By Peter Christian
Team Player Position School
1. Detroit Lions Matt Stafford QB Georgia
The first post-Millen draft is going to be important for the Lions. The team has plenty of holes to fill, but getting a stud QB will give the franchise a face to build around. The Lions are definitely thinking of taking an offensive tackle here and hoping to grab Sanchez with the 20th overall pick.
2. St. Louis Rams Eugene Monroe OT Virginia
Many people thought that the Rams missed out last season by not taking an elite offensive lineman (instead taking DE Chris Long) in one of the deepest drafts ever at both OT and OG. This season is also very top heavy at OT and Monroe is the cream of the crop. He can help the line immediately by shoring up either the left or right side (depending on Orlando Pace’s health)
3. Kansas City Chiefs Aaron Curry OLB Wake Forest
There is little doubt that this pick will be a front seven defensive player. Between Curry and Brian Orakpo (DE – Texas) the Chiefs will likely decide based on their combine performances, however as of now Curry’s upside is higher.
4. Seattle Seahawks Michael Crabtree WR Texas Tech
It seems like the Seahawks haven’t had a reliable receiver since Steve Largent. Crabtree can be that reliable down field threat to help open up the rest of the offense.
5, Cleveland Browns Brian Orakpo DE Texas
Orakpo has the tools to become an elite pass rusher in the NFL. Some scouts and NFL junkies have said that he could be converted to an outside linebacker which could happen in Cleveland if Eric Mangini brings the 3-4 defense to the Dawg Pound. Where ever the Browns have Orakpo line up he is definitely going to fill a need.
6. Cincinnati Bengals Andre Smith OT Alabama
Andre Smith is very large (6’4″, 330 lbs.) and is going to be a great run blocker in the NFL. There is question as to whether he is quick enough to handle the speed rushers off the edge at the pro level, which likely means he will be moved to right tackle.
7. Oakland Raiders Jason Smith OT Baylor
At 6’5″, 305 lbs. Smith has great size but he will wow people with his athletic ability. The converted tight end is extremely agile and quick and will defend against speed rushers very well. He will likely be asked to gain some strength in both his upper and lower body in order to prevent him from getting outmuscled in the trenches.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars Michael Oher OT Ole Miss
Jacksonville needs talent and depth at offensive tackle badly. Luckily for them, this draft is stocked with exactly that. Oher is quietly moving up many draft boards and could find his way into the top 5.
9. Green Bay Packers Everett Brown DE Florida State
Aaron Kampman is not getting any younger and the Packers really have no depth at DE. Brown can be an every down player and could definitely move to OLB in a 3-4 scheme that the Packers are going to employ in
10. San Francisco 49ers Jeremy Maclin WR Missouri
Maclin has a great skill set. He has good hands, great speed and agility. He can help a team in the passing game, the return game and was also a very effective option out of the backfield on occasion. He will immediately help the San Francisco offense stretch the field.
11. Buffalo Bills Brian Cushing OLB USC
Buffalo has a lot of needs to fill for a team that looked like it could win its division halfway through 2008. Most glaring is a play maker in the defensive front seven. Aaron Schobel is coming off a down year and could use some help. The issue with Cushing is not so much with his ability, as it is with his character and durability. Whispers of steroid use surrounded him on campus and three surgeries already under his belt have some teams backing away. If he can stay on the field, Cushing will be a star.
12. Denver Broncos Rey Maualuga LB USC
Maualuga is a good mix of power and speed and will be asked to shoulder a big load of the defensive responsibility in Denver. If Ray Lewis and Troy Polamalu had a baby, Maualuga would be the result.
13. Washington Redskins Aaron Maybin DE Penn State
If Cushing is available here expect the Redskins to pounce. They need an athletic linebacker to cover a lot of space. However, if Cushing is gone they will likely consider Cushing’s teammate Rey Maualuga (LB – USC) or Maybin. Maybin is the pick here because he could probably be converted to play line backer if the Redskins needed him to.
14. New Orleans Saints Vontae Davis CB Illinois
Malcom Jenkins gets all the hype of a Big Ten CB but Davis has the better upside. There isn’t a lot of buzz on him now but as the draft nears he will start to turn a few heads.
15. Houston Texans Malcolm Jenkins CB Ohio State
Jenkins has been given the benefit of playing behind a very good defensive front during his college career but that doesn’t mean he isn’t talented. OSU’s history of producing good CB’s will continue with Jenkins.
16. San Diego Chargers B.J. Raji DT Boston College
Raji is moving up and down many mocks and draft boards and will likely continue to do so until the Combine. Raji will provide the talented Chargers D-Line more depth and will help keep Jamal Williams fresh and (hopefully) healthy.
17. New York Jets Mark Sanchez QB USC
Sanchez probably causes the most debate than any other player in this year’s draft. He is a definite question mark due to inexperience (only 16 starts in college) and inconsistency (tough games against Arizona and Arizona State). However with the Jets QB situation definitely in limbo they need to do something to address the emptiness.
