1.  Detroit Lions – QB Mathew Stafford, Georgia - If the Lions want people to show up to home games this year they will draft Stafford.  Usually the sexy pick is not the correct pick, but after going 0-16 the Lions need a player like Stafford with the huge throwing arm and big upside to give Lions fans some hope.  The smarter pick here might be an OT like Jason Smith, Eugene Monroe or even OLB Aaron Curry.  After Lions fans watched what rookie QBs Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco did for their respective teams last year, it would be hard to pass Stafford up for another position.

 

2. St. Louis Rams- OT Jason Smith, Baylor – The Rams most obvious need is an offensive tackle.  The only real question is which OT should they select?  Smith seems to be the best overall value.  He is very athletic for his position (being a former tight end), and he is a player that still is very raw and has a lot of upside.  The only thing that might scare them away from Smith is that he has very similar characteristics as OT Alex Barron who was drafted 19^th overall by the Rams in 2005.   Barron has not lived up to the hype and this might sway the Rams to go with a bigger, safer offensive tackle like Eugene Monroe or Andre Smith.

 

3. Kansas City Chiefs- OLB Aaron Curry, Wake Forrest – With former Patriots VP of player personnel Scott Pioli as the new GM for the Chiefs, there is a very good chance that the Chiefs will try to move this pick in order to get more picks later in the draft.  If Pioli is not able to do this he will probably pick the best overall player left: Aaron Curry. Curry can play inside or outside linebacker and has great awareness, leadership skills, and smarts.  Combine that with all the physical tools, and the Chiefs would have a great player to build their defense around.

 

4. Seattle Seahawks – QB Mark Sanchez, USC – Sanchez will most likely be selected with the 4^th pick overall.  It may not be the Seahawks, it could be another team that traded up like the Jaguars, 49ers, Broncos, Jets or Buccaneers.  There is too much hype around Sanchez and there is no way that he will fall much farther than the 4^th pick.  Sanchez would be lucky to be selected by the Seahawks he can learn from veteran QB Matt Hasselbeck and he would eventually take over a west coast offense that made QB Seneca Wallace look good.

 

5. Cleveland Browns – DE/OLB Brian Orakpo, Texas - When Eric Mangini took over as head coach for the New York Jets it was surprising to see the defensive minded coach select two offensive linemen with his first two picks.  This time around Mangini will probably try to stick with defense.  Brown is the type of athlete that would be a perfect fit for an OLB in the 3-4 defense.  Orakpo is a guy that knows how to get after the QB.  He has good acceleration and speed but also has great strength and pass rushing moves. He would be a nice addition to Brown’s aging defense.

 

6. Cincinnati Bengals – WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech- The Bengals lost WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and WR Chad “Ocho Cinco” Johnson has openly complained about being in Cincinnati.  Crabtree is a phenomenal player and may even be the best overall talent in the draft.  The Bengals obviously have offensive line problems but the best player available is OT Andre Smith and there is a lot of baggage associated with him that the Bengals absolutely can not afford. 

 

7. Oakland Raiders- Jeremy Maclin, Missouri – The better pick would probably be selecting one of the elite offensive tackles OT Eugene Monroe or OT Andre Smith if they are still available.  However, the last time the raiders selected a sure thing at tackle was in 2004 when they selected OT Robert Gallery with the 2^nd overall pick.  Gallery never panned out to be the amazing tackle and they ended up passing on Larry Fitzgerald and Roy Williams.  Al Davis probably does not want to make the same mistake again. Add that to the fact that the Raiders were last in the league in passing yards and their leading WR was Johnnie Lee Higgins who had 22 receptions and drafting a WR here seems to be a no brainer.  Maclin fits the perfect Al Davis mold for WR: fast, big, versatile and has the ability to score every time he touches the ball.  The Franchise QB JaMarcus Russell is also in Davis’ ear convincing him to bring in some WR help.

 

8. Jacksonville Jaguars – DT B.J. Raji, Boston College – One of the reasons the Jaguars have had such a formidable defense over the years is because of the two huge DTs up front.  With the departure of DT Marcus Stroud last year their defensive line became much less formidable.  Adding B.J. Raji along side DT John Henderson would bring back the scary duo the Jaguars used to posses.  Raji is a big powerful DT who requires double teams and would be a perfect fit to fill the void left by Stroud.

 

9. Green Bay Packers- Eugene Monroe, Virginia – Eugene Monroe is great player and if he were to slip out of the top five it would be a complete steal.  The Packers have some more glaring needs on the defensive side of the ball, but a franchise left tackle does not just fall into your lap every day.  With LT Chad Clifton getting old and RT still up in the air, Monroe would be a great fit for the Packers. Monroe could come in right away and play LT, RT or even guard.  It would be nice to have a player like Monroe protecting QB Aaron Rodgers blind side.   

