In cased you missed the first round Interblog Mock Draft, click here. If you're too lazy, Jeff has written up an article summarizing the first round.
We'll look to finish the second round so it stretches past the combine and a free agency. Once the second round finishes, we will start all over from round one, with new information and maybe even a few new websites.
To Continue...
33. Lions - Alphonso Smith (CB) Wake Forest
(Ty): This selection was difficult, due to most of the size and grit going early in this mock. With rumors pointing toward the Lions maintaining a 4-3 base alignment, there is a need at linebacker. However, none of the highest-rated LBs are available. We considered USC LB Clay Matthews, due to his size, motor, and bloodlines. We think it would be a popular choice with the fans, too. However, Matthews would be a slight reach here at 2.1, and there was a better talent at a greater need position available . . .
(Steve) As luck would have it, one of the top cornerback prospects in the draft, in a draft admittedly light on the position, has fallen to the top of the second round in Wake Forest's Alphonso Smith. Smith may not meet the Lions declaration of needing to "get bigger, faster, stronger" on defense, but he does provide the defensive playmaker that they have been sorely missing, as his eight interceptions, three of which were returned for TD's, four forced fumbles and three sacks will all attest!
Ty Schalter is the Founder, President, CEO, Chairman of the Board, Editor-in-Chief, Senior Writer, and Flamekeeper at The Lions in Winter.
Steve has been the webmaster of Detroit Lions Weblog since 2004
34. Chiefs - Tyson Jackson (DE) LSU
It's hard to not select Southern California linebacker Clay Matthews with this spot. He has an impeccable pedigree and a terrific upside. Linebacker also might be the Chiefs' top need at this point in the draft. But Matthews has some concerns that are too difficult to ignore. He was a walk-on prospect at USC, and while he worked himself into a terrific defender, he also benefited from playing alongside Rey Maualuga and Kaluka Maiava. And here's the most difficult thing to ignore: the Chiefs' pass rush was the worst in the NFL last season, and they set a record for the least number of sacks in league history. Jackson has upside, and he played in the Southeastern Conference, at a great football school, which scouts believe translates well to NFL success. Kansas City needs an upgrade over last year's ends, Tamba Hali and Turk McBride (both of whom battled injuries and didn't live up to hopes), and the Chiefs would hope Jackson is a diamond in the rough. Jackson's speed is a concern, but with the best options already off the board, even at offensive line positions, the Chiefs need a pass rusher.
Kent Babb is the Chiefs reporter for the Kansas City Star reporter, and his blog is Red Zone (http://chiefsblog.kansascity.com).
34. Rams – Max Unger (C) Oregon
After selecting Michael Crabtree (WR) Texas Tech in the 1st round of our Mock Draft we are going to address the Rams offensive line needs. The Rams currently have Brett Romberg 6-2 298, and Nick Leckey 6-3 302 trying to play center. The Rams have been in need of a major upgrade at the Center position for some time now. It all starts from the Center position. Max Unger at 6-4 ¾ and 305 pounds will fill this hole nicely. Max after being a redshirt in 2004, went on to start all four years at Oregon, where he was able to play left tackle, guard and center against Pac-10 competition. What a versatile player Max could be on the Rams. Can you imagine a player at almost 6-5 and able to play left tackle, playing center? Matt Birk, Shaun O’Hara, and Kevin Mawae are great centers and their teams were all in the top 7 in rushing this past year. I thought Max looked great at the Senior Bowl workouts and I look forward to watching him this week at the NFL combine. This would be a great selection for the Rams and he will also help out Marc Bulger and the Rams passing game.
Stlvinnie is the webmaster for St. Louis Rams Fan and the lead blogger at Ramblin Fan.
36. Browns -- Clay Matthews III (LB) Southern Cal.
No sentient Browns fan will fail to recognize the name. After all, his father played more NFL games in the orange and brown than any other man and remains the team's all-time sack leader. While that alone is no reason to draft the son, this pick actually fills some of the Browns' most critical needs: restocking the linebacking corps, ginning up some sort of pash rush, and instantly intensifying the coverage units. Matthews may not cut a ferocious figure or stun the combine with pure athleticism, but through tremendous determination, he's grown into a very effective football player. Incoming head coach Eric Mangini clearly seeks a certain chemistry in the Cleveland locker room, beginning with guys who obviously love the game. "The words that I told you would go up in the draft room are up: smart, hardworking, competitive, and selfless," Mangini said. The trajectory of Matthews' career at USC illustrates that this description fully fits the latest prospect from a proven pro bloodline. The positive PR that would arrive with this pick, while much needed, would be great gravy.
