33. Detroit Lions – Evander Hood, DT Missouri
With the thirty third pick the Detroit Lions select the disruptive and athletic Missouri defensive tackle Evander "Ziggy" Hood. Magee had a fairly productive season this past year with 62 tackles, 7 tackles for a loss and 5 sacks not to mention he has all the intangibles and numbers that the Lions should be looking for in a DT at 6'3" 300. Ziggy is the type of big bodied disruptive pocket collapsing defensive lineman I believe new Head Coach Jim Schwartz will love as he knows how to get into the backfield and with the right coaching I think he'll be the dominant force inside that Detroit needs, not to mention he can learn from long time NFL veteran defensive tackle Grady Jackson and hopefully help fill the void opened up since Corey Redding is now a Seahawk and considering the Lions have absolutely nothing at the defensive tackle and Ziggy has a wealth of potential and could possibly be gone before the Lions select again, so I think he needs to be the pick. He kicked it up a notch at the Scouting Combine where he looked speedy and very strong as he pressed among the most for the defensive line group and his first day and almost first round potential was cemented when he threw up the barbell 36 times at his Pro Day and ran well and did positional drills well to boot, a very solid pick for the Lions.34. New England Patriots (from Kansas City) – William Moore, S Missouri
With the forty-seventh selection, the New England Patriots select the strong safety potential weakside linebacker 'hybrid' from Missouri in William Moore. The Patriots are in dire need of finding a replacement for Rodney Harrison who I believe has played his last downs in the NFL. William Moore is a bigger safety who has spent time at free safety and strong safety and who would probably play WLB in a 4-3 if it were up to some scouts but I believe that the Patriots would covet his versatility. He's a big hitter and will be that dominating presence in the secondary that the Patriots lacked this season. However, I do believe that at the Scouting Combine William Moore tested well enough to get back into consideration as a safety, he ran well, he looked good in the defensive back drills and he was all around smooth, I think with him getting over his injury concerns he can focus on his pro career and make a name for himself. Regardless, this pick could also be an OT but considering the talent available at this pick they would have to reach on one, so they select William Moore to pair with their current safeties and give them a youthful and dynamic safety core.35. St. Louis Rams – Jamon Meredith, OT South Carolina
With the thirty-fifth selection, the Rams make the smart selection in grabbing the athletic and mauling tackle from South Carolina in Jamon Meredith. Meredith is not as massive or imposing as any of the 1st round tackles like Jason or Andre Smith but I think he'll be the better tackle in the long run and considering the Rams were likely to pounce on Jake Long had he slipped to number two last year there is no way they don't go out and grab one of the top tackles on the board at this point. I think Meredith is the better fit for what the Rams plan to do with Coach Spags now in place as the Rams would like to feature Jackson heavily and take some of the pressure of Bulger who has been an absolute catastrophe this past year. Bringing in Meredith to play opposite Alex Barron should help out the Rams ailing offense, especially in the red zone. I believe Meredith will make his mark and start his career off as a RT now that Alex Barron is the new starting LT. I think Jamon Meredith is the perfect compliment; he may be an athletic guy but he also very strong and can be the type of prototypical right tackle the Rams need to replace Barron who is better suited as a LT based on skill set. With the addition of Jason Brown at Center and if Barron can hold up at LT and Meredith makes a splash at RT, the Rams offense could be completely different this coming season as opposed to last season.36. Cleveland Browns – Donald Brown, RB Connecticut
With the thirty sixth selection, the struggling Browns select the big and productive back from Connecticut, Mr. Donald Brown. In all likelihood, Jamal Lewis has played his last season with the Browns, he's lost all his get up and go and is looking more like a slug coming through the hole than a truck. If the Browns can get Brown they can team him up with Jerome Harrison and have the two-headed beast of a backfield that is becoming the norm with NFL teams nowadays. For the Browns, teaming up the speedy Harrison and talented and tough Brown will do them some good, not to mention take some of the pressure off whoever is at QB as they pound the rock against division opponents who enjoy milking the clock with their beast running games as well. Brown has proved to be an upper echelon back and he is an absolute steal here for the Browns as he is considered by some to be one of the top backs in this draft and Cleveland gets him here in second round without lifting a telephone… Well, it did cost em' K2 but I feel that he has looked great and performed really well, especially at the combine (though I was hoping he would run a little bit faster) and I just feel his power style makes him more valuable to a teams like the Browns who already have their speedy cut back guy who can take screens the distance, catch out in the flats and exploit a weakened defensive line in the third and fourth quarters. Plus, Brown playing for the Browns makes sense, right?37. Seattle Seahawks – Louis Delmas, S Western Michigan
