AFC East:

(1) New England Patriots – The Patriots, once again, drafted solidly. They’ve picked up some great talent (as you would expect with the amount of picks they had in the first 3 rounds!) and have also made some noise in free agency picking up the ever controversial number 85. With Brady coming off a great year and with more weapons at his disposal you can’t look past them for the AFC East crown. Stevan Ridley (3rd round pick) has looked sharp and quite a good talent so keep an eye out for him, although with Danny Woodhead and BenJarvus Green-Ellis in front of him he’ll have quite a bit of work to do.

(2) New York Jets – The Jets have also been making some noise in free agency / trades. Letting Jericho Cotchery go, signing Derrick Mason, letting Braylon Edwards go, signing Plaxico Burress to name the more high profile cases, but they’ve also tied up some current talent with Eric Smith and Antonio Cromatie signing new deals. They haven’t weakened as such, but they don’t seem to have improved much either. I’d expect more of the same from the Jets, hard hitting football and a few bumps on the way.

(3) Miami Dolphins – What can be said about the Dolphins for this season? They’re currently going in with a Quarterback that doesn’t seem to have the support of the crowd or the back room staff, and they’ve lost the running tandem of Ronnie Brown (Eagles) and Ricky Williams (Ravens). They did draft pretty well in my opinion, but they’re still behind the Jets and the Pats in this division. Unless a few players have blitzing seasons then a third placed finish is the best they can hope for. Daniel Thomas (2nd round pick) looks a good prospect and with the two veteran running backs gone will have a big part to play in this offense, however with Reggie Bush looking to be the number 1 back he will most likely be sharing carries. Watch out for centre/guard Mike Pouncey (1st round pick) too, he could be a massive factor in how Thomas’ season goes.

(4) Buffalo Bills – The Bills are unfortunately, in my opinion, still propping up the AFC East table in 4th place. They’re improving no doubt, and I do think they could possibly pip a 3rd place finish in this division, but everything needs to click and go right for them and everything needs to go wrong for the Dolphins. With Lee Evans being traded for a 4th round pick to the Ravens they will be expecting big things of Steve Johnson and Fred Jackson, as well as expecting the younger corps of receivers to step up a gear. Marcell Dareus (1st round pick) will be thrown in at the deep end on that defensive line from what I can see, let’s hope he can make an impact.

Andrew Says – First division and already I disagree.

(1) – New England Patriots

(2) – New York Jets

(3) – Buffalo Bills

(4) – Miami Dolphins

You bet against the Pats at your own risk. Last year saw the Jets come close, but I think they’ve got weaker this off-season and don’t see them getting within a game of the division. The Bills will surprise us this year, as will the Dolphins. For opposite reasons.

I like the Jets for a wildcat spot.

AFC South:

(1) Indianapolis Colts – The Manning saga continues this off-season, and although he has just signed a mega deal which will keep him in Indianapolis until he retires his current health is in question. He hasn’t played this off-season and they don’t expect him to play in their last game either, hoping to get him fit for the season opener. His neck issue looks to be a serious one, however if he can play and play to his standards then despite the defensive issues on the team I can see the Colts winning the division once more. Without Manning I have serious questions about this team and if he doesn’t play then Houston will capitalise on this.

(2) Houston Texans – Houston have improved this off-season, defensively anyway. They’ve addressed what needed addressing (mainly the corner situation) and have brought in Johnathan Joseph from the Bengals which immediately gives them a weapon against the deep threats they will face, and they also picked up Brandon Harris in the draft this year, 2nd round. They have lost pro-bowler Vonta Leach to the Ravens, so you have to wonder how that will affect Foster’s production without that man mountain to block for him. Other than that they’re the same old Texans. AJ, Schaub and Foster are the backbone of the offense and are pretty much nailed on to put up big numbers again this year. Wade Phillips will be looking to get the defence up to speed and if they can perform better this year then the Texans will give the Colts a run for the division title.

(3) Tennessee Titans – Not only are Tennessee without Jeff Fisher this year, but they are also without Vince Young  after trading him to the Eagles and will line-up with Matt Hasselbeck under centre with new boy Jake Locker backing him up. CJ2K is still holding out over a new contract, but this is expected to be cleared up over the coming weeks so he should be ready for the season opener. Titan fans will be hoping that Kenny Britt will start the season as he finished after proving to them that he can be that big play receiver they need (he finished the season with 42 receptions, 775 yards, 9TDs, and this was only in 7 appearances). The defence last year were pretty bad, and were on the field more than any other team I believe, so this off season they’ve been bulking up and trying to get some playmakers on this side of the team. They drafted Akeem Ayers to play OLB and he seems to be a legit pass-rusher, and they’ve brought in the massive Shaun Smith to play defensive tackle. They could make a big splash in the South, however I still see the Colts and Texans as better all-round teams at the moment.

