2007 PGL/NFL Mock Draft 1st Round Projections

[Lord Sam]

~New York Giants~

1st Round - What they will do: Although the Giants may not think of it, 2007 is a transition year for the G-Men. Gone is the heart and soul of the team in Tiki Barber, who is not replaceable. Draft expert Todd McShay called the linebacker position the safest pick in the NFL draft and that is where the Giants will look. Paul Posluszny has exceptional instincts at the linebacker position, and is a great leader.

Who they will take: Paul Posluszny , LB, Penn St.

What I would do: A strong running game is crucial in the continuing development of Eli Manning. The best way to serve that need would be drafting linemen. Joe Staley is the best prospect available at this point. As a former TE, Staley has the footwork and speed (4.8 in the 40) to overcome his inexperience at the position. Despite playing at Central Michigan, Staley held his own against higher calibur teams (Michigan and Boston College) and did not give up a sack in 2006.

Who I would take: Joe Staley, OT, Central Michigan



Next up...#21 Denver Broncos (D-Litch)

[D_Litch]

~Denver Broncos~

1st Round - What they will do: With failed attempts at landing Patrick Kerney this offseason, most analysts are saying Denver should draft a difference making pass rusher, like Jarvis Moss. But I think that Mike Shanahan and crew have broader aspirations with this years draft. With the signing of RB Travis Henry and blocking expert Daniel Graham, it's obvious that Denver is breeding an all-star offense. And then comes the most important piece of the puzzle, Jay Cutler. The rookie QB progressed well in the limited games he played last year, and what better way to help him progress more than protecting him. That's where Joe Staley comes in. He blew scouts away at the combine and at his pro day, making him a hot prospect in the offensive line talent pool this year. Staley has ideal attributes for his position (6'5", 306lbs) and his speed(4.82 forty) make him an amazing athlete for the position.

Who they will pick: Joe Staley, OT, Central Michigan

What I would do: I feel that the foundation of every football team is the offensive line, and with George Foster gone via trade, this opens up a hole Denver will have to deal with. Joe Staley is an outstanding athlete; his footwork is some of the best in the draft, his ability to get to the second level quickly helps him be influential in long distance run plays, and his instincts and intelligence allow him to pick up on defensive shifts and make plays. Overall, Staley is an excellent, raw player. With the smarts of Shanahan and his coaching staff, this guy could be a top tackle in the NFL.

Who I would pick: Joe Staley, OT, Central Michigan



Up Next...#22 Dallas Cowboys(Lord Sam)

[Lord Sam]

~ Dallas Cowboys ~

1st Round - What they will do: - This is a great spot in the draft for picking up the 2nd or 3rd best WR on the board, and since every other expert (McShay - Dwayne Bowe, Kiper - Dwayne Jarrett, and I saw another one with Robert Meachem) has them taking a WR, I guess that is what they will do. Since Dwayne Jarrett is too closly associated with draft-flop Mike Williams, I think the Cowboys will take WR Dwayne Bowe from LSU. He has great size (6' 2", 221lbs) and decent speed (4.51) and has room to grow as a WR, he is strong and could excel as a jump-ball, red-zone player.

Who they will pick: Dwayne Bowe, WR, LSU

What I would do: I have no idea why the Cowboys would need a WR at this point. They are solid with Owens (until is erupts), they resigned Terry Glenn, as well as up-and-coming WR Patrick Crayton. This would be a great spot for OT Joe Staley (damn you D-Litch!), but without another solid offensive lineman available, I'd like to see the Cowboys look at Reggie Nelson, safety from Florida. Here is what I like best about him, "Much better in coverage than in run support". They have Roy Williams who is great at run support and questionable in coverage. Nelson will give the Cowboys a center-field type safety with a great nose for the ball.

