With the NFL Draft under a week away, Sports Editor Mike Casasanta and future Sports Editor Cliff Chartrand conducted their own mock draft.

The two alternated picks with Chartrand picking first. 

 
1) Oakland Raiders (Cliff): JaMarcus Russell, QB- LSU

            Cliff: This is assuming Oakland doesn't trade for a quarterback between now and Saturday. If they don't Russell will be the pick. Quarterback is the most glaring weakness for the Raiders and Russell's big arm is just what Al Davis wants in a QB.

            Mike: The Raiders are a team in flux right now. Much like many of the teams at the top of the draft, not one player will get Oakland back to the playoffs. The right pick here is Calvin Johnson, the wide receiver out of Georgia Tech. This pick would have been easier if Raider Nation would have picked a QB like Matt Leinart or Jay Cutler in 2006. Imagine Leinart or Cutler throwing to Randy Moss and Johnson. JUST LOSE BABY!

 

2) Detroit Lions (Mike): Gaines Adams, DE- Clemson

            Mike: This is the safest pick for the embattled GM of the Lions, Matt Millen. The addition of Adams will help build the defensive line for second year coach Rod Marinelli, the defensive line coach in Tampa when the Bucs had Warren Sapp and Anthony McFarland.

            Cliff: The Lions should deal out of this spot. Gaines Adams is their guy and they could get him a couple picks later. There are a few teams who would be willing to trade up to get Brady Quinn or Johnson. Don't be surprised if Quinn or Johnson is taken by Detroit here.

 

3) Cleveland Browns (Cliff): Adrian Peterson, RB- Oklahoma

            Cliff: It will be hard to pass on the hometown kid in Quinn, but running back is a bigger need in Cleveland. Peterson is one of two players in this draft, along with Johnson, you can look at now and know will be stars. If he goes sliding down the board, which could happen if he doesn't go here, someone will get a steal.

            Mike: I agree with Cliff that this is the place where Peterson will land. With Peterson and Jamal Lewis playing in the new Dog Pound the Browns will have a solid running back tandem. If this happens Quinn will go slipping and sliding a long way down the board.

 

4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Mike): Calvin Johnson, WR- Georgia Tech

            Mike: Jon Gruden is able to land the guy he covets in Johnson, a guy who can go down the field and make things happen. Expect the Bucs to draft a quarterback later on in the draft to groom if Simms is not able to come back from injury.

            Cliff: If Johnson is there this is a no-brainer. Johnson is the best player in this draft and should be the first player taken overall. Tampa loves him and may move up to two to ensure they get their guy. If Johnson has already gone by this point, Brady Quinn is a possibility here.

 

5) Arizona Cardinals (Cliff): Joe Thomas, OT- Wisconsin

            Cliff: Offensive line is Arizona's biggest problem and they would be the happiest team in the draft should Thomas fall in their laps. Thomas would give Leinart more time to throw and Edgerrin James holes to run through and help this offense develop quickly.

            Mike: It is always a crap shoot when teams pick O-Line with their first pick (see Robert Gallery). If Cleveland takes Quinn at three expect Peterson to wind up in the desert.

 

6) Washington Redskins (Mike): Leon Hall, CB- Michigan

            Mike: The Redskins have just about as many holes as a slice of swiss cheese and they still have not found an answer in the secondary since Champ Bailey was traded to Denver.

            Cliff: Expect this pick to be a defensive player. They have holes everywhere on defense and have to find some answers. Shawn Springs is starting at one corner and is getting old. Hall would team with former top-10 picks Carlos Rogers and Sean Taylor to form a strong secondary in the future.

 

7) Minnesota Vikings (Cliff): Adam Carriker, DE- Nebraska

            Cliff: This is a reach but Minnesota needs a defensive end more than anything else. Quinn is a possibility, but they took Tarvaris Jackson in the second round last year and one would think he will get a chance to be the starter. Carriker impressed at the Senior Bowl and has been moving up draft boards ever since.

            Mike: Is it just me or are their no players worthy of being called a top 10 NFL draft pick? Once you get past the top five plus Quinn it gets tough. Any number of players can fall here.

 

8) Atlanta Falcons (Mike): Amobi Okoye, DT- Louisville

            Mike: The Falcons can go a number of places with this pick. Atlanta needs help at the WR, DL and DB positions. New coach Bobby Petrino is familiar with Okoye from his days at Louisville. The nineteen year old Okoye could be the best player in this draft when it is all said and done.

            Cliff: Okoye is going to be a very good player and this is an Atlanta team that has had trouble stopping the run. The Falcons don't have as many glaring holes as the other teams in this part of the draft. Laron Landry is another player who may be taken here.

 

9) Miami Dolphins (Cliff): Brady Quinn, QB- Notre Dame

            Cliff: Miami would love to see Quinn take a Leinart-esque tumble and would jump at the chance to take him. Quinn, Ronnie Brown and Chris Chambers will form a trio that will have defensive coordinators shaking in their boots for years to come.

            Mike: I'm going to go ahead and shake things up a bit and say that the Chicago Bears will trade up and pick Brady Quinn. If the Bears don't trade up Quinn would be a nice fit in new coach Cam Cameron's system. If Trent Green is dealt to the Dolphins there is not a better veteran quarterback than Green for a young QB to learn from.

 

10) Houston Texans (Mike): Levi Brown, OT- Penn State

            Mike: No matter what Houston does here they will still be picking in the top 10 of the 2008 draft. Brown will help them rebuild the offensive line and protect Matt Schaub's blind side.

            Cliff: It's not rebuilding if it was never built in the first place. The Texans have had offensive line woes since the franchise's birth, and Brown is the logical pick here. I'm not sold on him being a top-10 pick, but he should make the line better for Gary Kubiak's Texans.

 

11) San Francisco 49ers (Cliff): Patrick Willis, LB- Ole Miss

            Cliff: San Fran has other needs, but there aren't players worth taking this high to fill those holes. Willis can play inside or outside linebacker for the 49ers. I think he's going to be one of the five best players out of this draft when all is said and done.

            Mike: The NFC West is becoming a division of running backs with Shaun Alexander, Edgerrin James, and Steven Jackson occupying the backfield for San Fran's division foes. Addressing the defense and picking a guy who can stop the run in Willis is logical.

 

12) Buffalo Bills (Mike): Laron Landry, S- LSU

            Mike: Buffalo needs someone to replace Nate Clements who left Buffalo via free agency.

            Cliff: Landry won't be in Buffalo since the Bills already have two young safeties in Donte Whitner and Ko Simpson. They covet Willis, but with him off the board look for them to go with running back Marshawn Lynch, cornerback Darrelle Revis or trade out of this spot.

 

13) St. Louis Rams (Cliff): Alan Branch, DT- Michigan

            Cliff: Branch is a player with a world of talent, but he has been criticized for a lack of effort at times. St. Louis has struck out with first round DTs in the past, but Branch is too talented to pass up at this point.

            Mike: Branch is a guy who may be available later on in the first round, so the Rams may look to move down a few picks. The problem is who will be willing to trade up to this spot?

 

14) Carolina Panthers (Mike): Greg Olsen, TE-Miami

            Mike: Olsen is the best tight end in the draft and the Panthers struggled in the red zone in 2006. New offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson has said he would like to utilize the tight end position more in Carolina.

            Cliff: Greg Olsen is a physical freak at the tight end position and would give Jake Delhomme another target to go along with Steve Smith and Keyshawn Johnson. Olsen follows in the footsteps of Jeremy Shockey and Kellen Winslow as great tight ends from Miami.

 

15) Pittsburgh Steelers (Cliff): Jamaal Anderson, DE- Arkansas

            Cliff: The Steelers need an end to go opposite of Aaron Smith and Anderson has the athleticism to be a special pass rusher in the NFL.

            Mike: The Steelers, who lost Joey Porter in free agency, will look more at Lawrence Timmons LB from Florida State to help fill Porter's shoes.

 

16) Green Bay Packers (Mike): Marshawn Lynch, RB- California

            Mike: The Packers need help at the running back position, and they lack an overall playmaker on offense. Lynch is the type of guy who could be a rookie of the year candidate.

            Cliff: Lynch fills a need for the Packers and would make this an offense with some potential to surprise next year. If Greg Olsen is still available he's a possibility.

 

17) Jacksonville Jaguars(Cliff): Reggie Nelson, S- Florida

            Cliff: Nelson is my favorite player in this draft and the Jaguars need a safety. They could also use a wide receiver in Jacksonville, so Ted Ginn or Robert Meachem could be chosen with this pick.

            Mike: The Jags are a team who always seem to be on the brink of greatness. I like the pick of Nelson because when you have to play the Colts and Peyton Manning twice a year you need as many athletic guys in the secondary as you can possibly have.

 

18) Cincinatti Bengals (Mike): Ted Ginn Jr., WR- Ohio State

            Mike: The Bengals will be without Chris Henry for half the year and with Ginn you not only have a guy who can return punts and kickoffs, but also a good character guy which is just what the Bengals need right now. A wide receiver group of Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Ted Ginn is not that bad.

            Cliff- I love this pick for Ginn and the Bengals. The biggest knock on Ginn is he won't be a number one receiver at the pro level, but in Cincy he won't have to be. He'll make this offense even more potent with his return ability on special teams and his speed in the slot. Cincy fans would also love if the team took the Ohio product.

 

19) Tennesseee Titans (Cliff): Darrelle Revis, CB- Pittsburgh

            Cliff: Most people think WR is the Titans' biggest need, but I don't see it that way. Even with Pac-man Jones the Titans needed another corner because Reynaldo Hill doesn't cut it as an NFL starter. Without Jones it makes corner and even bigger need, and Revis is going to be a good one. If Pac-man can come back from his suspension, he and Revis will combine to give opposing quarterbacks fits in the future. Revis can also fill in for Jones returning kicks. The WR class is so deep in this draft that the team can address the position later on.

            Mike: Is it just me or are all of these teams picking 12-21 all the same? I look for Tennessee to go wide receiver here because you have to give the future of your franchise, Vince Young, some toys to play with. Otherwise who on this Titans offense really scares you?

 

20) New York Giants (Mike): Paul Posluzny, LB-Penn State

            Mike: The Giants need a lot of help everywhere, and Posluzny is a guy who could play linebacker for the G-Men for a very long time.

            Cliff: The Giants had a ton of injury issues at linebacker a season ago and Posluzny can provide them with depth for now and step in and be an impact player in the future.

 

21) Denver Broncos (Cliff): Justin Harrell, DT- Tennessee

            Cliff: The Broncos don't have many holes, but the defensive line could use some depth. I see tackle as more of a glaring weakness, so the pick for me is Harrell over defensive end Jarvis Moss out of Florida.

            Mike: I think that Cliff is being a homer with this pick. The Broncos picked up so many guys in free agency that you have to wonder if they just go with the best player available and pick up Aaron Ross from Texas.

 

22) Dallas Cowboys (Mike): Lawrence Timmons, LB- Florida State

            Mike- The Cowboys need help at the linebacker position, plus its too early to pick a holder.

            Cliff- The Cowboys need a linebacker, so Timmons makes sense for Dallas. Jarvis Moss is another player who would fit the 3-4 OLB position very well.

 

23) Kansas City Chiefs(Cliff): Robert Meachem, WR- Tennessee

            Cliff- At some point the Chiefs have to get someone other than Tony Gonzalez to throw the ball to. You'd have to think they'd snatch up Meachem should he fall to them.

            Mike: Meachem in Kansas City would be a good fit, and he could be a sleeper when it comes to Fantasy Football with the Chiefs having both Larry Johnson and Tony Gonzalez.

 

24) New England Patriots (Mike): Brandon Meriweather, S- Miami

            Mike: New England has a knack for drafting players who are the best available, and Meriweather helps to fill some of their pressing needs.

