Da Flyin Lion
Footballguy
I'm not quite the draft quru that a lot of guys are on this site, but I thought it would be fun to throw my predicitons for the first round out there. I added a few trades just for the fun of it. Let me know what you think.
1. Oakland - Jamarcus Russel - QB
In the end I think Russel will be out Johnson for the #1 pick. Johnson might be a once in a decade WR but Oakland already has one of those and some good depth at that position. QB is still their biggest need.
2. Detroit - Joe Thomas - OT
I'm predicting Detroit somehow screws up a deal to trade down and instead builds up their Oline with Thomas. OLine trumps DLine for this pick because the DE spot is very deep in this draft. Detroit may still wind up with Carriker or Jarvis Moss with their 2nd round pick.
3. ***Trade - Atlanta gets 1.3, Cleveland gets 1.8 and 2.7. - Calvin Johnson - WR
Atlanta is able to trade up with Cleveland partially because Cleveland still isn't sure who to take with this pick. They could go QB, RB or D-Line. They'll wait and see who falls to 1.8.
4. Tampa Bay - Amobi Okoye - DT
Some would argue this is a little bit of a reach for Okoye, but he's still a young physical specimen who's met every challenge so far in his short career. Not a bad second prize for missing out on Johnson (and not losing any picks trading up.)
5. Arizona - Levi Brown - OT
This may be a little early for Brown, but I wouldn't call it a reach. Arizona's biggest need is on O-Line and Brown is the best tackle available. Weisenhunt has a lot of weapons on offense and he needs a big lineman to give them some time to move the ball.
6. Washington - Gaines Adams - DE
The top DE in the draft helps bolster the Skins Defense.
7. Minnesota - Brady Quinn - QB
Reports from Minnesota say Childress is committed to Jackson, but anyone whose seen him play has to be second guessing that statement. Quinn fills a big need for the Vikings here.
8. Cleveland - Adrian Peterson - RB
Trading down made the Browns choice a lot easier here and probably got them the guy they were going after anyway. Let's hope he stays healthy.
9. Miami - Laron Landry - S
Miami won't get a QB in the first round but they probably are still very happy that Landry fell to them.
10. Houston - Darrell Revis - CB
A top CB to pair up with Dunta Robinson will further help shore up their Defensive Backfield.
11. San Francisco - Jamaal Anderson - DE
The 9ers filled a lot of needs signing Clements and Banta-Cain in the offseason. Anderson is a missing link that should make this the top D in the NFC West.
12. Buffalo - Patrick Willis - ILB
I think Buffalo has a tough choice between Lynch and Willis here. But Willis' athleticism and ability to attack the line trump Lynch. Also, in my opinion, Lynch may have been a second round RB in any of the last three years. I just don't think he's worth this high of a pick.
13. St. Louis - Alan Branch - DT
Branch has dropped in a lot of mock drafts recently because the scouts are saying he doesn't always give 100%. St. Louis is in desperate need of a run stopper though after being 31st against the run last year so his fall stops here.
14. Carolina - Greg Olson - TE
Carolina could go a lot of different directions with this pick, but TE seems like a position where they haven't had a stud at in some time. Olson should help add another component to there offense by freeing up Smith and Keyshawn.
15. Pittsburgh - Leon Hall - CB
I definately think the Steelers will go Defense here it's just a question of whether they go LB or DB. BPA right now is Hall.
16. ***Trade - Dallas gets 1.16, Green Bay gets 1-22, 4-26, and Julius Jones - Ted Ginn Jr.
This is for all the Marion Barber fans. Probably won't happen but it seems like it would work. Obviously Dallas would need to really covet Ginn to make it work, but you never know???
17. Jacksonville - Reggie Nelson - S
The Jaguars seem to be on the brink of greatness the last few years so I don't think they go WR here. Reggie Williams and Matt Jones showed a few flashes last year and I think they can still improve with one more year before being called total busts. Jacksonville hasn't gone defense for a quite a few years in the first round so they go with Nelson here to fill a need at free safety.
18. Cincinnati - Aaron Ross - CB
The Bengals have a big need at CB and Ross should help that.
19. Tennessee - Dwayne Bowe - WR
The Titans need a WR for Young to get the ball to and Bowe seems to be the dependable quick route runner that a QB can count on.
20. NY Giants - Jon Beason - LB
The Giants take a top LB to fill their holes on defense.
21. Denver - Adam Carriker - DE
If Carriker is still available he'll be difficult for Denver to pass up. He should upgrade their entire D-Line.
22. Green Bay (from Dallas) - Robert Meachem - WR
It's kind of strange that GB still takes a WR here after trading away a chance to get Ginn, but they've now got a WR and RB for the price of one. With Favre staying around one more year they really need to get him the weapons he needs to try to get into the playoffs.
