Our post-NFL Draft Fantasy mock draft
By Jamey Eisenberg | Senior Fantasy Writer Follow JameyFollow CBS Fantasy Football
The booing you heard at the NFL Draft when commissioner Roger Goodell took the stage could not have come from Fantasy owners. No way. Not us.
While we would all like this lockout nonsense to end and get back to the NFL -- Normal Football Life -- at least there was actual player movement happening. Rookies were being added to teams, and we now have some idea about what rosters will look like.
And there were some eye-opening picks at the NFL Draft that will lead to some new starters this season, with several veterans eventually looking for jobs when the lockout ends. For example, Mark Ingram going to the Saints likely means the end of the Reggie Bush era in New Orleans. The same goes for Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams in Miami with the selection of Daniel Thomas.
The Falcons made a huge investment in Matt Ryan -- and Fantasy owners should follow suit -- by trading away several draft picks to select Julio Jones. And eventually we'll find out if any of the quarterbacks -- from Cam Newton and Jake Locker to Andy Dalton and Colin Kaepernick -- pan out as quality NFL starters.
Free agency has yet to begin because of the lockout, but that won't stop us from doing a new 12-team standard mock draft. Fantasy owners can begin thinking about rookies in dynasty and keeper leagues, and we'll also give you an idea of where some veterans will fall.
And who should be the No. 1 rookie taken? Is it Thomas or Ingram at running back? Jones or A.J. Green at wide receiver? Will any rookie quarterbacks be drafted in a standard league?
As always, we ask you to follow along. If there's a draft pick you like or feel was too early, send us an e-mail to dmfantasyfootball@cbs.com . Put "Mock Draft" in the subject line and share your thoughts on the draft.
In this league, all touchdowns are worth six points, and we award one point for every 10 yards rushing and receiving and one point for every 25 yards passing. We feature a starting lineup of QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, TE, K, DST and a FLEX (RB/WR/TE). There will also be six reserve spots for a 15-round draft.
Our draft order is as follows:
1. Kevin Goodwin, Fantasy Writer
2. Bill Passonno, Fantasy Writer
3. Jamey Eisenberg, Senior Fantasy Writer
4. Adam Aizer, Podcast Host
5. Peter Madden, Editorial Director, Fantasy Sports
6. Scott White, Fantasy Writer
7. Al Melchior, Data Analyst
8. John Garcia Jr., Fantasy Writer
9. Sergio Gonzalez, Fantasy Writer
10. Jeff Lippman, Fantasy Writer
11. Dave Richard, Senior Fantasy Writer
12. Michael Hurcomb, Editor
| Round-by-Round Draft Results | |||||
| Round 1 | Round 2 | ||||
| Pick | Team | Player | Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | K. Goodwin | Adrian Peterson | 1 | M. Hurcomb | Peyton Manning |
| 2 | B. Passonno | Chris Johnson | 2 | D. Richard | Steven Jackson |
| 3 | J. Eisenberg | Arian Foster | 3 | J. Lippman | Frank Gore |
| 4 | A. Aizer | Jamaal Charles | 4 | S. Gonzalez | Matt Forte |
| 5 | P. Madden | Ray Rice | 5 | J. Garcia | Rashard Mendenhall |
| 6 | S. White | Maurice Jones-Drew | 6 | A. Melchior | Drew Brees |
| 7 | A. Melchior | LeSean McCoy | 7 | S. White | Roddy White |
| 8 | J. Garcia | Andre Johnson | 8 | P. Madden | Calvin Johnson |
| 9 | S. Gonzalez | Aaron Rodgers | 9 | A. Aizer | Greg Jennings |
| 10 | J. Lippman | Darren McFadden | 10 | J. Eisenberg | Reggie Wayne |
