NFL Mock: Round Two

For round one, scroll way down. Here is my mock for the second round, enjoy it.

1. Detroit (0-16): Brian Cushing, LB, USC
Rationale: Detroit addressed its offense in round one. Here, it gives Ernie Sims some help in the linebacker corps.

2. New England - from Kansas City (2-14): James Laurinaitis, LB, OSU
Rationale: Laurinaitis's stock has fallen considerably due to a poor Combine, but he's a sure tackler who has good instincts in defending the run and pass.

3. St. Louis (2-14): Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State
Rationale: Marc Bulger is aging, and while offensive line was a bigger need, it's now filled. Freeman is arguably a first-round pick, and I don't see how the Rams can pass him up here.

4. Cleveland (4-12): Donald Brown, RB, UConn
Rationale: Jamal Lewis isn't getting any younger, and his best days are long gone. Brown can spell him for a year or two while adjusting to the pace of the NFL before taking over a few seasons down the line. He put up big numbers at Connecticut, and showed game-breaking ability at times last season.

5. Seattle (4-12): Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest
Rationale: Smith is an All-American, and tied the ACC career record for picks with 20. His 40 time wasn't great, but his instincts are some of the best in this year's crop of DB's.

6. Cincinnati (4-11-1): Jonathan Luigs, C, Arkansas
Rationale: Luigs should have come out after the 2007 season, where he was the nation's top center. Cincy needs to draft a lineman after getting Crabtree in round one.

7. Jacksonville (5-11): Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers
Rationale: After cutting Matt Jones, the Jags especially need some firepower in the receiving corps. Their offense simply wasn't good last year, and Britt can help right away.

8. Oakland (5-11): Cody Brown, LB, UConn
Rationale: Going along with their round one pick, some defensive help here. Brown had a great pro day, running a 4.6 40 to go along with a 36.5-inch vertical leap.

9. Green Bay (6-10): Sean Smith, S/CB, Utah
Rationale: Their secondary isn't getting any younger. Smith is a versatile beast of a defensive back at 6'4", and he ran a very nice 40 to boot.

10. Buffalo (7-9): Ron Brace, DT, Boston College
Rationale: Had to play second fiddle to Raji, but is a monster at 6'3", 330, and recorded 32 bench reps. It's an appealing package, especially when the DT pool is pretty thin this year.

11. San Francisco (7-9): Jamon Meredith, OT, South Carolina
Rationale: SF could use some offensive-line help, and Meredith is the best tackle left. They could also go for Percy Harvin, but for now, Meredith is the pick.

12. Miami - from Washington (8-8): Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
Rationale: Miami loves guys who can be threats in more than one respect. Harvin is multi-faceted, and can hurt defenses in many different ways, making him a logical pick.

13. New York Giants - from New Orleans (8-8): Jared Cook, TE, South Carolina
Rationale: Cook was nowhere a few weeks ago, but blew up with a 4.5 40 and a 41-inch vertical at the Combine. Kevin Boss is decent, but if Cook lives up to those numbers, he won't be able to compete.

14. Houston (8-8): Andy Levitre, G, Oregon State
Rationale: Levitre is the #2 guard behind Robinson in the draft. It's not close, of course, but given that we're nowhere near the marquee tackles and centers at this point, this is the best Houston will do for upgrading their line.

15. New England - from San Diego (8-8): Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU
Rationale: Jackson is not a great pass rusher, but has been terrific against the run. Since the Patriots usually rely on their linebackers to provide the pass rush, he's a good fit.

16. Denver (8-8): Sen'Derrick Marks, DT, Auburn
Rationale: I've always liked Marks, but his stock dropped due to his low bench total at the Combine. Denver could use some size on the d-line, so it's a logical selection.

17. Chicago (9-7): Hakeem Nicks, WR, UNC
Rationale: This is a move made to satisfy their new QB. Nicks has seen his stock drop a bit due to some off-the-field problems, but he'll be able to play instantly in Chicago.

