Mock Draft 2.0: Falcons select center Maurkice Pouncey
In our latest mock draft, the Falcons select Florida center Maurkice Pouncey, the heir-apparent for Todd McClure.
BIRDLAND – Welcome to Mock Draft 2.0!
This is the first one since getting back from the NFL scouting combine. There was plenty of information to digest from Falcons head coach Mike Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff who addressed the national meeting.
Loading ...The Falcons like their defensive ends and have concluded that a healthy Peria Jeria would have helped the pass rush immensely. Therefore, they are not compelled to reach for a defensive end after taking a tackle and an end in last year’s draft. Also, this draft is pretty deep at the position.
Dimitroff made it clear that the Falcons are a “needs based” drafting team. They know that center Todd McClure, who turned 33 in February, can’t play forever. So the decision will come down to either getting the McClure replacement or a linebacker for Mike Peterson, who will turn 34 in June.
With the 19th pick in the 2010 NFL draft, the Atlanta Falcons, in a surprise move, will select Florida center Maurkice Pouncey over Missouri linebacker Sean Weatherspoon. In Pouncey, the Falcons would get the top center in the draft, McClure’s eventual replacement and long-term protection for Matt Ryan.
Some of the risers after the combine include California running back Jahvid Best, UCLA defensive tackle Brian
California RB Jahvid Best helped himself at the combine.
Price and Texas Christian outside linebacker Jerry Hughes.
Some of the players who dropped where Florida’s Joe Haden, Georgia Tech’s Jonathan Dwyer, Tennessee defensive tackle Dan Williams and Oklahoma tight end Jermaine Gresham.
AJC’s 2010 MOCK DRAFT 2.0
Staff writer D. Orlando Ledbetter projects the first round:
1. St. Louis Rams: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma. The word is that head coach Steve Spagnuolo has fallen in love with McCoy. They will kick the tires on quarterbacks Sam Bradford and Jimmy Clausen, but pass.
2. Detroit Lions: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska. Coach Jim Schwartz is trying to re-create the type of defensive front he had as a coordinator in Tennessee.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Eric Berry, DB, Tampa Bay. The Creekside High product is the consensus No. 3 pick and Falcons fans will get to see him twice a year.
4. Washington Redskins: Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State. The Redskins have to get a replacement for the retired Chris Samuels.
Bryan Bulaga, Iowa
5. Kansas City Chiefs: Byran Buluga, OT, Iowa. Can maul in the run game and is an excellent pass protector. He held Georgia Tech’s Derrick Morgan without a sack in the Orange Bowl.
6. Seattle Seahawks: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech. Pete Carroll knows his defense has to be upgraded and passes on the quarterbacks. . . for now.
7. Cleveland Browns: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma. New Cleveland president Mike Holmgren took a different approach to studying the quarterbacks at the combine. “We will watch them,” Holmgren said. “We’re not going to sit down with them here. If we are interested, we’re going to bring them in to Cleveland.” There haven’t been in Bradford sightings in the Flats yet.
8. Oakland Raiders: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers. Al Davis was probably be excited about all of the back flips that Jason Pierre-Paul can do, but goes for some help for the offensive line.
9. Buffalo Bills: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida. One of the stars of the combine. Go find his back flip video on youtube.com.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars: Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama. The Jaguars get a middle linebacker to anchor the defense.
11. Denver Broncos: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State: The Broncos go for a Brandon Marshall replacement.
12. Miami Dolphins: Earl Thomas, FS, Texas. He had a great combine and is moving up on several boards. Dolphins need better back-end secondary coverage.
13. San Francisco 49′ers: C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson. The 49ers need some help for the over-worked running back Frank Gore.
14. Seattle Seahawks: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame. Carroll gets his quarterback of the future.
15. New York Giants: Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas. The G-men get a linebacker to replace Antonio Pierce.
16. Tennessee Titans: Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida. With Kyle Vanden Bosch off to Detroit, the Titans have to restructure the defensive line.
