This is Titan Sized’s very first mock draft of the off-season, so bear with us while we get acclimated with the field. In all honesty, it’s still too early to tell where most of these guys will land. A lot of things will start to fall into place once free agency starts, after the combines and once players are allowed to meet with teams for individual workouts and interviews. More importantly, this is by no means how we think the draft will actually go, as most of the people making the decisions in these things are either terrible GM’s or incompetent owners. Irregardless, here is how we see the first round playing out, for now…
| # | Team | Pick | |
| 1 |  | Detroit Lions (0-16) | OT Andre Smith, Alabama – If we know anything about new head coach Jim Schwartz it’s that he values the game in the trenches more than most. There is no point in grabbing a “franchise” QB here if A) their might not be a franchise QB in this draft, and B) they can’t keep him off of his butt. Smith is the smartest and safest pick. |
| 2 |  | St. Louis Rams (2-14) | QB Matt Stafford, Georgia – One must wonder wonder how painful Kurt Warner’s season was to watch for the St. Louis faithful. 2008 was the second consecutive year that Mark Bulger threw more picks than touchdowns. Behind Bulger on the depth chart? The same Trent Green that Warner replaced a decade ago. |
| 3 |  | Kansas City Chiefs (2-14) | OT Eugene Monroe, Virginia – The Chiefs are the first real wild card in this draft. They have some nice young players to build with (Bowe, D. Johnson, Dorsey), but still have huge question marks in their backfield with LJ’s status in limbo and not much of a QB to speak of. Does new GM Scott Pioli and new head coach Todd Haley give LJ a chance to start new in KC? Do they even give Tyler Thigpen a chance to start? Pioli will make a smart pick, whatever it is, and an OT that can protect whoever they line up back there for the next decade would certainly be that. |
| 4 |  | Seattle Seahawks (4-12) | WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech – Seattle’s WR woes were painful last season. While a whole lot of the issues were injury related, that receiving corp is getting neither younger or more talented. Crabtree might be the highest ranked prospect at any position in the draft. |
| 5 |  | Cleveland Browns (4-12) | LB Aaron Curry, Wake Forest – The Browns get the most sure pick on the defensive side of the ball with the 5th selection of the draft. Sure, it may be a bit high for a linebacker, but Curry helps fill a need and sure up a shaky defense. He could slip right into the spot vacated by the retiring Willie McGinest. |
| 6 |  | Cincinnati Bengals (4-11-1) | OT Jason Smith, Baylor – Smith has quite likely been the fastest rising name in this entire draft. Andre Smith may be the most polished, and Eugene Monroe may be the mauler of the group, but this Smith is probably the one with the most potential. The Bengals are atrocious up front. They get a guy to start building around with this pick. |
| 7 |  | Oakland Raiders (5-11) | DT B. J Raji, Boston College – After going quarterback/running back in the first round of the last two drafts, the Raiders decide to get some of their nasty back by selecting the top defensive tackle in this class. Raji has been a hot name since his impressive Senior Bowl preformance, so the Oakland would be thrilled to see him here. |
| 8 |  | Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11) | CB Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State – The Jags spent their two first round picks of last year’s draft on defense. The defense got worse in 2008. This team needs to have a solid draft. They start it off right by taking the best CB in the draft. |
| 9 |  | Green Bay Packers (6-10) | DE Brian Orakpo, Texas – When the Packers hired Dom Capers as the new defensive coordinator, they chose to convert to the 3-4 defense that he prefers. In doing so, they have decided to move their best defenisve player, DE Aaron Kampman, to linebacker full time. Orakpo will help make that a much easier transition. |
| 10 |  | San Francisco 49ers (7-9) | CB Vontae Davis, Illinois – Too easy not to pick. Vontae is the younger brother current 49er’s tight end Vernon. We just love the thought of Coach Singletary lining ten guys up on both sides of the ball. |