With the thirty-seventh selection, the Seattle Seahawks select the versatile safety from Western Michigan in the hard hitting field general Louis Delmas. The Seahawks need some serious retooling in their secondary and I think it begins with getting rid of Brian Russell and moving Deon Grant to SS as he is better served as an in the box safety. Louis Delmas has seen his stock drop a bit after providing an underwhelming 12 on the Wonderlic but his style of play and on the field presence dictates something entirely different and I highly doubt Seattle can pass him up as he is a defensive playmaker with 12 career picks. I believe Louis Delmas has come on like gangbusters since the Senior Bowl, he looked really good there leading his defense, barking out calls and making plays and it only continued at the Scouting Combine and Pro Day work outs where he ran well, looked fluid in position drills and was all around outstanding. Delmas is the kind of player Jim Mora Jr. would love to have on his team and would give the Seahawks another young defensive leader to go along with Lofa Tatupu and Marcus Trufant. I think Delmas will be a starter from day one and will make the Seattle secondary much more sound and productive since they really were exposed last season, especially Kelly Jennings and Josh Wilson.38. Cincinnati Bengals – Alex Mack, C/G California
With the thirty-eighth selection, the Cincinnati Bengals put tabs on one of my personal favourite players in this year's draft, the man beast from California with a mean streak a mile long in Alex Mack. Alex Mack is a big and nasty lineman with limitless potential and projects as a quality center in the NFL as he was a man of many talents for California. Mack is a solid offensive lineman who can play just about every position on the offensive line, so not only is he a tremendous value at this point in the draft he is a great pick up because he can replace the vacated center Eric Ghauicic at center as well as any other offensive linemen for playing time as he is too good to leave on the bench and his versatility will save the Bengals a roster spot on game day which is huge nowadays considering all the offensive sets teams like to employ, which allows the coaches to dress to impress, in terms of best usable talent of course. Alex Mack is incredibly strong at the point of attack and knows how to place his hands and control opposing defensive tackles without getting pushed around and that'll be monumental if he wants to play in the AFC North as he will be forced to be deal with some big mothers in the middle like Haloti Ngata, Casey Hampton and Shaun Rogers. His pass set is great as he is a natural knee bender with very quick feet, he is also incredibly smart when it comes to on the field awareness and makes the correct calls in terms of blocking assignments but he is going to have to make sure he can seal blocks at the second level as it will be integral for him to seal off guys like Ray Lewis, James Farrior and D'Qwell Jackson. I feel that he looked really impressive at his Pro Day where he needed to look good after not working out at the combine and I feel that with his versatility he has all the potential and talent to be a first round pick, but the Bengals are more then happy to get him here.39. Jacksonville Jaguars – Jeremy Maclin, WR Missouri
With the thirty-ninth selection the Jacksonville Jaguars select the explosive and talented wide receiver from Missouri in Jeremy Maclin. Maclin is the kind electric player who can take a short bubble screen or slant route to the house in no time at all, he also adds great versatility as being one of the most explosive kick returners available in the draft and with the likelihood of Reggie Williams not being brought back to fill the void at WR, the Jags will be looking for a quality receiver and they have plenty of spots to fill now that Porter and Jones are gone and all that is left is the inconsistent Dennis Northcutt and ball-dropping Troy Williamson and I believe Maclin is the answer to bolstering their pass as he'll be a quality target for David Garrard and either way, the Jaguars need help at WR and Maclin is the kind of guy they need on their team, Maclin has great hands and catches almost everything and he has a great run after the catch demeanor and he doesn't go down easily and will always fight for the extra yardage and that's impressive from a guy his size as the Jaguars need this kind of tough player to spark some life into their offense, essentially Maclin can be the Maurice Jones-Drew of the passing game, though he may seem small and fragile for being a 6'0" receiver, he'll fight you the first chance he gets and fight for every inch and though some Jaguar fans may think he is a reach, I think he is tremendous value as Maclin is by far a lot of people's number two receiver and with a serious need at this position, the Jags would do well to grab the Missouri speedster.40. Buffalo Bills (from Oakland) – Michael Johnson, DE Georgia Tech
With the fortieth selection, the frigid Buffalo Bills select the long necked, huge bodied speed rusher from the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets program in Michael Johnson. Michael Johnson has seen his stock fluctuate exponentially after his senior performance as he was at one point a potential top ten selection based on potential and ability but then he slid all the way into the mid second round after the season where his production didn't match his skill set and now after blowing up at the Scouting Combine and Pro Day it is hard to fathom where he will be drafted. But for years, the Bills have had nothing opposite DE Aaron Schobel and they were able to get by because he was a relentless machine but as soon as he went down, the Bills lost all pass rush which leads me to believe they'll make Michael Johnson their pick as he has all the potential in the world to become a star and would give the Bills a very dangerous defensive line with Schobel back from injury, and tackles Stroud and Williams clogging the middle. I believe Johnson will start his career as a rotational player because of the issues with his motor and consistency and eventually he could play the RDE spot and rush the passer but it is really up to MJ himself if he wants to reach his full potential and become a boom over a bust as he definitely has a high ceiling… but he also has a very low basement… and someone made an awful mess down there.41. Green Bay Packers – Larry English, DE/LB Northern Illinois
