Dolphins sign undrafted NT Louis Ellis

The Dolphins have officially announced nine undrafted rookie signings, and one player that had not previously been reported as Shaw defensive tackle Louis Ellis.

Background

Ellis (6-2, 320) dominated at little-known Shaw University for two seasons and was named Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association Defensive Player of the Year both years.

As a junior in 2007, Ellis recorded 75 tackles (50 solo), 24 tackles for a loss, 10 sacks and a forced fumble. During his 2008 season with the Bears, he added 73 tackles (36 solo), 24 tackles for a loss, 8.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

Analysis

Although Ellis comes from a small school and level of competition is a concern, he certainly seems to have talent on the football field and definitely has the bulk to be a 3-4 nose tackle.

Nose tackle also happens to be one of Miami's biggest needs, if not immediately then certainly in the near future. Jason Ferguson is still quite capable of starting , but the 34-year-old veteran isn't the long-term answer.

The Dolphins failed to address nose tackle in the 2009 NFL Draft, most notable passing on Western Ontario's Vaughn Martin and Stillman's Sammie Lee Hill in the fourth round in favor of Ohio State wide receiver Brandon Hartline.

In fact, Ellis is the only nose tackle added by Miami this offseason from anywhere, be it free agency, trade, the draft and undrafted free agency.

Although he's definitely a low-profile prospect, Ellis has a somewhat decent shot at earning a roster spot. (At least compared to some of the other undrafted rookies).

Third-year man Paul Soliai has repeatedly been in the staff's doghouse for off-the-field issues and has failed to live up to his potential. Meanwhile, 2008 practice-squad body Joe Cohen is a solid prospect, but has yet to show much in two pro seasons.

Ellis is certainly no lock to make the team, and may not even have a future at the professional level. Still, he's an intriguing prospect and could be someone the front office believes to be a real sleeper at the nose tackle position.

Dolphins add three more undrafted free agents

The Dolphins have added three more undrafted rookies, bringing the grand total to eight. Newly signed are Temple center Alex Derenthal, Stanford running back Anthony Kimble and Tulsa wide receiver Brennan Marion.

Alex Derenthal

A four-year starter for the Temples Owls, Derenthal started all 47 games possible during his collegiate career and earned second-team All-MAC honors as a senior in 2008.

As reported earlier on this site, Derenthal worked out for the Dolphins in late March. He was ranked the 719th prospect in the draft by NFL Draft Scout.

Update: Derenthal was not listed among Miami's signed undrafted rookies. Therefore, it is likely the reports of him signing were erroneous, and he is likely merely trying out at the team's upcoming minicamp.

Anthony Kimble

Kimble's numbers steadily improved in four seasons for the Stanford Cardinal, rushing for 244 yards and two scores as a freshman and capping things off with 717 yards and six touchdowns as a senior. He finished his collegiate career with 1,940 yards on 415 carries (a 4.7-yard average) and 18 touchdowns.

This offseason, Kimble just barely cracked Draft Countdown's list of running back prospects, ranking 27th out of 29 total backs.

Brennan Marion

A two-year starter at Tulsa after transferring from DeAnza Junior College in 2007, Marion was a tremendous deep-play threat for the Golden Hurricane, breaking the NCAA record for yards per reception as a junior at 31.9!

Topping 1,000 yards both years at Tulsa despite never catching more than 43 passes in a season, Marion finished his collegiate career with 82 receptions for 2,356 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Marion tore his ACL on the final offensive play of the Conference USA championship game in December 2008, which likely hurt his draft stock and could impact his availability in the Dolphins' offseason activities.

Interestingly, Draft Countdown had Marion as the 37th-best wide receiver prospect in this year's draft—one spot ahead of Dolphins fourth-round pick Brian Hartline.

Analysis

Of the three players discussed in this article, Marion is clearly the most talented and thus has the best chance of sticking around. He's only six months removed from the torn ACL suffered at Tulsa, so he's likely destined for the practice squad or stashed on injured reserve in 2009. Still, there's no denying his talent and he could end up being a steal for the Dolphins down the line.