| 11 |  | Buffalo Bills (7-9) | DE Aaron Maybin, Penn State – The Bills are just one of those teams that seem to perpetually be ready to take that “next step”. Not sure that Maybin is that, but he will help sure up the defense by taking a lot of pressure off of Aaron Schobel. |
| 12 |  | Denver Broncos (8-8) | LB Rey Maualuga, USC – Maualuga is exactly the type of aggresive field general that the Broncos will need to get a defense that regressed severely last season back on track. His presence will help solidify that unit. Now, they just have to hope that the secondary can return to form. |
| 13 |  | Washington Redskins (8-8) | DE Everette Brown, Florida State – The Redskins went out and got Jason Taylor via trade last offseason and he went on to do what most big name free agents do when they arrive in Washington: stink. Andre Carter is their best defensive end. Andre Carter. Brown could help provide the much needed pass rush that this defense lacked last season. |
| 14 |  | New Orleans Saints (8-8) | LB Brian Cushing, USC – Cushing was Maualuga’s counterpart at USC, and although he was a bit overshadowed by him there, he may actually turn out to be the better pro. Gregg Williams, the Saints new defensive coordinator, will get some immediate help in rebuilding it with this pick. |
| 15 |  | Houston Texans (8-8) | WR Jeremy Maclin, Missouri – The Texans really need help on the defensive side of the ball, but they might not be able to overlook Maclin if he is still available. Maclin may be the second best WR in the draft, and the possibility of lining him up alongside Andre Johnson may be too enticing to pass up. Look for them to grab one of the LB’s or DE’s that were drafted above if they fall though. |
| 16 |  | San Diego Chargers (8-8) | RB Knowshon Moreno, Georgia – San Diego would love to land Moreno here given the events that took place in their backfield last season. The Chargers new stud backup, Darren Sproles, will probably get a chance to do his best Michael Turner impersonation somewhere else at some point, and LT ain’t getting any younger (or healthier). If Moreno is the pick, LT may have to worry more about getting outplayed than staying healthy. |
| 17 |  | New York Jets (9-7) | RB Chris Wells, Ohio State – Wells should be off the board at this point based on his skills. Unfotunately, he has had his fair share of injury trouble. Still though, the Jets find it too hard to pass on a prospect who could be their next Curtis Martin. QB is a possibility as well, depending on how this year’s installment of the Brett Favre saga plays out… |
| 18 |  | Chicago Bears (9-7) | WR Hakeem Nicks, UNC – Even after their fine selection of RB Matt Forte in last year’s draft, the Bears still need help on the offensive side of the ball. The quarterback position is their most obvious need, but they are more likely to find one through free agency (that is, if Kyle Orton isn’t the answer) rather than take a chance on Mark Sanchez. The versatile Nicks would be a nice option for whoever is under center. |
| 19 |  | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7) | DT Peria Jerry, Ole Miss – The Bucs are a team that have a number of big decisions to make this offseason. The first being that their defense continues to get older (Kevin Carter, Derrick Brooks, Ronde Barber, etc.). Perry is a guy under the radar a bit that could turn out to be a real nice player. |
| 20 | | Detroit Lions (9-7, Pick via Cowboys) | QB Mark Sanchez, USC – As we stated earlier, the Lions have holes to fill all over the field. The defense needs a complete overhaul, and Jim Schwartz is a defensive guy. With that said, if Sanchez is still on the board, the Lions may take a chance on him. |
| 21 |  | Philadelphia Eagles (9-6-1) | OT Michael Oher, Ole Miss – With the impending free agency of Tra Thomas, and the age and injury concerns associated with Jon Runyan (who is also a FA), the Eagles need OT help in a bad way. Oher is an excellent pass and run blocker with above average speed and quickness. He’s also extremely durable, having never had any injury issues in four years at Ole Miss. |
| 22 |  | Minnesota Vikings (10-6) | DE Tyson Jackson, LSU – The Vikings need someone to pair with All-Pro Jared Allen. Having another defensive end that can play both the pass and the run will give Allen and the Williams duo more space to create havoc. |
