In the BBV Mock Draft, the Raiders select ...

by Ed Valentine on Apr 9, 2009 3:22 PM EDT in News Comment 19 comments

Well, 'hoyadestroya85' has shown that he has his finger on the pulse of Raider Nation with his pick for Oakland in our Big Blue View Community Mock Draft. Here is what 'hoya,' acting as Al Davis, did with the seventh overall selection.

7. Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland

Throwing it deep is what the Raiders are all about. We already have our Howitzer Armed Quarterback, so now what we need is a guy to go over the top of defenses. There is no better person for this role than Darrius Heyward-Bey from Maryland. I know he doesn't have the "production" and he may be a "workout warrior" but this guy is what the Raiders are all about. We don't want little dump off passes like the Rich Gannon/Jon Gruden days. Chicks dig the long ball and that's what we're gonna give them.

My thoughts: It's funny, I was beginning to wonder if I was going to have to make this pick in 'hoya's,' stead, and I was going to grab DHB in this slot. I'm not 100% sure he belongs this high, especially in front of Missouri's Jeremy Maclin, but this is a very Raider-like selection. Davis has always been about the vertical passing game, and that is what the fastest receiver in the draft brings to the table.

So, 'mymanren,' selecting on behalf of the Jacksonville Jaguars, is now on the clock. E-mail the pick to bigblueview@gmail.com.

1. Detroit Lions (selected by 'cjmulrain')

Jason Smith, OT, Baylor: Conventional wisdom says that the Lions are going to select quarterback Matt Stafford of Georgia, but since I'm running the show I'm going in a different direction. I'm not convinced that Stafford is going to be a star QB in the league, and when you're taking a guy with the first pick I don't think you can have any doubts about it, especially when you're coming off the first ever 0-16 season in NFL History. Even if Stafford does have the tools to be a great quarterback, the Lions have no semblance of an O-line to protect him, putting him at risk to develop David Carr syndrome if he were brought in to play right away. To address this, I went with Smith, who profiles as a potential franchise left tackle. I strongly believe in the philosophy of building a football team from the lines out and think a team as devoid of talent as the Lions would be better served with a rock at left tackle. I was tempted by Aaron Curry but think there will be better value on the defensive side of the ball at the 20th pick than there will be on the O-line. As for QB, let's just say that I'm not too optimistic about the prospects for the 2009 Lions and like the thought of Colt McCoy in silver and blue.

2. St. Louis Rams ('Woogie526')

Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest: Well this decision was originally going to be a selfish one by the new coach. However, with Jason Smith off the board, it became a no-brainer. I choose Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest. He would be the brain of Spag's defense. In the crazy schemes Spags uses, he needs a general on the field to organize blitzes and coverages.

3. Kansas City Chiefs ('jrs1940')

Brian Orapko, OLB, Texas: Orakpo is an NFL ready defensive end. He is 6-4 and 258 pounds and a great athlete who can power or finesse his way into the backfield. He tallied four tackles-for-loss and a half a sack as a freshman and earned Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors. The following year he managed 4.5 sacks and six tackles-for-loss. As an upperclassman last season Orakpo improved those numbers and ended up with 5.5 sacks and nine tackles-for-loss, although his playing time was limited due to a knee injury. He is much better than that guy the Rams stole from us, I’m glad we didn’t get him.

4. Seattle Seahawks ('bkurcz')

Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia: I know its not the sexy pick, with Stafford and Crabtree still out there, but it's the pick that makes the most sense. The three main areas that Seattle needs to improve are O-line, WR and secondary. The WR depth in the draft is pretty good, I'm sure there is going to be an attractive prospect early in the second round at that position. Number 4 is a little early to take any of this year's DBs and a future replacement for Matt Hasselback can wait 'til late in the draft or next year. So, my pick for a guy that has proven himself at guard and tackle is a smart way to go. Especially because Walter Jones isn't getting any younger.

5. Cleveland Browns ('jp2y')

Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech: With stud pass-rushing talent Brian Orakpo fresh off of the board, Mangini and Kokinis select the gifted receiver from Texas Tech, Michael Crabtree. His off-the-charts production at Tech proved that he was not merely a system product of Mike Leach's high-octane offense. There have been rumblings of a Giants-Browns trade for Braylon Edwards for weeks now, and the Browns have done nothing to dispel those rumors. Crabtree will replace the talented yet drop-prone Edwards, and replace him as Cleveland's deep threat for the next decade, and most likely develop into an All-Pro talent. The extra picks obtained from the Edwards trade will allow Mangini to focus on the defensive side of the ball.

6. Cincinnati Bengals ('ETVal')

Andre Smith, OT, Alabama: The Bengals are like the baggage claim service at the airport. They love to collect players with suitcases full of it, and that makes the enigmatic Smith the perfect pick in this spot. The fact that Cincinnati desperately needs someone who can help keep Carson Palmer in one piece, and that the 6-foot-4, 332-pound Smith should do that quite well, is just a bonus.

