Note: Order is the reverse order of the USA Today’s Power Rankings.

1. Atlanta Falcons — Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
6′3″ | Sophomore | Wide Receiver
Dallas, TX

Atlanta needs another wide receiver, across Roddy White for the Matt Ryan era. The Falcons have a lot of solid young wide receivers, but none have the potential to be an elite wide receiver which Crabtree does. Crabtree is going to surprise a lot of people that follow the draft because he comes from a spread offense. However, there’s no wide receiver in college football that has this kid’s combination of size, speed, and productivity. Nearly 135 receptions last season for close to 2,000 yards, it doesn’t matter what kind of offense you’re playing in, and this kid is doing it in the Big XII. Played Oklahoma last season and recorded 14 receptions for 237 yards and three touchdowns, against the likes of Reggie Smith and Curtis Lofton on the defense.

2. Miami Dolphins — Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State
6′1″ | Senior | Cornerback
Piscataway, NJ

Jenkins surprised me by not declaring for the 2008 draft, but it worked out for him considering how strong of a cornerback class it turned out to be. This is one of the few ranking spots I disagree with for the USA Today Power Rankings I’m using (the other disagreements come toward the end), but for the most part they’re good enough. It’s unlikely that Miami will go tackle for a second straight year, unless Vernon Carey doesn’t work out on the right side. Former first-round pick Jason Allen as been slow to live up to the expectations he had when Nick Saben drafted him. Putting Jenkins in the secondary with Allen could only help his development as a player. Jenkins’ versatility should help him on draft day.

3. Oakland Raiders — Andre Smith, Alabama
6′4″ | Junior | Offensive Tackle
Birmingham, AL

The Raiders could make themselves look really bad, and mess themselves up for the future, if they don’t address some offensive line issues. They got the big name quarterback, and the big name running back, now they just need to give them some blockers to perform behind. The team has a lot of money tied up in the backfield, and early on this looks like it will be a key pick for them. Andre Smith has caught my attention ever since he was a high school kid. Look out for him this year for Alabama. This pick is contingent on him living up to my expectations, which are pretty high for him.

4. Kansas City Chiefs — Matthew Stafford, Georgia
6′3″ | Junior | Quarterback
Tampa Bay, FL

This pick is (obviously) under the assumption that Brodie Croyle doesn’t step out onto the field and break out into the Brodie Croyle which Herm Edwards expects him to become. The Chiefs have a good foundation to build their future on, they have some very valuable pieces such as Dwayne Bowe, Larry Johnson, Glenn Dorsey, Derrick Johnson, and Branden Albert. Matthew Stafford impressed me with his performance over the past two seasons, making myself believe he is ready to emerge as a Heisman candidate this season and elevate his draft stock. He has a fine arm, and can use his legs when he needs to avoid the rush. Add that to the fact he comes with limitless potential, and he’s been playing in the SEC.

5. San Francisco 49ers — James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
6′3″ | Senior | Linebacker
Hamel, MN

Picturing James Laurinaitis and Patrick Willis paired on the same defense must be scary for NFC West teams. The two players can be the infrastructure of a dominate San Francisco defense for years to come already with Willis, Kentwan Balmer, Manny Lawson, Nate Clements, and Reggie Smith. Don’t sleep on a quarterback here if Alex Smith struggles, but this still may be a little high for Curtis Painter of Purdue.

6. Baltimore Ravens — Michael Oher, Mississippi
6′6″ | Senior | Offensive Tackle
Memphis, TN

Baltimore needs an offensive tackle to be the successor to Jonathan Ogden. Oher is a guy who almost declared last year, but stayed out probably because of the projected strong tackle group. Entering last year he was a mid-first round pick, but this year he could easily crack the top five. Darrius Heyward-Bey is an option here, but I think the Ravens would prefer to get a proven wide receiver for Joe Flacco.

7. Detroit Lions — Chris “Beanie” Wells, Ohio State
6′1″ | Junior | Running Back
Akron, OH

Detroit passed on Rashard Mendenhall last season, but there’s no chance they could even think about passing on Beanie Wells if he’s there. He would add another dimension to the Lions offense, a power running attack. Wells could go top five, with his running style, but, rightfully so or not, there might be question marks that will loom over his speed.

8. Cincinnati Bengals — Rey Maualuga, USC
6′2″ | Senior | Linebacker
Eureka, CA

After adding Keith Rivers in 2008, the Bengals could look for Rivers’ teammate in Maualuga in 2009. Ahmad Brooks, the team’s starting linebacker this season, is unproven and could be replaced if he doesn’t look too good this year. Maualuga was going to declare for the 2008 draft, but thought otherwise along with potential top fifteen inside linebacker James Laurinatis.

