Here’s my take on how the first round could could shake out:

(Note: I do not project potential trades.)

1. Oakland Raiders - JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU - The Raiders are faced with a very tough decision between Russell and Calvin Johnson.  Al Davis is in love with Russell’s arm strength and ability to throw the deep ball, and I just don’t see Davis going elsewhere with this pick.

2. Detroit Lions - Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame - It’s not the popular pick as of late, but it’s the smart one to me.  Jon Kitna isn’t getting any younger, and despite throwing for over 4,000 yards last year, he threw more picks than scores.  Quinn should be a stellar QB in the NFL, whether he starts right away or spends some time behing Kitna.

3. Cleveland Browns - Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma - Don’t be fooled by the Jamal Lewis signing.  A 1-year deal with an aging veteran back only means one thing to me:  the Browns need a year from Lewis to groom Peterson, letting the two split carries.  While injuries are a huge concern with Peterson, he’s way too explosive to turn down.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech - In a perfect world, right?  As I said, I never project potential trades.  It’s hard to enough to predict what teams will do with the pick they already have.  If the three teams ahead of the Bucs stay put, this could be a very likely scenario.

5. Arizona Cardinals - Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin - Arizona will be in heaven if Thomas falls to them at #5.  Thomas is a the best offensive line prospect in the draft, and just happens to fill the biggest need on a talented, young team.

6. Washington Redskins - Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson - The Redskins posted a franchise-low 19 sacks last year, so they are obviously in desperate need of a surge in the pass rushing area.  Adams is the top sack artist in the draft and would be a no-brainer if he’s still available.

7. Minnesota Vikings - Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville - This is purely BPA (Best Player Available) with this pick.  Okoye is a 19-year-old monster that could become a dominating force alongside Kevin Williams.

8. Atlanta Falcons (from HOU) - LaRon Landry, S, LSU - I believe Landry has been the Falcons’ main target from the beginning, and the swap with the Texans greatly strengthens their chances of landing the play-making safety.  Landry is a complete player at safety who posted a 4.35 40-yard-dash at the Combine last month.

9. Miami Dolphins - Levi Brown, OT, Penn State - The Dolphins are desperate for help along the offensive line, and with Thomas off the board, Brown is the best option. 

10. Houston Texans (from ATL) - Alan Branch, DT, Michigan - The Texans will have a tough choice here between Branch and Leon Hall, and they could go either way.  While some teams have some questions about Branch’s ability to keep his weight in check, his explosiveness and ability to play every spot on the defensive line should make him the pick.

11. San Francisco 49ers - Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas - The 49ers need a big play threat at WR, but with Johnson off the board, there’s no one quite worth this pick.  This means the Niners can turn to the defense, and take an explosive pass rusher in Anderson.

12. Buffalo Bills - Leon Hall, CB, Michigan - This would be the ideal situation for the Bills, who need a top-flight corner to replace the departed Nate Clements.  While Hall doesn’t have the straight-line speed that scouts prefer, his game tape speaks for itself.  Hall has all the tools and intensity to become a solid #1 corner in the NFL.

13. St. Louis Rams - Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska - Carriker has been steadily rising up draft boards everywhere, and with good reason.  He has an explosive first step as a pass rusher and he uses his size (6-5, 296) extremely well in run support.  The Rams will take notice.

14. Carolina Panthers - Patrick Willis, ILB, Mississippi - The Panthers a in serious need of a replacement for Dan Morgan, whose future is in doubt due to multiple concussions.  Willis was a stellar playmaker throughout his career for the Rebels, and could step right in and start immediately.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers - Lawrence Timmons, OLB, Florida State - The Mike Tomlin regime will begin with a shift from a 3-4 defensive scheme to a 4-3.  Tomlin will be looking to fill his defense with tons of speed, and Timmons surely fits the bill. 

