Throughout the next couple of months I’ll take a look at each position group leading up to the 2012 NFL Draft. Where should we start? Well at quarterback, of course.

The Best in Class: Andrew Luck, Stanford
There are many scouts who are intrigued by Robert Griffin III’s skill set and natural feel for the game, so there will be plenty of people suggesting that Griffin should be the first signal caller off the board in April. But “pound for pound” Luck is still the top quarterback prospect in this draft, if not the top all-around prospect, period. What impresses me most about Luck is his pocket awareness. He anticipates pressure and reacts to it instead of looking for it at the snap. He also keeps his eyes down the field, which is an attribute that all of the elite NFL quarterbacks posses. He goes through his progressions well, displays sound footwork, and has a better arm than people give him credit for. He’s also extremely bright, as evidence of his ability to call plays at the line of scrimmage in Stanford’s offense, and you rarely see him get frazzled. At this point Luck looks like a safe bet at the top of the draft, which is saying a lot considering the position he plays.

The Challenger: Robert Griffin III, Baylor
It appears that the Colts are set on taking Luck with the No. 1 overall pick but Griffin has plenty of time to change their minds. A smart, savvy player with the ability to create using his arm or his legs, Griffin has improved as a passer every year he’s been at Baylor. He has very good arm strength and can fit the ball into tight windows at the second level. He’s also a natural athlete with a high ceiling and plenty of room to grow if a team surrounds him with the right coaching staff. The main knock on Griffin is that he isn’t comfortable taking snaps from under center and isn’t particularly strong at reading the blitz at the snap. But he seems more “boom” than “bust” and certainly has the attention of fans in Cleveland.

Don’t Sleep On: Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State
Weeden isn’t drawing the same attention as Luck, Griffin, or even Texas A&M’s Ryan Tannehill. But at 6-foot-4 with a big, accurate arm, Weeden is worth a long look for quarterback-needy teams looking to either move up into the late first round or early second. His age (28) might scare teams away but the fact remains that he has all of the physical attributes and intangibles that pro teams look for in a quarterback. There are some concerns about his inconsistency and he has a habit of forcing throws into coverage, but he could be a perfect fit for teams like the Jets, Seahawks or Broncos.

Mid-Round Sleeper: Ryan Lindley, San Diego State
The biggest knock on Lindley is that he needs to improve his overall footwork and coordination inside the pocket. Thus, this isn’t a prospect that a team can plug into their offense and have him start in year one or two. But at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, Lindley looks the part and has very good arm strength. He can make all of the throws at the next level and is an accurate passer. He would be perfect for a team that already has its starter in place but is looking to groom a developmental quarterback for down the line (i.e. the Giants, Falcons or Packers).

Sporting News draft analyst Russ Lande writes that Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore is in danger of being undrafted following a poor week in Mobile for the Senior Bowl.

Coming to Mobile, Moore needed to really step up, but things could not have gone much worse for him. Not only did he measure under 6 feet, but he showed below-average arm strength and lacked accuracy on passes longer than 10 yards. He did not show the arm strength to make all the NFL throws with good velocity and had a long delivery and release, which made it easier for defenders to break, close and make plays on his passes. Moore will have to be amazing at the Combine and his pro day if he hopes to get drafted.

This isn’t all that surprising of a report. Moore isn’t the type of quarterback who will force defenses to cover the entire field because his arm strength is limited. His lack of size also becomes a problem when a defense is able to create pressure from the interior and push the pocket into his face. He simply has a lack of physical skills that cannot be overcome, even by a great combine or Pro Day performance.

But that doesn’t mean that Moore won’t prove to be a quality backup or provide depth at the next level. He’s very accurate with the football, has good pocket awareness and he’s able to decipher information quickly. Thus, he shouldn’t be discouraged if he isn’t drafted because he does have a future in the NFL if he gets in the right system.

You draftniks ready for another year of speculation, frenzy and intrigue leading up to this year’s NFL draft? Here are five players to keep an eye on this Saturday the 2012 Senior Bowl kicks off from Mobile, Alabama.

Nick Foles, QB, Arizona
The consensus ranks Stanford’s Andrew Luck and Baylor’s Robert Griffin III as the top two quarterbacks in this year’s draft, but who will be the third signal caller to come off the board? Some like Texas A&M’s Ryan Tannehill but keep an eye on how Foles plays this weekend. He’s a big kid at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds and made strides as a senior this past year despite playing behind two freshman tackles. Arm strength definitely won’t be a problem but his accuracy and decision-making has often been questioned throughout his collegiate career. Once Luck and Griffin come off the board in the top 10 picks, Foles could be selected anywhere between the first and third rounds. Thus, this is one player that could definitely improve his draft stock with a strong showing in Mobile.

Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina
Top-rated defensive tackle Devon Still of Penn State will miss the Senior Bowl with a sprained big toe, so here’s Ingram’s chance to steal the spotlight. This isn’t regarded as a very strong draft for pass rushers but Ingram is a raw talent that can get to the quarterback in a variety of ways. He’s a three-technique defensive lineman who proved he could consistently beat blockers on the inside while at South Carolina. That said, 4-3 and 3-4 teams will take a long look at him because he exhibits a fast first step and good burst off the ball. He does a nice job of shedding blockers in the run game as well so again, he’ll intrigue teams that run a 3-4.

Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
USC’s Matt Kalil and Iowa’s Riley Reiff are projected to be the top two tackles taken off the board but Adams is already gaining some attention in Mobile because of his frame. He’s massive at 6-foot-7 and 323 pounds, with an 82 1/2 –inch wingspan and huge 11-inch hands. Despite his size, he’s a good athlete with natural bend and is being viewed as a left tackle at the next level (as opposed to some college prospects that are forced to move to the right side because of limitations in their game). He was suspended the first two games of the 2009 season for violating team rules, was cited in January of ’09 for misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia (chargers were eventually dropped) after being stopped for running a stop sign, and was part of the group that was suspended for “Tattoogate.” But he has all of the physical tools to become a top 15 pick in April.

Joe Adams, WR, Arkansas
The top receiver in this year’s draft, Justin Blackmon, is a junior, while Kendall Wright, Michael Floyd and Nick Toon have all been declared out of the Senior Bowl with various injuries. Thus, Saturday is a great opportunity for a guy like Adams to impress. He returned a punt for a touchdown in Arkansas’ victory over Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl, which was his fourth punt-return TD of the season. He’s a perfect fit in the slot because of his quickness and vertical ability, as well as the fact that he has trouble disengaging defenders at the line. He needs to improve as a route runner but NFL teams will definitely look at him as a returner and a potential No. 3 wideout.

Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama
Jenkins was overshadowed earlier in his college career by former top-10 pick Joe Haden (Browns) at Florida and then was kicked off the team his senior year following his arrest on misdemeanor marijuana charges (his second run in with the law). If he can stay out of trouble this kid has a ton of natural talent and could be a steal in the second or third round. He played a lot of man at North Alabama and has the ability to develop into a very good cover corner at the next level. Because of character concerns he’ll likely fall further in the draft than he should, but he’s got first-round talent.

There will be plenty of time to discuss whether or not the Indianapolis Colts should draft Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the No. 1 overall pick.

Plenty of nauseating time.

But for now, here’s the official order for the 2012 NFL Draft, minus the 12 playoff teams, that is. I’ll keep this list updated throughout the postseason so you’ll know exactly where your team will be selecting come April.

1. Indianapolis Colts (2-14)
2. St. Louis Rams (2-14)
3. Minnesota Vikings (3-13)
4. Cleveland Browns (4-12)
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12)
6. Washington Redskins (5-11)
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11)
8. Carolina Panthers (6-10)*
9. Miami Dolphins (6-10)*
10. Buffalo Bills (6-10)
11. Seattle Seahawks (7-9)**
12. Kansas City Chiefs (7-9)**
13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8)
14. Dallas Cowboys (8-8)
15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8)
16. New York Jets (8-8)
17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland)
18. San Diego Chargers (8-8)
19. Chicago Bears (8-8)
20. Tennessee Titans (9-7)

* - Order will be decided by coin flip at the scouting combine in February.

Don’t listen to observers when they say there’s no sense in handing out grades following the NFL draft. I agree with the notion that it generally takes three years before anyone can properly evaluate a team’s draft, but why should that stop anyone from making observations? After all, when a major trade breaks in one of the main four sports, do we say, “Damn, I really want to break down this trade but we’ll have to wait three to four years before we do because we won’t know how things will play out!” Of course not – we analyze the deal ad nauseam, share our opinions and then either bask in the news or cry ourselves to sleep. That’s one of the many things that makes sports great.

With that in mind, here are 32 quick-hit observations (one for each team) from the 2011 NFL Draft. I don’t like to hand out grades because a) everyone does them and b) they’re just not fun for me. But I did something like this after the 2009 draft and I figured it would be cool to do something similar this year. Feel free to tell me how wrong I am in the comments section or please, share your own opinions on another wild NFL draft.

1. Even the biggest Cam Newton supporters have to admit that the young man will be a major project for Carolina. He could wind up being in the Hall of Fame some day after leading the Panthers to three Super Bowls, but it’s going to take some time. He ran the spread option at Auburn – the kid will need a few years to learn and grow in a pro-style offense.

2. I love Von Miller the prospect but I don’t love Von Miller the prospect in Denver’s 4-3 defensive front. I wonder if one day we’ll look back at the Broncos’ selection at No. 2 and say: “They should have went with Marcell Dareus.”

3. Speaking of Dareus, how well did the Bills make out at No. 3? They needed to get more playmakers on the defensive side of the ball and now they have someone who they can plug in on Day 1 and watch him compete. They must have been ecstatic when he fell past Denver.

4. Andy Dalton isn’t a spectacular prospect but he’s a fit for Jay Gruden’s offense and hey, he wants to play for the Bengals (something that cannot be said about Carson Palmer). And I have a feeling A.J. Green will make people forget about Chad Ochocinco (and quite frankly, all of his attention-seeking ways).

5. The Cardinals had to be disappointed that Von Miller didn’t fall to them at No. 5 but Patrick Peterson isn’t a bad consolation prize. Ryan Williams in the second round was a bit of a head-scratchier though. I like Williams, but is he a fit in an already crowded backfield? Two value picks that I really liked: Sam Acho and Quan Sturdivant. Acho fills Arizona’s need for a pass-rusher and Sturdivant was considered one of the top inside LBs available in the draft.

6. Quite frankly, I love what the Falcons did by trading up for Julio Jones. Everyone says they gave up too much for one player and I agree. But one thing I haven’t heard anyone say is what the Falcons should have parted with in order to move up from No. 27 to No. 6. Without being able to package a player because of the CBA fiasco, the Falcons probably had to overpay in order to make it a can’t-pass deal for Cleveland. The Falcons are built to win now and give GM Thomas Dimitroff credit for having the stones to pull off a trade like this. If Bill Belichick did it, we would be lauding his aggressiveness. I also love the trade up for Jaquizz Rodgers in the fifth. What a steal.

7. Some people have said that Aldon Smith was a reach at No. 7. But if the Niners had him at the top of their board and couldn’t move down in order to acquire more picks, then I say more power to them. They had a need at pass rusher and they filled it. I think with the tutelage of Jim Harbaugh, Colin Kaepernick can be a solid starter in this league in 2-4 years. But be patient Niner fans – BE PATIENT.

8. I was just as shocked as anyone that the Titans took Jake Locker at No. 8 overall, but don’t forget that this kid would have been the top pick last year had him come out. He has great athleticism and intangibles, but he’ll be a project for Mike Munchak and his Tennessee staff. I love the Titans’ selection of Akeem Ayers in the second. Due to his production at UCLA, he could have easily been a first rounder but he fell (for whatever reasons), making him a great value pick for Tennessee.

9. The buzz around the Cowboys was rather quiet this year (at least compared to last April when they took Dez Bryant), but I really liked their draft. They wouldn’t have taken Tyron Smith in the first if they didn’t think he could fill in at left tackle and Bruce Carter was once considered a top-15 overall pick before tearing his ACL last November. It might take 2-3 years before he’s an effective pro, but what potential the combo of Carter and DeMarcus Ware has. If he can stay healthy, DeMarco Murray will turn heads in Big D as well.

10. Blaine Gabbert couldn’t have asked for a better situation to wind up in. He’s not ready to start as a rookie and now he can learn behind David Garrard for a year before assuming the starting role. Not many people know who Will Rackley was before the draft but let me tell you, he has drawn rave reviews over the past couple of months. Great find by Jaguars' GM Gene Smith at No. 76 overall.

11. Some Houston fans might be a little upset that the Texans didn’t draft a corner with one of their first two picks. But people have to keep in mind that Houston likes their young corners despite how they played in 2010. And if you have a secondary that struggles, you draft guys like J.J. Watt and Brooks Reed in order to beef up the front seven. I think Wade Phillips will do wonders with his new toys.

