Stout
Hold onto the ball, Murray!
Well, I figured here it is, my first, best and final mock...until and unless trades happen before draft day! I'm breaking it down, as I see the first seven picks happening in three possible scenarios, with everything contingent on what the Raiders do. The Raiders, I believe, are the key to the top of the draft.
What I'll do is post the three scenarios for the top 7 picks on this thread, then the rest of the first round and the rest of the Card's draft on another thread. So, without further eloquence...
First Scenario: IMO, the most likely:
1-New York Giants-Eli Manning, QB, ‘Ole Miss The Giants package the #4 overall and a mid-round pick or two, along with Kerry Collins, who restructures and signs an extension-I think this trade happens, period.
2-Oakland Raiders-Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Pitt Gallery is a real possibility here, with the retirement of Lincoln Kennedy, but I think Al ends up wanting Fitz more, seeing him as a new Jerry Rice
3-Arizona Cardinals-Roy Williams, WR, Texas Like it or not, this is who I think Green targets as the next Randy Moss at this spot-the Browns call for a trade, but the Cards War Room says no
4-San Diego Chargers-Robert Gallery, OT, Iowa Their target all along, and now they have Collins to lead the offense-savvy draft day dealing
5-Washington Redskins-Vince Wilfork, DT, Miami Although Danny Boy covets Winslow here, they have almost no DT depth on the roster, and no true starters
6-Detroit Lions-Kellen Winslow, TE, Miami Detroit would love to have Steven Jackson, but they feel Winslow is too good to pass up here-the Lions are surprised the Redskins passed on Winslow
7-Cleveland Browns-Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Miami, OH Cleveland tried desperately to trade up with the Cards to land Gallery, but Green was not willing to risk losing Roy
Second Scenario: The Gamble
1-New York Giants-Eli Manning, QB, ‘Ole Miss
2-Oakland Raiders-Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Pitt
3-Cleveland Browns-Robert Gallery, OT, Iowa Browns package their #7 overall, their #37 overall and Andre Davis to move up-they try offering Northcutt, but Green plays hardball and wins
4-San Diego Chargers-Mike Williams, WR, USC Marty is happy that the Chargers landed Collins rather than drafting a QB, to better the chances of winning quickly, but the second half of the plan failed, as the Browns offered more to trade up than the Chargers were willing to part with-still, Williams is a nice consolation prize
5-Washington Redskins-Vince Wilfork, DT, Miami
6-Detroit Lions-Kellen Winslow, TE, Miami
7-Arizona Cardinals-Roy Williams, WR, Texas Green and Graves are thrilled that Williams is still on the board, as Green tabs him the Randy Moss of the Cardinals-would have taken Fitzgerald if he was available at #3, but Green was prepared to take Roy at #3 before the trade-he forces the Browns to give up Davis, and the risk of trading down pays off
Third Scenario: That Crazy Al
1-New York Giants-Eli Manning, QB, ‘Ole Miss
2-Oakland Raiders-Robert Gallery, OT, Iowa Fitzgerald a real possibility here, but with the retirement of Lincoln Kennedy, Gallery will anchor the line for years to come
3-Arizona Cardinals-Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Pitt Green gets his man
4-San Diego Chargers-Mike Williams, WR, USC Marty is happy that the Chargers landed Collins rather than drafting a QB, to better the chances of winning quickly, but the second half of the plan failed, as Gallery went to the Raiders-still, Williams is a nice consolation prize
5-Washington Redskins-Vince Wilfork, DT, Miami
6-Detroit Lions-Kellen Winslow, TE, Miami
7-Cleveland Browns-Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Miami, OH Once Gallery was off the board, and with the Giants taking Manning, the Browns sit tight and expect Big Ben to fall to them
Yes, I do think, no matter what, a deal is going to be done between the Giants and the Chargers. Why? The Chargers really want Gallery, they don't want him at #1, neither Al Davis nor the Cards will trade up, and this gives them a solid starter-plus, with Collins in the deal, the Giants probably won't have to give up too much more. Yes, I also (sadly) think Fitzgerald and Roy Williams are atop the Cardinals draft board. I want Big Ben, but it's not going to happen, IMO.
