Mel Kiper's First 4 Round Mock Draft

[M2]

Quote:
With the NFL draft two weeks away, the one hot spot in the first round remains with the New Orleans Saints and second overall pick. While I still have North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams going to New Orleans, the outlook of the first round could change significantly if the Saints trade the pick.

My first-round projections remain nearly the same, with the one newcomer being NC State defensive end Manny Lawson. Overshadowed by Williams at NC State, Lawson had a very good senior season then performed exceptionally well at the NFL scouting combine. Right now I am projecting the Jets will use their second first-round pick on Lawson, where he will be used as a pass-rushing defensive end/outside linebacker.

New this week are my projections for the second, third and fourth rounds. You will be surprised to see some players initially projected as first-round picks have slipped to the second round in recent weeks.



1st Round | 2nd Round | 3rd Round | 4th Round



First-Round Projections
1. Houston Reggie Bush, RB USC
2. New Orleans Mario Williams, DE NC State
3. Tennessee Matt Leinart, QB USC
4. N.Y. Jets D'Brickashaw Ferguson, T Virginia
5. Green Bay A.J. Hawk, LB Ohio St.
6. San Francisco Vernon Davis, TE Maryland
7. Oakland Vince Young, QB Texas
8. Buffalo Brodrick Bunkley, DT Florida St.
9. Detroit Michael Huff, DB Texas
10. Arizona Jay Cutler, QB Vanderbilt
11. St. Louis Chad Greenway, LB Iowa
12. Cleveland Kamerion Wimbley, DE/OLB Florida St.
13. Baltimore Haloti Ngata, DT Oregon
14. Philadelphia Winston Justice, T USC
15. Denver (from ATL) Chad Jackson, WR Florida
16. Miami Donte Whitner, S Ohio St.
17. Minnesota Ernie Sims, LB Florida St.
18. Dallas Jason Allen, S/CB Tennessee
19. San Diego Johnathan Joseph, CB South Carolina
20. Kansas City Tye Hill, CB Clemson
21. New England Santonio Holmes, WR Ohio St.
22. Denver (from WSH) DeAngelo Williams, RB Memphis
23. Tampa Bay Antonio Cromartie, CB Florida St.
24. Cincinnati Jimmy Williams, CB Virginia Tech
25. N.Y. Giants Kelly Jennings, CB Miami
26. Chicago Richard Marshall CB Fresno St.
27. Carolina LenDale White, RB USC
28. Jacksonville Marcedes Lewis, TE UCLA
29. N.Y. Jets (from DEN) Manny Lawson, DE/OLB NC State
30. Indianapolis Laurence Maroney, RB Minnesota
31. Seattle Ashton Youboty, CB Ohio St.
32. Pittsburgh Sinorice Moss, WR Miami




1st Round | 2nd Round | 3rd Round | 4th Round

Second-Round Projections
33. Houston Eric Winston, T Miami
34. New Orleans Nick Mangold, C Ohio St.
35. N.Y. Jets Joseph Addai, RB LSU
36. Green Bay Tamba Hali, DE Penn St.
37. San Francisco Bobby Carpenter, LB Ohio St.
38. Oakland Gabe Watson, DT Michigan
39. Tennessee D'Qwell Jackson, LB Maryland
40. Detroit Davin Joseph, G Oklahoma
41. Arizona Leonard Pope, TE Georgia
42. Buffalo Taitusi "Deuce" Lutui, G USC
43. Cleveland Abdul Hodge, LB Iowa
44. Baltimore Brodie Croyle, QB Alabama
45. Philadelphia DeMeco Ryans, LB Alabama
46. St. Louis Orien Harris, DT Miami
47. Atlanta Cedric Griffin, CB Texas
48. Minnesota Kellen Clemens, QB Oregon
49. Dallas Marcus McNeill, T Auburn
50. San Diego Demetrius Williams, WR Oregon
51. Minnesota (from MIA) Chris Chester, OL Oklahoma
52. New England Brian Calhoun, RB Wisconsin
53. Washington Rocky McIntosh, LB Miami
54. Kansas City Darryl Tapp, DE Virginia Tech
55. Cincinnati Dominique Byrd, TE USC
56. N.Y. Giants Thomas Howard, LB UTEP
57. Chicago Greg Jennings, WR Western Michigan
58. Carolina Joe Klopfenstein, TE Colorado
59. Tampa Bay Andrew Whitworth, T LSU
60. Jacksonville Jason Spitz, C Louisville
61. Denver Mark Anderson, DE Alabama
62. Indianapolis Daniel Bullocks, DB Nebraska
63. Seattle Mathias Kiwanuka, DE Boston College
64. Pittsburgh Danieal Manning, DB Abilene Christian




