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Internet Sensation- C-Nut's first NFL Mock Draft

McShay Who? Nudge in-house Draft Guru C-Nut thinks Detroit should pick Eugene Monroe with the first pick.


Here is my first Mock Draft. Obviously this mock will change multiple times prior to the real NFL Draft depending on how the prospects perform at the combine, college pro days, and the signing of Free Agents. In this mock, I refrain from making trades and I also have the QB’s slipping due to teams outside of the top 3 not needing a QB. However, I highly doubt that both of the QB’s will fall out of the top 5, let alone the top 10. But due to team needs that’s exactly how this mock shakes out. So without further delay, here is my first mock draft………..

1- Detroit- Eugene Monroe, OT Virginia
Here’s the short and sweet version, Detroit Sucks! Not only were they one of the worst teams in NFL history last year, but they have no impact players on their roster (outside of Calvin Johnson). This pick goes against most experts picks of Stafford here at #1 overall. The Lions want out of this pick so bad, but nobody wants to trade up for it. So, look for the Lions to draft the Best LT available and sign a veteran stop gap QB for this season. There is a deeper crop of QB coming out next year anyway and you never know, if Mark Sanchez slips out of the top 10 and Detroit rates him high enough look for them to trade up from #20 and snag him.

2- St. Louis- Andre Smith, OT Alabama
The team has a new defensive minded coach. However, any good coach knows that the game is won in the trenches. Look for Spagnoulo to pick the big mauler out of Bama to sure up his O Line and grab players for his defense with later picks. (If Crabtree runs in the 4.4 forty range at the combine, this pick will be sought after by teams looking to trade up to get him)

3- Kansas City- Michael Crabtree, WR Texas Tech
This is just a hunch feeling here, but look for new coach Haley, the former Arizona Cardinals OC, to draft the #1 rated prospect available to pair with Dwayne Bowe. This coach made a name for himself in the desert with Fitz and Boldin, why wouldn’t he try to recreate that magic in Arrowhead. (Look for KC to trade Larry Johnson on Draft Day. Maybe to Arizona for Boldin)

4- Seattle- B.J. Raji, DT Boston College
The Hawks said their prayers and took their vitamins just like the Hulk told them to do, however they pick just one spot too late in this mock. Pick #4 is too high to draft Maclin and the Hawks ponder the thought of drafting Stafford, to groom behind Hasselback, but play it safe and draft the rising DT out of B.C. (Could also pick OT)

5- Cleveland- Aaron Curry, OLB Wake Forrest
I think terrorist have infected the water at the Patriots football facilities with a rare weight gaining virus. Look at the coaches that have come from Belichek’s staff for proof (Belichek, Weiss, Crennel, and now Mangini). Look for Man-genius today, Man-goneious tomorrow to add some playmakers to the Browns lack luster defense.

6- Cincinnati- Jason Smith, OT Baylor
Ok, it’s still too early for Maclin, however Cincinnati will be in dire need of a WR once T.J. Houshyourmama leaves via free agency and he is the next best WR available. In this mock no QB has been drafted yet, so come draft day this spot would be where a team like S.F. or Buffalo would be using a lot of their free night and weekend minutes phoning Cincinnati for a chance to move up and grab a QB. Cincinnati still lands the O Line help they desperately need. (Carson Palmer does a back flip and Cincinnatians’ hate you Taylor Mays)

7- Oakland- Jeremy Maclin, WR Missouri
The Raiders are on the long road to nowhere, lead by a new coach Tom Cable and a bumbling idiot of an owner Al Davis. The new Coach will want to have some input on this pick, but we all know that will not be the case here. Al Davis chooses who ever runs the fastest out of Malcolm Jenkins, Vontae Davis and Jeremy Maclin.

8- Jacksonville- Malcolm Jenkins, CB Ohio State
The Jags recently released free agent busts Jerry Porter (WR) and Drayton Florence (CB) as well as 11 year vet Fred Taylor (RB). It’s too early in the Draft to pick the next available WR, Percy Harvin, and no team wants to log jam the amount of $$ it will cost the #8 pick to pick RB Knowshon Moreno, to split time with Maurice Jones-Drew. So I have the Jags picking the over rated Jenkins over the better prospect Vontae Davis.

9- Green Bay- Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB Penn State
The Packers will be switching to a 3-4 defense with new DC Dom Capers. They will need to pick up a space eating NT either via free agency or at some point in the draft. They could also look at getting younger at the CB position with Davis. However, I went with Maybin here to give them that 3-4 rush linebacker. Dom Capers will have flash backs to his days in Carolina, as the head coach of the Panthers, with the unstoppable Kevin Greene rushing the passer.

10- San Francisco- Mathew Stafford, QB Georgia
In all likelihood Stafford will be long gone by now. However, he is available in this mock and Mike Singletary wastes no time in acquiring his Franchise QB for the future.

11- Buffalo- Knowshon Moreno, RB Georgia
It seems like yesterday that Buffalo used a top 15 pick on a RB. However with the recent arrest of Marshawn Lynch for Gun Possession charges, the RB position becomes an immediate need for the Bills. This is Lynch’s second run in with the Law Dogs, after he was arrested last year for leaving the scene of an accident with a pedestrian. Look for the NFL to suspend Lynch and for the team to possibly cut ties with their former 1st rd pick.

12- Denver- Rey Maualuga, LB USC
The Broncos run defense is pathetic. Their Linebackers outside of OLB D.J. Williams can’t tackle. Maualuga will be the band aid to cover the massive hole in the middle of the Broncos Defense.

13- Washington- Michael Oher, OT Mississippi
If it was up to team owner Daniel Snyder, Chad Johnson would have been a Redskin last year and Cincinnati would have been picking in this spot and for Washington again in 2010. It’s too bad that the Bungles are too poorly run to have cut ties with Johnson. So, due to Snyder being allergic to draft picks and enchanted by veterans the Skins only have 2 picks through rd 4 (Rd1 and Rd 3 picks). Look for the skins to provide depth and a future starter for their aging Offensive Tackles.

14- New Orleans- Vontae Davis, CB Illinois
For years the Saints have been overpaying below average cornerbacks for their meager defense and it has shown. The Saints get a steal here if Davis lives up to his potential.

15- Houston- Mark Sanchez, QB USC
The Texans traded the farm a few years ago to pry Matt Schaub away from the Falcons. Since then, Schaub has not lived up to his contract and hasn’t been healthy. In a low risk, high reward pick here I have Houston picking Sanchez. Sanchez being picked outside the top 10 wouldn’t cost the Texans an arm and a leg contractually. Hopefully this either lights a fire under Schaub’s ass or helps ship it out of town.

16- San Diego- Chris Wells, RB Ohio State
With Darren Sproles becoming a free agent and hints that Charger GM A.J. Smith might cut LT, running back becomes a priority for the Bolts. Wells is a big bodied back with speed who would fit nicely platooning with either of the previously mentioned backs. He shouldn’t break down sharing the load.

17- NY Jets- William Moore, S Missouri
This pick is the hardest to peg down. The Jets need upgrades at QB, WR, CB, S, DE, and RB (depth). However no one left in the draft at this point is a guaranteed “step right on the field and play” type player. Also, there are a lot of rumors of Ravens players defecting from Baltimore to join ex DC Rex Ryan over in the Garden State. Moore would make a nice tandem with Kerry Rhodes, even though he had a bad senior bowl and his stock is falling.

18- Chicago- Brian Orakpo, DE Texas
Orakpo is an over rated pass rusher that is a little inconsistent. The Bears upgrade their D Line with a young pass rushing end, that most mocks have being drafted in the top 15.

19- Tampa Bay- Lesean McCoy, RB Pittsburgh
Tampa thought they were locking down the RB position for the foreseeable future when the drafted Cadillac Williams a few years ago. However, since an outstanding Rookie season, the wheels have fallen off. Williams tore knee ligaments 2 years ago and again tore ligaments in the opposite knee at the end of this past season. With Williams probably in an ambulance out of town, why not take a shot at McCoy. He could very well turn out to be the best back in this draft.

20- Detroit- Everette Brown, DE Florida State
With their first pick they solidified the O Line. Now with their second pick of RD 1 they sure up the D Line with a good edge rusher in Brown. (if Sanchez/Stafford makes it out of the top 10, look for Detroit to package this pick in a trade up for him).

21- Philadelphia- Brandon Pettigrew, TE Oklahoma State
L.J “Hands of Stone” Smith will have his one way ticket out of town. Pettigrew is the pass catching TE that Smith should have been.

22- Minnesota- Josh Freeman, QB Kansas State
Minnesota is hurt the most by McCoy, Bradford, and Tebow heading back to school. They will not even catch a whiff of the top 2 QB’s. Josh Freeman makes sense here, although Coach Childress doesn’t have much time left in the Big Minn if he doesn’t start winning soon. Freeman is a project that Childress will probably not be around to see if he blossoms. (CB D.J. Moore or Alphonso Smith possibility here too)

23- New England- Brian Cushing, LB USC
Cushing is too good for the Pats to pass up. He showed good versatility at USC lining up at multiple positions. The Pats linebackers, besides Jerod Mayo, are up there in age and Cushing could play inside or outside in the 3-4 defense.

