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Thread: Gosselin's final mock

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    Gosselin's final mock

    By RICK GOSSELIN
    The Dallas Morning News

    1. St. Louis
    Sam Bradford
    Quarterback
    Oklahoma
    QB, Pass rush, WR, DT
    The Rams have passed on potential franchise quarterbacks Matt Ryan and Mark Sanchez in the last two drafts. Both have started NFL playoff games. St. Louis must stop ignoring the quarterback position.

    2. Detroit
    Ndamukong Suh
    Defensive tackle
    Nebraska
    RB, CB, DL, OL
    The Lions need defensive size to tackle Adrian Peterson, plus an inside pass rush to pressure Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler in the division. Suh fills both bills for the NFL's 32nd-ranked defense.

    3. Tampa Bay
    Gerald McCoy
    Defensive tackle
    Oklahoma
    DE, DT, LB, WR
    The Buccaneers were one of the NFL's best teams throughout the 2000 decade on the strength of a dominating defensive front. Tampa Bay is no longer dominant up front. Time to reload.

    4. Washington
    Russell Okung
    Offensive tackle
    Oklahoma State
    LT, QB, NT, RB
    If the Redskins can't protect Donovan McNabb, he will suffer the same fate as Jason Campbell (46 sacks and a loss of confidence). Incumbent Chris Samuels has retired at left tackle, so this pick becomes a walk-in starter.

    5. Kansas City
    Eric Berry
    Safety
    Tennessee
    DT, LB, S, WR
    The Chiefs brought in Mike Vrabel for leadership a year ago. But he's 35 this season. Berry will be running the KC defense inside of a year. He's never not started in his football career and also offers corner cover skills.

    6. Seattle
    Trent Williams
    Offensive tackle
    Oklahoma
    OT, QB, RB, DE
    Like the Redskins, the Seahawks also need to find a blindside pass protector for their veteran quarterback. Seattle QBs were sacked 41 times last season, and Matt Hasselbeck couldn't stay healthy under that assault.

    7. Cleveland
    Derrick Morgan
    Outside linebacker
    Georgia Tech
    QB, S, CB, DE
    The Browns need help across the board on defense. They traded their top pass rusher (OLB Kamerion Wimbley) to Oakland this off-season. Morgan is coming off a 121/2-sack season at Georgia Tech.

    8. Oakland
    Anthony Davis
    Offensive tackle
    Rutgers
    LT, QB, LB, DE
    No quarterback - not JaMarcus Russell, Bruce Gradkowski or Charlie Frye - has a chance until the Raiders start protecting him. Oakland allowed 49 sacks in 2009. Davis is the best athlete of any left tackle on the board.

    9. Buffalo
    Dan Williams
    Defensive tackle
    Tennessee
    QB, NT, OT, WR
    The Bills are switching to a 3-4 defense in 2010, and that scheme starts with a nose tackle who can attract double- and triple-teams. Williams is that guy. At 327, he's a space-eater who makes plays.

    10. Jacksonville
    Brandon Graham
    Defensive end
    Michigan
    Pass rush, LB, S, DT
    Graham is the most polished pass rusher in this draft. He'll have the quickest impact - and a Jacksonville defense that ranked last in the NFL in sacks is in dire need of someone who can have an instant impact.

    11. Denver
    Rolando McClain
    Middle linebacker
    Alabama
    MLB, DT, WR, Power RB
    The Broncos cut starting inside middle linebacker Andra Davis at season's end. McClain is a walk-in starter. He won the Butkus Award as the best linebacker in college football last season.

    12. Miami Demaryius
    Thomas
    Wide receiver
    Georgia Tech
    NT, RB, S, CB
    The Dolphins have a young quarterback in Chad Henne. The way to accelerate his development is to surround him with playmakers. With the arrival of Brandon Marshall and Thomas, Henne could be a Pro Bowler very soon.

    13. San Francisco
    Joe Haden
    Cornerback
    Florida
    OT, CB, S, WR
    The 49ers will look at RB C.J. Spiller - but he'd arrive as a backup to Frank Gore. Haden walks in as a starter and fills a void in an area of need. You can't win the NFC West unless you can cover Larry Fitzgerald.

    14. Seattle
    Ryan Mathews
    Halfback
    Fresno State
    OT, QB, RB, DE
    Mathews is better suited to be an every-down back than C.J. Spiller because he has the bulk at 220 pounds. Spiller is a Reggie Bush clone at 198 pounds. The Seahawks need an every-down back to improve the NFL's 26th-ranked rushing attack.

    15. NY Giants
    Jason Pierre-Paul
    Defensive end
    South Florida
    MLB, Pass rush, CB, TE
    Pierre-Paul played only one season of college football but has the most upside of any pass rusher in this draft at 6-5, 270 with 4.64 speed. Osi Umenyiora (Troy) was supposed to be a project, too, and he became a Pro Bowler.

