1. Raiders Brady Quinn QB Notre Dame Senior Quinn could be this year's Aaron Rodgers or Matt Leinart -- a quarterback who slips one pick after another in the draft. In Quinn's case, he will only be picked elsewhere due to hype, and a blind owner. Kiffen should be delighted to see the golden boy from Notre Dame play in silver and black. A no-brainer in overall talent. 2. Lions Joe Thomas OT Wisconsin Senior Thomas was amazing in the combine. A 6-foot-6, 311 lb. beast at left tackle, Thomas impressed scouts after he ran a 4.8 40. He's a sure fire first round pick. Leader, very smart, and works hard to earn his playing time. 3. Browns Adrian Peterson RB Oklahoma Junior Doubts about Peterson were erased after his combine workout over the weekend. He ran a perfect 4.35 40-yard-dash, did very well during interviews and is in great shape. With an upright running style and moves that astonish the most experienced scouts. People are comparing him too, Eric Dickerson. Probably for good reason. Cleveland will be tempted to take both Russel and Gaines Adams in this spot, but how can you pass on Peterson? 4. Buccaneers Calvin Johnson WR Georgia Tech Junior Every team in the NFL have Calvin Johnson as the top rated player on their boards. The three teams ahead of Tampa all have far more pressing needs than WR. So do the Bucs, but Gruden wont pass on, Johnson. His performance at the combine made him look like a potential all-pro. Johnson wowed everyone (even you NYJ fans on these boards), clocking a 4.35 seconds. Ted Gin, who? 6'6, 235 lbs players do NOT run that fast. 5. Cardinals Gaines Adams DE Clemson Senior Adams will undoubtedly be the first defensive player taken in April's draft. I dont know why Adams has slipped since the end of the 2006 season, but at the combine he showed why he should still be the first defensive player taken. Adams blew away his competition by running a 4.64 40. 6. Redskins Alan Branch DT Michigan Junior Weighing in at over 330 pounds, Branch still ran a 5.09 40-meter dash, and benched 33 consecutive reps at 225 pounds. The Redskins D got beat up all year long. Branch is a beafy NT, and has natural ability in playing both run and pass. 7. Vikings Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas Junior Vikings could go receiver or take Jamarcus Russel here, but I doubt Minnesota passes on Anderson. Anderson can be the pass rusher the D so desperately needs. Minnesota's run defense was one of the best in the league in '06, the team had no pass rush to help the "other" important factor with this D. Kenechi Udeze started all 16 games with zero sacks. Erasmus James is still feeling the effects of that 2005 injury. Anderson recorded 13.5 sacks in '06, would be the perfect fit here. 8. Texans Levi Brown OT Penn State Senior The Texans' absolutely need to fix their offensive line. They are going no where for good reason. Their trench's are terrible, and is the most obvious reason behind their failure. All the hype is on Car, but you put Brady back behind center of this team, and the outcome would not be much better. Charles Spencer played well until an injury sidelined him, but there's nothing else going on for this line. Brown makes the most sense here. The second best lineman in the draft, he can start at either tackle or guard as soon as next year. He'll protect the Texans' quarterback right away. 9. Dolphins Raiders JaMarcus Russell QB LSU Junior There were a lot of critics at the combine in regards to Russel. He was described as "doughy", and his passion for the game is in question, and his work ethic is also in question after this combine. In the end, I think he will be fine. Russel did not do any throwing drills at the combine, and that may have shown some lack in confidence. Russel is still a ver raw talent, with a huge arm. Cam is under a QB dilema right now, and Russel would be the best suiter at number 9. 10. Falcons LaRon Landry S LSU Senior Atlanta's WR option is terrible. The only position that could be worse was safety. LaRon Landry was very impressive, and he probably impressed me the most at the combine. (I really wish this was a HUGE need for the Jets) Already considered the top defensive back Landry blew everyones mind when he ran a 4.32 40. A four-year starter at LSU, and the defensive leader of the nation's No. 1 unit in '06, the Falcons would be grabbing a franchise cornerstone by selecting him at 10. 11. 