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20th Pick - Houston Texans select: RB Ryan Matthews (Fresno State)

Schaub stayed healthy last season and Andre Johnson showed just how great the passing game can be in Houston. Slayton didn't prove as durable as the Texans would have hoped. Matthews should provide the additional size and strength to compliment the passing game.

21st Pick - Cincinnati Bengals select: CB Kyle Wilson (Boise State)

The list of candidates with off field issues isn't strong enough to garner consideration this year for Cincinnati. It's not the best year of hopeful 1st round worthy receivers, so Mr. OchoCinco will have to wait until later in the draft for some additional help. With so many of the leagues young top receivers in the AFC the Bengals will sure up their pass coverage and allow their front seven more time to rush the quarterback.

22nd Pick - New England Patriots select: C/G Maurkice Pouncey (Florida)
The Patriots staff would ideally like to rejuvenate and aging defense with this pick, but the team learned that protecting Tom Brady is priority #1. Pouncey adds an element to the O-line of a strong run blocker, as well as pass protector.

23rd Pick - Green Bay Packers select: OT Anthony Davis (Rutgers)

As Green Bay transitioned to more of a spread passing attack to allow Rodgers to make quick decisions with the ball rather than spend more time on the ground with their original passing game scheme they discovered they need more help on the O-Line. Imagine how much better Rodgers can be with even more time to read defenses and throw the ball.

24th Pick - Philadelphia Eagles select: DL Jared Odrick (Penn State)

His pass rush skills won't go unnoticed in Philly where his ability to draw double teams will free up the linebackers.

25th Pick - Baltimore Ravens select: FS Taylor Mays (USC)

Ozzie Newsome doesn't miss a beat. Many may think the only tight end worthy of being drafted could fall to the Ravens, but Ozzie has a talent for taking the best player on the board and knows which players should have already come off the big board. Mays ability to play the Lynch role made famous in Tampa Bay compliments Ed Reeds skills perfectly.

26th Pick - Arizona Cardinals select: WR Golden Tate (Notre Dame)

It's not the deepest draft for receivers in 2010. Couple that with the loss of Boldin via a trade and the Cardinals unnecessarily surprise folks by reaching for another play maker on offense since their most highly rated linebackers are already off the board in this mock draft.

27th Pick - Dallas Cowboys select: OT Bruce Campbell (Maryland)

It's hard not to like someone so versatile that is the comic relief sidekick in the hit USA Network show "Burn Notice", as well as the star of the Evil Dead / Army of Darkness trilogy. He's even appeared in all three "Spiderman" movies. He was the wrestling ring announcer in the first movie, the annoying theatre usher in the sequel, and the annoying maitre d' in the French restaurant.

All kidding aside, Dallas takes the next rated tackle on the board to replace Adams at tackle.

28th Pick - San Diego Chargers select: NT Terrence Cody (Alabama)

The Chargers beef up the D-Line. Think about Gilbert Brown a little but younger.

29th Pick - New York Jets select: DE/LB Jerry Hughes (TCU)

Coach Rex Ryan gets another talented edge pass rusher to enter into his attacking defensive schemes.

30th Pick - Minnesota Vikings select: QB Colt McCoy (Texas)

The Vikings don't want to return to the vacuum at QB in a season without Brett Favre and address their QB issue.

31st Pick - Indianapolis Colts select: OT Rodger Saffold (Indiana)

Similar to the Patriots pick, the Colts need to ensure Manning has time to run the offense, as well as beef up the run blocking to ease the pressure off of Peyton Manning.

32nd Pick - New Orleans Saints select: LB Daryl Washington (TCU)

The Saints add some depth to a depleted linebacking group as the season wound down last season.

The Matt Ryan Express rolled on last year and picked up Tony Gonzalez for a nice ride with Roddy White and Michael Turner. Another weapon on offense would be great, but in a division with New Orleans a good defensive player could only help.

19th Pick: LB Sean Weatherspoon (Missouri)

He's an outside linebacker that can step right in and play. His ability to play in different roles should give the Falcons more depth and flexibility, as well as throw different schemes at New Orleans.

The Steelers would like to have an elite receiver fall to them after WR Holmes was traded away, but one doesn't exist this year. The road to the Super Bowl from the AFC involves weaving through a myriad of some of the NFL's best QB's and receivers. As a result, defenses need to find ways to force pressure on the QB or be able to cover receivers.

18th Pick: CB Joe Hayden (Florida)

The Steelers are delighted that the top corner in the draft fell so far and will find a receiver later in the draft.

San Francisco would have loved to have taken one of the top offensive tackles in the draft, but are pleased to have another offensive weapon in C.J. Spiller. Coach Mike Singletary can only have so many players to manage so taking more work than he has time for may continue to push OT Anthony Davis down the draft board.

Singletary knows the value of a good linebacker and with a top edge pass rusher still on the board balancing out his two first round draft picks with a top OLB would be a successful way to start day one of the draft.

17th Pick: OLB Sergio Kindle (Texas)

16th Pick: DE Jason Pierre-Paul (South Florida)

It's another poor year to need a receiver in the draft. Sure Kenny Britt developed nicely last season and hopefully for Tenn. fans he takes the next step this year because help won't be coming from their first round draft pick from the receiver position.

The most underrated coach in the NFL knows how to coach all types of players and always has a top defense. Coaching a raw talent and working him into a quality player suits the Titans coach Jeff Fisher well.

15th Pick: S Earl Thomas, (Texas)

The Giants have always had a strong front seven and now the defensive backfield gets some help. Whether Thomas is used as a corner or safety he can provide an immediate impact. The Giants could also eye Sergio Kindle LB for another edge pass rusher, but the need in the defensive backfield is stronger.

How many years have folks been saying Seattle really needs a LT to replace Walter Jones? Um yeah - so this year was no different in our mock draft as Jimmy Clausen was chosen with the 6th pick in the draft. The top three OTs are off the board and C.J. Spiller was taken already by San Francisco.

14th Pick: DE Derrick Morgan (Georgia Tech)

If G Lupati wasn't already taken, Seattle may have considered the top interior lineman to allow to folks forget the decision to let G Hutchinson leave for Minnesota. Derrick Morgan should help provide some pressure off the edge, as well as an insurance policy for Patrick Kerney.

The 49ers are on the clock with the 13th Pick in the draft.

Strange that Sam Bradford didn't slip down to the 13th pick in the draft. Clausen didn't last that long either so what's a team looking for a big play threat on offense to do?

The 13th Pick: RB C.J. Spiller (Clemson)

Spiller provides the home run threat every time he touches the ball on offense, as well as a game changer in the return game. Having a little thunder and lightening in the backfield with Gore and Spiller would be a great 1-2 punch and give defenses one more weapon to key on that could give Crabtree more space in the field.

The "Tuna" knows defense like Bo knows sports. Every team Parcells has been associated has seen their defense improve, so improving the defense after the offense received a boost in acquiring WR Brandon Marshall from Denver would seem like the logical move in the eyes of the "Tuna".

Certainly RB Spiller would draw some interest in the war room as Ronnie Brown battles back from surgery and Ricky Williams is just an inegma, but how many running backs does a team need.

12th Pick: DT Dan Williams (Tennessee)

Williams probably best fits a 3-4 defense and would be the best fit for the Dolphins. Lucky for Miami fans that he fell into their lap in our mock draft.

The Denver Broncos are on the clock with the 11th Pick in the NFL Draft.

11th Pick: WR Dez Bryant (Oklahoma St.)

With the trade of Brandon Marshall to Miami complete. The Broncos need a true #1 receiver to allow Eddie Royal to comfortably fall back to the #3 productive receiver on the roster. At 6'2" 225 lbs Bryant has the build to run similar routes vacated by Marshall.

Ideally the Broncos would have loved to have taken ILB McLain and take a receiver later in the draft, but with McLain gone in our mock draft receiver is the logical choice.

With the 10th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars take Tim Tebow, oh wait, that is supposed to be the second round. While it is almost inevitable that Tebow will be taken by the team who plays in the same town as the University of Florida, it will probably be in a later round. As of right now, the team that feature MJD, needs to improve its defense in the first round.

10th Pick: ILB Rolando McClain (Alabama)

Coming off of a National Championship, this hard nosed, smart and studious defensive juggernaut will immediately succeed in the NFL. With a big frame and quick feet, McClain will be able to take over a defensive game. Jacksonville should be very happy with this pick and will most likely get a high return for the money they will spend on him.

With rumors flying that Marshawn Lynch will be traded, one would think they could take C.J. Spiller. With no quarterback and no absolute stud receiver though, they will most likely stay away from the skill positions. Rebuilding starts in the trenches and that is where the Bills will be during the draft.