Kimble's best chance at staying in Miami is on the practice squad, where he'll have to beat out 2008 sixth-rounder Lex Hilliard for a spot. Neither one of them has a realistic chance at jumping Patrick Cobbs for the No. 3 tailback job.

As it stands, Derenthal is the only other pure center on the roster behind starter Jake Grove. However, guards like Joe Berger and Andy Alleman can play center and have a lot more ability than Derenthal, so he has quite a few bodies in his way if he wants to make the team.

Derenthal is extremely borderline pro prospect and doesn't stand much chance of sticking around. He's got experience but is simply limited physically and probably doesn't have what it takes to make it in the NFL.

Dolphins go for depth, special teams on draft's second day

After the Dolphins surprised us all with the Pat White selection on Day One, what would the team have in store for us for Day Two?

The Dolphins began the day by picking wide receivers in back-to-back rounds. This was significant because it said that there was more to the Pat White pick than just a potential slot receiver. GM Jeff Ireland confirmed this the day after the draft by saying that White would indeed be seeing time at quarterback.

You can imagine how heartbroken I was when one of my favorite prospects—Cal Poly receiver Ramses Barden—went to the New York Giants two picks before Miami selected USC receiver Patrick Turner. In my view, the Dolphins reached for both Turner and Hartline, which was disappointing to see.

My only other complaint of the day was the absence of a nose tackle, particularly in the fourth round. Although I like what I hear of Hartline as a special teamer, I would have preferred the team to take a defensive lineman like Vaughn Martin or Sammie Lee Hill, who went to the Chargers and Lions, respectively, a short time after Hartline was selected.

After that, the Dolphins simply took the best players available on their board, addressing depth in some areas and adding potentially significant contributors on special teams.

Also, kudos to the Dolphins for trading their other seventh-round pick to Kansas City. The team obviously didn't feel like it needed to take another player at the end of this draft, so they did well to acquire an extra pick in next year's draft.

Here's what I think about each of Miami's second-day picks:

Name: Patrick Turner
Position: Wide receiver
College: Southern California
Age: 21
Height/Weight: 6'5", 223 lb.
Drafted: Round 3, Pick 87
Projected 2009 role: Backup wide receiver

This was yet another surprise for me in this draft, as I didn't expect Turner to go off the board until the fourth round at the earliest and possibly much later than that. One has to wonder if Miami would have opted for Ramses Barden had he not gone to the Giants a few picks before.

Turner has tremendous size and good hands, but had a largely unimpressive college career. His inability to put up better numbers and dominate Pac-10 defenses on an extremely talented USC team is certainly a concern.

The reason for this pick was obvious: to be the player Ernest Wilford wasn't. The former Jaguar could barely get on the field in 2008 and was one of the front office's few free agent misses offseason.

Here's hoping Turner can be the player they envisioned Wilford being, and not the player Wilford actually was in Miami.

Name: Brian Hartline
Position: Wide receiver
College: Ohio State
Age: 22
Height/Weight: 6'2", 195 lb.
Drafted: Round 4, Pick 108
Projected 2009 role: Backup wide receiver, special teams

The second (or third?) receiver the Dolphins took in this draft, Hartline comes from a good program, has okay hands and decent speed.

That being the said, this pick was likely more about special teams than offense. Hartline is a standout special teams guy who loves playing that part of the game and always gives all of his effort on every play.

My only complaint with this pick is how high it was. Lots of people thought Hartline was a seventh-round pick or could possibly even go undrafted, so to take him in the fourth round is pretty surprising.

Still, Hartline can earn his draft spot by excelling on special teams and developing into a quality backup receiver.

Name: John Nalbone
Position: Tight end
College: Monmouth
Age: 22
Height/Weight: 6'4", 251 lb.
Drafted: Round 5, Pick 161
Projected 2009 role: Backup tight end, special teams, possibly practice squad

Who?

