FanHouse Mock Draft

It's amazing how a player can rise and fall in the final weeks of the draft. Tyson Jackson hasn't played a game since early January. All through January, February and March, he was looked at as a defensive end who could go somewhere between No. 10 and No. 20.

But now in the final days before the draft, all of a sudden multiple mock drafts are predicting Jackson to go No. 3 overall. We'll find out soon whether it's a true rise or some subterfuge.

With the draft just hours away, here is a final look at who the mock drafts are picking to go where. This is a roundup of 17 different mock drafts, all of the mock drafts are from this week and most are from the last day as experts try to refine their final predictions. Everyone will get No. 1 right, as everyone predicts the Lions will take Matt Stafford.

Eleven days and counting until the mock drafts get shredded in favor of the real one, and the time between now and April 25 is likely to see a frenzy of posturing, positioning and actual activity. I debuted my first-ever mock draft yesterday, but since it ran a number of developments have threatened to shake it up.

So what's happened to my mock draft today? Let's take a look...

With each pick of the FanHouse mock draft, we get into the head of an NFL general manager and let you know who he'll pick and why.

With each pick of the FanHouse mock draft, we get into the head of an NFL general manager and let you know who he'll pick and why.

With each pick of the FanHouse mock draft, we get into the head of an NFL general manager and let you know who he'll pick and why.

With each pick of the FanHouse Mock Draft, we get into the head of an NFL general manager and let you know who they will pick and why.

A quick side note here, why are the Chargers drafting after the Patriots, who beat them in the playoffs? The NFL adjusts the draft order to give the two Super Bowl participants the final picks in the draft, shouldn't that be extended to the rest of the playoff field? This rule has never made sense. But moving on.

This will seem like a curious pick to some. Not in the talent department. Brandon Meriweather has the talent to be the first safety picked in the draft. Many liken him to Sean Taylor, both on and off the field. And the off the field stuff that has many concerned about Meriweather who was the focal point in the Miami and Florida International brawl. (Was A'mod Ned a senior? Because it would be cool for these two to be teammates.) Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith has made an attempt to clean up the team's image by releasing troubled players such as Steve Foley and Terrence Kiel. So would he take such a huge risk here?

That answer is yes. Smith is willing to gamble on talent late in the first round. Remember, Luis Castillo had some questions prior to being drafted by the Chargers and he has done pretty well for himself, both on and off the field. Antonio Cromartie was another risky pick, with him returning from an injury. With the Super Bowl so close, the Chargers really need to roll the dice right here and make a bid on Meriweather. Hey, maybe this move backfires in the long-term. But the Chargers really need to focus on the short term right now. If that means taking a chance on a character risk, so be it.

Having a huge run on wide receivers also helps in this thought process, too. The FanHouse Mock Draft has been very offensive heavy. If the real draft turns out the same way, the Chargers really do need to make this move.

The Skinny:
Team Needs: S, WR, real head coach, new uniforms
The Pick: Brandon Meriweather, S, Miami
Also Considered: Steve Smith, WR, USC

Previous Picks:
No. 1 Raiders: JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU
No. 2 Lions: Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech
No. 3 Browns: Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin
No. 4 Buccaneers: Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson
No. 5 Cardinals: Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma

See all mock draft picks so far.

Next Pick: No. 31, Chicago Bears

With each pick of the FanHouse Mock Draft, we get into the head of an NFL general manager and let you know you will pick and why.

The Ravens have made no secret of their first-round intentions. And luckily -- at least in this little exercise -- Texas guard/tackle Justin Blalock is still available when Baltimore goes on the clock late in the first round.

Blalock played right tackle in college -- he was a unanimous All-American and All-Big 12 Conference selection as a senior -- but he could move to guard in the NFL. The Ravens have former second-rounder Adam Terry at right tackle (he played left tackle at Syracuse, but made the move because of, well, Jonathan Ogden) but could use Blalock at right guard. Keydrick Vincent currently holds down the position, but he's more of a backup than starter.

However, if Ogden retires -- which he's talked about this off-season -- Terry could move back to his natural position and Blalock could play right tackle. Even if Ogden comes back for 2007, the Ravens will be very young along the offensive line. Chris Chester, a 2006 second-rounder, could start at center, and Justin Brown, drafted in the 2005, will be the starting left guard. That could lead to some 2007 growing pains, but the o-line could be dominant in three or four seasons.

The Skinny:
Team Needs: OL, LB, CB, RB,QB
The Pick: Justin Blalock, G/T, Texas
Also Considered: Ben Grubbs, G, Auburn; Aaron Sears, G, Tennessee; Tony Ugoh, T, Arkansas; Joe Staley, T, Central Michigan

Previous Picks:
No. 1 Raiders: JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU
No. 2 Lions: Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech
No. 3 Browns: Joe Thomas, T, Wisconsin
No. 4 Bucs: Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson
No. 5 Cardinals: Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma

See all mock draft picks so far

Next Pick: No. 30, San Diego Chargers

With each pick of the FanHouse Mock Draft, we get into the head of an NFL general manager and let you know you will pick and why.

The Saints really, really need a cornerback who can at least start his career in nickel packages, but with their two top options in Chris Houston and Darrelle Revis gone, they won't reach (or "manufacture" in Sean Payton's words) for a corner. From there, the team can go basically anywhere.