Who I would pick: Reggie Nelson, S, Florida



Up next...#23 Kansas City Chiefs (D-Litch)

[D_Litch]

~Kansas City Chiefs~

1st Round - What they will do: The Chiefs have been scouting every elite CB in this year's draft class. That may come as a surprise to some, but not to most. The Chiefs CB corp consists of Ty Law and Patrick Surtain, between those two they have about 21 years of experience. Needless to say, the chiefs need some young blood, and Chris Houston will fill that need. Coming off of an excellent Junior campaign, Houston is one of the top prospects in the CB talent pool. His ability to plan man in the open field, and his knack for getting in a receiver's face make him a good fit for the soft secondary the Chiefs have now. While he is a little raw, his potential outweighs any doubts in his lack of experience.

Who they will take: Chris Houston, CB, Arkansas

What I would do: With the retirements of Willie Roaf and Will Shields over the offseason, the Chiefs O-Line is going to be hurting come the regular season. At this point in the draft, they have a chance to help their problem. Justin Blalock would be a good replacement for Will Shields, and will help the Chiefs' run game tremendously. A 4-year starter, Blalock has experience, but his rawness at the position and footwork need some work. Aside form that, Blalock is an excellent prospect, and I would take him in a heartbeat if I was GM.

Who I would take: Justin Blalock, OG, Texas



Up Next....#24 New England Patriots(from Seattle)

[D_Litch]

~New England Patriots~

1st Round - What they will do: Word through the grapevine is that the Pats are liking what they see in Jon Beason, and if since he is still available at this point it'll be hard for them to pass him up. New England has a lot of needs besides just LB, and I don't see why they would throw money at a rookie when they just broke the bank with Adalius Thomas. But this isn't my section to choose, this is where I predict you they will take, and that's what I did.

Who they will take: Jon Beason, OLB, Miami(FL)

What I would do: If there is one position that the Pats will soon be lacking in, it's safety. Pro bowler Rodney Harrison is 36 and will be turning 37 next season, needless to say, he will probably retire soon. Besides his age, Harrison has become injury prone, and you don't want that in a physical position, especially on defense. Reggie Nelson is still on the board at this point, and you can bet your hide that a team needing a safety would benefit greatly from having him on board. His versatility and ability to play guys much bigger than himself give him an edge in run support and slot protection.

Who I would take: Reggie Nelson, S, Florida



Up Next....#25 New York Jets(D_Litch)

[D_Litch]

~New York Jets~

1st Round - What they will do: The J-E-T-S did a lot better than anyone expected them to last year, but they can't let that get them too cocky. Their defense was so-so, and their offense relied on luck more than they should. That being said, one blaring need the Jets have is the absence of a shutdown corner. Andre Dyson, while good, is not a franchise cornerback. But, Aaron Ross could be. Ross' stock has been soaring since his senior year breakout, and his size(6', 193lbs) screams prototype. He has great hands, good instincts, and doubles as a return man. While he is only a 1 year starter, he sure doesn't play like one.

Who they will take: Aaron Ross, CB, Texas

What I would do: Aaron Ross has convinced me that he will translate into an above average NFL CB. His 40-time does not show how fast he really is, and his run support skills are good. He is just a good all-around corner, and I think that he will be a good fit into the Jets organization. While I think the Jets need to get some more talent in the WR category, CB would be a safe choice this year.

Who I would take: Aaron Ross, CB, Texas



Up Next...#26 Philadelphia Eagles(Lord Sam)

[Lord Sam]

~ Philadelphia Eagles ~

1st Round - What they will do: While the Eagles don't have any glaring needs in this draft, they could use some depth. Despite having one of the best safties in the game, Brian Dawkins, all of the experts have targeted that position as being the Eagles first round pick. If they follow suit, they will find great value in Brandon Meriweather, a versitle saftey with good range against the run and the pass. Not the biggest saftey out there, but plays with a great motor and hustles all over the field. Solid tackler and has great potential as a leader.