I'm sure that was the question every Dolphins fan asked themselves when this pick came across the screen, as most of us had probably never heard of Nalbone.

The first player ever selected from Division I-FCS Monmouth (take that, Miles Austin!), Nalbone broke every one of the school's receiving records for tight ends. He finished his collegiate career with 101 catches for 1,079 yards and nine touchdowns.

Nalbone is a developmental guy, as is the case with many small school players. He clearly has talent as a receiver, but he's never faced competition close to anything like what he'll face in the NFL.

Although tight end is not an immediate need for the Dolphins, it's important to note that the team's top two players at the position—Anthony Fasano and David Martin—are free agents after the season.

Nalbone will likely begin his career as a backup tight end, and could possibly be headed for the practice squad in 2009 if he can't beat out Joey Haynos for the No. 3 job. There's also an outside chance Martin could be let go to accommodate the younger players, though his play significantly improved last year so that seems unlikely.

Name: Chris Clemons
Position: Safety
College: Clemson
Age: 23
Height/Weight: 6', 208 lb.
Drafted: Round 5, Pick 165
Projected 2009 role: Backup free safety, special teams

Another depth pick, Clemons has good size and athleticism but is somewhat lacking in hands and instincts. He's a solid prospect who could develop into a starter over time, but that's certainly no lock.

With Gibril Wilson signed long-term at free safety, Clemons won't be asked to start soon anyway. Clemons simply provides depth and will likely focus on special teams early in his Dolphins career.

Though Clemons stands a good chance to make the club, he'll have to beat out offseason addition Ethan Kilmer for a spot. Kilmer is a skilled special teams player as well, making Clemons' performance in that area all the more vital to his longevity in Miami

Name: Andrew Gardner
Position: Offensive tackle
College: Georgia Tech
Age: 23
Height/Weight: 6'7", 304 lb.
Drafted: Round 6, Pick 181
Projected 2009 role: Backup offensive tackle

Tackle depth was one of the Dolphins' biggest needs going into the draft, and they were wise to address it here.

Though not a great athlete, Gardner has extensive experience as a starting tackle in the ACC and is an intelligent, hard-working player. An injury his senior season caused him to miss some workouts before the draft, which likely hurt his stock.

This was a good pick for the team because the only real other backup tackle the Dolphins have on the roster is Nate Garner, although Brandon Frye and Ike Ndukwe can play out there as well.

Because of this, Gardner stands a reasonable chance of making the team in 2009. He's no lock and will face competition from Garner and some undrafted free agents, but my initial guess is he will stick around.

Name: J. D. Folsom
Position: Linebacker
College: Weber State
Age: 24
Height/Weight: 6'3", 230 lb.
Drafted: Round 7, Pick 214
Projected 2009 role: Backup inside linebacker, special teams, possibly practice squad

Surprises in Rounds 2 and 3? Not so fun. Surprises in Round 7? Not that big a deal.

Folsom wasn't really on the map for a lot of teams and seemed likely to go undrafted, but the Dolphins obviously wanted to ensure they got the special teamer rather than face competition for his services in undrafted free agency.

Folsom will likely never be a starter in the NFL and may not even have a future in the league, but the Dolphins drafted him in hopes his work ethic would translate into a quality special teams player.

Special teams was obviously a sore spot for the Dolphins last year, which is why the team chose players almost specifically for that purpose like Hartline and Folsom.

Folsom's main competition for a roster spot will be William Kershaw, who saw some playing time late last season and even forced a fumble on special teams against Kansas City.

If he makes the team, Folsom will be limited strictly to special teams and wouldn't be higher than the fourth inside linebacker on the depth chart. My initial guess, however, is that he's destined for the practice squad this year.

Dolphins sign UDFA offensive tackle SirVincent Rogers

The Dolphins have signed their sixth undrafted free agent, inking Houston offensive tackle SirVincent Rogers to a contract.

A Conference USA All-Freshman selection in 2004, Rogers started at tackle for the Cougars until midway through the 2006 season, when a knee injury forced him out of action for the rest of the year. The same injury would keep him out of the 2007 season as well.

