NFL Mock Draft, Version 10.0

April means free agency has dramatically changed team needs for the 2006 NFL Draft. With all the changes and only hours until the drafting starts, we break out the tenth version of Viking Update's mock draft this year.

OVERVIEW: The announced signing of Mario Williams has sent shock waves through the draft – especially those who thought that any trades or movement on the draft would come after the draft actually began. Suddenly, the Saints have become trade partners with everyone in the top 10 – if those teams believe that Bush is worth mortgaging the short-term future for. Unfortunately, the only true prospective trade partners for the Saints remain the same – the same teams that wanted to leapfrog the Titans at No. 3 (the Jets and the Raiders). Unfortunately for them, the Saints are likely to pin their hopes on Bush – which also sends the message to Deuce McAlister to rent, not own. Under one scenario, we had an updated mock that included 14 picks changing. This one includes three. We’re hoping it happens. We’re also hoping that all the other mock drafts out there reflect this shocking turn of events.

No.	Club	Win	Loss	Strength of Schedule
1.	Houston Texans	2	14	.535
Mario Williams, DE North Carolina State—Say what you want about this announcement. The Texans called Reggie’s bluff. The bad news for Bush, his family and their landlord is that by setting the market value of the first pick, it’s highly unlikely that the second pick will get more money than the price agreed upon here. As a direct result, any team contemplating moving up to the No. 2 spot had best be prepared for a protracted holdout from the Bush camp. If Texas turns on a guy named Bush, it’s hard to believe that anyone will pay the No. 2 pick the kind of numbers (upwards of $75 million with $27-28 million of that guaranteed) that his handlers are demanding. VU agrees that Williams is blue-chip prospect. But the Texans have lowered the bar by making him the top pick in the draft. If nothing else, this move alone may prevent teams from moving into the top 10. This is a no-win situation for the Texans, but they’ve brought it on themselves.
2.	New Orleans Saints	3	13	.523
Reggie Bush, RB, USC—For teams seriously interested in Bush, this has become a hot property, since it means 400 fewer points on the draft value chart than trying to go up another spot to grab Bush at No. 1. Still, the Saints find themselves backed into a corner. They would likely be best advised to accept the first solid offer that comes their way. Teams are going to want to move up to get the one player most of them though was unattainable, but the Bush camp likely isn’t going to budge on their demand for No. 1 money – making any move up a risky proposition. Many teams are likely burning up the phone lines as you read this with both the Saints and Bush’s agent. In the end, they’re likely going to learn the same thing we suspect already – Bush wants No.1 money. That will likely scare away most teams that are in a position to make the move. The Saints committed $10 million this year to Drew Brees, which all but took them out of the QB sweepstakes for the 2006 draft. There is no such commitment to Deuce McAlister. Seeing that the fear factor involving Bush will likely not bring any suitors, the Saints will make the logical move and pick Bush – and more than likely start marketing McAlister immediately thereafter.
3.	Tennessee Titans	4	12	.512
Matt Leinart, QB USC—The primary reason to take Vince Young with this pick is if Steve McNair was going to be back for another season or two. That doesn’t look like it will happen. Many believe the Titans were just blowing smoke and for good reason – it seems too hard to believe in this era of access to information that a team would “leak” that there is an internal argument between the ultimate decision-makers (owner Bud Adams and general manager Floyd Reese) and the coaching staff about which QB to take. The Titans picked sixth last year and are third this year for a reason – they stink. The coaching staff is on the hot seat and, even if Young lives up to his enormous upside, it probably will be the next coach of the Titans and not Jeff Fisher and his crew. Leinart doesn’t have ideal arm strength, but neither did Joe Montana and neither does Tom Brady. But they have a lot of rings between the two of them. Leinart is a winner that would be running the same system in the pros that he did in college, which means he could be starting by midseason or earlier. Young couldn’t do that and would likely flounder early if forced to start this season. When all the huffing and puffing is done, look for the Titans to tab Leinart.
