Jets coach Eric Mangini used to coach New England’s secondary and he knows what an NFL CB looks like. New York gave up quite a bit to swap picks with Carolina and Revis is a sure tackler with return skills. He should start immediately for the league’s No. 20 defense.
The Rams have stockpiled a lot of defensive linemen with high draft picks in recent years and they’re hoping Carriker plays up to his potential. He’s a rangy pass rusher who can help a St. Louis defense that finished 23rd last season.
With Willis Mcgahee now in Baltimore, the Bills go for the No. 2 RB prospect behind Adrian Peterson. Lynch can catch and he has a knack for bouncing off the first defender. Hopefully for Buffalo fans, he’ll find more success as a pro than his predecessor at Cal, J.J. Arrington.
The Bills, sitting one pick back, are devastated because they tabbed Willis as one of the sure things in this draft. The intense ILB from Mississippi joins an exciting young SF club on the rise.
Okoye has too much potential to pass up, although he’s only 19. Put him next to last year’s No. 1 overall pick, Mario Williams, and Houston has the makings of an imposing defensive line. Slowly, the Texans are getting their defensive cornerstones in place.
With Brady Quinn shockingly available and Miami in desperate need of a QB upgrade, the Dolphins choose a speedy WR instead, shocking Miami fans who have every right to ask who is the franchise’s QB of the future. Ginn, still recuperating from a foot injury in the BCS title game, has outstanding return ability but he’s undersized. Now the question is who will be throwing footballs to him?
Bobby Petrino bypasses a chance to reunite with Louisville standout DT Amobi Okoye as Atlanta takes an athletic DE. Anderson will be counted on to replace Patrick Kerney, who departed in free agency.
With Peterson and Chester Taylor running behind Steve Hutchinson and Bryant McKinnie, the Vikes could lead the league in rushing this fall. If Peterson stays healthy, he’ll take a lot of pressure off young QB Tarvaris Jackson.
Landry will combine with Sean Taylor to give Washington a pair of dynamic playmakers downfield in the secondary. With Brady Quinn and Adrian Peterson still on the board, Minnesota will have a tough decision to make.
With Thomas off the board, the Cardinals took the No. 2 tackle prospect. Arizona’s chronic problems establishing a decent ground game have hurt Arizona and Brown will be a plus as a run blocker. It will be interesting to see If Arizona shifts Brown to the right side to protect Matt Leinart’s blind side.
The Bucs hadn’t selected a defensive player in the first round since Anthony McFarland in 1999. Adams has intriguing potential as an edge rusher. He boasts the speed and quickness Monte Kiffin craves up front. With Johnson and Thomas off the board, the Bucs decided to take the prospect who can make the most immediate impact on defense.
The Browns bypass Brady Quinn to grab one of the best LT prospects in recent years. Cleveland appears ready to give Charlie Frye more time to develop, knowing Thomas is now there to protect his blind side. Thomas should start in Game 1 and be a solid NFL player for the next decade. He would have looked good in pewter, so now the Bucs face a dilemma.
Detroit selects a WR in the first round for the fourth time in five years, but don’t be too sure Johnson will end up in a Lions uniform this fall. The Lions could entertain trade offers for the Georgia Tech standout, a special player and the closest thing to a can’t-miss prospect in this draft. Now the Bucs must determine whether they are willing to meet Detroit’s asking price.
After passing up some premier QB prospects in the past few years, Al Davis finds his franchise passer. Russell has a huge arm and a terrific upside, but he lacks a long, impressive body of work at LSU. Calvin Johnson would have been the safer pick, but Oakland’s pathetic depth chart at QB ruled the day.
Expect JaMarcus Russell to be the pick, with the Bucs popping some champagne when their turn comes at No. r.
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