by Trevor Freeman
With the NFL Draft on the horizon, it is time for me to come with my draft day predictions. The 49ers are already on the clock and have announced that negotiations have been opened with UC-Berkeley’s Aaron Rodgers, Utah’s Alex Smith, and Michigan’s Braylon Edwards. While I am still a big proponent of the my 49ers trading down, I believe they will be locked into the #1 overall selection. No prospect has stepped up and asserted himself as being the best player on the board. Without further adieu, here how I think the draft will shake out.(Paul Tagliabue confidently strides to the podium)
“With the first pick in the 2005 NFL Draft the San Francisco 49ers select….Braylon Edwards, WR out of Michigan.”
1. The Five Time Super Bowl Champions: Braylon Edwards, WR, Michigan
The 49ers had three big holes coming into this offseason. They were OT, DT, and WR. They addressed the OT position by signing elite tackle Jonas Jennings away from Buffalo. While the Five Time Super Bowl Champions will be tempted to take Aaron Rodgers, Edwards is the smarter move. Give Timmy Rattay a strong line and a big receiver and he will look light years better. Plus Braylon Edwards is the cheaper alternative. Do not discount that. While I would rather trade down and try to get two first rounders so we can address both the DT and WR positions, I think we take the most NFL ready player on the board.
2. Miami Dolphins: Cedric Benson, RB, Texas
All these mock drafts that have Ronnie Brown going ahead of Benson are insane. Cedric Benson was the best RB in college football last year. Plus and this is big with me. We have already seen a guy like Benson. Benson is Ricky Williams, except without the attitude problems. No way Saban passes up on this workhorse.
(Mel Kiper foolishly starts yelling that the Dolphins should have taken Ronnie Brown. Mainly because Kiper cares more about 40 time and vertical leaps than he does performance on the football field.)
3. Cleveland Browns: Aaron Rodgers, QB, UC-Berkeley
Upset he doesn’t get to play for his hometown 49ers, but he lands in Cleveland where he has a good chance to win the starting job early.
4. Chicago Bears: Ronnie Brown, RB, Auburn
Ronnie Brown is the guy who you should be very suspicious of on that draft board. Brown played fullback for Auburn and was never seen as “the guy” on that offense. In terms of stopping Auburn you always worried about the Cadillac first. I can’t believe he’s rated higher than the Cadillac and there is no way in hell I would pick Ronnie Brown with the fourth pick in the first round. That being said, I guarantee Chicago does.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cadillac Williams, RB, Auburn
This pick hasn’t been a secret to anyone.
(Mel Kiper stupidly starts talking about how the Cadillac might be too small to be an NFL running back and people at home wonder aloud about who is Mel blowing to still have this gig on ESPN.)
6. Tennessee Titans: Antrell Rolle, CB, Miami
They just lost Samari Rolle and Andre Dyson. Gotta grab Rolle as he is going to win Defensive Rookie of the Year.
7. Minnesota Vikings: The “BMW”, WR, USC
They all but announced this after the Randy Moss trade. Mike Williams will be a better version of Keyshawn Johnson.
8. Arizona Cardinals: Alex Smith, Utah
Right now Kurt Warner and Josh McCown are the two NFL QBs on that roster. Nuff said.
9. Washington Redskins: Carlos Rogers, CB, Auburn
Gets the nod over “Pac-Man” Jones because he is a bigger corner.
10. Detroit Lions: Marcus Spears, DE, LSU
I like Spears going to Detroit. He’s a nimble guy for his size that played in an NFL system under Nick Saban and can contribute early.
11. Dallas Cowboys: Derrick Johnson, LB, Texas
No way the Cowboys pass up on the biggest athletic freak in the draft. This former Longhorn will step in and start for Dallas in their new 3-4 scheme.
12. San Diego Chargers: Mark Clayton, WR, Oklahoma
The Chargers are a bona fide Super Bowl contender whose only real glaring need is at wideout and Clayton is the most NFL ready left on the board.
(Mel Kiper starts yelling about how the Chargers should have taken Troy Williamson because he ran so fast in workouts. Never mind the fact Clayton played in big games every Saturday for Oklahoma and is easily a more polished player.)
13. Houston Texans: Alex Barron, OT, Florida State
The Texans weakness is the offensive line and they grab Barron. Barron will start from Day One in Houston.
14. Carolina Panthers: Heath Miller, TE, Virginia
Miller is as NFL ready a player as you will see in this draft. This pick is a no-brainer.
15. Kansas City Chiefs: Adam “Pac-Man” Jones, CB, West Virginia
His slide stops here as Kansas City NEEDS defense. Pac-Man’s speed will entice a team that loves athletes. Good value pick her for KC. Plus how can you go wrong with a guy nicknamed “Pac-Man” on the roster.
16. New Orleans Saints: Thomas Davis, S, Georgia
The Saints defense needs help and they get it in the form of this big hitter.
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Shaun Cody, DT, USC
Marvin Lewis likes athletes and Shaun Cody is one. Cody started off at DT but slid outside to DE last season. I think Lewis takes him because of the way Cody’s speed can translate into his scheme.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Dan Cody, DE, Oklahoma
Cody may have the best motor of anyone on the board. The Vikings need a pass rushing presence and Cody will provide it.