17. San Francisco 49ers: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma. The 49ers want to keep their running game moving and
Carlos Dunlap, Florida.
will have book-end tackles in Williams and Joe Staley.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers: Joe Haden, CB, Florida. The Steelers go by what they see on film and not combing 40 times.
19. Atlanta Falcons: Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida. Thomas Dimitroff said the Falcons will draft based on need. They know Todd McClure can’t keep playing forever and pull the trigger on the top center in the draft. Not the sexiest pick, but you can’t start without the center.
20. Houston Texans: Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri. The three-time all-Big 12 pick gets to return to the Lone Star state.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame. The Bengals want to put some speed opposite of Ocho Cinco.
22. New England Patriots: Taylor Mays, S, USC. A super athlete slips because his film is not that good. He only had two picks in three years as starter.
Brandon Graham, Michigan.
23. Green Bay Packers: Mike Iupati, OT, Idaho. The Packers let both of their tackles, Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher, leave during free agency.
24. Philadelphia Eagles: Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan. He fits the Eagles scheme and can help generate a pass rush.
25. Baltimore Ravens: Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois. The search for wide receivers has been ongoing in Baltimore for quite some time now.
26. Arizona Cardinals: Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland. Has great size at 6-foot-7, 310 pounds. Has a big upside.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Chad Jones, S, LSU. Cowboys reach here for Jones, but they like his size and striking ability.
28. San Diego Chargers: Jahvid Best, RB, California. Makes a leap into the first round after a fine showing at the combine.
29. New York Jets: Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech. Jets decide to get vertical weapon for their young quarterback.
30. Minnesota Vikings: Patrick Robinson, CB, FSU. He addressed his lack of a physical nature at the combine and was convincing. “If they want me to tackle, I’ll tackle,” Robinson said.
31. Indianapolis Colts: Brian Price, DT, UCLA. Gets great penetration and would be a nice fit in the Colts
Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech. (Johnny Crawford, jcrawford@ajc.com)
defense.
32. New Orleans Saints: Jerry Hughes, LB, Texas Christian. A versatile linebacker, who made a lot of plays for the Horned Frogs.
ON THE FRINGE: Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech; Ryan Matthews, RB, Fresno State; Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State; Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State; Perrish Cox, CB, Oklahoma State; Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee; Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma; Charles Brown, OT, USC, Everson Griffen, DE, USC and Colt McCoy, QB, Texas.
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207 comments Add your comment
Mark(I should be fired)Richt
March 5th, 2010
5:24 pm
You know the more I think about it Vick could probably turn this franchise around.
mountain_jim
March 5th, 2010
5:25 pm
Well I don’t know how talented he is, or what his grade should be, but I do want to upgrade the oline. If he is that good a center (can he also play guard?) and the Falcons think they can get improved play from their other oline folks then I might be ok with this. I also think the RT needs a pass-blocking upgrade for protecting Ryan but what do I know.
ASHEVILLE DAWG
March 5th, 2010
5:27 pm
o yea a center for the 19th pick, u r wrong
Weatherspoon OLB
March 5th, 2010
5:30 pm
Y’all go ahead and pick a center. Then I’ll go the the Saints and burn your asses for the next 10 years. Don’t be foolish Flowery Branch. Bring be to Hotlanta so we can win Championships!
D. Orlando Ledbetter
March 5th, 2010
5:36 pm
For all of you Pouncey Haters, Jeff Schultz throws out his five players to pick from:
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2010/03/05/with-cornerback-in-fold-here-are-5-choices-for-falcons/
mgdawg
March 5th, 2010
5:41 pm
If it is strictly need based then lets go after defense in the first round. IMO a first round pick should be a player who can come in and make some impact his rookie year (other then maybe a qb), not sit behind a veteran all year and learn. Especially at center where the exchange is so crucial,he will only get limited time, mainly in blowout games. If the falcons need to get a center for when mcclure is gone then get one after the first round because he’ll probably have atleast a year or two of sitting and will have time to improve.