49ers Amobi Okoye DT Louisville Senior San Francisco's defense is a work in progress. With some question marks at both defensive back and defensive line, they can go a number of ways with the 11th pick. Okoye has arguably the biggest "upside" in the entire draft. Only 19, he's an all Big-East performer who's well ahead of the curve. He didn't blow anyone away at the Combine, but apparently impressed team personnel from all over the league in his interviews. San Francisco gave up over 120 rushing yards per game. 12. Bills Darrelle Revis CB Pittsburgh Junior The Bills may have more issues at cornerback than anywhere else on the field. If Buffalo allows Nate Clements to walk as a free agent this off-season, they could be looking at a serious hole to fill at the position. Revis is a lock-down corner who was an interception hound and a dangerous special teams return man in his three years at Pitt. 13. Rams Patrick Willis LB Ole Miss Senior Willis was the star of Mobile at the Senior Bowl a month ago. The Butkus Award winner and SEC Defensive Player of the Year, he recorded 137 tackles and had three sacks in '06. A complete package who can go sideline to sideline, Willis will pay immediate dividends for the Rams' often inconsistent defense. The St. Louis Dispatch reported late Tuesday night that St. Louis was releasing Dexter Coakley. Willis can fill in right away. 14. Panthers Reggie Nelson S Florida Junior Some mocks have the Panthers grabbing a receiver here. And yes, Carolina certainly needs a complimentary piece to Steve Smith at the position. But I see John Fox and co. going defense here. Carolina's safeties underwhelmed in '06. Nelson had 50 tackles, six interceptions and countless huge hits for the BCS Champion Florida Gators in '06. 15. Steelers Leon Hall CB Michigan Senior Though Ike Taylor signed a big multi-year contract last off-season, he was a great disappointment in '06, getting beaten regularly and ultimately benched. Pittsburgh can go a variety of ways with this pick, but I see them going corner, bolstering a pass defense that got absolutely lit up last year. Hall had a solid Combine, getting positive marks from most everyone in attendance. One of the Big Ten's best defensive players, he could start immediately for Mike Tomlin's defense in '07. 16. Packers Greg Olsen TE Miami Junior With Bubba Franks near the end of his pro career and David Martin likely not the long-term answer, the Packers might reach on Olsen and lock up their tight end of the future with the 16th pick. The latest tight end to emerge from the U, Olsen impressed scouts with a 4.45 40-meter-dash, jumping ASU tight end Zach Miller on draft boards in the process.
17. Jaguars Ted Ginn, Jr. WR Ohio State Junior The latest rumor out of Jacksonville has the Jags making a run at Randy Moss. Mike Tice, Moss's old coach in Minnesota, is now with the Jaguars coaching staff. Whether or not there's any truth to it, one thing is certain the Jags' wide receiver situation is somewhat bleak. 18. Bengals Paul Posluszny LB Penn State Senior Few players have ever had a college resume quite like Posluszny. The former Bednarik winner, Butkus winner, and All-Big Ten linebacker recorded 100 tackles in three of his four seasons in Happy Valley. As for being a "character guy", everyone who's ever met the kid says he's a natural leader who brings out the most in his teammates. Cincinnati's had some troubles off the field in the past few years; no need to worry about that with Poz. On the field, Posluszny's a rock -- consistent and productive. There's little doubt he'll be a solid performer at the next level. 19. Titans Daymeion Hughes CB Cal Senior Much of this selection will depend on the future of Adam "Pacman" Jones. As of Wednesday, Jones was still with the Titans. That could all change by the last weekend in April, if not next week. Either way, the Titans can't go wrong by taking a corner in this spot. 20. Giants Marshawn Lynch RB Cal Junior If the Giants can land Lynch at 20, it will be hard for Jerry Reese to pass him up. Though his Combine performance did nothing to inspire the masses, Lynch was as explosive and dynamic a tailback there was in college football last season. Big Blue can go a variety of places at this spot: Linebacker, offensive lineman, cornerback, even wide receiver. I think they go the best player available route. 21. Broncos Adam Carriker DE Nebraska Senior Carriker was terrific in Mobile a few weeks back at the Senior Bowl. Though his senior season at Nebraska featured few awe-inspiring highlights, his overall career in Lincoln was steady, if not superb. Denver's defense glowed in the first eight weeks of the season, only to crumble down the stretch. Carriker will be a nice addition to the unit. At the Combine, he held his own -- keeping himself in the 10-25 range for April's draft. 