First Round Storylines, Subplots, Cliffhangers and Red Herrings
by Sigmund Bloom

  1. Oakland: JaMarcus or Calvin? Will Quinn sneak in a la Mario? The answer to this question could change the answer to many that come after.
  2. Detroit: Does Detroit trade down, the outcome that has seemed like a foregone conclusion? If Oakland takes Johnson they lose, unless they wanted Russell all along. Would they stay home and take Quinn or *gasp* Johnson? If Matt Millen selects Johnson, laughter will erupt across America.
  3. Cleveland: Quinn or Peterson? If Calvin somehow lasts this long, Cleveland could be a big winner in a trade down scenario. Joe Thomas has a shot of going here, but Cleveland would be passing up a "new face of the franchise" player that could create a sense of excitement around the star-crossed franchise
  4. Tampa Bay: Many have assumed for a while now that Tampa is hot to trade up for Calvin. I got the impression from the Pewter Report guys that they also had an affinity for Joe Thomas. Gaines Adams would not be a shocking pick.
  5. Arizona: Joe Thomas is starting to get close to Hawk/Davis status - a great intersection of glaring need and a player likely to be the best player available at a pick. Adrian Peterson comes into play here if Tampa stays home and takes Thomas. Gaines Adams would be a nice cornerstone of the new 3-4 hybrid defense.
  6. Washington: Will they trade down for Lance Briggs? Asante Samuel? Will they stay home and take LaRon Landry? Amobi Okoye seems to be slotted here a lot in mocks. Dan Snyder always makes for good draft day stories.
  7. Minnesota: Will they be one of the big winners of the first when Quinn or Peterson falls to them? What do they do if the first six are Russell/Calvin/Quinn/Adams/Peterson/Landry? Turn Thomas into an RT? Take Willis? Anderson?
  8. Atlanta: Trade up for Calvin and make the City/Player marriage Houston whiffed on when they didn't take Vince Young? Landry and Atlanta have been frequent partners in mocks. There's also the Amobi Okoye/Bobby Petrino connection. Levi Brown fits well in the need for big, mobile blockers in the new scheme.
  9. Miami: Quinn would be a gift. Levi Brown fills a glaring need. Amobi Okoye and Alan Branch would be good defensive infrastructure picks. There's also word that they like Ted Ginn.
  10. Houston: I feel a trade down here. Denver is a good potential partner, as is any team looking to land Patrick Willis. If the Texans go Levi Brown here, that does not speak well of Charles Spencer's recovery. Branch or Okoye could also go here as infrastructure on the defensive line that help unlock more value in having Mario Williams. Ginn is not completely out of the question. Maybe, just maybe, Peterson falls to them.
  11. San Francisco:Adam Carriker and Patrick Willis both seem like great fits in Mike Nolan's defense. They have the ammo to move up if there's a player they covet.
  12. Buffalo: Hoping for Peterson or Willis to fall to them, but what happens if neither one is there? Would they settle for Posluszny as a consolation prize? Lynch comes into play here. Few saw Whitner coming last year, so fasten your seatbelts when they are on the clock.
  13. St Louis: Lots of talk about Ginn here, but then they went and traded for Dante Hall. Last year the talk was about Cutler and they squeezed Denver out of #68 while still get a player they had to be strongly considering at #11. It will be hard to repeat that. A corner, particularly Darrelle Revis, makes sense, as does Jamaal Anderson. Anderson comes into play as early as 7, but this is about the pick that matches his value.
  14. Carolina: They would be big winner if Willis ended up here. Posluszny could also be their consolation prize. Maybe even Beason? Anderson makes sense. I have soured badly on Olsen and believe he would be a terrible pick here. Carolina may be looking to trade down as this is about the point where the blue chip talent starts to dry up. Panthers trade Jenkins if Branch is here?
  15. Pittsburgh: I feel a trade down here. Strong needs like OLB and OG seems like reaches here. Darrelle Revis could stay home - he grew up and played college ball in Pittsburgh. It will be interesting to see if the Steelers pull the trigger on Levi Brown or Alan Branch if either falls this far.
