Team Needs Mock Draft (Part 2)

Team Needs Mock Draft (Part 2)

It’s a little early to be predicting the first round of the NFL Draft, yet people love to speculate what teams will do (Mel Kiper 9.0 by March). Every year Gridiron Experts refuses to post a Mock Draft too early, so instead we’re posting a 3 part team needs mock draft, giving an educated guess to what teams might be thinking.

Not every position that is lacking on a NFL squad has to be filled with a first round pick. There are still a ton of free agents that are about to hit the open market, and second year players that can step in now that they have a year under them, and the first few weeks of March should completely change the draft. So here is a look at the NFL Draft based on how teams are sitting at the moment.

Read the First Article: Team Needs Mock Draft (Part 1)

11) Denver Broncos Team Needs: DT | DE | WR | QB

Strange to see Denver this high on the board considering the fast start to the season with new coach Josh McDaniel’s. The Broncos completely fell apart in the final month of the season, losing 4 games in a row, including losses to the Chiefs and Raiders.

The Broncos will likely try to improve their running defense through free agency and could target an offensive playmaker with pick 10. The Brandon Marshall trade rumors have started to fire up, causing many mock draft experts to target the top wide receiver landing in Denver.

Demaryius Thomas is high in our books, but a broken foot could hurt his stock value, making Dez Bryant a strong favorite. There is also a chance that if a top QB is available at 10 the Broncos could fill the shoes left by Jay Cutler. Either way the Broncos are sitting strong at pick 10 to take the best player available without the huge rookie money at the top of the draft.

12) Miami Dolphins Team Needs: WR | LB | SS

The Dolphins had injuries to key players in ’09, but did an amazing job filling position spots. Players stepped up week after week to fill roles unlike any other team. The Dolphins are a diamond in the rough; if they can stay healthy and add a couple playmakers, this team could challenge for the AFC East division title.

This young team is a year older and wiser now, and will try to grow on the accomplishments of the ’09 season. Personally Gridiron Experts would like to see this pick used on the offensive side of the ball, and we’re sure fans would agree. Adding a WR that can stretch the field would be ideal for this running attack, yet the team has enough rookies, and leadership would be nice as well.

We think trading this pick to a team like Arizona for a smart, tough WR like Anquan Boldin would be a great move. At 29 the trade wouldn’t be pick for player, but if a mid round pick came with Boldin, the Dolphins would walk away happy. Gridiron Experts sees pick 12 the first traded away pick of the draft, either down to gain more picks, or to another team for a veteran leader. The Dolphins are already a young team and need to add talent and wisdom now.

13) San Francisco 49er’s Team Needs: OT | WR | SS | KR

The only thing the 49er’s need to do this offseason is cut Takeo Spikes. Why? Because the veteran linebacker is a playoff curse. In the 12 years that Takeo Spikes has been in the NFL he has never been a part of a team that has made the playoffs…wow!

The 49er’s don’t really have any massive needs on the team, despite what some may say about QB Alex Smith.

Alex Smith was solid down the stretch and should have done just enough to have earned another opportunity to start for the 49er’s next season. There is a chance that Smith could succeed and lead this team into the post season if a smart offensive system can be installed that this young club can get behind.  Keep in mind we’re being optimistic, as newly hired offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye II doesn’t come with an impressive resume. Raye has never run an offense that has ranked high in any category that mattered, and his hiring makes no sense in the direction the 49er’s were playing football last year. Jimmy Raye is a running back coach with a strong run-first mentality, making this pick at 13 not one we see going to a sexy pick.

In all odds the 49er’s will try to build a power running offense that sets up play action passes to V. Davis and M. Crabtree…think New York Jets only in red jerseys.

OT Anthony Davis or Bruce Campbell would be great additions for the 49er’s at pick 13. While fans want a new QB, the organization has made it clear that a running game is the focal point. If the 49er’s wanted to get into a run & gun offense, then Jimmy Raye is the wrong guy.

