LATEST 2ND ROUND MOCK DRAFT

Miami Dolphins: Carl Nicks, OT, Nebraska
About a month ago, I wrote the following: "I can't see the Dolphins sticking with Anthony Alabi and L.J. Shelton at right tackle for too much longer."

Well, they're both cut. The Dolphins are clearly targeting an offensive lineman in the first two rounds. Carl Nicks had an outstanding combine and could very well go in the first round.

I considered Brian Brohm here, but if the Dolphins take him, all of the second-tier offensive tackles will be gone by the time they choose again. Miami needs a left tackle in the worst way.


St. Louis Rams: Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College
Marc Bulger was sacked 37 times in 12 starts this season. He actually broke the same amount of ribs, forcing the Rams to sign Trent Green to a contract worth $9 million. Wow. Way to spend tons of cash on a 38-year-old quarterback coming off two concussions, whose skills have completely diminished. The St. Louis front office would have been better served using that $9 million as toilet paper.

Where was I? Oh yeah... the line needs to be addressed, as Orlando Pace is too injury-prone, while Alex Barron is really inconsistent.


Oakland Raiders: Sam Baker, OT, USC
Oakland took a big risk by drafting a quarterback with its first-overall selection last year. The front office better find talented linemen who can protect JaMarcus Russell.

Huge steal for the Raiders - they get Sam Baker, a first-round prospect, who fits perfectly in their zone-blocking scheme.


Kansas City Chiefs: Anthony Collins, OT, Kansas
The run on offensive tackles continues. Even though Anthony Collins is a bit of a reach here, he's pretty much a no-brainer; Kansas City cannot afford to surrender 55 sacks against next year. Hopefully that will change with Collins on the Chiefs' offensive front.



New York Jets: Jerod Mayo, ILB, Tennessee
Do I really have to delve into how horrendous the Jets' defense was this year? They were 29th against the run, managed just 29 sacks and couldn't force any turnovers. Part of the reason for that was because Jonathan Vilma was playing out of position. Vilma's gone, and will be replaced by the mediocre, soon-to-be 31-year-old Eric Barton. The Jets need a long-term solution next to David Harris at inside linebacker.

By the way, I recently received an e-mail from someone who didn't like this pick because Jerod Mayo was just as small as Jonathan Vilma. You can view the Jerod Mayo-Jonathan Vilma e-mail by clicking on that link and scrolling down to one of the entries on March 10. The premise was incorrect; Vilma is only 230 pounds, while Mayo weighs in close to 245. Just thought I'd clear that up.


Atlanta Falcons: Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville
Guess the Falcons don't have to trade up for Brian Brohm, huh? Brohm should become the starter in Atlanta by the midway point of the season, as the only other quarterbacks the team has under contract are Chris Redman, D.J. Shockley, and the caviar-loving, piano-playing Joey Harrington (assuming he re-signs this week). Don't count out Joe Flacco; Arthur Blank may never trust anyone from Louisville ever again.


Baltimore Ravens: Tracy Porter, CB, Indiana
The Ravens suddenly can't stop the pass, as Chris McAlister and Samari "Boy" Rolle are both on the wrong side of 30. I could see Baltimore cleaning house at the cornerback position soon, meaning it'll have to draft replacements.

Tracy Porter could be drafted in the first round. He had an incredible Pro Day, running a 4.29 in his 40.


San Francisco 49ers: Early Doucet, WR, LSU
When the 49ers traded a fourth-round pick for Darrell Jackson, I don't think they anticipated that their new wide out would drop about 10 passes per week. In 15 contests, Jackson had only 497 receiving yards.

Early Doucet can help San Francisco score more than 13.7 points per game this year. The team already added Isaac Bruce to its roster, but Alex Smith and Shaun Hill definitely need more than an 80-year-old wide out. Plus, Mike Martz can never have too many receivers.


New Orleans Saints: Dre Moore, DT, Maryland
Brian Young was re-signed recently, but Hollis Thomas is looking forward to retirement so he can eat Doritos on his couch, meaning the Saints need to address the nose tackle position. They get an absolute steal in Dre Moore here. Moore, a second-round prospect before the combine, notched a dazzling 4.88 at 305 pounds. Matt McGuire has him going 20th to the Buccaneers, and I can totally see that happening.