(4) Jacksonville Jaguars – Jacksonville, you don’t hear many people talking about them this year, and to be honest you can understand why. They’ve not been making much noise in the free agency market, their draft was… average. They didn’t address the fact they need a pass-rusher after finishing second last in sacks last year, they used their first round pick on a QB, who definitely has talent, but who most likely won’t be featuring this season unless David Garrard cannot play, and Garrard is locked up for another 3 years earning a considerable sum. Jones-Drew is coming off surgery but is looking pretty sharp in practice, and he put up solid numbers last season – although he needs to improve upon his touchdown talley; only reaching 5 rushing touchdowns last season, and you know the Jaguars rely on him to make some plays. Despite the bright spark that is MJD I feel the Jaguars are in for another season of disappointment at the bottom of the AFC South.

Andrew Says – I can get behind this!

(1) – Indianapolis Colts

(2) – Houston Texans

(3) – Tennessee Titans

(4) – Jacksonville Jaguars

As much as I’d like to, I can’t pick the Texans over the Colts. Though they’re clearly not the same team without Peyton, but I still fancy them to win the South. I can see a heart-breaking tie-break keeping Houston out of the post-season. Again. I like what’s happening in Jacksonville, but probably not enough to be bold with them this year.

AFC North:

(1) Baltimore Ravens – The Ravens lost a lot of big name players this off-season. Todd Heap, Derrick Mason, Kelley Gregg to name a few, however they have made a few key signings themselves bringing in the massive Vonta Leach, Lee Evans and Bryant McKinnie (meaning Michael Oher will be moving over to right tackle – FINALLY!) If everyone can stay fit then with the schedule they have they will make a push for the division. One thing they need to do though, get over the Steeler hump. Expect to see Ray Rice hit 2000 yards from scrimmage this year, and Joe Flacco to finally reach the 4000 yard passing club

(1) Pittsburgh Steelers – The Steelers are pretty much the same club that they were last year, just a little older. They’ll have the same smash mouth defence and will be hard to run on, but they’ll still be weak down the sides as Rodgers proved in the Super Bowl. They will however have Big Ben from the start of the season this year which is a huge bonus to them. He is an elite Quarterback, no doubt, and he will be a massive factor in their success. With Wallace stretching the field, Mendenhall featuring in the backfield and a decent o-line they will be putting points on the board every week. Whoever wins the week 1 game with them and the Ravens will take the division

(3) Cleveland Browns – Cleveland have quietly been going about their pre-season this year, and they’ve looked half decent in the games I’ve seen. McCoy looks even more comfortable in the West Coast offense they’re running down there and he’s becoming more familiar with his targets down the field. Pro-Bowler Joe Thomas will be doing his duty and protecting McCoy on the left giving him time to spot these targets, he could have a quietly good season. Hillis is expected to have a fantastic season after his performances in 2010/11. Will teams see him coming and adjust to stop the run? Could do, and this in turn could help McCoy a lot. A solid run game is always good for the Quarterback. The defence is looking sharp also, I must say. The Browns could very well finish with an 8-8 record at the end of the season, which surely must be a target for Pat Shurmur and co.

(4) Cincinnati Bengals – Cincinnati could very well be looking at the number 1 pick in next years draft in my opinion. They’ve lost Carson Palmer (one way or the other), Ochocinco, Owens, Joseph… A lot of big name players, and veterans of the team. They’re standing with a rookie behind centre, rookies at receiver (talented, yes, but rookie non-the-less) and a shaky defence bar the odd one or two players who I rate. I’m being generous with them finishing with a 4-12 record. They’re rebuilding, that’s plain to see. In a few years they could well be challenging for the division (assuming the guys develop as they are expected to), but at the moment they are raw and unproven.

Andrew Says – Sorry Craig, I can’t see the Ravens topping the Steelers

(1) – Pittsburgh Steelers

(2) – Baltimore Ravens

(3) – Cleveland Browns

(4) – Cincinatti Bengals

This is a division of two leagues, as it were… I think the Browns will have a good year in parts but I can’t see them touching the Ravens or Steelers. The Bengals… well, let’s look again at them in a years time.

Ravens to take a wildcard spot.

AFC West:

(1) San Diego Chargers – The Chargers will have a good season, no question. Phillip Rivers is coming into his own and is the leader of this offense, hell, the team. He’s expecting a big year and he has the weapons to do it. Jackson will be available from the start, Floyd is still kicking about and the monster that is Gates is looking like he could play without an injury which can’t be bad. Defensively they’re as sharp as they can be – and to be honest the defence has been pretty good these last few years. The good news for the Chargers is the Special Teams change in kicking off from the 35yd line, I’ll bet Steve Crosby breathed a sigh of relief when that news was broke. A lot of people are saying this could be their year, I’m optimistic they’ll win their division but I don’t think they’ll win the AFC crown. Not whilst Baltimore still breathe

(2) Denver Broncos – The Broncos have been in the news A LOT lately, mainly over the boy-wonder Tim Tebow and his situation in Denver. I like Tebow, I’ll get this out of the way now. I think he’s a good guy and a good athlete, I don’t think he’ll become the next elite Quarterback but I think he has enough in his locker to be a starter for many years to come. The situation needs to be sorted really, it doesn’t seem like he is wanted in Denver and it’s causing some unrest in the camp, in my opinion. This could very well disrupt the season. It may not, but I can’t see Denver pushing for the title and I do think that the Chargers will win the division by 3 wins or more. I’m looking forward to seeing Von Miller perform though, I do think that the Broncos drafted well when they picked him up with the second pick. I also don’t think any of the receivers will breakout this year like Brandon Lloyd did in 2010, although it’s always nice when they do. Willis McGahee will be one to watch.

