2007 Mock Draft Top 10 picks

1. Oakland Raiders

QB JaMarcus Russell
Louisiana State

The Raiders have to get all the value they can out of this pick. The first pick salary will keep anyone thinking of trading up away and no decent free agent quarterback is going to sign with Oakland and that offensive line. Quarterbacks with the talent of Russell don’t come around very often.

2. Detroit Lions

WR Calvin Johnson
Georgia Tech

The closer we get to draft day the more I think the Lions will keep this pick for the same reasons the Raiders will not pass on JaMarcus Russell. The Lions, simply, can’t afford to pass on this talent.

3. Cleveland Browns

QB Brady Quinn
Notre Dame

Browns head coach Romeo Crennel is on thin ice in Cleveland and this pick will not help him at all this year, but I believe that strings will be pulled and favors will be done between Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis and Crennel making the Ohio native the new Browns quarterback.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

DE Gaines Adams
Clemson

When Detroit decides to keep their #2 pick and they take WR Calvin Johnson off the board the Bucs are going to be forced to go in a different direction. In my opinion that is not a bad thing. DE Gaines Adams is a tenacious pass rusher and that fabled Tampa defense isn’t getting any younger, so this choice is not a tragedy.

5. Arizona Cardinals

OL Joe Thomas
Wisconsin

When this scenario plays out this Saturday, the Cardinal’s brass may actually sprint to the podium to select OL Joe Thomas. This is undoubtedly the team’s biggest position of need and there couldn’t be a better fit anywhere. Thomas is an offensive lineman that has all of the skills and versatility needed to move from left tackle to right in order to protect QB Matt Leinart’s blind side.

6. Washington Redskins

DT Amobi Okoye
Louisville

The Redskins should do everything in their power to trade this pick since they only have five picks in the entire draft, but they probably won’t. I see them picking DT Amobi Okoye. He has as much upside as any player in this draft and in the long run I think the ‘skins will be thrilled they chose him.

7. Minnesota Vikings

RB Adrian Peterson
Oklahoma

Wide receiver is far and away the biggest position of need for the Vikings, but Calvin Johnson will be long gone, Ted Ginn, Jr. from Ohio State and Robert Meacham from Tennessee are too much of a reach at #7, so I see the Vikes taking the very talented running back from Oklahoma.

8. Atlanta Falcons

S LaRon Landry
Louisiana State

The Falcons need secondary help and, in this year’s draft, no one will help them more than Landry. After robbing the Texans blind in the Matt Schaub deal, new head coach Bobby Petrino has enough picks this year and next to make that team a lot better.

9. Miami Dolphins

OL Levi Brown
Penn State

The Dolphins are going to try and move up to #6 and get more value for their money, but at this point I don’t see it happening. They will be forced to take a pick here and tackle Levi Brown will be on the board. Even though this doesn’t seem like a very sexy pick, the imminent acquisition of Trent Green from the Chiefs makes this a huge pick up for the fish.

10. Houston Texans

CB Leon Hall
Michigan

The Texans will fill the need for a cornerback to compliment Dunta Robinson and the first in a very deep crop of defensive backs will be off the board. Hall is a great athlete and has the skills to be a big time shut down corner.