Fletcher's Mock Draft*

That is, as of Tuesday and assuming no teams trade any picks. I DO think that multiple teams WILL trade picks, but this mock is if everyone stays in their spot. I will say who I think they should take in some cases or in other cases who I think they will take, DESPITE who I think they should. And don't worry draftniks, we will have Paul Mac weigh in with his thoughts before the Falcons draft in the No.24 spot (or whenever they trade down! wink!)

No.1 Detroit Lions select Georgia Quarterback Matthew Stafford. No brainer. And anyone who doesn't think this kid's arm and QB skills somehow won't make it in the NFL, I laugh at you. This kid was better than anyone gave him credit for at UGA. He made all of the throws. He led them into Baton Rouge, Tuscaloosa, Columbia, Jacksonville and Tempe and walked out a winner. His arm may be the best the NFL has seen since Elway (sorry Cutler) and his moxie will be better suited in the Pros than it was in Athens. He was a Pro QB just serving a three-year prison term at UGA and we could all tell that. I wish him the best and realize that he was a Sunday QB just playing on Saturday. (As a Georgia fan, I am excited about the next few seasons with several Saturday QBs in Cox and Murray ready to take the snaps)

No2 Rams. Eugene Monroe from UVa. The Rams raid Charlottesville once again for its top pick and they get the top LT in the draft. WHY? Because I've seem him work and he IS. SORRY Andre Smith. Sorry Jason Smith. Monroe is the real deal.

No3 Chiefs. Michael Crabtree from TexTech. This is a pick that SHOULD happen. Could you imagine Bowe on one side, Crabtree on the other with Cassel throwing it up off the Larry Johnson play-action. Heck, if they keep Gonzo, then this team could be a big-time sleeper. Honestly though, Haley could have Arizona east with this QB and potential WR combo.

No4 Seattle. Aaron Curry from Wake. "The safest, surest pick in the draft." A linebacker that doesn't sack the QB. Snore. But I think he would do just fine beside Lofa in Seattle. SOME ONE has to chase around Larry Fitzgerald!

No5 Browns. Mark Sanchez from USC. He is the future here because I think BQuinn gets traded to SanFran for SOMETHING. Not sure Quinn warrants the No.10 overall pick, but maybe a #2 and #3 or something along those lines. Derek Anderson can hang out a year or two then Sanchez will be ready to take over.

No6 Bengals. Jason Smith from Baylor. This guy will get taken ahead of Andre Smith because teams love his workouts. I never remember him clearing any big holes or protecting the Baylor QB in his time in Waco, but apparently teams love him. (This is one of those "what they WILL do picks.")

No7 Raiders. BJ Raji from BC. This guy has THA RAIDERS written all over him. From the name to the potentially failed drug test. A space-eater that Al Davis loves and he is like a baby Sapp. Since that was an easy pick, did you see The Hills last night when the therapist asked Spencer "Tell me something you are thinking right now," and he responded "OK, I feel like I am in a nightmare!" I was expecting him to say, "Aren't we in the tree, in the nest?" Great stuff. And how could Heidi forget that they DID get married in Mexico.....right? And what was up with that Jayde chick not wanting Brody to even TALK to Audrina? Come on. Possessive much? Like that chick in Obsessed.

No8 Jaguars. Brian Orakpu from Texas. The pass-rush gets a little help. They might be a little bummed Sanchez isn't there, but they should cheer up. This Longhorn was unstoppable at times last season. And PS, I was thinking about this the other day, is Mack Brown the least insufferable coach to win the NCAA BCS title in quite some time? Urban, Les, and Urban were all pricks. Before Mack, Carroll was a bit...enh. Stoops is a monster and so is Saban. Larry Coker I guess would be a niceguy. Tressel cheated to get his title. So yeah, Mack Brown. Not that bad of a dude after all.

No9 Green Bay. Everrett Brown from FSU. Is he a DE? Is he a DT? Doesn't matter. He's hard to block. He can get after the QB and he will help run after Sage, Aaron and newcomer Cutler in Chitown.