  

10. San Fransico 49ers – OT Andre Smith, Alabama – The 49ers are still in need of a franchise QB, but they may not be ready to give up on Shaun Hill and former first overall pick Alex Smith.  It is not easy to succeed as a QB, especially when your offensive line is letting up a league leading 55 sacks and your best WR, Issac Bruce, is 36.  The 49ers really need to address other problems on their team before they draft another QB.  Andre Smith has top 3 overall talents, but he just needs to be kept on a leash and motivated.  New coach Mike Singletary has the energy and discipline to get the best out of Andre Smith and he would be a great fit for the 49ers.

 

11. Buffalo Bills –– OT Michael Oher, Ole Miss -  Instead of signing OT Jason Peters, one of the best tackles in the NFL, to a long term contract they traded him away for the 28^th overall pick and a fourth rounder.  Unless the Bills know something about Peters that the rest of the NFL is not aware of, this was a really bad move.  They are going to now have to pay lots of money for two untested first rounders instead of just giving the money to Peters, a Pro Bowl franchise left tackle.  With this pick they will probably try to fill the huge void left by Peters.  Oher is a very good player but might be a reach with this pick.  The Bills may try to package this pick and trade up and get one of the three elite tackles.

 

12. Denver Broncos – CB/S Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio St. - The Broncos biggest need is on the defensive side of the ball (they were bottom of the league in almost every defensive category including 30^th in points allowed giving up 28 a game).  The Broncos had an extremely active offseason.  The biggest story, of course, was that new Coach Josh McDaniels was forced to trade QB Jay Cutler after their publicized feud.  Luckily they got the better end of the trade, getting two first round picks and QB Kyle Orton, a guy that could thrive in McDaniels’ offense.  They also brought in a lot of veteran leaders through free agency on both sides of the ball. The only problem is their secondary is aging, and drafting Jenkins would bring some much needed youth.  Jenkins is very good in coverage and has the skills to transition to safety.  If the Broncos draft him he will be able to learn from two of the best defensive backs in the league in CB Champ Bailey and FS Brian Dawkins. 

 

13. Washington Redskins – DE Aaron Maybin, Penn St. - There have been rumors going around that the Redskins are possibly looking to draft a QB, but Jason Campbell had a good year last year and is still very young so they may just be putting on a show hoping to bait someone into a trade.  There real need is someone that can rush the QB.  They only had 24 sacks as a team last year and they released DE Jason Taylor.  DT Albert Haynesworth will help, but he is not really known as a pass rushing DT.  Maybin is a guy that could come in right away and have an impact.  He is a pure pass rusher, who is very quick off the snap.  He needs to bulk up, but he could help fill the void left by Jason Taylor.

 

14. New Orleans Saints- CB Vontae Davis, Illinois – The Saints had a record breaking offense last year, yet they failed to reach the playoffs.  Defense wins championships and that is why the Saints need to address the defensive side of the ball.  After releasing Mike McKenzie the Saints really need a #1 corner.  They have a bunch of guys that on their very best days are #2 corners.  If Malcolm Jenkins is not available then they may try and reach for Davis.  Davis much like his brother on the 49ers, Vernon, is a tremendous athlete.  There are some concerns about his character but has too much talent and potential to pass up.

 

15. Houston Texans – WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, Maryland - The Texans biggest needs are probably Safety and Linebacker, the only problem is that there really is not a stand out safety in this draft other than Malcolm Jenkins, and the Texans usually draft linebackers in later rounds (Xavier Adibi 4^th round, Demeco Ryans 2^nd round, Jason Babin 2^nd round, Antwan Peek 3^rd round).  Getting a WR to compliment Andre Johnson would make QB Matt Schaub very happy.  The Texans saw what the Cardinals were able to do with their dangerous combination of WRs Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.  Imagine trying to game plan for Johnson, one of the most dominant WRs in the NFL and Heyward-Bey, a tall (6’2”) burner (4.30 in the 40) that will force teams to have a safety over the top.  The two of them would make a scary duo for any team to cover.  

 

16. San Diego Chargers – DE Tyson Jackson, LSU - The Chargers have had a very quiet offseason, and other than the LT’s newly restructured deal they really have not made a splash in free agency.  They do have a very good team and there really are not too many glaring needs.  They did, however, lose DE Igor Olshansky the 6’6” 309 lb DE that helped anchor their 3-4 defense.  Tyson Jackson is a guy that would fit perfectly into the 3-4 defense, he has the size (6’4” 296 lbs.) and the strength to fit in right away. 

 

17. New York Jets – QB Josh Freeman, Kansas St – The chances of the Jets being able to draft one of the top three QB’s with their 17^th pick is unlikely.  It is more likely that the Jets or another team will try to trade up to grab Freeman before another team can land him.  The Jets are a team that really needs a QB.  After losing QB Brett Favre to retirement, the Jets are left with Kellen Clemens.  They may claim that they are sticking with Clemens, but do you really think new coach Rex Ryan wants to go into his first year with a guy that has only started eight games and has a 1:2 TD to INT ratio?  Freeman may be a project guy, but he has so much upside that it would be tough for the Jets to pass on him. 