24- Atlanta- Peria Jerry, DT Ole Miss
Hotlanta used a DT by committee scheme last year and DT is their biggest need heading into the off season. Unfortunately, I think Jerry is over rated and his stats were a product of playing next to a great DE in college.

25- Miami- Larry English, DE/OLB Northern Illinois
Bill Parcells drafts defense like its going out of style. Also, Joey Porter is about 400 years old. Outside Linebacker or Corner is probably their biggest need, but if I’m Parcells, I look to Bring back the Sunshine State’s own Percy Harvin to pair with Teddy Ginn. Please, someone tell me how you cover that speed?

26- Baltimore- Tyson Jackson, DE LSU
This pick like the Jets pick is shrouded with mystery. You wont know until the dust of free agency settles what the Ravens needs are. They already cut CB McCalister and could potentially lose Ray Lewis, Bart Scott and Terrell Suggs. If they lose 1 or more LB’s look for Laurinaitis here.

27- Indianapolis- Percy Harvin, WR Florida
The Colts biggest need the past 2 years has been DT. However, the 2 big DT are off the board and the Colts could always reach for DT Senderrick Marks. However, they also might make Marvin Harrison a cap casualty. Anthony Gonzalez could move over to the 2 receiver, leaving Harvin to play the slot.

28- Philadelphia- Eben Britton, OT Arizona
Andy Reid can’t resist taking at least one offensive lineman in the first round. Nuff Said!

29- NY Giants- James Laurinaitis, LB Ohio State
The GMEN need to upgrade their line backing core due to Antonio Pierce getting up their in age and their OLB’s aren’t too impressive. Also look for a CB if a LB is not available, with the GMEN possible shifting Terrell Thomas to Safety.

30- Tennessee- D.J. Moore, CB Vanderbilt
The Titans should draft Hakeem Nicks here, but for some reason without fail they never spend a 1st round pick on a WR. They instead turn to the defense to upgrade another position of need and select the next available CB.

31- Arizona- Hakeem Nicks, WR North Carolina
With the top RB off the board the Cards turn to the WR position. Anquan Boldin wants out of the Desert and the addition of Nicks could help accommodate that.

32- Pittsburgh- Alex Mack, C California
The Super Bowl Champs draft the best interior lineman available to help keep Big Ben on his feet.

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Mike Mayock's Draft Rankings from NFL.Com



Quarterbacks

1 --*Matthew Stafford Georgia
2 --*Mark Sanchez Southern California
3 --*Josh Freeman Kansas State
4 --Nate Davis Ball State
5 --Rhett Bomar Sam Houston State


Running backs

1 --*Chris Wells Ohio State
2 --*Knowshon Moreno Georgia
3 --*LeSean McCoy Pittsburgh
4 --*Donald Brown Connecticut
5 --*Shonn Green Iowa

Fullback

1 --Tony Fiammetta Syracuase
2 --Quinn Johnson LSU
3 --Brannan Southerland Georgia

Wide receivers

1 --*Michael Crabtree Texas Tech
2 --*Jeremy Maclin Missouri
3 --*Darrius Heyward-Bey Maryland
4 --*Kenny Britt Rutgers
5 --*Percy Harvin Florida

Tight ends

1 --Brandon Pettigrew Oklahoma State
2 --Cornelius Ingram Florida
3 --*James Casey Rice
4 --Travis Beckum Wisconsin
5 --Shawn Nelson Southern Mississippi

Centers

1 --Eric Wood Louisville
2 --Max Unger Oregon
3 --Alex Mack California
4 --A.Q. Shipley Penn State
5 --Jonathan Luigs Arkansas

Guards

1 --Andy Levitre Oregon State
2 --Duke Robinson Oklahoma
3 --Kraig Urbik Wisconsin
4 --Herman Johnson LSU
5 --Tyronne Green Auburn

Offensive tackles

1 --Jason Smith Baylor
2 --Eugene Monroe Virginia
3 --*Andre Smith Alabama
4 --Michael Oher Mississippi
5 --*Eben Britton Arizona

Defensive ends


1 --Brian Orakpo (can play OLB in 3-4) Texas
2 --*Everette Brown (OLB) Florida State
3 --Tyson Jackson LSU
4 --*Aaron Maybin (OLB) Penn State
5 --Larry English (OLB) Northern Illinois

Defensive tackles

1 --B.J. Raji Boston College
2 --Peria Jerry Mississippi
3 --Ron Brace Boston College
4 --Fili Moala Southern California
5 --Evander 'Ziggy' Hood Missouri

Inside linebackers

1 --Rey Maualuga Southern California
2 --James Laurinaitis Ohio State
3 --Darry Beckwith LSU
4 --Dannell Ellerbe Georgia
5 --Jason Phillips Texas Christian

Outside linebackers

1 --Aaron Curry Wake Forest
2 --Brian Cushing Southern California
3 --Clay Matthews Southern California
4 --Clint Sintim Virginia
5 --Marcus Freeman Ohio State

Safeties

1 --Rashad Johnson Alabama
2 --Patrick Chung Oregon
3 --Louis Delmas Western Michigan
4 --Michael Hamlin Clemson
5 --William Moore Missouri

Cornerbacks

1 --Malcolm Jenkins Ohio State
2 --*Vontae Davis Illinois
3 --Alphonso Smith Wake Forest
4 --*D.J. Moore Vanderbilt
5 --*Sean Smith Utah

NFL.COM- Click Here
Mike Mayock's Top 20 Senior Prospects for the 2009 NFL Draft

1. --Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest

2. --Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State

3. --Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia

4. --Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State

5. --Jason Smith, OT, Baylor

6. --Brian Orakpo, DE/LB, Texas

7. --Rey Maualuga, LB, USC

8. --B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College

9. --Brian Cushing, LB, USC

10. --Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU

11. --Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss

12. --Larry English, DE/LB, Northern Illinois

13. --James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State

14. --William Moore, S, Missouri

15. --Clint Sintim, LB, Virginia

16. --Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest

17. --Max Unger, OL, Oregon

18. --Rashad Johnson, S, Alabama

19. --Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech

20. --Louis Delmas, S, Western Michigan


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NFLBlitz.com 2009 Mock First Round Draft

The always great NFLBlitz.com put out it's revised first round mock draft. I think it is alot more accurate of what you will see come draft day than Mel Kiper's take on the draft. They see Dirty Sanchez dropping to the Jets at 17th. Its pretty good-

And because I dont' want to alienate all of my viewers, here's a shot of smoking hot Holly Weber, doing her best to look all Nudgette-ish.





NFLdraftblitz.com 2009 Mock First Round- Click Here


First Round:

1. Detroit Lions - *Matthew Stafford (QB) Georgia
- The debate will rage on until the draft as to whether the Lions should go QB or OT. And if they go QB…Stafford or Sanchez? In my opinion, they have to go QB. Andre Smith is more of a RT and you don’t take a RT number one when a franchise QB is staring you in the face. With Stafford’s physical gifts, he has tools to be great and he’ll immediately have one of the better arms in the NFL. Match that with Calvin Johnson’s deep skills and you have deadly combination. He may have to sit for part, or all, of 2009. But, what’s the rush when you’ve been this bad, this long?

2. St. Louis Rams - *Andre Smith (OT) Alabama
- I’ll refrain from going on and on about my disdain for Marc Bulger (I’ve done that enough). Andre Smith will be an upgrade at any spot on the offensive line, except LT, where Orlando Pace is rarely healthy anymore. Smith’s run blocking skills are elite and he has the feet to develop into a solid pass blocker on the right side. I don’t think he’d ever evolve into an elite LT in the NFL, but he’ll make this offense instantly better at RT.

3. Kansas City Chiefs - Brian Orakpo (DE) Texas
- The Chiefs were the worst pass rushing team in the NFL in 2008. They finished with 10 sacks on the year. That’s equal to or less than 12 individual players in 2008. And of that twelve, former Chief Jared Allen is included. Orakpo is a very disruptive player with a nonstop motor. He would allow Tamba Hali to move back to the left end spot that he excelled at earlier in his career.

4. Seattle Seahawks - **Michael Crabtree (WR) Texas Tech
- A trio of Deion Branch, Koren Robinson and Nate Burleson does not exactly scream elite receiving corps. If Jim Mora is going to succeed as the head coach in Seattle, he has to have players who can put points on the board. Michael Crabtree, immediately, would become the best talent on this offense and could help Matt Hasselbeck reach to top of his game again.

5. Cleveland Browns - Aaron Curry (OLB) Wake Forest
- Eric Mangini has been named head coach of the Browns, so we know they’ll be sticking with the 3-4 defense. Linebackers are the backbone of the 3-4 defense. Curry would provide the Browns with a solid, all-around player with the skills to be dominant. Kameron Wimbley should blossom with a talent like Curry on the other side.