Billy
March 5th, 2010
5:42 pm
Houston has Demeco Ryans and Brian Cushing at LB and just lost their #1 DB, and you have them taking a LB??????
Without-a-clue
March 5th, 2010
5:46 pm
Tell me the wisdom of using a 1st round pick to replace a player who was drafted in the 7th round(237th selected overall)? Draft a corn-fed stud in the later rounds and let McClure teach him the ropes.
E.lo
March 5th, 2010
5:48 pm
It’s official Dunta Robinson signs a six year deal per Adam Schfter Tweet!!!!!
Matty Ice
March 5th, 2010
5:50 pm
hey, while we are taking a Center in first round, let’s take a “long snapper” in 3rd round……..just let it sink in…….
Gary
March 5th, 2010
5:50 pm
Weatherspoon will be our pick if he is there BOTTOMLINE! I can hear the crowd now when he makes a play next year “SPOOOOOOOOOON”! lol Go Falcons!
Innocent Bystander
March 5th, 2010
5:50 pm
Derrick Morgan, Derrick Favors and Deck McGuire: Tech will most likely have a top ten in each major sport’s draft this year.
Gary
March 5th, 2010
5:53 pm
YES! it’s offical Dunta Robinson signed to 6 year deal!
Mark(I should be fired)Richt
March 5th, 2010
5:54 pm
Lead better, why arent you campaigning to get Vick back here? Is it a topic you cant handle? Have you been placed on a gag order? Is it true that Blank was seen recently having dinner with Vick?
My Turn
March 5th, 2010
5:56 pm
led Belly I think those are valid questions about MV7, why dont you do a story on the plus’s and minus’s of Vick leading us back from obscurity?
MATTIE LICE
March 5th, 2010
5:58 pm
WE HAVE ONLY BEEN OBSCURE SINCE LAST YEAR, AND I WOULD WELCOME FAIR COMPETITION BETWEEN ME AND VICK, IF IT WILL GET US OUT OF THIS DARK HOLE!
BFALCON
March 5th, 2010
5:58 pm
DOL, If the Falcons take Pouncey with the 19th pick, I am selling my season tickets. The pick will be a defensive player de or lb. Inside scoop, you heard it from BFALCON– BVD wants Carlos Dunlop but Dimitroff and Smith concerned about off field character. Smith & Dimitroof are torn between weatherspoon and Graham. They really love J.Pierre Paul but do not feel he will be there at 19. Do not be surprised if Facons bring in B.Watson for visit next or two.
SHOW TIME
March 5th, 2010
6:01 pm
LARDBELLY, I have to agree, getting Vick back here would lift the spirits of the city and team and get us pointed in the right direction again. Can you get an interview with Michael and ask him would he come back?
E.lo
March 5th, 2010
6:03 pm
It’s really sad when you can beat the local paper with the story. Ledbetter get on your freakin job, Robinson has already signed. Let’s see how long it takes him to report it.
James Bond
March 5th, 2010
6:03 pm
ditto on the Michael Vick to Atlanta, thingy.
James Bond
March 5th, 2010
6:05 pm
show time his name is ledbetter.
By the way Ledbetter, will you give us a story on Vick and whether he is having dinner with Blank?
Are you crazy?
March 5th, 2010
6:07 pm
Dan Williams DT will be in the first round if not the first 15. Book it. He had an outstanding combine.
SHOW TIME
March 5th, 2010
6:07 pm
I apologize, I though he had a lard belly so you guys called him that. I see, he is ledbetter. My bad.
Mark(I should be fired)Richt
March 5th, 2010
6:10 pm
Will you get an interview from Michael, I heard play girl also asked him to pose nude for 1 million buckaroos…. I also heard Okins asked Mattie Lice to hold still for a minute til they get the hoses hooked up to the insectecide tank. Is that true?
