NFL Mock Draft

It's time for the NFL Draft. Don't you love it? All over the net, thousands and thousands of mock drafts are laid out for everyone to see. Not to be out-done, the Corner decided to run it's own mock for all the world to see.

This draft is not taking into consideration potential trades or late free agent signings that may effect draft need. Some teams like the Saints, Rams and Bears, are looking to trade down, while others like the Vikings and Patriots want to move up.

It's a crap shoot. Teams lie and spread misinformation. No one knows what will happen, but it's a helluva lot of fun to guess. So, without further delay, here is the Corners very own 2006 NFL mock draft:

1. Houston - Reggie Bush, RB, USC.
Despite all the buzz about the Texans considering Mario Williams this will not happen. Bush is the most electrifying player in the draft. Houston would be crazy not to take him.

2. New Orleans - D'Brickashaw Ferguson, OT, Virginia.
The Saints will wrestle with the pick. Do they take Williams or Ferguson. What they want to do is trade down and get A.J. Hawk. In the end, protecting new QB Drew Brees is most important. Jammal Brown and Ferguson will be awesome bookends for many, many years.

3. Tennessee - Vince Young, QB, Texas.
The coaching staff (Jeff Fisher, Norm Chow) want Matt Leinart. Management (GM Floyd Reese, Owner Bud Adams) want Young. Who do you think will win the argument?

4. New York Jets - Mario Williams, DE, NC State.
Leinart is right there waiting for the Jets to pounce on, but with the loss of John Abraham and the incredible talent of Williams, new defensive-minded head coach Eric Mangini will go for defense. It'll be fun listening to the reaction of the New York fans.

5. Green Bay - A.J. Hawk, OLB, Ohio State.
The Pack gets who many believe is the best all-around defensive player in the draft. He will come in and start immediately for Green Bay.

6. San Francisco - Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland.
Tight ends usually don't go this high, but then again no tight end has ever been as freakishly athletic as Davis. Could redefine the position.

7. Oakland - Matt Leinart, QB, USC.
Al Davis wanted Young, but Leinart is more polished and ready to start right away. Remember the last talented left-hander to start in Oakland? Yes, Ken Stabler. He wasn't too bad now was he?

8. Buffalo - Broderick Bunkley, DT, Florida State.
Marv Levy and company will think about Jay Cutler and Winston Justice with this pick, but Bunkly makes the most sense. He's the most gifted DT in the draft and fits in perfectly with the Bills' scheme.

9. Detroit - Michael Huff, DB, Texas.
Has the talent and athletic gifts to play corner or safety. The best DB in the draft. After three straight years selecting a wide receiver and the mishap of Joey Harrington. Matt Millen better draft defense or it could get ugly in the Motor City.

10. Arizona - Jay Cutler, QB, Vanderbilt.
Dennis Green will consider Ernie Sims with this pick, but with Josh McCown going to Detroit and John Navarre serving as the backup to the 34-year-old, injury prone Kurt Warner, taking your QB of the future makes sense here.

11. St. Louis - Chad Greenway, OLB, Iowa.
Would like to trade down a couple spots, gain some picks and select Tye Hill of Clemson. I don't think that's going to happen, so the safe pick is Greenway. The guy is intense, plays faster than he's been timed and is a tackling machine (401 career stops at Iowa). The Rams were 30th against the run in 2005. Nuff said.

12. Cleveland - Kamerion Wimbley, DE/LB, Florida State.
Fits the mold that Romeo Crennell is looking for in his 3-4 scheme. Can learn the position under Willie McGinest, one of the best.

13. Baltimore - Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon.
Ray Lewis is unhappy. He wants a big DT again in the Sam Adams, Tony Siragusa mold. With the Ravens returning to the 4-3, Lewis gets his wish - a big, run-stuffing tackle.

14. Philadelphia - Winston Justice, OT, USC.
Andy Reid loves to draft offensive lineman and with Tra Thomas not getting any younger, Reid finds his left tackle of the future. Could also consider Ernie Sims with this pick.

15. Denver - Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio State.
With Rod Smith now 35 and Ashley Lelie wanting out of Mile High, the Broncos look to wide receiver with Holmes being the most ready to play right now. This could change if Denver can deal for Javon Walker.

16. Miami - Manny Lawson, DE/LB, NC State.
Nick Saban will seriously look at Chad Jackson, but with perennial pro bowler Jason Taylor turning 32 and starting to wear down, the Dolphins need to find that linebacker/end tweener who can get after the passer. Lawson is the man to do it.

17. Minnesota - Ernie Sims, OLB, Florida State.
The Vikings were praying that Cutler would fall here and they may look at Jackson as well. But with linebacker being a crucial need and a hard-hitter like Sims falling to 17, Minnesota has to select him.