9th Pick: OG Mike Lupati (Idaho)

Buffalo has the book end tackels required to dominate on the offensive line, but need that guard to secure the interior. Lupati could be that guard. He is coming out of Idaho, which is not exactly a football power house, but has produced solid talent in the past. If Lupati can show he is an NFL caliber guard this year, then the Bills will be in a great position to draft that franchise quarterback next year.

With Spiller still on the board though, a trade would not be unheard of. This could be one of the most valuable picks in the draft, especially for teams who need a running back.

With C.J. Spiller on the board it would be easy to predict that the Oakland Raiders would take him. In reality though, Davis knows he does have to make a smart pick this year. After DHB was failure last year, the owner and general manager understands that a good pick this year will keep fans around for a few more years. Until he drafts yet another guy for speed, that is.

8th Pick: OT Brian Bulaga (Iowa)

The University of Iowa does two things very well, make offensive lineman and make defensive lineman. With JaMarcus Russell projected to be the starter next year, the Raiders are going to need to give him some time to throw. Bulaga can give Russell the time he needs. When a team has a quarterback that isn't accurate and doesn't move well, the best thing it can do is give him time to read the defense and find the open man. If he is truly NFL material, he will make the plays.

Keep in mind though, this is Al Davis and Spiller did run a 4.3 at the combine.

After being punished by Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu year, after year, after year, the Cleveland Browns will finally have their own play making safety. Cleveland's problems last year were not so much on the offensive side of the ball, as they were on the defensive side. Sure, Brady Quinn and Derrick Anderson didn't exactly light it up, but when they did the defense didn't keep them in the game. Rebuilding their swiss cheese secondary will start in the secondary.

7th Pick: S Eric Berry (Tennessee)

Current safeties Mike Adams and Abram Elam are solid players, on the second or third string. Berry adds a sense of controlled chaos and physicality that could fire this defense up. As mentioned earlier, a good d-line is required to have an outstanding secondary and you can't get much better than Pro Bowl nose tackle Shaun Rogers. Berry should have the opportunity to grab some errant passes if Rogers gets penetration.

One pick surely doesn't fix a defense, but by adding Berry the Browns are taking a step in the right direction.

One could argue that Pete Carrol would like to try to keep Matt Hasselbeck up right and see what he has. In reality though, Carrol seems to want to run things his way and if they wanted to keep up right why would they trade Rob Sims? The former USC Head Coach is the kind of guy who wants to do things his way and will most likely want to start of with his own quarterback.

6th Pick: QB Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame)

Clausen is a good choice for Seattle because he has played through tough elements before. The midwest is not known for its warm and sunny conditions in November and December and neither is Seattle. Carrol knows he is going to need a quarterback that can not only throw the ball to vertical receivers, such as T.J. Houshmandzadeh, but can also power the ball through the elements. From what we have seen at Notre Dame, Clausen can do that.

Welcome to the NFL Jimmy Clausen, make sure you packed your umbrella. Oh, and make sure you keep an eye out for Patrick Willis from San Francisco when he blows through your line.

The Chiefs are on the clock with the 5th Pick in the 2010 Draft.

Kansas City has always been known for being able to run the ball, but over the past few years the offensive line has withered and degraded over time in both run blocking and pass protection. Last year Branden Albert was drafted to reinforce the offensive line.

5th Pick: OT Trent Williams (Oklahoma)

Drafting Williams would allow Albert to move to the interior or to RT. The selection would ensure that KC would have two talented young players along the offensive line to improve the pass protection and get back to running the ball downhill.

The Washington Redskins are on the clock with the 4th Pick in the 2010 Draft.

The Redskins would love to move down to acquire additional draft choices, but it may be difficult to do so and still have a top pick in the first ten. The Redskins didn't have enough ammunition to move up to take Bradford #1 overall so it seems even less likely now without a 2nd Round pick and the acquisition of McNabb. Is it possible Washington selects Clausen - absolutely, but the new team of Shanahan & Allen seem to have a plan in place and acquiring a top tier QB in McNabb without the protection to make use of his skills wouldn't make much sense.

4th Pick: OT Russell Okung (Oklahoma St.)

The Redskins could also select OT Bryan Bulaga who's versatility to play four positions along the line would fit nicely despite what some may say enough of a lack of arm reach to play LT or OT Trent Williams who could also warrent taking as the top OT.

Okung has all the physical talent to start immediately for an old and ailing offensive line. Detroit could also make things interesting if they decide to take Okung over DT Suh or DT McCoy. This would set the potential trade wheels in motion or make a difficult decision between one of the elite DT in the draft or the next best OT to replace Chris Samuels who retired in the offseason.

As Thursday's NFL Draft edges closer for the Redskins who currently hold the 4th, Washington has many decisions to make from which players to keep or trade to whether the pick is dealt to acquire additional picks. We at The DC Sports Page have come to our own conclusions regarding possible moves as we've listed below:

Trading Down To Acquire More Picks:

Allen and Shanahan have already made sound and reasonable decisions that sometimes were lacking in the previous administration at Redskins Park. With so many holes to fill at once during a deep draft year, the Redskins will definitely be looking to move down in the draft to gain more picks for the ones lost in the 2nd round (part of McNabb trade) and the 3rd round (due to the supplemental draft last year of DE Jarmon).

Cleveland is rumored to make a move to acquire Bradford with the #1 pick, since St. Louis has been unable to sign the QB prior to the draft. Without teams looking to move up to draft Clausen the Skins could have a tough sell. Their best ally would be the Lions. Yes, Detroit could draft an OL allowing one of the elite DT's to fall to the 4th Pick. Teams may want to move up and thus the Redskins could still acquire a top OL in the top ten and pick up an additional pick.

Seattle (6, 14) or San Francisco (13, 17) would make ideal trade partners with Washington as both teams have two first round draft picks, but this sounds more like a fantasy trade than anything else. Haynesworth, Portis, Campbell, or McIntosh could also enter the equation to make such a bold move.

Dropping down too far for additional picks wouldn't solve the long term issues the team faces. It still needs an elite LT, as well as a LB, S, and cover corner. Once Okung, Bulaga, and Williams come off the board the OT situation becomes a little more murky. Washington should retain their #4 overall pick if their only option to trade down is to fall out of the top 15 resulting in the top OL, ILB, RB, and DT falling off the board but trading to add more quality players via the top three rounds in draft should be a top priority.

Tampa Bay is on the clock with the 3rd Pick in the 2010 Draft.

It makes no sense in even rendering a Mortimer type wager from "Trading Places" on this pick. Similar to the Rams pick, you can almost "Hawaii Five-O" this pick and "Book 'em Danno."

3rd Pick: DT Gerald McCoy (Oklahoma)

The resurrection of the decade of dominating defense begins with drafting McCoy who can cave in the middle of the offensive line while still performing a run stopping role. He fits the Tampa 2 defense well.

Many of the players that fans recall during Tampa's playoff runs are gone. You can still find Warren Sapp on TV though - on the NFL Network, as well as on Twitter as @QBKILLA. Sapp's twitter name says it all. Getting to the QB is the number one priority on defense. The Buccaneers hope they have the right piece of the puzzle to gain more possessions from turnovers and shorten the field for their offense. Look for Tampa Bay to switch sides of the ball with their next pick in the draft.

The Detroit Lions are on part two of their three part plan to rebuild and that second part involves adding a "house of spears."

After last season's, largely successful, draft the team has a franchise quarterback, a decent set of wide receivers, a solid linebacking corps and a play making member of the secondary. With the offseason acquisition's of Kyle Vanden-Bosch and Corey Williams, the defensive line, and defense, is almost complete. The final part of that line is Ndamukong Suh.

He is hands down the best player in the draft and Detroit can't afford to pass on him. Suh has a quick release out of his stance and the strength to move NFL lineman. ESPN's Sports Science program examined what made his the best player on the board and lets just say they said he hit with the force of 1,200 pounds.

The Lions had an awful secondary last year. While it could be said that they had subpar players, which some of them were, they also had a terrible pass rush. If you look at a team like the Baltimore Ravens, their secondary thrived off of a great pass rush in the 2008-2009 season. Last season, their pass rush was less impressive and so was their secondary.

There may be questions about whether they want to drat left tackle Russell Okung, but their acquisition of Rob Sims should answer them. Head Coach Jim Schwartz said he thought Jeff Backus deserved Pro Bowl votes and that left guard was their real problem last season. When looking at the trade of Sims and Schwartz's comments together, its clear they think tackle is not what needs to be fixed.

For a team with so many holes, taking the best player on the board is never a bad idea. Detroit should be a respectable team next year, not a great one, but one that should be able to win between four and six games. Experts have said it is defense that wins championships and in Lions land, it looks like the team will follow that philosophy.

Pick 2 - Detroit Lions: Ndamukong Suh - Defensive Tackle, Nebraska

The Rams are on the clock with the 1st Pick in the 2010 Draft.

