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At the halfway point of the NFL season, the college players are starting to show their true colors, and the teams are starting to to separate themselves from the pack.  This is the same as always.  I don't pick the order.

1. St. Louis-Jake Long/OT/Michigan: Yeah right.  An offensive lineman going number one?  This isn't as crazy as it sounds.  The Rams have had success with an offensive tackle going number one overall from a Big Ten power.  The facts are that Orlando Pace is over the hill and the Rams have no offense.  If Bulger and Jackson had some blocking, they wouldn't be injured all of the time.

2. Miami-Glenn Dorsey/DT/LSU: Dorsey is the best player in this draft, bar none.  No, not Darren McFadden.  Not Matt Ryan.  Definitely not DeSean Jackson.  Dorsey is the best out of all of those guys.  Dorsey's explosion off of the line of scrimmage is unseen on the college level.  His big body is great at clogging up holes.  Dorsey is able to stop both the run and the pass.  His skills as a defensive lineman are the best to come out of the league in a long time.

3. NY Jets-Chris Long/DE/Virginia: The Jets are abysmal.  They went from being a playoff team with loads of potential to a one win team.  A problem with this team is their awful pass rush.  Chris Long already plays in a 3-4 defense at Virginia, and genetics are on his side.  His dad, Howie, was a good player in his days with the Raiders.

4. New England (From San Francisco)-Dan Conner/LB/Penn State: Mike Vrabel, Junior Seau, and Tedy Bruschi are nearing the end of their playing days.  The Patriots will have to find a replacement sooner or later.  The Patriots are undefeated and the best team in the NFL.  They have little needs.  Conner might not play early.

5. Atlanta-Brian Brohm/QB/Louisville: Brohm is the second best QB in this draft by a long shot, but he knows the Falcons' system.  Bobby Petrino, his former head coach, is the coach in Atlanta.  It's rare to get a rookie who knows the system.  The Falcons can't pass up on that.

6. Cincinnati-James Laurinaitis/LB/Ohio State: I can't see the Bengals taking anyone else with this pick.  Laurinaitis has been great this entire season, the Bengals need a linebacker, and Laurinaitis plays for a local school.  The Bengals would be crazy to pass Laurinaitis up here.

7. Oakland-DeSean Jackson/WR/Cal: Jackson is perfect for the Raiders system.  I think the football gods designed him for Al Davis specially.  His speed is unfathomable, and he has pretty good hands.  He fits in perfectly in the Raiders system.

8. Denver-Kenny Phillips/S/Miami (Fla.): The Broncos' D is hideous.  Every single player is underachieving.  It seems like they aren't trying.  The Broncos should just pick the best defensive player left on the board.  In this case, Phillips is the way to go.

9. Chicago-Andre Woodson/QB/Kentucky: Woodson is the best QB in this draft.  Sure, he isn't fast, but his size and arm strength are the best the draft has seen in a while.  Yes, better than Russell's.  Woodson has better accuracy than Russell also, and Woodson has played better in his final year than Russell did.  The Raiders should have taken Adrian Peterson and picked up a quarterback in the following year.

10. Arizona-Derrick Harvey/DE & OLB/Florida: With the Cardinals transitioning into the 3-4 defense, they need some players who fit into that system.  Harvey is perfect for a 3-4 defense.  He had 11 sacks in 2006, including two in the national championship.  The Cardinals would be foolish to pass him up.

11. Philadelphia-Sam Baker/OT/USC: The Eagles have no pass protection.  Osi Umenyiora showed us that with his six sacks.  Baker is an excellent pass blocker.  Without him, USC probably would have lost to Washington and Arizona instead of sneaking out with wins. 

12. Minnesota-Malcolm Kelly/WR/Oklahoma: Tavaris Jackson deserves one more year.  Right?  Maybe not, but there is not another quarterback worthy of being taken in the first round.  They may try to snag Matt Ryan or Dennis Dixon in the next two rounds, but for now, they can just take another weapon for their offense.

13. Houston-Darren McFadden/RB/Arkansas: I've said it before, and I'll say it again.  No team above the Texans should even consider taking McFadden.  All of them have good enough running backs to work with.  Maybe Chicago could look at him, but quarterback is more of an issue.  Houston, however, is perfect for McFadden.

