1) Detroit Lions- Matt Stafford, QB (Georgia)
The Lions did not acquire Cutler or Cassel so quarterback is still a need. When you have needs everywhere QB is not a bad place to start. Stafford has a good attitude and a huge arm and could end up like Jay Cutler, which would be a nice pairing with Calvin Johnson
2) St. Louis Rams- Jason Smith, OT (Baylor)
The Rams let Orlando Pace go and clearly are looking for a new stud OT. Jason Smith appears to be that. The free agent signing of Brown at center tells me that Spagnuolo is committed to establishing a running game which should be made easier having Stephen Jackson in the backfield.
3) Kansas City Chiefs- Aaron Curry, ILB (Wake)
Aaron Curry has been a monster in workouts and also has the character and leadership to improve almost any defense in the league. While I still think Crabtree is a possibility here, Curry is too hot to fall past the Cheifs and may even get picked by the Rams
4) Seattle Seahawks- Eugene Monroe, OT (Virginia)
The seahawks may look at Crabtree, but with Houshmanzadeh, they now have a more pressing need at OL. Monroe is a great prospect who will eventually be the heir apparent to Walter Jones.
5) Cleveland Browns- Michael Crabtree, WR (Texas Tech)
Curry is off the board and Dante Stallworth apparently doesn't realize that this isn't Grand Theft Auto and you can't just drunkenly run over citizens. Stallworth deserves to be put behind bars and probably will and Kellen Winslow is off to Tampa, leaving the Browns weak at receiver aside from talented but occasionally stone handed Braylon Edwards. Crabtree could make a dangerous combo with Edwards which would be very helpful to Brady Quinn if he wants to avoid being a bust.
6) Cincinnati Bengals- B.J. Raji, DT (Boston College)
B.J. Raji has recently had some legal trouble and now has questions concerning his character, which makes him a perfect pick for the Bengals. The Bengals may have picked up Tank Johnson, but their defensive front is still weak and Raji would help improve the unit.
7) Oakland Raiders- Michael Johnson, DE (Georgia Tech)
Al Davis is the most insane person in the world of sports. I think it is distinctly possible he is already dead and is being kept in his zombie-like state by feeding off a mixture of dead baby seals, 5 hour energy drinks, and former coaches contracts. I formerly had him picking Orakpo who is a better overall DE prospect, but Michael Johnson's 4.49 40 time at his pro day makes more sense for an owner with a boner for 40 times
8) Jacksonville Jaguars- Andre Smith, OT (Alabama)
Some have Sanchez going to the Jags, but I doubt that they will give up on Garrard this quickly. The offensive line was really the source of most of the Jags offensive woes this past season. While Smith has some question marks, he still would upgrade the Jags' line tremendously and should be the pick.
9) Green Bay Packers- Brian Orakpo, OLB (Texas
The Packers are converting to a 3-4 and Orakpo could play the role of pass-rushing OLB in that system. I had them taking Brown, but Orakpo is a better prospect.
10) San Francisco 49ers- Mark "Dirty" Sanchez, QB (USC)
I really want to hear an announcer say "That Sanchez is Dirty!" Football Gods, I know my team won it all this year, but can you just let an announcer say that once next year (preferrably Jon Madden or Joe Buck). I personally think Sanchez will be a bust for whatever team chooses to pick him. However Sanchez was apparently very impressive at his pro day and may prove me wrong.
11) Buffalo Bills- Michael Oher, OT (Ole Miss)
While Buffalo has questions with its defense as well, the offensive line is a point of concern. While Oher's stock has dropped I still think he will be a high pick, as he has a nice skill set and would certainly help Buffalo's OL. Unfortunately Oher will never be able to protect Trent Edwards from Terrell Owens.
12) Denver Broncos: Tyson Jackson, DE (LSU)
Well the Broncos traded Jay Cutler and they now have an additional first round pick and Kyle Orton. They may look to trade up several spots and pick up Sanchez. If they don't Tyson Jackson would be a good pick as he would fit the 3-4 defensive scheme Denver is inserting. Don't be amazed if this pick or Denver's later pick gets traded for Matt Leinart.
13) Washington Redskins- Brian Cushing, OLB (USC)
With the acquisition (and possible overpaying) of Fat Al Haynesworth, the Redskins have a pretty solid DL. However, they need to pair a playmaking OLB with the underappreciated London Fletcher. The Redskins have been pretty bad at drafting though so who knows.
14) New Orleans Saints- Vontae Davis, CB (Illinois)
Given that Saints have to face Steve Smith, Roddy White, and the most secretly enigmatic ( as opposed to blatantly engimatic, aka Chad Johnson) receiver ever in Antonio Bryant, they really need to upgrade their putrid secondary. Davis goes above Jenkins due to questions over Jenkins' position and speed. While Davis was benched in college at points, he has the skill set to possibly be a very good corner. He also has the work ethic to become a Deion Sanders style tackler (which is not a compliment).
15) Houston Texans- Malcolm Jenkins, FS/CB (Ohio State)
Houston has needs throughout the secondary both at corner and safety. As Jenkins could end up at either, I think Houston takes the gamble on a player without a certain position in the hopes that he helps the secondary regardless. They could also go wideout, but picking one of the remaining ones here would be a risk and they could probably get talent at that position in the second round.
16) San Diego Chargers- Rey Maualuga, ILB (USC)
With the return of Shawne Merriman from IR, the Chargers defense will improve next year, regardless. However, they lack talent at the inside linebacker position. Maualuga has three things going for him in my opinion 1) He's samoan, and samoans have been shown to be warriors on and off 2) USC linebackers tend to be successful in the NFL 3) He did this (had to get an Erin Andrews mention in this blog sooner or later).
