Welcome to our first mock draft of 2011!

Some might say that it’s too early to begin discussing next year’s draft, seeing as training camp has only begun, but we’re not in the crowd that agrees with that sentiment. And seeing as you’re sitting here reading this, I suspect you’re in the same boat.

As always, feel free to chime in with your thoughts on the selections, along with your own picks in the comment section!

Draft order based off NFLNR’s Power Rankings: Pre-Season

* Updated on 08/09/10

	1. Robert Quinn DE – North Carolina			17. Adrian Clayborn DE – Iowa
	2. Jake Locker QB – Washington			18. Christian Ponder QB – Florida St.
	3. A.J. Green WR – Georgia			19. Marvin Austin DT – North Carolina
	4. Andrew Luck QB – Stanford			20. Allen Bailey DE – Miami
	5. Jonathan Baldwin WR – Pitt			21. Greg Romeus DE – Pitt
	6. Marcel Dareus DE – Alabama			22. Ryan Mallett QB – Arkansas
	7. Joseph Barksdale OT – LSU			23. DeAndre McDaniel S – Clemson
	8. Prince Amukamara CB – Nebraska			24. Jared Crick DT – Nebraska
	9. Mark Ingram RB – Alabama			25. Deunta Williams S – North Carolina
	10. Von Miller DE/LB – Texas A&M			26. Nate Potter OT – Boise St.
	11. Patrick Peterson CB – LSU			27. Anthony Costanzo OT – Boston College
	12. Julio Jones WR – Alabama			28. Aaron Williams CB – Texas
(OAK)	13. Ryan Williams RB – Virginia Tech			29. Pat Devlin QB – Deleware
	14. Gabe Carimi OT – Nebraska			30. Mike Pouncey OT – Florida
	15. Jurell Casey DT – USC			31. Jack Crawford DE/LB – Penn St.
	16. Travis Lewis LB – Oklahoma			32. Michael Morgan LB – USC

Things don’t always play out this easy, but all 32 teams have reached agreement with their top picks from round one of this year’s draft.

The money given to those players was astronomical in size and scope once again, shattering previous records, and likely ensuring that this will be the last class of first round talent to get massive contracts.

A new collective bargaining agreement will be on its way, regardless of any labor strife, and there’s little doubt that a rookie salary cap will be a part of that.

With that in mind, here’s a final look at the numbers for all 32 first round picks.

Every year, fans around the league begin to wring their hands together in frustration, as their team struggles to sign their first round pick to a contract headed into training camp.

And while some of those fans have a legitimate gripe, especially when their pick holds out for a ridiculous amount of time (see Michael Crabtree), the majority tend to have their fears assuaged fairly quick, with most first round selections getting a deal done before they miss too much time.

This year is no different, with a bevy of signings hitting the wire throughout the day today, and plenty more where they came from as we head into the first weekend of training camp in 2010.

Here’s where things stand as of right now with the 2010 first round picks:

* Last Update – Tues 08/03 @ 7:12 pm CST

As a lifelong fan of the NFL, I’ve watched more than my fair share of drafts over the years, and have formulated my own view on how each team operates in their selection process. Obviously, I’m not privy to what goes on in the war rooms around the league, but I feel pretty confident in my ability to project how things will play out, at least in round one that is.

This year, I made the decision to take my mock draft and my top 100 prospect list to the fine folks over at the Huddle Report, and enter it into their annual contest to see who’s opinion is the most accurate. Throughout the years, many top notch pundits covering the comings and goings around the league have made their name well known with their draft prognostications, including Rick Gosselin (Dallas Morning News), Gil Brant (NFL.com), and even Mel Kiper, Jr (ESPN).

While I would have liked to have done better in the final standings, I can’t say I finished all that poorly, given the competition, and I think things went pretty well overall. NFLNR finished tied for 31st in the top 100 contest, with 78/100 prospects correctly predicted.

In the mock draft contest, NFLNR came up a bit short, but not horrible overall, finishing tied for 81st. We correctly matched four players to their actual teams and predicted 25/32 prospects in round one.

Thanks as always for supporting us here at NFLNR. We’ll be putting in even more time this year in researching the 2011 draft class, and should be able to improve upon our showing from this year.

Unlike any other draft before, this year brought us a completely new format, allowing the league to celebrate (rightly so) the achievements of the best collegiate players in primetime. While there are definitely a few kinks that need to be worked out over the next year, things couldn’t be better for the NFL, with outstanding ratings and interest at an all time high.

This year’s draft was dominated by trades, with teams wheeling and dealing all over the board, not only to move up and get a player they coveted, but to acquire proven talent as well. There was no shortage of controversy in some of the moves, but on the flip side of that coin were several clubs that clearly improved their roster through their maneuvers, keeping things interesting and exciting from the first overall pick to Mr. Irrelevant at the very end.

It’s with all of that in mind that we delve into each team’s picks, grading out their overall performance and critiquing those that failed to upgrade positions of need.

As always, we want to hear from you, so be sure to leave your thoughts in the comment section.

Arizona Cardinals

How can anyone not like what the Cardinals accomplished this weekend with their picks? They sat tight in round one and miraculously found themselves staring at a top ten talent in defensive tackle Dan Williams, who will start immediately and provide solid run defense next to playmaker Darnell Dockett. Adding linebacker Daryl Washington in round two was an equally shrewd move, and should pay off immediately.

Wide receiver Andre Roberts will be a fantastic addition to an already stacked receiving corps, and should give quarterback Matt Leinart more than enough weapons to work with next fall. And if Leinart struggles, he’ll have a solid backup waiting in the wings with quarterback John Skelton coming in thanks to a solid selection in round five.

Grade: B+

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons came into this draft needing to improve their defense in a big way, and while they helped their cause quite a bit with the addition of linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, they left quite a few players on the board that could help them turn the corner next year. Reaching for defensive tackle Corey Peters was an okay move, but he’s not ready to contribute at the next level right now and could struggled early on if forced into significant action.