23. KC - Tony Ugoh - OT
With the Chiefs recent losses on the O-Line they need another body in there to give their QB and RB some more room.
24. NE - Brandon Meriweather - S
With the Pats using their first picks on Offense last year, it's back to Defense, and safety is a position where the Pat's have a hole.
25. Ny Jets - Chris Houston - CB
It seems like this is the mock draft consensus for the Jets so I'll let it ride.
26. Philadelphia - Charles Johnson - DE
The Eagles always seem to get a player lower then he's projected. Johnson is a guy who might not make it past the top 20 picks this year but one that Philly would love to have due to question marks with Kearse and Howard.
27. New Orleans - Paul Posluszny - LB
Maybe I'm just a bad mock drafter, but with Johson and Posluszny available at the end of the first round, this could be the sweet spot. Going BPA here should help the Saints defense and give them a shot at another deep playoff run.
28. NE - David Harris - ILB
The Pats haven't taken a LB this high in a while but Harris should help bring youth to a position that is getting up there in age with Bruski and Vrabel.
1.29 Baltimore - Tanard Jackson - CB
Jackson should be able to challenge Samari Rolle for the starting job. Another option here is CMU's Joe Staley to replace Ogden.
1.30 *** Trade - Buffalo get 1.28, San Diego gets 2.12, 3.12 - Marshaun Lynch - RB
San Diego has relatively few needs and two of their biggest (WR and Safety) seem like a little bit of a reach right here. A trade down with Buffalo makes sense. Buffalo can get a player they were considering at 1.12 but who definately won't be there at 2.12 and San Diego can take a WR or maybe Griffin with the 2.12 pick. After all the talk about a Turner trade with these two teams, they get one done after all.
1.31 Chicago - Joe Staley - OT
Staley provides a good depth and should be able to replace John Tate in a year or two at LT.
1.32 Indy - Lawrence Timmons - OLB
Dungy should be a good teacher for Timmons and help him replace the departed Cato June.
1. Oakland - Jamarcus Russel - QB
In the end I think Russel will be out Johnson for the #1 pick. Johnson might be a once in a decade WR but Oakland already has one of those and some good depth at that position. QB is still their biggest need.
2. Detroit - Joe Thomas - OT
I'm predicting Detroit somehow screws up a deal to trade down and instead builds up their Oline with Thomas. OLine trumps DLine for this pick because the DE spot is very deep in this draft. Detroit may still wind up with Carriker or Jarvis Moss with their 2nd round pick.
3. ***Trade - Atlanta gets 1.3, Cleveland gets 1.8 and 2.7. - Calvin Johnson - WR
Atlanta is able to trade up with Cleveland partially because Cleveland still isn't sure who to take with this pick. They could go QB, RB or D-Line. They'll wait and see who falls to 1.8.
4. Tampa Bay - Amobi Okoye - DT
Some would argue this is a little bit of a reach for Okoye, but he's still a young physical specimen who's met every challenge so far in his short career. Not a bad second prize for missing out on Johnson (and not losing any picks trading up.)
5. Arizona - Levi Brown - OT
This may be a little early for Brown, but I wouldn't call it a reach. Arizona's biggest need is on O-Line and Brown is the best tackle available. Weisenhunt has a lot of weapons on offense and he needs a big lineman to give them some time to move the ball.
6. Washington - Gaines Adams - DE
The top DE in the draft helps bolster the Skins Defense.
7. Minnesota - Brady Quinn - QB
Reports from Minnesota say Childress is committed to Jackson, but anyone whose seen him play has to be second guessing that statement. Quinn fills a big need for the Vikings here.
8. Cleveland - Adrian Peterson - RB
Trading down made the Browns choice a lot easier here and probably got them the guy they were going after anyway. Let's hope he stays healthy.
9. Miami - Laron Landry - S
Miami won't get a QB in the first round but they probably are still very happy that Landry fell to them.
10. Houston - Darrell Revis - CB
A top CB to pair up with Dunta Robinson will further help shore up their Defensive Backfield.
11. San Francisco - Jamaal Anderson - DE
The 9ers filled a lot of needs signing Clements and Banta-Cain in the offseason. Anderson is a missing link that should make this the top D in the NFC West.
12. Buffalo - Patrick Willis - ILB
I think Buffalo has a tough choice between Lynch and Willis here. But Willis' athleticism and ability to attack the line trump Lynch. Also, in my opinion, Lynch may have been a second round RB in any of the last three years. I just don't think he's worth this high of a pick.
13. St. Louis - Alan Branch - DT
Branch has dropped in a lot of mock drafts recently because the scouts are saying he doesn't always give 100%. St. Louis is in desperate need of a run stopper though after being 31st against the run last year so his fall stops here.
