Fantasy College Blitz is excited to announce Jeremy Shory coming on board to share his insight on the NFL Draft.  Jeremy is well-known in the Central Florida area for his ability to beat most of the so-called experts (not me of course) in predicting the NFL Draft.  He will be updating his mock draft several more times before April 25th so enjoy – Drew

1) Detroit (0-16) Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest- First off, Schwartz is a defensive coach which means that he is only going to look to the draft to help an anemic defense. This is his first year as a head coach, so he is not going to want to blow it on a QB like Matt Stafford who is going to be a toss-up. Plus, the front office knows that they will not be able to build a championship caliber team in one year, so they realize that there is a much better crop of QBs in next years draft. This is the first pick of Schwartz’s career, so he will play it safe and go with a guy who he knows will come through. May the Schwartz be with you Mr.Curry(Spaceballs).

2) St. Louis (2-14) Jason Smith, OT, Baylor- With the recent news of Orlando Pace being let go, it makes this choice even more obvious. They have already signed a much better center in Jason Brown, so now it is time for them to help Marc Bulger out by drafting the best tackle in the draft.

3) Kansas City Chiefs (2-14) Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas- I am somewhat torn here. I know this is high for Orakpo and I could see KC going in another direction and take Michael Crabtree to play opposite Dwayne Bowe. Haley had a nice 1-2 punch in WR back in Arizona, but I think he banks on being able to get a WR in the second round and pulls the trigger on someone who he thinks will improve the pass rushing for this team. Couple him with last years 1st round pick, Glenn Dorsey and the defensive line could be a good one in a couple of years.

4) Seattle (4-12) B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College – This is another spot that I am torn on. To me it boils down to if the Seahawks want to draft a player that will help them immediately, or draft someone that could help in the long run. I was thinking that they could draft Stafford here and let him learn behind Matt Hasselbeck, but I think new head coach Jim Mora Jr. goes with a player that will have the immediate impact and goes with the best DT in this year’s draft.

5) Cleveland (4-12) Everette Brown, DE/OLB, Florida State- I know this is a bit of a stretch for an undersized DE, but Mangini is a defensive-minded coach and he knows the defense needs to play better so that he won’t have to put much pressure on a struggling offense. If Brown can get anywhere between 5-7 sacks this year, that will already been an improvement on a team that had one of the worst sack records in the league.

6) Cincinnati (4-11-1) Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia- Oh boy, the Bengals have holes just about everywhere. You name it, they need it. I think that Marvin Lewis knows that he has to win this year or else he is out. They have a good QB and decent enough WR to make plays, but it’s hard to get them the ball when Carson Palmer is on his back. Lewis goes with an upgrade on the offensive line which buys Palmer a little more time to look downfield.

7) Oakland (5-11) Andre Smith, OT, Alabama- Where else is a bad boy going to go? I think Smith hurt his value with the unique showing at the combine, but I think he realizes that (you know the players read about themselves online) and ends up having a better pro day. We know Al Davis is crazy and as an expert once told me, he has a love affair with speed. Based on those 2 factors, we could see a crazy pick like Derrius Heyword-Bey (4.3 40), but I think the coach is able to help with this decision, however so slightly, and is able to get Jamarcus Russell a little upgrade at left tackle.

8) Jacksonville (5-11) Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech- Boy oh boy! What just fell into the laps of the Jags. I don’t think they could have hoped enough for this. With Matt Jones back in the slammer and the signing of Tra Thomas, I think Del Rio goes with an immediate WR upgrade and one of the best players in this year’s draft. Of course, Crabtree could go in any number of the slots ahead of Jax, but we’ll see. This is why they call it a mock draft!

9) Green Bay (6-10) Brian Cushing, OLB, USC – Green Bay needs someone is going to help them transition into the 3-4 scheme that they desire. Cushing will fit nicely into that scheme as he is a sound tackler and has decent speed.

10) San Francisco (7-9) Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia- How the mighty have fallen. I actually don’t think Stafford is all that bad, however, if he’s not taken by Detroit or Seattle, he’ll fall this far because none of the other teams really need a QB this early. History repeats itself with recent franchise QBs free falling with Matt Leinart and Brady Quinn. I think the same will happen for Stafford. San Fran clearly needs someone that helps this team in the future and they are typically willing to take chances on QBs in the first round, thank you Alex Smith.

