MOCK NFL DRAFT

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Welcome to VIP Sports Edge's 2006 NFL Mock Draft. We take this process seriously, most recently finishing 10th in accuracy out of 112 mock drafts. That includes the big boys like ESPN's Mel Kiper and the SportingNews "War Room".

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UPDATED 2/20/06

1) Houston: Reggie Bush, RB, USC (6-0, 200)

Houston needs an offensive lineman to keep David Carr upright, and they already have Domanick Davis, but you can’t pass up one of the highest ranked prospects of the last decade. Bush reminds a lot of people of a young Marshall Faulk in terms of speed and elusiveness, but Bush has more size. He is the clear cut number one pick in the draft.

2) New Orleans: Matt Leinart, QB, USC (6-5, 225)

Aaron Brooks will likely not return. Leinart is a safer pick than Vince Young, and can play right away. However, there are whispers than Leinart may not want to play for the Saints. Leinart passed up an opportunity to be a top five pick in last year’s draft. His character and leadership abilities are unquestionable, but he does lack elite arm strength.

3) Tennessee: Vince Young, QB, Texas (6-5, 233)

The long term future of Steve McNair is in question, and backup Billy Volek is not the answer. McNair is good friends with Young and he wouldn’t object to being his mentor. Young is a junior candidate who has really improved his passing skills over the last 12 months. At 6’5” and 230 pounds, he has the size and the running skills of a young Randall Cunningham.

4) NY Jets: D’Brickashaw Ferguson, OT, Virginia (6-5, 295)

Given Chad Pennington’s injury situation, the Jets would have to consider Leinart if he slipped down to them. Getting an offensive tackle who grades this high is also a very solid choice. Ferguson is a franchise left tackle who was considered the best at his position after last season. He has started for Virginia since his freshman season, and relies on quickness and technique.

5) Green Bay: Mario Williams, DE, NC State (6-7, 290)

Green Bay needs to improve their defense first if they want to be a playoff team. Defensive line and linebacker are both big needs, and this pick could be between Williams and A.J Hawk. Williams set NC State records with 13 sacks and 23.5 tackles for losses this season. He has similar size to Carolina’s Julius Peppers, and is rated just slightly below him at the same stage.

6) Oakland: A.J Hawk, OLB, Ohio State (6-1, 240)

Oakland needs an impact player on the defensive side of the ball, preferably a defensive end or linebacker. They could also use a cornerback with Charles Woodson being a free agent. Hawk is the latest in a line of great OSU linebackers (Gradishar, Cousineau Spielman, Katzenmoyer). He is also a tackling machine with a 40 time that will turn heads.

7) San Francisco: Michael Huff, DB, Texas (6-1, 205)

San Francisco could use another wide receiver to pair with Brandon Lloyd. Offensive tackle would be another good choice, but the secondary is the call as they rebuild their defense. Huff is a fifth year defensive back who has played both safety and cornerback, but his best NFL position is still to be determined. He has been a playmaker since his freshman season.

8) Buffalo: Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon (6-5, 345)

Buffalo needs help across the offensive line, but defense is the bigger hole. The Bills were 31st in the NFL against the run this year, really missing run stuffer Pat Williams. Ngata is the perfect fit for a nose tackle in the increasingly used 3-4 defense. He also has the athleticism to be very effective inside on the 4-3. He is fully recovered from an 8/03 ACL tear.

9) Detroit: Winston Justice, OT, USC (6-6, 300)

The one definite about this first round pick is that it won’t be a wide receiver for the 4th year in a row. The Lions do need help at offensive tackle and also at defensive end. Justice played right tackle at USC protecting Matt Leinart’s blindside, but he could move to left. He started as a freshman in 2002, and red-shirted in 2004 due to a student conduct violation.

10) Arizona: DeAngelo Williams, RB, Memphis (5-10, 217)

Arizona has a great passing attack, but no running game to speak of. This pick solidifies the fact that 2004 second round pick, J.J. Arrington is a bust. Williams is one of the best kept secrets in college football. He has 5,788 career rushing yards, behind only Ron Dayne, Ricky Williams and Tony Dorsett on the all-time list.

