Live NFL Draft Diary

1:05 PM: The Detroit Lions have already said they will take Matt Stafford with the first overall pick. I think this is disastrous. Yes, they're sort of stuck having to take a QB in a below-average QB crop, but giving him the most guaranteed money of anyone to ever play the game is atrocious. Even better, they're planning to SIT him behind Culpepper this coming year? I understand not wanting to throw Stafford into the fire, but are they trying to get the #1 pick in NEXT year's draft, too? Culpepper hasn't been relevant since Moss was there to bail him out of bad throws. They should have never let Dan Orlovsky walk; he was actually starting to get it after a few 250+ yard games. No, he wasn't great, but he's a heck of a lot cheaper than Stafford is.

I'll be grading each pick after it's made. This one: C. Again, they needed to take a QB, but in typical Detroit fashion, they've screwed up how to do it.

4:00: Welcome to the draft! Our first pink sighting comes in the form of Michael Crabtree. I'm watching this upstairs with Mike Polak, who may chime in with his usual snide remarks from time to time.

4:03: Goodell comes up, met with a mixed reaction. He makes his standard awkward speech, followed by announcing Stafford going to the Lions. See above.

4:06: Polak comes down and makes the first "Erin Andrews is hot" comment. Guaranteed that there'll be several of those, especially when Nate March comes back from his errand to Rochon's house. Both of us agree that the $42 million Stafford is guaranteed to get is too much money.

4:08: St. Louis is on the clock. Pretty much assumed that they'll take an offensive lineman (either Jason Smith or Eugene Monroe).

4:10: Mel Kiper just ranted about how Mark Sanchez should be the #2 pick. Not worth much when their O-line stinks to high heaven. Mortensen says they might trade the pick to whoever gets Sanchez. Time winds down, and the Rams finally select...

4:14: Three minutes after the "pick is in" graphic comes up, the Rams announce they've taken Jason Smith. Good pick; scouts have fallen in love with his footwork. He'll move in where Orlando Pace left and give Bulger and Jackson some time to make things happen. GRADE: A-.

4:17: Next up, the Kansas City Chiefs. For their sake, I hope they, unlike Kiper and McShay, watched college football and take Aaron Curry over Tyson Jackson. Jackson's good against the run, but has no pass-rushing skills at all whatsoever.

4:21: Viewers bear me out, as Curry wins a poll over Jackson 65%-19%. Does common sense prevail?

4:25: The answer: NO!!!!!! Tyson Jackson gets drafted to a mixed reaction. Horrible pick; if Scott Pioli wanted to go d-end, draft Brian Orakpo, who has a nose for the football, hits hard, and knows how to get to the QB. I acknowledge he can stop the run, but despite the reactions of Kiper and Co., I think this is a lousy pick on the whole. GRADE: C-.

4:30: On to the Seahawks. If it's me, I take Eugene Monroe; they need to find a guy to fill the void Steve Hutchinson left years ago.

Bigger question: Since when is Chris Berman "Boom" instead of "Boomer?" Inquiring minds want to know!

4:32: Minor shock, as the Seahawks take Aaron Curry. Bigger story is Polak completely ripping him for crying as he walks to the podium. Apparently the NFL has turned into "A League of their Own."

Anyway, nice pick by Seattle. He replaces Julian Peterson and is a very steady player who always plays hard. GRADE: B+.

4:35: Make it two "Erin Andrews is hot" comments from Mike, complete with a Howard Dean "Pyahhhhh!" for good measure.

4:40: Cleveland on the clock. I've had Orakpo going here forever, but Mortensen expects a team to possibly trade to this spot. With a new regime, I don't see that happening. Orakpo's a good fit here, as every 3-4 team needs a big-time edge rusher, which Cleveland doesn't have.