Defensive Tackles Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska) and Gerald McCoy (Oklahoma) can provide the pressure up the middle teams covet, but the rebuild on the offense begins with this pick. The release of Marc Bulger all but seals the deal that Sam Bradford will be the first pick in the draft. The last few years the Rams have pinned their hopes on a resurgance of Bulger, but it hasn't materialized.

The trade of McNabb from the Eagles to the Redskins also eliminated a possible trade partner to move down to acquire more picks and possibly take Jimmy Clausen from Notre Dame. No one else may have the picks necessary to move up or be so inclined to trade up knowing that Clausen may fall back to them.

1st Pick: QB Sam Bradford (Oklahoma)

Bradford should rejuvinate an offense that's sputtered for the past few years. He's an accurate quarterback that fits well in the Rams passing game. The pressure this season shouldn't fall on Bradford, but more so on the offensive line to keep him on his feet and provide Jackson the running lanes he needs to take the pressure off their new QB. Expectations of Ryan or Flacco may be unrealistic as a first year quarterback, but a new direction is in order for St. Louis on offense to stabalize the long term future at QB.

The Redskins choice for the draft was not QB Mark Sanchez. Nor was it any one of the wide receivers. In an effort to improve the defensive line, they selected DE Brian Orakpo out of Texas. Orakpo fell to the Redskins after a series of moves and surprises before them. The New York Jets traded up to #5 to take Sanchez. And in Al Davis' brilliance, the Oakland-LA-Oakland Raiders took Terp WR Derrius Heyward-Bey.

Orakpo fills a void the Redskins have had since the days of Charles Mann and Dexter Manley. Sure, they've had players there, but while stars were targeted, then turned out less than stellar in their Redskin careers. Orakpo may finally fulfill that role.

Back to the moves that caused Orakpo to fall to #13, the Jets taking Sanchez left the Redskins with no reason to move up in the draft. Then the Raiders surprise pick of Heyward-Bey, who was projected at a mid-first rounder at best, made WR Michael Crabtree available to teams who figured he wouldn't be there for them. The Heyward-Bey pick was criticized by many including the one and only Mr. Draft Mel Kiper, who said that the Raiders should've traded down if they wanted Heyward-Bey that bad. Nobody was going to go after him that early. We're all happy for Heyward-Bey as now he can demand a Top 10 conract. His pick also caused some Redskins fans, including the Sports Freak and myself, to worry that Crabtree might interest the Redskins. There was little chance he would fall to 13, but if San Francisco had not picked him up at 10, who knows what would have happened?

While Orakpo was a lucky break for the Redskins, it's also a smart one. It also again puts pressure on Jason Campbell, since the defense has shored up some more. He needs to prove himself throughout the 2009 season to justify a new contract. Otherwise, he'll follow in the footsteps of Gus Frerotte, Patrick Ramsey, and other Redskins QB's of the past in journeymen roles. That's if he's lucky.

Well, here we are at the end of the first round and the end of the mock draft for 2009 here on TheDCSportsPage.com.

I’ve had the pleasure of being in the lovely town of Pittsburgh, but I can’t say I have any interesting stories about this town. Being a Capitals fan, I obviously hate the Penguins and that’s way before the most recent Ovechkin vs. Crosby rivalry. What true Caps fan can forget the various heartbreaking playoffs losses? But I digress (isn’t that what I’m supposed to do with these mock draft postings?). I can say I respect the Steelers for being the most consistent football team I know. For the most part they’ve always been competitive and now they are the NFL’s leading Super Bowl winners with six titles. It’s hard not to admire a blue collar team that’s successful.

Assuming your team didn’t trade into this position, this is obviously where you want to be drafting. You’re the champs and you get to flaunt it until at least February until the new ones are crowned… or if you’re lucky enough your team can extend their reign for yet another year.

So what do the Super Bowl XLIII Champions need?

32nd Pick: Alex Mack, C, California

Believe it or not, the Champions could stand to upgrade on the offensive line, so why not take the best Center in the draft? The added benefit is that Alex is versatile enough to also see action in the Guard position as well.

Thanks for joining us for this year’s mock draft. If you had a good time, please leave a comment letting us know. Heck, if you had a bad time, tell us that as well. We’d love to hear more from our readers.

Technically, I’ve been to Phoenix and when I say “technically” I do mean outside the airport and not just passing through on my way to Vegas. However, I have not spent a night in Phoenix as I flew into town in the morning and had to fly back out on the redeye that evening.

Unfortunately, during my time there, I did not get the chance to visit the Heart Attack Grill. How can you not love a place which has the motto, “Taste Worth Dying For!?” That and the lovely nurses there to help will make it a place I’ll put on my list to visit if I ever find myself with time on my hands in this town.

So onto the pick…

The Cardinals were much closer to victory than most thought possible in the Super Bowl fight with the Steelers. The defense really stepped it up and what a show in the air with Warner and his targets Boldin and Fitzgerald. However, the one element this team has lacked all season was running game and with James over the hill and Hightower and Arrington not really panning out, this team needs to go to the well again.

31st Pick: Donald Brown, RB, Connecticut

You may be asking, “Hey, why not Chris Wells?!?!” Well, looking to the long term it would seem Wells' running style would lead to questions of durability. So one has to ask do you need a pounder like Wells or someone who can be a bit more shifty like Brown? Use Hightower as your short yardage back and let Brown become your long term solution at running back.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are on the clock with the 32nd and last pick in the first round of the draft.

In this edition of Q’s Travel blog, it may surprise some to learn that I have actually been to Nashville, Tennesee. The trip was quite recent and while I was in town for business, I did get the chance to visit the Gaylord Opryland Resort Hotel & Convention Center which if I understand correctly isn’t too far away from the Grand Ole Opry House. The resort hotel is quite amazing and reminded me of a high end Vegas casino on the strip. The only thing this place was missing was the slot machines and gaming tables. As such it was a very nice place to visit and they even had the National Student Nurses Association convention in town… not that, that really meant anything for me.

I know this story is quite boring, but my other Nashville story involves me in the laying prone inside the trunk / hatchback area of a Corvette, and I’m not about to share that story.

So onto the real reason you’re reading this blog entry…

Let’s face it. Dallas may claim to be America’s team, but the Giants play on the biggest stage in America. Granted, they share it with the Jets, but there is no place like New York.

In their attempt to repeat last year, many point to the derailment caused by the loss of Plaxico Burress. By shooting himself, many feel he shot down the hopes for the Giants to claim another title. So remember, kids, guns and nightclubs don’t mix.

While wide receivers are pretty hit and miss, it’s probably a chance the Giants will have to take.

29th Pick: Brian Robiskie, WR, Ohio State

While he doesn’t have the blazing speed, this young man comes to the NFL with tons of knowledge courtesy of his dad (and one time Redskins staff member) Terry. Some scouts also say he has the best hands in the collegiate ranks.

The Tennessee Titans are on the clock with the 30th Pick in the draft.

So here we go again on our own. Sorry, I couldn't think of an appropriate message from Bon Jovi, so Whitesnake will need to do. The Eagles get a second shot in the first round and after OT Eben Britton, they need to look elsewhere. While they have running backs, one could argue all they've got is Brian Westbrook. He's 30 and has never played all 16 games in a season. While we've seen in the past his injuries do not hamper Philly greatly, they are pressing their luck going yet another season without solid backup.

28th pick: Knowshon Moreno, RB Georgia

Cheesesteak-ville could use Moreno in Andy Reid's version of the West Coast. A good receiver and tack in back to back 1,000 plus rushing yard seasons for the Bulldogs, he should give the boost the Eagles need in the running game, as well as adequately fill in for Westbrook when the inevitable injury comes along. Besides, what team doesn't want two quality backs? His drawback might be his rough version of play, making him vulnerable to injury as well.

The New York Football Giants are on the clock for the 29th pick.

The Colts hold a special place in my heart if only for the fact Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne helped to lead my fantasy football team to victory this past season. And who doesn’t like a team who steals away under the cover of darkness for another city??!?!

So, onto the pick…

Not so long ago the Indianapolis version of the Colts finally clawed their way to the top of the heap, but an aging team and a defense which has always been somewhat suspect has made the Colts a one hit wonder.

With the release of Harrison, one also has to have questions about the offensive side of the ball and whether Manning will have enough weapons to keep the Indy machine going.

Well, it will have to be enough as the Colts can’t continue to expect to compete with an undersized defense.

27th Pick: Evander Hood, DT, Missouri

And how can you afford to pass on guy who was a member of the National Honor Society?

The Philadelphia Eagles are on the clock again with the 28th Pick in the draft.

The Baltimore Ravens are now on the clock with the 26th Pick in the Draft.

