KB21's First Round Mock Draft

01. Miami Dolphins -- Jake Long, OT, Michigan

The Dolphins signed Jake Long to a multi year deal earlier in the week, ensuring that they will take him with the #1 overall pick. The Dolphins have a major need at left tackle, and they believe Jake Long is the guy to fill that need.

02. St. Louis Rams -- Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU

This pick is between Glenn Dorsey and Chris Long. Two thirds of the league's teams have Dorsey rated as the top player in the draft, so I'm inclined to project him with this pick even though the Rams have a greater need at defensive end.

03. Atlanta Falcons -- Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College

The Falcons want Glenn Dorsey with this pick and may opt to move down if he's off the board. If Dorsey is gone and they decide to keep the pick, look for them to go ahead and pull the trigger and reach for Matt Ryan.

04. Oakland Raiders -- Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas

Can Al Davis resist the temptation to draft a Raider legacy in Chris Long? Darren McFadden is the type of freakish athlete and atypical pick that Al Davis loves to make. Lane Kiffin will probably push for Long to be the pick, but look for Al Davis to rebuff his head coach and take "The Fad".

05. Kansas City Chiefs -- Chris Long, DE, Virginia

Needless to say, Carl Peterson and Herman Edwards will be doing cartwheels if they can get Chris Long with this pick. He will immediately replace Jared Allen in the starting line up and give the Chiefs a player they can build their defense around.

06. New York Jets -- Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State

The Jets would love to see Darren McFadden slip to them at this spot and may try to deal up to get him. They also like Matt Ryan a great deal, and if he somehow slips and McFadden is off the board, the Jets will probably take him. Gholston is the third option on the list, but he fits their team well as a possible 3-4 outside linebacker.

07. New England Patriots -- Keith Rivers, LB, USC

The Patriots could go with a linebacker or a cornerback with this pick. There is a lot of talk that has the Patriots zeroing in on Keith Rivers. The feeling is that they can plug Rivers into one of the inside positions in their defense, allowing Adalius Thomas to move back outside.

08. Baltimore Ravens -- Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy

The Ravens are hoping Matt Ryan will fall to them, but they will be happy to settle for Leodis McKelvin with this pick. Ozzie Newsome knows his defense is aging and that he needs an injection of talent into a poor secondary. McKelvin also doubles as a return specialist.

09. Cincinnati Bengals -- Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC

The Bengals will be ecstatic if Sedrick Ellis falls to them with the 9th pick. They may consider trading up for him. Getting a guy like Sedrick Ellis would be a boon for this franchise, because not only does he play a need position, he also brings the type of character this team lacks.

10. New Orleans Saints -- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, DB, Tennessee State

The Saints are trying to trade up to land one of the top two defensive tackles in the draft. If they are unable to pull off a trade, I believe they will settle for a defensive back or possibly a linebacker with this pick. Don't be shocked if Jerod Mayo's name starts getting mentioned with this pick.

11. Buffalo Bills -- Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State

This might be considered the biggest reach in the first round, but Devin Thomas is a receiver that has size and speed, and the Bills need both at the wide receiver position.

12. Denver Broncos -- Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State

This isn't a typical pick for the Broncos, since they usually go after linemen later in the draft. With the retirement of Matt Lepsis though, this is a major need for the Broncos. Clady is the best pure left tackle prospect in the draft and should fit in well in the zone blocking scheme the Broncos run.

13. Carolina Panthers -- Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida

The Panthers are trying to decide whether to take a running back, offensive tackle, or a defensive end with this pick. I believe they will go with Derrick Harvey, who will fill the void left by the retirement of Mike Rucker.

14. Chicago Bears -- Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh

Much like the Panthers, their is probably an internal debate going on in Chicago right now over whether to take local favorite Rashard Mendenhall or go with the meat and potatoes guy up front. I think they ultimately go with the lineman, and while there has been some talke of Otah slipping, I still believe that he rates high on most team's draft boards.

15. Detroit Lions -- Jerod Mayo, LB, Tennessee

This is another possible landing spot for Rashard Mendenhall, and the vote on this one may be a lot closer than the previous two picks. If Matt Millen goes with what head coach Rod Marinelli wants though, I believe the pick will be Mayo, who is a perfect fit for the MLB position in this defense. The Lions love both Jerod Mayo and Derrick Harvey.

16. Arizona Cardinals -- Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois

The Cardinals are looking at running back and cornerback with this pick, and the two prime prospects are Rashard Mendenhall and Mike Jenkins. I'm going with Mendhall because he will give Ken Whisenhunt that tough, hard nosed, in between the tackles runner that makes his offense go.