4:41: Good reporting, Mort; bad move, Mangini. The Jets have moved up to the #5 spot, and Jet fan Mike Polak is elated. General wisdom is Sanchez here, and the video bears us out. I don't hate the pick, but I do think there's a chance this officially gives them too many cooks in the proverbial kitchen. Still, I see the wisdom, and I've always liked Sanchez more than Stafford. GRADE: B.

4:43: Polak is happy with the pick. He doesn't trust Kellen Clemens, and he says they still need a wide receiver, but is generally pretty even-tempered. Which is surprising considered he throws around exclamation points like they're going out of style.

4:46: Now the Cincinnati Bengals. They need to go O-line or Crabtree; Monroe is the safe choice, but Crabtree sells season tickets.

We hear that the Jets gave up a ton for Sanchez, including a second-rounder and QB Brett Ratliff. It's a little much, but new regimes do need new QB's, so it all comes out in the wash.

4:51: One of the most fun games to play is watching the players who ESPN has video cameras on. For all aspiring poker players, this is vital practice in reading people. Cincy's pick is in, and it appears they decide to go with Andre Smith, judging by the mile-wide smiles of him and his 30-person entourage...and they do. I don't like this pick long-term considering he's got more character flaws than Liz Berkley's character in Showgirls, but he does have talent, and Marvin Lewis is probably a year away from being fired so he's desperate. GRADE: B-.

4:58: Al Davis is on the clock! Exciting words, for sure, and his pick is in quickly so nobody can make fun of him for long. He's picked Darrius Heyward-Bey, the wideout out of Maryland who I have a substantial man-crush on. His stats stunk, but his Combine numbers were fantastic. I don't understand how they passed on Crabtree, who is a better overall wideout...oh wait, this is Al Davis. Still, I think he'll surprise a lot of people. GRADE: C-.

5:00: Crabtree Pink Shirt Watch is officially on as ESPN wonders where he's going. Polak and I are waiting for the Giants to trade up, and Nate March and Ara Eckel, our RA, come in. Hilarity is bound to ensue.

5:03: Jacksonville is on the clock. Look out for Malcolm Jenkins here; they need secondary help. Crabtree is also a possibility for any pick from here on out.

5:05: As Polak stiffs Ara for something he bought for him, Jacksonville selects Eugene Monroe. Not a horrid pick, but a bit unexpected given their needs. Still, Monroe is going to be a good player given his speed and agility at his position. GRADE: B-.

5:10: Green Bay is on the clock, and B.J. Raji and Michael Crabtree would both be no-brainers at this spot. They show Raji taking the phone call, and his face lights up. He'd help the 26th-ranked rush defense last year. Any doubt about the pick is erased when the customary 20-man entourage goes batshit nuts. Nice, safe pick, and he'll start right away. GRADE: A.

5:13: Ara gives his impression of Rivera choking with several hip thrusts. Nate and I are scarred for at least the next several hours.

5:15: San Francisco is on the clock, and, again, Crabtree's on the short list. Other possibilities: Michael Oher, Brian Orakpo, and some extra underwear for Mike Singletary.

5:18: Kiper makes the case for trading down, which everyone seems obligated to do at some point. However, they show Crabtree smiling on the phone, and their cycle of phone-shot, five-minute delay, then announcing the pick is getting REALLY old.

5:21: Anyway, Crabtree's the pick, and he went several picks too late. They needed a #1 receiver, and Crabtree immediately makes them more explosive. Now if they can draft an O-lineman in the second round, they've got the offense to contend for a division title in two or three years. GRADE: A.

5:26: The Bills are on the clock, and Aaron Maybin is shown getting the phone call. I thought they might go with Pettigrew here, but as good as he is, #11's high for a tight end, and Jared Cook and Chase Coffman will both be available later on. Regardless, nice pick. He's the most versatile front seven guy in the draft, and while he's only got two years of college experience under his belt, it means he's got a high ceiling and a lot of room to grow given a few years where he's not asked to do too much. There are some caveats, but I do like this pick. GRADE: B+.

