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My mock draft, version 1.0, is predicated on the assumption that Jeff Garcia is gone from the 49ers.
San Francisco has no interest in re-signing him, especially with Terrell Owens "stuck" on the roster. That frees up a rather interesting scenario that helps the Cardinals, Chargers, 49ers, Raiders and others.
1. Arizona -- Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Pittsburgh. (via trade with San Diego, No. 3 pick overall and second-round pick) Dennis Green's track record is that he goes and gets who he wants. (See Daunte Culpepper.) Green drafted Randy Moss when he had Jake Reed and Cris Carter with the Vikings. Why not add a deep receiver in his first year in the desert?
There is a personal relationship between Fitzgerald and Green. The Raiders covet him at No. 2. A trade is the only way to ensure Green gets his man. With Fitzgerald, the Cardinals conceivably can have the best set of young receivers in the league along with Anquan Boldin and Bryant Johnson.
Green can address the need for a quarterback by taking a Cody Pickett or John Navarre in later rounds. Receivers are usually overvalued this high in the draft, but Fitzgerald is the entire package -- speed, size, hands and character. Get him an able-armed quarterback and the Cardinals could move off "joke" status.
2. Oakland -- Robert Gallery, OT, Iowa. Al Davis loves offensive linemen, quarterbacks and receivers in the draft. In a draft upset he takes the best OL to prop up an aging and injured Raiders offensive line. Lincoln Kennedy has retired. Mo Collins is six years in.
There's a reason Rich Gannon was beaten to a pulp last season. If the Raiders can't protect Gannon, they have no chance. If Oakland trades for Drew Henson, then the Raiders have had a great draft. In this scenario, they'll miss out on Fitzgerald but serviceable receivers (Keary Colbert, Michael Jenkins) will be available in later rounds.
3. San Diego -- Mike Williams, WR, USC. (via trade with Arizona, No. 1 pick overall) Marty Schottenheimer has never put a premium on drafting a quarterback, so forget the Eli Manning thing. The signing of Jeff Garcia makes this trade more than likely. The Chargers get arguably the draft's best receiver, a starting quarterback via signing and they can pick up the defensive line help needed with Arizona's extra pick in the second round.
4. N.Y. Giants -- Eli Manning, QB, Mississippi. Gallery is gone so the Giants have to make a splash. They simply cannot pass up Peyton's brother when he falls to them at No. 4 like manna from heaven. Kerry Collins is 31. There might be more pressing needs but you don't pass up the draft's best quarterback when he lands in your lap. In two years, Manning could own the starting job -- and New York.
5. Washington -- Tommie Harris, DT, Oklahoma. Perfect fit for Joe Gibbs. The Redskins were 26th against the run last year. Harris, the Lombardi Award winner, is a natural pocket collapser who can play the run.
6. Detroit -- Steven Jackson, RB, Oregon State. Matt Millen needs to save his job and Joey Harrington's rib cage. A potent running game keeps the pressure off both. Jackson is the best back available in a draft thin with quality running backs.
7. Cleveland -- Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Miami (Ohio). What a steal for the Brownies. They get the next Bernie Kosar, a homeboy from Ohio they can hug and squeeze. Except that Roethlisberger has a better body and arm than Bernie. This is a sign Butch Davis is giving up on Tim Couch, but so what?
8. Atlanta -- Roy Williams, WR, Texas. There are questions about Williams' speed, but that's it. He is the total package and gives Michael Vick a big target to throw to. Williams is an excellent perimeter blocker as well.
9. Jacksonville -- Shawn Andrews, OT, Arkansas. Character issues might make this an iffy pick, but Byron Leftwich needs some protection. Andrews is a better run blocker and will probably play the right side.
10. New England --- Sean Taylor, S, Miami. (via trade with Houston, No. 21 and No. 32 overall picks) There was no better hitter in the back four the past two years in college football. The Patriots could slide Taylor in at corner.
11. Pittsburgh -- Kellen Winslow, Jr., TE, Miami. Mark Bruener is gone, not that he was much of a difference maker. K2 changes the whole offense. He was better than his dad was in college. If that's the case in the NFL, this is a steal for the Steelers.