(3) Kansas City Chiefs – Yes, I know, I’ve got the Chiefs in 3rd place. Why you ask? Simple, this pre-season (and I know it’s not good to base predictions on this) they have just looked… disjointed. They’ve not shown any spark, they don’t look like the same team. I could be completely wrong – however you know teams are going to be marking Charles a lot, you know that Dwayne Bowe did enough last season to warrant double coverage every now and again, and frankly I do believe these are players who can be controlled by the right defensive schemes – and I’m not sold on the other targets surrounding Cassel. Brandon Flowers is a player that I really like, he can make plays and he is on his way to being a shut-down corner in my book, will people throw his way this year? Who knows, but if they do then they want to make sure the throw is accurate and the route is crisp. They also have another quality player in the backfield by the name of Eric Berry. Only his second year, but his rookie season was as good as he could have hoped, let’s see if his 2nd season is just as good.

(4) Oakland Raiders – We finish off with the Raiders, as many people probably expected. Jason Campbell has got the nod as the starting Quarterback and he’ll have Darren McFadden, the fantasy wonder, lining up next to him. McFadden will be looking to continue his great form from last season, and he could very well do that. He’s a great little athlete, no question. I’m just thinking that without a solid passing game a lot of defences could put their focus on Darren and basically stuff him out of the game. Campbell isn’t a bad Quarterback, but he won’t set the world on fire and the receivers they have aren’t big names who are renowned for their big play ability. They are relatively young, but they’re quick, Hue Jackson will be looking for everyone to contribute. The Oakland defence have been leaky this pre-season, and I know they were bottom of the league a few days ago because of it. I don’t see much changing for the coming season so they’ll be looking at Tyvon Branch to lead the way to a hopefully better performance.

Andrew Says – I agree about the Chargers, but then we disagree again.

(1) – San Diego Chargers

(2) – Oakland Raiders

(3) – Denver Broncos

(4) – Kansas City Chiefs

I think Oakland could have a good year. They’ve had a bit of stability and some steady development in key areas. Yes, there are still questions and the so-called skill positions but I think they’ve got enough. I can see the Chiefs struggling and Denver will improve on last year and push Oakland close. I can’t see anyone else but the Chargers taking command in the West though.

I know you’re as excited as we are

21 – Kansas City Chiefs: Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin

Easiest pick so far – the Chiefs need to address right tackle. They should really have addressed this last year, but with a selection of good tackles available they’ll take Carimi as the best of the lot and probably with the biggest upside too.

22 – Indianapolis Colts: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado

Solder is a former tight end, so has good atheleticism for the tackle position. A bit raw, however he has the natural skills to succeed as a left tackle in the NFL. The Colts’ current LT, Charlie Johnson, is set to be a free agent, so they need to upgrade the OT position. DT was a possibility here, but the Colts franchise revolves around Peyton Manning, so protecting him is a must.

23 – Philadelphia Eagles: Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado

The Eagles have a number of picks this year in the first 4 rounds and can address a few positions that need addressing I’d say quite comfortably. One of the main areas would be the tackle spot. I would have had them taking Carimi, Sherrod, Solder, Castonzo or Smith, but as they have all gone I think all first round tackles have now gone and they will need to look else where. He might have some character issues but I think Smith will sit nicely in the defence over at Philadelphia. He’ll have the king of controversy, Vick, to help him in his first season so although he might be a bit of a gamble he’ll be worth the risk. The Eagles defence last year was ranked near bottom on for big plays on the defence so some added skill at corner will hopefully help them improve upon that. He’s no Revis Island, but he has the potential to be a shut-down corner.

24 – New Orleans Saints: Cameron Heyward, DE/DT, Ohio State

The Saints are really tempted by Corey Liuget and there’s little doubt that they’ll upgrade the defensive line. Personally though, I think they’ll be better served in the best few years by signing an End. That said, Heyward gives them real flexibility and though he’ll start at End he remains a versatile option.

25 – Seattle Seahawks: Jake Locker, QB, Washington

Seattle need help at a few positions such as offensive tackle and defensive end, but Matt Hasselbeck is getting alot older, and the Charlie Whitehurst experiment didn’t go as planned. Locker will not start right away, but will sit behind Hasselbeck for a season learning the game, and may get some playing time if the old man gets injured.