Baltimore would draft a top receiver in this position if there was one worthy of taking at this point. The Ravens would have loved to have taken Darrius Heyward-Bey from the University of Maryland. The brain trust in Baltimore knows when to take the best player available and have always found a way to retool the DL & LB groups.

26th Pick: James Laurinaitis, ILB Ohio State

Who better to groom the next Ravens Linebacker than Ray Lewis. Laurinaitis athletic ability resembles Brian Urlacher. He should fit in well with a team known for its strong linebacker play and defense.

The Indianapolis Colts are now on the clock with the 27th Pick in the draft.

The Miami Dolphins are on the clock with the 25th Pick in the draft.

Miami's most obvious need is to increase the level of production coming out of the receiver position and begin to stretch the field more. Being able to pass more efficiently will back off the safeties and create more running lanes for Brown & Williams.

The 25th Pick: Kenny Britt, WR Rutgers

The Dolphins will look to Britt to demonstrate the same production he displayed in the Big East. His 6'3" frame should help with patterns over the middle and if he can duplicate racking up the yards after the catch that he had at Rutgers, Miami's offense should become much more balanced and potent.

The Baltimore Ravens are now on the clock with the 26th Pick in the draft.

The Atlanta Falcons are on the clock with the 24th Pick in the draft.

Matt Ryan and Michael Turner could definitely use some help on offense besides the break out year from receiver Roddy White. The top rated TE Pettigrew may garner some attention with the mindset that he could be the safety valve and intermediate target for Ryan.

Just like any receivers taken in the draft, historically it usually takes two to three years to develop a receiver at the NFL level. Looking back the draft has yielded few tight ends worthy of taking in the 1st Round and none of them has carried a team to the Lombardi trophy. The Falcons need help on offense now. They may look to help Ryan with a veteran like an aging Harrison while they can develop one in a later round or trade for a receiver.

The Falcons have gone two for two with Ryan & Turner and will look to continue this by taking the best player available.

24th Pick: Robert Ayers, DE Tenn.

The Falcons may not be able to draft an immediate impact player on offense, but can find a pass rushing end that can help get Ryan and the offense the ball in better field position and hopefully more opportunities.

The Miami Dolphins are now on the clock with the 25th Pick in the draft.
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The New England Patriots are on the clock with the 23rd Pick in the draft.

23rd Pick: Clay Matthews, OLB USC

The loss of Vrabel to Kansas City as part of the Cassel trade and the exposure of the aging Patriots defense makes Matthews the perfect fit. His quickness and athleticism should help the aging linebacker group immediately and infuse the speed that's been lacking the past few seasons near the end of the season and in the playoffs.

The Atlanta Falcons are on the clock with the 24th Pick in the draft.

The Minnesota Vikings are on the clock with the 22nd Pick in the draft.

22nd Pick: William Beatty, OT Connecticut

I'm surprised the Pats haven't rushed in their pick already. Oh wait, that was the previous head coach. Ah oh well, that clip of the Ravens running up the pick before the Vikings should be played on ESPN Classics.

The top receivers are already gone and by taking one that would be more of a stretch than Beatty. Beatty may be a reach and taken a little early, but should be able to contribute and play a significant role this season. QB Freeman may be available, but how many projects do the Vikings need at QB. They passed on Cassel and Cutler. The Vikings recent draft history in the first round other than Peterson has been mediocre at best. Another QB project can be taken in a subsequent round.

The Vikings could also consider upgrading at DT or finding another pass rushing DE to have book ends on the edge. Ayers at DE could be someone Minnesota takes a look at for the 22nd pick, but ultimately adding depth and looking towards the future of the OL with such a gifted runner as Peterson makes the OT seem logical especially with plenty of receivers available in later rounds.

The New England Patriots are now on the clock with the 23rd Pick in the draft.

The Eagles are on the clock with the 21st Pick in the Draft.

Philadelphia could look to get younger along the offensive line. They've drafted busts at the OT position before in drafts, but with Eben Britton being the last of the projected 1st Round OT left on the board they'll hope that "Beanie" Wells is still available with the 28th Pick in the draft.

Wells would provide a good one two punch with Westbrook. He'd also be able to run late in the games between the tackles, which the Eagles have had problems with under Head Coach Reid. Wells would provide a little more thunder to Westbrook and hopefully extend his career.

21st Pick: Eben Britton, OT Arizona

As Tra Thomas left and signed with the Jacksonville, Britton should be able to challenge for a starting position on the roster. He's a brawler that should help open up gaping holes in the running game while protecting McNabb's blind side.

The Minnesota Vikings are on the clock with the 22nd Pick in the draft.

Filling in for Q - the Lions are on the clock with the 20th Pick in the Draft.

The Lions have so many needs. They obviously could use some additional help on the offensive line. Drafting Eben Britton to push Backus at OT may be where the Lions go to ensure adequate protection for their new QB.

20th Pick: Peria Jerry, DT Mississippi

Detroit finished last in rushing defense and near the bottom in passing, too. Although the Lions allowed 52 sacks last season, some of that can be attributed to QB's holding onto the ball too long. If the Lions are going to keep the games competitive and their QB upright they'll also need to stop the run to prevent the offense from passing so frequently putting their QB at risk. Jerry should help slow down the oppositions running game and keep the game more in check as he becomes the future anchor of the DL.

The Philadelphia Eagles are now on the clock with the 21st Pick in the Draft.

There certainly have been a lot of changes this offseason for the Buccaneers. Not only have they made a change at Head Coach and GM, they have two new coordinators (one which is changing a system that has been in place for over a decade and has its own name), a couple new playmakers, and must replace a number of people on the defensive side of the ball, including a first ballot Hall of Famer in Derrick Brooks.

The Chicago Bears are on the clock with the 18th Pick in the draft.

The Bears Defense hasn't lived up to its usual form the past couple of years since Rivera left as coordinator. There isn't an impact player available to improve the defense significantly and since the Bears seem committed to Orton at quarterback there's two positions the Bears may consider with the pick.

The New York Jets are on the clock with the 17th Pick in the draft.

Although the Jets may like to address other areas of need on the defensive side of the ball, the loss of Coles (WR) leaves New York with only Cotchery as the top receiver. Finding another option at receiver to stretch the field will be a primary concern heading into the season.

17th Pick: Percy Harvin, WR Florida

Harvin's speed, versatility, and play making ability will be welcomed in New York. It's always a treat to watch Jets fans at the NFL draft. They may be satisfied with Harvin. He can even add some excitement in the kick return game. He may not have the size most teams look for in a receiver, but that shouldn't be new to the Jets. Coles wasn't a tall receiver either.

The Chicago Bears are now on the clock with the 18th Pick in the draft.

The San Diego Chargers are on the clock with the 16th Pick in the draft.

The Chargers can improve the roster by drafting any one of the following players Percy Harvin (WR), Knowshon Moreno (RB), or Rey Maualuga (ILB).

Percy Harvin could provide one more scoring option to open up the field for Tomlinson and Rivers. Harvin's a playmaker with excellent speed. A more balanced and spread offense with a healthy LT should confound opposing defenses. Greater running lanes for LT and more holes in zone defenses and mismatches in press coverage should increase Gates numbers, too.

Historically it usually takes two to three years for receivers to significantly contribute to the offense and whether Norv Turner has that type of time remains to be seen. Chargers fans are learning what Redskins fans learned a long time ago. Turner as a head coach can't take a team to the title with or without talent. Norv may be on a short leash and not be afforded the luxury of adding another scoring weapon that will take time to develop. Not every receiver makes the immediate impact of a DeSean Jackson.

Having never visited Houston, I have nothing pithy to say about this city, so my only tangential story has to deal with a Houston Oilers player I once saw in Vegas (Yes, I know the Oilers are now the Titans, but I got nothing else, so just shut up and listen). It was April (probably back in 2004 or 2005). After a night of carousing, thoughts of food at 4 or 5 in the morning was on the minds of me and my fellow friends, so for whatever reason we decided to hit the restaurant on the ground level of the Barbary Coast (not that we were staying there, but whatever). The place was packed so we actually had to wait for a table and so we milled around the casino floor while waiting.

From out of the blue near the gaming tables we heard shouts of “Run and Shoot!” So as my friends and I looked over we saw Hall of Famer (not then) Warren Moon making his way to the after hours club Drai’s with two ladies in tow strapped to his arms. Hey, isn’t Moon married? I’m sure they were just business associates. Or maybe we all saw a Warren Moon impersonator. A few nights later one of my friends sans women tried to get into Drai’s, but he didn’t have Mr. Moon’s luck.