Buffalo Bills: Reggie Smith, CB/S, Oklahoma
The Bills have major depth issues at defensive back in the wake of losing Kiwaukee Thomas, Jerametrius Butler, Jim Leonhard, Coy Wire and E.J. Underwood this offseason. Buffalo needs to knock off the Patriots, who have Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Ben Watson all catching passes from the NFL's single-season record holder for touchdowns.


Denver Broncos: Trevor Laws, DT, Notre Dame
Denver was 30th against the run last year and desperately needs to acquire some talent at defensive tackle. Hopefully drafting Trevor Laws is a step in the right direction to rebuilding one of the worst defenses in the NFL.





Carolina Panthers: Quintin Demps, FS, UTEP Mike Minter's unceremonious retirement this offseason left the Panthers with a hole at free safety, filled by the mediocre Deke Cooper. Cooper isn't a terrible safety, but Carolina needs a play-maker in its secondary.


Chicago Bears: Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas
Prior to the 2005 NFL Draft, Cedric Benson made it a point to prove he was nothing like Ricky Williams. Well, he's not. Williams was forced out by the league, while Benson just looks like he wants to leave the NFL on his own. With Rex Grossman definitely coming back (groan, goes every single Bears fan), I think Chicago takes a quarterback a bit later in the draft.


Detroit Lions: Curtis Lofton, MLB, Oklahoma
Look, I know my "no team has ever won a Super Bowl with a guy named Paris as its starting middle linebacker" joke has run its course. But I kept it up for so long just to prove a point. If you're getting ready to play a football game and you're going over the scouting reports, the only reason you'd fear a guy named Paris is the prospect of him offering you stale wine and moldy cheese in between plays. And I wonder why I don't get much traffic from France...

But in all seriousness, the Lions need to keep adding talent to their defense. Curtis Lofton is a huge improvement over anyone they currently have.


Cincinnati Bengals: Jamaal Charles, RB, Texas
This is getting a bit ridiculous. It seems like the Bengals draft a running back early every year. But the fact remains they're in dire need of an upgrade. It looks like Kenny Irons won't make it back from his ACL injury; Chris Perry gets hurt every year; while Rudi Johnson was almost as sloth-like as Shaun Alexander in 2007, which is saying a lot.


Minnesota Vikings: Joe Flacco, QB, Delaware
I've never seen so many fans of one team torn on a draft pick. Some people love this selection and agree with me that the Vikings need to upgrade the quarterback position to make a run deep into the postseason. Others hate this pick and seem like they're willing to defend Tarvaris Jackson to the very end.

In my opinion, Jackson is one of the five worst starting quarterbacks in the NFL (in no particular order - Jackson, Alex Smith, Kyle Boller, John Beck and Brodie Croyle). I watched anywhere between 9-11 Vikings games this year, and I was never impressed with any of Jackson's attributes, other than his arm strength and mobility.

As much as I'd love to give the Vikings a stout right tackle, there just aren't any worth taking here. A cornerback is a possibility, but this draft is so deep at that position that Minnesota could draft a solid one in Rounds 3 or 4.


Atlanta Falcons: Pat Sims, DT, Auburn
The Falcons have desperately needed a nose tackle ever since unceremoniously - and according to several teammates, unjustly - cutting Grady Jackson. Atlanta was 26th against the run, and a monstrous defensive lineman would help the team improve immensely in that category. The Falcons get an absolute steal in Pat Sims here. Sims is a first-round prospect who slips because this draft class is so deep.


Philadelphia Eagles: Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State
Eagles fans jump for joy as they get a guy they were targeting in the first round. As discussed earlier, the Eagles desperately need a No. 1 receiver - and a large wide out at that. Donovan McNabb's small targets had trouble getting off the line of scrimmage in press coverage this season. At 6-1, 215 pounds, Devin Thomas won't have that problem.

No chance Fred Davis goes here because Philadelphia franchised L.J. "Hands of Stone" Smith. The move just doesn't make any sense to me. Do the Eagles like the fact that he's prone to injuries, or do they prefer his uncanny ability to drop easy passes?


