Kiper's updated mock draft

[Green Jets & Ham]

By Mel Kiper Jr., Special to ESPN Insider

Mel Kiper Archive

With just a few weeks remaining before the 2005 NFL draft there is plenty of shuffling happening on the draft board thanks to the results of the NFL combine and individual workouts.

Utah quarterback Alex Smith remains my choice as the No. 1 overall pick in my latest first-round projection, but Auburn running back Ronnie Brown has become the top overall prospect and moved into the No. 2 slot in the first round where he would be a great fit for the Miami Dolphins.

Overall, two quarterbacks and three running backs make up the top five in my latest mock draft, while offensive players occupy seven of the top 10 spots. There are 11 underclassmen (10 juniors and a third-year sophomore) among the 32 picks in this projection.

Keep an eye on the following players, who are on the fringe of the first round and could jump into the top 32 picks depending on workout results and shifting team needs: Khalif Barnes, OT, Washington; Justin Miller (jr.), CB, Clemson; Roscoe Parrish, WR, Miami; Matt Roth, DE, Iowa; Odell Thurman (jr.), LB, Georgia.

1. San Francisco 49ers: Alex Smith (jr.), QB, Utah

A smart player who will pick up an NFL system quickly, Smith has good size, is mobile enough to hurt teams with his running ability and is also an efficient passer who can make all the necessary throws. The Niners likely won't get a good enough deal to move down because there is not a particular player creating a buzz as the surefire No. 1 prospect, but getting Smith would be a good start toward revamping a struggling offense.

2. Miami Dolphins: Ronnie Brown, RB, Auburn

Brown is the top running back available after his outstanding combine workout. He showed impressive speed for a 230-pounder, he can catch the ball out of the backfield and also has excellent instincts and quickness, something new Dolphins coach Nick Saban knows all about having coached against Brown in the SEC while at LSU.

3. Cleveland Browns: Aaron Rodgers (jr.), QB, California

Rodgers is a smart, accurate passer with a quick release. His arm strength is adequate and he put height questions to rest at the combine. Rodgers is a better prospect at this point in his career than former Cal QB Kyle Boller, now the starter for the Baltimore Ravens.

4. Chicago Bears: Cedric Benson, RB, Texas

The Bears addressed their need for a big-time wideout with the free agent signing of Muhsin Muhammad and Benson would give quarterback Rex Grossman two topflight weapons to help out on offense. Benson is a tough, productive runner who can go the distance and always showed up in his team's biggest games.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Carnell Williams, RB, Auburn

A creative, deceptive runner with tremendous natural skills. Williams can get tough yards inside despite lacking ideal size, a point illustrated by his 29 rushing TDs over the last two years, and Tampa coach Jon Gruden is very familiar with him after coaching Williams in the Senior Bowl.

6. Tennessee Titans: Adam Jones (jr.), CB, West Virginia

A good cover man who will also contribute as a kick returner, Jones has very good closing speed and is a willing tackler in run support. That may be his most important quality with the NFL hurting pass defenses by focusing on downfield infractions by defensive backs. Jones also fills a major need after hits in free agency.

7. Minnesota Vikings (from OAK): Braylon Edwards, WR, Michigan

Edwards' size, strength, speed and overall athleticism would go a long way toward filling the void left by the trade of Randy Moss, which is how the Vikings acquired the selection in the first place. Minnesota also has needs on defense but can address them later in the first round.

8. Arizona Cardinals: Derrick Johnson, OLB, Texas

The best pure linebacker in the draft, Johnson has sideline-to-sideline speed and is always around the ball. His consistency would be welcome on a defense looking for playmakers.

9. Washington Redskins: Mike Williams (jr.), WR, USC

Williams has the size and strength to dominate corners with his 6-foot-5, 230-pound frame. He must answer questions about his speed, but beyond that his hands, body control and natural receiving skills make him a very attractive package for a team that needs to help quarterback Patrick Ramsey.