Matt the Brave
March 5th, 2010
6:20 pm
Orlando, nice pun on the first pick. They’ll PASS on a QB. I know that was unintentional, but still.
waynester
March 5th, 2010
6:23 pm
DLed
Love Pouncey but not at 19. I’m still hoping we’ll trade down to late 1st and grab a 2nd in the process. I’m a Dawg but Pouncey is a heckuva C and is versatile enough to play guard (another position needing an upgrade. He’d play in a rotation at G hios rookie season while being groomed to take over at C when the time comes. As far as mid-late round Centers you guys look at:
JD Walton Baylor 6′3 304lb 5.23(40) 32.5 inch Arm length
Matt Tennant BC 6′5 300lb 5.24(40) Bench 225lb 34x 32.25 inch arm length
Eric Olsen N Dame6′4 306lb 5.22(40) bench 35x 32.5 arm length
John Estes Hawaii 6′2 300lb 5.06(40) Team Captain
Eric Cook NM 6′6 318 5.30(40) Nearly 34 inch arm length
Josh McNeil Tenn 6′4 289 5.08(40) (knee injury probably causes him to drop to UFA
That’s a lot of options for us if we don’t follow your advice in rd 1!
Falcon Fanatic
March 5th, 2010
6:25 pm
I would rather take Tennant in the third round. I am not sold on Weatherspoon or Graham at 19 either. We can get a good OLB in the mid rounds and can get a mid level FA to come in at DE if we must acquire another one.
GHunt
March 5th, 2010
6:27 pm
D. O. Led, you can’t be serious, ha ha, a center at 19th, no way sir. I have inside info from my psych. The Falcons will take Mt. Cody with the pick. For backup my psych tells me it will be a DL from the SEC.
gadawgs
March 5th, 2010
6:41 pm
No, no & no.Take Witherspoon at 19. You can always draft a quality center in the later rounds or get one through free agency. We need LB help.
Magic Man
March 5th, 2010
6:44 pm
DOL:
When seeking credibility or support for sticking your next out on the line, don’t refer to Jeff Schultz as back up FYI.
Don’t see the Falcons taking Pouncey. I agree with your rationalization and we certainly need a center, but #19 is high for even a 10-year Pro Bowl center. Especially one who zone blocked in college.
Not a 1st Round Center!
March 5th, 2010
6:57 pm
Rather than choose a center in the first, Trade down and garner additional picks in the 2nd and 3rd round. Two early round picks even if later in the draft would beat picking a center that just may be a 2nd rounder anyway.
Navigator
March 5th, 2010
7:10 pm
Center for two reasons, protect and helping the anemic running attack from last year.
By the was applause for not taking the bait from the mystery guy who kept changing his name. Keep focused on the story and give some good feedback. Let’s help DOL keep a good discussion going.
JJ
March 5th, 2010
7:12 pm
DOL will reveal his true pick right before the draft. I bet he picks everyone BUT his true #1 until then. He will have spoon, kindle or gratham on his last pick, I’m betting spoon. He has to get the feedback (negative) before his true pick. Playing his cards to stir debate guys, dont beleive TD will take a center at 19, DOL I bet doesnt either! lol
tree rollins
March 5th, 2010
7:22 pm
Center in the 1st round = STUPID!! I’d rather draft a kicker there. Come on guys, do whatever you have to do to get Spiller. Turner is no longer a “Burner”.
tree rollins
March 5th, 2010
7:25 pm
Might also be time for a tight end if age is the deal. 34 year old tight ends don’t last too long in the league either. I’m so glad we locked up Redmon for 2 MORE YEARS. His games were so enjoyable last year (NOT). Glad we didn’t go after a Del’Homme or somebody like that that’s played in a Super Bowl as a starter. I much prefer an ex-insurance salesman. Good going Dimitroff.
