What about Bob?

Ok, this is it. Mock draft, 2009, final edition ... until something else comes up that forces us to change a pick. (I'm already thinking of changing the Dolphins' pick from a tight end to a defensive tackle.)

But at least now we don't have to worry about La Monica's head exploding, because he did his part in producing (and filming a three-camera extravaganza by himself) our annual pre-draft video with Adam "Big Cat" Abramson.

Thanks to the folks at the Main Event in Plainview for letting us crash in a corner of the sports bar to wax poetic about Matthew Stafford, Mark Sanchez, Aaron Curry and the rest of the fine folks who are about to become millionaires.

Please note: There are no trades in this mock, although my suspicion is that there will be plenty of wheeling and dealing when the draft does unfold. Thus, every mock draft done to this point will have amounted to a fruitless exercise in prognostication .... kind of like my picks during the NFL season.

Meanwhile, we're heading into NYC for a full slate of meetings of all things NFL: At 9:30 a.m., I'll meet with new NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith. At 11:45 a.m., it's off to Central Park to meet with several draft-eligible players who will be participating in a football clinic for kids. And at 1 p.m, we're heading over to the NFL's Park Ave. offices for a meeting with commissioner Roger Goodell.

In the meantime, feel free to mock the mock. Here goes:

Continue reading "Mock draft: Final answer ... maybe" »

We promised you an updated version of our Mock Draft, and we'll be delivering it shortly. Just tidying up some loose ends and looking at a little more game film before making some final determinations. Or as final as they'll be until our next Mock Draft.

In the meantime, check out the T-Rock Mock that ran yesterday. And here's the first one we did a couple weeks back.

He has the Jints taking Darrius Heyward-Bey at 29, although he strongly suggests the Giants will attempt to trade up by the time the draft comes. If it happens that they stay put at 29 and Heyward-Bey is still there, I'd imagine Jerry Reese would be doing a couple of back flips.

I have already tested the waters with my first mock draft in advance of the real thing on April 25-26. Here's another look, in case you missed the much ballyhooed debut from Wednesday.

I'll no doubt do a couple more, as is the trend these days. This is in contrast to the way it used to be, when I, as well as most of my football scribing colleagues, would do one mock draft for the newspaper the day before the event.

These days, if you don't do several mocks, you are old school.

Here's NFL.com draft/NFL guru Pat Kirwan's latest mock draft. It's called 5.0, so I'm assuming it's his fifth. And it features many changes from his fourth. In fact, there are only five picks he makes in this latest draft that are the same from his previous edition.

Oh, my.

Pat is one of my faves in the biz. He was a long-time personnel man for the Jets, and he was very giving of his time in trying to instruct me and others on the business of football. As I've mentioned before, Pat once allowed me to sit in on a discussion with the agent for one of the Jets' free agents years ago. I came out of the experience wondering how in the world Kirwan could maintain his sanity.

He informed me that the discussion was actually one of the easier ones.

It's time.

With a month to go before the April 25-26 draft, we offer our first Mock Draft.

Of course, I will guarantee you that our "final answer" mock, which will be published in the April 24 newspaper, will feature a handful of changes from this mock. And I guarantee you I will piss off at least one person on the desk when I call in at 8 p.m. the night before to revise a pick based on late-breaking information.

I apologize in advance.

Here goes. Feel free to agree, disagree or accuse me of pulling a Bob Mantz and taking psychadelic drugs before compiling this list. And if you really feel motivated to discuss the mock, join us in a live chat today at 11 a.m.

1. Lions: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia. New coach Jim Schwartz making noises about taking Jason Smith, but if he's convinced about Stafford, he'll go QB.

2. Rams: Jason Smith, T, Baylor: Rookie coach Steve Spagnuolo needs a replacement for Orlando Pace.

3. Chiefs: Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest. Chiefs have a QB with Matt Cassel, so it's time to beef up the defense with this play-making linebacker.

4. Seahawks. Eugene Monroe, T, Virginia. Walter Jones is 35 years old.

5. Browns. B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College. Eric Mangini needs a big man in the middle to anchor his defensive line.

6. Bengals. Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri. We're also hearing the Bengals are looking at offensive line, but they also need youth at receiver, since starters Chad Ochocinco and Laveranues Coles are over 30.

7. Oakland Raiders. Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech. Raiduhs always love big, fast receivers.

8. Jaguars. Michael Oher, T, Mississippi: David Garrard was helpless last year due to awful pass protection.

9. Packers: Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas: Packers' pass rush is a mess.

10. 49ers: Mark Sanchez, QB, USC. Not certain yet that the 49ers are in love with Sanchez, but they do need help at the position after seeing Alex Smith fizzle.

11. Bills: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State. Pettigrew a terrific receiver who will immediately upgrade the offense.

12. Broncos: Everette Brown, DE, Florida State. Broncos' defense hasn't been good in years.

13. Redskins. Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC. 'Skins would get immediate help with Maualuga.

14. Saints. Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State. Saints are desperate for a shutdown corner.

15. Texans. Brian Cushing, OLB, USC. Cushing a terrific outside 'backer who would complement DeMeco Ryans.

16. Chargers: Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State. Bolts re-signed LaDainian Tomlinson and franchised Darren Sproles. But they still need to prepare for life after LaDainian.

Continue reading "Glauber Nation Mock Draft - Part I" »