Swamp Mock Draft 2.0

The first of July is here and it's time for another mock draft for your Swamp Football League. A word of congratulations to begin, this has been the most active offseason in the 17-year history of the league. It's been great fun and I hope it continues.

1. Los Angeles...Neil has turned into a trading fool. Two separate deals have netted him the #1 overall and #9 picks while only costing himself Trent Green, Matt Schaub, the #10 overall pick, Brandon Jacobs and Reuben Droughns. Is there any doubt any more from anybody why Neil is the defending champion and one of the most successful owners in Swamp History? He has never rebuilt. He always reloads. The pick here has to be Adrian Peterson. For several reasons. First, there's the whole creepy and icky Vikings thing. Not that there's anything wrong with that. And there's the creepy and icky depth problem he has in the backfield. Domanick Davis missed all of last season, Mike Bell didn't live up to expectations, Jerious Norwood is at least a year away, Chester Taylor is already the Vikes RB1 but for how long, and Brian Westbrook is as durable as a set of tissue-paper whitewalls. RB help is needed and Peterson has to be the pick to team up with Stephen Jackson.

2. Trenton...Calvin Johnson. End of story. He's a 20-TD season waiting to happen. It won't be this year, but it won't be too long down the road. My spies tell me that this pick isn't in play for ANY sort of trade offer; that hell or high water Johnson goes to Trenton.

3. Little Rock...Needs some WR help. Isaac Bruce was a teammate of Moses at Jerusalem South H.S, Mark Clayton played like a little girl last year, is Troy Edwards still in the league? Brandon Lloyd? Michael Robinson? Excuse me, I threw up in my mouth a little. Any of the three of the remaining four first round WR's could go here (except Ted Ginn). Methinks Craig Davis makes the most sense as Philip Rivers is on this team and needs an outside threat to balance Antonio Gates. Pick: Davis.

4. Rekjavik...RB Marshawn Lynch. Steve Sr. has to feel fortunate to get a RB1 in this position. Anthony Thomas is only temporary help in Buffalo. Lynch will get plenty of opportunities to be the man if he can stay healthy. Besides, RB depth is thin after McAllister and McGahee. Pick: Lynch.

5. San Jose....RB Brandon Jackson. After Rudi Johnson and Julius Jones, San Jose is in a rising pile of doggy doo. With Peterson and Lynch off the board, he needs a back who will get touches as soon as possible. That's Jackson. Unless the Packers go out and trade for Larry Johnson (yeah, right) or sign Corey Dillon (possible). Jackson, even though a third-rounder in real-life, has to be the pick here. Or, this could be a trade spot. San Jose is loaded at QB with Leinart, Eli Manning, McNabb and Favre. Perhaps a package of this pick and a young QB could bring an established back. Possibly Shaun Alexander? Pick: Jackson.

6. Jackson...Active in the trade market, Jackson has answered RB depth issues by acquiring Joseph Addai. They've also improved depth at QB by getting Trent Green and Duante Culpepper. Green is a one-year guy and who knows if Culpepper will ever regain his form. Regardless, Jackson can go after a young QB here and will likely take JaMarcus Russell. Why not? Three RB's are gone, and LT still plays in Jackson with Addai, Ahman Green, and Thomas Jones so this position is pretty well covered. Pick: Russell.

7. East St. Louis....Needs WR depth. Robert Meacham is likely the best remaining WR on the board. Plaxico, the aging Joey Galloway, Antonio Bryant, Terrance Copper, Vincent Jackson, Michael Jenkins and Nate Williams scare nobody. Help is needed here and any of the two worthwhile first round WR's Meacham or Bowe could go, but Meacham seems closer to getting meaningful playing time and is thus the pick here. Pick: Meacham.

8. Kansas City....Needs WR help, although upgrading from Roy Williams to Reggie Wayne is significant. TE is now an issue after moving last year's #10 overall Vernon Davis, don't expect a TE to go here at 8 or 10 as there is very little worthwhile at that position. If Brandon Jackson is available, that might be a possibility here as KC likes to take RB's. But, as in mock draft 1.0, if Sidney Rice is available that will be the pick here. For whatever reason, this owner has fixated on certain WR's with very little success. Kevin Dyson, Charles Rogers and Larry Fitzgerald to name a few. Rice is next in line. Next Dyson? Next Fitzgerald? You pays your money and you takes your choice. Pick: Rice.

9. Los Angeles...Another RB is possible here. Chris Henry or Kenny Irons would be the best remaining options at this position, but it would be very hard to pass up WR Anthony Gonzalez. Gonzalez will work out of the slot in Indy this year, a position that is worth 6-8 touchdowns (see Stokley, Brandon). Marvin Harrison is 34 and eventually, Gonzalez will spread wide with Wayne after Harrison slows down. Having a matchup with Peyton Manning is worth the pick here. Pick: Anthony Gonzalez.

10. Kansas City...Gonzalez, if he's on the board will be the pick here. But, if he's gone, KC looks QB to build some depth. Brady Quinn will likely be on the board, and still waiting in the green room, and with only Tom Brady as the starter and very little quality depth behind him, Quinn has to be the pick, unless a young QB is acquired through another deal somehow. Pick: Brady Quinn.

Fargo and Port Washington do not have first round picks. Fargo picks at 11 and will likely grab whatever RB is available. Kenny Irons or Chris Henry have to be taken here.

Port Washington has two second round picks, 18 and 19, and will try to build RB depth. After Gore and James, PW is sitting on Cedric Benson, Kevan Barlow, LaDell Betts, and Thomas Jones. An upgrade is necessary here. If Irons or Henry are still available, one of them goes here. With Bulger and Schaub on board, perhaps a young QB like John Beck might play here or possibly Ted Ginn if he falls all the way down here.

Don't forget, the 17th Swamp Football Draft is at noon on Saturday, August 25.