- Oakland Raiders – Jamarcus Russell. QB – L.S.U
Common sense says the Raiders have to take Russell. But when have the Raiders ever exhibited common sense? Yes, Calvin Johnson is tempting but owner Al Davis is in love with Russell’s arm strength and he is calling the shots.
- Detroit Lions – Calvin Johnson. WR – Georgia Tech.
Another receiver in the first round for the Lions. That will be four in five years. But Johnson is different; he is about as can’t miss as a player can be. Don’t be surprised if Tampa Bay trades up for Johnson.
- Cleveland Browns – Adrian Peterson. RB – Oklahoma
Peterson gives the Browns the rushing attack that they need for the next 8-10 years. Coach Romeo Crennel needs an impact player right away to keep his job and picking Brady Quinn won’t help him this year.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Gaines Adams. DE – Clemson
Adams is the perfect player for the fast defensive line the Bucs use. Adams is the player the Lions covet though, so if a trade happens after both picks are made it wouldn’t be a shocker.
- Arizona Cardinals – Joe Thomas. LT – Wisconsin.
Matt Leinart can’t get the ball to his receivers if he spends most of his time on his back. Thomas is the prototypical left tackle to anchor the Cardinals line for years.
- Miami Dolphins (Trade with Washington) – Brady Quinn. QB – Notre Dame
If Quinn gets past Cleveland take this one to the bank. Washington wants to get out of this pick and gain another first day pick and the Dolphins have needed a quarterback since Dan Marino retired.
- Minnesota Vikings – Laron Landry. S – L.S.U
The Vikings really need a receiver but with no wide out earning a high enough grade for the pick they take Landry. Landry is a ball hawk of a safety and he hits like a truck. He will surely help one of the worst pass defenses in the league.
- Atlanta Falcons (f/Hou) – Amobi Okoye. DT – Louisville.
Okoye is only 19 years old and has shown scouts that he has a ton of potential. With Bobby Petrino as the new coach in Atlanta look for him to bolster his defensive line with one of his former players.
- Washington Redskins (f/Mia) – Alan Branch. DT – Michigan.
The Redskins really want Okoye but if he’s off the board look for them to take Branch. At 323 pounds Branch will fill a big hole in the Redskins line and provide a pass rush for a unit that only had 19 sacks last season.
- Houston Texans (f/Atl) – Levi Brown. OT – Penn State.
Ideally the Texans would want Peterson to slip past the Browns at pick three to make up for their mistake last year passing on Reggie Bush. The Texans will instead look to protect their new quarterback Matt Schaub.
- San Francisco 49’ers – Adam Carriker. DE – Nebraska.
The Niners are a team on the rise. Last year they focused on offense with Frank Gore and Vernon Davis. Carriker will provide the defense with the big end they need in their 3-4 scheme.
- Buffalo Bills – Patrick Willis. ILB – Mississippi.
The Bills need a running back but with Peterson off the board and it being too early to draft Marshawn Lynch they address the defensive side. Willis really showed up during his personal workouts clocking a sub 4.4 40 time. He is the premier linebacker of this class.
- St. Louis Rams – Leon Hall. CB – Michigan.
After just trading for Dante Hall the Rams can look to address other needs on defense. The Rams have need to secure their secondary and Hall is the best corner in a weak class for defensive backs.
- Carolina Panthers – Greg Olsen. TE – Miami (FL)
Olsen had an outstanding combine and has been climbing draft boards ever since. The Panthers need to give Jake Delhomme more weapons other than Steve Smith. Olsen will provide a big target in the middle of the field and will be a mismatch for most defenses.
- Pittsburgh Steelers – Lawrence Timmons. OLB – Florida State
After losing Joey Porter to free agency the Steelers need to address their linebacker corps. With uncertainty of whether the defense will stay as a 3-4 or move to a 4-3 Timmons has the size and speed to fit both systems.
- Green Bay Packers – Marshawn Lynch. RB – California
After losing Ahman Green to the Texans in free agency the Packers need a running back to help Brett Favre. Lynch is the next best back in the draft and his explosiveness and versatility will benefit Favre in what may be his last season.
- Jacksonville Jaguars – Jamaal Anderson. DE – Arkansas.