Who they will take: Brandon Meriweather, S, The U

What I would do: Outside of a brief relationship with TO, the Eagles haven't had a good WR since Harold Carmichael was cathcing jump ball in the endzone. As I said with the Cowboys choice a few picks ago, this is an ideal spot in the first round for taking WRs. So I think the Eagles should look to a solid, possession type receiver and select Dwayne Jarrett from USC. He has good size (6' 4", 219lbs) great hands, and while he lacks ideal speed (4.63) but makes up for it in the other things; solid downfield blocker, good route runner, adjusts to the ball well. The Eagles would do McNabb a service by drafting this reliable reciever.

Who I would take: Dwayne Jarrett, WR , USC


Up next, #27...New Orleans Saints (Me!)

[Lord Sam]

~ New Orleans Saints ~

1st Round - What they will do: If you find yourself drafting this late in the draft, it means you have a really good team and thus don't have a lot of holes to fill. Here the Saints will look to selecting the best defensive player available. While they may look at a number of players, I think they will settle on DT, Justin Harrell. Harrell is tall (6' 4") and carries his weigh (300 lbs) well for a player his size. He is good against the run and can also push the pocket back and use his good wingspan to disrupt the quarterback's passing lanes. A tough player who played through a torn bicep last season.

Who they will pick: Justin Harrell, DT, Tennessee

What I would do: Like I said, this team is pretty stacked as it is. I would give serious consideration to saftey Reggie Nelson and also WR Robert Meachem. Meachem has the prototypical NFL receiver size (6'2", 214 lbs) and runs a blazing 4.39 in the forty. Adding this player to an already potent offense will make the Saints nearly unstoppable in 2007.

Who I would pick: Robert Meachem, WR , Tennessee

Up next...#28 New England Patriots (Me!)

[Lord Sam]

~ New England Patriots ~

1st Round - What they will do: The rich get richer. A team that was Deion Branch away from beating the Colts (and thus winning the Super Bowl) has its second pick in the 1st round, and they will stay on the defensive side. With a couple of highly touted safetys to look at the Patriots will opt for Reggie Nelson from Florida. While he lacks ideal size for his position, he has great sense for the ball and is known for being a playmaker on defense. He will fit in well in what is becoming a dominant defense.

Who they will pick - Reggie Nelson, S, Florida

What I would do - Go back in time and sign Deion Branch! Geez, I still can't get over how arrogant this great organization was over that matter. Do you think he would have dropped those passes that Reche "he-who-looks-surprised" Caldwell did? Anyways, I digress. The Patriots have been ahead of the rest of the league for years and they will continue to do so with a great defense in the making with the additon of Reggie Nelson.

Who I would pick - Reggie Nelson, S, Florida


Up next...#29 Baltimore Ravens (D-Litch)

[D_Litch]

~Baltimore Ravens~

1st Round - What they will do: The Ravens are one of the few teams this year that can take the best player available at their spot, and that has been the subject of debate. The two guys I see the Ravens looking into at this point are Ryan Kalil and Justin Blalock, two guys who are top ranked at their position. Blalock would make sense because of Jonathan Ogden's situation, he will probably retire after this season because of age and injuries. While Blalock played guard his senior year, he is a natural tackle, his bulk and physique will allow him to replace Ogden better than any other player in this years draft. And then there's Kalil, by far the best center in the draft this year, wowed scouts at the combine. His 40 time(4.96) was fasted among centers at the combine, and secured his place as the top center. But, replacing Ogden will be top priority this year, and Blalock will be the stand-out choice.

Who they will pick: Justin Blalock, OG, Texas

What I would do: One word stands out during conversations about Ryan Kalil, hands. He has the fastest hands in draft this year among offensive linemen, and his instincts are second to none. He has the potential to be a leader on a NFL offensive line and he excels not only in pass protection, but in run blocking as well. Picking up Kalil will give the Ravens a center that will last them a decade or more. I admit it, I put Kalil up on pedestal because he is in my top 10 of elite players, but he deserves to be picked up.