| 23 |  | New England Patriots (11-6) | LB Clay Matthews, USC – Let’s face it Pats fans: this defense is getting old. Never was that more evident as when they trotted out 57-year old Junior Seau at linebacker last season (wasn’t he already in the Hall of Fame?). Matthews has been a hot name since his outstanding performance at the Senior Bowl. |
| 24 |  | Atlanta Falcons (11-5) | TE Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma State – Pettigrew is one of the most explosive players in the draft. He’s a beast of a man (6’6″ 260 lbs.) which will give Matt Ryan another big-time target to throw too. He’ll also open up plenty of holes for Michael Turner to run wild in the Georgia Dome. |
| 25 |  | Miami Dolphins (11-5) | LB James Laurinaitis, Ohio State – Miami could use help at both linebacker and secondary positions, and luckily for them, this draft has a plethora of linebacking talent. It’s hard to say exactly who will be left on the board at this point, but look for the Dolphins to grab Laurinaitis (if he’s still available) or one of the boys from USC. |
| 26 |  | Baltimore Ravens (11-5) | CB D.J. Moore, Vanderbilt – The Ravens have some serious questions to answer this off-season on the defensive side of the ball. Do they pay (and he means pay) Ray Lewis, the face of the Ravens franchise for the last decade? Do they do the same with Bart Scott and Terrell Suggs? And what happens with Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle? The team answers one of those here with the selection of uber-talented Moore. |
| 27 |  | Indianapolis Colts 12-4) | CB Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest – The Colts could really stand to add some beef to the defense up front, but they don’t pass on the chance to take a guy that could help boost a secondary that has a tendency to play it safe. Sure, he doesn’t provide ideal size (5’8″ 192 lbs.), but adding another playmaker to pair with safety Bob Sanders will really help solidify this unit. |
| 28 |  | Philadelphia Eagles (12-4; Pick via Panthers) | RB LeSean McCoy, Pittsburgh – With their second pick of the first round, Philly stays in-state and gets a running back to groom under Brian Westbrook. McCoy needs some polishing, but he could could be the perfect back to take the reigns from Westbrook down the road. |
| 29 |  | New York Giants (12-4) | WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, Maryland – Regardless of Plaxico Burress’ status for next season, the Giants need some help at WR. Amani Toomer’s age, coupled with the lack of production from Steve Smith and Domenik Hixon leave the Giants without too many viable options at the position. Heyward-Bey’s combination of size and speed make him a very attractive prospect, especially considering that his numbers came from a very pass challenged offense. |
| 30 |  | Tennessee Titans (13-3) | WR Percy Harvin, Florida – That’s right folks, the Titans defy the odds and finally take the WR they need in Harvin. If Tennessee (and more importantly their opponents) learned anything last year, it’s that speed can be deadly. The home-run threat that the Titans landed at RB last year in Chris Johnson comes this year at wideout with Harvin. If they re-sign Collins, that duo could be lethal in Heimerdinger’s offense. That is, if he’s still around at 30. |
| 31 |  | Arizona Cardinals (9-7) | DE Michael Johnson, Geargia Tech – Arizona could use help at virtually every phase of their defense. Last season, the Cardinals were middle of the pack in terms of pass rush, and Johnson would be an intriguing pick here. While Johnson was primarily a back up in college, his upside is tremendous. If he develops into the player many scouts think he will, he should play at the level of a top ten pick. |
| 32 |  | Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) | CB Sean Smith, Utah – Smith, a converted receiver out of Utah, has emerged as one of the best corners in college football, after only playing the position for two years in college. While Pittsburgh could certainly use some o-line help, most of the top prospects at that position will likely be gone by the 32nd pick. Smith would be a great value pick here, and would certainly bolster a secondary short on youth and depth. |