** The OFFICIAL NFL Mock Draft Thread **

[capone0]

They need most help at O-Line and QB. Their receivers are actually pretty solid even if you include Moss. Not sure what they'll do with Porter, but Curry isn't bad if he doesn't get hurt. Defensively, they have some aged veterans but they have a very young and talented secondary. They probally could use some help at the LB position but I can't see them picking anyone that high with their pick. Odds are they pick a lineman, but the last lineman they picked that high has been pretty damn awful in Gallery.

[brettbrettr]

Ya, I agree. I think they should just pick J Thomas and move Gallery to his immediate right. Any back will get killed behind that line, any QB won't have time to to throw, any WR would be wasted b/c they won't have anyone to get them the ball.

They could also consider trading down and stock/piling some extra picks-talent.

As a Jets fan, I'm not totally against seeing Moss reunited with Chad--cue We Are Marshall theme--and I'd give up a #3 to get him. I think he's got plenty of game left in him, but a change of scenery is needed. Obv character issues might prevent such a move from even being considered.

[rwperu34]

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Oakland trading down to #3 makes a ton of sense to me. They don't want a QB, and Johnson and Peterson should be there at #3. BTW, I think Russell goes #1 overall now.

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Oakland has Lamont Jordan,and pays him a lot of money. They're not picking Peterson. RB is the least of their concerns, and they have a ton.

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They need most help at O-Line and QB. Their receivers are actually pretty solid even if you include Moss. Not sure what they'll do with Porter, but Curry isn't bad if he doesn't get hurt.

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So let me get this straight. You guys think that Lamont Jordan and Justin Fargas are better than Aaron Brooks and Andruw Walter? If anything, the Raiders might have a strength at QB.

The Raiders have holes everywhere on offense. They can take whatever offensive player they want and be correct in doing so.

QB- Brooks and Walter-One guy that's proven he can handle the position and one guy who is young and has a big arm plus a little bit of game experience.

RB- Jordan and Fargas- Two guys that might get cut. One will be gone for sure, neither were ever any good to begin with.

WR- Curry- Moss and Porter are both gone. At the very least they need to compiment Curry, if not add a #1.

OL- This was the most glaring weakness for the Raiders this past season. Unfortunately, they are probably not one player away, and in fact might be five or six players away.

TE- Do they still have Teyo Johnson? Do they wish they did? No taking a TE #1 overall, but perhaps Miller or Olsen will be available at pick #33.

[Kneel B4 Zod]

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22. New England Patriots (via Seattle): Jeff Samardzija WR, Notre Dame. If Jeff can commit to football, then he will be a great addition to a weak Patriots receiving core. He is a great route runner and has exceptional hands.

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I'd be surprised if the Pats used their first pick on a WR. They've had success finding good WR talent in later rounds, and their more critical needs are at ILB and S. Plus Jackson hasn't contributed much this year, but he's been hurt a lot, and I think the team is still high on him (judging by how often they try to get him the ball on screens, reverses, punt returns, etc when he's been in the game).

[PITTM]

if the 49ers got calvin johnson i would cry with happiness. moses would be good also.

rj

[brettbrettr]

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So let me get this straight. You guys think that Lamont Jordan and Justin Fargas are better than Aaron Brooks and Andruw Walter?

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Umm, yeah. And I don't think its close.

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The Raiders have holes everywhere on offense. They can take whatever offensive player they want and be correct in doing so.


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You don't rebuild an offense with no o-line by drafting players who need an oline to succeed. If they pick up some guys in FA for the line, fine. But you can get serviceable players to do very good things with a good o line. Unfortunately not many no-matter-how-good players can overcome a lack of blocking.


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QB- Brooks and Walter-One guy that's proven he can handle the position and one guy who is young and has a big arm plus a little bit of game experience.