6. Cincinnati Bengals - Eugene Monroe (OT) Virginia
- The once solid Bengals’ offensive line is now filled with holes. Levi Jones has battled knee injuries and his play has fallen off terribly and Stacey Andrews will be coming back from a season ending knee injury. Eugene Monroe is a natural left tackle who should be able to play right away. With Carson Palmer coming back from injury as well, the Bengals want to keep him clean.

7. Oakland Raiders - Michael Oher (OT) Mississippi
- The Raiders’ offense showed a lot of what it is capable of doing in the latter part of the season. But, there are still lingering protection issues for JaMarcus Russell. Kwame Harris and the entire offense would benefit from shifting Harris to the RT spot. Oher is a very well rounded LT who has the experience to step in and start right away.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars - Malcolm Jenkins (CB) Ohio State
- Rashean Mathis is a legit cover man. But his effectiveness is canceled out when his counterpart is a major liability. With the pass rushers the Jags drafted in last years draft, a top notch cover man like Jenkins would fit right in. Jenkins is a physically gifted, experienced Corner, who could help this defense get back to elite status.

9. Green Bay Packers - *Everette Brown (DE) Florida State
- The Packers and new defensive coordinator, Dom Capers, will be installing the 3-4 defense in Green Bay. This means that OLBs must be acquired to rush the passer. This could be a good thing…Brown and ILBs AJ Hawk and Nick Barnett are the makings of a talented, young group of linebackers for a 3-4 defense.

10. San Francisco 49ers - **Aaron Maybin (OLB) Penn State
- Manny Lawson has not become the top tier pass rusher the Niners thought they were getting when they drafted him, but he’s solid. Parys Haralson would be better as a backup. Maybin has the potential to be a dangerous edge rusher and could help elevate the game of Lawson in the long run.

11. Buffalo Bills -Brandon Pettigrew (TE) Oklahoma State
- The Bills have to provide QB Trent Edwards with a reliable tight end to maximize his abilities. Robert Royal is not a starting caliber tight end in the NFL and would be better suited as a #2. Pettigrew is every bit the blocker that Royal is, but he has great hands, a big frame and the athleticism to stretch the seam.

12. Denver Broncos - Rey Maualuga (MLB) USC
- The Broncos’ defense, in 2008, was as soft in the middle as any team in the NFL. They also displayed a disturbing passive streak, far too often. Rey Maualuga will provide this defense with physicality, toughness and attitude. He and DJ Williams could be a force in the same linebacker corps.

13. Washington Redskins - Jason Smith (OT) Baylor
- The Skins need to focus on the offensive and defensive lines in the 2009 draft. There’s no better place to start than with Smith. He’s big, agile and ascending. Chris Samuels is getting older and Jon Jansen is probably on his way out. Stephon Heyer has shown flashes but you can’t rely on him consistently. Smith could play on the right side initially and step in for Samuels when he’s out, eventually.

14. New Orleans Saints - *Chris "Beanie" Wells (RB) Ohio State
- Drew Brees had a monstrous year in 2008, but that’s not a formula for consistent winning in the NFL. The Saints have needs on the defensive side of the ball, but Wells fits both need and best player available. Pierre Thomas is a serviceable back but they’ll never get max production out of Reggie Bush without a power running threat.

15. Houston Texans - Michael Johnson (DE) Georgia Tech
- As good as Mario Williams his, he could be unstoppable if he ever gets a competent pass rusher across from him. If Michael Johnson’s potential ever meets his tangible output, he and Mario Williams could be the best set of defensive ends in the league. Then, maybe, this team can start winning games before they’re out of the playoff race.

16. San Diego Chargers - **Knowshon Moreno (RB) Georgia
- Whether the Chargers decide to keep L.T. in the fold or not, they’ll at least need a compliment (and eventual replacement) for him. Darren Sproles will likely be too expensive for the Chargers to keep. Moreno has a similar skill set to Tomlinson and would be a perfect fit here.

17. New York Jets - *Mark Sanchez (QB) USC
- So, it appears to be Sanchez’s turn to wait an eternity with his friends and family at the table on draft day. I’m a big believer that, while this hurts financially and internally, a QB is benefited by going later in the first round to a better team. Sanchez may go a lot higher than this come April, but if he gets past San Francisco at #10, let the sliding commence.

18. Chicago Bears - **Jeremy Maclin (WR) Missouri
- There is no way the Bears’ front office thinks Brandon Lloyd is the #1 receiver this team needs. Until this offense gets a legit weapon on the outside, defenses will pile on, and eventually wear down, Matt Forte. Maclin is dangerous with the ball in his hands and is improving as a route runner.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - B.J. Raji (DT) Boston College
- New head coach, Raheem Morris, will love this acquisition. Raji may not be available at 19 in April as his stock continues to rise. But, if he’s there, the Bucs should waste little time snatching him up. If they re-sign Antonio Bryant, it lessens the need for a first round WR dramatically.

20. Detroit Lions - *Vontae Davis (CB) Illinois
- Jim Schwartz would have loved to have Raji fall here and become his version of Albert Haynesworth, but Vontae Davis is not a bad consolation prize. Davis could be the most physically gifted player in the entire draft. He could be a cornerstone to a revamped Lions’ offense in a few years.

21. Philadelphia Eagles - *Eben Britton (OT) Arizona
- After a surprising run, deep in to the playoffs, the Eagles have to prepare for an upheaval at the offensive tackle spots. Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan are old and impending free agents. One or both could be gone. Britton is a fast rising player who shows top level athleticism and could develop into a very good LT.

22. Minnesota Vikings - *Percy Harvin (WR) Florida
- I have to think the Vikes will sign a veteran free agent at QB (Byron Leftwich, Kurt Warner, etc.) this off-season. There is no way they let the window close on a championship level defense with inconsistent quarterback play. Harvin would make plays all over the field for this offense and provide even more running space for Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor.

23. New England Patriots - *D.J. Moore (CB) Vanderbilt
- It has to be killing Bill Belichick that Deltha O’Neal is a starting cornerback for his defense. O’Neal was jettisoned from the Cincinnati Bengals of all places. DJ Moore is an instant upgrade and, despite his limited height (5-9), plays bigger and more physical than you’d think.

24. Atlanta Falcons - William Moore (S) Missouri
- Lawyer Milloy is 62 years old. And if you saw Anquan Boldin run away from Milloy with a busted hammy, you understand the need for a younger, more athletic strong safety. Moore is a playmaker and has the ability to be a game changer. The Falcons added young playmakers on offense last year, this year they start with the defense.

25. Miami Dolphins - James Laurinaitis (MLB) Ohio State
- We all know Bill Parcells likes linebackers. And we also know he likes them smart and tough. Smart and tough are personified by James Laurinaitis. Channing Crowder is a free agent and Akin Ayodele is not getting any younger. Laurinaitis fits well in South Beach.

26. Baltimore Ravens - *Darrius Heyward-Bey (WR) Maryland
- As much as Joe Flacco’s rookie year reminded me of Ben Roethlisberger’s initial campaign, one thing was different. Big Ben had Plaxico Burress and Hines Ward…Flacco has Derek Mason and Mark Clayton. And that was highlighted in the playoff loss to the Steelers. Heyward-Bey would add size and speed to that receiving corps. And the Ravens would save a ton on moving expenses for the local product.

27. Indianapolis Colts - Tyson Jackson (DE) LSU
- With Ron Meeks’ “resignation”, there appears to be a change in philosophy brewing in Indy. It seems there will be use of bigger, more versatile defensive linemen. Tyson Jackson is just that…big and versatile. He can play the base end as well as line up inside. He has good quickness for a big man and really good size for a quick guy…if that makes sense.

28. Philadelphia Eagles (From Carolina) - **LeSean McCoy (RB) Pittsburgh
- I’m guessing that the thought that his job may be on the line in 2009, Andy Reid makes some changes in his traditional draft strategy. Besides, Correll Buckhalter is an unrestricted free agent and the Eagles would be better served by moving on with the younger, more explosive McCoy. Chris Horwedel, wipe that smile off of your face, young man!!!!!

29. New York Giants - Brian Cushing (OLB) USC
- The Giants pride themselves on defense and being physical. Danny Clark and Chase Blackburn are, surely, prideful. They just are all that physically gifted. Brian Cushing could step in right away and add athleticism and pass rush ability. And with this, the Giants won’t have to shuttle Mathias Kiwanuka back to OLB and further stunt his development.

30. Tennessee Titans - *Jared Cook (TE) South Carolina
- Before all of you start calling me names we can even repeat on Blitz Cast, think for a minute, about what you thought when the Titans selected Chris Johnson late in round one last year. If Jared Cook comes out and posts solid numbers at the combine, his stock could soar similar to Dustin Keller’s did a year ago.

31. Arizona Cardinals - Alex Mack (OC) California
- The Cards’ surprising run to the Super Bowl is great…even for me (a Steelers fan). But there is no doubt that this offensive line could use a few upgrades. Lyle Sendelein is the obvious week link and adding Mack could do wonders for this group. Russ Grimm would love this pick as he is familiar with what a dominant center can do for an offense.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers - Duke Robinson (OG) Oklahoma
- There is no secret that the Steelers’ offensive line needs work now and will need even more after the season. There is a talent overhaul needed badly. Duke Robinson is the perfect player to begin with. He’s big, strong and athletic and should play a big role immediately in the Steel City.


