HBT NFL Mock Draft '09

[ohiobrewtus]

Since uglygoat appears to still be awol, I'd like to ask everyone else who is participating to think about who the Texans may pick at #15. I'll wait until cuinrearview makes his pick for the Saints before giving my thoughts.

 

[the_bird]

I don't know; it seems to me in the years I've been paying attention, the teams that consistently do the best are those that draft the best player instead of reaching to fill a need. There's so much turnover in your personnel because of injuries and whathaveyou that even if you don't *need* a defensive lineman, if the guy who's clearly the best on the board happens to play DL you want to take him. Especially areas like the line and LB, where as far as I'm concerned you can't have too many great players.

With that said, if it's not THAT much of a reach, and it's a team like the JETS that has one need that supercedes all others, maybe you still make the pick.... but if you've got Freeman rated as the 40th-best player in the draft, you don't take him at #17.

Nobody talks about Bryon Leftwich; he's looked pretty decent at times, I know he's inconsistent but he seemed to do a good job for Pitt when Big Ben went down. Why wouldn't the JETS try and bring him aboard, give him the chance to win the job?

What about Detroit? Isn't he an improvement over Culpepper? If you're not going to draft Stafford at #1, and Sanchez isn't available at #20, wouldn't you rather go into next season with Leftwich battling Culpepper, with the idea that if they both suck you're planning to take a QB early in 2010 anyway?

 

[the_bird]

As to Houston, sounds like they're looking in the linebacker/defensive line areas, want to have a more aggressive, attacking D. They were near the bottom of the league in sacks, middle-of-the-road in passing yards/game allowed but near the bottom in rushing yards allowed. Need some more playmakers on D; not a lot of picks (more pass rush would help).

I still think of them as giving up a lot of sacks, but that seems to be less the case these days.

I've lost track of who's left for impact defensive players; the best DE to pair with Mario Williams, or the best available LB is my call.

 

[CBBaron]

I don't know; it seems to me in the years I've been paying attention, the teams that consistently do the best are those that draft the best player instead of reaching to fill a need. There's so much turnover in your personnel because of injuries and whathaveyou that even if you don't *need* a defensive lineman, if the guy who's clearly the best on the board happens to play DL you want to take him. Especially areas like the line and LB, where as far as I'm concerned you can't have too many great players.

With that said, if it's not THAT much of a reach, and it's a team like the JETS that has one need that supercedes all others, maybe you still make the pick.... but if you've got Freeman rated as the 40th-best player in the draft, you don't take him at #17.

Nobody talks about Bryon Leftwich; he's looked pretty decent at times, I know he's inconsistent but he seemed to do a good job for Pitt when Big Ben went down. Why wouldn't the JETS try and bring him aboard, give him the chance to win the job?

What about Detroit? Isn't he an improvement over Culpepper? If you're not going to draft Stafford at #1, and Sanchez isn't available at #20, wouldn't you rather go into next season with Leftwich battling Culpepper, with the idea that if they both suck you're planning to take a QB early in 2010 anyway?

I too am surprised at the lack of interest in Byron. He always seemed to be a very good quarterback to me. Ofcourse I was usually watching him play against the Steelers and Jacksonville always seemed to play extra well against the the Steelers. Still if no one picks him up for a starting job that means Pittsburgh will get to keep him as a great backup.

I've felt that the best way to draft was to get the best players you could in the draft, whatever the position. However those teams that seem to do well, usually don't have immediate needs when drafting, allowing rookie players time to develop before taking a starting position. Steelers won the superbowl without any significant contribution from their rookies (1 start), however most of the starters were signed as rookies by Pittsburgh.

Craig

 

[ohiobrewtus]

With the 14th pick the Saints have selected Malcolm Jenkins, CB - Ohio State

uglygoat is now officially on the clock.

I think it's Cushing here.

 

[CBBaron]

With the 14th pick the Texans have selected Malcolm Jenkins, CB - Ohio State

uglygoat is now officially on the clock.

I think it's Cushing here.

I think you meant Saints here.

How about Everett Brown for the Texans?
Seems many mocks have him going higher.

Craig

 

[the_bird]

Yeah, Everette Brown.

The Good: An explosive, quick-twitch lineman who gets off the ball quickly and has the ability to consistently reach the corner. Has a long frame with impressive base strength for his size. Displays good body control off the edge with a coordinated spin move and good lateral mobility inside. Is technically sound for an underclassman and uses his arms well on counter moves.

The Bad: Might not have the size to hold up as an every down defensive end at the next level. Is being looked at as a 3-4 outside linebacker but has played consistently with his hand on the ground the past two years. Might have some trouble making the transition.

Everette Brown - College Football

I've seen him in the top five of some drafts. Doesn't sound like someone who's going to help the run D, but he'd potentially help out a lot in terms of getting to the QB. If he can't play the end, Houston can use some help at LB. Sounds like he's got the potential, at least, to be an impact playmaker, exactly what I think Houston needs.

 

[cuinrearview]

I think you meant Saints here.

How about Everett Brown for the Texans?
Seems many mocks have him going higher.

Craig

Yah, the Saints took Malcolm.

 

[ohiobrewtus]

I think you meant Saints here.

How about Everett Brown for the Texans?
Seems many mocks have him going higher.

Craig

Yup, I sure did mean the Saints.

Wow, I missed that Brown was still on the board.

