Well, the big day is fast approaching for all of the draftniks, and what would draft season be without a mock draft to argue about. In this case, the mock seen below is not an attempt to predict what will happen on April 28, but more of where teams should go with their picks.
#1 Oakland Raiders - JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU It must be difficult for Al Davis to pass up a flashy player like Calvin Johnson, but their quarterback position is a joke, and until that is addressed, the Raiders will struggle to find success.
#2 Detroit Lions - Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin Matt Millen has struggled in recent drafts by taking wide receivers, but early in his GM career, he made solid picks along the line. Millen should return to form, and take the best offensive lineman in the draft.
#3 Cleveland Browns - Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma The Browns desperately need a running game, as Reuben Droughns was not the answer they were looking for. The Browns signed Jamal Lewis, but to a one-year deal; they could still use a young stud. Peterson is still their best choice.
#4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Calvin Peterson, WR, Georgia Tech No way the offensive-minded Gruden let’s his team pass on the premier talent of the 2007 draft.
#5 Arizona Cardinals - Levi Brown, OT, Penn State It may be a bit of a reach, but even Russ Grimm can’t make a decent line with what he’s inherited.
#6 Washington Redskins - LaRon Landry, S, LSU The ‘Skins need to upgrade their pass rush, but the thought of Landry in coverage with Taylor pummeling unsuspecting quarterbacks and running backs is too sexy to pass up.
#7 Minnesota Vikings - Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson The Vikings were phenomenal against the run, but their pass rush was putrid. Erasmus James is coming off a major injury, and the Vikes only managed 30 sacks without him.
#8 Atlanta Falcons* - Leon Hall, CB, Michigan The Falcons biggest weakness last season was their secondary. DeAngelo Hall is a top flight cornerback, but he can only cover one receiver at a time. Leon Hall will be a good step towards shoring up the Falcons’ porous secondary.
#9 Miami Dolphins - Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame Joey Harrington is gone and Daunte Culpepper was a disappointment, so Mike Golic’s man-crush will fall no further.
#10 Houston Texans** - Reggie Nelson, S, Florida The Texans have solid safeties, but they lack a true playmaker; someone who can turn the ball over when they need it. Nelson will help them address this need.
#11 San Francisco 49ers - Amobe Okoye, DT, Louisville The 9ers need help at wide receiver and defensive line. Okoye may be long gone by the time they get on the clock, but if he’s there, they must not pass him up.
#12 Buffalo Bills - Patrick Willis, LB, Ole Miss Losing London Fletcher to the Skins opens up a hole at middle linebacker that makes Willis the best selection for them.
#13 St. Louis Rams - Alan Branch, DT, Michigan The Rams need help all over the defensive unit, and Alan Branch is the best fit for them available with this pick.
#14 Carolina Panthers - Lawrence Timmons, LB, Florida State The Panthers have an outstanding defensive line, but once again, their linebacking corps is a question mark. Timmons may be a stretch at #14, but he's the best linebacker available here.
#15 Pittsburgh Steelers - Adam Carricker, DE, Nebraska Pittsburgh relies heavily on the blitz to pressure opposing quarterbacks. Carricker gives them a bona fide pass rusher to replace the departed Joey Porter.
#16 Green Bay Packers - Marshawn Lynch, RB, Cal The Packers need a running back, and besides Adrian Peterson, Lynch has the most potential.
#17 Jacksonville Jaguars - Jarvis Moss, DE, Florida The Jags need an explosive pass rusher to complement Bobby McCray, who made a huge leap in 2006. Still, the Jags only registered 35 sacks last season (10 of which came from McCray), and when you play Indianapolis twice a year, that just doesn't cut it.
#18 Cincinnati Bengals - Greg Olsen, TE, Miami The Bengals have needed a playmaker at tight end for years. Olsen would finally give them - and Carson Palmer - that insurance policy that a tight end with good hands can provide.
#19 Tennessee Titans - Ted Ginn, Jr, WR, Ohio State The Titans need help at wide receiver. Drew Bennett is gone and they needed another deep threat even if Bennett had stayed.
#20 New York Giants - Aaron Ross, CB, Texas The Giants secondary is aging, and is average at best regardless of age. Aaron Ross will breathe new life into the defensive backfield for New York.
#21 Denver Broncos - Robert Meacham, WR, Tennessee Rod Smith will be 37 next month, and, even though Javon Walker is a young talented player and Brandon Stokley is a good slot receiver, the Broncos need to have a guy in the wings to replace Smith when he retires. Meacham's speed and hands make him a good candidate.
#22 Dallas Cowboys - Brandon Meriweather, S, Miami Roy Williams is considered one of the stop safeties in the league, but his coverage skills are suspect. Meriweather played both safety positions at the U, and even performed spot duty at corner. There are off-the-field questions, but that's a plus in big D.
#23 Kansas City Chiefs - Dwayne Bowe, WR, LSU The Chiefs have been one of the best offensive teams in the NFL year-in, year-out, and they've done so with average wide receivers. Imagine how good they could be if they had a playmaker at the position.
#24 New England Patriots - Michael Griffin, S, Texas Griffin isn't the most talented safety in the draft, but what he lacks in talent, he makes up for in football smarts and athleticism. Sounds like a Patriots draft pick to me.
#25 New York Jets - Charles Johnson, DE, Georgia Given the Jets penchant for blowing first round picks, it was tempting to pick a division II player here, but this is about what they should do, not what they will do. Gang Green needs an explosive pass rusher. Johnson's burst may give them a good compliment for Bryan Thomas, and his ability to play the run is an added bonus.
#26 Philadelphia Eagles - Jon Beason, LB, Miami The Eagles need help at linebacker, and Beason could be a good fit for them along side Jeremiah Trotter.
#27 New Orleans - Chris Houston, CB, Arkansas The Saints had a surprising, yet very successful season in 2006. They aren't a team with a lot of holes, but their secondary proved to be susceptible in the playoffs. Houston will give New Orleans a corner with the ability to make plays.
#28 New England Patriots** - Paul Posluszny, LB, Penn State The Pats are getting a bit long in the tooth at backer, and Posluszny could be a monster in the New England defense with a few years to learn from Vrabel and Bruschi.
#29 Baltimore Ravens - Joe Staley, OT, Central Michigan The Ravens are a run first team, and a team can't run without an effective offensive line. Jonathan Ogden has been pondering retirement and, as such, the Ravens need to think about having a talented player ready to go when that happens.
#30 San Diego Chargers - Dwayne Jarrett, WR, USC With McCardell gone, Philip Rivers has a collection of unproven wide receivers to work with. Vincent Jackson had a strong season in 2006, but Jarrett will give them a local boy with proven talent to join the mix. Will Jarrett's production translate to the NFL? That remains to be seen, but he could be a good piece of the puzzle for San Diego.
#31 Chicago Bears - Ben Grubbs, OG, Auburn The Bears have an aging offensive line, which contributed to the struggles of Rex Grossman last season. This pick would help the Bears start to inject some youth and talent into that group.
#32 Indianapolis Colts - Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh Nick Harper is gone, and Darrelle Revis can help fill the void. Cornerback is one of the positions that can contribute immediately, and Tony Dungy will look to Revis to do just that.
Will the draft work out this way? Probably not, but that's the fun of mock drafts isn't it? Everyone can express what could or should happen.
- Scott Hurrey
* - Pick acquired from Houston in the Matt Schaub trade.
** - Pick acquired from Atlanta in the Matt Schaub trade
*** - Pick acquired from Seattle in the Deion Branch trade
ARTICLE TOOLS 