So, onto the pick…

Who can think of New Orleans and not picture the mayhem and fun (I guess) of Mardi Gras and Bourbon Street? However, have you ever been in New Orleans on the morning after? Well, I haven’t but, I have been in the unfortunate position of being in this city on a Sunday morning during the summer. Just imagine walking around in a city with the sun beating down on you and oppressive humidity which covers you like a sticky blanket. Then add in the smell of the sewer as an additional assault on your nose… but it’s probably just the smell of vomit from the previous night’s reveling. There are nice things about New Orleans especially if you like gambling or river boats, but I’ll admit I have no need to ever visit this city again.

(Wait… this isn’t Q’s travel blog?!? Darn it.)

The New Orleans Saints finished 8-8 last season having suddenly found themselves in a strong NFC South with the unexpected emergence of the Atlanta Falcons.

The Saints had an offense which lead the league last season at over 410 yards per game and almost 29 points per game. It’s obvious it’s not this side of the ball which needs the most help.

To continue our own mock draft, the Washington Redskins are on the clock with the 13th Pick in the draft.

Assuming the Skins still have this pick and haven’t traded up or down or acquired Jay Cutler, Washington has several areas of needs. The Redskins could definitely use help along both lines, as well as upgrading a line backing unit that was battered and aging all last season. Washington also needs to plan for the future and draft a cover corner and running back. Betts and Portis are approaching 30 and with the load that Portis has carried it has him mirroring an Earl Campbell like ending.

Below are the positions of need with analysis:

To continue our own mock draft, the Denver Broncos are on the clock with the 12th Pick in the draft.

The Jay Cutler debacle could completely change what direction the Broncos take in the draft. With Sanchez already gone in our draft and assuming that Cutler is still a Bronco, Denver may look to address the pass rush off the edge.

12h Pick: Everett Brown, DE/LB, Florida State

He's a player that could provide exactly what Denver needs in that hybrid position DE/LB as the Broncos move to the 3-4 Defense. Brown's stock may be slipping on some draft boards but his upside and potential could be too much for the Broncos to pass on as his skills and versatility can create matchup problems for offenses.

The Redskins are now on the clock with the 13th Pick in the draft.

To continue our own mock draft, the Buffalo Bills are on the clock with the 11th Pick in the draft.

The top tackles and defensive ends are now off the board. TO was added to provide another scoring threat, but the key may be at the quarterback position. Is Trent Edwards really the answer? Will he provide the stability and steady hand that will keep Owens happy? While other teams have addressed other needs the best player available in the draft may just be the right fit for the Bills.

Ah... the “City by the Bay.” It’s a great city. It has a lot of things going for it, including the weather, culture, and the myriad of activities available in the area. It also has had a rich football history. However, there are negatives including the high cost of living; the threat of the next epic earthquake always looming; and the Market Street Cinema. Whatever you do, STAY AWAY from the Market Street Cinema! In fact, if you ever think about having a bachelor party in San Fran, don’t. Go to Vegas instead. You have been warned.

Now, onto the pick…

To continue our own mock draft, the Green Bay Packers are on the clock with the 9th Pick in the draft.

9th Pick: Aaron Maybin, DE/LB Penn State

The Packers don't need a receiver or quarterback and are always able to find a good young running back. Ryan Grant will look to rebound from last season's performance. As the Packers move to a 3-4 defense this season, Maybin should provide the speed and pass rushing skills necessary to build on the 34 sacks from last season. The secondary could use some help, but more pressure on the quarterback should limit the secondary's time spent in coverage. It's not a great draft for corners and coming away with an edge pass rusher couldn't hurt.

San Francisco is now on the clock with the 10th pick in the draft.

To continue our own mock draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars are on the clock with the 8th Pick in the draft.

The Jaguars will look to rebound from a dismal 2008 campaign and return to the 2007 form that saw them reach the AFC Championship game. To do this, they will need to improve on both sides of the ball. At #8, they will have options to address a number of different areas. It appears there most pressing needs are on the offensive side of the ball. With the recent signing of Tra Thomas, they appear to have addressed one position that needed an upgrade, at least for the near future. They will still need to address an underwhelming offensive line, but do they do that here or try to add a playmaker at WR.

To continue our own mock draft, the Oakland Raiders are on the clock with the 7th Pick in the draft.

7th Pick: Michael Crabtree, WR Texas Tech

Owner Al Davis may need to hire Smithers from the Simpsons to wipe away the drool from his face as WR Michael Crabtree is still available. Maclin may be slightly faster, but a playmaker like Crabtree doesn't come around very often. Complimenting McFadden and Russell by adding another scoring threat would greatly improve the offense in Oakland. ILB Rey Maualuga could also be an option as he fits the mold of a tough hitting defensive player that would look great donning a Raiders uniform, but in the end Crabtree just seems like the right fit.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are now on the clock with the 8th Pick in the draft.

To continue our own mock draft, the Cincinnati Bengals are on the clock with the 6th Pick in the draft.

The Bengals have so many areas to address that not all of them will not be resolved even through the draft. The player they may have coveted the most on our mock draft is now gone. Monroe (OT) would have been the ideal fit. He's the most NFL game ready OT and doesn't have any character related issues on a team that desperately needs quality individuals and talent. An OT would have helped the running game and in the protection of Palmer. Andre Smith (OT) seems like too much of a risk for a team that has had player character issues. Selecting Oher (OT) is too much of a reach this early in the draft.

To continue our own mock draft, the Cleveland Browns are on the clock with the 5th Pick in the draft.

Cleveland has added many players to the defense the past few seasons and has yielded little in the way of total sacks. They need more of a presence on the edge to help create turnovers and change the battle for field position.

5th Pick: Brian Orakpo, DE Texas

Orakpo should deliver the pressure Cleveland is looking for to build on the 17 sacks they produced last season. His athleticism should also help when needed in dropping into a zone blitz package for coverage.

The Cincinnati Bengals are now on the clock with the 6th Pick.

To continue our own mock draft, the Seattle Seahawks are on the clock with the 4th Pick in the draft.

The signings of WR TJ Houshmandzadeh and Colin Cole DT give the Seahawks the flexibility to go in several different directions heading into the 2009 Draft. A team that ranks near the bottom in most statistical categories on both sides of the ball and offers little help for Matt Hasselbeck at the skill positions improved itself during the free agency period.

Seattle may still consider stand out wide receiver Michael Crabtree as another target for Hasselbeck and immediately becomes the receiver of the future. They may also have an eye on B.J. Raji at defensive tackle. His stock has risen since his combine workouts. He's a DT that can stuff the run and apply pressure up the middle.

To continue our own mock draft, the Kansas City Chiefs are on the clock with the 3rd Pick in the draft.

It didn't take long for new GM Scott Pioli and new head coach Todd Haley to make improvements to the roster this offseason. The Chiefs could go in a number of different directions with the 3rd Pick in the draft, but the acquisition of QB Matt Cassel from the Patriots for a 2nd Round pick makes things a bit more clear.

We thought it would be fun at The DC Sports Page to run our own mock draft, rotating the picks among the bloggers. We'll be bringing this to you over the next few weeks.

Much has changed in the league due to free agent signings, trades, and recent waivers. The Lions look to rebound and rebuild again after casting off the demons left behind by Matt Millen era. The under achieving shouldn't entirely fall on Millen's shoulders as disagreements with ownership occurred as well as failures at the coaching levels hurt Millen. He wasn't helped by his poor decisions and drafting after the first round.

After jettisoning Jon Kitna for CB Anthony Henry, it becomes apparent that the franchise saw the reward of drafting young quarterbacks like Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco in Atlanta and Baltimore as it looks to replicate the results.

1st Pick: Matthew Stafford, QB Georgia

As Detroit looks for some magic and leadership at the QB position, Stafford leads the top of the list. He doesn't possess all of the poise and play calling skills that Ryan learned at Boston College, so dumping Kitna so early may take a toll on Stafford. Hopefully for the Lions, he's able to make it though the season and not worry about protection instead of looking down field. Finding another veteran QB to take some of the heat while Stafford adjusts to the professional levels could only benefit him and the orginazation in the long run.

The Redskins drafted three receivers on day one of the draft. Devin Thomas WR Michigan St, Fred Davis TE USC, and Malcolm Kelly WR Oklahoma were all drafted in the 2nd Round after the Skins traded down a round to obtain more picks.

The Redskins then addressed some other areas of concern by drafting Chad Rinehart OG Northern Iowa (3rd Rd), Justin Tryon CB Arizona St (4th Rd), Durant Brooks P Ga Tech (6th Rd), Kareem Moore S Nicholls St (6th Rd), Colt Brennan QB Hawaii (6th Rd), Rob Jackson DE Kansas St (7th Rd), & Christopher Horton S UCLA (7th Rd) were all day two draft choices some of which via trades with Atlanta and St. Louis to improve the quantity of picks or the position.