26 – Baltimore Ravens: Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland

Could be the deep threat that the Ravens so desperately need to stretch the field. Smith opens up all sorts of possibilities for the offence at Baltimore. Smith is currently being compared to Reggie Wayne, which speaks volumes about his ability. Having him in the line-up not only gives the Ravens a vertical threat, but it will also give Boldin and Mason that extra bit of room to create plays.

27 – Atlanta Falcons: Brooks Reed, DE/OLB, Arizona

Where do you improve a team that was a comfortable 13-3 and looked the class of the NFC for most of the season? I was tempted by Kyle Rudolph, and would have considered Torrey Smith if he was available. I also looked at the number of other quality DE/OLBs who are still available as well as the wealth of DTs still hanging about. In the end though, I like Reed to sit opposite Abraham but to also rush from further back and be good in coverage.

28 – New England Patriots: Mike Pouncey, OG, Florida

After having picked up a needed piece on the defensive side of the ball earlier in the draft, the Patriots turn their eyes to the offensive side of the ball. Running back is an option, as is offensive tackle, but the value isn’t there at this point. For that reason the Pats go with the best Guard available in the draft, Mike Pouncey. With questions over the future of Logan Mankins, the Patriots decide to solidify the long term future of the position by taking Pouncey. They have shown in the past that they aren’t afraid to take a Guard in the first round, like they did with Mankins, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them do it again

29 – Chicago Bears: Marcus Cannon, OT, TCU

Despite an improvement last year I feel the Bears offensive line still needs looking at. Cannon looks the part and plays the part, and the potential is definitely there. If the worst happens he’ll convert to guard, and more than likely excel there. Still, at 6-5 and 358lbs he’ll at least give Cutler a little more time to throw! They guy has been reported to have a great work ethic, and is pretty nimble for his size.

30 – New York Jets: Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon St.

The Jets need to get over the “bump” of successive Championship losses. Two games that have been very close. They need to address the WR position but I think they’ll look to keep some of the guys they’ve got. But what they could really do with is a stalwart tackle who’ll be there for years to come. Whilst slightly undersized as a nose-tackle, this guy is strong. He’ll pack the middle of the line and will take on two guys all day long. (That sounded less gay in my mind). This is Ryan’s type of player and look for him to be let loose.

31 – Pittsburgh Steelers: Aaron Williams, CB, Texas

I was originally going to go OL here, but after a run on tackles, and with the only first round quality Guard already off the board, i had to go in a different direction. The Steelers have generally got by without anyone particularly outstanding at the CB position, however after the gashing the Steelers secondary took in the Superbowl against the Packers, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them take a DB. Williams has the ability to also play FS, so he could easily line up alongside Troy Polamalu. I was also considering DL, but i think DB is more of a need.

32 – Green Bay Packers: Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple

Where do you need to look when you’re Superbowl champions? It’s difficult, but obviously there are areas you need to improve. The only thing I think will happen is that the Packers will take the best player on the board with their first draft pick. Looking at picks we have made that would be Muhammad. They guy has received glowing reports leading up to the draft regarding his explosiveness, his work ethic and his general play. He would work well with the current defensive line-up at Green Bay, I’d especially love to see how Matthews and Wilkerson would play together.

That’s your lot. Hope you enjoyed reading this as much as we enjoyed going through it. There are probably a few surprises in the list itself, but then everyone’s list is different!

11 – Houston Texans: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska

The Texans need secondary help, and if Prince is available come their pick I don’t doubt that they would take him. He seems to be the complete package. His size of strength, speed and size make him the perfect press-cover corner, he has a great read of the game and excellent closing speed. He would definitely help the Texans, who last year finished last in the pass defence rankings.

12 – Minnesota Vikings: Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue

The Vikings need a QB, but with Locker being a longer term project, Newton and Gabbert gone and Dalton, Ponder and probably Mallett not a 1st round pick, I don’t see them investing. They have urgent needs on the defensive line and Kerrigan fits the bill. I think they’ll look very closely at Bowers and also DT Corey Liuget. But with the ??s over Bowers’ knee, I see him falling (despite good showings since surgery) and the Vikes need a strong End rather than Tackle at this point.

13 – Detroit Lions: Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College

The Lions’ biggest need is in the secondary, but with Peterson and Amukamara off the board there is no defensive back worth selecting this high in the draft. They were also hoping that Tyron Smith would fall, however they are happy to stay where they are and take the next best OT available. Matt Stafford needs protecting, especially after the amount of time he has spent injured. The Lions have little at tackle right now, so Castonzo should come in and start immediately.

14 – St. Louis Rams: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama

The Rams made a big step up last year, and much of that could be down to how well Sam Bradford settled into his role as starting Quarterback. Whilst I do feel that the Rams need to invest in the defensive line-man and safety positions I believe that the draft this year is filled with prospects for those positions. Jones will bring something different to the Rams WR corps and add some competition for those coming back from injury. He’s also a good down field blocker and isn’t afraid to hit.

