KD's NFL Draft Grades - New Orleans Saints

Just a year after knocking off the Colts in the Super Bowl, the Saints were eliminated in the wild-card round by the 7-9 Seattle Seahawks. Granted, Marshawn Lynch broke one of the greatest runs in the history of football, but still, to lose to Seattle is embarrasing. New Orleans re-dedicated itself to improving it's running game and their offseason moves reflect that. They also wanted to add some youth on the defensive side of the ball and spent 5 of their 6 picks on defense players. These moves, in my opinion, should help the Saints in the quest to recapture the NFC South title away from the Atlanta Falcons.

1st round, 24th overall) Cameron Jordan - DE - California
With their first pick in the 1st round, the Saints drafted what many thought to be the best 5 technique (3-4 DE) end in the entire draft. Cameron Jordan will shift to the 4-3, where he can play both end and shift inside to tackle in certain situations. Jordan has a strong pedigree as his father, Steve, was a 6-time Pro Bowler at TE, most notably for the Minnesota Vikings.

How he fits in: The Saints lack a dominant pass-rusher opposite Will Smith. I doubt that former Chicago Bear Alex Brown is that guy. He's able to provide good play against the run and situational pass-rushing ability, but Cameron Jordan is the future at DE. Smith and Brown are 30 and 32 respectively and Jordan is a great technician. You could also slide Jodran inside on passing downs next to guys like Sedrick Ellis or Mitch King.

Outlook: Jordan might be eased in as a rotational player for this year, at least starting out, but he's certainly going to be in the running for the strongside DE spot opposite Will Smith. He's not as explosive as a traditional 4-3 DE prospect and sometimes gets overexcited and will lose contain on the edge. That said, if you can keep him under control, his ability to hold the point of attack is very good and he's outstanding against the run, so much of the pass-rush he provides is just a bonus for you.

1st round, 28th overall) Mark Ingram - RB - Alabama
Coach Sean Payton knew he needed to upgrade his running game in the offseason, and the Saints made a blockbuster trade sending a 2012 1st rounder to the Pats for the right to select Mark Ingram, the best running back in the Draft. Ingram, a 5'9" 215lbs workhorse at Alabama should be an immediate starter and feature back for the Saints.

How he fits in: The oft-injured Reggie Bush was traded away to Miami and Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory have battled injuries the past two seasons. Enter free agent Darren Sproles to replace Bush and Ingram will get first crack at the feature back role. Ingram runs hard between the tackles and can break the big play. Built very similar to and has speed similar to that of former Cowboys great Emmitt Smith. He's also got very underrated hands out of the backfield (his dad, Mark Sr. was a receiver for the Giants and Dolphins in the late 80s and early 90s). Ingram should be the tone-setter on this offense and will be great for the Saints near the goaline. Ingram couldn't have asked for a better situation to land in as the Saints have a very good O-line.

Outlook: Ingram was a very durable back at Alabama and he'll be able to split carries again in New Orleans (he did so at 'Bama with Glen Coffee and Trent Richardson), so durability won't be as big of an issue as many thought it might be. Ingram will be a key cog in the Saints offense as they'll have a viable running game once again. He could very easily be the Offensive Rookie of the Year for the Saints, and I think they made a great pick here.

3rd round, 72nd overall) Martez Wilson - LB - Illinois
The Saints have very little depth behind linebackers Jonathan Vilma, Scott Shanle, and Clint Ingram. Martez Wilson, a high school classmate of the Chicago Bulls Derrick Rose, overcame a very rough upbringing to become a 2-year starter for the Illini. He's had some off-field incidents, including getting stabbed while helping a teammate in a bar fight in 2009. He's more athlete than football player, but his skill of running the arc and bending around the corner give the Saints a good blitzer from an OLB position. He has played ILB, so if something were ever to happen to Jonathan Vilma, he could step inside in a pinch. He should compete with Shanle and Ingram for one of the outside LB spots this year.

3rd round, 88th overall) Johnny Patrick - CB - Louisville
Jabari Greer as been a revelation for the Saints at CB and Tracy Porter has been solid. Former 1st rounder Patrick Robinson is in the mix as a second starter or nickel corner. Patrick, a pretty underrated prospect from Louisville, has excelled in both man and zone coverage. However, he came to Louisville as a receiver and his technique is still very raw by NFL standards. He'll get caught peeking in the backfield when he shouldn't be and things of that nature, but he's definitely got the skill and temperment to work with. He could be a solid contributor in a year or two.

7th round, 226th overall) Greg Romeus - DE - Pittsburgh
Still lacking some depth on the D-line the Saints took a late round flier on the former Pitt Panther star Greg Romeus. Injured last year and only playing two games, Romeus was productive for three seasons after redshirting for the Panthers. However, as a junior, he was overshadowed by teammate Jabaal Sheard, now of the Browns, in a big way. That's not to say Romeus can't get to the passer as he tallied 20.5 sacks in 3 seasons. He's not as athletic as you'd think and he's somewhat stiff when pursuing. He doesn't have many moves and relied too much on his speed rush in the Big East. However, his combination of size and speed 6'5" 264lbs and 4.85 forty give you something to work with. He might sneak onto the roster, but at the very least should be a solid practice squad guy.

7th round, 243rd overall) Nate Bussey - LB - Illinois
The Saints grabbed Martez Wilson's teammate Nate Bussey with a late 7th round pick. A safety originally for the Illini, Bussey played well on special teams his first season and a half and starting his final 18 contests at weakside linebacker. Bussey is a small guy, but a solid tackler. He'll have to make a serious run on special teams to make the roster, which is a daunting task given the number of good special teams players the Saints have. However, their most prominent one, Marvin Mitchell left in free agecny, so that leaves one extra spot available.