4.	New York Jets	4	12	.527
D’Brickashaw Ferguson, OT, Virginia—The Jets fans will likely go nuts that they had a chance for Bush, Leinart and Vince Young and came away with none of them, but, when the draft is analyzed 10 years down the line, Ferguson will likely be viewed as the best pick at the top of the draft. When asked for comparisons to his skill level, scouts will say names like Orlando Pace and Jonathan Ogden. That’s pretty high praise. If the Jets have done their own in-house mock drafts, they likely have figured out that they can get one of the top two, three or four running backs with their pick at No. 29 in the first round as a replacement for Curtis Martin. Having a bookend offensive tackle for the next decade is Step One in rebuilding a franchise and, if Eric Mangini has learned anything from his time with the Patriots, it is that you build from within and don’t surrender multiple picks for a player that will raise the payroll of everyone on the franchise. DeAngelo Williams or LenDale White can be had for pennies on the dollar for what Bush is going to command (or demand). By staying put, the Jets will do more for their long-term future than they would gain by making a move for Bush. Somebody may move up and blow up our mock draft, but it shouldn’t be the Jets.
5.	Green Bay Packers	4	12	.531
A.J. Hawk, LB, Ohio State—The Packers would love to have Mario Williams slide down another spot so they could line him up opposite KGB and tell them to meet at the quarterback, but Hawk is no consolation prize. A never-stop player in the mold of a Brian Urlacher or Keith Brooking, Hawk has excelled at all three linebacker positions in college – although he projects as a OLB in the pros because of his run-down skills. The Packers need to address a lot of areas of need and, with the money to spend in free agency, they’re likely to address both lines, linebacker and the secondary. Whomever they sign, if Williams or Hawk are available here, one of them is ending up in green and gold. The top five picks are seemingly starting to fall into place. Beyond this pick, it gets a little dicey trying to accurately project how teams will go, but these five will likely stay in the spots where they’re being projected – the only question is what team is going to pick each of them? Their focus could shift to TE Vernon Davis, but Hawk will be very difficult to pass up at this pick.
6.	San Francisco 49ers	4	12	.539
Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland—We have finally succumbed to the hype on Davis. After an eye-popping performance at the Combine, Davis has jumped up several draft boards and into the top 10. While the top five picks of the draft seem pretty well locked in, the potential for trades starts with this pick. The 49ers have plenty of needs and could use the pick to trade down with a team looking to get their hands on a quarterback or to move up to take a player like Davis. If the Niners stay in the spot, Davis would become an instant go-to guy for second-year QB Alex Smith. The 49ers traded their top two wide receivers from a year ago – Brandon Lloyd and Rashaun Woods – and if Smith and the offense are to do anything, they’re going to need a big receiver. TEs like Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates have shown that you can get by with a tight end as your primary offensive passing weapon and Davis has the pedigree to be that type of Pro Bowl talent. While a trade is very likely here, if the Niners stay, Davis is heading out west.
7.	Oakland Raiders	4	12	.539
Vince Young, QB, Texas—Anyone who saw Al Davis at the owners meetings recently knows that Uncle Al still talks, but he’s looking pretty rough. He’s always been enamoured with exceptional athletes and has maintained the arrogance to believe that he can make megastars out of them. This is the same man who took a kicker (Sebastian Janikowski) and a punter (Shane Lechler) with his first two picks in a draft. Young could go as high as No. 3 or drop to the middle of the first round because it is commonly believed that he will need considerable mentoring and modifying to be a consistently effective NFL quarterback. Davis showed with his cutting and un-cutting of Kerry Collins that he’s willing to move on. Young would sell a lot of jerseys and be Al’s crowned jewel if he lives up to his enormous upside potential. The Raiders have a short-term answer at quarterback in Aaron Brooks, but he could give the coaching staff time to refine Young’s talents and have him ready as soon as the start of the 2007 – and no later than the end of ’07. After what has been deemed a strong Pro Day workout at the University of Texas, Young may again find his stock on the rise. Few players have experienced the difference of opinion on his NFL impact as Young. Some believe if the Raiders are convinced someone is going to take him, they will move up (either to the second or fourth pick) and grab him. However, if they’re patient, they have a good shot of getting him without surrendering mid-round picks to do it.