With the forty-first selection, the Packers select the defensive end outside linebacker hybrid from Northern Illinois in the devastating Larry English. I think he fits the build of a player Ted Thompson would covet, he's a high motor defensive lineman who can stand up and has all the natural tools to rush the passer as English was an absolute force his entire time at Northern Illinois tallying 57 tackles for a loss and an astounding 32.5 sacks. Not to mention, when you consider the current crop of linebackers the Packers have, none really stand out as a rushing outside linebacker and I think they would be well served to select English who has an incredibly high ceiling and could flourish in their new 3-4 system. Although English may seem like he should go earlier than this point in the draft a sub par combine workout may be the key to him falling here and considering the Packers and Ted Thompson are known for going with the best player available, I feel they may be inclined to select English because I think they need to spice up their pass rush first and I believe he may be the key as he would be able to compliment Aaron Kampman who will be standing up as a player who has experience getting to the quarterback on a regular basis but is playing out of position. The Packers should be able to harness English's explosive ability and in a few years he could be incredibly dangerous coming off the edge.42. Buffalo Bills – Shawn Nelson, TE Southern Mississippi
With the forty second selection the Bills get the second best TE in the draft though it may seem like a bit of a reach for a tight end, the Bills needs his skills badly in Southern Miss's Shawn Nelson. They have released Robert Royal and that leaves them with the two Derek's, Fine and Schouman… and neither of those two deserves to be the starter for the Bills so they go and grab Nelson. Nelson is a solid TE prospect who could stand to put on some weight as he can still be considered a "rocked-up" wide receiver at 6'5", 240+, he has the frame to add some weight to better produce in the run game as a blocker but considering what he did to Rey Maualuga I think he may be ok. On the other hand, as a pass catcher he is definitely qualified to become a new weapon for Trent Edwards and gives the Bills QB a new target underneath as a safety blanket and this selection would also go towards helping the Bills even more as it'll give Lee Evans and Terrell Owens more opportunities over the top as someone will have to keep an eye on Nelson. I feel he really raised his stock through the Senior Bowl and Combine and him dropping Rey Rey will be a highlight of that week. Some might consider this to be a gargantuan reach but I think Shawn Nelson is an absolute freak and I've always been a big advocator for him as I feel he was slighted for going to a smaller school, he has speed, hands, blocking ability and all the abilities one might ask for from their tight end43. San Francisco 49ers – Phil Loadholt, OT Oklahoma
With the forty-third selection the San Francisco 49ers select the mammoth offensive tackle from the Oklahoma Sooners in 'Big' Phil Loadholt. The 49ers have had a real problem keeping their quarterback upright this past season and it is integral for the team to get some consistency from the big men up front. Big Phil has seen his stock rise with some great play at the Senior Bowl and fairly decent combine workout where he has even proven that he might be able to be a left tackle in the NFL, however, the 49ers have already selected their franchise left tackle of the future in the draft two years ago when they traded up to select the Central Michigan OT Joe Staley who is far more athletic and has more potential upside and considering the 49ers released last years starting RT Jonas Jennings, it is now time to book end Staley with the massive Loadholt. Big Phil is a beast in the run game and will help pave open holes for Frank Gore and help keep QB Shaun Hill or Alex Smith upright. I think Loadholt is deceptively good in pass protection and gets a lot of needless flack because of his lack of athleticism, but when he gets his hands on you, it is over and he'll drive you into the ground. Add Loadholt to current starters Staley and Heitmann, factor in Davis Baas, Adam Snyder and Chilo Rachal and hopefully the 49ers will be able to concoct a starting lineup that will bring them back to the glory days, or at least put them on the right track.44. Miami Dolphins (from Washington) – Duke Robinson, OG Oklahoma
With the fourty fourth selection the Miami Dolphins select the mammoth offensive guard from the Oklahoma Sooners in Duke Robinson. Bill Parcells has always been a fan of drafting big, sloppy offensive linemen and turning them into studs and Duke Robinson fits exactly that, he is a big and sloppy offensive lineman at 6'5" 325 lbs. This is a huge steal for the Dolphins as I have Duke Robinson ranked in my top twenty-five players and with him falling all the way to fixty six and with the Dolphins having had a real problem with the size and girth of their interior linemen he seems like a perfect addition to bring some stability to one of the guards positions. Duke is a big and hefty offensive lineman who has fairly good speed and quickness for a man of his stature, he mauls defensive linemen in the run game and is very nimble on his feet when in a pass set, though he does have the occasional mental breakdown that gets the quarterback hit, but I feel with great coaching and the tough Tony Sporano getting everything he can out of his players, I think Duke will help out big time and when pairing him up with Jake Long, Vernon Carey, Jake Grove and Justin Smiley would give the Dolphins an even bigger and tougher offensive line ready to maul defenders in the AFC East.45. New York Giants (from New Orleans) – Clint Sintim, LB Virginia