17. Kansas City Chiefs -- Branden Albert, OL, Virginia

The Chiefs make out like gang busters with their two first round picks. They get Chris Long, who I believe is the best player in this draft, and they get the lineman that they are probably considering at the 5th pick. The college teammates will help bring the Chiefs back to respectability.

18. Houston Texans -- Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt

Will the Texans finally address the position that has plagued them since drafting Tony Boselli with the first pick in the expansion draft? I think they will. Chris Williams has the movement ability to play in their zone blocking scheme and should start at left tackle from day one.

19. Philadelphia Eagles -- Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College

Andy Reid and Tom Heckert Jr believe in taking offensive linemen high in the draft, and with the ages of both Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan, the feeling is that Philly will address the future of the tackle position with this pick. They currently have Winston Justice as the future at left tackle, and with this pick, I feel they will get their future right tackle. Gosder Cherilus's stock has risen lately and will be the 6th offensive lineman taken in the top 20 picks.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- Mike Jenkins, DB, South Florida

The team needs and wants a wide receiver, but Mike Jenkins is too good to pass up with this pick. They may also be close to a deal that will land them Lito Shepherd.

21. Washington Redskins -- Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma

The Redskins have targeted defensive end and wide receiver with this pick, but I think it says a lot about who they like when Daniel Snyder, Vinny Cerrato, and Jim Zorn took their starting quarterback with them to throw passes to Malcolm Kelly during a workout.

22. Dallas Cowboys -- Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas

The Cowboys are putting a lot of emphasis on getting a change of pace back to play in tandem with Marion Barber. Felix Jones is their guy with this pick. It doesn't make much sense to me though.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers -- Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson

The Steelers were hoping for an offensive lineman with this pick, but they will settle on taking Phillip Merling. Merling weighed in at 290 lbs at his personal workout yesterday, which the Steelers attended, and that weight could project him to the 3-4 defensive end position in the Steelers' defense.

24. Tennessee Titans -- Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon

The Titans could go a couple of different directions here, but the I think the fact that Stewart is still on the board at this point will make him too tough to pass on for the Titans. They need offensive playmakers in Tennessee, and Stewart is a three down back, which is something the Titans do not currently have. They could also go with a wide receiver, with Limas Sweed and DeSean Jackson as options.

25. Seattle Seahawks -- Lawrence Jackson, DE, USC

The Seahawks believe in taking defensive linemen and offensive linemen high in the draft, and while they hope Jonathan Stewart is on the board when they pick, they will turn their attention to the defensive line if he isn't. Lawrence Jackson is a player that fits their profile, as he has been a solid contributor over his entire career at USC. Trading down is a strong possibility though.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars -- Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina

The Jaguars want to draft a defensive linemen with this pick, and with a run on defensive linemen ensuing, they are happy to get one of their targets with this pick. If Balmer is somehow off the board at this point, look for Jax to go with Calais Campbell.

27. San Diego Chargers -- Brandon Flowers, CB, Virginia Tech

The latest news with Shawne Merriman possibly testing positive for steroids again could force the Chargers to change their course with this pick. At this point though, the Chargers seem to be focusing on cornerbacks. Brandon Flowers is a player they like and believe can play immediately in their nickel package.

28. Dallas Cowboys -- Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas

Despite the fact that the Cowboys are close to getting Pac Man Jones, I think they will go with a cornerback at this pick. Talib is the most talented one on the board, and Jerry Jones has never had any hesitation about taking players who are a character risk.

29. San Francisco 49ers -- Quentin Groves, DE, Auburn

The 49ers got a combined 6 sacks out of their outside linebackers last year. The return of Manny Lawson will help this season, so they could go in another direction. They have shown a great deal of interest in Quentin Groves though and have been quite coy about it. The other option with this pick may be Curtis Lofton.

30. Green Bay Packers -- Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville

With the retirement of Brett Favre, I don't believe the Packers will be afraid to pull the trigger on a first round quarterback this year despite the fact that they drafted Aaron Rodgers three years ago in the first round. Brian Brohm is a perfect fit for their west coast offense.

31. New York Giants -- Dan Connor, LB, Penn State

The Giants need a linebacker after losing Reggie Torbor and Kawicka Mitchell in free agency, and they will be extremely satisfied to see Dan Connor on the board at this pick.

NOTES:

I believe some team is going to jump into the latter part of round one to take Chad Henne, which will obviously effect the other picks. I don't project trades though, but I'm looking for Baltimore to make a move up. Pittsburgh, Seattle, Jacksonville, San Diego, Dallas, and San Francisco could all be looking to move backwards.

Miami may try to jump into the latter stages of round one as well, but while many feel it will be for Chad Henne, I think they may try to ensure that they get Quentin Groves. I think they are interested in Henne, but I'm not 100% certain that they would trade up to get him.