With the NFL Scouting Combine in the books, and the opening week of free agency addressing so many team needs around the league, it's the perfect time to re-analyze the first round of the draft:
| Mock NFL Draft No. 3 |
| Pick |
Team |
Pos. |
Player |
College |
Class |
Ht. |
Wt. |
| 1 |
 |
QB |
JaMarcus Russell |
LSU |
Jr. |
6-6 |
260 |
|
The only thing that makes you nervous about keeping Russell to the Raiders as your first pick is that it has become the dreaded foregone conclusion, which means there's just a 50-50 shot it will happen. Still, Russell's ability to chuck it 80 yards-plus seems to fit the Al Davis mentality better than Brady Quinn's skills.
|
| 2 |
 |
QB |
Brady Quinn |
Notre Dame |
Sr. |
6-4 |
228 |
|
My gut tells me the Lions want to deal downward and avoid this decision, but picking up Tatum Bell and George Foster makes no real sense to me if Adrian Peterson or Joe Thomas are your first-round objectives. If Quinn's stock ever was really dropping in the first place, his strong pro day workout Sunday should help it rebound.
|
| 3 |
 |
OT |
Joe Thomas |
Wisconsin |
Sr. |
6-8 |
315 |
The Browns just signed Jamal Lewis to a one-year deal in free agency and they still have Reuben Droughns. Does that spell Adrian Peterson to you? Me either. Cleveland general manager is first and foremost a talent scout, and he knows pairing Thomas with the newly acquired Eric Steinbach makes the OL a ton better.
|
| 4 |
 |
WR |
Calvin Johnson |
Georgia Tech |
Jr. |
6-5 |
235 |
I could see a scenario where a team hungry for Johnson -- considered this draft's premier prospect -- trades up with No. 2 Detroit to get ahead of the Bucs. Personally I'm rooting for the Lions to take another first-round receiver in Johnson and QB crazy Jon Gruden to add Quinn to his four-man passing depth chart.
|
| 5 |
 |
DE |
Gaines Adams |
Clemson |
Sr. |
6-5 |
260 |
|
This much we know: taking a quarterback or a receiver is out in Arizona. If Thomas somehow tumbles, the Cardinals would be thrilled with their replacement for Leonard Davis. Adams is considered the best defensive prospect, but trading down a couple notches to take defensive stars Alan Branch or Jammal Anderson would work, too.
|
| 6 |
 |
DT |
Alan Branch |
Michigan |
Jr. |
6-6 |
330 |
|
The Redskins have the proverbial nice problem here. They can help their run defense with the athletic 325-pounder Branch, or take Jammal Anderson, who would provide a much-needed pass-rush threat off the edge.
|
| 7 |
 |
DE |
Jamaal Anderson |
Arkansas |
Jr. |
6-6 |
280 |
|
The Vikings are desperate for a play-making receiver, but there are none who fit the value of this pick after Johnson is gone. Minnesota has a great run defense with Pat and Kevin Williams inside, but its lousy pass coverage in 2006 was due in large part to generating no edge pass rush. Anderson will help solve that.
|
| 8 |
 |
RB |
Adrian Peterson |
Oklahoma |
Jr. |
6-2 |
220 |
|
Yes, the Texans signed Ahman Green in free agency, but the ex-Packer is 30 and on the downside of his career. Do you really think the luckless Texans could pass on the draft's best running back two years running and further risk the scorn of their angry fan base? Besides, the two-back approach is the way to go these days.
|
| 9 |
 |
OT |
Levi Brown |
Penn State |
Sr. |
6-5 |
328 |
|
The Dolphins are in great shape to either replace departed left tackle Damion McIntosh, who signed with Kansas City, or get help for their defensive interior, by drafting 19-year-old Louisville defensive tackle Amobi Okoye. We'll give them Brown, who should be in position to contribute sooner.
|
| 10 |
 |
S |
LaRon Landry |
LSU |
Sr. |
6-2 |
202 |
|
Running a 40-yard dash of 4.4 at the combine legitimately put Landry in the top-10 discussion. The Falcons are in luck here, because their safeties -- Lawyer Milloy and Chris Crocker -- gave up a lot of real estate last season. Landry covers a lot of ground and should be a starter from day one of training camp.
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