5:30: Denver goes on the clock, and one would think they'd be eying either a running back (Knowshon Moreno) or a defensive lineman (Brian Orakpo). Either would be a need-filling pick, and with another pick later on at #18, they should do both within the next hour or so with relative ease.

5:32: Moreno it is, and it draws a HUGE reaction from the NYC crowd. I love Moreno, and I think he's the main reason why Matt Stafford looked so good at Georgia. Denver found out Selvin Young and everyone behind him were not effective last year, and Moreno can do it all. He's not a breakaway guy, but he'll be just fine here. GRADE: B+.

And right away, the Redskins take Brian Orakpo. Great value pick at #13, and he'll learn from Jason Taylor. Nice job, Snyder...wow, did I just say that? GRADE: A-.

5:40: New Orleans coming up. They need a defensive back, reaching for a RB would be unwise.

5:41: And the pick is Ohio State cornerback Malcolm Jenkins. Good pick; he's a tweener, but he's physically-gifted and is easily better than anyone they've got right now. Not a bad start in rebuilding the defense. GRADE: B+.

5:43: Mmm...burgers. Thanks Ara!

Anyway, next up is the Texans. Tough to figure what they'll do here; maybe Jeremy Maclin to line up alongside Andre Johnson.

5:45: Houston takes Brian Cushing, and the crowd goes indifferent! I don't like this guy as a first-rounder. Clay Matthews has been more impressive, and Rey Maualuga's a beast. Not a great pass-rusher, and there are better defensive players out there. GRADE: D+.

5:51: San Diego: Larry English, Northern Illinois. Who? They could have taken Michael Oher to plug their o-line here. I gotta say, I don't know much about him. GRADE: C.

5:56: Here's Cleveland. No, wait, they've traded to Tampa Bay. OK, so here's Tampa Bay. They need...pretty much everything, so it wouldn't surprise me to see anything at this point. If it's me, it's either Josh Freeman or Michael Oher.

6:02: The Bucs take Josh Freeman. This is a bit of a reach, but I understand the reasoning, and Tampa Bay does need to rebuild. Every rebuild starts with a new QB, and Freeman is the best one left. GRADE: C+.

6:05: Ed Werder excitedly reports that Denver will take Robert Ayers of Tennessee. Good series of picks by the Broncos if that's the case, and it is. Ayers isn't spectacular, but they had a gameplan and stuck to it. Good damage control by Josh McDaniels. GRADE: B.

6:10: Cleveland's on the clock for the third time. Could we see Brandon Pettigrew or Jeremy Maclin here?

6:15: NO!!!!! Mangini trades down AGAIN, this time to Philadelphia. I'm not saying he doesn't know what he's doing, because he's stacking up second and third-round choices, but this is getting old, quick.

Philly takes a wideout in the first round for the first time in forever, taking Jeremy Maclin. Great pick; Desean Jackson can't do everything himself, and Maclin has speed to burn. Philly got lucky with Maclin dropping, and they pounced. GRADE: A.

6:17: Detroit is back on the clock. One would think Michael Oher is the slam-dunk pick here; they need help on the line.

6:20: Or not, as they take Brandon Pettigrew. On second thought, I like this pick. Stafford needs help around him that extends beyond Calvin Johnson, and he can block a little as well. It wasn't the conventional pick, but there's wisdom there. GRADE: B.

6:22: Cleveland is on the clock for the fourth time today. Assuming they keep the pick, they could use Chris Wells at running back or Rey Maualuga at linebacker.

6:25: Oofa. There's no doubt Alex Mack is the best center in the draft. However, I don't necessarily think he's a need here as much as running back is. Mangini did this much wheeling and dealing, and this is all he came up with? GRADE: C.

Minnesota's pick is in quickly, a la Washington...and it's Percy Harvin. A lot of pure talent, but there are tons of issues here. His character is in question, as is his durability. Nate likens him to a Reggie Bush without the inhuman college resume, and I agree. GRADE: C+.

