2007 NFL Draft - or Oakland Raiders looking great for #1 pick

[21C]

I haven't heard any mention of the draft on TV or the internet as of yet. I thought that I'd be hearing something about it by now. I went looking for some mock drafts which pretty much had Brady Quinn pegged for the top pick but there wasn't much consensus about the next few picks.

Being a Bucs fan, I knew they'd be looking at a top 5 pick and thought they would need some offensive help since they have been woeful there. A couple of the mock drafts had them going for a DE which surprised me.

Any ideas about who should be going in the first few picks?

I found a spreadsheet that had the draft order which could also get updated for the final games and this is how it looks at the moment:

Updated after Super Bowl

		'06 record	Strength of schedule
1.	Oakland	2-14	.555
2.	Detroit	3-13	.523
3.	Cleveland#	4-12	.535
4.	Tampa Bay#	4-12	.535
5.	Arizona	5-11	.500
6.	Washington	5-11	.512
7.	Minnesota	6-10	.488
8.	Houston	6-10	.504
9.	Miami	6-10	.543
10.	Atlanta	7-9	.457
11.	San Francisco	7-9	.500
12.	Buffalo	7-9	.574
13.	St. Louis	8-8	.465
14.	Carolina	8-8	.473
15.	Pittsburgh	8-8	.496
16.	Green Bay	8-8	.500
17.	Jacksonville	8-8	.531
18.	Cincinnati	8-8	.535
19.	Tennessee	8-8	.570
20.	N.Y. Giants	8-8	.520
21.	Denver	9-7	.531
22.	Dallas	9-7	.457
23.	Kansas City	9-7	.492
24.	Seattle (traded to N.E.)	9-7	.453
25.	N.Y. Jets	10-6	.469
26.	Philadelphia	10-6	.477
27.	New Orleans	10-6	.461
28.	New England	12-4	.500
29.	Baltimore	13-3	.461
30.	San Diego	14-2	.457
31.	Chicago	13-3	.430
32.	Indianapolis	12-4	.500

[st.cronin]

hmmmmm, I'll give it a go

1. Detroit Calvin Johnson, GT (lol)
2. Oakland Brady Quinn, ND
3. Cleveland Joe Thomas, Wis
4. Tampa Bay Jamarcus Russell, LSU
5. Arizona Jake Long, Mich
6. Washington Marshaun Lynch, Cal
7. Houston Ted Ginn, Jr, OSU
8. Minnesota, Adrian Peterson, OU
9. San Francisco, Leon Hall, Mich
10. Miami, Gaines Adams, Clem

[st.cronin]

dola

I'm sure there are some very good players I'm not thinking of.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

hmmmmm, I'll give it a go

1. Detroit Calvin Johnson, GT (lol)

LOL

[WVUFAN]

Remember the Seattle pick doesn't belong to them this year. It's New England's due to the Branch trade.

[Brillig]

Raiders looking great in pre-draft!

[21C]

Originally Posted by WVUFAN

Remember the Seattle pick doesn't belong to them this year. It's New England's due to the Branch trade.

Thanks - I forgot about traded picks. That looks like the only one in the 1st round, that I could find anyway.

[k0ruptr]

I dont think there is any chance russell goes to tampa. I dunno who they will pick, but not him.

[Eaglesfan27]

I think Brady Quinn and JaMarcus Russell go 1-2 to Detroit and Oakland.

[JPhillips]

Cronin: I was talking to my brother yesterday and we both agreed that you can make an argument that Johnson would be the best pick for the Lions. Why is Matt Millen still getting paid?

And, I think if Peterson plays well in the bowl game he could go to Oakland or Cleveland.

[st.cronin]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Cronin: I was talking to my brother yesterday and we both agreed that you can make an argument that Johnson would be the best pick for the Lions. Why is Matt Millen still getting paid?

And, I think if Peterson plays well in the bowl game he could go to Oakland or Cleveland.

I think he obviously would be, as well, which is what I was thinking at first. The joke was only in retrospect.

[Schmidty]

The Lions either take Quinn, or they trade down a bit and take Thomas, Adams, or Hall.

