Mock draft updated: Falcons pick Clay to mold
Clay Matthews Sr. playing for the Falcons in 1996. His son, Clay Matthews Jr., could be drafted by the Falcons. (AJC Staff Photo/Frank Niemeir)
Dana Point, Calif. — Tampa Bay coach Raheem Morris was quite the engaging fellow at the NFL Owners meeting.
Tried to get around to all of the NFC head coaches during their availability session. Checked in with Morris and New Orleans coach Sean Payton before the clock ran out on the session. Didn’t get to Carolina’s John Fox.
Wanted to a better line on their offseason pickups and their draft needs for the Mock draft.
Tampa Bay head coach Raheem Morris.
“We probably need to get another corner for depth,” Morris said. “Got to get somebody in to compete with (cornerback) Elbert Mack.”
Morris likes their free agency pickup of RB Derrick Ward and the trade for TE Kellen Winslow.
“At receiver, we’ve got angry workers . . . (wide receiver) Dexter Jackson (of Dunwoody) has an opportunity to explode on the scene this year,” Morris said.
Also, former UGA standout Jermaine Phillips of Roswell is moving from safety to weakside linebacker, Morris said.
Payton said the Saints, like the Falcons, felt their biggest moves were re-signing their own players.
“Jon Vilma, Devery Henderson, Jon Stinchcomb, keeping those three
guys was really important, prior to any other move,” Payton said.
Fox told the reporters at his table that he hasn’t talked to Julius Peppers since the team slapped the franchise tag on him. He blamed all of the fuss over Peppers saying he wants out of Carolina on the business on the league.
We’ll, we haven’t forgotten about our second installment of the Mock Draft. We’ll update each Friday leading up to the April 25 draft.
New Orleans picks 14th. Tampa Bay picks 19th. Atlanta picks 24th. Carolina doesn’t have a first round. They traded it to Philadelphia last year in order to get tackle Jeff Otah.
We have the Falcons going for USC linebacker Clay Matthews Jr. this week after further research and DE Larry English dropping to Pittsburgh.
LEDBETTER’S MOCK DRAFT
Clay Matthews Jr. worked hard to turn himself into a pro prospect. His father played in the NFL from 1978 to 1996, including his final three seasons with the Falcons.
1. Detroit Lions: Jason Smith, OT, Baylor. Lions will try to negotiate a deal before the draft. They pass on Stafford as they try to anchor their O-line.
2. St. Louis Rams: Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest. The defensive mind Steve Spagnuolo gets some one to anchor the unit.
3. Kansas City Chiefs: Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia.
4. Seattle Seahawks: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia. Can learn the rope behind Matt Hasselbeck for a year or two.
5. Cleveland Browns: Everette Brown, DE/OLB, Florida State.
6. Cincinnati Bengals: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech. Bengals ignore his injury woes.
7. Oakland Raiders: B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars: Mark Sanchez, QB,
Southern California.
9. Green Bay Packers: Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas.
10. San Francisco 49ers: Andre Smith, T, Alabama. With Sanchez off the board, Singletary decides his motivational skills can help Smith.
11. Buffalo Bills: Rey Maualuga, LB, Southern Carolina.
12. Denver Broncos: Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU.
13. Washington Redskins: Brian Cushing, LB, USC.
14. New Orleans Saints: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri. Sean Payton adds another weapon for quarterback Drew Brews.
15. Houston Texans: Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State.
16. San Diego Chargers: Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss. The second run on tackles starts here.
17. New York Jets: Percy Harvin, WR, Florida. Jets elect to add offensive weapon.
18. Chicago Bears: Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois. A physical corner who’d fit nicely in their Cover-2.
20. Detroit Lions (from Dallas): Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State. After passing on Stafford, the Lions add their quarterback.
21. Philadelphia Eagles: Eben Britton, OT, Arizona. They have to find a replacement for Tra Thomas.
22. Minnesota Vikings: Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi.
23. New England Patriots: James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State.
24. Atlanta Falcons: Clay Matthews Jr., OLB, Southern California. Could help rebuild the linebacker unit.
25. Miami Dolphins: Clint Sintim, LB, Virginia.
26. Baltimore Ravens: Darius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland.
27. Indianapolis Colts: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia.
28. Philadelphia Eagles (from Carolina): Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State. The Eagles get someone to share the load with Brian Westbrook.
29. New York Giants: Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina.
30. Tennessee Titans: Duke Robinson, OG, Oklahoma.
31. Arizona Cardinals: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Larry English, DE/OLB, Northern Illinois.
FIRST ROUND FRINGE
Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech
Donald Brown, RB, Connecticut
Evander Hood, DT, Missouri
Louis Delmas, FS, Western Michigan
Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers
Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest
So can you see Matthews lining up in the Falcons defense? Trading down and amassing picks is a possibility. Do you pass on Matthews and pick up more picks? Pettigrew is sitting there, but Falcons aren’t tempted. Is that a mistake or there are too many defensive needs?
