This is my story, and I'm sticking to it!
1. Houston Texans: Reggie Bush, RB, USC
Don't be fooled by reports of negotiations with Mario Williams. He's just a pawn to get Bush's price down a bit. Bush is the "can't not take this guy" prospect in this draft.
2. New Orleans: Mario Williams, DE, NC State
Saints will get a guy who will be an impact rookie, and will a Pro Bowl selection within a few years. OTs in the NFC South will hate this pick.
3. Tennessee Titans: Vince Young, QB, Texas
For months, everyone has tried to find a reason to downgrade Young. The bottom line is, he's an exceptional performer on the football field, which is all that really should matter.
4. New York Jets: Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland
D'Brickashaw Ferguson would be the safer and, perhaps, the more logical choice, but the Jets are still a Broadway team, and Davis will make a lot more highlight film plays.
5. Green Bay Packers: A.J. Hawk, OLB, OhioState
With Williams gone, they will select the top remaining defensive player in the draft. Will be an instant impact player for the Packers.
6. San Francisco Niners: Michael Huff, DB, Texas
Niners will be a bit thrown by the selection of Davis at number 4, as he was likely their target. Huff will be touted as the next Ronnie Lott, though he's a different type of player.
7. Oakland Raiders: Matt Leinart, QB, USC
Leinart would have been the first pick in 2005, but he'll drop to number 7 in this draft. No problem – with his Hollywood image, he'll make up the money in endorsement contracts.
8. Buffalo Bills: D'Brickashaw Ferguson, OT, Virginia
Bills are surprised by Ferguson's fall, and will eagerly snatch him up. He'll start as a rookie, obviously.
9. Detroit Lions: Antonio Cromartie, DB, FSU
There always seem to be surprises coming out of Detroit, and this year is no exception. Cromartie's stock has been shooting up in recent weeks following his workout.
10. Arizona Cardinals: Jay Cutler, QB, Vanderbilt
Many teams (not the Rams, though) will try to trade up for Cutler but, in the end, he'll head to the Southwest to be Kurt Warner's short-term understudy.
11. St. Louis Rams: Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon
Pickett, Lewis, Kennedy… will four times be the charm? Ram fans hope so, and Ngata is certainly a good prospect. Maybe the best prospect of the bunch.
12. Cleveland Browns: Brodrick Bunkley, DT, FSU
Fast rising Bunkley will be a welcome addition in Cleveland. They would have been happy with Ngata too.
13. Baltimore Ravens: Winston Justice, OT, USC
Will be a good RT initially, and will be the heir apparent to Jonathan Ogden, who is now 32. A good value pick.
14. Philadelphia Eagles: Chad Jackson, WR, Florida
While Eagles didn't miss TO's BS, they missed his playmaking abilities. Jackson is a great prospect.
15. Denver Broncos: Santonio Holmes, WR, OhioState
The Broncos are trying to acquire Javon Walker, which could impact this selection. If they don't land him, though, Holmes is the guy.
16. Miami Dolphins: Tye Hill, CB, Clemson
Dolphins need more cover corners, and Hill is one of the top two or three in this draft. Nick Saban won't be discouraged by his size.
17. Minnesota Vikings: Donte Whitner, SS, OhioState
With Corey Chavous gone, Whitner fills a need and is a good value. He can also play corner or nickel back, as needed.
18. Dallas Cowboys: Jimmy Williams, CB, VaTech
It will take a state the size of Texas to accomodate the egos of Williams and teammate TO.
19. San Diego Chargers: Chad Greenway, OLB, Iowa
Donnie Edwards likely won't be back, and Greenway, a similar "tackling machine" type, will be a good fit as an ILB in a 3-4 scheme.
20. Kansas City Chiefs: DeMeco Ryans, OLB, Alabama
After years of ignoring defense, Chiefs are building strong LB corps.
21. New England Patriots: Manny Lawson, OLB/DE, NC State
A tweener who will fit well in Patriots 3-4 schemes replacing Willie McGuinest.
22. San Francisco Niners: Sinorice Moss, WR, Miami (FL)
Alex Smith does not have enough targets. Moss isn't the player that Santana Moss is, but he has some upside potential.
23. TampaBay Buccaneers: Nick Mangold, C, OhioState
Not an exciting pick, but a solid one. Will open up holes for Cadillac Williams for the next few years.
24. Cincinnati Bengals: Mathias Kiwinuka, DE, BostonCollege
The Bengals add another pass rusher to the mix on a defense that needs some improvement.
25. New York Giants: DeAngelo Williams, RB, Memphis
Tiki Barber can't remain a top back forever, and Williams will be a great understudy/eventual starter, much as Larry Johnson was in Kansas City.
26. Chicago Bears: Leonard Pope, TE, Georgia
Bears' need a TE and will jump at Pope. Pope, at 6'7, barely needs to jump.
27. Carolina Panthers: Lendale White, RB, USC
Injury problems at RB will make this an easy choice, and a very good one.
28. Jacksonville Jaguars: Laurence Maroney, RB, Minnesota
Jaguars need a young playmaker in the backfield.
29. New York Jets: Tamba Hali, DE, PennState
Jonathan Abraham's departure leaves a hole. Hali will fill it nicely.
30. Indianapolis Colts: Ernie Sims, LB, FSU
A good fit in a Dungy-style defense. RB will have to wait.
31. Seattle Seahawks: Jonathan Joseph, CB, South Carolina
Hawks need to add talent to their DB corps. Joseph has very good size/speed combination.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Bobby Carpenter, OLB/DE, Ohio State
Will be a good fit in the Champs' defensive scheme.