[miked]

I thought the Jets had 2 first rounders? I keep hearing that they will pursue and RFA heavily because they have cap room and a spare pick.

[JeffW]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

I think Brady Quinn and JaMarcus Russell go 1-2 to Detroit and Oakland.

Yep, and those are the right picks.

[moriarty]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

hmmmmm, I'll give it a go

1. Detroit Calvin Johnson, GT (lol)
2. Oakland Brady Quinn, ND
3. Cleveland Joe Thomas, Wis
4. Tampa Bay Jamarcus Russell, LSU
5. Arizona Jake Long, Mich
6. Washington Marshaun Lynch, Cal
7. Houston Ted Ginn, Jr, OSU
8. Minnesota, Adrian Peterson, OU
9. San Francisco, Leon Hall, Mich
10. Miami, Gaines Adams, Clem

No way Washington signs another running back. They just resigned Betts who runs for 100 yards per game, and they still have a bloated Portis salary on their cap. Besides, I think injuries and all Peterson goes before Lynch.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by miked

I thought the Jets had 2 first rounders? I keep hearing that they will pursue and RFA heavily because they have cap room and a spare pick.

Jets have the Skins #2 pick, I believe, which will be around 37th. So they will be picking 24ish and 37th. Good room to make a move on an RFA, maybe Turner?

[stevew]

dola

The Browns have got to take that OT Joe Thomas fella. Their line sucks, and he would be a great pickup for them. At 1(3) it's almost a no-brainer selection. Unless Quinn is still on the board, but he shouldn't be.

[Noble_Platypus]

If the Colts dont spend their entire draft, especially the first days picks, on defense I may finally have that conniption fit that I have been bordering on having the last 5 years.

[Bearcat729]

Originally Posted by stevew

dola

The Browns have got to take that OT Joe Thomas fella. Their line sucks, and he would be a great pickup for them. At 1(3) it's almost a no-brainer selection. Unless Quinn is still on the board, but he shouldn't be.

As a Browns fan I don't want them taking another QB with the top pick until they finally draft a quality LT to protect him. While they are at it they need to draft a quality LG,RG,and RT and pray that Bentley recovers before drafting another QB with a top pick.

[AZSpeechCoach]

The Cardinals can begin talking about the 2008 draft.

[DeToxRox]

Apparently Brady Quinn has said he will not sign with Detroit, and I say good riddance. I want him about as much as he wants to be here. Russell would be okay I guess but the Lions need to deal down to 4 or 5 hopefully and snag either Joe Thomas or Gaines Adams as both sides of our line are atrocious.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by DeToxRoxDVHStyle

Apparently Brady Quinn has said he will not sign with Detroit, and I say good riddance. I want him about as much as he wants to be here. Russell would be okay I guess but the Lions need to deal down to 4 or 5 hopefully and snag either Joe Thomas or Gaines Adams as both sides of our line are atrocious.

Link? Not that I don' believe you but I am interested in what his reaction is to going to the Raiders.

[DeToxRox]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Link? Not that I don' believe you but I am interested in what his reaction is to going to the Raiders.

I have to find the link. My cousin was telling me about it and I heard something about it on local radio here. I mean I can't say I blame him, but still.

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by Noble_Platypus

If the Colts dont spend their entire draft, especially the first days picks, on defense I may finally have that conniption fit that I have been bordering on having the last 5 years.

Listen to the man--He speaks reason!

[bosshogg23]

Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press speculated that Quinn wont sign/shouldn't sign. I haven't seen any quote attributed to Quinn that indicates HE said it though.

[kurtism]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Listen to the man--He speaks reason!

Of course, they already spent their 2nd rounder on defense (see Booger). I just hope rounds one and three go in the same direction - front seven only, please.

[Kodos]

Teaming Booger and Simon could make for a good middle. It seems like injuries have really hurt the defense this year with Bob Sanders and Corey Simon out.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Teaming Booger and Simon could make for a good middle. It seems like injuries have really hurt the defense this year with Bob Sanders and Corey Simon out.

problem is that it's unlikely those guys will ever be consistently healthy

[Kodos]

Yep. They definitely need young, non-injury prone depth.

