2005
NFL Mock Draft ROUND 2
33 San Francisco - Roddy
White. Roddy's a big time receiver who
played at a smaller school. He's got a great
track record, is big and strong, and is a
down field threat. He's exactly what the Niners
need in round two, considering their two possible
number two receivers combined for 13 catches
last year.
34
Cleveland - Anttaj Hawthorne. If the Browns
went another direction in round 1, and Channing
Crowder or Barrett Rudd are still on the board,
they'll take one of those two characters,
I'm thinking Crowder. But, they picked a star
linebacker at pick 3, so they'll go another
direction here. I think they'll stick with
defense, and try to replace one of the 12
defensive linemen they traded to the Broncos
with defensive tackle Anttaj Hawthorne. Romeo
Cronell will see a player who can dominate
when giving full effort. He'll assume he can
make this guy play full speed.
35
Philadelphia (from Miami) - Channing Crowder.
The Eagles almost picked this guy in round
1, and will be happy to see him here. He's
got lots of exciting skills, and Andy Reid
has a big head now that he tamed Terrell Owens.
Crowder has a ton of talent, which the Eagles
will be glad to have blitzing often.
36
Tampa Bay - Elton Brown. If Roddy White's
still on the board, don't be surprised to
see Jon Gruden take him off. As for now, Gruden
might go for a lineman for his new star running
back. The best value looks like Elton Brown
who happens to be my top rated guard. A good
lineman makes a lot of sense.
37
Tennessee - Barrett Rudd. Since the Titans
need everything, they'll pick the best player
here. Jason Campbell might be intriguing;
a possible future run-pass threat like Air
McNair, but the smart move would be a talented
and instant helper on defense. Barrett Rudd
happens to be a hard worker who brings hat
and runs pretty well. He'd be a nice round
2 pick for the Titans.
38
Oakland - Ernest Shazor. This is where
Oakland starts "reaching" for guys,
though they seem to turn out all right, so
maybe "reaching" isn't the best
thing to call it. Maybe "knowing more
than you" is more accurate. The Raiders,
who blew against the run last year, pick the
biggest run stopping safety in the draft.
Shazor isn't a speedster, but he isn't poor
in coverage either. He's a run stuffer first.
39
Chicago - Alex Smith. Smith isn't a guy
people are looking at to be one of the next
great tight ends, but that's why he's still
on the board. What he does have is more potential
and a better complete game than any tight
end on the Bear roster. A good young reliable
tight end like Smith could be exactly what
the Bears need to help Rex Grossman become
what the organization is hoping for. Plus,
after Smith, and even before him, no one is
a sure thing.
40
New Orleans (from Washington) - Marlin Jackson.
The Saints, who seemingly always need help
in the secondary, might pick Jackson here.
He's a big strong corner who has above average
cover skills and shows excellent help against
the run, but lacks the big play ability desired
for CB's. He works well manning the slot receiver,
and would be a good fit in a secondary that
could use a big physical player adept to playing
both safety and corner.
41
Detroit - Khalif Barnes. Barnes has been
up and down since the start of the off-season.
People are putting him in round 1, and knocking
him down to the end of round 2. He's a big
athletic tackle who played in a tough situation
in Seattle the last few years. He was the
best player on his O-Line by far. He'd be
a good pick here for a Lion's team who could
really use some help on their line.
42
Dallas - Lance Mitchell. I'd love to see
the Cowboys pick Mike Patterson here because
he got a 9 on his Wonderlic test and would
be a perfect fit in Dallas with Jerry Jones.
Unfortunately, there's no way they pick another
D-Tackle here. However Lance Mitchell is still
here because of a torn ACL his junior year
that slowed him down in '04-'05. He looks
like he's getting back to his old self, showing
more confidence in pre-draft workouts. He's
a good player who could really fit as a big
middle linebacker needed in the 3-4.
43
N.Y. Giants - Dan Cody. The Giants finally
get to add help to Eli's team. They'll start
on defense in this draft. D-end might be
a nice place to start, as Dan Cody, who
has been listed in the top 5 for Ends will
have dropped quite a distance because of
his past medical issues and limited size.
The bottom line is he's good all over the
field, shows hustle and makes big plays
behind the line of scrimmage. Would be a
good fit opposite All-Pro Michael Strahan.