This post sums up our mock draft. There's already been one trade affecting the draft order, with KC getting the #17 pick from Minnesota, and there are bound to be more in the first round before all is said and done. Nevertheless it will be interesting to see how many of these picks we actually predicted correctly. With Jake Long just signing a deal with Miami as the first overall pick, the DC Sports Page is starting out 1 for 1.

1. Miami - Jake Long, OT Michigan
2. St. Louis - Chris Long, DE Virginia
3. Atlanta - Glenn Dorsey, DE LSU
4. Oakland - Darren McFadden, RB Arkansas
5. Kansas City - Sedrick Ellis, DT USC
6. New York Jets - Matt Ryan, QB Boston College
7. New England - Vernon Gholston, LB/DE Ohio State
8. Baltimore - Ryan Clady, OT Boise State
9. Cincinnati - Keith Rivers, LB USC
10. New Orleans - Leodis McKelvin, CB Troy
11. Buffalo - Devin Thomas, WR Michigan State
12. Denver - Jeff Otah, OT Pittsburgh
13. Carolina - Derrick Harvey, DE Florida
14. Chicago - Chris Williams, OT Vanderbilt
15. Detroit - Rashard Mendenhall, RB Illinois
16. Arizona - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB Tennessee State
17. Minnesota - Phillip Merling, DE Clemson
18. Houston - Johnathan Stewart, RB Oregon
19. Philadelphia - Calais Campbell, DE Miami
20. Tampa Bay - Aqib Talib, CB Kansas
21. Washington - Brendan Albert, G Virginia
22. Dallas - Brandon Flowers, CB Virginia Tech
23. Pittsburgh - Mike Jenkins, CB S. Florida
24. Tennessee - Felix Jones, RB Arkansas
25. Seattle - Malcolm Kelly, WR Oklahoma
26. Jacksonville - Kentwan Balmer, DT North Carolina
27. San Diego - Gosder Cherilus, OT Boston College
28. Dallas - Desean Jackson, WR California
29. San Francisco - Brian Brohm, QB Louisville
30. Green Bay - Antoine Cason, CB Arizona
31. New York Giants - Kenny Phillips, S Miami

To conclude our mock draft the New York Giants are now on the clock with the 31st pick.

After winning a championship and pulling off one of the biggest upsets in Superbowl history, the New York Giants are looking to restock their team with the talent that will allow them to make another run at the title. It is really almost impossible to accurately predict what teams will do in the latter part of the first round of the draft, but there are several needy positions on this team. The phenomenal play from the Giants defensive line last season masked an otherwise average secondary, further weakened with the loss of starting safety Gibril Wilson in free agency. Michael Strahan may end up retiring, so drafting a DL here would make some sense as well. On the other hand, they may want to address the linebacking corps, which saw starter Kawika Mitchell and backup Reggie Torbor leave to sign with other teams. Finally, there are rumors that starting TE Jeremy Shockey may be traded. No TE's have been taken yet in our mock draft so the Giants could have their pick of the bunch.

To continue with our mock draft, Green Bay is on the clock with the 30th pick.

So the second best team in the NFC finally loses the legend that is Brett Favre. Unless #4 changes his mind before September, the Packers are one big Green & Yellow question mark.

Green Bay needs to fill the cornerback position with Al Harris and Charles Woodson entering the downside of their careers. Will Aaron Rodgers be able to lead the team at quarterback. Also at running back, how many of them can stay healthy and is Ryan Grant the real thing?

Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona

Cason might be a reach here, but the corner situation could go from old to terrible in no time. When the secondary loses it, the speed, the instincts, are all gone. It's not gradual. At the other "need" positions, they have to give Rodgers a chance. He's been riding the pine for years under Favre and he should get a chance to prove himself. At running back, having Ryan Grant is pretty good. Now that teams have seen him for most of a season, Green Bay should know if Grant can handle the load.

Cason is what you want in a corner. Long arms, strong and confident he can make the play.

With that, the New England Patriots New York Giants are on the clock.

To continue with our mock draft, San Francisco is on the clock with the 29th pick.

Well one of the main questions is what to do at quarterback? Alex Smith had a pretty good season a couple of years ago when Norv Turner was the offensive coordinator with the 49'ers. But the next season, when Turner went to coach San Diego, Alex Smith was well, just another Smith.

At wide receiver, Joe Montana had a guy named Jerry Rice. Alex Smith has Issac Bruce. Unfortunately about 10 years too late.

There is also the need for outside linebacker and some offensive line help.

Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville

With Trent Dilfer leaving the team, it leaves San Francisco vulnerable at QB. While Smith should start in the 2008 season, drafting Brohm will allow the team to cut their losses if Smith does not get that magic back. Brohm is skilled at quarterback, although some might say he's robotic. However, the 49'ers need to be ready to move on and not let Alex Smith become Kyle Boller, if he can not lead them.

The Green Bay Packers are now on the clock.

To continue with our Mock Draft, the Cowboys are up again with Number 28.

It seems we've been down this road before. Ah yes, a few picks ago. Taking Brandon Flowers at 22, and still waiting on the Pacman deal, cornerbacks are covered. That leaves the running backs and wide receivers.

Felix Jones probably would've worked, but in our mock, the Titans took him. Looking at the rest of the pile, not many appear to belong in the first round.

Wide receivers are still plenty, but how many first rounders pan out?

DeSean Jackson, WR, Cal

Despite the busts of WR's in the first round, the Cal junior doubles as a punt returner. Maybe Dallas does not want to send their first round wide receiver out to return punts, but he'll be an option. Jackson is also touted by some experts as the best junior receiver who has declared for the draft. Pretty good pick at the bottom of the first.

To continue our mock draft the San Diego Chargers are now on the clock with the 27th pick.

After coming within a game of reaching the Superbowl, the Chargers clearly look to be the class of the AFC West once again, and should easily repeat as division champs. This is a deep team with a lot of talent and not many serious needs. After losing Michael Turner in free agency to Atlanta, they may want to address the backup RB spot relatively early in the draft. However, in our mock draft the value is just not there with all of the first-round RB prospects long gone. CB, and OT are other positions San Diego may target in the first round. They may also want to take a QB in the mid- to later rounds because of Rivers' injury.

Pick #27: Gosder Cherilus, OT Boston College
Cherilus has been steadily climbing up the boards and most mocks now have him as a late first rounder. The Chargers could use some more depth at the offensive tackle position, and although it's unlikely that Cherilus will crack the starting lineup in his first year, he should be a solid backup lineman and someone they can groom as a potential starter down the road.

The Dallas Cowboys are now on the clock once again.

To continue our own mock draft, Jacksonville is on the clock with the 26th Pick in the draft.

There's not much to say about Jacksonville. Tony Kornheiser and Bill Simmons "The Sports Guy" have written many columns about the city and even hosting the Super Bowl.

The team boasts some exceptional young talented players. Nothing would be better than to improve the receiving core, but with a broken track record at finding this talent in draft the Jags may choose to win the battle of the line and push back the Pats potent offense with some pressure up the middle. They don't have the luxury of hoping that this pick at receiver pans out or waiting years for one to develop when a defensive tackle is available to help now.

Pick #26: DT Kentwan Balmer North Carolina

The Chargers are now on the clock with the 27th pick.

To continue our own mock draft, the Seahawks are on the clock with the 25th Pick in the draft.

How do you improve upon another division and first round win in the playoffs? With the acquisition of Jones to help transition away from an aging Alexander adding another receiver could only help Hasselbeck.

Pick #25: Malcolm Kelly, WR Oklahoma

If the big playmaking receiver can find his rhythm with his quarterback and adjust to the speed at the next level, this could be a formidable duo to stop.

Jacksonville is now on the clock with the 26th pick in the draft.

To continue our own mock draft, the Titans are on the clock with the 24th Pick in the draft.

Remember the Titans? "Everywhere we go...people wanna know...people wanna know...who we are...who we are...so we tell them ...so we tell them...We Are The Titans! We Are The Titans! The Mighty Mighty Titans!" This was a great movie. Denzel Washington gave another fantastic performance. I'd almost buy the move if it wasn't on TNT, Premium Channels, ABC, and even scrolling through all channels one night I found it on the Disney Channel. He gave an equally great performance in The Hurricane.

To continue our mock draft, rotating the picks among the bloggers, the Pittsburgh Steelers are now on the clock with the 23rd pick in the draft.

As a Patriots fan I never thought I'd utter these words, but: I miss Bill Cowher. Nothing against Mike Tomlin, who I thought did a fine job in his first year as a head coach, but Cowher not only was a good coach, but was always entertaining to watch on the sideline. Whether he was jawing with one of the refs over a blown call (with the requisite spit spraying out from his mouth every couple of words) or staring down one of his players after a boneheaded mistake, you could bet that Cowher would do something interesting or funny just about every week (remember when he stuffed that photo in the ref's pocket to protest the lack of a twelve-men call?). In fact, he was so charismatic and famous that my non-football-watching wife even knew who he was, though I believe she used to refer to him simply as "Angry Man." Personally, I always thought that he looked like a cross between Popeye and J. Jonah Jameson, but I digress. Let's face it, the NFL is a bit less interesting without him. Now on to the pick.

