Mock draft: Peterson moves into top five

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MOCK DRAFT: Round 1
Pick	Team	Player	Pos.	School	Class	Previous	Rising/Falling	High/Low
1.	Raiders	JaMarcus Russell	QB	LSU	Junior	1st	SAME	1st / 1st
Draft day is almost upon us, and this is still hardly a slam dunk pick. Many insiders believe Georgia Tech WR Calvin Johnson is the No. 1 name on the Raiders' draft board -- as he is for most of the league's 31 other teams. But a franchise quarterback is still far more valuable than an All-Pro wide receiver, and Russell's all-world arm should eventually prove too enticing for Al Davis to pass up.
2.	Lions	Calvin Johnson	WR	Georgia Tech	Junior	2nd	SAME	2nd / 4th
Trade rumors will continue to swirl around this pick until the Lions deal it or are on the clock Saturday. Picking a receiver in the first round for the fourth time in five years will bring more heat upon embattled GM Matt Millen, but Johnson is simply too talented to drop below No. 2 -- whether it's the Lions or another team like Tampa Bay or Washington trading up to get him. In the Lions' perfect world, Johnson is available, they get a bounty for the pick and slide down a few spots and land Clemson DE Gaines Adams.
3.	Browns	Adrian Peterson	RB	Oklahoma	Senior	7th	(+4)	3rd / 12th
So the Browns brought in Jamal Lewis to be their workhorse. But remember that it's only a one-year deal, and all four teams that reached the conference championship games last season featured a 1-2 punch in the backfield. The Browns need to show significant improvement in 2007 for GM Phil Savage and coach Romeo Crennel to be around next year. Local favorite Brady Quinn would be the more popular choice among the fan base, but Peterson can step and be the immediate big-play back after Lewis' power running has worn defenses down.
4.	Buccaneers	Gaines Adams	DE	Clemson	Senior	4th	SAME	4th / 5th
The Bucs covet Johnson, but drafting Adams certainly wouldn't be a bad alternative. DE Simeon Rice is recovering from shoulder surgery, and Adams' presence could lead to Rice playing elsewhere in 2007. The line could also use an infusion of youth, with Rice (entering his 12th season), Kevin Carter (13th) and Greg Spires (10th) the only ends on the roster with significant NFL experience.
5.	Cardinals	Joe Thomas	OT	Wisconsin	Senior	5th	SAME	3rd / 5th
New coach Ken Whisenhunt wants to protect the passing lanes in front of left-handed QB Matt Leinart and improve the blocking for RB Edgerrin James. Instead of flipping RT Oliver Ross to the left side, where he hasn't played in the pros, or rely on slowing veteran Mike Gandy, the Cardinals can insert NFL-ready Thomas into the slot and immediately upgrade both facets of the offense.
6.	Redskins	Amobi Okoye	DT	Louisville	Senior	6th	SAME	6th / 9th
The revelation last week that Okoye admitted to previous marijuana use during team interviews at the Combine won't affect his draft status. The Redskins are always a candidate to move up or down, but should they keep the pick, they desperately need help along their defensive line. With Cornelius Griffin declining the past two seasons and Joe Salave'a on his last NFL legs, the Redskins need a big body up front. Okoye did an excellent job of keeping blockers off the linebackers behind him while at Louisville, and has a tremendous ceiling as he will be just 19 on draft day.
7.	Vikings	Brady Quinn	QB	Notre Dame	Senior	3rd	(-4)	2nd / 7th
The Vikings would have to be giddy should Quinn fall into their lap. Second-year QB Tarvaris Jackson would be the Week 1 starter right now, but he struggled when thrown into the fire the second half of his rookie season, and appears at least a year away from proving whether he's a legitimate NFL starter. Quinn, meanwhile, comes NFL-ready, having played the past two years for Irish coach Charlie Weis. He'd be a good fit in Vikings coach Brad Childress' West Coast offense, and could challenge for the starting job in training camp.
8.	Falcons (from Texans)	LaRon Landry	FS	LSU	Senior	7th	SAME	6th / 8th
Deep coverage was a significant problem for the Falcons last year, particularly on the side of FS Chris Crocker. Landry is capable of starting at either safety spot, and as one of the draft's top defensive playmakers, he could take over for Crocker early in his rookie season. That would also give the new coaching staff more time to determine if Jimmy Williams is a better long-term fit at corner or safety.
9.	Dolphins	Levi Brown	OT	Penn State	Senior	10th	(+1)	8th / 14th
The line was a concern before LT Damion McIntosh left as a free agent. There's no strong candidate to fill the all-important spot, and Brown is capable of stepping in as the starter from Day 1. Some teams rate him higher than Thomas, and Brown would provide an immediate boost for the running game.
