So here it is, these are not my predictions..... what do you think. Being in Houston, they better pick Bush.... or we will suck for 4 more years.
2006 Draft Order
1. Houston
2. New Orleans
3. Tennessee
4. N.Y. Jets
5. Green Bay
6. San Francisco
7. Oakland
8. Buffalo
9. Detroit
10. Arizona
11. St. Louis
12. Cleveland
13. Baltimore
14. Philadelphia
15. Denver (from Atlanta)
16. Miami
17. Minnesota
18. Dallas
19. San Diego
20. Kansas City
21. New England
22. Denver (from Washington)
23. Tampa Bay
24. Cincinnati
25. N.Y. Giants
26. Chicago
27. Carolina
28. Jacksonville
29. NY Jets (from Denver through Atlanta)
30. Indianapolis
31. Seattle
32. Pittsburgh
____________________________________________
1. Houston Texans - Reggie Bush*, RB USC
There’s talk that the Texans are considering N.C. State defensive end Mario Williams, but if they don’t trade down, I think they‘ll use this pick on Bush. They already have a decent back in Dominick Davis, but Bush can do so many more things… return punts, play the slot receiver, etc.
2. New Orleans Saints - D‘Brickashaw Ferguson, OT Virginia
The Saints would like to trade down a couple spots for Ferguson, but if they don’t find a partner, Ferguson is the best fit. His presence would allow the team to keep last year’s first rounder, Jamaal Brown, on the right side where he is a much better fit.
3. Tennessee Titans – Matt Leinart, QB USC
There is a lot of smoke being blown out of Tennessee headquarters over Texas QB Vince Young. If the Titans go QB here, Leinart is a much more likely selection.
4. New York Jets – Mario Williams*, DE North Carolina State
The Jets are hoping either Ferguson or Leinart fall to them, but with both off the board, they take the next best option. Williams might just be the best player in the draft. He’s the best defensive end to come out since Julius Peppers. And while his skills might fit a 4-3 set better, he has the size to hold up at end in the 3-4. New head coach Eric Mangini would use Williams the way he used Richard Seymour in New England.
5. Green Bay Packers – A.J. Hawk, OLB Ohio State
With Mario Williams off the board, the Packers turn their attention to the next best defender available. Combined with Nick Barnett in the middle and surprising youngster Brady Poppinga on the strong side, Hawk would be a great fit at the weak side linebacker.
6. San Francisco 49ers – Vernon Davis*, TE Maryland
The 49ers have a lot of holes and they could look at a guy like Texas defensive back Michael Huff because of his versatility to play cornerback or safety. But Davis is such a tremendous athlete and will create so many mismatches in the NFL that I feel the 49ers would get better value with this pick by grabbing him here.
7. Oakland Raiders – Vince Young*, QB Texas
It’s well known that Al Davis likes Andrew Walter, but the more I think about it, the more I think Al won‘t be able to resist an athlete like Young if he drops to the Raiders. The acquisition of Aaron Brooks is nothing more than a stop-gap to get the Raiders to their next prospect.
8. Buffalo Bills – Brodrick Bunkley, DT Florida State
Oregon’s Haloti Ngata is the popular pick here, but Bunkley, who is soaring up a lot of draft charts, is a better fit for the Tampa 2 defense the Bills are installing this year.
9. Detroit Lions – Michael Huff, DB Texas
Huff is probably the ideal pick here because he could play either safety or corner, and would really help solidify Detroit’s secondary. The Lions might consider QB Jay Cutler here, but they‘re more likely to give the recently-acquired Josh McCown a year to show what he can do before going in another direction.
10. Arizona Cardinals – Winston Justice*, OT USC
Picking up Edgerrin James takes the Cardinals out of the market for a running back in the early rounds, but they still have plenty of holes to fill. Rumor has it Dennis Green is smitten with Justice, who boosted his stock at USC’s recent pro day workouts.
11. St. Louis Rams - Jay Cutler, QB Vanderbilt
Obviously this isn’t the team’s biggest need, but new head coach Scott Linehan is looking to put his mark on the Rams early, and with Marc Bulger’s history of injuries, it wouldn’t be a bad move to bring in a youngster who happens to fit Linehan‘s system.
12. Cleveland Browns - Manny Lawson, LB/DE North Carolina State
Linebackers are key to Crennel‘s defense and I expect him to continue concentrating on solidifying the defensive unit early in the draft. Lawson, another player who has seen his stock skyrocket, is a DE/OLB tweener who is a perfect fit for the Browns 3-4 defense.
13. Baltimore Ravens – Haloti Ngata*, DT Oregon
With Jamal Lewis back in the fold, the Ravens can turn their attention toward solidifying other areas of the team. GM Ozzie Newsome believes you can’t have enough quality lineman, and Ngata would be a great value at No. 13.