Arizona Cardinals: Terrell Thomas, CB, USC
The Cardinals were eliminated from playoff contention when they lost back-to-back contests to the Seahawks and Saints. The reason for those defeats was because Arizona couldn't stop the pass. Actually, that's an understatement; Matt Hasselbeck and Drew Brees combined to go 48-of-63, 587 yards and six touchdowns. That's only 15 incompletions in two weeks! Pathetic!


Washington Redskins: Jordy Nelson, WR, Kansas State
Washington needs to go after a massive wide out. Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El were both in and out of the lineup last season, and the Redskins need a large receiver in the mix. At 6-2, 217, Jordy Nelson is much more physically imposing than both Moss and Randle El (both 5-10).


Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chad Henne, QB, Michigan
No signal caller in Round 1, so the Buccaneers get their quarterback of the future here. Chad Henne was inconsistent at Michigan, but it's not like he had the greatest coaching staff in the world.





Pittsburgh Steelers: Matt Forte, RB, Tulane
Rumors are abound that the Steelers will be targeting a running back in the first few rounds. They're concerned with Willie Parker's durability, and disgusted with Najeh Davenport's lackluster performance against the Jaguars in the Doggone Playoff. Pittsburgh has needed a power back to pair with Parker ever since Jerome Bettis retired.


Tennessee Titans: Cliff Avril, DE, Purdue
The Titans lost both Antwan Odom and Travis LaBoy in free agency. So, across from Kyle Vanden Bosch, they're down to fossilized Jevon Kearse, and journeyman Bryce Fisher and Jacob Ford, who is coming off an ACL tear. No wonder Albert Haynesworth is yelling at everyone and threatening to stomp on the head of everyone who works in the front office.

Cliff Avril had an outstanding combine and has consequently emerged as an early second-round prospect. At 253 pounds, Avril ran an incredible 4.51 and looked great in all of the drills.


Seattle Seahawks: Fred Davis, TE, USC
Kicking Jerramy Stevens out of Seattle was a good thing. Replacing him with Marcus Pollard and Jeb Putzier? Not so good. The Seahawks need a legitimate, top-notch tight end, and not one who drops 5,000 passes in a playoff game.

I had Jamaal Charles here in one of my previous updates, but I don't think the Seahawks can pass on Fred Davis if he's somehow available.


Green Bay Packers: Erin Henderson, OLB, Maryland
Without many needs, the Packers can afford to go Best Player Available, and that happens to be Erin Henderson, who can add depth to their linebacking corps.


Miami Dolphins: Patrick Lee, CB, Auburn
Derek Anderson dissected Miami's secondary en route to 41 points. Trent Edwards, Kellen Clemens and Kyle Boller did the same a few weeks later. The story of the 2007 Dolphins. They need a true No. 1 cornerback - and about 10 million other things.


Jacksonville Jaguars: Josh Barrett, SS, Arizona State
The Jaguars couldn't stop Ben Roethlisberger or Tom Brady in the playoffs. They really missed Donovin Darius this year, and Sammy Knight wasn't much of a replacement.


Indianapolis Colts: Xavier Adibi, OLB, Virginia Tech
Rob Morris was cut, while Rocky Boiman is a free agent and may not return. The Colts may need an outside linebacker after the 2007 campaign, and Xavier Adibi is yet another second-round steal.


Green Bay Packers: Martellus Bennett, TE, TexasA&M
The Packers love having tons of options at tight end on their roster. In the wake of Bubba Franks getting cut, I think they pick one relatively early in the draft.


Dallas Cowboys: Chris Johnson, RB, East Carolina
Julius Jones likely won't be back next year, and the Cowboys clearly don't think Marion Barber can carry the load on his own; otherwise he'd be doing so already instead of starting his first game in the playoffs. The lightning-quick Chris Johnson (4.25 speed) will be a perfect change-of-pass back for the powerful Barber.


New England Patriots: Tom Zbikowski, SS, Notre Dame
I'm aware that the Patriots just signed Tank Williams, but I believe they need somewhat of a more long-term solution at strong safety. Rodney Harrison, who turns 36 in December, will be a free agent after this season.


New York Giants: DaJuan Morgan, FS, N.C. State
Gibril Wilson, New York's top defensive back, recently signed with the Raiders. The Giants need a solid replacement