 

[the_bird]

Hey, if he wants to drop to #23, that's fine with me! No way he lasts this long IRL, though.

 

[ohiobrewtus]

Hey, if he wants to drop to #23, that's fine with me! No way he lasts this long IRL, though.

I agree. Brown being available this late is highly unlikely.

There is always a surprise player taken in the top 15 though. Likewise, there is always a consensus top 10 guy that falls to around this spot. Could be Brown, could be someone else.

 

[the_bird]

If he falls, it sounds like it'll be because teams don't think he'll be able to transition to LB. Personally, I prefer the guys on the D-line to be bulkier, even when you have a guy that can be real disruptive to the passing game (I keep thinking back to Jevon Kearse when he first came into the league), so often they become liabilities in defending the run.

 

[ohiobrewtus]

Everette Brown reminds me of Jamal Reynolds from 7 or 8 years ago, who was also from FSU. He's a guy that's too big and too inexperienced to play OLB in a 3-4, and not big enough to play DE in a 4-3.

Ask Dude how that Jamal Reynolds pick turned out for the Packers.

 

[RICLARK]

Ask Dude how that Jamal Reynolds pick turned out for the Packers.

I think they got him by trading Hasslebeck to the hawks in return for a draft pick, Thats one of the biggest wasted picks ever other then most of the Millen picks. Last I heard reynolds was with the Browns.

 

[the_bird]

Jamal "Too Small" Reynolds! That's a great nickname!

Jamal Reynolds - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[RICLARK]

Ya Thats him Too Small! OB remember Josh Thornhill?

 

[ohiobrewtus]

He's been out of football for 5 years. One of the all-time top 10 busts of the last 15 years or so.

Todd Marinovich
Tony Mandarich
Ryan Leaf
Heath Shuler
Charles Rogers
Mike Williams (WR - Detroit)
Courtney Brown
Ki-Jana Carter
Troy Williamson
Mike Williams (OT - Buffalo)
David Terrell
Akili Smith
Curtis Enis
Mike Mamula
Trev Alberts

 

[the_bird]

You could probably fit Rick Mirer on that list, as well. I remember there was a lot of debate before the draft whether the Pats should take him or Drew Bledsoe. He floundered around the league for a while, but I think his arm strength could best be described as "Chad Pennington At Age 60."

Ki-Jana Carter got hurt, like immediately, didn't he?

 

[ohiobrewtus]

You could probably fit Rick Mirer on that list, as well. I remember there was a lot of debate before the draft whether the Pats should take him or Drew Bledsoe. He floundered around the league for a while, but I think his arm strength could best be described as "Chad Pennington At Age 60."

Ki-Jana Carter got hurt, like immediately, didn't he?

Ya, Carter messed up his leg pretty bad in the 4th of 5th game of his rookie year and he was never the same.

I didn't include Mirer for the same reason that I didn't include Harrington. They both sucked, but they at least played in the league for a while and got significant playing time.

 

[the_bird]

I'd still call Mirer a bust; not of Leaf proportions, but he never came even close to living up to his pre-draft hype.

There's certainly plenty to pick from!

So, this leads to the question... who's the most likely bust from the '09 draft? Brown? Stafford?

 

[RICLARK]

who's the most likely bust from the '09 draft? Brown? Stafford?

I pick Beanie Wells

 

[ohiobrewtus]

The consensus seems to be Everette Brown for the Texans at #15, so that's the pick.

hokster is now on the clock for the Chargers.

 

[ohiobrewtus]

errrrrrrrrrrrrrr... hokster's PM box is also full. Hopefully he checks in on this thread to see that he's on the clock.

 

[CBBaron]

errrrrrrrrrrrrrr... hokster's PM box is also full. Hopefully he checks in on this thread to see that he's on the clock.

OK so what do the chargers need?

I see alot of mocks with them taking a RB but I don't see it.

Seems they need defense. Pass rush and back field.

Craig

 

[the_bird]

Between LT and Sproles, they've got a lot of money tied into to the backfield already. They'll need to replace LT at some point, but not here in the 1st round. More likely, in the 2nd or 3rd round, get someone to develop behind LT, or draft someone high in 2010.

Defense.

 

[hokster]

Sorry about that...the Chargers could potentially use a running back, since even with the contact, LT's on his way down, but there is a lot of money there already.

On the other hand, we need some impact defensive players, particularly at inside linebacker, who can complement guys like Shawne Merriman. Thus, the Chargers will take USC linebacker Rey Maluaga.

 

[ohiobrewtus]

danek is now on the clock for the New York Jets.

 

[ohiobrewtus]

Assuming that the Jets don't land Cutler, I think this almost has to be Sanchez.

 

[the_bird]

... a distinct lack of skill players taken so far. Kind of odd - one QB, a couple wideouts, and a TE, otherwise it's defenders and linemen.

 

[hokster]

That's not that surprising this year, though...the tackle, DL, and linebacker positions are pretty deep at the top, while other than Stafford, there aren't any really elite prospects at QB. Even when it comes to running backs, they all have flaws, so there's none that jump out as a really top pick, and even for the wide receivers, none are the total package, in a certain sense. Crabtree and Maclin are a bit wee (and Crabtree comes via Mike Leach), and a guy like Heyward-Bey, for example, might be one dimensional as a threat. Meanwhile, in the secondary, you've got Jenkins (who was slow and may end up being a safety in the NFL) and Vontae Davis, who was really inconsistent in college.