8.	Buffalo Bills	5	11	.500
Brodrick Bunkley, DT, Florida State—From the time we did our first mock draft shortly after the Super Bowl until recently, we were convinced the Bills would take nose tackle Haloti Ngata out of Oregon with this pick. But the rumblings out of Buffalo in recent weeks have pointed more to the Bills and new defensive coordinator Perry Fewell looking for more athletic defensive tackles, whereas Ngata is ideal in a pure 3-4 system. Fewell, who worked under Lovie Smith in St. Louis and Chicago, is looking for a disruptive, athletic defensive tackle that can do for his defensive line what Kevin Williams has done for the Vikings. While Williams and Pat Williams (who some are reminded of when they see Ngata) have worked well in Minnesota, Fewell’s system likely won’t pair up those kind of interior linemen. While Ngata remains an option, Bunkley looks like the best fit for what the new Bills regime is going to run.
9.	Detroit Lions	5	11	.504
Michael Huff, CB/S, Texas—The Lions may be tempted to use yet another pick on offense, inspiring another Millen Man March through Motown, but Huff will make their decision a lot easier. One of the best pure athletes in the draft, Huff has the versatility and skill to play either cornerback or safety. Dre Bly is a solid cover corner, but the tandem of R.W. McQuarters and Andre Goodman was nothing short of pathetic last year. To complicate things, both of them signed away as free agents, creating a glaring need. Teams will tell you on draft day that they don’t draft for position, they stack their boards with the best athletes. In this case, it would be a match made in draft heaven – the best player available going to a team with a glaring need at the position.
10.	Arizona Cardinals	5	11	.508
Jay Cutler, QB, Vanderbilt—While he didn’t have a great Senior Bowl game, Cutler made an impression during the week on a lot of scouts and may have bypassed Vince Young by his strong showing at the Combine. He had a strong Pro Day workout that solidified his draft stock and appears to be more NFL-ready at this point than Young. It wouldn’t be shocking to see Denny Green try to slide up a couple of spots and get into the mix to get his hands on Vince Young if he should slide down the board on draft day, but Green faces another coaching crossroads. By taking a young franchise QB, he could have one of the hottest young offenses in the matter of a year or two. Cutler has drawn comparisons to Brett Favre, who scorched Denny more times that he wants to admit. The team re-signed Kurt Warner to a three-year deal, but so did the Giants when he was brought in to mind the store until Eli Manning was ready. Green made a big splash in free agency with a $30 million contract to Edgerrin James, but still needs to make a lot of additions on the offensive line. He and new line coach Steve Loney hope to get that job done in free agency, but a tackle may not be out of the question – nor would going for the offensive jugular with athletic tight end Vernon Davis of Maryland. But, given Warner’s history of concussions, one more good shot could end his career in an instant. Considering that he has the speed of a tectonic plate, it would seem that is more of a “when” scenario than an “if” scenario. With the Cardinals moving into a new stadium, there needs to be a lot of interest in the team and getting a promising franchise QB helps that cause a lot. If the Vikings have a true interest in Cutler, this may be spot they have to ascend to in order to get him. There has been word out of Arizona that Denny Green has fallen in love with linebacker Ernie Sims, making him a possibility. But, it’s much easier to buy an athletic linebacker than it is to get a potential franchise QB.