12. No matter what they’ve said following the draft, I honestly don’t think the Vikings had a backup plan for the No. 12 overall pick. I think they wanted Jake Locker and once he didn’t fall to them, they reached on Christian Ponder. That said, Ponder is a good fit for Bill Musgrave’s offense and Musgrave is heralded for being able to work with young QBs. If Ponder winds up starting as a rookie, it’s not like he doesn’t have weapons around him either. They also got good value in the second with the selection of Kyle Rudolph, and late round prospect DeMarcus Love, who can play either tackle or guard spots.

13. The Lions are being showered with praise after nabbing Nick Fairley, Titus Young and Mikel Leshoure – as well they should be. When he took over for Matt Millen two years ago, GM Martin Mayhew said that it would take a few years but he would add talent to the Lions’ roster. He’s done that in three-straight drafts and while there are massive holes that need to be addressed in the secondary, Mayhew has a plan and he’s executing it.

14. Robert Quinn could wind up being the best pass rusher in this entire draft, especially under Steve Spagnuolo’s guidance. The rest of the Rams’ draft was rather blasé to me, however. I like Austin Pettis and Greg Salas, but while they add much needed depth to St. Louis’ receiving corps, neither of them have off-the-chart athleticism.

15. Even though they didn’t take their quarterback of the future, the Dolphins landed a starter in Mike Pouncey, a feature back in Daniel Thomas (who is highly underrated in my opinion) and a prospect in Edmond Gates, who may contribute right away.

16. It’s hard to argue with Mike Shanahan’s strategy. He knew he needed to replenish the Redskins’draft with extra picks (which he did), and fill his roster with players that he handpicked. But I wonder if Ryan Kerrigan is a good fit for the 3-4. I loved him as a 4-3 defensive end prospect but was disappointed that the Skins snagged him because now he’ll stand up in a 3-4. Still, he's a football player through and through.

17. I love that Ryan Mallett wound up in New England. He’s a prototypical pocket passer and is a great fit for Bill Belichick’s version of the spread. He’ll also have zero pressure right away and can mature under the Patriots’ guidance for the next couple of years. (If nothing else, you know Belichick will trade Mallett for 17 first round picks if the time comes.) But while I liked that pick, I think it’s concerning that the Patriots failed to address their need at pass rush.

18. The Chargers did well with their first pick (Corey Liuget is going to be a nice pro) but just like the Patriots, they failed to address their need for a pass rusher. Jonas Mouton had just two sacks last year at Michigan so if the Bolts think that he’s the answer, they might be in for a rude awakening.

19. No, the Giants didn’t need another quarterback. But Prince Amukamara was a tremendous value at No. 19 and the G-Men did well with the selections of Marvin Austin, Jerrel Jernigan and Greg Jones in the middle rounds.

20. If you’re a Bucs fan, how could you not love what your team did this weekend? The one major need that Tampa Bay had heading into the draft was pass rusher and they walked away with Adrian Clayborn and Da’Quan Bowers (who could have went in the top 5 if not for the doubts surrounding his knee) in the first two rounds. Wow. Raheem Morris has something special brewing in Tampa.

21. GM Tom Heckert had a nice weekend. He did what any good GM would have done by accepting the Falcons’ generous gift of five picks for the No. 6 selection and then filling needs for the Browns by taking Phil Taylor, Jabaal Sheard and Greg Little. The Browns aren’t one Julio Jones away from competing and Heckert knows that.

22. The Colts’ draft wasn’t sexy but they filled major needs with the selections of Anthony Castonzo, Ben Ijalana and Drake Nevis in the first three rounds. Indy may have gotten three new starters out of those picks.

23. Eagle fans may have been ticked off that their team didn’t draft Jimmy Smith in the first round, but Danny Watkins could wind up being a future Pro Bowl-caliber guard and the team found great value with CB Curtis Marsh in the second. Philly also added great depth in Dion Lewis, Brian Rolle, Greg Lloyd Jr. and Casey Matthews in the later rounds.

24. Outside of maybe the Lions, the Saints arguably had the best draft out of any team this year. They hit home runs with Cam Jordan and Mark Ingram in the first, then came back in the middle rounds and added two talented players in Martez Wilson and Greg Romeus. A great team just got even better.

25. If Seahawk fans are upset following this weekend’s action, I don’t blame them. James Carpenter is a solid prospect and is versatile in that he can play either right tackle or guard, but he was a reach in the first round. K.J. Wright was a solid pick in the second but I’m not enamored with the selections of Richard Serman, Kris Durham and John Moffitt.

26. There’s a good chance that the Chiefs’ first three players - Jon Baldwin, Rodney Hudson and Justin Houston - will start this season, while Allen Bailey and Jalil Brown add good depth. Still, I wonder if Houston can make it as an OLB in a 3-4.

27. The Ravens took a gamble with the selection of Jimmy Smith but he may wind up being a steal at No. 26 overall. Plus, both he and second round pick Torrey Smith filled too huge needs for Ozzie Newsome’s team.

28. Things started off really well for the Bears, who took OT Gabe Carimi in the first and DT Stephen Paea in the second. But Chris Conte seems like a highly under whelming pick in the third, even though some believe he could wind up challenging for a starting spot. Still, the Bears had a nice overall draft and some scouts rave about sixth-rounder J.T. Thomas.

29. The Jets’ addressed their need along the defensive line with the selections of Muhammad Wilkerson and Kenrick Ellis, but they failed to add a pass rusher and I doubt Jeremy Kerley nor Scott McKnight filled the team’s hole at receiver. (No offense to either prospect, but the Jets probably should have addressed the position earlier in the draft.)

30. Once again, the Steelers found value in the draft. Cam Heyward should thrive under DC Dick LeBeau and both he, Marcus Gilbert and Curtis Brown could wind up starting as rookies.

31. The rich got richer as the defending Super Bowl champion Packers once again had a really solid draft. Ted Thompson must have taken about 10 seconds to decide on Derek Sherrod in the first, and then he came back in the second and added a highly versatile player in Randall Cobb. TT once strikes gold in April.

32. I thought for sure that Al Davis would take Ryan Mallett in the second, but Stefen Wisniewski was a solid selection for the Raiders in that round. Davis once again drafted speed, adding corners Demarcus Van Dyke and Chimdi Chekwa, as well as receivers Denarius Moore and David Ausberry.

On a side note, I wonder if a weekend filled with booing fans has changed NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's perspective on the lockout. Players are used to being booed, but suits like Goodell aren't. He seemed awfully uncomfortable when he walked up to the podium on Thursday night.

Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier has made it clear to the media in Minnesota that first round pick Christian Ponder will have every opportunity to win the starting quarterback job this year.

“That would be the ideal situation – we’ve got our Matt Ryan, we’ve got our [Joe] Flacco,” Frazier told ESPN 1500 Twin Cities. “But because of the uncertainty of the offseason, it’s just hard to determine exactly how you want to approach it.”

Translation: If we don’t wind up trading for Donovan McNabb, then the rook will probably start for us next season. (Because hey, who else would start? Patrick Ramsey? Hahahaha...ahhhhhh.)

After taking Ponder in the first round last Thursday, it seems unlikely that the Vikings would trade for McNabb, but you never know. What they could wind up doing is waiting to see if Washington releases McNabb and then pursuing him on a one-year deal. That way Ponder could sit and learn Bill Musgrave’s offense for a year before taking over in 2012. The only problem with that line of thinking is that you assume McNabb would be fine only taking a one-year deal so that he could groom his eventual replacement.

While I was just as surprised as anyone when the Vikings selected Ponder in the first round last week, I do think he’s a perfect fit for Minnesota’s offense. Musgrave has been heralded for his work with young quarterbacks and he’ll have the opportunity to show what he can do with Ponder, who was arguably the best West Coast Offense prospect in last weekend's draft. Musgrave obviously did a great job grooming Ryan in Atlanta and it’s not like Ponder wouldn’t have talent around him if he wound up starting as a rookie. As Frazier pointed out, we’ll just have to wait and see how the rest of the offseason plays out to see if Ponder will have the opportunity to start in ’11.

Chad Ochocinco has taken to his Twitter page to express his feelings about the Bengals and head coach Marvin Lewis this week.

On Tuesday, the Ocho tweeted: “Y’all ever lost somebody you felt was close to you, but they flip on you without giving you the script? Marvin Lewis hurt my feelings.”

Ochocinco has repeated several times that he loves Lewis, but he’s too hurt to make it work in 2011. When he was asked if the Bengals should select Georgia receiver A.J. Green with the No. 4 overall pick in the draft, Ochocinco responded with: “He’d be perfect. I’ve done all I can, my time is up.”

On Friday, Ochocinco turned it up a notch with his criticism of Lewis:

“Lewis: who’s 60-67 all-time, 0-2 in playoffs, and only 2 seasons with +.500 record, can’t criticize my thumbs for tweeting. They win 4 me”

Is anyone surprised by Ochocinco’s comments? This is what he does. He likes going against the grain and being flamboyant. He likes the attention and he likes being boisterous. He thrives off this and he doesn’t really care about what he says and he doesn’t care about what you think. This…is…what…he…does.

The problem with “what he does” is that people are getting tired of it. It seems like Lewis and the Bengals are tired of the way Ocho handles himself and even people outside of the organization are sick of his act as well.

So the fact that Ochocinco says these things doesn’t bother me and it doesn’t bother some Bengal fans. (Some fans even like it.) But if you’re going to do these things, if you’re going to tweet about how your coach is essentially a loser, then you run the risk of your team flipping on you “without giving you the script.”

49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh told the media on Friday that second round pick Colin Kaepernick will be given the opportunity to start as a rookie.

“Alex (Smith) has the ability the license to be the starting quarterback and so does Colin,” Harbaugh said.

Smith is a free agent but the consensus seems to be that San Fran will bring him back on a one or two-year deal - assuming he wants to return, that is. If the 49ers do bring Smith back, he would be the favorite to start over Kaepernick next year, and he should be.

I don’t want to take Harbaugh’s comments out of context. He’s a former NFL quarterback and he knows that sometimes it takes a while for a young signal caller to grasp playing in the pros. But I don’t like the idea of Kaepernick starting right away. He played in the pistol offense at Nevada - no matter how talented he is, it’s going to take some time for him to learn how to play in a pro-style offense. Imagine being taught Spanish in college and then turning around having to learn Italian in order to succeed in your profession. It’s going to take some time and Kaepernick should hold a clipboard in his first year.

Now, before 49er fans get upset with me and call me a moron because they think I’m criticizing Kaepernick - I’m not. In fact, this is what I wrote in my “15 Observations from the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft” piece after the Niners took Kaepernick on Friday evening:

3. It may take a couple of years but give Jim Harbaugh some time and he could turn Colin Kaepernick into a good pro quarterback. Kaepernick is a bit of a project but the kid has good size, a great arm and is one hell of an athlete. He has all the tools to succeed and if fans are patient, this could wind up being a beautiful marriage.

If he turns out to be the rookie of the year, then great! I would love to see Kaepernick succeed because he's easy to root for. I just think everyone in the Bay area should be patient when it comes to this young man‘s development. He could be a real good quarterback in due time.

Here are 15 observations, thoughts and projections (sure to be wrong knowing my luck with predictions on prospects) from the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

1. Hey kids, if you want to be a NFL quarterback…don’t…do…drugs. I’ve never seen so many quarterback-needy teams stay away from a prototypical pocket passer like they’re doing with Ryan Mallett this year. I may be in the minority here, but I think he’s going to be a steal no matter where he winds up. (Side Note: Before this article went live, I saw that Mallett got taken by the Patriots in the third round. Bill Belichick is going to make this kid a winner someday.)

2. Andy Dalton may not have the strongest arm but he’s a solid fit for Jay Gruden’s offense in Cincinnati. I’m thinking the dream scenario for the Bengals would be for Carson Palmer to suck it up for one more season and then they can turn the keys over to Dalton in 2012. But if Palmer is done, the Bengals can sign a veteran and bring Dalton along slowly.

3. It may take a couple of years but give Jim Harbaugh some time and he could turn Colin Kaepernick into a good pro quarterback. Kaepernick is a bit of a project but the kid has good size, a great arm and is one hell of an athlete. He has all the tools to succeed and if fans are patient, this could wind up being a beautiful marriage.

4. The Browns did well in the first two rounds. Not only did they acquire 62 picks from the Falcons in exchange for the No. 6 overall selection, but Mike Holmgren addressed needs along the D-line with Phil Taylor and Jabaal Sheard, and at receiver with Greg Little (who isn't Julio Jones but he's a solid prospect nonetheless). All three players should see action as rookies.

5. So what does it say about Beanie Wells if the Cardinals are taking Ryan Williams in the second round? If Williams stays healthy, he’s an explosive runner with good vision but he’s going to have to fight for carries next year in the desert. Given how many needs Arizona has, this is a strange fit.

