01. DETROIT LIONS - Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia It’s a copy-cat league and I believe this pick will be influenced by the immediate success of Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco. In recent years we’ve seen the TOP QB’s slide, but this year I suspect there will be no long waits in the green room for messers Stafford and Sanchez. 02. ST. LOUIS RAMS - Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest A lot of people felt Aaron Curry was the best prospect in the draft all along, and at the combines he certainly did nothing to dispell that notion. He tore it up at Indy and solidified his spot at or near the top of the board. 03. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS - Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas I keep going back and forth on this one, Orakpo or Everette Brown, but you probably can’t go wrong with either dynamic pass rusher, both of whom have a real chance to become impact players at the next level. 04. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS - Mark Sanchez, QB, Southern Cal Hasselbeck is breaking down physically and I just have a sneaking suspecion the Seahags are eye-balling the QB’s. 05. CLEVELAND BROWNS - Everette Brown, DE/OLB, Florida State Mangini will hope he has a lot better luck with EB than his former team had with Gholston in year one. 06. CINCINNATI BENGALS - Jason Smith, OT, Baylor When you have a franchise quarterback like Carson Palmer, and he hasn’t been able to stay healthy, you do everything you can to make that problem disappear. If Jason Smith can play that all important left-tackle position as most scouts believe he can, the Bengals can always move Levi Jones over to right-tackle. 07. OAKLAND RAIDERS - Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech If Crabtree slides to the Raiders I think its a virtaul slam-dunk Al Davis will pick him, as well he should. 08. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS - B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College Couple of years ago the Jags had arguably the games most dominant interior D-line with John Henderson and Marcus Stroud. Henderson and Raji could form another impenetrable duo, only better. 09. GREEN BAY PACKERS - Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia I think the Pack will be hoping for Orakpo or Everette Brown for their new 34 defense, but I think they’ll be disappointed and forced to settle for the O-tackle. Heck of a player, just not what they coveted most. 10. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS - Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss Ditto the 49ers. I’m sure they crave one of the elite edge rushers too, only they are probably hoping for one of the Quarterbacks even more, and I suspect they will be disappointed on both counts. 11. BUFFALO BILLS - Andre Smith, OL, Alabama They can play Andre at tackle or guard and I’m guessing the Bills will view this as a case of a TOP 5 talent sliding to #11 because he’s a dimwit, but the value (from a talent point of view) is exceptional. 12. DENVER BRONCOS - Rey Maualuga, ILB, Southern Cal Broncos are another team shifting to the 34, they need a 34ILB, and Maualuga fits like a glove. 13. WASHINGTON REDSKINS - Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State Some people might view this as a bit of a reach, but I’m not one of them. Maybin is a terrific pass rusher and he came to the combines looking bigger and stronger than the scouts had anticipated. I believe that’s all he needed to raise his stock, look like an NFL player, because his talent was never in doubt. 14. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS - Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri I think the one mistake people tend to make when analyzing the draft is their propensity to look only at needs and to overlook the concept of drafting to your strength in an effort to make that particular strength even more lethal and unstoppable. One recent example would be the Cardinals offense with Warner throwing to the likes of Fitzgerald, Boldin and Breston. I think the Saints, with the addition of Maclin, have a chance to build that kind of offensive juggernaut. 15. HOUSTON TEXANS - Brian Cushing, OLB, Southern Cal Just a case of value and need making this seem like a logical choice. 16. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS - Malcolm Jenkins, DB, Ohio State The Chargers need help at safety and I think that’s where Jenkins fits best, but if the recent rumors are true and they really are interested in trading Antonio Cromartie, they can slide Jenkins in at corner if they find a deal for Cromartie.