18. Cleveland - from Tampa Bay (9-7): William Moore, S, Missouri
Rationale: Moore was once a top-15 pick, but he struggled at the Senior Bowl and was just OK at the Combine. Still, he'll jump right into the weak Cleveland secondary and should play a lot right off the bat.

19. Dallas (9-7): Louis Delmas, S, Western Michigan
Rationale: Delmas racked up 100 tackles his senior year. Granted, it was against questionable competition, but the Cowboys need to bolster their defense this season, and Delmas is a good start.

20. New York Jets (9-7): Brian Robiskie, WR, OSU
Rationale: Robiskie isn't a game-breaker, but he's a reliable possession guy who will be a good third option in his rookie season. The Jets need to surround their rookie QB's with talent to establish connections right away, and their two WR picks are indicative of that.

21. Philadelphia (9-6-1): Gerald McRath, OLB, Southern Miss
Rationale: Nobody on the Eagles front seven stands out as a star. McRath is very versatile, having played middle and outside linebacker in college, and his moving around should be an asset down the road.

22. Minnesota (10-6): Pat White, QB/???, West Virginia
Rationale: This is really a flyer pick. White's impressed scouts with his arm strength in workouts, but some coaches have expressed a desire to move him to wide receiver. Given the lack of consistency with remaining QB prospects, as well as the suck factor of Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels, I think this is a low-risk, high-reward situation for the Vikings.

23. Atlanta (11-5): Darius Butler, CB, UConn
Rationale: Butler slipped this far due to a disappointing 40 time at the Combine, but partially redeemed himself at his pro day. He's a steal at this point in the draft.

24. Miami (11-5): Dannell Ellerbe, LB, Georgia
Rationale: Outside of Joey Porter, their pass rush wasn't great last year. Ellerbe was slowed by a knee injury in 2008, but a 4.6 40 and a 35-inch vertical show the knee is just fine now.

25. Baltimore (11-5): Scott McKillop, LB, Pittsburgh
Rationale: Some defensive depth for the Ravens, who are still reeling from the loss of Bart Scott to the Jets. McKillop had an amazing statistical year last year, with 137 tackles and four sacks.

26. New England (11-5): Nic Harris, LB/S, Oklahoma
Rationale: The Patriots love tweeners, and Harris is a great example, having 64 tackles and six pass break-ups. His 40 times have been a bit slow, but hey, they do need depth at linebacker, so maybe that isn't a bad thing.

27. Carolina (12-4): Rhett Bomar, QB, Sam Houston State
Rationale: At some point, don't you HAVE to start looking for a replacement for Jake Delhomme, who turned 34 in January and choked in the playoffs last year? Bomar, of course, transferred from Oklahoma, and threw for over 3,300 yards last season.

28. New York Giants (12-4): LeSean McCoy, RB, Pittsburgh
Rationale: This is a great pick for the G-Men, who get a perfect replacement for Derrick Ward. McCoy is a top-5 running back, and will be a good contingency plan if and when Jacobs gets hurt.

29. Indianapolis (12-4): Victor Harris, CB, Virginia Tech
Rationale: Harris improved his 40 time considerably at his pro day, and picked off six passes this year. He gives Indianapolis more defensive help, something they sorely need.

30. Tennessee (13-3): Jarron Gilbert, DE/DT, San Jose State
Rationale: Albert Haynesworth left a gaping hole in the front line, and Jevon Kearse and Kyle Vanden Bosch are not getting younger. Gilbert is a versatile lineman with size and quickness, and he'll be used well here.

31. Arizona (9-7): Eric Wood, C, Louisville
Rationale: Simple. One of the biggest factors in offensive linemen is consistency. Wood has started 49 straight games and is a two-time All-Big East first-teamer. Enough said.

32. Pittsburgh (12-4): Phil Loadholt, OT, Oklahoma
Rationale: Pittsburgh knows what they need, and that's as many new offensive linemen as possible. Loadholt is a beast at 6'8", 332, and while he's not quick enough to be a left tackle, he'll do just fine on the right side.