Beat Writers Mock: Thomas falls to the Falcons at 19
091205 - Tampa - GA Tech's Demaryius Thomas (8) tries to break away from Clemson's Crezdon Butler (18) in the first quarter during the ACC Championship game on Saturday, December 5, 2009 in Tampa, FL. (Johnny Crawford - jcrawford@ajc.com)
BIRDLAND – Falcons owner Arthur Blank loves his mock drafts.
So I wanted to share one of the most informed Mock Drafts compiled. This is the annual Beat Writer’s Mock draft and it is the last one I look at before completing my final mock draft. (I like ESPN’s Kiper too because he is good at setting values for players base on his film review. However, his mock is usually off because he seems to set his mock according to his evaluations, not how the teams have the players on their respective boards.)
Here’s why this Mock is so special. The beat writers from around the country have been on the case since the end of the Super Bowl. They’ve been talking to their general managers, coaches and sources to gather information. They all have special insights to their teams and the best sense of how the teams are leaning at this late hour.
History will show that the Beat Writer’s Mock it’s usually one of the best pre-draft mock out there in the flooded mock universe.
THE BEAT WRITER’S MOCK DELIGHT
Missouri linebacker Sean Weatherspoon celebrates after making a tackle against Bowling Green during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, in Columbia, Mo. (Associated Press)
1. St. Louis Rams – Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma (Jim Thomas, St. Louis Post Dispatch)
TEAM NEEDS: Literally everything. This team has lost 42 of its last 48
games and has only one game-changer on its roster in RB Steven Jackson.
2. Detroit Lions – Ndamkong Suh, DT, Nebraska (Mike O’Hara, Detroit Legend and formerly of the Detroit News. You can follow him here.)
TEAM NEEDS: DT, DE, RB, CB, OT and WR.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma. (Ira Kaufmann, Tampa Tribune)
TEAM NEEDS: DT, DE, WR and LB.
4. Washington Redskins – Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State. (Dave Elfin, formerly of the Washington Times)
TEAM NEEDS: OTs, S, CB, RB (speed), WR and K.
Bryan Bulaga, Iowa.
5. Kansas City Chiefs – Brian Bulaga, OT, Iowa. (Randy Covity, Kansas City Star)
Needs: S, ILB, OLB (pass rusher in a 3-4), OT, WR, KR/PR.
6. Seattle Seahawks – Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma. (Danny O’Neil, Seattle Times Sports)
TEAM NEEDS: LT, DE, S, RB, WR.
7. Cleveland Browns – Eric Berry, S, Tennessee. (Tony Grossi, Cleveland Plain Dealer)
Needs: S, CB, WR (speed), DE (3-4), RB (big), OL depth and QB.
8. Oakland Raiders – Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland. (Nancy Gay, AOL Fanhouse)
TEAM NEEDS: OT, QB, WR, DL and RB.
9. Buffalo Bills – C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson. (Mark Gaughan, Buffalo News)
TEAM NEEDS: LT, QB, WR, Pass rusher, NT.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars – Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama. (Vito Stellino, Florida Times-Union)
TEAM NEEDS: Pass rusher, MLB, S, G and C.
11. Denver Broncos – Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida. (Jeff Legwold, Denver Post)
TEAM NEEDS: ILB (3-4); C; WR; G; NT
12. Miami Dolphins – Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech. (Armando Salguero, Miami Herald)
TEAM NEEDS: FS, SOLB, LG, and NT.
13. San Francisco 49ers – Joe Haden, CB, Florida. Nancy Gay (AOL Fanhouse)
TEAM NEEDS: OT, CB, OLB, NT and WR.
14. Seattle Seahawks – Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida. (Dan O’Neill, Seattle Times Sports)
TEAM NEEDS: Left tackle, defensive end, safety, running back, receiver.
15. New York Giants – Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan. (Bob Glauber, Newsday)
TEAM NEEDS: LB, DE and OL.
16. Tennessee Titans – Sergio Kindle, DE/LB, Texas. (Jim Wyatt, Nashville Tennessean)
Boise State cornerback Kyle Wilson comes up with an interception against Idaho at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow last November. (Joe Jaszewski/The Idaho Statesman)
TEAM NEEDS: DE, LB and CB.