10.	Texans (from Falcons)	Jamaal Anderson	DE	Arkansas	Junior	13th	(+3)	10th / 19th
The Texans could use more help in the secondary, and adding another pass rusher could kill two birds with one stone. Mario Williams, last year's No. 1 overall pick, struggled to just 4.5 sacks last season, but he was the team's only true pass rushing threat. Adding the highly athletic Anderson would give the team bookend pass rushers to attack opposing quarterbacks before they can attack the secondary.
11.	49ers	Adam Carriker	DE	Nebraska	Senior	17th	(+6)	11th / 19th
The 49ers are seeking versatile linemen as they continue to implant more of coach Mike Nolan's preferred 3-4 scheme. Carriker has a good combination of size and speed that would allow him to play end or tackle, and he's the type of blue-collar worker the team needs to do the dirty work in the trenches.
12.	Bills	Patrick Willis	LB	Ole Miss	Senior	12th	SAME	11th / 12th
With London Fletcher-Baker and Takeo Spikes sent packing this offseason, the Bills need linebacking help across the board. Willis has been one of the draft's most impressive workout warriors, and has the potential to step in right away in place of Fletcher-Baker as a run-stuffer on the inside.
13.	Rams	Alan Branch	DT	Michigan	Junior	9th	(-4)	9th / 13th
Concerns about possible stress fractures or shin splints in both legs only add to a growing list of red flags about this once-surefire top 10 pick. He failed to impress at his Pro Day, but he still has too much potential as a run-stuffer to fall any further in this draft. The Rams' run defense was pitiful last season, and a major reason has been their inability to adequately fill this hole for many years.
14.	Panthers	Reggie Nelson	S	Florida	Junior	14th	SAME	14th / 17th
The Panthers have a glaring need at strong safety, but FS Mike Minter took a $1.3 million pay cut to stay with the team this season, which he has already announced will be his last. If Nelson can plug the hole on the strong side for a season and learn from the savvy Minter on the field, he can slide to the free side in '08.
15.	Steelers	Leon Hall	CB	Michigan	Senior	15th	SAME	7th / 15th
The Steelers have a bigger need at outside linebacker, but it's doubtful they view one as worthy of this selection. The team is young at cornerback, and Ike Taylor is coming off a very disappointing season after signing a big contract. Hall has big-game experience and can have an immediate impact for a Steelers team seeking a quick rebound season.
16.	Packers	Marshawn Lynch	RB	California	Junior	19th	(+3)	16th / 19th
Ready or not, Lynch would have a chance to make an immediate impact for the Pack, whose roster right now features Vernand Morency, Noah Herron, Arliss Beach and P.J. Pope at running back. Lynch's versatility is what should intrigue the Packers the most. Not only is he capable of leading the rushing attack, but he is an excellent receiver who would provide QB Brett Favre with another weapon underneath now that TE Bubba Franks is clearly on the backside of his career.
17.	Jaguars	Brandon Meriweather	FS	Miami (Fla.)	Senior	24th	(+7)	17th / 30th
The Jaguars have gone offense in the first round in each of the past four years, but it would be shocking if they don't address the other side of the ball this year. They need to upgrade at safety and end, and Nelson, Anderson and Carriker figure to be high on their wish list. Barring one of those three, the Jaguars could pull a mild surprise by reaching a bit for Meriweather. He has first-round talent, but an off-field incident and an ugly role in the Florida International brawl last season created significant red flags. That said, he has the skill and experience to fill in for the free-agent loss of Deon Grant.
18.	Bengals	Darrelle Revis	CB	Pittsburgh	Junior	18th	SAME	13th / 18th
Tory James quietly exited stage left after losing at least a step last season (recently signed with the Patriots), and Deltha O'Neal is coming off a sub par year of his own. The team hit pay dirt with Johnathan Joseph last year, and could create one of the league's better tandems for the next several years by pairing him with Revis.
19.	Titans	Robert Meachem	WR	Tennessee	Junior	11th	(-8)	11th / 19th
David Givens (knee) might not be ready in time for training camp and Drew Bennett left for St. Louis as a free agent. That leaves Brandon Jones and a group of uninspiring wideouts for QB Vince Young to play catch with. Meachem is big, fast and has excellent hands. If the Titans want to see Young develop the passing game, they have to provide playmakers downfield.
20.	Giants	Chris Houston	CB	Arkansas	Senior	25th	(+5)	20th / 26th
The Giants revamped their secondary last offseason with less than stellar results. Corey Webster is coming off a disappointing injury-plagued sophomore season, and Sam Madison continues to slow with each passing year. Houston has tantalizing upside, although No. 20 might be a bit of a reach for a corner who has shown some issues with deep coverage and holding onto potential picks.