11) St. Louis: Jimmy Williams, CB, Virginia Tech (6-3, 215)

The Rams will have a new coach, and once again need a lot of help on defense. It could come down to the best available player at defensive end, linebacker or in the secondary. Williams is a shutdown cornerback with great size and strength to play the run as well. He is still learning the position after playing safety his first two college seasons.

12) Cleveland: Chad Greenway, OLB, Iowa (6-3, 244)

The Browns need a nose tackle for their 3-4 defense, but Ngata should be gone. Linebacker is a good alternative for Coach Romeo Crenell, who is a defensive minded coach. Greenway is a sideline to sideline linebacker who has very good speed, and is best suited to playing on the outside. He has enough size where he could move inside as well.

13) Baltimore: Mathias Kiwanuka, DE, Boston College (6-7, 262)

The Ravens do not have any gaping holes in their lineup, surprising for a 6-10 team. In those cases, you can never go wrong upgrading your offensive or defensive lines. Kiwanuka is a solid citizen, whose grandfather was the first Prime Minister of Uganda. He had 9 1/2 sacks to lead the Eagles, but he is also big enough to be a factor against the run.

14) Philadelphia: LenDale White, RB, USC (6-2, 235)

Philadelphia must replace Terrell Owens, but may do it during free agency. A pass rusher opposite Jevon Kearse is a need, but White would be a great compliment to Brian Westbrook. At 6’2” and 235 pounds, White is the only true power back among the first round candidates. With his size and resume, his stock will skyrocket with a good 40 time at the combine.

15) Atlanta: Tamba Hali, DE, Penn State (6-3, 267)

Atlanta’s passing game is still struggling, but they have plenty of talented young wide receivers. The best pick here is either in the secondary, or at the defensive end position. Hali is a hard worker, with a non-stop motor that helped him get 11 sacks last year. He doesn’t have the size that the scouts drool over like a Mario Williams or Mathias Kiwanuka.

16) Miami: Jay Cutler, QB, Vanderbilt (6-4, 230)

Gus Frerotte is a short term solution, and Sage Rosenfels might not make the team next year. Coach Nick Saban is very familiar with Cutler from his time spent in the SEC. Cutler has the arm strength and athletic ability the NFL scouts love, more so than USC’s Leinart. He is a gunslinger in the mold of Brett Favre, but he needs to work on his mechanics.

17) Minnesota: DeMeco Ryans, OLB, Alabama (6-2, 230)

Minnesota used a lot of different running backs last year, and they could consider one here. Offensive line and linebacker would be two other solid choices as well. Ryans is an all-around linebacker who played on the strong-side at Alabama, but he needs to add bulk to play that position in the NFL. He is a tremendous student with a 3.7 GPA.

18) Dallas: Marcus McNeil, OT, Auburn (6-9, 338)

Dallas needs offensive line help, especially if the immobile Drew Bledsoe is back at quarterback. A safety to play next to Roy Williams is another intriguing choice. McNeil has the one attribute you can not teach, size. He has enough athleticism to play left tackle in the NFL, and has shown to be a very good run blocker as well.

19) San Diego: Eric Winston, OT, Miami (6-7, 312)

The Chargers really need help along the offensive line. Safety help is another possibility as well as wide receiver, especially if Keenan McCardell leaves via free agency. Winston is a converted tight end who tore his ACL in the fourth game of 2004. He was predicted to be a top 10 pick before the injury, but his stock has dropped somewhat in 2005.

20) Kansas City: Tye Hill, CB, Clemson (5-10, 180)

Kansas City always needs defense and this year is no exception, specifically on the d-line. Wide receiver and offensive line depth are potential needs on that side of the ball. Hill doesn’t have the prototypical size for an NFL corner, but speed is not a question. He is an accomplished track star at Clemson having been the ACC champion in the 60m and 100m.

21) New England: Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio State (5-11, 190)

The Patriots can also use an inside linebacker for the 3-4 defense. Secondary help is another possibility, and wide receiver with David Givens being a free agent. Holmes is not a physical specimen size-wise, but has elite speed. He also excels at blocking and as a kick returner, and has a nose for the end-zone with 24 career touchdown receptions.

