2007 NFL Mock Draft

First Round

Pick Team Selection Position College
1 Oakland Raiders Calvin Johnson Wide Receiver Georgia Tech
The Oakland Raiders shock the world and take the best player available. Johnson is a truly rare talent - 6'-4”, 235 lbs. with amazing hands, 4.35 speed, and a team-first attitude. Ultimately, Al Davis gets either Josh McCown or some other quarterback off of the scrap heap. Calvin Johnson is the best potential NFL athlete in the draft and should be the #1 overall pick.
2 Detroit Lions Brady Quinn Quarterback Notre Dame
This is the best pick Detroit can make. Kitna is not the long-term solution at quarterback, but given his recent experience he will be an excellent mentor for the young Quinn. Lions fans get the franchise signal caller they've been craving and somewhere Mike Martz is salivating.
3 Cleveland Browns JaMarcus Russell Quarterback LSU
General Manager Phil Savage is well-known to be a big JaMarcus Russell fan, and has known Russell since the time he attended a Savage football camp. Convinced that Russell will become the cornerstone of the franchise, Cleveland happily makes this selection at #3.
4 Tampa Bay Bucaneers Gaines Adams Defensive End Clemson
If Tampa Bay can't find a way to get Calvin Johnson, they'll look to find the long-term replacement for Simeon Rice. Gaines Adams has a rare combination of size, speed and ability that make him worthy of any pick in the draft.
5 Arizona Cardinals Joe Thomas Offensive Tackle Wisconsin
Whether or not the Cardinals can broker a deal for Alan Fanaca, Ken Wisenhunt will try to give offensive coordinator Russ Grimm plenty of manpower up front. Arizona will still need to address concerns at right tackle, but the Cards ignore this little issue for now and decide to increase their yards per carry average by half a yard (or more).
6 Washington Redskins Jamaal Anderson Defensive End Arkansas
Unfortunately, the Skins will be forced to settle for the second best defensive end in the draft. They will also consider Alan Branch and Amobi Okoye or possibly trading down since Gaines Adams will undoubtedly be off the board.
7 Minnesota Vikings Adrian Peterson Running Back Oklahoma
The Vikings have been without a franchise running back since the departure of Robert Smith. The addition of Peterson gives Minnesota an elite one-two punch at running back. Durability concerns have in part driven Peterson down the draft, and while those questions still remain, the Vikings have their own concerns about Chester Taylor.
8 Atlanta Falcons (via Houston) LaRon Landry Safety LSU
This years stud safety finds a home in Atlanta to play in the same backfield with DeAngelo Hall. Safety LaRon Landry will bring big play potential to their defensive backfield for many years to come.
9 Miami Dolphins Levi Brown Offensive Tackle Penn State
Significant off-season departures will force the 'Phins to go after the second best offensive lineman available in this years draft. Brown has looked very good on film, even better at the Combine, and is well worth a top ten spot.
10 Houston Texans (via Atlanta) Alan Branch Defensive Tackle Michigan
The Texans go D-Line for the second straight year and grab the 6'-6”, 330 lb. monster out of Michigan.
11 San Francisco 49ers Adam Carriker Defensive End Nebraska
1st round, 3-4 defensive ends come along about once every other year. You simply don't pass on one if you have a pressing need. This is where Mike Nolan finds himself and is happy to see that Carriker is still available at # 11. Carriker's aggressive, strong, smart, athletic for his size (6'-6”, 290 lbs.), and versatile enough to play anywhere on the line.
12 Buffalo Bills Patrick Willis Inside Linebacker Mississippi
The Bills suffered enormous losses on the defensive side of the ball this offseason. Linebackers Takeo Spikes and London Fletcher, and cornerback Nate Clemmens will have to be replaced. Fortunately, the Bills are in the enviable position to have their pick of this years top linebackers and cornerbacks, and since they lost two linebackers they'll try to get one back here. Willis' football instincts and explosive style of play make him a great selection at this spot in the draft.
13 St. Louis Rams Amobi Okoye Defensive Tackle Louisville
Run stopping is the order of the day and the Rams need to find some. The Rams need to add big-play potential into a lackluster defensive unit, and the 19-year old from Louisville should provide just that for many years to come.
14 Carolina Panthers Lawrence Timmons Outside Linebacker Florida State
The Panther's linebackers were pedestrian at best last year. Timmons is arguably the best linebacker in the draft, so this should be an easy pick for Carolina to make.