10. Detroit Lions: Dan Cody, DE, Oklahoma

The Lions need their front seven to get more pressure on the quarterback and Cody would help with his fiery attitude and relentless motor. He stepped up in big games and was one of the most consistent performers on a defense full of stars.

11. Dallas Cowboys: Shawne Merriman (jr.), DE/OLB, Maryland

A workout warrior with incredible physical skills, Merriman would be an ideal end/linebacker combo in a 3-4 scheme. He fits the mold of Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest, who was the first draft pick of Cowboys coach Bill Parcells when Parcells began his tenure in New England.

12. San Diego Chargers: Marcus Spears, DE, LSU

The Chargers need more playmakers on the front seven and Spears would be a good option for providing pressure along the defensive front. He boosted his stock immensely with a great week of work at the Senior Bowl.

13. Houston Texans: Alex Barron, OT, Florida State

Texans quarterback David Carr is improving but needs more protection, making the versatile Barron an ideal fit. He is very strong in the lower body and has quick feet in pass protection.

14. Carolina Panthers: Troy Williamson (jr.), WR, South Carolina

Williamson showed great speed at the combine and would be a nice option for a team that lost Muhsin Muhammad in free agency. Williamson did not play in a passing offense in college but has the speed all teams are looking for.

15. Kansas City Chiefs: Carlos Rogers, CB, Auburn

The Chiefs likely will dedicate most of their draft to defense, and Rogers is a good place to start. He was Auburn's best defensive player last season, Rogers can support the run or excel in pass coverage and has plenty of experience against top-shelf collegiate competition.

16. New Orleans Saints: Jammal Brown, OT, Oklahoma

Brown is equally adept in pass and run blocking, using his quick feet and long arms to move defensive linemen away from the action.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Travis Johnson, DT, Florida State

Johnson has the size and strength to be a force up front. He raised his stock throughout the 2004 season and would give the Bengals some beef along the defensive front.

18. Minnesota Vikings: Fabian Washington (jr.), CB, Nebraska

Washington was the talk of the combine after running the 40 in 4.28 seconds, and his speed and athleticism are just what the Vikings need in a secondary that struggled against top wideouts and quarterbacks last season.

19. St. Louis Rams: David Pollack, DE, Georgia

Pollack plays with tremendous intensity and his motor does not stop. He makes up for a lack of size with good initial quickness and great closing speed, but his 40 time at the combine was a bit disappointing and he will have to show more speed during his individual workout.

20. Dallas Cowboys (from BUF): Roddy White, WR, UAB

Averaged 20 yards per catch during his senior season and was very good at both the Senior Bowl and the combine. The acquisition of quarterback Drew Bledsoe means the Cowboys will have to find him some help in the passing game.

21. Jacksonville Jaguars: Antrel Rolle, CB, Miami

The Jags are thin in the secondary and need a player with Rolle's speed and toughness, a player who can be solid in coverage and also a force in run support.

22. Baltimore Ravens: Erasmus James, DE, Wisconsin

James is an outstanding pass rusher who also plays the run very well thanks to his strength and quickness. He will have to answer a bit of a speed question after a disappointing 40 at the combine, and there are also durability concerns since he missed all of 2003 and part of 2004 with various injuries.

23. Seattle Seahawks: Shaun Cody, DE/DT, USC

Cody would be a nice addition to a line that already includes Pro Bowl player Chad Brown. Cody has the size and versatility to play end or tackle and was a major force for the nation's leading rush defense.

24. Green Bay Packers: Thomas Davis (jr.), S/OLB, Georgia

Davis played safety in college but has the size and speed to move to outside linebacker at the pro level. He is a punishing tackler who is always around the ball and would form a nice outside tandem with Nick Barnett.

25. Denver Broncos: Demarcus Ware, DE/OLB, Troy

Ware would fit perfectly in Denver's new 3-4 scheme with his ability to either play on his feet or put his hand on the ground in a three-point stance. He is not physically imposing but has shown the necessary speed and burst.

