MN Sports Shot

1.Miami Dolphins-Jake Long OT, Michigan. The only sure thing in the draft so far. Miami took the suspense out of it by signing Long to a massive contract earlier this week. They need to start somewhere and an OT for the next decade or so is a good place to start.

Drakesax:  Can't agree with you more!

2.Saint Lous Rams-Glenn Dorsey DT, LSU. The Rams need offensive line help but with the top guy gone, they take the best available DT in this year's class.

Drakesax: I'm not totally sure here.  They did spend their first round pick last year on a DT.  If they don't somehow trade out of this position, possibly to let another team snipe the Falcons on Matt Ryan or heck sell the pick to the Falcons to protect the Ryan pick, I do see them going D-Line but not the big DT.  I think they'll take Chris Long. 

3.Atlanta Falcons-Matt Ryan QB, Boston College. With the whole Vick situation, the Falcons need to start over at QB. Ryan has a good arm, strong instincts, and was a winner at BC. This is a pretty safe pick.

Drakesa: They need this pick.  Outside of Jake Long there aren't any other top five potenial guys that have the character of Ryan.  Even if he doesn't pan out at QB they need a guy with high charcter.  Dorsey has injury and temper issues.  McFadden might have twelve more kids he has to pay for before he's even drafted.  Chris Long had some questions/issues with controled substances early in his college years.  Those are all things the Falcons need to steer away from.

4.Oakland Raiders-Darren McFadden RB, Arkansas. The most explosive player in the draft. Number one overall talent with some baggage. He is a homerun hitter and i don't see Al Davis passing him up.

Drakesa: Home run hitter I agree with.  How can Al Davis pass on Mr. Raider Howie Long's kid?  If Chris long is still on the board they've got to take him don't they?

5.Kansas City Chiefs-Chris Long DE, Virginia. Overall I think this will be the safest pick in the top 5. Long has a great motor and good pass rushing skills. WIth the Jared Allen trade, they need a top flight pass rusher again. Here he is.

Drakesa: If Long is available they take him.  Otherwise, they need to get a linemen of some sort defensive or offensive.  Dorsey or Gholston would have to be on the board here if Chris Long isn't.

6.New Orleans Saints(trade with Jets)-Sedrick Ellis, DT USC-With McFadden off the board the Jets don't see value for themselves at this pick so trade down. Saints draft the second best DT in this class. Great player at USC. Can stuff the run and do some pass rushing.

Drakesa: I'll agree that there isn't a lot of sure fire "big knockers" here (had to steal the Jerry Burns term) at six.  Can they talk the Saints into this move?  If they can't they'll probably go with Ellis or Gholston.  They need playmakers and that need for a playmaker has me leaning towards Gholston the high risk high reward type of player.  Jets fans have to be hoping for a McFadden slip.

7.New England Patriots(from San Fran)-Keith Rivers OLB, USC-The rich get richer. San Fran thought this would be a much lower pick. With the aging LB corps for the Patriots not getting any younger, they need an infusion of youth and energy. They pick up the best LB in the draft. Could have went with Leodis McElvin with all their losses in the secondary but this seems safer.

Drakesa: I feel this pick.  I could see them picking up a CB or trying to move down.  That is the rumor right now that they might be moving down to the tenth pick.

8.Baltimore Ravens-Ryan Clady, OT Boise State-I could see the Ravens trading down for more picks with Matt Ryan off the board. However, with Ogden getting much older and most likely retiring soon, they need to fortify their O-Line. Clady can be a starter for years to come just like Ogden was.

Drakesa: They need to keep their QB on his feet this is a great pick isn't it?

9.Cincinnati Bengals-Vernon Gholston DE, Ohio State-The Chad Johnson thing notwithstanding, the Bengals must go defense. There are no receivers worth picking here. Gholston was a beast at the Ohio State University. I see no reason why he won't continue to be one.

Drakesa: If Gholston is still around they take him and don't even pretend to blink.

10.New York Jets-Leodis McKelvin CB, Troy-This could end up being one of the best picks of the draft. McKelvin has great speed and good instincts. The Jets wait one more year to get the dynamite RB they need. Although a middle round pick of Mike Hart might do it.

Drakesa: He's got speed and he could be the next Hester.

11.Buffalo Bills-Donminique Rodgers-Cromartie CB, Tennessee State-This is a very interesting pick. The Bills have a few needs at wideout and cornerback. I see them going for the big score. Cromartie has ridiculous athleticism and great speed. This could end up being the best or worst pick in the first round.

Drakesa: Two shut-down style players in the defensive back-field is what you need when you've got freaking Tom Brady chucking rocks at you.  I like this pick.

12.Denver Broncos-Brendan Albert OG, Virginia-The Broncos have a bigger need at wide receiver but there is no value at this pick. Albert has good a motor with fine pass blocking skills. Could be a starter for years to come. Not a sexy pick  but a needed one. 

13.Carolina Panthers-Jeff Otah OT, Pittsburgh-The Panthers are very thin on both sides on the line. While Otah is a bit of a reach I see them going O-Line here. I think OT's are high value because they are long term starters as opposed to CB's, WR's and RB's.

14.Chicago Bears-Rashard Mendenhall, RB Illinois-Another year, and again the Bears need skill position players. There are no QB's or WR's with value to pick at 14 so they go with RB. Mendenhall is clearly the second best RB prospect in the draft. Cedric Benson will be hard pressed to keep his job. I could also see a trade here so the Bears can trade down and get either Brian Brohm or Joe Flacco.

