Mock Draft Time

The Counselor is IN:

Saturday April 25 and Sunday April 26 is the NFL Draft. The Draft has become a huge deal for all NFL fans. Mock drafts are extremely popular. The Fantasy Sports Counselor is trying his hand at it below. If you would like to try your hand at it before Saturday's kickoff, you can join a Mock Draft Challenge at either Cowboys Pride or Sports Jabber, I know I did.

I will be blogging the draft live on FSC.

1. Detroit - Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia

Stafford is the consensus pick with this point. Detroit could also pick OT Smith or OLB Curry but I would bet on Stafford.

2. St. Louis – Jason Smith, OT, Baylor

Smith is a no brainer for the Rams after losing LT Pace to Chicago.

3. Kansas City - Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest

Curry is the best player in the draft. The Chiefs badly need to revitalize their defense and Curry may be the next coming of Derrick Thomas.

4. Seattle – Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia Mark

I am not confident with this pick. I could see them going with Crabtree to bring in their WR of the future to go along with Housh. I could see them pick a stud DL like Orakpo or Raji or Maybin. Many believe that they will pick QB Sanchez as the future replacement for Hasselbeck. But with their stud LT Walter Jones coming to the end of his career, I think they will go with Monroe.

5. Cleveland – Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech

The Browns could also go many ways but with Edwards being shopped by Cleveland, they will need a go to receiver for Quinn. Crabtree is the best WR in the bunch and may be a steal at five. If Edwards is not moved, then they may go with a defensive line stud like Raji.

6. Cincinnati – B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College

The Bengals have plenty of needs. If Crabtree is still around, he might be too much temptation to avoid. Their biggest needs are their lines and Raji is a stud. With the allegations against him proven false, I think Raji will be their pick.

7. Oakland - Jeremy Maclin, WR, Mizzou

With Al Davis making the calls, you never know who he will draft. Davis does love speedy WRs. Maclin is the second best WR in the draft and he is plenty fast. There are faster WRs in the draft but none with Maclin’s abilities.

8. Jacksonville – Trade Pick to Denver

8. Denver – Mark Sanchez, QB, Southern Cal

After trading off Cutler, Denver needs a QB of the future. Denver will be a good destination for Sanchez and he could compete this year with Orton. It is more likely for Sanchez to ride the bench for a year and then take the reigns. They could focus on their defense but they are only going to trade up to get their QB of of the future.

9. Green Bay – Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas

The Packers will be very excited if Orakpo falls to them at nine. They are switching to the 3-4 and need a OLB/DE hybrid and Orakpo is the best one on the board.

10. San Francisco – Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn State

Mike Singletary is a defensive kind of guy. He wants to improve the 49ers and he will do it with his stamp on them. Maybin has great potential and should be a great pick for the 49ers.

11. Buffalo – Everette Brown, DE/OLB, Florida State

The Bills need a pass rusher. Brown is quick and powerful enough to get to the QB.

12. Jacksonville - Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss

Jacksonville is looking for a stud lineman. They could have taken Oher at Eight but was still able to pick him up while trading down, paying less for him, and picking up an extra late round pick.

13. Washington – Andre Smith, OT, Alabama

LT Chris Samuels is not a spring chicken. Smith can come in and start at RT and develop as their LT of the future. They could take Oher here if he is still on the board.

14. New Orleans – Malcolm Jenkins, DB, Ohio State
The Saints could go for a complimentary RB for Bush or a stud LB but I think they will try to fill their need in the secondary. Jenkins can play either CB or Safety but will probably be their starting CB.

15. Houston – Brian Cushing, OLB, Southern Cal

The Texans need to upgrade their safeties badly but should be able to find a major upgrade in the second round. They need a RB to help out Slaton and may be tempted by Wells. They could use another good DE to rush the passer but they did spend the money in free agency so that will not be their top priority. They also need a stud OLB and Cushing is just what they orders.

16. San Diego – Rey Maualuga, ILB, Southern Cal

The Chargers are looking for the best player available. Maualuga has been free falling on the draft board for a couple of months and this is a great value pick for the Chargers. Maualuga is a from USC and should fit in just fine in San Diego.

17. NY Jets – Chris “Beanie” Wells, RB, Ohio State

The Jets could try to move up for a chance at QB Sanchez or go after a WR like Heyward-Bey. Thomas Jones is aging and Wells can be RB of the future for the Jets.

18. Denver (f/CHI) – Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU

The Broncos need a stud DE. Jackson is a speedy intense defensive playmaker. It is a chance that they may have selected Jackson at 12 if they had not traded up.

19. Tampa – Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State

The Bucs have not have a QB to get excited about for many years and Freeman appears to have the skills of a Pro QB. The Bucs could easily try to fill some of their Defensive needs with this pick but I think Freeman is too inviting for them to pass up with this pick.

20. Detroit (f/DAL) – Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee

The Lions could easily go OL with this pick. I think they will look to help their poor defense with a pick like Ayers.

21. Philadelphia – Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia

The Eagles need a stud TE and RB to compliment Westbrook. Moreno will be a great change of pace to Westbrook and Moreno will be an every down back if Westbrook is injured. Moreno is a good blocker and could be on the field with Westbrook as a WR.

22. Minnesota – Eben Britton, OT, Arizona

The Vikes are looking OL and CB help. Britton is a rock solid RT. They could look at Center or CB Davis but I think they will go with a tackle.

23. New England – Clay Matthews, OLB, Southern Cal

The Patriots need to develop youth in the linebacker corp. Matthews is a really good OLB and may be better than his highly touted USC counterpart- Cushing.

24. Atlanta – Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State

The Falcons need a top notch TE. Pettigrew is the best in the class. He can catch and block which is a plus in this TE class. They will be very excited if Pettigrew is still available at 24.

25. Miami – Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois

The Dolphins could draft any numerous players with this pick. They could pick a DL or LB. It is likely that they will check out the WRs at this level. With Davis still out there, I think Parcells will try to shore up his secondary with this pick.

26. Baltimore – Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland

The Ravens need a WR that can make plays. Heyward-Bey is a very fast but also big target. He should have been off the board much earlier. This pick will help Flacco instantly.

27. Indianapolis – Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss

The Colts need a run stopping tackle to help plug the leak up the middle. Jerry is a perfect fit for them. They could pick a WR at this spot but I think they will go with Defense.

28. Buffalo (f/CAR via PHI) – Alex Mack, C, California

The Bills can go a lot of different ways with this pick. I think they will be looking to pick up a good lineman. Mack can play several different roles on the OL.

29. New York Giants – Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers

The Giants need a WR that can makes plays for them like Burress used to. Britt is a big WR like Burress. They may choose to go with WR like Harvin.

30. Tennessee – Evander Hood, DT, Missouri

The Titans need to find a DT after losing Haynesworth. Hood is not at that level yet but he was a stud at Mizzou and should develop into one with the Titans.

31. Arizona – William Beatty, OT, Connecticut

Beatty has a ton of potential as a O-Lineman. Arizona is looking for the best player to draft.

32. Pittsburgh – James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State

The Steelers pick up a steal (literally) with picking Laurinaitis at the very end of the first round.

The Counselor is OUT: