Second to Last

As we continue to get closer to our trek towards the 2007 NFL Draft, I continue to follow all of the news and rumors, and today I will release my second to last mock draft of the first round. Keep in mind, as draft day gets closer, more movement will happen, and could greatly alter my board the big day.

1. Oakland Raiders - JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU
It seems now to be a two horse race between Russell and Ga Tech wideout Calvin Johnson. Unless the Raiders can land a different QB option before the draft however (McCown from Detroit or Green from KC) Russell will be the choice.

2. Detroit Lions - Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame
The Lions are going to trade this pick. It seems now, they are going to send this pick to Tampa, and fall to number 4 on the board, but should they stay at 2, Quinn could get the call.

3. Cleveland Browns - Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma
The Browns will be largely effected by the action above them, but if the board starts off as I predict, Peterson will be the man at 3. A great RB is hard to find, and Jamal Lewis has a 1 year deal.

4. Tampa Bay Bucs - Calvin Johnson, WR, Ga Tech
With all the hype surrounding Johnson, the Bucs are feeling the heat to trade up to #2 to choose Johnson. I think they will get him staying at 4.

5. Arizona Cardinals - Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin
Thomas is the best O-lineman in this draft, and Zona needs o-line help badly. Call this a match made in heaven.

6. Washington Redskins - Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson
Earlier in the draft process, it seemed a tossup as to if Adams or Jamaal Anderson would be the top DE off the board. Now it seems that Adams has moved into a comfortable lead in that category.

7. Minnesota Vikings - Jamaal Anderson, DE, Alabama
Other options here include Michigan DT, Alan Branch, and the safety from LSU, LaRon Landry. The Vikes could go any direction, so Anderson is no guarantee.

8. Atlanta Falcons - LaRon Landry, S, LSU
LaRon could go higher depending on draft day movement. The Falcons however, need a playmaker in the secondary, and Landry is their top choice.

9. Miami Dolphins - Ted Ginn Jr, WR, Ohio St.
Pundits have the Phins choosing a DT or OL here. They are both possibilities, but I see new coach Cameron choosing the best playmaker available. Enter Ginn.

10. Houston Texans - Levi Brown, OL, Penn St.
The lack of top tier talent at the tackle position will result in Levi Brown and Central Michigan's Joe Staley being drafted higher than expected. Brown will likely be a top 10 pick.

11. San Francisco 49ers - Alan Branch, DT, Michigan
Talk about all over the place. Some experts see branch as a top three pick. Others see him falling to the back end of round 1. I still have him as the top DT on the board, and San Fran would be elated to have a talent like him on their d-line.

12. Buffalo Bills - Leon Hall, CB, Michigan
The Bills will also look at Marshawn Lynch if they stay at 12. They could look to trade up for Peterson also. But should they stay, Hall makes the most sense, as they can get their RB with a Michael Bush in Rd 2.

13. St Louis Rams - Amobi Akoye, DT, Louisville
The Rams are going to draft to improve the 31st rated defense in the league. Akoye has the highest upside of any defensive player in this draft as he is only 19 years old.

14. Carolina Panthers - Greg Olsen, TE, Miami
The Panthers will also look hard at linebacker with this pick. In the end however, they will choose Olsen as no player helped his stock at more at the combine than did the next in a long line of quality Miami TE's.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers - Aaron Ross, CB, Texas
Aaron Ross has moved up to the number 2 CB spot on my board, and the Steelers could use a top corner. Of course they could also look linebacker/d-end here too.

16. Green Bay Packers - Marshawn Lynch, RB, California
Although Lynch's character will call some questions, he is still going to be chosen by the Packers here because of need. No other RB is worth the choice here, and the Pack really needs a top ball carrier now that Green has left town.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars - Jarvis Moss, DE, Florida
Moss could here his name called when the Steelers pick at 15, but if he doesn't Jacksonville could be a great fit for the national champion pass rusher.

18. Cincinnati Bengals - Patrick Willis, LB, Ole Miss
Willis has the talent to go a lot higher in this draft, and should someone fall it could be Willis taking their place. However, should he still be on the board when Marvin Lewis and Co start their pick, expect to see him a Bengal.

19. Tennessee Titans - Dewayne Jarrett, WR, USC
I do not like Jarrett as a pro. I think, like former USC wide-out Mike Williams, he will be a pro bust. However, if any team can make this kid a star, it is Norm Chow and Tennessee.

20. New York Giants - Lawrence Timmons, LB, Florida St.
The G-men have a bunch of needs, including OT, LB, CB, and S. Having said this, Timmons will be the highest rated player at any of these positions on the board at this point, and thus he will be playing next season in NY.

21. Denver Broncos - Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska
I see the Broncos selecting Carriker with the idea that he can replace what was lost when the team let Trevor Price go to Baltimore.

22. Dallas Cowboys - Chris Houston, CB, Arkansas
America's team could also look at OL or WR here, but I see the speed of Houston being too much for Wade Phillips defense not to acquire.

23. Kansas City Chiefs - Robert Meacham, WR, Tennessee
The Chiefs would be elated to see Meacham fall to them here. Giving the team a true number 1 wide out for the first time in years.

24. New England Patriots - Jon Beason, LB, Miami
The Pats will look to fill holes in the back seven with both first round picks. Beason is a monster athlete who will be able to be used in many of Master Bill's schemes.

25. New York Jets - Anthony Spencer, DE, Perdue
Ultimately, the Jets want to see Greg Olsen fall to them. Since I don't see that happen, they will then select the best pass rusher on the board. Ask any o-lineman in the big ten who the best pass rusher in the nation was and they will all say the same thing, the former Boilermaker.

26. Philadelphia Eagles - Reggie Nelson, S, Florida
The signing of Takeo Spikes changes the draft strategy for the Eagles, and allows them to address the secondary. Nelson alongside Dawkins keeps this defense playoff ready.

27. New Orleans Saints - Paul Posluzny, LB, Penn State
The Saints improved their offense tremendously last year. Now they will look defense. The former Penn Stater will not only give the Saints a great ball player, but the linebacker U grad will also be a great locker room influence too.

28. New England Patriots - Michael Griffin, S, Texas
After choosing LB with their last pick, the Pats will address the secondary with this choice. Griffin is another great athlete, and will be a great fit as he learns from the vet Rodney Harrison.

29. Baltimore Ravens - Joe Staley, OT, Central Michigan
Any other year, Staley is a second round pick. Like I said earlier, because of the dearth of top tackles though, he will go early. The Ravens will also look at cornerbacks, but in the end Staley will get the call.

30. San Diego Chargers - Dewayne Bowe, WR, LSU
The Chargers are the most talented team in the league. Adding the sure handed Bowe to their already dangerous offense will simply further this cause.

31. Chicago Bears - Brandon Merriweather, S, Miami
Look to the Bears to go back to the well where they found Devin Hester last year. Merriweather is a talent, although he could be skipped as a result of his behavioral issues.

32. Indianapolis Colts - Quentin Moses, DE, Georgia
The world champs need lots of help on defense, and Moses could fit the bill if he returns to his 05 form. Had the former Bulldog come out last year he would have gone much higher.