Grade: C-

Baltimore Ravens

It’s almost not fair for the rest of the league to watch the Ravens reload every year, and still be contenders for the Super Bowl in the process. This draft class is no exception, as Baltimore slyly maneuvered into position, trading down and out of round one, and netting multiple picks back in return. I absolutely love both of their selections in round two, with defensive end Sergio Kindle and mammoth defensive tackle Terrance Cody somehow sliding past multiple clubs that clearly had a need for those type of players. Grabbing tight end Dennis Pitta in the fourth is a steal as well, given his size and receiving ability, and he should take over for repeat underachiever Todd Heap.

Grade: A

Buffalo Bills

The Bills are a team that really didn’t help themselves in the areas they needed to, although they did find several solid players at other spots. The main area of concern for them had to have been along their offensive line, as they really struggled last season to block anyone at all, and yet they did little to address it in this draft. Instead they took a dynamic playmaker in running back C.J. Spiller, who may find the going a lot tougher in the NFL, especially if they can’t find a solid slate of blockers to open holes for him to run through.

Grade: C+

Carolina Panthers

This may seem like a strange spot for a team that didn’t even have a pick in round one, but the Panthers did extraordinarily well with the selections they did have. Sitting tight at the start of round two with quarterback Jimmy Clausen still on the board looked bad at first, but eventually became a smart move after Clausen continued his free fall to Carolina at #48 overall.

Clausen will have no pressure whatsoever to start right away, with Matt Moore already entrenched as the starter this season, and if he does get on the field, he’ll have arguably the league’s best running back tandem in Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams and a top ten receiver in Steve Smith to carry the load.Finding a pair of defensive ends in Eric Norwood and Greg Hardy late in the draft was pretty solid as well, and should pay dividends fairly quick this fall.

Grade: B+

Chicago Bears

For not having hardly anything to work with in this draft, the Bears did a nice job of getting several players that can help them be a better team right away. Safety Major Wright isn’t the best in terms of turning and running with receivers, but he does have the ability to tackle in the open field and make all the reads from the secondary.

I was surprised to see defensive end Corey Wootton’s name still on the board before the Bears picked, and had a feeling they’d take him if he was still available. If he can stay healthy, he’ll be a solid fit in their defensive scheme.

Grade: B

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals had a solid draft across the board, grabbing definite talents much lower than many projected, and maximizing the value of their picks in the process. The addition of tight end Jermaine Gresham will definitely help their offense in the red zone, whether it’s through his blocking up front or receiving ability. I also really like their decision to get defensive end Carlos Dunlap in spite of his negative behavior in recent months. He’s got all the skill and talent in the world and if Marvin Lewis can coach him up, he’ll be a force for years to come.

Grade: B

Cleveland Browns

The Browns are another team that focused hard on addressing major areas of concern with quality playmakers and refrained from reaching for potential over proven ability. I’m not sure who got the better end of the deal between quarterback Colt McCoy and Cleveland, as both sides are going to benefit immensely from the relationship. In McCoy, the Browns have a perfect fit for the style of offense employed by Mike Holmgren and while he won’t start right away, McCoy should be capable of coming in and running the show if need be.

Grade: B+

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys were probably the luckiest team in round one, after they were able to get Dez Bryant into the fold. His off the field issues aside, Bryant is clearly a top five talent, and to have gotten him as low as Dallas did speaks volumes about how blind some teams can be when it comes to attitude and emotions.

Grade: B+

Denver Broncos

The Broncos really set themselves up for a ton of scrutiny in this draft, after they made trade after trade to move down, only to trade back up twice in the first round to take wide receiver Demaryius Thomas and quarterback Tim Tebow. Thomas is an okay pick… not sure why they wouldn’t take Dez Bryant there, but I can live with it. As for Tebow, I really have no clue as to what Josh McDaniels is thinking, seeing as there’s little chance that Tebow will be ready to be an NFL starter at quarterback anytime soon.

Grade: C-

Detroit Lions

Last year, we raved about the Lions draft class, and those praises definitely weren’t for naught after Detroit’s rookies shined throughout much of the season. This year is shaping up to be no different in that regard, as the Lions were able to add multiple playmakers without giving up a lot of value in the process. Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is going to be a force over the next ten years at the very least, especially with two Pro Bowlers next to him in Corey Williams and Kyle Vanden Bosch.

Trading back into round one to get running back Jahvid Best was a stroke of genius by general manager Martin Mayhew and the fact that it came courtesy of their division rival in Minnesota makes it even sweeter.

Grade: A

Green Bay Packers

Packers fans have to love what their team was able to accomplish, especially in the first round, with tackle Bryan Bulaga miraculously falling to them all the way down the board at #23 overall. Bulaga is a quintessential Green Bay player; tough, hard working, blue collar kind of guy that isn’t afraid to get dirty if need be to get the job done.

As for the remainder of their draft, I really like their new safety Morgan Burnett, who comes highly rated at that spot from Georgia Tech.

Grade: B

Houston Texans

The Texans did a great job in this draft of identifying talent and getting it without giving up anything to do so. Cornerback Kareem Jackson is a tremendous talent and should translate his game fairly quickly into the NFL, making their secondary much better as a result. I absolutely love the pick of running back Ben Tate as well. Great kid, excellent talent, and should be a force in combination with Steve Slaton

Grade: B+

Indianapolis Colts

At first glance, the addition of defensive end Jerry Hughes is a bit strange, as he was projected to be a solid fit in a 3-4 style defense, as opposed to the 4-3 Cover 2 scheme employed in Indy. But all that aside, Hughes is clearly a gifted athlete that can and will disrupt opposing passers, and he couldn’t have two better teachers in that craft than Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis.

Aside from Hughes, this is a fairly ho hum draft, with a few solid prospects but nothing really exciting.

Grade: C+

Jacksonville Jaguars

I won’t spend an awful amount of time here, as I truly think the Jaguars dropped the ball in a big way with this draft class. Not only did they reach way beyond what any team should with their pick of defensive tackle Tyson Alualu at #10 overall, but they failed to add a player capable of exciting the fan base enough to drive ticket sales next season. That alone may be enough to spell the end of the Jags in northern Florida, and if not it certainly won’t help their bottom line financially speaking.

