2006 NFL Mock Draft

[tec]

All-

this is where we will all participate in our Mock Draft of NFL Round 1. Each lg3000 owner is responsible for acting as the GM for the NFL teams he covers. there will be a 24 hour time limit to make your pick; if your pick is not made in that time frame, i will make it for you. Once we conclude round 1 we will move on to round 2. The results of each round will be tabulated and posted at EFSNews.com as separate articles.

once you have made your pick we ask that you email the next team in line....

We ask that when you post your pick in a reply to this thread, that you include the following in the header-

pick number, e.g. 1.1
NFL team name
Playeris name being picked
His position
College

we ask that you post the reasons why you picked this player, you can discuss that teams other options/considerations, height, weight, etc.

here is the Draft Order for Round 1:

1. Houston Texans ....RB Reggie Bush USC
2. New Orleans Saints ...OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson UVa
3. Tennesse Titans ......QB Matt Leinart USC
4. New York Jets ....... DE Mario Williams NC State
5. Green Bay Packers ....LB A J Hawk OSU
6. SanFrancisco 49ers ....DB M Huff UT
7. Oakland Raiders .....TE Vernon Davis Maryland
8. Buffalo Bills .....DT Haloti Ngata Oregon
9. Detroit Lions ......QB Jay Cutler Vanderbilt
10.Arizona Cardinals .....QB Vince Young UT
11.StLouis Rams ......CB J Williams VT
12. Cleveland Browns....OLB Manny Lawson NC State
13. Baltimore Ravens ....DT Broderick Bunckley FlaState
14. Philadelphia Eagles.. WR Chad Jackson Florida
15.Denver Broncos.....WR Santonio Holmes OSU
16. Miami Dolphins.....LB Chad Greenway Iowa
17. Minnesota Vikings..OT Winston Justice USC
18. Dallas Cowboys ....S Jason Allen UTenn
19. SanDiego Chargers.. WR Sinorice Moss Miami
20. KansasCityChiefs ....DB Tye Hill UGA
21. NewEngland Pats....RB LenDale White USC
22. DenverBroncos...RB DeAngelo Williams Memphis
23. TampaBay Bucs.....DE Tamba Hali PennSt
24. Cincinnati Bengals...CB Ashton Youbouty OhioState
25. NewYork Giants ....LB Bobby Carpenter NYG
26. Chicago Bears .....TE Leonard Pope Ga
27. Carolina Panthers......RB Laurence Maroney Minn
28. Jacksonville Jags ... LB Ernie Sims FSU
29. NewYork jets ....OC Nick Mangold OhioState
30. Indianapolis Colts ....LB Demeco Ryans Alabama
31. Seattle Seahawks ....OG Max Jean-Gillies
32. Pittsburgh Steelers ...DB Ko Simpson

i will send an email announcing the start of this in next few days....

tc

[tec]

1.1 Houston Texans RB Reggie Bush USC

The Texans take RB Reggie Bush; he has moves and quickness not seen since Gale Sayers and Barry Sanders. He may not have the size to run the ball 20+ times for a 16 game NFL season. But if the Texans run him 12 times per game, target him for 5-8 passes per game, he can be the game breaking option they need. Right now their only weapons on offense are RB Domnick Davis and WR Andre Johnson. So look for the Texans to use lots of combinations where RB D Davis and R Bush are on the field together, with Bush in the slot and Davis in the backfield. This alignnment will place maximum pressure on opposing defenses, open up possibilities for A Johnson and make QB D Carr even more effective.

This may not be the ideal pick for the Texans, given the myriad of other problem areas they need to fill: primarily OL and DL. Look for Houston to exhaust all possibilities to trade down, but not likely past 1.4 or even 1.5 because they would like to take DE Mario Williams or LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson and fill one of those openings. After all they signed RB D Davis to a long term contract prior to the 2005 season.

