I agree with no DBs but considering that they had us taking in a DT in RD 2 a month or so ago, they have improved.
Rd 1
PICK TEAM PLAYER POS SCHOOL
1 (1) Texans Reggie Bush* RB USC
GM Charley Casserly says he is open for trade business, but it is unlikely that any team will offer the booty required to get this valuable pick. So, that will leave the Texans to select the most versatile offensive threat in the draft and team him with Domanick Davis.
2 (2) Saints D'Brickashaw Ferguson T Va.
The Saints have plenty of options. The most likely would be to trade the pick to a team (Jets and Titans are the most likely) looking to snare Southern Cal quarterback Matt Leinart. If GM Mickey Loomis doesn't make a deal, he will not take NC State DE Mario Williams because he already has two solid pass rushers in Will Smith and Charles Grant. The Saints could, however, solidify an offensive line that has lost center LeCharles Bentley and guard Kendyl Jacox this offseason. New Orleans could pair Ferguson with last year's first-rounder, RT Jamaal Brown, to protect their investment in Drew Brees.
3 (3) Titans Matt Leinart QB USC
If Leinart somehow falls to No. 3, don't blink because the Titans' draft card with his name on it already will be at the podium of Radio City Music Hall. There is a rumor that the Titans like Vince Young. Don't believe it. It's just a smokescreen.
4 (4) Jets Mario Williams* DE NC State
Williams has the size to play the end in new coach Eric Mangini's 3-4 scheme. Like Belichick, expect Mangini to stockpile ends with the versatility to dominate as a pass rusher and stuff the run.
5 (5) Packers Haloti Ngata* DT Oregon
If the Packers can add Ngata to go along with ends Aaron Kampman and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and new defensive tackle Ryan Pickett, the team would have the beginnings of a formidable front. Ngata is extremely quick and will create havoc inside.
6 (6) 49ers A.J. Hawk OLB Ohio St.
The Niners need to fill the hole left by free-agent defectors Julian Peterson and Andre Carter. Hawk is intense, can rush the passer and has the speed to make plays sideline to sideline. He would be an immediate starter.
7 (7) Raiders Vince Young* QB Texas
Everyone in the organization likes OT Winston Justice -- except owner/GM Al Davis. Davis wants Young, and Davis always gets his way. New quarterback Aaron Brooks is signed to a two-year deal, which would give Young time to develop.
8 (8) Bills Brodrick Bunkley DT Florida St.
New defensive coordinator Perry Fewell trained under Lovie Smith in St. Louis and Chicago. Fewell is installing the Tampa-2 defense and needs a Warren Sapp-type player for his 4-3 front. Bunkley is quick and athletic and can collapse the pocket.
9 (9) Lions Michael Huff S Texas
The Lions need a safety, and Huff is a versatile player who is physical against the run and can cover a lot of ground in deep middle of the secondary.
10 (10) Cardinals Jay Cutler QB Vandy
Maryland TE Vernon Davis would be tough to pass up, but our sources say coach Dennis Green is looking for a blocker, not a vertical threat. QB Kurt Warner soon turns 35 and hasn't been healthy enough to play a full season since 2001. Backup Josh McCown left via free agency, and Green needs a strong arm to get the ball to his playmaking wide receivers. Cutler isn't technically sound and isn't the most accurate passer, but he has a big arm and a gunslinger mentality.
11 (11) Rams Vernon Davis* TE Maryland
The Rams, unlike the Cardinals, definitely are looking for a two-way tight end with the size and strength to be an in-line blocker and the speed and receiving skills to create matchup problems in the middle of the field. Davis also is the best pure pass catcher in this draft -- better than any wide receiver.
12 (12) Browns Manny Lawson OLB NC State
Every NFL team using a 3-4 defensive scheme projects Lawson as a standup outside linebacker, a la Lawrence Taylor. Lawson has outstanding size and speed and can rush the passer; he had 17 sacks the past two seasons. Although Lawson played end in college, he also can drop into coverage. A rare athlete, Lawson is flying up draft boards and could be a key to the Browns' defensive success.
13 (13) Ravens Winston Justice* T USC
LT Jonathan Ogden is entering his 11th season. Justice has great size and is very athletic. The Ravens could play him elsewhere in '06 and then plug him at left tackle thereafter.
14 (14) Eagles Chad Jackson* WR Florida
WR Reggie Brown, a second-round pick last year, played well down the stretch but lacks Jackson's big-play ability.
15 (15) Broncos Mathias Kiwanuka DE Boston Coll.
