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USC LB Keith Rivers |
NOPF Mock Draft v2.0
New Orleans back in top 10 for second time in three
years
posted March 3, 2008 - print
me!
neworleansprofootball.com
My diatribe against
mock drafts summoned karma.
Predicting that the Saints would go for the top
inside linebacker in the draft and a Top 15 prospect according
to NFLDraftScout.com, I might have been right, had karma not greased
the skids for the Saints to eek out a win in the Jonathan Vilma
sweepstakes over Detroit and other teams.
The trade is good for the Saints - Vilma if healthy
is the genuine article - and thanks to my hubris, demands my mock
draft be updated less than a week later.
And so, with great pleasure, version 2.0.
1. Miami (1-15)
Virginia DE Chris Long
2. St. Louis (3-13)
Ohio State DE Vernon Gholston
3. Atlanta (4-12)
LSU DT Glenn Dorsey
4. Oakland (4-12)
Michigan OT Jake Long
5. Kansas City (4-12)
USC DT Sedrick Ellis
6. New York Jets (4-12)
Arkansas RB Darren McFadden
7. New England (from San Francisco (5-11))
Boise State OT Ryan Clady
8. Baltimore (5-11)
Boston College QB Matt Ryan
9. Cincinnati (7-9)
Clemson DE Philip Merling
10. New Orleans (7-9)
Second time around, we give Boston College QB Matt Ryan to Baltimore.
Saints fans should be cheering for Ryan's stock to go up, as his
selection by the Ravens would push a defender down. The Ravens,
like the Patriots, Bengals and Saints, covet defensive backs and
linebackers. The ascension of Boise State OT Ryan Clady, any of
the defensive ends which the Saints have no need for, and Ryan
is a good thing for the Saints, because someone like Troy CB Leodis
McKelvin or USC OLB Keith Rivers will be available. But other
top defenders are not a good value at 10, and depending on the
Saints' scouting reports the team may be more tempted to take
an offensive player with value, a move that may end the Saints
era of Deuce McAllister.
There has been much discussion on the quality of defensive backs
in this draft. There are no slam dunks, and we're finding much
variation in the quality ratings of defensive backs around the
league. Some teams are enamored with Kansas DB Aqib Talib's ball
skills and size, others are frightened of his maverick style of
play and questionable top-end speed. Some teams are satisfied
with South Florida CB Mike Jenkins' coverage skills and athletic
ability, others disapprove of his lack of discipline and toughness.
The Saints may think that Troy CB Leodis McKelvin is nothing more
than a talented kick return man and unpolished nickel back. Or,
they may think that he could have an impact like Buffalo's Terrance
McGee, starting at cornerback and starring at returner.
Rivers, on the other hand, is without question the top of his
position. In 2005 as a sophomore, Rivers earned a starting job
at weakside linebacker, chasing down Reggie Bush in practice.
Rivers ran the 100m in high school, after which current Saints
defensive line coach Ed Orgeron recruited him to USC. At the Senior
Bowl, despite tweaking an ankle, Rivers was tried at all three
linebacker positions.
One concern about Rivers is that for all his athleticism, he
simply didn't make the appropriate amount of plays. It is hard
to question the stats: in three seasons as a weakside starter,
in 36 starts: one interception. Six forced fumbles. Six pass deflections.
Only 15.5 tackles for loss.Yet we hear that Rivers is highly respected
for this work ethic on the field, in the weight room, and in the
film room, and that he is a vocal leader. What gives? Rivers compares
unfavorably to 2007's top linebacker, Patrick Willis, who went
11th. Or to Shawne Merriman, who went 12th. Is Rivers good value
here?
It is this discourse that leads us to believe that the Saints
will trade down in this scenario. But since we're not going to
bother with trades in this mock draft, lets go with Rivers.
The Saints may very well still draft Rivers in the mid-to-late
teens after a trade down.
11. Buffalo (7-9)
Florida DE Derrick Harvey
12. Denver (7-9)
Vanderbilt OT Chris Williams
13. Carolina (7-9)
Oregon RB Jonathan Stewart
14. Chicago (7-9)
Oklahoma WR Malcolm Kelly
15. Detroit (7-9)
Penn State LB Dan Connor
16. Arizona (8-8)
Illinois RB Reshard Mendenhall
17. Minnesota (8-8)
North Carolina DT Kentwan Balmer
18. Houston (8-8)
Auburn DE/LB Quentin Groves
19. Philadelphia (8-8)
Pittsburgh T Jeff Otah
20. Tampa Bay (9-7)
Tennessee State CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
21. Washington (9-7)
Miami S Kenny Phillips
22. Dallas (from Cleveland (10-6))
South Florida CB Mike Jenkins
23. Pittsburgh (10-6)
Arizona CB Antoine Cason
24. Tennessee (10-6)
Indiana WR James Hardy
25. Seattle (10-6)
Texas RB Jammal Charles
26. Jacksonville (10-6)
LSU WR Early Doucet
27. San Diego (11-5)
USC OT Sam Baker
28. Dallas (11-5)
Michigan State WR Devin Thomas
29. San Francisco (from Indianapolis (13-3))
Cal WR Desean Jackson
30. Green Bay (13-3)
Virginia OL Brandon Albert
31. New York Giants (13-3)
Notre Dame DT Trevor Laws
Saints Draft:
2 (40). Arizona State C Mike Pollak
3 (78). Indiana CB Tracy Porter
5. Georgia Tech OLB Gary Guyton
6. Missouri DT Lorenzo Williams
7. Arkansas WR Marcus Monk
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