*Major contributions have been made to this article from Richard Moore. Richard is a draft nut with an extensive knowledge of this incoming class. Readers may have previously heard him on Bomani Jones' Radio show The Morning Jones.


17. New England (from Oakland 8-8)
The Patriots have a deep roster with few holes yet still have areas in need of an upgrade.

The New England Patriots select Nate Solder. OT. Colorado.
Matt Light's uncertainty entering free agency is moot as he is also 32 years of age so will soon need replacing. Solder is the best player available that could contribute to the Patriots allowing Sebastien Vollmer to stay on the right hand side.

Richard Moore:
The best option on the offensive side would be drafting Nate Solder, he is bigger
than Anthony Castonzo so that’s why I see the patriots taking him.

18. San Diego (9-7)
Think drafting a special teams standout is too much of an overreaction in the first round? The Chargers need to give Ryan Matthews more help up front and a tackle is their greatest need.

The San Diego Chargers select Anthony Castonzo. OT. Boston College.
The Chargers need a right tackle desperately and Castonzo will likely start right away. They will look to Castonzo to final solve a problem that has haunted the team for years.

Richard Moore:
The Chargers NEED to take an OL. Ryan Matthews will never become the RB
they imagined if they don’t fix their seriously depleted O-Line. Nate Solder or Anthony Castonzo will be taken here.

19. New York Giants (10-6)
The Giants could be without Ahmad Bradshaw and Steve Smith after this off-season but their primary need remains on defense.

The New York Giants select Akeem Ayers. OLB. UCLA.
Keith Bulluck has been around a long time. He is a free agent and unlikely to return. Even without that blow, the Giants need to upgrade their linebackers as a unit overall.

Richard Moore:
The Giants shouldn’t be drafting an offensive player in the first round. Akeem
Ayers is a great OLB he will give the Giants some youth and speed. If the giants Choose to draft a WR Titus young fits their offense.

20. Tampa Bay (10-6)
The Buccaneers need a rusher on the edge who can take advantage of their inside presence on the defensive line.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Adrian Clayborn. DE. Iowa.
Adrian Clayborn was once thought of as a top ten pick but character issues have dropped him down to this spot.

Richard Moore:
Adrian Clayborn is a big physical DE, Tampa Bay would have a solid defensive
line with the addition of Clayborn.

21. Kansas City (10-6)
Kansas City need a nose tackle for their defense as well as a good pass rusher to compliment Tamba Hali. A talented receiver could be in line for the Chiefs also if anyone catches their eye.

The Kansas City Chiefs select Corey Liuget. DT. Illinois.
Liuget could become part of a hugely talented defensive line in Kansas inside Tyson Jackson and Glenn Dorsey.

Richard Moore.
If the Chiefs want a receiver they are better off getting one in the second or third
round. DT’ s like Stephen Pea and Corey Liuget are both solid options. Both of them are a solid pick. Corey Liuget fits the Chiefs scheme better.

22. Indianapolis (10-6)
The Colts biggest need is obvious. They need to be able to protect Peyton Manning and give him time to throw the ball.

The Indianapolis Colts select Gabe Carimi. OT. Wisconsin.
Carimi is a beast. He is an instant upgrade over any of the Colts offensive linemen(including Jeff Saturday at this point in his career). Peyton Manning will be D-E-L-I-G-H-T-E-D.

Richard Moore:
If the Colts want to keep peyton Manning healthy they should draft an OL. Gabe Carimi or Anthony Castonzo should be available here. The Colts can wait until the Second round to get a safety.

23. Philadelphia (10-6)
The Eagles gave up 52 sacks last season highlighting their need for a new right tackle. Defensively the team definitely needs more help on the back end of the defense.

The Philadelphia Eagles select Jimmy Smith. CB. Colorado.
The Eagles will likely look to the draft to get a cornerback because picking one up in free agency will be too expensive, especially when they already have a marquee guy in Asante Samuel.

Richard Moore:
The eagles would benefit more from drafting a OL over a CB. There are not any proven CB s worthy of being drafted this early.

24. New Orleans (11-5)
A running back here would have been a certainty until the Saints came to agreement with Pierre Thomas on a new deal this week. The signing of Shaun Rodgers will allow the team to take the best available player.

The New Orleans Saints select Cameron Jordan. DE. California.
Jordan is the highest ranked player on the board and you can never have enough pass rushers on a Gregg Williams defense.

Richard Moore:
Drafting Mark Ingram here would be the best option of New Orleans a hardnosed
runner that will take the bulk load of carriers. The only other option I see for New Orleans is drafting a DT.