[Desert Marauders]

1.2 The New Orleans Saints Draft Tackle DeBrickshaw Ferguson - UVA

Ferguson is the most athletic lineman in the draft and has clear franchise tackle potential. Solid strength at the point of attack and very good speed. He has all of the tools to become the elite left tackle that New Orleans is looking for to protect the newly acquired Drew Brees.

The Saints are solid at RB with their acquisition of Michael Bennet and have a very deep any young receiver corps, neither of these areas is a need. They also resolved their LB issues by picking up Scott Fujita and Anthony Simmons. OL is really the only pick they can make at this spot in the draft. You might look for the Saints to trade this pick, as they do have 2 decent tackles already, but if the stay put then this is their man.

[tec]

1.3 Tennessee Titans QB Matt Leinart USC

[tec]

1.4 New York Jets DE Mario Williams NC State

The defection of John Abraham to the Falcons made this selection a no-brainer. Williams has uncanny athletic ability and has been compared to Julius Peppers with speed - and Peppers is no slouch. Williams ran an impressive 4.66 forty at the combine and wooed scouts with his quick change of direction and balance.

He's entering the draft as an underclassman but Mario is more than ready; Williams completed his junior season with 13 sacks and 23.5 tackles for a loss. Most analysts agree that Williams is far from a completed product and will reach his full potential 3 - 4 years into his career. He, Shaun Ellis, and Dewayne Robertson will fortify an increasingly impressive Jet D-line for years to come.

[tec]

1.5 Green Bay Packers LB A J Hawk OSU

Packers are in dire need of playmakers on Defense, so LB A J Hawk certainly fills that bill!! He has the speed, quickness, instincts and recognitionskills to be an elite player on defense for a long time. With this pick the LBcorps becomes a strongpoint on defense; coupling Hawk with Barnett means the Pack will have two LB's who are built for mobility to chase down ball carriers and to shadow RB/WT/TE in pass defense. In addition, Hawk is an excellent pass rusher. For that reason he will probably end up at WLB with Barnett in the middle and FA acquisition Ben Taylor as the SLB. Suddenly the Packers LB corps has become one of higher quality, certainly in the past 10 years.

Other optionss: if DE Mario Williams is here when they pick, I believe that he will be the player rather than Hawk. Super Mario is a unique talent that would have a snowball effect on the defense, particularly the DB's. The theory here is that the added pressure the DL would generate would aid the bump and run tactics of the CB's and keep pressure off them. If Super Mario is the pick in rd 1 then look for the Pack to go LB in rd2.

If both Super Mario and A J Hawk are gone, then the Pack will either trade down, but not past about 7 or 8, or take DB M Huff.

[EhrichRose]

1.6 San Francisco 49ers S Michael Huff Texas



The 49ers could go in two directions with this pick, but I think they will select the best defensive playmaker left on the board.The team ranked at the bottom in both offense and defense last year and has lots of needs. Many of the offensiveproblems have been addressed via FA. The signings of Larry Allen and Antonio Bryant will help shore up some of those challenges they had on offense last year while Alex Smith was suffering the rookie blues. Although Vernan Davis may be tempting at this spot the reality is that there will still be a couple of Quality TE's available at the top of the second round.

The selectionof Huff, will for the first time give the 49er Defense a playmaker that will remind the faithful of the days when Ronnie Lott patrolled the secondary. Like Lott, Huff can play both CB and S. He will provide the niners an immedaite upgrade in the secondary, and will give Mike Nolan flexibilty while they try and compete in the pass happy NFC West.

[Benchwarmers06]

1.7 Oakland Raiders Vernon Davis TE Maryland

Vernon Davis is by far the most athletic tight end the draft has ever seen. He ran a groundbreaking 4.37 40 at the combine, and is a physically gifted person. He supposedly has less that 4% body fat, and still weighs on the upper of 250 lbs. He is a gift at 1.7 for the Raiders. Oakland was ready to take Haloti Ngata DT but the 49er's took Huff instead of Davis. Davis will be a playmaker on offense his rookie season.

