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April 28, 2008The Stats Speak For Cliff Lee
April 29, 2008With the 2008 draft now in the rear view mirror, Browns fans can now do two things.
1) Check out Beckwith’s excellent recaps of the players that Phil Savage and crew selected this past weekend, and…
2) Get ready for next season’s draft where we will hopefully have a few picks on the first day. This is assuming that they’re not traded away within the next 11 months.
Tom Marino, of Scout.com, apparently is a bigger fan of choice number 2, where he has already laid out a mock draft for next season. We must note that this mock was made before this past week, so selections do not take into account those players chosen about 48 hours ago.
Fans of the Miami Dolphins may not be too happy to see that they’re once again forecasted to be selecting first. But fans of the Ohio State Buckeyes will be happy to see that one of their own will likely step his game up enough to be taken first overall.
1. Miami – James Laurinaitis, Ohio State, LB
The Dolphins made modest strides in 07, but are continuing on the course of improving the defensive unit with the latest in a long line of top inside backers produced by the Buckeyes.
But wait, it gets better.
Despite having the fifth pick this past season, Kansas City is slated to pick second. Their choice?
2. Kansas City – Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State, CB
Passing on a corner in the opening round proved to be the Chiefs’ undoing. With Marty Schottenheimer back in town and wearing both hats (coach and GM), this aspect of the game will be taken care of very quickly.
Pairing a shut-down corner like Jenkins with this past year’s selection of Glen Dorsey would instantly upgrade that Kansas City Defense. More importantly, it looks like Jenkins’ decision to come back for another year would be very, very beneficial in terms of the wallet, as he likely would not have been the first DB selected this past year, let alone second overall.
Marino has Baltimore selecting an offensive tackle (Andre Smith, Alabama) third overall, something that they’ll likely need to aid recently added Joe Flacco. And while Oakland took a running back this past weekend…
4. Oakland – Beanie Wells, Ohio State, RB
After a two-year absence, Denny Green returns to the bay area as the first major change in new managing general partner Carl Peterson era.
I would look past the actual teams drafting in most of these selection anyways, as that is something that may be a lot harder to predict than the actual players that will be valued at said spots. The fact that three of the top four selections are slated to be Buckeyes has to speak volumes for what scouts (specifically Scout.com) is expecting from the Scarlet and Gray this season.
The down side to this whole mock is that they’re predicting the Browns to select 13th overall, well outside of the playoff race. I guess I’m willing to take the good with the bad in this case, and if you weren’t already anxious to see what all of the returning Buckeyes can do this season, here’s to hoping that this pushes you a bit closer to the edge.
(h/t MDS at The FanHouse)
Update: Scout.com posted an updated forecast here. Laurinaitis is first. Jenkins third.
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12 Comments
This mock draft must be at least somewhat of a joke. The Raiders make some dumb moves, but I can’t imagine they draft Beanie only a year after taking McFadden at the top of the 2008 draft. Granted, this mock was posted 3 weeks before the 2008 draft, but the McFadden pick was hardly a surprise. He’s also predicting Denny Green and Carl Petersen in Oakland (where’d Al go?) as well as Schottenheimer in KC. And as much as I like Laurinaitis, no way does an undersized LB go first overall. So I wouldn’t take this too seriously.
Thanks, Dave. Obviously forecasting a year away isn’t easy. Also, what’s the point without a few bold moves thrown in there.
My question for you is who do you think will go ahead of JL at the LB slot? Penn State’s Lee is going to be a big name, as most PSU linebackers are. But ahead of Laurinaitis? Mike’s brother Darry out of LSU has a shot, I guess. But I wouldn’t put either of them ahead of James.
congratulations on being linked from Abbot’s TrueHoop – you guys are snaeking up in the blogging world. Keep up the good work!
Appreciate it Anon.
Scott, I don’t know that anyone will go ahead of JL at the LB slot. But it’s been 20 years since the #1 overall pick was a LB, and very few even before then. While JL is a very good player and will have a solid NFL career, he’s not the type of talent that breaks that trend.
I misread. I thought you meant he wouldn’t be the first overall LB taken. Teams will draft based on needs, and there’s no denying that Miami’s D is getting long in the tooth. If they get the first pick again, LB wouldn’t surprise me regardless of history. But I do know what you’re saying…
not that i ever put much into this, but kiper has already predicted that jl will go first overall next year, and has made him his top ranked player on his board already. the only lb that gives him a race is that guy from usc.
Scott: Penn State’s Sean Lee blew his knee out two weeks ago and is out for the year.
Wow, so this guy is even predicting front office change in his mock as well?
beanie and mcfadden back-to-back years? please share your crack mr. marino.
@ CN – Thanks for the info! Was unaware…
As a UK-based Dolphins fan, I found your blog on google and read a few of your other ‘phins posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.