Well, the draft begins tomorrow meaning all the speculation will end and we will finally get some answers as to how it will play out.
With that in mind, here is my final mock draft. I know there are likely to be a couple of trades, but I am not going to try and guess. I'll just go through the teams as they currently sit.
So, here are my best guesses as to what might happen.
1. Oakland Raiders
JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU
-- The Raiders desperately need a franchise quarterback to build around. I don't think they have a choice.
2. Detroit Lions
Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson
-- In reality, I think the Lions will trade with Tampa Bay here. Adams, however, is the player they will end up with.
3. Cleveland Browns
Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame
-- Sorry Dolphins (who seem to want Quinn badly), but Cleveland ownership wants a quarterback. The Browns won't pass on Quinn.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech
-- Jon Gruden and the Bucs want this guy in the worst way. I think they will get him, but they will probably trade up with the Lions to do it.
5. Arizona Cardinals
Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin
-- The Cardinals get the best lineman in the draft to protect franchise QB Matt Leinart.
6. Washington Redskins
Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville
-- An impact tackle who, at only 20, could anchor the Redskins line for years. The Redskins don't pick again until Round 5, so don't be shocked if they move down.
7. Minnesota Vikings
Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma
-- If the Vikings went strictly based on need, Peterson would not be the pick. But Peterson is too talented to slide much further.
8. Atlanta Falcons
LaRon Landry, FS, LSU
-- Landry is the best player available at a position where the Falcons need help. He will be too good for Atlanta to pass up.
9. Miami Dolphins
Levi Brown, OT, Penn State
-- The Dolphins would love it if Quinn were to fall to them. Since that doesn't seem likely to happen, they'll take Brown as an anchor for their offensive line.
10. Houston Texans
Alan Branch, DT, Michigan
-- A run-stuffing defensive tackle to help the Texans. They would have liked an offensive tackle, or Peterson, but those guys are gone.
11. San Francisco 49ers
Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas
-- A potential Pro Bowl defensive end to help the improving 49ers.
12. Buffalo Bills
Patrick Willis, LB, Mississippi
-- A great fit for the Bills. The best inside linebacker in the draft will help fill the void left by the losses of Takeo Spikes and London Fletcher.
13. St. Louis Rams
Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska
-- Carriker provides much-needed help for the Rams defensive front.
14. Carolina Panthers
Reggie Nelson, S, Florida
-- A quality player at a perennial need position for the Panthers.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers
Leon Hall, CB, Michigan
-- Pittsburgh needs defensive help as they begin changing their defense from a 3-4 to a 4-3. Hall is the premiere cornerback on the board.
16. Green Bay Packers
Marshawn Lynch, RB, California
-- With Ahman Green gone, the Packers have no proven running back. After Lynch there is quite a dropoff, so this is a move the Packers need to make.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars
Chris Houston, CB, Arkansas
-- The Jags could use a receiver, but they also need depth in the secondary.
18. Cincinnati Bengals
Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh
-- Corner seems to be the Bengals primary need, and Revis is the surest bet still on the board in that position.
19. Tennessee Titans
Ted Ginn Jr., WR, Ohio State
-- A big-play receiver for QB Vince Young.
20. New York Giants
Paul Posluszny, LB, Penn State
-- Posluszny, Jon Beason and Lawrence Timmons -- the best three outside linebackers in the draft -- are all still available here. Gut feeling is Poz, who might be ready to make the quickest impact. I think a corner will come later, unless the Giants really gamble here and take Eric Wright from UNLV. Another possibility is offensive tackle Joe Staley from Central Michigan.
21. Denver Broncos
Jarvis Moss, DE, Florida
-- The Broncos need help here, and this would be the perfect selection for them.
22. Dallas Cowboys
Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee
-- A replacement to groom for the aging Terry Glenn, and insurance against the inevitable TO blowup.
23. Kansas City Chiefs
Joe Staley, OT, Central Michigan
-- Some much-needed help for an offensive line thinned by the retirements of Willie Roaf and Will Shields the past two seasons.
24. New England Patriots
Brandon Meriweather, S, Miami
-- The Patriots could go several ways here. I think they will opt to grab insurance in the event veteran Rodney Harrison isn't the same after being injured last season.
25. New York Jets
Greg Olsen, TE, Miami
-- A good value here at a position where the Jets have not gotten much production the past couple of seasons.
26. Philadelphia Eagles
Michael Griffin, S, Texas
-- Another case of a quality player being available at a position where the Eagles don't have a whole lot.
27. New Orleans Saints
Lawrence Timmons, LB, Florida State
-- The Saints rebuilt their offense last season. Timmons will help them upgrade a so-so defense this season.
28. New England Patriots
Brian Leonard, FB, Rutgers
-- This pick would be a bit of a surprise. Yet, Leonard is a good pass-catcher, blocker and runner and would provide another versatile weapon for Tom Brady.
29. Baltimore Ravens
Ryan Kalil, C, USC
-- A guy who can help the Ravens aging offensive line.
30. San Diego Chargers
Dwayne Bowe, WR, LSU
-- The Chargers need better targets for Philip Rivers to throw to, and Bowe could provide them with one.
31. Chicago Bears
Jon Beason, LB, Miami
-- If Lance Briggs isn't going to play for the Bears, Chicago needs a playmaker to replace him. Beason is the guy.
32. Indianapolis Colts
Aaron Ross, CB, Texas
-- The Colts lost both starting corners to free agency. They have little choice but to to address this need early. I'll be back later with the final draft two-a-day. Most likely, I'll share some thoughts on Jerry Reese and his first draft as general manager.