Box
March 5th, 2010
7:35 pm
TD took the top running back in FA with Turner, and it worked. TD takes the top CB in FA. Will it work? Yahoo Sports says that DR is a #2 CB, not a #1. Take a look…
If Robinson’s your number one corner, you’re probably not going to have a great defense. As a second corner on a team that plays a lot of man defense, though, Robinson can provide a pretty valuable service. The best thing Robinson has going for him is that good corners are just hard to come by. A team not in a position to draft one will give him a nice payday.
Any thoughts?
Dominic Hughes
March 5th, 2010
7:55 pm
Okay D-Led – I remember suggesting the Falcons take Alex Mack last year with the 24th pick and you telling me that was too high to take Mack – rated one of the best center prospects in years. He ended up going higher, with the 21st pick to the Browns and made All-Rookie team as center. Now you want to take a center not in the same class as Mack as a prospect with the 19th pick? You sure have changed your tune old mate! I think we can find a center later but nothing would surprise me. Gut instinct at the moment is OLB.
JJ
March 5th, 2010
8:10 pm
Spoon baby, spoon and DOL is on the train! He just wont admit it for a few weeks!
Paulitik
March 5th, 2010
8:13 pm
I think they’d be better served getting Matt Ryan’s former College Center in the 3rd. (Matt Tennant).
A great coverage LB like Spoon is the antidote to the Ain’ts tossing to Bush and Shockey up the middle on us.
laughing @ you fools.
March 5th, 2010
8:16 pm
can we have Vick back?
knewhotness
March 5th, 2010
9:02 pm
i feel u on the pouncey pick, d led. i had been thinking of how nice it would be to pick this guy up and start him at guard for a year before taking over the center spot. but we cannot select him at 19. we would need to drop back to the end of the round and pick up a late 2nd rounder as well.
Archimedes
March 5th, 2010
9:34 pm
DL-
You’re ignoring your own logic here: TD, as I believe you emphasized, believes in the logic that underpins the positional value chart. Centers don’t makes sense at 19.
Also, one of the teams at the top of the draft (St. Louis most likely) will, when push comes to shove, balk at paying insane rookie money to a positional player & decide to pull the trigger on Bradford.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 5th, 2010
9:36 pm
“Dimitroff made it clear that the Falcons are a “needs based” drafting team.”
Interesting that he would say that. The Patriots built up their dynasty in the early part of the decade by drafting the best player available (for example, taking Ty Warren when they already had Richard Seymour, taking Logan Mankins when offensive line was already a strength). In the second half of the decade, starting roughly with the Laurence Maroney and Chad Jackson picks, they started drafting more based on need and their success in the draft correspondingly decreased. I’m surprised Dimitroff would go with that strategy after seeing those results play out in New England.
Always A Falcon
March 5th, 2010
9:42 pm
what was with my comment? not postable?
Always A Falcon
March 5th, 2010
9:45 pm
scared
Chop Buster
March 5th, 2010
9:55 pm
DOL, please stick to writing articles and stay away from the mock drafts. LOL You sir are hilarious!!!
Tailback U
March 5th, 2010
9:56 pm
No slam on Pouncey a fine player but this mock blows chunks
for the Falcon faithful. Yuck
willie
March 5th, 2010
10:05 pm
TD does love players that are versatile and he can play center or guard, but I can’t imagine him going to us at 19. Gotta be a pass rusher or maybe OLB.
Steve
March 5th, 2010
10:22 pm
this mock draft deserves a facepalm…
facepalm
I MUS WRITE
March 5th, 2010
10:40 pm
After watching more tape of Spoon a few things stand out to me. He doesnt seem to play real fast-dont see a whole lot of urgency.yeah i know the forty time but im speaking on game speed. Also he doesnt shed blocks really well and seems to always be making tackles from behind. To his credit he is good in coverage tho. We’ll see I wouldnt be mad at the pick but i would like to trade down for more picks and then go with Hughes/Griffin or Campbell OT…..
Wow hayden all the way to 18-that is so not going to happen. I would like to get a center but not in the first -maybe not even this year -2011