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272 comments Add your comment
terrell barron
March 31st, 2009
1:52 pm
And lets not forget, Trey Lewis is back from injury, so we dont have to reach on a NT. We can take a guy like Fili Moala in the 2nd. He and Lewis would make a nice tandem. They can battle it out for the starting job at training camp. So English in the 1st, and Moala in the 2nd, best TE available in the 3rd. So on 1st and 2nd downs we look like this (Jaamal, Trey, Babs, Abe) On passing downs we look like this(English, Moala, Babs, Abe(Chauncey). D-Line is fixed.
D3
March 31st, 2009
2:18 pm
What’s up guys? Just a quick entry while I got a chance, more to come later……
Tyger – I’m totally with you on Hood. Is he really that much of a playmaker or a warm body? He may have torn up the combine and senior bowl, but had a pretty below average senior year. 1.5 sacks? I do have a big difference on who that playmaker should be. Michael Johnson will eventually be a stud, but it won’t happen for at least 2 years. The research is pretty emphatic on rookie and 2nd year DE’s making immediate impact. It just doesn’t happen, barring exceptions as always. Of all the positions, we’re actually set up at DE really well comparatively. Michael Johnson is still very raw, IMHO, and will need time.
I think an OLB of the caliber of Maybin, English, or Matthews can make much more of an immediate impact. Just my thought pattern.
Stirg d'Nahsif
March 31st, 2009
2:42 pm
terrell barron, Boston College ran a 4-3 defense with Raji, Brace and defensive ends Alex Albright and Jim Ramella. That 4-3 defense was good enough to produce two of the top four tackles in the league (the other two tackles are under 300lbs., Peria and Ziggy). One commentator went as far to say that Brace benefited greatly by playing next to a talented Raji, which makes him NFL ready. Take Brace in the first round.
For those of you that think the Falcons are in a great urgency, read the nice article about TD:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=A2KIRzDlWtJJP.4ARgNDubYF?slug=ms-trippintuesday033109&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Ken Strickland
March 31st, 2009
2:58 pm
TYGER-I see where you’re coming from, but we have plenty of sizzle already. We already have 4 probowlers(DE JAbraham, QB MRyan, WR RWhite and RB MTurner) and the NFL’s top rushing OFF. With the addition of a quality TE, we’ll have one the the NFL’s most proficient passing OFF’s to compliment it.
All we need are DEF upgrades at SS, DT, DE, and CB. They can either come threw the draft or off the current roster. Offensively, we need a couple of OLinemen to become backups and hopefully evolve into eventual starters and a pass catching/blocking TE capable of starting immediately.
WE DON’T NEED ANY MORE PROBOWLERS. A team with too many probowlers will usually end up with serious salary cap issues if they try to retain them. The current Falcons already have more talent than any Falcons team since the 1999 “DIRTY BIRDS”, who went to the Superbowl.
TERRELL BARRON-I totally agree with your assessment of DT RBrace. However, I don’t think we need to sacrifice any of our current draft picks to solve our DT problems. Losing immobile, overweight DT GJackson and getting a healthy TLewis back will make a big difference. We can use the 2 picks you suggest we trade to the Chiefs for DT GDorsey can be used to draft a mobile DT like JBabineaux, and possibly a younger more mobile roadblock DT like GJackson. Using those 2 picks to draft 2 younger more athletic DT’s will resolve our DT problems, as well as give us more depth and flexibility.
Ken Strickland
March 31st, 2009
3:06 pm
TERRELL RARRON-now, having said all of that, if the Chiefs would be willing to take a player we can spare and a 2nd rd pick for DT GDorsey, that’s a horse of an entirely different color. Dorsey easily rates higher and satisfies our needs better than any DT in this yrs draft and I’d go for that in a heartbeat.
Nookah
March 31st, 2009
3:33 pm
Ken & Richbrave, I appreciate the views being expressed by all. I have thought about what you both said and did some research of my own. Sidbury and Morrah are indeed 2 gems that I would have no problems drafting. You are also correct Ken when you say what we need now are very serviceable and effective role players to add to the core that we already have (paraphrasing your comments above) and we will be an improved team.
When all is said and done I will be very happy with the players the now formidable duo of TD/MS choose. However, until draft day it is indeed fascinating and exhilarating to read the varied views of all Falcon fans and even those who are enemies. We welcome all opinions.
I can’t wait not only for draft day but as AF.com says……..FEEDING TIME!!!!
Go Falcons!!!
Nufff respect!!
D. LED, by the way thanks for the comment, it is my pleasure to be a part of this Falcon discourse.
marko
March 31st, 2009
3:50 pm
Terrell has made an interesting observation, if KC goes three four they don’t need an up tackle. We’re talking about moving Jamaal to that position which seems a pretty good idea, but perhaps an even better idea would be a simple trade. Both teams acquire players that fit their schemes better. Jamaal seems a natural for a three four end. The move should be fairly cap neutral as both players have similar contracts. Tell me why this wouldn’t work. Imagine Ryan and Dorsey somebody pinch me.
