The War Room | HoustonProFootball.com 
April 22, 2005
M.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.
by Warren DeLuca
HoustonProFootball.com
Get comfortable on Saturday because you won’t be going anywhere for a while if you plan on watching the first round of the draft.
With so much uncertainty at the top, most teams won’t have a good feel as to what players are going to be left until they’re on the clock, so each will make the most of its allotted 15 minutes to explore every trade opportunity. If you play the stock market, consider picking up some telecommunications shares because they’re going to be working the phones this weekend.
Below is my guess at how the first round is going to shake out. For another take on the first round, click here to read what Keith sees in his mock effort.
1. San Francisco 49ers: QB Alex Smith, Utah. The 49ers have to find a way to get this deal done because with a vote on a new stadium coming up, they don’t want to be perceived as having passed on their top guy.
2. Minnesota Vikings (projected trade from the Dolphins): WR Braylon Edwards, Michigan. Nick Saban threatened to take Edwards, who seems to be the guy that the most teams are willing to move up to take, and the Vikings bit.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (projected trade from the Browns): RB Ronnie Brown, Auburn. The Browns move down when Edwards goes off the board, and the Bucs move up to grab their back.
4. Chicago Bears: RB Cedric Benson, Texas. The Bears find the player to build their ground game around.
5. Cleveland Browns (projected trade from the Buccaneers): LB Derrick Johnson, Texas. The Browns need playmakers on defense, and they get one.
6. Tennessee Titans: CB Adam “Pacman” Jones, West Virginia. Samari Rolle and Andre Dyson are gone, so the Titans need somebody who can cover.
7. Miami Dolphins (from the Raiders via projected trade from the Vikings): RB Carnell “Cadillac” Williams, Auburn. The Dolphins pick up the running back that they need and an extra first rounder to boot.
8. Arizona Cardinals: QB Aaron Rodgers, California. With the big three runningbacks gone, the Cards consider a corner but can’t pass on Rodgers.
9. Washington Redskins: CB Antrel Rolle, Miami. They wanted to move up for Edwards but end up staying put and filling a big need.
10. Detroit Lions: DE/OLB Shawne Merriman, Maryland. The speed rusher off the edge that the Lions have lacked.
11. Dallas Cowboys: DE/OLB Demarcus Ware, Troy. The Cowboys will use a 3-4 defense at least part of the time and Ware fits that scheme very well.
12. San Diego Chargers (from the Giants): WR Troy Williamson, South Carolina. A deep threat to open up the short/mid-range passing game for LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates.
13. New Orleans Saints (projected trade from the Texans): OT Alex Barron, Florida State. Merriman, Ware, and Williamson are gone so the Texans slide down. The Saints see Barron within striking distance but know he wouldn’t get past the Panthers.
14. Carolina Panthers: WR Mike Williams, Southern Cal. A replacement for Muhsin Muhammad.
15. Kansas City Chiefs: S/OLB Thomas Davis, Georgia. The Chiefs could try him at either position.
16. Houston Texans (projected trade from the Saints): DE Marcus Spears, LSU. Spears will work into the rotation with Gary Walker and Robaire Smith.
17. Cincinnati Bengals: DT Travis Johnson, Florida State. An athletic tackle for a team that struggled up the middle last year.
18. Miami Dolphins (projected trade from the Vikings): CB Carlos Rogers, Auburn. Not a position of need, but Rogers is the best player available.
19. St. Louis Rams: OT Jammal Brown, Oklahoma. Kyle Turley is as good as gone, so the Rams need a right tackle.
20. Dallas Cowboys (from the Bills): DE/OLB Erasmus James, Wisconsin. A bookend rusher to pair with Ware.
21. Jacksonville Jaguars: DE David Pollack, Georgia. The Jags have addressed this position in free agency but won’t pass on Pollack.
22. Baltimore Ravens: WR Mark Clayton, Oklahoma. Clayton should form a nice wideout duo with Derrick Mason.
23. Seattle Seahawks: DT/DE Shaun Cody, Southern Cal. Cody’s versatility in a four-man line gives Seattle some options up front.
24. Green Bay Packers: DE Matt Roth, Iowa. They hope he can provide some pressure opposite Kabeer Gbaja-Bianila.
25. Washington Redskins (from the Broncos): QB Jason Campbell, Auburn. Supposedly the Redskins are very high on Campbell.
26. Oakland Raiders (from the Jets): CB Justin Miller, Clemson. Phillip Buchanon is gone and Charles Woodson could be as well. Miller’s recent brush with the law make him a perfect fit for the Raiders.
27. Atlanta Falcons: DT Luis Castillo, Northwestern. A run stuffer to rotate with Chad Lavalais at the tackle spot next to Rod Coleman.
28. San Diego Chargers: OT Khalif Barnes, Washington. They’d like a pass rusher here, but Barnes is too good to pass up.
29. Indianapolis Colts: LB Channing Crowder, Florida. He has the speed that Rob Morris lacked.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers: WR/TE/QB Matt Jones, Arkansas. The Steelers will create ways to get the ball in Jones’ hands.
31. Philadelphia Eagles: TE Heath Miller, Virginia. Injury problems push Miller down but he’s a great value at this point.
32. New England Patriots: CB Fabian Washington, Nebraska. Belichick will be able to get the most out of him. 
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