Drakesa: This is a killer name.  I'm excited if the Bears get him because I'm always excited to watch Bears RB's flop.  Curtis Enis 2 here we come.

15.Detroit Lions-Mike Jenkins CB, South Florida. ONe thing they won't do is draft receiver. The Lions need help at RB and potentially a future QB but their greatest need by far is CB. Jenkins is the best player available at this spot. If Mendenhall is available though, they snatch him up quick.

Drakesa: Maybe with this pick all of those WRs they've picked can actually get some decent practice in?

16.Arizona Cardinals-Chris WIlliams OT, Vandy-For me this was one of the hardest picks in the draft. The Cardinals have a few needs such as CB but there is no value at this pick for a CB. They could use an upgrade along the O-Line so they go with the best available. This might be a pick for Derrick Harvey as well or even a trade.

17. Kansas City Chiefs(from MN) Gosder Cherius OT, BC-This is one of the toughest calls of the first round.The best on the board left is Derrick Harvey but I don't see the Chiefs going with two DEs in the first round. The OT is deep this year. The Chiefs need the help. 

Drakesa: Why didn't they just take Mount Mckinney off our hands and then we could have taken this guy?  Why, why, why.

18.Houston Texans-Jonathon Stewart RB, Oregon-The Texans have needs at OT but many of the best are off the board. They do need a feature back to help out Matt Schaub. If Otah or Williams are available they will go with them. Stewart has game break ing ability. If  they do go OT here, look for the Texans to go RB in round three with either Jamaal Charles or Kevin Smith.

19.Philadelphia Eagles-LImas Sweed WR, Texas-The Eagles are set at CB with the signing of Asante Samuel.  The two biggest need areas are wide receiver and linebacker. I see them going receiver to help out McNabb. I also could see this as being McNabb's last year in Philly. A trade to Baltimore, Chicago, or Carolina is in his future. Sweed is the best receiver by a close margin over DeSean Jackson.

20.Tampa Bay Bucs-Derrick Harvey De, Florida-Now DE isn't their biggest need but I think Harvey is too good of a talent to pass up. I have him dropping a little just because I don't think any of the team 10-19 have a huge need for a DE. Sometimes taking a chance can pay big dividends. DeSean Jackson or Limas Sweed are also possibilities.

 21. Washington Redskins-DeSean Jackson WR, Califorina-For once the 'Skins have a first round pick. They were also very quiet in the free agent market. Washington's biggest need is at WR to help the development of Jason Campbell. This also could be RB if the right guy is available. Clinton Portis is getting older and slowing down. 

22.Dallas Cowboys(from Cleveland)Devin Thomas WR, Michigan State-This completes the mid-round run at receivers. Thomas has been flying up draft boards due to good workouts and the combine. Dallas' receivers are getting older(Owens, Glenn). It's time for them to draft a big time playmaker. Don't discount the fact though that Jerry Jones would trade up for his Arkansas boy McFadden though.

23.Pittsburgh Steelers-Aqib Talib Cb. Kansas-Another tough call. With all the top OTs gone I see the Steelers going for someone to help shore up a porous pass defense. They will address their O-line in the second and third rounds with their multiple picks.

24.Tennessee Titans-Antoine Cason CB, Arizona-The Titans desperately need receiver help to take pressure off of Vince Young. It will have to be addressed later. There is no value with Sweed, Jackson, and Thomas off the board. Cason would give them help at CB with Pacman Jones gone. Also, an asset in the return game.

25.Seattle Seahawks-Kentwan Balmer DT, North Carolina-Balmer slipped a little on my board just because of how the draft shook up a little int he mid-rounds. The Seahawks are high on this guy as well as Phillip Merling. They might also add a RB(Felix Jones?) if Balmer isn't here.

26.Jacksonville Jaguars-Phillip Merling DE, Clemson-Jacksonville took a bit of a hit in free agency on thei D-Line so I see them going with a safe pick. I don't think any of the receivers will drop this far but if they do I can see it happening. Matt Jones hasn't worked.

27.San Diego Chargers-Felix Jones, RB Arkansas-Platooned somewhat with McFadden at Arkansas. Has good speed. Chargers need a playmaker to help spell LT with Turner having signed with the Falcons. I think Jones is a little underrated so this should be a good pick.

28.Dallas Cowboys Brandon Flowers CB, Virginia Tech-After drafting receiver with their first pick the Cowboys will look at RB and CB. WIth Stewart and Felix off the board, Flowers adds the most value. Again this might be packaged to move up to draft McFadden.

29.San Francisco 49ers Jerod Mayo, ILB Tennessee-This is going to be a great value pick. Mayo slid on my board a little because of the needs of other teams. He will team with Patrick Willis to help improve a defense ranked near the bottom of the league. Also, could go DE here.

30.Green Bay Packers-Chris Johnson RB, East Carolina-Unfortunately for the Pack their major need is at CB. THere is no value here at pick 30 with Cason and Flowers gone. If Felix Jones is available they snap him. Chris Johnson could fit in nicely with Ryan Grant. Having a good two back tandem would help Aaron Rodgers.

31.New England Patriots-Pick Forfeited because of Spygate-Cheaters. ALso, look for Roger Goddell to take away some more picks after he meets with Matt Walsh. They might lost even more next year.

32.Ny Giants-DeJuan Morgan FS, North Carolina State-The Giants need some help at this spot. Their secondary is a big need area. They could also go with Kenny Phillips here.  If they don't go with safety here their next biggest need is linebacker. 

Phew that was a long post. That took some research. I think at least one of my colleagues will be adding his thoughts. Enjoy! 

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