15 – Miami Dolphins: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama

Despite concerns about his knee, I think the Dolphins simply must take the best running back available this year. Though admittedly it’s far from being a stellar draft for backs, Ingram could be a solid starter immediately. Pouncey is a real possibility here too, as is a trade down.

16 – Jacksonville Jaguars: Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson

The Jaguars didn’t have anyone with over 5 sacks last season, and apart from Aaron Kampman who signed for the Jags last offseason, can you name a decent Jaguars defensive end? I’m not talking about now, I’m talking about ever! Bowers falls due to concerns about his knee, but if he can play and avoid injury he is a top 5 talent.

17 – New England Patriots: Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA

New England has six picks in the first 100 selections via trades from the Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers and Minnesota Vikings. I would have picked Mark Ingram with this pick but Andrew already had the Dolphins taking him, and as I don’t see another RB being picked this high I’ll see them picking an outside linebacker, namely Akeem. He has shown he could have what it takes to make the step up and is extremely athletic for a big line-backer, and whilst he might lack that extra bit of pace to be an edge rusher he has superb gap discipline. He won’t be a guy who is going to run all over the field, but with some work he could prove to be a valuable ‘big-play’ line-backer.

18 – San Diego Chargers: J.J. Watt, DE/DT, Wisconsin

I’ve seen Watt mocked as high as 9. I think that’s a stretch for most teams, but his versatility, determination and drive will show through. He’s not the best pass rusher there, though that might come, but he’s a hard worker, can be coached and will not let anyone down. He’d be a great investment here at 18th.

19 – New York Gianst: Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State

The value at linebacker isn’t there, what with Akeem Ayers off the board, so the Giants fill another position of need. The OL needs some help, and Eli Manning definitely needs more protection. Sherrod should be able to contribute at a tackle spot in his first year, either at left or right depending on how William Beatty pans out.

20 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri

The Bucs have a young squad, and Morris seemed to get the best out of his players last year only just missing out on a play-off spot. Looking at the team they need some help on the secondary (which is becoming a somewhat standard this year for a lot of teams). The corner spot will probably be addressed in the latter rounds, so I have them taking Aldon Smith whilst he is still available. Smith has a knack of getting to the QB, and it’s something he has done all through College. Expect to see him as an explosive pass-rusher.

Next up, picks 21-32 to complete the 1st round.

1 – Carolina Panthers: Marcel Dareus, DT, Alabama

While the Panthers don’t have a great QB, I just have too many questions about the top QBs in the draft for them to warrant the No.1 overall pick. Newton is the consensus choice here, but Newton isn’t like Sam Bradford or Matt Ryan, he was never as good as a passer as them in college. Dareus will be a force inside from the get go, and while he won’t be as dominant as Suh, he is a quality player.
The Panthers used to have a dominant D Line, with Kris Jenkins, Mike Rucker and of course Julius Peppers, but these have now all left or retired. The current DT depth chart is headed by Nick Hayden and Derek Landri, and I believe Landri is a free agent. DT is position of big need for the Panthers, and Dareus can be a player to build around for the future.

2 – Denver Broncos: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M

Having not had a top 10 pick since 1991 the Broncos must be rubbing their hands at the thought of having the 2nd pick. Personally I would have taken Marcel Dareus if he were still here, but as the Panthers took him with the first round of the draft the Broncos need to pick by player and not by position in my opinion. They need a DT, but with them also needing a pass rusher to compliment Elvis Dumervil I think Von Miller is too much of a good thing to pass on. Millers role at Texas was a simple one.. Go after the QB on every play, and it’s something he did exceptionally well. He is quick round the corner and seemed to mature into a leader of the team as the games went on. The guy has no off-field character issues and I think he would slot in well with the Denver team.

3 – Buffalo Bills: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri

The Bills need help pretty much everywhere. And whilst I think they’ll probably get Von Miller in real life, if he’s not there (also Dareus for that matter) they can’t pass up one of the top two quarterbacks if they’re available at this position. This will start what will be a deep rebuilding process and I favour Gabbert over Newton as being more suited to a bigger project like the Bills have.

4 – Cincinnati Bengals: AJ Green, WR, Georgia

Cam Newton would have seemed like the ideal choice here, but with TO and Ochocino on their way out it leaves the Bengals very thin at the WR position. AJ Green is possibly the best offensive player in the draft, so i see the Bengals snatching up Green if he is there. I think the Bengals shy away from Newton due to comparisons to Akili Smith, even if they are unfair comparisons.

5 – Arizona Cardinals: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn

Although I don’t see Cam falling this far in the real draft (Falling far.. it’s only the fourth pick!) I feel that Arizona just cannot pass on him. He’s touted by many to be the number 1 draft pick this year, and as Tom touched upon earlier although he isn’t a Sam Bradford or Matt Ryan, he is a talented QB and Arizona desperately need someone to fill that slot. Last year the Cardinals looked nothing like the Superbowl appearing team from the season before. With Warner gone they tried a number of stop gap Quarterbacks to fill his boots but non of them seemed to work out. Cam is someone who can come in, learn the system and hopefully work well with Larry Fitz to get him firing on all cylinders.