(from Atlanta) The Broncos' failings in the AFC Championship Game came from their inability to pressure the quarterback. Despite their collection of former Browns along the defensive line, the Broncos lack a dominant pass rusher. Kiwanuka would contribute right away as a wave rusher and eventually displace Courtney Brown or Kenard Lang.
16 (16) Dolphins Jimmy Williams CB Va. Tech
Williams is no workout warrior, but he is big and physical. Coach Nick Saban lacks a shutdown cornerback and would love to add Williams' attitude to his improving defense.
17 (17) Vikings DeMeco Ryans OLB Alabama
The Vikings signed OLB Ben Leber from the Chargers to play the strong side and need a versatile weakside linebacker to complement him. Ryans is strong against the run, can play in coverage and rush the passer.
18 (18) Cowboys Kamerion Wimbley OLB Florida St.
When Bill Parcells coached the Giants, he drafted LB Carl Banks a year after taking Lawrence Taylor. Parcells could repeat the exercise by drafting Wimbley a year after Demarcus Ware. Wimbley is moving up many teams' draft boards, and his speed and versatility would create opportunities for Ware.
19 (19) Chargers Santonio Holmes* WR Ohio St.
Keenan McCardell, 36, is the teams best wide receiver, and Eric Parker is a distant second. Holmes has speed to burn and plenty of big-play ability. He would add a dimension to an already loaded offense. Holmes also is a dangerous return man.
20 (20) Chiefs Tye Hill CB Clemson
Most scouts consider Hill to be the best bump-and-run cornerback in the draft. He has good speed and change-of-direction skills and will make plays on the ball.
21 (21) Patriots Chad Greenway OLB Iowa
The Patriots need an outside linebacker with speed to rush off the edge and the toughness to make plays against the run. Greenway didn't perform particularly well in pre-draft workouts, but he always is around the ball. He never stops hustling, a key trait for coach Bill Belichick.
22 (22) Broncos DeAngelo Williams RB Memphis
(from Washington) People tend to forget that Terrell Davis was 5-10. Williams has a similar build and running style and recently ran the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds. Minnesota's Laurence Maroney, who could be considered here, struggled in his pre-draft workout. By drafting Williams, coach Mike Shanahan no longer would be forced to use Ron Dayne as his feature back.
23 (23) Buccaneers Ernie Sims* OLB Florida St.
Bucs coaches love Sims' speed and playmaking ability and see him as the next Derrick Brooks. Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin's scheme doesn't require much size at middle linebacker, so Sims could start there in '06 and slide to the weak side when Brooks, who is entering his 12th season, moves on.
24 (24) Bengals Nick Mangold C Ohio St.
Rich Braham, 35, is nearing the end of his career. Mangold could take over quickly as the line-caller to help protect QB Carson Palmer as he returns from a knee injury.
25 (25) Giants Bobby Carpenter OLB Ohio St.
The Giants were decimated by injuries at linebacker in '05, exposing their lack of depth. Carpenter is the son of former Giants RB Rob Carpenter and is a smart, instinctive player. He is fully recovered from Novembers broken leg. He is tough and loves football -- coach Tom Coughlin's kind of guy.
26 (26) Bears Antonio Cromartie* CB Florida St.
With CB Charles Tillman expected to move to safety and CB Jerry Azumah announcing his retirement, the Bears need help. Cromartie is healthy after missing the '05 season with a knee injury, and he has great hands and excellent speed.
27 (27) Panthers Laurence Maroney* RB Minnesota
RB DeShaun Foster re-signed but has a long history of injuries, so Maroney would bring needed depth.
28 (28) Jaguars Thomas Howard OLB UTEP
Howard is smart, fast and physical, and he would fill a need because Jacksonville lost Akin Ayodele in free agency.
29 (29) Jets Marcus McNeill T Auburn
(from Denver) The Jets' offensive line situation is in disarray, and it won't matter who is playing quarterback if they don't fix it. Current starters Adrian Jones and Marko Cavka are undersized and have combined for 16 NFL starts. McNeill is a mountain of a man, and left tackle is his natural position.
30 (30) Colts LenDale White* RB USC
White has had a disastrous winter and spring and could fall deep into the second round if the Colts don't take him here. But White is a big, physical runner who also is a viable receiver. Coach Tony Dungy and GM Bill Polian have a good track record of getting solid production from guys with questionable character.
31 (31) Seahawks Johnathan Joseph* CB S. Carolina
The Seahawks' one glaring hole is at cornerback opposite Marcus Trufant. Joseph has decent size and blazing speed and makes plays on the ball. He also returns punts and kicks.
32 (32) Steelers Rodrique Wright DT Texas
Wright could play end or nose tackle in the Steelers 3-4 scheme. The team certainly could use an infusion of youth along its defensive line.
