NFL 2005 Mock Draft: April 17

Round 1

1. San Francisco 49ers: Aaron Rodgers QB California
Rodgers will be ready to play sooner than Smith will, and for some reason Mike Nolan said he is going to start whoever it is they draft here from day one. I personally would pick Smith and let Rattay have the reigns for a few years.

2. Miami Dolphins: Ronnie Brown RB Auburn
Brown is rated as the best back in the draft, and should be able to help the Dolphins immediately, something they desperately need. How many times do you see two guys from the same backfield go in the first round, and the backup goes before the starter?

3. Cleveland Browns: Alex Smith QB Utah
Smith is too good to pass up here, and I don’t see any long term longevity for Trent Dilfer or Luke McCown. Derrick Johnson is a strong possibility here too, but the Browns have said they will take the best player available,

4. Chicago Bears: Mike Williams WR Southern California
The Bears need to build up the offense and give Rex Grossman some weapons. Thomas Jones and Mushin Muhammad are already in place, adding a young stud like Williams gives the Bears a nice looking offense to go along with their good defense.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Carnell Williams RB Auburn
Jon Gruden loves adding weapons to his offense, and adding Williams would give them something they haven’t had since Warrick Dunn left. Williams has shown he can run inside and take a pounding, and has home run speed.

6. Tennessee Titans: Alex Barron OT Florida State
They need some help on defense and in the secondary, but they can address that in later rounds. If Steve McNair is going to play in more than three games this year he’ll need some protection. It may not be a popular pick, but it’s the right one.

7. Minnesota Vikings: Braylon Edwards WR Michigan
The Vikings need someone to replace Randy Moss because as good as the offense already is, Marcus Robinson and Nate Burleson don’t scare anyone. Like Moss, Edwards has good speed, soft hands and great leaping ability and will quickly become Culpepper’s main target.

8. Arizona Cardinals: Cedric Benson RB Texas
The Cardinals biggest need is running back, drafting Benson allows them to get a top tier running back without giving anything up (Travis Henry deal) and gives Denny Green a good young offense to work with. The Cards also need a QB and may grab Alex Smith here, Green has a knack for working with QB projects.

9. Washington Redskins: Carlos Rogers CB Auburn
After dealing Champ Bailey last year, and losing Fred Smoot this year, the Skins need some help in the secondary. Pac-Man Jones could go here too, but his size is a bit scary in a division with big receivers.

10. Detroit Lions Shawne Merriman DE/LB Maryland
The Lions need to address their offensive and defensive line. They should be able to find some offensive linemen after June 1st making Merriman to tough to pass on.

11. Dallas Cowboys: Derrick Johnson LB Texas
The Cowboys will be thrilled to see him land in their laps, he is the best defender in the draft and they are in desperate need of an outside linebacker.

12. San Diego Chargers: Mark Clayton WR Oklahoma
The Chargers are looking to add a playmaker at receiver, which is exactly what Clayton is. He has drawn a lot of comparisons to Marvin Harrison due to his size, agility, speed and hands.

13. Houston Texans David Pollack DE/LB Georgia
Pollack is suited to play in the 3-4 and would give the Texans a speed rusher on the outside at end or linebacker. Marcus Spears of LSU is another possibility here.

14. Carolina Panthers: Troy Williamson WR South Carolina
The Panthers lost Muhammad in the off season, and Steve Smith is coming off of a broken leg, leaving them with Keary Colbert as their returning playmaker. Williamson has good size and speed and will allow the Panthers to stretch the field and open holes in the running game.

15. Kansas City Chiefs: Erasmus James DE Wisconsin
The Chiefs need a playmaker on defense, and that’s exactly what James was at Wisconsin. He gets after the quarterback as good as anyone in this draft, but has had a serious hip injury, struggles with stopping the run, and has been accused of taking plays off.

16. New Orleans Saints: Pac-Man Jones CB West Virginia
The Saints had an awful defense last year and need to add to their secondary. Mike McKenzie is the only viable corner on the roster and, stop me if you’ve heard this one, he’s threatening to hold out if he doesn’t get more money. Tomas Davis could also go here.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Travis Johnson DT Florida State
A big body (6-4, 296) who will clog up the middle in Marvin Lewis’ defense, he’s also athletic enough to provide some pass rush.

18. Minnesota Vikings: Demarcus Ware DE/LB Troy
Gives the Vikings another piece on defense after a winter of free agent signings. Ware can play both outside linebacker or defensive end and is a perfect fit for Ted Cottrell’s system.