    16. Tennessee
    Kyle Wilson
    Cornerback
    Boise State
    DE, CB, S, KR
    The Titans need to improve the front and back end of their defense. But the D-line quality has vanished by this point of the draft. So the focus shifts to a very talented first-round cornerback board.

    17. San Francisco
    Bryan Bulaga
    Offensive tackle
    Iowa
    OT, CB, S, WR
    The 49ers need a right tackle to bookend Joe Staley on the left side, and the best right tackle in the draft slides to them at 17. They'd look again at C.J. Spiller, but quality tackles are harder to find than running backs.

    18. Pittsburgh
    Maurkice Pouncey
    Center
    Florida
    Int. OL, CB, S, QB
    With Ben Roethlisberger's future in flux, the Steelers are likely to revert to the power offense that won Super Bowls in the 1970s. But you need blockers, and Pouncey gives them flexibility at center and guard.

    19. Atlanta
    Mike Iupati
    Guard
    Idaho
    CB, S, Int. OL
    Like the Steelers, the Falcons need to get their run game back on track. They fell from first in the NFL in 2008 to 15th in 2009. Better blockers produce better runners. Iupati is the best drive-blocker in the draft.

    20. Houston
    C.J. Spiller
    Halfback
    Clemson
    RB, CB, Int. OL, S
    The Texans can't have another season from Steve Slaton like 2009. Maybe it was a sophomore slump. Spiller gives them insurance against that. He's also a fine complementary piece if Slaton does bounce back.

    21. Cincinnati
    Jermaine Gresham
    Tight end
    Oklahoma
    TE, DE, Int.OL, S
    The Bengals need to give QB Carson Palmer a reliable safety-valve option. Cincinnati got fewer than 50 catches from its tight ends last season. Gresham can be to Palmer what Jason Witten is to Tony Romo.

    22. New England
    Earl Thomas
    Safety
    Texas
    TE, DL, Pass rush, CB
    The Patriots have defensive needs in this draft but also the luxury of taking the best player on the board. It's Thomas, who gives them a combination of a cover safety and ballhawk. He had eight interceptions last fall.

    23. Green Bay
    Jerry Hughes
    Outside linebacker
    TCU
    Pass rush, OT, CB
    Dom Capers would like to give the Packers a version of the Blitzburgh scheme he ran in Pittsburgh in the 1990s. He has one elite pass rusher in Clay Matthews, and Hughes would give Capers pressure from the other side.

    24. Philadelphia
    Devin McCourty
    Cornerback
    Rutgers
    OL, DL, CB, TE
    Not only is McCourty an elite cover cornerback, he may be the best special teams player in this draft. He blocked seven kicks and returned a kickoff for a touchdown in his career. He replaces Sheldon Brown.

    25. Baltimore
    Kareem Jackson
    Cornerback
    Alabama
    DT, TE, CB, Pass rush
    The Ravens have always won with a physical brand of defense, and Jackson is the most physical corner in this draft. He goes from the No. 2-ranked defense in college to the No. 3-ranked defense in the NFL.

    26. Arizona
    Sean Weatherspoon
    Outside linebacker
    Missouri
    OLB, S, WR, TE
    The Cardinals have two huge holes in their defense with the departures this off-season of OLB Karlos Dansby and FS Antrel Rolle. Weatherspoon gives Arizona a linebacker with the same physical and athletic traits as Dansby.

    27. Dallas
    Dez Bryant
    Wide receiver
    Oklahoma State
    LT, S, WR, Youth on OL
    Bryant won't slide to the Cowboys at 27, so look for Jerry Jones to move up if Bryant tumbles deep into the teens. Bryant has immaturity issues that are scaring teams off. Jones still regrets passing on Randy Moss.

    28. San Diego
    Jared Odrick
    Defensive end
    Penn State
    RB, NT, Blocking TE, CB
    The Chargers need help up front, and Odrick falls into the category of best player available. The Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year brings 304 pounds of run defense excellence to NFL's 20th-ranked run defense.

    29. NY Jets
    Patrick Robinson
    Cornerback
    Florida State
    C, CB, Pass rush, RB
    There's a flat spot on this board from Nos. 29-32 where first-round talent runs out, and teams will be drafting what they consider second-round players. Look for the Jets to try to trade out. Failing there, give them Robinson.

    30. Minnesota
    Jimmy Clausen
    Quarterback
    Notre Dame
    CB, S, DT, RB
    The Vikings were hoping a cornerback would slide to them but instead hit the jackpot with the slide of Clausen. He gives them their QB of the future when Brett Favre finally does retire, probably in 2011.

    31. Indianapolis
    Rodger Saffold
    Offensive tackle
    Indiana
    OL, DL, 2 CB
    The Colts released a starting guard (Ryan Lilja) this off-season, so there's an immediate opening on the AFC champions. Saffold has value in his versatility. Scouts think he can play center, guard or tackle.

    32. New Orleans
    Brian Price
    Defensive tackle
    UCLA
    OLB, S, DT, Pass rusher
    If the Saints want to repeat as NFC South champions, they must bulk up the defensive front to slow down the elite running backs at Atlanta and Carolina. Price was the Pac-10's Defensive Player of the Year.