11.	St. Louis Rams	6	10	.484
Jimmy Williams, CB, Virginia Tech—This may be an ideal spot for the Rams to trade down to a team that wants to get in front of Cleveland to take nose tackle Haloti Ngata of Oregon. If any of a handful players taken in the top 10, including Huff, Cutler or Bunkley in the three spots in front of them, should drop into their laps, the Ram will likely stay in this spot and make the pick. It’s not say that Jimmy Williams is a stiff – he’s not – but there are so many cornerbacks rated essentially the same, that the Rams could drop as many as 10 spots, get additional picks and still get a cornerback – perhaps even get Williams at that spot. Williams is extremely talented and is a big corner the Rams desperately need. His only drawback on draft day is that he has an arrogant streak and some of his team interviews went so poorly that some teams likely wouldn’t take him if he was available in the second round. But the fact remains that, if they stay at No. 11, the Rams will have to make a pick here that can immediately help the team. They could look at linebackers like Ernie Sims or Chad Greenway or for ‘tweener-type pass rushers like Kamerion Wimbley or Manny Lawson, but the run of CBs is going to start in the next 10 picks and the Rams would be advised to be on the front end of the run instead of the back end of it.
12.	Cleveland Browns	6	10	.508
Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon—When Romeo Crennel came to the Browns a year ago, he inherited a horrible team that needed a defensive overhaul. Making the switch to the 3-4 he ran so effectively in New England, Crennel didn’t come in with the personnel he needed to make the system thrive. While there are several players that would be ideal fits for the outside linebacker component of the 3-4, like Kamerion Wimbley, Chad Greenway and Ernie Sims, the key to any 3-4 being successful is having a big widebody in the middle of the defensive front that can clog interior running lanes and occupy two offensive linemen on every play. Ngata is clearly the best pure nose tackle in the draft and at this pick would not only be a value selection but would fill a glaring need – a win-win situation for a team that may be closer to a playoff run than their draft standing this year would indicate. If Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow come back healthy, the Browns offense could be much improved. With that, Crennel’s job is to build a defense in his own image – and Ngata is a heck of a start to accomplishing that daunting task.
13.	Baltimore Ravens	6	10	.523
Winston Justice, OT, USC—This may seem a little high for Justice since he has some learning to do, but the Ravens already have an All-Pro at left tackle in Jonathon Ogden and technically, Justice played the equivalent to left tackle at USC on the right side – Matt Leinart is a left-handed quarterback, so it’s the right tackle’s job to protect his blind side. The right tackle job came open earlier this month when the Ravens released veteran Orlando Brown. To cement matters even more, the team quashed speculation of going to a different running style by not only bringing back Jamal Lewis, but adding between-the-tackles grinder Mike Anderson in free agency. Justice is one of those picks that seems to be a glove fit for the Ravens – a skilled right tackle who can eventually be groomed to replace Ogden at LT while fitting in immediately for an offense that looks ready to run a lot in 2006.
14.	Philadelphia Eagles	6	10	.531
Chad Jackson, WR, Florida—The character issue at wide receiver became a front-burner issue for the Eagles when Terrell Owens and the team had a falling out last year and the ripple effects of that are still being felt. That continued resentment may be enough to sway the Eagles away from Ohio State’s Santonio Holmes, who is known as being a difficult player to coach and a little too arrogant for his own good. Jackson has a solid reputation and background and wowed scouts with his 4.32 40 time at the Combine. The Eagles have addressed some of their needs in free agency but have yet to address the void they have at wide receiver. Jackson could go a long way to alleviating those concerns. His ability to catch on the run and convert short passes into touchdowns will give the Eagles offense that sputtered down the stretch last year a much-needed shot in the arm.
15.	Denver Broncos (from Atlanta)	8	8	.492
Laurence Maroney, RB, Minnesota—The Broncos likely would have had a decent shot of getting Maroney if they still had the 22nd pick in the draft, so this may be something of a reach. However, he ran in a style identical to the Broncos when he was at the University of Minnesota and he won’t be asked to carry the full load with the Broncos because Ron Dayne and Tatum Bell are still around. There may be some consideration given to wide receiver Santonio Holmes, but we’ve got a feeling the Broncos made the trade with the 49ers to address that need in the second round. Maroney is a guy a lot of teams coming after the Broncos would like to see remain on the board – but the only one in between this pick and where they would have selected at No. 22 that would have an interest would be the Patriots. Mike Shanahan has been able to get a lot of mileage out of taking running backs in the middle to late rounds and getting good production. Maurice Clarett was a bust at the third round last year, so it may be time to see what the Broncos can do when they take a first round talent and let him loose.
