I've been wanting to do this for a little while now on my own, and considering it's Sunday, the NCAA Tournament is in full force and Bills news is scattered at best (besides the whole Toronto thing, that is), I figured now was as good a time as any to update my mock draft. I'll be doing this again probably a day prior to the actual event, and the authors and moderators of Rumblings are currently working on a two-rounder as well. Oh, and the SB Nation NFL Mock Draft starts next week, too - more on that starting Wednesday.
1. Detroit Lions (0-16): Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
- Stafford had an outstanding Pro Day and is now the clear-cut top quarterback prospect, if he wasn't before. Detroit has two more picks in the top 33 and can deal with other needs with those selections. Right now, passing on a franchise signal-caller would be rather Millen-like.
2. St. Louis Rams (2-14): Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
- Orlando Pace has been released, so this pick is close to being a 100% certainty that it'll be an offensive tackle. Jason Smith has been the fast riser (with Andre Smith the faller), but Monroe's stock has been humming along since January unscathed. He's the safest bet for the re-tooling Rams.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (2-14): Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
- Pretty much a no-brainer here - if Curry is available, he's exactly the type of player that Scott Pioli will look to build his defense around. Next.
4. Seattle Seahawks (4-12): Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
- I've had Michael Crabtree and B.J. Raji going here in the past, but with T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Colin Cole and Cory Redding joining the team, that pretty much tosses Crabtree and Raji out the window. Smith isnt immediate-impact, but he's outstanding insurance as the Seahawks prepare for the eventual departure of aging LT Walter Jones.
5. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Everette Brown, DE, Florida State
- Don't be shocked if the Browns move up on draft day to take Aaron Curry - he's also the type of guy that Eric Mangini loves. Without a move up, one of the draft's top pass rushers in Brown is a nice consolation prize for the defensively re-tooling Browns.
6. Cincinnati Bengals (4-11-1): Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi
- It's becoming pretty obvious that Eugene Monroe is their top target, but I think Oher is a fantastic backup plan. OT absolutely has to be the pick here for Cincinnati. Oher replaces Levi Jones at LT right out of the gate.
7. Oakland Raiders (5-11): Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
- Workouts or no workouts, injuries or no injuries, Crabtree is the best receiver in the draft. Getting a weapon for developing QB JaMarcus Russell is the clear top priority in Oakland.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College
- Everyone's talking wideout or tackle here, but if Jack Del Rio needs anything in Jacksonville, it's an attitude adjustment. Raji is a nasty, physical player that would re-establish the Jaguars as one of the toughest run defenses in the league.
9. Green Bay Packers (6-10): Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU
- Green Bay's got some players (most notably Aaron Kampman) that can rush in the team's new 3-4. They'll take the best fit for their new scheme that they can find, and it's Jackson - whose stock is climbing rapidly - that fits the bill.
10. San Francisco 49ers (7-9): Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas
- Mike Singletary would love to get his hands on Raji. He'll be the pick if he's available. If he's not, they'll take the best available pass rusher. Orakpo is viewed as a safer pick than the next guy on the list...
11. Buffalo Bills (7-9): Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State
Everyone here knows that the pass rush and the offensive line are currently the Bills' two biggest issues. The pick, therefore, necessarily comes down to Andre Smith (no thanks) or the best pass rusher. In the view of your humble editor, Maybin is the best defender not named Curry in the draft.
Picks 12-32 appear after the jump.
12. Denver Broncos (8-8): Clay Matthews, LB, USC
13. Washington Redskins (8-8): Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
14. New Orleans Saints (8-8): Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
15. Houston Texans (8-8): Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
16. San Diego Chargers (8-8): Rey Maualuga, LB, USC
17. New York Jets (9-7): Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri
18. Chicago Bears (9-7): Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7): Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State
20. Detroit Lions* (f/DAL): Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi
21. Philadelphia Eagles (9-6-1): Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
22. Minnesota Vikings (10-6): Mark Sanchez, QB, USC
23. New England Patriots (11-5): Eben Britton, OT, Arizona
24. Atlanta Falcons (11-5): Brian Cushing, LB, USC
25. Miami Dolphins (11-5): Clint Sintim, LB, Virginia
26. Baltimore Ravens (11-5): Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
27. Indianapolis Colts (12-4): Phil Loadholt, OT, Oklahoma
28. Philadelphia Eagles* (f/CAR): William Beatty, OT, Connecticut
29. New York Giants (12-4): Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina
30. Tennessee Titans (13-3): Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee
31. Arizona Cardinals (9-7): Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State
32. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest