-Tyson Jackson (DE/LSU)

Tyson Jackson (NFL.com)

It’d hard to argue that a team that played the Super Bowl Champion within an inch of their life has a lack of talent on its roster. For Baltimore, they are facing depth issues at a few select positions more than being without a viable starter. They could use another receiver to take over for Derrick Mason, a defensive end to challenge  Trevor Pryce, the replacement for Bart Scott and backup for Ray Lewis, and another good cornerback to add depth..

Ravens’ GM Ozzie Newsome came into the organization in 2002, after the previous regime already established a strong defensive talent base.  But over the past two seasons, in his attempt to upgrade the offense by using each of his first 2 draft choices on offensive players, some of the core defensive players have aged. CB’s Chris McAllister and Samari Rolle were released, Ray Lewis is about to turn 34, and DE Trevor Pryce is a spry 34 too.

At the 26th pick, DE Tyson Jackson makes great sense as Baltimorebeatdown.com humorously puts it:

“when a super talented defensive lineman who perfectly fits your system at a position where your starter is 34 and there is no heir apparent falls to you, you thank God for blessing your team and waltz write up to the podium and take him.”

The LSU lineman has the versatility, desire, and intelligence to absolutely thrive in the Ravens defense. A perfect fit for 3-4 defensive end, Jackson is a great run stuffer at 6’4 295 lbs.

-Trade Up (for Rey Maualuga)

You just know that the Ravens are drooling over a guy with the nasty demeanor of Rey Maualuga. The guy is a thunderous hitter that could very well pick up the torch when Ray Lewis retires. Those Polynesian football players play the game with reckless abandon, and Baltimore has had terrific success with another Polynesian player by the name of Haloti Ngata who was a former rugby player. It just so happens that Maualuga also happens to fill one of position that Bart Scott just vacated, thus adding more value to this possibility. If the Ravens plan on getting an immediate starter to go beside Lewis, then the options outside of Maualuga are relatively slim.

-Darius Butler (CB/Connecticut)

Darius Butler (NFL.com)

As mentioned earlier, former bookend corners McAllister and Rolle have been cut, leaving vacancies to be filled by injury-prone Fabian Washington, up-and-comer Domonique Foxworth, and backups. I’m not sure exactly how the defense will change under new coordinator Greg Mattison, but if it is anything like Rex Ryan’s attacking style, he will want another young, athletic, instinctive cornerback opposite Washington.

UConn’s Darius Butler claims that the Ravens are one of the two teams that have shown great interest in him lately. With his athleticism and coverage instincts, he is a steal at #26. Personally, I would have thought the Ravens would want a guy who is known for more aggression. But Butler is very similar to Fabian Washington in that I believe he will get the message sent by his fellow teammates that physicality is expected from a Raven defender. If Butler is chosen, he should be honored to play with such a proud group of football players.

You can be sure that his cousin, Willis McGahee is talking up Butler to Ravens personnel, too!

Next on the clock: Indianapolis Colts

See entire Hybrid Mock Draft here

Related posts:

1. Hybrid Mock Draft Results
2. Steelers & Ravens Draft Blueprints

25. Miami Dolphins

-Aaron Maybin (OLB-DE/Penn St)

Aaron Maybin (NFL.com)

The Big Tuna (Bill Parcells) engineered the comeback of the decade by turning the 1-15 Miami Dolphins into the 11-5 AFC East divisional champs. He addressed some of the teams’ most pressing needs in the ’08 draft, working hard to build the trenches and lay a strong foundation for the running game. This season Miami should be looking to add depth and to create some more in-house competition. The place Parcells especially likes to develop is the linebacking corps. By no means did the set of 4 starters do a poor job (recording 22.5 sacks). But Pro Bowl OLB Joey Porter is entering his 11th season, and Matt Roth would only benefit from adding a young player to challenge him to play at a higher level.

Furthermore, I looked closely at Bill Parcells draft history, and he has drafted 6 LB’s in the 1st round and 4 in the 2nd round. At every franchise he helped rebuild, he has used a 1st round pick on a LB in at least one of the first 3 years with the team. With the Giants, it was Carl Banks (3rd selection). While with the Jets, it was James Farrior (8th selection). In New England, Parcells used the 4th pick on Willie McGinest. And in Dallas, Demarcus Ware, Bobby Carpenter, and Anthony Spencer (picked 11th, 18th, 26th respectively).   The average height of his drafted LB’s is 252 lbs and stands 6’3 1/2 inches tall.

If one of the top 3-4 OLB’s falls into his lap at 25, I believe he will count his blessings and choose that player.

Aaron Maybin is an intriguing prospect. He has been praised for having a superior burst off the edge, plays with high intensity, and has an athletic, lean physique that includes long arms to prevent opposing linemen from getting into his pads. On the flipside, he has been criticized for disappearing for large stretches, not being physical enough at the point of attack, and for possessing a small lower body that can’t generate a decent bull rush.

However, at 6’4 and 249 lbs, he is exactly the average size of Parcells’ linebackers and his productivity is more than sufficient (12 sacks last season).

One last note: Maybin had a solid pro day (ran 4.6 forty yard dash), which might push him back up a few spots. If he is unavailable here, Connor Barwin is also an enticing option for Miami. Clay Matthews is discounted from contention because of size factor and because he might fit better as a 3-4 ILB, which is not a need for the Dolphins at this time.