Grade: D

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs draft was surprising to say the least, given general manager Scott Pioli’s propensity to place a higher emphasis on the offensive and defensive lines, and it definitely shocked more than a few fans and pundits alike (yours truly included). Safety Eric Berry is easily the safest pick in this draft, as his high character and outstanding playmaking ability on the field will translate immediately to the next level. I absolutely love their pick of wide receiver/running back Dexter McCluster in round two. He’s a dynamic player that will transform the Chiefs offense from a lackluster group into an exciting one right away.

Getting guard Jon Asamoah in round three was an absolute steal as he was rated much higher by just about everyone with a say in this draft, and the addition of cornerback Javier Arenas will pay dividends from day on on special teams, as he’s an outstanding return man.

Grade: B

Miami Dolphins

Unlike his counterpart up north in Jacksonville, Bill Parcells knows exactly what he’s doing in the draft, and it showed once again this weekend, with Miami finding several quality players throughout the middle and late rounds. Getting defensive end Jared Odrick at #28 overall and picking up extra selections in the process is an outright steal, as many had him projected to go much higher.

Defensive end Koa Misi is a bit undersized, but makes up for it with his tenacity in tackling the ball carrier. He’ll be a solid fit in the 3-4.

Grade: B

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings really didn’t make a whole lot of sense in the way they handled their pick at the end of round one, as they traded it away within the division to Detroit, only to watch as the Lions proceeded to take running back Jahvid Best, who would have been a perfect fit for Minnesota’s offense.

Don’t get me wrong, I really like Toby Gerhart and think he’ll be great for the Vikings, but I don’t understand the strategy behind giving a rival a good player, especially when you could use that player yourself. That’s a recipe for disaster regardless of how good you are.

Grade: C-

New England Patriots

Once again, Bill Belichick has shown himself to be the master of manipulating the draft, finding multiple quality players throughout each round and still coming out ahead of the game at the end of the day. Cornerback Devin McCourty is a perfect fit for their defense, in that he’s versatile enough to move around and will be a big help in the return game as well.

Getting linebacker Brandon Spikes in round three was another coup as well, in that he plays much better than his measurables would indicate and has a fierce attitude once he steps on the field.

Grade: B+

New Orleans Saints

The Saints really don’t have a ton of needs, outside of improving their depth at a few key spots, and as such, they were able to go into the draft with the ability to take the best player available on their board, regardless of position. Adding cornerback Patrick Robinson to the mix in their secondary definitely won’t hurt, given all the injuries they’ve had there in recent years, and getting a solid blocker up front in tackle Charles Brown was a steal for where he was selected.

Grade: B

New York Giants

The Giants are a team that I think did well with the picks they had to address key areas of concern headed into the draft. They took a bit of a gamble in going with defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul instead of the more polished Derrick Morgan, but overall I think they’ll reap more benefit out of Pierre-Paul in the long run, as he clearly has the most raw talent of any pass rusher available in this class.

Their best pick though may be linebacker Philip Dillard, who has very good skills in coverage and can make all the right reads from the inside spot. Coupled with their selection of defensive tackle Linval Joseph, this class could go down as one of the best in team history when things are all said and done.

Grade: B+

New York Jets

I’m continually amazed by what the Jets have accomplished in the span of a single year, and that didn’t go away with this draft class. New York came into this weekend with very few holes to fill, and even though they could have easily reached for potential over proven talent, they didn’t and it will pay off big time for them in the future. All four of their picks will come in and contribute right away, with cornerback Kyle Wilson likely to make the biggest impact in the Jets return game.

Don’t underestimate the addition of guard Vladimir Ducasse either. He’ll be a starter now that they’ve released Alan Faneca and should play well given the talent around him. Quality over quantity is definitely the theme here.

Grade: B

Oakland Raiders

Seeing the Raiders select linebacker Rolando McClain with the #8 overall pick caused a definite double take at my TV screen on Thursday night, as I’ve grown so accustomed to watching Oakland select workout warriors over top level players each year. Whether the Raiders front office finally sent Al Davis packing for the crypt or just convinced him that McClain ran a 4.42 forty at the combine, I don’t care. It’s about time Oakland gets back to picking quality players.

Grade: B+

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles are another team that clearly demonstrated their superiority in this draft, trading away picks left and right to acquire even more in other rounds, and then taking legitimate playmakers when they finally got on the clock. Defensive end Brandon Graham is going to be a dynamic pass rusher right away across from standout playmaker Trent Cole, and safety Nate Allen should slot in immediately in their secondary to prevent opposing offenses from dissecting them with precision like they did last season.

Grade: B

Pittsburgh Steelers

I really don’t get what the Steelers were trying to do in this draft, outside of their pick of offensive guard Maurkice Pouncey in round one. Taking Pouncey was a no brainer considering the level of talent he brings to the table and their offensive line should be much improved next season as a result.

That said, drafting two outside linebackers when you already have two of the best in the league makes zero sense to me, especially when wide receiver is such a huge need. To their credit, Pittsburgh did take a receiver in this draft, but I’d be surprised if Emmanuel Sanders ends up becoming an adequate replacement for Santonio Holmes next fall.

Grade: C-

San Diego Chargers

If you has asked me to grade the Chargers after round one, I’d have probably given them a D, as their trade to move up and get running back Ryan Matthews cost them a ton. But when you look at the draft as a whole, San Diego did extremely well, and it mitigated their overaggressive move in the first. The aforementioned Matthews will be a dynamic playmaker next season for the Chargers, with his ability to run and catch the ball out of the backfield, and their addition of linebacker Donald Butler could prove to be just as pivotal, given his outstanding tackling ability.

Finding defensive tackle Cam Thomas in the fifth is an absolute steal, and their pick of quarterback Jonathan Crompton in round six will prove to be smart as well, although Crompton won’t be on the field anytime soon, given Philip Rivers‘ status as an elite quarterback in this league.

Grade: B+

San Francisco 49ers

The Niners came into this draft needing upgrades at two positions more than anything else: offensive line and safety. They got both taken care of early on and did so in a big way, adding offensive tackleAnthony Davis and guard Mike Iupati in round one, and safety Taylor Mays in round two. All three players will be starters from day one and will play well for head coach Mike Singletary. Their addition of linebacker Navarro Bowman makes this draft even better, as he clearly has enough talent to be a player in this league.