| 11 | D. Richard | Michael Vick | 11 | B. Passonno | Larry Fitzgerald |
| 12 | M. Hurcomb | Michael Turner | 12 | K. Goodwin | Philip Rivers |
| Round 3 | Round 4 | ||||
| Pick | Team | Player | Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | K. Goodwin | Peyton Hillis | 1 | M. Hurcomb | Vincent Jackson |
| 2 | B. Passonno | Hakeem Nicks | 2 | D. Richard | Mike Williams (TB) |
| 3 | J. Eisenberg | Tom Brady | 3 | J. Lippman | Matt Schaub |
| 4 | A. Aizer | LeGarrette Blount | 4 | S. Gonzalez | Ryan Mathews |
| 5 | P. Madden | Ahmad Bradshaw | 5 | J. Garcia | Dallas Clark |
| 6 | S. White | Mike Wallace | 6 | A. Melchior | Jonathan Stewart |
| 7 | A. Melchior | Dwayne Bowe | 7 | S. White | Shonn Greene |
| 8 | J. Garcia | Tony Romo | 8 | P. Madden | Wes Welker |
| 9 | S. Gonzalez | Knowshon Moreno | 9 | A. Aizer | Miles Austin |
| 10 | J. Lippman | DeSean Jackson | 10 | J. Eisenberg | Daniel Thomas |
| 11 | D. Richard | Brandon Marshall | 11 | B. Passonno | DeAngelo Williams |
| 12 | M. Hurcomb | Cedric Benson | 12 | K. Goodwin | Marques Colston |
| Round 5 | Round 6 | ||||
| Pick | Team | Player | Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | K. Goodwin | Antonio Gates | 1 | M. Hurcomb | Kenny Britt |
| 2 | B. Passonno | Jason Witten | 2 | D. Richard | Ryan Grant |
| 3 | J. Eisenberg | Jeremy Maclin | 3 | J. Lippman | Marshawn Lynch |
| 4 | A. Aizer | Felix Jones | 4 | S. Gonzalez | Anquan Boldin |
| 5 | P. Madden | BenJarvus Green-Ellis | 5 | J. Garcia | Steve Johnson |
| 6 | S. White | Mark Ingram | 6 | A. Melchior | Joseph Addai |
| 7 | A. Melchior | Dez Bryant | 7 | S. White | Matt Ryan |
| 8 | J. Garcia | Jahvid Best | 8 | P. Madden | Josh Freeman |
| 9 | S. Gonzalez | Brandon Lloyd | 9 | A. Aizer | Jermichael Finley |
| 10 | J. Lippman | Santonio Holmes | 10 | J. Eisenberg | Ryan Williams |
| 11 | D. Richard | Vernon Davis | 11 | B. Passonno | Sidney Rice |
| 12 | M. Hurcomb | Fred Jackson | 12 | K. Goodwin | Pierre Garcon |
| Round 7 | Round 8 | ||||
| Pick | Team | Player | Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | K. Goodwin | Ryan Torain | 1 | M. Hurcomb | Owen Daniels |
| 2 | B. Passonno | Ben Roethlisberger | 2 | D. Richard | James Starks |
| 3 | J. Eisenberg | Percy Harvin | 3 | J. Lippman | Roy Helu |
| 4 | A. Aizer | Mikel Leshoure | 4 | S. Gonzalez | Santana Moss |
| 5 | P. Madden | C.J. Spiller | 5 | J. Garcia | A.J. Green |
| 6 | S. White | Brandon Jacobs | 6 | A. Melchior | Zach Miller |
| 7 | A. Melchior | Michael Bush | 7 | S. White | Austin Collie |
| 8 | J. Garcia | Mike Tolbert | 8 | P. Madden | Julio Jones |
| 9 | S. Gonzalez | Mario Manningham | 9 | A. Aizer | Mike Thomas |
| 10 | J. Lippman | Rob Gronkowski | 10 | J. Eisenberg | Deion Branch |
| 11 | D. Richard | DeMarco Murray | 11 | B. Passonno | Ronnie Brown |
| 12 | M. Hurcomb | Michael Crabtree | 12 | K. Goodwin | Johnny Knox |
| Round 9 | Round 10 | ||||
| Pick | Team | Player | Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | K. Goodwin | Pierre Thomas | 1 | M. Hurcomb | Carson Palmer |
| 2 | B. Passonno | Donald Brown | 2 | D. Richard | Braylon Edwards |
| 3 | J. Eisenberg | Jimmy Graham | 3 | J. Lippman | Steve Smith (NYG) |
| 4 | A. Aizer | Joe Flacco | 4 | S. Gonzalez | Kellen Winslow |
| 5 | P. Madden | Matthew Stafford | 5 | J. Garcia | Jerome Simpson |
| 6 | S. White | Steve Smith (CAR) | 6 | A. Melchior | Sam Bradford |
| 7 | A. Melchior | Mike Williams (SEA) | 7 | S. White | Jay Cutler |
| 8 | J. Garcia | Danny Woodhead | 8 | P. Madden | James Jones |
| 9 | S. Gonzalez | Steelers DST | 9 | A. Aizer | Davone Bess |
| 10 | J. Lippman | Derrick Mason | 10 | J. Eisenberg | Mike Goodson |
| 11 | D. Richard | Eli Manning | 11 | B. Passonno | Mike Sims-Walker |
| 12 | M. Hurcomb | Jets DST | 12 | K. Goodwin | Matt Cassel |
| Round 11 | Round 12 | ||||
| Pick | Team | Player | Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | K. Goodwin | Mark Clayton | 1 | M. Hurcomb | Ricky Williams |
| 2 | B. Passonno | Marcedes Lewis | 2 | D. Richard | Danny Amendola |
| 3 | J. Eisenberg | Beanie Wells | 3 | J. Lippman | LaDainian Tomlinson |
| 4 | A. Aizer | Packers DST | 4 | S. Gonzalez | Chris Cooley |
| 5 | P. Madden | Tony Gonzalez | 5 | J. Garcia | Cowboys DST |
| 6 | S. White | Malcom Floyd | 6 | A. Melchior | Darren Sproles |
| 7 | A. Melchior | Reggie Bush | 7 | S. White | Rashad Jennings |
| 8 | J. Garcia | Brandon Pettigrew | 8 | P. Madden | Robert Meachem |
| 9 | S. Gonzalez | Willis McGahee | 9 | A. Aizer | Jacoby Ford |
| 10 | J. Lippman | Hines Ward | 10 | J. Eisenberg | Ben Tate |
| 11 | D. Richard | Thomas Jones | 11 | B. Passonno | Jordy Nelson |
| 12 | M. Hurcomb | Terrell Owens | 12 | K. Goodwin | Donald Driver |
| Round 13 | Round 14 | ||||
| Pick | Team | Player | Pick | Team | Player |
| 1 | K. Goodwin | Bears DST | 1 | M. Hurcomb | Nate Burleson |
| 2 | B. Passonno | Cam Newton | 2 | D. Richard | Patriots DST |
| 3 | J. Eisenberg | Jacquizz Rodgers | 3 | J. Lippman | Ravens DST |
| 4 | A. Aizer | Shane Vereen | 4 | S. Gonzalez | Mark Sanchez |
| 5 | P. Madden | Montario Hardesty | 5 | J. Garcia | Greg Little |
| 6 | S. White | Giants DST | 6 | A. Melchior | Eagles DST |
| 7 | A. Melchior | Chad Ochocinco | 7 | S. White | Dustin Keller |
| 8 | J. Garcia | Jake Locker | 8 | P. Madden | Chargers DST |
| 9 | S. Gonzalez | Isaac Redman | 9 | A. Aizer | Kevin Kolb |
| 10 | J. Lippman | Tim Tebow | 10 | J. Eisenberg | Saints DST |
| 11 | D. Richard | Jason Snelling | 11 | B. Passonno | Falcons DST |
| 12 | M. Hurcomb | Kendall Hunter | 12 | K. Goodwin | Toby Gerhart |
| Round 15 | |||||
| Pick | Team | Player | |||
| 1 | K. Goodwin | Matt Bryant | |||
| 2 | B. Passonno | Garrett Hartley | |||
| 3 | J. Eisenberg | Stephen Gostkowski | |||
| 4 | A. Aizer | Neil Rackers | |||
| 5 | P. Madden | Sebastian Janikowski | |||
| 6 | S. White | Nate Kaeding | |||
| 7 | A. Melchior | Mason Crosby | |||
| 8 | J. Garcia | David Buehler | |||
| 9 | S. Gonzalez | Dan Carpenter | |||
| 10 | J. Lippman | Josh Brown | |||
| 11 | D. Richard | Jay Feely | |||
| 12 | M. Hurcomb | Alex Henery | |||
| Team-by-team Draft Results | |||
| Adam Aizer | |||
| Round.Pick | Player | Round.Pick | Player |
| 1.04 | Jamaal Charles | 9.04 | Joe Flacco |
| 2.09 | Greg Jennings | 10.09 | Davone Bess |
| 3.04 | LeGarrette Blount | 11.04 | Packers DST |
| 4.09 | Miles Austin | 12.09 | Jacoby Ford |
| 5.04 | Felix Jones | 13.04 | Shane Vereen |
| 6.09 | Jermichael Finley | 14.09 | Kevin Kolb |
| 7.04 | Mikel Leshoure | 15.04 | Neil Rackers |
| 8.09 | Mike Thomas | ||