[Noble_Platypus]

I agree that the front seven couldnt tackle a 5 year old girl, but the corners are horrible too. Nick harper is 32 and Jason David cant cover or tackle. Marlin Jackson looks to be a better safety than CB, which means Doss could be gone. Its only because the tackling is so bad and they give up a gazillion yards a game on the ground that we dont see how bad the secondary is. I know having both starting safetys ( Sanders and Doss )and both starting DTs ( Simon and Reager )hurt all year didnt help things, but we still need to draft D. I dont mind the second rounder for Booger, he looks to be a good DT and even though the playoff run will be short and not really a run at all he is better than anyone they were probably going to get at the bottom of the round anyway. I think Simon will be gone. His injury is a mystery and I think he gets cut and probably wants out anyway due to bad blood after being put on the non football injury list and not getting paid this year. The Colts need at least 1 DT, an OLB to take Gardners place, and at least 2 CBs. DE and S are about the only positions set, assuming they keep Doss or make Jackson a S for good. I wouldnt mind seeing them get a RB to backup Addai and get rid of that fumbling bag of shit Rhodes, but that should either be a very late pick or a FA. They same goes for a 3rd WR since Stokley cant stay healthy.

[kurtism]

Not to turn this into ColtsThread, but I think the problems you see at CB aren't as bad as you make them out to be. From what I've seen of him this year, I think Kelvin Hayden is about ready to step in as a starter at CB - he has played with speed and hit well (just ask Terrance Newman!). And we Colts fans have to hope that NaPolian's latest smurf CB (2006 2nd rounder Tim Jennings) might actually see the field and do something next year as well. I'd like to see Indy retain Harper, so long as the price is reasonable - he's no star, but he works his ass off and is fairly reliable.

As for players likely to be gone, I agree on Simon - I can't imagine seeing him in a Colts uniform (and perhaps not in any uniform, if his medical issues persist). Reagor may be gone as well, and I'd guess that Stokely, Rhodes, and Doss will be elsewhere next season. If Monte and Simon exit, the need in the middle of the DL will be almost immeasurable.

[Noble_Platypus]

I didnt intend to threadjack the draft thread, just my take on what we should do in the draft next year.

1000th post!

[st.cronin]

Personally I'd like to see the Colts draft a QB.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

Personally I'd like to see the Colts draft a QB.

They should Matt Millen then.

[Noble_Platypus]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

Personally I'd like to see the Colts draft a QB.

If he can tackle and stop the run then I am all for it.

[SteveMax58]

Is it possible for the Giants to draft a Defensive Coordinator with their pick? [grumble]

[kingfc22]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

9. San Francisco, Leon Hall, Mich

I would love for this pick to happen. We desperately need somebody on the outside who can make plays. Of course we need a DE that can do that as well.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

They should Matt Millen then.

He wants them to pick a QB, not a WR.

[Blade6119]

Back from 12/6, so the order of the picks is a little off, but its a in the ballpark(from NFL draft countdown)

1. DETROIT LIONS
BRADY QUINN
QB | Notre Dame | Scouting Report
Nobody thought the Lions were going to be a great team this year but they have too much talent to be this bad. There is plenty of blame to go around but one big problem has been Jon Kitna because even though he is having a solid season in terms of his passing numbers he's also been one of the worst in the league when it comes to turnovers. A prototypical quarterback with everything you look for in terms of both physical tools and intangibles, Quinn has also been tutored by quarterback guru Charlie Weis and you absolutely cannot underestimate the importance of that pedigree. Kitna is the short-term solution but they need a guy like Quinn long-term.

2. OAKLAND RAIDERS
CALVIN JOHNSON
WR | Georgia Tech | Scouting Report
It wasn't long ago that wide receiver was the deepest position on the Oakland roster but Doug Gabriel is gone, Jerry Porter clearly has one foot out the door and I wouldn't put any money on Randy Moss being around much longer either. The o-line is a major concern for the Raiders and they could probably use a top quarterback as well but in the end they simply opt for the best player available in Johnson. Calvin Johnson is really the total package, with a blend of size, speed, hands and body control that you rarely, if ever, see and he is the definition of an elite prospect. He is simply the best wideout prospect in years and perhaps the best player in this draft.