I'm assuming he resumed starting as a fifth-year senior in 2008, but who really knows because that information was essentially impossible to find.

At Houston's Pro Day in 2009, Rogers measured in at 6'5" and 306 pounds. He ran the 40-yard dash in 5.34 seconds, the short shuttle in 4.75 second, and the three-cone drill in 7.39 seconds. He posted a29" vertical and an 8'7" broad jump.

Rogers has his work cut out for him to make the team, as he'll have to beat out second-year man Nate Garner and 2009 seventh-rounder Andrew Gardner, among others, for a backup tackle gig. Offensive tackle is one of the thinnest spots on the team depth-wise, however, so it's not inconceivable.

Remember Dolphins fans, you can now get up-to-the-minute on Dolphins news and new site postings on twitter!

Undrafted Cal QB Nate Longshore to try out for Dolphins

KFFL.com reports that former California quarterback Nate Longshore has opted to try out for the Miami Dolphins rather than the Cincinnati Bengals.

Undrafted in the 2009 NFL Draft, Longshore has not been signed by the Dolphins and will try out for the team in hopes of landing a contract.

Longshore (6-5, 230) threw for 6,783 yards and 51 touchdowns with 31 interceptions in four seasons with the Golden Bears. His best year came as a sophomore in 2006, when he racked up 3,021 yards and 24 touchdowns with 13 interceptions.

It's no surprise Longshore chose to try out for the Dolphins over the Bengals, as Cincinnati has already signed two undrafted quarterbacks in Todd Boeckman (Ohio State) and Billy Farris (Colorado State).

However, Longshore faces a tough battle to make the team even if signed. He's an extremely borderline pro prospect with a shaky collegiate career, and if the Dolphins view second-round pick Pat White as their third quarterback there simply won't be a spot available.

Remember Dolphins fans, you can now get up-to-the-minute on Dolphins news and new site postings on twitter!

Follow the Miami Dolphins Spotlight on twitter!

Yep, I'm a conformist.

Although I still (and always will) refuse to get into twitter for personal use, I thought it might actually be useful when it came to updating you regarding the site.

You can follow the site's twitter here, which I will use to post updates on Dolphins news and upcoming content for the site. Start following it now so I'm not just tweeting myself off!

Dolphins sign UDFA wide receiver Chris Williams

The Dolphins have added their fifth undrafted rookie free agent, this time signing New Mexico State wide receiver Chris Williams to a contract.

William (5-7, 170) appeared in 42 games for the Aggies and caught 246 passes for 3,265 yards and 32 touchdowns. He also amassed 1,033 kick return yards, 297 punt return yards and three return touchdowns.

Given his size, speed (mid-4.3 range in the 40-yard dash) and the ten wideouts ahead of him on the depth chart, it's safe to say Williams will be attempting to make the team as a returner. Think of him as this year's Jayson Foster.

Dolphins sign UDFA linebacker Orion Martin

KFFL.com reports the Miami Dolphins have signed undrafted fee agent linebacker Orion Martin (Virginia Tech).

A college defensive end, Martin appeared in 54 games for the Hokies and recorded 166 tackles, 26.5 tackles for a loss and 15.5. He set career highs in both TFL (13) and sacks (7.5) as a senior in 2008.

Martin will play outside linebacker in the Dolphins' 3-4 scheme. Of the four undrafted free agents signed by Miami thus far, I'd say Martin has the best chance to make the team based purely on talent. However, he'll have to beat out a handful of guys for a job, including but not limited to Quentin Moses, Erik Walden and Tearrius George.

Dolphins sign UDFA defensive end Ryan Baker

The Dolphins have added their third undrafted free agent of the 2009 offseason, inking Purdue defensive end Ryan Baker to a contract.

A perennial Academic All-Big Ten selection, Baker (6-4, 295) appeared in 51 games over five seasons for the Boilermakers and amassed 88 tackles and eight sacks.