Overall Grade: A-
I really like what the Saints did, especially trading back into round one for Mark Ingram. I think he'll add a dimension to the offense they haven't had in a while. Cameron Jordan, Martez Wilson, and Johnny Patrick all will have a chance to become solid contributors, perhaps even starters, in a few years time. Romeus and Bussey are two guys who could find roles on special teams or in a rotation. In my opinion, the only thing keeping the Saints from an "A" is the fact they didn't address some positions on the O-line, such as C and RT. Veteran Olin Kreutz was brought in to replace Jonathan Goodwin, but how much longer will he last? John Stinchcomb was just cut the other day at RT; what's their plan there? I'm not sure placing Jermon Bushrod or Charles Brown at RT is the right move. Other than that, I think they did a great job, even if it involved giving up a 1st rounder in 2012.

KD's Mock Draft - Version 2.0

Draft day is almost here. I've added a 2nd round to my Mock Draft. I didn't project any trades, but on Thursday I'll give you a breif breakdown of some moves that could happen in round 1. Onto the picks:

1st Round

1. Carolina Panthers - Cam Newton, QB, Auburn- GM Marty Hurney rolls the dice here on the dynamic, but unproven, prospect from Auburn. Newton is not a finished product, but he’ll have the opportunity to become the face of the franchise in Carolina. Newton can make plays with his arm and his feet, but his success hinges on his ability to digest an NFL playbook and terminology.

2. Denver Broncos - Marcel Dareus, DT, Alabama- John Elway’s window shopped nearly every quarterback prospect in the draft, but Denver’s defense, ranked 32nd last year, is in need of more major repairs at the moment. Elway and GM Brian Xander draft Dareus, a Richard Seymour clone, to be the key cog in the Denver defensive line. He can play the 1, the 3, and the 5 technique and can get after the passer more than you’d think. Best player in the draft.

3. Buffalo Bills - Von Miller, LB, Texas A&M- The Bills would love to get Cam Newton here as Chan Gailey’s had some success with mobile quarterbacks. Gailey doesn’t get that chance and instead opts to take a dynamic pass-rusher in case Shawn Merriman doesn’t come back from injury. Miller posted DeMarcus Ware-like triangle numbers at the combine, and as long as he doesn’t have to go in reverse much (i.e. drop in coverage) he’ll be a solid threat off the edge.

4. Cincinnati Bengals - A.J. Green, WR, Georgia- The Bengals slot their draft picks based on position, and with no real receiving threat opposite the rapidly aging Chad Johnson, the Bengals nab A.J. Green. Green is a complete receiver, able to run over the middle, has excellent hands, and can beat you deep. Whoever quarterbacks the Bengals next year will need weapons as Andre Caldwell and Jordan Shipley are better served in the slot.

5. Arizona Cardinals - Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU- It’s no real secret the Cardinals really covet Von Miller. It’s also a not so big secret that Ken Whisenhunt would like to add a veteran to his quarterback stable, so he passes on Blaine Gabbert here. Peterson is one of the most talented corners to come along in quite some time. He’s got Nnamdi Asomugha size and speed, he can tackle, he can return kicks, and can play safety in a pinch. A do everything type to team with DRC.

6. Cleveland Browns - Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson- Despite the rumors about Bowers’ knee, the Browns take a chance here to get a pass-rusher needed for their 4-3 defense. Bowers has been labeled a one year wonder, but he came on in a big way with 15.5 sacks and 25 TFL’s. He wasn’t quite as productive before 2010, but still tallied 4 sacks and 18.5 TFL’s his first two years when he teamed with Ricky Sappy. Bowers is capable of playing end on either side in a 4-3 defense.

7. San Francisco 49ers - Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri- The 49ers brass thinks that Alex Smith is still salvageable, but with no impact linebacker or cornerback left on the board, the 49ers get their “franchise” quarterback. Gabbert comes from a spread system that didn’t throw the ball downfield much, and he’ll have to work a lot on his footwork – he’s very mechanical. He’ll fit Jim Harbaugh’s system pretty well, and Harbaugh tried to recruit Gabbert once upon a time. Think Andrew Luck without the arm or running ability.

8. Tennessee Titans - Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas- Here’s the first major curveball for everyone. I think the “character” concerns about Mallett are way overblown. From a pure arm and football IQ standpoint, Mallett is the best quarterback in the draft. I feel like Tennessee has their foot in the water on the QBs in this draft, and will take one at some point. I don’t think it’ll be at the 8th spot – I think they’ll look to trade down (perhaps St. Louis moves up to look at Julio Jones here) and take one later, but for now, I’ll stick Mallett here.

9. Dallas Cowboys - Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska- Dallas is another team that’s open for business to trade, again, I’d look at St. Louis and possibly Miami (who has been linked to Blaine Gabbert as of late) to deal up here. If Dallas stays, and I think that’s a big if, Amukamara will be the pick. The Cowboys gave up a lot of big plays last year in the secondary and Amukamara can step in from day one and shut down one side of the field. Terrance Newman is getting old and Mike Jenkins hasn’t lived up to his potential.

10. Washington Redskins - Julio Jones, WR, Alabama - Mike Shanahan is certainly stubborn enough to give Donovan McNabb another go around. If the Redskins do go QB here, I’d expect it to be Jake Locker, given the mobility factor that Shanahan likes in his QBs (Elway, Cutler). The Redskins can’t rely on Anthony Armstrong as a primary weapon again next year, so taking a premium receiver here in Jones is very good value; more so in my opinion than Cincinnati taking Green 4th overall.