3. ARIZONA CARDINALS
JOE THOMAS
OT | Wisconsin | Scouting Report
When it comes to mock drafts there aren't many no-brainers that are more obvious than this. To say that the Cardinals are desperate for offensive line help would be an understatement and since they are already set at quarterback, running back and wide receiver the other top rated players in this draft (Brady Quinn, Adrian Peterson and Calvin Johnson) are essentially eliminated from contention, leaving Thomas as the obvious choice. Arizona probably isn't that far away from playoff contention and the offensive line is what's really holding them back so if they are able to add a stud up front to solidify that group they could very easily take that next step in a hurry.

Click Here
4. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
GAINES ADAMS
DE | Clemson | Scouting Report
It looks like the glory days of Tampa Bay's defense are coming to an end and it appears that Simeon Rice will be the next to follow guys like John Lynch, Warren Sapp and Booger McFarland out the door. When the season started Quentin Moses was widely considered to be the top senior defensive end prospect in the country but while he has struggled Gaines Adams has been outstanding and as a result it looks like he could very well be the first player off the board at his position next April. An excellent athlete who could even play outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, Adams is a premier pass rusher due to his quickness and pure speed off the edge.

5. GREEN BAY PACKERS
LEON HALL
CB | Michigan | Scouting Report
This team has so many needs it's really hard to know where to begin but one area that has been of particular concern is the secondary. Even though Leon Hall is a cornerback he could potentially play safety as well, which is the Packers greatest need, and drafting him would also give Green Bay the option of moving Charles Woodson to safety. Hall is the next great Wolverine defensive back and not only is he a productive coverman but he is also very physical and not afraid to come up and help support the run. He isn't in the same class as Champ Bailey as a prospect but Hall is the top defensive back available this year and would address their top need.

6. WASHINGTON REDSKINS
ALAN BRANCH
DT | Michigan | Scouting Report
The interior of the Redskins defensive line is in such shambles that they've been forced to start Kedric Golston, a rookie 6th round pick, alongside Cornelius Griffin. Needless to say an infusion of talent in the middle sure wouldn't hurt and to land the top defensive tackle on the board here would be a coup. A massive presence at 6-6 and 331 lbs., Alan Branch is a great all-around player who will remind you of John Henderson and he could be the impact defensive lineman the Redskins have been searching for. Only a junior, Branch has emerged as one of the best prospects in the college game this year and will go very high should he decide to go pro early.

7. HOUSTON TEXANS
SAM BAKER
OT | USC | Scouting Report
This franchise has literally been looking for a left tackle since day one when they rolled the dice on an injured Tony Boselli in the expansion draft. Despite numerous attempts to find a long-term solution the position is still a major problem and while they were hoping Charles Spencer might be the answer he has missed most of his rookie season with an injury and is probably better suited for right tackle or guard at the pro level. Arguably the best player on what have been some very talented Trojan offensive lines, Baker is the premier left tackle prospect in the junior class and he would more than likely be a very high pick should he opt to enter the draft.

8. CLEVELAND BROWNS
ADRIAN PETERSON
RB | Oklahoma | Scouting Report
In recent years the Browns have invested a number of premium draft picks on playmakers at tight end, wide receiver and quarterback but one skill position that is still a concern is running back, where Reuben Droughns is solid but certainly nothing special. Adrian Peterson has a tremendous blend of size, speed and power and he may end up being the best prospect we've seen at the position in quite a while. The only question with Peterson, who's been compared to Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson, is durability but his injuries have been relatively minor for the most part and he is just such a rare talent that most teams will be than willing to overlook that factor.

9. MINNESOTA VIKINGS
JAKE LONG
OT | Michigan | Scouting Report
For years the Vikings have been known for their great offense and terrible defense but this year those roles have been reversed. Most will tell you that their biggest problem is a lack of playmakers at the wide receiver position so you'd think that Ted Ginn would be an ideal fit here but apparently head coach Brad Childress doesn't believe in taking wideouts in the first round. With that being the case he instead opts to follow the Eagles blueprint of addressing the lines in round one and brings in an offensive tackle to replace Marcus Johnson. Jake Long is the next in a long line of great Michigan o-lineman and he will be a perfect fit as a right tackle in the pros.