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Todd McShay's 2009 Mock First Round

Be the first on your block to check out Todd McShay's 2009 Mock First Round taken straight from him after the 2008 Draft. #


Right after the 2008 NFL Draft, Todd McShay released his view of what the 2009 NFL Draft would look like. Here it is:




The 2008 NFL draft is in the books, so now it's time to look ahead to
2009.Obviously, there are plenty of variables here, starting with the draft
order. Scouts Inc.'s NFL team looked at 2008 schedules, draft order and
personnel -- including 2008 draft classes and free-agent moves -- and put
together its initial 2008 power rankings to determine the order of this mock
draft.As for the prospects, the talent pool includes every draft-eligible
player. Yes, we know some of the top '08 juniors might not come out early, but
if they're technically eligible for the draft, they're definitely eligible for
the 2009 mock draft.

An asterisk denotes draft-eligible underclassmen, including those who
redshirted or spent a year in prep school.So, with the first pick of the 2009
NFL Mock Draft, the Atlanta Falcons select …




1. Atlanta Falcons -- Fili Moala, DT, USCAtlanta finally gets its
playmaking interior defensive lineman. Moala has flown under the radar to this
point but he should emerge from the shadow of 2008 No. 7 overall pick Sedrick
Ellis and become one of the elite defenders in college football this fall.





2. Detroit Lions -- Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia TechCoach Rod
Marinelli's defense is predicated on speed up front, and Johnson is blessed with
plenty of that. Johnson was overlooked while playing in a rotation last season,
but it won't take long for the rangy edge-rusher to make his mark in 2008.





3. Kansas City Chiefs -- Matt Stafford*, QB, GeorgiaAnother
injury-plagued and disappointing season out of fragile QB Brodie Croyle will
force the Chiefs to address the position with this high draft pick in 2009. If
the supremely talented Stafford continues to progress as he did last fall, he
could easily emerge as a top-five pick next April.




4. Miami Dolphins -- Al Woods, DT, LSUAt 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds, Woods is
a physically imposing defensive tackle with enough size and strength to anchor
the middle of a 3-4 defense.


5. Cincinnati Bengals -- Sen'Derrick Marks*, DT, AuburnThe Bengals got shut
out in their pursuit of an elite defensive tackle in this year's draft, but 2009
will be more kind. Marks is an undersized playmaker with the first-step
quickness to disrupt as a 3-technique tackle, which is exactly what Marvin
Lewis' defense needs along its front.


6. Oakland Raiders -- Andre Smith*, OT, AlabamaSmith stepped in immediately
as the Tide's starting left tackle and continues to improve with more coaching
and game experience. The Raiders could enlist a player with his kind of skills
to take care of their most recent first-round investments in QB JaMarcus Russell
and RB Darren McFadden.


7. Chicago Bears -- Tim Tebow*, QB, FloridaIt's almost certain that the
Bears will need a quarterback come next offseason. Unfortunately, next year's
crop of signal-callers does not look promising at this point. Bears fans won't
be thrilled if the team uses a high pick on another Gators quarterback following
the failed Rex Grossman experiment, but Tebow's unique blend of skills and rare
intangibles might be too good to pass up. Should Tebow elect to leave school
early, however, his uncommon skill set could make him the most difficult
prospect at any position to grade.




8. San Francisco 49ers -- Michael Oher, OT, MississippiOher, who possesses
the size and athletic ability to develop into an upper-echelon starting tackle
in the NFL, would make an ideal bookend opposite 2007 first-rounder Joe
Staley.

9. St. Louis Rams -- Rey Maualuga, ILB, USCMaualuga is the top senior
prospect on my 2009 draft board at this insanely early point in the process,
although he wouldn't be the first senior off the board. I've never seen a
defensive player take over a game the way Maualuga did versus Illinois in the
Rose Bowl, and his recognition skills are clearly catching up with his rare
physical tools.




10. New York Jets -- Knowshon Moreno*, RB, GeorgiaMoreno burst onto the
scene as a redshirt freshman in 2007 and he should build on that momentum as a
first-year starter behind a more mature offensive line during the upcoming
season. The Jets were not able to land McFadden in this year's draft but Moreno
would be worth the wait if he's available in 2009.




11. Tennessee Titans -- Michael Crabtree*, WR, Texas TechDo not pigeonhole
Crabtree; he's not just a product of coach Mike Leach's pass-crazy offense. The
tall, long-armed receiver could be the go-to-target QB Vince Young so
desperately needs.




12. Houston Texans -- Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio StateJenkins made a wise
decision to return as a senior. He needs to improve his footwork and overall
man-to-man cover skills to prove to scouts he's capable of playing corner in any
scheme at the next level. Regardless, the Texans could use his ball-hawking
skills in their secondary, no matter whether it's at cornerback or safety.







13. Denver Broncos -- James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio State Laurinaitis surprised
many NFL scouts when he elected to return to Columbus for his senior season.
Assuming he continues to make progress in 2008, there's no reason to believe he
will fall out of the top 20 picks in next year's draft. The instinctive,
high-motor inside linebacker would be a nice addition to a Denver defense in
search of more stout defenders up the middle.








14. Baltimore Ravens -- Vontae Davis, CB, IllinoisThe Ravens need an
upgrade at corner and a young playmaker like Davis, who possesses rare
athleticism for his size, would be an ideal fit.




15. Philadelphia Eagles (from CAR) -- Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, MarylandThe
Eagles failed to land a go-to-receiver in the 2008 draft (no, DeSean Jackson
does not qualify). Instead of going the free-agent route to land a weapon for
veteran QB Donovan McNabb, they might as well use one of two first-round picks
in '09 on a future primary target for future QB Kevin Kolb.




16. Arizona Cardinals -- LeSean McCoy*, RB, PittsburghAfter Arizona failed
to find a complement for Edgerrin James in this year's draft, the Cardinals'
need at running back will be far more pressing in the spring of '09. McCoy is a
supremely talented sophomore who is draft eligible after spending a year in prep
school, and he is reportedly already eyeing the 2009 draft.


17. Buffalo Bills -- Travis Beckum, TE, WisconsinBeckum could emerge as a
top-20 pick if he can add 10-15 pounds to his frame while maintaining his
big-play ability as a receiver during his senior season.




18. Philadelphia Eagles -- Phil Loadholt, OT, OklahomaAfter failing to land
one of the record-setting seven offensive tackles selected in the first round of
this year's draft, coach Andy Reid will be craving a big fella like Loadholt in
2009.




19. Washington Redskins -- Greg Hardy*, DE, MississippiHardy is flying
under the radar right now despite notching 10 solo sacks the past two seasons,
and the Redskins will be looking for a young pass-rushing threat after failing
to land one during the latest draft.

20. Minnesota Vikings -- Percy Harvin*, WR/RS, FloridaStaying healthy
for a full season would all but guarantee Harvin a spot in the first round of
the NFL draft, either next year or in 2010.






21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- Ciron Black, OT, LSUThe Bucs will be looking to
enlist the services of a talented left tackle prospect such as Black, who
displays quick feet for a 6-5, 315-pounder.


22. Green Bay Packers -- Max Unger, OT, OregonUnger, who projects as a
first-day pick in next year's draft, is the type of versatile lineman the
Packers typically covet.


23. Cleveland Browns -- Ricky Sapp, DE/OLB, ClemsonSapp is an up-and-coming
talent with outstanding speed and pass-rushing potential. He should fit
perfectly as a rush linebacker in a 3-4 scheme like the one employed in
Cleveland.


24. Seattle Seahawks -- Duke Robinson, G, OklahomaThe Seahawks are still
looking for a long-term solution at left guard, so why not use this pick on the
player who is at this point the top prospect at that position.




25. Pittsburgh Steelers -- Tyson Jackson, DE, LSUJackson is among the elite
senior defensive prospects right now but that might not hold up for 12 full
months, as he's simply not a great fit for every team's defensive scheme. At 6-5
and 290, Jackson is best suited to play defensive end in a three-man front like
the one employed in Pittsburgh.






26. New Orleans Saints -- Gerald McRath, OLB, Southern MissThe Saints will
be looking for an injection of youth and athleticism at linebacker and the
speedy, undersized McRath falls in line with that objective.




27. New York Giants -- Brandon Spikes, ILB, FloridaThe Giants could use a
quick and powerful tackling machine like Spikes after failing to address that
need early in the 2008 draft.




28. Jacksonville Jaguars -- William Moore, S, MissouriMoore emerged as a
playmaking machine in 2007, when he notched 114 tackles and eight interceptions.
At 6-1 and 215 pounds he could be the versatile strong safety Jacksonville needs
opposite FS Reggie Nelson.

29. Indianapolis Colts -- Vance Walker, DT/DE, Georgia TechWalker has
the right blend of tools to provide depth along the interior of Indianapolis'
quick-but-undersized defensive line.