1st Round | 2nd Round | 3rd Round | 4th Round

Third-Round Projections
65. Houston Ko Simpson, DB South Carolina
66. Houston (from NO) Gerris Wilkinson, LB Georgia Tech
67. Green Bay Max Jean-Gilles, G Georgia
68. San Francisco David Pittman, CB Northwestern St. (La.)
69. Oakland Maurice Drew, RB UCLA
70. Buffalo (from TEN) Ryan O'Callaghan, T California
71. N.Y. Jets Brandon Williams, WR Wisconsin
72. Arizona Jon Alston, LB Stanford
73. Buffalo Maurice Stovall, WR Notre Dame
74. Detroit Devin Hester, CB Miami
75. New England (from BAL) Chris Gocong, DE/LB Cal Poly-SLO
76. Philadelphia Claude Wroten, DT LSU
77. St. Louis David Thomas, TE Texas
78. Cleveland Charles Spencer, G Pittsburgh
79. Atlanta Calvin Lowery, DB Penn St.
80. Dallas Charlie Whitehurst, QB Clemson
81. San Diego Paul McQuistan, OL Weber St.
82. Miami Parys Haralson, DE Tennessee
83. Minnesota Will Blackmon, WR/CB Boston College
84. San Francisco (from WSH) Victor Adeyanju, DE Indiana
85. Kansas City Brandon Marshall, WR Central Florida
86. New England Montavious Stanley, DT Louisville
87. N.Y. Giants Kyle Williams, DT LSU
88. Chicago Anthony Fasano, TE Notre Dame
89. Carolina Darnell Bing, DB USC
90. Tampa Bay Willie Reid, WR Fresno St.
91. Cincinnati Stanley McClover, DE Auburn
92. Jacksonville Jerome Harrison, RB Washington St.
93. Atlanta (from DEN) Devin Aromashodu, WR Auburn
94. Indianapolis Dusty Dvoracek, DT Oklahoma
95. Minnesota (from SEA) Le Kevin Smith, DT Nebraska
96. Pittsburgh Brent Hawkins, DE/OLB Illinois St.

