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Mel Kiper's first round
January 21. 2008

Pick Team Player Position College
1 Detroit Matthew Stafford QB Georgia
2 St. Louis Andre Smith OT Alabama
3 Kansas City Mark Sanchez QB USC
4 Seattle Michael Crabtree WR Texas Tech
5 Cleveland Aaron Curry LB Wake Forest
6 Cincinnati Jason Smith OT Baylor
7 Oakland Jeremy Maclin WR Missouri
8 Jacksonville Eugene Monroe OT Virginia
9 Green Bay Malcolm Jenkins CB Ohio St.
10 San Francisco Aaron Maybin DE/OLB Penn St.
11 Buffalo Brandon Pettigrew TE Oklahoma St.
12 Denver B.J. Raji DT Boston College
13 Washington Brian Orakpo DE Texas
14 New Orleans Vontae Davis CB Illinois
15 Houston Everette Brown DE Florida St.
16 San Diego Knowshon Moreno RB Georgia
17 New York Jets Percy Harvin WR Florida
18 Chicago Tyson Jackson DE LSU
19 Tampa Bay Josh Freeman QB Kansas St.
20 Detroit (from Dallas) Rey Maualuga LB USC
21 Philadelphia Chris "Beanie" Wells RB Ohio St.
22 Minnesota Hakeem Nicks WR North Carolina
23 New England Brian Cushing LB USC
24 Atlanta Larry English DE/OLB No. Illinois
25 Miami Darrius Heyward-Bey WR Mryland
26 Baltimore D.J. Moore CB Vanderbilt
27 Indianapolis Peria Jerry DT Mississippi
28 Philadelphia (from Carolina) Michael Oher OT Mississippi
29 New York Giants James Laurinaitis LB Ohio St.
30 Tennessee Michael Johnson DE Georgia Tech
31 Arizona LeSean McCoy RB Pittsburgh
32 Pittsburgh Alex Mack C California

that would be a GREAT first round. I dont think Mualuaga will be around at 20 though

If Me is on target, which is not always the case, there will be many OL to choose from at the top of Rd 2, including the top OG. My guess would be there might be a good CB there at that spot as well.

Interestingly, if the draft were to play out in this manner, the Lions would be looking at the following alleged first round talent with the first pick of the second round. I think any of these guys would be starters for a long time.

OT Eben Britton
OC Max Unger
OLB Clint Sintim
CB Alphonso Smith

It's just nice to see that there is a very likely chance for the Lions to nab so many quality players. If they botch this up, it would be pretty sickening.

Brace yourself.

If the draft played out like that I would look at Duke Robinson or Macho Harris at the top of the second.

I would have to take a long hard look at safety William Moore ou of Missouri.

Haven't seen him play and don't know much about him but I have heard that he has looked terrible at the senior bowl practices.

Seriously, if Sanchez and Stafford get drafted in the top 5 I'm going to drop a log. They are such a reach it is sickening. There is so much incredible D talent sitting there that there is no need to waste a top 5 pick on either of them.

I've never liked Mel's drafts.

me neither. I actually pay more attention to Maylock from NFL network.

He think Cushing is the best of the bunch of USC players, followed closely by Clay Matthews Jr, who will probably be a steal in late 2nd, or 3rd round. He's also high on Curry.

If Maualuga is around at 20, I'd be suprised.

Mel is getting paid off by somebody's agent. I take his mock drafts with a grain of salt. This draft is like 2005 where there are no top flight QB prospects, so they are created by the media and a front office is dumb enough to be fooled. I doubt we go QB at #1, but the Chiefs definitely will not be taking a passer. With Thigpen showing promise in 08 and Croyle showing promise in 07, it would be a complete idiot move by Scott Pioli. I believe at least one QB will drop outside of the top 10 in this draft, but teams like the Redskins,Jets and Bears wont let him slide by them.

I've watched a handful of the Sr. Bowl practices on NFL Network and I'm more impressed with Cushing and Matthews than Maualuga at the moment.

On Aaron Curry, Mayock said, "I can't find a hole in his game." That is some seriously high praise.

I thought Aaron Curry wasn't in the Senior Bowl.

Curry did not show, same with Laurinitis and the corner/safety from OU.
Hope they show at combine. In my opinion not showing at senior bowl was a mistake.

If- BIG if- it played out like this I would take Aaron Curry #1. Don't care for either QB, Smith is too expensive vs. Oher. Don't need Crabtree.

Smith isn't worth it if Oher is at #20. So Oher with #20.

Top guard in Duke Robinson at #33.

Boston College DT Ron Brace at #65

The rest is too expansive to project. Most or all D, w/ possible KR.

Dump all QBs but Orlovsky and Stanton, bring in one FA. Fill holes in FA and call it a wrap. 8 wins- EASY. Mmmm. Honolulu Blue Raspberry Kool-Aid good.

Forget Maualuga. Guy is one dimensional. Hits hard, but reportedly overpursues and is poor in man coverage.

-ILMP