30. San Diego Chargers -- Auston English, DE/OLB, OklahomaEnglish is an
instinctive, high-motor player with very good speed and fluid hips for a young
defensive end. He already has experience dropping into coverage on zone-blitz
looks within Oklahoma's complex defensive scheme.

31. Dallas Cowboys -- Demetrius Byrd, WR, LSUWide receiver is the one
area Dallas did not address during an otherwise promising 2008 draft. Byrd has a
lot to prove as a senior but he certainly has the blend of size and deep speed
it takes to emerge as a first-round draft pick.



32. New England Patriots -- Brian Cushing, OLB, USCThe Patriots continue a
recent trend of drafting linebackers by using this selection on the versatile
Cushing. The 6-5, 248-pounder has experience on the strong side and as a rush
linebacker, which will be attractive to a New England coaching staff that likes
versatility in its linebackers.


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The Official Beat by the Nudge Draft Value Chart-Quarterbacks


Here's where we start out. We have about two months until the 2009 NFL Draft. Right now, all of the prospective employees in the "No Fun League" are working out with the private trainers that their agents are paying for, trying to get two tenths of a second off of their forty time, or trying to understand the questions on practise Wunderlick Tests.

"Mr. Young, When I asked you what the color of a stop sign was, I was not
referring to the button on your VCR."
So with that, we'll start off with a new instalment of The Nudge's Draft Value Chart. It's pretty simple and self explanatory. We'll look at a position and I'll tell you what round the player deserves to get picked in:
"Based Solely on Field Performance Alone."
I don't care how fast someone can run a forty, or how many reps of 250 a kid could do, Hell, I don't even care about the most important stat of all coming out of the combine, the velocity of the ball on a fifteen yard out. See, everybody could sit there with their stop watches and radar guns, but the simple matter of whether or not someone is a "Player" or not is really the thing that matters. So here's the first installment, let's start with the most important position on the field, Quarterback. I'll give the players in the order that I feel they should be drafted in (trust me, they will definitely not be drafted in that order). I'll give my numerical rating, QB #1, QB #2 etc. and I'll let you know which of the experts are disagreeing me. Here's the thing, guys who have spent over forty years trying to determine who will be successful going from college ball to the pro's have the exact same success rate as a monkey picking frickin names out of a hat. It doesn't matter who you are, or how good you think you are at this, I got news for you, it's all luck.
1st Round
1) Mathew Stafford, Georgia, 6'2" 235. Todd McShay #2QB, Kiper #1 QB, Scouts Inc. #2 QB (Grade 96) (Nudge Grade 85)
2) Dirty Sanchez, USC, 6'2" 225. Todd McShay #1QB, Kiper #2, Scouts Inc. #1 (Grade 97) (Nudge Grade 80)
2nd Round
3) Josh Freeman, Kansas State, 6'5", 238 (Nudge Grade 73) Big frame, big gun, bad decisions. Doesn't read defenses well. Will wind up being over matched in the NFL. Possibly after a number of years sitting on the bench, might actually produce.
3rd Round
4) Rhett Bomar, Sam Houston State, 6'2" 212 (Nudge Grade 68) Scouts Inc #5. Got kicked off of Oklahoma, leading to Bradford winning the Heisman. If Bomar stayed in Norman, it's "Hey, what is the name of the second string quarterback, Branford?"
5) David Johnson, Tulsa, 6'2" 220 (Nudge Grade 68) Great College Player. Scouts Inc #18. I cannot believe how accurate an arm he has, and how well he reads the defenses. Very good college player that will not do well in the pros. Someone is going to take a chance on him in the third or fourth round based solely on his accuracy.
6) Graham Harrell, Texas Tech, 6'2" 199 (Nudge Grade 67) Great College Player. Scouts Inc #6. A system guy, it was the system that put up all those numbers. Harrell just had to sit back and close his eyes. The remote control in Mike Leach's pocket guided the ball to Crabtree et al. Look, I have always knocked two (Three) systems for not producing productive NFL quarterbacks. #1 is the Tedford/Bellotti system of Cal and Oregon, plus a little Arizona State. And the other system is Leach's. Until one of his guys (Cumbie, Kingsbury etc....) becomes a productive part of an NFL System, I wouldn't take a chance on this kid.
4th Round
7) Tom Brandstater, Fresno State, 6'4" 215 (Nudge Grade 65) Good College Player. Scouts Inc. #13 Solid player, nice size. Plays in a pro style offense. Before this year, people were actually talking about him in the second round. Production really dropped off in his senior year. Nice project for a team that has time. Will never be a starter but could be a nice second stringer.
8) Ben Olsen, UCLA, 6'4" 233 ( Nudge Grade 58) Scouts Inc rank #30. Too many injuries. Has been at UCLA since the Carter Administration. Is presently thirty nine years old. Only player in history to get 23 consecutive medical redshirt eligibility waivers. Was hurt way too often to ever be able to tell how consistent he is. This kid is the wild Card of the position. He has all the tools, the maturity, he's not a kid. If a team can keep him healthy, he might be good.
9) Rudy Carpenter, Arizona State, 6'1" 223. Scouts Inc #22. Too inconsistent. Nice stuff when he's awake on the field. Seriously, this kid to out and out disappear off the face of the Earth. Has had trouble starting as the QB in his career. Another project. Don't pick him.
10) Nate Davis, Ball State, 6'1" 217. Souts Inc #4. Great College Player. The Little engine that could. If there's one kid that might, might become a surprising starter in the NFL, its gonna be him. My only problem with him is that once everyone started talking about him as a pro prospect, he disappeared in his last two games. I think he lacks the arm strength. Makes good decisions and uses his legs to buy him some time. Comes out of the MAC, which so far has produced some respectable NFL QB talent.


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Here it is: The Nudge vs. Mel Kiper and WalterFootball



The Greatest Photo of All Time- Jess's Camel Toe kicks off The Nudge Draft Analysis



Alright, Nudge Fans, you ready for it. This is The Nudge's Guru Mel Kiper's Mock 2009 First Round picks. I've also added the commentary from the always great Walter Football website for a third take on the picks. As every NFL fan knows, no matter what type of science the experts put behind their picks, its still anyone's guess. There's no rhyme or reason to who will pan out and who will be the next Tony Mandarich. I figured I'd spice up the analysis Nudgette Style, so enjoy!



Kiper's got: 1 Detroit Matthew Stafford QB Georgia

What the Nudge Say’s: (Player-Flat Out) Stafford is your prototypical first pick in the NFL Draft. Since winning all those titles in big-time Texas High School football and performing very well in Mark Richt’s offense, you have to say that this guy is going to be a solid pro. But is he going to be a great pro? If he’s sentenced to life in Detroit, and I think with the new regime in there, their going to opt away from trading this pick, call him the next David Carr. After his fourth concussion in his rookie season, his career will be basically over. In Detroit, he has no chance at becoming the next Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco. But if Detroit does the right thing and trades away the pick, possibly to the Jets, the skies the limit for this kid.

What Walter Football Say’s: Stafford's arm is much more powerful than Sanchez's, so he presents the Lions with more upside. Also, Stafford has much more starting experience than Sanchez. After going 0-16, the Lions can't afford to whiff here, and taking a signal caller with one real year of starting experience is really risky.
Trade Away the Pick Possibility: Major, 50 % (there’s a lot of teams that are going to want this kid after he throws the fifteen yard out in the combine)

Kiper's got: 2 St. Louis Andre Smith OT Alabama

What the Nudge Say’s: (Player-Flat Out) Best left tackle prospect since Orlando Pace and Jonathan Ogden. This guy has started at Bama since day one. He has never disappointed. There is no way Smith drops past the second pick, put that in the bank. If you draft this kid, you don’t have to worry about what I think is the second most important position in all of football, the left tackle spot. St. Louis is not going slapping themselves on the back with this pick.

What Walter Football Say’s: It looks like this is going to come down to Andre Smith and Eugene Monroe. Steve Spagnuolo said in his introductory press conference that he wants to really emphasize the running game. Also, Orlando Pace is still under contract for three more years. I don't know if he'll last that long, but he'll at least be back for 2009. If the Rams take Monroe, what are they going to do with two left tackles? Smith makes more sense because he can man the right side until Pace's tenure in St. Louis is finished.
Trade Away the Pick Possibility: 10% ( it depends if Spagnulo thinks he can get a couple of years out of Pace, if he thinks he can, Rams trade down and go for a defensive end, or corner.




Kiper's got: 3 Kansas City Mark Sanchez QB USC


What the Nudge Say’s: I thought a lot about Sanchez for the past couple of years. Ever since winning in Mission Viejo, I thought the guy was a prototypical QB prospect. The pluses on him are that USC runs a pro style offense and that Snachez can be up and running in an NFL Scheme quicker than the other QB’s in the draft. But this last season, especially facing adversity in the OSU game, my opinion of this kid dropped drastically. There has been a lot of criticism about USC’s wide receivers, but I don’t buy into that. Ron Johnson is an awesome WR prospect and Dirty Sanchez threw to FB Havili way too much. I think that he has trouble with his progressions. Arm strength is good. Past injuries are goin to play a factor, especially after the combine examinations. Believe it or not, I think KC sticks with Brodie Coyle and takes Aaron Curry at this spot. Way too high a pick to spend on Dirty Sanchez. He is definitely going to be the second QB taken. After Sanchez, the crop of QB’s drops significantly.