22) Denver: Darnell Bing, S, USC (6-2, 220)

The Broncos will be looking for a defensive end, but also a receiver and strong safety with Rod Smith turning 36 years old and John Lynch right behind him at 35. Bing, a junior, has started at strong safety for three years. He could play at free safety in the NFL, but with his toughness and run support skills, he is better suited at strong safety.

23) Tampa Bay: Ernie Sims, OLB, Florida State (6-0, 220)

Tampa Bay doesn’t have one big glaring need but offensive line and defensive end are two other possibilities. Age is creeping up on the linebackers and Sims would be a good fit. Sims has the athletic ability of a safety, but was strong enough to play strong-side at FSU. Size may force him to play weak-side in the NFL. Sims is the former number one recruit in the nation.

24) Cincinnati: Claude Wroten, DT, LSU (6-2, 290)

Cincinnati can use an active player in the middle as they keep rebuilding their defense. Defensive end, Justin Smith leads the team in sacks with just six, and he also needs some help. Wroten is a smaller, but quick interior lineman in the 4-3, who had 11 sacks in the past two years. He was a transfer from junior college so he is a little raw from just playing two years of D1.

25) NY Giants: Bobby Carpenter, OLB, Ohio State (6-3, 255)

The Giants could use some safety help and cornerback depth. They could also use an all-around outside linebacker who can help supplement the pass rush. Carpenter is big, rangy and psychical player with good athletics skills. He was overshadowed at OSU by playing with A.J. Hawk. Father (Rob) played 10 years in the NFL at running back.

26) Chicago: Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland (6-3, 253)

The Bears have a championship level defense, but they need more targets for quarterback Rex Grossman. Chicago drafted receiver Mark Bradley last year, now comes the tight end. Davis is an athletic, receiving tight end in the mold of the Patriots’ Ben Watson. He averaged almost 16.5 yards per reception over 80 catches his last two seasons.

27) Carolina: Leonard Pope, TE, Georgia (6-7, 250)

Carolina needs some insurance at defensive tackle and on the offensive line, but they need to get more production from receivers other than Steve Smith and at tight end. Pope led Georgia in receiving yards with 491, but didn’t improve much on his sophomore numbers. Pope has great size and is the best blocker out of all the top flight tight ends this year.

28) Jacksonville: Ashton Youboty, CB, Ohio State (6-1, 190)

Jacksonville already has a very good defense, but their cornerbacks can use some added help. Rashean Mathis mans one side, and Youboty would look great on the other. Youboty is a cover corner who is also not afraid to come up against the run. He is a two year starter who has the size and speed at cornerback that the NFL scout wants.

29) Denver: Manny Lawson, DE, NC State (6-6, 245)

Having already addressed the secondary earlier in round one, Denver will likely turn their attention to either wide receiver or a pass rusher who can get to the quarterback. Lawson is a tweener defensive end and outside linebacker, and he will have to bulk up to play DE in the NFL. Lawson’s psychical tools have him compared to Dallas’ Demarucs Ware.

30) Indianapolis: Laurence Maroney, RB, Minnesota (5-11, 210)

This team is loaded on both sides of the ball, so you are really talking about “best player available.” Maroney will provide great insurance to Edgerrin James. Maroney is often compared to fellow Golden Gopher Marion Barber, who slipped to the 4th round for the Cowboys last year. Maroney is a little quicker and smaller than Barber.

31) Seattle: Sinorice Moss, WR, Miami (5-8, 182)

Seattle did a great job adding to their defense last year with second round pick, Lofa Tatupu. Now they focus on wide receiver, where they can really use another difference maker. Moss has similar size and speed as his brother, Santana, although he can not match his college receiving numbers. Sinorice is a riser after his performance at the Senior Bowl.

32) Pittsburgh: Chad Jackson, WR, Florida (6-1, 205)

This is not a team with a glaring weakness. Pittsburgh drafted a tight end last year in Heath Miller, and now they could look for a consistent threat opposite Hines Ward. Jackson has good height, can run after the catch, and had 88 receptions last year at Florida. Jackson is hurt a little by Florida receiver’s lack of success at the professional ranks.

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