Kiper's Latest Mock Draft

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Is it really?  How many bones did you lay down?

[Geowhizzer]

[MURP]

Sims hype is all based on Vilma being productive in the NFL.  Thats all they talk about.

[MURP]

Nick (San Francisco, CA): How do you feel about the second tier of QB's availble in this draft? Do you like Croyle, Jacobs or Whitehurst?

Mel Kiper: I think the guys that are the most intriguing are Croyle and Whitehurst. One of them will be the third QB drafted. Durability is a question for Croyle. Whitehurst still runs a little hot and cold. When he's on, he's great. His performance level varies from game to game. After that Tarvaris Jackson is intriguing. He's got a powerful arm. Another is Paul Penniger from Fresno State. An overachiever is Bruce Gradkowski from Toledo. Then you look at guys like Michael Robinson and Matt Bohnet. Matt's big and runs in the 4.6-range.


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Alex (Phoenix, AZ): With Oakland's addition of Aaron Brooks, would it be possible for them to trade down for Vince Young and use Brooks as a mentor? Or should they trade down for AJ Hawk if possible?

Mel Kiper: First, with Oakland if you sign Brooks and drafted Andrew Walter last year, you have to try and address your defensive needs. You have the young quarterback and you have the veteran quarterback you don't need another one. You have need areas at other places. Oakland could be looking at Michael Huff.


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Todd (warren NJ): since the jets will probably get D fergusen who do you think they'll take with the 29th pick? Thanks

Mel Kiper: What they need is help at center. They could use help at OLB. Demeco Ryans is a possibility. Nick Mangold also. They could be looking at getting a running back. It would make sense for them to grab Mangold.


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Nick W. (KCMO): What round do you see Maryland linebacker D'Qwell Jackson going and is their a chance he could reunite with Shawne Merriman

Mel Kiper: When you look at San Diego and their needs, they are WR, CB, LT. I don't see him being reunited with Merriman. Jackson is a solid second round pick. He was tremendously productive. He would be ideal for the Chicago Bears scheme. Teams that want the smaller LBs and are fast to the ball he is ideal.


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sam wa: where do you see kellen clemens gettin drafted

Mel Kiper: Clemens, because of his situation with the injuries, there was a chance, before the injury, he would be a third-fourth rounder. Now you're thinking more of a second day guy. He was really playing well. He was putting up big numbers. You're still talking Day 2, just a little later.


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Steve (King of Prussia, PA): Hi Mel, would 14 be too early for the Eagles to draft LenDale White? I agree the need for LB is more pressing, but the Eagles do not typically draft LBs that high, and they could also use more depth on both lines, but wouldn't the tandem of White and Westbrook give the Eagles much more versatility on offense? He's already accustomed to sharing carries with a back like Westbrook and it seems like a great fit to me. Thanks!

Mel Kiper: Is it too high for White? When you look at the Eagles' situation, DT is an area the Eagles could consider. A run-stuffing DT like Haloti Ngata is a guy they could look at. Broderick Bunkley would also be intriguing. Baltimore and Cleveland could be looking for DT help also.


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jay franklin atlanta, ga: who do you project the cleveland browns will take in the first round this year?

Mel Kiper: My next projection will be posted next week. But the Browns probably will be looking at someone to help their front seven on the defensive side. LB and DL are must haves for them. Chad Greenway, Sims, Hali, Ngata, Bunkley.


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sonny,salem, ohio: is the steelers biggest need a wr or rb?

Mel Kiper: I'd say right now, their No. 1 need is WR. That's why I think Sinorice Moss would be someone to look at. They also need FS and RB. They have to address the WR need early on. I'm not going to say that supercedes RB, but it's as equal. Moss is considered a return guy. He doesn't have the proven punt return skills that the other guys have. He's not a definite return guy, but he has the potential. The best punt returner in this draft is Maurice Drew. Jeremy Bloom could also become a great punt returner.


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Chris (Austin, TX): Hi Mel, just curious as to where you think Reggie McNeal will end up, and if he'll get a look at QB?

Mel Kiper: I think he will get a chance to play QB. He's got incredible athleticism. He runs a 4.39 40 at 6-2. To have him change positions, that's not a definite and it's not easy. There have been about 6 different QBs that have changed to WR in the NFL. In terms of McNeal, I think he's shown enough ability to warrant a shot at QB in the NFL. Then if that fails after a couple of years, then experiment with him at WR.


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Scott /Lincoln NE: Mel, How many secondary players do you envision going in the first round?

