It's that time of year again in the NFL. Well, maybe not quite...The Super Bowl is still left to play!  Nevertheless, you can't help get excited for the draft every year. Picks 1-30 are analyzed and predicted, as the order of picks 31 and 32 has not yet been determined. 

 

No. 1 Overall Selection

Detroit Lions - Andre Smith, T, Alabama

The more popular choice here is to select a quarterback, namely Stafford or Sanchez.  I don't think it will happen, nor should it.  No matter how talented a young quarterback is, no matter what the measurables indicate, he won't do much if he isn't well protected. 

Even Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco this past season needed great running games and solid o-line play to survive. Even the best rookies can't do it themselves. I don't see a fitting justification for taking a quarterback here. Instead, Detroit will build a big, physical offensive line.

The perfect guy to help Jim Schwartz make this transition is Andre Smith, the 350-pound offensive tackle from 'Bama. The goal for Detroit should be to build from the lines out, and slowly rebuild the Lions over a two year process.

Daunte Culpepper isn't going to win a championship...that's about as obvious as you can get, but does anyone expect the Lions to be good next year anyway? The best option for Jim Schwartz and the Lions new staff would be to make like the Titans and stockpile talent on the lines, and the rest will fall into place. 

 

No. 2 Overall Selection

St. Louis Rams - Jason Smith, T, Baylor

St. Louis has been looking for a replacement for Orlando Pace, and unfortunately missed out on Jake Long last year.  The next best tackle on the board is Jason Smith, who isn't quite as big as Pace, but is skilled in pass protection and will be a stud left tackle for whoever picks him.

Offensive line is undoubtedly the biggest need the Rams have, this pick is really a no brainer.

 

No. 3 Overall Selection

Kansas City Chiefs - Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest

Curry is about the safest pick in the draft, and new GM Scott Pioli can't go wrong taking Curry here. The only issue with Curry is his tackling has been inconsistent at times, but other than that, he is a stud. 

Unless the Chiefs wish to trade down, which wouldn't be surprising, I think Curry is the guy here.

 

No. 4 Overall Selection

Seattle Seahawks - B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College

Yes, I know what you're thinking. Why isn't Crabtree here?

Crabtree is not here because the Seahawks have not had a good defensive tackle since God knows when. Their receiver corps was decimated by injury last year, but at an unprecedented standard in my opinion.  I doubt they will get that unlucky again this season.

Raji is the perfect compliment to Patrick Kerney in pass rushing situations (Have you heard of the term "pushing the pocket?" Well then you'll like B.J. Raji....), and will help Julian Peterson and Lofa Tatupu stay free to fly around and make plays against the run. 

 

No. 5 Overall Selection

Cleveland Browns - Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State

Jenkins is, stated very simply, a shutdown corner.  He has speed, fluid hips, changes directions well, good instincts, etc.  He isn't a great tackler, but we're not talking about a linebacker.  Cleveland has a need here, and it just so happens that one of the best players left fills their need.

The Browns are in a good drafting spot at No. 5.

 

No. 6 Overall Selection

Cincinnati Bengals - Eugene Monroe, T, Virginia

This tackle draft is amazing.  It's very much a game of preference.  All of the top four tackles (Andre Smith, Jason Smith, Eugene Monroe, Michael Oher) have a chance to be better than the other, but they all will be solid lineman in the NFL. 

Cincinnati needs to make Carson Palmer feel safe again after last year. Monroe is the best tackle left on the board, which is a good thing, so the Bengals bolster their line here with pick No. 6.

 

No. 7 Overall Selection

Oakland Raiders - Michael Oher, T, Ole Miss

The fourth of the big four goes here at No. 7. Al Davis will be tempted with Crabtree, but I think even he realizes he needs to protect his "franchise quarterback" JaMarcus Russell.

 

No. 8 Overall Selection

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