With the forty-fifth selection, the Giants select the pass rush specialist from Virginia in Clint Sintim. The Giants don't have many needs but they could definitely stand to upgrade their linebacking core as they have a lot of solid special teams guys but no real impact player, Clint Sintim is one of my top 25 players and with him available here I can't imagine the Giants being able to pass him up as they plug him into the strongside backer role which has seemingly become a revolving door for the Giants as they can not really find anyone to stay there for more then a season or so. I feel they need to bring in some young talent to compete and bring the heat and Clint Sintim is the kind of player than can do that better than maybe any other collegiate linebacker save for potentially Zack Follett. This past season he tallied 11 sacks to go along with a stellar 13 tackles for a loss. He is a defensive playmaker that will help the Giants immensely as he'll be another player to bring intense pressure along with stellar defensive ends Mathias Kiwanuka, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora. Essentially, this pick is best player available and since the Giants addressed their wide receiver need with the first selection, they can easily afford to grab Sintim since they still have another second round selection, this is just a case of the rich getting richer and though Sintim isn't necessarily a three down backer I believe he can become one as he just needs to be coached the finer points of pass coverage and he's good to go, but on first and second down, he brings it.46. Houston Texans – Patrick Chung, S Oregon
With the forty-sixth selection the Texans grab Patrick "Everybody Wang" Chung, the hard hitting safety from the Oregon Ducks. Chung is the type of hard hitting, in the box, run stuffing strong safety the Texans really need in their secondary. He can do a lot for the Texans secondary that has really never had an elite safety to hang their hat on, they've gotten by on vagrants and journeymen but now the Texans will have a monster and if Dominique Barber pans out as well, the Texans could have a very talented and young safety duo. Patrick Chung has been a solid and consistent player in the Oregon secondary since his freshman year and just continues to get better and better, he's a tackling machine, he's a ball hawk and he's very dangerous when he has the ball in his hands as well as he was known for his return skills early in his career before his full time duties at the safety position took precedent. I know the Texans and especially Texan fans are high on this guy and considering they were able to fill one need at strong side linebacker with their first round selection, they sure up the defensive secondary with this selection and adding to the front four that is already in place to go along with the talented linebackers and defensive backs and the Houston Texans might finally have a defensive unit that can keep up with their offense.47. New England Patriots (from San Diego) – Percy Harvin, WR Florida
With the twenty-third selection in the NFL draft the Patriots select WR Percy Harvin. Bill Belichick is a big fan of drafting Florida WRs and Percy Harvin is probably the best one to come out in a long time, more consistent and explosive than Chad Jackson and aims to be a better athlete and receiver then Jabar Gaffney. The Patriots could use another weapon in the slot while Welker and Moss get double covered and considering Gaffney's mental lapses in missing catches and the Patriots offense lacking a pure slot receiver I think they go WR and Percy Harvin fits right into what the Patriots want to do with their offense and provides who ever starts at QB with another weapon, not to mention he also has spent time in the backfield and can also be a change of pace back on third down, his versatility is something the Patriots and specifically Tom Brady, will absolutely adore now that Jabar Gaffney has joined former OC Josh McDaniels in Denver. Percy Harvin looked extremely explosive at his Pro Day coming in and out of cuts and I think he has moved himself into first round contention, I was never really a big fan of his but his talents are too much to pass up and though the Patriots traded for Greg Lewis something tells me he won't be more then a special teams guy, kind of similar to their acquisition of Kelly Washington a couple seasons ago. I feel Percy will be the slot weapon they'll cherish who can also line up in the backfield and be that third down compliment back, kind of similar to how they use Kevin Faulk, only Harvin is far more explosive.48. Cincinnati Bengals (from Denver) – Robert Ayers, DE Tennessee