16. Green Bay Packers - Marshawn Lynch, RB, California - This would be a no-brainer pick for the Packers.  The loss of Ahman Green makes this pick that much more needed, and Lynch is an explosive home-run threat who has great hands out of the backfield.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars - Reggie Nelson, S, Florida - The Jags have a big need at safety, and they won’t have to travel far to find the man for the job.  Nelson is a ball-hawk, but must improve in run support. 

18. Cincinnati Bengals - Chris Houston, CB, Arkansas - Houston has been shooting up draft boards since his incredible performance at the combine, but I like him for different reasons.  His resume’ from last season includes shutting down Dwayne Bowe, Robert Meachem and Dwayne Jarrett.  Oh, and to my knowledge, he hasn’t been arrested recently.

19. Tennessee Titans - Ted Ginn, Jr., WR, Ohio State - If I were making this pick, I’d take Meachem, Bowe or Jarrett over Ginn.  However, since I’m not, it seems that Ginn will be chosen as Vince Young’s deep threat.  There’s no doubt that Ginn’s blazing speed and returning ability are coveted, but his size and durability are serious concerns.

20. New York Giants - Paul Posluszny, OLB, Penn State - The Giants have a huge need at OLB, and “Poz” would be a perfect pick.  He’s a gritty, hard-working player who finished his career as Penn State’s all-time leading tackler.

21. Denver Broncos - Jarvis Moss, OLB/DE, Florida - The Broncos need a top pass-rushing threat, and while Moss is undersized, his speed and array of pass rushing moves could be too much for the Broncos to pass up. 

22. Dallas Cowboys - Aaron Ross, DB, Texas - The Cowboys could go in a few different directions with this pick, but Ross would fit the biggest need.  Ross can play both corner and safety, and was the recipient of the Jim Thorpe Award last year, which honors the nation’s top defensive back.

23. Kansas City Chiefs - Dwayne Bowe, WR, LSU - This is the biggest need for Kansas City, by far.  Bowe has a stellar combination of size and speed, and could quickly develop into a solid #1 receiver.

24. New England Patriots (from SEA) - Michael Griffin, S, Texas - The Patriots don’t have too many glaring needs, but depth in the defensive backfield is one of them.  Griffin is a big hitter who could quickly develop into a solid replacement when Rodney Harrison decides to hang ‘em up.

25. New York Jets - Greg Olson, TE, Miami (FL) - The Jets have bigger needs, but Olson might be too good to pass up this late in the first round. 

26. Philadelphia Eagles - Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee - The Eagles need a replacement at WR for the departed Donte’ Stallworth, and Meachem would be a perfect pick here.  Meachem has a great size-speed combo and has arguably the best hands in the draft.

27. New Orleans Saints - Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh - The Saints’ pass defense last season was beyond dismal, and much of that was due to injuries in the defensive backfield.  Revis, who had a great personal workout, would provide depth and could challenge for a starting job in training camp.

28. New England Patriots - Jon Beason, LB, Miami (FL) - The Pats have the luxury of two first-rounders this year, and this one would be best used to give some youthful depth to an aging linebacking corps.

29. Baltimore Ravens - LaMarr Woodley, OLB/DE, Michigan - The Ravens have bigger needs at cornerback and offensive tackle, but Woodley would be the best value here, serving as a replacement for the departed Adalius Thomas.

30. San Diego Chargers - Dwayne Jarrett, WR, USC - The Chargers have needed a solid #1 receiver for quite some time now, and they may just get their man this time.  Jarrett’s size and leaping ability would be a great addition to an already explosive Chargers offense.

31. Chicago Bears - Justin Harrell, DT, Tennessee - Outside linebacker is a bigger need for the Bears, especially if they unload franchise player Lance Briggs.  However, the better value for the need is at defensive tackle, and Harrell should be the pick.

32. Indianapolis Colts - Tanard Jackson, CB, Syracuse - The Colts have more pressing needs than corner, but the value just isn’t there at the other positions.  Jackson is a tailor-made Cover 2 corner who could quickly work his way into a starting role.