11. Houston Texans - Aldon Smith, LB, Missouri- The Texans could definitely use help in the secondary, but with Amukamara off the board as well, they go OLB here. They have some pieces up front with Mario Williams and Antonio Smith, but they don’t have a pass-rusher yet. Smith has absolutely violent hands, some of the best I’ve ever seen, and can run the arc well. He’ll have a lot of trouble having to drop in coverage, but he’ll provide a nice pass-rush for Wade Phillips’ new 3-4 defense.

12. Minnesota Vikings - Jake Locker, QB, Washington- The Vikings need a signal-caller in light of the Brett Favre disaster last year. With all of the quarterbacks being overvalued, the Vikings have no choice but to pull the trigger on one right now. Locker’s athletic and seems to have a decent football IQ, but he’s got accuracy issues. However, many of these issues appear to be coachable. He’ll be pressed into action early, and it’ll show, but this is the right move for the Vikings at this juncture with how the board as fallen.

13. Detroit Lions - Tyron Smith, T, USC- Detroit can’t land their dream prospect Prince Amukamara, so they finally get someone to protect their investment in Matthew Stafford. Smith’s very athletic, but only has experience at right tackle. Many think he’s got the footwork to move to the left side, but it remains to be seen. I’m not sure if he’s the best left tackle in this class as he’s a notch below where Trent Williams and Russell Okung were last year.

14. St. Louis Rams - Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn- While St. Louis would love to have Julio Jones available here, they still get lucky and land Auburn DT Nick Fairley. He’ll be a force for the Rams inside from day one. He’s an upgrade over Gary Gibson and he’ll play next to Fred Robbins and be able to penetrate gaps and wreak havoc in the backfield. He’s more of a one-year wonder than Da’Quan Bowers, but his best football is still ahead of him.

15. Miami Dolphins - Mike Pouncey, G, Florida- Miami’s another team that’s going to trade down. With the top 4 quarterbacks gone, I think they’ll look to move back and go after Mike Pouncey. In their scheme, he’ll be a pulling left guard – bad value at the 15th overall spot – but you can see them drafted in round one (Logan Mankins). Pouncey should start from day one, and I think he’s one of Miami’s main targets, the others being Mallett and Mark Ingram, but I don’t think he’ll be the 15th overall pick.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars - Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue- The Jags have tried and tried in recent years to get a productive pass-rusher. They’ve experimented with a lot of potential types. Now they just go by the numbers. Kerrigan, while not a smooth athlete, has 37.5 career sacks and 55.5 TFL’s throughout his career. He can play either side in the 4-3, and is best with his hand in the ground. Comes from a program that’s produced a long line of quality defensive players over the years in Roosevelt Colvin, Chike Okeafor, Shaun Phillips, Ray Edwards, Anthony Spencer, Rob Ninkovich, and Cliff Avril.

17. New England Patriots - J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin- The Patriots need to continue getting younger in the defensive front. Ty Warren is coming off injury, and while they added Marcus Stroud, they can still stand to infuse more talent to bolster the line. Watt has a non-stop motor and can get after the passer. He’s very athletic for a 3-4 DE and can kick inside in nickel and dime packages or even play with his hand on the ground in some 4-3 packages.

18. San Diego Chargers - Robert Quinn, LB, North Carolina- The Chargers also get lucky with Robert Quinn’s free fall here. He’ll convert to the OLB spot in San Diego’s 3-4 defense. They need to upgrade their front seven as Larry English hasn’t panned out and they got rid of Shawne Merriman. A year off from football might make Quinn seem a bit sluggish at first. He needs to increase his repertoire of moves, but that concern should be somewhat alleviated in a 3-4.

19. New York Giants - Anthony Castonzo, T, Boston College- The Giants played musical chairs last year on the O-line, and they probably missed the playoffs because of it. Both David Diehl and Kareem McKenzie are aging at tackle. Castonzo is the best pure left tackle in this draft, though, again, a notch below what Williams and Okung were last year. Castonzo can play either side, but he’s best suited on the left where the Giants can kick David Diehl back inside to his natural guard position.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Cameron Jordan, DE, California- The Buccaneers will have to heavily consider Colorado CB Jimmy Smith at this point due to the impending release of Aqib Talib. However, I doubt they’ll take another CB with issues, and Smith has some. Cameron Jordan gives them a solid strong side end to take up the Kevin Carter position in Tampa. He’s versatile enough to be a number one pass rush threat and he can kick inside on passing downs.

21. Kansas City Chiefs - Phil Taylor, NT, Baylor- The Chiefs need a nose tackle to plug the run on the D-line. They’ll have some high investments there having used 1st round picks on Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson, but Taylor might end up being better than both when all is said and done. He’s 6’3” 334lbs and is very athletic for a man his size – classic “Planet Theory” player. He’ll disappear for long stretches, but he’s got loads of potential and is still coming into his own.

22. Indianapolis Colts - Nate Solder, T, Colorado- GM Bill Polian admitted he regrets taking Jerry Hughes with his first round pick last year and not protecting Peyton Manning. Solder’s a converted tight end with good feet and a blue collar attitude, despite his finesse style of play, and he should start immediately at left tackle for the Colts. He’ll have to learn quickly, but doesn’t everyone when Peyton Manning’s running your huddle?

23. Philadelphia Eagles - Gabe Carimi, T, Wisconsin- As mobile as Michael Vick is, he still took a beating last year. Philadelphia has the left side of the line under control with Jason Peters, but they could definitely stand to improve over Winston Justice. Carimi will have to transition to the right side, but he’s pretty athletic – he was asked to pull from his LT post at UW – and is nasty in the run game.