19. St. Louis Rams: Jamaal Brown OT Oklahoma
The Rams need help protecting Mark Bulger. Kyle Turley won’t be back, and Brown is a natural pass protecting tackle and very athletic.

20. Dallas Cowboys: Thomas Davis S Georgia
Roy Williams and Thomas Davis would be one of the most feared safety tandems in football and give the Cowboys a defensive playmaker, something they lacked last year.

21. Jacksonville Jaguars: Corey Webster CB Louisiana State
The Jaguars would like to add another receiver, but their most pressing needs are on defense. They already upgraded the defensive line through free agency, leaving the secondary as their main weakness. They could also move up and package their pick with David Garrard or Donovan Darius.

22. Baltimore Ravens Shaun Cody DT/DE Southern California
The Ravens are going back the 4-3 and Cody can play both tackle and end, making him a valuable commodity. He gets good leverage because of his unusually short legs, and plays with a relentless intensity.

23. Seattle Seahawks: Justin Miller CB Clemson
The Seahawks could use some depth at corner and linebacker, and playing in the pass happy NFC West would lead you to believe they’ll add a corner first. Miller changes speed well, is physical and can return kicks.

24. Green Bay Packers: Marcus Spears DE Louisiana State
Spears would be a dream come true for the Packers and Jim Bates, he is a big guy (6-4, 303) who can stuff the run, and provide a good pass rush because of his exceptional athleticism.

25. Denver Broncos: Fabian Washington CB Nebraska
The Broncos addressed the defensive line through free agency and trades in the off season, and added a few linebackers. The biggest hole they have is at corner, Lenny Walls is coming off an injury and Kelly Herndon was lost in free agency.

26. New York Jets: Heath Miller TE Virginia
The Jets lost Anthony Becht, leaving them with Chris Baker as the incumbent starting tight end. Miller is a gifted young playmaker who is in the mold of Todd Heap and will give Chad Pennington a red zone weapon.

27. Atlanta Falcons: Brodney Pool S Oklahoma
The Falcons could address the depth on their defensive line, but safety is their biggest need. The defensive line did a good job getting at the quarterback last year, but their personnel at safety wasn’t suited for the scheme. Pool is athletic, good at run support, and doesn’t get lost in coverage.

28. San Diego Chargers: Matt Roth DE Iowa
Despite having a statistically good defense last year, the Chargers need a lot of help on the line. Roth is a hustle guy who’s motor never stops but sometimes it can get him in trouble by over pursuing.

29. Indianapolis Colts: Luis Castillo DT Northwestern
Castillo was rapidly climbing the draft boards until he confessed to taking steroids before the combine last week. The fact that he was open and honest about what he did and why shouldn’t scare teams that much. He would do a good job of clogging the middle and taking some double teams off of Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney on the ends.

30. Pittsburgh Steelers: Barrett Ruud LB Nebraska
The Steelers lost Kendrell Bell, and although they played without him for much of last season anyway, they’ll still need to add another linebacker or two. Ruud is very versatile, and what he lacks in athleticism, he makes up for it with his smarts.

31. Philadelphia Eagles: Roddy White WR Alabama-Birmingham
White leads the second tier of receivers in this draft. The Eagles need to address receiver and linebacker/end the most. The headaches they have with TO and Freddy Mitchell will force them to grab a receiver or two quickly in the draft.

32. New England Patriots: Kevin Burnett LB Tennessee
Willie McGinnest and Ted Johnson are hitting the mid 30’s and Teddy Bruschi may not play at all this year. Burnett is a smart and steady linebacker who will fit perfectly into New England’s defensive scheme.


Round 2

33. San Francisco 49ers: Khalif Barnes OT Washington
They have so many holes, they need to just accumulate quality players, plus Rodgers needs some protection.

34. Cleveland Browns: Darryl Blackstock LB Virginia
Switching to the 3-4 and they need to add depth to the linebackers.

35. Philadelphia Eagles: Anttaj Hawthorne DT Wisconsin
Was a mid-late first rounder before testing positive for marijuana. Corey Simon may be in his last season so they need to add depth to the line.

36. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Matt Jones WR/TE Arkansas
Receiver is a weak spot on the roster once you get past Michael Clayton.