Baker is a prototypical 3-4 end and will attempt to earn a reserve spot ahead of guys like Lionel Dotson, Tony McDaniel and Rodrique Wright.

Dolphins sign UDFA guard Mark Lewis

The Miami Dolphins have signed undrafted free agent guard Mark Lewis (Oregon), per KFFL.com. As you may recall, Lewis worked out for the Dolphins earlier this month.

Lewis (6-4, 300) played in 35 games for the Ducks over four seasons, initially playing offensive tackle before sliding into guard.

Lewis will compete with Ike Ndukwe, Joe Berger and Shawn Murphy for a backup right guard job, but has an extremely uphill battle to make the team.

Dolphins sign UDFA tight end Jared Bronson

The first report of an undrafted rookie signing by Miami has come out, and the player is Central Washington tight end Jared Bronson.

The 6-4, 250-pound Bronson finished his collegiate career with 63 catches for 979 yards and eight touchdowns in 22 games. He was ranked the 14th tight end prospect in the draft by Draft Countdown, who projected him as a late-round pick or undrafted free agent.

Bronson becomes the fifth tight end on Miami's roster and the second rookie added today, joining fifth-round pick John Nalbone from Monmouth. Bronson faces an uphill battle to make the team as a reserve tight end, but will be a candidate for the practice squad.

Stay tuned, as I'll have a lot more coverage of the Dolphins' draft and other any undrafted free agents they sign in the coming days.

Assessing the Miami Dolphins' 2009 first-day draft selections

The first day of the 2009 NFL Draft is in the books and the Dolphins have three new players on the roster, including two cornerbacks. This was a pleasant development for me, as I've felt all offseason that cornerback was our biggest need and I was happy to see it addressed quickly in this draft.

I can't say I wasn't a little thrown off by the Pat White pick, and I'm still not sure if it was the right move at that point in the draft. Time will tell though, and White's versatility could certainly be useful.

Noticeably absent from the Dolphins' draft thus far are the wide receiver and outside linebacker positions. I expect both to get addressed tomorrow, however. On the bright side, the fact that the team did not add a top rusher through the draft has to increase the chances of a Jason Taylor reunion in Miami.

I was also pleased to see one of my favorite prospects in this year's draft—Utah cornerback Sean Smith—land in Miami. As you may recall, I had Smith going to the Dolphins in the first round of my final mock draft.

I was also glad to see Miami move down five spots in the second round (from 56 to 61) and pick up an extra fifth-rounder (165th overall) from the Colts along the way. We still got our man in Smith and added another second-day pick, which is always a good thing.

Just a quick reminder before I address each of today's picks individually: The Dolphins have seven more picks in this year's draft. They are:

• Round 3, Pick 87
• Round 4, Pick 108 (from Raiders in Samson Satele deal)
• Round 5, Pick 161
• Round 5, Pick 165 (from Colts in draft-day trade down)
• Round 6, Pick 181 (from Raiders in Samson Satele deal)
• Round 7, Pick 214 (from Browns in Travis Daniels deal)
• Round 7, Pick 237 (from Panthers in Josh McCown deal)

It should be an exciting second day of the draft and I can't wait to see what other players we add! (*cough* Ramses Barden and Sammie Lee Hill *cough*)

Now, on to the assessment of today's picks. You can view an up-to-the-minute version of my Dolphins projected depth chart here, which contains all of Miami's rookie additions.

Name: Vontae Davis
Position: Cornerback
College: Illinois
Age: 20
Height/Weight: 5'11", 203 lb.
Drafted: Round 1, Pick 25
Projected 2009 role: Starting cornerback

When the best pure cornerback falls into you lap at the 25th pick of the draft, you take him. That's exactly what happened with Vontae Davis this year and that's exactly what the Dolphins did, and wisely so.

The younger brother of 49ers tight end Vernon Davis, Vontae has prototypical cornerback size and has all the tools you look for in a cover man. He's a physical specimen as well and is a sure tackler. There is no doubt he has all the talent to be a No. 1 cornerback in the NFL

That's a good thing too, because cornerback was Miami's biggest need heading into the draft. Will Allen is the only proven starter of the corners on the roster and he's entering the last year of his contract.