25. Seattle (7-9)
It's time for Seattle to look ahead to the end of the Matt Hasselbeck era in Seattle.

The Seattle Seahawks select Jake Locker. QB. Washington.
Locker becomes the third quarterback off the board ahead of Ryan Mallet because he will be given the opportunity to develop behind Hasselbeck. Locker undoubtedly has the talent but needs to be coached up to the NFL level.

Richard Moore:
Jake Locker or Ryan Mallet Should be picked here. I don’ t think the Seahawks will uses the 25th pick on a WR or OL.

26. Baltimore (12-4)
I can't believe Mark Ingram is still on the board. It speaks to the level of running-back talent in the league. The Ravens will definitely consider Ingram as McGahee shouldn't be there next season but in the end have other needs to fill.

The Baltimore Ravens select Titus Young. WR. Boise State.
The Ravens desperately need speed at receiver(or start playing Donte Stallworth more) Titus Young should be a good option for Joe Flacco while also meshing well with the possession receivers that are already there.

Richard Moore:
The Ravens need to take a LB here. Ray Lewis won’t be there forever and now is
the time to Draft a legitimate LB so he can learn from Ray Lewis. I don’t think Titus Young will be available this time next round so Baltimore might want to take a chance on him.

27. Atlanta (13-3)
Ingram is going to look like the next Jimmy Clausen or Brady Quinn waiting in the green room at this point but does anyone really think Atlanta would take a running back?

The Atlanta Falcons select Justin Houston. DE. Georgia.
The Falcons need to stop relying solely on John Abraham to get them sacks. They had a measly 31 in the regular season last year. Houston is a physical specimen that could add to their sack total.

Richard Moore: I would expect Atlanta to take Gabe Carimi here if he is still available. If not the team might look at LB, maybe Martez Wilson or Colin Mccarthy.

28. New England (14-2)
31 teams will be disgusted by this situation. The luck is going to fall for the New England Patriots to the extent that every Jets fan will call for a repeat of spygate...

The New England Patriots select Mark Ingram. RB. Alabama.
This may be a huge shock in the draft but the way things are falling I can't see where Ingram goes higher than here. The Giants or San Diego are the best bets but I'm not buying into either team taking him.

Richard Moore:
This pick should be used on an offensive talent. If Mark Ingram is still available he will be taken here. If not I could see the Patriots picking Titus Young.

29. Chicago (11-5)

The Chicago Bears select Derek Sherrod. OT. Mississippi State.
The Bears offensive line is their obvious hamartia. They gave up 60 sacks last season which is just incredible. Sherrod would start right away at either tackle position.

Richard Moore:
Justin Houston is a quality LB, I could see the bear picking an OL, Derek Sherrod
will be available and he can start immediately. I don’t think there are any Safety’s deserving of going in the first round.

30. New York Jets
The Jets need defensive line help and an overall upgrade in the front seven.

The New York Jets select Cameron Heyward. DE. Ohio State.
Cameron Heyward would fit nicely in the Jets scheme as a defensive end. Shaun Ellis was the best Jet defensive linemen last season, he is now 33 and a free agent. Kris Jenkins has been released as well as the ultimate draft flop Vernon Gholston.

Richard Moore:
I expect the Jets to draft a DL here. Cam Heyward might still be around this late if
not I would expect Phil Taylor or Aaron Williams to go here. The Jets could also take a chance on WR Torrey Smith, he fast and has great hands.

31. Pittsburgh (12-4)
Realistically the Steelers do not need to draft an offensive lineman. Yes it could improve but the line was a position of strength last season. The return of Willie Colon will be huge as he or Flozell Adams could then move into guard.

The Pittsburgh Steelers select Ras-I Dowling. CB. Virginia.
Dowling could have a chance to compete for a starting job straight away. Bryant McFadden tailed off halfway through last season because of recurring injury while Ike Taylor could be tempted away with a big contract in free agency. William Gay is better suited to stay inside. Crezdon Butler and Keenan Lewis need more competition.

The team doesn’t need a RB, Isaac Redman showed that he is legitimate backup. Heath Miller is still there and should continue to produce at TE. I could also see the Steelers taking DB Ras-I Dowling

32. Green Bay (10-6)
The Packers would like to pick up another tackle because of Chad Clifton's age and they get lucky this late in the round.

The Green Bay Packers select Ben Ijalana. OT. Villanova.
Clifton and Tauscher are both on the back end of their careers so Ijalana would give them a second young tackle to pair with last year's first round pick Bryan Bulaga.

Richard Moore:
Ben Ijalana is the best available OL, I can’t see the Packers passing on him.

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