NFL Mock Draft 4.0: Goodbye Tebow, Harvin; Hello Others

By Daniel Evans | October 9th, 2008

First here’s some frequently asked questions about my mock draft:

1) The order is done by the current NFL standings. This probably would not be the exact order if the draft took place today (coin flips & playoffs would have to be complete) but it’s a pretty good estimation of what it would look like.

2) I do these weekly but only here at NFLmocks.com so make sure you check back often for updates.

3) Make sure you leave comments below but to remember it is only early October. Right now it is hard to tell what each teams needs.

Early Trends:

Where Are The Quarterbacks? I have two quarterbacks going in this mock draft, thanks to the hunch I have about Mark Sanchez. Even Matthew Stafford is not a sure first round pick at this point. The 2009 NFL Draft could be a sad draft day for teams needing a quarterback for the future (Kansas City).

Offensive Tackle Heavy: Every team seems to love offensive lineman in the first round of the NFL Draft. Both Michael Oher and Andre Smith look like for sure top ten picks.

Where’s Tebow: As a Florida fan I had a tough time doing it but I removed Tebow, Percy Harvin, and even linebacker Brandon Spikes from the first round of this draft. All three could easily go in round one but at this point I don’t see it for any of them. Spikes has been fantastic and will still probably go in round one but I just didn’t find a spot for him this time around.

Without further adu, here’s the latest NFL Mock Draft:

#	Team		Pick	Thoughts
1		St. Louis Rams	OT Michael Oher Ole Miss	Easily the best player in the entire draft class, Oher will be a great selection for any team.
2		Detroit Lions	LB Ray Mauluaga USC	The best pure player in the draft this year. The Lions would absolutely love to have him.
3		Cincinnati Bengals	OT Andre Smith Alabama	Andre Smith has been a force since he went to Tuscaloosa, and he will be great in the NFL also.
4		Houston Texans	CB Malcolm Jenkins Ohio State	Jenkins would be the shut down corner Houston needs. Playing Peyton Manning twice a year is tough.
5		Oakland Raiders	LB James Laurinaitis Ohio State	Al Davis likes defense and he takes the Ohio State star here, hoping he can anchor a struggling team.
6		Kansas City Chiefs	QB Matthew Stafford* Georgia	Everyone knows the Chiefs need a quarterback, why not the young Georgia signal caller?
7		Cleveland Browns	DE Michael Johnson Georgia Tech	Johnson would be a great pass rusher in the AFC North, with Big Ben and Caron Palmer in their prime.
8		Seattle Seahawks	WR Derrius Heyward Bey Maryland	Heyward Bey has actually passed Michael Crabtree (for now) as the top receiver in this class.
9		San Francisco 49ers	DE Tyson Jackson LSU Senior	Jackson would help a 49ers defensivee line that needs some help up front.
10		Philadelphia Eagles	OT Eugene Monroe Virginia	Monroe is quickly becoming one of the top prospects in this draft. He would be a steal right here.
11		New Orleans Saints	DE Brian Orakpo Texas	Here’s another guy flying up the draft sheets right now. Orakpo would be a top 20 pick right now.
12		Minnesota Vikings	QB Mark Sanchez USC	What Sanchez this high? Call this a hunch. I’ve seen the guy play and I think he will be a NFL QB.
13		Green Bay Packers	CB Vontae Davis* Illinois	Davis is easily the top cornerback prospect int he draft. Green Bay would love to draft him at #13.
14		San Diego Chargers	WR Michael Crabtree* Texas Tech	As you all know by now I love this guy. I think Crabtree is a can’t miss prospect.
15		Jacksonville Jaguars	S William Moore Missouri	Moore would help sure up the secondary. He’s a great playmaker and would add scary speed to the D.
16		Indianapolis Colts	LB Brian Cushing USC	The Colts have got to find a way to stop the run, and Cushing would definitely help in that area.
17		Miami Dolphins	DE George Selvie South Florida	Selvie is everywhere on draft boards but he’d be a great replacement for Jason Taylor.
18		Baltimore Ravens	CB Darius Butler Connecticut	The Ravens really need help on offense but with no wide receivers available here they help their great D.
19		Atlanta Falcons	CB Alphonso Smith Wake Forest	Want to know how good of a cornerback Smith is? He likely saved the game for WF against Clemson.
20		Tampa Bay Buccaneers	DT Terrence Cody* Alabama	Cody has risen up draft boards faster than anybody. He’s huge and would be a great first day starter.
21		Arizona Cardinals	RB Javon Ringer Michigan State	Ringer is the hard nosed runner than Arizona has lacked for years. I’d love this selection.
22		New York Jets	LB Aaron Curry Wake Forest	Curry would be the aggressive playmaker that the Jets lack on defense.
23		Philadelphia Eagles (Via trade with Carolina)	DT Terrence Taylor Michigan	The Eagles like taking lineman in the first two rounds, and Taylor is a big force on the D line.
24		Buffalo Bills	S Taylor Mays* USC	Mays is my favorite safety in this entire draft because of his size.
25		Denver Broncos	S Patrick Chung Oregon	Chung is one of the top rated safeties in this entire draft. He will go middle first to late second.
26		Dallas Cowboys	WR Jeremy Maclin* Missouri	Maclin would be a speedster (sort of like DeSean Jackson) and would make TO even more open.
27		Pittsburgh Steelers	CB Mike Mickens Cincinnati	Mickens can shut down big receivers and would be a great late round pick.
28		Chicago Bears	OT Ciron Black LSU	The one thing this draft has is a lot of great offensive tackles. Black is one of them.
29		Washington Redskins	DE Greg Hardy Ole Miss	Now that Hardy is back the Ole Miss front line is dominant again. He’d be a great replacement for Taylor.
30		New England Patriots	CB Victor Harris Virginia Tech	For some reason the Patriots secondary/defense isn’t playing well this year. Harris would add athleticism.
31		New York Giants	LB Darry Beckwith LSU	The Giants would really like to sure up their D-line, but this is a best available pick.
32		Tennessee Titans	WR Brian Robiskie Ohio State	The Titans need a young receiver and Robiskie sort of fits the Titans mold.