17. NEW YORK JETS - Jarron Gilbert, 34DE, San Jose State I don’t expect this to be a popular choice with my Jets brethren, and I won’t deny it’s a little bit of a reach, though not nearly to the extent that some might suspect because in my view Gilbert will definitely be a first round pick come draft day. But that aside, in my opinion Jarron Gilbert is the best 34DE in the draft by a wide margin and I think his size, athleticism and most of all his talent (on the field) can easily turn this into a terrific pick for the Jets once those pads start cracking. Gilbert is 6′ 5″/290, will easily carry 300 at the next level, ran in the 4.8’s and had an overall terrific combines, dominated the compeition at the east/west shrine, and was named the WAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2008, lest anyone suggest Gilbert is a workout warrior. I sincerely hope the Jets have the courage to take the heat, to whatever extent it comes, and select this beast if/and when that chance presents itself. 18. CHICAGO BEARS - Percy Harvin, WR, Florida Harvin runs like the wind, and while he’s not the most polished WR in the draft, don’t make the mistake of comparing him to Devin Hester. He’s much further along as a wideout and you won’t find a more explosive playmaker in this draft at any position. 19. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS - Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss Bucs are weak on the D-line, inside and out, and Jerry is the best available DL in my view. 20. DETRIOT LIONS - Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois The lions have picked up one or two corners in the off-season, but they traded Bodden and the guys they picked up are nothing more than warm bodies at best. Davis is that big, athletic corner they really need. 21. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES - Chris “Beanie” Wells, RB, Ohio State Nice compliment to the smaller Westbrook, and that is the thunder & lightning trend nowadays. 22. MINNESOTA VIKINGS - Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest Antoine Winfield is their #1 Guy, but Cedric Griffin is probably better off at safety where they need the help and Alphonso Smith is an absolute ballhawk at corner from the word GO. If Alphonso was two inches taller he’d be a TOP 10 Pick. 23. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS - Connor Barwin, DE/OLB, Cincinnati Much like Gilbert to the Jets, Patriot fans might look at this and think it’s a huge reach, but this kid is a bigtime talent who can fly off the edge and in my opinion he will go much higher than you have been led to believe, and quite frankly as a Jet fan this pick would disturb me greatly. 24. ATLANTA FALCONS - Sean Smith, DB, Utah Sean Smith is another kid who I believe is flying under the radar so far as RD 1 is concerned, but he’s a first round talent in my view and the Falcons can slide him right in at safety (where he’s most needed) or corner. 25. MIAMI DOLPHINS - Larry English, DE/OLB, Northern Illinois This would have been my Patriots projection if I didn’t believe Barwin is a little better, but I can see Parcells nabbing him here if he’s still on the board or taking Barwin if the Pats take English. 26. BALTIMORE RAVENS - Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers Last year Ozzie Newsome proved he is not afrid to take Rurgers players on day one when he tabbed Ray Rice in round two, and Rice did a nice job for Baltimore when called upon as a rookie, so I don’t think Ozzie will hesitate to go back to that Rutgers well for the physical specimen and extremely productive wideout that is Kenny Britt. 27. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS - Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia The Colts would be extremely fortunate if Moreno was still on the board for them here, and I would imagine the Colts war-room would waste no time in taking him if he is. 28. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES - Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State I think Pettigrew slides some off his sub par 40 times at Indy, but that will make him excellent value towards the bottom of round one. Pettigrew blocks like a tackle (no exaggeration), which is vital when you play in the same division with the Giants and those four-thousand edge rushers they throw at you in waves, but Pettigrew is also a terrific receiver .. he’s just not very fast. 29. NEW YORK GIANTS - Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina The Giants are receptive to bringing Plaxico back, if he’s not in jail, and that’s a big if. Also it’s GM Jerry Reese who has left the door open for Plax, but I’m betting Coughlin still wants nothing to do with him. 30. TENNESSEE TITANS - Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland One of these days the Ttians will break down and take a wideout in round one. If they don't sign a #1 WR in free agency, this may be the year they take the plunge. 31. ARIZONA CARDINALS - Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee Cards need help at defensive end and Ayers is solid value in this spot. 32. PITTSBURGH STEELERS - Evander Hood, 34DE, Missouri I considered Tyson Jackson here, as I’m sure the Steelers would, but I think Hood is a better player.
What do you think about the possibility of KC going with an OT at #3? If Curry is gone it would be an interesting decision. I guess I would go with Orakpo or Brown, but it seems a bit high. I think QB is a real possibility for the Seahawks the more I think about it. I don't think they like Seneca Wallace THAT much.. Interesting choice by New Orleans. I feel Houston could go for Maclin as well if he's there for them. What do you think of this: Matt Sanchez to Houston at #15 if he's around. Gilbert may seem like a reach, but given his extreme upside, he certainly would warrant that pick. I'd prefer Hakeem Nicks, but I wouldn't be too upset with Jarron Gilbert.. I'm surprised Vontae Davis makes it that far.. I see Wells as a better fit for the Eagles because he's a power back, but I think Moreno is a much better value. I could see Chris Wells falling out of the first. Even many Ohio State fans see him as a bust.. The Vikings pick doesn't make sense because Madieu Williams is one starter, but don't forget they drafted Tyrell Johnson pretty high last year as well. He'll be the other starter. Plus, they also have Charles Gordon and 2008 third round pick Marcus McCauley around. I don't think secondary is a concern.. Good pick for New England. I see Barwin as a potential first round pick as well.. Hmmm. Interesting pick for the Colts. I hadn't considered it, but it's a possibility. I think they'd wait until at least the 2nd though IMO... Where would Ayers fit in Arizona's 3-4 defense? He seems undersized for a 3-4 DE and I have never seen him considered a 3-4 OLB. Overall, a job well done. You always manage to offer some different perspectives on some picks and they're normally realisitc (Seahwaks go with QB at #4, Colts take RB and Jarron Gilbert at #17, for example). Keep up the good work
If the Lions don't draft Stafford, then they are still nuts. I hope they draft Stafford and turn the team around quickly. That'll make Football Wizard Matt Millen look like an even bigger fool.
Many Lions fans say their dreadful oline is more of a concern than the QB position, and in a way I agree with them I don't think they should use a 1st rounder on a CB with that oline As for our pick, I don't mind it I'd prefer WR but a 34 DE would be my 2nd choice (if we get Holt I'd change my mind)
You don't think Nicks will go higher than that like others seem to think on this board? Just like the NO argument couldn't they look to Nicks to play alongside Wayne?