With the forty-eighth selection that Cincinnati acquired in their first round trade, the Bengals select absolutely sky rocketing Tennessee Volunteer defensive end Robert "Ay-Ay-Ay" Ayers. Robert Ayers has really seen his stock rise from a potential mid second day prospect to a now mid first day prospect, though he doesn't have the sack numbers scouts are looking for I believe his best days are ahead of him. I feel that after his Senior Bowl performance he can now be considered an early second round selection to as early as a mid first round selection if someone really values his talent enough. I feel that he also helped himself again by performing very well at the Scouting Combine and considering Marvin Lewis and company could some added pizzazz on their defensive front where Antwan Odom and Robert Geathers just aren't producing like they should be, Ayers seems like the perfect pick. Ayers has all the potential to be a high quality player who can get to the QB he just needs someone to keep on him and work him hard and I think Marvin Lewis is that kind of coach and like I said before, I fully believe that his best football is ahead of him and I think he can be a dangerous defensive end. I believe he'll start his career as a rotational player and situational pass rusher and eventually he could play the RDE spot and rush the passer for the Bengals and give themselves a young and dynamic defensive line with Peko and Sims in the middle and Odom, Ayers and Geathers rushing the passer.49. Chicago Bears – Ramses Barden, WR Cal Poly SLO
With the forty ninth selection the Chicago Bears select the behemoth wide receiver from Cal Poly SLO in Ramses Barden. Ramses Barden is a monster who was unstoppable at Cal Poly, he finished his career with over two hundred receptions, over four thousand yards and fifty touchdowns. Production like that on any level is amazing and considering he has the build to be a solid NFL possession receiver the Bears should really into drafting him. They have speed threats in Hester and Davis and a slot guy in Earl Bennett but they need a redzone target like Cutler had in Denver with Brandon Marshall. Barden won't beat you vertically but he'll make you pay with jump balls, moving the chains on third down and inside the twenty. He will be contested at the next level by physical press cover corners but when he learns to beat the jam he could be scary.50. Cleveland Browns (from Tampa Bay) – Rey Maualuga, LB USC
With the fiftieth selection the Cleveland Browns select the intense inside linebacker from Southern California in Rey Maualuga. This pick might seem like overkill for Browns fans but considering he is probably the best player available and he fills a need I can't imagine Mangini passing him up. The Browns need to replace Andra Davis inside and get a young stud to put next to their other game breaking inside backer in D'Qwell Jackson and backup Leon Williams, Rey Maualuga would be a nice compliment to either of those backers. I think Maualuga has slipped into the second round because of some injury woes during the scouting combine, a lackluster senior bowl week and a moderately successful pro day that doesn't completely take him out of first round consideration. I feel he is a down player in a 4-3 but that he can be a 3 down player in a 3-4 and considering his hitting ability, his intensity and his potential I think the Browns would be getting a solid pick to build up their front seven again. With Wimbeley and Orakpo rushing the passer and Jackson and Maualuga inside, their linebacking group could go from weakness to strength if everyone reaches their potential.51. Dallas Cowboys – Rashad Johnson, S Alabama
With the fifty-first selection, the Cowboys select what seems to be their most pressing need in a game changing safety who can be a presence in the run game and ball hawk in the secondary and Rashad Johnson is without a doubt the best player who can fill that void where Roy Williams and Michael Hamlin are not pulling their weight own weight. The Cowboys season can be summed up by their Saturday night late season battle against the Ravens, good until the end. The Cowboys played well until it mattered and then imploded as Willis McGahee and LeRon McClain ran over and through their safeties. Bringing in Rashad Johnson should be able to help them as he is a solid safety who can play the run, make the sure tackles and is a ball hawk as is evidence by his 11 career picks in the SEC, a notoriously brutal conference for cornerbacks and safeties alike. However, considering the Cowboys history this pick could potentially be a NT to spell Jay Ratliff or an ILB to replace Zach Thomas but considering no player is really worth the selection the Cowboys would be foolish to let Johnson go. I think Johnson really helped solidify his first day selection with his scouting combine and Pro Day workouts where he looked fast, fluid and aggressive and I think the Cowboys will likely put him at free safety and move Ken Hamlin to strong safety where I believe he is better suited considering his skill set.52. Philadelphia Eagles – LeSean McCoy, RB Pittsburgh
With the fifty second selection, the Philadelphia Eagles select the versatile back from Pittsburgh in LeSean 'Shady' McCoy. I feel the playoff game against the Giants proved that though Westbrook is a solid weapon running and catching the ball but when it comes to the goal line he has absolutely no value unless he's catching passes out of the backfield or being used as a decoy. The Eagles proved to me that they need a bigger back to replace him who can put his head down and move the pile and lucky for them but also do all the things required of a west coast running back and since Shady, is the best running back that is still on the board he is far too valuable to pass up at this junction regardless of Andy Reid and the Philadelphia Eagles front office's stance on drafting. He's sort of built in the mold of a bigger Brian Westbrook as he can make the first tackler miss with a little shimmy and a shake but he also has enough get up to be able to go the distance when he gets into the second level, though he is faster back with home run hitting ability, he has all the strength and abilities to be the kind of back to wear down a defense with carries between the tackles so that later in the game Brian Westbrook (or Lorenzo Booker) can gash them for big gains. Shady has had his long speed called into question though after running poorly at the Scouting Combine and that might make some teams a bit wary of selecting him and with his Pro Day workout behind he has solidified himself as the third back, but he is definitely not a first rounder anymore and hopefully if he can get back to game form after being so sick for the combine so he should be ready to carry the rock and be a welcome addition to the Eagles locker room.53. New York Jets – Ron Brace, DT Boston College