| John Garcia on Adam Aizer's draft Adam Aizer began the draft well, selecting two young running backs with his first three picks. His second pick was as sure as they come, taking Greg Jennings in Round 2. But taking Jamaal Charles and LeGarrette Blount shored up his running back slots quickly. Of course, this leaves a bit of a void at quarterback, but it's well worth the risk with second-tier guys available later on. Adam then took a trip to Big D with his next two picks, taking Miles Austin and Felix Jones. Yes, there is always a bit of concern with Jones' injury history and touches, but the risk is not too bad considering he is just a flex option on this team. Austin provides a solid combination of catches and big-play ability no matter the matchup. Jermichael Finley was his selection in Round 6, an injury risk with untapped potential at an increasingly deep position for the first time in years. Ben Roethlisberger was available there, which would have been a sure thing with him at the helm with Charles, Blount, Jones, Jennings and Austin to go along with him. Instead, he settled for Joe Flacco in Round 9. Adam really didn't get any consistent players on his bench outside of Davone Bess, though rookies and slot receivers can often break out in the right situation. | |||
| Post your take on this team: Facebook | Twitter | Message Board | |||
| Al Melchior | |||
| Round.Pick | Player | Round.Pick | Player |
| 1.07 | LeSean McCoy | 9.07 | Mike Williams (SEA) |
| 2.06 | Drew Brees | 10.06 | Sam Bradford |
| 3.07 | Dwayne Bowe | 11.07 | Reggie Bush |
| 4.06 | Jonathan Stewart | 12.06 | Darren Sproles |
| 5.07 | Dez Bryant | 13.07 | Chad Ochocinco |
| 6.06 | Joseph Addai | 14.06 | Eagles DST |
| 7.07 | Michael Bush | 15.07 | Mason Crosby |
| 8.06 | Zach Miller | ||
| Jeff Lippman on Al Melchior's draft I am not in love with Al Melchior's running backs as a unit. He took LeSean McCoy with his first pick and that could end up being a very solid move. However, with Jonathan Stewart, Joseph Addai, Reggie Bush, Darren Sproles and Michael Bush as his other options, it seems like he's going to struggle finding consistency with that group. Taking Drew Brees with his second pick is solid, though he may have been available slightly later in the draft. Plus, I've never been a big proponent of taking my quarterback early, unless it is Peyton Manning. In fact, I've noticed a trend with Al's picks in that he seems to pick his players maybe a round earlier than I would have expected -- case in point Dwayne Bowe in the third round. With Dez Bryant already a headache over his young career, Al's receivers -- with Chad Ochocinco and Mike Williams of Seattle as reserves -- are not incredibly strong, either. Quarterback is definitely his strength. He can hope for Sam Bradford to play well enough to trade either him or Brees for a better offensive weapon. There are questions here, but if things fall into place, Al could come away with a solid season. | |||
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| Bill Passonno | |||
| Round.Pick | Player | Round.Pick | Player |
| 1.02 | Chris Johnson | 9.02 | Donald Brown |
| 2.11 | Larry Fitzgerald | 10.11 | Mike Sims-Walker |
| 3.02 | Hakeem Nicks | 11.02 | Marcedes Lewis |
| 4.11 | DeAngelo Williams | 12.11 | Jordy Nelson |
| 5.02 | Jason Witten | 13.02 | Cam Newton |
| 6.11 | Sidney Rice | 14.11 | Falcons DST |
| 7.02 | Ben Roethlisberger | 15.02 | Garrett Hartley |
| 8.11 | Ronnie Brown | ||
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| Dave Richard | |||
| Round.Pick | Player | Round.Pick | Player |
| 1.11 | Michael Vick | 9.11 | Eli Manning |
| 2.02 | Steven Jackson | 10.02 | Braylon Edwards |
| 3.11 | Brandon Marshall | 11.11 | Thomas Jones |
| 4.02 | Mike Williams (TB) | 12.02 | Danny Amendola |
| 5.11 | Vernon Davis | 13.11 | Jason Snelling |