17. San Francisco 49ers – Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers — (Nancy Gay, AOL Fanhouse)
TEAM NEEDS: OT, CB, OLB, NT and WR.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers – Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State. (Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
TEAM NEEDS: CB, DL and OL.
19. Atlanta Falcons – DeMaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech. (D. Orlando Ledbetter, Atlanta Journal Constitution)
TEAM NEEDS: LB, C/G, CB, WR and TE.
20. Houston Texans – Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State — (John McClain, Houston Chronicle)
TEAM NEEDS: RB, CB, DT, FS, C/G
21. Cincinnati Bengals – Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma. (Joe Reedy, Cincinnati Enquirer)
TEAM NEEDS: TE, OG, LB, and DL pass rusher.
22. New England Patriots – Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State — (Ian Rapoport, Boston Herald)
TEAM NEEDS: DL, OLB, TE and WR.
23. Green Bay Packers – Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State — (Bob McGinn, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
TEAM NEEDS: OT, CB, LOLB (3-4), S, RB, TE AND P.
24. Philadelphia Eagles – Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama — (Paul Domowitch, Philadelphia Inquirer)
Ryan Mathews, Fresno State
TEAM NEEDS: C, CB, S, DE, RB, LB
25. Baltimore Ravens – Earl Thomas, S, Texas — (Jamison Hensley, Baltimore Sun)
TEAM NEEDS: TE, DT, CB, WR and S.
26. Arizona Cardinals – Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee – (Kent Somers, The Arizona Republic)
TEAM NEEDS: NT, ILB, QB and OLB.
27: Dallas Cowboys – Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State — (Charean Williams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
TEAM NEEDS: OL, WR and FS.
28: San Diego Chargers – Taylor Mays, S, USC — (Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune)
TEAM NEEDS: RB, NT, S, OT, TE, CB.
29: New York Jets – Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri — (Bob Glauber, Newsday)
TEAM NEEDS: S, DL, DT, LB and CB.
30. Minnesota Vikings – Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers — (Mark Craig, Minneapolis Star-Tribune).
TEAM NEEDS, CB, OL, LB, DT, RB and QB.
31. Indianapolis Colts – Jerry Hughes, DE, Texas Christian — (Mike Chappell, Indianapolis Star)
TEAM NEEDS: Pass-rushing DE, LT, CB, LB, DT.
32. New Orleans Saints – Everson Griffen, DE, Florida — (Mike Triplett, New Orleans Times-Picayune)
TEAM NEEDS: OLB, DE, DT, FS, TE.
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168 comments Add your comment
Big B CH 99
April 21st, 2010
12:12 pm
I’m a life long Tech fan & current student, but I wouldn’t take BayBay w/ the # 19 pick unless my top 3 choices are all gone (this assumes that Spiller & Derrick Morgan are long gone), then I would decide between BayBay, Gresham (OU TE) & Dez Bryant. My top 3 are:
1. Graham
2. Spoon
3. Pouncey
I’m not sold on USF’s Pierre-Paul b/c he only played one yr of major college football. He played @ 2 different JUCO’s before going to USF. I’m afraid he may be a one year wonder like Vernon Gholston out of Oh. St. a couple of yrs ago. I’d rather take a guy that had a couple of really good yrs @ a I-AA school than a one yr I-A wonder.
fanATicaL
April 21st, 2010
12:18 pm
Great way to spur conversation.Not fallin for it
The Real Falcon
April 21st, 2010
12:31 pm
First there is no way Pouncey is picked 11th. Second there absolutely way we pick Ba-ba.
Gwinnett Fred
April 21st, 2010
12:32 pm
I just can’t get Thomas’s dropping that potential 1st down play against UGA out of my head – I don’t know if I can take him doing the same for the Birds.
Paul Johnson's Johnson
April 21st, 2010
12:32 pm
You bunch of mouth breathers…… Just throw him the mf’n ball!!
The Real Falcon
April 21st, 2010
12:33 pm
Oh yeah, Weatherspoon at 29th is such a bad pick this whole list must be satirical.