    48. Carolina
    Chris Cook
    Cornerback/Safety
    Virginia
    WR, QB, DE, TE
    The Panthers don't pick until the second round. Cook is the biggest corner in the draft at 6-2, 212 pounds. Some teams project him as a safety. He can give the Panthers a physical presence at corner or as a cover safety.

    75. Chicago
    Major Wright
    Safety
    Florida
    CB, S, WR, Int. OL
    The Bears don't pick until the third round. The offensive line, running back, quarterback and linebacker boards will be picked clean by then. So the Bears take the best player on the board - a playmaking safety.
    Woman: "Sir, what have you given us?"
    Benjamin Franklin: "A Republic, madam, if you can keep it."

    [youtube:razli5ow]KFXuGIpsdE0[/youtube:razli5ow]

  2. #2
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    Re: Gosselin's final mock

    We pass on Thomas and Spiller?
    Trolls are people too.

  3. #3
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    Re: Gosselin's final mock

    If the draft falls this way, I'd be very disappointed with Pouncey. I'd prefer Thomas, Iupati or even Spiller (I know that I was very anti-Spiller earlier, but that was before Holmes was traded and before I thought that we may be faced with Leftwich and Dixon at QB).

  4. #4
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    Re: Gosselin's final mock

    Quote Originally Posted by Shawn
    We pass on Thomas and Spiller?
    Passing on Thomas, Spiller and Iupati to get Pouncey will be one of the worst draft choices this decade. Given the insanity of the the current off season it would just top off what has been the most disappointing off season in the last several decades. IMO it will be rock bottom.
    "My team, may they always be right, but right or wrong...MY TEAM!"

  5. #5
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    Re: Gosselin's final mock

    Quote Originally Posted by Oviedo
    Quote Originally Posted by Shawn
    We pass on Thomas and Spiller?
    Passing on Thomas, Spiller and Iupati to get Pouncey will be one of the worst draft choices this decade. Given the insanity of the the current off season it would just top off what has been the most disappointing off season in the last several decades. IMO it will be rock bottom.
    Nah. Rock bottom would be if we traded #18 and Ben to the Raiders to get #8, then took Pouncey there.
    Steeler teams featuring stat-driven, me-first, fantasy-football-darling diva types such as Antonio Brown & Le'Veon Bell won no championships.

    Super Bowl winning Steeler teams were built around a dynamic, in-your-face defense plus blue-collar, hard-hitting, no-nonsense football players on offense such as Hines Ward & Jerome Bettis.

    We don't want Juju & Conner to replace what we lost in Brown & Bell.

    We are counting on Juju & Conner to return us to the glory we once had with Hines & The Bus.

  6. #6
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    Re: Gosselin's final mock

    Quote Originally Posted by Oviedo
    Quote Originally Posted by Shawn
    We pass on Thomas and Spiller?
    Passing on Thomas, Spiller and Iupati to get Pouncey will be one of the worst draft choices this decade. Given the insanity of the the current off season it would just top off what has been the most disappointing off season in the last several decades. IMO it will be rock bottom.
    Now you are being a little dramatic. There is no doubt in my mind that Pouncey with be a pro bowl caliber Center. Iupati...has serious bust potential even with all of his upside. Thomas and Spiller will both be special. But worst draft choice this decade? Come on O.
    Trolls are people too.

  7. #7
    Pro Bowler

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    Re: Gosselin's final mock

    I will be very, very ticked off if we take Pouncey and pass up Thomas, Spiller, Odrick, Jackson, etc... I'd be feeling the same as Ovi. I would have very little to look forward to with the Steelers. They are still my team regardless, but I wouldn't have the same enthusiasm going into the season as I normally do.

  8. #8
    Pro Bowler

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    Re: Gosselin's final mock

    Quote Originally Posted by RuthlessBurgher
    Quote Originally Posted by Oviedo
    Quote Originally Posted by Shawn
    We pass on Thomas and Spiller?
    Passing on Thomas, Spiller and Iupati to get Pouncey will be one of the worst draft choices this decade. Given the insanity of the the current off season it would just top off what has been the most disappointing off season in the last several decades. IMO it will be rock bottom.
    Nah. Rock bottom would be if we traded #18 and Ben to the Raiders to get #8, then took Pouncey there.
    haha....that would be close to rock bottom, doing what you said for a 5th round pick would be rock bottom...

  9. #9
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    Re: Gosselin's final mock

    But wait - if the draft went down this way you wouldn't be confident the Steelers brass knew what they were doing?

  10. #10
    Pro Bowler

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    Re: Gosselin's final mock

    I just don't see the Steelers reaching for Pouncey. They'll either trade down or pass on him all together. I trust Colbert and the Steelers to do whats best for the Steelers, at least in round one. I see BPA in round 1 at 18 or a trade down and Pouncey.

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