16.	Miami Dolphins	9	7	.457
Antonio Cromartie, CB, Florida State—The signing of L.J. Shelton and the trade for Daunte Culpepper addressed two of the Dolphins’ most pressing needs, giving Miami a little more leeway on this pick to take the best player available without being forced by need to reach for somebody. If coach Nick Saban goes strictly for the best athlete available, it will be Cromartie. Had it not been a devastating ACL injury that sidelined him last year, he would have been long gone by now. But, the fact remains, he is coming off a very serious knee injury and has only made one career start in college – an amazing fact that has him rated this high nonetheless. Why? Saban attended FSU’s Pro Day and Cromartie put on a show like few have ever seen before. He not only ran a 4.3 40, but showed no ill-effects from the knee injury. His performance drew lofty comparisons from the old-school scouts to a similar performance put in by Deion Sanders several years earlier. If Cromartie can come anywhere close to approaching Deion’s on-field success, this could be the steal of the draft. He’s the risk-reward at the middle of the first round, but has the tools to be a Pro Bowler many times over.
17.	Minnesota Vikings	9	7	.484
Ernie Sims, LB, Florida State—If the Vikings don’t trade up to get a shot at Jay Cutler or another player that they covet (there have been whispers around the league that the Vikings are looking to move up and the player they would take would not be Cutler), they will have several options to go with at this point. They could go with a pure outside linebacker like Iowa’s Chad Greenway or a DE/OLB hybrid in Florida State’s Kamerion Wimbley. But, if he’s available, our nod goes to Sims. He’s undersized at 5-11, but he is a tackling machine who has excellent speed and would be a nice fit in the new system. Of course, all of this is subject to change – with the loss of Onterrio Smith, a running back like DeAngelo Williams also has to fit into the equation. But, if the Vikings wait to use all five of their first-day picks, Sims will be a player that they will unveil at a press conference Sunday as the answer to a prayer that will be an immediate impact player … if he can stay away from another concussion.
18.	Dallas Cowboys	9	7	.523
Kamerion Wimbley, OLB/DE, Florida State—Granted, the Cowboys used the 11th pick in last year’s draft to take OLB/DE hybrid DeMarcus Ware, but Bill Parcells isn’t one to sit tight even when he has an impressive player at a given position already in-house. When he was with the Giants, the year after he took Lawrence Taylor on the first round, he took Carl Banks. Last year, when he already had Julius Jones, Parcells used a fourth-round pick on Marion Barber III – who likely would have been a first- or second-rounder in this year’s draft. The Cowboys have needs on both lines and at free safety, but Wimbley gives the team the kind of player Parcells loves – a relentless pass rusher who can play as a down lineman or a linebacker in coverage. This could be a spot where the team trades down to a team looking to move up for a player they covet, but Wimbley could well be the guy the Cowboys are targeting and will be happy to scoop him up if nobody comes to the table with a big offer.
19.	San Diego Chargers	9	7	.559
Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio State—The Chargers have needs both on the offensive line and in the secondary, but for Phillip Rivers to be the new quarterback in town, he’s going to need weapons to go along with LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates. Keenan McCardell is the No. 1 receiver in name only. He’s more of a possession player, and Holmes’ big-play ability would be a perfect complement. Known for having a bit of a bad attitude would be a challenge to the Chargers, but not insurmountable. Keep in mind that coach Marty Shottenheimer tried (unsuccessfully) to reform bad boy David Boston a couple of years ago, so he isn’t afraid to make a move on a controversial player. Holmes is the most NFL-ready receiver in the draft as far as skills and route running are concerned and could challenge starter Eric Parker immediately. If the Chargers don’t address offensive line to bolster that position for L.T.’s sake, Holmes would be a selection that makes sense for many reasons.