 

18. Denver Broncos (From: Chicago) – MLB Rey Maualuga, USC – Josh McDaniels is going to be under a lot of pressure and scrutiny this year after trading what some believed to be the next John Elway.   He may be tempted to bolster his offense with this pick by drafting a RB or offensive linemen, but the right pick would be to add some more depth on defense.  The Broncos are switching to the 3-4 and having two middle linebackers that can stop the run is very important.  Maualuga very good at stopping the run and he brings great intensity and leadership.  He would be a great addition to the Broncos defense.   

 

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – DE Robert Ayers, Tennessee – The Buccaneers recently signed the best free agent QB available, Byron Leftwich.  Leftwich proved to be a valuable backup for the Steelers but in no way should he be considered a great starting QB.  The Buccaneers are most likely still looking to land a franchise QB for the future in this draft. If they are not able to trade up they will probably try to land another DE opposite of Gaines Adams.  Ayers’ is a guy whose stock has been soaring ever since the senior bowl.  He is not a sack artist but he knows how to get after the QB.  He is very strong and solid against the run.  He would be a nice addition to the Buccaneers.

 

20. Detroit Lions (From: Dallas) - DT Peria Jerry, Ole Miss - The Lions need to address the defensive side with this pick.  They finished last in points allowed, yards allowed and rushing yards allowed.  Most of their starters would be back ups for other teams, and the only player that has job security right now is OLB Ernie Sims.  They will probably try to draft the best defensive player on their board here.  Jerry is another guy whose stock has been rising and many believe he is an elite prospect.  The Lions have needs every where, drafting Jerry would help fill one of the big holes they have.

 

21. Philadelphia Eagles – RB Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - The Eagles have not had a 1^st round pick for the last two years so it will be interesting to see how they use this pick.  When they have had 1^st round picks in the past they usually stick with the non-flashy picks and get defensive and offensive lineman.  There defensive line is always good, and after acquiring OT Jason Peters from the Bills their offensive line looks to be very solid.  The biggest concern has to be RB.  RB Brian Westbrook is a very good RB and receiver out of the backfield but he seems to always be getting injured.  They also lost the RB that pounded the ball inside in Correll Buckhalter.  There have been reports that the Eagle’s want to draft Moreno so it would be no surprise if they draft him here.  Moneno is a guy that is not afraid to run inside and is just a natural runner. Moreno may be the player that they need to get them out of their playoff slump.

 

22. Minnesota Vikings - OT Ebon Britton, Arizona –It is no secret that the Vikings offense rests solely on the shoulders of RB Adrian Peterson and RB Chester Taylor.  The two of them combined for over 2100 yards rushing last year.  The Vikings would probably jump at any opportunity to bolster their run game.  The weakest part of their dominate line is the right tackle position. OT Ryan Cook is not getting the job done and they have been actively looking for a replacement.  Britton is a solid player that would fit well at right tackle, he has good technique and awareness and could help open up some holes on the right side of the line.  The Vikings also allowed 45 sacks last year and Britton could help out with this problem as well. 

 

23. New England Patriots - DE/OLB Everette Brown, Florida St. - The Patriots once again have multiple picks in the first two rounds and not a lot of needs.  But after trading away team leader OLB Mike Vrabel, their biggest concern has to be OLB.  When it comes to OLB, the Patriots usually try to bring in older, cheaper, guys that are willing to take less money in order to be on a winning team.  If they are not able to pick up a veteran player they will probably try to address this issue in the draft. The only reason Brown would be left at this point is because teams think that he is not a prototypical defensive end or linebacker.  Brown is very talented and could be an impact player for any team that he plays for.  He fits the Patriots mold for linebacker: he is big, strong, fast and versatile.  With a younger, faster defense the Patriots should be favorites to win the super bowl this year.

 

24. Atlanta Falcons – OLB Clay Matthews, USC - The Falcons were one of the biggest surprises of last year: after going 4-12 in 2007, they drafted QB Matt Ryan and brought in RB Michael Turner and built a team around them and ended up going 11-5.  The Falcons are a young team that looks like they are going to be a very good for a long time.  They lost a lot of key guys in free agency on the defensive side of the ball so this pick has to help solidify their defense.  They lost OLB Keith Brooking, a leader and cornerstone of their defense for the last 11 years.  Matthews is one of the three linebackers that could be first round picks from USC.  Matthews brings similar intensity and toughness as Maualuga and Cushing, and is an all around linebacker that can do whatever is asked of him.  He could be a player that could develop into the next Brookings for the Falcons.