[Dolphan1385]

1.8 Buffalo Bills Haloti Ngata DT Oregon

Though some thought may be given to QBs Young or Cutler, Marv Levy and Dick Jauron decide theywill stick with Losman and Holcomb and instead go with the very talented DT out of Oregon. At 6' 4" and 335 Lbs, Ngata is a run stuffing, play making monster who will be a big time upgrade on the Bills DL. Ngata is not the perfect fit for the style of defense Buffalo wants to install but his talent may make him too tough to pass up. If they do decide to pass on Ngata and the QBs, they may trade down to take either DT Broderick Bunkley or OT Winston Justice.

[woofan]

1.9 The Lions select Jay Cutler QB Vandy

The Lions wanted to get help on the defencive side of the ball, but It is the Lions you know they will take offence. We wanted Huff and then turned our attention to Haloti Ngata and Buffalo took care of that. With no other defensive player worthy of this pick and with Mike Martz on the staff we will bring in our next franchise quarterback, and hope coach Martz can work his magic. We will not take any question aboutour last failed attempt to bring in our franchise quarterback.

[tec]

1.10 Arizona Cardinals QB Vince Young UT



Just got back online. Lost net connection all day. I think Young is a solid pick here and very well may be the way the Cardinals go. I don't see any solid LBs to draft and the OL prospects aren't top of the line at this point. I see the cards filling out there line in Free Agency and with later picks. Young is one of the most athletic quarterbacks to play college ball. Very well couldbe a Michael Vick type player.

[jgb95]

The draft order needs to be changed



Denver now has #15 & #22

Atlanta has no 1st rounders

NY Jets have #4 and #29

[boglok]

1.11 St Louis Rams CB J. Williams Va Tech

The Rams need help on defense. They have greater needs on Defense than CB, but with Butler and Travis coming off injuries it will be hard to pass up the top rated CB in the draft. Williams has size, speed and skill. He's 6'2", 205lbs and ran a 4.37. He'll match up well against the taller wr's in the league and has the speed to run with the smaller wr's. The other option here would have been OLB Greenway, but they can get value in the 2nd rnd if they want an OLB.

[tec]

jgb95 wrote:
The draft order needs to be changed



Denver now has #15 & #22

Atlanta has no 1st rounders

NY Jets have #4 and #29



nice pickup...changes made....Todd and Randy now have extra picks to make, Jeff G has fewer this round...



tc

[Benchwarmers06]

1.12 Cleveland Browns select Manny Lawson OLB/DE, North Carolina State

Romeo Crennel had a very successful season last year, as far as I’m concerned. He took a team with minimal talent, and made them compete in every one of their games. And now, this off-season, they have added some very good players, and are looking to make a run at the playoffs next year. Manny Lawson would fit perfectly in their defense. He is a hybrid 3-4 OLB/DE, and would play outside linebacker for first and second down, then put his hand down and play defensive end on third down. He is the perfect fit, and if Haloti Ngata is off the board, I think this is the pick.

[Oilman]

1.13 Baltimore Ravens DT Brodrick Bunkley Florida St.

The Ravens lost two crutial pieces of their defensive puzzle to free agency when D-linemen Ma'ake Kemoeatu and Anthony Weaver bolted to Carolina and San Francisco respectively. Trevor Pryce could possibly fill a huge void at DE but his ailing back remains a question mark, and Justin Bannan is hardly the answer at one DT tackle position. Bunkley makes sense; he can be tutored by up 'n comer Kelly Gregg while providing enough push in the middle to give interior offensive linemen fits.

Baltimore could go WR here - behind D. Mason and M. Clayton there is no established No. 3 wideout - but Bunkley simply has too much talent and even more potential to pass up. It did not go unnoticed at the combine that he repped out 225 lbs. an impressive 44 times. When you add his sub-five second forty time at 300+ pounds Baltimore will choose to reinforce their D-line with this former Seminole. Now, if Billick can only convince Terrell Suggs that he actually plays the defensive end position . . . .