To continue with our mock draft, the Dallas Cowboys are now on the clock with the 22nd pick.

Dallas needs help at corner, wide receiver, and running back. Cornerback could be addressed with the Adam "Pacman" Jones trade Jerry Jones seems to be pushing hard for. However, it appears this is taking as long as the Erik Bedard Orioles to Mariners trade in Major League Baseball. Or more appropriate, the Orioles Brian Roberts, since he has yet to be traded.

At wide receiver, the question is what will happen first? Terrell Owens is no longer a dominate receiver, or will he mouth off at the team. The safe bet that either will happen in the next couple of years.

Running back...the machine that is Marion Barber will have to go it alone this year as Julius Jones has left for Seattle. Dallas needs to find a back that can compliment Barber, and possibly take a back seat.

To continue our own mock draft, the Washington Redskins are finally on the clock with the 21st Pick in the draft.

Several issues exist that must concern the coaching staff regarding the current roster. Identified below will be an illustration of what the current needs of the team are on the roster and who the potential candidates may be for the Skins first round selection. The pick will be what this blogger feels would best suit the Redskins in the long term and have an immediate impact this year based upon the players available from this current mock draft.

Tampa Bay is now on the clock now with the 20th Pick in the draft.

The top two team needs for Tampa Bay appear to be CB and WR to take the reins from aging
stars Joey Galloway and Ronde Barber. Although WR seems to be the bigger position of need
considering the age (Ike Hilliard) or lack of production (Michael Clayton) from others counted
on at that position and the recent unstellar addition of Antonio Bryant, a guy who wasn't
even in the league last year. This pick is going in a different direction and not for the
reason you might think.

To continue our own mock draft, the Philadelphia Eagles are on the clock now with the 19th Pick in the draft.

The Eagles have some very obvious needs. The Eagles need a wide receiver badly, but the last time the Eagles drafted one was Mitchell which seem like eons ago. They appear to loathe blowing a pick on a WR and a position that usually takes two years to mature and three years in the league before making a giant leap.

There are plenty of WR's in a solid but not too spectacular class. Will they take a WR or go in a different direction?

To continue our own mock draft, rotating the picks among the bloggers the Houston Texans are on the clock now with the 18th Pick in the draft.

For years now the offensive line hasn't just been bad, but extremely woeful. It's even been the butt of jokes in commercials. Most of the best offensive tackles have already been taken, so Schaub will have to hope this need is addressed in later picks or free agency.

Some top corners are still on the board and with Stewart still on the board his free fall is over. Stewart should help take some of the pressure off of the passing game with a running game defenses will have to respect.

Pick #18: Jonathan Stewart, RB Oregon

The Eagles are now on the clock with the 19th Pick in the draft.

To continue our own mock draft, rotating the picks among the bloggers the Minnesota Vikings are on the clock now with the 17th Pick in the draft.

Wow, I guess I'm glad the Texans didn't jump in front of the Vikings during the draft. Without Mike Tice as Head Coach there's one less thing to enjoy during the NFL Draft. It's hard to believe that an NFL Team would allow one let alone two teams to jump in front of them before making a pick. It's back to enjoying the Redskins pick when they have one and the Jets fans for the Jets pick.

To continue our own mock draft, rotating the picks among the bloggers the Arizona Cardinals are on the clock now with the 16th Pick in the draft.

The Cardinals have some major areas of concern. Most NFL experts didn't know how much James had left in the tank when he signed a contract in Arizona and now he's even getting up there in age. His legs have seen many miles for his overall age. Finding someone to replace him would be ideal, but considering that the top Rb’s are already off the board and anything at this point would fill a need and be a stretch so Arizona must look elsewhere. A RB will have to be found in a later round.

To continue our own mock draft, rotating the picks among the bloggers the Detroit Lions are on the clock now with the 15th Pick in the draft.

Pick #15: Rashard Mendenhall, RB Illinois
With the top WR prospect already gone, you just know Matt Millen is muttering obsceneties to himself. Becuase of their recent propensity for taking receivers in the first round, the Lions will probably still give serious thought to Oklahoma's big man Malcolm Kelly here, but ultimately they will make a smarter pick with better value, filling a position need at the same time. At least I think they will, because if past drafts are any indication the Lions are just as likely to pull a surprise here. But I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt and say they take Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall. Detroit has holes to fill at multiple positions, including offensive and defensive line, running back, and linebacker. But with most of the top-tier DL and OL gone now, Mendenhall gives them the best value at their admittedly weak draft position. If they don't want Mendenhall, they should take Virginia G Brendan Albert, but Detroit consistently drafts offensive skill position players early so I believe they will take Mendenhall if he is there. The Lions have said they want to run the ball more frequently and effectively this year, so they need to draft someone who can actually do that. Kevin Jones is gone, and Tatum Bell has been on the decline the last couple years. Will the Lions 2008 draft enable them to crack the 10-win mark, as predicted again by QB Jon Kitna? I seriously doubt it, as this team just has too many weaknesses.

With that the Arizona Cardinals are on the clock!

Chi-town! I finally get to pick for a city with some rich sports history. From the Cubs to the Bulls to the White Sox and to da Bears, Chicago is all sports. And how can one think of Soldier Field and not think grit, determination and football played in real weather. How could anyone forget the Fog Bowl?!?! I can’t imagine being a fan in the stands for a game like that.

Recently though, da Bears peaked with a Super Bowl appearance and fell hard to finish last in their division this past season. There are some real questions for this team, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Can Rex Grossman really lead this team? Can Cedric Benson really be a #1 back?

The consensus seems to be that da Bears really need to rebuild their offensive line, but being in this position in the draft, some interesting alternatives exist.

Pick #14: Chris Williams, OT Vanderbilt

Now, some Bears fans may cry foul for not picking up “favorite son” Mendenhall at this point, but being a fan of the ‘Skins from the era of the Hogs, I believe the game starts and is won in the trenches. If you can dominate the line, you can win the game, and it won’t matter if you have Timmy Smith or John Riggins running behind it.

At the same time, Mendenhall has been stated to have a similar running style to that of Cedric Benson and if Benson can’t do it with the current line, who thinks a rookie that runs the same way can?

Detroit… you’re on the clock.

To continue our own mock draft, rotating the picks among the bloggers the Carolina Panthers are on the clock now with the 13th Pick in the draft.

Carolina sports some of the best bbq around. You can almost hear someone like Andy Griffith saying mmm....mmmm now that's good eatin'. We experienced some great bbq in Carolina at last year’s FFL Draft. It was a great party BJ.

The Panthers have so many needs at this point ranging from QB to RB to DL. After Matt Ryan there's a huge drop at the QB position, so drafting one now wouldn't be the best value.

Adding someone at running back to replace Foster and compliment Williams for a nice one two punch would be ideal and so would adding a defensive lineman to improve upon last year's sack total. The Redskins finished with more sacks. Mendenhall will definitely garner support and consideration especially with the falling stock in Stewart due to his injury.

At the end of the day the Panthers brain trust know how to evaluate talent along the defensive line. Derrick Harvey is a solid DE that should provide balance along the line and help Peppers regain his form. Help at QB & RB will be addressed in later rounds where the value is better.

Pick #13: Derrick Harvey, DE Florida

The Bears are on the clock with the 14th pick in the draft.

To continue our own mock draft, rotating the picks among the bloggers the Denver Broncos are on the clock now with the 12th Pick in the draft.

There are some obvious holes that could be filled with the 12th pick in the draft. With needs at WR, OL, & DL, getting the best value for this pick is critical. Derrick Harvey from Florida could provide an immediate impact along the defensive line providing solid pass rush pressure. He possesses the ability to play the run strong too. Harvey would complement the strong defensive back core with Bly and Bailey.

To continue our own mock draft, rotating the picks among the bloggers the Buffalo Bills are on the clock now with the 11th Pick in the draft.

I've never been to Buffalo, and I am perfectly fine with that. Much like Q observed for Cincinnati, there really is not much reason to go there. I mean, they only just got a Dave and Buster's. And the women... At least we can appreciate the city as the point of origin of Buffalo wings. You've really got to hand it to the guy who first thought it might be tasty to take boney chicken scraps, deep-fry them, slather them in a butter-based hot sauce, and then dip them in a dressing made from moldy cheese. At least the little celery sticks on the side give them the illusion of being slightly healthy. But you gotta love 'em. And of course, without Buffalo's contribution to world cuisine there would be no Wing Bowl. Thanks Buffalo! Now on to the pick.