14. Baltimore-Calais Campbell/DE/Miami: Baltimore may not have an offense, but their defense is aging quickly also.  The Ravens never truely replaced Adalius Thomas.  Campbell is athletic enough to play outside linebacker also.

15. Buffalo-Mario Manningham/WR/Michigan: Buffalo has really, really bad wide receivers.  Lee Evans has done nothing.  Peerless Price?  Josh Reed?  No way they can be a playoff team with those receivers.  Manningham is a great deep threat who would get loads of playing time next year.

16. Carolina-Keith Rivers/LB/USC: The Panthers are in need of a linebacker.  Dan Morgan is injured yet again.  Jon Beason has been a nice addition, but they still need to draft another good linebacker.  Rivers is the most athletic linebacker in this draft.

17. Kansas City-Ryan Clady/OT/Boise State: Clady is a very talented player.  Playing in a mid-major conference shouldn't hurt his draft stock.  Clady is big, fast, and strong.  The Chiefs and their old offensive line need him.

18. New Orleans-Malcolm Jenkins/CB/Ohio State: Even though the Saints are getting better, they still have awful pass defense.  Jason David clearly was a step down from whoever they had before him.  The Saints drastically need a good cornerback.

19. San Diego-Vince Hall/LB/Virginia Tech: Hall is a great leader and player.  Clearly, the Chargers need some really good linebackers fast.  They can't be giving up 296 rushing yards a game.  Losing their inside linebackers was a bigger blow than expected.

20. Seattle-Jonathan Stewart/RB/Oregon: The Seahawks would be crazy to pass on Stewart.  He is tearing up the Pac-10 with his amazing blend of speed and power.  By the end of the season, he may be a better prospect than Darren McFadden.

21. Tampa Bay-Steve Slaton/RB/West Virginia: The Bucs really need a running back.  Carnell Williams' ACL tear may be worse than expected.  The Bucs did get Michael Bennett, but that can't give them any comfort.

22. Washington-Early Doucet/WR/LSU: The Redskins have no receivers.  Antwaan Randle El is leading them in receiving.  Santana Moss has disappeared.  Doucet would be a valuable addition.

23. Dallas (From Cleveland)-Adarius Bowman/WR/Oklahoma State: This was once thought to be a number one pick.  Now it looks like the Cowboys may have gotten ripped off by trading their first rounder last year.  Bowman goes to class.  He's respectful to the media.  He's respectful to the public!  And he's a good kid.

24. Jacksonville-James Hardy/WR/Indiana: Hardy is a great prospect, yet he has fallen because he goes to IU.  He has blazing speed, and his height is unmatched.  Hardy is a very athletic player.  He was on the basketball team during his freshman year.

25. Detroit-Aqib Talib/CB/Kansas: Talib is an extremely talented corner.  His hands are better than most wide receivers, and he can outrun anybody.

26. Tennessee-Mike Jenkins/CB/South Florida: Jenkins will be a successor to Pacman Jones after he gets arrested when he comes back.

27. NY Giants-Sedrick Ellis/DT/USC: Ellis is a good pass rusher.  He fits in perfectly with the Giants sack-happy system.

28. Pittsburgh-Keenan Burton/WR/Kentucky: Pittsburgh's passing offense looked good last week, but they have never found a replacement for Plaxico Burress.

29. Green Bay-Tashard Choice/RB/Georgia Tech: Choice may not first round worthy, but the Packers need a running back badly.

30. San Francisco (From Indianapolis)-Frank Okam/DT/Texas: The Niners worked on their defense this offseason.  It may just need a little more work.

31. Dallas-Dwight Lowery/CB/San Jose State: Lowery is the best mid-major prospect in this draft.  He would go higher, but there are some great corners in this draft.

32. New England-FORFEITED

November 6, 2007  07:42 PM ET

Evans just had 9 receptions for 165 yards against Cincy. That has to be somethign.

November 6, 2007  07:42 PM ET

Not against Cincinnati. The blind school's star receiver had 20 catches in an exhibition.