| 6.02 | Ryan Grant | 14.02 | Patriots DST |
| 7.11 | DeMarco Murray | 15.11 | Jay Feely |
| 8.02 | James Starks | ||
| Scott White on Dave Richard's draft Normally when a Fantasy owner makes the unorthodox decision to draft a quarterback in the first round, he's forced to take a running back with his next two picks to compensate for the lack of a surefire stud. Well, Dave Richard took one in the second round, but not the third ... or the fourth ... or the fifth. He waited until the sixth round to draft his second running back and still managed to snag an expected starter in Ryan Grant. And just in case Grant isn't the same coming off ankle surgery, Dave was shrewd enough to grab his backup, James Starks, two rounds later. As you might expect, the rest of his lineup is promising with Brandon Marshall and Mike Williams at wide receiver and Vernon Davis at tight end. Drafting Michael Vick in the first round is a risk I'd personally be unwilling to take, but Dave showed how rewarding it can be if you have a plan for the rest of your draft. | |||
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| Jamey Eisenberg | |||
| Round.Pick | Player | Round.Pick | Player |
| 1.03 | Arian Foster | 9.03 | Jimmy Graham |
| 2.10 | Reggie Wayne | 10.10 | Mike Goodson |
| 3.03 | Tom Brady | 11.03 | Beanie Wells |
| 4.10 | Daniel Thomas | 12.10 | Ben Tate |
| 5.03 | Jeremy Maclin | 13.03 | Jacquizz Rodgers |
| 6.10 | Ryan Williams | 14.10 | Saints DST |
| 7.03 | Percy Harvin | 15.03 | Stephen Gostkowski |
| 8.10 | Deion Branch | ||
| Sergio Gonzalez on Jamey Eisenberg's draft Perhaps it is fitting that I found both Dave Richard and Jamey Eisenberg to have drafted the most complete teams in our draft. Those guys seem to know a thing or two about Fantasy Football. I'm going to have to go with Jamey's team, however, as the best example of what Fantasy owners should be hoping to accomplish on Draft Day. Jamey went with a balanced approach in the first three rounds, securing a top player at running back (Arian Foster's draft, wide receiver (Reggie Wayne's draft and quarterback (Tom Brady's draft. Over the years, I have found that a balanced, tier approach to drafting can be the most successful, and Jamey's team has a high-end "lock" player (provided they stay healthy's draft at each vital position outside of tight end. There, he took a measured risk on an up-and-comer in Jimmy Graham, who should be on the rise as the expected starter in one of the best pass offenses in the NFL. Balance, plus depth at a key position at running back, should keep Jamey in the mix at the top all season. | |||
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| John Garcia | |||
| Round.Pick | Player | Round.Pick | Player |
| 1.08 | Andre Johnson | 9.08 | Danny Woodhead |
| 2.05 | Rashard Mendenhall | 10.05 | Jerome Simpson |
| 3.08 | Tony Romo | 11.08 | Brandon Pettigrew |
| 4.05 | Dallas Clark | 12.05 | Cowboys DST |
| 5.08 | Jahvid Best | 13.08 | Jake Locker |
| 6.05 | Steve Johnson | 14.05 | Greg Little |
| 7.08 | Mike Tolbert | 15.08 | David Buehler |
| 8.05 | A.J. Green | ||
