NFL draft: 2009 re-do

25.  Miami Dolphins

Chris Clemons, S, Clemson

Actual pick: Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois

Clemons is another one of those late-round guys who won’t last that long in a re-mock. Davis is already off the board, and Clemons was a solid starting safety for Miami in his five-year tenure with the team, so I’m picking him here with the Dolphins.

26.  Green Bay Packers

Michael Bennett, DT, Texas A&M

Actual pick: Clay Matthews, LB, South Carolina

As I said before, the Packers would get their defensive tackle here. And they do. Bennett has been arguably the best run defender for the Seahawks in recent years – run defense has been something the Packers have struggled with as of late. I actually think Bennett would work out better for the Packers than B.J. Raji did – he seems to be slowing down now.

27.  Indianapolis Colts

Max Unger, C, Oregon

Actual pick: Donald Brown, RB, Connecticut

Center isn’t really a need in the first round for many teams, but right now, it is for the Colts. Jeff Saturday was playing well in 2009, but shortly after, before he went to Green Bay, he started to slow down. Unger would give Andrew Luck (and Peyton Manning, if the Colts were to cut ties with Saturday earlier) a reliable player to take snaps from.

28.  Buffalo Bills

Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina

Actual pick: Eric Wood, C, Louisville

This is where value outweighs need. The Bills obviously needed a center, as evident by the team’s pick of Louisville’s Eric Wood – but he isn’t worth the value for the way he’s played, unlike other centers drafted in the first round in the re-mock (Mack and Unger). The Bills get Jeremy Maclin and Hakeem Nicks in one first round. That’s a pretty nice receiving duo (or trio, if Stevie Johnson is included).

29.  New York Giants

Rey Maualuga, LB, Southern California

Actual pick: Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina

I’m going with the best player available here. Nicks was just taken and there aren’t any more offensive players worth taking in the first round. Maualuga is someone who’s never talked about, but is a solid linebacker for the Bengals. He’d fill the Giants’ need of outside linebacker.

30.  Tennessee Titans

Captain Munnerlyn, CB, South Carolina

Actual pick: Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers

Britt had issues in Tennessee and is now with the Rams. Munnerlyn was a very good player with Carolina and I thought the Vikings got a steal when they signed him for (relatively) cheap. The Titans need a replacement for Alterraun Verner, and locking up Munnerlyn this offseason for the same amount that Minnesota paid would easily solve that issue.

31.  Arizona Cardinals

James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State

Actual pick: Beanie Wells, RB, Ohio State

Wells played well for a year or two, but disappeared after that. Laurinaitis is the best available linebacker and has been a solid player for the Rams – while linebacker isn’t as much of a need, there’s not much other talent left, and I’m going with the best available player here.

32.  Pittsburgh Steelers

Dannell Ellerbe, LB, Georgia

Actual pick: Ziggy Hood, DT, Missouri

Hood has been a little better than average, but Ellerbe would fill the need of an aging James Harrison.