A few changes, the same overall feel.

 

1) Lions

Eugene Monroe, T, Virginia

Whichever team owns the number one selection is almost burdened with the way the draft is set up now. You have to give your No. 1 pick at least $30 million in guaranteed money, which is a preposterous amount for anyone who hasn't played a snap in the league to make.

Hopefully the new CBA in the next few years will include a rookie cap... one can hope.  My philosophy for this year's draft is to minimize the risk of your top picks. Unless you can make a trade, which is highly unlikely, you're pretty much stuck with your early selection.

So, I have the Lions selecting the best lineman available, which is Eugene Monroe. Not Matthew Stafford, or Mark Sanchez, or any quarterback. The Dolphins applied this theory last year, and drafted the linchpin for their O-line, Jake Long.

Drafting a QB is simply too much of a risk, no matter how high you are on him. The Dolphins may have loved Matt Ryan last year, but realized the risk was too high to chance, and made the safe pick. 

Atlanta's situation was unique, in which they were almost forced to select Ryan due to the Mike Vick saga. Once again, the top team should select a tackle and build trenches out, which is clearly the right way to rebuild a football team. 

 

2) Rams

Jason Smith, T, Baylor

The top four tackles in this draft are very solid, and any team that decides to take one of these four (Monroe, J. Smith, A. Smith, Oher) will not regret their decision. The Rams draft their replacement for Orlando Pace, who shipped off to Chi-Town to protect Jay Cutler's blindside, with the No. 2 pick in the draft.

 

3) Chiefs

Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest

The best player in this year's draft by my estimation, Curry brings everything. He's fast, strong, athletic, smart, and works hard. The Chiefs already got their franchise quarterback moving forward with the acquisition of Matt Cassel, and will add a defensive leader by selecting Aaron Curry.

 

4) Seahawks

Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia

The most undervalued player in this draft. Moreno has elite lateral quickness, deceptive size, solid straight-line speed, and great hands out of the backfield.  The underlying quality with Knowshon however is this: He is faster coming out of his cuts than he is going into them, which is the trait of a special running back. 

Seattle had T.J. Duckett and Maurice Morris running the ball last year, which is simply not good enough.  They need to upgrade the position, and have a great player there for the taking. 

 

5) Browns

Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech

The Browns select the best player left on the board in Crabtree to compliment Braylon Edwards (if he is even there next year) and replace Donte Stallworth, who looks as though he may serve at least some jail time.

 

6) Bengals

Everette Brown, DE, Florida State

Brown will be a productive defensive end in the NFL, and fills a need for the Bengals.  Cincinnati needs to build their defense, and they need to build their character, after many negatives that have impacted the team over the last few years. Brown does both for the Bengals.

 

7) Raiders

Andre Smith, T, Alabama

The big mauler goes off the board here to play opposite Khalif Barnes. Those two will create a very good tackle tandem to protect JaMarcus Russell and create running lanes for DMac and the rest of the Raider running backs.

 

8) Jaguars

Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State

The Jaguars will look to get back to the two running back system. Chris Wells will provide the bruising inside runner, and will allow Maurice Jones-Drew to stay fresh over the course of a game and will also keep the smaller back healthier over the long term.

 

9) Packers

Brian Orakpo, LB, Texas

New OLB's coach Kevin Greene will have fun teaching the physical freak Orakpo the ins and outs of the 3-4 rush linebacker. Aaron Kampman and Orakpo will make for a very good pass rush tandem while Barnett and Hawk can slide to ILB.

 

10) 49ers

B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College

The Niners have many needs, but Raji can be the anchor for your defensive line. Think of Raji, Sopoaga, and Justin Smith as your front three, taking up blockers for Patrick Willis. Who wouldn't like that idea?

 

11) Bills

Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?