Ace Davis has published Ace Davis' Cleveland Browns Weblog, the longest-running blog devoted to the Browns, since 2002.
37. Seahawks - LeSean McCoy (RB) Pittsburgh
With the Offensive Line shored up with the addition of Andre Smith, and with Max Unger and Alex Mack both off the big board, the Seahawks will add a long-term running back solution that is just too good to pass up at #37. McCoy will provide the Wind to Seattle's own version of Earth (Duckett), Wind (McCoy) and... Fire?(Jones). While Mora and Ruskell appear set to give Jones the chance that Holmgren wasn't quite prepared to give, they have to be thinking long-term and Jones is bound to be a career stopgap running back. McCoy has decent size (5'10", 210 lbs) and good speed (expected to run between a 4.4 and 4.5 at the Combine).
Chris Sullivan is the head writer at SeahawkAddicts.com
38. Bengals - Larry English (DE) No. Ill
In light of the news this week and the Bengals franchising a kicker (I know, a freaking kicker) it looks like the Bengals will be without the services of TJ Houshmandzadeh for the future. This is a big loss and with not knowing where Chad Ocho Cinco stands the wide receivers could take a huge hit. I almost pull the trigger on Darius Heyward-Bey.
However, this is my draft and I am going to make the smart decision and take Larry English, DE, No. Ill. While a little small for defensive end, he would fit in nicely in the smash mouth AFC North. He is known for his closing speed and his big hits on the quarterback. He will help to close off the outside and is quick enough for pass coverage.
Mickey Mentzer owns www.whodeyfans.com and has been running the site for the last 3 years. The writers from whodeyfans know their football and like to wrap their posts in humor. (which is necessary being a bengals fan)
39. Jaguars - Patrick Chung (SS) Oregon
With the release of Fred Taylor, I was somewhat dismayed to learn LeSean McCoy had some so close to being in Teal and Black. Instead, I'll go with another guy I've had my eye on. Gerald Sensabaugh's 3rd arrest threw out any chance the Jaguars would resign him as safety. Chung is a true Strong Safety. Strong against the run, a missile to wide outs going over the middle, and most importantly, is a quality character guy. He has been compared to Bob Sanders, and I wouldn't mind having that kind of safety.
Jonathan Loesche, columnist for www.BigCatCountry.com
40. Raiders - Paul Kruger (DE) Utah
Having passed up first round defensive ends since drafting Leon Bender in 1998, the Raiders will continue the trend in 2009. With Paul Kruger available in the 2nd round, the Raiders can address their need for fresh legs to bolster a defensive line where the team will continue to shop an aging Burgess and Terdell Sands hefty contract approaches an end. Kruger's well rounded ability as a pass rusher and run stopper will anchor the Raiders defensive line.
Blogger and Creator of The Oakland Raider Blog
41. Packers - Shonn Greene (RB) Iowa
Packer fans seem to think the Packers need defensive and offensive linemen. In a PackerBackerBlog.com poll, 78% of fans want some sort of lineman. However with our first pick, we guessed that GM Ted Thompson would go for a linebacker to help shore up our move to the 3-4 defense.
So with the Packer's second pick should be a lineman, right? Wrong. (Sense any frustration with our GM?) . Ted Thompson will continue his "best available" draft theme and select a running back. The Packers are thin at running back. Ryan Grant had a decent 2008 after a terrific 2007. Meanwhile backups Brandon Jackson and DeShawn Wynn had their share of injuries. Look for Thompson to select a RB early in the draft and quite possibly Shonn Greene from Iowa.
Rick Stratton writes for PackerBackerBlog.com, founder/editor
42. Bills - Kenny Britt (WR) Rutgers
This probably won't be a particularly popular pick with many Bills fans, but I'm not many Bills fans. The team's two biggest needs are DE and Center, with OLB and TE a close third and fourth. With that said, the need for some offensive playmakers still remains an ongoing issue. With the best pass rusher in the draft picked up at #11, the Bills look to improve their offense with the uber talented Britt.