 

25. Miami Dolphins – DE/OLB Larry English, Northern Illinois - The Dolphins finally were able to utilize all the talent on their team with coach Tony Sparano and VP of Football Operations Bill Parcells running things.  The Dolphins are another team where the future looks bright and this draft will be very important for the future of their organization.  When Parcells was with the Cowboys he found a hidden gem in DeMarcus Ware out of Troy.  He will probably try to bring in a similar type OLB that can rush the passer and play the spot opposite of OLB Jerry Porter in the 3-4 defense.  English is a guy that is much like Ware in that he went to a small school and is not very well known.  He had tremendous production in college and really knows how to get after the QB.  English would be a good fit for the Dolphins and their 3-4 defense. 

 

26. Baltimore Ravens – WR Percy Harvin, Florida – The Ravens have lost a lot of good players because of free agency and cuts to free up salary cap space; luckily they still have MLB Ray Lewis and S Ed Reed anchoring their defense and 2^nd year QB Joe Flacco leading their offense.  The one thing they have really been missing on the offensive side of the ball is a playmaker.  The one word used to describe Percy Harvin is playmaker.  He kills teams running or catching the ball and is a terrific athlete, very similar to Reggie Bush.  Harvin had a great pro day and has top 10 talent.  The only reason he would fall this far is because of team needs or some character concerns.

 

27. Indianapolis Colts – DT Evander Hood, Missouri- The Colts have always had a number of good defensive ends, but they just can not seem to find defensive tackles that can clog up the middle and help with run defense.  Hood is a guy that would fit perfectly in the Colts 4-3 defense.  He is very quick off the snap and has great field awareness and has a non-stop motor. Hood would certainly help the Colts lower the 123 rushing yards that they were giving up per game.

 

28. Buffalo Bills (From: Philadelphia) – TE Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma St. – The biggest need for this Bills is offensive line help.  If they address the offensive line with their first pick (11^th overall) they will probably try to bring in a defensive lineman or a TE.  Pettigrew is the really the only TE in this draft that is being considered as a first round pick.  He is an all around player that can help out with the Bills run and receiving games.  Pettigrew would be a nice pick up for the Bills if he fell to the 28^th pick.   

 

29. New York Giants – WR Hakeem Nicks, North Carolina – QB Eli Manning has developed into a good QB in the NFL, but he is not the same QB without WR Plaxico Burress on the field.  The 6’5” Burress gave him big target to throw it up to and saved him on a lot on poorly-thrown balls.  With Burress being cut because of his legal issues the Giants need to bring in a tall, physical WR to help Manning out.  This is a very good wide receiving class and considering that WRs usually fall in the draft the Giants will more than likely have a lot of WRs to choose from.  Nicks may not posses the same height as Burress (he is 6’1”) but he is very physical and plays like he is much taller.  Nicks is not afraid to go over the middle and he is known for making some spectacular catches.  Nicks has a ton of potential and has the ability to step in and be the #1 WR for the Giants. 

 

30. Tennessee Titians – CB Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest – The Titans were another surprising team last year going 13-3 and dominating their competition in the first half of the year.  Their strong defense and great RB combination has teams now trying to emulate them.  The Titans should probably try to get a #1 WR, CB, MLB or DT depending on who the best player available is at this spot.  Smith is a player that really should be drafted top 15, but because he is 5’9” he has been labeled as “too small”.  Teams should just look other great defensive backs around the league to see that judging Smith by height alone is a mistake (look at Asante Samuel 5’10”, Bob Sanders 5’8”, DeAngelo Hall 5’10”, Adam “Pacman” Jones 5’10”).  Smith would be a steal for the Titans and it would really help them sure up their secondary.

 

31. Arizona Cardinals – RB Chris Wells, Ohio State – It was very surprising to see the Cardinals, the team that everyone assumed was the worst team in the playoffs, making it to the Super Bowl.  What was even more surprising was that they made it to the super bowl without a dependable running back.  They were probably one of the most dominate offensive teams in the league last year, yet they were last in rushing yards per game with 73.6.  RBs Edgerinn James and Tim Hightower are not the answers to their problems. Many believe Wells is a top 15 prospect so the Cardinals would be lucky to see Wells here.  Wells is a big back that can break tackles and has some speed.  There is no question that Wells could help out their anemic rushing attack.    

 

32. Pittsburgh Steelers – OG Duke Robinson, Oklahoma - The Super Bowl champs do not have any glaring needs and baring any injuries they look like they could be in the mix for another Super Bowl run. One problem last year was seeing QB Ben Roethlisberger, who was sacked 46 times, on his back a lot.  Adding depth to the offensive line would help out in a big way.  Robinson is a massive guard (6’5”, 329 lbs) who is versatile enough to move over to tackle.  Robinson would give the Steelers some security and would definitely compete for a starting job.