What should they do? - Lions

The Lions hold the 2nd pick in the draft. The team's biggest needs are at the DE, CB, OL, and QB positions. A lot of problems exist for the Lions in drafting from this spot without trading down. For instance there is not a DE that is considered a top 3 pick and it would not make sense to draft one here unless they trade down 3-5 picks to do so. There is not a CB prospect who is a top 10 pick and this draft is very deep at corner with many first round talents available in the 2nd or even the 3rd round. At OL most of the Lions problems are in the interior line positions with Jeff Backus and the recently acquired George Foster above average OTs on the outside. Saying that, there are not any players that are even in the top 15 that are interior lineman. At QB, the Lions believe that they can develop a non-1st round player, utilizing the abilities of Mike Martz to do so, with his impressive track record with Trent Green, Kurt Warner, and Mark Bulger.

There is nothing logical for the Lions to do but to trade down 3-5 picks to a team that really wants one of the QBs or Joe Thomas. Arizona, Minnesota, and Miami are possibilities. The trade down would allow them to pick up 2-3 extra draft picks. But regardless of whether the trade happens or not, the Lions would likely select a DE with the top two candidates being Jamal Anderson of Arkansas or Gaines Adams of Clemson. Anderson is the larger player at 6'6", 280lbs, with Adams measuring at 6'4", 260lbs. They are both great players with Anderson playing the run slightly better and Adams rushing the passer better. It is basically a coin flip as to which player the team would select at this point.

In my opinion the selection should Jamal Anderson. Though Adams has the better track record of success, he will never be a guy that could get up to 290lbs and provide the versatility of Jamal Anderson. Anderson had a breakout season this past year, notching 14 sacks while playing in college football's best conference. Anderson has long arms and a quick burst from the line, though he will need to develop his pass rush moves in the pros. He should step in immediately and do well given the double teaming of Shaun Walker in the middle.

In the 2nd round the Lions should focus on the OG position with Justin Blalock of Texas and Ben Grubbs of Auburn possibly available. Either of these players could step in immediately and start, greatly enhancing the effectiveness of the running game. If both of these players is gone, the focus should shift to CB or QB with CB Marcus McCauley of Fresno State, QB Drew Stanton of Michigan State, CB Eric Wright of UNLV, or CB Daymeion Hughes of California (assuming the team is serious about acquiring a CB that can tackle). Any of these players would fit the bill quite well.

In the 3rd round, the Lions should look at the CB position again with the focus resting on Daymeion Hughes of California, Fred Bennett of South Carolina, or Johnathan Wade of Tennessee. The selection of two quality CBs in this draft would greatly upgrade the Lions secondary, especially after the trade of Dre Bly to the Broncos. There is a chance that the Lions could be starting two rookies by the end of the season.

What should they do? - Raiders

Oakland holds the first pick in the draft. Numerous early reports have them taking Jamarcus Russell from LSU with this pick. Russell may be an intriguing talent with the best arm for a QB in a decade, but he should not be the pick they make. When picking first overall in the draft it is more imperative than ever that the team select as guaranteed an impact player as possible. Whiffing with this high a selection can have a poisonous impact on team morale. Ask the Browns and Bungles about this.

The Raiders have a need at many positions. The serious needs are on the offensive side where WR, QB, and OL are a tremendous priority. But among these WR is the most glaring. Though the team has "name" players like Randy Moss and Jerry Porter, they do not have quality at the position as these two are more concerned about earning their way out of town than earning their paychecks. QB has an intriguing prospect in Andrew Walter, who has himself an incredibly strong arm, has started 10 games with essentially dismal results. But remember that he did this behind a woeful O-line throwing to WRs who admittedly were not really trying to catch the ball. Walter should be given more time to prove himself before drafting a guy like Russell who is a very similar player. A veteran QB that knows that he is only there to mentor Walter should be brought in to do so. A guy that is too old to be taken seriously as a starting candidate, like a Vinny Testaverde, could really help Walter figure out the QB position even if a horrendous QB coach is in place. The awful O-line should be addressed later in the draft since there is not a player who is a surefire #1 pick available.

The Raiders pick should be Calvin Johnson. He automatically gives the team a tremendous mismatch on the outside ever time he is on the field. He leaves the other WRs in single coverage automatically. Even if he is doubled, when Walter is in trouble he can likely have a pretty nice safety valve in just throwing it high to Johnson who is well noted for his ability to catch the ball in traffic. Additionally Johnson is an aggressive blocker who should help free up Lamont Jordan or Dominic Rhodes on the outside. Johnson could also be moved all over the field, put on the outside, the slot, and even at TE to really confuse other teams and get him really mismatched on a LB. Johnson is the only guy the Raiders should even be considering with this pick. Russell is not much more than a heavier, blacker version of Andrew Walter, who still has not failed to the point of going in another direction.

