2007 NFL Draft Re-Mock

This is a 2007 NFL Draft Re-Mock, just in case you missed the big blue letters up top. I'm going back to 2007 and re-distributing all of the 2007 NFL Draft prospects to all of the teams in the 2007 NFL Draft order. This 2007 NFL Draft Re-Mock is based on how these players have performed in their careers, as well as the needs each team had back in 2007.

Posted Feb. 13, 2012. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

1. Oakland Raiders: Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech
   Actual 2007 NFL Draft Pick: JaMarcus Russell, QB
   My 2007 NFL Mock Draft Pick: JaMarcus Russell, QB
   
   We all know the story by now. Al Davis wanted JaMarcus Russell. Lane Kiffin wanted Calvin Johnson. Kiffin called his boss out for it, and was consequently fired, with the Oakland owner calling Russell a "great playa."
   
   Megatron is the great playa the Raiders should have selected. He's unstoppable. To be fair, you could also say that Russell is unstoppable - at the buffet line, that is.
   
   
2. Detroit Lions: Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin
   Actual 2007 NFL Draft Pick: Calvin Johnson, WR
   My 2007 NFL Mock Draft Pick: Calvin Johnson, WR
   
   I've been campaigning for the Lions to upgrade the left tackle position for years now. Jeff Backus is a very good run-blocker, but struggles in pass protection. With Calvin Johnson off the board, this selection is pretty simple. Joe Thomas is an elite left tackle who would eventually keep Matthew Stafford's blind side clean. Backus, meanwhile, would shift over to right tackle and provide an upgrade over George Foster.
   
   
3. Cleveland Browns: Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh
   Actual 2007 NFL Draft Pick: Joe Thomas, OT
   My 2007 NFL Mock Draft Pick: Brady Quinn, QB
   
   Joe Thomas isn't available, but I'm sure the Browns wouldn't mind because they'd be able to land the top cornerback in the NFL. Cleveland spent a second-round pick on Eric Wright in the 2007 NFL Draft, so the position was clearly one that needed to be addressed.
   
   By the way, I've said some stupid stuff over the years, but this was a good call: "I don?t believe drafting Brady Quinn is the right move for the Browns organization. Nothing against Quinn; it?s just that Cleveland has so many more holes and could benefit from trading down more than once. However, ownership has hinted that they have some sort of interest in Quinn."
   
   Of course, I gave Cleveland a great grade for taking Quinn later in the first round. Oops.
   
   
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Patrick Willis, ILB, Ole Miss
   Actual 2007 NFL Draft Pick: Gaines Adams, DE
   My 2007 NFL Mock Draft Pick: Gaines Adams, DE
   
   Barrett Ruud used to be really good in the middle of Tampa's defense, but this selection is still a no-brainer because you have to find a spot for the best linebacker in football. Willis could have been used outside as an upgrade over Cato June, who once followed me on Twitter (@walterfootball) but then decided to unfollow me. Sad day.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Arizona Cardinals: Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma
   Actual 2007 NFL Draft Pick: Levi Brown, OT
   My 2007 NFL Mock Draft Pick: Joe Thomas, OT
   
   The Cardinals were set on finding an upgrade at offensive tackle to improve Edgerrin James' run blocking, but perhaps they should have just drafted a new running back. James averaged 3.4 YPC in 2006 and 3.8 YPC in 2007, so he was pretty much washed up. Arizona could have nabbed the best runner in football instead of a very mediocre Levi Brown. What a shame. Just imagine how great the 2008 NFC Champion Cardinals would have been with Peterson complementing Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.
   
   
6. Washington Redskins: LaMarr Woodley, DE/OLB, Michigan
   Actual 2007 NFL Draft Pick: LaRon Landry, S
   My 2007 NFL Mock Draft Pick: LaRon Landry, S
   
   The Redskins registered a league-low 19 sacks in 2006. They needed a pass-rusher, so why not draft LaMarr Woodley, one of the best in the business?
   
   Woodley has thrived in Pittsburgh's 3-4, but he played in the 4-3 at Michigan. He's only 6-2 (most 4-3 defensive ends are 6-3 or taller), but his immense talent would have made up for that.
   
   
7. Minnesota Vikings: Dwayne Bowe, WR, LSU
   Actual 2007 NFL Draft Pick: Adrian Peterson, RB
   My 2007 NFL Mock Draft Pick: Adrian Peterson, RB
   
   From my 2007 NFL Mock Draft: "I know Chester Taylor is a decent running back and the Vikings have greater needs, but I don?t see how they can possibly pass up on a prospect like Adrian Peterson at this juncture. The same applies if Brady Quinn somehow slips to No. 7."
   
   Both Peterson and Quinn fell to No. 7, so it's a good thing the Vikings chose the former. Unfortunately, Peterson isn't available here, so Minnesota will have to settle for another offensive weapon. Dwayne Bowe is an easy pick because the top Viking receivers at this juncture were Bobby Wade, Billy McMullen, Troy Williamson and Martin Nance. Who?
   