14. Carolina - Greg Olson - TE
Carolina could go a lot of different directions with this pick, but TE seems like a position where they haven't had a stud at in some time. Olson should help add another component to there offense by freeing up Smith and Keyshawn.
15. Pittsburgh - Leon Hall - CB
I definately think the Steelers will go Defense here it's just a question of whether they go LB or DB. BPA right now is Hall.
16. ***Trade - Dallas gets 1.16, Green Bay gets 1-22, 4-26, and Julius Jones - Ted Ginn Jr.
This is for all the Marion Barber fans. Probably won't happen but it seems like it would work. Obviously Dallas would need to really covet Ginn to make it work, but you never know???
17. Jacksonville - Reggie Nelson - S
The Jaguars seem to be on the brink of greatness the last few years so I don't think they go WR here. Reggie Williams and Matt Jones showed a few flashes last year and I think they can still improve with one more year before being called total busts. Jacksonville hasn't gone defense for a quite a few years in the first round so they go with Nelson here to fill a need at free safety.
18. Cincinnati - Aaron Ross - CB
The Bengals have a big need at CB and Ross should help that.
19. Tennessee - Dwayne Bowe - WR
The Titans need a WR for Young to get the ball to and Bowe seems to be the dependable quick route runner that a QB can count on.
20. NY Giants - Jon Beason - LB
The Giants take a top LB to fill their holes on defense.
21. Denver - Adam Carriker - DE
If Carriker is still available he'll be difficult for Denver to pass up. He should upgrade their entire D-Line.
22. Green Bay (from Dallas) - Robert Meachem - WR
It's kind of strange that GB still takes a WR here after trading away a chance to get Ginn, but they've now got a WR and RB for the price of one. With Favre staying around one more year they really need to get him the weapons he needs to try to get into the playoffs.
23. KC - Tony Ugoh - OT
With the Chiefs recent losses on the O-Line they need another body in there to give their QB and RB some more room.
24. NE - Brandon Meriweather - S
With the Pats using their first picks on Offense last year, it's back to Defense, and safety is a position where the Pat's have a hole.
25. Ny Jets - Chris Houston - CB
It seems like this is the mock draft consensus for the Jets so I'll let it ride.
26. Philadelphia - Charles Johnson - DE
The Eagles always seem to get a player lower then he's projected. Johnson is a guy who might not make it past the top 20 picks this year but one that Philly would love to have due to question marks with Kearse and Howard.
27. New Orleans - Paul Posluszny - LB
Maybe I'm just a bad mock drafter, but with Johson and Posluszny available at the end of the first round, this could be the sweet spot. Going BPA here should help the Saints defense and give them a shot at another deep playoff run.
28. NE - David Harris - ILB
The Pats haven't taken a LB this high in a while but Harris should help bring youth to a position that is getting up there in age with Bruski and Vrabel.
1.29 Baltimore - Tanard Jackson - CB
Jackson should be able to challenge Samari Rolle for the starting job. Another option here is CMU's Joe Staley to replace Ogden.
1.30 *** Trade - Buffalo get 1.28, San Diego gets 2.12, 3.12 - Marshaun Lynch - RB
San Diego has relatively few needs and two of their biggest (WR and Safety) seem like a little bit of a reach right here. A trade down with Buffalo makes sense. Buffalo can get a player they were considering at 1.12 but who definately won't be there at 2.12 and San Diego can take a WR or maybe Griffin with the 2.12 pick. After all the talk about a Turner trade with these two teams, they get one done after all.
1.31 Chicago - Joe Staley - OT
Staley provides a good depth and should be able to replace John Tate in a year or two at LT.
1.32 Indy - Lawrence Timmons - OLB
Dungy should be a good teacher for Timmons and help him replace the departed Cato June.
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It ain't happening, but this was a fun mock. In season's past I never liked reading mocks which projected trades. Discuss the possibilities in your comments? Fine and understood. But projecting the players in a reasonable flow is hard enough. So, isolating combinations of the 32 franchises that will make trades just seemed to muddy the waters. This year is different. The draft is a bugga. I think Detroit is key to a landslide of trade activity. If they stand pat, the trade activity will be normal. I have a feeling if they take a trade it will have a domino effect and draft day will take forever. Oh, and don't be shocked if the Cards get Levi Brown in the 2nd round. If they do that in the first... 
It ain't happening, but this was a fun mock. In season's past I never liked reading mocks which projected trades. Discuss the possibilities in your comments? Fine and understood. But projecting the players in a reasonable flow is hard enough. So, isolating combinations of the 32 franchises that will make trades just seemed to muddy the waters. This year is different. The draft is a bugga. I think Detroit is key to a landslide of trade activity. If they stand pat, the trade activity will be normal. I have a feeling if they take a trade it will have a domino effect and draft day will take forever. Oh, and don't be shocked if the Cards get Levi Brown in the 2nd round. If they do that in the first... 
