I’m not a draft “expert”. Not a guru. Haven’t watched hours of tape. Didn’t even sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night. So basically, I know just as much as Todd McShay does. Those caveats aside, here’s EXACTLY HOW ROUND 2 WILL PLAY OUT:
Round 2 Mock Draft: Where Trades Happen
33. FAKE TRADE ALERT: Cleveland Browns (from St. Louis) -- Colt McCoy, Texas Quarterback
Jake Delhomme, Seneca Wallace and Brett Ratliff are the only quarterbacks currently Cleveland currently has under contract. Eric Mangini may love him some Brett Ratliff, but it’s fair to say that quarterback is a position of need for the Browns. Expect them to pay a steep price to outbid the other suitors desperately trying to trade up for this pick.
34. Minnesota Vikings (from Detroit) -- Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame Quarterback
And just like that the two remaining marquee signal callers are gone. While their window with Favre is more or less just this season, a potential top-ten value in Clausen is too much for the Vikes to pass up at this juncture, considering they don’t have a proverbial “quarterback of the future”.
35. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- Carlos Dunlap, Florida Defensive End
With plenty of receivers likely to still be around when they pick later in the second round, look for the Bucs to address one of their myriad other holes: defensive end. While Dunlap might be a slight reach due to dreaded “off-the-field” but his talent is beyond question. Pairing him with first-rounder Gerald McCoy could go far to resurrect the Tampa Two.
36. Kansas City Chiefs -- Roger Saffold, Indiana Offensive Tackle
Most mocks had the Chiefs going after one of the triumvirate of top tackles -- Russel Okung, Trent Williams or Bryan Bulga -- in the first round, so with the Chiefs opting instead for the playmaking ability of Eric Berry, look for them to address their big uglies this time around. Saffold is a safe, if unspectacular, option.
37. Philadelphia Eagles (from Washington) -- Everson Griffen, USC Defensive End
Andy Reid subscribes to the “Big Bodies” theory of drafting, meaning the Eagles will likely look to bolster one of their lines in the second round. Griffen -- if motivated -- would make a nice bookend opposite Trent Cole.
38. FAKE TRADE ALERT: St. Louis Rams -- Arrelious Benn, Illinois Wide Receiver
Sam Bradford needs someone to throw the ball to.
39. Oakland Raider -- Bruce Campbell, Maryland Offensive Tackle
Oakland needs offensive line help. There are surer things at this point...but Campbell boasts the type of off-the-charts athleticism Al Davis usually can’t resist.
40. Miami Dolphins (from Seattle via San Diego) -- Terrence Cody, Alabama Defensive Tackle
The Dolphins need a clogging nose tackle for their 3-4. No one in this class fits that mold better than Cody.
41. Buffalo Bills --Charles Brown, USC Offensive Tackle
They missed out on the quarterbacks, but the Bills can still address a major need along the offensive line in Brown.
42. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Chicago) -- Golden Tate, Notre Dame Wide Receiver
The Bucs need tons of help in the passing game with Antonio Bryant now departed, and Tate gives them a quality target who’s monstrous after the catch.
43. Baltimore Ravens (from Miami via Denver) -- Nate Allen, South Florida Safety
Those Ed Reed retirement rumors mean Ozzie Newswome will go shopping for their heir apparent in the secondary. Allen would be a very solid value at this point.
44. FAKE TRADE ALERT: San Francisco 49ers -- Taylor Mays, USC Safety
What, you didn’t think the Patriots would actually stay in their draft spot, did you? The Niners move up to end Mays’ free fall, giving up a fourth-rounder in the process. Mike Singletary is convinced he can get the most of anyone, and USC’s muscle-bound safety will be no exception.
45. Denver Broncos -- Darryl Washington, TCU Outside Linebacker
The Broncos’ defense got exposed over the second half of the season, so look for them to inject some athleticism into their front seven with Washington.
46. New York Giants -- Jon Asamoah, Illinois Guard
The Giants addressed their defensive line in Round One with Jason Pierre-Paul, and look for them to fortify their offensive line this time around. UCLA defensive tackle Brian Price should also be in the mix here.