20.	Kansas City Chiefs	10	6	.504
Tye Hill, CB, Clemson—New coach Herm Edwards knows the importance of having a solid secondary, being a long-time NFL D-back himself. If Holmes is still on the board, he will get a long look, as will linebackers like Chad Greenway and DeMeco Ryans and hybrid OLB/DE Manny Lawson. Edwards’ history has been to prefer big corners that could match up better with guys like Randy Moss, but the truth of the current NFL – which Edwards saw close up while coaching the Jets – is that small receivers are getting a new importance in the league because of the rules changes that make them untouchable past 5 yards. Hill doesn’t have the size to be a big jam guy, but he has legitimate 4.3 speed and ran stride for stride with anyone. And, he has a vertical jump and timing skills that can help compensate for his lack his height – a problem he’s dealt with his entire football career. Hill has a chance to be an immediate starter who has the makeup speed to recover from biting on a double move or having rookie hesitation on a go-route. He is a player with skills to have been taken several picks before this, but can learn some of the tricks of the trade from Edwards and his assistants and be an immediate impact player – starting at nickel back in the slot to begin with and probably cracking the starting lineup by midseason.
21.	New England Patriots	10	6	.508
Chad Greenway, LB, Iowa—The Patriots have needs at several positions and, if Cromartie or Jimmy Williams are still on the board, either one of them would be a tempting target. But, one of the keys to the Patriots defensive success in their recent run has been the strong play of their linebackers – who need to be intelligent due to the fact that the Patriots will completely change their defensive game plan from one week to the next. That combined with the long-term uncertainty of Tedy Bruschi’s future and the clear certainty that Monty Beisel isn’t a quality starting NFL linebacker, leads us to Greenway, who brings the tenacity, coachability and hustle that Belichick loves in players. Cornerback could remain a viable option here because over the last two years, injuries have force the Patriots to sign guys off the street and use wide receiver Troy Brown as a nickel corner. But New England’s success on defense has always been predicated on big plays from its linebackers corps – which needs a serious infusion of talent that Greenway could provide.
22.	San Fran (from Washington through Denver)	10	6	.539
DeMeco Ryans, LB, Alabama—The 49ers took a couple of huge hits in the offseason when they lost LBs Julian Peterson and Andre Carter to free agency. Replenishing those losses is critical. Ryans is a high-energy player with a great character that coaches and teammates love. It’s going to be a long rebuilding process to get the 49ers back to their past greatness and they will need players that will buy into their long-term program. There may the temptation to go with Bobby Carpenter, who has been shooting up draft boards in the last few weeks thanks to some great individual workouts, but Ryans is talented player who has the mental makeup to understand that the 49ers are climbing out of the wreckage of their own franchise Ground Zero and are going to need players to buy into the new plan. It’s going to take time and they’ll need the right players – ones that won’t bail on the team or give up if they end up at or near the top of the draft for the next couple of years. Ryans is that type of player.
23.	Tampa Bay Bucaneers	11	5	.449
Eric Winston, OT, Miami—The Buccaneers saw both of their quarterbacks get routinely crushed last year. With an offensive being built around Cadillac Williams, even if the Bucs add some help on the offensive line in free agency, this could remain a front-burner draft question. A converted right end, Winston has the agility and strength to handle bull rushers, as well as open holes in the running game. The Bucs were a surprise team in 2005, but their most glaring weakness was on the offensive front. Considering Jon Gruden’s penchant for trying to build an explosive offense, he’ll need more horses up front to succeed.