15 Pittsburgh Steelers Leon Hall Cornerback Michigan
Many are wondering whether the Steelers will stay with the 3-4 or switch to a 4-3 under new head coach Mike Tomlin. We're here to tell you it doesn't matter. Former Steeler defensive coordinator Bud Carson invented the 4-3 Cover 2 defense and it later became know as the Steel Curtain. The current 3-4 Zone Blitz scheme employs many of the same backfield zoning techniques. Look for the Steelers in the future to hybridize these schemes, much like New England and Baltimore have done. The Rooney's know from experience that their defense needs a cornerstone. Leon Hall could go earlier to the Bills among others, so Darrelle Revis would also be a good fit.
16 Green Bay Packers Marshawn Lynch Running Back California
Assuming his checkered past is not a concern, the Pack will go with Lynch to fill the void at running back. Marshawn Lynch looks great on film and has a good combination of size and agility that will fit well into the Packers' offensive scheme.
17 Jacksonville Jaguars Reggie Nelson Safety Florida
With the loss of Deon Grant, the Jaguars look to local product Nelson to pair with Donavan Darius.
18 Cincinatti Bengels Paul Posluszny Outside Linebacker Penn State
Posluszny should provide a much needed positive boost to the Cincinatti program both in terms of on the field play and off-field leadership. David Pollack's future is uncertain after a horrific neck injury, so the Bengals finally go after the character guy they sorely need to one day lead their defense. 'Poz' is a defensive coordinators dream... smart, technically sound, hard-hitting and instinctive.
19 Tennessee Titans Darrelle Revis Cornerback Pittsburgh
Say 'good-bye' to Pac-Man and say hello to his replacement. Regardless of whether or not Jones' suspension is reduced, the Titans have to hold off on receiver until the 2nd round and take a top-notch corner to replace him.
20 New York Giants Aaron Ross Cornerback Texas
The Giants are in desperate need of a corner with youth and speed.
21 Denver Broncos Jarvis Moss Defensive End Florida
The Broncos will look to upgrade their pass rush in the draft as they lost out on the Patrick Kerney sweepstakes.
22 Dallas Cowboys Ted Ginn, Jr. Wide Receiver Ohio State
Ginn's slide stops at the Star. Dallas is thrilled to get a speed demon who will address both receiving and return needs.
23 Kansas City Chiefs Dwayne Bowe Wide Receiver LSU
Kansas City has a number of issues to tackle on defense, but the potential of Dwayne Bowe will be too much for them to leave him on the board.
24 New England Patriots (via Seattle) Anthony Spencer Defensive End Purdue
The heart and soul of the Patriot defense is aging and they need fresh faces if they wish to continue to see the post-season every year. Spencer will provide leadership and a high level of play. Just so happens that's exactly what Belichick demands.
25 New York Jets Chris Houston Cornerback Arkansas
While Houston's speed is not in question, there are some who believe that he is little more than a poor man's Terrence Newman, and that isn't saying much. While Houston may not be the guy they choose, they are almost certain to go cornerback in the first round.
26 Philadelphia Eagles Robert Meachem Wide Receiver Tennessee
With the departure of Dante Stallworth to the Pats, the Eagles must give third year man Reggie Brown some help on the other side of the field.
27 New Orleans Saints Jon Beason Outside Linebacker Miami
There aren't enough words to describe just how badly the Saints need to upgrade their linebacking corps. New Orleans needs to improve a porous defense, and Beason is the best available. Jon Beason is a talented enough linebacker to start for the Saints right now. If they want to actually make it to a Super Bowl, the Saints will begin to build a Super Bowl defense.
28 New England Patriots Michael Griffin Safety Texas
With an aging and oft-injured Rodney Harrison not long for this league, the Pats use their second 1st round pick to add youth and provide depth. New England looks to the Longhorns to find Harrison's replacement.
29 Baltimore Ravens Joe Staley Offensive Tackle Central Michigan
With Jonathan Ogden contemplating retirement, the Ravens are forced to seek out the future Hall-of-Famer's heir-apparent.
30 San Diego Chargers Dwayne Jarrett Wide Receiver USC
San Diego needs to improve their receiving corps and given his track record at head coach, Norv Turner will need all the help he can get. Dwayne Jarrett is an NFL ready wide receiver and will remain in southern California.
31 Chicago Bears Greg Olsen Tight End Miami
In an effort to maximize the limited potential of Rex Grossman, the Bears grab the best tight end in this years draft. Olsen may have potentially elevated his stock to top-20 status after blazing a 4.45 - 40 at the combine. Should he be available to the bears at #31, they'll consider themselves quite fortunate.
32 Indianapolis Colts Brandon Siler Inside Linebacker Florida
The loss of Cato June will drive the Colts to take the best replacement available at this point in the draft. It can't be overstated that this team could stand to upgrade it run defense in any way possible.