Mocks

[PhillyPhanInDC]

21.    Patriots    Bobby Carpenter    OLB    Ohio State    21st    SAME    21st / NR
The Patriots rarely draft for need, but with a hole at linebacker and the versatile, instinctive Carpenter on the board, the pick makes too much sense not to be given strong consideration. Besides, with five picks in the top 105, the Patriots have plenty of opportunities to address other needs.

22.    Broncos (from taterskins)    DeAngelo Williams    RB    Memphis    29th    (+7)    21st / 29th
The Broncos are looking to the draft to add depth at running back, though they won't necessarily take one in the first round. That said, if the NCAA's leader in career all-purpose yardage is available, they might have to consider him here. Williams averaged nearly 26 carries per game over the past two seasons, a feature the Broncos will appreciate with Tatum Bell and Ron Dayne appearing to be more situational backs than featured runners. td>

23.    Buccaneers    Santonio Holmes    WR    Ohio State    NR    (NR)    24th / NR
A strong defense and the running of rookie Cadillac Williams receives much of the credit for the Bucs making the playoffs last year, but the resurrection of Joey Galloway was arguably the biggest factor. His 83 receptions for 1,287 yards and 10 touchdowns topped his numbers for the previous two seasons combined. It might be asking a bit much for the 34-year-old to repeat that production in 2006. Holmes would provide an immediate upgrade in the slot and would eventually take Galloway's place as the outside vertical threat.

24.    Bengals    Leonard Pope    TE    Georgia    24th    SAME    24th / NR
The Bengals have addressed needs at defensive tackle and safety via free agency but remain in the hunt for a game-changing tight end. Pope is raw and would be considered a reach by some, but in an offense as talented as this one, it isn't difficult to imagine the 6-8, 258-pounder making a positive impact immediately.

25.    Giants    Chad Greenway    LB    Iowa    25th    SAME    12th / 31st
Greenway is slipping down the board a bit due to surprisingly average workout numbers, but the former Hawkeye likely won't slip past the Giants, who are still in major need of help at the position. Signing free agent LaVar Arrington would allow the team to focus on another area, perhaps even looking for depth behind Tiki Barber.

26.    Bears    Johnathan Joseph    CB    South Carolina    26th    SAME    16th / 30th
The Bears will look at an offensive playmaker here, but consider cornerback to be just as much a need as Charles Tillman sagged down the stretch in '05 and veteran Jerry Azumah was forced into retirement by injuries. Joseph is a spectacular talent, but the junior could be available this late because he has essentially played just one season at the D-I level after transferring in as a JUCO and losing most of the 2004 season to a broken foot.

27.    Panthers    Donte Whitner    SS    Ohio State    27th    SAME    24th / NR
The Panthers drafted strong safety Thomas Davis last year with the intention of moving him to outside linebacker. Now, with Will Witherspoon moving on to the Rams, the team is carrying out its plan to move Davis, but suddenly has a hole at safety. Whitner is one the few safeties who currently carries a first-round grade.

28.    Jaguars    DeMeco Ryans    OLB    Alabama    NR    (NR)    27th / NR
Even before Akin Ayodele left as a free agent, outside linebacker was a primary concern. Ryans, a heady, athletic defender, would be a suitable replacement and a good value at this point.

29.    Jets (from Broncos)    Nick Mangold    C    Ohio State    28th    (-1)    28th / NR
What happens with the Jets' first pick, No. 4 overall, will have a huge impact on what they are looking to do here. They might be fundamentally unwilling to spend two first-round picks on offensive linemen, but Mangold is a good value here and would provide an immediate replacement for departed Kevin Mawae.

30.    Colts    Laurence Maroney    RB    Minnesota    30th    SAME    24th / 30th
Maroney's vision and smooth running style make him a natural fit for the Colts, who are looking toward the draft to replace Edgerrin James.

31.    Seahawks    Mathias Kiwanuka    DE    Boston College    NR    (NR)    29th / NR
The Seahawks feel their top remaining priority this off-season is to address their defensive backfield. That said, with only two picks on the first day due to the third-round compensation for signing Vikings restricted free agent Nate Burleson, Seattle has to stick with the best player available philosophy. The Seahawks lack depth at defensive end behind starters Grant Wistrom and Bryce Fisher and would have to consider an edge rusher like Kiwanuka if he remained on the board.

32.    Steelers    LenDale White    RB    USC    22nd    (-10)    14th / 32nd
It remains to be seen just how far White could drop due to his performance, or lack thereof, during the combine and pro day workouts. Regardless, there is no denying how well his size and run-after-contact production would fit in Pittsburgh. The Steelers will also strongly consider a safety here.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Manny Lawson is my *official* prediction for the Eagles pick, but I still think he'd play DE and not LB.

What the hell do I know, though?

[ice grillin you]

what about a trade down in the first if 'everyone' is gone and a trade up in the second for mangold if hes gettable

is that way to crazy

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

It's certainly conceivable.  I think the Eagles are more likely to stay put than anything, especially if the board has pretty much gone to plan and no one of specific value is there... because then they wouldn't receive much value in a trade-down and probably wouldn't do it, IMO.

[ice grillin you]

i wonder how often if ever a team has traded down in the first then traded up in the second in the same draft

thats why i ask if its crazy...is it simple just something that would never happen

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Anything is possible on draft day.  Finding the trade partners while you're on the clock is the tricky part.

[ice grillin you]

right...and finding a partner for not just one but two straight picks is probably to much for it to happen

anyway seems like mangold would be a nice get...even tho ive never seen him play a single snap outside of draft preview show highlites

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Problem is the book on Mangold is basically that he's Hank Fraley with a little more upside.

But in general, he's one of those "high floor" guys you hear a lot about.  He's never going to be the kind of nasty road grader that his fellow alumnus LeCharles Bentley is.  But... the Eagles obviously prefer the smart, pass-blocking type guy to the big, strong guys anyway... so...

I don't know.  I don't think there's any chance the Eagles take him... because he is still a rookie, and they already have two somewhat OK options at Center.  The thing about Bentley was that he was a known excellent commodity.  I don't think they'd invest a high pick in a Center right now.

[Don Ho]

Anything is possible on draft day.  Finding the trade partners while you're on the clock is the tricky part.

Like maybe we finally found our new fullback:

[Don Ho]

didnt anyone see hoge two nights ago say that both young and leinert are at best second round picks and really shouldnt be taken higher than the third

Hoge, go away.  Far, far away.

[ice grillin you]

i refuse to believe a center that some people are giving a first round grade too isnt easily better than fraley right now...forget about any upside he might have...fraley is brutal...

i still want mcintosh or howard in the second round tho

[reese125]

Like maybe we finally found our new fullback:


add 100 lbs to that Ngata pic

[Don Ho]

Like maybe we finally found our new fullback:


add 100 lbs to that Ngata pic

Nothin like a game of rugby between Samoans and Tongans.  Makes RollerBall look like a a game of kickball.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

i refuse to believe a center that some people are giving a first round grade too isnt easily better than fraley right now...forget about any upside he might have...fraley is brutal...

All I'm saying is that the same things that Fraley is good/ok at (calling line adjustments, usually at least playing the correct assignment, pass blocking) are the same things that Mangold is known for.

[ice grillin you]

im not disagreeing...just wondering why he is graded so highly then...seems like if thats all he was you could get him in the 3rd or 4th round