6. Both players might not pan out, but I love what the Titans have done in the first two rounds. They got their quarterback of the future in Blaine Gabbert and an outside linebacker in Akeem Ayers who can get after the quarterback. Ayers probably should have went in the late first round.

7. In three years people are going to talk about how fearsome the combination of DeMarcus Ware and Bruce Carter.

8. Wade Phillips knows that a good pass rush can cover up weaknesses in the defensive backfield. Mario Williams, Brian Cushing, J.J. Watt and Brooks Reed? I like it. Brendan Harris is a bit of a boom or bust pick but thus far, the Texans have done a great job addressing needs.

9. Does the NFL Network only have one highlight on Kyle Rudolph or did he only make one big play last year? I’ve seen that catch against Michigan 54 times in two days.

10. I like Nick Fairley, Titus Young and Mikel Leshoure. That said, I’m confused by the Lions’ game plan here. With their first two picks, they took players at positions where they have two of the best players in the league (Ndamukong Suh and Calvin Johnson). With their third pick, they traded up for a running back so they could pair him with Jahvid Best? I guess Martin Mayhew plans to address the massive holes at cornerback and along the offensive line in free agency. Good luck with that. (Although hey, maybe he’s planning to throw about a billion dollars at Nnamdi Asomugha.)

11. Peyton Manning will sleep easy this weekend knowing that the Colts' first two picks were spent on offensive linemen (Anthony Costanzo and Ben Ijalana). I really like the move up for Ijalana, who could have went late in the first.

12. I mocked Da’Quan Bowers to the Bucs in the first round and he fell all the way to them in the second. This kid led the NCAA in sacks last year and if it weren’t for a knee injury, he would have probably been a top 5 pick. Talk about value.

13. I don’t want to call the Bears’ pick of Stephen Paea a “steal” because that’s roughly where he was slated to go. But what a solid pick. Chicago needed to beef up its offensive line, so it snagged the best run-blocking OT in the first round in Wisconsin’s Gabe Carmini. They also had to replace Tommie Harris, so they took Paea in the second round. Well done, Jerry Angelo.

14. Daniel Thomas was one of the more impressive players to me in college football last year. I was a little surprised that Miami didn’t take Mark Ingram in the first round, but to trade up and land Thomas in the second was solid. I think Dolphin fans are going to love this underrated runner.

15. The rich get richer: The Packers torched defenses last year with their playmaking ability and they just gave Aaron Rodgers another weapon in Randall Cobb. With James Jones set to test free agency and Donald Driver’s career winding down, the Pack needed to address the receiver position at some point. So with no other pressing needs, they went with the best player available at No. 64 in Cobb, who is extremely versatile and can line up anywhere.

Heading into this year’s draft, the overall consensus was that the Falcons would use their first round pick (No. 27 overall) on defense after they gave up 48 points in an embarrassing Divisional Round loss to the Packers last January.

But that ugly showing inside the Georgia Dome that night must have showed GM Thomas Dimitroff that he had a more pressing need than defense. One that facilitated the biggest trade so far of the 2011 NFL Draft.

It was apparent in the Falcons’ loss to the Packers that they didn’t have another receiver opposite Roddy White to stretch the defense. In fact, the Falcons had an issue all season in gaining yards after the catch. Tight end Tony Gonzalez is still productive, but he’s lost a step over the years. Michael Jenkins comes up with a couple of clutch receptions every season and is a solid blocker in the run game (an important skill in Atlanta‘s offense), but he doesn’t threaten defenses with his speed. Slot receiver Harry Douglas does have good speed, but he’s been slow to recover from a knee injury that he suffered in training camp in 2010.

So Dimitroff packaged five picks (including his 2012 first round selection) in order to move all the way up to No. 6 (which was the Browns’ original pick) in order to select Alabama receiver Julio Jones in the first round on Thursday night. Jones is the ultimate blue-chip prospect. He can break tackles, make plays after the catch and yes, stretch defenses vertically. Assuming Jones isn’t a bust in the making, defenses won’t be able to double-team White and Matt Ryan now has even more weapons at his disposal.

In other words, Jones is exactly what Dimitroff knew the Falcons needed the night the Packers took it to them in January. (Not that they would have won either way - Green Bay was on a mission last year.)

Granted, it cost Dimitroff a small fortune in picks in order to get up to No. 6. This is the type of trade that could wind up setting the Falcons back for years if Jones doesn’t pan out. And hey, the Packers also showed that Atlanta has a massive need for another pass rusher and a reliable nickel back.

But keep in mind that the Falcons are built to win now and Jones makes an already dangerous offense even more potent (assuming he develops, of course). Yes, it was a lot to give up for one player - probably too much, in fact. But give Dimitroff credit for having the cajones to make a bold move like this. If it pays off, it could be one of those decisions that we look back and say, “This team doesn’t reach the Super Bowl if Dimitroff stays at No. 27 that year.”

Dimitroff’s work isn’t done. A team doesn’t give up 48 points in a home playoff game without having some major holes defensively. But assuming the lockout eventually ends, Dimitroff still has an entire free agency period to address the Falcons’ other needs (Ray Edwards anyone?). And it’s not like he has ignored that side of the ball; he’s spent the last three offseasons adding Curtis Lofton, Sean Weatherspoon, Peria Jerry, William Moore and Dunta Robinson. You don't get to be a two-time NFL Executive of the Year like Dimitroff without having a game plan.

The game plan on Thursday night was to try and ensure that there isn’t a repeat of that playoff loss to Green Bay.

Panthers’ head coach Ron Rivera indicated after the draft that No. 1 overall pick Cam Newton will have the opportunity to play as a rookie.

“Cam will play when Cam gets himself ready to play,” Rivera said. “I’m putting a little bit of a challenge out there for him. That’s what he thrives on.”

As long as the Panthers don’t rush Newton’s development or force him to play before he’s ready, there’s nothing wrong with handing the keys over to a rookie. Granted, it didn’t work for Carolina last year with Jimmy Clausen, but the Ravens and Falcons obviously had success with Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan, both of which took their respective teams to the playoffs in their rookie years. Even though he eventually suffered an injury, Matthew Stafford had some success as a rookie in Detroit, too.

Does that mean Newton will have as much success as Flacco or Ryan? Of course not. But teams seem a little less apprehensive these days than they were 10-12 years ago when guys like Ryan Leaf, Akili Smith and Joey Harrington were ruining lives. If the Panthers can simplify the playbook and allow Newton to mainly use athletic ability next year, then maybe he/they will find some success in his rookie season.