17) New York Jets- Jeremy Maclin, WR (Missouri)
The Jets let go of Coles and now are very thin at wideout. While Maclin's 40 was slower than expected, he still has very good in game speed and is more polished as a receiver and route runner than Heyward-Bey or Harvin. He also will be a dynamic returner as well.
18) Denver Broncos- D.J. Moore, CB (Vanderbilt)
Quarterback is a possibility but this class is very weak at the position and the Broncos may be just as well served to try and pick one in the second round. Denver's secondary is not much aside from Champ Bailey who was injured last year, so D.J. Moore would be a good pick to help upgrade.
19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Darius Heyward-Bey, WR (Maryland)
Heyward-Bey didn't have great production in college, but to his credit he played in a weak system at Maryland. Kind of like Ewan McGregor's acting talent being wasted by the horrible scripts of the new Star Wars movies. The Bucs have Bryant, but he his production has been up and down. Adding Heyward-Bey alongside self-described "soldier" Kellen Winslow Jr, would make the Bucs a much more dangerous team in the passing game and would give Byron Leftwich much better receiving options than he had most of his career in Jacksonville.
20) Detroit Lions- William Beatty, OT (UConn)
No news here, I still think the pick is Beatty as the Lions try to protect their investment in Stafford by upgrading the offensive line.
21) Philadelphia Eagles- Knowshon Moreno, RB (Georgia)
The eagles have greater needs than running back, but it would be hard to pass on the best running back in the draft at this point. They did lose Buckhalter and Westbrook, while an amazing talent, is not really an every down back. Moreno and Westbrook will be a dangerous combo and I fully expect some fans to come up with a stupid nickname for them.
22) Minnesota Vikings- Darius Butler, CB (UConn)
The Vikings had one of the worst pass defenses once again. While they could probably use an upgrade at receiver as well, the secondary is more pressing an issue. Moore gets the nod over Wake's Alphonso Smith due to better height.
23) New England Patriots- Everette Brown
Everette Brown fell a bit in this draft mainly due to team needs and a couple other picks that shifted. Brown would be a great addition for the Patriots who are looking to get younger at LB after drafting Mayo last year and trading away Vrabel.
24) Atlanta Falcons- Aaron Maybin, DE (Penn State)
Maybin had a great pro day and moved up draft boards as a result. Atlanta has needs on the defensive line and with Maybin's increased stock he may be too good to pass up.
25) Miami Dolphins- Clay Matthews, OLB (USC)
Matthews is a Bellicek type prospect who is polished at his position and will make a nice pairing with Joey Porter on the outside. Apparently USC is very good at producing linebackers as they have three projected first round picks.
26) Baltimore Ravens- Hakeem Nicks, WR (Carolina)
The Ravens could really use help at receiver and pairing Nicks with Joe Flacco would make for a talented young combo that could put stats up next year. Nicks is a great route runner with amazing hands who will complement the speedier Mark Clayton well and could quickly become Flacco's favorite target.
27) Indianapolis Colts- Percy Harvin, WR (Florida)
Harvin is a bit of an unknown at the pro level. However Peyton Manning is a great quarterback and will find ways to get the ball to him in a variety of ways. He helps the Colts receivers after Marvin Harrison was released. Harvin also could help in the running game, where the Colts are not particularly strong.
28) Buffalo Bills- Brandon Pettigrew, TE (Oklahoma State)
The Eagles traded this pick to the Bills for Jason Peters. While the Bills may go after mammoth tackle Ebon Briton, they also have a need at Tight End and Brandon Pettigrew is the best TE prospect in the draft. Lets just hope he doesn't catch too many passes so T.O. won't have a hissy fit.
29) New York Giants-Chris "Beanie" Wells, RB (Ohio State)
The Giants released Burress and have a need at receiver. They could take Britt here but most rookie wideouts don't contribute much their rookie year and the Giants are looking to win I think they trade this pick to the Browns for Braylon Edwards. If they do stay with this pick the G-Men may take Beanie Wells, restoring the 3 headed monster in the Giants backfield.
30) Tennessee Titans- Kenny Britt, WR (Rutgers)
I know the Titans usually don't pick wideouts in the first round, but if they think Nasty Nate Washington is the solution to their problems at wideout, they are deluding themselves. Britt has great size and preformed well at the combine. He could definitely contribute as at least a #3 receiver in an anemic Titans passing attack.
31) Arizona Cardinals- Ebon Briton, OT (Arizona)
With Kurt Warner back, the cardinals should be able to make another run.I previously had them taking Beanie Wells, but with the Buffalo Bills trade shaking up the bottom of the first round Wells is no longer available. While the offensive line has improved the unit could still use an upgrade and the local prospect Briton could make Kurt Warner's final two years much more comfortable.
32) Pittsburgh Steelers- Alex Mack, C (California)
When I look back, I still can't believe the Steelers won it all with such a horrendous offensive line. They were never able to run the ball, and Ben Roethlisberger had to make plays by scrambling to avoid a sack in big games. The most underappreciated play of the Super Bowl had to be the first and 20 on the final drive where Roethlisberger was chased back to the goal line, brushed off a possible safety, then completed the pass to Holmes to make it second and six. I had Unger going here before, but now with Mack available I don't think the Ateelers can pass on such a good center prospect.
Mock Draft Database Link: http://www.hailredskins.com/MockDraft.htm
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