| Jamey Eisenberg on John Garcia's draft John's team has plenty of talent with Tony Romo, Rashard Mendenhall, Jahvid Best, Andre Johnson, Steve Johnson and Dallas Clark. But even talented teams can have some question marks, and this squad has plenty. John took Clark as the first tight end ahead of Antonio Gates in Round 4, and Gates wasn't selected until eight picks later at the start of Round 5. He could have taken another running back there – Jonathan Stewart, Shonn Greene, Daniel Thomas and DeAngelo Williams were all available – and still ended up with Clark in Round 5 where he took Best, who is now in a timeshare with Mikel Leshoure. He also reached for rookie wide receiver A.J. Green in Round 8 while still taking Jerome Simpson in Round 10, and his depth at running back is suspect with Danny Woodhead and Mike Tolbert as his lone reserves. Another reserve running back would have made this team better. | |||
| Bill Passonno on John Garcia's draft John's draft started off strong with arguably the league's best wide receiver in Andre Johnson, but he had a few questionable picks after the second round. Despite several enticing receivers left on the board to pair with Johnson (Roddy White, Calvin Johnson and Greg Jennings's draft, John had to select the last top running back remaining in Rashard Mendenhall or face a shortage at the position later in the draft. He took Tony Romo in the third, but he probably could have waited another round to select the popular rebound candidate. Three of the four owners drafting in between his third- and fourth-round picks had already drafted a quarterback, and if Romo had been selected by Jeff Lippman, John still could have picked from a quarterback group that included Matt Schaub, Matt Ryan or Josh Freeman. If he had waited, John could have used his third-round pick on Knowshon Moreno, Brandon Marshall or possibly Mike Williams from Tampa Bay. John then took Dallas Clark -- an injury risk -- in the fourth round before making a solid selection in the fifth with Jahvid Best. He then filled the rest of his roster with boom-or-bust rookies, but grabbing Greg Little in the second-to-last round is a steal. | |||
| Michael Hurcomb on John Garcia's draft John Garcia started his draft well by selecting a stud receiver and running back in the first two rounds, but it went quickly downhill for him starting with his third selection of Tony Romo. I would have definitely taken Matt Schaub over him, and I'm sure John could have gotten Romo in the fourth or fifth round since he is coming off a major injury. Another issue I have with John's strategy is that he took too many rookies. A.J. Green is a great talent, but Round 8 was a reach. Then he took Jake Locker as his backup quarterback and Greg Little as his fourth receiver. It's going to be very tough for rookies to make a significant impact in 2011 because of the lockout lingering. Also, John took a lot of breakouts from 2010 -- Jahvid Best, Steve Johnson, Mike Tolbert, Danny Woodhead and Jerome Simpson -- and not enough guys with proven track records. | |||
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| Jeff Lippman | |||
| Round.Pick | Player | Round.Pick | Player |
| 1.10 | Darren McFadden | 9.10 | Derrick Mason |
| 2.03 | Frank Gore | 10.03 | Steve Smith (NYG) |
| 3.10 | DeSean Jackson | 11.10 | Hines Ward |
| 4.03 | Matt Schaub | 12.03 | LaDainian Tomlinson |
| 5.10 | Santonio Holmes | 13.10 | Tim Tebow |
| 6.03 | Marshawn Lynch | 14.03 | Ravens DST |
| 7.10 | Rob Gronkowski | 15.10 | Josh Brown |
| 8.03 | Roy Helu | ||
| Post your take on this team: Facebook | Twitter | Message Board | |||
| Kevin Goodwin | |||
| Round.Pick | Player | Round.Pick | Player |
| 1.01 | Adrian Peterson | 9.01 | Pierre Thomas |
| 2.12 | Philip Rivers | 10.12 | Matt Cassel |
| 3.01 | Peyton Hillis | 11.01 | Mark Clayton |
| 4.12 | Marques Colston | 12.12 | Donald Driver |