November 6, 2007  07:43 PM ET

Where is Dennis Dixon? And Matt Ryan? And Vernon Gholston?

November 6, 2007  07:45 PM ET

I agree with your position for Buffalo, but not the pick. First off, Lee Evans has done very good. His history has shown he's a second half guy. In his last 3 games, he has had 30 rec, 502 yards, and 2 TDs. He's currently on pace for over 1,000 rec. yards, despite his awful start. Mario Manningham isn't the right guy for Buffalo. It is the consensus of most everyone that Buffalo needs a tall, possession WR to complement the small, speedy Lee Evans. Mario Manningham is only 6-0. Don't be surprised if the Bills elect to draft someone like Sweed, Bowman, Hall, Nelson, or even trade up to get Malcolm Kelly (the Bills have a pair of 3rds, remember).

November 6, 2007  07:50 PM ET

Scratch that, Lee has 19 rec for 401 yards in his last 3 games, but you get the point (and 2 TDs)

November 6, 2007  07:53 PM ET

Dixon is very short I think. I think he is an early second rounder. Matt Ryan? Living definition of overrated. He played bad against Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, and Florida State. If I was a GM, I wouldn't even have him on my board.

November 6, 2007  07:58 PM ET

Excellent picks for the most part, but one big flaw is in Carolina...

First, they will have a lower pick than 16. And second, the team NEEDS a QB. Matt Moore is at least 3 years off, David Carr isn't very good, and Jake Delhomme has been kinda average even when healthy.

November 6, 2007  07:59 PM ET

I particularly liked the top 10.

November 6, 2007  08:01 PM ET

Oh, but by the way, where is Ray Rice???

November 6, 2007  08:04 PM ET

I don't like Ray Rice. I don't know why. The Panthers will pick up Ryan or Dixon in round 2. There is no QB worthy of being a first rounder besides Woodson and Brohm.

November 6, 2007  08:07 PM ET

Matt Ryan is worthy of a first round pick, a late one, probably, but definitely worthy.


Dixon is a great college QB, but that won't translate to NFL. I say late 2nd or early 3rd.


As for Rice, like him or not, he can handle the ball like a badass. And no matter how poorly the team plays, he consistently has 100+ yards

November 6, 2007  08:22 PM ET

The thing about Ryan is this is his breakout year. I haven't heard of him before this. Is he a bust or a star?

November 6, 2007  08:35 PM ET

You had me until you had a Paul Posluszney clone being taken with the fourth overall pick. Wow...yeah, that's how the Pats win every year. Taking late first-round/second round talent with the fourth pick in the draft.

And the Steelers don't need a replacement for Plaxico Burress. It wasn't until this year the original Plaxico Burress finally started doing anything, and the Steelers have actually advanced in the playoffs since his time. They're just fine with the second-year guy with six TDs in eight games this year at one eighth of Burress's price tag.

November 6, 2007  08:41 PM ET

BTW, the 49ers and Skins need O-linemen more than WRs/ DTs

November 6, 2007  08:49 PM ET

Cooz, don't let me hear you knock Poz again.

November 6, 2007  09:00 PM ET

Poz's brother better be good. I have a lot invested in him. David Posluzsny. He's coming to ND.

I think Paul is a good player. He's got pretty good size. I think he will be a quality middle linebacker. Conner is a great run stopper. In a 3-4, I think he would be a good middle linebacker.

November 6, 2007  09:00 PM ET

Also, the Pats never had a high pick when they were building this dynasty.

November 6, 2007  09:23 PM ET

The Niners need a playmaking WR in the draft. They should either trade up for one, or see if they could draft Limas Sweed. He's got the size and the playmaking ability, and he is the physical reciever we lack.

November 6, 2007  10:29 PM ET

Ryan has put up big numbers for 3 years and should break many of the ACC career passing records, this year is no fluke. I think he will go in the top half of the first round. His smarts, size, accuracy are all made for the pro game.

 
November 7, 2007  10:31 AM ET

I don't think GB will take a 1st round RB. They have 3 running backs that they switch around. Maybe if they release a RB, then they might draft a 1st rounder.

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