6:30: The Patriots are on the clock, and there are tons of guys who have slipped to this point. They'll probably go defense, given their guys are approaching social security-age.

6:33: NO!!!!!! They traded the pick to Baltimore. With the pick, the Ravens take Michael Oher, and his free-fall ends. He's the replacement for Jonathan Ogden they need, and while he's got some issues that need to be worked out, he'll be just fine in due time. He's a steal at this point in round one. GRADE: A-.

6:40: Atlanta's pick, and I've had them going D-line for a while. Everette Brown is still available, and he might be my pick if I was there.

6:42: THE VOICE OF REASON IS LISTENED TO! Peria Jerry gets picked. He's a little small for a D-tackle, but he's really fast for a lineman, and Atlanta will appreciate his help. Evander Hood had better combine numbers, but Jerry's still a good pick. GRADE: A-.

6:45: Up next, the Dolphins. Vontae Davis is the pick, and he's slipped a LONG way. I had him going to New Orleans, and while an offensive lineman may have been the better pick, this is still a good one in pushing Miami to the next level. GRADE: B+.

6:50: New England's next after trading down earlier, and reports are they're looking to trade down and stockpile picks in the 2nd round. Sneaky, yet again, this is Bill Belichick.

6:55: Indeed, the pick goes to the Packers. They use it on Clay Matthews, who I like a lot as a player. I still think Maualuga's the steal of the draft, but Matthews gives Green Bay further defensive help. GRADE: B+.

6:58: Indy's up now, and if they don't do something to address their poor run defense, there's something wrong.

7:02: The Colts take Donald Brown out of UConn. I think this is an overreaction due to Addai's injury last year, but Brown's got a lot of talent and the drop-off from here onward is noticeable. GRADE: B-.

7:05: Onto the Buffalo Bills. William Beatty could make this two UConn picks in a row, and Eben Britton is also a possibility.

Instead, they get Wood...Eric Wood (HEYOOOOOO sexual innuendo). Wood started a ton of straight games at Louisville, and is very consistent. Offensive line was a need, and they filled it, albeit not at the most crucial position, left tackle. GRADE: B.

7:08: Here come the G-Men. Nothing they could do would surprise me at this point, as they really don't have too many need positions. Best available is either Wells or Maualuga.

7:10: The pick is Hakeem Nicks, which gives them some depth at WR. It gives Manning the big target he wants, and, again, there really wasn't a bad pick they could make here. GRADE: B.

7:13: The Titans are up, and one would think they could use some front seven defensive help.

7:20: After teasing Chris Wells, the Titans take Kenny Britt out of Rutgers. They'd shied away from taking a wideout for years, but they desperately needed one at some point in the draft. Nice pick despite them having needs to fill on the other side of the ball later on. GRADE: B+.

7:25: OK, one would be wise to assume Wells is going to Arizona, right? They showed him on the phone, and he's perfect for their system.

7:30: And Wells goes. Perfect pick by the Cards, and Wells is easily the 2nd-best back in the draft. If this isn't an A+ pick, I don't know what is.

7:35: ZIGGY!!!!! Otherwise known as Evander Hood, he went nuts at the Combine, and he's now a Pittsburgh Steeler. I think offensive line was a bigger need, but Hood is a first-round talent, and they went with one of the best guys available. GRADE: B.

NFL Mock: Round Two

For round one, scroll way down. Here is my mock for the second round, enjoy it.

1. Detroit (0-16): Brian Cushing, LB, USC
Rationale: Detroit addressed its offense in round one. Here, it gives Ernie Sims some help in the linebacker corps.

2. New England - from Kansas City (2-14): James Laurinaitis, LB, OSU
Rationale: Laurinaitis's stock has fallen considerably due to a poor Combine, but he's a sure tackler who has good instincts in defending the run and pass.

3. St. Louis (2-14): Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State
Rationale: Marc Bulger is aging, and while offensive line was a bigger need, it's now filled. Freeman is arguably a first-round pick, and I don't see how the Rams can pass him up here.

4. Cleveland (4-12): Donald Brown, RB, UConn
Rationale: Jamal Lewis isn't getting any younger, and his best days are long gone. Brown can spell him for a year or two while adjusting to the pace of the NFL before taking over a few seasons down the line. He put up big numbers at Connecticut, and showed game-breaking ability at times last season.

5. Seattle (4-12): Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest
Rationale: Smith is an All-American, and tied the ACC career record for picks with 20. His 40 time wasn't great, but his instincts are some of the best in this year's crop of DB's.

6. Cincinnati (4-11-1): Jonathan Luigs, C, Arkansas
Rationale: Luigs should have come out after the 2007 season, where he was the nation's top center. Cincy needs to draft a lineman after getting Crabtree in round one.

7. Jacksonville (5-11): Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers
Rationale: After cutting Matt Jones, the Jags especially need some firepower in the receiving corps. Their offense simply wasn't good last year, and Britt can help right away.

8. Oakland (5-11): Cody Brown, LB, UConn
Rationale: Going along with their round one pick, some defensive help here. Brown had a great pro day, running a 4.6 40 to go along with a 36.5-inch vertical leap.

9. Green Bay (6-10): Sean Smith, S/CB, Utah
Rationale: Their secondary isn't getting any younger. Smith is a versatile beast of a defensive back at 6'4", and he ran a very nice 40 to boot.

10. Buffalo (7-9): Ron Brace, DT, Boston College
Rationale: Had to play second fiddle to Raji, but is a monster at 6'3", 330, and recorded 32 bench reps. It's an appealing package, especially when the DT pool is pretty thin this year.

11. San Francisco (7-9): Jamon Meredith, OT, South Carolina
Rationale: SF could use some offensive-line help, and Meredith is the best tackle left. They could also go for Percy Harvin, but for now, Meredith is the pick.

12. Miami - from Washington (8-8): Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
Rationale: Miami loves guys who can be threats in more than one respect. Harvin is multi-faceted, and can hurt defenses in many different ways, making him a logical pick.

13. New York Giants - from New Orleans (8-8): Jared Cook, TE, South Carolina
Rationale: Cook was nowhere a few weeks ago, but blew up with a 4.5 40 and a 41-inch vertical at the Combine. Kevin Boss is decent, but if Cook lives up to those numbers, he won't be able to compete.

14. Houston (8-8): Andy Levitre, G, Oregon State
Rationale: Levitre is the #2 guard behind Robinson in the draft. It's not close, of course, but given that we're nowhere near the marquee tackles and centers at this point, this is the best Houston will do for upgrading their line.

15. New England - from San Diego (8-8): Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU
Rationale: Jackson is not a great pass rusher, but has been terrific against the run. Since the Patriots usually rely on their linebackers to provide the pass rush, he's a good fit.

16. Denver (8-8): Sen'Derrick Marks, DT, Auburn
Rationale: I've always liked Marks, but his stock dropped due to his low bench total at the Combine. Denver could use some size on the d-line, so it's a logical selection.

17. Chicago (9-7): Hakeem Nicks, WR, UNC
Rationale: This is a move made to satisfy their new QB. Nicks has seen his stock drop a bit due to some off-the-field problems, but he'll be able to play instantly in Chicago.

18. Cleveland - from Tampa Bay (9-7): William Moore, S, Missouri
Rationale: Moore was once a top-15 pick, but he struggled at the Senior Bowl and was just OK at the Combine. Still, he'll jump right into the weak Cleveland secondary and should play a lot right off the bat.

19. Dallas (9-7): Louis Delmas, S, Western Michigan
Rationale: Delmas racked up 100 tackles his senior year. Granted, it was against questionable competition, but the Cowboys need to bolster their defense this season, and Delmas is a good start.

20. New York Jets (9-7): Brian Robiskie, WR, OSU
Rationale: Robiskie isn't a game-breaker, but he's a reliable possession guy who will be a good third option in his rookie season. The Jets need to surround their rookie QB's with talent to establish connections right away, and their two WR picks are indicative of that.

