Post by TheShadow on Apr 26, 2007 3:38:19 GMT -5
raiders.realfootball365.com/
By Connor J. Byrne
Connor Byrne, a senior writer at RealFootball365.com, brings you the site's final mock draft before the real fun begins this weekend.
Trades:
•Detroit sends the second overall pick to Arizona for the fifth selection, 38th choice and multiple picks in the 2008 draft.
•Houston trades No. 10 to San Francisco for No. 11 and 124 (fourth round).
1.) Oakland Raiders - JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU. Calvin Johnson is a great talent, but he's a luxury the Raiders -- who already have three good receivers -- simply cannot afford at this stage. The 6-foot-6, 265-pound Russell is one of the strongest-armed quarterbacks to come along in recent memory, and he has a chance to turn Oakland's struggling franchise around in one fell swoop.
2.) Arizona Cardinals (from Detroit) - Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin. Thomas, a 6-8, 313-pounder, has the athleticism and smarts to be a true bookend for years to come. Because of that, he'll be more than worth trading up for. Arizona needs all the offensive line help it can get, especially with young but immobile star Matt Leinart helming the QB position. The Cards could stay at five and take another first-round tackle, but Thomas seems too close to a sure thing.
3.) Cleveland Browns - Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame. The Browns' general manager, Phil Savage, will have a tough time passing over Adrian Peterson, but Quinn should be the pick here. The local product (Dublin, Ohio) can finally give Cleveland a legitimate QB prospect, which it hasn't had since the Bernie Kosar days. Quinn's college head coach, Charlie Weis, said the 6-3, 232-pounder would be a top-three player at his position within three years. Weis, who tutored Tom Brady in New England, knows a thing or two about quarterbacks.
4.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech. The most alluring WR prospect to enter the draft since Randy Moss, Johnson has the size (6-5, 239), speed (4.35 40-yard dash) and jumping ability (41½-inch vertical leap) to match his overwhelming hype. Adding Johnson would aid the Buccaneers' offense greatly, improving either of the quarterbacks -- Jeff Garcia or Chris Simms -- and young wideout Michael Clayton in a hurry.
5.) Detroit Lions (from Arizona) - Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson. Moving down is easily the best option for Lions General Manager Matt Millen, and he knows it. By doing so, the team acquires valuable extra picks and grabs a stud defensive end in the process. Opposite the newly signed Dewayne White, Adams, a 6-4, 258-pounder, has the ability to be a dominant pass rusher for the Lions, who still need more big-time prospects to make head coach Rod Marinelli's Tampa 2 work.
6.) Washington Redskins - Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville. The Redskins would like nothing more than to move down and acquire extra picks, but doing so is going to be very difficult. Okoye, a 19-year-old wunderkind, played his senior season at Louisville at just 287 pounds, but he has since bulked up to 302. The Nigerian-born defender will only get more mature in the upcoming years, so Washington will need to give him ample time to develop.
7.) Minnesota Vikings - Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma. It's true the Vikings do have a good back in Chester Taylor, but he isn't a gamebreaker. Head coach Brad Childress would love to address the Vikings' weakest area, wide receiver; however, there aren't any options worthy of the seventh choice, and trading down will be tough. Minnesota will then take Peterson, who is the best offensive player on the board at this point. He'll certainly be an upgrade to the entire 'O', giving the Vikes a high-echelon one-two punch in the backfield.
8.) Atlanta Falcons - LaRon Landry, S, LSU. Landry is the top defender on the board at No. 8 and should be a no-brainer here for Atlanta. The hard-hitting Landry will instantly upgrade Atlanta's defensive backfield with his 4.29 speed, tackling ability and coverage prowess.
9.) Miami Dolphins - Joe Staley, OT, Central Michigan. The trendy pick here in most mock drafts is Penn State O-tackle Levi Brown. However, he probably projects better as a right tackle than a left-side man in the NFL. The athletic Staley, on the other hand, will be able to step in right away at LT. If the team acquires immobile QB Trent Green from the Chiefs, it'll need Staley as a bookend to protect the 37-year-old's blind side. This may not be a popular pick for Miami's fans, but it's the right one. A good start for first-year head coach Cam Cameron's regime.
10.) San Francisco 49ers (from Houston) - Patrick Willis, LB, Mississippi. To stop Buffalo from moving up to No. 10 to take Willis, the 49ers will do it. Niners head coach Mike Nolan and assistant Mike Singletary coached Willis at the Senior Bowl, coming away highly impressed. The Butkus Award winner (given to the nation's top LB) from last season has sub-4.4 speed and top-notch playmaking ability, which makes him perfect for the middle of the 49ers' defense.