With the seventy-six selection in the draft the New York Jets select the massive defensive tackle from Boston College in Ron Brace. After all their spending in free agency the Jets have very few needs on either side of the ball but towards the end of the season it was evident that Kris Jenkins was wearing down and if the Jets are going to have a big time playoff run this year they're going to need him fresh so they bring in the fresh legs of Brace to help out big Kris. Ron Brace is an absolute beast at 6'3" 334 lbs. and he was an absolute force opposite teammate B.J. Raji and despite his size and explosion he still put up incredibly impressive numbers from his defensive tackle position including 27 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss and 3 sacks. Bringing in these massive fresh legs to spell Jenkins will only help the Jets defense dominate with Rex Ryan at the helm. This pick could very well be quarterbacks like Rhett Bomar or Nate Davis but I think GM Mike Tannenbaum is going to stick with Clemens and Ratliff for now.54. Minnesota Vikings – Max Unger, C/G
With the fifty fourth selection the Minnesota Vikings select the versatile offensive lineman from Oregon in Max Unger. Unger is a solid offensive lineman who can play any position on the line, so not only being tremendous value at this point in the draft he is a great pick up because he can replace Matt Birk at center and even though fans are high on John Sullivan, Max Unger is an immediate upgrade and he is also a great addition because he can play either guard spot or even replace Ryan Cook at right tackle. Though Unger is a great and talented offensive line he could stand to get stronger at the point of attack as he has a tendency to lose control of some of the bigger defensive tackles and he'll get pushed around and stood up but his pass set is fine even though he could stand to play lower, but he really needs to work on his run blocking and making sure he can seal blocks at the second level, he looked really could at the Senior Bowl working against some of the elite defensive tackles in this class and at the scouting combine as well and with his versatility he has all the potential and talent to be a first round pick but he falls down to here because of the concerns I previously mentioned. Regardless, Max Unger's talent is too much to pass up here and it'll give the Vikings another young and talented offensive lineman to plug into their line up to help pave the way for Adrian Peterson.55. Atlanta Falcons – James Laurinaitis, LB Ohio State
With the fifty-fifth selection, the Atlanta Falcons take the best defensive player available who has really slipped in my opinion since his poor Combine Performance in Ohio State inside linebacker James "Baby Animal" Laurinaitis. Like I mentioned, I believe that Baby Animal has seen his stock drop tremendously because of a poor performance at the Scouting Combine where he showed tight hips and poor long speed. However, I don't feel that he's that player as the tape on him shows how productive and aware he is of what is going and that he's the kind of linebacker who can cover, play the run and do pretty much anything else asked of a talented linebacker. The Falcons have some good linebackers, Curtis Lofton will be a stud but Keith Brooking and Michael Boley have moved on and that leaves them with Coy Wire in a starting spot… I'm sure Falcons fans don't want to drink that one in so I believe selecting Baby Animal gives them the ability to fill the void left by those underachievers and replace em' with a playmaker who can go sideline to sideline as Animal Jr. is big enough to play strongside backer and he will be a great when paired up with Curtis Lofton. I know a lot of people see Laurinaitis as a middle backer but I feel he is best served as an outside guy and the Falcons are really in need of one.56. Miami Dolphins – Cody Brown, DE/LB Connecticut
With the fifty-sixth selection the Miami Dolphins select the explosive and tightly wound Connecticut Huskie hybrid defensive end outside linebacker Cody Brown. The Dolphins did a lot to help their team by re-signing Yeremiah Bell, Channing Crowder and Vernon Carey, as well as signing Gibril Wilson, it sures up most of their defensive needs and allows them to go best player available with this pick and there is no doubt in my mind that Cody Brown is the kind of player Bill Parcells wants playing for him, he has incredible versatility. He has experience with his hand in the ground and while standing up as well and considering his 24 career sacks and 45.5 tackles for a loss, he knows how to disrupt opposing offenses and hurry the quarterback, he still may need to put on some weight to better play the run and shed blockers, but I definitely think he needs to be the pick here considering his upside. I feel he really impressed scouts at the Senior Bowl and Scouting Combine, despite running a slower time then I would have liked, but he showed to be loose in the hips, solid when it comes to staying tight to the line in pursuit of the quarterback and I think though he will definitely need to put some weight on. Luckily for Brown, he'll be able to learn from Joey Porter and compete with Matt Roth for time at the other OLB spot.57. Baltimore Ravens – D.J. Moore, CB Vanderbilt