[tec]

Fred emailed this to me:

I'm having problems signing into the forums, is it possible for you to just cut and paste this: 1.14 Philadelphia Eagles: Chad Jackson, WR Florida

With the release of Terrell Owens the Eagles need to rebuild their wide receiver corps. Jackson should start the season as the #3 receiver behind Todd Pinkston but should take over opposite Reggie Brown by mid-season.

[woofan]

With the 1.15 the Denver Broncos select Santoio Holmes WR Ohio State

With the 1.15 Denver was hoping that one of the QB would fall to them and when that did not happen they looked for another WR to train under Rod Smith. Knowing that Rod Smith is not getting any younger and Ashley Lelie needs to be more constant this was the time to take another WR to add depth this year hope to find someone to step up and replace Smith. Holmes weight has come back to where he iscomfortable playing at after being 9 lbs under weight at his Pro Day. He said that he had the flu and that was the reason for the weight loss. It has been reported that Holmes caught most everything thrown his way in a private workout for the Miami Dolphins.

[Dolphan1385]

1.16 Miami Dolphins LB Chad Greenway Iowa

The Dolphins need to fill the spot left by Junior Seau and Lavar Arrington just wanted too much money. With Greenway, they get the best coverage linebacker in the draft. OL Coach Hudson Houck is happy after the pickup of LJ Shelton so the Dolphins pass on the OL (Justice, Scott, Whitworth) and will look to fill that need later in the draft. Another possibility here is aSafety such as Darnell Bing or Ko Simpson. It would not be a suprise to see the Dolphins trade down to replace the picks that they have given up in various deals this offseason.

[TheEvilEmpire]

1.17 Minnesota Vikings select T Winston Justice USC

With the three best linebackers off the board the Vikings decide to address their O-Lineproblems with their first round pick. Somehow Justice slipped down to the Vikings and they just couldn't pass up a franchise OT this late in the first round. Justice along with McKinnie, the Vikings now have the bookend tackles neededto dominate opposing defensive ends. Since he played right tackle in college Justice will continue to play at his natural position which should allow him to start playing at a higher level sooner than if he was selected to play left tackle for another team. The Vikings also could consider Ernie Simms LB fromFlorida St. with this pick.Minnesota will be looking to upgrade at linebackeror atwide receiver in the second round.

[Dennis the Menace]

1.18 Dallas Cowboys - Jason Allen FS Tennessee

Frankly, if the draft evolves like this, I see DAL trying to trade down. They need FS help, and there are several fine choices here available, but they'll mostly be available a few picks down, too. Likewise for IB and OB help. I could see DAL going for Ernie Sims or Demeco Ryans or D'Quell Jackson here too, butthey can get those guys or similar players a few picks down. Many folks have DAL taking an OT here, but with the return of last year's starters, plus Jason Fabini, that need has been mostly resolved. DAL also needs WR help behind their starters and one solid backup, but only Sinorice Moss is available at this level - and he'd be a stretch. Jason Allen is a solid FS candidate, something the Boys have a medium-level need for. Keith Davis is OK as the incumbent, but nothing outstanding. An improvement here would make the DAL secondary quite formidable. Look for DAL to take the best WR, IB, or OB available in the next round.

[jgb95]

1.19San Diego Chargers select UM WR Sinorice Moss

With the loss of Caldwell and the aging McCardell it's time for the Chargers to give their young QB some more potent weapons to work with. The Chargers looked long and hard at Tye Hill and Ko Simpsonbutafter the Marol McCree signing theychoose to go Offense instead. Moss provides the Chargers with a home run threat at home run threat wideout that they have been missing for some time. Moss also gives them a top rate Return Man. Last year the SD's top two WR on their current rosteramassed a eye popping 725 yards combined. Moss will be involved in the offense from day one! GET HIM SIGNED EARLY.