Last season, the Bills picked up two WR's in the draft, James Hardy in round 2 and Steve Johnson in round 7. While Johnson remains a work in progress, Hardy will be coming off an ACL tear suffered at the end of the season. He was already struggling and looked like nothing more than a one-dimensional red zone threat in 2008. Simply put, Trent Edwards need some more playmakers surrounding him. With a deep and talented TE class, I'm looking to the big, athletic and productive Kenny Britt. While he doesn't possess top end speed, he has shown the ability to run away from DB's, and has really learned to use his big frame (6'4" 215 lbs) to his advantage. He's got the cockiness and swagger that a tepid Bills offense could really use. 149 catches for 2,603 yards and 15 TD's the past two seasons really speaks highly of Britt's ability. Other players to consider would be Center Eric Wood from Louisville if the position is not addressed in free agency, TE Shawn Nelson from So. Miss. and WR Darrius Heyward-Bey from Maryland.
Jason Fritz writes for Buffalo Rumblings, SBNation's Buffalo Bills blog
43. Niners - Clint Sintim, OLB, Virginia
This spot is a choice between Sintim and Darius Heyward-Bey. However, the pass rush needs a bigger upgrade and Sintim might be that guy as an OLB. The 49ers currently have Manny Lawson and Parys Haralson. Lawson is more of a coverage OLB and while Haralson is looking like a solid pass rusher, 1) he's a free agent after 2009, 2) he's only had one good season, and 3) you can never have too many good pass rushers.
David Fucillo - leader writer and editor of Niners Nation
44. Dolphins - Ron Brace (DT) Boston College
If the actual NFL Draft breaks this way, the Bill Parcells and Jeff Ireland will be doing cartwheels in their war room. The Dolphins need to locate Jason Ferguson's long-term replacement as the team's nose tackle. After all, the most important player in any 3-4 defense is the nose. Without a solid NT, the 3-4 doesn't work.
Enter Ron Brace. At 6'3, 329, Brace has the size and strength needed to play the nose. And it's a fact that the Dolphins are indeed interested in Brace - this according to Brace himself. Ron also told me he'd have no problem playing the NT spot despite never playing in a 3-4 before, saying, "I know that I would have no problem taking up two gaps though. I could definitely see myself as a nose in a 3-4."
It was tempting to address the defensive backfield with this pick. But the Dolphins can't take the chance to wait on Brace and hope he's still on the board with their second 2nd round pick (56th overall).
Matt Infante is the founder and head blogger of The Phinsider, SBN's Miami Dolphins blog.
45. Giants - Connor Barwin (DE/LB) Cincinnati
Since the Giants are not rebuilding, they can afford to fill needs on the first day. Jerry Reese has to get a wide receiver, and he could also use help on special teams. Barwin may not come into the NFL with a natural position, but he is extremely versatile. He was a tight end until last season when he switched to defense end, recording 11 sacks without a lot of advanced technique. Down the road, he might be able to help at linebacker, but since Barwin is a high-motor guy who blocked three punts last season, he could be the impact player on special teams a coach like Tom Coughlin might grow attached to.
Mike Dougherty is the Giants beat writer for The Journal News and writes the Giants Journal blog at www.giants.lohudblogs.com
46. Texans - Louis Delmas (S) Western Michigan
The Texans will likely re-sign FS Eugene Wilson this off-season, but they
can't pass up Louis Delmas here. The team has never spent higher than a
4th-round draft choice on a safety before, so it should be no surprise
that the safety (especially free safety) play has been terrible for most
of the franchise's short history.
Looking back at this particular draft, had I known Robert Ayers would last
to #46, I would have avoided my nervous-at-best selection of Aaron Maybin
at #15. If I thought Maybin could convert to a 4-3 OLB, I'd snatch up
Ayers here, but it's probably not smart to draft a guy at 15 and then try
to change his position altogether.
Truthfully, the Texans have bigger needs than a safety, especially at OLB,
but Tyrone McKenzie is too much of a reach at this spot. Instead, the
Texans come away with the guy a lot of people say is the best safety in
this draft.
Chris Watkins is the Owner & Editor of HoustonDiehards.com
47. Patriots - Brian Robiskie (WR) Ohio State
It may seem strange for the Patriots to draft another wide receiver when there's so many needs on defense. However, our #3 receiver, Jabar Gaffney, is a free agent in 2009 and I believe many teams have figured out that if you can shut down Randy Moss and Wes Welker, #1 and #2, you can do some damage to the Patriots' aerial assault. This makes a #3 that much more important a weapon.