Davis may have some attitude and work ethic concerns, but the Dolphins did their homework and met with him on multiple occasions so they must be confident the benefits outweigh those costs. All in all, the Dolphins got excellent value with this pick and made the right choice.

Name: Pat White
Position: Quarterback / Wide Receiver
College: West Virginia
Age: 23
Height/Weight: 6', 197 lb.
Drafted: Round 2, Pick 44
Projected 2009 role: Third-string quarterback, Wildcat quarterback, reserve wide receiver, return option

I'll admit, this pick prompted a couple quick expletives from me when it was announced on TV. I expected a receiver in the second round, but this wasn't exactly what I had in mind.

The Dolphins needed (and still need) a true wideout to eventually start opposite Ted Ginn, Jr. What they get in White is a physically-skilled player who could develop into a slot receiver, but also a player who has delusions of being a long-term starting quarterback in the NFL.

I just don't see that in White's future. He certainly lacks the prototypical size and bulk for the position, he doesn't read defense well enough and there are many more examples of misses when it comes to scrambling quarterbacks than there are examples of hits.

That being said, White is certainly talented and has the versatility to be used in various ways for the Dolphins. He obviously offers more passing options out of the wildcat formation, but he also provides another slot receiver, a third-string quarterback (which could free up an extra roster spot during the season) and a potential return man.

It's not that I don't think White can be a successful pro, because I do. I just wouldn't have spent higher than a fourth-round pick on him, and if he wasn't going to last that long I just wouldn't have taken him. I would have much preferred a linebacker like Connor Barwin or Clint Sintim, or a true wideout like Mohamed Massaquoi or Juaquin Iglesias. Hopefully White proves me wrong.

Name: Sean Smith
Position: Cornerback
College: Utah
Age: 21
Height/Weight: 6'4", 215 lb.
Drafted: Round 2, Pick 61
Projected 2009 role: Third or fourth cornerback

This was the guy I had Miami taking with their first-round pick and was someone I was really hoping they grabbed, so you can imagine how ecstatic I was when his named popped up on the screen toward the end of the second round.

I know I'm sounding like a broken record here, but I really think Smith has all the tools to be a very good corner in this league. His size is absolutely outstanding, his hands are fantastic (he converted from wide receiver to defensive back in 2006) and his ball skills are top-notch.

Of course, there is some concern over his speed and some think he's more of a safety in the NFL, but I consider 4.5 speed plenty for a corner (especially one as big as Smith) and think he'll do just fine there. Plus, Gibril Wilson is locked in at free safety and cornerback is the need in Miami.

Even with the selection of Davis in the first round, the Dolphins could have used another corner, so they wisely grabbed a second one on the first day of the draft. With two quality safeties signed long-term and two promising rookies added at corner, the Dolphins' secondary is looking promising even if Will Allen isn't retained beyond 2009.

Dolphins trade down with Colts

The Dolphins have traded the No. 56 overall pick to the Indianapolis Colts (used on USC defensive tackle Fili Moala) in exchange for the No. 61 pick and the No. 165 pick (in the fifth round). Good trade, picking in a fifth to move down five spots.

Dolphins select Vontae Davis 25th overall

The Dolphins have selected Illinois cornerback Vontae Davis with the 25th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.

I personally love this pick. Cornerback is our biggest need and Davis is the best pure corner in the draft. Great value at 25.

More to come...

Final 2009 NFL First Round Mock Draft

The NFL Draft is rapidly approaching, only a mere 16 hours away as I begin to type this. Although I'd like to give myself up to the minute of the draft begins tweak the mock, I figured I might as well put it up now and give people the time to see it.

Therefore, this is my final mock draft, as it will undergo no more changes from the moment it is published. Just for reference, I've gotten nine picks right the last few years (with a high of 11 right in 2005) so hopefully I can at least match that success this year. (It might not seem high, but it's consistently been better than Kiper and McShay!)