47. New England Patriots (from Tennessee) -- Linval Joseph, East Carolina Defensive End/Tackle
Bill Belichick covets versatile defensive linemen who can flip between the 4-3 and the 3-4, so Joseph is a tremendous fit for them.
48. Carolina Panthers -- Damian Williams, USC Wide Receiver
If it seems like the Panthers have perpetually been looking for a legit second option in their passing game to ease the pressure off Steve Smith for the last five years, it’s because they have.
49. FAKE TRADE ALERT: New England Patriots -- Dexter McCluster, Ole Miss Running Back
McCluster is more of a running back/receiver hybrid, in the mold of Percy Harvin or Reggie Bush, so he will not only give the Pats some explosive plays out of the backfield, but help fill the void in the slot, assuming Wes Welker isn’t back at full strength for the beginning of the season.
50. Kansas City Chiefs (from Atlanta) -- Sergio Kindle, Texas Outside Linebacker
At some point, the chance to land a top-flight talent is worth the risk that Kindle’s medical concerns will sideline him. This is that point. The Chiefs need a rush linebacker for their 3-4, and Kindle might be the best one in this class.
51. Houston Texans -- Toby Gerhart, Stanford Running Back
An inability to run the ball -- particularly at the goal line -- haunted Houston last season. Gerhart’s physical style is the perfect antidote to their woes, and makes him an ideal complement to Steve Slaton as well.
52. Pittsburgh Steelers -- Vladimir Ducasse, UMass Guard
The Steelers brass went a long way to solidifying their line with Maurkice Pouncey in Round 1, and Ducasse will add to the extreme makeover. Somewhere, Rashard Mendenhall is smiling.
53. New England Patriots --Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati Wide Receiver
Randy Moss will likely walk at the end of the year and Wes Welker will probably be hobbled, at least to start the season, so receiver is a priority for the Pats. Gilyard is not only a top prospect, but he’s a kickoff return terror, giving the Pats a nice boost on special teams as well.
54. Cincinnati Bengals -- Brian Price, UCLA Defensive Tackle
Marvin Lewis continues the Bengals’ transformation into an elite defensive unit with Price.
55. Philadelphia Eagles -- Major Wright, Florida Safety
A year later, the Eagles have their replacement for Brian Dawkins.
56. Green Bay Packers -- Ricky Sapp, Clemson Defensive End/Outside Linebacker
With Aaron Kampman now patrolling the field in Jacksonville, the Packers need a rush linebacker to line up opposite Clay Matthews.
57. Baltimore Ravens -- Brandon LaFell, LSU Wide Receiver
Anquan Boldin was a start, but Baltimore still needs to surround Joe Flacco with more weapons; Derrick Mason won’t be around much longer.
58. Arizona Cardinals -- Rob Gronkowski, Arizona Tight End
The Cardinals are going to need to give Matt Leinart as much help as possible; the uber-talented Gronkowski would be a good fit in the desert.
59. Dallas Cowboys -- Morgan Burnett, Georgia Tech Safety
Dallas still has a hole at safety so this pick makes too much sense.
60. Seattle Seahawks (from San Diego) -- Taylor Price, Ohio Wide Receiver
With Nate Burleson gone, receiver is suddenly a position of need for Pete Carroll’s squad.
61. New York Jets -- Al Woods, LSU Defensive Tackle
Rex Ryan can never have enough front seven talent.
62. Minnesota Vikings -- Chris Cook, Virginia Cornerback
The Vikings have few holes, but the secondary is probably their most glaring.
63. Indianapolis Colts -- Cam Thomas, North Carolina Defensive Tackle
Offensive line is also an option, but look for the Colts to go for the best available defensive tackle.
64. New Orleans Saints -- Aaron Hernandez, Florida Tight End
Does Drew Brees need more toys? Of course not, but that doesn't mean Sean Payton doesn't love giving him them. Jeremy Shockey is seemingly perpetually injured, and is getting up there in age, so Hernandez makes more sense than it would seem at first blush.
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