[Dolphan1385]

1.20 KC Chiefs CB Tye Hill

With all the best WR gone, the Chiefs decide to fill a defensive need with one of the best cover corners in the draft. Tye Hill will immediately compete for the starting job opposite Patrick Surtain. The Chiefs could also look DL as there are some good pass rushers still available.

[boglok]

1.21 New England Patriots RB LenDale White USC

The Patriots have needs at LB, DB and RB. Corey Dillon turns 32 in October and is starting to show some wear. The needs at linebacker and defensive back are arguably greater than at RB, but White represents the better value. He should immediately take over the short yardage carries from Dillon and become the full time starter by next year. LB Carpenter could be an alternative if they decide to wait until the 2nd round to pick up a RB.

[woofan]

With the 1.22 the Denver Broncos select DeAngelo Williams

Denver has never been happy with the Running back situation the last couple of years and DeAngelo could be the answer they have been looking for. He can run 4.40 forty and can fit in very well in the passing game. He is very strong and runs low to the ground making him hard to tackle and with his speed any run could be the big one.

[Dennis the Menace]

1.23 Tampa Bay Bucs - Tamba Hali DE Penn St

Simeon Rice is getting long in the tooth. Greg Spires has alternated between being adequate and injured. The Bucs need another DE, and Hali is one of the best on the board. The Bucs also need help in the defensive backfield, OL,and at LB, so I could see Ko Simpson, Ernie Sims, Marcus McNeill, or D'Quell Jackson here, but with Hali available, I think that's the best available player at a needed position.

[chinchilla]

1.24 Cincinnati Bengals Select CB Ashton Youboty Ohio State



The Bengals have added a Safety in Dexter Jackson and a DT in Sam Adams. I look for them to address the need of their aging CBs. Youboty is out of Ohio State and has excellent size and speed but has been kind of inconsistent, and projects to be a solid CB in the league, and he wont be rushed into the lineup and given time to develop and see if he can become another a growing line of CBs out of Ohio State (A Winfield, S Springs, N Clements, and C Gamble). The Bengals may look at TE here, but will probably attempt to grab one in a later round as there are a decent amount of TEs in this draft.

[EhrichRose]

1.25 NY Giants select OLB Bobby Carpenter Ohio State

The Giants are looking for linebacker at this point in the draft. There are two pretty good options in Ernie Sims from FSU and Bobby Carpenter from OSU. Carpenter is the bigger backerand perfectly fitsthe G-man mold. At 6-2 250LBS, Carpenter is a big hitter and fast. He plays well in both coverage and has speed to come off the edge and get to the QB. The Fact that his father Rob Carpenter played with the Giants during their glory years, makes the son the sentimental favorite. As a boy, Bobby dreamed of one day playing in New York, come draft day, that dream will come true.

[TheEvilEmpire]

1.26 Chicago Bears SELECT TE Leonard Pope Georgia

The Bears were looking at either tight end or a cornerback to challenge their incumbant starters. With the cream of the crop at cornerback already off the board, tight end was the wise decision. Chicago projected that Pope would already be off the board which made their decision much easier. Pope is a athletic tight end with great size. He should stretch the defense which should open up the outiside for their wide receivers. Pope also provides a large target for Grossman to find in the redzone. To become an elite player Pope will have to add on10-15 poundsbut with his frame that shouldn't be abig problem. Look for the Bears to take a long look at cornerback in the second round. Especially if a number ofcornerbacks continue to be selected over the next twenty picks.

[tec]

1.27 Carolina Panthers RB Laurence Maroney UMinn

Given the state of the Panthers RB's- Stephen Davis, DeShaun Foster and Eric Shelton all have injury histories- they just might take RB Laurence Maroney here. Maroney is a big back, with speed who would be able to withstand the pounding of a full time back in NFL. If Foster is healthy, Maroney would be insurance this year, and future years if Foster leaves via FA. Shelton could become the 3rd down and goal line back.

