Round 2

32. Dolphins – Curtis Lofton, LB, Oklahoma

The Dolphins need somebody to fill the gaping hole left by Zach Thomas, and Lofton is the best available MLB. The other option would be a QB, but I have a feeling Parcells wants some time with John Beck before he jumps ship. Beck wasn’t terrible, and there will be some QBs Parcells will assuredly take an interest in during the later rounds.

33. Rams – Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina

Balmer probably should’ve been a first rounder, but he doesn’t quite fit in with the teams’ needs at his current draft value and has been inconsistent at times – not something war rooms reward. The Rams will be a better team with him, and he’s a steal for a Round 2 pick.

34. Falcons (from Raiders) – Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville

At this point, the Falcons probably just need to bite the bullet and take a quarterback, but they don’t necessarily have to do it in Round One. Brohm – who could be the real deal and might even get picked in the first round – should still be available at this point, and he’s one of the top three quarterbacks on most minds for the first two rounds.

35. Chiefs – Justin King, CB, Penn State

King will make a nice addition to the Chief’s depleted secondary. He’s got oodles of raw talent and could excel at the next level. He may not help right away, and his draft value has fluctuated a lot lately, but I don’t think he can escape the top 40.

36. Jets – Calais Campbell, DE, Miami

Campbell wasn’t as good as expected at the U, but he’s still got the requisite size and speed to be a disruptive pass rusher. His stock has gone down some, but he’s still a great NFL prospect that the Jets could use to bolster their pathetic pass rush. The Jets could also take the opportunity to draft a RB here, but I think they’ll stand pat and work on their defense unless they can draft into McFadden or a top-five wideout.

37. Falcons – Anthony Collins, OT, Kansas

Collins might be another second-round steal – and while the Falcons have another pick to get him with, he might be gone by #48. There are other options, but Collins had a great 2007 season and has almost unlimited potential.

38. Ravens – Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan

It’s amazing how high scouts were on Manningham not too long ago, but NFL Combine results showed less-than stellar speed. He’s got great hands and will be a nice possession receiver; Mario could even end up being a Derrick Mason-like receiver if he reaches his lofty potential.

39. 49ers – Sam Baker, OT, USC

Baker is another solid tackle out of USC who’s got a shot to be a stalwart lineman for years in the NFL. He’s not a prototype left-side guy, but he’ll definitely fit in at right tackle for the Niners – who need lots of help with that unit. Obviously, Baker will only go here if the 49ers stick to their first round guns and stay put at pick # 29.

40. Saints – Erin Henderson, LB, Maryland

They need a linebacker badly, and Henderson and Connor are probably the best two out there. I give the edge to Henderson based on his versatility (he started out as a QB) and his pedigree (his brother is Vikings LB E.J. Henderson – who’s a beast).

41. Bills – James Hardy, WR, Indiana

Hardy is tall (almost 6-6), fast, and has all the tools to be a quality receiver in the NFL. He might be what the Bills have been missing on offense – a big target for Trent Edwards. There are still a few other WR options available here, but none with Hardy’s size and strength, although the lanky wideout has some character issues to consider. Other than Hardy, there’s Florida’s Andre Caldwell and LSU receiver Early Doucet, but I think Hardy fits the team’s needs the best.

42. Broncos – Dre Moore, DT, Maryland

Moore is big, strong and effective getting into the backfield and wreaking havoc. He’s also versatile and could be effective in different schemes, making him a useful tool in the Broncos arsenal. He’s not the best DT on the board, but he might be the best after Balmer. Also – the Broncos could draft Pat Sims here – another explosive defensive lineman out of Auburn.

43. Panthers – Joe Flacco, QB, Delaware

The Panthers need to start thinking about the future – and Flacco could be the future. His combine performance showed excellent speed, footwork and agility for a 6-6, 238-pound QB, and he’s got an arm that can make all the NFL throws. Maybe Parcells will go after him at some point, so don’t rule out him trading for a spot like this.

44. Bears – Andre Caldwell, WR, Florida

When I was discussing the Bears first-round pick with my brother-in-law, he emphasized the Bears need for receivers now that Muhsin Muhammad and Bernard Berrian were gone. But I know the Bears can still end up with a solid WR halfway through Round 2. Caldwell is a sure-handed, agile receiver who the Bears could definitely use – and a guy who does all the little things right without the football, a la Hines Ward. Isn’t that just the type of receiver the Bears need right now?

45. Lions – Jamaal Charles, RB, Texas

This is where the Lions need to grab a running back, and Charles might be the best available. He decided to join the pro ranks after a big finish to the 2007 season, but the deep running back class will undoubtedly push him into the middle of the second round. With a little work and a full camp, he’d be ready to start in September. And he’s faaaaassst.

46. Bengals – Quentin Groves, LB, Auburn

If the Bengals add Sedrick Ellis and Quentin Groves in the same draft, they’ll finally have a defensive foundation they can be proud of. Groves is a beast who’s an amazing, almost preternatural edge rusher – but injuries took away much of his senior glory. He’s got a huge upside – but the Bengals need him to be on the field.

47. Vikings – Early Doucet, WR, LSU

He’s a proven winner – with a national championship under his belt, and he stood out among his peers during Senior Bowl week, but sat out the NFL Combine. We’ll know more on March 26 after Pro Day, but I think the Vikes – who need a third receiver to complement the tall, young, athletic Sidney Rice and veteran game breaker Bernard Berrian - might be able to get him here.

