The Austin Leader in Sports

1. Detroit Lions (Record: 0-16): Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia. Any of the top three candidates – Stafford, Jason Smith, Aaron Curry – could land here depending on signability. There won’t be another first-round caliber OT but there will be several linebackers to choose from with their second first-round pick (No. 20).
2. St. Louis Rams (2-14): Jason Smith, OT, Baylor. The former tight-end is the safest pick among the offensive tackles. The Rams addressed their defensive needs the last two years in the first round, but new head coach Steve Spagnolu is going with the 10-12-year tackle.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (2-14): Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest. Curry will make an immediate impact like Jerod Mayo did with New England last year. The same man that got Mayo, Scott Pioli, will take Curry.
4. Seattle Seahawks (4-12): Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia. Seattle could go with USC quarterback Mark Sanchez to sit for a year behind Matt Hasselbeck, but fixing the offensive line is a more immediate need.
5. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Andre Smith, OT, Alabama. Last year, the New York Jets took Vernon Gholston and his performance as a hybrid DE/OLB and lack of a pass-rush was equivalent to the NFL’s version of a redshirt year. That’s why Cleveland will take a legit right tackle in Smith and leave Texas’ Brian Orakpo on the board. The only way the take Orakpo is if they doubt Smith’s work-ethic following his combine debacle. Cleveland could go with defensive tackle B.J. Raji or wideout Michael Crabtree depending on what happens with Braylon Edwards.
6. Cincinnati Bengals (4-11-1): Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas. I wouldn’t be shocked if Cincinnati uses this pick on Crabtree, but a solid pass rusher is hard to find and Orakpo will be at his best as an end in a 4-3 scheme.
7. Oakland Raiders (5-11): Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech. If Oakland wants speed, they’ll look at wideout Jeremy Maclin to help Jamarcus Russell and their vertical game. If they are drafting smart, they’ll take the best available player in Crabtree. Besides, we all know Jeff Garcia will be the starting quarterback by Week 5.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Mark Sanchez, QB, USC. Jacksonville has a history of trouble at the wide receiver position and spending this top-10 pick on Maclin would be too risky. The choice is between Raji and Sanchez, and they take the quarterback. There is a solid chance Denver or the Jets try to move up to No. 8 if Sanchez or Stafford fall here.
9. Green Bay Packers (6-10): B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College. Raji upgrades any team’s run defense from Day 1. They may look at Aaron Maybin or Robert Ayers considering they took a DT in the first round in 2007, Justin Harrell.
10. San Francisco 49ers (7-9): Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn State. Maybin is a true pass rusher and will add help solidify the defensive side of the ball with Patrick Willis.
11. Buffalo Bills (7-9): Everette Brown, DE, Florida State. Everyone is trying to follow the Giants model of having multiple quality defensive ends. By adding Terrell Owens in the off-season, Buffalo and bypass Maclin and tight end Brandon Pettigrew for more defense.
12. Denver Broncos (8-8): Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU. If Denver waits until the No. 18 pick to try and get Jackson, he’ll be gone. Moving to a 3-4 scheme, a 300-pound end is critical.
13. Washington Redskins (8-8): Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee. Washington has been looking for consistency at the end position for years and Ayers could help provide that. Offensive tackle Michael Oher could be another option if they’re looking to protect Jason Campbell or whomever they trade him for.
14. New Orleans Saints (8-8): Chris “Beanie” Wells, RB, Ohio State. While I would love to see Wells fall to the Giants at No. 29, he won’t get closer than halfway to them. Reggie Bush is obviously not a 20-carry back and as long as Wells stays healthy, he is.
15. Houston Texans (8-8): Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi. I really like defensive back Malcolm Jenkins or linebacker Brian Cushing here, but if Houston wants to win in their division, they have to solidify their line. So if not Jerry, then Cushing or Jenkins in that order.
16. San Diego Chargers (8-8): Jeremy Maclin, WR/KR, Missouri. This is probably my craziest prediction of the draft, but why not? If Maclin is available, they take the vertical threat to help Philip Rivers over another running back like Knowshon Moreno or linebacker Rey Maualuga.
17. New York Jets (9-7): Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State. Barring some sort of trade into the Top 10 to get Stafford or Sanchez, the get their QB here over wideouts like Darrius Heyward-Bey or Percy Harvin.
18. Denver Broncos (from 9-7 CHI) (8-8): Malcolm Jenkins, DB, Ohio State. Jenkins could go at No. 15 to Houston, meaning Denver takes another lineman here with Jerry. But adding a big defender that can play corner or safety is too good to pass up.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7): Brian Cushing, OLB, USC. By signing Byron Leftwich to a 2-year deal, they can afford to draft Freeman here is he lasts, of another defender if he doesn’t.
20. Detroit Lions (from 9-7 DAL) (0-16): Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi. Oher is a bit raw in some eyes, but getting a QB and a possible franchise tackle in the first round will almost make Lions fans forget Matt Millen, Charles Rogers, Mike Williams, Joey Harrington, etc. Maualuga is another option here.
21. Philadelphia Eagles (9-6-1): Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia. Brian Westbrook will never play a 16-game season at full-health. Moreno is a solid pass-catching back, can pick up blitzes, and is a punishing runner.
22. Minnesota Vikings (10-6): Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland. Minnesota has numerous options at wideout to choose from – Harvin, Kenny Britt, Hakeem Nicks – or could take an offensive tackle, Eben Britton.
23. New England Patriots (11-5): Clay Matthews, LB, USC. Matthews fits the Patriots mold and will fill Mike Vrabel’s shoes nicely. Defensive back Darius Butler and running back Donald Brown could also go here.
24. Atlanta Falcons (11-5): Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State. Assuming Buffalo doesn’t take him at No. 11, Pettigrew will be a steal here for the Falcons. Adding a quality tight end target will only make Matt Ryan that much better and Atlanta that much more dangerous.
25. Miami Dolphins (11-5): Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers. For now, I’ll have the Dolphins taking Britt over Harvin here considering they have Ted Ginn, Jr. But they could take a half-dozen players at this spot that could fill a need – Maualuga, Vontae Davis, Sean Smith.
26. Baltimore Ravens (11-5): Rey Maualuga, LB, USC. Replacing Bart Scott is a top-pick need. Don’t count out Vontae Davis or even Harvin here.
27. Indianapolis Colts (12-4): James Laurinaitus, LB, Ohio State. I really like the interior help Evander “Ziggy” Hood could provide but I think Laurinaitus is a 100-tackle playmaker.
28. Philadelphia Eagles (from 12-4 CAR) (9-6-1): Eben Britton, OT, Arizona. The Eagles might like another offensive tackle, William Beatty, better. Either way, they have to take a lineman here.
29. New York Giants (12-4): Larry English, DE, Northern Illinois. Who know what the G-men will do here, so why not guess a defensive end? I would predict Nicks or Harvin but I think Braylon Edwards will be traded to New York. If Wells or Moreno fall here, expect them to be the pick.
30. Tennessee Titans (13-3): Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina. The Titans could get the more dynamic Harvin or even a corner like Davis here, but Nicks is a big target that Kerry Collins needs.
31. Arizona Cardinals (9-7): Donald Brown, RB, Connecticut. Brown in, Edgerrin James out. If Brown goes to New England at No. 23, LeSean McCoy will help grant James his release or English to help the pass rush.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Eric Wood, C, Louisville. Max Unger is another solid choice at center, but Wood has shot up draft boards since the NFL Combine. Corner Darius Butler would provide help in the secondary.

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