Ken Strickland
March 31st, 2009
4:00 pm
For those who prefer we use our #24 pick to draft a LB, condsider this. I just finished reading a Falcon report that stated LB SNicholas is ready to replace MBoley at Strong Side LB. It indicated that it was Nicholas’ performance and potential, after replacing an injured DWilliams, that caused the Falcons not to resign Williams, who in 2005 started 13 gms and recorded 132 tackles. With Peterson penciled in to replace Brooking as a starter, we don’t need to draft a starting LB, just a backup and future replacement for Peterson.
Reno 911
March 31st, 2009
4:34 pm
Stirg- thanks for the link to the Dimitroff article. great read
and for the thinking that says that the Falcons should take Ron Brace in the first round: why take a guy in round 1 when you can get him in round 2? If there’s no one that would fit the Falcons’ scheme and be worth first round money, then trade the pick and get another second rounder (plus a 4th or 5th). I’d much rather have two second rounders than a second rounder and a guy that we took with #24 but is only worth taking with #40+ (like Brace).
Like someone else said: the poker game has started, so it’s near impossible to judge what teams are thinking based on their reactions/comments, etc. I guess we’ll just sit back and enjoy, and be confident in TD and Smitty’s eye for talent and their “process.”
Or we could just go back to the Dan Reeves plan and draft Pettigrew with our #1, Shawn Nelson with our #2, and Jared Cook with our #3. Imagine the matchup problems! How do you defend a triple-TE-threat offense?
Big Ray
March 31st, 2009
4:43 pm
Djtruk,
Good luck with your new NFL team, the Michael Johnsons.
Ken,
The worst part about all of this is the draft is 25 days away still and we are going to be all over the place, just like these mock drafts, until then! AHHHHHHH!
Marko,
That mother Theresa stuff was too funny…
Ken Strickland
March 31st, 2009
5:10 pm
BIG RAY-you can see how interesting and engaging all of this is for us fans. Just think of how much fun it is for TD, and he has far more info to work with than we do, plus he’s getting paid handsomely to do it. I don’t see how he could consider this actual work.
terrell barron
March 31st, 2009
6:08 pm
I thought Nicholas was going to play the Wil, with Peterson at SS? No?
Stirg d'Nahsif
March 31st, 2009
8:21 pm
I ask the same question too, terrell barron. I watched Nicholas play out of position, last year, at strongside linebacker and he looked lost. He looked like a pimp on Peachtree Corners Circle…lost. Even with poor play, though, he was still better than Boley in run support. I can’t imagine the staff being satisfied with him playing strongside. Maybe this new defense is taking flight sooner than later. This new scheme is really throwing off my mock draft.
Stirg d'Nahsif
March 31st, 2009
8:24 pm
To answer your question, Reno 911, Falcons should take Brace in round one because he won’t last to round two. Again, some mocks have him going to Miami at 25, in round one.
Ken Strickland
March 31st, 2009
9:21 pm
MARKO-when I mentioned the idea of trading a player and a 2nd rd pick for DT GDorsey, I didn’t have a player in mind. DE JAnderson would be perfect, and he’d probably trive in a 3-4 DEF either as a DE or ILB/OLB.
TERRELL BARRON-the reports I’ve read said Peterson will replace Brooking and play the weakside and Nicholas would switch to Strongside. Both players have experience playing either side, so it’s not a big deal either way.
RENO911-all of the TE’s Dan Reeves drafted, Santiago, Kelly and Crumpler, were good blockers, especially Santiago.
NOOKAH-these are the type of players that can be drafted in the lower rds. While they might not be as polished as some of those higher rated picks, they are often more physically talented, and could develop into more productive players with time, experience and coaching than the higher rated players. Drafting these types of players also saves a lot of money and cap space.
Big Ray
March 31st, 2009
10:51 pm
KEN,
I hear you. This IS too much fun, and Dimitroff has got to be a guy who plays HARD. I like that.
STIRG,
What new scheme? What did I miss?? But yeah, I’m okay with Brace as well. And I agree about addressing a big need with a 3-5th round pick. It would be easy to say “well, if you know you who fits your needs, and he’s available now, then pick him.” But, it’s never quite that simple, is it? No, the draft is a series of chain reactions. I think the smartest thing is to pick whatever you think you need the most, and I still see that as DT, followed closely or matched by OLB.
But as you say, Mike Smith likes his DTs, and excels with them. Your scenarios on the D-Line are realistic, I think. That’s what I call having all of one’s bases covered. And while we can get away with playing LBs slightly out of position, one has to be solid on the line.
So long as we get the right guy….if it’s Brace, then it’s Brace. If it’s Hood, then it’s Hood. We’ll see. 25 more days of waiting. Can’t hardly take it. I can only imagine how Dimitroff and his guys feel.
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May 15th, 2009
1:43 pm
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