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2007 Mock Draft Last updated 1/24/2007
The draft order is based on the current NFL standings. The Mock Draft is updated each Wednesday through April.
KEY » *
MOCK DRAFT: ROUND 1
PICK TEAM PLAYER POS SCHOOL
1 (1) Raiders JaMarcus Russell* QB LSU
Owner/GM Al Davis loves Ohio State wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr.'s electrifying speed but should realize his team is in desperate need of a quarterback.
2 (2) Lions Joe Thomas T Wis.
Offensive coordinator Mike Martz knows the importance of having a strong line and although Thomas is not as good as the Rams' Orlando Pace, a former Martz player, he projects as a solid NFL left tackle.
3 (3) Browns Adrian Peterson* RB Oklahoma
(pick subject to coin flip) If Thomas is off the board, Browns officials will debate long and hard between Peterson and Michigan defensive tackle Alan Branch but should go with Peterson in the hope his great talent can be harnessed.
4 (4) Buccaneers Calvin Johnson* WR Georgia Tech
(pick subject to coin flip) The Bucs need an offensive spark; Johnson has the strength, hands, toughness and character to immediately boost their passing attack.
5 (5) Cardinals Justin Blalock G Texas
New coach Ken Whisenhunt, formerly the Steelers' offensive coordinator, surely will make improving the offensive line a top priority. He just hired Russ Grimm to coach the unit, so that's a big first step. The Cardinals must better protect Matt Leinart and open more holes for Edgerrin James. Taking Blalock here would be a bit of a reach, so the Cardinals could become a candidate to trade down.
6 (6) Redskins Gaines Adams DE Clemson
The Redskins have talent on defense but lack an explosive edge rusher who consistently can threaten the corner.
7 (7) Vikings Ted Ginn Jr.* WR Ohio St.
The Vikings need offensive firepower, and the super-fast Ginn would give them a downfield threat who makes big plays all over the field.
8 (8) Texans Alan Branch* DT Michigan
The Texans should continue to rebuild their defense. Branch is versatile and could line up in a variety of spots along the line.
9 (9) Dolphins Amobi Okoye DT Louisville
New Dolphins coach Cam Cameron might go with this star athlete because in two seasons Okoye, only 19, will be the best defensive tackle from this year's class.
10 (10) Falcons Jamaal Anderson* DE Arkansas
It's not just because of the familiar Falcons name; veteran ends Patrick Kerney and John Abraham have struggles to stay healthy, and Anderson would give them a young pass rusher to develop.
11 (11) 49ers Daymeion Hughes CB Cal
The 49ers' secondary is inconsistent, and local product Hughes would give them a productive and tough young cornerback.
12 (12) Bills Zach Miller* TE Arizona St.
The Bills have great young talent at running back (Willis McGahee) and wide receiver (Lee Evans). Miller would give quarterback J.P. Losman yet another big-play option.
13 (13) Rams Paul Posluszny OLB Penn State
Rams officials would prefer to draft an edge pass rusher, but none figure to be available at this spot. Instead, the team should take the top linebacker on the board.
14 (14) Panthers Greg Olsen* TE Miami (FL)
Panthers coaches have concerns at safety and would consider LSU's LaRon Landry if available, but the chance to finally add an explosive tight end to the offense makes too much sense.
15 (15) Steelers Leon Hall CB Michigan
The Steelers' secondary was inconsistent and riddled by injuries in '06, and the team would be wise to add the physical and productive Hall.
16 (16) Packers Kenny Irons RB Auburn
Packers officials want a running back and will debate long and hard about whether to take Irons, Ohio State's Antonio Pittman or Cal's Marshawn Lynch. Irons is the safest option and also has the most big-play speed.
17 (17) Jaguars Anthony Spencer DE Purdue
The Jaguars must upgrade their outside pass rush, and Spencer would give them a productive pass rusher.
18 (18) Bengals DeMarcus Tyler DT NC State
The Bengals must improve their interior defensive line, and the raw Tyler would give them a talented young lineman who could play in the near future.
19 (19) Titans Dwayne Jarrett* WR USC
The Titans, with Vince Young at the helm, improved greatly down the stretch in '06 despite mediocre wide receivers. Jarrett would give Young a major weapon outside as he continues to develop.
20 (20) Giants Marshawn Lynch* RB Cal
The Giants have a surprising number of needs, but Tiki Barber has retired and the coaches are not sold on backup Brandon Jacobs becoming the feature back. Lynch would be a fine complement to Jacobs.