What I'll do is post the three scenarios for the top 7 picks on this thread, then the rest of the first round and the rest of the Card's draft on another thread. So, without further eloquence...
First Scenario: IMO, the most likely:
1-New York Giants-Eli Manning, QB, ‘Ole Miss The Giants package the #4 overall and a mid-round pick or two, along with Kerry Collins, who restructures and signs an extension-I think this trade happens, period.
2-Oakland Raiders-Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Pitt Gallery is a real possibility here, with the retirement of Lincoln Kennedy, but I think Al ends up wanting Fitz more, seeing him as a new Jerry Rice
3-Arizona Cardinals-Roy Williams, WR, Texas Like it or not, this is who I think Green targets as the next Randy Moss at this spot-the Browns call for a trade, but the Cards War Room says no
4-San Diego Chargers-Robert Gallery, OT, Iowa Their target all along, and now they have Collins to lead the offense-savvy draft day dealing
5-Washington Redskins-Vince Wilfork, DT, Miami Although Danny Boy covets Winslow here, they have almost no DT depth on the roster, and no true starters
6-Detroit Lions-Kellen Winslow, TE, Miami Detroit would love to have Steven Jackson, but they feel Winslow is too good to pass up here-the Lions are surprised the Redskins passed on Winslow
7-Cleveland Browns-Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Miami, OH Cleveland tried desperately to trade up with the Cards to land Gallery, but Green was not willing to risk losing Roy
Second Scenario: The Gamble
1-New York Giants-Eli Manning, QB, ‘Ole Miss
2-Oakland Raiders-Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Pitt
3-Cleveland Browns-Robert Gallery, OT, Iowa Browns package their #7 overall, their #37 overall and Andre Davis to move up-they try offering Northcutt, but Green plays hardball and wins
4-San Diego Chargers-Mike Williams, WR, USC Marty is happy that the Chargers landed Collins rather than drafting a QB, to better the chances of winning quickly, but the second half of the plan failed, as the Browns offered more to trade up than the Chargers were willing to part with-still, Williams is a nice consolation prize
5-Washington Redskins-Vince Wilfork, DT, Miami
6-Detroit Lions-Kellen Winslow, TE, Miami
7-Arizona Cardinals-Roy Williams, WR, Texas Green and Graves are thrilled that Williams is still on the board, as Green tabs him the Randy Moss of the Cardinals-would have taken Fitzgerald if he was available at #3, but Green was prepared to take Roy at #3 before the trade-he forces the Browns to give up Davis, and the risk of trading down pays off
Third Scenario: That Crazy Al
1-New York Giants-Eli Manning, QB, ‘Ole Miss
2-Oakland Raiders-Robert Gallery, OT, Iowa Fitzgerald a real possibility here, but with the retirement of Lincoln Kennedy, Gallery will anchor the line for years to come
3-Arizona Cardinals-Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Pitt Green gets his man
4-San Diego Chargers-Mike Williams, WR, USC Marty is happy that the Chargers landed Collins rather than drafting a QB, to better the chances of winning quickly, but the second half of the plan failed, as Gallery went to the Raiders-still, Williams is a nice consolation prize
5-Washington Redskins-Vince Wilfork, DT, Miami
6-Detroit Lions-Kellen Winslow, TE, Miami
7-Cleveland Browns-Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Miami, OH Once Gallery was off the board, and with the Giants taking Manning, the Browns sit tight and expect Big Ben to fall to them
Yes, I do think, no matter what, a deal is going to be done between the Giants and the Chargers. Why? The Chargers really want Gallery, they don't want him at #1, neither Al Davis nor the Cards will trade up, and this gives them a solid starter-plus, with Collins in the deal, the Giants probably won't have to give up too much more. Yes, I also (sadly) think Fitzgerald and Roy Williams are atop the Cardinals draft board. I want Big Ben, but it's not going to happen, IMO.