24. New Orleans Saints - Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa- The Saints need pass rush help opposite Will Smith. They’ve tried to plug players in that spot for the last few years with little success. Clayborn’s a proven rusher who had an outstanding 2009 season. His play fell off a bit in 2010, but that may have been due to injury. He gave Wisconsin T Gabe Carimi fits throughout his career and will have Smith opposite him.

25. Seattle Seahawks - Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado- Pete Carroll’s been known to take a chance on guys with questionable character in the past. The Seahawks have a lot of talent on defense, but can use an upgrade at CB. Marcus Trufant is a solid veteran, but Kelly Jennings’ play has taken a dip recently. Smith’s triangle numbers at the combine were outstanding and he’s a true shut down corner.

26. Baltimore Ravens - Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State- GM Ozzie Newsome is known for sticking to his draft board and landing talented players. He gets another one here with Cameron Heyward. Heyward is a prototypical 3-4 DE and he can start from day one. He’ll allow Haloti Ngata to slide in and be a true NT. Heyward is a 3-down player, but he is coming off a serious elbow injury that bears watching. Excellent value pick here for Baltimore.

27. Atlanta Falcons- Justin Houston, DE, Georgia- The Falcons are stuck between a rock and a hard place with a serious run on pass rushers. They take a chance on local product Justin Houston, who looks the part, but isn’t always productive. A physical specimen at 6’2” 270lbs with a 4.69 40, he’s got a few decent moves. Buyer beware with Georgia pass rushers though.

28. New England Patriots - Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama- I fully expect another team to be picking in the 28th spot - primarily one of the teams that needs to address the quarterback spot like Buffalo or Cincinnati. Ingram fits in well with what the Patriots do, and he’s an upgrade over Laurence Maroney and Danny Woodhead. He’s a tough, tough runner, and has good hands out the backfield. Has drawn tons of comparisons to Emmitt Smith.

29. Chicago Bears - Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois- The Bears need another force up front as Tommie Harris is gone, and Matt Toeaina and Anthony Adams are merely average. Liuget is raw, but very talented and fits that quick, undersized mold the Bears seem to love. He really came on in 2010 and his best football may still be in front of him. Typical Bears selection that will pay off big for them.

30. New York Jets - Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, Temple- The Jets can stand to upgrade their front seven as well. No one knows about the future of NT Kris Jenkins, though Sione Pouha played well at times in his absence. Shaun Ellis is 33 and an impending free agent and Trevor Pryce is a dinosaur. There’s little else in the way of depth aside from Mike DeVito, so Wilkerson can step in as a plug and play DE in the 3-4.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers - Aaron Williams, CB, Texas- Historically the Steelers haven’t taken cornerbacks in round one. With Ike Taylor and Bryant McFadden having less than stellar seasons and getting burned in the Super Bowl, the Steelers add another piece to their defense. Williams has size and speed and enough talent to start from day one opposite Ike Taylor. He’ll eventually be tasked with taking over the #1 CB duties and that should be a relatively smooth transition.

32. Green Bay Packers - Brooks Reed, LB, Arizona- The Packers get a lot of injured talent back in 2011, which makes them even better. The Packers had great success drafting Clay Matthews late in round 1 in 2009, and they dip into the OLB well again. Ted Thompson’s always been a BPA guy, and at this point, that player is Reed. Reed is 6’2” 263lbs has a non-stop motor and good speed. He’s got the size to play the strong side position and he should be able to supplant Frank Zombo there to give the Packers the best OLB duo not named Harrison and Woodley.

2nd Round

33. New England Patriots - Danny Watkins, G, Baylor
- Tough as nails G who can fill the void of Stephen Neal’s retirement at RG.

34. Buffalo Bills - Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State
- A tough, mobile QB that will eventually unseat incumbent Ryan Fitzpatrick in Buffalo.

35. Cincinnati Bengals - Andy Dalton, QB, TCU
- Dalton should take well to Jay Gruden’s new west coast system in Cincinnati.

36. Denver Broncos - Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame
- The Broncos need a QB-friendly target. Rudolph is big and explosive with great hands.

37. Cleveland Browns - Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina
- Browns bolster D-line with a 1st round talent who slips because of suspension.

38. Arizona Cardinals - Jabaal Sheard, LB, Pittsburgh
- The Cards get a productive pass-rusher to play OLB. Can put his hand down if needed.

39. Tennessee Titans - Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh
- Immensely talented, but underachieved in 2010. Will challenge troubled Kenny Britt.

40. Dallas Cowboys - Derek Sherrod, T, Mississippi State
- Cowboys get lucky with a solid LT prospect that injects much needed youth to their OL.

41. Washington Redskins - Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada
- Shanahan gets a mobile QB to be the eventual successor…or starter. Talented athlete.

42. Houston Texans - Brandon Harris, CB, Miami
- Much needed upgrade at the CB position and comes from a strong lineage at the U.

43. Minnesota Vikings - Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
- The Williams wall has started crumbling. Paea is vastly underrated and very strong.

44. Detroit Lions - Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia
- Detroit needs help in the secondary and they land a big, physical CB here.

45. San Francisco 49ers - Rahim Moore, S, UCLA
- 49ers land a leader for the secondary to go with their new offensive leader from rd 1.

46. Denver Broncos - Akeem Ayers, LB, UCLA
- Broncos land a talented LB for their new 4-3 defense. Can play either outside spot.