10. ST. LOUIS RAMS
QUENTIN MOSES
DE | Georgia | Scouting Report
Despite their best efforts the Rams defense still has a ways to go and while you could easily make the case for a linebacker or defensive back here as well Quentin Moses is the best player available so he's the pick. At the start of the season some regarded Moses as the top senior prospect in the country, at any position, but his play has really dropped off this year and many cite a case of "senioritis" and playing not to get hurt as the main reasons. Moses is still an excellent pass rusher though so despite his lackluster final campaign he might not fall much further than this and for St. Louis he'd provide an upgrade and be a perfect compliment to Leonard Little.

11. SAN FRANCISCO 49'ERS
DARRELLE REVIS
CB | Pittsburgh | Scouting Report
The situation the Niners find themselves in at cornerback can only be described as brutal and outside of Shawntae Spencer there is very little to get excited about at the position. There is a chance that San Francisco might invest a chunk of their free agent dollars in a top coverman but as of now that hasn't happened so corner is by far their greatest need. Darrelle Revis is a guy who doesn't get a lot of attention on the national scene but he has ideal measurables and in the minds of most scouts he has clearly established himself as the top junior prospect at his position and would more than likely be the second cornerback drafted should he opt to come out early.

12. MIAMI DOLPHINS
QUINN PITCOCK
DT | Ohio St. | Scouting Report
On the face defensive tackle might not appear to be the Dolphins biggest need but when you consider that Keith Traylor, Vonnie Holliday, and Jeff Zgonina will all be unrestricted free agents next offseason that may change. Coming into his senior season Quinn Pitcock was considered a good prospect but the knock on him was that he wasn't much of a pass rusher but that perception changed this year after he notched 8 sacks for the Buckeyes. Nick Saban is also in the market for an outside linebacker who can rush the passer and that could be a consideration as well but seeing as how there isn't a player available here who fits that mold they go d-line.

13. PITTSBURGH STEELERS
JUSTIN BLALOCK
OG | Texas | Scouting Report
This is a team that is in a weird position because, despite their record, they really don't have many glaring needs to address. With that said no team is perfect and one area that Pittsburgh could stand to upgrade is the offensive line, specifically right guard where the duo of Kendall Simmons and Chris Kemoeatu just have not been getting it done on a consistent basis. This might be a little high for a guy like Justin Blalock, a big road grader who can play guard or tackle, but this franchise has never been afraid to go against the grain and when you depend on the offensive line as much as they do it really only makes sense to invest some resources there.

14. BUFFALO BILLS
JAMARCUS RUSSELL
QB | L.S.U. | Scouting Report
What the Bills really need is a stud offensive tackle but since there isn't much value left there they instead opt for a top signal caller. The current regime in Buffalo has never been big fan's of J.P. Losman and he hasn't really done much to change their opinions this year so considering they weren't responsible for bringing him into the fold they would have no problem moving on from that mistake. Even though Brian Brohm gets more attention JaMarcus Russell is actually a better pro prospect and while the Daunte Culpepper comparisons are pretty accurate what really stands out is his arm strength, which might be as good as anyone's in the game. At any level.

15. TENNESSEE TITANS
TED GINN, JR.
WR | Ohio St. | Scouting Report
Despite their best efforts via both free agency and the draft Tennessee has yet to land a stud wide receiver and with franchise quarterback Vince Young already in place it's only logical to give him a top weapon to throw to. The Titans have some solid wideouts but as they say if you have a lot you probably have none so if the opportunity to bring in a guy like Ginn presented itself they might not be able to pass it up. Ted Ginn is a playmaker with world-class speed who is a threat to score every time he touches the ball, whether it be as a receiver, runner or return man and to say he brings a new dimension to an offense would be an understatement.