11.) Houston Texans (from San Francisco) - Alan Branch, DT, Michigan. Branch's injuries to both legs are a major concern right now, so it won't be a surprise if he drops long past Houston's pick. However, the Texans could use a 324-pounder of Branch's ilk to clog the middle of their defense, which has been porous since Houston reentered the NFL in 2002.
12.) Buffalo Bills - Jon Beason, LB, Miami. When the offseason's draft speculation began, Beason was considered an early pick in the second round. Since, though, he's drawn enough interest from impressed NFL franchises to become a potential top-15 pick. Buffalo has rid itself of two starting linebackers from last year -- London Fletcher and Takeo Spikes -- so common sense says it will grab a young replacement for the future. The 237-pound Beason, who projects as an outside linebacker in the pros, has one very important trait for the Bills' Tampa 2: He's outstanding in coverage.
13.) St. Louis Rams - Adam Carriker, DL, Nebraska. The Rams will be disappointed to not land either Amobi Okoye or Alan Branch, but Carriker is an awfully good consolation prize. The 6-6, 296-pounder is versatile enough to play anywhere on the D-line and is an adept run stopper.
14.) Carolina Panthers - Greg Olsen, TE, Miami. The Panthers' last real threat at tight end was Wesley Walls, and he was in his prime a decade ago. Olsen (6-5, 251) ran a 4.51 40 and would quickly emerge as a great weapon in Carolina's passing offense. Olsen is known for being able to create extra yards after the catch, and that will be a big help for QB Jake Delhomme, who in a pinch can simply dump passes off to his new TE and watch him move the chains.
15.) Pittsburgh Steelers - Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh. Most view Leon Hall as the draft's best cornerback, but certain teams have Revis rated higher. Perhaps one of those is the Steelers, whose brass is no doubt familiar with Revis from his successful tenure at the University of Pittsburgh. At 5-11 and 204 pounds, Revis has the size to out-muscle opposing receivers, and his 4.4 speed is on par with Hall's (4.39). Physicality wins in the end, though.
16.) Green Bay Packers - Marshawn Lynch, RB, California. Nearly all prominent mocks have the Pack taking Lynch here, and for good reason. Lynch, a 216-pounder who has 4.46 speed, has the rushing (1,356 yards last year) and pass-catching (34 receptions, four touchdowns in 2006) skills to make Green Bay's fans quickly forget the now departed Ahman Green.
17.) Jacksonville Jaguars - Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas. Reggie Nelson, the Florida safety, will be tough to overlook here, but the Jags' pass rushing is a bigger issue. At 6-5, 288, Anderson has good speed (4.75) and could be an immediate impact player in the pros. Last year, he racked up 13½ sacks for Arkansas.
18.) Cincinnati Bengals - Leon Hall, CB, Michigan. The Bengals spent their first-rounder on corner Johnathan Joseph last year, and he turned out well as a rookie, but the team still needs to solidify its secondary further. Hall doesn't seem like a great prospect, but he could translate to being a No. 2 behind Joseph. That would be a fine CB tandem for years in Cincinnati.
19.) Tennessee Titans - Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee. The Titans' top wideout, Drew Bennett, left in free agency, and second-year quarterback Vince Young won't be able to do everything by himself. For that reason, Tennessee will go with a local product, ex-Volunteer receiver Robert Meachem. The 6-2, 214-pounder has the size and 4.39 speed to be a suitable replacement for Bennett. Young will no doubt be happy to have Meachem as a target.
20.) New York Giants - Levi Brown, OT, Penn State. It has been no secret this offseason that the Giants' brass likes Brown a lot, and New York will be lucky enough to get the potential bookend this Saturday. It's unlikely, but after Miami takes Joe Staley instead of Brown, the latter could plummet down the board, where he falls into the Giants' arms. The team would like to improve its flailing defense, but the first key is keeping Eli Manning safe and confident. The 323-pound Brown has a chance to do that.
21.) Denver Broncos - Ted Ginn, Jr., Ohio State. The reason why Ginn to Denver makes sense: The decline of Rod Smith, one of the all-time Bronco greats at the receiver position. They already have the explosive Javon Walker as a No. 1 wideout, but Smith (9.8 yards per catch in 2006) will be 37 next month, and Ginn's speed will be tempting for head coach Mike Shanahan. Ginn, though smallish (5-11, 178), runs a sub-4.4 and ought to be a scary downfield target for cannon-armed passer Jay Cutler.
22.) Dallas Cowboys - Reggie Nelson, S, Florida. Dallas signed Ken Hamlin to a one-year deal, but neither he nor Roy Williams are above average in coverage. Nelson is strong in coverage, though, and that's why the Cowboys would be both smart and lucky to get him.
23.) Kansas City Chiefs - Chris Houston, CB, Arkansas. The downside to Houston is his 5-9, 185-pound frame, but if he can overcome that, his head-turning 4.32 speed could help make him a big-time corner. Kansas City's current starting CBs, Ty Law and Patrick Surtain, are on the wrong side of 30, so the pair can groom the youngster.
24.) New England Patriots - Aaron Ross, CB, Texas. The Patriots' duo of personnel guru Scott Pioli and head coach Bill Belichick always draft with the future in mind. Asante Samuel, New England's No. 1 corner, is likely to depart next offseason, so the team will need a replacement. The 6-0, 193-pound Ross doesn't have high-end speed and needs to develop into a more physical defender, but make no mistake, he'll be a good addition for the Pats.
25.) New York Jets - Anthony Spencer, DE/LB, Purdue. Spencer is the type of football player whom Eric Mangini would love to get. He's very instinctual and plays the game right. Spencer isn't extraordinarily fast, but he was quick enough to garner double-digit sacks in his senior season at Purdue and could rotate between end and linebacker in the Jets' 3-4.
26.) Philadelphia Eagles - Michael Griffin, S, Texas. The Eagles improved their front seven this offseason by trading for two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Takeo Spikes, but their secondary is still a bit of a concern. The athletic Griffin can either split time with Sean Considine at SS or start opposite ballhawk Brian Dawkins as a rookie.
27.) New Orleans Saints - Justin Harrell, DT, Tennessee. LSU receiver Dwayne Bowe will be on the Saints' radar, but even without Joe Horn, their offense is still very explosive. The defense, however, has to improve for the entire team to be championship-caliber. Enter Harrell, who has great athleticism for a 300-pounder and was an above-average run stuffer and high-class on-field leader for the Volunteers since 2003.
28.) New England Patriots - David Harris, LB, Michigan. Alan Branch and Leon Hall are probably the most well-known defensive prospects from Michigan in this draft class, but Harris could prove to be the best pro. The menacing inside linebacker was actually voted the Wolverines' co-MVP last year in a 103-tackle campaign, so he can obviously get the job done on the field. The 6-2, 243-pounder has 4.57 speed and will have a chance to develop in New England behind the likes of Tedy Bruschi. This makes plenty of sense for the Pats.
29.) Baltimore Ravens - Lawrence Timmons, LB, Florida State. The Ravens lost Pro Bowl LB Adalius Thomas in free agency, and that created a hole on their vaunted defense. The playmaking Timmons can fill the bill, and his versatility (he can shift between OLB and ILB) makes him a wonderful young prospect.
30.) San Diego Chargers - Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Ohio State. The Chargers could take a defensive back like Brandon Meriweather here, but San Diego's general manager, A.J. Smith, may choose to give new head coach and offensive guru Norv Turner a big-time toy to play with. The 6-0, 195-pound Gonzalez will be a great complement in the passing game to mammoth No. 1 wideout Vincent Jackson (6-5, 241). Gonzalez probably won't be a primary pro receiver, but he's certainly suited to being a No. 2. In San Diego there are plenty of offensive weapons, which means the 22-year-old could fly under the radar and flourish from Day One.
31.) Chicago Bears - Brandon Meriweather, DB, Miami. The story of the Bears' defense last year was its fearsome front seven, particularly the linebackers and tackle Tommie Harris. The secondary wasn't great, and that's why Meriweather makes sense for the Bears at No. 31. If he can overcome some character issues, he'll be a valuable and versatile pickup for Chicago. Meriweather can play either corner or free safety.
32.) Indianapolis Colts - Paul Posluszny, LB, Penn State. Posluszny entered last season as the nation's top LB, but a so-so campaign knocked him down draft boards. If "Pos" falls this far, Colts G.M. Bill Polian will no doubt be thankful. He'll be a great replacement for Cato June, whom the defending champions didn't re-sign.
Five players who could creep into the first round:
Dwayne Bowe, WR, LSU.
Ryan Kalil, C, USC.
Jarvis Moss, DL, Florida.
Justin Durant, LB, Hampton.