With the fifty-seventh selection, the Baltimore Ravens select cornerback D.J. Moore from "Love is a Battlefield" Vanderbilt. Moore has all the potential to be late first to early second round selection but because of a slow forty time he falls to the Ravens here. Moore, like a couple other corners in this draft is a bit of an undersized at 5'8" and just over 190 pounds but he surely plays bigger than he is listed at. The Ravens still have some serious age at the cornerback position despite releasing Chris McAllister and Samari Rolle as veteran Frank Walker is still on the roster so they could use some added youth in the secondary as Fabian Washington is proving to be a valuable pick up and he needs a solid corner across from him. Though the Ravens did sign Domonique Foxworth from the Falcons I feel he is best served as a nickel corner because of his smaller stature and considering Moore is a potential first round selection there is no way Ozzie Newsome passes up his value towards the end of the second. I think that putting him across from Washington with the veterans mentoring them would give them an incredibly quick and ball hawking secondary, however, he would need to take lessons from the great corners and safeties already on the roster to improve his gameplay and keep his size from being an issue.Trade Alert:
58. Pittsburgh Steelers (from New England) – Jarron Gilbert, DT/DE San Jose State
New England sends: #58 overall
Pittsburgh sends: #64 and #132 overall
With the fifty-eighth selection, the Super Bowl champions Steelers move up in the draft by trading their 2nd and 4th round selections to the Patriots to select the Spartan Army superstar in Jarron Gilbert. I think with the guys available on the board the Patriots would like to move back and get some more selections and I think Gilbert is definitely a guy the Steelers would love to grab as he is another player who has seen his stock rise dramatically and it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility to see him soar even higher than I currently have him. Regardless, the Steelers will draft him to play 3-4 defensive end alongside incumbent veterans Aaron Smith who is getting up in years and the big bodied Casey Hampton in the middle. This pick will make the Steelers defense even stingier than it already is. The Steelers could also potentially reach on an offensive lineman like Eric Wood from Lousiville or Jamon Meredith from South Carolina, but with Gilbert's skill set, upside, impressive numbers (22.5 tackles for a loss and 9.5 sacks for a DT!) I think he needs to be the pick. He's strong enough to play the run as a base end and he has more than enough zip and skill to be a credible pass rush specialist on passing downs giving the Steelers another defensive player who can get to the QB and making their defensive unit that much scarier.59. Carolina Panthers – Victor Harris, CB Virginia Tech
With the fifty-ninth selection, the Carolina Panthers select the solid cover cornerback from Virginia Tech in the mighty moustached Victor "Macho" Harris. Victor Harris is a game changing cornerback, he is great in pass coverage and he's an amazing special teams player. In his senior season he had 44 tackles, 8 pass break ups, 6 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles and 2 return TDs. The Panthers could use more help at corner since Richard Marshall is struggling to keep his starting spot and Ken Lucas is testing the waters in free agency after his release and while Chris Gamble is locked up, the Panthers will need someone alongside him. I think Harris is the best fit as he can start on all your special team groups day one and play the nickel and dime defensive packages right away. Harris is the kind of corner I think John Fox would covet as he is great in man to man coverage and is not a liability when left alone on an island and I feel that is what Carolina wants to see from their cornerbacks. I feel his abilities are very similar to Brandon Flowers who came out last year and made a huge impact for the Chiefs, he has great cover and ball skills to track and make plays on the long ball and he'll stick his nose in the backfield and play the run. Putting Harris on one side and Gamble on the other will give the Panthers an incredibly talented pass defense however, this selection could be a defensive end to replace Julius Peppers but considering the guys on the board, I think they go corner.60. New York Giants – Coye Francies, CB San Jose State
With the sixtieth selection the rich continue to get richer with the Giants selecting the talented San Jose Spartan warrior cornerback in Coye Francies. Francies has great size and instincts, he's quick to react to the ball when it is in the air and then can make a play on it. He is great in run support and he is an all around talented cornerback and will benefit the Giants secondary that is already quite talented with Webster and Ross starting and Thomas waiting in the wings. The only thing that might limit Francies in making the transition from college athlete to NFL starting corner is his long speed as he ran poorer then I expected him to run in the forty yard dash as he clocked in at 4.56 when I was expecting around 4.46, but I don't think Coach Coughlin will be overly critical about his corners speed considering he now has two great safeties playing over top and Francies is a very physical corner who jams well at the line of scrimmage and plays man to man well and not to mention, he will also stick his nose in the backfield in the run game and is not afraid to hit someone and make some noise, after that he has all the tools to be an elite cover corner and I think he is BPA that also fills a need.61. Indianapolis Colts – Derrick Williams, WR Penn State