Like any top-10 quarterback, the projections on Newton seem to be mixed. Assuming he beats out Clausen for the starting job in training camp, we may find out right away if Newton can have an impact in the pros.

The Falcons made the biggest splash in the first round on Thursday night when they traded five picks to the Browns in order to select Alabama receiver Julio Jones at No. 6 overall. What’s interesting is that Jones wasn’t even the player they wanted the most.

According to a report by the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Falcons attempted to trade with the Bengals at No. 4 in order to select Georgia receiver A.J. Green. But the Bengals, who had Green rated as the No. 1 player on their board, rejected the same offer that Atlanta turned around and handed to Cleveland for the No. 6 pick.

Granted, this doesn’t mean that the Falcons didn’t want Jones. Obviously they did or else they wouldn’t have traded five picks to the Browns, including their first rounder in 2012. But again, it’s interesting that Green was ahead of Jones and they wound up giving up a small fortune in picks to get the guy they had second on their board (or maybe Green was 1A and Jones was 1B - whatever, you get the point).

Either way, GM Thomas Dimitroff got the impact player that he coveted. He knows that the Falcons are built to win now and maybe they’re on the cusp of a Super Bowl. The Packers made it clear in the playoffs last year that the Falcons were lacking another receiver opposite Roddy White that could stretch the field and now they have one in Jones. Obviously if Jones is a bust, this could wind up setting the Falcons back for years. But teams assume that risk any time they make a trade like this. Jones was worth it to Dimitroff and Atlanta, so they paid the price to get him.

If you're a fellow draft nerd like myself, you figured that there would be plenty of surprises in the first round on Thursday night. Here are five that caught me off guard.

1. The Falcons trade two drafts worth of picks for Julio Jones.
The fact that the Falcons traded into the top 10 wasn't surprising. There were pre-draft reports that suggested they would do just that. The fact that they traded 72 picks in order to climb up in order to take him...wow. Make no mistake: Julio Jones is a stud and he's going to look real good in an offense that already consists of Matt Ryan, Roddy White, Michael Turner and Tony Gonzalez. But a first, second and a fourth this year, plus a first and a fourth next year is a TON to give up for one player. But hey, GM Thomas Dimitroff knows he has a Super Bowl-caliber roster and he just added an impact player. The loss to the Packers in the playoffs last year proved just how badly the Falcons needed a deep threat that could stretch the defense. Jones fills that need instantly; he just better pan out.

2. Titans take Jake Locker at No. 8.
With Vince Young heading out of town, everyone knew a quarterback was an option for Tennessee at No. 8. But the fact that they passed on Blaine Gabbert, who was arguably the better QB prospect, for Jake Locker was a surprise that not many people saw coming. That said, had Locker came out last year he would have probably be the No. 1 overall pick. But since he struggled as a senior at Washington, draft observers thought he would go in the late first round, or possibly even slip into the second. The Titans obviously were incredibly high on him and he's going to bring a lot of excitement to Tennessee - at least initially. But consider this: if Locker doesn't pan out and Gabbert does, not only will it set the Titans back, but Gabbert (whom Tennessee's AFC South rivals the Jaguars traded up to take at No. 10) could wind up haunting them for years.

3. The Vikings pull the trigger on Christian Ponder.
For three months I've written that the Vikings would take a quarterback at No. 3. (Hey, this back isn't going to pat itself...plus I'm wrong so often that I need to point out the few times I'm right.) And given Leslie Frazier's pre-draft comments, you got the sense that Minnesota wanted to draft and start a rookie signal caller. That said, Ponder was a third round prospect in February. Granted, his stock has been on the rise since the combine and the fact that he went in the first round wasn't all that surprising. But I wonder if Jake Locker had fallen would the Vikings have taken him instead. In other words, was Ponder even at the top of Minnesota's draft board? Either way, Ponder is a great fit for new offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave, who will run a version of the West Coast Offense. It was still a surprise he went that high, but Minnesota needed to land their signal caller of the future in this draft and they did.

4. Lions take back-to-back DTs in first round.
The Lions have a habit of loading up at one position in the first round, don't they? It doesn't seem that long ago that Matt Millen was loading up on receivers and now Martin Mayhew is stockpiling defensive tackles. But hey, as I tweeted after Detroit took Nick Fairley: If you can't cover anybody, you better be able to get after the quarterback. The Lions had a major need at cornerback, but they're going to have one hell of an interior defensive line if Fairley develops. Still, with Ndamukong Suh, Corey Williams, Sammie Lee Hill and now Fairley, it was surprising that Mayhew went back-to-back DTs for the second consecutive year.

5. Prince Amukamara fell to pick No. 19.
I thought Amukamara would go No. 7 to the 49ers and if he didn't, I figured he wouldn't get past the Cowboys at No. 9. If somehow he got past Dallas at No. 9, I thought there was zero chance he would fall any further than No. 13 to the Lions. So of course the young man fell all the way to No. 19 to the Giants. Shows how much I know, although in my defense, many draft observers had the Prince going much higher than 19. Just based on his talent, he could wind up being the steal of the first round.

Honorable Mention: The Redskins pass on Blaine Gabbert by trading the No. 10 pick to the Jaguars...who took Blaine Gabbert; Aldon Smith goes No. 7 to 49ers; The Seahawks draft James Carpenter at No. 25; Cam Jordan falls to the Saints at No. 24.

Anthony Stalter will be tweeting the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft, which starts tonight at 8:00PM ET. Feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below, or call Anthony out for his observations. (And to check out Anthony's final mock draft, click here.)

This is it: This is the nasty wench that I’m putting all my money on. Anything less than 32 out of 32 correct picks and I consider this a failure.

All right, so I’ll take 10 of 32 correct picks – especially this year where the draft is the ultimate mystery. Thanks to the ongoing CBA fiasco, teams haven’t had the opportunity to address needs in free agency, meaning there are countless scenarios that we could see play out Thursday night in the first round.

Feel free to poke, prod and criticize – just make sure you do it before the draft. Don’t be like this clown, who told me how dumb I was two years after I compiled my 2009 mock draft. (I know how dumb I am, so just be up front with me at the start.)

As a bonus, my colleague at TSR, John Paulsen, spent some time crunching the numbers in order to provide scouting combine comparisons for every player. I’ll let him describe the method behind his madness.

John: I compared each prospect’s combine scores with players from the last six combines to determine the best athletic comparison. There are eight categories: height, weight, 40-yard dash, shuttle, 3-cone, vertical leap, broad jump and bench press. Not all prospects compete in all six tests, so certain comparisons are more confident than others.
Realize that we’re not suggesting that these players will turn into their comparisons – we’re simply saying that athletically, this is whom each prospect compares to based on their combine numbers.