Enjoy the mock, and enjoy the draft later today! May all your teams fill their needs wonderfully, unless of course those teams are in the AFC East and not named the Dolphins!

1. Detroit Lions - Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia

Not the safest pick, but certainly a need position and Stafford has all the tools to be a successful quarterback. Only time will tell if he's able to survive in Detroit.

2. St. Louis Rams - Jason Smith, OT, Baylor

The Rams need a replacement for Orlando Pace and get their man here as Smith edges out Eugene Monroe to be the top tackle off the board.

3. Kansas City Chiefs - Tyson Jackson, DE, Louisiana State

The Chiefs would love to trade out of this spot and grab Jackson a little later, but since I'm not predicting trades I'll have to keep them at No. 3. Jackson is by far the best 3-4 end in the draft and gives GM Scott Pioli his own Richard Seymour for the new defensive scheme.

4. Seattle Seahawks - Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest

Quarterback, wide receiver and offensive tackle are all strong possibilities, but in the end I think the 'Hawks take the best defensive player in the draft to team with Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill.

5. Cleveland Browns - Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech

Despite the Braylon Edwards-to-Giants talks reportedly being "dead," I think they could start up again today during the draft and I think he might eventually end up being moved. If that's the case, Crabtree has to be the pick. I'm also not buying the talk that Cleveland doesn't like Crabtree.

6. Cincinnati Bengals - Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia

The team has reportedly soured on Levi Jones at left tackle and thus will need someone new to protect Carson Palmer's blind side. I've long had Andre Smith here, but with Monroe falling into their laps the Bengals would be crazy not to go the better and safer route instead.

7. Oakland Raiders - Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri

I'm not buying the recent Heyward-Bey talk for Oakland. Maclin's plenty fast for Al Davis' liking and he's also a much better prospect than DHB. He has to be the pick if Oakland goes wide receiver.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars - Mark Sanchez, QB, Southern California

The Jaguars will be fielding all kinds of trade offers if Sanchez is on the board, but since I'm not predicting trades I'll say they'll take him for themselves. David Garrard is 31 now, came back down to earth in 2008 and doesn't offer nearly as much upside as Sanchez.

9. Green Bay Packers - B. J. Raji, DT, Boston College

Other 3-4 guys like Jackson and Orakpo will get consideration if they're on the board, but Raji is an elite player at the toughest position to find in football to find. The Packers often surprise people with their picks, but this just makes too much sense not to project.

10. San Francisco 49ers - Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi

A quarterback or outside linebacker would make sense here, but the Niners really like Oher and he has as much upside as anyone in the draft. This move would allow them to move Joe Staley back to right tackle and give them two talented young guys on the edges.

11. Buffalo Bills - Andre Smith, OT, Alabama

The Bills certainly need a tackle after trading Jason Peters and word is they really like Smith. He's talented enough to play left tackle, though he could start on the right side before taking over for Langston Walker down the road.

12. Denver Broncos - Brian Orakpo, LB, Texas

The Broncos don't really have any edge rushers for their new 3-4 scheme, so it only makes sense for them to take the best one in the draft here. Of course, a fall by either Raji or Jackson would totally change this.

13. Washington Redskins - Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State

The Redskins could definitely use a pass rusher and Maybin fits the bill. He has some bust potential to him, but certainly has the physical tools to be a great player.

14. New Orleans Saints - Malcolm Jenkins, FS, Ohio State

One of the best bets in the draft, the Saints have a big need in the secondary and Jenkins is the best defensive back in the draft. A linebacker or even running back is also possible, but the Saints seem poised to draft Jenkins, who could contribute immediately at either cornerback or safety.

15. Houston Texans - Clay Matthews, LB, Southern California

The Texans are in need of linebacker help, and Matthews appears to have edged out his Trojan teammates in terms of draft stock. He'll be a great fit next to DeMeco Ryans and should be a productive player for years to come.