Who I would take: Ryan Kalil, C, USC



Up Next...#30 San Diego Chargers(Me!)

[D_Litch]

~San Diego Chargers~

1st Round - What they will do: Running back, check. Quarterback, check. Someone for the QB to throw to, nope. It seems kind of obvious what the Chargers need to do in the draft this year. With most of the great defensive players gone by this point(not that the Chargers need help in that department), a lot of talented WRs have fallen, this helps the Chargers out tremendously. By my assessment, Dwayne Jarrett is the best receiver left, so there you go. Jarrett has the hands, the athleticism, and the arms of a NFL receiver. He has a knack for always being above defenders in the endzone, and he is a criminal in the redzone. While a lot of analysts have him ranked lower than he should be, I consider him one of the more talented receivers in this years draft. His ability to stay cool under pressure and make the catches that matter make him a talent that will help Rivers mature as a QB, and help the team win in close games.

Who they will pick: Dwayne Jarrett, WR, USC

Who I would pick: I think that there will be plenty of good WRs left in the later rounds, and San Diego has a sleeping monster staring them right in the face. Michael Griffin. Griffin is an excellent safety, and will help to make the Chargers' defense that much better next year. He is an animal on special teams, and his ball hawking style of play make him a 1-2 punch. The Chargers would be fools to pass on talent like this that has fallen into their laps.

Who I would pick: Michael Griffin, S, Texas



Up Next...#31 Chicago Bears(Sir Sam)

[Lord Sam]

~ Chicago Bears ~

1st Round - What they will do: I think the Bears will be a little overconfident in regards to thier defense, who are probably going to lose Lance Briggs (holdout) and Tank Johnson (Goodell Banhammer) for the season, so I think they will look to upgrade thier offense. And I think they will look to WR Steve Smith for help (I mean, since the orginal Steve Smith knocked them out of the playoffs in '05, this makes sense!). While being undersizes (5' 11", 197 lbs), Smith has phenominal hands and is very quick (4.44). He is very quick and shifty, runs good routes and has a great work ethic.

Who they will pick - Steve Smith, WR, USC

What I would do - To late to dump Grossman? I think the way the draft is going to play out, the Bears won't be able to find good value for thier defensive needs at this spot, forcing them to address the offense instead. They could use a RB here to tandum up with Cedric Houston, but Kenny Irons is not good value here. I think I would lean toward Steve Smith myself here, and believe he would make a great #3 WR.

Who I would take - Steve Smith, WR, USC


Up next...#32 Indianapolis Colts (Me!)

[Lord Sam]

~ Indianapolis Colts ~

1st Round - What they will do - The Colts have lost two starters from the defensive backfield (corners Nick Harper and Jason David) and thier 3rd safety (Mike Doss) to free agency, and they have needs on the defensive line and linebacker. The best value for thier pick here would be CB Eric Wright. A good, strong corner from UNLV with a quick burst on the ball. He can turn-and-run with the best of them in man coverage. Also has some experience as a kick returner and play a little bit on offense.

Who they will pick - Eric Wright, CB, UNLV

What I would do - Winning a Super Bowl is great, but the year after is really tough we your rosters gets raided by other teams. I don't know that you would need a top cornerback at this spot as the Colts play a lot of Cover-2 and you can use average corners in that defensive scheme. I think they Colts might be better served by taking Ben Grubbs (G) or maybe taking a flyer on Jarvis Moss (DE) and team him up with Dwight Freeney. Having said that, they could really use a 3rd WR (Robert Meachem?) and another RB. I might take a stab at RB/FB Brian Leonard from Rutgers. A hybrid with good size (6' 1", 226lbs) who is a good runner, good blocker, and a great receiver out of the backfield.

Who I would pick - Brian Leonard, FB, Rutgers


Up next...That's it!! Maybe some post mock draft comments?