The Jaguars will once again look to bolster their already stout defensive line. With thoughts about addressing their secondary the Jaguars can’t pass on Anderson if he slips this far. He has all the talent to be a top ten pick but his poor workouts will cause him to slip to the mid to late first round.
- Cincinnati Bengals – Darrelle Revis. CB – Pittsburgh.
The Bengals were burned so many times last year on defense that their offense simply couldn’t keep up. Revis has shot up draft boards after posting 4.4 times in his 40 and he is challenging to be the top corner in the draft.
- Tennessee Titans – Ted Ginn Jr. WR – Ohio State.
The Titans are ecstatic that Ginn falls to them at 19. The only reason he falls this far is because of the foot injury he sustained in the National Championship. Ginn will help with their return game after Pacman Jones was suspended for the season.
- New York Giants – Joe Staley. OT – Central Michigan.
The Giants have so many needs it’s hard to pinpoint just one. But with the investment they have in Eli Manning they need to protect him. Staley is a converted tight end that is still learning the tackle position but his athletic ability is too much for the Giants to pass up.
- Denver Broncos – Reggie Nelson. S – Florida.
Rumors are swirling that the Broncos want to trade up to number two to get Johnson but the asking price will be too much. With two safeties over 30 the Broncos need to start thinking about the future. Nelson has the ball skills to be the safety net Dre’ Bly and Champ Bailey need in the aggressive defense the Broncos play.
- Dallas Cowboys – Dwayne Bowe. WR – L.S.U
Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn aren’t getting any younger and its beginning to show in their play. Bowe is a big and fast receiver that can come and play the third receiver until Owens eventually blows up and gets kicked off the team.
- Kansas City – Robert Meachem. WR - Tennessee
The Chiefs always seem to make due with sub par wide receivers because of Tony Gonzalez. But as Gonzales gets older and the Chiefs continue to remake their offense Eddie Kennison and Samie Parker won’t do on the outside. Meachem is a big and fast receiver that uses his large frame well against smaller defensive backs.
- New England Patriots (f/SEA) – Paul Posluszny. OLB – Penn State.
After Junior Seau broke his arm last season the Patriots front seven suffered severely. Posluszny will be the type of player Bill Belichick can mold into the next Teddy Bruschi or Mike Vrabel.
- New York Jets – Jarvis Moss. DE/OLB – Florida
Moss will be the perfect for Eric Mangini’s hybrid defense. At 6’6 250 pounds Moss can run like a linebacker and be physical enough to play against the run. Look for him to be one of the top rookies if he gets the chance to play for Mangini.
- Philadelphia Eagles – Brandon Meriweather. S – Miami (FL).
Brian Dawkins is the heart and soul of the Eagles defense but he isn’t getting any younger. Meriweather is an elite safety that had a rough senior season. He is able to cover the outside receivers and come up into the box and play against the run. In an aggressive style defense like the Eagles, Meriweather will flourish.
- New Orleans Saints – Justin Harrell. DT – Tennessee
The Saints weakness was exposed in the NFC Championship game last season. Harrell will be the big body inside to help stop the running attack.
- New England Patriots – Michael Griffin. S – Texas.
Griffin is the big hitting safety that will replace Rodney Harrison. Griffin is an imposing presence at safety and will make receivers think twice going across the middle.
- Baltimore Ravens – Ryan Kalil. C – U.S.C
Ideally the Ravens want a tackle to replace Jonathan Ogden but with Staley off the board they pick up the best center in the draft.
- San Diego Chargers – Dwayne Jarrett. WR – U.S.C.
Phillip Rivers needs someone else to throw to other than Antonio Gates. Jarrett might not be the fastest receiver in the draft but he has some of the best hands. He is similar to Anquan Bolden, not the best speed but a great route runner.
- Chicago Bears – Steve Smith. WR – U.S.C
Rex Grossman needs more weapons on the outside to stretch the field. Mushin Muhammad is a good possession receiver but their speed receiver Bernard Berrian seems to be hurt more often than not.
- Indianapolis Colts – Chris Houston. CB – Arkansas.
Houston is a speedy cornerback who can help replace Nick Harper. Houston has the talent to be a mid first round pick so if he falls this far to the Colts it would be a steal.
I wrote this and it should be published on Friday, Im making changes till deadline tomorrow morning. What you think?
