20 April 8, 2009 Patriots Football Weekly What’s on tap? writers’ mock draft Pick Team Player Pos. School Writer making selection Writer’s comment Other needs Matthew Stafford QB Georgia Nicholas Cotsonika Fills biggest long-term need. Stafford’s big arm fits the system MLB, DT, T, G 1. Detroit Free Press and begins the rebuilding process Jason Smith T Baylor Nick Wagoner Obviously fills a great need at tackle and Smith is the best WR, LB 2. stlouisrams.com player on the board at that position. Aaron Curry LB Wake Forest Adam Teicher Fills a huge need and Chiefs can’t afford to gamble on a guy DL, OL, WR 3. Kansas City Star who will be switching positions. Curry is a true LB. Eugene Monroe T Virginia Greg Johns With perennial Pro Bowler Walter Jones now 35 and coming off QB, WR, CB 4. Seattle Post-Intelligencer knee surgery, it’s time to groom a replacement. Michael Crabtree WR Texas Tech Tony Grossi WR has become a greater need after losing Kellen Winslow, OLB, S, RB 5. Cleveland Plain Dealer Joe Jurevicius and given Donte’ Stallworth’s legal problems. Michael Oher T Mississippi Mark Curnutte Bengals were surprised to lose T Stacy Andrews via FA and will DE/OLB, C, DT 6. Cincinnati Enquirer be in the hunt for a tackle. With Monroe gone, Oher is the pick. B.J. Raji DT Boston College Steve Corkran Raiders are horrible against the run and need help there WR, DE 7. Contra Costa Times immediately. Oakland won’t be scared off by Raji’s drug tests. Mark Sanchez QB USC Michael Wright Jags have adopted a best player available philosophy under DT, WR, T 8. Florida Times-Union new GM Gene Smith and Sanchez fills the bill. Brian Orakpo OLB Texas Pete Dougherty Packers switching to 3-4 and need a lot of help along the front T, DL, OLB 9. Green Bay Press-Gazette seven, particularly with the pass rush. Andre Smith T Alabama Matt Barrows The Niners don’t have any long-term answer at tackle and have OLB, RB, WR 10. Sacramento Bee allowed 55 sacks in each of the last two seasons. Aaron Maybin DE/OLB Penn State Mark Gaughan Bills are badly in need of pass rush help. Either Maybin or TE, C, DE 11. Buffalo News Florida State’s Everette Brown would make sense. Tyson Jackson DE LSU Mike Klis Broncos have to go defense and Jackson could give Denver a OLB, WR, QB 12. Denver Post Richard Seymour type in the new 3-4. Brian Cushing LB USC David Elfin Redskins really need help at strong side LB and DE but would DE, LB, T 13. Washington Times likely opt for the best LB over the fourth-best pass rusher. Malcolm Jenkins CB Ohio State Patriots Football Weekly staff Whether Jenkins winds up at corner or safety he’ll fill a major OLB, RB, DB 14. hole in the Saints secondary. Clay Matthews LB USC John McClain As long as the stories about Matthews’ steroid tests are untrue OLB, FS, RB 15. Houston Chronicle he’s the pick. Otherwise look for the Texans to trade down. Chris Wells RB Ohio State Kevin Acee It’s time for the Chargers to look to the future and their post LT DE, ILB, T 16. San Diego Union-Tribune needs. They like Wells enough to take him at 16. Jeremy Maclin WR Missouri Rich Cimini Jets got rid of Laveranues Coles and need another receiver QB, DE, TE 17. New York Daily News with speed. Not sure QB Josh Freeman is worth taking here. Darrius Heyward-Bey WR Maryland Mike Klis Brandon Marshall is coming off hip surgery and facing a lengthy OLB, WR, QB 18. Denver Post suspension. Broncos would love Maclin here. Rey Maualuga LB USC Roy Cummings Very talented linebacker and new coordinator Jim Bates’ scheme DT, CB, QB 19. Tampa Tribune requires a lot of active linebackers. Everette Brown DE/OLB Florida State Nicholas Cotsonika Brown is the highest-rated player on the board and he fills a MLB, DT, T, G 20. Detroit Free Pass need. LB James Laurinaitis is a possibility as well. Knowshon Moreno RB Georgia Dave Spadaro Need a guy to be the future once Brian Westbook is no longer TE, OL, WR, LB 21. philadelphiaeagles.com there and Moreno has all the skills to thrive in Eagles system. Percy Harvin WR Florida Sean Jensen Harvin would be the perfect complement to Adrian Peterson T, CB 22. St. Paul Pioneer Press and would give Vikings a big-timer return threat as well. Larry English OLB Northern Illinois Patriots Football Weekly staff Depending on how the pursuit of an OLB winds up, the Pats CB, S, WR 23. may need to find some help on the edge. Robert Ayers DE Tennessee Patriots Football Weekly staff His stock is on the rise and he fills a major need for the Falcons. DT, OLB, S 24. Gives Atlanta some size up front. Hakeem Nicks WR North Carolina Edgar Thompson Physical receiver with good size who can line up outside and WR, G, T 25. Palm Beach Post gives Dolphins a much-needed weapon. Brandon Pettigrew TE Oklahoma State Jamison Hensley Ravens would love to get a weapon for Joe Flacco and would CB, WR, LB 26. Baltimore Sun jump at the chance to land Pettigrew. Peria Jerry DT Mississippi Mike Chappell Indy needs to get bigger and better up front on defense and WR, DT, CB 27. Indianapolis Star the 290-pound Jerry works. The Colts could go WR as well. Kenny Britt WR Rutgers Dave Spadaro The Eagles need a big, red-zone threat for Donovan McNabb TE, OL, WR, LB 28. philadelphiaeagles.com and the athletic Britt qualifies. James Laurinaitis LB Ohio State Mike Garafolo The Plaxico Burress situation leaves the Giants badly needing WR, LB, T 29. Newark Star-Ledger help at WR but the value isn’t there. Laurinaitis is best on board. Alphonso Smith CB Wake Forest Jim Wyatt Smith could potentially help the Titans early while also serving WR, DL, LB 30. The Tennesseean as a long-term replacement for the aging Nick Harper. LeSean McCoy RB Pittsburgh Bob McManaman With Edgerrin James soon to be released and Tim Hightower RB, DE/OLB, C 31. Arizona Republic not a lead back, McCoy is the best solution for Cards. Eric Wood C/G Louisville Jim Wexell Right guard is a gaping hole for Pittsburgh and Wood could CB, DE, WR 32. Johnstown Tribune-Democrat represent the Steelers future at center as well..