11) Buffalo (7-9) Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU – Buffalo needs help on getting to the QB. Schobel was injured half of last year and defensive line looked lost without him. If they can get someone decent on the opposite side then Buffalo will have more of a chance for sacks and TOs (turnovers, not Terrell Owens)

12) Denver (8-8) Clay Matthews, OLB, Ohio State- Most early mock drafts had Matthew’s buddy Rey Maualuga going here, but I think his combine hurt his status a little. Plus, I think that Mathew’s is a better fit for the defense that Denver is looking to start using. Matthew’s come from a good football pedigree and has shown he is a smart player which is what Denver needs right now, since God knows they have their hands full with Brandon Marshall’s legal issues and Jay Cutler’s whining.

13)Washington (8-8) Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss – Washington could also go DE here since they released Jason Taylor and the 2 starters that they have are into their 30′s, but I think that the offensive line is what is addressed here. Jason Campbell is still struggling to get a firm grasp on being “The Guy” for this team, and it is really hard to do that when you have little time to throw the ball. The O-Line did a good job the first half of the year in opening holes up for Portis, but struggled down the stretch.

14) New Orleans (8-8) Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State – New Orleans could go Vontae Davis here, but with the recent signing of Jabari Greer, I think they go with Jenkins instead because he can jump on the field right away and play safety. Even though he is not the most outstanding DB in the draft, he is a good fit for this team and will make the secondary a little more solid.

15) Houston (8-8) Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois – This could not be a better pick for Houston. With the signing of Antonio Smith to line up opposite Mario, the Texans can afford to address their secondary. Davis will be a nice addition opposite superstar CB Dunta Robinson.

16) San Diego (8-8) Rey Maualuga, MLB, USC – San Diego could use an O-Lineman here, but it is just too far to reach for any of the others left on the draft board. With Merriman having his season-ending surgery last year and the defenses inability to stop just about everyone from scoring, I think Norv takes a local boy who would love nothing more than to play near his old stomping ground.

17) New York Jets (9-7) Mark Sanchez, QB, USC – Based on combine performances, I think Sanchez is actually a better QB than Stafford. Now pro days can change that, but regardless I am not the one pulling the trigger on the draft choices. Now that Favre has finally hung up his jersey, again, New York could use an infusion of young blood to learn a new system under Rex Ryan. I have heard before that new regimes mean new QBs.

18) Chicago (9-7) Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri- Chicago has their own little speedster in Devin Hester, being able to couple him with Maclin would be a dream for Orton. Two guys that can burn the secondary is more than anyone could hope for. Plus, can you imagine being a kicker looking at Hester and Maclin as return men? Could be scary.

19) Tampa Bay (9-7) Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss- With the inability to lock in Albert Haynesworth, which they were so close to doing, Tampa Bay will look to shore up the defensive line in the draft. Tampa struggled to stop the run late in the season which is what ultimately lead to their downfall after such high hopes.

20) Detroit – from Dallas (9-7) Eben Britton, OT, Arizona – With the top 4 offensive tackles off the board, and Curry picked with the #1 pick, I think Detroit looks to help out whatever QB they start this year. Britton is a tall guy, 6’6″, which means he should be able to stack up well against some of the larger DE in the NFC North. He had a decent enough combine and has only raised his stock recently.

21) Philadelphia (9-6-1) Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State - Now that Buckhalter signed with Denver, and Westbrook continues to show that he is a walking health risk, Philly decides to give Donavon the type of playmaker that he hasn’t really ever had; a RB that can run straight into the pile. Westbrook can score, but it is usually some sort of swing pass or screen. Wells gives them a goal line kind of player. Just don’t drop the ball on the goal line a la DeSean Jackson.

22) Minnesota (10-6) Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn State – I know, I know. Minnesota does not really need more defensive line help. I disagree. They have excellent DT which usually take a double team every now and then. Throw in a guy like Maybin who demonstrated last year that he can get to the QB from anywhere, and this D just got a whole lot sexier!

23) New England (11-5) James Laurinaitis, MLB, Ohio State - If there is one consistent thing that Bill Belichek demonstrates each year, it is that he likes to take blue collar guys and turn them into stud playmakers. Laurinaitis is certainly no exception to that. The son of the pro-wrestler had a solid career at Ohio State and with the recent trade of Mike Vrable, this pick was almost destined to happen.