All right – let’s get nasty, Ricky.

No. 1 Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus is a possibility at this pick, but I think when it comes down to it Ron Rivera will want to kick off his tenure in Carolina by taking a franchise quarterback. Newton is the ultimate boom or bust selection.
Combine Comparisons: Vince Young; Tim Tebow.

No. 2 Denver Broncos: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
There has been a lot of talk the last two days that the Broncos are considering Von Miller with this pick. But he’s not the ideal fit for the 4-3 in my eyes and I think in the end, Dareus is too good to pass up here.
Combine Comparisons: Marcus Thomas; Corvey Irvin; Red Bryant.

No. 3 Buffalo Bills: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
The Bills may flirt with the idea of taking a quarterback with this pick and they could certainly use an upgrade on the defensive line. But in the end, I think GM Buddy Nix will take the unquestioned best player in the draft.
Combine Comparisons: Brandon Ghee, Malcom Jenkins, Myron Lewis, Aquib Talib. As John notes, Peterson is faster than all four, although Talib is the best comparison in terms of size/speed. Another interesting comparison is Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who has the speed, but Peterson is almost 40 lbs heavier. Based on his 40, we really haven’t seen anyone with Peterson’s size/speed combination in the last six years.

No. 4 Cincinnati Bengals: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
The Bengals need to figure out their quarterback situation in regards to Carson Palmer but I don’t think they’ll pull the trigger on Blaine Gabbert here. With T.O. not expected back and Chad Ochocinco's status up in the air, I like the Bengals to go receiver at this spot. Julio Jones is definitely a possibility (a lot of mocks have Cincy taking him), but Green is still the better overall prospect.
Combine Comparisons: Malcom Kelly; Limas Sweed; Hank Baskett.

No. 5 Arizona Cardinals: Von Miller, LB, Texas A&M
Miller might not slip past Buffalo at No. 3 but if he does, I think Arizona would love to pair him with O’Brien Schofield at outside linebacker. Miller is viewed as the best pass-rushing OLB in the draft, which is certainly a need for the Cardinals (especially after they release Joey Porter and his $5.75 million salary in 2011).
Combine Comparisons: Aaron Curry; Clay Matthews.

No. 6 Cleveland Browns: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
GM Mike Holmgren says that he’s looking for a “home run threat” in this year’s draft and if that’s the case, Jones makes a lot of sense. The former ‘Bama star would be highly attractive to a West Coast team like the Browns because of his blocking and run-after-the-catch ability. A.J. Green and UNC's Robert Quinn are also possibilities at this pick.
Combine Comparisons: Brian Robiskie; Vincent Jackson; Braylon Edwards; Laurent Robinson.

No 7. San Francisco 49ers: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
This team is hard to figure out. They would seemingly like to bring back Alex Smith for one year and take a QB in one of the first two rounds to groom this season. But they could always wait and draft their signal caller of the future next year. San Fran also has needs along the defensive line and at linebacker, making Nick Fairley and Robert Quinn possibilities at this pick as well. They would do back-flips if Peterson fell to them here, but with him off the board they’ll go with the next best thing in Amukamara.
Combine Comparisons: Aqib Talib; Antoine Cason.

No. 8 Tennessee Titans: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
For months I’ve projected Auburn’s Nick Fairley to this spot and he’s definitely a possibility. But at the end of the day, what is this team going to do at quarterback? Vince Young’s days in Tennessee are numbered and while they could also address the QB position in the middle rounds, if Gabbert slips I don’t see him falling past this pick.
Combine Comparisons: Jay Cutler; Dan LeFevour.

9. Dallas Cowboys: Tryon Smith, OT, USC
The Cowboys’ biggest need in some folks' eyes is cornerback, but with Peterson and Amukamara off the board they choose to address their right tackle position with this pick. The ‘Boys need a replacement for Marc Colombo and the 20-year-old Smith is an extremely intriguing prospect. He’s a candidate to start as a rookie, no matter where he winds up.
Combine Comparisons: Sam Baker; Joe Berger. (Smith only performed in the bench press.)

No. 10 Washington Redskins: Robert Quinn, DE/LB, North Carolina
For me, the Skins are the hardest team to predict in Round 1. Blaine Gabbert and Julio Jones are both possibilities, but with those two players off the board I think Mike Shanahan will address his defense with the selection of Quinn.
Combine Comparisons: Ricky Sapp; Barka Atkins; AJ Edds; Justin Cole.

No. 11 Houston Texans: Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri
The Texans’ biggest weakness last year was their secondary, but there aren’t any safeties worthy of this spot and they do like their young corners. One way to help a struggling secondary is to beef up the pass rush, which is exactly what Houston does with the selection of Smith.
Combine Comparisons: Greg Hardy; Jason Pierre-Paul.

No. 12 Minnesota Vikings: Jake Locker, QB, Washington
There’s growing sentiment that the Vikings will draft and start a rookie quarterback. Arkansas’ Ryan Mallett isn’t really a fit for Minnesota, but Locker is. Even though he’s coming off a poor senior season, the former Washington product has great athleticism and sound intangibles.
Combine Comparisons: Vince Young; Stephen McGee; Tim Tebow.

No. 13 Detroit Lions: Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
The Lions could address their offensive line with this pick but cornerback is just too big of a need for Detroit. Smith’s stock appears to be on the rise the closer we get to the draft, making this a good fit.
Combine Comparisons: Akwasi Owusu-Ansah; Antwaun Molden; Antoine Cason.

No. 14 St. Louis Rams: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
Look, somebody is going to fall. It happens every year. Is it going to be Fairley? I don’t know but I’m taking a shot given his character concerns and the fact that he apparently missed his flight to the combine in February (and then a meeting while he was there). He would be a steal for the Rams at this spot and while I’m well aware he could go well before this, this is my free-faller prediction of this year’s draft.
Combine Comparisons: Gerald McCoy; Turk McBride.

No.15 Miami Dolphins: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
I’ve had Ingram slated to Miami in all four of my previous mocks and I’m not going to change now. Running back is the Dolphins’ biggest need and while Ingram’s stock seems to be slipping the closer we get to the draft, I really like the fit. Of course, the Fins could address their need at tackle at this spot and taking a running back later.
Combine Comparisons: Frank Gore (only did the 40, but very similar height, weight and speed); Benjarvus Green-Ellis; Ryan Torain.

