NoLogoNeeded NFL Mock Draft Picks 6-7
By djlombardi
Welcome back for picks six and seven in the NoLogoNeeded NFL Mock Draft Among Blogs. This phenomenon sweeping through the internet is picking up steam with picks coming in at a rather torrid pace during the day. Right now we have the picks of the Cincinnati Bengals and Oakland Raiders.
"With the sixth pick of the 2009 NFL Draft the Cincinnati Bengals (http://www.bengalstripes.com/) select…Jason Smith, offensive tackle, BaylorDon’t expect the phone to ring very much in the Bengals’ war room and if it does I don’t expect anyone to answer it.If Jason Smith falls to Cincinnati at No. 6, there will be no complaints from any coach, player or fan in the Queen City when the Bengals gobble him up.Ever since the combine, Smith has climbed up draft boards due to his excellent interviews and also because Alabama OT Andre Smith’s early exit from the event last month.In the 2009 NFL Draft, the Bengals are in a unique position in that they need everything.However, the team needs an offensive tackle more than ever after cutting longtime starting right tackle Willie Anderson before the start of the 2008 season.On the other side, Cincinnati’s left tackle Levi Jones hasn’t been the same player fans fell in love with him in the early portion of this decade. Through his first four seasons with the Bengals Jones played in 63 of Cincinnati’s 64 regular season games, including 60 of which he started. The last three seasons, Jones played in 31 of the team’s 48 regular season games and started only 28.On top of all that, last year’s franchise player Stacy Andrews signed a long-term deal to play with his bro in Philadelphia on the first day of free agency.If the season would start today, it would appear that 2008 fourth-round pick Anthony Collins would be the starter at left tackle and left guard Andrew Whitworth would probably start at right tackle.Nate Livings would then take Whitworth’s old spot at guard, with a mystery man filling in at center.It is pretty obvious that the Bengals O-line is the team’s messiest area.Getting Smith would instantly would upgrade Cincinnati.The Oakland Raiders on now on the clock."
"With the seventh pick of the 2009 NFL Draft the Oakland Raiders select:Jeremy Maclin, Wide Receiver, MissouriThe Oakland Raiders have several needs for which they need to address including the offensive / defensive lines, wide receiver, linebacker and safety. With the two elite offensive tackles already off the board, the Raiders go with what some scouts peg as the top wide receiver in the draft Jeremy Maclin. Though Crabtree possess incredible talent, the Raiders love Maclin’s elite speed, better known as “Raider Speed” in Al Davis speak. For the Raiders, with Javon Walker‘s health and reliability always a concern, they have no true # 1 wide receiver. The Raiders leading wide receiver last season was Johnnie Lee Higgins with 22 receptions for 366 yards. That just isn’t going to cut it and opposing defenses are going to know that the Raiders will run first and often which will make them very predictable. Maclin’s speed is the perfect antidote for that as he will stretch the field and allow strong-armed quarterback JaMarcus Russell to air it out and keep defenses honest. The Raiders were ranked dead last in passing offense last season and with the youth movement underway in Oakland, Maclin becomes a key piece of the Raiders future.The Jacksonville Jaguars are now on the clock."
One more pick before the Packers are on the clock…