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Handle the position? Aaron Brooks isn't as bad as people say, but he's not good either. And he's certainly not a guy to build around. As for Walter, its hard to say how good or bad he is. His 53% comp %, 3 tds and 13 picks don't strike me as being very impressive. But maybe with some more time and decent WRs he could throw 10tds and 10 picks.

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RB- Jordan and Fargas- Two guys that might get cut. One will be gone for sure, neither were ever any good to begin with.


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Lamont Jordan is a very good, very talented back. He was solid in 2005 and got hurt this year. I don't know why you think otherwise.

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WR- Curry- Moss and Porter are both gone. At the very least they need to compiment Curry, if not add a #1.


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Compliment Curry? Wow. I don't think the best way to build a WR core is find a complement for a complement. Curry is fine. They need much better, and unfortunately Moss didn't work out.

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OL- This was the most glaring weakness for the Raiders this past season. Unfortunately, they are probably not one player away, and in fact might be five or six players away.

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Sure, one player doesn't solve all the problems. But drafting Thomas will put them in a good position to solve the most important o line position for ten years or so. I don't understand how you don't see the huge value in this. They had the right idea with Gallery, just the wrong guy.

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TE- Do they still have Teyo Johnson? Do they wish they did? No taking a TE #1 overall, but perhaps Miller or Olsen will be available at pick #33.

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If they don't get an impact WR then sure, a playmaking TE would help. But this, again, is not how you build an offense.

[BGnight]

Al Davis was watching last nights game I'm sure. Last year he wanted Vince Young. I'm sure he has a Jamarcus Russel hard-on as we speak. W/ high draft picks Al goes after impact athletes, not O-linemen. Gallery will only reinforce this w/ Davis. I've already heard some dude on ESPN saying Raiders would like trade down for QB (aka Russel). As a Raider fan, I was watching the Sugar Bowl w/ great interest. I hadn't seen much of J. Russel, and I was extremely impressed w/ his size, speed, accuracy, and freakish arm strength. This guy is a can't miss IMO. I've watched a lot of Quinn, but last nights game makes me think the Raiders are going to trade down and get Russel.

As far as second pick, it's gotta be an RB for sure. There's a lot of good ones this year.

[BGnight]

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Oakland trading down to #3 makes a ton of sense to me. They don't want a QB, and Johnson and Peterson should be there at #3. BTW, I think Russell goes #1 overall now.

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In my mock draft, I considered putting Russell as the first pick. But I don't think Al Davis could pass up on a sure thing like Adrian Peterson. Developing a QB takes time and it would be a long run decision. Al Davis is as old as the hills and his "Just win baby!" mentality could not be any more true.

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The beauty of the Raiders position is they can take Russel and STILL get a probowl caliber RB w/ their second pick.

[TheNoodleMan]

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Why draft Peterson? RB might be the only offensive position where the Raiders are decent. If they don't draft Thomas or a QB: LOL.

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Neither Jordan nor Vargas had spectacular years. Jordan has a decent 2005, but nothing particularly groundbreaking. Furthermore, Jordan tore his ACL. That injury is capable of ruining or completely stopping NFL careers. Ki-Jana Carter tore his ACL and couldn't fulfill his potential. Gale Sayers destroyed his knee and ended up retiring early.



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Gale Sayers? Seriously? There have been some medical advances in the last 40 years.

[BGnight]

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No reasons behind this other than I love to speculate. Someone mentioned this on FBGs:

Atlanta trades Matt Schaub and the 10th pick to Oakland(or any of the top few teams that could use a QB) to move up and select Calvin Johnson, who went to school at nearby Georgia Tech.

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There's no way Oakland will trade down from 1 to 10 for an unproven Matt Schaub. Atlanta would at best get a 2nd rounder. Now if Atlanta could get rid of Vick this way and move up like that, then they'd be on to something, but the owner is an idiot so don't expect anything.

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Schaub is much more proven than Quinn or Russell since we've at least seen him in preseason and spot regular season action. Oakland clearly has multiple positions to fill, and this may help them do it.

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LOL at Shaub over Quinn or Russel.