47. St. Louis Rams - Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami
- The Rams get a legitimate receiving weapon for QB Sam Bradford. Underrated player.

48. Oakland Raiders - Johnny Patrick, CB, Louisville
- Nnamdi Asomugha is gone, and Al Davis loves him some speed. Patrick has speed.

49. Jacksonville Jaguars - Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland
- The Jags need more firepower on offense with Mike Sims-Walker about to leave.

50. San Diego Chargers - Kenrick Ellis, NT, Hampton
- Hugely talented player who had some off-field issues at Penn State early in career.

51. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Curtis Brown, CB, Texas
- The Bucs need another CB prospect for when they release the troubled Aqib Talib.

52. New York Giants - Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois
- Tough, physical runner to replace Brandon Jacobs in the backfield for the G-Men.

53. Indianapolis Colts - Titus Young, WR, Boise State
- It almost seems unfair to give Peyton Manning another great weapon at the WR spot.

54. Philadelphia Eagles - Davon House, CB, New Mexico State
- Excellent CB with great size/speed combo. Tough as nails and a 4 year starter.

55. Kansas City Chiefs - Randall Cobb, WR, Kentucky
- The Chiefs need a better complimentary player across from Dwayne Bowe.

56. New Orleans Saints - Bruce Carter, LB, North Carolina
- Saints need more bodies at both outside linebacker positions. Carter is a good player.
57. Seattle Seahawks - Jurrell Casey, DT, USC
- Carroll takes a former recruit to bolster the interior of the defensive line.

58. Baltimore Ravens - Jalil Brown, CB, Colorado
- The Ravens need all kinds of help at the CB spot; Brown is very underrated.

59. Atlanta Falcons - Lance Kendricks, TE, Wisconsin
- Falcons get a talented successor to Tony Gonzalez at TE. Will help Matt Ryan a lot.

60. New England Patriots - Mason Foster, LB, Washington
- Potential OLB for the Patriots. Underrated and undersized, but very, very talented.

61. San Diego Chargers - Jerrel Jernigan, WR, Troy
- Speed slot WR who can replace Darren Sproles on kick and punt returns.

62. Chicago Bears - James Carpenter, T, Alabama
- Bears need to upgrade over Frank Omiyale at the LT spot. Carpenter can play T or G.

63. Pittsburgh Steelers - Martez Wilson, LB, Illinois
- James Farrior won’t be around too much longer. Wilson can play both ILB and OLB.

64. Green Bay Packers - Allen Bailey, DE, Miami
- Packers take a chance on physical specimen. Needs training wheels on for a while.

KD AND CHIZZY'S ALTERNATING MOCK DRAFT - PART II

Whew. We needed to take the weekend off after that one. Here we go with Part II now with halftime over with.

17. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS. Mike Pouncey, C, Florida. Chizzy, in response to your Miami comments, I’ve partied in South Beach. Quite the time, and I'm sure Ryan Mallett would love it. However, the Dolphins closer to Fort Lauderdale, and the stadium is closer to the Everglades than civilization. I'm hoping they lock Mallett up there, but I like to imagine the 26 day binger he'd go on in South Beach after the season. It'd make "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" look like a Disney movie. Onto the Patriots pick. I'd bet $50 they trade one of their first round picks. If there's one thing Bill Belicheck as an affinity for, other than videotaping teams and trading picks, it's tabbing Florida Gator players. Chad Jackson, Brandon Spikes, Jermaine Cunningham, and Aaron Hernandez have all been selected in the first four rounds in the last four years. For all the hemming and hawing over the Patriots and their being so good at drafting; they really aren't that great at hitting picks in recent years. Ron Brace, Patrick Chung, Jonathan Wilhite, Terrance Wheatley, Kevin O'Connell, Bo Ruud, Matthew Slater, Darius Butler, Tyrone McKenzie, Rich Orhnberger, George Bussey, Myron Pryor, Daryl Richard...remember them? ESPN sure doesn't. With that in mind and the Patriots O-line getting older, not to mention Stephen Neal’s retirement and Logan Mankins wanting out of town, the Patriots play it safe and take the best interior prospect in Florida C Mike Pouncey. He'll step in at RG from day 1 and won't look back for 12 years. Pouncey's got great size, good athleticsim, and bloodlines. His brother, Maurkice of the Steelers, might be the best young C in the game not named Nick Mangold. Mike, while not quite his brother, is a damn solid prospect in his own right and is a typical Belichick pick. He'll make Tom Brady rest easier at night, not that he'd be tossing and turning next to Gisele and/or Bridget Monyhan. Hell, he's probably in the middle, ponytail and all. Pouncey will help Danny Woodhead and - I'm going to make a fearless forecast here - Ronnie Brown run through some holes next season as Laurence Maroney, Fred Taylor, and everyone else failed.

18. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS. JJ Watt, DE, Wisconsin. KD, I'm extremely pissed at you for that pick. The Philadelphia Eagles were jonesin' for Pouncey with the 23rd pick. You better make amends when you pick for my team. Now, for the Los Angeles, I mean, San Diego Chargers' first round pick, they're going to select one of the numerous DE's in this slot. The Chargers don't really have a lot of weaknesses, but they could stand to upgrade the D-line, especially with an explosive passrusher. Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt fits that mold, and I think he's a perfect fit for the Chargers. In a 3-4 defensive scheme, he won't be asked to drop back in coverage, something he never had to do at Wisconsin. He's strong, so he can break through the O-lines of the weak AFC West to stop the run or get to the quarterback if he drops back to pass. This is a great fit for the Chargers. The New York football Giants are now on the clock.