-Darius Butler (CB/Connecticut)

Darius Butler (NFL.com)

The other primary need that could be worthy of a 1st round selection is cornerback. The Dophins are thin after losing Andre Goodman to the Broncos. Will Allen and Jason Allen combined for a total of 4 interceptions last season. Plus, there is little depth to speak of behind them. Therefore, it seems likely that cornerback Darius Butler will be under consideration by Miami.

An amazing athlete, the 5’10 speedster ran somewhere around a 4.40 forty yard dash at his pro day, and recorded a 43 inch vertical at the combine. He is extremely smooth in his backpedal and high points the football well. Also, Butler’s lack of bulk wouldn’t be too important in the Dolphins off-coverage system.

Butler could break into the nickel spot with relative ease, and maybe crack the starting roster by season’s end.

According to the Miami Herald, Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland has attended a handful of Connecticut games, and Parcells has mentioned how impressed he is with Butler.

Additionally, Bill Parcells has used 3 first round picks on cornerbacks during his NFL career (tied for second most 1st round picks on a single position).

-WR is a need, but Parcells doesn’t use many early picks on wide outs.

Next on the clock: Baltimore Ravens

See entire Hybrid Mock Draft here

Related posts:

1. Hybrid Mock Draft Results
2. Mock Draft (Atlanta Falcons)

-Brandon Pettigrew (TE/Oklahoma St)

Brandon Pettigrew (NFL.com)

The Atlanta Falcons have been searching for a massive run-plugging defensive tackle to go alongside Jonathan Babineaux. But the only first round quality tackle is B.J. Raji. So, the Falcons probably will look to upgrade another serious hole on the other side of the ball. With no serious starter on the roster, GM Thomas Dimitroff wants to find a quality TE to help Matt Ryan’s progression. Although Oklahoma State’s Brandon Pettigrew isn’t incredibly fast, he fits well in Atlanta’s short-intermediate passing game. Besides Michael Clayton (6’4 215 lbs), Matt Ryan has no big targets. Pettigrew has ideal size (6’5 255 lbs) and excels in the short passing game. For this reason, I doubt the Falcons will pursue the likes of Jared Cook, who is used to lining up in the slot and is best suited for a vertical passing attack. As an added bonus, Pettigrew’s blocking ability would only bolster an already stellar run game featuring Michael Turner.

-Darius Butler (CB/Connecticut)

Darius Butler (NFL.com)

Losing #1 CB Dominque Foxsworth in free agency hurt the Falcons secondary. Chris Houston is a decent #2, but they still need to find another starting corner in this draft.  If Atlanta either passes on Pettigrew or he is already taken, then the next best value is to draft a cornerback.

The best cornerback  available is Connecticut’s coverage specialist Darius Butler. At the combine, he posted a 43 inch vertical leap, ran the fastest 40 yard dash (4.46 sec) of any defensive back, and showed by far the best footwork of any corner in the draft. He possesses adequate height and weight (5’10 183 lbs), but has good enough instincts to play in either man or zone coverage schemes. In his final season of college, teams stopped throwing to him because of his shutdown coverage ability.

-Robert Ayers (DE/Tennessee)

Robert Ayers (NFL.com)

LE Jamaal Anderson has been disappointing for a 1st round selection after producing a measly 2 sacks over his two seasons in the NFL. Some people have proposed drafting Larry English as a viable alternative. Yet, that would require him to play LE, a position he is ill-suited to play at 255 lbs. The only possibility I can think of for the Falcons if they want to upgrade their edge pass rush in round 1 is Robert Ayers. The Lions might pass on him, in which case Atlanta would have the chance to select him. Ayers is an up-and-coming defensive end, who has loads of upside. However, his 1 year of starting experience makes him a risky pick in the first round. Nevertheless, he is the most formidable end prospect available to the Falcons in round 1 (I’m not a fan of workout warrior Michael Johnson).

John Abraham is perfect at RE, so I don’t see him moving anywhere. Paul Kruger might be an option in round 2 or 3 as a LE candidate.

Next on the clock: Miami Dolphins

See entire Hybrid Mock Draft here

Related posts:

1. Mock Draft (Detroit Lions)
2. Hybrid Mock Draft Results

Here are the NFL combine results for February 24th:

1) Malcolm Jenkins–Ohio St/DB

Malcolm Jenkins photo provided by NFL.com

Bench press- 15 reps

40 yard dash- 4.55 sec

2) Vontae Davis–Illinois/CB

Bench press- 25 reps

40 yard dash- 4.49 sec

3) Alphonso Smith–Wake Forest/CB

40 yard dash- 4.56 sec

4) D.J. Moore–Vanderbilt/CB

40 yard dash- 4.58 sec

Vertical leap-39.5 in

5) Louis Delmas–Western Michigan/S

Bench press- 12 reps

40 yard dash- 4.55 sec

6) William Moore–Missouri/S

40 yard dash- 4.56 sec

7) Rashad Johnson–Alabama/S

40 yard dash- 4.56 sec

Vertical leap-

8 ) Patrick Chung–Oregon/S

Bench press- 25 reps

40 yard dash- 4.54 sec

*Best Performance:*

9)  Darius Butler–Connecticut/CB

40 yard dash- 4.53 sec

Vertical leap- 43 in

Related posts:

1. NFL Combine: February 22
2. NFL Combine Results: February 23