Marcus McCauley, CB, Fresno State.
By Connor J. Byrne
Connor Byrne, a senior writer at RealFootball365.com, brings you the site's final mock draft before the real fun begins this weekend.
Trades:
•Detroit sends the second overall pick to Arizona for the fifth selection, 38th choice and multiple picks in the 2008 draft.
•Houston trades No. 10 to San Francisco for No. 11 and 124 (fourth round).
1.) Oakland Raiders - JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU. Calvin Johnson is a great talent, but he's a luxury the Raiders -- who already have three good receivers -- simply cannot afford at this stage. The 6-foot-6, 265-pound Russell is one of the strongest-armed quarterbacks to come along in recent memory, and he has a chance to turn Oakland's struggling franchise around in one fell swoop.
2.) Arizona Cardinals (from Detroit) - Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin. Thomas, a 6-8, 313-pounder, has the athleticism and smarts to be a true bookend for years to come. Because of that, he'll be more than worth trading up for. Arizona needs all the offensive line help it can get, especially with young but immobile star Matt Leinart helming the QB position. The Cards could stay at five and take another first-round tackle, but Thomas seems too close to a sure thing.
3.) Cleveland Browns - Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame. The Browns' general manager, Phil Savage, will have a tough time passing over Adrian Peterson, but Quinn should be the pick here. The local product (Dublin, Ohio) can finally give Cleveland a legitimate QB prospect, which it hasn't had since the Bernie Kosar days. Quinn's college head coach, Charlie Weis, said the 6-3, 232-pounder would be a top-three player at his position within three years. Weis, who tutored Tom Brady in New England, knows a thing or two about quarterbacks.
4.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech. The most alluring WR prospect to enter the draft since Randy Moss, Johnson has the size (6-5, 239), speed (4.35 40-yard dash) and jumping ability (41½-inch vertical leap) to match his overwhelming hype. Adding Johnson would aid the Buccaneers' offense greatly, improving either of the quarterbacks -- Jeff Garcia or Chris Simms -- and young wideout Michael Clayton in a hurry.
5.) Detroit Lions (from Arizona) - Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson. Moving down is easily the best option for Lions General Manager Matt Millen, and he knows it. By doing so, the team acquires valuable extra picks and grabs a stud defensive end in the process. Opposite the newly signed Dewayne White, Adams, a 6-4, 258-pounder, has the ability to be a dominant pass rusher for the Lions, who still need more big-time prospects to make head coach Rod Marinelli's Tampa 2 work.
6.) Washington Redskins - Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville. The Redskins would like nothing more than to move down and acquire extra picks, but doing so is going to be very difficult. Okoye, a 19-year-old wunderkind, played his senior season at Louisville at just 287 pounds, but he has since bulked up to 302. The Nigerian-born defender will only get more mature in the upcoming years, so Washington will need to give him ample time to develop.
7.) Minnesota Vikings - Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma. It's true the Vikings do have a good back in Chester Taylor, but he isn't a gamebreaker. Head coach Brad Childress would love to address the Vikings' weakest area, wide receiver; however, there aren't any options worthy of the seventh choice, and trading down will be tough. Minnesota will then take Peterson, who is the best offensive player on the board at this point. He'll certainly be an upgrade to the entire 'O', giving the Vikes a high-echelon one-two punch in the backfield.
8.) Atlanta Falcons - LaRon Landry, S, LSU. Landry is the top defender on the board at No. 8 and should be a no-brainer here for Atlanta. The hard-hitting Landry will instantly upgrade Atlanta's defensive backfield with his 4.29 speed, tackling ability and coverage prowess.
9.) Miami Dolphins - Joe Staley, OT, Central Michigan. The trendy pick here in most mock drafts is Penn State O-tackle Levi Brown. However, he probably projects better as a right tackle than a left-side man in the NFL. The athletic Staley, on the other hand, will be able to step in right away at LT. If the team acquires immobile QB Trent Green from the Chiefs, it'll need Staley as a bookend to protect the 37-year-old's blind side. This may not be a popular pick for Miami's fans, but it's the right one. A good start for first-year head coach Cam Cameron's regime.
10.) San Francisco 49ers (from Houston) - Patrick Willis, LB, Mississippi. To stop Buffalo from moving up to No. 10 to take Willis, the 49ers will do it. Niners head coach Mike Nolan and assistant Mike Singletary coached Willis at the Senior Bowl, coming away highly impressed. The Butkus Award winner (given to the nation's top LB) from last season has sub-4.4 speed and top-notch playmaking ability, which makes him perfect for the middle of the 49ers' defense.