No10 49ers. Andre Smith from Alabama. How can so many teams pass on this guy? While not as good as Eugene Monroe, he is 9753X better than Jason Smith. Andre was great at Alabama and he will protect whomever is back under center. And has an organization ever neutered a coach IMMEDIATELY after officially hiring him quite like SanFran did with Singletary by bringing Stafford in for another interview after MS said "Never on my team!"? Take that! Why don't you pull your pants down again!

No11 Bills. Tyson Jackson from LSU. The Bills need DEFENSE DEFENSE DEFENSE and Tyson Jackson would bring JUST THAT. The Bayou Bengal may find it a little cold in upstate New York, but he'll heat up the pass rush in a hurry.

No12 Broncos. Robert Ayers from Tennessee. What was the problem last year for Denver? (Besides Cutler utterly choking down the stretch last season?) The DEFENSE. That is why trying to get a RB should be on the backburner. Grab Ayers who probably should be a late 1st round talent but instead because of need, will be much richer than he should be. And you will see that in the NFL over the next few years that the 08 Tennessee team had some serious talent on the defensive side of the ball. Maybe Fulmer was right to get the ax.

No13 Washington. Michael Oher from Ole Miss. As a Redskins fan, I would LOVE to get another QB (because Campbell was a waste and I think it is right to go ahead and flush him!) but I wouldn't take Josh Freeman because he is Campbell version 2.0. I'd love it if Andre Smith fell, but he won't. WHY? BECAUSE HE IS GOOD! So the Skins will settle for Blindside's Michael Oher. He has the raw talent to where he should excel. The line needs some youth so here we go. Do it Danny! Take Oher!

No 14 Nawlins. Beanie Wells from Ohio State. Durability is a question, but that makes him PERFECT for New Orleans, with Deuce and Reggie and their injury history! Seriously though, why not take this "Big" back to pair with Reggie and allow you to cut Deuce loose. True, you should probably go after defense, but why not give Brees another weapon and try to copycat the Cardinals in trying to win the Super Bowl with strictly O-ffense!?

No15 Houston. Jeremy Maclin from Mizzou. Andre Johnson gets double-teamed all the time. This might give Schaub another viable option and with a steadily improving defense, maybe Houston finally makes the playoffs? It COULD happen, right? Well maybe not, but Maclin could at least return some punts. He is exciting!

No16 San Diego. Brian Cushing from USC. Some people are calling for Knowshon here, but with LDT and Sproles both making BIG TIME money, why tie up more cashish in that position? Especially when you don't know if Shawn "Cheater" Merriman will ever be what he was? Take the LB as insurance. you can NEVER have too much defense.

No17 Jets. Percy Harvin from Florida. Yes, this is a reach but my thinking is that the Jets won't draft Josh Freeman, instead going with a weapon for Kellen Clemens. Harvin is another undersized WR with durability issues, but he is a playmaker that the offense would need and he can return punts.

No18 Broncos. Peria Jerry from Ole Miss. MORE beef for the defense. I don't care that Kyle Orton is the QB. The offense still has Brandon Marshall to catch passes. The offense will be fine. The defense will be built like New England was built and Josh McDaniels attempts to do what Weis, Crenel and Mangenius couldn't. Good for McDaniels. He gets his Seymour and Wilfork in his first two picks.

No19 Bucs. Clay Matthews from USC. The former walk-on turned into a first round pick. Hmmm. Hearing him recently on a local radio station, the kid seems like he has his head on straight. Now, could that just have been the roids talking? Don't know...

No.20 Detroit. Eben Britton from Zona. The Lions follow the Falcons mold by taking the franchise QB with the first selection then a LT to protect said franchise QB with a second first round pick. Good for Detroit...follow the Falcons mold. It worked for them! Too bad Detroit's airport still leads to 98 suicides a year (that was a guess)

No21 Eagles. Knowshon Moreno from Georgia. Perfect pick for this team. KM24 fits RIGHT in with what they do. He can catch the ball on a screen, turn it up field and score. He can block. KM24 is the nextgen of Bryan Westbrook. Won't even miss a beat. Too bad he will have to probably take care of McNabb's beard during his rookie year. The rookie Hazing thing is just stupid. How does it bring you together? "Oh, you treated me like crap all last year, but let's be BUDS now!" F-YOU, is what I would say.