Grade: B

Seattle Seahawks

When the dust settled yesterday evening, there was a clear winner in this draft, and his name is Pete Carroll. After an extended hiatus at USC that netted him two national titles and never ending stream of blue chip recruits, Carroll is back in a big way, taking home three starters with his first three picks, and somehow landing his former pupil, running back LenDale White for next to nothing from Tennessee.

Getting safety Earl Thomas at #14 overall is a steal, given that he’s almost even in talent with #5 overall pick Eric Berry, who went to Kansas City. And let’s not underestimate the addition of lightning fast running back Leon Washington from the Jets for very little in return… that move alone should pay dividends in a hurry on kickoff returns.

Grade: A

St. Louis Rams

The Rams have to be pleased with the way things played out for them in this draft, given the fact that they were able to not only add the best quarterback prospect available in Sam Bradford, but also take a top notch left tackle in Rodger Saffold in round two. Bradford may or may not end up being a solid player this year, but over time he will become the franchise quarterback in St. Louis and Rams fans will be thanking their lucky stars that they took him when they could.

Their additions of cornerback Jerome Murphy in the third and wide receiver Mardy Gilyard in the fourth are two outstanding picks as well, that should pay off in a hurry for the Rams.

Grade: A-

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs really improved their club in this draft, adding quality players in almost every round without giving up anything to return to do so. Their pick of defensive tackle Gerald McCoy at #3 overall was a no brainer, but combined with their selection of fellow defensive tackle Brian Price in round two, he should be a force from day one.

Getting wide receiver Arrelious Benn with their second pick in that round was another fantastic selection, and should provide their offense with the firepower needed to stay on the field and into the end zone next fall.

Grade: B

Tennessee Titans

The Titans had to have been ecstatic to see defensive end Derrick Morgan still on the board when they picked in round one last Thursday, as he was clearly the most NFL ready pass rusher available in this class, and should become a solid player with a little time and coaching. Getting wide receiver Damian Williams in round three is a steal, as he has the talent to be a top level receiver in the league very soon.

But my favorite pick made by Tennessee is the selection of safety Myron Rolle late in the sixth, as I really think he’ll be a star within a short period of time. At worst, the Titans have a genius calling the plays in the defensive backfield and that’s never a bad thing in my book.

Grade: B

Washington Redskins

The Redskins really didn’t have much to work with (surprise!) outside of their first round pick, and as such it’s going to come down to how quickly offensive tackle Trent Williams can learn how to play at a high level on the left side. If he translates his game smoothly and efficiently, Washington will be in good shape, but if not, they could be in trouble given their lack of depth at the position.

Grade: C

Every year there are more than a few prospects left waiting and wondering why they weren’t taken in the draft.They sit and quietly contemplate whether their careers are finally over and then like that, their phone rings, usually with a front office executive of one team or another on the line. And then the fun begins, with teams vying to be the first to offer rookie free agent contracts to players who often have the talent, but questions in other areas.

Obviously, very few of these players actually end up making it over the long run with the team they sign on with, but it definitely goes to show that perseverance and luck can get you through if you put your mind to it.

With that in mind, here’s my list of the top prospects still available after this weekend’s festivities came to a close a short while ago. I’ll be updating this list with all the latest signings, as the night goes on, so be sure to check back often for the latest news.

* Updated Sun @ 8:22 pm CST

Arizona Cardinals

• RB Alfonso Smith (Kentucky)
• WR Max Komar (Idaho)
• OT Casey Knips (San Diego St)
• OG David Moosman (Michigan)
• WR Stephen Williams (Toledo)
• CB A.J. Jefferson (Fresno St)
• OT Devin Tyler (Temple)
• WR Juamorris Stewart (Southern)
• QB Max Hall (BYU)

Atlanta Falcons

• TE Colin Peek (Alabama)
• LB Bear Woods (Troy)
• DB Rafael Bush (South Carolina St)
• WR Ryan Wolfe (Nevada-Las Vegas)
• CB Gabriel Derricks (San Diego)
• TE Leroy Banks (Southern Miss)

Baltimore Ravens

• RB Curtis Steele (Memphis)
• LB Mike McLaughlin (Boston College)
• S Morgan Cox (Tennessee)
• CB Prince Miller (Georgia)
• DB Josh Morris (Weber St)
• DE/LB Albert McClellan (Marshall)
• DB Ashton Hall (Marshall)

Buffalo Bills

• CB John Destin (Tulsa)
• WR Naaman Roosevelt (Buffalo)
• WR Donald Jones (Youngstown St)
• RB Joique Bell (Wayne St)
• CB Stephan Virgil (Virginia Tech)
• S Brett Johnson (California)
• DE Antonio Coleman (Auburn)
• S Dominique Harris (Temple)
• C Sean Allen (East Carolina)
• OL Jorge Guerra (Texas A&M-Kingsville)
• OL Cordaro Howard (Georgia Tech)

Carolina Panthers

• OG Kurtis Gregory (Missouri)
• S Matt O’Hanlon (Nebraska)
• OT Mark Ortmann (Michigan)
• DT Andre Neblett (Temple)
• K Aaron Pettrey (Ohio St)
• TE Andrew George (BYU)

Chicago Bears

• WR Freddie Barnes (Bowling Green)
• P Desi Cullen (UConn)
• LB Mike Mayberry (Indiana)
• TE Brandon Moore (Michigan)
• TE Vernon Sims (Northern Illinois)
• S Quintin Scott (Northern Iowa)
• WR Greg Matthews (Michigan)
• CB Cornelius Brown (Texas-El Paso)
• WR Antonio Robinson (Nicholls St)
• DE Barry Turner (Nebraska)
• C Tim Walter (Colorado St)

Cincinnati Bengals

• LS Mike Windt (Cincinnati)
• TE Jeff Cottam (Tennessee)
• RB Mikell Simpson (Virginia)
• S Bryan Evans (Georgia)
• FB Cordera Eason (Ole Miss)

Cleveland Browns

• OT Casey Bender (San Diego St)
• DE Austin English (Oklahoma)
• LB Jon Dempsey (Louisville)
• TE Troy Wagner (Indiana)
• OL Joel Reinders (Waterloo)