6 – Cleveland Browns: Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina

This was a really close decision between Patrick Peterson and Quinn and really, it could go either way. But at the end, the line needs more help than the secondary (just…) and as a great pass-rusher who can make a difference immediately Quinn takes some beating.

7 – San Francisco 49ers: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU

The Niners have holes in a few places, such as QB and pass rusher, but they also need help in the secondary where Nate Clements is nowhere near the player the Niners paid for in 2007. Although it could be seen that a team with a great pass rush makes the secondary look good, i can’t see the Niners passing on Peterson here. However, the only pass rusher worth consideration here is Da’Quan Bowers, and the knee issues means he is too big of a risk to take.

8 – Tennessee Titans: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn

The Titans have a number of places they should be looking at for what is effectively a pretty average team. Do they go for some QB protection and add a new centre or guard? Do they replace Vince Young with a QB like Jake Locker? Free agency will probably fill some of these spots, but for now I think the Titans need to look at Fairley to come in and fill the DT position. He is very quick, deceptively so. This is probably his main strength. He isn’t physically the strongest but he will add an edge to the defence and add some explosiveness that they are currently lacking.

9 – Dallas Cowboys: Tyron Smith, OT, USC

Although they really need help at CB, with Peterson gone and them not being sold on Prince Amukamara they’ll go for the best available upgrade of the offensive line. Pouncey comes in close, but I think there’s a bigger upside on Smith not just as a player but that the Cowboys need upgrade at tackle rather than guard.

10 – Washington Redskins: Cameron Jordan, DE, California

The Redskins could go lots of different directions here. However in most areas of need for the Redskins the need doesn’t match the value, except for DE. Cameron Jordan hasn’t had a bad word said against him in this entire build up to the draft, and he is a perfect 3-4 defensive end. The Skins are still transitioning over to a 3-4 defense, and Jordan will help that transition. I was going to go pass rusher here, but with Haynesworth likely on his way out of Washington, that leaves Adam Carriker as the only serviceable D-lineman for the Skins. There could be sexier picks on offense here, but the Redskins ranked 31st in yards allowed per game on defense last year.

I’ll follow up shortly with picks 11-20.

When Josh Brown kicked to draw the Rams level with the 49ers as regulation expired last night, the 13th game of the 2010 season went into overtime. This equals the 2009 regular season, and is only 2 games behind the 2008 season. At this rate, we’re looking at 22 games going to overtime in this regular season alone. Great for the fans, but hard work on the players.

This year the post-season sees the new overtime rules coming into play, where if the first possession yields a FG then the game with continue. I like it, but wonder how much gametime it would have added to the games that already getting longer and longer. Personally, I love it. But I’m not sure I would if I was being asked to put my body on the line for this additional playing time.

The big winners so far are the New York Jets, who are 2-0 in OT after wins against Browns and Lions. The losers? The Packers, who are 0-2 against the Dolphins and Redskins.

Tony Romo

Considering that Dallas are currently sitting on a 1-5 record their performances have been stellar. They’ve just been let down on penalties (both offensively and defensively), and finishing off games. Tony Romo, despite all the criticism, ranks highly in statistics amongst the other quarterbacks in the league. Let’s take a look at what Dallas will be missing. (Stats taken from NFL.com)

• Quarterback rating: 94.9 (ranked 6th)
• Completion percentage: 69.5 (ranked 2nd)
• Passing yards: 1605 yards (ranked 11th)
• Completion average: 7.5 yards (ranked 7th)
• Game passing average: 267.5 yards (ranked 6th)
• Touchdowns: 11 (tied 7th)

As you can see Romo was having a pretty good season, plus a lot of the people ranked above him were quarterbacks who have not yet had their bye weeks, so taken into account you could argue that Dallas have lost a top 5 quarterback for the rest of the season. They will now have to rely on veteran Jon Kitna (who was the only back-up quarterback last year NOT to have any game time) to try to lead the team to a winning record, and as unlikely as it may be, a play-off spot.

We all wish Tony a speedy recovery (even the Redskin fan amongst our team) and hope to see him back on the field sooner rather than later.

Image Credit: I’ll Never Grow Up

James Harrison has been fined $75,000 and Brandon Merriweather and Dunta Robinson have been find $50,000 each. These are high numbers, but not figures that are likely to make a big impact. Harrison’s fine can be equated to somebody that earns £25,000 being fined £145… it’s an inconvenience more than anything else (that said, Harrison has been seriously bothered by it and we’re all watching him for more news) but it’s a start, and The Law is being established and clearly communicated out to all clubs.

Hits are part and parcel of playing football, and all players understand that. But some hits are clearly unnecessary. Brandon Merriweather‘s launch at Todd Heap is a prime example and clearly something that needs to be cut out of the game: The ball was gone, Heap had missed it and was on his way empty-handed to the ground before Merriweather launched himself. I know the game moves fast but it was a dirty, cynical, and pointless play.