18. Chicago Bears Sean Smith DB Utah
A big, fast player that can play corner or safety. At 6’3″ he could match-up very well against the taller more physical opposing receivers. Chicago’s lack of depth in the defensive backfield was exposed last year and Smith would be a welcomed addition.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Percy Harvin WR Florida State
With Sanchez and Stafford both off the board the Buccaneers can use Harvin to inject some energy into the offense that features old players at the skill positions (Joey “Grandpa” Galloway, Antonio Bryant, and Warrick Dunn). Plus, new Head Coach Raheem Morris could win over a few fans by keeping the former Gator close to home.
20. Detroit Lions (from Dallas) James Laurinitis LB Ohio State
Laurinitis likely would have been taken in the top 10 in last year’s draft, but his slipping has little to do with his own play. He brings great energy to the field and is always around the ball. Detroit should be very happy to land a player of Laurinitis’ caliber to quarterback their crappy defense.
21. Philadelphia Eagles Brandon Pettigrew TE Oklahoma State
Pettigrew should be an NFL star. At 6’6″, 260 lbs. he is a match-up nightmare for opposing defenses, no matter who is throwing him the ball. He will likely transform the Eagles passing game and will finally offer Donovan McNabb (probably?) a reliable saftey valve.
22. Minnesota Vikings Eben Britton OT Arizona
Even with all the money the Vikings have put into their offensive line it was still one of their weaknesses last year. Bryant McKinnie is very vulnerable to a speed rush and Ryan Cook is the worst starting tackle East of Mike Gandy. At 6’6″, 310 lbs. Britton has the size to create large holes for Adrian Peterson to run through.
23. New England Patriots Knowshon Moreno RB Georgia
The Patriots have a laundry list of holes to fill, especially on defense, but Moreno can bring an electric running style to the offense that the team has needed badly. A combination of Maroney-Moreno could be deadly for opposing linebackers as well as a wicked hahhhhd tongue twistah.
24. Atlanta Falcons Alphonso Smith CB Wake Forest
The Falcons were less than mediocre in pass coverage last season and why would they ever pass on a guy nicknamed “Prime”? Smith, given the nickname for being a shorter version of Deion Sanders, has great tools to get after opposing receivers and will likely be a regular in quarterback’s nightmares.
25. Miami Dolphins Darrius Heyward-Bey WR Maryland
Heyward-Bey can give the Dolphins offense the one thing it really needs, a big physical receiver. Currently the Dolphins are relying on three slot-type receivers (Ginn, Camarillo and Bess) and lack any size on the outside and don’t have anyone that they can just “toss it up to” in the end zone. Until now.
26. Baltimore Ravens Hakeem Nicks WR North Carolina
Joe Flacco proved last season that he can throw the deep ball. However other than the 35 year old Derrick Mason, the Ravens don’t have many options for Flacco to use. Nicks is big, physical and has great hands. Nicks and Flacco could help the Ravens become the best offense they’ve had in franchise history (which isn’t saying much).
27. Indianapolis Colts DJ Moore CB Vanderbilt
Moore dealt with a lot of injuries last season but was still a finalist for the Jim Thorpe award as one of the nation’s best defensive backs. He has shown an ability to make good reads and get good breaks on the ball, racking up 11 interceptions over the last two seasons.
28. Philadelphia Eagles (from Carolina) Chris Wells RB Ohio State
Wells can provide the power running back that the Eagles have lacked over the last few seasons. His tough running style will be a welcomed change of pace in Philly and will make Brian Westbrook even more productive.
29. New York Giants Larry English OLB
Northern Illinois
The Giants would probably really like to make a statement by picking a WR to stick it to Plaxico Burress, but there is just no one at this spot to take. English hasn’t received a lot of attention but will find his way on many team’s radar at the combine. English really has the tools to help the Giants at a position of weakness.
30. Tennessee Titans Peria Jerry DT Ole Miss
Peria Jerry could be a perfect replacement for Albert Haynesworth should he leave. He is extremely quick and agile for a 312 lb. man-child and gets into the backfield with regularity. The biggest knock on Jerry is his lack of sheer strength.
31. Arizona Cardinals LeSean McCoy RB Pitt
The Cardinals also need an offensive tackle and another athlete or two on defense but Arizona needs to address their situation at running back. McCoy wasn’t a household name last season, but he should have been. McCoy has the skills to be great in the NFL and can help the Cardinal offense to be less one-dimensional.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers Max Unger OL Oregon
Unger doesn’t have the intimidating size that you expect out of a first round pick but he is very quick and is very fundamentally sound. He has plenty of frame to pack on another 15-20 lbs. of muscle and would really help the lack of depth that Pittsburgh has at offensive line.