Categories: 2009 Mock Drafts, Draft News, Features
Tags: Aaron Curry, Alphonso Smith, Andre Smith, Brian Cushing, Brian Orakpo, Brian Robiskie, Ciron Black, Darius Butler, Darry Beckwith, Derrius Heyward Bey, Eugene Monroe, George Selvie, Greg Hardy, James Laurinatis, Javon Ringer, Jeremy Maclin, Malcolm Jenkins, Mark Sanchez, Matthew Stafford, Michael Crabtree, Michael Johnson, Michael Oher, Mike Mickens, Patrick Chung, Ray Mauluaga, Taylor Mays, Terrence Cody, Terrence Taylor, Tyson Jackson, Victor Harris, Vontae Davis, William Moore

Comments to “NFL Mock Draft 4.0: Goodbye Tebow, Harvin; Hello Others”

Ian | Inside the Iggles on Oct 9th, 2008 at 9:59 pm

Monroe would be great. OT is a huge need. Based on how the season is turning out LJ Smith will be outta here next year. So I expect the Eagles to draft a tight end at some point.

Edward Langley on Oct 10th, 2008 at 3:01 am

Miami don’t need anyone to replace Taylor. We took Phillip Merling with the first pick in the 2nd round and Kendell Langford (3rd Round Pick) fits Sparano’s 3-4 perfectly…he already has 2 sacks in his first 4 NFL Games and thats without playing every single play!!!

Edward Langley on Oct 10th, 2008 at 3:03 am

I think Darius Butler would be a much better pick. Will Allen is decent and can control a number 2 reciever but we really need to help out our secondary. With our pressure on the QB it shouldn’t be that hard to make plays but we are’nt getting many interceptions.

Chris on Oct 10th, 2008 at 8:08 am

I don’t see Crabtree or Maclin falling that far, I think both will go in the top 10.