HugoStiglitz
April 21st, 2010
12:35 pm
bravedav,
The reason to not take Dez Bryant is the same as most other teams. There are character concerns. The guy got suspended from his team for almost all of last season. Not to mention he shows up to his own pro day without a pair of cleats. After Vick and DeAngelo Hall we will probably steer clear of any players who might be risky.
Michael
April 21st, 2010
12:36 pm
Why did you pass on Weatherspoon?
south ga boy in the ATL
April 21st, 2010
12:41 pm
DOL any word on TD trying to work a trade to get a NO. 2
THOR
April 21st, 2010
12:41 pm
I wouldn’t mind taking a WR receiver with this pick. Lets face it, this league is turning into an offense game. We have to play the number one offense twice a year, and although we have a good offense now, if the saints are in a rhythm there is no way we can outscore them, but if we got another great reciever we might be able to. Turner rushed for like 130 yards against the saints and we still lost! We shouldn’t take Thomas, though. We should take Bryant because the guy really is a randy moss-like freak and i heard his off field issues aren’t that bad.
All that being said, they do need defensive playmakers and Smith is a defense-oriented guy so I see them going with E. Thomas, or maybe ‘Spoon. Either of the TCU LB’s could go here, as well.
KC in Smyrna
April 21st, 2010
12:42 pm
Weatherspoon is highly rated here. I have never seen the hype. I would rather trade down before we select the beloved Spoon. A LB needs to be a serious difference maker to justify a 1st round pick. It is just too easy to find serviceable LBs later in the draft. The DL and CB positions are where you need difference makers. Unless you’re in the 3-4, few LBs are worth taking in the 1st round. VERY FEW.
Paddy O
April 21st, 2010
12:42 pm
DOL missed team needs. We need a pass rushing DE, since he didn’t list it, he didn’t need to address it. Also, the data from AOL fanhouse can be thrown out with last years super bowl beer cans, absolute junk. We’ll take Spoon or Graham if available. Also, we need a kicker more than a TE.
whatever
April 21st, 2010
12:44 pm
NO WAY will the Falcons take a WR with a history of running one route. If they stay and do not trade down, it will be defense in the first 4 rounds.
Gwinnett Fred
April 21st, 2010
12:47 pm
The other reason NOT to take a WR in the first round – look at all the established receivers that are getting traded for 5th round picks! Anf a 1st rounder will cost you plenty of money in the slotting salary base – so it just seems it would be much easier to fix WR needs either in later rounds or trades/FA than it is to fix defensive liabilities.
tony
April 21st, 2010
12:49 pm
Do not draft Spoon. People need to stop making this guy out to be the best olb in this draft. Have they ever seen this guy play? Most of his tackles came from assists and he doesn’t look that impressive on youtube. I would take Rennie Curran over him any day.
Take Brandon Graham. If he doens’t fall to 19 then I wouldn’t mind if we took D. Thomas.
Gwinnett Fred
April 21st, 2010
12:52 pm
Paddy O:
Why do we need a kicker (in the draft)? Bryant has been 65/78 (83%) the last 3 years and 53/54 inside 40.
No way we draft a kicker with all our defensive needs (as in every position on the field on that side of the ball).
Tale of Woe
April 21st, 2010
1:02 pm
LOL – So, now you know there is no way the Falcons draft Pouncey. I don’t he goes as early as 11, but what do I know….
mark
April 21st, 2010
1:04 pm
You’re a moron. No way they take a WR with their 1st pick. Their are WAY more holes on the D. One of your idiot colleagues already suggested they would pick a C with their 1st round pick. Why don’t we draft a kicker and punter after that and just call the whole thing a wash.
gcs
April 21st, 2010
1:07 pm
The San Francisco 49ers’ beat writer is named Nancy Gay? (chuckle)
.
Paul Johnson's Johnson
April 21st, 2010
1:12 pm
Gay…Haha…Now I know why Mike Singletary started dropping trou’ when he got to San Fran!!
SavannahFalconsFan
April 21st, 2010
1:17 pm
I know this was written way up top on the post, but I have to ask WILLY, you wrote “They would have to trade somebody to make that pick a good one, and nobody on the team will return their value – too old, too injury prone, too unproven, or too not very good.” If our receivers are like you say they are, then why wouldn’t drafting a receiver impact the team?