21 (21) Broncos Darrelle Revis* CB Pitt
The Broncos need to address the Darrent Williams tragedy on the field, and Revis is an elite athlete who can help as a rookie.
22 (22) Cowboys LaRon Landry S LSU
The Cowboys are desperate for an NFL-quality safety to pair with Roy Williams. Landry would be able to cover deep while Williams attacks the run.
23 (23) Chiefs Brady Quinn QB Notre Dame
The Chiefs are expected to go for defense in the first round. If Quinn falls into his lap, GM Carl Peterson won't pass on getting his quarterback of the future to replace Trent Green, who turns 37 in July.
24 (24) Patriots Patrick Willis ILB Ole Miss
(from Seattle) The Patriots' linebackers are old, and Willis has all the intangibles the team covets.
25 (25) Jets Adam Carriker DT Nebraska
Jets are trying to build up their 3-4 defense, and Carriker would give them a versatile player who can play either defensive end position and be able to pressure the quarterback consistently.
26 (26) Eagles Brandon Meriweather S Miami (FL)
The Eagles have a gaping hole alongside Brian Dawkins. Team officials will debate between Meriweather and Virginia Tech's Aaron Rouse and could gamble on Meriweather because of his on-field impact in all aspects of defense.
27 (27) Saints Tanard Jackson CB Syracuse
The Saints need help in the secondary, and Jackson is a tough cornerback with great physical tools.
28 (28) Patriots Aaron Ross CB Texas
Star cornerback Asante Samuel is an unrestricted free agent, so the Patriots could go for the tall and athletic Ross as his replacement. Even if the team re-signs Samuel, Ross still makes sense because Ellis Hobbs is short and more suited to be a nickel back.
29 (29) Ravens Josh Beekman G Boston Coll.
The Ravens' interior offensive line was inconsistent in '06, and Beekman would challenge for a starting job as a rookie.
30 (30) Chargers Reggie Nelson* S Florida
The Chargers have struggled to get consistent play at both safety positions, and Nelson is an instinctive playmaker who makes plays all over the field.
31 (31) Colts Marcus Thomas DT Florida
The Colts, despite a strong run in the playoffs, still have problems in the middle of their defense. That could lead to the team gambling on Thomas, who has All-Pro talent but has had a series of off-field problems.
32 (32) Bears Tony Ugoh T Arkansas
The Bears already have a great team, but adding youth and athleticism along the offensive line is a priority. Ugoh won't be ready to start in '07 but will be soon thereafter.
KENNY IRONS MEASURABLES
Height: 5-10 Weight: 198
40-yard dash: 4.59 10-yard dash:
20-yard shuttle: 60-yard shuttle:
Broad jump: 225-lb. bench:
3-cone drill: Vertical jump:
Wonderlic: 20-yard dash:
KEY » *
Kenny Irons
RB, Auburn
War Room analysis
Strengths: Is a great athlete. Accelerates to full speed in a blink, and shows the agility to make would-be tacklers miss. Shows great vision and instincts to find holes. Runs hard on every snap, and keeps feet moving to run through arm tackles. As a receiver, shows good hands and is dangerous after the catch. In pass protection, is smart and productive; consistently identifies the blitz, picks out his man and stops him.
Weaknesses: Is a little thin, and must add another 10-15 pounds to handle the NFL pounding. Durability is a bigger question after missing a game as a senior because of an ankle/leg injury. Lacks elite explosiveness through the hole to make long touchdown runs. Does not always run with good body lean, limiting his ability to gain yardage after contact. Lacks the size and strength to break tackles.
Bottom line: Irons burst onto the scene halfway through his junior season and quickly became a dominant runner in the tough Southeastern Conference. He is competitive, athletic with decent strength and great balance but does not consistently break tackles -- a must for NFL backs. Irons figures to be an ideal backup early in his NFL career while he adds the necessary bulk. Ultimately, Irons will be a dangerous, big-play back.
Career statistics
Rushing Receiving
Team Att. Yds. Avg. TD Att./TD Rec. Yds. Avg. TD
'02 S. Carolina 47 209 4.4 0 — 4 63 15.8 1
'03 S. Carolina 19 55 2.9 1 19.0 2 8 4.0 0
'05 Auburn 256 1337 5.2 13 19.7 14 164 11.7 0
'06 Auburn 198 941 4.8 4 49.5 10 78 7.8 0
Totals 520 2542 4.9 18 28.9 30 313 10.4 1
Anyone seen him play? This is a pick you don't hear much about, so maybe there is something to it.