97. N.Y. Jets (comp. pick) Roman Harper, DB Alabama




1st Round | 2nd Round | 3rd Round | 4th Round

Fourth-Round Projections
98. Houston James Wyche, DE Syracuse
99. New Orleans Demetrice Webb, CB Florida
100. San Francisco Lawrence Vickers, FB Colorado
101. Oakland Anthony Smith, DB Syracuse
102. Tennessee Leon Washington, RB Florida St.
103. N.Y. Jets Alan Zemaitis, CB Penn St.
104. Green Bay Derrick Martin, CB Wyoming
105. Buffalo Elvis Dumervil, DE Louisville
106. New England (from DET) Guy Whimper, T East Carolina
107. Arizona Fred Matua, G USC
108. Philadelphia David Kirtman, FB USC
109. St. Louis Kevin Boothe, OL Cornell
110. Cleveland DeMario Minter, CB Georgia
111. Baltimore Dion Byrum, CB Ohio
112. Cleveland (from ATL) Rodrique Wright, DT Texas
113. San Diego Babatunde Oshinowo, DT Stanford
114. Miami Zach Strief, T Northwestern
115. Minnesota Miles Austin, WR Monmouth
116. Philadelphia (from DAL) Tarvaris Jackson, QB Alabama St.
117. N.Y. Jets (from KC) Greg Eslinger, C Minnesota
118. New England Derek Hagan, WR Arizona St.
119. Denver (from WSH) Owen Daniels, TE Wisconsin
120. Chicago Freddie Keiaho, LB San Diego St.
121. Carolina Jonathan Scott, T Texas
122. Tampa Bay Brandon Johnson, LB Louisville
123. Cincinnati John McCargo, DT NC State
124. N.Y. Giants Jeremy Trueblood, T Boston College
125. Jacksonville James Anderson, LB Virginia Tech
126. Denver Bernard Pollard, DB Purdue
127. Philadelphia (from IND) Hank Baskett, WR New Mexico
128. Seattle John Torp, P Colorado
129. Pittsburgh Andre Hall, RB South Florida

130. Denver (comp. pick) Jeremy Bloom, WR Colorado

131. Pittsburgh (comp. pick) Daryn Colledge, T Boise St.

132. Baltimore (comp. pick) Rob Sims, G Ohio St.

133. Pittsburgh (comp. pick) Omar Jacobs, QB Bowling Green



m2

[Cicero]

Mel Kiper is the best in the business. His first round looks pretty good. He's right about the way the draft goes depends on what the Saints do at #2. If they take Williams(DE), everything falls into place. Same I think if they take D'Brick. The Titans still take Leinart and the Jets take Williams to fill the void of John Abraham. What throws a wrench into the draft is say, if the Jets move up to get Leinart at #2, thus forcing the Titans to take Football Jesus at #3. Same thing goes, if the Saints take Leinart as insurance for Brees(which I think would be a waste of a freakin pick.)

[ChargerMike]

... couldn't have guessed the Bolt's drafting a Corner in the first round!

[Dumbass]

I doubt the Panthers will be that fortunate in the 1st round but I will dream for a week or so. I wouldn't think the top 3 RBs last pass the teens but this boy has his ear to the ground more...eventhough he still comes off as a dunt duh dunt.

I thoguht CAR may have to look at Drew or Addai, etc. by then but that should be their target in round one. White would be phenomenal.

[Raydah James]

Same thing goes, if the Saints take Leinart as insurance for Brees(which I think would be a waste of a freakin pick.)

Not gonna happen-one of the clauses in Brees contract is that the saints are not permitted to draft a QB in the first round.


Personally, I think they will take D'Brick.

[UCant#2]

Good to see that fuck fucker, LenDale White, has almost dropped out of the first round. See what happens when you "tear a hammie" fighting for the last trough at King Buffet with shutyomouth?

It's fitting dude has two first names in his first name because he's eating enough for two people. Who the fuck puts on 30 lbs in two months when you're about to get paid for how fit/fast/agile you are???

Eat a carrot, you tub of shit.

[See You Next Wednesday]

Good to see that fuck fucker, LenDale White, has almost dropped out of the first round. See what happens when you "tear a hammie" fighting for the last trough at King Buffet with shutyomouth?

It's fitting dude has two first names in his first name because he's eating enough for two people. Who the fuck puts on 30 lbs in two months when you're about to get paid for how fit/fast/agile you are???

Eat a carrot, you tub of shit.

What's the matter, did the dude run over your cat or something?

[Rack Fu]

Vince Young at #7? That's unpossible! He should go straight to Canton.

Sincerely,
Vito

:wink:

[Dumbass]

Vince Young at #7? That's unpossible! He should go straight to Canton.

Sincerely,
Vito

:wink:

[WhatsMyName]

LenDale is a local Denver guy. His buddies once hosted a party where I drank more beers than the number of times Whitey has been mistakened for Egon Spangler doing a Michael Jordan impersonation.

