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.