9. New York Jets — Knowshon Moreno, Georgia
5′11″ | Sophomore | Running Back
Belford, NJ

The Jets failed to land Darren McFadden last year, and running back may prove to be a bigger need than originally thought. If Thomas Jones only reaches the end zone once this year, as he did last year, the Jets could go running back considering the upgrades they made to the offensive line. Moreno is an exceptionally talented back, who uses his quickness to elude tackles in the very talented SEC. LeSean McCoy is also an option here, my opinion is that Moreno is just a bit better.

10. St. Louis Rams — Brian Cushing, USC
6′4″ | Senior | Linebacker
Park Ridge, NJ

Rams continue to build upon their front seven, already with Adam Carriker and Chris Long added in the two previous drafts. Cushing was a part of some very talented USC teams in the past, and should be a top ten pick along with his teammate Rey Maualuga.

11. Chicago Bears — Curtis Painter, Purdue
6′4″ | Senior | Quarterback
Washington Court House, OH

Need there be any explanation for this? The Bears didn’t address their quarterback needs during the 2008 draft, and they need to upgrade Rex Grossman. Painter is an underrated passer who has put up nearly 4,000 yards in each of the last two seasons for the Purdue Boilermakers. He has good size, and could make his way up the draft boards with a good campaign this year.

12. Buffalo Bills — Alex Boone, Ohio State
6′8″ | Junior | Offensive Tackle
Lakewood, OH

The Bills have a lot of their future held within Marshawn Lynch and Trent Edwards. They need to make sure that the two have every opportunity to be productive by putting an offensive line up which they can perform behind. Boone has a huge frame (6-8, 313 lbs.) and has been the starter at left tackle for Ohio State for quiet some time now.

13. Denver Broncos — Fili Moala, USC
6′5″ | Senior | Defensive Tackle
Buena Park, CA

Character issues may follow Moala up to the 2009 draft. The Broncos have shown in the past that character concerns will not affect their draft process, making Moala an easy pick here. He’s going to be the best defensive tackle entering the 2009 draft. He may remind many of his cousin, Haloti Ngata.

14. Philadelphia Eagles (f/CAR)— Taylor Mays, USC
6′4″ | Junior | Safety
Seattle, WA

Philadelphia loves upgrading the secondary, and this pick will follow in that trend. Brian Dawkins may not be around for much longer, and the Eagles need to start thinking about the future of the free safety position. Mays is huge for a free safety (6-4, 225 lbs.), and Jim Johnson will have a lot of fun moving him around his defense. Mays has the potential to enter in the top ten with a good year.

15. Washington Redskins — Michael Johnson, Georgia Tech
6′7″ | Senior | Defensive End
Selma, AL

I’d say the Redskins did enough to upgrade the offense through the 2008 draft. However, they did little to upgrade the defensive line. Michael Johnson could be the elite pass rusher who emerges out of this 2009 group of guys. He has the ability to play in the 3-4 outside linebacker mold, something I expect him to get drafted as at the next level.

Read the rest of this entry »

Alright so I’ve been getting a little excited about the NBA draft lately. Been doing some homework, and I’ve decided I’m going to post an NBA mock draft. Usually, I’ll piece together an NBA mock just to see how it stacks up. This is the first time though that I’m going to post it on the site. Logos used from ESPN.com, property of the NBA.

Updated: June 26, 5:45 P.M.

1. Chicago Bulls — Derrick Rose, Memphis
6′3″ | Freshman | Point Guard
Chicago, Illinois

If it’s not clear to you by now that the Bulls will draft Rose, then maybe his NBA.com profile with a Chicago Bulls cap next to his biography will sell you. The real challenge is figuring out what to do with Kirk Hinrich, who a couple years ago wasn’t that bad.

2. Miami Heat — Michael Beasley, Kansas State
6′8″ | Freshman | Forward
Washington, D.C.

Miami does the right thing here by taking Beasley. However, Beasley will not be wearing a Heat hat for long. Remember, the NBA draft is the weird one where they don’t announce the trades until five or six picks after. My prediction is that the Heat will eventually end up with either O.J. Mayo or Jerryd Bayless.

3. Minnesota Timberwolves — Brook Lopez, Stanford
7′ | Sophomore | Center
Fresno, CA

Why will the Minnesota Timberwolves pass on O.J. Mayo? Because they’ve tried before with Randy Foye to convert a true shooting guard to the point guard position. Instead, Minnesota could solidify their front court by going with Brook Lopez and moving Al Jefferson to the power forward position.

4. Seattle Soincs — Russell Westbrook, UCLA
6′3″ | Sophomore | Guard
Hawthorne, CA

Seattle doesn’t need a dynamic point guard who can score the basketball. This eliminates prospects like O.J. Mayo or Jerryd Bayless. What the Sonics need is someone who can facilitate the basketball to Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, and could play defense while doing it. Russell Westbrook is the perfect guy for that position.