44
Arizona - Jason Campbell. If available,
Green could take TE Alex Smith, OT Khalif
Barnes, or CB Marlin Jackson. The Cardinals
need a possible starter at corner. I don't
see any sure things standing out on my board,
so I believe they'll wait. I think Green will
take a chance with Jason Campbell here. Campbell
showed great leadership ability last year
taking Auburn to an undefeated season. He's
got a good arm and knows how to run an offense.
Does Dennis Green really trust his team to
Kurt Warner?
45
Carolina - Marcus Johnson. Johnson could
come in and start for the Panthers. He's a
good tackle and a starting O-lineman is always
a good pick in round 2. The Panthers rely
too much on their running game to sit around
and try to get lucky later in the draft. Johnson
is a smash mouth run blocker and an adequate
pass protector. Give me an O-lineman who is
a huge athlete that works hard any day.
46
Kansas City - Odell Thurman. The Chiefs
don't have time to worry about off-field
baggage that might come with Thurman. Odell
is a playmaker, and although he's small
for a backer, he's got above average speed
and always seems to get the job done. He's
a playmaker, and a solid backer all over
the field. He's too good to pass up for
a team that needs defensive players of his
caliber badly. If they get Odell here they
get a steal.
47
Houston - Kevin Burnett. Burnett is at
his best outside against the run. He's pushing
Channing Crowder for number 3 on my list of
outside backers. He's got no downside, and
could really help the new line backing corps
in Houston. He's fast, athletic, instinctive,
and takes perfect lines everywhere. Snagging
Burnett might complete a much-improved group.
48
Cincinnati - Chris Spencer. Spencer came
out this year because he knew as a junior
he'd still be the best center in the draft.
His upside is tremendous considering he's
only worked one year at center, and that was
last year. He's strong and has great instincts.
This kid is one of the best linemen in the
draft. He's not needed right away, but will
almost surely be a starter next year.
49
Minnesota - Michael Boley. If Kevin Burnett
is still on the board, I think the Vikings
will take him. He's good everywhere and could
be used immediately outside. They could also
make it two centers in a row and take David
Bass, though he'd almost surely play guard
in Minnesota. I think they'll take Michael
Boley, who happens to be an athletic nose
for the ball type player. The Vikings defense
sure needs people who know where the ball
is, most of them looked like they hadn't a
clue last year.
50
St. Louis - Fred Gibson. The Rams have
a wealth at receiver, but they all seem to
be small. That hasn't shown to be a problem,
but someone with great speed and height would
be a nice option for the Rams. Gibson is just
a hair under 6'4" and runs a 4.4 forty.
He doesn't have great speed, but since everyone
else on the Rams receiving corps does, Gibson's
tall slender frame might be ideal in round
2.
51
Green Bay (from New Orleans) - Justin Tuck.
Tuck has great height and athletic ability.
He showed scouts more than they were looking
for in line backer drills at the combine.
He has a good motor, and had plenty of sacks
in his three years at Notre Dame. He gets
out of position and lacks lower body strength,
but his potential, speed, and lightning quick
hands should get him picked around this spot.
The Packers could use playmakers on a poor
defensive unit, and Tuck could help take some
pressure of KGB.
52
Jacksonville - If the Jaguars have given
up on Reggie Williams then, 1- they're crazy,
and 2- They'll probably take a big receiver
to try and replace him here. Gibson or Chris
Henry might be around. Since they're smarter
than that, they'll take a hopeful backup to
the oft-injured Fred Taylor. Marion Barbar
III is my "next best" running back,
and getting him here might be a good idea.
Taylor's done good staying on the field, but
they don't have a good backup, and Barbar
could play that role, as well as get ready
for the future.
53
Baltimore - Chris Henry. Chris Henry would
be a great addition to the Baltimore offense
that added offensive coaches as well as Derrick
Mason this off-season. Mason had a tall sure
handed running mate in Tennessee and Henry,
at 6'4", could work real well with the
tandem of Mason and TE Todd Heap. If they
didn't get a D-end in round 1, they could
go that rout here. The best backer available
could also be an option. Imagining the entire
draft did exactly as I have written down,
they take Henry here.
54
Seattle - Chris Canty. Though the Seahawks
needed defense badly, they couldn't ignore
the sure handed Mark Clayton in round 1. As
I mentioned, one side has to budge there.