Dallas Cowboys

• QB Matt Nichols (Eastern Washington)
• C Phil Costa (Maryland)
• S Barry Church (Toledo)
• FB Chris Gronkowski (Arizona)
• WR Terrell Hudgins (Elon)
• WR Rashaun Greer (Colorado State)
• RB Lonyae Miller (Fresno St)
• DL Lorenzo Washington (Alabama)

Denver Broncos

• TE Nathan Overbay (Eastern Washington)
• DT Jared Baston (Missouri)
• TE Michael Palmer (Clemson)
• OT Chris Marinelli (Stanford)
• S Marcellus Bowman (Boston College)
• TE Riar Geer (Colorado)
• RB Chris Brown (Oklahoma)
• OG Michael Shumard (Texas A&M)
• WR Alric Arnett (West Virginia)
• CB Cassius Vaugn (Ole Miss)
• LB Kevin Alexander (Clemson)

Detroit Lions

• WR Mike Moore (Georgia)
• DT Rob Calloway (Saginaw)
• FB Matt Clapp (Oklahoma)
• LB Ryan Stamper (Florida)
• CB Aaron Berry (Pittsburgh)

Green Bay Packers

• RB Quinn Porter (Stillman)
• DE Frank Zombo (CMU)
• CB Sam Shields (Miami)
• DL John Russell (Wake Forest)
• DE Tim Knicky (Stephen F. Austin)
• WR Jeff Moturi (UTEP)
• OT Chris Campbell (Eastern Illinois)
• WR Shawn Gore (Bishop)
• LB Alex Joseph (Temple)
• RB Troy Harrison (Southern Miss)
• QB Noah Shepard (South Dakota)
• S Robert Vaughn (UConn)
• WR Chastin West (Fresno St)

Houston Texans

• S Aaron Webster (Cincinnati)
• FB Isaiah Greenhouse (Northwestern St)
• FB Jack Corcoran (Rutgers)
• OL Kristian Matte (Concordia)
• QB Tyler Sheehan (Bowling Green)
• OL Adam Ulatoski (Texas)
• OT Steve Maneri (Temple)
• OT Cole Pemberton (Colorado St)

Indianapolis Colts

• KR Brandon James (Florida)
• WR Blair White (Michigan St)
• CB Thad Turner (Ohio)
• K Brett Swenson (Michigan St)
• RB Javarris James (Miami)
• QB Tim Hiller (Western Michigan)
• S Mike Newton (Buffalo)
• OT Jeff Linkenbach (Cincinnati)

Jacksonville Jaguars

• DE Aaron Morgan (Louisiana-Monroe)
• CB Chris Hawkins (LSU)
• OT Kevin Haslam (Rutgers)
• TE Jason Harmon (Florida Atlantic)
• QB Trevor Harris (Edinboro)
• RB Chad Kackert (New Hampshire)
• P Robert Malone (Fresno St)
• DL Kommonya Quaye (South Dakota)
• WR Chris McGaha (Arizona State)
• TE Mike Caussin (James Madison)
• S Terrell Whitehead (Norfolk St)
• P Mike Brandtner (Iowa St)
• CB Josh Gordy (Central Michigan)
• LB Jacob Cutrera (Louisiana St)
• LB Kyle Bosworth (UCLA)
• OL John Estes (Hawaii)
• OT Daniel Baldridge (Marshall)
• FB Ben Stallings (Lambuth)
• WR Roren Thomas (Lindenwood)

Kansas City Chiefs

• WR Jeremy Horne-Murdock (UMass)
• OL Andrew Lewis (Oklahoma State)
• K Austin Signor (Eastern Illinois)
• WR Rich Gunnell (Boston College)
• LB Mike Johnson (North Alabama)
• DL Garrett Brown (Minnesota)
• LB Justin Cole (San Jose St)
• TE T.C. Drake (Kentucky)
• OL Tyler Eastman (Maine)
• OL Lemuel Jeanpierre (South Carolina)
• OL Nick Landry (Tulane)

Miami Dolphins

• DT Travis Ivey (Maryland)
• CB A.J. Wallace (Penn St)
• DT Vince Oghobaase (Duke)
• DB Ross Weaver (Michigan St)
• WR Roberto Wallace (San Diego St)
• DB Jonathan Amaya (Nevada)
• WR Marlon Moore (Fresno St)

Minnesota Vikings

• QB Ryan Perriloux (Jacksonville St)
• WR Ray Small (Ohio St)
• WR Aaron Rhea (Stephen F. Austin)
• QB R.J. Archer (William & Mary)
• OT Marlon Winn (Texas Tech)
• S Terrell Skinner (Maryland)
• WR Kelton Tindal (Newberry)
• C Tommy Hernandez (UC-Davis)
• CB Angelo Williams (Ferris St)
• OT Matt Hanson (Midwestern St)

New England Patriots

• DE Dane Fletcher (Montana St)
• RB Pat Paschall (North Dakota St)
• WR Bryan Anderson (CMU)
• S Sergio Brown (Notre Dame)
• DL Kyle Love (Mississippi St)

New Orleans Saints

• LB Jason Beauchamp (UNLV)
• OL Brandon Carter (Texas Tech)
• DE Junior Galette (Stillman)
• S Marcel Young (Jackson St)
• LS Clint Gresham (TCU)
• S Harry Coleman (LSU)
• DT Ekom Udofia (Stanford)
• DT Jay Ross (East Carolina)

New York Giants

• DE Ayanga Okpokowuruk (Duke)
• WR Duke Calhoun (Memphis)
• OL Jim Cordle (Ohio St)
• DT Nate Collins (Virginia)
• CB Leon Wright (Duke)
• OL Chris Poole (Holy Cross)
• QB Dominic Randolph (Holy Cross)

New York Jets

• CB Donovan Warren (Michigan)
• OG Charlie Tanner (Texas)
• DE Kevin Basped (Nevada)
• TE Jeff Cumberland (Illinois)
• OL Keith Buckman (North Dakota St)

Oakland Raiders

• WR Trent Guy (Louisville)
• FB Manase Tonga (BYU)
• LB Brashton Satele (Hawaii)
• DE Alex Daniels (Cincinnati)
• RG Alex Parsons (USC)
• RB Andre Anderson (Tulane)