Mel Kiper: I think you could see eight in the first round. Jimmy Williams, Michael Huff, Ashton Youboty, Richard Marshall CB, Johnathon Joseph CB, Tye Hill CB, Donte Whitner, Kelly Jennings. There are a couple of other possibilities. Some think Antonio Cromartie could be in there too. But he has the injury and doesn't have much experience. Whitner will be viewed as some teams as a CB as well as a safety.


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Brian Chicago: With the Bears picking up Griese last week, how do you think they will address their passing game in the first 3 rounds

Mel Kiper: I think what they have to do is get a TE and a CB and WR and OLB. Those would be their four areas. If they could get a TE or CB in the early rounds. I think they'll go after Marcedes Lewis in the first round. They also want a WR with return skills in this draft. Perhaps a Jeremy Bloom.

Mel Kiper: They could take a CB in the first round and then benefit from the depth at the TE position and get one in the 2nd or third round.


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Tim (Cincy): I didnt see Devin Hester on your CB list....Did he bomb at the combine...What round do you think he will go in?

Mel Kiper: Devin Hester, when you look at him, the key thing is trying to define where he's going to play in the NFL. He's going to have to find a niche. He has potential to be a return man. He's going to have to be an outstanding return man. I think he could go as early as the 2nd round and no later than the 3rd-4th round. He has so much athleticism.


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Brian (NYC): What do you see the Broncos doing with their first round picks? Are they looking to use them to get into the top 5?

Mel Kiper: The Broncos are positioned perfectly right now at 15 and 22. They could get a WR or RB at 15, a Chad Jackson, Maroney, White. With those two picks they could get both. Their key area is defensive end. DE, TE, WR, RB are their four areas they need to address.


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Ben, Terre Haute IN: Who will the colts take in the first round? Is it possible Maroney could fall that far?

Mel Kiper: Colts need a RB and Maroney is a guy that makes a lot of sense. He was productive at Minnesota. You can't argue with his production. They also need to come up with a defensive back. Richard Marshall could be their first round pick. They need to address their secondary. OLB and OG are other areas.


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Marcus Price (Houston,Tx.): I went to high school with Jonny Jolly, defensive lineman for the Texas A&M and I wanted to know what his draft status will be?

Mel Kiper: Jolly is a guy that will end up in the second day. I thought at one point he might be a first day guy, but now I'm saying second day. He's a little erratic at times. You look at his stats and it's OK. He's played a lot of games in the Big 12. I think he's more of a backup in the NFL.


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WILL DALLAS,TEXAS: mel do you think niners is lock up on getting davis and then drafting a lb like hodge or t.howard later in the round?

Mel Kiper: I think at 6, they can get Davis. That would be a plus to their offense. If they can get somebody like that, definitely. They would have to look at CB or OLB in the second round. That's where I would say they should go. A guy that will be interesting at OLB is Thomas Howard. He's not as instinctive as the other LBs. He has great potential.

[MURP]

Bob Deluca-NJ: who do you see for the giants- OLT, OLB, WR or DB?

Mel Kiper: I think they need a OLB No. 1. Ernie Sims is a possibility. They've done enough via free agency in the secondary. DT is another area. LT and WR. LB is their primary need area. Chad Greenway is another possibility.


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Jason (Music City): What's the current value of Marcus McNeill?

Mel Kiper: I'd say he's got value as a second round pick. I thought at one point he was a first rounder. He has talent, but he did not play as well as a senior as he did as a junior. You saw some things that if he's coached well, he could be a starter in the NFL.


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Todd (ATL): Are the falcons still in the market for a saftey from the draft even after they signed one veteran and traded for another?

Mel Kiper: I think right now their need areas are CB, LT and depth at the safety spot. Right now, CB and LT are their primary need areas.


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Kyle Berthusen (KS): Will the KC Chiefs continue to strengthen their offense or look for a defensive heavyweight?

Mel Kiper: I would say CB or WR with the emphasis at CB. You look at Tye Hill, Youboty, Whitner, they could all help. They will find a corner that will really help them. You're going to have four Buckeyes in the first round.

Mel Kiper: Tye Hill was one of the most impressive players at the Senior Bowl practices. He went to the combine and ran in the 4.3s.


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Maurice (Landover, MD): Hello Mel, love your input. With glaring holes at the LB and DL position, should the taterskinS go with a linebacker or defensive end in the second round?