5. Memphis Grizzlies — O.J. Mayo, USC
6′5″ | Freshman | Guard
Huntington, WV

This pick is made for the Miami Heat, where the Grizzlies and Heat will strike some kind of deal to send Beasley to the Grizzlies and Mayo to the Heat. Both teams get what they want. Beasley with Mike Conley and Rudy Gay is the key to the Grizzlies future, one which may be bright if all live up to their potential.

6. New York Knicks — Danilo Gallinari, Italy
6′9″ | N/A | Forward
Sant’Angelo, Italy

Not a good situation for the Knicks with Mayo and Westbrook off the board. They’ll stay away from Bayless and Eric Gordon because D’Antoni would want a point guard similar to Steve Nash who can pass the ball as well as score. The Knicks would not be happy with my scenario, but I’m not sure if they would be willing to trade down either, as they have some glaring holes.

7. Los Angeles Clippers — Jerryd Bayless, Arizona
6′3″ | Freshman | Guard
Phoenix, AZ

Bayless is the perfect fit for the Clippers. If Shaun Livingston is unable to come back to full strength due to his devastating knee injury, Bayless could play the point. Better yet, if Livingston does come back, Bayless would be perfect next to him in the backcourt. Bayless isn’t the biggest shooting guard, but may I remind you that Livingston is 6′7″, and could easily cover the bigger guard.

8. Milwaukee Bucks — Joe Alexander, West Virginia
6′8″ | Junior | Forward
Mount Airy, MD

Even with Yi on his way out, the Bucks still should go with Alexander at this spot. This picks looks like one of the surest picks in the top 10.

9. Charlotte Bobcats — Kevin Love, UCLA
6′10″ | Freshman | Forward/Center
Lake Oswego, OR

Larry Brown loves kids who “play the right way”. Love definitely would be classified as someone who “plays the right way”. He’s not the stud center who would send Emeka Okafor back to playing his natural position, but with Love and Okafor in the post the Bobcats would have one of the most talented, young front courts in all of basketball.

10. New Jersey Nets — Anthony Randolph, Louisiana State
6′10″ | Freshman | Forward
Dallas, TX

New Jersey still doesn’t have a go-to guy in the post. It seems like they have been searching for a post player for the past five years. Anthony Randolph is a boom or bust type pick, New Jersey should take their chances.

11. Indiana Pacers — Kosta Koufos, Ohio State
7′1″ | Freshman | Center
Canton, OH

Trading Jermaine O’Neal secures this pick. They need to draft a center here for the future, and Koufos could be that guy. He could step out and hit a jumper, and is really a versatile player.

12. Sacramento Kings — Darrell Arthur, Kansas
6′9″ | Sophomore | Forward
Dallas, TX

Sacramento needs to upgrade the power forward position, and I feel that Arthur will turn out to be one of the better players from this draft class. Also an option here is Brandon Rush, Arthur’s teammate at Kansas.

13. Portland Trailblazers — Eric Gordon, Indiana
6′4″ | Freshman | Guard
Indianapolis, IN

Every year in the NBA, there’s a player or two who falls and gets picked well beyond where they were expected to be picked. Gerald Green, Marcus Williams, and Danny Granger come to mind. This year, I expect it to be Eric Gordon, who would be an absolute steal for the Blazers here at 13. They’re already going to improve by getting Greg Oden back, and adding Gordon will only make them unstoppable in a couple years.

14. Golden State Warriors — Brandon Rush, Kansas
6′7″ | Junior | Guard/Forward
Kansas City, MO

Golden State goes with the best player on the board, as they really don’t have any glaring needs at this point. Rush is a risky because of his ACL injury, but the Warriors can afford taking that risk.

15. Phoenix Suns — Donte Greene, Syracuse
6′9″ | Freshman | Forward
Munich, Germany

Phoenix needs to shake things up, and with Shawn Marion gone the team needs to upgrade the forward position. Donte Greene is an underrated player who actually reminds me a lot of Marion.

Read the rest of this entry »

Hello all. Just figured I’d post something since the calender read May the last time I posted something. Taking a little break from focusing about next year’s draft, as we did last year. Taking some time to enjoy the baseball and political seasons. With that being said, I started a 2009 NFL mock draft, but haven’t made explanations for the picks. Expect the first 2009 mock to come out later this month.

Don’t be surprised to see an NBA mock draft a week or two before the NBA draft. I’d say I know enough about college ball to throw together a first round mock.

I’ve finally finished making the finishing touches on our new website design. Back is a combination of our old three banners, as well as our old logo. I also added our old background to the blog, making it look a lot like our old site.