Robinson’s collision with DeSean Jackson isn’t as clear, and Robinson is appealing the fine.

I hope that all concussed players are back as soon as it’s safe for them to do so, but there is little doubt we’ll be seeing suspensions in the next few weeks.

Special Report from Joshua Modaberi:

After seven months away the NFL was back last night with the New Orleans Saints and the Minnesota Vikings in a repeat of last years NFC Championship match.

The Saints came out on top in that encounter which they won in overtime 31-28. New Orleans then went on to win their first Super Bowl against the Indianapolis Colts in Miami 31-17.

Sean Payton’s side continued from where they left off last season by beating the Vikings 14-9.

The NFL is a bit like a London double decker bus – having been away since February, this weekend in the UK there are still another five games on TV.

Joshua Modaberi has caught up with Kevin Cadle from Sky Sports and Dan Arkush from Pro Football Weekly to discuss the remaining television fixtures over the opening weekend.

Kevin Cadle on
Carolina @ NY Giants Live on Sky Sports 4 Sunday from 17.30:
“I don’t think you can look past the New York giants in this one, they are going to be opening the brand new stadium.

“Eli Manning is probably coming off his best season ever as a pro. Wide Receiver Steve Smith really came out and did a great job last year receiving the ball and Ahmad Bradshaw has established himself as the number one running back.

“You are still going to have to look at what the Giants are going to do defensively and that will be the key to their season. On Sunday they are going to have to go out there and do something with Carolina’s dynamic duo – they had two guys running 4,000 yards last year so you know they are going to be looking to run the football against the Giants.”

San Francisco @ Seattle Live on Sky Sports 4 Sunday from 21.00:
“We don’t know a lot about Seattle, right now you don’t know if Pete Carroll thinking is as a head coach of this particular team.

“What kind of team are the going to have, you have Justin Forsett as the top running back, and he’s only about 5’6 on a good day. With Seattle I think the betting will be out for them until teams can see exactly what they emphasise and what they are doing on both the offensive and defensive edge.

“As for San Francisco we know all about them, Mike Singletary has put a stamp on that defence and the defence is going to get better and better.

“Offensively I think the San Francisco organisation has done a tremendous job as far as trying to assist the role of Alex smith. Last year they brought in Michael Crabtree and now this year you have two new offensive linemen who where the top two draft choices – so they are trying to do whatever they can to get things in order for Alex Smith to be as successful as he can possibly be.”

Dan Arkush on
Dallas @ Washington Live on Channel 4 Monday from 00.55:
“Dallas in terms of pure talent probably have the most talented team in the league. That doesn’t necessarily mean they will get to the Super Bowl by any means.

“I think in this game they match up well against their opponents the Redskins. Nobody can really get a firm reading on what the deal is going to be with Washington.

“They have a new head coach in Mike Shanahan, who was a very successful head coach with the Broncos. By all accounts he seems to be heading in the right direction with the Redskins. Donovan McNabb is another great addition to Washington, but I think Dallas is going to win this game with the Super Bowl in Dallas they are going to want to have a good season and get off to a winning start.”

Baltimore @ NY Jets Live on ESPN Tuesday from 00.00:
“There is a lot of buzz about the Jets, Rex Ryan is a very entertaining head coach and is also a very good one. They have an excellent defence, which has been bolstered by the return of Darrelle Revis.

“Baltimore will be a tough opponent, for years the main thing people have thought about when they think of the Ravens is the defence, which remains strong.

“But what has happened in Baltimore now is that they have become an offensive powerhouse.

“Both these teams are looking really good and it’s going to be a great Monday night match up. I guess because the Jets are at home they might just snatch it, but it is a tough one to call.”

San Diego @ Kansas City Live on ESPN Tuesday from 03.00:
“San Diego are widely considered to be the top dog in the AFC West, which is a pretty week division overall.

“Kansas City I think has the chance to come on strong as the year progresses, they have good coordinators there. I think it will be a close encounter but I think San Diego will win.”

To listen to more of the interviews with Dan Arkush and Kevin Cadle check out -  http://www.worldsport.podbean.com/

M&T Stadium, Baltimore

Well, the draft is over and the mini-camps are getting underway. Figured I’d wait until this point to give my opinion on the last few months, well, as a Raven anyway.

The Anquan Boldin Trade:
This really did take me by surprise. I could see us trading for a solid wide receiver, but to be honest I never really expected it to be Boldin. A pleasant surprise by all means though. Boldin really is a quality player. He may have had a few injuries lately but his effort and his production is nothing to be dismissed. I really can’t wait to see him in the Purple of Baltimore. He came at a pretty reasonable price too. A 3^rd and 4^th round draft pick? Bargain, especially since we recouped those by trading down in the draft.

