Mock Draft: The Sports Xchange

Rob Rang from The Sports Xchange, provides his first round picks for the 2007 NFL Draft.

(Updated on April 27, 2007)

The top of the 2007 NFL Draft continues to appear as unsettled as any in recent memory.

The Oakland Raiders wouldn't have it any other way.

Much as the Texans leveraged Reggie Bush, Mario Williams and Vince Young against each other last year, the Raiders are expected to open up preliminary contract negotiations with representatives for JaMarcus Russell and Calvin Johnson soon. How those negotiations develop could go a long way in determining who is the first player selected.

With the agents for neither player likely willing to risk losing out on the top spot, negotiations should go relatively smoothly, allowing the Raiders to take the player that fits their needs most. That happens to be the same one I've been projecting for months -- Russell.

2007 NFL Mock Draft

1. Oakland Raiders
	JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU -- There remains considerable debate as to who the Raiders should draft, but the reality is Russell is who they will ultimately select. In the end, Russell's upside is just too much for the Raiders to pass up.
2. Detroit Lions
	Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech -- The Lions want to trade out of this pick, and will be operating in a position of strength if Johnson remains on the board. Tampa Bay and Atlanta are among the clubs thought to be offering mega-deals for the right to take the receiver. If a good enough offer does not arise, Detroit, even with receiver being an area of relative strength, will take Johnson. The elite prospect in this draft, Johnson -- one way or the other -- is not getting past the second pick.
3. Cleveland Browns
	Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame -- The Browns need a face to the franchise, and local boy Quinn would fit the bill. GM Phil Savage and coach Romeo Crennel are rumored to favor a more immediate impact player such as offensive tackle Joe Thomas or running back Adrian Peterson, but Quinn, the most pro-ready of the 2007 quarterbacks, would give the team just as much a chance to win now as would Cleveland's current passers.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
	Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson -- At this point, it appears likeliest that the Bucs and Lions will simply flip-flop picks, allowing Tampa Bay to acquire Johnson with the second pick and Detroit to add Adams here. If the deal falls through, however, Detroit very easily could take Johnson and Tampa Bay would likely pick Adams, potentially allowing for a trade to still occur after the picks were made.
5. Arizona Cardinals
	Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin -- The Cardinals will address their running game with this pick, most likely with the selection of an offensive tackle. Thomas would be a great value here, though there are teams in the top 10 (including, some believe, Arizona) who rank Levi Brown ahead of Thomas. Adding a blocker is the only way to improve Arizona's running game -- watch out for a surprise Adrian Peterson selection here if the Oklahoma running back remains on the board.
6. Washington Redskins
	Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas -- With this being the Redskins' only pick before the fifth round, the team will have to either fill an immediate need or trade down to stockpile more picks. Washington is actively making phone calls in an effort to move out of this spot, and may revive talks with Chicago about linebacker Lance Briggs. Either the Redskins or the Bears would be interested in Anderson, whose stock is back on the upswing due to his spectacular upside.
7. Minnesota Vikings
	Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma -- The Vikings scored a paltry 25 offensive touchdowns last season. Only four teams (Miami, Cleveland, Tampa Bay and Oakland) scored fewer. Chester Taylor is a decent runner, but if Brad Childress is to save his job, he'll need the Vikings to show dramatic offensive improvement in 2007. Peterson, if available here, and if he can remain healthy, can provide instant offense better than any other prospect in this draft.
8. Atlanta Falcons
	LaRon Landry, FS, LSU -- In switching picks with the Texas, the Falcons put themselves in position to nab Landry. Second-year CB Jimmy Williams might be able to make the transition to safety, but when arguably the safest defensive prospect in the entire draft is available -- and would fill a clear need -- he should be the pick. Should the rumored Atlanta-Detroit trade occur, with the Falcons moving up to get Johnson, the Lions would be in position to nab a host of defenders, as well as Brown.
9. Miami Dolphins
	Levi Brown, OT, Penn State -- Not since the days of Richmond Webb have the Dolphins fielded a top-flight left tackle. Brown is not only a standout run blocker, he has proven to be among the country's steadiest pass blockers over his 44 career starts at the position.
10. Houston Texans
	Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh -- There is no position that elicits more argument over the top prospect than cornerback. Roughly half of the league favors Revis over Michigan's Leon Hall, the other half prefers Hall. The Texans want a steady corner opposite Dunta Robinson and will choose one of the two with this pick.
11. San Francisco 49ers
	Adam Carriker, DL, Nebraska -- Perfectly suited to play end in the 3-4, Carriker makes the most sense here. Watch out for the 49ers to avoid defense altogether should one of the top two offensive tackles make it here.
12. Buffalo Bills
	Patrick Willis, ILB, Mississippi -- With the Bills allowing London Fletcher-Baker and Takeo Spikes to leave, the team is in desperate need for linebackers. How better to fill the need than with the best linebacker in the draft?
13. St. Louis Rams
	Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville -- No team needs more help with run defense than the Rams, who finished 31st in the NFL last year and face Shaun Alexander, Frank Gore and Edgerrin James a combined six times a year. Should the Rams consummate the trade for disgruntled Panthers defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, they may look at cornerback Leon Hall.
14. Carolina Panthers