Daniel Evans on Oct 10th, 2008 at 8:19 am

Thanks for your thoughts Edward. Please remember that right now it is hard to determine exactly what each team needs. My notes aren’t very long on any team since we only have four to five games of an entire season complete. Some of these picks were made based off of “best available” over “need” because it is hard to determine what each team needs at this time.

Daniel Evans on Oct 10th, 2008 at 8:20 am

Chris, Crabtree is my one can’t miss prospect in this draft but if he does elect to leave this year his youth might hurt him in the draft. That might sound crazy but only two years of actually playing (three years all together because he was redshirted his freshman season) gives him less time to polish his skills. Maclin is a great speedster and is moving up on draft boards right now.

Ian on Oct 10th, 2008 at 11:10 am

I think your mock is pretty good. However the Jets wont pick Aaron Curry. They run a 3-4 and Curry is more of a will linebacker in a 4-3. Although he is talented he wouldn’t fit in, like Vilma the years before. They could probably go with Taylor Mays in your scenario because they have a good secondary and youthful except for the one safety spot alongside Kerry Rhodes. They could also fo for a MLB next to David Harris or a big play reciever or RB

Myth on Oct 10th, 2008 at 11:27 am

For the Lions’ pick: Do you really think that Ray Maualuga fits the Tampa 2 (assuming they stick with the scheme after this year) which requires a lot of deep pass drops? I’m not saying Ray isn’t the best defensive player, but the Tampa 2 scheme is predicated on d-line pressure. As good as Ray is, his position is not of primary importance to the scheme. A pass rushing DE is primary, as well as a big NT to eat up the running game and give the UT some room to pressure the QB.

And how often does a MLB go #2 overall? The Lions NEED O-line almost as badly as they do a D-line. Frankly, at the #2 overall pick I don’t see a DE or DT worth that pick. It would be a reach for Michael Johnson and the best DT I’ve seen so far this year is big Terrence Cody…but as highly as he has risen, I still don’t think he’s worth the #2 pick. So, I’m going to say that one of the excellent LTs going in this draft will be heading for Detroit.

Daniel Evans on Oct 10th, 2008 at 12:08 pm

Mauluaga can do it all Myth. He can rush the passer and make the plays in pass coverage. Trust me, this guy is a gamer.

Daniel Evans on Oct 10th, 2008 at 12:10 pm

Thanks Ian for your feedback. I watched Curry play last night and was very impressed. He will likely be a first round pick if everything goes right in the combine, but you are right about how he fits in with the Jets.

TexansFan03 on Oct 10th, 2008 at 6:31 pm

The Texans pick all depends on how Dunta Robinson plays when he comes back. Our team says hes ready, just waiting to come off of PuP list.

If he plays decent, expect us to take William Moore or Taylor Mays, as our safietes have been banged up the last two years and they really werent that good to start with.

Blake on Oct 10th, 2008 at 9:11 pm

This is more to Edward Langley, but Merling and Langford were not drafted to replace Jason Taylor. JT would have been an OLB in the 3-4, and Merling and Langford are obviously ends in the 3-4. Not the same position. As for the Selvie pick, I love it. Selvie is a beast, and he’ll be a perfect fit in the 3-4. He’d be an absolute steal at pick #17.

Joe on Oct 11th, 2008 at 6:08 am

Ringer the one and only rb in the 1st round? What happened to Moreno or Wells?

Daniel Evans on Oct 11th, 2008 at 8:16 am

Both Beanie & Moreno could be first round picks, but skill position players aren’t as popular as they use to be in the first round of the NFL Draft. It seems like more and more teams decide to build their teams from the inside out through the draft each season. I like Beanie but I believe injury concerns might hurt him when prospects turn on the tape. Moreno is a great player but he’s a redshirt sophomore (inexperienced), and he hasn’t played well this year.

Sandwiche on Oct 14th, 2008 at 12:01 pm

A few things are wrong:

Ray Maualuga is overrated, he won’t go that high.

Orakpo is better suited for the 3-4, the 4-3 makes him only situational.