24) Atlanta (11-5) Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State – This pick could change based on if they sign LJ SMith or not. Ultimately, we know that Atlanta is in the market for a playmaking TE that can catch the ball. Pettigrew is a stud TE who could play a role very similar to that of Dallas Clarke of Indy. Being able to spread the field with Roddy White and the decent possession skills of Michael Jenkins, add in some Michael “The Burner” Turner, and throw in a little Pettigrew down the middle of the field and this could become one of the more potent offenses in the league.

25) Miami (11-5) Alphonso Smith, CB, Florida State - I think Miami tries to continue their upgrade in the secondary with this pick. They already signed Gibril Wilson which is an improvement at safety, but they let Renaldo Hill and Andre’ Goodman go during Free Agency. Plus the signing of LB Channing Crowder makes this look a little more like the direction Miami will go this year. Smith is not a big guy, only 5’9″ which is actually one of the smaller CB in the draft, but he is physical and has great football smarts that will make an impact in the next round.

26) Baltimore (11-5) Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina – With Derrick Mason demanding a contract extension that will most likely take him to the end of his career (and word on the street is that if he doesn’t get it, he’ll be asking for his release), the inconsistency of Mark Clayton, and continuous health issues for Todd Heap, Baltimore will draft a playmaker that will be able to grow and develop with young QB Joe Flacco. If anyone saw the MEINEKE CAR CARE BOWL, Nicks has some of the best hands in a long time. Throw it anywhere near him, and he’ll grab it.

27) Indianapolis (12-4) Ron Brace, DT, Boston College - Indy needs to draft defensive line here and Brace is a solid DT that can help plug some holes. Granted, he is a bit overshadowed by his teammate, B.J. Raji, but Brace is still a solid player and Indy has always made in impact in drafting under-the-radar guys and making them work in their scheme.

28) Philadelphia – from Carolina (12-4) Steven Beatty, OT, UConn – Philly can’t leave the first round without drafting someone for the O-Line. The very same expert that I mentioned earlier regarding Al Davis’ love affair with speed also mentioned that Andy Reid has a similar love affair with guys that are bigger than him. Well Beatty measures around 6’6″, 307 lbs, which pretty much makes him a tad larger than Reid. Couple that with the recent loss of Tra Thomas in Free Agency and we’ll pretty much call this a done deal.

29) New York Giants (12-4) Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia – New York already has taken care of their defense through free agency and of course, Plaxico Burres’ situation is still up in the air, but I think New York drafts the best guy left on the board at this moment, which basically is a guy that will do a great Derrick Ward impersonation. I think Moreno becomes the guy that they secretly start to develop for when Ahmad Bradshaw ends up leaving during free agency in a couple of years.

30)Tennessee (13-3) Darius Butler, CB,  UConn – Lets face it, Tennessee’s defense is starting to look a little more like the Blue Hair Convention at the local Nursing Home. With the loss of Haynesworth, the Titans could look for possible D-Line help here, but I think they look to the middle rounds for that and go with a good CB. They can let Butler come in and learn the system and get some solid playing time without pushing him too far too fast. I have a feeling that this 1st round CB choice won’t end up like the last 1st round CB choice the Titans used (Pacman Jones).

31) Arizona (9-7) Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee – The loss of Antonio Smith to Houston during Free Agency means that there is a need on the D-Line. Also, Arizona failed to reach good contract extension with Karlos Dansby means that there is even more need on the D-Line. Now granted, Dansby was franchised which gives Arizona another year to work out a deal, but regardless, help is needed. Despite what we saw in the playoffs, Arizona struggled throughout the year on getting to the QB. Ayers is a big guy that will be able to overpower some of the RT in the NFC West.

32) Pittsburgh (12-4) Alex Mack, C, California - Despite their Super Bowl appearance and win, the Steelers need help on the O-Line. Just because they resigned Max Starks doesn’t mean that the Steelers brass is naive to their situation. Mack is a versatile player that could be moved to Guard if absolutely needed, but will be a great Lineman for several years to come.

Related posts:

1. NFL Mock Draft 2.0 (Jeremy Shory Style)
2. NFL Mock Draft 3.0 (Jeremy Shory)
3. NFL Mock Draft 4.0 (Jeremy Shory)
4. NFL Mock Draft 5.0 (Jeremy Shory)
5. Jeremy’s Mock NFL Draft Update

Tags: NFL Draft