14. Philadelphia Eagles – Chad Jackson*, WR Florida
The Eagles appear to be targeting offensive tackle Winston Justice or defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, but I doubt either will last this late into the round. The Eagles could look to trade down if neither is around when they pick, but if they hold serve at No. 14, Jackson is the best value at a need position.
15. Denver Broncos (from Atlanta) - Santonio Holmes*, WR Ohio State
The Broncos are eyeing the best wide receiver, tight end, or running back in the first round. The tight end class is very deep this year and the club has a proven ability to pluck quality running backs from the middle rounds. Wide receiver is the most obvious choice at this point.
16. Miami Dolphins – Jimmy Williams, CB Virginia Tech
The Dolphins picked up Will Allen and Andre Goodman through free agency, but they still lack a true No. 1 corner. Williams has great size and speed, and has the versatility to play either corner or safety.
17. Minnesota Vikings – Chad Greenway, LB Iowa
Linebacker is the most glaring weakness on this team, followed by quarterback. The team needs to look at a QB of the future, but if they don’t trade up, they’re not likely to get one in round one. Greenway would offer some immediate competition at outside linebacker.
18. Dallas Cowboys – Kamerion Wimbley, DE/OLB Florida State
The Cowboys scored big with DE/OLB tweener DeMarcus Ware, and they hope to strike again at the same position this year with either Wimbley or N.C. State’s Manny Lawson. Either would be great fits in Bill Parcells’ 3-4 defense.
19. San Diego Chargers – Donte Whitner*, S Ohio State
With wide receivers Holmes and Jackson off the board, expect the Chargers to take the best defensive back available. Whitner has the versatility to play all four position in the defensive backfield.
20. Kansas City Chiefs – Tye Hill, CB Clemson
Even if the Chiefs sign Ty Law, they still need to use a high draft pick on a cornerback. Hill has blazing speed and has excellent coverage skills.
21. New England Patriots - DeAngelo Williams, RB Memphis
The Patriots could go a number of directions here, but with Cory Dillon showing signs of breaking down last year, I’d be surprised if they passed on a runner with Maroney’s ability.
22 San Francisco 49ers (from Washington through Denver) - Ernie Sims*, LB Florida State
After adding a weapon to the offense early in the round, the 49ers turn to defense with their second pick, and OLB is perhaps their biggest need on that side of the ball.
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Antonio Cromartie*, CB Florida State
Offensive tackle is the Buccaneers biggest need and if by chance Winston Justice falls this far, they shouldn’t think twice about taking him. Anyone else would be a reach at the position. Had Cromartie not been injured, he most likely would have been a top-ten pick this year.
24. Cincinnati Bengals – Johnathan Joseph*, CB South Carolina
The Bengals don’t have any real glaring needs, but CB Tory James turns 33 next month and the there should be a quality cover man available when they pick in the first round. Joseph is a little raw, but is a very fluid athlete with outstanding speed.
25. New York Giants – Bobby Carpenter, LB Ohio State
The Giants have addressed their secondary, but still have huge question marks at linebacker. Ernie Sims seems to be the guy they have targeted, but he’s off the board. The team reportedly also likes Carpenter, who would add some much-needed speed and talent on the outside.
26. Chicago Bears – Richard Marshall*, CB Fresno State
The Bears biggest needs are at tight end and cornerback. With the depth at TE in this draft, look for the Bears to turn to someone like Richard Marshall, whose style of play is a great fit for the Bears cover-2 defense.
27. Carolina Panthers – LenDale White*, RB USC
White’s stock is on the decline, but he’s still the only premier power back in the draft. With DeShaun Foster’s inability to stay healthy, the Panthers would be foolish to pass on White at this point.
28. Jacksonville Jaguars – Thomas Howard, LB UTEP
The Jaguars are in desperate need of a playmaking outside linebacker, and Howard is the type of athletic linebacker head coach Jack Del Rio loves.
29.New York Jets (from Denver through Atlanta) - Laurence Maroney*, RB Minnesota
Curtis Martin is at the tail end of his career, and the Jets don’t have much behind him. Maroney is arguably the second-best back in the draft.
30. Indianapolis Colts – Ashton Youboty*, Ohio State
There’s talk that Marlin Jackson could be moved to safety in 2006, which means the Colts could be looking to fill the role he was projected to fill when he was drafted last year.
31. Seattle Seahawks – Kelly Jennings, CB Miami (FL)
Kelly Herndon lacks ideal speed and is a liability on the outside. Jennings is a playmaker with excellent speed and cover skills, who possesses the solid character the Seahawks look for.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers - Sinorice Moss, WR Miami
With the loss of Antwan Randle-El, the Steelers are in the market for someone who can step in as the No. 2 receiver and take over the punt return duties.