Philadelphia Eagles

• WR Blue Cooper (Tenn-Chattanooga)
• DT Charles Alexander (LSU)
• RB Keith Flemming (West Texas A&M)
• WR Kevin Jurovich (San Jose State)
• FB Chris Zardas (UMass)
• WR Pat Simonds (Colgate)
• QB Joey Elliott (Purdue)
• OT Jeraill McCuller (North Carolina St)
• CB Josh Morris (Weber St)

Pittsburgh Steelers

• S DaMon Cromartie-Smith (UTEP)
• OT AJ Trump (Miami)
• DE Cordarrow Thompson (Virginia Tech)
• RB Andre Dixon (UConn)
• QB Daryll Clark (Penn St)

San Diego Chargers

• WR Jeremy Williams (Tulane)
• OT Nic Richmond (TCU)
• DE/LB Brandon Lang (Troy)
• WR Marcel Thompson (Lindenwood)
• TE Richie Brockel (Boise State)
• LB Scott Wookey (Palomar CC)
• DE Jason Lamb (Baylor)
• OT Justin Jeffries (Kentucky)
• OL Jeff Hansen (Montana St)
• WR Seyi Ajirotutu (Fresno State)
• WR Bryan Walters (Cornell)
• RB Jordyn Jackson (Eastern Oregon)

San Francisco 49ers

• S Chris Maragos (Wisconsin)
• DB Patrick Stoudamire (Western Illinois)
• WR Jared Perry (Missouri)
• QB Jarrett Brown (West Virginia)
• KR Leroy Vann (Florida A&M)
• WR Shay Hodge (Ole Miss)
• WR Scott Long (Louisville)

Seattle Seahawks

• DT Rob Rose (Ohio State)
• WR Quintin Hancock (Tennessee)
• OG Jeff Byer (USC)
• DT DeMarcus Granger (Oklahoma)
• DB Josh Pinkard (USC)
• PT Kyle Burkhart (Southern Miss)
• S Will Harris (USC)
• LB Joe Pawelek (Baylor)
• OT Jacob Phillips (Belhaven)
• S James Brindley (Utah St)
• CB Marcus Brown (Arkansas St)
• LB Reggie Carter (UCLA)
• TE Patrick Devenny (Colorado)
• LB Kevin Dixon (Troy)
• C Adrian Martinez (Colorado St)

St. Louis Rams

• WR Brandon McRae (Mississippi St)
• LB Simoni Lawrence (Minnesota)
• RB Alex Henderson (Northern Arizona)
• RB Keith Toston (Oklahoma St)
• QB Thaddeus Lewis (Duke)
• RB DeMaundray Woolridge (Idaho)
• S Jeromy Jones (Idaho)
• WR Rod Owens (Florida State)
• DE Adrian Davis (Arkansas)
• TE Jamie McCoy (Texas A&M)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• QB Jevan Snead (Ole Miss)
• LB Rico McCoy (Tennessee)
• OG Sergio Render (Virginia Tech)
• DE Brandon Gillbeaux (Delaware)
• LB Ryan Reeves (Wayne St)
• WR Preston Parker (North Alabama)
• C Jared Zwilling (Purdue)
• OT Derek Hardman (Eastern Kentucky)
• WR Shawn Moore (Arkansas Baptist)

Tennessee Titans

• RB Stafon Johnson (USC)
• TE Gerald Harris (Ole Miss)
• OL Kevin Matthews (Texas A&M)
• OL Nick Howell (USC)
• RB LeGarrette Blount (Oregon)

Washington Redskins

• TE Logan Paulsen (UCLA)
• S Anderson Russell (Ohio St)
• DT Marques Slocum (Eastern Arizona)

Prior to this off-season, the Jets weren’t exactly known for their propensity to wheel and deal during the draft. But after blockbuster free agent period netted them Antonio Cromartie, LaDainian Tomlinson, and Jason Taylor, New York mad yet another splash in the pool this morning with their release of Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca and their trade of  running back Leon Washington to Seattle.

According to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, the Jets will pay $5.25 million to Faneca in spite of his release. Faneca’s play has dipped significantly in recent years, and was expected to be a casualty for New York at some point or another.

As for Washington, the knee injury he suffered last season gave the Jets enough cause for concern that they selected USC running back Joe McKnight in the fourth round, making Washington expendable. Shortly afterward, the Seahawks came calling and New York quickly pulled the trigger on a deal that netted them a fifth round selection this year.

Round two was predictably full of surprises, with several teams throwing caution to the wind and selecting players of questionable value and/or talent.

But alongside of those picks, which were really few and far between, there were plenty of outstanding choices made by NFL front offices last night, and their teams should be much better next season as a result.

We’ll have much more analysis tomorrow on this and every other round, so be sure to keep it locked right here throughout the remainder of the draft.

As always, feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section.

Pick #33 – St. Louis Rams: Rodger Saffold (Off. Tackle - Indiana)		Grade
	Analysis: Great pick here by the Rams. Standout left tackle to protect Bradford’s blindside and solidify the line as a whole.	A
Pick #34 - Minnesota Vikings: Chris Cook (Cornerback – Virginia)		Grade
	Analysis: Solid cover corner with excellent size and ball skills. Vikings definitely needed an upgrade here and got it.	B+
Pick #35 - Tampa Bay: Brian Price (Def. Tackle – UCLA)		Grade
	Analysis: Good value pick here. Not sure that the Bucs needed to take two defensive tackles, but it never hurts to be able to stop the run.	B
Pick #36 - Kansas City: Dexter McCluster (Wide Receiver - Mississippi)		Grade
	Analysis: Size is an issue, but all McCluster does is make plays. Will be a versatile (and dangerous) threat in Charlie Weis’ offense.	A
Pick #37 – Philadelphia: Nate Allen (Free Safety – South Florida)		Grade
	Analysis: Allen will be a standout player for the Eagles and should help solidify their defense from day one	B+
Pick #38 – Cleveland: T.J. Ward (Strong Safety – Oregon)		Grade
	Analysis: Tough player with great instincts, but troubling health history makes this pick somewhat questionable	C+
Pick #39 – Tampa Bay: Arrelious Benn (Wide Receiver – Illinois)		Grade
	Analysis: Fantastic value here with Benn. Solid receiver with excellent hands and speed. Big upgrade for Tampa’s offense	A
Pick #40 – Miami: Koa Misi (3-4 Rush Linebacker – Utah)		Grade
	Analysis: This pick has Bill Parcells written all over it. Misi is an intelligent, talented playmaker with a knack for finding the ball.	B+
Pick #41 - Buffalo: Torrell Troup (Def. Tackle - Central Florida)		Grade
	Analysis: Bit of a reach here, as more established/experienced talent was still on the board. Fills a big need up front though.	B-
Pick #42 - New England: Rob Gronkowski (Tight End – Arizona)		Grade
	Analysis: Solid pick by the Patriots here. Great hands and character; another weapon for Brady to play with	B+
Pick #43 - Baltimore: Sergio Kindle (3-4 Rush Linebacker – Texas)		Grade
	Analysis: Any other team and there’s reason for concern. But the Ravens can handle Kindle’s issues and will reap the reward as a result.	B
Pick #44 - Oakland: Lamarr Houston (Def. Tackle – Texas)		Grade
	Analysis: Really beginning to wonder if Al Davis is still alive. Two solid picks in a row for the Raiders to improve their defense.	A
Pick #45 -Denver: Zane Beadles (Guard – Utah)		Grade
	Analysis: Another strange pick for Denver. Beadles is a nice player, but not worth the pick here. Better guards still on the board.	C
Pick #46 - New York: Linval Joseph (Def. Tackle – East Carolina)		Grade
	Analysis: Solid player that should fit in nicely up front for the Giants. Could have some issues with his weight though.	B
Pick #47 - Arizona: Daryl Washington (Linebacker – TCU)		Grade
	Analysis: Strange pick here. I like Washington and think he’ll be a solid pro, but not in the 3-4. Size, skills translate better into the 4-3.	B-
Pick #48 - Carolina: Jimmy Clausen (Quarterback – Notre Dame)		Grade
	Analysis: It’s incredible that Clausen fell this far and that the Panthers were able to steal him here. Perfect fit for Clausen and Carolina.	A
Pick #49 - San Francisco: Taylor Mays (Free Safety – USC)		Grade
	Analysis: Another outstanding value. Mays has issues with his coverage skills, but that can be taught.	A
Pick #50 – Kansas City: Javier Arenas (Cornerback – Alabama)		Grade
	Analysis: The Chiefs are clearly placing an emphasis on production in their picks. Despite his size, Arenas makes plays all over the field and will electrify in the return game.	B
Pick #51 - Minnesota: Toby Gerhart (Running Back – Stanford)		Grade
	Analysis: The Vikings hit a home run here in getting a talented runner that flat out crushes his opponents en route to the end zone. Good luck trying to stop the run if you’re facing Minnesota.	A
Pick #52 - Pittsburgh: Jason Worilds (3-4 Rush Linebacker - Virginia Tech)		Grade
	Analysis: I think there were better options available at this position, but the Steelers clearly like what they saw in Worilds, and he should be productive from day one in that system.	B
Pick #53 – New England: Jermaine Cunningham (Defensive End – Florida)		Grade
	Analysis: Solid player that should be capable of making the transition to playing outside in the 3-4. Patriots continuing to draft strong.	B+
Pick #54 – Cincinnati: Carlos Dunlap (Defensive End – Florida)		Grade
	Analysis: Talent has always been there for Dunlap, but his heart and brain often are not. Still, it’s a strong pick for the Bengals, as they could get a tremendous pass rusher if they can get Dunlap’s head on straight.	B
Pick #55 – Dallas: Sean Lee (Linebacker – Penn State)		Grade
	Analysis: Great pick for the Cowboys here. Lee has some issues off the field, but overall the talent is unquestionable and he’ll be a standout in Big D for a long time to come.	B+
Pick #56 – Green Bay: Mike Neal (Def. Tackle – Purdue)		Grade
	Analysis: Not a big fan of this pick, although I like Neal’s ability on the field. The Packers really needed to find a legit pass rusher that can play outside in their 3-4 defense, but Neal will be a big help up front.	C+
Pick #57 - Baltimore: Terrence Cody (Def. Tackle – Alabama)		Grade
	Analysis: Another solid pick here by Ozzie Newsome and Co. in Baltimore. Cody has weight issues but those should be mitigated by the Ravens outstanding player development team.	A-
Pick #58 – Houston: Ben Tate (Running Back – Auburn)		Grade
	Analysis: Tate was one of the most underrated runners available in this draft, and combined with Steve Slaton, the Texans should be deadly in the running game.	B+
Pick #59 – Cleveland: Montario Hardesty (Running Back – Tennessee)		Grade
	Analysis: Hardesty will be a nice option for the Browns next year, but with other needs present, this isn’t a great pic.	C
Pick #60 - Seattle: Golden Tate (Wide Receiver – Notre Dame)		Grade
	Analysis: Can this draft get any better for Seattle? Getting Tate here is a tremendous steal and he should provide them with an excellent option alongside T.J. Houshmanzadeh next fall.	A
Pick #61 - New York Jets: Vladimir Ducasse (Off. Tackle - UMass)		Grade
	Analysis: Nice pick here by the Jets. Ducasse is a versatile blocker that can play tackle or guard, and will likely slot in at Alan Faneca’s old spot, once New York gets around to cutting him that is.	B
Pick #62 – New England: Brandon Spikes (Linebacker – Florida)		Grade
	Analysis: I’m surprised the Pats went with Spikes here, but not because I think he isn’t valuable enough. Spikes will be a solid player at the next level, but I think New England would have been better off focusing on the outside instead.	C+
Pick #63 - Indianapolis: Pat Angerer (Linebacker – Iowa)		Grade
	Analysis: Angerer is a tough, hard nosed player that will grind out games and tackle with reckless abandon. Should be a great fit in Indy, although his speed is a bit lacking in comparison to the rest of the team.	B
Pick #64 – New Orleans: Charles Brown (Off. Tackle – USC)		Grade
	Analysis: Great value here for the Saints. Brown is athletic and should slot in nicely with the style of play employed by New Orleans.	B+

Over the past week, there’s been a multitude of rumors floating around claiming the Redskins would be all too eager to send defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth packing for a new home, and while team officials in Washington have remained adamant that there’s no way that would happen, it simply made too much sense not to explore it.

