Post Season Mock Draft: 3 rounds

[wab]

I had some free time today so I thought I would throw this together. Admittedly I'm not paying much attention to where the actual teams pick after round 1. I'll do another one after the combine when the draft order is officially set and workout numbers are in. After that I will do one once the Free Agency dust settles and then I'll do my pre-draft 7 round extraveganza.


Anyway...here you go. Comments only for the Bears picks this go-round.

Round 1

Detroit Lions: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
St. Louis Rams: Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
Kansas City Chiefs: Brian Orakpo, DE/LB, Texas
Seattle Seahawks: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
Cleveland Browns: Rey Maualuga, LB, Southern California
Cincinnati Bengals: Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi
Oakland Raiders: Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
Green Bay Packers: Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
San Francisco 49ers: Mark Sanchez, QB, USC
Buffalo Bills: Everett Brown, DE, Florida State
Denver Broncos: Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State
Washington Redskins: Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
New Orleans Saints: Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
Houston Texans: Taylor Mays, S, Southern California
San Diego Chargers: Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU
New York Jets: Brian Cushing, LB, Southern California

Chicago Bears: Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech
The Bears are in need of a big-time pass rusher to bring the Tampa 2 back to life. Mark Anderson has lost his mojo and Ogun may be a cap casualty. I know Angelo said QB was the teams offseason priority, but DE is the drafts top priority. Johnson has great size and speed and is basically a freak of nature...but only has one season of starting experience. He has measureables similar to Mario Williams or Julius Peppers, but has a tendancy to disappear for stretches. New DL coach Rod Marinelli could turn this kid into a star.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
Detroit Lions f/DAL: Alphonso Smitm, CB, Wake Forest
Philadelphia Eagles: Will Moore, S, Missouri
Minnesota Vikings: D.J. Moore, CB, Vanderbilt
New England Patriots: Ebben Britton, OT, Arizona
Atlanta Falcons: B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College
Miami Dolphins: Clint Sintim, LB, Virginia
Indianapolis Colts: Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi
Philadelphia Eagles f/CAR: Philip Loadholdt, OT, Oklahoma
Tennessee Titans: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri
New York Giants: Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers
Pittsburgh Steelers: Duke Robinson, G/T, Oklahoma
Baltimore Ravens: James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State
Arizona Cardinals: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia

Round 2

Detroit Lions: Dannell Ellerbe, LB, Georgia
St. Louis Rams: Alex Mack, C, California
Kansas City Chiefs: Curtis Painter, QB, Purdue
Seattle Seahawks: Max Unger, OT, Oregon
Cleveland Browns: LeSean McCoy, RB, Pitt
Cincinnati Bengals: Shonn Green, RB, Iowa
Oakland Raiders: Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland
Jacksonville Jaguars: Jamon Merideth, OT, South Carolina
Green Bay Packers: Javon Ringer, RB, Michigan State
San Francisco 49ers: George Selvie, DE/LB, South Florida
Buffalo Bills: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
Denver Broncos: Terrance Cody, DT, Alabama
Miami Dolphins f/WAS: Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina
New Orleans Saints: Darius Butler, CB, Uconn
Houston Texans: Greg Hardy, DE, Mississippi
New England Patriots f/SD: Joe Burnett, CB, South Florida
New York Jets: Rhett Bohmar, QB, Sam Houston St

Chicago Bears: Rashad Johnson, S, Alabama
Mike Brown is a perpetual question mark and although Kevin Payne and D. Manning are physical specimines, they don't seem to know how to play safety. Rashad Johnson does. Be it FS or SS, Johnson has the tools to be an elite defensive back. Picking Johnson would allow Tillman and/or Graham to stay at corner.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
Dallas Cowboys: Patrick Chung, S, Oregon
Philadelphia Eagles: Brian Robiskie, WR, Ohio St
Minnesota Vikings: Ciron Black, OT, LSU
New England Patriots: Mike Mickens, CB, Cincinnati
Atlanta Falcons: Chase Coffman, TE, Missouri
Miami Dolphins: Vince Oghobaase, DT, Duke
Indianapolis Colts: Brian Witherspoon, LB, Missouri
Carolina Panthers: Maurice Evans, DE, Penn State
Tennessee Titans: Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida
New York Giants: Sen'Derrick Marks, DT Auburn
Pittsburgh Steelers: Fili Moala, DE, Southern California
Baltimore Ravens: Trevard Lindley, CB, Kansas State
Arizona Cardinals: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma St