26. New York Jets: Marlin Jackson, CB, Michigan

His combine performance showed Jackson has the speed to be a true corner and not a safety/corner combo like he was in college.

27. Atlanta Falcons: Brodney Pool (jr.), S, Oklahoma

Another OU standout, Pool has tremendous instincts and is always in the middle of the action. He led the Sooners in tackles last season, showing his willingness to mix things up in run support, and he is adequate in pass coverage.

28. San Diego Chargers: Mark Clayton, WR, Oklahoma

Clayton has speed, quickness and elusiveness that make him dangerous after the catch. He would round out a receiving corps bolstered by the addition of WR Keenan McCardell and the emergence of TE Antonio Gates.

29. Indianapolis Colts: Channing Crowder (3rd so.), MLB, Florida

An impressive physical specimen who adjusted immediately to top-level collegiate competition, Crowder has ideal size and athletic skills for a man in the middle.

30. Pittsburgh Steelers: Heath Miller (jr.), TE, Virginia

There is some question whether Miller will be able to work out before the draft due to a pelvic injury, but he still remains the best tight end prospect and would give Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger a nice option in the middle of the field.

31. Philadelphia Eagles: Jerome Mathis, WR, Hampton

Played at the Division I-AA level in college but showed at the Gridiron Classic and the combine he belongs with the big boys. He dominated Hampton's playoff game this season and was the best player on the field at the Gridiron thanks to his overall athleticism.

32. New England Patriots: Barrett Ruud, LB, Nebraska

His speed and athletic ability made him Nebraska's all-time leading tackler and Ruud would help the Patriots get younger at a key position, a big key with the health of Teddy Bruschi in question.

[Green Jets & Ham]

See what the combines can do for a player?

Three players ran a Sub 4.3 forty ... Fabian Washington, Jerome Mathis and Stanford Routt ... two of the three {Mathis and Fabian} are now in Kiper's 1st RD projection

And don't think CB Stanford Routt hasn't helped himself as well ... at 6'1" and running in the 4.2's, you best believe he improved his draft positioning as well ... prior to the combines he was a raw day two projection, but now I'll be surprised if he's still on the board when day one concludes

[TheBrodyMan]

I just hope Bradway doesnt become a sucker for the combines. Honestly, if you draft based on performance and dont let the combines weigh your decisions too much, you tend to really benefit from the combines because everyone else drops if their combine wasn't overly impressive.

Pretty ironic, don't you think?

[Green Jets & Ham]

Brody, I tend to shy away from workout warriors as well ... at least in the 1st Round

In the 1st Round you need to draft outstanding football players ... that has to be the first criteria ... and if he happens to workout impressively as well, all the better, but the workouts are the second criteria and not the first

Jerome Mathis, IMO, is the best pick of the three players who ran Sub 4.3's at the combines because first and foremost he was a very productive player at Hampton ... his YPC was some obscene number like 27.0 or 28.0 over his Junior and Senior seasons combined ... so when you add in his size/speed ratio {6' 0"/4.2's} he becomes a very desirable player

It's not either/or that makes Mathis special ... it's the combination of production, size, and speed that is off the charts

[PFSIKH]

That would make Alk happy.

[R44]

Hammer, note the Eagles-Mathis link I've posted before?

Is it just in people minds for no reason, or there something to it?

By the way, when I was watching the Combine, Jackson ran a 4.6 (4.59)?

Not saying he can't play CB, but that's not great--as Melly Mel implies.

[TomShane]

That draft depresses me to no end. Marlin Jackson? Oy. Let's hope it's just a case where Gary Wychard was the co-author.

[faba]

I do not like his pick of Jackson-right now with our offensive line situation we have to take barnes in this scenerio at tackle.

I see again where Matt Roth is not getting any respect-now here from Kiper.

Pats get a good pick in Ruud for them to shore up their linebacker corps.