What Walter Football Say’s: This isn't as much of a lock as Matt Stafford going first or the Seahawks taking Michael Crabtree, but I think there's a pretty good chance that the Chiefs select Mark Sanchez. A new regime usually means a new quarterback, and Sanchez is way too talented to pass up. Some may argue that new general manager Scott Pioli has never taken a quarterback this high. That may be true, but it's fairly obvious why - he had Drew Bledsoe and Tom Brady in New England. Why would he use a first-rounder on a signal caller?
Trade Away the Pick Possibility: 10% (slim to none, unless someone wants to steal Crabtree with this pick, and the Rams think they can get a QB prosepct in the second round).

Kiper's got: 4 Seattle Michael Crabtree WR Texas Tech

What the Nudge Say’s: (Flat Out Player) No brainer here. Crabtree has only three years playing at the WR position. His major strength is running routes inside the Red Zone. Very precise routes, great hands and incredible athletic ability. The Nudge is rating Crabtree as the Number 1 Pro Prospect in the draft. He’s a difference maker, and responds well in crucial spots. We all know that Detroit is not taking another WR in the First round, but I would be surprised if another team doesn’t trade up and snatch Crabtree with the second or third pick after he wow’s them at the combine. Another possibility in this pick is Malcolm Jenkins, depending on his combine.
What Walter Football Say’s:It's pretty much a lock that the Seahawks will choose Michael Crabtree with this selection. Bobby Engram, 36, will be hitting free agency. Deion Branch, who is always hurt, could be a cap casualty. Nate Burleson stinks and is coming off a torn ACL. The rest of the wideouts are terrible. If the Seahawks don't address the position, they can have fun struggling offensively next year.
Trade Away the Pick Possibility: 10% ( not likely)

Kiper's got: 5 Cleveland Aaron Curry LB Wake Forest


What the Nudge Say’s: (Flat Out Player) I’ve been really impressed with this kid. Great movement, reads plays well, and wraps his tackles. I’m still not sold that he’s the best LB prospect in this draft. I think Rey Maualuga the top LB. But I’m definitely in the minority there. Do the Browns really need help at LB. I think the better pick here is Eugene Monroe or Michael Oher to line up on the other side of the line from Joe Thomas. Establishing a running game for Jamal Lewis is more important. Look for Cleveland to address their defensive needs in free agency and take another offensive lineman.

What Walter Football Say’s:With the hiring of Eric Mangini and the continued use of the 3-4 defense, it looks like this selection will come down to one of three players: Brian Orakpo, Aaron Curry or Everette Brown. The Browns need help throughout their linebacking corps, so either one of the three would make sense. I'm saying it'll be Curry, who will be an instant upgrade in the middle of the 3-4. Orakpo didn't play well in the Doritos Fiesta Bowl, while Brown at No. 5 will be a bit of a reach unless he blows everyone away at the Combine
Trade Away the Pick Possibility: 35% ( I’m saying that this pick has a pretty good chance at being traded away. Someone is going to try and move up here to get their hands on Percy Harvin after his combine run of 4.3 forty.





Kiper's got: 6 Cincinnati Jason Smith OT Baylor

What the Nudge Say’s: I have to say, every baylor game that I watched this year, I couldn’t take my eye off of their freshman QB Robert Griffin III. That kid is awesome. But if Kiper thinks this kid is good enough to be taken in the first 6 picks of the draft, that’s good enough for me.

What Walter Football Say’s: See’s him dropping to number 8 with jacksonville
Trade Away the Pick Possibility: 35% ( I have to think that this pick is where the draft day trades start to go nuts)






Kiper's got: 7 Oakland Jeremy Maclin WR Missouri

What the Nudge Say’s: (Flat Out Player) World Class speed, game breaking ability. I see Maclin as a Teddy Ginn type of player. You have to think of great ways to get the rock in his hands. The question is whether or not Al Davis is going to spend this high of a pick on a WR out of the spread throw first system. The Nudge say’s no way. An offense with Darren McFadden and Maclin would be sick, but Davis is going to spend this pick on Maybin.
What WalterFootball say's: He's going 26th.
Kiper's got: 8 Jacksonville Eugene Monroe OT Virginia
What the Nudge Say’s: Good player. I wasn’t incredibly impressed though. Solid both run blocking and pass blocking, but hey what the Hell do I know. I see Jax picking Harvin, Moreno or Vontae Davis here. Don’t sleep on Vontae!
What Walter Football Say’s: Has him going sixth to the Bengals.
Trade Away the Pick Possibility: 10% ( I think Jack’s hangs on to this pick)


Kiper's got: 9 Green Bay Malcolm Jenkins CB Ohio St.

What the Nudge Say’s: Way over rated. I’ve watched just about every college game this kid has played and I still don’t know what the Hell all the hype is about. (If you go by The Cardinal Rule of Nudge Draft Analysis) that statement adds up to be that this kid will wind up having the best pro career of anyone. Since I am sleeping on this kid’s ability, that usually means he’ll be a perennial Pro Bowler.

What Walter Football Say’s: Dropping to 17 with the Jets. I definitely agree with Walter and not with Kiper on this one.
Trade Away the Pick Possibility: 0% (nil, Packa’s are using this pick, no doubt)

Kiper's got: 10 San Francisco Aaron Maybin DE/OLB Penn St.
What the Nudge Say’s: Major Major hype about this kid. My knock on him is that he plays in the Big Ten. He might have all the physical tools, but I think his stats are a little misleading to say the least. The JoePa’s were a far superior team this year to the rest of their regular season competition. This kid could basically “pin his ears back” and rush the passer for the last two quarters of every game. Maybe he goes to the combine and shows freakish physical tools, thats not my area of expertise. All I know is that I’m not sold on his run defense ability. If he’s put at Tweener backer (Outside speed rusher) ala Lamar Woodley or Demarcus Ware, he has the possibility of being special, but I don’t take him at 10. Look out for Rey Maualuga here. I think Singletary knows a pro bowl inside backer when he sees one.
What Walter Football Say’s: He sees SanFran taking Everette Brown here and Maybin dropping to 23 with New England.
Trade Away the Pick Possibility: 10% ( San Fran needs a lot of help and if the right offer comes along, they might think that they could get a defensive player ten picks or so later)



Kiper's got: 11 Buffalo Brandon Pettigrew TE Oklahoma St.

What the Nudge Say’s: Excellant player. Played on an explosive offense. But no way is going this high, no way. I see Pettigrew on the board going into the second round. Buffalo needs a speed rusher off of the edge. I bet they take Orakpo here. No way you waste an eleventh pick on a TE, but hey it is Buffalo we're talking about.

What Walter Football Say’s: Same. He sees pettigrew falling to 24 with the Falcons.
Trade Away the Pick Possibility: 10%

Kiper's got: 12 Denver B.J. Raji DT Boston College

What the Nudge Say’s: I watched a lot of BC football, wasn’t impressed with this kid. But everyone is talking about how great he is, so there must be something there. Denver jumps on my number one RB prospect and Nudge 2008 Pre-Season Heisman hopeful LeSean McCoy here. No one is talking about LeSean right now. Wait.

What Walter Football Say’s: Rey Maualuga. Josh McDaniels was just hired as the head coach, and he brought on Mike Nolan as his defensive coordinator. Nolan will implement his 3-4 defense, meaning the Broncos will be busy scouring for the right personnel to fit that scheme in the next two drafts. They can start by selecting Rey Maualuga, the top pure 3-4 inside linebacker on the board. Maybe he can help the team rank outside the bottom five in defense for the first time in ages.
Trade Away the Pick Possibility: Nil, no way

Kiper's got: 13 Washington Brian Orakpo DE Texas

What the Nudge Say’s: Over rated, but hey, I’ve always hated Tex-Ass so what do I know. Orakpo will be drafted high no matter what. Everyone loves Tex-Ass. The guy can probably go to the combine and get a 3 on the Wonderlic and everyone will say what great shoes he was wearing to the test.

What Walter Football Say’s: Eben Britton, OT, Arizona. The Redskins have major problems at right tackle. Jon Jansen, who turns 33 in January, is playing on his last legs. Jansen will be back with the team, but it's clear that Washington will be looking for a major upgrade at the position. Eben Britton would fit in well on the right side, and could potentially slide over to the blind side once Samuels' time is up.
Trade Away the Pick Possibility: Hey it’s Snyder we’re talking about. I’d be surprised if they have this pick going into the draft.

Nudgette Ashley Simpson showing that she can do whatever her sister can

Kiper's got: 14 New Orleans Vontae Davis CB Illinois

What the Nudge Say’s: (Flat Out Player) I love this kid. Major upside. Swagger and poise that a CB needs. Plays hard, excellent closing speed, makes big plays. I don’t see him dropping this far, and I definitely don’t think he should be taken after Jenkins. Don't sleep on Vontae, he might be the steal of the draft.