7. Oakland Raiders ('hoyadestroya85')

Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland: Throwing it deep is what the Raiders are all about. We already have our Howitzer Armed Quarterback, so now what we need is a guy to go over the top of defenses. There is no better person for this role than Darrius Heyward-Bey from Maryland. I know he doesn't have the "production" and he may be a "workout warrior" but this guy is what the Raiders are all about. We don't want little dump off passes like the Rich Gannon/Jon Gruden days. Chicks dig the long ball and that's what we're gonna give them.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars ('mymanren')

9. Green Bay Packers ('Dick Murdoch')

10. San Francisco 49ers ('Free Bradshaw')

11. Buffalo Bills ('Greek')

12. Denver Broncos ('lizard')

13. Washington Redskins ('Rick Snider')

14. New Orleans Saints ('CodyK')

15. Houston Texans ('one-bar')

16. San Diego Chargers ('Bajaserge')

17. New York Jets ('mwilli')

18. Denver Broncos ('lizard')

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers ('DaBigBlue')

20. Detroit Lions (from Dallas Cowboys, 'cjmulrain')

21. Philadelphia Eagles ('queler')

22. Minnesota Vikings ('NYG 28')

23. New England Patriots ('potroast')

24. Atlanta Falcons ('kingofatlanta')

25. Miami Dolphins ('gobs56')

26. Baltimore Ravens ('mahmoodzaky')

27. Indianapolis Colts ('SBaker')

28. Philadelphia Eagles (from Carolina Panthers, 'queler')

29. New York Giants ('ETVal')

30. Tennessee Titans ('GullySully77')

31. Arizona Cardinals ('cgerycz')

32. Pittsburgh Steelers ('squid92')

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Comments

remember mymanren

Ren is not a first rounder

by queler on Apr 9, 2009 3:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

nm i have no idea what i'm talking about

by queler on Apr 9, 2009 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hoya

Are you channelling Rex Grossman? Dump-off passes are for ******s

by queler on Apr 9, 2009 3:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

For all the talk of the Raiders loving the deep passing game

they haven’t drafted a WR in the first round since Tim Brown in 1988. I think this is an extreme reach for Heyward-Bey – I just don’t think he’s a top-10 talent. If Crabtree falls to them here, I definitely think they’d make that pick, but I don’t know if they’d take DHB. Then again, this is Al Davis we’re talking about – I wouldn’t be shocked if he took a punter here.

by cjmulrain on Apr 9, 2009 3:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd argue

that Heyward Bey is a top 10 talent.. he just doesn’t have top ten production

It's not easy being Giants fan in Philly.. but it sure is satisfying

http://novafacts.blogspot.com

by Hoyadestroya85 on Apr 9, 2009 4:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

fair enough

when I say talent, I really mean I don’t think he’s a top 10 player. I’m big on college production though, I’m not a big fan of “toolsy” guys to steal a baseball term.

by cjmulrain on Apr 9, 2009 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He has the talent

and this screams Raiders right here if Crabtree was off the board.

Maclin seems to make more sense, but DHB ran a 4.3 and Al Davis doesn’t make any sense.

by FreeBradshaw on Apr 9, 2009 4:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

Which is why DHB makes sense here, even though he shouldn’t.

by Ed Valentine on Apr 9, 2009 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Although since in this mock

we have DHB going at #7, should he so happen to fall to the Giants it would mean we’d get a guy who could go #7 overall (even tho its the Raiders).

by FreeBradshaw on Apr 9, 2009 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hoya has been speaking with Al

I’m not thrilled about the pick (only because it seems like a bit of a reach), but I’m convinced Hoya got the inside scoop from Al. LOL.

This is something I can see ‘da Raiders’ doing come draft day. They’re notrious for drafting athletes and DHB might be one of the best in the draft. I would argue that most teams might take Maclin instead if they’re caught in this position (Crabtree off the board) but we’re talking about the Raiders who are not like most teams (actually Al’s just lost it and making everyone in “The Town” pay for it).

I was kind of hoping DHB would slip to the NYG, just like he did in ‘mockingthedraft.’

by one-bar on Apr 9, 2009 4:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I was thinking

of doing this in the form of a youtube video with an overhead letter that i’d be reading

It's not easy being Giants fan in Philly.. but it sure is satisfying

http://novafacts.blogspot.com

by Hoyadestroya85 on Apr 9, 2009 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hoya

did a great job channeling Al. So good, in fact, that I am a little worried about him :-)

by Ed Valentine on Apr 9, 2009 6:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

As a Raider Fan

I prefer Crabtree, because he is the most talented WR in this draft. Crabtree is on the Raiders want list, but if he is gone then I can see them taking Raji or Orakpo to meet the needs of the team- which are help on both sides of the ball. I would be ok with Maclin, but I think that if Crabtree isn’t there then we should go for Raji or Orakpo.

I like to believe my best HITS border on Felonious ASSAULT
-Jack Tatum

by DarksideJU08 on Apr 9, 2009 5:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

orakpo went #3 to KC

I’ll almost bet the draft looks nothing like this when we are done with it.. but then again most mock drafts never do… to me Curry is the best player in this draft and out of all the first rounders will most likely be the first pro bowler too… detroit isn’t smart enough to take him though..

by gobs56 on Apr 9, 2009 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right now.. Detroit isn't smart enought to do anything. You would think they would have made more of an effort to get Cutler, but then again... They are the Lions!

I like to believe my best HITS border on Felonious ASSAULT
-Jack Tatum

by DarksideJU08 on Apr 9, 2009 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

In all fairness to DET

Taking a LB #1 overall seems a bit of a waste, let alone an OLB. To me it seems you are more likely to have a bust at LB than OL. The last time this decade a LB was taken that high was Arrington (#2 to the Skins in 2000), and although he was supposed to be the next LT coming out of college he, well, we remember.

There are plenty of other holes in DET, including LT, that taking an OLB #1 wouldn’t justify the pick – especially because Curry is good, but no LT. If they really need help at LB, there are plenty of other players they can pick-up in later rounds.

by one-bar on Apr 9, 2009 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs