Mock Draft 1.0

1. Detroit Lions- Jason Smith, LT- Baylor
With new head coach Jim Schwartz in control now, priority #1 will be to establish a strong foundation on the offensive line given his philosophy. Getting that franchise LT is a nice place to start. Although a franchise quarterback is needed, Schwartz knows their simply is not one available to pick at that top slot and cannot risk setting the franchise back any farther than it is, if that's possible.

2. St. Louis Rams- Eugene Monroe, LT- Virginia
With the horrendous play by the offensive line, and the departure of former franchise LT Orlando Pace, the Rams will almost be forced into making this pick. OLB Aaron Curry will be tempting here, but the Rams simply need to take a LT such as Monroe in order to finally give QB Marc Bulger some protection and to get the most out of RB Steven Jackson.

3. Kansas City Chiefs- Aaron Curry, OLB- Wake Forest
Regarded as the most talented player in the draft, and one of the most talented linebackers to come out in the past decade, Curry should have an immediate impact on this lackluster Kansas City defense. New GM Scott Pioli covets players such as Curry who are versatile and will feel as if he hit the jackpot with this pick.

4. Seattle Seahawks- Matthew Stafford, QB- Georgia
While this may seem surprising, the Seahawks know that with an aging and battered QB Matt Hasselbeck still under reigns, they will need to eventually need to address this position. Following the Packers model with QB Aaron Rodgers, the Seahawks will take the strong-armed, yet inconsistent, quarterback and let him sit and learn from Hasselbeck until he is ready.

5. Cleveland Browns- Brian Orakpo, DE- Texas
Registering only 17 sacks last year, new head coach Eric Mangini knows that he needs to improve this pass rush for his 3-4 scheme to have any success. With Players such as massive DT Shaun Rogers patrolling the middle of the line, OLB Kamerion Wimbley developing his pass rush skills, and LB D'Quell Jackson leading the NFL in tackles, Orakpo should not have too much pressure on him to have an immediate impact on this squad looking to become the playoff-caliber team they were two years ago.

6. Cincinnati Bengals- Andre Smith, LT- Alabama
Although his combine performance was literally non-existent, and his pro day left a lot to be desired, his game tape will not allow him to fall out of the top 10. The Bengals know that they need to improve their offensive line and give QB Carson Palmer the protection he needs to be successful. LG Stacey Andrews is gone and LT Levi Jones's status is in question, so this is a must for this team looking to improve offensively.

7. Oakland Raiders- Michael Crabtree, WR- Texas Tech
Quite simply, Crabtree is a special talent and a can't miss prospect who should have an extremely productive career. Al Davis needs a go-to receiver for QB Jamarcus Russell to sling the ball to for years to come. Offensive line is another need for this team but at the 7th pick, it would be a reach to take someone such as LT Michael Oher to bolster the unit.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars- B.J. Raji, DT- Boston College
Although defensive tackle is not an immediate need, the Jaguars defense is in a rebuilding mode and will use this as a value pick given that Raji is a top 5 talent. Raji should be a force in the middle for years to come and will benefit from playing next to DT John Henderson. The selection should also help in the development of defensive ends DEs Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves.

9. Green Bay Packers- Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB- Penn State
With new defensive coordinator Dom Capers installing his 3-4 scheme, the Packers will need someone opposite of OLB Aaron Kampman to have a successful pass rush. After dissapionting at the combine, Maybin came back with a freakish showing at his pro day and once again established himself as one of the elite DE/OLB hybrids in the draft.

10. San Francisco 49ers- Jeremy Maclin, WR- Missouri
The 49ers are committed to a competition between QBs Shaun Hill and Alex Smith and will need a premier receiver to help with their development. The 49ers will not be able to pass on Maclin given the glaring need for a receiver and the value associated with this pick.

11. Buffalo Bills- Robert Ayers, DE- Tennessee
Improving the pass rush, after DE Aaron Schobel's struggles when healthy last year, is priority #1 for the underachieving Bills defense. While many have DE Everette Brown rated higher than Ayers, the Bills will realize that the one year wonder will fit much better into their 4-3 scheme than the undersized Brown.

12. Denver Broncos- Tyson Jackson, DE- LSU
Many holes need to be filled on this horrendous defense, and it is not often that a true 3-4 DE comes around with as much talent as Jackson. Regarded as one of the safest picks in the draft who is effective in both passing rushing and run stopping, it would be almost impossible for the Broncos to pass on him.

13. Washington Redskins- Michael Oher, LT- Ole Miss
The Skins geriatric offensive line has been breaking down for far too long and needs to be addressed immediately. With the dominance Oher showed frequently in his college career, the Skins will hit the jackpot and have their replacement for franchise LT Chris Samuels when he is ready to step in. In the mean time, he will be able to sit and learn from Samuels and fix the inconsistencies he showed during his senior year.

14. New Orleans Saints- Malcolm Jenkins, CB- Ohio State
The Saints will continue to revamp their secondary and take the Thorpe Award winner Jenkins. A slow 40 yard dash time in the combine has hurt his stock, but he remains as the top defensive back in the draft given his physicality and ball skills.

15. Houston Texans- Brian Cushing, OLB- USC
The Texans are starting to get impatient and are desparate to gain the franchise's first playoff birth this year. They will look to address the biggest need in order to finally break the barrier in that competitive AFC South. OLB is the biggest hole that needs to be filled and Cushing is an elite prospect who should be able to contribute immediately.

16. San Diego Chargers- Rey Maualugua, ILB- USC
The Chargers will be looking to rebound from their sub-par 2008 season and fill the glaring hole at ILB with the ferocious Maualuga. They will be selecting him at a premium at the 16th pick and should expect him to contribute immediatley.

17. New York Jets- Percy Harvin, WR- Florida
The Jets need are committed to developing their young quarterbacks and will need a playmaker at receiver to help with that process. Harvin is simply the most dynamic and dangerous player in the draft with the ball in his hands and will be too attractive for the Jets to pass up. Will be a nice complement to WR Jerricho Cotchery, but is the epitome of a boom-or-bust prospect who will have to learn to run NFL routes.

18. Chicago Bears- Darius Heyward-Bey, WR- Maryland
The Bears have already claimed their commitment to sticking with QB Kyle Orton after the skill he flashed last year and will need to upgrade their receiving corps if they expect him to develop further. Heyward-Bey is the most explosive receiver, and maybe overall player, in the draft and will benefit the other receivers with his ability to stretch the field. Is another boom-or-bust prospect who must become more consistent with his technical skills.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Josh Freeman, QB- Kansas State
New head coach Raheem Morris will learn from the mistakes of his predecessor Jon Gruden in not developing a young quarterback and will pass on QB Mark Sanchez to select the massive gun-slinger because of his ridiculous upside. As a very raw talent, he will need a few years to develop and hone in on his skills. In the meantime, it seems as if QB Josh McCown will be given the opportunity to manage the offense until Freeman will be ready. Going defensively is also an option here given the overhaul they had this offseason, but Freeman is just too tempting at this point.

20. Detroit Lions- Mark Sanchez, QB- USC
In the most stunning development of the draft thus far, QB Mark Sanchez will still be unselected at this point, and the Lions will grab their franchise quarterback at pick 20 rather than pick 1. So many teams are just not in the market for a QB in the first round, especially given this year's poor QB class. Sanchez should expect to fall if not picked in the top 10 similar to QB Brady Quinn did two years ago. The Lions will be thrilled to snag him this late in the round.

21. Philadelphia Eagles- Brandon Pettigrew, TE- Oklahoma State
This Eagles not only get value with this pick in that they get the premier TE in the draft who could have easily went to Buffalo at 11, but QB Donovan McNabb will get the star TE he never had with L.J. Smith. Upgrades in receiving and pass blocking are both needs to be addressed by Philadelphia, and they help themselves in both of these areas with drafting Pettigrew this late in the round.