| 5.01 | Antonio Gates | 13.01 | Bears DST |
| 6.12 | Pierre Garcon | 14.12 | Toby Gerhart |
| 7.01 | Ryan Torain | 15.01 | Matt Bryant |
| 8.12 | Johnny Knox | ||
| Al Melchior on Kevin Goodwin's draft Kevin Goodwin showed an appreciation for position scarcity in his draft. Having the first pick in the draft certainly helped him, as he was able to nail down an elite running back in Adrian Peterson in Round 1. But instead of adding to the string of receivers taken just before him in Round 2, Kevin went for Philip Rivers as his quarterback. There is a lot more depth among potential No. 1 receivers than among No. 1 quarterbacks, so it was a good move to snag Rivers and then come back and take Marques Colston in Round 4. He also did well to get an elite tight end in Antonio Gates in Round 5. Peyton Hillis was not a bad choice as a No. 2 running back in Round 3, though Kevin could have gone for the upside of LeGarrette Blount instead. Overall, though, he has assembled a team that should hold up well in this league. | |||
| Peter Madden on Kevin Goodwin's draft I like what Kevin Goodwin came away with at the start of his draft, landing arguably three slam dunk studs in Adrian Peterson, Philip Rivers and Peyton Hillis, who will likely go later than he should in drafts later this summer. While Antonio Gates is still a health concern at this stage of his career, a prolific year from Rivers will likely bode well for Gates, so he's hitching his wagon to a high-octane offense, which is always a good idea. Toby Gerhart is a great insurance pick and showed last year that he has potential if Peterson ever went down with injury. | |||
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| Michael Hurcomb | |||
| Round.Pick | Player | Round.Pick | Player |
| 1.12 | Michael Turner | 9.12 | Jets DST |
| 2.01 | Peyton Manning | 10.01 | Carson Palmer |
| 3.12 | Cedric Benson | 11.12 | Terrell Owens |
| 4.01 | Vincent Jackson | 12.01 | Ricky Williams |
| 5.12 | Fred Jackson | 13.12 | Kendall Hunter |
| 6.01 | Kenny Britt | 14.01 | Nate Burleson |
| 7.12 | Michael Crabtree | 15.12 | Alex Henery |
| 8.01 | Owen Daniels | ||
| Post your take on this team: Facebook | Twitter | Message Board | |||
| Peter Madden | |||
| Round.Pick | Player | Round.Pick | Player |
| 1.05 | Ray Rice | 9.05 | Matthew Stafford |
| 2.08 | Calvin Johnson | 10.08 | James Jones |
| 3.05 | Ahmad Bradshaw | 11.05 | Tony Gonzalez |
| 4.08 | Wes Welker | 12.08 | Robert Meachem |
| 5.05 | BenJarvus Green-Ellis | 13.05 | Montario Hardesty |
| 6.08 | Josh Freeman | 14.08 | Chargers DST |
| 7.05 | C.J. Spiller | 15.05 | Sebastian Janikowski |
| 8.08 | Julio Jones | ||
| Dave Richard on Peter Madden's draft A lot of teams came out better than mine in this mock, but the team that takes the cake belongs to Peter Madden. He's got a great combination of potential-laden players mixed with trust-worthy veterans, and it extends deep into his bench with guys like Julio Jones, Robert Meachem and C.J. Spiller. Getting Ray Rice fifth overall was a nice start, but landing Ahmad Bradshaw in Round 3 and BenJarvus Green-Ellis in Round 5 really made his roster. His strategy of going with three rushers and two receivers in his first five picks, then getting a quarterback in Round 6, worked well for him and is a recommended game plan in leagues that are not quarterback-intensive. I'm not sure if he's got the best combination of starting running backs or receivers, but no one team has both and he's got a lot of talent. He also definitely does not have a rock solid quarterback on paper, but between Josh Freeman and Matthew Stafford, he could have two Top 10 passers when the season is over. His biggest weakness is clearly at tight end with Tony Gonzalez, but that's a spot he can easily upgrade during the year. Even with the splurge pick of Spiller in Round 7 -- a colossal reach -- the team is solid. | |||