12. N.Y. Jets -- DeAngelo Hall, CB, Virginia Tech. Best corner available with value and upside. Hall's ability to cover, hit and return kicks makes him a great pick for the Jets.
13. Buffalo -- Michael Clayton, WR, LSU. Clayton caught 78 passes with Matt Mauck as his quarterback. Think what he'll do with a skilled Drew Bledsoe looking for him.
14. Chicago -- Kenechi Udezi, DE, USC. Bears definitely interested in defensive line with Lovie Smith on board. This pick could also be used on Vince Wilfork.
15. Tampa Bay -- Kevin Jones, RB, Virginia Tech. Even when they won the Super Bowl, the Bucs had trouble running the ball. Jones is one of those guys who moves the pile and breaks away when he gets through it.
16. San Francisco -- Vince Wilfork, DT, Miami. When he comes to play, Wilfork is as good as there is. Unfortunately, he had a little Chester McGlockton in him in college.
17. Cincinnati -- Chris Gamble, CB, Ohio State. Bengals will get good information on him because former Buckeyes coach John Cooper is a consultant. Like Hall, Gamble makes for great value at this position. He is a shutdown corner who can return kicks.
18. New Orleans -- Jonathan Vilma, LB, Miami. Good, rangy linebacker. There are some size questions (6-feet-2, 211).
19. Minnesota -- D.J. Williams, LB, Miami. One of the best pure athletes in the draft. This guy came to Miami as a fullback and now he covers like a corner and hits like a defensive end.
20. Miami -- Jacob Rogers, OT, USC. Ricky Williams will send the limo to the airport to pick him up. Biggest question is durability. Rogers has struggled to stay on the field.
21. Houston (via trade with New England), Will Poole, CB, USC. Late bloomer who could step in and start right away.
22. Dallas -- Greg Jones, RB, Florida State. The missing ingredient in a struggling offense. Jones is big, fast and mean. He will get loads of carries in Bill Parcells' offense.
23. Seattle -- Will Smith, DE, Ohio State. Seahawks are scrambling for defensive line help. Can't go wrong taking the best defensive player from a Big Ten power.
24. Denver -- Ben Troupe, TE, Florida. The new Shannon Sharpe without the mouth. A lot of folks thought Troupe was the best tight end in the country, not Winslow.
25. Green Bay -- Derrick Strait, CB, Oklahoma. Don't believe the hype about the Packers picking a successor to Brett Favre here. Their defensive backfield has struggled mightily. Strait has the ability to shut down half the field.
26. St. Louis -- Lee Evans, WR, Wisconsin. A diamond in the rough. Evans proved that he recovered from knee surgery by catching 64 passes for 1,213 yards as a senior. The Rams are not going to waste another pick on a front-seven guy. Jimmy Kennedy, the No. 12 overall pick in 2003, made all of one unassisted tackle last season.
27. Tennessee -- Antwan Odom, DE, Alabama. It looks like Jevon Kearse is going to leave via free agency. The arrival of Odom begins the healing.
28. Philadelphia -- Reggie Williams, WR, Washington. Is there anything more obvious in the first round than the Eagles taking a receiver? Their average cast probably kept them out of the Super Bowl.
29. Indianapolis -- Randy Starks, DT, Maryland. Good first step at 305 pounds. A tackle machine who is ninth on Maryland's sack list. The Colts need a guy like him, say, yesterday.
30. Kansas City -- Darnell Dockett, DT, Florida State. If the Chiefs don't land Kearse, then Dockett is the guy.
31. Carolina -- Dunta Robinson, CB, South Carolina. It seems certain the Panthers are going after a corner. If not Robinson, then Texas' Nathan Vasher. Robinson is a physical corner with 4.45 speed. Still a little raw in technique.
32. Houston -- Rashaun Woods, WR, Oklahoma State. (via trade with New England) A poor man's Mike Williams. With David Carr throwing to him, he will blossom. Frequently had to reach back for the ball at Oklahoma State.