The draft order is based on the current NFL standings. The Mock Draft is updated each Wednesday through April.
KEY » *
MOCK DRAFT: ROUND 1
PICK TEAM PLAYER POS SCHOOL
1 (1) Raiders JaMarcus Russell* QB LSU
Owner/GM Al Davis loves Ohio State wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr.'s electrifying speed but should realize his team is in desperate need of a quarterback.
2 (2) Lions Joe Thomas T Wis.
Offensive coordinator Mike Martz knows the importance of having a strong line and although Thomas is not as good as the Rams' Orlando Pace, a former Martz player, he projects as a solid NFL left tackle.
3 (3) Browns Adrian Peterson* RB Oklahoma
(pick subject to coin flip) If Thomas is off the board, Browns officials will debate long and hard between Peterson and Michigan defensive tackle Alan Branch but should go with Peterson in the hope his great talent can be harnessed.
4 (4) Buccaneers Calvin Johnson* WR Georgia Tech
(pick subject to coin flip) The Bucs need an offensive spark; Johnson has the strength, hands, toughness and character to immediately boost their passing attack.
5 (5) Cardinals Justin Blalock G Texas
New coach Ken Whisenhunt, formerly the Steelers' offensive coordinator, surely will make improving the offensive line a top priority. He just hired Russ Grimm to coach the unit, so that's a big first step. The Cardinals must better protect Matt Leinart and open more holes for Edgerrin James. Taking Blalock here would be a bit of a reach, so the Cardinals could become a candidate to trade down.
6 (6) Redskins Gaines Adams DE Clemson
The Redskins have talent on defense but lack an explosive edge rusher who consistently can threaten the corner.
7 (7) Vikings Ted Ginn Jr.* WR Ohio St.
The Vikings need offensive firepower, and the super-fast Ginn would give them a downfield threat who makes big plays all over the field.
8 (8) Texans Alan Branch* DT Michigan
The Texans should continue to rebuild their defense. Branch is versatile and could line up in a variety of spots along the line.
9 (9) Dolphins Amobi Okoye DT Louisville
New Dolphins coach Cam Cameron might go with this star athlete because in two seasons Okoye, only 19, will be the best defensive tackle from this year's class.
10 (10) Falcons Jamaal Anderson* DE Arkansas
It's not just because of the familiar Falcons name; veteran ends Patrick Kerney and John Abraham have struggles to stay healthy, and Anderson would give them a young pass rusher to develop.
11 (11) 49ers Daymeion Hughes CB Cal
The 49ers' secondary is inconsistent, and local product Hughes would give them a productive and tough young cornerback.
12 (12) Bills Zach Miller* TE Arizona St.
The Bills have great young talent at running back (Willis McGahee) and wide receiver (Lee Evans). Miller would give quarterback J.P. Losman yet another big-play option.
13 (13) Rams Paul Posluszny OLB Penn State
Rams officials would prefer to draft an edge pass rusher, but none figure to be available at this spot. Instead, the team should take the top linebacker on the board.
14 (14) Panthers Greg Olsen* TE Miami (FL)
Panthers coaches have concerns at safety and would consider LSU's LaRon Landry if available, but the chance to finally add an explosive tight end to the offense makes too much sense.
15 (15) Steelers Leon Hall CB Michigan
The Steelers' secondary was inconsistent and riddled by injuries in '06, and the team would be wise to add the physical and productive Hall.
16 (16) Packers Kenny Irons RB Auburn
Packers officials want a running back and will debate long and hard about whether to take Irons, Ohio State's Antonio Pittman or Cal's Marshawn Lynch. Irons is the safest option and also has the most big-play speed.
17 (17) Jaguars Anthony Spencer DE Purdue
The Jaguars must upgrade their outside pass rush, and Spencer would give them a productive pass rusher.
18 (18) Bengals DeMarcus Tyler DT NC State
The Bengals must improve their interior defensive line, and the raw Tyler would give them a talented young lineman who could play in the near future.
19 (19) Titans Dwayne Jarrett* WR USC
The Titans, with Vince Young at the helm, improved greatly down the stretch in '06 despite mediocre wide receivers. Jarrett would give Young a major weapon outside as he continues to develop.
20 (20) Giants Marshawn Lynch* RB Cal
The Giants have a surprising number of needs, but Tiki Barber has retired and the coaches are not sold on backup Brandon Jacobs becoming the feature back. Lynch would be a fine complement to Jacobs.