1. Houston Texans: Reggie Bush, RB, USC
Don't be fooled by reports of negotiations with Mario Williams. He's just a pawn to get Bush's price down a bit. Bush is the "can't not take this guy" prospect in this draft.
2. New Orleans: Mario Williams, DE, NC State
Saints will get a guy who will be an impact rookie, and will a Pro Bowl selection within a few years. OTs in the NFC South will hate this pick.
3. Tennessee Titans: Vince Young, QB, Texas
For months, everyone has tried to find a reason to downgrade Young. The bottom line is, he's an exceptional performer on the football field, which is all that really should matter.
4. New York Jets: Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland
D'Brickashaw Ferguson would be the safer and, perhaps, the more logical choice, but the Jets are still a Broadway team, and Davis will make a lot more highlight film plays.
5. Green Bay Packers: A.J. Hawk, OLB, OhioState
With Williams gone, they will select the top remaining defensive player in the draft. Will be an instant impact player for the Packers.
6. San Francisco Niners: Michael Huff, DB, Texas
Niners will be a bit thrown by the selection of Davis at number 4, as he was likely their target. Huff will be touted as the next Ronnie Lott, though he's a different type of player.
7. Oakland Raiders: Matt Leinart, QB, USC
Leinart would have been the first pick in 2005, but he'll drop to number 7 in this draft. No problem – with his Hollywood image, he'll make up the money in endorsement contracts.
8. Buffalo Bills: D'Brickashaw Ferguson, OT, Virginia
Bills are surprised by Ferguson's fall, and will eagerly snatch him up. He'll start as a rookie, obviously.
9. Detroit Lions: Antonio Cromartie, DB, FSU
There always seem to be surprises coming out of Detroit, and this year is no exception. Cromartie's stock has been shooting up in recent weeks following his workout.
10. Arizona Cardinals: Jay Cutler, QB, Vanderbilt
Many teams (not the Rams, though) will try to trade up for Cutler but, in the end, he'll head to the Southwest to be Kurt Warner's short-term understudy.
11. St. Louis Rams: Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon
Pickett, Lewis, Kennedy… will four times be the charm? Ram fans hope so, and Ngata is certainly a good prospect. Maybe the best prospect of the bunch.
12. Cleveland Browns: Brodrick Bunkley, DT, FSU
Fast rising Bunkley will be a welcome addition in Cleveland. They would have been happy with Ngata too.
13. Baltimore Ravens: Winston Justice, OT, USC
Will be a good RT initially, and will be the heir apparent to Jonathan Ogden, who is now 32. A good value pick.
14. Philadelphia Eagles: Chad Jackson, WR, Florida
While Eagles didn't miss TO's BS, they missed his playmaking abilities. Jackson is a great prospect.
15. Denver Broncos: Santonio Holmes, WR, OhioState
The Broncos are trying to acquire Javon Walker, which could impact this selection. If they don't land him, though, Holmes is the guy.
16. Miami Dolphins: Tye Hill, CB, Clemson
Dolphins need more cover corners, and Hill is one of the top two or three in this draft. Nick Saban won't be discouraged by his size.
17. Minnesota Vikings: Donte Whitner, SS, OhioState
With Corey Chavous gone, Whitner fills a need and is a good value. He can also play corner or nickel back, as needed.
18. Dallas Cowboys: Jimmy Williams, CB, VaTech
It will take a state the size of Texas to accomodate the egos of Williams and teammate TO.
19. San Diego Chargers: Chad Greenway, OLB, Iowa
Donnie Edwards likely won't be back, and Greenway, a similar "tackling machine" type, will be a good fit as an ILB in a 3-4 scheme.
20. Kansas City Chiefs: DeMeco Ryans, OLB, Alabama
After years of ignoring defense, Chiefs are building strong LB corps.
21. New England Patriots: Manny Lawson, OLB/DE, NC State
A tweener who will fit well in Patriots 3-4 schemes replacing Willie McGuinest.
22. San Francisco Niners: Sinorice Moss, WR, Miami (FL)
Alex Smith does not have enough targets. Moss isn't the player that Santana Moss is, but he has some upside potential.
23. TampaBay Buccaneers: Nick Mangold, C, OhioState
Not an exciting pick, but a solid one. Will open up holes for Cadillac Williams for the next few years.
24. Cincinnati Bengals: Mathias Kiwinuka, DE, BostonCollege
The Bengals add another pass rusher to the mix on a defense that needs some improvement.
25. New York Giants: DeAngelo Williams, RB, Memphis
Tiki Barber can't remain a top back forever, and Williams will be a great understudy/eventual starter, much as Larry Johnson was in Kansas City.
26. Chicago Bears: Leonard Pope, TE, Georgia
Bears' need a TE and will jump at Pope. Pope, at 6'7, barely needs to jump.
27. Carolina Panthers: Lendale White, RB, USC
Injury problems at RB will make this an easy choice, and a very good one.
28. Jacksonville Jaguars: Laurence Maroney, RB, Minnesota
Jaguars need a young playmaker in the backfield.
29. New York Jets: Tamba Hali, DE, PennState
Jonathan Abraham's departure leaves a hole. Hali will fill it nicely.
30. Indianapolis Colts: Ernie Sims, LB, FSU
A good fit in a Dungy-style defense. RB will have to wait.
31. Seattle Seahawks: Jonathan Joseph, CB, South Carolina
Hawks need to add talent to their DB corps. Joseph has very good size/speed combination.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Bobby Carpenter, OLB/DE, Ohio State
Will be a good fit in the Champs' defensive scheme.
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