11.) Houston Texans (from San Francisco) - Alan Branch, DT, Michigan. Branch's injuries to both legs are a major concern right now, so it won't be a surprise if he drops long past Houston's pick. However, the Texans could use a 324-pounder of Branch's ilk to clog the middle of their defense, which has been porous since Houston reentered the NFL in 2002.
12.) Buffalo Bills - Jon Beason, LB, Miami. When the offseason's draft speculation began, Beason was considered an early pick in the second round. Since, though, he's drawn enough interest from impressed NFL franchises to become a potential top-15 pick. Buffalo has rid itself of two starting linebackers from last year -- London Fletcher and Takeo Spikes -- so common sense says it will grab a young replacement for the future. The 237-pound Beason, who projects as an outside linebacker in the pros, has one very important trait for the Bills' Tampa 2: He's outstanding in coverage.
13.) St. Louis Rams - Adam Carriker, DL, Nebraska. The Rams will be disappointed to not land either Amobi Okoye or Alan Branch, but Carriker is an awfully good consolation prize. The 6-6, 296-pounder is versatile enough to play anywhere on the D-line and is an adept run stopper.
14.) Carolina Panthers - Greg Olsen, TE, Miami. The Panthers' last real threat at tight end was Wesley Walls, and he was in his prime a decade ago. Olsen (6-5, 251) ran a 4.51 40 and would quickly emerge as a great weapon in Carolina's passing offense. Olsen is known for being able to create extra yards after the catch, and that will be a big help for QB Jake Delhomme, who in a pinch can simply dump passes off to his new TE and watch him move the chains.
15.) Pittsburgh Steelers - Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh. Most view Leon Hall as the draft's best cornerback, but certain teams have Revis rated higher. Perhaps one of those is the Steelers, whose brass is no doubt familiar with Revis from his successful tenure at the University of Pittsburgh. At 5-11 and 204 pounds, Revis has the size to out-muscle opposing receivers, and his 4.4 speed is on par with Hall's (4.39). Physicality wins in the end, though.
16.) Green Bay Packers - Marshawn Lynch, RB, California. Nearly all prominent mocks have the Pack taking Lynch here, and for good reason. Lynch, a 216-pounder who has 4.46 speed, has the rushing (1,356 yards last year) and pass-catching (34 receptions, four touchdowns in 2006) skills to make Green Bay's fans quickly forget the now departed Ahman Green.
17.) Jacksonville Jaguars - Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas. Reggie Nelson, the Florida safety, will be tough to overlook here, but the Jags' pass rushing is a bigger issue. At 6-5, 288, Anderson has good speed (4.75) and could be an immediate impact player in the pros. Last year, he racked up 13½ sacks for Arkansas.
18.) Cincinnati Bengals - Leon Hall, CB, Michigan. The Bengals spent their first-rounder on corner Johnathan Joseph last year, and he turned out well as a rookie, but the team still needs to solidify its secondary further. Hall doesn't seem like a great prospect, but he could translate to being a No. 2 behind Joseph. That would be a fine CB tandem for years in Cincinnati.
19.) Tennessee Titans - Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee. The Titans' top wideout, Drew Bennett, left in free agency, and second-year quarterback Vince Young won't be able to do everything by himself. For that reason, Tennessee will go with a local product, ex-Volunteer receiver Robert Meachem. The 6-2, 214-pounder has the size and 4.39 speed to be a suitable replacement for Bennett. Young will no doubt be happy to have Meachem as a target.
20.) New York Giants - Levi Brown, OT, Penn State. It has been no secret this offseason that the Giants' brass likes Brown a lot, and New York will be lucky enough to get the potential bookend this Saturday. It's unlikely, but after Miami takes Joe Staley instead of Brown, the latter could plummet down the board, where he falls into the Giants' arms. The team would like to improve its flailing defense, but the first key is keeping Eli Manning safe and confident. The 323-pound Brown has a chance to do that.
21.) Denver Broncos - Ted Ginn, Jr., Ohio State. The reason why Ginn to Denver makes sense: The decline of Rod Smith, one of the all-time Bronco greats at the receiver position. They already have the explosive Javon Walker as a No. 1 wideout, but Smith (9.8 yards per catch in 2006) will be 37 next month, and Ginn's speed will be tempting for head coach Mike Shanahan. Ginn, though smallish (5-11, 178), runs a sub-4.4 and ought to be a scary downfield target for cannon-armed passer Jay Cutler.