19. NEW YORK GIANTS. Anthony Castonzo, OL, Boston College. The Giants thank the football gods that an offensive tackle falls into their laps. They had more linemen play than any team in the NFL last year. Injuries to David Diehl, Rich Suebert, and Shaun O'Hara dealt major blows to their playoff hopes. That, and that rookie punter's decision to kick to DeSean Jackson. Anyways, David Diehl trained on at the NFL level at G, and he's been playing the all-important left tackle spot for the past few years. This pick is right in the Giants wheelhouse as they select Boston College's Anthony Castonzo. A native northeasterner, this pick will be loved by everyone, even Eli Manning, who’s more emo than Jay Cutler. Ouch. Castonzo could stand to add some bulk, but he's got a good frame, good feet, and a decent hand punch. He won't gore a DE like Jake Long or Joe Thomas do, but he can mirror and slide with them in pass protection, like Ryan Clady. In the run game he's solid; not quite Gabe Carimi level, but solid. This pick makes life easier for Eli Manning, Ahmad Bradshaw, and Brandon Jacobs. The Tampa Bay "should have made the playoffs" Buccaneers are on the clock.

20. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS. Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA. The Buccos were hands down the most surprising team in the NFL last year. Their offense improved by leaps and bounds with pre-season question mark Mike Williams being a steal in the 4th round and Josh Freeman emerging as a budding superstar. This year, look for coach Raheem Morris to upgrade the other side of the ball in the draft. Last year they took care of the DT position, so this year I think they focus early on linebackers and defensive ends. In the NFC South, Drew Brees and Matt Ryan like to throw a lot of short slants and mid range passes, and I think finding a playmaking LB is more important in a weak draft for the position. So I'm drafting UCLA LB Akeem Ayers for two reasons: (1) I think he is a good coverage LB that has an eye for the ball, which is something the Bucs haven't had since Derrick Brooks; and (2) I know you were taking him with the Eagles, I don't want to see the Eagles draft him, so I had to get him off the board. In my mind, that works for me. In a deep DE draft and a lot of teams before them looking to select a QB, I think the Bucs find a great value DE in the second round.

21. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS. Phil Taylor, NT, Baylor. The Chiefs were a close second to Tampa Bay in terms of surprise teams last year. They have some explosive playmakers on offense with Jamaal Charles and Dwayne Bowe. Rookie TE Tony Moeaki was a pleasant surprise, and really their only weakness is at RT. While Gabe Carimi might make sense here, he's a LT in my opinion. What the Chiefs lacked - and this was evident against the Ravens in the playoffs - was a run stuffer on the D-line. They've invested high picks there in recent years with Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson, and they'll do so again with Baylor NT Phil Taylor. There have been some foot issues swirling about Taylor as of late. While he's not quite as big as some NTs like Vince Wilfork, Haloti Ngata, and Paul Soliai, he's in the next weight class down. The above three guys are planet sized; Taylor's just moon sized at 6'3" 334lbs. His technique is raw, and he can disappear for whole series at a time...which is hard for anyone that size to do. However, if he can rotate with Shaun Smith for at least part of the 2011 season until he's up to speed, he could become a Casey Hampton type in the middle for KC. The Indianapolis Peyton Mannings are on the clock.

22. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS. Nate Solder, OL, Colorado. The Peyton Mannings haven't used a first round pick on an OL since Bill Polian has taken over as GM. After last season, Polian said he should've used his first round pick on an OL. The question is whether they go with Wisconsin OL Gabe Carimi or Colorado OL Nate Solder. There are questions about Carimi's pass protection ability, and I don't think that's something Peyton needs after getting the worst beating of his career last season. They need an immediate starter that can both protect Peyton and create holes for whatever back happens to be running for the Colts on that particular day. So the Colts go with Solder, who started off as a blocking TE at Colorado, then added 30 pounds to become their left tackle. I think in the NFL he translates to either tackle position, but my guess is the Colts do not put a rookie on Peyton's blind side. Solder starts at right tackle, and becomes a long-time figurehead of the Colts O-line for years to come. Now, on to the most important pick of the draft, the Philadelphia Eagles! E-A-G... L-E-S... EAGLES EAGLES EAGLES!!! Don't screw this up KD. We live in the same city you know.

23. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES. Brandon Harris, CB, Miami (FL). I feel some pressure picking for the Iggles. Andy Reid, never one to shy away from wheeling and dealing on draft day, is forced to stay put. The Eagles made due with Dmitri Patterson and Joselio Hanson playing opposite Asante Samuel at CB last year. Respect to Patterson and Hanson, but they're better suited to nickel and dime backs. As Chizzy stole Jimmy Smith earlier in the round, pissing off Andy Reid, he goes back to the talent well better known as "The U". Brandon Harris is the pick here. While "The U" hasn't been a talent factory since Larry Coker's departure, you can still get some talented payers. Harris is one of those lightning quick CBs that has a knack for getting his hands on the ball, breaking up 25 passes the past two years. He follows the pedigree of Miami DBs who've had success in the NFL with Ed Reed, Sean Taylor, Antrel Rolle, and last year's undrafted superhero Sam Shields, who replaced Charles Woodson in the Super Bowl. Harris is a shade under 5'10", and while he's not going to come in and knock you out like Vontae Davis or Antoine Winfield, he's a solid wrap and drag tackler. He's aggressive in coverage and has plenty of experience with 39 starts under his belt. A two-time semi-finalist for the Thorpe Award (nation's top defensive back), Harris gives the Iggles some versatility as he can shift into the slot if need be and man up guys like Wes Welker, Davone Bess, and Harry Douglas or he can stay on the outside. I think he provides Philly with a nice #2 CB to team with Asante Samuel with the potential to be a #1 CB down the road.

24. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS. Cameron Jordan, DE, Cal. KD, I'm disappointed. I threw you a softball and you dribbled it to the pitcher, as this guy wanted Carimi to shore up an O-line that struggled to protect Michael Vick last year. But alas, what's done is done. I still know where you live. The New Orleans Saints are now on the clock. I was in New Orleans last year for the shellacking they received at the hands of the 8-8 Seahawks, and let me tell you something. Win or lose, this city knows how to party. I can't even imagine what life was like on Bourbon Street when the 'Aints won the Super Bowl two years ago. What's funny is that this team still really doesn't have any pressing needs. But I'd like to see them find a DE to team up on the other side of the line from Ohio State alum Will Smith. As the best prospect left on the board, I think the Saints throw a bone to DE Cam Jordan out of California, who has risen faster than anyone up draft boards the last few months. His stats suffered in the 3-4 D that Cal ran, so I think he could thrive on the opposite side of a perennial All-Pro candidate. Jordan bolsters the Saints D and helps to shore up a run defense that really struggled last year.

25. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS. Andy Dalton, QB, TCU. Gabe Carimi was too much of a softball for Philadelphia. I think he's going to play left tackle, and Philly has Jason Peters there already. The Seahawks are on the clock here, and they provide the first real shocker of round 1. The eschew Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan AND local boy Jake Locker and select TCU quarterback Andy Dalton. I hate myself for picking Dalton in the first round as this will cause Todd McShay to go from 6 to midnight. Dalton hails from the Horned Frogs offense where slip screens and TE pops are the same as deep balls. He's a solid fit for Pete Carroll's west coast offense (WCO) and can learn for a year, or three, behind Matt Hasselbeck and "Clipboard Jesus" himself, Charlie Whitehurst. Dalton's stock has been fire for the last week...I'm not sure why. Even Peter King mocked Dalton to Miami at 15...needless to say, if this happens, I'll be 100 times more pissed off than when they took Ted Ginn with Patrick Willis sitting on the board (sorry Chizzy, and OSU fans, Ginn sucks). Dalton can play in the WCO, and he'll probably have success which will fuel my hate of Todd McShay (McFraud) even more.

26. BALTIMORE RAVENS. Aaron Williams, CB, Texas. Wow. Suffice to say, I'm shocked the Hawks don't take Mr. Locker. Snubbing the homeboy in favor of a Texan? How dare you. The 12th Man will not be happy. Now one of my least favorite teams in the NFL, the Baltimore Ravens, are on the clock. The Ravens don't need much, but they could use some upgrades on the defensive side of a ball for a unit that has been slipping the last two or three years. Alleged murderer and sure-fire Hall of Famer Ray Lewis is getting older (weird to use those two statements in the same sentence), so they need someone to take his throne in the next few years. But I think the Ravens have an immediate need for an elite playmaker CB prospect, because when was the last time anyone in the Ravens' secondary made a play besides TD machine Ed Reed? With four CB's off the board already, the Ravens get the last elite CB prospect in this draft in Texas CB Aaron Williams. The Steelers are not happy with this pick, which makes me happy. He's a smart, aggressive player who excels in pass coverage, and was known as a playmaker before Big 12 offenses stopped throwing his way this year. I really like this pick for the Ravens.

27. ATLANTA FALCONS. Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa. The Atlanta Falcons are a very well put together football team, except for one area - the D-line. John Abraham, once a feared pass-rusher, is nearing the end of his career. He looks to be replaced by Kroy Beirmann in the near future. Biermann is a good situational pass-rusher for now, but he'll have another year or two to be groomed behind Abraham. Opposite Abraham is ultra-bust, Jamaal Anderson. He was taken 9th overall in the 2007 Draft, and if not for Vernon Gholston, he'd be the biggest defensive bust of the decade. Atlanta goes to the Big 10 here, and has to choose between Adrian Clayborn or fan favorite Cameron Heyward, whose father Craig "Ironhead" Heyward played fullback for the Falcons for three seasons in the mid 90s. The Falcons choose Clayborn as he's a better fit for their 4-3 defense (Heyward is a better prospect, but in a 3-4 defense). Both players suffered dropoffs in play their senior seasons, but Clayborn gave Wisconsin T Gabe Carimi fits. Heyward was abused by Carimi in Ohio State's meeting with the Badgers (sadly, I was there to witness it - thanks for the tickets JM!). Clayborn notched 20 TFL's and 11.5 sacks in 2009, and from what I've heard, that's what a lot of NFL scouts are looking at as opposed to 2010 where he played through some minor injuries. The one warning sign for Clayborn is that he's been diagnosed Erb's Palsy in his right shoulder, a condition that inhibits the nerves and causes a difference of strenght from his right arm to left arm (hence his low bench press performance at the combine). If Atlanta plays him at LDE, as I expect they will, his upfield shoulder will be his right one - used for all moves, wrong-arming gaps, and taking on lead backs, so, buyer beware label here.

28. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS. Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama. I'm really disliking the fact that I'm having to pick back to back to back for the Ravens, Pats, and Jets. Who does this to a man? KD, next year I get the first pick. Now I think that the Pats, the only team with two first round picks, could easily trade this one to a team that wants to pick up either QB Christian Ponder or Jake Locker. But, I'm stuck with this pick like white on rice. The Pats shored up the OL concerns earlier this draft with C Mike Pouncey, a great pick. Nopw the Pats need to find a RB to run through Pouncey, Matt Light, and Logan Mankins. You predicted earlier that Ronnie Brown would be running for the Pats next year, but I don't necessarily think that he's the answer. I think the Pats take Alabama RB Mark Ingram with this pick, who has visited with the team and is the thoroughbred back that the Pats are looking for. The fact that this is the earliest any team is even considering a Heisman Trophy winning RB really shows the transition of how teams value the position. Teams are scared of investing a ton of money in a position that has a shelf life of 3 years in most cases. Just look to the fact that very few top 15 draft picks have been used on RB's the last few years, and that current Pats tandem of fearless midget Danny Woodhead and workhorse "Law Firm" Ben-Jarvus Green-Ellis, both of whom were undrafted. While they both had solid seasons last year, I think that Pats grab Ingram because he has the potential to be one of the best bruising backs in the league, and the new rookie wage scale that will be implemented will prevent the team from being forced to invest too much in a player with injury risks. I can't believe I'm saying this, but Ingram will make the Pats even MORE dangerous on offense.

29. CHICAGO BEARS. Marvin Austin, DT, UNC. Chizzy, that's pretty disgusting, and I'm sorry I made you go through that. I should've let you pick for Philadelphia and we could've gone from there. Next year, please give Andrew Luck to Miami if that's where they're picking. Sadly, I feel like Miami's D is too good to let that happen. Onto the Bears. They're really tempted to go with Gabe Carimi at this juncture. But the Bears pride themselves on their D, which revolves around solid interior play. Tommie Harris is gone, and Matt Toeaina and Anthony Adams leave you with a lot to be desired. Chicago, who was sad to see Corey Liuget off the board, narrows it down to UNC DT Marvin Austin and Hampton DT Kenrick Ellis. What’s that? You've never heard of Kenrick Ellis? Trust me, you will. But Chicago goes with UNC's Marvin Austin. Austin, who was suspended for the whole season in the agent scandal in Chapel Hill was considered a possible top 5 pick before the season. He's a very solid player, but like Baylor's Phil Taylor, he can just flat out disappear for long stretches. And just when you're about to ask why your team drafted him, he'll knock a pass down at the line, make a tackle in the backfield, and strip-sack the quarterback 3 plays in a row. At 6'1" and 309lbs, he ran a 4.90 time in the 40 and is very athletic for a big man. If the Bears can get him to harness all that talent and make him consistent, he'll be a Pro Bowl DT in less than 3 years. Book it.

30. NEW YORK JETS. Cameron Heyward, DE, THE Ohio State University. I love that you picked someone who I don’t know for the Bears. The Jets have somehow been on the verge of the Super Bowl the last few years with Mark Sanchez as QB1. I'm not really sure how, but a little common sense says that the defense has something to do with it. A top 5 unit the past few years under Rex Ryan's helm, one may think why the defense needs upgrading? I'm glad you asked. Basically, in football years, their 3-4 D-Line is a bunch of old geezers. DE's Shaun Ellis and Jason Taylor have been around forever and are wearing down, and DT Kris Jenkins has been injury plagued the last two seasons. While in my mind, Jenkins’ injury concerns are a bigger issue than Ellis and Taylor aging, I still take DE Cameron Heyward. Rex Ryan may fear a repeat Buckeye-bust like like Vernon Gholston, but Heyward has a football pedigree and will provide a pass rush to this Jets D. Not only that, but he’s one of the best tacklers in the this year’s draft. He’s a versatile player, which makes him a perfect fit for the Jets D; his aggressive style will make Rex Ryan a happy man. Just not happy enough to put down the Double Cheeses.

31. PITTSBURGH STEELERS. Gabe Carimi, OL, Wisconsin. The Steelers have never spent a 1st round pick on a CB, their #1 position of need. With the top 5 off the board they turn their attention elsewhere to the OL. They have an outstanding center in Maurkice Pouncey, and a pair of solid guards in Chris Kemoeatu and Ramon Foster. Willie Colon or Flozell Adams will suffice at RT for another year, but the struggle has been at left tackle. Max Starks - when healthy - is solid. Problem is he's never healthy. Jonathan Scott took over his duties last year and was marginially effective. The Packers steal a local product from right under the Packers’ noses and select Wisconsin tackle Gabe Carimi. The Steelers recently spent a pick on former Wisconsin guard Kraig Urbik, who is waiting in the wings behind Kemoeatu. Carimi is a mauling left tackle, and while not quite in the class of Anthony Castonzo or Tyron Smith, he's good in his own right. He dominated his matchup against Cameron Heyward this year, but struggled against Adrian Clayborn. But given Ben Roethlisberger's athleticism, if Carimi can merely slide and mirror his man, he'll be effective in pass-blocking. He'll have no problem run-blocking in the NFL and his demeanor just fits the sense of the Steelers. The Packers are on the clock to finish off round 1 and the first annual TGTS Mock Draft.

32. GREEN BAY PACKERS. Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue. The defending Super Bowl Champion Packers don’t need much, but they want to pick a player who fits into their mold. Ryan Kerrigan can do what Aaron Kampman could not in Green Bay: He can thrive in Green Bay’s 3-4 Defense. If he can improve on his strength, he can be versatile enough to rush the passer as a DE. If he works on his pursuit angles, he can drop back into coverage as an OLB and defend TE’s. There are question marks about his ability to do this, but I think you have to draft him and watch to see if he can thrive in one of the two positions above. He’s a tweener, but he’ll find a role in that D.

Frankly, I don't know about you KD, but I'm tired. This took a really long time, but I think we did a solid job. It's good to know that none of this will happen next Thursday night in Radio City.

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