            Cliff- I think Rodney Harrison just got hurt again. Meriweather will be a playmaker in the Pats' secondary for many years.

 

25) New York Jets (Cliff): Aaron Ross, CB- Texas

            Cliff- Corner is a pressing need for the Jets who may be only a piece or two away from winning a playoff game this year. Andre Dyson is getting older and Justin Miller doesn't look like anything more than a return man and nickel back, so they go with the best available corner in Ross.

            Mike: The AFC East is basically a two team division with New England and the Jets. Since the Patriots went and signed all those receivers in free agency look for the Jets to get something to combat those additions.

 

26) Philadelphia Eagles (Mike): Michael Griffin, S-Texas

            Mike: The Eagles do not have much at safety with Sean Considine starting at one spot and only three safeties on the entire roster.

            Cliff: Michael Lewis left the Eagles for San Francisco so Philly desperately needs a safety. Griffin is the only safety left worth a first round pick

 

27) New Orleans Saints (Cliff): Chris Houston, CB- Arkansas

            Cliff: The Saints most glaring weakness last year was at corner. They have to upgrade over Fred Thomas to take the next step to being a Super Bowl team. I think Houston will be the best corner to come out of this draft.

            Mike: The Saints are in unfamiliar waters as they are drafting near the end of the first round. Houston is the type of guy who might be able to challenge for playing time early in the season.

 

28) New England Patriots (Mike): Dwayne Bowe, WR- LSU

            Mike: New England is the type of team where it always seems they have that one player who falls into their lap and Bowe is no exception this year. In our mock draft he fell, but he won't fall past New England.

            Cliff: New England went nuts on receivers in free agency and drafted Chad Jackson early last year so I can't see them taking Bowe. I expect them to look for more help in the secondary with Eric Wright or Marcus McCauley, or possibly take a versatile offensive lineman a la Justin Blalock or Arron Sears.

 

29) Baltimore Ravens (Cliff): Joe Staley, OT- Central Michigan

            Cliff: The Ravens depth chart has a blank at starting right tackle, and Staley would be a good pick here for Baltimore. He's not known by most casual fans, but he's every bit as good as Levi Brown who's a projected top 10 pick.

            Mike: If the Ravens depth chart says they have no right tackle then this is a position they probably need to address.

 

30) San Diego Chargers (Mike): Steve Smith, WR- USC

            Mike: The Chargers need help at the wide receiver position desperately, and when you win 14 games like they did in 2006 there is not much that you need.

            Cliff: I think this will definitely be a receiver here, but I was leaning toward Smith's teammate Dwayne Jarret or Bowe if he is available. Either way it fills the only need for the Chargers.

 

31) Chicago Bears (Cliff): Jon Beason, LB- Miami

            Cliff: With Lance Briggs threatening to never wear a Chicago uniform again the Bears need to find his replacement. Beason is a guy who was ultra productive in college and will fit in nicely with a staunch Chicago defense.

            Mike: The defending NFC champions have some question marks, but with Briggs's future uncertain in Chicago Beason will be the pick here.

 

32) Indianapolis Colts (Mike): Eric Wright, CB- UNLV 

            Mike: Wright will help sure up a secondary that at times last season had question marks. In all likelihood he will not play next year but at some point you need to add depth at one of your weakest positions.

            Cliff: If the Colts don't match the Saints' offer sheet on Jason David Indy will be without both starting corners from last year's title team since Nick Harper has already signed in Tennessee. Wright has been moving up draft boards, and with no defensive tackles worthy of this pick look for the Colts to go with the corner out of UNLV.

 

Other potential first-round picks:
Dwayne Jarrett, WR- USC

Zach Miller, TE- Arizona State

Arron Sears, OL- Tennessee

Justin Blalock, OL- Texas

Ben Grubbs, OG- Auburn

Ryan Kalil, C- USC

Jarvis Moss, DE- Florida

Anthony Spencer, DE- Purdue

Marcus McCauley, CB- Fresno State