First Round Mock NFL Draft

Welcome to the first official Fantasy Football Cafe NFL Mock Draft for the 2007 season. A group of Cafe Regulars recently got together and each picked who they think their team either will or should take in this year’s draft.

1. Oakland Raiders: Jamarcus Russell - QB, LSU
Why Calvin Johnson may be the more popular choice, unless a QB is traded to the Raiders prior to the draft, this has to be Oakland’s pick. Other needs: WR, OT, and DT.

2. Detroit Lions: Calvin Johnson - WR, Georgia Tech
Matt Millen strikes again. The fans will crucify Millen for this pick, but it is the right pick. Never pass on the best player in the draft… just ask Houston. Other needs: QB, TE, ILB, and DB.

3. Cleveland Browns: Adrian Peterson - RB, OU
The Browns need a QB, RB, CB, and any offensive lineman desperately. Three out of four have value at this spot and fall right into the Browns lap. Peterson wins out, as GM Phil Savage takes the best talent on the board. Other needs: QB, DB, OL.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Joe Thomas - OL, Wisconsin
The Buccaneers wanted Calvin Johnson with this pick, but Joe Thomas is an excellent consolation prize. He will instantly shore up the line problems that have plagued Tampa Bay for the past few years. Other needs: WR, DT, and DB.

5. Arizona Cardinals: Gaines Adams - DE, Clemson
Defense is a glaring need in the desert, even though the Cardinals were hoping to replace Leonard Davis with Joe Thomas. Other needs: OT, DT and OLB.

6. Washington Redskins: Alan Branch - DT, Michigan
The Redskins are desperate for an interior lineman who can stuff the run. After all, Cornelius Griffin has had injuries for the past few years. Branch fits the bill perfectly. Other needs: DE.

7. Minnesota Vikings: LaRon Landy - S, LSU
A surprising pick, as Brady Quinn has a likely landing spot in Minnesota. This pick shows that Tavaris Jackson is the QB of the future here. Other needs: DE, WR, TE.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Ted Ginn Jr. - WR, OSU
The Falcons are devastated to see Landry go one pick before them, and pull the trigger on Ginn. A surprising pick with their history of Ohio State WR and the signing of Joe Horn. They may be regretting this pick when they see his route running. Other needs: DE, OT, DB.

9. Miami Dolphins: Brady Quinn - QB, Notre Dame
Brady Quinn pulls a Matt Leinart, but lands comfortably in Miami. Hopefully the line can keep him comfortable during games. Other needs: DT, OT, OG, DB.

10. Houston Texans: Levi Brown - OT, Penn State
Houston could not be happier with this pick. They were planning on taking him at #8, but they will use him to guard Matt Schaub’s blind side instead. Other needs: WR, DE, DT, OLB, DB.

11. San Francisco 49ers: Amobi Okoye - DT, Louisville
San Francisco drafts Okoye in a continued effort to upgrade their defense. The young defender will play up and down the defensive line, and is an instant match-up problem for the opposing offense. Other needs: WR, OLB, DB.

12. Buffalo Bills: Patrick Willis - ILB, Mississippi
This is the player Buffalo has been targeting for months. With most of the starting linebackers moving on this off-season, he will start immediately. Other needs: RB, DT, DB.

13. St. Louis Rams: Jamaal Anderson - DE, Arkansas
Leonard Little and La’Roi Glover would love some help up front, and they get their wish. Anderson will contribute immediately. Other needs: C, DT, DB.

14. Carolina Panthers: Greg Olsen - TE, Miami
Olsen is a total package tight end and can take some attention away from Steve Smith in the passing game. The Panthers will use he and Smith similar to the way the Giants utilize Plaxico Burress and Jeremy Shockey. Other needs: OT, ILB, DB.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers: Adam Carriker - DE, Nebraska
With the Steelers switching to the 4-3, the front seven has to be a concern. Carriker has a Steelers’ mentality, and will fit in nicely. Other needs: OLB, DB.

16. Green Bay Packers: Marshawn Lynch - RB, Cal
Green Bay has been hoping to draft Lynch since he declared. Brett Farve is happy not to have to lean on Vernand Morency. Other needs: WR, TE.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Reggie Nelson - S, Florida
Show me a great DE, and I’ll show you a great secondary. Unfortunately, the Jaguars need help in both departments. Nelson fits the bill. Other needs: DE.

18. Cincinnati Bengals: Leon Hall - CB, Michigan
This is bad news for Hall, as he will in all likelihood be promptly arrested as he exits the stage. The Bengals will start Hall from day one, and hope he pays dividends. Other needs: DT, OLB.

19. Tennessee Titans: Dwayne Jarrett - WR, USC
With the Madden Curse apparently on the horizon, Vince Young will need some playmakers around him. Norm Chow has got to be loving the USC talent coming in. Other needs: DT, DB.

20. New York Giants: Paul Posluszny - OLB, Penn State
Without a viable OLB, this pick is a no-brainer. They also desperately need a CB, but can’t pass on the value Posluszny at this spot. Other needs: DB, OT.

21. Denver Broncos: Anthony Spencer - DE, Purdue
Denver tried to sign Patrick Kerney, but finished second. They hope that Spencer can fill the void. Other needs: DT, WR, OT, DB.

22. Dallas Cowboys: Darrelle Revis - CB, Pittsburgh
Dallas pulls arguably the best CB in the draft to take over for faltering Anthony Henry. Other needs: DE, WR, OT.

23. Kansas City Chiefs: Robert Meachem - WR, Tennessee
The Chiefs haven’t had an impact receiver in a long time. They hope that Meachem fits the mold. Other needs: DT, OT.

24. New England Patriots: Brandon Meriweather - S, Miami
The Patriots need help in the secondary, and are experts in carving them into outstanding players. Don’t be surprised to hear this rookie’s name called often on Sundays. Other needs: ILB.

25. New York Jets: Aaron Ross - CB, Texas
The Jets need help in many areas, but shoring up the secondary is a must. Big things will be expected of Ross. Other needs: DT, TE, OT.

26. Philadelphia Eagles: Lawrence Timmons - LB, Florida St.
The Eagles always find a way of nabbing the exact player they need wherever they are picking. Timmons should slide into Philadelphia’s system nicely. Other needs: DB.

27. New Orleans Saints: Chris Houston - CB, Arkansas
This CB blew scouts away with his workouts, and shut down most of the top receivers in the draft. Combine that with the state of the Saints secondary, and this pick is a no-brainer. Other needs: ILB.

28. New England Patriots: Joe Staley - OL, Central Michigan
A solid tackle on either side of the line, Staley has been climbing steadily up draft charts. Expect him to flourish in New England. Other Needs: ILB, DB.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Jarvis Moss - DE, Florida
The defensive end position is not a glaring need, but Ozzie Newsome has proved before he knows how to find the gems. Other needs: OT, ILB, OLB, DB.

30. San Diego Chargers: Dwayne Bowe - WR, LSU
Norv Turner needs a WR that can stretch the field for his offense to run. The question is, is Bowe that type of player? Other needs: ILB, DB.

31. Chicago Bears: Ben Grubbs - OL, Auburn
Grubbs is another one of those players that has been churning up draft boards. He lands in Chicago, where the entire offensive line is getting older. Other needs: DT, OLB.

32. Indianapolis Colts: Jon Beason - OLB, University of Miami
The champs replace Cato June with Beason, and hope for similar results. Other needs: DT.

(11 votes, average: 4.73 out of 5)  Loading ... Questions or comments for Michael? Post them in the Cafe Forums! Want to see your own fantasy wisdom published? Check out the Cafe's Pencil & Paper section!