What Walter Football Say’s: James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio State. Thanks to Jonathan Vilma's recent arrest, the Saints will have better luck retaining him. There was no alcohol involved, so it's clear that Vilma wasn't training to be Cedric Benson's disciple, but teams could hesitate to offer the stud linebacker a massive contract. New Orleans will have to wait until the free agency period begins to re-sign Vilma. If they manage to do that, they can move him over to weakside linebacker and draft James Lauriniaitis to man the middle. The Saints could also keep Vilma in the middle and have Laurinaitis on the weak side. Either way, there's a good chance New Orleans goes with the Ohio State defender.
Trade Away the Pick Possibility: Slim

Kiper's got: 15 Houston Everette Brown DE Florida St.

What the Nudge Say’s: What you get is what you see: FSU speed DE with strength. I like this guy. But I don’t think How-Stun spends a pick on a DE. They need to get Shaub some weapons. Look for Harvin if available or Maclin

What Walter Football Say’s: William Moore, S, Missouri. This could be a spot where the Texans trade down. William Moore hasn't exactly been lighting it up at the Senior Bowl, as other safeties are starting to close in on him. Any team desperate to obtain Chris Wells or Knowshon Moreno could move up to this selection. Either way, there's a good chance that the Texans land William Moore. Houston's secondary has been an abomination for years and has always missed a ball-hawking leader. Moore can be that guy. Malcolm Jenkins is also a major option if Dunta Robinson is let go.
Trade Away the Pick Possibility: 50% (How-Stun has a lot of holes to fill. This is a spot where you can get a good bang for your buck)

Kiper's got: 16 San Diego Knowshon Moreno RB Georgia

What the Nudge Say’s: (Flat Out Player) What? Does Kiper know something about LT that we don’t know. Is LT done in Sandy Dog? I don’t think so. I’ve been following Knowshon since he was a junior in Joysey HS. He actually played the fullback position in a wing-T system. This is a guy that I project will do very well in the Big Show. Will he be the next LT? No way. Shifty runner, great breaks through the hole. Good hands out of the backfield. Makes tacklers miss. A wee bit small. I don't care what they are saying in San Diego about doing what's best for the team, they're not getting rid of LT, now way.
What Walter Football Say’s: Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State.It's amazing how much can change in half a year. In August, LaDainian Tomlinson was going first in nine out of 10 fantasy football drafts. Now, there's speculation that Tomlinson could be let go. RotoWorld, meanwhile, reported that several NFL executives don't believe LT2 is even worth a Day 1 selection at this point. With Darren Sproles also hitting free agency, the Chargers may look to secure a top-tier running back in April's draft.
Trade Away the Pick Possibility: I in the minority here, but I think SD will be open to some offers, especially if they could get a veteran offensive lineman.

Nudgette Bianca Beauchamp

Kiper's got: 17 New York Jets Percy Harvin WR Florida


What the Nudge Say’s: (Player of all Players) I love this kid. Speed, excitement, hands, agility. I’m going so far as saying that this kid could carry the ball out of the backfield for four or five plays in the big show. This is the perfect receiver for the bubble screen pass in the NFL. But there’s no way he drops this far. I think The Jets definitely take a defensive player with Rexy calling the shots on the sideline. GM Mike Tannenbaum is going to let Rexy get a D prospect in this pick (if they don’t trade way up for Stafford which I think they should). I’m predicting D.J. Moore CB Vanderbilt. He’ll help out on Special teams and give them another CB with Revis. That’s all assuming that Maualuga is off the board at this point.

What Walter Football Say’s: Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State. A few days prior to the Jets-49ers game, I wrote a short column for USA Today's Sports Weekly, opining that Shaun Hill was a great fantasy start that weekend. My reasoning was that the Jets gave out 240-yard passing performances like candy on Halloween. Hill went on to throw for 285 yards and two touchdowns. That's one of about 5,000 examples that proves the Jets desperately need corner help

Trade Away the Pick Possibility: 50% (I’m saying strong to quite strong)



Nudgette Keeley Hazell knows a good draft pick when she's holding one in her hand



Kiper's got: 18 Chicago Tyson Jackson DE LSU

What the Nudge Say’s: Not sold on him. The Bayou Bengals D disappeared to much this year. I don’t have a lot of confidence in Tyson Jackson. Da bears let Kevin Jones go and pick up a RB here, especially if LeSean is still on the board. Now that would be exciting seeing LeSean play in Chicago.
What Walter Football Say’s: Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech. The Bears really need help at receiver, and with mega-talents like Jeremy Maclin and Percy Harvin on the board, choosing one of them is a possibility. But I doubt Chicago does that. The Bears will upgrade their perennial strengths - the offensive line and defense - before anything else.
It sounds weird to say this, but the Bears need help at defensive end. Prior to playing the Rams, who count more as a Big XII team than an NFL squad, starters Alex Brown and Adewale Ogunleye had just five combined sacks in 10 games. Mark Anderson, meanwhile, recorded only one sack. Chicago needs to upgrade its pass rush. Everyone talks about Michael Johnson not performing up to his physical talents, but the athletic end recorded 15 tackles for loss, seven sacks and seven passes broken up.
Trade Away the Pick Possibility: Nil

Kiper's got: 19 Tampa Bay Josh Freeman QB Kansas St.

What the Nudge Say’s: Ladies and gentlemen, introducing your next JaMarcus Russell. This kid is 6'6" with all the physical tools. I just don’t think he makes the right decisions. He has trouble reading defenses and he played in the Big twelve for Christmas Sake. He faced zero defensive competition this past year. I’m just not sold on him. He’ll never be more than a second stringer. TB is going to go after a linebacker here (Laurinaitis) or Oher if he’s still on the board (depending on his Wonderlic).
What Walter Football Say’s: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia When Cadillac Williams went down with yet another injury, I immediately thought of giving the Buccaneers a running back at No. 19. With Earnest Graham coming off injury, Warrick Dunn turning 34 and Cadillac a virtual unknown, Tampa Bay really needs help at running back. Knowshon Moreno is a steal here. He and Chris Wells would be top-10 prospects if the need for running backs hadn't diminished. If Moreno isn't available, this could be a spot where Josh Freeman comes off the board.
Trade Away the Pick Possibility: 10%

Kiper's got: 20 Detroit (from Dallas) Rey Maualuga LB USC

What the Nudge Say’s: (Flat Out Player) Love this kid. Heart and soul player that was at the center of one of the best defensive units that I have ever seen. Pro Bowler for many years to come. Reminds me of a much better Tatupu. If Detroit can get their hands on him this high he’s a steal.
What Walter Football Say’s: William Beatty, OT, Connecticut. Is this a bit of a reach? I think so. But as we saw last year, the offensive tackle position is in such high demand that teams don't really have a choice but to target those players early. See Sam Baker and Duane Brown as prime examples. The Lions surrendered 52 sacks in 2008. They desperately need a dominant left tackle, allowing Jeff Backus to slide inside.
Trade Away the Pick Possibility: 65% (they should trade this pick away, they need a lot of veteran help)

Bianca, Bianca. Bianca- Will you never stop haunting my mind

Kiper's got: 21 Philadelphia Chris "Beanie" Wells RB Ohio St.
What the Nudge Say’s: Way over rated. Look, he’s a good college player, I got that. But he hits the whole’s way too slow. He is not Brandon Jacobs. Everyone is sold on Beanie. I think his phantom inury (high ankle sprain) is going to make him drop into the second round come combine time. I’m going to love to see what he runs in the forty. If it’s a 4.6 he’s done. He is not Eddie George or Archie Griffin, I’m happy he’s leaving though.

What Walter Football Say’s: Alex Mack, C, California With Brent Celek's 10-catch performance in the NFC Championship, Andy Reid can focus on upgrading the offensive line in the first round.Alex Mack is the top lineman on the board. As Matt McGuire pointed out in his outstanding 2009 Senior Bowl Updates, Mack has distanced himself from Max Unger in terms of being the No. 1 center on the board. Center is not a weakness for the Eagles, but it's certainly not a strength. Getting a potential All-Pro like Mack would really bolster Philadelphia's pedestrian rushing attack - assuming Big Red actually decides to run the ball.

Trade Away the Pick Possibility: Nil

Huh, what? See through, what's that Nudge?