22. Minnesota Vikings- Hakeem Nicks, WR- North Carolina
Nicks could be one of the top 3 receivers coming from this draft simply because he is such as safe pick. While he is not a burner, he did put up a solid numbers in the 4.5 range in the 40 yard dash at the combine and is possibly the most NFL ready receiver in the draft with his route running. Add to that he has rock solid hands and is one of the most accomplished receivers in this years class. He should offer immediate help to the Vikings and could be the final piece they need to make a super bowl run after QB Sage Rosenfels was brought into compete with QB Tavaris Jackson.

23. New England Patriots- Everette Brown, DE/OLB- Florida State
In probably the most valuable pick of the first round thus far, potential top 10 pick Brown will slip all the way to the Patriots due to his ideal lack of size and land in the perfect situation for himself and be an edge rusher in their 3-4 scheme. Not only will this be good for Brown, but the Patriots will end up end up filling the glaring hole left on the edge after OLB Mike Vrabel was traded to the Chiefs. Brown is a premier pass rusher and the Patriots really could not have gotten any luckier with this pick.

24. Atlanta Falcons- Peria Jerry, DT- Ole Miss
The Falcons took a huge hit in their defensive unit in the offseason after their breakout season last year. GM Thomas Dimitroff will not be looking to digress and will take the big man from Ole Miss. Leading the SEC in tackles behind the line last year, he will be a great pick for this Falcons this late and could contribute immediately. Cornerback is also an option here, but Dimitroff has already hinted that the team is committed to the corps they have now.

25. Miami Dolphins- Vontae Davis, CB- Illinois
With some sources having him higher rated than CB Malcom Jenkins, the Dolphins won't think twice on taking Davis. Their secondary took a hit this offseason and will be thrilled to land the combine warrior this late in the draft. Though he is gifted with premier size, speed, and strength, Miami will need to work on helping him improve his technical ability if they expect him to have an immediate impact.

26. Baltimore Ravens- Darius Butler, CB- Connecticut
Losing longtime starters at cornerback, and former pro bowlers, Chris McAllister and Samari Rolle, and former nickel CB Corey Ivey was huge for this squad. The signing of CB Dominique Foxworth was only the first step in rebuilding the cornerback corps. Darius Butler may be the best shutdown corner in this draft should flourish in this defense for years to come.

27. Indianapolis Colts- James Laurinaitis, ILB- Ohio State
The Colts have never had issues with ignoring physical limitations and drafting according to value and production at the collegiate level. The selection of WR Anthony Gonzalez, Laurinaitis's former teammate, is a perfect example of this. They will stay true to their mantra by picking the highly touted Laurinaitis to bolster an already decent linebacking unit.

28. Philadelphia Eagles- Chris Wells, RB- Ohio State
RB Brian Westbrook is breaking down and their rushing game has always been the clog on their team that has held them back from that long awaited super bowl victory. Reid was in the doghouse last year for much of the season and knows that something needs to be done immediately to break through the barrier. The Eagles would rather look to grab a back later in the draft but won't be able to pass up on arguably the best one being available this late in the round, who will serve as a perfect complement to Westbrook.

29. New York Giants- Kenny Britt, WR- Rutgers
The Giants could not be any more loaded on defense and on the offensive line and will take the tall Rutgers standout to replace WR Plaxico Burress, who will most likely end up serving jail time. The Giants will be looking for another super bowl appearance after falling short last year because of the lack of a big receiver, and will put themselves in a perfect position to do so with this pick.

30. Tennessee Titans- Clay Matthews, OLB- USC
The Titans will snag the former walk-on to help solidify their premier defense. This pick is mostly value based but he could end up starting immediately due to his work ethic and speed he will bring to the position.

31. Arizona Cardinals- Knowshon Moreno, RB- Georgia
In yet another surprise value pick, the Cardinals will land arguably the best RB in Moreno who will be a perfect complement to incumbent RB Tim Hightower. Their running game was the weak link in their super bowl run last year and will get an immediate boost from the young SEC star.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers- Alex Mack, C- California
The Super Bowl winning Steelers do not have too many needs to be addressed and certainly will not be afraid of drafting for value, as they did last year with RB Rashard Mendenhall, by snagging Mack. As the best interior lineman in the draft, he will help support an offensive line that has room for improvement. Look for him to contribute immediately at either center or even guard due to his versatility.