   
8. Atlanta Falcons: Leon Hall, CB, Michigan
   Actual 2007 NFL Draft Pick: Jamaal Anderson, DE
   My 2007 NFL Mock Draft Pick: Amobi Okoye, DT
   
   Atlanta's No. 2 cornerback heading into this offseason was someone named Lewis Sanders, so that would explain why it spent a second-round pick on Chris Houston. The right move would have been picking Darrelle Revis at No. 8 overall; or Hall, if Revis happened to be unavailable like he is in this scenario.
   
   
   
   
   
9. Miami Dolphins: Marshal Yanda, G, Iowa
   Actual 2007 NFL Draft Pick: Ted Ginn, KR
   My 2007 NFL Mock Draft Pick: Levi Brown, OT
   
   Sure, the Raiders blew it with JaMarcus Russell, but the Dolphins own the worst selection in the 2007 NFL Draft. People liked Russell, so Oakland's pick was defensible. This wasn't. Ted Ginn was a kick-returner who should have been taken somewhere in the 20s. Everyone laughed at Miami when it introduced a special-teamer as its first-round choice. Cam Cameron predictably would be fired nine months later.
   
   Picking a guard at No. 9 overall would have been met with more disdain, but it would have been the right move under these circumstances. Marshal Yanda is one of the top players at his position, and he would have offered a huge upgrade over Chris Liwienski. No relation to Monica (at least I hope not).
   
   
10. Houston Texans: Lawrence Timmons, OLB, Florida State
    Actual 2007 NFL Draft Pick: Amobi Okoye, DT
    My 2007 NFL Mock Draft Pick: Darrelle Revis, CB
    
    Lawrence Timmons is one of the top inside linebackers in Pittsburgh's 3-4 defense, but he was seen as more of a 4-3 weakside linebacker coming into the 2007 NFL Draft. So, he definitely makes sense here.
    
    Look at some of Houston's starters in its back seven heading into the 2007 season: Shantee Orr, Morlon Greenwood, Demarcus Faggins, C.C. Brown and Glenn Earl. No wonder it took this franchise so long to make the playoffs.
    
    
11. San Francisco 49ers: Jon Beason, ILB, Miami
    Actual 2007 NFL Draft Pick: Patrick Willis, ILB
    My 2007 NFL Mock Draft Pick: Adam Carriker, DE
    
    From my 2007 NFL Mock Draft: "It?s either Adam Carriker or Patrick Willis at this juncture. Both offer tremendous upgrades for San Francisco."
    
    Hmm... I think San Francisco made the right choice. Willis is off the board here, but rather than going for Carriker, how about another stud inside linebacker?
    
    
12. Buffalo Bills: Charles Johnson, DE, Georgia
    Actual 2007 NFL Draft Pick: Marshawn Lynch, RB
    My 2007 NFL Mock Draft Pick: Patrick Willis, ILB
    
    It sometimes feels like decades between Buffalo sacks. That certainly wouldn't the case right now if the team had Charles Johnson rushing the passer.
    
    
    
    
    
13. St. Louis Rams: Jared Gaither, OT, Maryland
    Actual 2007 NFL Draft Pick: Adam Carriker, DT
    My 2007 NFL Mock Draft Pick: Jamaal Anderson, DE
    
    Jared Gaither was technically in the supplemental draft, but I'll include him in my re-draft. Offensive tackle was a need for the Rams back then, as it is now, because a declining Orlando Pace was always getting hurt, while Alex Barron was really struggling.
    
    Jared Gaither was dominant prior to his back injury, but he appears to be healthy again in the wake of a strong finish for the Chargers.
    
    
14. Carolina Panthers: Ryan Kalil, C, USC
    Actual 2007 NFL Draft Pick: Jon Beason, LB
    My 2007 NFL Mock Draft Pick: Reggie Nelson, FS
    
    The Panthers used a second-round pick on Ryan Kalil, but they'll have to take him here if they want to retain him. Kalil is easily one of the top centers in football.
    
    
15. Pittsburgh Steelers: David Harris, ILB, Michigan
    Actual 2007 NFL Draft Pick: Lawrence Timmons, ILB
    My 2007 NFL Mock Draft Pick: Paul Posluszny, ILB
    
    Three separate inside linebackers here. The Steelers clearly had a need at the position, and I'm sure they wouldn't mind any of these three.
    
    
16. Green Bay Packers: Marshawn Lynch, RB, California
    Actual 2007 NFL Draft Pick: Justin Harrell, DT
    My 2007 NFL Mock Draft Pick: Marshawn Lynch, RB
    
    I mocked Marshawn Lynch to the Packers. My reasoning? "The Packers cannot go into the 2007 season with Vernand Morency and Noah Herron, and seriously expect to compete with Chicago for the NFC North title."
    
    Lynch was unavailable here, so Green Bay spent a second-rounder on Brandon Jackson. That didn't work out too well.
    
    
    
    Go to 2007 NFL Draft Re-Mock: Picks 17-32
    
    Sorry for cutting this into two halves; I've received complaints about load times and putting the mock draft on two pages saves bandwidth.
    
    
    

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2005 NFL Draft Re-Mock


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2002 NFL Draft Re-Mock