21 (21) Broncos Darrelle Revis* CB Pitt
The Broncos need to address the Darrent Williams tragedy on the field, and Revis is an elite athlete who can help as a rookie.
22 (22) Cowboys LaRon Landry S LSU
The Cowboys are desperate for an NFL-quality safety to pair with Roy Williams. Landry would be able to cover deep while Williams attacks the run.
23 (23) Chiefs Brady Quinn QB Notre Dame
The Chiefs are expected to go for defense in the first round. If Quinn falls into his lap, GM Carl Peterson won't pass on getting his quarterback of the future to replace Trent Green, who turns 37 in July.
24 (24) Patriots Patrick Willis ILB Ole Miss
(from Seattle) The Patriots' linebackers are old, and Willis has all the intangibles the team covets.
25 (25) Jets Adam Carriker DT Nebraska
Jets are trying to build up their 3-4 defense, and Carriker would give them a versatile player who can play either defensive end position and be able to pressure the quarterback consistently.
26 (26) Eagles Brandon Meriweather S Miami (FL)
The Eagles have a gaping hole alongside Brian Dawkins. Team officials will debate between Meriweather and Virginia Tech's Aaron Rouse and could gamble on Meriweather because of his on-field impact in all aspects of defense.
27 (27) Saints Tanard Jackson CB Syracuse
The Saints need help in the secondary, and Jackson is a tough cornerback with great physical tools.
28 (28) Patriots Aaron Ross CB Texas
Star cornerback Asante Samuel is an unrestricted free agent, so the Patriots could go for the tall and athletic Ross as his replacement. Even if the team re-signs Samuel, Ross still makes sense because Ellis Hobbs is short and more suited to be a nickel back.
29 (29) Ravens Josh Beekman G Boston Coll.
The Ravens' interior offensive line was inconsistent in '06, and Beekman would challenge for a starting job as a rookie.
30 (30) Chargers Reggie Nelson* S Florida
The Chargers have struggled to get consistent play at both safety positions, and Nelson is an instinctive playmaker who makes plays all over the field.
31 (31) Colts Marcus Thomas DT Florida
The Colts, despite a strong run in the playoffs, still have problems in the middle of their defense. That could lead to the team gambling on Thomas, who has All-Pro talent but has had a series of off-field problems.
32 (32) Bears Tony Ugoh T Arkansas
The Bears already have a great team, but adding youth and athleticism along the offensive line is a priority. Ugoh won't be ready to start in '07 but will be soon thereafter.
KENNY IRONS MEASURABLES
Height: 5-10 Weight: 198
40-yard dash: 4.59 10-yard dash:
20-yard shuttle: 60-yard shuttle:
Broad jump: 225-lb. bench:
3-cone drill: Vertical jump:
Wonderlic: 20-yard dash:
KEY » *
Kenny Irons
RB, Auburn
War Room analysis
Strengths: Is a great athlete. Accelerates to full speed in a blink, and shows the agility to make would-be tacklers miss. Shows great vision and instincts to find holes. Runs hard on every snap, and keeps feet moving to run through arm tackles. As a receiver, shows good hands and is dangerous after the catch. In pass protection, is smart and productive; consistently identifies the blitz, picks out his man and stops him.
Weaknesses: Is a little thin, and must add another 10-15 pounds to handle the NFL pounding. Durability is a bigger question after missing a game as a senior because of an ankle/leg injury. Lacks elite explosiveness through the hole to make long touchdown runs. Does not always run with good body lean, limiting his ability to gain yardage after contact. Lacks the size and strength to break tackles.
Bottom line: Irons burst onto the scene halfway through his junior season and quickly became a dominant runner in the tough Southeastern Conference. He is competitive, athletic with decent strength and great balance but does not consistently break tackles -- a must for NFL backs. Irons figures to be an ideal backup early in his NFL career while he adds the necessary bulk. Ultimately, Irons will be a dangerous, big-play back.
Career statistics
Rushing Receiving
Team Att. Yds. Avg. TD Att./TD Rec. Yds. Avg. TD
'02 S. Carolina 47 209 4.4 0 — 4 63 15.8 1
'03 S. Carolina 19 55 2.9 1 19.0 2 8 4.0 0
'05 Auburn 256 1337 5.2 13 19.7 14 164 11.7 0
'06 Auburn 198 941 4.8 4 49.5 10 78 7.8 0
Totals 520 2542 4.9 18 28.9 30 313 10.4 1
Anyone seen him play? This is a pick you don't hear much about, so maybe there is something to it.
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