16. ATLANTA FALCONS
REGGIE NELSON
S | Florida | Scouting Report
Last offseason the Falcons completely made over the safety position and brought in Lawyer Milloy and Chris Crocker to be their new starters. Even though that duo has certainly been an improvement over what they had there is still basically little or no depth and Milloy is nearing the end of his career so it might be time to bring in a youngster. Reggie Nelson has seemingly come out of nowhere this year and he has quickly become the premier playmaker among college defensive backs and seen his draft stock soar as a result. A junior who is leaning towards coming out, some feel that Nelson could also play corner in the NFL and that versatility will help his cause.

17. CAROLINA PANTHERS
PATRICK WILLIS
ILB | Ole Miss | Scouting Report
There were already some pretty big questions about the Panthers linebackers (i.e. Na'il Diggs) but with the long-term future and playing career of Dan Morgan now in serious doubt due to repeated concussions the position has now become a major concern. Patrick Willis is athletic and a big hitter who has been as productive of a linebacker as you will find the past couple years. Even though this might be a slight reach "P-Willie" would be a good fit here and he could potentially help out either inside or outside depending on Morgan's health. Teaming Willis with Thomas Davis and perhaps Morgan would give Carolina a top linebacking corp for years to come.

18. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
LARON LANDRY
S | L.S.U. | Scouting Report
One of the big storylines of the Eagles 2006 season has been the drastic decline in play of safety Michael Lewis, who was once considered to be one of the best young players at his position in the entire league but is now just a backup. Lewis is set to become a free agent and Sean Considine is ill suited to be a starter so Philly might very well be in the market for a top safety this upcoming offseason. LaRon Landry is a playmaker in every sense of the word and teaming him with Brian Dawkins would rejuvenate the Eagles deep patrol. Linebacker is also a need and local hero Paul Posluszny would make sense too but safety is a more pressing concern right now.

19. NEW YORK GIANTS
MARCUS MCCAULEY
CB | Fresno St. | Scouting Report
Despite their best efforts to upgrade the secondary last offseason their pass defense still ranks in the bottom half of the league and most of the veterans they brought in don't have much left in the tank. Needless to say an infusion of talent wouldn't hurt so if there is a top cornerback available they might just pounce on him. Marcus McCauley has struggled mightily at times as a senior but he's a better prospect than Richard Marshall (who's playing very well for the Carolina Panthers) was last year and his rare blend of size (6-1, 205) and speed (4.3) should help him find a home in Round 1 despite his subpar final season. In fact, this may be a steal.

20. NEW YORK JETS
MARSHAWN LYNCH
RB | California | Scouting Report
Regardless of whether Curtis Martin retires or not his career as a starting running back in the NFL is over and the Jets desperately need an upgrade over the likes of Kevan Barlow, Derrick Blalock, Cedric Houston and Leon Washington. Lynch has been very productive throughout his career and is a dynamic big play threat who can take it the distance at any time. In the first year under a new regime the Jets devoted the vast majority of their Draft Day attention to lunch pail guys (i.e. two offensive linemen in round one) but the time is right to bring in some skill position talent and Lynch would be a good pick at this point. Never rule out defense though.

21. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
DWAYNE JARRETT
WR | USC | Scouting Report
For years now the Chiefs have boasted a high-powered passing attack despite not having a true #1 wide receiver but it might be time to change that. After taking care of their defense the past couple of offseasons Kansas City may be in the market for a wideout since Samie Parker hasn't stepped up as they hoped and there isn't much depth to speak of. A prolific wideout since his true freshman season, Dwayne Jarrett has outstanding size and a real knack for getting in the end zone so despite his lack of blazing timed speed and the comparisons to Mike Williams he could very easily go higher than this and become the elite pro player that Williams was supposed to be.

22. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
BRIAN BROHM
QB | Louisville | Scouting Report
Seeing Brohm this low will probably come as a shock to many but the reason for his fall is two-fold. First of all he really isn't as good of a prospect as some have made him out to be and the consensus in scouting circles is that JaMarcus Russell, not Brohm, would be the second quarterback drafted this year. The second reason is just lack of teams between picks 14 and 22 with a glaring need at quarterback. With Byron Leftwich falling out of favor and David Garrard not seizing the starting job it looks like the Jaguars will be in the market for a new quarterback in the near future so to acquire Brohm, who could be a Top 5 pick in 2008, here would be ideal.