24.	Cincinnati Bengals	11	5	.477
Nick Mangold, C, Ohio State—Someone may have to tie Marvin Lewis down to make this selection, since there are pressing needs for the defensive line, but with franchise QB Carson Palmer on the mend from a serious knee injury, making sure he is adequately protected is Job One in Cincinnati.  Centers rarely go on the first round, but Mangold is a rare combination of size, speed and agility. He’s very intelligent and can be counted on to make the line calls immediately at the next level. Starter Rich Braham is 34 years old and nearing the end of the line. While the Bengals need more help on defense (especially defensive tackle) to continue their ascent to the top, much like Tony Dungy with the Colts, Lewis’ bread and butter for success is going to be an offense that can score 30 points every week. With talent like Palmer, Rudi Johnson, Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the component parts are in place. Putting a blue-chip center like Mangold in the middle of it all could easily make the entire unit better.
25.	New York Giants	11	5	.492
Bobby Carpenter, LB, Ohio State—This may be a bit of a reach, but the Giants spent much of the Senior Bowl scouting cornerbacks – giving the clear impression that was the route they would be going. But, as free agency began, the G-Men jumped on Sam Madison, R.W. McQuarters and Jason Bell. While players like Johnathan Joseph, Richard Marshall, Kelly Jennings and Ashton Youboty are still available, linebacker remains a sore spot even after the recent signing of LaVar Arrington. Injuries devastated the Giants LB corps last year and, even if everyone is back, they need the insurance that Carpenter could provide. His dad played for the Giants, which probably plays in his favor and his solid performance at the Combine improved his stock tremendously. With a thin crop of ‘backers in this year’s draft, the Giants may have to make this move quickly or miss out almost completely. With the impact so many rookie linebackers made a year ago, this is going to be a hot position in this year’s draft and the Giants can’t afford to miss out if they expect to repeat as division champions this year.
26.	Chicago Bears	11	5	.457
Johnathan Joseph, CB, Virginia Tech—The Bears have a glaring need at tight end, but this is a deep draft for that position and the Bears may have bigger fish to fry. The team vaulted itself to the top of the NFC last year on the back of an oppressive defense that dominated opponents for 60 minutes. With the retirement of Jerry Azumah, the Bears have become thin at cornerback behind Nathan Vasher. Joseph is another in a growing list of cornerbacks that have a chance to make an impact on the draft’s first two rounds. Some scouts have Joseph rated as the No. 2 or 3 corner in the draft, making him a solid value at this pick. The Bears need more weapons on offense – namely at tight end and wide receiver – but if they’re going to repeat as division champions, they will need their defense to step up and maintain its dominance from 2005. Adding a NFL-ready CB like Joseph will be a huge boost to that aim.
27.	Carolina Panthers	11	5	.449
Manny Lawson, OLB/DE, North Carolina State—The Panthers may find it difficult to pass up running backs DeAngelo Williams or LenDale White, because with Stephen Davis gone and DeShaun Foster a risk to get injured at any time, one of those guys could be a valuable insurance policy to a team that made it to the NFC title game last season. But the Panthers got there just as much because of defense and Lawson is a guy many scouts project as already being gone at this point. The only reason we still have him on the board is because he’s a ‘tweener that needs to be in the right system to succeed. With the loss of LB Will Witherspoon to the Rams, the Panthers need a difference-maker at that position who can play linebacker and be a third-down DE pass rusher. Lawson fills both needs.
28.	Jacksonville Jaguars	12	4	.465
Marcedes Lewis, TE, UCLA—The Jags could go in several different directions with this pick. The team’s bread and butter has been a strong defense, and coach Jack Del Rio could have his choice of inside linebackers with this pick, as well as a strong class of cornerbacks that will get hit hard in the second round. There is also a belief that the Jags may look at running back to get an eventual replacement for Fragile Fred Taylor, making DeAngelo Williams a possibility. Williams will be extremely tempting, because, although he is small, he has some great toughness and was a college workhorse that showed he could excel as a featured back. But, the one element that has been missing from the Jaguars offensive attack in recent years has been production from the tight end position. He had a horrible Combine performance, but Lewis is a big target that has a history of stretching defenses down the seam and making big plays. His highlight reel is impressive, boasting many acrobatic catches and his stock went up at the Senior Bowl when he tested out well in a good class of tight ends. Georgia’s mammoth Leonard Pope could be a consideration here, but Lewis has the big-play ability the Jags need from the tight end position, which gives him the nod.