To continue our own mock draft, rotating the picks among the bloggers the New Orleans Saints are on the clock now with the 10th Pick in the draft.

10th Pick: Leodis McKelvin, CB Troy.

The music has stopped and the Saints don’t have a chair. Most of the players the Saints would covet are now gone. Taking the best player available who grades out as the best at his position over someone else at another position seems the most logical choice. The Saints could use some obvious help on defense and adding a cover corner that could also pay dividends in the return game couldn’t hurt.

With the Saints taking McKelvin, the Bills are now on the clock for the 11th pick in the draft.

“The Queen City” is next on the draft board. Home to Skyline Chili. If you’ve never had the pleasure of this culinary “treat”, well then you’re probably lucky. Granted, I’ve had it more than once in my life just because sometimes you know you want something bad for you. Strangely enough, if you don’t think about it too much, a chili that basically looks like diarrhea and that’s rumored to contain chocolate and cinnamon served over spaghetti with shredded neon yellow cheese, beans and raw onions can be satisfying. But I assume there’s a reason this “chili” doesn’t have much of a following outside of Cincinnati, Ohio. I can say this – it’s definitely not a reason to go to Cincinnati, and there really isn’t much reason to, but I digress.

So, what about them Bengals?

Ironically, defensive guru Marvin Lewis had one of the worst defenses in the league last season. So where to start? Both run and pass defenses ranked similarly last year so that means there are problems all over.

Pick #9: Keith Rivers, OLB Southern California

Ideally someone on the line would be better to help stop the run and provide a better pass rush, but given that Sedrick Ellis is gone, a strong linebacker can help to fill some holes.

Rivers is known as a player with some range to make plays in pursuit and can also play well dropping back into pass coverage. Unfortunately, the Bengals will need a lot more help than a LB for their defensive woes.

New Orleans… you’re on the clock.

To continue our own mock draft, rotating the picks among the bloggers the Baltimore Ravens are on the clock now with the 8th Pick in the draft.

8th Pick: Ryan Clady, OT Boise St.
Many good players are available for the Ravens to draft. Rivers at LB, McKelvin at CB, and Clady at OT besides the many options at wr. Baltimore could obviously use some help at wide receiver to spread the ball and get more vertical. This year's group of receivers lacks the elite top tier as in years past, but does provide some solid choices.

To continue our own mock draft, rotating the picks among the bloggers the New England Patriots are on the clock now with the 7th Pick in the draft.

Pick #7: Vernon Gholston, LB Ohio State
After a record setting offensive season in 2007, the Pats will look to inject some youth into an aging defense that has been hit hard in free agency. The most obvious needs are LB, with the release of Roosevelt Colvin and likely retirement of Junior Seau, and CB with the free agent losses of pro-bowler Asante Samuel and nickel back Randall Gay. The Pats will consider taking the top cornerback at this spot, but with Vernon Gholston still on the board at #7 it's just too tempting to pass him up. Gholston is a tremendous athlete and will fit in nicely at the outside backer position in the Pats 3-4 alignment. The 3-4 mandates carrying an abundance of linebackers on the roster, possibly 10 or more, and heading into the draft there are several slots vacant here. Bill Belichick and company would not have expected Gholston to still be available, but fortunately for them the Jets went with a surprising pick at #6 with Matt Ryan. The Pats will now have Ohio State bookends at the outside linebacker position with Mike Vrabel manning the other side.

With that the Baltimore Ravens are now on the clock...

To continue our own mock draft, rotating the picks among the bloggers the New York Jets are on the clock now with the 6th Pick in the draft.

6th Pick: Matt Ryan, QB Boston College
The best player available would be Vernon Gholston from Ohio State. He's a dominating player similar to Shaun Merriman. He can play lb in a 3-4 and an end in a 4-3 defense. He'd definitely be able to improve the 29 sack total from the previous year for the Jets. Gholston would be the perfect play maker needed to improve the defense.

Pick #5 Sedrick Ellis, DT USC

With a QB depth chart that features Brodie Croyle, Damon Huard, and Tyler Thigpen, the Chiefs have to take a long look at Matt Ryan at the #5 spot. Although the jury is still out on Croyle, they will opt to give him a full year as the starter before deciding if he is the guy to lead this team into the next decade.

So the Chiefs go with the best player available, which is USC defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis. Ellis gives them a big body up front who can play tackle in their base 4-3 and also shift to the nose when they go the 3-4. They're going to need some young talent along the defensive line to compete in the AFC West by shutting down the talented RB's in this division, namely LT, and now McFadden, and whoever Denver trots out this year to be their next 1,000-yard back.

The Jets are now on the clock...

To continue our own mock draft, rotating the picks among the bloggers the Oakland Raiders are on the clock now with the 4th Pick in the draft.

4th Pick: Darren McFadden, RB Arkansas
The Raiders could use some help along the offensive AND defensive line. With Jake Long already gone and the value of taking an offensive lineman with the fourth pick rather low the wise move would be to take the best defensive lineman available. Only this is Oakland where the organization seems to be in chaos between Kiffen and Davis.

Gone are the days where Al Davis would wheel and deal draft picks and players essential to continue the Raider Nation Legacy into the playoffs. DL might be the best value for Oakland, but the Raiders are a team with a rich history of taking play makers so even with a bevy of running backs Oakland would be hard pressed to pass up McFadden. The potential is just too overwhelming. A QB/RB duo of Russell and McFadden would seem like a nice fit.

Hmmm…. Atlanta, huh? What can I say about this city? Well, CNN is headquartered here. I’ve had the fortune of getting an inside tour of the place and actually being on the floor where the anchors broadcast. And from the floor I waved to the schlubs who were on the regular tour. Atlanta is also home to my favorite soda company. Mmmmmmmm… Coke.

But there’s also the other side to this town. My friend was on the unfortunate end of a chicken sandwich which gave him food poisoning for the bachelor party weekend we were there. (I guess it was lucky that the bachelor didn’t get that particular sandwich.) And while we didn’t go there, I’ve been told that The Claremont is where strippers go to die…. which I guess for some people would be a positive.

Let’s see… what else? Oh yeah! The Falcons SUCK!! I mean come on what doesn’t this team need? Dog fighting took away their offense… and I’m not sure they ever really had a defense. So what does that mean for the draft? You take the best available… but since the Falcons signed Turner to a big contract as their RB…. well you go with the next in line.

3rd Pick: Glenn Dorsey, DT LSU

I’ve heard that Mike Smith has a “defense-first mentality” so this will probably fit in to what he wants to do with rebuilding that team.

Oakland…. you’re on the clock.

To continue our own mock draft, rotating the picks among the bloggers the St. Louis Rams are on the clock now with the 2nd Pick in the draft.

2nd Pick: Chris Long, DE Virginia
With an aging core of wide receivers, a defense that ranked 21st overall, an offense that ranked 24th overall last year, and Orlando Pace who's also seen many NFL seasons in the rear view mirror the St. Louis Rams found themselves in a state of flux in 2007. This landed them the 2nd overall pick in the draft. They have many needs, but Jake Long would have proved vital to resurrecting the greatest show on turf by eating up would be pass rushers and punishing defensive lineman creating gaping holes for Steven Jackson to run through and allowing time for Bulger to throw.

Unfortunately, Miami has taken Jake Long. St. Louis could also use help along the defensive line. For a team that needs an impact player, it's time to go Long - Chris Long that is. He's the safe and steady pick. He can play both the run and pass effectively and come up with big plays. Dorsey's health concerns may have him slipping in the draft. St. Louis will most likely go with the flow of conventional wisdom and allow Dorsey to slide at least one more slot if not more.

With the Rams taking Chris Long, Atlanta is now on the clock for the 3rd pick in the draft.

We at the DC Sports Page thought it would be fun to run our own mock draft, rotating the picks among the bloggers. We'll be bringing that to you over the next few weeks. So without further ado here's the first pick.

Jake Long, OT Michigan
After an abysmal 2007 the Dolphins have obvious needs across the entire roster, but the offensive line in particular is in shambles heading into the draft. Selecting top offensive tackle prospect Jake Long would give them someone who could likely start immediately and shore up the right tackle spot vacated by the release of LJ Shelton. Besides, none of the other top prospects seem as natural of a fit for Miami as Long. They’ve got decent talent at RB and WR, and although their quarterback situation is a big question mark, it wouldn’t make that much sense to draft another one this early, especially with two young (though largely untested) QB’s already on the roster in Beck and Bramlet. Ryan would be a big reach here.

Parcells has a penchant for drafting defensive players early, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see him target someone from this year’s deep crop of defensive lineman such as Chris Long (especially if the team ends up trading defensive superstar Jason Taylor, as has been rumored) and then draft offensive line help in the later rounds. But the smart money is on Jake Long at number 1.