NFL Mock Draft

The annual NFL Draft will start on Saturday. I love the Draft -- a great day to sit on the couch, watch some football in late April, eat buffalo tenders and see which players Bob Kraft will be purchasing rings for in the near future. In all this excitement I begin posting Mock Drafts and this will be my final one. One side note before I make a fool of myself with these predictions. Read this week's Sports Illustrated (with Adrian Peterson on the cover) for Tim Layden's article on the immense popularity of Draft weekend. It got me even more excited. To make things even harder on myself, I will also predict trades. 1. OAKLAND RAIDERS: JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU There are many rumors flying around that Al Davis is in love with Calvin Johnson but with only Andrew Walter signed to play quarterback, the Raiders can not pass on Russell. 2. DETROIT LIONS: Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech Matt Millen has been called an idiot for taking wide receivers in the Top 10 three years in a row from 2003-2005 (Charles Johnson, Roy Williams, Mike Williams) but he will truly be a moron if he passes on Johnson or does not trade down before taking Joe Thomas or Gaines Adams. The hot rumor is that the Falcons will trade up to take Johnson. 3. CLEVELAND BROWNS: Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame Romeo Crennel has worked side-by-side with Charlie Weis in the past (with the Giants, Jets and Patriots) and probably trusts him as much as any man in football. Weis knows Brady Quinn. Weis has certainly told Romeo that Quinn is the man. Romeo will bank on Brady Quinn being his Tom Brady. 4. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson Jon Gruden reportedly loves Johnson (as does every other coach in the NFL). But with Johnson gone he will upgrade his pass rush, a good decision with 87-year-old Simeon Rice currently his best defensive end. 5. HOUSTON TEXANS (from ARIZONA): Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma The Texans passed on Reggie Bush last year but they will use whatever they didn't give Atlanta in the Matt Schaub trade to move up and pick Peterson. 6. MIAMI DOLPHINS (from WASHINGTON): Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin The Dolphins offensive line is pathetic and they jump at the chance to take Thomas. 7. MINNESOTA VIKINGS: LaRon Landry, S, LSU Landry is a play maker, something Minnesota hasn't had in their defensive backfield in a long time. He started all four years at LSU and he will start immediately for the Vikings. 8. ATLANTA FALCONS: Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville Okoye was a great interior lineman at Louisville under Bobby Petrino. Petrino hopes that he will continue his dominance in the NFL for the Falcons. 9. WASHINGTON REDSKINS (from MIAMI): Patrick Willis, MLB, Ole Miss Willis is one of the fastest climbing prospects in the first round. After leading Ole Miss in tackles the past three years, he is ready to step in and play immediately for Joe Gibbs. 10. ARIZONA CARDINALS (from HOUSTON): Levi Brown, OT, Penn State The Cards get the left tackle they need. Thomas may be rated higher but Brown is gaining popularity and Arizona gains value by trading down. 11. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas After signing Nate Clements in free agency, Mike Nolan adds a pass rusher to further strengthen his defense. 12. BUFFALO BILLS: Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh The Bills lost Nate Clements to the 49ers in free agency so corner is an area of need. 13. ST. LOUIS RAMS: Leon Hall, CB, Michigan The Rams need help on the defense. They will take Hall over Lawrence Timmons and Adam Carriker. 14. CAROLINA PANTHERS: Lawrence Timmons, OLB, Florida State The Panthers defense is starting to get old so an athletic linebacker like Timmons will fit in immediately. 15. NEW YORK JETS (from PITTSBURGH): Greg Olsen, TE, Miami, FL Eric Mangini makes a bold move to move up and take the athletically gifted Olsen. Olsen's spped (4.5 in the 40) will give the Jets the ability to stretch the middle of the field and will provide Chad Pennington with another explosive option. 16. GREEN BAY PACKERS: Marshawn Lynch, RB, California I have had Lynch here all along so I'll stick to my guns for once. Some scouts think that with his pass catching and blocking skills, Lynch will be a better pro than Adrian Peterson. 17. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska The Jags will be happy to add Carriker to a line that already has Marcus Stroud and John Henderson. 18. CINCINNATI BENGALS: Paul Posluszny, LB, Penn State The Bengals franchise has been embarrassed by off the field incidents too many times in the last year so they take a wonderful player and person in Posluszny. 19. TENNESSEE TITANS: Aaron Ross, CB, Texas Getting a receiver to pair up with Vince Young seems like a logical choice but losing Pacman Jones for the year (or longer) forces the Titans to draft Ross, who can play either corner or safety. Ross also helps replace Pacman in the return game. 20. NEW YORK GIANTS: Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee Offensive line and the secondary may be more pressing needs but the G-Men have so much invested in Eli Manning that they take a wide receiver. 21. DENVER BRONCOS: Jarvis Moss, DE, Florida There are rumors that the Broncos want to trade up to take Patrick Willis but if they stay at 21, a pass rusher like Moss would be a great fit for them. 22. DALLAS COWBOYS: Ted Ginn Jr., WR, Ohio State Ginn has slipped because of the foot injury he sustained in the BCS Championship Game but the Cowboys, in need of getting younger at receiver, stop his fall. Ginn also makes an impact in the return game. 23. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: Joe Staley, OT, Central Michigan The Chiefs have lost Willie Roaf (last year) and Will Shields (last week) so upgrading the offensive line should be a priority. 24. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: Reggie Nelson, S, Florida The Patriots have to get younger at safety and the play making ability of Nelson -- as well as Bill Belichick's close relationship with Urban Meyer -- make the ex-Gator a perfect fir for the New England defense. 25. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (from NY JETS): Jon Beason, LB, Miami, FL New coach Mike Tomlin gets a linebacker to fit into the 4-3 defense he is installing in Pittsburgh. 26. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: Michael Griffin, S, Texas Michael Lewis is gone via free agency and Brian Dawkins is 34-years-old so getting younger at safety is important. 27. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: Justin Harrell, DT, Tennessee The Saints have the offense with Deuce McAllister, Drew Brees, Reggie Bush and Marques Colston. Harrell gives them a building block on defense. 28. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: Anthony Spencer, DE/OLB, Purdue Spencer is a great fit for the Pats because of his versatility. He can rush the passer off the end (4.7 in the 40) and can be the physical linebacker presence (6-3, 260) that Belichick likes to employ. The next Mike Vrabel? 29. BALTIMORE RAVENS: Chris Houston, CB, Arkansas The great Ravens defense could use an upgrade at corner and Houston would be a good fit opposite Chris McAllister. 30. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS: Dwayne Jarrett, WR, USC Jarrett has fallen like a manhole cover because he only ran 4.62 in the 40-yard dash at the USC Pro Day. Still, he is a big (6-4, 230), physical, proven winner and the Chargers will line him up opposite 6-5 Vincent Jackson. 31. CHICAGO BEARS: Alan Branch, DT, Michigan The Bears need depth for their interior defensive line with Tank Johnson's future in question. Branch's stock has slipped but his size (6-6, 330) and raw talent can't be overlooked by Da Bears. 32. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: Eric Wright, CB, UNLV After losing both starting corners (Nick and David Harper) in free agency, the Super Bowl champs (AHHHHHHHHH) add the intriguing Wright. He didn't play much at UNLV because of injury and transferred out of USC because of personal problems but he is a fast cover guy that Indy really needs right now. Some other players I would love to see the Patriots draft: Zak DeOssie, LB, Brown -- Like father like son Brian Leonard, RB, Rutgers -- Talented and unselfish Eric Weddle, S, Utah -- Versatile Buster Davis, LB, Florida State -- Great athlete Daymeion Hughes, CB, California -- Can always use a cornerback Josh Beekman, OG, Boston College -- Great BC lineman Manuel Ramirez, OG, Texas Tech -- Just Manny being Manny