29.	New York Jets (from Denver through Atl.)	13	3	.500
DeAngelo Williams, RB, Memphis—The Jets may find it impossible not to snap up Williams here. He could well be off the board before this pick, but with Curtis Martin nearing the end of his potential Hall of Fame career, the need to get a replacement is a front-burner issue. LaMont Jordan served as C-Mart’s caddie for four years and excelled when given a chance to be the featured back. Had the Jets signed him a year ago with the promise of the starting job, this pick wouldn’t be necessary. Williams has been knocked by some scouts for not having the size to hold up for a long period of time as a featured back and he has a lot of mileage on him from being the centerpiece of the Tigers offense, but he is a hard-nosed runner who doesn’t run out of bounds and is surprisingly good in short yardage, where Martin has always suffered. Ideally, Williams could be plugged in as a RB that could spell Martin for a series or two each half. By the end of the season, Williams could be in the driver’s seat and Martin heading out the door.
30.	Indianpolis Colts	14	2	.457
LenDale White, RB, USC—White was once thought to be going as high as No. 13 to the Ravens before they re-signed Jamal Lewis and signed free agent Mike Anderson. His stock has taken a hit after a poor performance at his Pro Day and a serious hamstring injury, but the Colts are in dire need of having someone who, while not replacing Edgerrin James, can eat up 15-20 carries a game. There are many people who don’t believe Dominic Rhodes can be a 20-25 carry a game RB, but the combination of the two could add a dimension to the most dangerous offense in the league that they didn’t have with James. White gives the Colts a chance to play smashmouth football when they have a lead and want to milk the clock and, despite his recent drop on a lot of draft boards, he’s still too talented to get past a team with such a screaming need. Outside linebacker is also an option, but, after White, the dropoff at running back is pretty pronounced.
31.	Seattle Seahawks	13	3	.430
Davin Joseph, G, Oklahoma—The Seahawks took care of needs at wide receiver and safety by acquiring Nate Burleson and Mike Green. They still have a need area at cornerback, but the loss of Steve Hutchinson was huge since so much of the Seattle offense the past several years has revolved around Shaun Alexander carrying the ball 25 times and finishing drives with touchdown runs behind Hutchinson and tackle Walter Jones. Any step down from that could have disastrous consequences. There are three Tier One guards in draft – Joseph, Max Jean-Gilles and Deuce Lutui. By the time the draft comes back to Seattle at the end of the second round, all three of them will likely be gone. They still have some holes to fill, but may find it easier to get a serviceable CB in the second round (they gave up their third-round pick to the Vikings for Burleson) than getting a guard that can step in immediately and fill the huge void left by Hutchinson’s departure.
32.	Pittsburgh Steelers	11	5	.492
Sinorice Moss, WR, Miami—The Steelers would love to see one of the bigger running backs like LenDale White or Laurence Maroney fall into their laps, but, barring that, getting a replacement for speedy Antwaan Randle El is a priority. Moss is small at just 5-8, but is an explosive playmaker in the mold of his older brother, Santana Moss. He dominated some of the country’s best cornerbacks at the Senior Bowl – impressing all week and winning the MVP of that game – and the Steelers have a history of man-love for speedy game-breakers in the mold of Randle El and Kordell Stewart. They may opt out of this pick to continue the QB-turned-WR-Slash trend and go after someone like Penn State’s Michael Robinson in the second round, but Moss gives the Steelers a big-play receiver who can also fill Randle El’s role in the return game – which may be enough to tip the scales in his favor for the defending Super Bowl champs.