[Green Jets & Ham]

If the board fell that way I would have to take Justin Miller

If we sign a FA Corner, it would be Clayton or Mathis ... and I'd lean towards Mathis cause his upside is enormous

[faba]

If the board fell that way I would have to take Justin Miller

If we sign a FA Corner, it would be Clayton or Mathis ... and I'd lean towards Mathis cause his upside is enormous

GJ & Ham what about the state of our offensive line situation-right now it is prety shaky-would you take Barnes here at 26.

[TomShane]

GJ & Ham what about the state of our offensive line situation-right now it is prety shaky-would you take Barnes here at 26.

I didn't even see that Barnes wasn't picked. IMO, that would have to be my pick as well. Bit thinks he's got bust written all over him, but if he has any kind of a mean streak, along with the obvious physical skills, I'd take him.

[Green Jets & Ham]

If it was Jammal Brown sitting there at 26 I would take him in two seconds flat, but Barnes scares me cause he prefectly describes the type of player I said I would avoid in the 1st RD ... workout warrior who was not a dominant player

My 1st RD Picks, first and foremost, have to be dominant players ... and then if they workout impressively as well, all the better

[Alk]

That would make Alk happy.

I like this draft, I like it alot. RUUUUUUUUUUUDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!! 8)

[JonEJet]

If it was Jammal Brown sitting there at 26 I would take him in two seconds flat, but Barnes scares me cause he prefectly describes the type of player I said I would avoid in the 1st RD ... workout warrior who was not a dominant player

My 1st RD Picks, first and foremost, have to be dominant players ... and then if they workout impressively as well, all the better

I don't like Barnes either

A few months ago he was projected as a 3rd rounder at best

Now i the 1st...scary

Hey Tom, I like that Terry guy from the Cuse

you watch them, what do you think

Reyes too??

[stormshadow19]

While I'm a Michigan fan and Marlin is my boy, I cannot approve of his pick at 26. He could very well be had in the second round, at the Jets pick.

Also... Dan Cody for the Lions? Not when they need another tackle, saftey, and any number of things before another defensive end.

[R44]

That draft depresses me to no end. Marlin Jackson? Oy. Let's hope it's just a case where Gary Wychard was the co-author.

TS, sounds like a Kiper-Wichard special...

Look, I'm not gonna fret the 40 times too much, but Mel is talking stupid if he's a player running 4.59's at the combine have impressive CB....My goodness, even was fast last week, except a few--all the white DB's and WR's ran sub 4.5 according to inside the league, so I don't want to listen to the "slow track" excuse anymore :twisted:

Point?

Jackson would be an awful 1st rounder...

*******

By the way Husker, Bitonti finally listened to me and placed Ruud in his "big board"...

He's become such an obvoius pick for the Patriots, I bet it can't happen

http://draftdaddy.com/prospects/bigBoard.cfm

[TomShane]

I don't like Barnes either

A few months ago he was projected as a 3rd rounder at best

Now i the 1st...scary

Hey Tom, I like that Terry guy from the Cuse

you watch them, what do you think

Reyes too??

Jon, Adam Terry has prototype size, but will be a major project. Because of Pasqualoni's idiocy, the Cuse has run the option (poorly) for the whole time that Terry was there. He has never had to do any real pass-pro and will struggle mightily versus any legit NFL end. He may develop because all accounts have him as a hard-working kid with a good attitude, but IMO, you can get the same value in the 4th round. I think Terry will slip. He also struggled with mobility at the combine (I believe) and that doesn't surprise me at all. Premier size, not a premier talent.

[Alk]

By the way Husker, Bitonti finally listened to me and placed Ruud in his "big board"...

He's become such an obvoius pick for the Patriots, I bet it can't happen

http://draftdaddy.com/prospects/bigBoard.cfm

He is an obvious pick and that's what scares me. Just watching him at Nebraska, I swear, he's the closest thing I've seen to Tedy Bruschi. He's not a superior athlete in any way, he's just quick at reading plays and always seems to be around the ball. I really hope he lands in New England but like you said, it's way too obvious.

[JonEJet]

Shane

Answer that damn question

Reyes??