No. 16 Jacksonville Jaguars: Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
The Jaguars are trying to rebuild their defensive line and Kerrigan fits the mold that Gene Smith is trying to go with in younger players. Kerrigan has a non-stop motor and displayed more athleticism at the scouting combine than scouts were expecting.
Combine Comparisons: Chris Long; Lawrence Sidbury.

No. 17 New England Patriots: Cam Jordan, DE, Cal
There’s a possibility that Jordan won’t fall this far but it would be like the Patriots to land a potential top-10 prospect in the middle of the first round. Of course, knowing Bill Belichick he probably won’t hang onto this pick either.
Combine Comparisons: C.J. Ah You; Victor Abamiri. (Only ran forty and performed in the bench press.)

No. 18 San Diego Chargers: J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin
The Chargers have needs at receiver, cornerback and offensive tackle, but adding another pass-rusher will be a top priority. At 6’6” and 292 pounds, Watt has the versatility to play as a defensive end in either a 4-3 or a 3-4.
Combine Comparisons: Daniel Te’o-Nesheim; Mario Williams; Chris Long.

No. 19 New York Giants: Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
There are many draft observers who think the G-Men will wind up with running back Mark Ingram at this spot, although offensive tackle is a much bigger need in my eyes. And they’ll have their pick between Castonzo, Gabe Carimi, Derek Sherrod or Nate Solder.
Combine Comparisons: Corey Hilliard; Kraig Urbik.

No. 20 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Da’Qaun Bowers, DE, Clemson
Bowers is one of the many intriguing mysteries surrounding the 2011 draft. Once viewed as a potential No. 1 overall pick, teams may be scared off by the health of his knee. In fact, there’s a good chance that he could even slip out of the first round entirely. But the Bucs have a huge need for a pass-rusher and if he medically checks out, then what a steal Bowers would be at this pick.
Combine Comparisons: Tim Jamison; Victor Adeyanju. (Bowers only participated in the bench press at the combine, so John was limited in his comparisons.)

No. 21: Kansas City Chiefs: Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
The Chiefs could go in a couple of directions here, including receiver, defensive tackle and even center. But at the end of the day, I could see GM Scott Pioli wanting to fortify his offensive line with the selection of Carimi, who would give KC an upgrade at right tackle. They could keep Branden Albert at left tackle and then plug Carimi (a strong run-blocker) on the right side.
Combine Comparison: Jamaal Brown.

No. 22 Indianapolis Colts: Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State
The Colts have ignored the offensive tackle position long enough. Their OL has been in steady decline over the past couple of years and given Peyton Manning’s struggles during a nasty three-game stretch last season (which was a combination of his poor decision-making and poor O-line play), the Colts would be wise to go OT here.
Combine Comparisons: Seth Olsen; Bryan Bulaga; Michael Toudouze.

No. 23 Philadelphia Eagles: Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA
Ayers’ stock appears to be falling the closer we get to the draft, but the Eagles need an impact player on defense. Ayers has the ability to get after the passer and could be used in a couple of different roles in new DC Juan Castillo’s system.
Combine Comparisons: A.J. Edds; Daryl Washington; Justin Cole.

No. 24 New Orleans Saints: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
The Saints’ lack of a pass-rush was apparent last year and while they could use an upgrade at outside linebacker, safety and defensive tackle, I don’t see them going in any other direction besides defensive end.
Combine Comparisons: Victor Adeyanju; Derrick Morgan; Darryl Tapp.

No. 25 Seattle Seahawks: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
Jake Locker seems to be a popular pick for the Seahawks these days, although I have him going to Minnesota at No. 12 so obviously he’s not an option. With Russell Okung looking like a solid contributor on the left side, it’s time for the Hawks to address the position opposite him. Solder could be a nice upgrade over Sean Locklear.
Combine Comparisons: Daryn Colledge; Adam Koets.

No. 26 Baltimore Ravens: Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple
I could definitely see the Ravens addressing their offensive line with this pick, although my belief is that they like Mississippi State’s Derek Sherrod, whom I have going to Indy at No. 22. Wilkerson gives Baltimore’s defensive line a much-needed pass-rusher.
Combine Comparisons: Jared Odrick and Clifton Ryan.

No. 27 Atlanta Falcons: Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State
The Falcons like guys that can play different positions along the defensive line, which fits Heyward, who can play in either as a defensive end or defensive tackle in obvious pass-rush situations. After speaking with him around the Super Bowl, I can say firsthand that Heyward is a tremendous kid with great character and I think he’s going to do very well in the NFL. His dad, “Ironhead” Heyward once made his home in Atlanta, too.
Combine Comparisons: Doug Worthington (height/weight only); Titus Adams.

No. 28 New England Patriots: Danny Watkins, OG, Baylor
At 26-years-old, Watkins has the majority of a veteran in his prime. And if he were a couple of inches taller and a couple of years younger, he probably would have gone much higher than this. The interior of the Pats’ O-line could use an upgrade and if they hold onto this pick, Watkins would appear to be a good fit.
Combine Comparisons: Roy Scheuning, Leroy Harris and Matt Tennant.

No. 29 Chicago Bears: Stefen Wisniewski, C, Penn State
Lovie Smith has been adamant that the Bears will bring back the 34-year-old Olin Kreutz, but the veteran really struggled last year and will need to be replaced at some point. Smith doesn’t like playing rookies anyway, so Wisniewski could learn the ropes for a couple of years and become Chicago’s center of the future.
Combine Comparison: Eric Wood.

No. 30 New York Jets: Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois
It’s funny, most mock drafts didn’t have Liuget going in the first round a couple of months ago. I had him going No. 14 to the Rams in my first two mocks, but now have him falling later in the first round. (I just see things breaking differently, which is why I have him listed here.) Either way, Liguet’s stock continues to rise and he’s a player that can play end in a 3-4 or slide inside on passing downs in Rex Ryan’s defense.
Combine Comparisons: Clifton Ryan.

No. 31 Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Pouncey, OL, Florida
All right - I'll bite on the rumors.
Combine Comparisons: Matt Tennant and Ryan Harris.

No. 32 Green Bay Packers: Justin Houston, LB/DE, Georgia
Houston may not fall this far due to his ability to get to the quarterback but if he does, he’s an intriguing fit for Dom Capers and the Packers. Green Bay doesn’t have a lot of needs, but one thing Ted Thompson may look to add is a pass-rusher. Houston is probably better with his hand in the dirt but if the Packers could get him up to speed as an OLB, he and Clay Matthews could dominant quarterbacks for years to come.
Combine Comparisons: Brian Cushing; Clay Matthews; Aaron Curry; Sean Weatherspoon.