Rick Gosselin's latest Mock(Sunday)

[KansasBronco]

Over the last five years, this guy has been number 1 for most picked right in the first round. He knows his stuff. That doesn't mean he's perfect, and I don't agree with his pick for us, but a lot of these guys will go where he says.



Rick Gosselin's NFL mock draft (4/17)

When you think NFL draft, think offense. At least at the start.


AP You have to go back to 1999 to find a draft as strong at the top in offensive skill players as this one. A combined seven passers, runners and receivers went in the top 10 picks of the 1999 draft – and seven skill players project in the top 10 picks of this draft.

The 1999 draft opened with three consecutive quarterbacks: Tim Couch (Cleveland), Donovan McNabb (Philadelphia) and Akili Smith (Cincinnati). In this week's mock draft by The Dallas Morning News, quarterbacks are projected at the first two spots, with California's Aaron Rodgers going to San Francisco, Utah's Alex Smith to Miami.

If no pass rusher goes in the top 10, it will be the second consecutive draft that's happened.

The first outside speed rusher didn't go until the 18th pick in 2004, when the Saints drafted Ohio State end Will Smith. That slide won't be repeated in 2005, when several pass rushers project in the teens, starting with the Dallas selection of LSU defensive end Marcus Spears at 11.

Here's is this week's mock draft:

Team Player Pos. School
1. San Francisco Aaron Rodgers QB California
Comment: Bay Area team, Bay Area quarterback
2. Miami Alex Smith QB Utah
Comment: Life hasn't been good without Dan Marino
3. Cleveland Braylon Edwards WR Michigan
Comment: Trent Dilfer needs a go-to guy
4. Chicago Ronnie Brown HB Auburn
Comment: Bears finished 25th in rushing
5. Tampa Bay Cedric Benson HB Texas
Comment: Bucs finished 29th in rushing
6. Tennessee Antrel Rolle CB Miami
Comment: Replace one Rolle (Samari) with another
7. Minnesota Troy Williamson WR South Carolina
Comment: Speed receiver to replace Randy Moss
8. Arizona Carnell Williams HB Auburn
Comment: Backfield vacancy with Emmitt gone
9. Washington Adam Jones CB West Virginia
Comment: Joe Gibbs drafts another Darrell Green
10. Detroit Derrick Johnson OLB Texas
Comment: Playmaker for a play-deficient defense
11. DALLAS Marcus Spears DE LSU
Comment: Bill Parcells wants a defense with muscle
12. San Diego Shawne Merriman DE Maryland
Comment: NFL's 29th-ranked pass rush needs help
13. Houston Demarcus Ware OLB Troy
Comment: Best speed pass-rush in the draft
14. Carolina Erasmus James DE Wisconsin
Comment: The NFL's best defensive line gets better
15. Kansas City Thomas Davis S Georgia
Comment: A Roy Williams clone
16. New Orleans Carlos Rogers CB Auburn
Comment: NFL's 27th-ranked pass defense needs help
17. Cincinnati Mike Williams WR Southern California
Comment: Carson Palmer also threw to Williams at USC
18. Minnesota David Pollack DE Georgia
Comment: High-energy player to replace Chris Hovan
19. St. Louis Jammal Brown OT Oklahoma
Comment: Rams allowed 50 sacks
20. DALLAS Mark Clayton WR Oklahoma
Comment: Best player on the board at this pick
21. Jacksonville Fabian Washington CB Nebraska
Comment: Needs someone to cover Marvin Harrison
22. Baltimore Alex Barron OT Florida State
Comment: Ravens like size and athleticism
23. Seattle Brodney Pool S Oklahoma
Comment: Best defender on the board at this pick
24. Green Bay Marlin Jackson CB Michigan
Comment: NFL's 25th-ranked pass defense needs help
25. Denver Marcus Johnson G Mississippi
Comment: Broncos need to replace Dan Neil
26. NY Jets Justin Miller CB Clemson
Comment: An elite returner to replace Santana Moss
27. Atlanta Matt Roth DE Iowa
Comment: You can never have enough pass rushers
28. San Diego Travis Johnson DT Florida State
Comment: True nose tackle for 3-4 scheme
29. Indianapolis Jonathan Babineaux DT Iowa
Comment: Best pass-rush tackle in the draft
30. Pittsburgh Heath Miller TE Virginia
Comment: Big body, big target for Ben Roethlisberger
31. Philadelphia Chris Spencer C Mississippi
Comment: Eagles continue stacking good players in queue
32. New England Odell Thurman MLB Georgia
Comment: Need to replace Tedy Bruschi

[JCMElway]

I will concede that Minnesota may like Willamson better than M Williams, but there is NO WAY that guy slips to 17. Teams like Philly, Baltimore, San Diego, Pittsburgh, (and possibly Denver) would be falling all over each other to trade up to 7 to grab that guy. And Minnesota would not mind moving back because Williamson could be available at 15 or so.

But M Williams will NOT fall past the 7 pick. GUARANTEED!

[Play2win]

When was the last time a GUARD was chosen in the first round?!?

[JCMElway]

We may be high on this guy, but he will definetley be available in the 2nd, if not the third. If we're able to trade down we may snag him then. But if we stay put at #25 we'll take Washington, Miller, Jones, or the best DL.

[Atlas]

He had the Jets picking Miller, that's good that means he'll be there when Denver selects. If they don't select him they'll only have themselves to blame.

[TheDave]

When was the last time a GUARD was chosen in the first round?!?

I know Pittsburg took Alan Faneca at 26 in '98

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

I think he has lost his touch

[watermock]

The idea that Minnesota would pass on Williams at 7 is laughable.