23. DENVER BRONCOS
RAY MCDONALD
DE | Florida | Scouting Report
Last year Denver was widely panned for their decision to patch the defensive line with Cleveland Brown castoffs like Gerard Warren and Courtney Brown but you have to give credit where it is due because in the end those moves worked out pretty well. However the Broncos still lack a dynamic presence up front, especially at end where Brown continues to battle the injury bug and guys like Ekuban, Lang and Engelberger all leave something to be desired as starters at the professional level and Elvis Dumervil is more of a situational guy. Ray McDonald is a bit of a 'tweener who could see action at either end or tackle and he's seen his stock soar this year.

24. CINCINNATI BENGALS
DEMARCUS TYLER
DT | North Carolina St. | Scouting Report
Despite bringing in veteran Sam Adams the Bengals are still among the worst rush defenses in the league and are giving up over 120 yards per game on the ground, which just isn't acceptable for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. The big problem for Cincy is that while they have a bunch of solid players on the defensive line they don't have any real impact players or difference makers so the time may be right to invest a first rounder in the position. There isn't a player in the country has helped himself more than "Tank" Tyler this season and he might now be a first round pick next April, just like Mario Williams, Manny Lawson and John McCargo were in 2006.

25. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (f/SEA)
MICHAEL GRIFFIN
S | Texas | Scouting Report
It seems like every year the secondary is pinpointed as a major need for the Pats yet for the most part they still haven't addressed it but the day is coming where they will have to add some help in the deep patrol. After a slew of recent injuries Rodney Harrison doesn't have much left in the tank and while James Sanders was slated to take over a starting safety job the team has seemed to sour on his future prospects so as of right now they don't have Harrison's replacement on the roster. Michael Griffin is a tackling machine, a lights out hitter and a top special teamer who would be a nice fit here and give the Pats the top young defensive back they need.

26. DALLAS COWBOYS
LEVI BROWN
OT | Penn St. | Scouting Report
The offensive line is without question the biggest problem area in Big D and the fact that Marc Colombo is starting for them speaks volumes about the state of that group. Levi Brown is a mountain of a man at 6-5 and 325 pounds and while he could potentially play left tackle in the pros like he does for the Nittany Lions he'd be of greater service replacing Colombo on the right side for the Cowboys. This may be just a slight reach but when you are as desperate for offensive line help as Dallas is you tend to do whatever is necessary to bring in help even if it means taking a guy like Brown ten spots early then so be it, although Justin Blalock would work as well.

27. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
PAUL POSLUSZNY
OLB | Penn St. | Scouting Report
It's a little known fact that last year the Saints were prepared to take A.J. Hawk with the #2 overall pick in the draft before Reggie Bush unexpectedly fell into their laps. That should tell you how badly they want to address the position so they would have to be overjoyed to land a poor-man's Hawk like "Puz". At times their linebackers have played okay this year but the bottom line is that they are just a bunch of journeymen and the team needs to add a front line talent. Many have called Paul Posluszny one of the best linebackers that the Nittany Lions have ever produced and considering the schools reputation that is really saying something.

28. BALTIMORE RAVENS
ANTHONY SPENCER
DE | Purdue | Scouting Report
Top to bottom the Ravens might have the deepest, most talented roster in the league and as a result trying to pinpoint a glaring need for them is difficult. An area that could become a concern however is linebacker, especially when you consider that their underrated defensive playmaker Adalius Thomas is set to become an unrestricted agent and might not be back next year. In college Anthony Spencer plays defensive end but he's undersized and would be an ideal candidate to make the move to outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme due to his athleticism. Spencer's stock is really on the rise thanks to a strong senior campaign so this is a good fit.

29. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
JEFF SAMARDZIJA
WR | Notre Dame | Scouting Report
The Pats received a first rounder from Seattle for Deion Branch so why not use one to bring in another wide receiver? "The Shark" is a great athlete with ideal size, good hands and tremendous body control and you just can't underestimate the connection that he has with the Patriots, having been coaching by Bill Belichick's former offensive coordinator Charlie Weis for the past two years. Samardzija also plays minor league baseball for the Chicago Cubs which could affect his draft stock but he is a legitimate first round talent if he opts for a career on the gridiron rather than one on the diamond. At this point however that still remains a very big "if".

30. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
SIDNEY RICE
WR | South Carolina | Scouting Report
The phrase that probably best describes the San Diego Chargers group of wide receivers is solid but unspectacular. Keenan McCardell is very reliable but beyond him the team has very little to get excited about and really lacks a true #1 option. Although he is just a sophomore Sidney Rice redshirted in 2004 and has been out of high school for three years which means technically he could enter this draft if he so chooses. Physically Rice has just about everything that you look for in a top receiver including outstanding size, hands and ball skills and while there are certainly some question marks the potential rewards probably outweigh all the risks at this point.

31. CHICAGO BEARS
ZACH MILLER
TE | Arizona St. | Scouting Report
Even though they already have one of the best defenses in the entire league the Bears used almost their entire 2006 Draft to bolster that side of the ball, ignoring a porous offense. Maybe that will turn out to be the right decision and maybe it won't but one way or another Chicago is going to have to add some impact players in the passing game and one position that is going to have to be upgraded is tight end, where Desmond Clark is solid but average. After bursting onto the scene as a true freshman in 2004 Zach Miller has been one of the most productive tight ends in the college game and would give the Bears a top pass catching threat at the position.

32. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
BUSTER DAVIS
ILB | Florida St. | Scouting Report
The only explanation needed for this pick are the names of Mike Peterson, Marcus Washington and David Thornton, all outside linebackers who Indy let flee when they became free agents. With Cato June due to hit the open market and Gilbert Gardner struggling it would appear to be safe to say that linebacker is the Colt's greatest need and even though they historically haven't addressed the position in the early rounds you can never say never. A versatile guy who is able to play either inside or outside, Buster Davis had a great senior season and even though he doesn't have the ideal height that you look for it really won't matter in Indy's defensive scheme.

[bhlloy]

FYI Sam Baker is 100% staying at USC so he won't be going to the Texans. Jarrett is 95% for entering the draft and Fred Davis is maybe 25% and the rest of the junior class is staying.

[bosshogg23]

Jake Long is staying at Michigan as well.

[scooper]

Originally Posted by DeToxRoxDVHStyle

Apparently Brady Quinn has said he will not sign with Detroit, and I say good riddance. I want him about as much as he wants to be here. Russell would be okay I guess but the Lions need to deal down to 4 or 5 hopefully and snag either Joe Thomas or Gaines Adams as both sides of our line are atrocious.

No he hasn't.

[Noble_Platypus]

I love that mock draft above. I dont even care if its Buster Davis or not that they take, just that they pick 32

[bhlloy]

Wow... if the Lions really wanted Brady Quinn they screwed themselves royally today. Now, can they possibly take another WR that high and if not, do they try and trade down and get good value for Troy Smith, JaMarcus Russell or Brian Brohm?

[KevinNU7]

As of right now I think the Raiders take Quinn without a doubt. We'll see how the combine goes.

[Schmidty]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

Wow... if the Lions really wanted Brady Quinn they screwed themselves royally today. Now, can they possibly take another WR that high and if not, do they try and trade down and get good value for Troy Smith, JaMarcus Russell or Brian Brohm?

Drew Stanton in the 2nd or 3rd round baby!!!

[KevinNU7]

Originally Posted by Noble_Platypus

I love that mock draft above. I dont even care if its Buster Davis or not that they take, just that they pick 32

I love that mock draft to because I nearly wet myself with laughter seeing the Colts picked 32nd

[Raiders Army]

Originally Posted by KevinNU7

As of right now I think the Raiders take Quinn without a doubt. We'll see how the combine goes.

I really don't think so. I think they'll take Peterson or (more likely) trade down.

[Izulde]

I understand the need for youth on the Dolphins D-line, but to my mind we need a WR most.

Seeing all those dropped balls all season pissed me off.