  16. Green Bay: Well, this is where we find out if Lynch truly is falling, because he makes too much sense going on what we've seen on film. Ginn could land here. Revis or Hall don't seem like too much of a stretch. It probably won't happen in the first, but will they trade for Moss?
  17. Jacksonville: Jags+Nelson has taken on Hawk/Davis certainty, but there was late word that Nelson is slipping on boards from PFW. Ginn could come into play here. They could have Anderson fall into their laps.
  18. Cincinnati: This team needs help on defense. A lot of defensive players make sense here, any offensive player would be a bit of a surprise. Olsen is the only offensive player I see slotted here with any frequency. Insert Cincinnati character joke here.
  19. Tennessee: San Diego fans should perk up when the Titans are on the clock because Michael Turner could change teams along with this pick. If Tennessee stays home, any number of WRs, DEs, or CBs make sense. Lynch? How does the Pac man suspension affect their pick?
  20. New York Giants: A solid pick at LB like Posluszny or Beason would be a prudent investment, but Joe Staley as the future cornerstone of the line is a pick that is gaining steam in my mind. A WR or CB would not be that surprising. Lynch?
  21. Denver: I feel a move here, likely up, but you never can tell with Denver. If they have designs on a player, they seem to always land them. Willis at #10 discussed above. If they stay home, you have to think pass rush, or maybe Staley. A good safety would not be shocking. No matter what happens with Denver in the first, I have a feeling I'll like it. Lynch?
  22. Dallas: Jerry Jones no longer has accommodate Bill Parcells. WRs and Texas Longhorns makes a lot of sense here, as does a pass rusher, or an offensive lineman. Dallas really has the luxury of going BPA, so this one is wide open, only Jerry knows.
  23. Kansas City: Justin Harrell has really come into focus as the pick in my mind (if he doesn't go earlier), but Chris Terry's recent troubles may force them to take Joe Staley (if he doesn't go earlier). WR is a solid value at a strong need position. As you get later into the first, it feels like teams are getting much better return on their pick than the teams in the teens. Marshawn Lynch becomes an interesting pick if he slides with the latest LJ news.
  24. New England: This could be Washington, but if it's still the Pats, we'll get to test this growing David Harris rumor. The Pats have tremendous trade up or trade down flexibility owning 24 and 28. Michael Griffin, Jon Beason, Paul Posluszny... heck I could name 20 players here and still not name the guy they take. Lynch?
  25. New York Jets: Justin Blalock or Ben Grubbs feel right here. Maybe Chris Houston. NOT Greg Olsen (according to Rovers). A linebacker would also make sense. Mangini knocked the first round out of the park last year, I want to see what he does for an encore.
  26. Philadelphia: Brian Leonard comes into play now. As does Eric Weddle. Safety in general makes sense. WR wouldn't be shocking, and we all know how much the Eagles like first round linemen on both sides of the ball.
  27. New Orleans: Jason David's signing seems to have taken CB off the table, so WR becomes that much more prominent, but we are also down in the very good winning team section of the first, where teams are more inclined to go complete BPA. If Greg Olsen slides as I expect, it could stop here.
  28. New England: Brian Leonard and Eric Weddle both could hear their name called. The saavy Pats move is to trade down from this pick since they will have already taken a first rounder, and they could likely land either of those guys in the early 2nd.
  29. Baltimore: Joe Staley would be the dream pick, but they may have to settle for Ryan Kalil. Offensive line help seems imperative, they would have to really like a player to not address the aging line.
  30. San Diego: Feels like a WR, there will certainly be a good batch to choose from. A reload on the offensive line in the secondary would also be prudent here. They can certainly afford to go BPA.
  31. Chicago: Offensive line feels like a strong pick here, or possibly CB. Like the rest of these late teams, a somewhat unpredictable BPA pick could be in the cards.
  32. Indianapolis: Lots of plum WRs here, and they could have another weapon for Manning - Olsen slide to them. Lynch?










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