21. Philadelphia (9-6-1): Gerald McRath, OLB, Southern Miss
Rationale: Nobody on the Eagles front seven stands out as a star. McRath is very versatile, having played middle and outside linebacker in college, and his moving around should be an asset down the road.

22. Minnesota (10-6): Pat White, QB/???, West Virginia
Rationale: This is really a flyer pick. White's impressed scouts with his arm strength in workouts, but some coaches have expressed a desire to move him to wide receiver. Given the lack of consistency with remaining QB prospects, as well as the suck factor of Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels, I think this is a low-risk, high-reward situation for the Vikings.

23. Atlanta (11-5): Darius Butler, CB, UConn
Rationale: Butler slipped this far due to a disappointing 40 time at the Combine, but partially redeemed himself at his pro day. He's a steal at this point in the draft.

24. Miami (11-5): Dannell Ellerbe, LB, Georgia
Rationale: Outside of Joey Porter, their pass rush wasn't great last year. Ellerbe was slowed by a knee injury in 2008, but a 4.6 40 and a 35-inch vertical show the knee is just fine now.

25. Baltimore (11-5): Scott McKillop, LB, Pittsburgh
Rationale: Some defensive depth for the Ravens, who are still reeling from the loss of Bart Scott to the Jets. McKillop had an amazing statistical year last year, with 137 tackles and four sacks.

26. New England (11-5): Nic Harris, LB/S, Oklahoma
Rationale: The Patriots love tweeners, and Harris is a great example, having 64 tackles and six pass break-ups. His 40 times have been a bit slow, but hey, they do need depth at linebacker, so maybe that isn't a bad thing.

27. Carolina (12-4): Rhett Bomar, QB, Sam Houston State
Rationale: At some point, don't you HAVE to start looking for a replacement for Jake Delhomme, who turned 34 in January and choked in the playoffs last year? Bomar, of course, transferred from Oklahoma, and threw for over 3,300 yards last season.

28. New York Giants (12-4): LeSean McCoy, RB, Pittsburgh
Rationale: This is a great pick for the G-Men, who get a perfect replacement for Derrick Ward. McCoy is a top-5 running back, and will be a good contingency plan if and when Jacobs gets hurt.

29. Indianapolis (12-4): Victor Harris, CB, Virginia Tech
Rationale: Harris improved his 40 time considerably at his pro day, and picked off six passes this year. He gives Indianapolis more defensive help, something they sorely need.

30. Tennessee (13-3): Jarron Gilbert, DE/DT, San Jose State
Rationale: Albert Haynesworth left a gaping hole in the front line, and Jevon Kearse and Kyle Vanden Bosch are not getting younger. Gilbert is a versatile lineman with size and quickness, and he'll be used well here.

31. Arizona (9-7): Eric Wood, C, Louisville
Rationale: Simple. One of the biggest factors in offensive linemen is consistency. Wood has started 49 straight games and is a two-time All-Big East first-teamer. Enough said.

32. Pittsburgh (12-4): Phil Loadholt, OT, Oklahoma
Rationale: Pittsburgh knows what they need, and that's as many new offensive linemen as possible. Loadholt is a beast at 6'8", 332, and while he's not quick enough to be a left tackle, he'll do just fine on the right side.

NFL Mock Draft: 4-17

I'll probably add a second round at some point this weekend. Regardless, here's the first 32 picks, as I see them.

1. Detroit (0-16): Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia
Rationale: With Orlovsky leaving, they now need a quarterback. Sanchez could go here if Stafford's stock drops, but for now, the overrated Georgia QB is the pick (as opposed to the overrated USC QB).

2. St. Louis (2-14): Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
Rationale: The Rams haven't hid their man-crush on Monroe, and appear poised to take him at #2. They clearly need a tackle, and Monroe blew them away at the Combine.