14) Seattle Seahawks:

(Pick #2 for the Seahawks) Going with our write up on the Seahawks in part 1 of our Mock Draft, we are suggesting that Seattle add an OT with their first pick and take a running back at pick 14. We believe that the Seahawks need more in the backfield and can’t continue to run with such an average group of RB’s. C.J. Spiller would be a huge addition at 14, but Johnathan Dwyer might be a better pick as he has more meat on his bones. If the Seahawks moved down a few spots, added extra picks, and selected one of these elite RB’s, we would easily grade them with high marks.

Other options: take former USC star Taylor Mays to reunite the Trojan power.

15) New York Giants Team Needs: LB | FS | RB | OL

It’s fitting to see the Giants picking at 15 as they had a very middle of the pack season. When looking at this team’s overall rankings and depth chart you have to wonder why they could only put together an 8-8 season. Injuries were a major burden, but if you look harder you’ll see the G-Men were 3^rd from the bottom in points allowed per game. The big play was killer, and a new free safety or inside middle linebacker could revitalize this team’s shut down capability. We like LB Brandon Spikes, and have him ranked high on our boards. The Giants could add speed and size with the addition of this tough Florida linebacker.

16) Tennessee Titans Team Needs: DE | CB | DT | WR

Titan’s fans were in denial of what Albert Haynesworth added to their defense, and without him their interior strength was lost. Without the big man in the middle, opposing quarterbacks stretched the field on the Titans to death last season. Say what you want about Haynesworth, but when he was playing you needed two guys focusing their attention on him at all times.

So the question is, do the Titans look for the next massive DT, or re-vamp their defense to play without him? Clearly the 31^st ranked passing defense needs help getting pressure on the QB, and adding another CB won’t help the lukewarm number of sacks from last season. The difference from 2008 and 2009 was 12 sacks. We think the Titans go after the best available defensive lineman, whether it’s a big nose tackle or speed to rush the passer.

17) San Francisco 49er’s:

(Pick #2 for the 49ers) Going with our prediction of the team rebuilding around a power running game, we see one of the two picks going to beef up the offensive line, and the other going to upgrading an average at best passing defense.

18) Pittsburgh Steelers Team Needs: OL | LB | CB | WR

The Steelers ranked high in many offensive and defensive categories but walked away with a disappointing 9-7 season. Injuries took their toll, but a lack of execution in very winnable games had fans rolling their eyes.

This team still has an elite caliber to it, and is typically smart on draft day, but the arrogance of ignoring the offensive line problems needs to end now. Whether it’s through free agency or the draft, the O-line needs a boost. Big Ben was hit, knocked down, and sacked on a regular basis in ’09; a tackle that can play guard for a year would be a smart pick at 18.

Other needs to look at: putting in place young players to someday take over for these aging veterans. There are 5 players starting on defense that are 30+ years old, and guys like Hines Ward can’t be around forever; we expect a lot of depth to be added this year in the Steelers draft.

19) Atlanta Falcons Team Needs: CB | LB | DE | TE

The Falcons were another team plagued by injuries. The potential of Matt Ryan and another breakout season was put on hold, thanks to nagging injuries to himself and the offensive weapons around him. The Falcons only won three games on the road, but still walked away with a winning 9-7 record. If this team can add help to their secondary, Matty Ice won’t have to get into a shoot out each week to pull out a win.

We like the Falcons to take either CB Patrick Robinson or Perrish Cox at 19. Robinson might be gone by the 19th pick, but fans shouldn’t feel they have to settle for Perrish Cox. Cox is a player that could fit well into the Falcons defensive unit, also adding kick return options.

20) Houston Texans: SS | RB | WR | OL

The Texans were supposed to make the playoffs in 2009, but fell just short in the final couple weeks of the season. The team had to be very unsatisfied with their inability to finish off games, especially against divisional opponents. Houston blew leads in games that looked wrapped up, and kicker Kris Brown was a heartbreaker to say the least.

Gridiron Experts has been pleading for the last two years for this team to draft a big name running back. Steve Slaton is a great speedy weapon, but lacks bulk to move the pile and is clearly not an every down RB. A bruiser that can make short yardage and goal line carries a stress free occurrence would be huge addition for this team.

Other needs are clearly at the safety position. The Texans lack that last resort defender who can put fear in the eyes of receivers running across the middle.

Gridiron Experts thinks the Texans need to take a shot to move up and get themselves a big time safety, or find an excellent RB to move the pile.

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