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| Sergio Gonzalez | |||
| Round.Pick | Player | Round.Pick | Player |
| 1.09 | Aaron Rodgers | 9.09 | Steelers DST |
| 2.04 | Matt Forte | 10.04 | Kellen Winslow |
| 3.09 | Knowshon Moreno | 11.09 | Willis McGahee |
| 4.04 | Ryan Mathews | 12.04 | Chris Cooley |
| 5.09 | Brandon Lloyd | 13.09 | Isaac Redman |
| 6.04 | Anquan Boldin | 14.04 | Mark Sanchez |
| 7.09 | Mario Manningham | 15.09 | Dan Carpenter |
| 8.04 | Santana Moss | ||
| Post your take on this team: Facebook | Twitter | Message Board | |||
| Scott White | |||
| Round.Pick | Player | Round.Pick | Player |
| 1.06 | Maurice Jones-Drew | 9.06 | Steve Smith (CAR) |
| 2.07 | Roddy White | 10.07 | Jay Cutler |
| 3.06 | Mike Wallace | 11.06 | Malcom Floyd |
| 4.07 | Shonn Greene | 12.07 | Rashad Jennings |
| 5.06 | Mark Ingram | 13.06 | Giants DST |
| 6.07 | Matt Ryan | 14.07 | Dustin Keller |
| 7.06 | Brandon Jacobs | 15.06 | Nate Kaeding |
| 8.07 | Austin Collie | ||
| Adam Aizer on Scott White's draft Scott's team is slightly below average. Not in love with it. I like his first three picks, but I'm a little worried about his running back situation and his glaring hole at tight end. With Shonn Greene, Mark Ingram and Brandon Jacobs, we don't know that any of those guys are going to be reliable No. 2 options. I can't help but think how much better his team would be if Ahmad Bradshaw hadn't gone one pick before Scott took Mike Wallace in Round 3. A Maurice Jones-Drew/Roddy White/Bradshaw/Miles Austin combo is more appealing than his MJD/White/Greene/Ingram combo. But Scott did the best with what was available. Love Matt Ryan in Round 6. I would have taken Mario Manningham over Brandon Jacobs in Round 7. Also, Scott desperately needs a tight end upgrade over Dustin Keller. Ultimately, the team will be decided by Greene and Ingram. It could work out, but it's a bit of a gamble. | |||
| Kevin Goodwin on Scott White's draft Picking in the middle of the draft is always tough -- you never know whether to go running back or grab the first quarterback off the board. Scott White picked sixth and took Maurice Jones-Drew with his first pick. He followed that pick up with a stud wide receiver in Roddy White. Pair him up with Matt Ryan, and Scott gets a nice one-two punch for some double scoring. The first pick that I feel was a reach was Shonn Greene in Round 4. He took the second rookie off the board in Round 5 with Mark Ingram, which I feel is a good pick. If Ingram can catch on quickly and work hard to learn the offense from Drew Brees, he could be a big factor. His pick of Ryan is also a good move and good value in the sixth round since he gets another talented receiver to throw to this season in rookie Julio Jones. Scott grabs the injury-prone Austin Collie in Round 8, but after suffering so many concussions last year, I think Collie is too fragile and too risky of a pick. He could pay off huge dividends but could also be a big bust. | |||
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