3. Kansas City (2-14): Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
Rationale: Now that they've got Cassel, QB is no longer a need. Curry's probably the safest pick in the draft, and that should be enough for a team that could desperately use defensive help.

4. Seattle (4-12): Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
Rationale: Taking two OT's in the top four is painful, but Smith fills a need here. Steve Hutchinson left several years ago, and nobody's stepped up to take his place.

5. Cleveland (4-12): Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas
Rationale: With Eric Mangini coming to town, Cleveland needs edge-rushers. That's exactly what Orakpo is, and he reaffirmed his status as the top defensive end in the draft with a solid Combine.

6. Cincinnati (4-11-1): Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
Rationale: The more I think about it, the more I think this makes a ton of sense. Housh left for Seattle, Chad Ocho Cinco isn't wanted anymore, and that leaves Carson Palmer without a strong target. Obviously, this changes with Crabtree, the most exciting offensive player in the draft. I could see them going offensive line or trading the pick to a team with a wideout on the market who wants Sanchez, but Crabtree slipping this far is a gift they can't pass up.

7. Oakland (5-11): Everette Brown, DE, Florida State
Rationale: As Al Davis kicks himself for winning one too many games to get Crabtree, he needs to realize his defense needs help. Brown is the best pass-rusher left in the draft, and he'll give the front seven a much-needed shot in the arm.

8. Jacksonville (5-11): Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
Rationale: This pick could also be up for grabs. As much as I like Jenkins and as well as he'd fit in in Jacksonville, I could see the Jags drafting Sanchez and trading him, or trading the pick to a team like Denver. For now, though, this is the pick.

9. Green Bay (6-10): B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College
Rationale: Raji has flown up the charts due to very good Senior Bowl and Combine. With linebackers' stocks falling, Raji is the best fit for a team that needs defensive help very fast.

10. San Francisco (7-9): Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech
Rationale: Johnson is everything a defensive-minded coach like Mike Singletary wants. He ran an unofficial 4.5 40, and has been compared to Julius Peppers by former Bucs coach Jon Gruden due to his freakish athleticism and great size.

11. Buffalo (7-9): Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn State
Rationale: I wasn't too impressed with Maybin this past season. Yeah, he was a good athlete, but he was raw and inexperienced. His pro day was absolutely incredible, though, and he gives the Bills a ton of versatility and a ceiling so high they'd be foolish to pass him up.

12. Denver (8-8): Mark Sanchez, QB, USC
Rationale: We finally break the defensive streak, as Denver gets their man at #12. It's obvious that Kyle Orton isn't who the Broncos want as their default starter, and with Sanchez available at the spot, the selection is a no-brainer.

13. Washington (8-8): Rey Maualuga, LB, USC
Rationale: Maualuga is the best front seven guy left at this point, and it wasn't too long ago I had him ahead of Aaron Curry. He's great in many parts of the game, and if he can shake off the injury he had at the Combine, he could start right away.

14. New Orleans (8-8): Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
Rationale: Davis had the most impressive 40 time of any top corner at the Combine. He has temper issues, but New Orleans desperately needs help in the secondary.

15. Houston (8-8): Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland
Rationale: He's a sleeper, but I've always been extremely high on him. He has the best acceleration of any wideout in the draft not named Michael Crabtree, and the Texans could use a weapon to line up opposite Andre Johnson.

16. San Diego (8-8): Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
Rationale: The Charger backfield has gone from one of the best in the NFL to one of the murkiest. LDT is getting old, and Darren Sproles is not an every-down back despite having the ability to score on every play. Moreno had two phenomenal years at Georgia, and his consistency as a rusher and receiver out of the backfield is appealing.

17. New York Jets (9-7): Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri
Rationale: Josh Freeman makes sense here, but with two young QB's already, they don't need another cook in the kitchen. They need reliable targets, and Maclin has been very impressive.

18. Denver (from Chicago): Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State
Rationale: Wells is injury-prone, but Denver was down to their sixth-string running back last year. After dealing with the QB situation, this is the most pressing need, and Wells being available is a pretty good fit.