Round 3

Detroit Lions: Andy Levitre, OG, Oregon State
St. Louis Rams: Louis Delmas, S, Western Michigan
Kansas City Chiefs: Zach Follett, LB, California
Seattle Seahawks: Derrick Williams, WR, Penn State
Cleveland Browns: Victor Harris, CB, VA Tech
Cincinnati Bengals: Tyrone McKenzie, LB, South Florida
Oakland Raiders: Matt Shaughnessy, DE, Wisconsin
Jacksonville Jaguars: Darry Beckwith, LB, LSU
Green Bay Packers: Jared Cook, TE, South Carolina
San Francisco 49ers: Herman Johnson, G/T, LSU
Buffalo Bills: Ryan Palmer, CB, Texas
Denver Broncos: Marcus Freeman, LB, Ohio State
Washington Redskins: DeMarcus Granger, DT, Oklahoma
New Orleans Saints: Myron Rolle, S, Florida State
Houston Texans: Morgan Trent, CB, Michigan
San Diego Chargers: Josh Mauga, LB, Nevada
Green Bay Packers f/NYJ: Lawrence Wilson, DE, Ohio State

Chicago Bears: Alex Boone, OT, Ohio State
Once considered a potential top 10 pick, Boone has seen his stock fall. He has great size but may be limited athletically in the NFL. He's got loads of potential on the right side, but will need work and may not be a starter until year two or three. He's not going to wow you with measureables, but he get's it done between the hashes and plays with a mean streak you don't see from Bears linemen. Negatives aside he is still better than John Tait is at this point in his career.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Ricky Jean-Francois, DT, LSU
Detroit Lions f/DAL: CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson
Philadelphia Eages: Dennis Pitta, TE, BYU
Minnesota Vikings: Clay Matthews JR, DE/LB, USC
New England Patriots: Aaron Maybin, DE/LB, Penn State
Atlanta Falcons: Quan Crosby, WR, Texas
Miami Dolphins: Garrett Reynolds, OT, North Carolina
Indianapolis Colts: Juaquin Iglesias, WR, Oklahoma
Carolina Panthers: Chase Daniel, QB, Missouri
Tennessee Titans: Eric Wood, G/C, Louisville
New York Giants: Russell Okung, G/T, Oklahoma State
Pittsburgh Steelers: Terrance Taylor, DT, Michigan
Baltimore Ravens: Demonte Bolden, DE, Tennessee
Arizona Cardinals: Jasper Brinkley, LB, South Carolina



Potential mid-late round picks for Chicago:

Round 4: Brandon Tate, WR, North Carolina
At 6'1 190lbs he has good size and raw speed. He's not Hakeem Nicks, but he has potential in the NFL. Essentially a Bernard Berrian clone, he's going to fall a little more than he should in the draft because he's a little frail, however he has the frame to add at 15-20lbs without losing much speed.

Round 5: Nate Davis, QB, Ball State
Davis doesn't get the recognition he deserves because he plays at Ball State and he's not very big. He can sling the ball all over the field and is athletic. Some have him going as early as round 2, some don't even have him listed among the top 20 draftable QB's. I think he's a better prospect than Caleb Hanie was, and like him in the 4-6 round range.

Round 6: James Davis, RB, Clemson
Another guy that was once touted as a potential 1st round pick, his productivity has dropped considerably with CJ Spiller garnering all the attention. He has good size at 5'10 and 210lbs with blazing speed, but his head isn't always in the game and some wonder how much he really loves football. If he can put the mental part together with the impressive package of physical tools he has, he could be a nice complement to Matt Forte.

Round 7 Anthony Heygood, LB, Purdue
Lovie Smith loves him some backers, and Heygood is cut from the cloth that Smith prefers. Undersized and fast he should contribute on special teams immediately...while also having the talent to work his way up to a more high profile role in a couple of years.

[G08]

Awesome work dude.

I was bummed to see you project Everette Brown go to the Bills at #11 (it confirms some of my fears about the guy going to those god damned Bills). Michael Johnson has all the measurables and it a freak of nature, but his disappearances for stretches in games really bothers me. If he does that in college, WTF is he going to do in the NFL?

The only solace I could take is how you ended the explanation for the pick... Rod Marinelli could mold him into the next great Bears pass-rushing DE.

I would have liked to see a WR in the second round, but with DHB and Nicks off the board, I think safety was probably the best way to go. I don't know much about Rashad Johnson but I'll certainly look into him now that the season is winding down and my football-withdrawal will start.