22. Cowboys Dwayne Jarrett WR USC Junior Though the Cowboys likely have more glaring needs at safety and the offensive line, Jerry Jones would be delighted to scoop up a talent like Jarrett with the 22nd pick. Dallas's passing game was among the league's best in '06. However, the Cowboys starting wideouts are not getting any younger. Terrell Owens is 33. Terry Glenn is 34. Jarrett didn't perform at the Combine due to a groin injury, but should be ready to go for USC's pro day. 23. Chiefs Dwayne Bowe WR LSU Senior Though Robert Meachem probably out-performed Bowe at the Combine, the LSU star -- with his bone-crushing blocking skills and superior hands -- is likely the next wide receiver taken in this draft. Kansas City can't trot out Samie Parker and Eddie Kennison as their starting wideouts on opening day yet again. They just can't. K.C. will take a wideout that's ready to start next year. Bowe's that guy. 24. Patriots (from Seahawks) Lawrence Timmons LB Florida State Senior New England's linebackers aren't getting any younger. Look for the Patriots front office to try to scoop up a young outside linebacker with tons of potential. Timmons is a physical freak, but a little raw around the edges. He has a tendency to over-run plays and rely on his athleticism to make up for mistakes. Playing alongside the Patriots' herd of veteran linebackers in practice every day, he'll learn the game from the very best. 25. Jets Aaron Ross CB Texas Senior Ross took his draft stock to new heights in his senior season. Injuries riddled the Jets at the cornerback spot all year. Andre Dyson went down, forcing names like Hank Poteat and Drew Coleman to get serious action. Ross is a top-flight corner who can likely start immediately for an NFL team. In '06, he was the Longhorns defensive leader, intercepting six balls and racking up 80 tackles. He performed well at the Combine, likely neither helping or hurting his stock. 26. Eagles Anthony Spencer DE Purdue Andy Reid like to build their drafts from the inside out. Spencer will fit perfectly in that tradition. The former Purdue star will more than likely play DE at the next level, but could probably be used as a linebacker as well. He ran an impressive 4.7 40, and benched 30 reps of 225 pounds at the Combine. 27. Saints Chris Houston CB Arkansas Senior Houston's another player who saw his draft stock rise at the Combine. The former Razorback ran a mind-numbing 4.32 40, and benched 225 pounds 27 times -- the most of any of the defensive backs in Indianapolis. A standout in '06 for the SEC West champions, Houston could likely start in front of Fred Thomas and Jason Craft as soon as next year. 28. Patriots Robert Meachem WR Tennessee Junior The Patriots would be delighted to see Meachem fall to them at 28. The second-rated receiver on several draft boards, Meachem wowed critics at the Combine this week. The Tennessee standout broke out of a pack of wide receivers, tearing off a 4.39 40, and hauling in everything in sight in the catching drills. 29. Ravens Justin Blalock OT Texas Senior Baltimore could go running back in this spot or look to bolster their offensive line. Blalock's an All-Big 12 performer who played in several big games as a collegiate star. Able to likely play tackle or guard, the 6-4, 330 pound force makes sense at 29. 30. Chargers Michael Griffin S Texas Senior Aside from wideout, the one weak spot on the Chargers roster last season was safety. Griffin, an All-Big 12 performer, can help immediately. Griffin's one of those guys who just seems to be involved in every play. A tackling machine, the senior recorded 116 from the safety spot in 2006. He could start as a rookie for the Bolts in '07. 31. Bears Tank Tyler DT N.C. State Senior The N.C. State standout did 42 reps of 225 pounds, the most in his group, at the Combine. A clog in the middle, Tyler would be the fourth player from the Wolfpack '05 defensive line drafted in the first round. 32. Colts Brandon Siler LB Florida Junior Indianapolis may lose Cato June to free agency as early as next week. They'll look to bolster the position through the draft. Siler was a three-year contributor for the Gators, and served as the defensive leader on a loaded BCS Title winning unit.
Instead of drafting a corner I hope the Jets use some of that money they have on Nate Clements. My friends are Bills fans and all they would talk about the past few years is how good of a tackler and press corner he is. With him and Dyson at corners with Kerry Rhodes backing them up i like what i see. They could really use a defensive end or outside linebacker with speed who can blitz well in the first round. If Carriker finds his way down that would be great. It hurts passing on Meachem, especially after his combine, but some believe that Sindney Rice could be around at the Jets second pick. Overall i like your draft, i just hope that the Giants don't get lucky and get Marshawn Lynch at pick 20.
Decent mock. Chris Houston is too low. I think Houston will see a 'Dunta-like' rise in the draft. He's at least top 15-20 after the combine he had. I can't imagine him going lower than Revis, Hall, Ross, AND Hughes (who is almost definitely not a 1st rd pick after running in the 4.6's). I'd want Houston or Justin Blalock at #25 if the draft went your way.
