By
Pete Fiutak
It might be silly to speculate so early, but it's still fun. There will
be mock draft after mock draft until the April 29th weekend of joy, and
this will change a bazillion times in a bazillion ways. The mock drafts
will come in more detail after all the early entries are done and the
Super Bowl has been played, but until then ...
1. Oakland Raiders - JaMarcus Russell, QB
LSU
With his arm, Oakland will throw it deep every other play. He'll have to
learn how to get rid of the ball in a hurry behind an awful offensive
line.
2. Detroit Lions - Joe Thomas, OT Wisconsin
The Lion fans will want Brady Quinn, but the brass wants to build from
the lines up.
3. Cleveland Browns (coin flip with Tampa Bay for the 3rd pick)
- Brady Quinn, QB Notre Dame
The Browns need help on the lines, but they can't go another year with
Charlie Frye or Derek Anderson under center. They need a player to build
the franchise around.
3. Tampa Bay (coin flip with Cleveland for the 3rd pick) -
Calvin Johnson, WR Georgia Tech
Merry Christmas. The passing game will suddenly be dangerous with the
combination of C.J. and Joey Galloway.
5. Arizona Cardinals - Alan Branch, DT Michigan
While the offensive line needs an upgrade, Branch would be too good
to pass up for Ken Whisenhunt's defense.
6. Washington Redskins - Gaines Adams, DE Clemson
The Skins got no pass rushing production last year. Adams is a perfect
fit for a team that still might go after a sack-master in free agency.
7. Minnesota Vikings. - Adrian Peterson, RB Oklahoma
The offense needs as many weapons as possible. While there's a glut
of decent players in the Viking backfield, there's no superstar.
Peterson is a superstar.
8. Houston Texans - Marshawn Lynch, RB California
Even though the actual running back in the Houston system is relatively
insignificant, the Texans need a back they can rely on. This would come
close to quieting everyone down after not taking Reggie Bush.
9. Miami Dolphins - Jamaal Anderson, DE Arkansas
Can you saw Defensive Rookie of the Year on the other side of Jason
Taylor? While not a need pick, Anderson's too good to fall any further.
10. Atlanta Falcons - Leon Hall, CB Michigan
DeAngelo Hall is one of the NFL's premier corners and Jimmy Williams
isn't bad, but the secondary still needs help after giving up way too
many yards last year.
11. San Francisco 49ers - Dwayne Jarrett, WR USC
The Niners got Alex Smith his safety valve last year in TE Vernon
Davis. Now they need to give him another major weapon.
12. Buffalo Bills - Amobi Okoye, DT Louisville
While a top flight corner would be nice, defensive tackle is also a
need Okoye might be the type of tackle the defense can revolve around.
13. St. Louis Rams - Charles Johnson, DE Georgia
St. Louis needs to be more effective against the run and must come
up with more of a pass rush. If Okoye falls here, he'd also fill a big
hole on the defensive front.
14. Carolina Panthers - LaRon Landry, S LSU
The secondary did a good job last year, but it could use more
big-play ability. Landry gives the Panthers some options.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers - Adam Carriker, DE Nebraska
Georgia's Charles Johnson or Quentin Moses, or Nebraska's Adam Carriker,
would provide a nice boost to the pass rush that isn't all that bad.
Reaching a bit for Florida State linebacker Lawrence Timmons isn't out
of the question.
16. Green Bay Packers - Robert Meachem, WR Green Bay
If you want No. 4 to come back for another interception-filled year,
you need to give him playmakers to work with. Meachem would help create
a heck of a corps combining with Donald Driver and Greg Jennings.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars - Sidney Rice, WR South Carolina
Reggie Williams, Ernest Wilford and Matt Jones all showed promise.
Now the Jaguars needs a true number one receiver.
18. Cincinnati Bengals - Quentin Moses, DE Georgia
The hope is for David Pollack to be 100%, but the Bengals have to
make sure they have more pass rushers in the mix to beef up the
defensive production.
19. Tennessee Titans - Tony Ugoh, OT Arkansas
If you have a transcendent superstar-in-the-making quarterback, you
do whatever you can to protect him.
20. NY Giants - Lawrence Timmons, LB Florida State
How much does Michael Strahan have left in the tank? The Giants need
more pass rushers in the rotation, but they also need more linebacker
help. A running back would also be nice.
21. Denver Broncos - Darrelle Revis, CB Pitt
The saddest of need picks, the Broncos have to replace Darrent
Williams.
22. Dallas Cowboys - Ted Ginn Jr., WR Ohio State
No way, no how Dallas is going to deal with Terrell Owens for yet
another year. Even if he is back, Tony Romo needs young receivers to
throw to.
23. Kansas City Chiefs - Levi Brown, OT Penn State
The Chiefs always build from the offensive line out. The 2006 line
got by with smoke and mirrors.
24. NY Jets - DeMarcus Tyler, DT NC State
A top ten-caliber player, Tyler would do wonders to help bolster the
run defense.
25. New England (from Seattle) - Daymeion Hughes, CB
California
With Asante Samuel all but gone via free agency, the Patriots will
have to address the corner needs at some point in the first round.
26. Philadelphia Eagles - Jarvis Moss, DE Florida
While he's not Jevon Kearse, he'd make for a great understudy when
his fellow Gator returns healthy.
27. Baltimore Ravens - LaMarr Woodley, DE/LB Michigan
Baltimore loves athletic, versatile tweeners. Woodley can fit at
several different positions on the defensive front seven.
28. San Diego Chargers - Dwayne Bowe, WR LSU
San Diego must, must, must give Phil Rivers more players to work
with. If Eric Parker and Keenan McCardell are the wide receiver answer,
you don't want to hear the question.
29. New England Patriots* - Reggie Nelson, S Florida
Nelson's versatility and high character will be appealing. He's not
a need player for the Patriots, but they never go according to
conventional wisdom.
30. New Orleans Saints* - Patrick Willis, LB Ole Miss
The Saint linebackers are fantastically mediocre. Willis would be an
upgrade.
31. Indianapolis Colts* - Quinn Pitcock, DT Ohio State
Don't let the playoffs fool you; the Indy run defense still needs
help. Pitcock, at the very least, would be a great run stuffer rotating
with Corey Simon.
32. Chicago Bears* - Marshal Yanda, OT Iowa
While a linebacker would be nice if Lance Briggs goes elsewhere to
get paid, Yanda might be a more pressing need for an aging offensive
front.
*Depending on how the playoffs shake out