With the sixty-first selection, the Indianapolis Colts select the speedster and elusive return man from Happy Valley in Derrick Williams. Williams is a tad undersized and his measurables won't jump out at you but plain and simple, the boy gets it done, he is an explosive player who is great after the catch and is a solid return man as well and considering the Colts need help at both positions and love drafting guys from the Big 10, it seems like a natural fit. As for the Colts, there is no denying that they are looking to get younger and with Marvin Harrison phased out, the Colts will need a new weapon and Williams is that kind of player, he has great hands, he has the potential to be a great route runner and though he doesn't necessarily have the career production to back it up, he definitely has the talent. Williams has made a name for himself playing on Saturdays but I think it's on Sunday where he'll really shine, especially with Peyton Manning throwing to him. I think his combine workout really hurt him as he ran slow, he jumped poorly and lacked any sort of real explosion, but when you put the game tape on, it is all there and the boy can get it done and like I said, the Colts GM likes to go to the Big 10 to get his players and last I remember, Penn State has been dominating there for quite some time. Regardless, he is talented and riddled with potential and with Peyton Manning helping out, he should have a stellar career ahead of him.62. Tennessee Titans – Sen'Derrick Marks, DT Auburn
With the sixty second selection the Tennessee Titans select the Auburn defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks. The Titans have very few needs and really don't much but they could use some more depth inside at defensive tackle. Jason Jones will be a stud in the future and Jovan Haye is a solid addition but I feel they still need another defensive tackle and Sen'Derrick Marks should fit in nicely. He has good speed as he used to play defensive end for Auburn so he and Jason Jones should be able to put serious pressure on the quarterback with Vanden Bosch and Kearse. Marks could stand to get stronger so he can be stouter at the point of attack but I feel that once he is introduced to an NFL training regiment he can become a better defensive tackle and play to his size and he is a tad underwhelming considering his stature.63. Arizona Cardinals – Eric Wood, C Alabama
With the sixty-third selection, the Arizona Cardinals put tabs on the tough lineman from Louisville in Eric Wood. Wood is a big, nasty and limitless potential prospect and projects as a quality center in the NFL. With this recent Super Bowl run the Cardinals are proving to have very few weaknesses on offense, but establishing the running game is definitely one of them, if the Cardinals can balance their offense, dominate the clock and keep their defense off the field it will do wonders for them and I think Wood may be the key component in doing that and in most cases, I believe he will start from day one as well as he has a tremendous amount of upside and football IQ. He has the versatility to play center or guard for many years; he finishes blocks and is great in space, not to mention he anchors well in pass protection. He is without a doubt the next center on the board and even though Lyle Sendlein has played well in the playoffs, Wood is an upgrade at any interior position save for maybe Reggie Wells and with Sendlein's tendencies to botch snaps and step all over Kurt Warner's feet, I think he could definitely upgraded and by drafting Wood it also gives the Cardinals great depth should anything happen as Sendlein has proved that he can start and be productive but he has some minor flaws he still needs to exercise out. I feel that he looked really impressive at the combine and even better at his Pro Day and I feel that with his versatility he has all the potential and talent to be an early second round pick, but the Cardinals are more then happy to get him here.64. New England Patriots (from Pittsburgh) – Fenuki Tupou, OT Oregon
With the sixty-fourth selection the another rich team gets richer so to speak as the New England Patriots select the versatile offensive tackle from Oregon in Fenuki Tupou. The Patriots moved back with the Pittsburgh Steelers to allow them to grab Jarron Gilbert as there was really no one on the board that fit the Patriots needs so they moved back, picked up some extra selections and now they have the opportunity to select Fenuki Tupou who can be a great offensive tackle and take over for the inconsistent (but Canadian!) Nick Kazcur or potentially move inside to guard if Stephen Neal isn't re-signed as he is 33 years old and probably not going to be re-signed and it is likely that the Patriots don't go into the season with a fresh faced youngster without any game time experience there. With that being said, I think the Patriots draft Tupou as a tackle to eventually replace Matt Light at left tackle by moving Kazcur over since I doubt Light will be re-signed considering the Patriots stingy approach to handing out extensions. I think Tupou is a bit of a project but a year in the system and allowing him to learn from the Patriot offensive lineman, I think he will be ready to be the protector of Tom Brady in a year. However, this selection could also be the best player available on their draft board as the Patriots have a lot of guys with expiring contracts coming up and they probably won't re-sign the entirety of them.
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