That said, it’s likely that the final nail in that coffin was put into place this afternoon, with Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan speaking on the subject with the folks over at NFL Network, saying pretty clearly that “it’s not going to happen.”

Given the way the first round played out, I tend to agree, with Detroit taking defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh at #2 overall, removing that need from their board. It’s possible that the Titans and the Raiders could make a push to get Haynesworth in the fold, potentially trading a third round pick and something else to get him on their side, but for now, it seems as though the chances of that happening are slim to none.

Last night’s proceedings were an incredible success for the NFL as a whole, given the primetime status of the TV coverage and the speed at which round one was completed. Instead of the five hour affairs we’ve seen in years past, this version was slammed out in just 3 hours, 28 minutes, finishing up in record time and leaving most fans yearning for more. Ratings should be high once again tonight, in both the second and third round.

There were more than a few teams that got a whole lot better last night, and several that left me scratching my head in amazement at their stupidity. Here’s a few of my winners/losers from round one.

Winners

1. Seattle – The Seahawks had two picks in the top 15 last night, and they used both to perfection, snagging a franchise left tackle in Russell Okung at #5 overall and a legitimate playmaker for their secondary in safety Earl Thomas at #14.  True they lucked out a bit in having those two players still available when they picked, but when the pressure was on, they didn’t miss, improving both sides of the ball in a big way.

2. Dallas – Getting Dez Bryant that late in the round is a stroke of genius by Jerry Jones and Co. as Bryant was clearly rated as a top ten talent just a few weeks ago. Adding him into the mix next to Miles Austin and Roy Williams will make the Cowboys offense that much better next year.

3. San Francisco – Mark it down… the best offensive line in the business will be going to battle on Sundays in the Bay Area, and they won’t be wearing silver and black. The 49ers added two talented blockers last night to a group that already has several solid players in it, and they should much improved on offense next year as a result.

4. Detroit – The Lions added two outstanding playmakers yesterday in defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and running back Jahvid Best, improving their team in a big way without giving up anything of value to do so. Having Best in their offense will be tremendous for Matt Stafford’s production next year, as he’ll have a legitimate home run hitter to work with in the backfield.

Losers

1. Denver – I have no idea what head coach Josh McDaniels was thinking last night, outside of potentially having a death wish for his career with the Broncos. He started off strong, making two trades to move back in round one, but then parlayed those shrewd moves into two highly questionable picks of wide receiver Demaryius Thomas and quarterback Tim Tebow.

Thomas has size and speed, but doesn’t run routes all that well and displayed hands of stone at critical moments last season at Georgia Tech. He’ll struggle to transition his game to the pro level. As for Tebow, I love the kid’s heart and determination, but he has to face the facts: he’s not going to be a franchise quarterback in the NFL, which makes his selection in round one a bad one by the Broncos.

2. Jacksonville – If the Jaguars had any desire whatsoever to stay put in Jacksonville, they sure have a weird way of showing it. Taking a player that graded out as a mid-second round prospect at best at #10 overall is a disaster of epic proportions, regardless of how much they liked the guy. Letting hometown hero Tim Tebow leave town to play in the Rockies is a worse sin though in my book, given the amount of tickets he would have sold each week. Los Angeles here we come.

3. San Diego – Let me start by saying that I love Ryan Matthews and think he’ll be fantastic for the Chargers. That said, there’s no way I would have sold the farm for him if I were sitting in A.J. Smith’s shoes last night. San Diego clearly had a need at running back after they jettisoned future Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson but Matthews could have been had later on in round one, or they could have even waited until their slotted position to take Jahvid Best, saving the picks they gave up to use on other positions of need.

With round one in the books, things are bound to get crazy this evening in both round two and three, making tonight’s coverage of the draft must-see TV.

Look for a bevy of trades to take place, especially early on in round two, with plenty of top level players slipping down from round one.

We’ve got our latest projection of how things will play out in round two for your viewing pleasure. Obviously, things are subject to change throughout the day as teams discuss trades, so check back this afternoon for our final picks.

As always, don’t hesitate to let us know what you think in the comment section.

	33. Arrelious Benn WR – Illinois			44. Damian Williams WR – USC			55. Joe McKnight RB – USC
	34. Chris Cook CB – Virginia			45. Sergio Kindle DE/LB – Texas			56. Brandon Ghee CB – Wake Forest
	35. Golden Tate WR – Notre Dame			46. Brian Price DT – UCLA			57. Jerome Murphy CB – S. Florida
	36. Rodger Saffold OT – Indiana			47. Koa Misi DE/LB – Utah			58. Ricky Sapp DE/LB – Clemson
	37. Taylor Mays S – USC			48. Mardy Gilyard WR – Cincinnati			59. Linval Joseph DT – East Carolina
	38. Colt McCoy QB – Texas			49. Chad Jones S – LSU			60. Lamarr Houston DT – Texas
	39. Jimmy Clausen QB – Notre Dame			50. Brandon Spikes LB – Florida			61. Corey Wootton DE – Northwestern
	40. Terrance Cody DT – Alabama			51. Ben Tate RB – Auburn			62. Vladimir Ducasse OT – UMass
	41. Bruce Campbell OT – Maryland			52. Brandon LaFell WR – LSU			63. Daryl Washington LB – TCU
	42. Nate Allen S – South Florida			53. Rob Gronkowski TE – Arizona			64. Navarro Bowman LB – Penn St.
	43. Alex Carrington DE – Arkansas St			54. Everson Griffin DE – USC

Thanks for dropping back in to check out our draft grades from round one.

Things pretty much went to form last night, with just enough trades to keep us on our toes, and a few surprises thrown in for good measure (Tim Tebow to Denver?)

We’ve broken down each pick and have our first thoughts on every player selected, but we want to hear from you on how you think each team did, so don’t hesitate to let us know in the comment section.

Enjoy!