Mel Kiper: I think in terms of where they'll go is CB and LB. There is depth in the defensive secondary. D'Qwell Jackson would be a good fit for them in the second round. There's a good chance he'll be there. Another guy that I think will be a good player in the NFL is Rocky MacIntosh. He's helped himself since the season ended. Cameron Vaughn is a fourth round pick. For the taterskins is either Jackson or MacIntosh.


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Lou (Deptford, NJ): Mel, any chance the Bears take one of the big 3 receivers (Jackson, Moss, Holmes) in the first round?

Mel Kiper: I don't think you'll see Holmes or Jackson fall that far. Moss is a possibility. CB and TE are bigger need areas, however. I don't think WR is a primary need area.


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Brian (Norman): Mel, is it safe to say that Bush, Leinart, Ferguson, and Super Mario all rate higher than anyone in last year's draft?

Mel Kiper: That's a good question. When you look at last year, I would say right now definitely Bush, Leinart, Mario Williams, Ferguson, Young, Hawk, Vernon Davis, Michael Huff will have higher grades than anyone last year. There may end up being one or two more that are in that mix. There are about 5-6 other players that are on par with last year.


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Shane NY, NY: This draft seems very strong and very deep. In you 26+ years of covering the draft what year had the most talanted class? Also how would you rank this years group?

Mel Kiper: It's an awful good class this year. The thing that's helped this year is the underclassmen. You have Young, Bush, Maroney, White, Calhoun, Chad Jackson, Santonio Holmes, Vernon Davis, Leonard Pope, Winston Justice, Mario Williams, Haloti Ngata, Ernie Sims, Youboty, Whitner, Johnathon Joseph, Ko Simpson, Cromartie, Devin Hester, Danial Manning are all some of the best players in the draft and are all 1-2 rounders. And four of the eight players I just mentioned of being the higher rated players are all underclassmen.


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Jason (NY): Can you describe what it is like on the ESPN set during draft day? Are you rummaging through notes the whole time?

Mel Kiper: You are, because you can't worry about looking at stuff because everything's happening so fast. When a player's picked, sometimes it comes as a surprise. Everything you go by is something that I've written or talked about before. But you try to come up with something fresh and new. I have my book in front of me. If I write it, I remember it. I always check with my book to see if the players are coming off the way I thought.


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Paul LA, CA: Where would Alex Smith be in this years draft? Is he that far behind the big 3 qbs this year?

Mel Kiper: I think Alex Smith would have been the fourth highest rated QB. He would not have been ahead of Leinart or Young. He wouldn't have been ahead of Cutler. You talk about a wise decision to come out early, he made a good decision. Even last year, Aaron Rodgers was the 24th overall pick and at one point, he was considered the No. 1 pick.

Mel Kiper: It's all about timing. You talk about mixed opinions with Rodgers. From No. 1 to 24. It was an odd year last year. There was no obvious No. 1 pick. There was no clear cut consensus.


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James (Beltsville,MD): Who do you think the Ravens will be looking at with their first and second round picks? If Vince Young is still available with picks 9 through 12 do you think they'll try to trade down and draft him?

Mel Kiper: The Ravens are a little perplexing right now. I thought they would be aggressive and get a QB. Right now Boller is the QB without any competition. Kerry Collins is the only guy out there that could help them. I don't think that when you have a young QB, you go out and draft another one. I think DT is still their primary need area. Broderick Bunkley is an ideal pick for them.


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The Professor (Cambridge, MA): Who would you rather be tackled by - AJ Hawk or Mario Williams?

Mel Kiper: Neither! Hawks is a form tackler. You saw Williams dominating play late in the season. If you're a QB, Williams is going to be a potential sack artist. Hawk is going to be a Spielman type. Williams is going to have a higher grade, because he's like Julius Peppers. His numbers at the combine was 6-7, 35 reps, 295 pounds, 4.7 40, 40.5 vertical. The last three games of the season and bowl game, he dominated.

Mel Kiper: We covered a lot of ground today. Every Wednesday, we'll keep rolling up to the draft. I'll have another draft projection next week on ESPN.com. It will include the updates from the free agency and trades. I'm not sure exactly when it will be up, but it should be there by midweek, possibly right before our chat next week.

[ice grillin you]

Mel Kiper: I think in terms of where they'll go is CB and LB. There is depth in the defensive secondary. D'Qwell Jackson would be a good fit for them in the second round. There's a good chance he'll be there. Another guy that I think will be a good player in the NFL is Rocky MacIntosh. He's helped himself since the season ended. Cameron Vaughn is a fourth round pick. For the taterskins is either Jackson or MacIntosh


id kill for either rocky or dqwell...both are gonna be studs...i couldnt handle the taterskins getting either one