Post-Combine ‘09 NFL Mock Draft (Pt. 3)

Also see: Post-Combine '09 NFL Mock Draft (Pt. 1) | Pt. 2

Please excuse the fact that many of my predicted selections becoming nullified by the recent free agent signing and trade activity. Is it just me or has this free agency period been especially frenzied and active than most?

In the interests of keeping this on a path that could actually exist in our reality, due to the recent trades and free agency signings (as well as Michael Crabtree's 6-8 week hiatus due to surgery), here's a quick shuffling of some selections:

Eugene Monroe jumps to the Rams number two pick, Jeremy Maclin drops down to fill the Bengals' number six selection, and we'll say the Seahawks take the gamble on Crabtree with the number four pick. Yes, I'm serious and no, I'm not insane. Does anyone else remember the ridiculous amount of wide receiver problems they had last year? Is a well-stocked and promising wide receiver corps consisting of Deion Branch, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Nate Burleson, and Michael Crabtree that out of the question? I mean, Matt Hasselbeck is jumping up and down saying no...

As for the recent Matt Cassel trade, Aaron Curry jumps to the Chiefs' number three pick with the Browns taking Brian Orakpo at number five. This leaves the 49ers with the ripe opportunity to take Matt Stafford at number 10. Some might call me crazy, but I just say that I'm absolutely prepared for the world that will exist on April 25th should the Lions not go the quarterback route with their first pick. I'm not saying it's a certainty, I'm just saying that it's what I think will happen and I'm absolutely going to be here still to take my lickings or rub it in regardless of what happens. I'll either look like a genius in my NFL draft recap or I'll have a ton of fun making fun of myself — of this much you can be certain!

But enough jibber-jabber! Let's get right on to part three:

17. New York Jets: Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State

Despite a career year from Thomas Jones in 2008, he's going to be 31-years-old in August of this year and while some running backs have shown they can still remain effective after the magical age of 30, none of them did it for very long. Leon Washington, on the other hand, has shown promise, but he's definitely not a three-down back and is best used in kick/punt return, screen pass, and third-and-long-type situations.

In steps the opportunity that both of the top running backs heading into the draft will be available for the Jets at pick 17 and viola! While the Jets could easily go quarterback here, one thing at least is for certain: it's highly unlikely they'll be going the defensive route after the flurry of activity on the defensive side of the ball that just reeks of new head coach Rex Ryan.

Out of the two top running backs (with the other being Georgia alum Knowshon Moreno), Wells just seems to be the type of player that Ryan would want running the rock for him on offense. Not to take anything away from Moreno, but Wells just seems a bit more rugged and the type of player that the new-look Jets would love to acquire.

18. Chicago Bears: Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland

Forget what all of the other mock drafts are saying about the Bears' first round pick, they need a wide receiver no matter how well people can convince themselves that Devin Hester can become a bona fide number one. Heyward-Bey fits the mold of fast wide outs that the Bears so love and while he doesn't have the best hands of the bunch, catching the ball will not be a liability.

Should the Bears to focus on the defensive side of the ball, then the general consensus is that they'll take a defensive end or cornerback. I still say they focus on wide receiver though as they'll be plenty of time to focus on these needs later.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mark Sanchez, QB, USC

With the recent rumor mill swirling that the Buccaneers were in the running for the Matt Cassel sweepstakes, the Buccaneers also landed tight end extraordinaire Kellen Winslow, Jr. through a trade with the Cleveland Browns.

Now they just need to find someone to throw him the ball and something tells me that the Bucs organization doesn't want that someone to be Luke McCown or Brian Griese. Some may say that a quarterback is unlikely since they still haven't seen how last year's fifth-round selection, Josh Johnson, will pan out, but if they were so impressed by him, why would they have gone after Cassel in the first place? Certainly not because he's the "veteran QB" they've been looking for since he only has one year of starting under his belt. Since when does that make you a veteran?

20. Detroit Lions: Brian Cushing, OLB, USC

Going along with my philosophy that the Lions would rather fill their other glaring holes first before turning to the quarterback position (especially since they have two possible QB solutions currently on their roster), I'm saying that the Lions go linebacker with their second, first-round selection and take Cushing.

It seems for some reason that everyone thinks that taking Stafford will immediately make the Lions a contender if he's good enough and while this could be true, the Lions still need some serious work on the defensive side of the ball before they should even think about contending for anything. Cushing is known for his hard work and nose for the ball and could be exactly what the Lions defense has been lacking in the past.

21. Philadelphia Eagles: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia

Please travel back with me to Sunday Night Football in Week 4. The Chicago Bears were hosting the Philadelphia Eagles in a pivotal, early-season NFC showdown. Here's the play-by-play from the Eagles last major drive of the game. It was on the goal-line, mind you:

1-4-CHI4(5:40) C.Buckhalter right guard to CHI 1 for 3 yards (K.Payne).
2-1-CHI1(5:03) T.Hunt right tackle to CHI 1 for no gain (K.Payne, M.Brown).
3-1-CHI1(4:19) C.Buckhalter right guard to CHI 1 for no gain (A.Ogunleye).
4-1-CHI1(3:40) C.Buckhalter left guard to CHI 1 for no gain (A.Brown).

No dice. The Eagles lost and everyone was left scratching their head as to why the team hadn't picked up some type of capable power back to either compliment Brian Westbrook or be used as a hammer in his absence. The Eagles need a power running back — it's common knowledge.

Philadelphia, meet Mr. Knowshon Moreno. He's here to help you truck people over at the goal line and put six on the scoreboard.

22. Minnesota Vikings: Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina

With the recent failed courtship of T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the Vikings front office is likely hungry for a wide receiver to pair with last year's acquisition, Bernard Berrian and especially in the wake of their recent signing of quarterback Sage Rosenfels.

Unless Nicks is off the board already, perhaps to the Bears at 18, it's up in the air on whether they would want to add another speedster WR in Bey to pair with Berrian. It's been shown before that it can be successful, but it's just hard to imagine them being okay with not really having any variety whatsoever in their receiving corps.

Should they not go the route of the wideout, then expect them to go after someone to help fill the void in the defensive backfield instead. But that would be a shame.

23. New England Patriots: Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois

It amazes me that more people don't expect the Patriots to take a cornerback here should one be available as it is such a glaring need for them. If we've learned anything about Bill Belichick's drafting strategies, it's that he has the utmost faith in his scouting department and that he'll go after the players in the orders that he sees fit.

But if Davis is available, then it's hard to imagine them passing up on the chance of him adding the spark that they need at the cornerback position.

24. Atlanta Falcons: Jared Cook, TE, South Carolina

Here's another shock tight end pick for you and while it may not be the way the Falcons choose to go, you have to admit that it would at least make sense. The Falcons need a tight end and a capable one would go a long way in giving Matt Ryan a weapon that he could use in safety net type situations.

This pick could also be Brandon Pettigrew should he fall this far and according to the vast majority of public opinion, he will. We'll have to wait and see though as with everything. Only 52 more days to go!

Stay tuned for the final part of this series!