Off-Season pick ups:
We’ve picked up a couple of notable players this year so far. Let’s start with wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth, a player with his share of controversy to say the least. Now, I won’t pretend that I know all the details of his past, but according to the law he has now served his time, he is showing genuine remorse and he wants to make up for what he did. That’s all I need to know. He’s come in looking as quick as he was, he’s been making some good plays with Flacco in training and he is still looking sharp. I’m looking forward to see if he can reproduce this on the field, he definitely gives us a solid option for a pretty minimal cost.

New Raven Boldin

Secondly, we picked up defensive tackle Cory Redding from the Seahawks. A good move after we lost Dwan Edwards to the Bills. He can produce, he’s shown he can. Last season wasn’t his best and I believe he only started 3-4 games for Seattle, but in 7 years he has picked up 18 sacks. He’s a big guy, 6’4” and over 290lbs, but he is versatile and quick on his feet. I expect him to take some downs off Pryce to keep him fresh and mix it up a bit. Redding signed a 2 year contract so let’s see what he can do as Raven.

Ed Reed:
Will he retire, won’t he retire? Well I certainly hope he doesn’t! Ed is an amazing talent who has been hit with injury as of late. So bad there is talk of him calling it a day. Latest reports say he has undergone surgery to try and rectify this problem, hopefully a sign that he isn’t quite giving up just yet. If this is true, and it all goes to plan then I can’t wait to see what he does next year. Ed Reed is a game changer, and you just know the opposition offence hate it when he is playing, and playing well.

I

Re-Signs:
Biggest re-sign of the off-season is definitely Derek Mason. The man is still in amazing shape, more so than probably half the NFL players, and he is 36. He still has his pace, he still has good hands, and he still has that smile on his face when he plays. A 2 year contract hopefully means he will be retiring as a Raven.

Draft:
I’d say the trading down from the first round surprised me, but it didn’t. What DID surprise me is what we got for it and for who the traders got with our pick. Still, it worked out really well; we got 3^rd and 4^th round picks back which means effectively we got Boldin for peanuts. Anyway, here is a breakdown of the picks for the Ravens from the 2010 draft.

Sergio Kindle (OLB) – Pick 43 – A potential 1^st round pick taken in the 2^nd round. Great pick in my eyes. Kindle can slot nicely into the Ravens formation and go straight to work. There was a bit of talk about his knee but it looks like no work is needed. This is probably why he didn’t go in the 1^st round.

Terrence Cody (DT) – Pick 57 – ‘Mount’ Cody as he is known to his friends. This guy is huge and I’m very excited to see him in the Purple of Baltimore. A lot of talk about his weight, but I have no problems putting faith in the Ravens staff to keep him fit and healthy. This bloke can destroy offences.

Ed Dickson (TE) – Pick 70 – The first of 2 Tight Ends taken in succession by Ozzie. Ed is a more traditional ‘block’ tight end. He’s athletic, big frame and can make a catch or two if needed. Would work well and gives Flacco a target who might work himself into some space.

Dennis Pitta (TE) – Pick 114 – The second of 2 Tight Ends. Pitta is more of a receiving tight end. He’s quick, he’s got amazing hands and he can run routes well, probably more of a wide receiver, definitely an exciting player to watch. Flacco will be rubbing his hands together with all these targets for him to hit.

David Reed (WR) – Pick 156 – Didn’t see us picking a wide receiver in this draft but I can see why Ozzie has picked him. He’s a young talent with good potential, and he’ll be practicing with Anquan Boldin and Derek Mason, who better could be learning from? I can see him probably getting a couple of downs, possibly in the slot.

Arthur Jones (DT) – Pick 157 – Jones is a big defensive tackle, i’m actually shocked that he made it all the way down to the 5th round. 6’3″ and 300lbs, but he’s quick and he hits hard. I don’t think he’ll be in the team straight away, but he might play a bit part of a few downs to give the other guys a rest.

Ramon Harewood (OL) – Pick 194 – This guy is interesting. He is basically a raw product, but at 6’6″ and 340lbs i’m sure we can do something with him. The guy is massive, a giant, he’s got decent speed for his height and weight (think he ran just over 5.0 in the 40yd dash), so let’s get him settled and get him working at the camp. He’s got drive to succeed so let’s help him reach his potential and scare some opposition.

The one thing I would have liked us to do is pick up a good corner, and I think most Ravens would agree. That didn’t happen but Ozzie did make some great moves in the draft. He hasn’t gone wrong yet and I trust that he will be looking at this position over the course of the remaining off-season. In Ozzie we trust.

Optimism:

Overall I have to say I am very pleased with the way things have gone so far. We have definitely improved in positions we needed to improve in and we have some quality young talent on the roster. We had a good campaign last season that ended too early and with the additions we have made I can’t help but think that we’ll be challenging not only for the Divisional win, but for a Superbowl ring once more.

Image Credits:
M&T Stadium: kevygee
Boldin: xoque
Ed Reed: Keith Allison
Cheerleader: Keith Allison, again.