Kiper's got: 22 Minnesota Hakeem Nicks WR North Carolina
What the Nudge Say’s: Thug Life Forever. Love this guy, a thug from a thug deep team that has all sorts of swagger baby. Did you see his behind the back catch against WVU, sick. But I think this is way high a pick for this guy. Vikings pick up Josh Freeman here

What Walter Football Say’s: Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois. I really want to give the Vikings an offensive tackle, but with all of the top-tier players at that position off the board, Minnesota could look to address its second greatest need, which is cornerback. Cedric Griffin has had an up-and-down season, and Minnesota simply needs more consistency in its defensive backfield.
This is also another spot where Josh Freeman will be considered. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Minnesota went that direction in an effort to find an upgrade for the horrendous Tarvaris Jackson.
Trade Away the Pick Possibility: 10%

Kiper's got: 23 New England Brian Cushing LB USC

What the Nudge Say’s: I’m not sold on Cushing. I love this kid, but there’s something there that I don’t think he’s going to project well in the NFL. He’s not fast enough. I think his deficiencies were masked because of the quality of players around him. Had one Hell of a high school career though. But, if he is drafted by New England here, look for him to have a Vrabel type career. Belicheck’s a genius. He can turn water into wine (see Tommy Brady and Matt Cassell)

What Walter Football Say’s: Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn State. Bill Belichick added a young inside linebacker to his roster last April. He may look to upgrade the exterior this time around. The Patriots struggled to put pressure on the quarterback at times (31 sacks) and Mike Vrabel, though still dependable, will be 34 in August. Something has to be done about this.

Trade Away the Pick Possibility: 0% Not likely at all


Nudgette Sarah Silverman knows where 90% of all draft analysis belongs

Kiper's got: 24 Atlanta Larry English DE/OLB No. Illinois
What the Nudge Say’s: Not sure, Northern Illinois still has a football team. Ever since Garrette Wolff left, I refuse to watch their horrible brand of football. (Nudge Draft Wisdom means he’ll be a perennial pro bowler). I agree with Walter, Pettigrew would be a steal here

What Walter Football Say’s:Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State. Could you imagine how lethal Atlanta's offense would be if the team somehow acquired a dynamic tight end? Matt Ryan would be unstoppable. With Brandon Pettigrew going as high as No. 11 in some mocks, the Falcons will be very fortunate if they manage to get the top-rated tight end down here.
Trade Away the Pick Possibility: Nil

Kiper's got: 25 Miami Darrius Heyward-Bey WR Maryland
What the Nudge Say’s: Without a doubt the most over rated player in this draft. I don't know who this kid's agent paid off to get such glowing praise. Everyone loves this kid, I can’t understand why? Does he walk on water? Is he especially speedy? No, no, no. And there’s no way Parcells wastes a first rounder on this kid. No doubt about it, he takes a defensive player or trades down, way down.

What Walter Football Say’s: Duke Robinson, G, Oklahoma. The Dolphins can take care of a huge hole at left guard by drafting Duke Robinson in this spot. With Jake Long and Robinson on the left side, Miami would boast one of the elite rushing attacks in the league.
Trade Away the Pick Possibility: 75% (Parcells is a wheeler and dealer)

Kiper's got: 26 Baltimore D.J. Moore CB Vanderbilt
What the Nudge Say’s: (Flat Out Player) I love this kid. Any team that drafts him will be able to line him up against the best WR on the field. He also offers the added dimension of being a special teamer. Outside of Maclin and Harvin, I have him as the third best ST returner available. There’s no way he drops this far. Exciting player that didn’t get a lot of buzz because he played for an under the radar Vandy team. But if you watched Vandy football, you know who the Hell this kid is.

What Walter Football Say’s: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri. Mark Clayton has started playing really well lately, but with Derrick Mason, who just turned 35, a year away from hitting free agency, it's time the Ravens begin developing their next No. 1 receiver for Joe Flacco.
Trade Away the Pick Possibility: Your guess is as good as mine. What, 10%, I don’t know.

Kiper's got: 27 Indianapolis Peria Jerry DT Mississippi

What the Nudge Say’s: Not sold on him. He played along side awesome DE Greg Hardy. And that made him look a lot better than he is. Kiper has him way high here. Maybe he goes in the late second round. If Oher is still on the board for Indy’s pick, he won’t be when their done.

What Walter Football Say’s: Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss. Both sides of Indianapolis' run defense has to be addressed. Defensive tackle has always been a problem for the Colts, especially after the Ed Johnson marijuana scandal. I could see the Colts taking the best available player in terms of a running back, defensive tackle or offensive tackle.
Trade Away the Pick Possibility: 5%

Kiper's got: 28 Philadelphia (from Carolina) Michael Oher OT Mississippi

What the Nudge Say’s: (Flat Out Player) I can’t say enough about Oher, his life or the player. He’s got a biographical movie in his future, there’s no doubt about it. You cannot help but root for this kid. If he’s still available when Philly is up, I quit. You’ll never see another draft analysis from me again (again, depending on his Wonderlic score). Freak of nature.

What Walter Football Say’s: Louis Delmas, FS, Western Michigan. Brian Dawkins is adored by all Eagles fans, but the future Hall of Fame free safety turns 36 in October. Even if Dawkins re-signs with Philadelphia, the team will need to find his successor soon because he's somewhat of a liability in coverage. It's clear that Quintin Demps isn't the answer after his horrific performance in the NFC Championship. Louis Delmas has really shined at the Senior Bowl and put himself into first-round consideration.

Trade Away the Pick Possibility: 5%

Come on, its me...Nudgey. You knew I had to throw this in here. A scorpion is a scorpion
Kiper's got: 29 New York Giants James Laurinaitis LB Ohio St.
What the Nudge Say’s: (Flat Out Player) The Road Warrior. Boy am I happy to see him leave slOhio St. Has a chance to be really special in the big show. Wears his heart on his sleave ala Katzenmoyer. Look, picking slOhio Linebackers and how they are going to perform in the NFL is the most impossible thing anyone can do. For starters, the Big Ten Sucks. And Big Ten offenses suck even more (they’re too predictable). By the way, has anyone seen Vernon Gholston anywhere, I’ve been looking for him. If the Road Warrior falls this far, the Giants have to jump on him, but he won’t so don’t worry. Look for them to address a serious need a WR with this pick. “ Paging Jarrett Dillard, Jarett Dillard please respond to the hotel desk, you’ve been drafted in the first round.”

What Walter Football Say’s: Paul Kruger, DE, Utah. This pick really depends on what the Giants do with Mathias Kiwanuka once Osi Umenyiora comes back. If they bring Kiwanuka back to strongside linebacker, they'll likely take a defensive end in Round 1. If they keep Kiwanuka up front, they'll choose a linebacker like Clint Sintim or Brian Cushing.
Wide receiver is also an option, but this draft is so deep at the position that the Giants can take someone like Kenny Britt or Hakeem Nicks in the second round.
Trade Away the Pick Possibility: No Way. 0%

Kiper's got: 30 Tennessee Michael Johnson DE Georgia Tech

What the Nudge Say’s: A lot of hype. I’m not sold on him. I don’t understand all the hoopla over Johnson. I think he drops to the mid-second round. Look for Ten-I-See to take the best available OT.

What Walter Football Say’s: Percy Harvin, WR, Florida Yeah, I know... the Titans don't draft receivers. Hey, miracles can happen, and maybe they'll be embarrassed because everyone made fun of them for not taking one last year. In all seriousness, Tennessee has proven in the past that they look for skill-position players with great 40 times. Percy Harvin would qualify for that.
Trade Away the Pick Possibility: Sure, why not 10%

Kiper's got: 31 Arizona LeSean McCoy RB Pittsburgh

What the Nudge Say’s: (Flat Out Player) I love this kid. I tried to think of another RB prospect over the past five years that I have rated higher than McCoy. The three that I came up with are McFadden, Adrian Peterson and Reggie Bush, that’s it. I put McCoy up there with all of them. He’s the type of player that get’s teams to the Super Bowl. Look, he doesn’t have the stats, but that’s because he only played at Pitt for two years, and he carried that horrible team. He hasn’t even got started yet. Shifty-ness, speed, breaks through the holes, this kid does it all. If I’m an NFL GM, I’m taking him with the second pick, no doubt. But there’s no way he drops this far for either Pitt or Zona, it’s just not happening.

What Walter Football Say’s: LeSean McCoy, RB, Pittsburgh. The Cardinals were somehow able to run the ball during their unexpected playoff surge, but that doesn't change the fact that they need an upgrade in the backfield. Edgerrin James' days in Arizona are numbered, while Tim Hightower does too much dancing around.
Trade Away the Pick Possibility: 0%

Kiper's got: 32 Pittsburgh Alex Mack C California
What the Nudge Say’s: Everybody loves this kid. Me, I’m not impressed. Good player, but not a first round pick type of kid. He’s no Mawae that’s for sure. Look for Pitt to take the best available RB. I’m rolling with C.J. Spiller Clemson. If you don’t know him, he’s the great player that no one is talking about. Look for him to be available for this pick, and if he gets drafted by Pitt and Willie (undrafted look how good the draft analysts are) Parker goes down, Spiller will be my favorite for rookie of the year in the AFC (Fantasy football drafters put on notice)
What Walter Football Say’s: Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU. With tons of talented offensive linemen off the board, the Steelers may choose to add the best available player to their defensive line. That would be Tyson Jackson, who will eventually take Aaron Smith's spot in the lineup. Smith turns 33 in April.
Trade Away the Pick Possibility: 0%





Coco and The Camel Toe. I think that was the name of a seventies cop show

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And enjoy Nudge-ites, it's all about fun! See ya sports fans!


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