22.) Dallas Cowboys - Reggie Nelson, S, Florida. Dallas signed Ken Hamlin to a one-year deal, but neither he nor Roy Williams are above average in coverage. Nelson is strong in coverage, though, and that's why the Cowboys would be both smart and lucky to get him.
23.) Kansas City Chiefs - Chris Houston, CB, Arkansas. The downside to Houston is his 5-9, 185-pound frame, but if he can overcome that, his head-turning 4.32 speed could help make him a big-time corner. Kansas City's current starting CBs, Ty Law and Patrick Surtain, are on the wrong side of 30, so the pair can groom the youngster.
24.) New England Patriots - Aaron Ross, CB, Texas. The Patriots' duo of personnel guru Scott Pioli and head coach Bill Belichick always draft with the future in mind. Asante Samuel, New England's No. 1 corner, is likely to depart next offseason, so the team will need a replacement. The 6-0, 193-pound Ross doesn't have high-end speed and needs to develop into a more physical defender, but make no mistake, he'll be a good addition for the Pats.
25.) New York Jets - Anthony Spencer, DE/LB, Purdue. Spencer is the type of football player whom Eric Mangini would love to get. He's very instinctual and plays the game right. Spencer isn't extraordinarily fast, but he was quick enough to garner double-digit sacks in his senior season at Purdue and could rotate between end and linebacker in the Jets' 3-4.
26.) Philadelphia Eagles - Michael Griffin, S, Texas. The Eagles improved their front seven this offseason by trading for two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Takeo Spikes, but their secondary is still a bit of a concern. The athletic Griffin can either split time with Sean Considine at SS or start opposite ballhawk Brian Dawkins as a rookie.
27.) New Orleans Saints - Justin Harrell, DT, Tennessee. LSU receiver Dwayne Bowe will be on the Saints' radar, but even without Joe Horn, their offense is still very explosive. The defense, however, has to improve for the entire team to be championship-caliber. Enter Harrell, who has great athleticism for a 300-pounder and was an above-average run stuffer and high-class on-field leader for the Volunteers since 2003.
28.) New England Patriots - David Harris, LB, Michigan. Alan Branch and Leon Hall are probably the most well-known defensive prospects from Michigan in this draft class, but Harris could prove to be the best pro. The menacing inside linebacker was actually voted the Wolverines' co-MVP last year in a 103-tackle campaign, so he can obviously get the job done on the field. The 6-2, 243-pounder has 4.57 speed and will have a chance to develop in New England behind the likes of Tedy Bruschi. This makes plenty of sense for the Pats.
29.) Baltimore Ravens - Lawrence Timmons, LB, Florida State. The Ravens lost Pro Bowl LB Adalius Thomas in free agency, and that created a hole on their vaunted defense. The playmaking Timmons can fill the bill, and his versatility (he can shift between OLB and ILB) makes him a wonderful young prospect.
30.) San Diego Chargers - Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Ohio State. The Chargers could take a defensive back like Brandon Meriweather here, but San Diego's general manager, A.J. Smith, may choose to give new head coach and offensive guru Norv Turner a big-time toy to play with. The 6-0, 195-pound Gonzalez will be a great complement in the passing game to mammoth No. 1 wideout Vincent Jackson (6-5, 241). Gonzalez probably won't be a primary pro receiver, but he's certainly suited to being a No. 2. In San Diego there are plenty of offensive weapons, which means the 22-year-old could fly under the radar and flourish from Day One.
31.) Chicago Bears - Brandon Meriweather, DB, Miami. The story of the Bears' defense last year was its fearsome front seven, particularly the linebackers and tackle Tommie Harris. The secondary wasn't great, and that's why Meriweather makes sense for the Bears at No. 31. If he can overcome some character issues, he'll be a valuable and versatile pickup for Chicago. Meriweather can play either corner or free safety.
32.) Indianapolis Colts - Paul Posluszny, LB, Penn State. Posluszny entered last season as the nation's top LB, but a so-so campaign knocked him down draft boards. If "Pos" falls this far, Colts G.M. Bill Polian will no doubt be thankful. He'll be a great replacement for Cato June, whom the defending champions didn't re-sign.
Five players who could creep into the first round:
Dwayne Bowe, WR, LSU.
Ryan Kalil, C, USC.
Jarvis Moss, DL, Florida.
Justin Durant, LB, Hampton.
Marcus McCauley, CB, Fresno State.