Mickey Loomis has always been a "best player available" sort-of guy, so the team won't dig low on their board just because cornerback is their greatest need. With Houston and Revis gone, the team turns toward defensive tackle, their second-greatest need. Harrell fits at this spot and gives the Saints a fresh body for the team's defensive line rotation. Last year the team made strides at defensive tackle. Hollis Thomas, the big addition, is playing year-to-year, 306 lbs. and asthmatic, and seemed to wear down as last season progressed. The other starter, Brian Young, is a 3-tech tackle whose high motor only occasionally prevents him from being swallowed by blocks. They'll each be 30+ by the time the season starts.

Oh, also: the Saints still finished 23rd in rushing defense last year.

Harrell's stock is rising as teams are growing more comfortable with the fact that he's fully recovered from a ruptured biceps tendon. His play against the run will benefit the rush defense, and his ability to disrupt in the backfield fits in perfectly with the Saints' aggressive blitz. His toughness (he delayed surgery on that injury for a week to help Tennessee in an important game) fits in with the team's personality.

Payton's theory about drafting offensive linemen every year might lead them to draft Joe Staley to play right tackle or Justin Blalock at left guard. They could also take Lawrence Timmons to play weakside linebacker or Greg Olsen, which is less likely after signing Eric Johnson. But Harrell seems like the right choice, at 27th he's not a reach and he fills a position of need.

The Skinny:
Team Needs: CB, DT, TE, WR, LB
The Pick: Justin Harrell, DT, Tennessee
Also Considered: Greg Olsen, TE, Miami; Marcus McCauley, CB, Fresno State; Lawrence Timmons, LB, Florida State; Joe Staley, OT, Central Michigan; Justin Blalock, OG, Texas

Previous Picks:
No. 1 Raiders: JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU
No. 2 Lions: Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech
No. 3 Browns: Joe Thomas, T, Wisconsin
No. 4 Bucs: Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson
No. 5 Cardinals: Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma

See all mock draft picks so far

Next Pick: No. 28, New England Patriots

With each pick of the FanHouse Mock Draft, we get into the head of an NFL general manager and let you know you will pick and why.

Were the Patriots wise to trade Deion Branch to the Seattle Seahawks last year, or should they have given in to Branch's contract demands? We'll never know if Branch could have made the difference for the Patriots against the Colts in the AFC Championship, but if the Patriots make wise use of the compensation they got for Branch -- this pick -- they could add some great young talent to a team that's already got a solid nucleus of veterans.

And the thinking here is that they'll take Texas's Michael Griffin, who is regarded in some quarters as the second-best safety prospect (behind LaRon Landry). Scouts already knew that Griffin was a tough player, but at the scouting combine he turned in a 4.41-second 40-yard dash time, and that has him rising on draft boards.

There is, of course, the eternal question of whether it's ever a good idea to draft a player who rose higher on draft boards based on his performance in shorts and a T-shirt than he did based on his performance in a helmet and shoulder pads. But Griffin would make an immediate impact on New England's defense, and he looks like the right fit for this pick.

The Skinny:
Team Needs: CB, S, LB
The Pick: Michael Griffin, DB, Texas
Also Considered: Aaron Ross, DB, Texas; Chris Houston, CB, Arkansas

Previous Picks:
No. 1 Raiders: JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU
No. 2 Lions: Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech
No. 3 Browns: Joe Thomas, T, Wisconsin
No. 4 Bucs: Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson
No. 5 Cardinals: Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma

See all mock draft picks so far

Next Pick: No. 25, New York Jets

With each pick of the FanHouse Mock Draft, we get into the head of an NFL general manager and let you know you will pick and why.

This is one of the most interesting picks in the draft, because the Chiefs have a lot of different way they can go here. The Chiefs could use help on the offensive line, at defensive tackle and at wide receiver. But the top linemen, both offensively and defensively are long gone, but there are some good prospects remaining out there. Tennessee defensive tackle Justin Harrell seems like a good pick, as does USC center Ryan Kalil. Both would easily solve some needs. The No. 23 pick for Kalil seems a touch high. Harrell does have first round talent and has quickly risen on draft boards to be the No. 3 defensive tackle in the draft. This would be a perfect spot for the Chiefs to actually trade down to try to pick up maybe an extra pick or two, and be in line to get one of the previously mentioned players. And believe me, if yours truly was in charge, that would be happening right now.

But sitting at this spot, most of the previous mock drafts have listed Ted Ginn, Jr. in this position. And now some other receivers are starting to fly off the board. The Chiefs offense has been efficient, but needs another big-time play maker to really get this thing moving. Larry Johnson might die on the field if he is not given any help, so at this position of the draft, it seems they have no other choice but to take Dwayne Jarrett from USC. Forget the 40 time, because that doesn't matter at all. Just focus on the play-making ability that will put him in the same class as Keyshawn Johnson or Michael Irvin. In fact, it would not be unreasonable to expect Jarrett to be the best receiver in this draft, and the Chiefs could really get a steal here.

The Skinny:
Team Needs: WR, OL, DT
The Pick: Dwayne Jarrett, WR, USC
Also Considered: Justin Harrell, DT, Tennessee; Ryan Kalil, C, USC; Ben Grubbs, G, Auburn; Steve Smith, WR, USC

Previous Picks:
No. 1 Raiders: JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU
No. 2 Lions: Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech
No. 3 Browns: Joe Thomas, T, Wisconsin
No. 4 Bucs: Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson
No. 5 Cardinals: Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma

See all mock draft picks so far

Next Pick: No. 24 New England Patriots