Since we don’t like to complicate mocks with trades and picks based on last minute media leaks, NFL writer Mike Kaye is here to make some semi-educated assumptions about the this week’s Draft. The first 32 predictions will be team specific and the following 32 will be league-wide guesses.

MIKE KAYE

AFC East

1. Bills- Chan Gailey will grab a player in the 2^nd round similar to the choice he made last year with CJ Spiller with the 9^th overall pick. What I mean by this is he will draft a player that is talented but not in a position of need with a valuable pick.
2. Dolphins- The recent stabbing of Brandon Marshall and Brian Hartline’s ability to disappear in games along with the likely departure of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, the Fins will focus almost solely on playmakers in this draft. However, there first pick will either be an O-lineman.
3. Jets- Rex Ryan will continue to feed his defense as the playoffs proved that the Jets D is greatly overrated. I have seen people say he will take Rahim Moore in the 1^st but I think that is a reach and so do they, so they will trade out of the opening round to take him.
4. Patriots- Bill will work his trade magic and will easily negotiate his way into owning next year’s draft as well. He has 6 picks in the first 3 rounds but he will only use 3 of them.

AFC West

1. Broncos- Denver’s new regime will focus solely on defense in the Draft, because their focus on offense will be in free agency.
2. Chargers- AJ Smith, the “Lord of No Rings,” will try all that he can to trade out of the 18^th overall pick but will not find a trade partner and will settle for the number two 5-technique on the San Diego Big Board.
3. Chiefs- With the offense being the strength of the team, Todd Haley will once again spend a 1^st round pick on a D-lineman.
4. Raiders- Al Davis will surprise everyone by hitting on the Raiders first pick (2^nd round, trades 1^st to New England for Richard Seymour). They will go O-line.

AFC South

1. Colts- If Gabe Carimi and Anthony Costanzo are off the board when they pick, the Colts will trade back.
2. Jaguars- The Jaguars will do all they can to try to trade back in the first round, settling for a less compensation they deserve.
3. Texans- With the switch to 3-4, the Texans should worry about acquiring players that fit that system, but they will wait till the 2^nd round to find those parts. In the first they will pray for Prince Amukamara to fall or trade up to get Patrick Peterson, both of whom, fit any defense.
4. Titans- I think the lack of talk of the Titans taking a QB in the first, is because they don’t want anyone trading with the 49ers or Browns to get ahead of them if Blaine Gabbert falls. If he does, he is a Titan.

AFC North

1. Bengals- The Bengals will have rumors floating around about Gabbert but that is because they want a team trade up so they can take Marcel Dareus or AJ Green.
2. Browns- If AJ Green is not at six, the Browns will be willing to trade back into the twenties.
3. Ravens- Baltimore will find the replacement to Ray Lewis in the 2^nd day of the draft.
4. Steelers- Needing very little, the Steelers will stockpile mid-round picks to be one of the mainstays of day two.

NFC East

1. Cowboys- The Cowboys will have a widely-discussed draft class and will be praised for the players they acquired but will only have one first-year starter in the bunch.
2. Eagles- While a lot of national and local pundits think they will trade out of the first round, they will actually trade more value than they should to get into the Top 10.
3. NY Giants- The Giants will continue their trend of drafting mid-round QBs, this time though, they will hit on the pick. The QB will be Kevin Kolb-like in three years.
4. Redskins- The Skins will draft twice in the first round as they will trade into the late twenties. One pick will be a QB, the other will be for a playmaker on offense (HB, WR).

NFC West

1. Cardinals- Arizona will be criticized for reaching on the player they take with the 5^th pick, but that player will win Rookie of the Year on their side of the ball.
2. 49ers- The 49ers will be wildcards throughout the draft and will end up being the real winners of this draft as they will get adequate value for their selections.  They will NOT draft a QB.
3. Rams- Despite picking in the middle of each round, the Rams will have to trade down if they want obtain players that fit their needs.
4. Seahawks- Seattle will dictate the entire 2^nd day of the draft by what they do at pick 25 in the first round.

NFC South

1. Bucs- Tampa Bay will benefit most from the inability to trade players to acquire picks as the majority of the first round won’t have a ton of movement, allowing the Bucs to take a player they realistically covet.
2. Falcons- Matt Smith and Roddy White will get some much needed reinforcements on with a few new playmakers.
3. Panthers- No matter what happens, last year’s Armanti Edwards trade will be brought up at least 20 times within the first two days.
4. Saints- New Orleans will have the least amount of total picks but will acquire at least two picks view trade.

NFC North

1. Bears- WR is going to be the team’s biggest need to the fans, but to coaches it will be the secondary and you will know that after viewing all their selections.
2. Lions- If they the Lions pass on an Offensive Tackle in the first round, they will be regretting this season.
3. Packers- While they have a surplus of playmakers, the team will take at least one HB or WR in the first 3 rounds.
4. Vikings- Minnesota will take a QB earlier then a lot of people have let on.

NFL League Predictions

1. This draft will have a significant loss on viewership in comparison to the last two years.
2. There won’t be more than two safeties taken in the first two rounds.
3. While many believe the draft is more important this year with no guarantee of free agency, some teams will be willing to freely part with picks in earlier rounds due to depth at both Offensive and Defensive lines.
4. Someone in the top 10 will take a player that the ESPN draft pundits consider a 2^nd round pick.
5. Iowa’s Ricky Stanzi and Delaware’s Pat Delvin will be reached on a few rounds earlier than when they are actually graded.
6. The Eagles will once again make a draft deal with the Patriots.
7. Syracuse’s Ryan Bartholomew (Center) who was one of the big stars of the Combine, will fail to be drafted but will be the most heralded UFA this season.
8. Pundits will speculate free agency and trades throughout the 6^th and 7^th round due to lack of material.
9. There will be a trade in the first round, where a team will jump at least 15 picks.
10. Florida punter, Chas Henri, will be drafted in the 5^th round and no later.
11. Ohio State Defensive End, Cameron Heyward, will be discussed throughout the first round teen picks but won’t get his name called till Friday.
12. The AFC North will once again produce a rookie Pro Bowler.
13. Free Agency will be greatly under-appreciated, if or when it starts.
14. There will be a large run on Running Backs in the 3^rd round.
15. Tight end will be extremely under-valued in this draft.
16. The earliest a running back will be taken is 28^th overall.
17. A team that is not in need of QB will draft one in the first two rounds.
18. Despite claims (that are true) of inaccuracy, Jake Locker will still be a top 20 pick.
19. While he got of tons of comparisons to Desean Jackson, Titus Young will slip well into the 3^rd round.
20. Kectucky’s Randall Cobb will somehow sneak into the first round of picks.
21. Baltimore, Denver, and Pittsburgh will all draft safeties to be the successors of the legends that currently play for them.
22. NFL Network will once again have better coverage than ESPN.
23. ESPN will once again be will receive a bigger audience than NFL Network.
24. Todd McShay will bring up Mel Kiper’s Jimmy Claussen claim at least once in reference to Jake Locker.
25. Trading back in this draft will prove to popular in this draft.
26. Rumors of tampering between players and coaches will happen throughout the draft.
27. At least one “legend” that is supposed to announce second round picks, will completely murder a rookie’s name.
28. One team will draft two quarterbacks in this draft.
29. The 4^th round will be owned by linebackers and defensive ends.
30. The 7^th round will be dominated by playmakers.
31. Roger Goodell will get a standing ovation after the first trade is announced.
32. At least one team will get booed at Radio City Music Hall, even before they announce their pick.

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