I liked the OT pick in the third round, although I wouldn't have hated Juaquin Iglesias.

Again, good work man! I had a pain in the ass trying to put together a first-round mock last year, let alone a three rounder. I don't know how you do it

[wab]

Thanks...I enjoy doing them for you guys.

If we pass on Johnson is the 1st round a guy I could see us trading down and targeting in round 2 or 3 is Larry English out of NIU. I don't have him going in the 1st 3 rounds here, because he's not a good fit for every team. He's 6'3 and runs about 250-260lbs. He racked up 60-some tackles for a loss and over 32 sacks in college.

My only concern with English is...is he Dan Bazuin and/or Mark Anderson?

I got a lot of guys I like. Here in a week or so I'll work up a list of the top 10 or 15 guys at each position.

Here is a quick scouting report on the Johnsons from various draft pubs.

Michael Johnson, DE, GA Tech - 6'7 260
Strengths:
Has a large rangy frame with extremely long arms...Outstanding athleticism...Great speed...Quick and agile...Terrific range...Explosive with a burst...Does a nice job in pursuit and closes in a hurry...Great leaper and will bat down passes...A terror off the edge...Has shown the ability to make impact plays...Decent production...Has a ton of upside.

Weaknesses:
Lean with average bulk...Isn't very strong, tough or physical...Has a terrible motor...Will get manhandled at times...Almost a non-factor against the run...Is not stout at the point and gets pushed around...Sub par instincts...Runs himself out of plays...Limited experience...Plays with poor leverage...Intensity and commitment have been questioned.

Notes:
Was a backup who entered the game in passing situations his first three seasons with the Yellow Jackets and didn't start until his senior year...Named 1st Team All-ACC in 2008...Was a finalist for both the Bednarik and Hendricks Awards as a senior...Some feel he could also project to outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme...The type who will make one or two amazing plays then disappear for the rest of the game...Not nearly as impressive on film as his stats and measurables would lead you to believe...Has the physical tools to be great but needs to be a lot more consistent...Status as a top prospect is a product of potential and hype...One-dimensional "Workout Warrior" who will likely be drafted earlier than he should be...Finesse player who won't be able to handle an every down role in the NFL and profiles as a 43 pass rush specialist.

Rashad Johnson, S, Alabama - 6'0 195
Strengths:
Terrific hands and ball skills...Excellent instincts...Reads and reacts quickly...Outstanding range...Smooth with fluid hips...Is able to match up in coverage...Can do some damage in the open field...Offers some versatility...Tough...Decent tackler...Great work ethic...Smart with a superb football IQ and is like a coach on the field...Outstanding leader.

Weaknesses:
Not an elite athlete...Height, weight and speed are all just average at best...Not an intimidating physical presence...Isn't very explosive and lacks a burst...Is not real strong...Gives good effort but he won't offer much in run support...Gets too high in his backpedal at times...Ran into trouble off the field...Minor durability concerns...Limited upside.

Notes:
A two-year starter and team captain who began his college career as a walk-on...Was a 2nd Team All-American in 2008...Named 1st Team All-SEC in 2007 and 2008...Came up with three interceptions in the Crimson Tide's overtime win against L.S.U. as a senior...Arrested on a disorderly conduct charge in February of '08 following a disturbance at a bar...Was pretty durable in college, only missing a couple of games with an ankle injury in 2006, but you wonder if he will be able to hold up physically at the next level...A true playmaker and ballhawk in the secondary with a real knack for being in the right place at the right time...A bit of a free safety / cornerback 'tweener...Had a tremendous senior campaign and really improved his draft stock...Has been able to overcome a lack of top-notch measurables with first-rate intangibles.

[Fumblebuck]

Great job WAB.

I'm going to echo G08. MJ scares me, if we didn't have Marinelli I'd pass.

Love the OT in the 3rd.

I haven't seen James Davis, but I like the idea of getting a back to complement Forte who can be great in one aspect of the game, be that either great speed (like Davis) or great power. I don't think its as helpful to the team to have a Forte clone or Forte Jr. as a backup. I just like giving defenses another look.

[gaba]

If we need a DE, I can't think of a better choice... but do we really need one in the 1st round? Not that we couldn't use a little of an upgrade, but we've got a lot of needs this year. OL is a big one and one guy isn't gonna fix it. I'm not sure any rookie could though. There's gonna have to be some free agency moves there. Even then, there's still the safeties (I think we need more than one) and receivers to think about. I don't know that I'd pick a DE until at least day 2.