I’ve posted my new mock draft. It has several changes with at least a few new players that have worked their way into the mix of being a first round pick. By next week I also plan on having one draft chat per week leading up to the draft on April 25th. Continue to check back for more information.

I finished writing my 2009 Draft Preview last night. It is being printed as we speak and will be shipped out starting Wednesday. By tomorrow at the latest, I’ll have a new mock draft posted.

- The Bengals are planning on bringing in Missouri’s Jeremy Maclin for a visit. With Oakland and Jacksonville sitting right behind them, this could be a smokescreen to leverage one of the two teams into a trade.

- Michael Crabtree could be a realistic option for the Browns at No. 5.

- The Dolphins are taking a close look at North Carolina’s Hakeem Nicks.

- Connor Barwin will be taking an official visit with the New England Patriots.

- Rice tight end James Casey could be a great fit in the wildcat offense at the next level.

- Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes has no regrets about returning to school for his senior year.

- If you have the chance, check out Draft Guys TV with Eastern Michigan’s T.J. Lang. Lang’s stock is on fire as we get closer to the draft and he’s been rising up draft boards. Check out the video to see why.

The Jaguars are reportedly interested in Mark Sanchez. What makes this pick intriguing is the fact that Sanchez would be able to ride the bench for at least one or two years and learn the game behind David Garrard. With such inexperience in college, this is something that is badly needed for the former USC quarterback at the next level.

- The Jets would reportedly be “thrilled” if Donald Brown lasted to them in the second round; chances are that he won’t. Brown could go as high as the first round. The Jets have reportedly “cooled” on Percy Harvin and Hakeem Nicks and they may be interested in Brandon Pettigrew.

- The Texans will be taking a defensive player in the first round this year. I know who it’s going to be; check back for my updated mock draft next week.

I’ve received several emails asking when readers can expect a new mock draft. I have until Sunday to finish the 2009 Draft Preview and then I promise that early-next week I’ll have a new mock up with my updated rankings coming towards the end of the week. Expect plenty of changes. Busy time of the year!

We are less than a week away from the release date of my 2009 Draft Preview. Starting next Wednesday, April 1st, I’ll be shipping out the 160-page draft guide. To pre-order a copy, click here.

- With Luke McCown as their starting quarterback, it’s beginning to become rather obvious that the Buccaneers may be planning on using the No. 19 overall pick on a quarterback. With Kansas State’s Josh Freeman being the most likely candidate, here’s what Tampa Bay head coach Raheem Morris had to say about him: “Absolute specimen to look at. Physical. Tall. Big. Big arm. Deceptively quick. Even though his 40 time says 4.8, he’s got that Ben Roethlisberger effect where he’s hard to tackle once you get back there, so you better send somebody blitzing big enough to get him on the ground.”

What’s interesting about Freeman potentially being selected by Tampa Bay is that Morris was a coach at Kansas State in 2006 when he was the Wildcats defensive coordinator, and he has had an up-close look at Freeman unlike most other coaches and scouts in the league.

- For how successful both Scott Pioli and Todd Haley have been thus far in their careers, I do not understand why they insist on switching Kansas City’s defense to a 3-4. The personnel on the team is about as far from being 3-4 plays as you’ll find. Moving Glenn Dorsey to nose tackle, in my opinion, is a horrible move. Dorsey is an explosive player who plays well in the one or three technique, not as a nose tackle and taking on double teams. It’s a waste of Dorsey’s talent to play him as a nose. A 4-3 end, this would also practically take Tamba Hali out of the game, as he’s nothing close to a 3-4 outside linebacker.

- Could New Orleans at No. 14 be a landing spot for Beanie Wells?

- New England has some interest in West Virginia’s Pat White.

- Could Mark Sanchez be an option for the St. Louis Rams at No. 2 overall?

Hakeem Nicks has reportedly added 14 lbs since the Combine last month. Also in the article, his teammatte Brandon Tate won’t be able to start working out until June.

- Michael Lombardi does a good job of outlining how Josh Freeman and Mark Sanchez have seen their draft stock rise this offseason. Both could be gone by the middle of the round.

- Tight end Brandon Pettigrew has reportedly already had a private workout with the Bills and has a workout coming up with the Eagles.

Pro Day Results from yesterday:

- Kenny Britt WR Rutgers: 4.44

- Shonn Greene RB Iowa: 4.50

The Detroit Lions have begun negotiations with “several prospects” as they attempt to reach a pre-draft deal with the player that they hope to select No. 1 overall. While some suggest that Mark Sanchez could be their first option with the pick, and some think that Jason Smith is who they are aiming for, it’s hard to say exactly which player they are looking at until that player signs a contract. As like all other news this time of the year, the names mentioned could be smokescreens by the team in an attempt to gain leverage over the player that they are hoping to sign.

- Things are not looking good for Ball State quarterback Nate Davis. At his Pro Day on Friday, only one team showed up, and that was Indianapolis. Davis’ performance in the last two games of the year, coupled with a learning disability that has some scouts questioning whether he’ll be able to learn a complicated playbook, has brought up talk that he could fall on draft day.

- Mark Sanchez has workouts scheduled with the Jaguars, Redskins, and Jets this week.

Hats off to Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune for gathering these Wonderlic Scores:

Matthew Stafford – 38 – For a future franchise quarterback, this is a great number. He really helped himself with this score.

Mark Sanchez – 28

Josh Freeman – 27

Michael Crabtree – 15

Darrius Heyward-Bey – 14

Percy Harvin – 12

Hakeem Nicks – 11

Jeremy Maclin – 25

Andre Smith – 17

Eugene Monroe – 24

Jason Smith – 23

Eben Britton – 31

Michael Oher – 19

Rey Maualuga – 15

Brian Cushing – 23

Clay Matthews – 27

Kevin Barnes – 41

Louis Delmas – 12

If you’ve been reading my site this offseason, then you would know that I’ve been high on Cal-Poly wide receiver Ramses Barden. As of now, I still have him ranked as my top senior receiver in the draft. After his 4.51 and 4.55 40-times yesterday, there is a buzz that is beginning to build around Barden. A Keyshawn Johnson “look-a-like,” Barden could go as high as the second round come draft day.

- Another player who has started to rise on boards is Florida Atlantic linebacker Frantz Joseph. Check out Draft Guys TV to see the performance that Joseph put on at the Texas vs. The Nation game. Joseph reportedly has a workout scheduled with the Dolphins.

- Florida State defensive end Everette Brown has a workout scheduled with the Kansas City Chiefs.

- There’s talk that LeSean McCoy may have slid out of the first round and Connor Barwin may have entered the mix to be taken among the Top 32 picks.