37. Tennessee Titans: Marlin Jackson CB Michigan
They could go receiver too, but they need to replace Samari Rolle.

38. Oakland Raiders: Channing Crowder LB Florida
A talented athlete, great physical tools, and extremely raw. The selling point to Al Davis is his character issues, perfect Raider.

39. Chicago Bears: Ciatrick Faison RB Florida
Thomas Jones did a good job last season, but they don’t have anyone behind him.

40. New Orleans Saints: Josh Bullocks S Nebraska
Defense, Defense, Defense.

41. Detroit Lions: Marcus Johnson OG/T Ole Miss
Losing Stocktar McDougal and losing out on Alex Barron force them to make this pick.

42. Dallas Cowboys: Mark Bradley WR Oklahoma
Terry Glenn cant stay healthy, Keyshawn is getting old and doesn’t stretch the field anyway, and Quincy Morgan is too inconsistent.

43. New York Giants: Mike Patterson DT Southern California
They made a lot of cuts on the defensive line this off season, and the guys left are getting long in the tooth.

44. Arizona Cardinals: Alex Smith TE Stanford
Perfect replacement for Freddy Jones, plus Denny Green is a Stanford guy.

45. Carolina Panthers: Adam Terry OT Syracuse
They did sign Mike Whale, but Jordan Gross struggled at tackle last season, plus Whale is a natural guard and they’re moving him to tackle.

46. Kansas City Chiefs: Odell Thurman LB Georgia
Just like the Saints, Defense, Defense, Defense. He can play inside or outside and much like Thomas Davis he can fly and hits like a ton.

47. Houston Texans: Jerome Mathis WR Hampton
Andre Johnson and who else do the Texans have at wide out?

48. Cincinnati Bengals: Chris Spencer C Ole Miss
Rich Braham is getting older an starting to break down, and you can never get enough protection for a franchise quarterback.

49. Minnesota Vikings: J.J. Arrington RB California
Onterio Smith is one positive test away from a one year suspension, Michael Bennett can’t stay on the field, Mo Williams isn’t an every down back, and I don’t think Mwelde Moore is the back of the future.

50. St. Louis Rams: Charlie Frye QB Akron
Martz loves working with quarterbacks, and as they saw last year, you need a quality backup.

51. Green Bay Packers: Justin Tuck DE/LB Notre Dame
Much like KGB, he’s a lean speed rusher, although he is a bit taller. Fit’s the Jason Taylor role in Bate’s defense perfectly.

52. Jacksonville Jaguars: David Baas OG Michigan
They’ve already addressed their defense and could use some depth on the offensive line.

53. Baltimore Ravens: Reggie Brown WR Georgia
They added Derrick Mason, but don’t have much after that.

54. Seattle Seahawks: Evan Mathis OG Alabama
Seattle just needs to add depth on both sides of the ball.

55. Buffalo Bills: Jonathon Babineaux DT Iowa
In need of someone to plug the middle now that Pat Williams has left for Minnesota.

56. Denver Broncos: Jason Campbell QB Auburn
The Broncos clearly aren’t thrilled with Jake Plummer, and Campbell may develop into a quality starter in this league.

57. New York Jets: Bryant McFadden CB Florida State
Donnie Abraham and Terrell Buckley are nearing retirement, and the secondary was the weak spot of the defense last year.

58. Green Bay Packers: Donte Nicholson S Oklahoma
They added Arturo Freeman and Earl Little, but they will probably fight for the same spot, and Mark Roman may be cut after June 1st.

59. Atlanta Falcons: Terrence Murphy WR Texas A&M
Give Michael Vick as many weapons as you can.

60. Indianapolis Colts: Eric Green CB Virginia Tech
The Colts need to add defenders, any position, just add depth. The secondary was weak last year, but so was all of the defense besides Dwight Freeney.

61. San Diego Chargers: Michael Roos OT Eastern Washington
Roman Oben is getting old, and the line is a bit of a weak spot.

62. Pittsburgh Steelers: Corey Webster CB Louisiana State
They are still in the market for Ty Law, but they are pretty set at linebacker and line. Chad Scott is gone, and Willie Williams is in his mid 30’s.

63. Philadelphia Eagles: Chris Canty DE Virginia
Would have been a late first rounder or early second rounder if he wasn’t injured last season.

64. New England Patriots: Logan Mankins OG Fresno State
Adrian Klemm and Joe Andruzzi are gone and the Patriots are in the enviable position of just drafting for depth.