An equally likely choice would be a DB, probably a Safety. With the loss of Will Witherspoon at WLB to the Rams in FA, and the imminent shift of Thomas Davis to that slot, this opens up a position a Safety. Someone like Daniel Bullocks would be ideal to fill that spot.

This is a difficult pick to make, and probably boils down to Panther's management assessment of the offseason viabilty of their RB's and the likelihood that Davis can move to WLB. Stay tuned because if the RB's fall like this in the NFL draft, Indy is sitting there a couple picks away and may make a move to guarantee they get one of the top 4 RB's!!

[chinchilla]

1.28 Jacksonville Jaguars SELECT OLB Ernie Sims Florida State

If the Jaguars do not land Lavar Arrington, which it appears at this time as if they are not, they will use this opportunity to fill their need at OLB and select Ernie Sims. He isn’t a huge LB at only 5’11” and 230, but he is a play maker and loves to HIT. He has outstanding speed and athleticism and should fit in very nicely in the Jaguars Defense to help take them to the next level and become one of the elite units in the entire NFL.

[Oilman]

1.29 New York Jets NIck Mangold, C, Ohio State

Once longtime stalwart Kevin Mawae defected to Tennessee the Jets were forced to address their offensive line needs and Mangold is arguably the best all-around lineman in this draft not named Ferguson. Mangold took over for an injured Alex Stepanovich two games into his sophomore season and never looked back; his durability is defined by logging over 300 minutes of playing time in the past three seasons. Big, mobile, and athletic, Mangold can control the point of attack or lead sweeps much like his predecessor Mawae.

He can play either center or guard; the plan will be to move versatile C Pete Kendall back to his natural guard position and plug Mangold in at center for the next decade. Mangold, Kendall, and Moore will form a solid if unspectacular middle but the Jets still need to address the LT position. If not for Marcus McNeill's concerns with spinal stenosis he would have been the pick; best to go with the healthy Mangold and use a later round pick on an offensive tackle with promise.

[tec]

1.30 Indianapolis Colts LB Demeco Ryans Alabama

With the top 4 RB's off the board, the Colts look to fill either of two slots on Defense- DT or LB. Demeco Ryans is the highest rated LB left, although Thomas Howard is close behind. Either one would be good replacement for Thornton, who left in FA to Tennessee.

If they go with DT instead then the choices are among Gabe Watson or Claude Wroten could be the guys.

[bconway41]

1.29 Seattle Max Jean-Gilles, OG, Georga

After losingHutchinson to Minnesota, the Seahawks have a hugehole tofill on their offensive line. What better way to do it that with a player 6'4, 340 lbs. Jean-Gilles has played in the SEC so he has faced stiff competition in his college years. He has good feet and is quick for his size. Jean-Gilles should help anchor that offensive line giving Hasselback and Alexander the protection they need.

Cornerback and Defensive end are also needs that need to be filled. So Mathias Kiwanuka and Antonio Cromartie would probally also be considered here.

[jgb95]

1.32 Pittsburgh Steelers select Ko Simpson S 6'1 201 South Carolina......



Ko is a ballahawk. Ko is know for being around the ball and is great in coverage as well as run support. The only real knock on Ko is the lack of experience. This is something that might actually help as the Steelers, Pittwill take his raw talent and mold him into exactly what they need to comliment Troy. Ko has had a year as a INT machine (6) and a year as a tackle machine (103). This is a bit of a reach here but with the resigning of Kriewaldt and the outstanding depth at LB in this years draft I believe getting a FS here will allow the Steelers todraft someone who will take over for Ryan Clark. Clark seems to be more of a stop gap to the next talented player that the Pitt brass can bring into the fold.

This concludes the 1st round........

[tec]

final results posted in an article at efsnews.com

thanks to all who participated
tc