18. Dallas - Bobby Carpenter, OLB, Ohio State.
Bill Parcells loves players who's dads played the game. Carpenter especially considering his father Rob played for Parcells when Tuna coached the Giants. Dallas needs another linebacker to complete their 3-4 transition and Carpenter is smart and works hard.

19. San Diego - Chad Jackson, WR, Florida.
The Chargers really need a corner, but they must add more weapons to help new QB Philip Rivers. The receiving corps is led by aging Keenan McCardell and guys named Reche Caldwell and Eric Parker. Another weapon to join Antonio Gates and LaDanian Tomlinson will take the pressure off Rivers.

20. Kansas City - Tye Hill, CB, Clemson.
The Chiefs address a real need by drafting the best cover corner in the draft. Despite his small size (5-9, 185), Hill has blazing speed, superb leaping ability and excellent hands.

21. New England - Donte Whitner, S, Ohio State.
The Patriots would love to trade up and get either Hill, Carpenter or Jackson, but I don't see that happening. New England wants to upgrade their secondary and while Antonio Cromartie has tons of talent, his lack of experience and injuries will scare the Pats away.

22. San Francisco - Antonio Cromartie, CB, Florida State.
The Niners secondary is horrible and despite his injury problems, San Fran will not let Cromartie slip any farther.

23. Tampa Bay - Nick Mangold, C, Ohio State.
The Bucs would really love to draft a tackle with their first pick, but Marcus McNeil and his bad back is scaring Tampa away and Eric Winston is too inconsistent to be a first round pick. Mangold is smart, athletic for his size and can play center or guard. He will help the line problems in Buc Land very quickly.

24. Cincinnati - Jimmy Williams, CB, Virginia Tech.
The majority of draft gurus believe that the Bengals are taking a tight end with this pick. Don't forget, the draft is deep this year for tight ends and Marvin Lewis is a defensive guy. Williams has top 10 talent, but fell down the draft because of attitude problems. The Bengals will have a hard time not picking him.

25. New York Giants - Jason Allen, S/CB, Tennessee.
Many feel the Giants will go running back, but once again you have a very talented defensive player falling. This time because of injuries. Allen will be the best defensive player still available and the Giants will be hard-pressed to pass him up.

26. Chicago - Marcedes Lewis, TE, UCLA.
The Bears have a great defense (No. 1 in the NFL in 2005) and a decent one-two punch in the backfield (Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson). What they don't have is another weapon to throw to besides Muhsin Muhammad. Lewis has the best hands of any tight end in the draft, even Vernon Davis.

27. Carolina - LenDale White, RB, USC.
The Panthers need help at linebacker after losing Will Witherspoon and Brandon Short, but John Fox and company will find it hard to believe that White fell this far, despite the injury, and will pull the trigger for Stephen Davis' replacement. This could be the steal of the draft since many scouts have him rated as a top ten talent.

28. Jacksonville - DeAngelo Williams, RB, Memphis.
The Jags snag Williams in hopes of finding the replacement for the aging Fred Taylor. Williams fell because of his size, but he has worlds of talent and is capable of being a dominant back in the NFL.

29. New York Jets - Lawrence Maroney, RB, Minnesota.
The run on running backs continues as the Jets draft the person they hope will be the replacement for Curtis Martin. New York needs OL help as well and may select G Davin Joseph with the pick. Jets fans would really be happy then.

30. Indianapolis - DeMeco Ryans, OLB, Alabama.
Contrary to popular opinion, the Colts won't take a back in the first round even if White, Maroney or Williams are available. Tony Dungy and company feel they can draft a good back in the second round (Joseph Addai or Jerious Norwood). Indy will be looking to linebacker, where they have lost three starters the last three years in free agency, including David Thornton this season.

31. Seattle - Johnathan Joseph, CB, South Carolina.
The defending NFC champs are thinking about improving their pass rush and could select Mathias Kiwanuka or Tamba Hali with this pick. But Holmgren has been adamant about improving the secondary so corner looks like the choice. Kelly Jennings and Ashton Youboty are possible selections as well, but Joseph has more upside.

32. Pittsburgh - Sinorice Moss, WR, Miami.
The Super Bowl champs are looking at safety (Ko Simpson and Darnell Bing) and corner (Jennings and Youboty), but if there's any weakness on the Steelers it's at wide receiver. After losing Antwaan Randle-El to the Redskins, Bill Cowher has Cedrick Wilson and Quincey Morgan fighting to play alongside Hines Ward. That won't cut it for the Steelers. Randle-El was their speed guy and punt returner. Even though Moss is only in the 5-7, 5-8 range, he has 4.3 speed and would be a significant upgrade to the Steelers at the receiver position and in special teams.