	Dwayne Bowe, WR, LSU -- Keyshawn Johnson was signed to take pressure off of Steve Smith, but his career low average of 11.6 yards per catch didn't scare defenses. Bowe is viewed by some as the draft's safest receiver prospect outside of Calvin Johnson.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers
	Leon Hall, CB, Michigan -- Outside linebacker appears to be a bigger need for the Steelers, but with the club expected to remain with the 3-4 alignment for at least the 2007 season, Pittsburgh can remain with its tried and true tradition of finding late-round 'tweeners. Hall is the draft's top senior cornerback, and would bolster a position that struggled last year.
16. Green Bay Packers
	Marshawn Lynch, RB, California -- GM Ted Thompson won't reach on this pick because of the hole Green Bay has at running back. However, Lynch's combination of running and receiving makes him a perfect fit for the West Coast Offense.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars
	Reggie Nelson, FS, Florida -- Nelson not only would be a public relations bonanza, he would also fill the team's biggest need. The free-agent loss of Deon Grant was a significant one as the Jaguars' current starter is David Richardson, he of 13 games and seven career tackles of experience.
18. Cincinnati Bengals
	Aaron Ross, CB, Texas -- The Bengals are looking for defensive playmakers, and with Ross they'd certainly get one. Not only did Ross win the Thorpe Award last year as the nation's top cornerback (producing 11 turnovers), he would provide Cincinnati with an upgrade over Keiwan Ratliff as a punt returner.
19. Tennessee Titans
	Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee -- After the Pacman Jones scandal, the Titans need a public relations score, and in adding Meachem here they'd not only accomplish that goal but provide QB Vince Young with an exciting downfield target.
20. New York Giants
	Jon Beason, OLB, Miami (Fla.) -- With holes at linebacker and offensive tackle, the Giants needs' are obvious. New York has had success in adding former Hurricane linebackers in the past and would be wise to go to the well again with the versatile Beason.
21. Denver Broncos
	Alan Branch, DT/NG, Michigan -- Needing a difference-maker along the defensive line, the Broncos could be in position to add one should Branch's injury concerns cause a tumble down the board.
22. Dallas Cowboys
	Ted Ginn, Jr., WR, Ohio State -- The Cowboys are high on third receiver Patrick Crayton, but Terry Glenn and Terrell Owens are in their mid-30s. The Cowboys have drafted defenders each of the past 10 years, but love to make a splash on draft day. Ginn, with his ability as a receiver and returner, would accomplish that.
23. Kansas City Chiefs
	Ben Grubbs, OG, Auburn -- The loss of future Hall of Fame right guard Will Shields to retirement is a huge one. Grubbs is the unquestioned top prospect in an above average guard class, and would help ease the Chiefs' transition to a post-Shields world.
24. New England Patriots (from Seattle)
	Brandon Meriweather, FS, Miami -- Meriweather's significant off-field concerns would seem to preclude a team as character-driven as the Patriots from even considering him. Meriweather, more than any other safety in this class, has the man-to-man skills to slide down to the nickel position from free safety on obvious passing downs. That characteristic may be enough to make him a first-round pick, and would be tantalizing to a match-up marvel like Belichick.
25. N.Y. Jets
	Chris Houston, CB, Arkansas -- The Jets' primary focus entering the draft is thought to be adding a big-play cornerback to line up opposite steady veteran Andre Dyson. Houston's spectacular showing at the Combine likely cemented him in the draft's first round, though enough teams have questions about him that if he gets past the Jets he could slip out of the first round entirely.
26. Philadelphia Eagles
	Jarvis Moss, DE, Florida -- Defensive end wouldn't appear to be a big need considering the Eagles' talent and depth at the position. That said, the decline of their best two ends -- Jevon Kearse and Darren Howard -- is troubling. Philadelphia has addressed either the offensive or defensive line with five of their past seven first-round picks. That kind of ratio isn't just a tendency, it's a philosophy.
27. New Orleans Saints
	Greg Olsen, TE, Miami (Fla.) -- The Saints' primary needs are on the defensive side of the ball, but should the speedy Olsen fall to this point, the offensive-minded Sean Payton may be too tempted not to pull the trigger. Olsen appears to be slipping as the draft approaches, with some teams projecting his falling all the way out of the first round.
28. New England Patriots
	David Harris, ILB, Michigan -- Considered the most physical run-stuffing linebacker in the draft. Harris' stock is skyrocketing as the draft approaches, and he is thought to be high on the Patriots' list.
29. Baltimore Ravens
	Joe Staley, OT, Central Michigan -- Adam Terry should be a suitable replacement for departed free agent Tony Pashos at right tackle, but with Jonathan Ogden likely to play only one more year and a lack of depth at both spots, Staley makes a great deal of sense here.
30. San Diego Chargers
	Michael Griffin, FS, Texas -- The legal questions surrounding former starter Terrence Kiel forces the Chargers to look to the draft for help. The club may have unearthed a rising star in cornerback Antonio Cromartie in last year's first round. Another athletic defensive back who has the potential to play either safety position could be on the way in 2007.
31. Chicago Bears
	Arron Sears, OL, Tennessee -- Sears is one of about 15 prospects slotted to go anywhere between 25 and 40. A receiver like Dwayne Jarrett or linebacker like Lawrence Timmons would be flashier picks, but with three of Chicago's offensive linemen 33 or older, the Bears would be wise to add the versatile and dependable Sears here. Don't be surprised if the long rumored, thought dead trade between Washington and Chicago for OLB Lance Briggs occurs -- with the Bears surprising some with a defensive lineman.
32. Indianapolis Colts
	Justin Harrell, DT, Tennessee -- With Montae Reagor gone to the Eagles and Corey Simon's future with the team in doubt, the champs will be looking to the draft for reinforcements inside. Harrell missed most of his senior season with a torn biceps, but is a first-round talent.