With their second round pick the Raiders should look at the OL and possibly the QB position. At OL, Justin Blalock of Texas and Joe Staley of Central Michigan could still be available at this point. Blalock would be an immediate infusion of talent at the OG position and really help the running game get going. Staley could step in and be the LT of the future, moving Robert Gallery to the RT slot, where his short arms are less likely to be exposed by pass rushers. If these guards are taken the team is better off trying to move down into the middle of the round, picking up a few more picks, and picking OG Arron Sears of Tennessee. If that is not available to them, they should stand pat and pick QB Drew Stanton of Michigan State. Stanton has a strong arm, toughness, and a tremendous upgrade in mobility over any QB on their roster.

With their 3rd round pick the Raiders should look again at upgrading the OG position. If Arron Sears is still available then he should be the pick. If he is gone, they could trade down to the middle of the round and grab a guy like OG Manuel Ramirez or Texas Tech or OG Josh Beekman of Boston College.

Mid March Positional Rankings (As I see it)

QB

Jamarcus Russell, LSU

Brady Quinn, Notre Dame

Drew Stanton, Michigan State

Trent Edwards, Stanford

Troy Smith, Ohio State

Sleeper - John Beck, BYU

RB

Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma

Marshawn Lynch, California

Kenny Irons, Auburn

Chris Henry, Arizona

Antonio Pittman, Ohio State

Michael Bush, Louisville

Lorenzon Booker, Florida State

Sleeper - Deshawn Wynn, Florida

WR

Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech

Dwayne Bowe, LSU

Robert Meachem, Tennessee

Ted Ginn, Ohio State

Sidney Rice, South Carolina

Anthony Gonzalez, Ohio State

Dwayne Jarrett, USC

Sleeper - Roy Hall, Ohio State

TE

Greg Olsen, Miami

Zach Miller, Arizona State

Ben Patrick, Delaware

Matt Spaeth, Minnesota

Joe Newton, Oregon State

Sleeper - Jonny Harline

OT

Joe Thomas, Wisconsin

Levi Brown, Penn State

Joe Staley, Central Michigan

Tony Ugoh, Arkansas

James Marten, Boston College

Ryan Harris, Notre Dame

Doug Free, Northern Illinois

Sleeper - Jarred Gaither, Maryland

OG

Justin Blalock, Texas

Ben Grubbs, Auburn

Arron Sears, Tennessee

Josh Beekman, Boston College

Mansfield Wrotto, Georgia Tech

Manuel Ramirez, Texas Tech,

Tim Duckworth, Auburn

Sleeper - Gabe Hall, Texas Tech

C

Ryan Kalil, USC

Samson Satele, Hawaii

Doug Datish, Ohio State

Dustin Fry, Clemson

Leroy Harris, North Carolina State

Drew Mormino, Central Michigan

4-3 DE

Jamal Anderson, Arkansas

Gaines Adams, Clemson

Adam Carriker, Nebraska

Charles Johnson, Georgia

Tim Crowder, Texas

Jarvis Moss, Florida

Anthony Spencer, Purdue

Sleeper - Bryan Robison, Texas

3-4 DE

Jamal Anderson, Arkansas

Amobi Okoye, Louisville

Adam Carriker, Nebraska

Marcus Thomas, Florida

Charles Johnson, Georgia

Sleeper - David Patterson, Ohio State

DT

Amobi Okoye, Louisville

Alan Branch, Michigan

Jusitn Harrell, Tennessee

Quinn Pitcock, Ohio State

Tank Tyler, North Carolina State

Ray McDonald, Florida

Brandon Mebane, California

Sleeper - Keith Jackson, Arkansas

OLB

Paul Posluszny, Penn State

John Beason, Miami

Lawrence Timmons, Florida State

Tim Shaw, Penn State

Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma

Sleeper - Antwan Barnes, FIU

ILB

Patrick Willis, Mississippi State

Brandon Siler, Florida

David Harris, Michigan
Rory Johnson, Mississippi
HB Blades, Pittsburgh
Tony Taylor, Georgia
Anthony Waters, Clemson
Sleeper - Jon Abbate, Wake Forest

CB

Chris Houston, Arkansas

Daymeion Hughes, California

Darrell Revis, Pittsburgh

Eric Wright UNLV

Leon Hall, Michigan

Marcus McCauley, Fresno State

Aaron Ross, Texas

Sleeper - John Bowie, Cincinnati

S

LaRon Landry, LSU
Reggie Nelson, Florida
Brandon Merriweather, Miami
Sabby Piscitelli, Oregon State
Michael Griffin, Texas
John Wendling, Wyoming
Aaron Rouse, Virginia Tech
Sleeper - Daren Stone, Maine