16. San Diego Chargers - Brian Cushing, LB, Southern California

And the next Trojan 'backer quickly goes off the board. Cushing is a safer bet than Maualuga in my opinion and has the versatility to play inside or outside in San Diego's 3-4.

17. New York Jets - Percy Harvin, WR, Florida

Josh Freeman will have to garner consideration, but in the end I think they'll look to trade for a quarterback (Jason Campbell, anyone?) and take Harvin here. He fills their wideout need, while his return skills could give them leverage in negotiations with Leon Washington.

18. Denver Broncos - Rey Maualuga, LB, Southern California

The Broncos got their outside linebacker in Orakpo at No. 12, and now get a man for the inside here with Maualuga. Free agent addition Andra Davis is just decent and a short-term fix, while Maualuga is a prototypical 3-4 inside 'backer with immense talent.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State

They just signed Byron Leftwich, but gave him no bonus and thus can cut him without penalty. The team reportedly loves Freeman and will likely jump on him if the Jets pass.

20. Detroit Lions - Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee

Linebacker is a bigger need, but there's a good chance they can grab James Laurinaitis at No. 33. Ayers is a quality overall end and fills a need for the Lions because, well, they have needs everywhere.

21. Philadelpia Eagles - Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia

Brandon Pettigrew would fill a bigger immediate need, but Moreno would still be a great pick pick in terms of talent and value. He'll be scary teamed with Brian Westbrook and may even wrestle away the starting gig eventually.

22. Minnesota Vikings - Eben Britton, OT, Arizona

My most confident pick in this mock draft (now watch it be wrong), the Vikings would love to upgrade over Ryan Cook at right tackle and Britton's the perfect man for the job. The only thing that could mess that up is Percy Harvin falling to No. 22.

23. New England Patriots - Everette Brown, LB, Florida State

A talented pass rusher who could go much higher, Brown injects some youth into the Pats' aging linebacker corps. It also wouldn't surprise me to see them pick UConn corner Darius Butler, but Brown's just too good of a value here.

24. Atlanta Falcons - Evander Hood, DT, Missouri

Now that the Falcons' addressed their tight end need with Tony Gonzalez, there's little doubt they'll go defense with this pick. (Of course, I've long had them going D here anyway because I'm amazing, brilliant and handsome.) Any position on that side of the ball could feasibly be picked, but "Ziggy" Hood's my pick because he certainly upgrades their interior line.

25. Miami Dolphins - Sean Smith, CB, Utah

Linebacker is the most popular choice for the Dolphins in the mock draft world, and that may very well happen. Still, cornerback is a bigger need for Miami. I like the second-round linebacker talent over the cornerback talent, so I'm taking Smith here in the first.

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

A team with few needs takes the best player available and gets a quality replacement for an aging Derrick Mason down the line.

27. Indianapolis Colts - Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi

The Colts have the talent to be able to take any position in the draft, but they get both value and a need here in Jerry. He's the perfect fit for a Colts defense that utilizes athletic, undersized defensive tackles.

28. Buffalo Bills - Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State

It's no lock he'll fall this far and the Bills might even take him at No. 11 to ensure they get him, but they'd be ecstatic if Pettigrew fell this far. Should that happen, you could bet your life (or not, up to you) that they'll grab him here.

29. New York Giants - Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina

Braylon Edwards trade or no, the Giants could still use another wideout and Nicks is probably the best on the board. Local product Kenny Britt could also draw consideration, though I like Nicks better as a prospect so he's the pick.

30. Tennessee Titans - Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut

The Titans certainly don't have many holes, but could definitely use a corner to team with Cortland Finnegan. Butler's a safer pick than Vontae Davis, so he gets the call here.

31. Arizona Cardinals - Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State

A Top-10 talent, the Cardinals would love if this guy fell into their laps and would surely grab him here. Tim Hightower is solid, but Wells is special is an absolutely fantastic value the end of the first round.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers - Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois

His talent says he should go much higher, but character concerns cause him to fall to the end of the first round. He'll help the Steelers replace Bryant McFadden and could thrive in the league's best defense.