Why would San Diego take a WR, they have a talented group already.

The Jags don’t need a safety, they already have Reggie Nelson. Try a CB instead.

Miami doesn’t need a replacement for JT

Curry isn’t a good fit for the Jets 3-4 D, they learned their lesson with Vilma.

The Eagles are set at DT, try WR, safety, or Oline.

The Steelers will take Ciron Black if he is still available. Fact.

There are a few other little forgivable things that I’m OK with

Mitch Mitch on Oct 21st, 2008 at 7:43 am

You heard it here, don’t be surprised if Darius Butler is the 1st corner taken after the combine and pro day. 4.3-4.2 speed,
Strong legnthy arms, 42 inch vertical,shutdown coverage skills and a great run support corner. Watch out…..

Myth on Oct 23rd, 2008 at 9:13 am

Regarding Mauluaga, I just am not buying it for the #2 overall pick. Their highest priority is DL and OL. I’m talking taking a 15 year franchise LT or getting an impact DE. They are drastically undermanned at the DT position and need a space eating NT type to place next to the plethora UT-type DTs they already have. All three of those positions are more tactically necessary for the Lions to turn things around than LB.

There isn’t a DT worth the #2 pick, though Terrance Cody looks like he could be a hot commodity come draft day. Ray’s value as a drop-back, cover LB is losing ground as we discuss this. If the value is there, I think they should/will go OT and DE in the first round, DT in the 2nd. Third round could be LB, TE, QB or CB.

BoltFan on Oct 27th, 2008 at 10:44 pm

There is no chance Chargers would pass Cody up if he was on the board when they pick. Then I would have The Jags grabbing a true weapon in Crabtree. The Bolts already have enough talent at WR. The need DL.

PhillyPhan20 on Nov 4th, 2008 at 12:05 pm

This guy must not watch much football, college or pro…that mock draft is the worse one i’ve seen in a while. Ray Mauluaga # 2….he’s an injury prone average LB with less than average cover skills, plus detroit needs an offensive and defensive line. SD taking a wideout? They have like 5 pretty good ones. Jags will take O-line or a corner. I dunno how many people will take a chance on Orakepo? He’s a boom or bust pick. And I’m pretty sure that the colts will draft at least One DT, as there run def. has not been good for 5 years….I could keep going but I’m not getting paid to correct this guys work.

YourDraftSucks on Nov 28th, 2008 at 5:04 am

i think your mock is pretty bogus no shot heyward bey goes before crabtree, you have the lions taking a linebacker at 2? they need a franchise qb! they have ernie sims at lb already and you have sanchez going before guys like bradford and harell! your draft is bogus just like your knowledge of football mauluaga is not the purest player in the draft grow up buddy don't post shit when your a toilet no one should even waste their time looking at this mock draft

Deg on Dec 11th, 2008 at 7:26 am

Pittsburgh select CB Mike Mickens? I doubt it. Pittsburgh's secondary is rather solid right now. Too solid to be taking a cb in the first! Offensive Lineman!!! That is the need now, and will be the need in April. C'mon man!!!

J-Dizzle on Dec 16th, 2008 at 6:57 am

I think that Macho Harris is to much of an athlete to fall that far as are Crabtree, and Maclin I could see the tree of them going somewhere in the 10 to 18 range.

draft analyzer on Jan 3rd, 2009 at 5:52 am

lets go ahead and update this mock draft.

fansided on Jan 3rd, 2009 at 5:54 am

There is a new mock draft right here : http://nflmocks.com/2008/12/24/nfl-mock-draft-60-...

1	OT Michael Oher (Ole Miss)
2	OT Andre Smith (Alabama)
3	WR Michael Crabtree (Texas Tech)
4	LB Ray Maualuga (USC)
5	LB James Lauriniatis (Ohio State)
6	CB Malcolm Jenkins (Ohio State)
7	DE Michael Johnson (Georgia Tech)
8	QB Matthew Stafford (Georgia)*
9	DE George Selvie (South Florida)
10	CB Vontae Davis (Illinois)

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