Wondering where the Mock Draft community thinks Oregon RB Jonathan Stewart will be drafted? Oregon fans know what kind of talent Stewart is, so a few week’s ago I started tracking a handful of mock drafts to see what others thought about him. All the sites agree he’s a first round talent and can have an immediate impact wherever he goes.
For those of you that don’t follow mock drafts know that it is a huge deal for a lot of folks. You’ll see arguments that it seems senseless to try and figure out who and when a team will draft a player. But it truly has become a part of the NFL season. Now that the All-Star games are almost over draft boards will hold for awhile leading up to the NFL Combine (February 20 - 26), then that’s when things get fun. Players will be making money or losing money during that week.
If you play fantasy football chances are you’ve already started ranking this year’s running back class and trying to figure out who the 2008 version of Adrian Peterson will be. Remember that since the 1993 season there has been at least one rookie running back rush for over a 1,000 yards.
Most of the site’s I track I’ve been following for a long time now and enjoy what they have to say. Take a look at The Huddle Report and the TOP 100 BOARD AND MOCK DRAFT SCORES and you’ll see that most of them do pretty well.
NFL Draft Guys 15 Detroit Lions
After tearing his ACL, RB Kevin Jones faces a long rehab in which he may not be ready for the 2008 season. HC Rod Marinelli has stated that the Lions may be in the market for a new RB anyways as Kevin Jones injury could take the same turn that Domanick Davis-Williams’ did a couple of years ago for Houston. Stewart isn’t very flashy as a runner but he hits the pocket hard and has the ideal frame for a pro-ready RB. The Lions do need help on the offensive line and could pursue that here as well.
Pro Football Weekly 14 Chicago Bears
Expect a trade for a proven commodity. The Bears need help in the trenches the most, on both sides of the ball, and could reach to fill a big need. But if they are forced to stay put, it’s time to come to grips with the fact that Cedric Benson has not gotten the job done and is coming off injury. If the Bears want to get off the bus running, they need a workhorse.
Football’s Future 18 Houston Texans
A WR would be nice to compliment Andre Johnson but an all around back like
Stewart is too tough to pass on. He can carry it between the tackles and keep
the chains moving, but can also get outside the tackles and make things happen.
Zobel’s Draft Headquarters 25 Seattle Seahawks
While the Seahawks have Shaun Alexander, he is clearly heading towards the end of his career with his production declining this season. Stewart played in high school in Washington and played collegiately at Oregon, so it makes sense that he’d stay in the Northwest for the NFL. Stewart has a rare blend of size, strength, and speed that you don’t usually see in a running back. He would be a great value pick here for the Seahawks.
Great Blue North Draft Report 18 Houston Texans
Fantasy Insider Online 18 Houston Texans
While the Texans have seen some good production from guys like Ahman Green and Ron Dayne, their rushing attack still only managed 99 yards per game. Now is the time for Houston to bring in a stud tailback. Stewart is just that. He has an NFL body at 230 lbs., and his speed and athletic skills are special.
The Football Expert 18 Houston Texans
The Texans last season used aging Ahman Green and Ron Dayne. Both did decent, but their careers are near the end and the Texans still need that stud RB to complement Schaub and Andre Johnson. Stewartlshould be that running back. With a solid back, the Texans should be able to pick up after a successful season. Cornerback is another option with Leodis McKelvin still on the board.
Walter Football 18 Houston Texans
Darius Walker has been solid coming out of the backfield, and Ahman Green and Ron Dayne are both on the roster, but are any of them really the guy whom Houston can ride into the playoffs? The Texans need to address the running back situation, especially considering the plethora of talent at the position in this class.
Don’t count out a corner like Antoine Cason or Aqib Talib here; the Texans have done everything in their power to take down the Colts ever since they came into the NFL, and a top-notch corner would certainly help. However, the need for a premier running back is too paramount to ignore.
Draft Ace 12 Denver Broncos
This is certainly not the direction Mike Shannahan usually goes with his draft picks, but quite frankly, his direction hasn’t worked lately. He’s lost his touch in producing elite running backs out of no where and its time he goes out and gets one in the draft. Stewart is the type of power running back that Shannahan likes; he’ll fit right into Denver’s system.
Draft Countdown 16 Arizona Cardinals
Every draft has a first round surprise and this could be it for 2008. Word is Edgerrin James may not be around much longer and even so he has a lot of miles on his tires and they could use a quality backup. Jonathan Stewart is a special prospect with the type of speed and burst you just don’t normally find in a 230 lb. running back. Similar in some ways to Jamal Lewis when he was coming out of Tennessee, Stewart is the best player available at this point. The Cardinals also need help in the secondary at cornerback so guys like Aqib Talib and Leodis McKelvin are possibilities here as well.
The guys over at FFToolbox are split between Stewart going to Seattle at the No. 25 spot:
Welser: RB Shaun Alexander is not what he used to be and Maurice Morris is not the answer. The only question is whether or not the Seahawks will want to give up on Alexander at this point and pour some money into another back. Stewart, out of Oregon, would certainly get the local fan base excited, but the team could opt for a receiver or tight end in the first round instead.
Weida: Shaun Alexander is a shell of his former self, and Maurice Morris is not the permanent solution. Jonathan Stewart has a rare combination of size and speed, that will allow him to excel in the pros. Stewart has good hands, and will be embraced by Seahawks fans because of his ties to the Pacific Northwest.
Or at the No. 18 spot to the Houston Texans:
Dimon: Houston’s offense has been looking good when both QB Matt Schaub and WR Andre Johnson are healthy, and it would be even better if the Texans actually stabilized their backfield for once. They passed on Reggie Bush and now it’s time to get a long-term solution at running back. Stewart has the size (230 pounds) and speed to succeed as an every-down back in the pros.
Griffin: Stewart is both thunder and lightning - he’s got the size and strength of a bruising power back, but he’s got the game-breaking speed to run away from you after he runs through you. He’s a triple threat, as a runner, receiver, and returner, so he’ll give the Texans that big-play back that Houston fans (used to) wish they could have had in Reggie Bush.
Draft King 27 San Diego Chargers
This is an interesting spot for the Chargers, as they need to gain maximum value
from this pick since they have traded away (or sacrificed via the 2007
Supplemental Draft) their picks in rounds two, three, and four. San Diego
trading down wouldn’t surprise me at all.
Consensus Draft Services 28 Dallas Cowboys
With Julius Jones and Marion Barber both becoming free agents, it’s likely that the Cowboys will lose at least one of their horses in a successful two-back system. Barber is the one they’ll likely try harder to keep, and if they lose Jones, look for them to add a solid second back to split carries with MB3, as he’s been fabulous in a two-back system. Jonathan Stewart of Oregon is a probable first round pick, as he’s been a huge factor in the Pac-10 for the Ducks. Great size, speed, and kick-return ability helped Stewart become a recognized star, as he racked up 1469 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground this season.
NFL Draft Dog 23 Pittsburgh Steelers
Fast Willie Parker has battled injuries and needs a back-up and Stewart is a proven workhorse. He set the Ducks’ single-season rushing record with 280 carries for 1,722 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2007.
NFL Fans DraftX.com 18 Houston Texans
With Peyton Manning and Co at the top of the division Houston has geared up to stop the high powered attack in Indy with their recent draft picks. In this case, it’s time to compliment that young, improving defense with an elite young back to grind out yards and add another dimension to that offense. Enter Jonathan Stewart who combines power, speed, good hands, all into a stocky 235 lb frame.
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