2006 NFL Mock Draft

With the ability to update the homepage still impossible, the third annual TheBostonInsider NFL Mock Draft will move to the Daily Blog for the first time. As always when a mock draft is posted by this author, don't for even a second believe that I actually know what's going on -- it's just a way for me to kill some time. 1. New York Jets (from Houston Texans): Reggie Bush, Running Back, USC New coach Eric Mangini makes the un-Belichick move of trading up for a situational -- albeit spectacular -- player. The fans of New York go crazy for this pick now but will they love it two years from now? 2. New Orleans Saints: Mario Williams, Defensive End, NC State The Saints have worked toward rebuilding their offense by signing free agent quarterback Drew Brees. Williams gives them a building block for the other side of the ball. 3. Tennessee Titans: Matt Leinart, Quarterback, USC This pick will come down to Leinart vs. Vince Young but Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow won with Leinart at Southern Cal and believes he can do the same in the NFL. 4. Houston Texans (from New York Jets): D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Offensive Tackle, Virginia The Texans get some much needed extra picks from the Jets to slide down a few notches and select a franchise left tackle at No. 4. You bet your ass that QB David Carr loves this pick. 5. Green Bay Packers: A.J. Hawk, Linebacker, Ohio State The Packers need all the help they can get and Hawk provides a mauler for the defense. I wouldn't be shocked if Vince Young gets grabbed here. 6. San Francisco 49ers: Vernon Davis, Tight End, Maryland Davis is an athletic freak who was the first tight end since the Kennedy administration to lead the ACC in receiving. Alex Smith tips back a few cold ones Saturday night to have this target to throw to for the forseeable future. 7. Oakland Raiders: Jay Cutler, QB, Vanderbilt Young is the name that the whole free world has pegged for this spot but Al Davis isn't comfortable with that throwing motion and Cutler has been tagged with having the best arm in the draft. 8. Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo Bills): Haloti Ngata, Defensive Tackle, Oregon Romeo Crennel will build a winner in Cleveland and he will do it through defense. Ngata is a beast for the middle of the Browns defense. 9. Detroit Lions: Michael Huff, Defensive Back, Texas The first Longhorn taken, Huff gives new coach Rod Marinelli a stud for his secondary. (Yes, that is Vince Young still sitting cold in the green room of TheBostonInsider's mock draft.) 10. Arizona Cardinals: Vince Young, QB, Texas And the fall stops here. Dennis Green won't let the savior of UT go past him. 11. St. Louis Rams: Ernie Sims, LB, Florida State The Rams are a soft bunch. They hope Sims can toughen them up a little. 12. Buffalo Bills (from Cleveland Browns): Winston Justice, OT, USC The Bills liked Justice at No. 8 and they absolutely love him at No. 12. 13. Baltimore Ravens: Chad Jackson, Wide Receiver, Florida Brian Billick's seat in Baltimore is getting hotter and if he's going down, it's with another pass catcher. 14. Philadelphia Eagles: Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio State The Iggles need help on offense. No. 14 may be early for Holmes but Philly grabs him regardless. 15. Denver Broncos (pick aquired from Falcons): Brodrick Bunkley, DT, Florida State Bunkley may have some character issues but his talent is unquestioned. The Broncos could use another disrupter on the defensive line as they try to make it back to the Super Bowl. 16. Miami Dolphins: Kameiron Wimbley, Defensive End/LB, Florida State A player that division rival New England would love to have, Wimbley can play opposite of Jason Taylor immediately. 17. Minnesota Vikings: Jonathan Joseph, Corner Back, South Carolina The Vikings would love for Cutler to fall to them but they will eat up a playmaker like Joseph. 18. Dallas Cowboys: Chad Greenway, LB, Iowa Parcells gets one of "his guys," a tough as nails, hard hitting, walking cliche at linebacker. Greenway temporarily makes the Tuna forget that he'll be coaching T.O. this year. 19. Carolina Panthers (from San Diego Chargers): DeAngelo Williams, RB, Memphis John Fox needs more stability in the backfield and he can't chance Williams getting by New England and San Francisco. 20. Kansas City Chiefs: Donte Whitner, DB, Ohio State One of these years the Chiefs will play some defense. Whitner helps make that date become more of a reality. 21. New England Patriots: Bobby Carpenter, LB, Ohio State Versatile, physical and just plain mean, Carpenter will be welcomed into a world where a 10-win season and a playoff victory equate with being a loser. 22. San Francisco 49ers (pick acquired from Broncos via Redskins): Manny Lawson, DE/LB, NC State The 49ers must replace departed free agent Julian Peterson and the versatile Lawson just might be able to do that. He could be a sleeper in this draft. 23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tye Hill, CB, Clemson Ronde Barber is in need of help in the secondary and the diminutive Hill provides some assistance. 24. Cincinnati Bengals: Jimmy Williams, CB, Virginia Tech If the Bengals are to get by the likes of Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger and Peyton Manning in the AFC, they need a stronger secondary. 25. New York Giants: Laurence Maroney, RB, Minnesota Just some long term Tiki-insurance for the G-Men, a team most likely in line for a slip in '06. 26. Chicago Bears: Mercedes Lewis, TE, UCLA One glimpse at the 2005 Bears explains this pick -- lack of offense. Bid farewell to Southern California and get ready for winters in Chicago, Mercedes. 27. San Diego Chargers (from Carolina Panthers): Antonio Cromartie, CB, Florida State A player with a lot of upside, Cromartie may not be ready to make an immediate impact in 2006. According to this wise scribe, he would be the fourth Seminole defender taken in Round One. 28. Jacksonville Jaguars: LenDale White, RB, USC The Jags take one running back with a hamstring problem (White) to provide insurance for a running back with a hamstring problem (Fred Taylor). 29. New York Jets (pick acquired from Broncos): Mathias Kiwanuka, DE, Boston College Kiwanuka provides the Jets defense with a pass rushing defensive end who could eventually play some linebacker in the NFL. A poor-man's version of Willie McGinest? 30. Indianapolis Colts: Eric Winston, OT, Miami Anyone who saw the Steelers defense pummel Peyton Manning in the AFC playoffs knows that the Indy O-Line needs some new beef. 31. Seattle Seahawks: Ashton Youboty, CB, Ohio State Will they defend the NFC? 32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Brian Calhoun, RB, Wisconsin Another back for the Steel City.