Brian is the kind of kid who will fit well into the Patriots system. He comes from excellent breeding (father Terry is receivers coach at Atlanta) and has some very good stats to his name. He may not be in the top 5, but he certainly appears to be a hard working, athletic guy with plenty of aptitude, both physically and mentally, to make it happen. The kind of guy Belichick loves.
Dave Heafey is head blogger at SBNation's patspulpit.com
48. Broncos - Victor Harris, CB - Virginia Tech
With the exception of Champ Bailey, Denver's secondary has resembled a toilet the last few seasons. They've had awful safeties, horrible corners starting opposite Champ, terrible nickle-backs and little to no depth.
With the long overdue release of Dre Bly last week, finding an NFL-quality young corner has become a top priority. "Macho" is the best available CB at this point in the mock draft and while he doesn't have sub 4.5 speed like you'd want in an NFL corner, his cover-skills are great and he had a very impressive Senior Bowl. Lining up against one of his former teammates (Eddie Royal) in camp and practice would only benefit both players.
“Hercules Rockefeller” is the sole-proprietor of Orange Bucksnorts.
49. Bears - Nate Davis (QB) Ball State
Didn't have a great combine, but didn't disappoint too much either. He has the intangibles of a good quarterback, and his mobility is something the Bears have lacked. Davis is a sleeper QB pick, but he's a much safer pick than Freeman, who is a taller version of Rex Grossman
Gavin Tugana, Senior Contributor, Windy City Gridiron
50. Bucs - Darrius Heyward-Bey (WR) Maryland
We'll pull the trigger on Darrius Heyward-Bey from Maryland. He blazed at the combine and impressed scouts with nice hands and fluid routes for a guy considered by some to be a project. He has first round ability and is a tremendous value here at 50. He's a nice addition to the Bucs' WR corps.
Craig Smith writes for Buc ‘Em
51. Cowboys - Jarron Gilbert (DE) San Jose St.
Gilbert, who has become YouTube famous for the video of him jumping out of a pool, is a phenomenal athlete who would fill a need for the Cowboys. At 6-5, 288 pounds, he has the frame to replace Chris Canty as a defensive end in the 3-4, although he'd have to beat out Stephen Bowen and Jason Hatcher for the job. He was a combine star (4.81 40, 35 1/2-inch vertical) and led the NCAA with 22 tackles for losses last season.
Tim MacMahon covers the Cowboys for the dallasnews.com blog.
52. Jets - Glen Coffee (RB) Alabama
One of the first thing that new coach Rex Ryan said was that he was committed to running the football. Although the Jets have depth concerns at the offensive and defensive lines that the team needs to address for the long-term, Thomas Jones is reaching an age where the team needs to consider a replacement running back to pair with Leon Washington. While Washington dazzles on screens and outside the tackles, the Jets need a back who can slash between the tackles. Jones doesn't have many gains of 20+ yards, but some younger legs at the position might make a difference.
Although Coffee has limited collegiate playing time, he came in second in rushing in the war-torn SEC and is someone that many scouts are looking at as to how he projects to the pros. With four first round draft picks on the Jets current line, there's going to be holes for him.
Brian Basset founded www.thejetsblog.com in 2004.
53. Eagles - Jared Cook (TE) South Carolina
Having said before the Eagles don't draft for need, this is a need pick. The Eagles aren't addressing the tight end position in free agency, which means help has to come from the draft. This year's tight end class is deep. Unfortunately, after Pettigrew, none of the guys can block, but they can all run and catch. Cook is the fastest of that bunch and if he's still available here, it's a no-brainer pick. Now we just hope he's not the next L.J. Smith.
Derek writes for www.igglesblog.com.
54. Vikings - Phil Loadholt (OT) Oklahoma
Loadholt, to put it mildly, is freaking huge. Standing 6'8" and weighing in at 335 pounds, he's been the anchor of the Sooners' offensive line for the past two seasons. Sure, he's got some problem handling speed rushers and some other minor faults, but things like that can be corrected with coaching. . .you can't teach size like Loadholt has, and he should immediately be able to step in at right tackle for the Vikings. Other players that we considered here were Loadholt's teammate, WR Juaquin Iglesias, Connecticut OT William Beatty, and Utah DB Sean Smith.
I'm Christopher Gates, head blogger at The Daily Norseman. My co-writers, Mike Sutehall, Eric Thompson, and Andrew Kneeland, also had input on this pick.
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