Again, I don’t see it happening though!
McDawg
April 21st, 2010
1:24 pm
why would anyone draft a WR in the 1st Round-Game is won in the trenches
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
April 21st, 2010
1:24 pm
we need receivers who can actually catch the ball- what about that guy out missouri?? he’s like 6′5″ or something…get him in the 3rd/4th rounds. stick with JPP, Graham, or Spoon with 1rst pick. DE or DT…all or nothing!!
Eddie
April 21st, 2010
1:25 pm
If Dez Bryant is there they need to TAKE him we all remember when Randy Moss was drafted
Yoda
April 21st, 2010
1:54 pm
Yes sir DOL, you might have outdone yourself with this little diddy…all I can say is do the names Troy Williamson & Ted Ginn ring a bell….real fast straight liners who…uh…can’t catch to well and certainly can’t run anything but go and post patterns…sounds like Thomas
Paulitik
April 21st, 2010
1:58 pm
Thomas FALLS? Don’t you mean Falcons REACH? That dude is a second rounder. He’s a spread receiver with a bum foot, and probably never ran a pro-style route in his career. If we go Offense the only player that “falls” to us would be Spiller, maybe Bryant. I seriously doubt either will be there. We need to stick with Defense.
Rick Beach
April 21st, 2010
2:07 pm
Bow tie must be a little tight. Cutting off oxygen flow to the brain.
Hmmmmmmm!
April 21st, 2010
2:08 pm
Bey Bey will eventually be one of the best WRs in the league.
Will definitely be the best in this years draft.
He would eventually become Falcon’s #1 go to guy, but having said that
it is hard to argue the fact that the Falcon’s “do” need defensive help…..badly!!!
Bey Bey will end up being a beast at WR. Great hands, awesome blocker, excellent speed,
Big Body.
GT BABY
April 21st, 2010
2:11 pm
typical georgia tech haters. d thomas is a beast. think about the weapons matt ryan would have if he was added on?
Mike is Back
April 21st, 2010
2:13 pm
Dled, I enjoy reading your blogs…I seldom make comments…I usually just read. I’m a Hawks crony…However I love the Birds,I’m excited about the upcoming season,and the draft.
I echo the other Michael sentiments about Sean Weatherspoon. What happen to the Falcons taking him? I find it very hard to believe that TD would pass on guy like that…to draft a wide receiver coming off an injury that played in a triple option offense. Especially, since you have him going to the Jets at 29…if he is that good that the Jets want him…he must be pretty good. Can’t see TD making a move like that. Having said I like Thomas size and ability…I would love to have him, but I would be leery of taking him with the 19th pick.
debo
April 21st, 2010
2:19 pm
Seriously? Tech has like one guy I would draft in the whole damn thing. I’d prefer we not draft anyone from the ACC…ever…especially the trade school in the ghetto…jeez. doody…
DFatigue
April 21st, 2010
2:22 pm
you must really enjoy make the fans go nuts after your picks right ? you know what good for you DOL, good for you, enjoy.
We_Run_This_Country
April 21st, 2010
2:22 pm
WR’s are thin and hard to come by during 2010 Draft. If the Falcon’s are looking to pick up an elite WR, then Thomas is definitely the right choice. If they are looking to pick up a stop-gap WR, then they will draft Spoon or someone else on Defense. The question is, can we afford to have a stop-gap WR and Roddy White. Or, would you rather have two elite WR’s.
IMHO, D. Thomas wil be long gone before the Falcons choose anyway. He will be the 1st WR taken. If Falcons want him and only him, they will have to trade up to get him.
Screen Pass
April 21st, 2010
2:22 pm
The ignorance of Falcons fans seems to be on full display today. Dez Bryant has confirmed “Pac-Man Jones” as his mentor plus a ton of other completely retarded decisions…it’s as if he wants his draft status to fall. Selecting Demaryius Thomas makes perfect sense and is not a reach. He is considered to be the 20th best prospect in all the draft and might not even be there to be taken given Dez Bryants career suicide aspirations. D. Thomas is the only other legitimate big play/ deep threat available that is not a midget out of LSU. The upgrade he provides means our offense scores points and keeps our defense off the field. There is no defensive player available at 19 that can provide the game changing impact as Demaryius Thomas.