19. St. Louis Lambs: Jamaal Brown, OT, Oklahoma
The Lambs desperately need an OT and Brown is the best left on the board.
20. Dallas Cowboys: Troy Williamson, WR, South Carolina
Parcells needs to get a gamebreaker and Williamson’s slide stops here.
21. Jacksonville Jaguars: David Pollack, DE, Georgia
Southern team takes the best defensive player in the SEC over the past three years in David Pollack. Toss out the times and measurements with Pollack and just watch the game tape. The guy is a football player.
22. Baltimore Ravens: Khalif Barnes, OT, Washington
Barnes is a manchild and the Ravens could use some line help.
23. Seattle Seahawks: Shawne Merriman, DE, Maryland
Many project he will be playing OLB, but I think the Hawks use him at DE like the Terps did in college. Great value pick.
24. Green Bay Packers: Channing Crowder, LB, Florida
Underclassmen goes lower than he expected. Great value pick for the Packers as Crowder is one of the best athletes on the board.
25. Denver Broncos: Roddy White, WR, UAB
Too much speed and overall athleticism. I think Shanahan talks himself into adding another wideout.
26. New York Jets: Travis Johnson, DT, Florida State
Gotta replace Jason Ferguson. Johnson is the best run-stuffer on the board.
27. Michael Vick and 44 other guys: Marlin Jackson, CB, MIchigan
Best cornerback left on the board goes to Atlanta.
28. San Diego Chargers: Erasmus James, DE Wisconsin
Top tier pass rusher finds his way to San Diego. Great draft for the Chargers if they get the guys I have them getting.
29. Indianapolis Colts: Barrett Rudd, LB, Nebraska
Ruud is as tough a football player as there is in this draft. Will do well in Tony Dungy’s scheme.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Patterson, DT, USC
Incredible value pick as Patterson was one of the best defensive tackles in all of college football.
31. Philadelphia Eagles: Anntaj Hawthorne, DT, Wisconsin
Will eat a lot of Philly Cheesesteaks when hits town. Was a key to the strong Wisconsin defense.
32. New England Patriots: Daryl Blackstock, LB, Virginia
With Tedy Bruschi’s situation in doubt, the Patriots grab Blackstock. Blackstock is a great athlete who can cover the entire line.
If you have any questions or comments feel free to e-mail me at [email protected].
7 replies on “2005 NFL Mock Draft”
Braylon Edwards… are you nuts? whos gonna be their QB tim rattay… gimmie a break
I like the Braylon in Frisco but…. I doubt they will do it. As much as I want them to, I think they’ll let me down. You hit all the right reasons they should draft him…(NFL ready player, cheaper, and that glaring hole at wideout). I say get Braylon and hope we can land Charlie Frye in the 2nd. Nice job …and Mel Kiper is a clown.
Alright, a couple things First, the one thing the Vikings do NOT need is another pass rusher on the D-line. Kevin Williams and Lance Johnstone had 11.5 and 11 sacks last year. They’ll take Crowder with that pick if he’s available.
Second, there’s little chance the Panthers take a TE. All they really need is a blocking TE, and they’ve already got two sufficient ones in Magnum and Hoover (who made 55 receptions last year, surprisingly).
Last, I don’t think Savage will take an offensive player in Cleveland. He’s really a defensive guy, and there’s no real standout offensive players in this year’s draft.
Good job though, I’m sure it will be closer than Mel Kiper’s.
Rattay I watched every single 49er game last year from the disappointing start to the bitter finish. Their biggest problems were a line that couldn’t block and receivers that couldn’t get open.
With the signing of Jennings and Newberry getting healthy, the 49ers line is dramatically improved. I think the next step is grabbing Braylon Edwards and giving the 49ers a legit #1 receiver. If the drafting of Edwards happens, I guarantee Rattay all of the sudden looks light years better.
The 49ers Believe me, there was a huge part of me that put Braylon Edwards as the #1 pick in the draft, because I am praying that it happens if we have to keep that pick. To me, it is a complete no-brainer. York likes to go cheap which should actually help us in this situation as Braylon will be considerably cheaper and much easier to sign.
To me, the 49ers could draft Charlie Frye or Jason Campbell and get somebody as good as Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers wasn’t even the best QB in his conference last year. Matt Leinart was (now that is who I would have loved to take with the #1 pick in the draft).
I hate Mel Kiper. It shocks me that ESPN would pay him all that money to write a couple articles and annoy everyone once a year. They could get one of us to do it for 25% of the price and we would probably “get over” with the viewing audience much better than Mel ever has.
Good call You know what. You are probably right on the Minnesota call. When I think about it now. Crowder would be good there because his speed would also work well on Minnesota’s artificial turf. It would make a lot of sense.
I went Miller to Carolina because I think he can step in a be a huge upgrade for them right away. They probably need a receiver to replace Muhsin, but I felt upgrading the tight end with a guy who has Pro Bowl ability could help offset that. Carolina is a huge sleeper this year. They still have essentially the same team that made the Super Bowl. They just got bit harshly by the injury bug last year.
Thank you very much!
This is terrible Ive never in my life seen such a terrible mock draft and the article was so unorganized, you could atleast mkae your picks bold. Braylon edwards is not going number one, if its anything its gonna be a RB or QB, your an idiot