[Shoalzie]

Michael Huff has probably been the name linked most to the Lions. If was to bet on who they were going to take in the first round, it would be him. I like the idea of them taking a guard in the second and getting Devin Hester in the third round would be great because of his versatility.

[ElvisMonster]

If the Packers manage to score Arrington I'd just guess that they'd try and go Ferguson instead of Hawk.

I thought the Jets were in the market for a QB?

[rozy]

No way David Thomas gets past the Texans at the beginning of the 3rd. NO way.

But...then again, we did take Travis Johnson when Derrick Johnson fell into our laps...

[The Assassin]

SportsNation has us choosing Jay Cutler.


Why does he run a 4.1 and has a bad attitude?



Oakland needs defense Huff,Hawk,or Ngata. Why is this even a question? Vince Young would be throwing away the pick IMO.

[MuchoBulls]

Andre Hall in the 4th Round to Pittsburgh is a steal if he drops that far.

[T REX]

Andre Hall in the 4th Round to Pittsburgh is a steal if he drops that far.

Agreed.

Marcus McNeil - 49th??????

Bucs taking a dude with a blown out knee?????

In the first round??

[Cicero]

Cromartie would be a great pick for the Bucs. He is fully recovered. Would have been a Top 10 pick, if he would have waited a year.

[Terry in Crapchester]

A few things that jumped out at me while reviewing that mock draft:

1. If Jay Cutler is still on the board when the Bills pick, I think he will (or at least should) be their first round pick.

2. No way Maurice Stovall drops all the way down to the third round (and, I believe, the 8th overall WR). He should be a late first or early second round pick.

[Uncle Fester]

Vince Young at #7?

Did I miss something during that national championship game while I was staring at the USC cheerleaders?

I know Young has trouble with ciphering and answering questions about the capital of South Dakota, but I haven't seen a QB dominate a game like that since Michael Vick.

Okay, so maybe I'm answering my own question.

Still, he'd look awfully good up in Green Bay...

[Dumbass]

he'd look awfully good up in Green Bay...

hmmmmm, I am still wondering if he will look awfully good anywhere.

For his sake, he should hope to end up in the sun belt or at least in a dome.


Seeing the domination of a game just may be that answer and it may also be why you are believing this. After seeing Young, it must have reminded you when Vick ran all over The Packers one January evening. :P

[WhatsMyName]

Still, he'd look awfully good up in Green Bay...

?

[M2]

Still, he'd look awfully good up in Green Bay...

?

I feel bad for Aaron. It's not like Big Ben where he landed on a very good playoff team. The Pack is a fuckin' horrible 4-12 team that won't spend the money to get it done.


It's a team with no clear direction. An old qb unwilling to teach the young qb, just cause he doesn't feel like it. A horrible coach replaced by a coach who includes "attacking the voyage" in the Packer mission statement.


m2

[Uncle Fester]

Seeing the domination of a game just may be that answer and it may also be why you are believing this. After seeing Young, it must have reminded you when Vick ran all over The Packers one January evening.

Young was dominant in more than one game. With the right coach on the right kind of team this guy could be something special in the NFL.

And yeah, yer damn right I'm thinking about Vick's dismantling of the Packers in the playoffs. It was cold and snowy and Vick was supposed to curl up in the fetal position and cry for his mommy, which unfortunately didn't happen. I also remember Vick's run against the Vikings where he had defensive players crashing into each other as he danced his way to the endzone.

I know the Packers have Rogers, but if Young is available I'd take him. But then again, we have a GM who thought that losing our two starting guards would be no problem.

[Ruff]

I also remember Vick's run against the Vikings where he had defensive players crashing into each other as he danced his way to the endzone.

That's just the Vikes well practiced tackling skills you saw.

Minnesota needs the best linebacker available in the first round.