Glenn
April 21st, 2010
2:30 pm
You’re drunk if you think Thomas goes before Dez Bryant . Just drunk !! We won’t go receiver in round one . Its a lock . Do to the movement in front of us I don’t know who we will get but we won’t go receiver & if we need it would have to be Dez Bryant .
I'm Gumby, dammit!!
April 21st, 2010
2:30 pm
Seems there’s a lot of Dawg fans chiming in on this one, DOL. I’m just sayin’.
aparkma3
April 21st, 2010
2:30 pm
I think it would be a good pick to take Thomas. We need someone to lineup opposite of Roddy White. Mike Jenkins is terrible. He can’t catch a cold. I am glad we are getting Harry back but he is a slot receiver. Thomas would do wonders to our offense for not only Ryan but it would also take a bunch of pressure of Roddy and Gonzo. I do agree we need some help on defense but Thomas may be to good to turn down with the 19th pick. He could help make our offense one of the premier offenses in the league.
andy crosby
April 21st, 2010
2:31 pm
I think we switch picks with NE and pick up a 2nd rounder and still pick up our needs.
phoenix falcon
April 21st, 2010
2:36 pm
Thomas falls to the Falcons at 19
please let him keep falling………………………………………………………………….
Dawgs Over tech Again
April 21st, 2010
2:38 pm
no thanks, he drops too many easy passes. we could take him in the 3rd round if he falls that far. that’s about where he should be anyway
BigTimeTECHFan
April 21st, 2010
2:39 pm
My oh my, look at the match up problems this would cause:
WR – R White
WR – Jenkins
TE – T Gonzalez
WR – D Thomas
RB – M Turner
I say pick Thomas or Dez White if they are there, if they are gone pass on WR in 1st round, get Decker in 3rd round.
phoenix falcon
April 21st, 2010
2:39 pm
i forgot, how did he do at the combine? and how many 70 catch 1,000yd seasons did he have at tech?
SavannahFalconsFan
April 21st, 2010
2:41 pm
I say that Atlanta should take Spoon in the first and draft a WR, like Jordan Shipley, in the fourth round.
Joe Ham
April 21st, 2010
2:44 pm
First off, I’m a Tech fan. With that said, there is no way the Falcons should or will draft Thomas that high. There’s too much they need. Just because someone played in Atl is not reason enough to draft him. Draft DL or LB and worry about WR much later
Let's be real
April 21st, 2010
3:00 pm
No way no how should the Falcons draft Thomas….not only is a very unproven receiver, aside from go routes, he is injury prone. We don’t need to draft another player coming off an injury. Also, we need more defensive help….did you see our team play last year? WR is not one of our top needs….address it later in the draft….in fact, I would be for trading down in the draft maybe out of the first round altogether.
I will blow my brains out
April 21st, 2010
3:00 pm
if the Falcons take Thomas in the first round when it’s more than obvious they have no pass rush…
Row 3
April 21st, 2010
3:08 pm
We already have a receiver that drops to many easy passes.
kevin
April 21st, 2010
3:10 pm
2 things strike me as strange (to put it mildly) about this mock. First, why would the Falcons draft a 1st rd wide out given their need for defensive personnel? Second, why on earth would you pass up Dez Bryant who is almost universally the best WR in the draft. If the Falcons do this, they are Dumb & Dumber.
ATL Fan
April 21st, 2010
3:17 pm
WR? Can’t see that happening. The Falcons, in my opinion, would be better suited to pick either Sean Weatherspoon or Jermaine Gresham before Thomas. I think that picking up a good possession WR like Riley Cooper with a third round pick would be better for the Falcons. My first four picks would then be:
1 Weatherspoon – OLB or Gresham – TE
3 Matt Tennant – Center
3 Riley Cooper – WR
4 Rennie Curran – OLB/ST
I will blow my brains out
April 21st, 2010
3:17 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXFouJ-UWLQ&feature=related
Falcons should take the guy that dropped this 4th down pass with the game on the line??
I’LL BLOW MY BRAINS OUT IF THEY TAKE HIM IN ROUND 1