19. Tampa Bay (9-7): Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss
Rationale: Oher's stock fell after issues in pass-blocking arose at the Combine. However, Tampa's offense has never heavily depended on the passing game, and he IS a very strong run-blocker who is available as TB begins a rebuilding phase.

20. Detroit - from Dallas (9-7): Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
Rationale: Smith's character issues are troubling, but let's face it: Detroit is in no position to be choosy. He's got undeniable talent, and he'll get the chance to play right away.

21. Philadelphia (9-6-1): Alex Mack, C, California
Rationale: After Brent Celek caught 10 passes against Arizona, the tight end situation looks a lot more promising. Mack is clearly the best center in the draft, and he's an instant upgrade on the o-line for a coach who loves to draft big guys.

22. Minnesota (10-6): Eben Britton, OT, Arizona
Rationale: Make it four straight O-linemen. The Vikings have a big hole at right tackle, and they'll need to address it with the last top-tier tackle prospect left.

23. New England (11-5): D.J. Moore, CB, Vanderbilt
Rationale: Simply put, you could trot Deion Sanders out there and he'd compete for a job in this secondary. Moore is the best corner available, and given NE's performance in pass coverage, I think the Pats need him here.

24. Atlanta (11-5): Evander Hood, DT, Missouri
Rationale: I had Sen'Derrick Marks here for a while, but his low bench-press numbers lowered his stock significantly. Hood, meanwhile, has the best Combine numbers of any DT in the draft, including a 4.9 40, 35 bench reps, and a 34.5-inch vertical. All of these are insane for a nose tackle, and Atlanta has to be licking their chops.

25. Miami (11-5): Duke Robinson, G, Oklahoma
Rationale: Jake Long's helped shore up the offensive line, but a young talent like Robinson could aid the running attack even further. He won't be a tackle, but he's easily the best guard in the draft.

26. Baltimore (11-5): Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
Rationale: This isn't as easy a pick as it once was, with Percy Harvin still on the board. However, Pettigrew isn't only a good blocker, but he provides Joe Flacco with a big target in the midrange passing game, so he's a perfect fit.

27. Indianapolis (12-4): Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss
Rationale: I like Jerry for the same reasons I like Hood. Great Combine numbers on both, but Jerry's a hair smaller than Hood is. That said, Indy will be very happy to have someone to shore up their rushing defense, which has struggled for a very long time.

28. Buffalo - from Philadelphia - from Carolina (12-4): William Beatty, OT, UConn
Rationale: After moving Jason Peters for this pick, they need to pick up a replacement lineman. Beatty is the best one out there at this point.

29. New York Giants (12-4): Clay Matthews, LB, USC
Rationale: The Giants could do anything here, and I wouldn't be surprised. They could trade this pick, but for the purposes of this draft, I say they take Matthews, whose stock is soaring. If they fail to acquire Braylon Edwards or Anquan Boldin, I could also see them taking Hakeem Nicks of UNC, but negotiations for Edwards look promising, so Matthews is the pick.

30. Tennessee (13-3): Clint Sintim, LB, Virginia
Rationale: The drop from Jerry to the rest of the DT's is pretty substantial, and while they could go younger at either QB or WR, Sintim is a versatile linebacker who can play inside or outside in any system, and his 11 sacks in 10 games should say it all about his ability to bust up plays in the backfield.

31. Arizona (9-7): Javon Ringer, RB, Michigan State
Rationale: Ringer dropped in stature up until a great Pro Day, where he ran faster 40's than both Moreno and Wells. Edgerrin James won't re-sign with the club, and Ringer is a great complement to Tim Hightower.

32. Pittsburgh (12-4): Max Unger, C, Oregon
Rationale: Unger isn't quite a first-round talent. Yet again, Pittsburgh's offensive line isn't quite good. This is a pick they need to make, and Unger will be solid, albeit unspectacular.