Now, and for just about the rest of the draft,
the Seahawks almost certainly have to pick
defensive players. Davis Bass, who's a good
center and guard, will be looked past here
in hopes of improving their 26th ranked defense.
Chris Canty is hugemungus. Standing 6-7, Canty
has upside off the charts. He's strong against
the pass and the run. A bar brawl that injured
Canty has some questioning his personality,
but c'mon, who hasn't gotten in a fight in
a bar?
55
Buffalo - David Bass. Kick his ass Sea
Bass. David Bass can play both guard and center.
He put up the best numbers of all centers
who competed at the combine. He's been outstanding
every year in college. He could help Buffalo
in a need position, and be a good value pick
here as well. The Bills look to be on the
right track, and if they could pick up more
picks for disgruntled running back Travis
Henry, they could be a playoff team next year.
56
Denver - Eric Green. If the Broncos have
their choice between Bryan McFadden and Green
here I think they take Green. He's the better
of the two with quickness and big play ability.
He'd be a good fit in the slots, where his
ideal quickness would be appreciated. He's
a good player who could start eventually,
but would be a big addition in the nickel
and dime packages for the Broncos' who lost
Kelly Herndon to the Hawks.
57
N.Y. Jets - Bryant McFadden. McFadden
is fast and knocks down plenty of passes.
He's a good tackler, and never gives up big
plays. He might still be around because he
doesn't make many either. He is sound in coverage,
and would be a good pick for the Jets who
could really use some help at corner.
58
Green Bay - Kyle Orton. The Packers have
to address Favre's retirement sooner or later.
Orton fits the mold, as he's a gunslinger
with a strong arm that likes to thread it
in with confidence. He's not a running threat,
but that's not important. He has led his pass
first team since he took over the job. He's
always done well. He's underrated and has
a quick release. He could end up to be the
best QB in this draft.
59
Atlanta - Mike Patterson. Patterson isn't
the biggest baddest bully on the block, but
his quick feet, tough hands, good strength
and that nonstop motor would make him a good
nose tackle for the Falcons. They need D-lineman,
and it's only Peterson's size, or lack there
of which has him on the board this long. Shaun
Cody wasn't he only one destroying opposing
offenses for USC. What ever it means, I think
nothing, he's a d-lineman, but he got single
digits on the Wonderlic test.
60
Indianapolis - Matt McCoy. If Eric Green
or Bryant McFadden happens to still be available
the Colts should take one of them. Matt McCoy
is one of, if not the best player not invited
to the combine. He had a great pro day, and
his skills, similar to that of the Liger,
have him pushing up draft boards, possibly
into the second round. Indianapolis, who can
always add solid defensive players could look
to get their hands on Mr. McCoy.
61
San Diego - Marcus Lawrence. After picking
up Erasmus James and a talented receiving
target in Matt Jones, the Chargers will be
looking to upgrade their defense again. Marcus
Lawrence isn't a blazer, nor is he a super
star in the waiting, but he can get the job
done at ILB in the 3-4 defense Wade Phillips
is running in San Diego. Lawrence could make
a splash, add some play making ability to
an average defense, and be an instant starter.
62
Pittsburgh - J.J. Arrington. The Steelers
have the most productive rushing tandem in
the NFL. Or so they did last year. But, both
Staley and Bettis are old. The Bus has been
rolling retreads for a while, but is obviously
still productive. Soon, the Steelers will
need a young back to go with that young superstar
Big Ben. J.J. is short, but weighs in at 215.
He's a tough runner with a sure 4.4. He'd
be a good pick for a team with aging legs
carrying the load.
63
Philadelphia - Vincent Jackson. The Eagles
are tired of taking "smart picks"
with guys like Freddie Mitchell, and are looking
to take a chance on a guy who could pan out
big. And I mean real big. Vincent is nearly
6'5" and had great numbers in the combine.
He's a small college guy, but there have been
a couple good ones. Jackson has good speed,
size, and jumping ability. With single coverage,
because of T.O., he could get some chances
to make big plays in Philly.
64
New England - Vincent Fuller. The Patriots
pick the best players on the board, which
can offer help in many areas. Fuller could
be a special teams player, and who knows,
could be in for a start on Super Bowl Sunday
the way the Pats pick em. Fuller is a second
round talent, and could be picked by the Pats
at the end.
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