48. Falcons (from Texans) – Reggie Smith, S, Oklahoma

Smith has the size and speed to play safety in the NFL and could develop into a top pro defender. His only downside is a foot injury that’s plagued him, but the Falcons – with so many draft choices in Round 2 – can afford to take a shot.

49. Eagles – Lawrence Jackson, DE, USC

Jackson is an athletic player who had a strong finish to his collegiate career. He turned some heads at the Senior Bowl and at the combine. He has proven to be a legitimate threat off the edge as a pass rusher, but also has shown that he can contain the run as well – a focus of the Eagles defense.

50. Cardinals – Brandon Flowers, CB, Virginia Tech

Flowers is a quick, tough corner who has good coverage skills and is still considered by some to be a possible first-rounder. He has the technique and playmaking ability to match up with the best receivers. While had a poor showing at the combine, he could see his stock rise if he impresses during Pro Day.

51. Redskins – Darrell Robertson, DE, Georgia Tech

Robertson has been labeled a tweener, which can be a gift or a curse, depending on the system. He displayed big-play ability off the edge during his college career, and will help the Redskins develop a more potent pass rush. See also: Cliff Avril, DE/OLB, Purdue – another athletic pass rusher who’ll most likely go to a team that runs the 3-4.

52. Buccaneers – Xavier Adibi, LB, Virginia Tech

Adibi is a mobile, slightly undersized OLB who has drawn comparisons to Michael Boley. He’s fast, quick and has excellent instincts, as he displayed during a very productive college career. The Bucs seems to gravitate toward these guys, so I’d expect him to catch their eye.

53. Steelers – Tracy Porter, CB, Indiana

The Steelers need a corner and Porter’s another guy that’s getting great reviews from scouts. He’s an athletic performer who worked out well at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine.

54. Titans – Pat Sims, DT, Auburn

Sims is a big boy who can plug the gaps in the middle. He can collapse the pocket and has the explosiveness to make plays along the line. See also: Dre Moore (above – #42) ), and Trevor Laws, DT, Notre Dame – an undersized nose tackle who could end up as a better complement to the massive Albert Haynesworth on the inside of the line.

55. Seahawks – Chilo Rachel, G, USC

Rachel is a big, agile junior who had an impressive 2007 season and combine. He has
moved up draft boards over the past month, and could even be a first round pick. But I think most teams will stand pat at guard until round 2. See also: Roy Schuening, OG, Oregon State – a more plodding guard who’ll probably end up going in Round 3 or 4.

56. Packers (from Browns) – Chad Henne, QB, Michigan

Henne is a classic pocket passer with decent size (6-3, 235) and solid arm strength. He’s fought through injuries but seemed okay at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine. He may or may not be the right choice for the Packers, but they should probably grab somebody respectable before Round 3 – just in case Aaron Rodgers doesn’t work out.

57. Dolphins (from Chargers) – Charles Godfrey, CB/S, Iowa

Again – they could take a QB. But Bill Parcells likes big, physical corners, and Godfrey certainly fits the bill. It’s also possible Tuna tries to fill some other serious offensive line gaps – but he usually likes to square away his defense before getting to that side of the ball. This veteran corner had a solid career against NFL-caliber receivers, and displayed that again at the Senior Bowl.

58. Jaguars – Earl Bennett, WR, Vanderbilt

He had a marvelous career in the SEC, but after a marginal performance at the combine, his stock goes down. He’s not a gamebreaker, but the Jags need to find the right receiver for their system, and Bennett could be the guy. See Also: Eddie Royal, WR, Virginia Tech – a playmaker who showed tremendous speed (4.39 in the 40) and strength (a position-leading 24 bench reps of 225 pounds) at the NFL Combine.

59. Colts – Chris Johnson, RB, East Carolina

He’s got impressive speed and versatility as big-play runner, receiver and return specialist. He also performed well at the NFL Combine, and the Colts could always use an extra back with breakaway speed in its offense. See also: Matt Forte, RB, Tulane – a back with lots of raw skills and potential.

60. Packers – DaJuan Morgan, S, North Carolina State

Morgan’s strong and fast – nice attributes for an NFL safety, but he’s still a work in progress. He’s been effective in run support and pass coverage, and he could end up being a standout pro.

61. Cowboys – Terrell Thomas, CB, USC

The Cowboys still need to address their needs at CB, and this strong corner impressed against top receivers at the Senior Bowl. He elevated his rating after an inconsistent final season with an excellent overall workout at the Combine, making him a distinct possibility for a second-round selection. See also: Patrick Lee, CB, Auburn.

62. Patriots – Ray Rice, RB, Rutgers

Rice is a strong, compact RB with plenty of raw talent who showed promise at the combine. It may be a stretch to have him in Round 2, but the Pats might want to add a back of his caliber before he disappears in Round 3.

63. Giants – Carl Nicks, OT, Nebraska

Nicks has some character question marks, including his drive, attitude and consistency, but he’s got the tools to be a solid tackle in the NFL, including a massive frame (estimated at 6-5, 340), good quickness and surprising athleticism. He’s more effective as a run-blocker, is a versatile player and has a big upside.
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Next: Round 1