No22 Vikings. Alphonso Smith from Wake. Hmmm two first round picks from Wake and went to a BCS bowl in a weak ACC, right? Wait, they DIDN'T? Hmmmm, maybe these guys aren't as good as they are projecting out to be? MAYBE? But taking overrated players is NOTHING new for Minnesota. Sorry Adam. But I will give the local kid some love. You GO, Boy! (not as popular as "You go girl!" I guess I need Oprah on my side, which she isn't because her girlfriend-I mean editor thinks Chris Brown should apologize to HER!)

No23 New England. Vontae Davis from Illinois. SOME ONE has to cover TO twice a year, right? Honestly though, New England needs a talent infusion in the defensive secondary. He is a good start.

No24 Atlanta. Fili Moala from USC. I don't know why, but I've been high on this kid ever since last season. I think he is a space-eater up front that Atlanta needs now that Gravy is gone and the team never replaced Rod Coleman after his runin with a Manitee. WHICH NEVER HAPPENED.................. Seriously though, this Fili kid should fit RIGHT IN with Mike Smith's defensive philisophy. I will have to ask Paul Mac his opinion, but unless they trade back, I have to think that Fili is the pick.

No25 Miami. Aaron Maybin from Penn State. GOSH, as a quasi-Falcons fan (hey, I like to see them win because it gets me more airtime and more callers to my Sunday show during the season. I'm selfish, what can I say?) I hope TD doesn't take this asshat with his #24. I'd rather the Falcons trade back then take this future waste of space. This guy has "Defensive Blair Thomas" written all over him. Honestly, name the past first round draft pick from Penn State that wasn't a bust? Kerry Collins? That is a ways back. And tell Panthers and Saints fans he wasn't a bust. Curtis Enis anyone?

No26 Ravens. William Beatty from UConn. Replacing Jonathan Odgen is a tough task. They got the one kid (From Auburn?) but you can ALWAYS use bodies on the front, right? Although maybe they should address their defensive losses? Rey Maualuga possibly? Nah, they'll go offense.

No27 Indy Colts. Darrius Heyward-Bay from Maryland. With Harrison out, plug Heyward-Bay in. Another weapon for Peyton. Because that's all he needs...... Speaking of needing things, Fletcher needs another Braves whipping boy now that Blaine Boyer has been traded. Who will Fletcher pick on now? Ummmmm Moylan? No, he is funny. Maybe Kotchman some more? Sounds good. Especially with Freddie Freeman just a few years away.

No28 Bills. Clint Sintim from UVa. Two first round draft picks from UVA in a weak ACC? They were in a BCS bowl game right? No? Did they underachieve? Oh, wait, Al Groh is the coach. THAT'S what happened. He just happens to be Jim Donnan at a school that doesn't care as much as UGA does. Sintim, along with Tyson Jackson will help the Bills get a defense going again.

No 29 Giants. Kenny Britt from Rutgers. They cut Plax loose. Will they get Braylon Edwards from Cleveland or Bolden from Zona? Why not just take this 6'2 target at a fraction of the cost? Oh, because he isn't proven. But he is still cheaper. And in this economy...

No30 Titans. Brandon Pettigrew from Okie State. I know Ziggy Hood would probably be better to help the team recover from the loss of Haynesworth, but how do you turn down Pettigrew when Bo Scafie and Alge Crumpler are your best options? You take Pettigrew and score touchdowns. The Titans were a Crumpler fumble away from advancing to the AFC title game last year.

No 31 Arizona. Rey Maualuga from USC. They might look at the Brown RB from UConn but with Rey Maualuga sitting there, how do you turn that down? This is one of those "What they SHOULD do" picks. Take Maualuga. THAT'S WHAT YOU DO.

No32 Pittsburgh. Evander "Ziggy" Hood from Mizzou. Pittsburgh loves the defense and this guy is just a plug-in and play guy. He would fit right in there in the Steel Curtain defense because he isn't flashy and wouldn't need to be with Harrison and Troy getting most of the pub.

SO there you have it. My first round mock board. I think Cleveland unloads BOTH Braylon and Brady and possibly gets two more first rounders. I think Washington trades (either up or down, not sure which). Could the Jets make a play? Maybe.
Maybe I'll do another mock by Friday....Good to be back.