21.	Broncos	Paul Posluszny	LB	Penn State	Senior	21st	SAME	18th / 31st
The shoe finally dropped when MLB Al Wilson was released last week. Nate Webster can slide into the middle and do a capable job, but the Broncos are very thin beyond the starting unit. Posluszny is known mostly as an outside linebacker, but he proved at the end of his senior season that he might be even better suited inside in the NFL. That versatility could look very inviting to the Broncos right about now.
22.	Cowboys	Ted Ginn, Jr.	WR	Ohio State	Junior	22nd	SAME	22nd / 32nd
Ginn's workout last week did little to impress scouts, who already knew he was fast. His durability is a bigger concern. But the Cowboys have a strong roster and the ability to use this pick for a potential home run. Terrell Owens will be 34 next season and Terry Glenn 33, so this is a position the Cowboys need to address for the future. In the present, Ginn can big a big-play return threat who is used sparingly in three- and four-receiver sets as a rookie.
23.	Chiefs	Ben Grubbs	OG	Auburn	Senior	23rd	SAME	15th / 31st
The Chiefs can address their glaring need at receiver later on the first day with a deep class at the position. The more pressing need is along the offensive line following the retirement of 12-time Pro Bowl RG Will Shields. If he can make the adjustment to the right side, Grubbs can be immediately inserted into the starting lineup. The Chiefs simply can't afford a significant drop-off in their running game.
24.	Patriots (from Seahawks)	Aaron Ross	CB	Texas	Senior	26th	(+2)	24th / NR
CB Asante Samuel continues to grumble about the franchise tag the team slapped on him this offseason, and the Patriots might only have him to pair up with Ellis Hobbs for another season at best. The depth behind them is a mishmash of slowing veterans and players who have struggled to stay healthy. Ross has good size at 6-feet-1, and provides additional value as a potential big-player return man.
25.	Jets	Justin Harrell	DT	Tennessee	Senior	27th	(+2)	21st / 27th
If the cornerbacks worthy of this pick are off the board, the Jets can turn their attention to the interior of their D-line. Dewayne Robertson isn't the ideal physical fit for the 3-4, while the 6-5, 300-pound Harrell played with an impressive motor for the Vols.
26.	Eagles	Dwayne Bowe	WR	LSU	Senior	20th	(-6)	19th / 26th
The roster is in pretty good shape, so the Eagles can afford to simply take the best player available. Bowe has the size and skills to be selected in the mid-first round, but could become the main victim of teams waiting until later rounds to address receiver because of the depth of the position this year. Philly has Reggie Brown, Greg Lewis and Kevin Curtis, but Bowe is a big target who will go up and fight for the ball.
27.	Saints	Greg Olsen	TE	Miami (Fla.)	Senior	16th	(-11)	16th / 31st
The Saints have five tight ends on their roster, but none possess the speed or big-play ability of Olsen, who drops this far only because of a lack of need by many teams. New Orleans has done an excellent job of stocking depth on its roster, giving it the ability to make a luxury pick when a quality talent drops.
28.	Patriots	Jarvis Moss	DE	Florida	Junior	28th	SAME	21st / 28th
Patriots coach Bill Belichick loves versatility, and a 3-4 defense might be a good fit for Moss. He's undersized for a traditional end, but hasn't displayed the agility to move permanently to linebacker at the next level. One thing is for certain -- he has immense natural gifts, and Belichick is the man to figure out how best to utilize them.
29.	Ravens	Joe Staley	OT	Central Michigan	Senior	NR		29th / NR
Athletically, Staley has the ability to be every bit as good as Thomas and Brown down the road. The Ravens lost RT Troy Pashos in free agency and cut LG Edwin Mulitalo loose. Baltimore can only hope LT Jonathan Ogden puts off retirement one more year, giving Staley a year to gain experience in Pashos' place before swapping to the left side of the line.
30.	Chargers	Steve Smith	WR	USC	Senior	30th	SAME	30th / NR
Keenan McCardell is gone, leaving the No. 1 role to unproven but promising Vincent Jackson. Eric Parker is a solid second starter. Smith runs great routes, has excellent hands and, coming out of a Pro Style offense, he can step in and make an immediate impact for a team that is a piece or two away from true Super Bowl contention.
31.	Bears	Justin Blalock	OT	Texas	Senior	29th	(-2)	29th / NR
The Bears have a strong line, but to keep it that way for years to come they need to start infusing some youth now. Blaylock has experience at tackle and guard, and could take over when OG Reuben Brown decides to call it quits -- likely after next season.
32.	Colts	Lawrence Timmons	OLB	Florida State	Junior	31st	(-1)	20th / 32nd
The Colts need cornerbacks, but even if there is one remaining worthy of a first-round pick, coach Tony Dungy believes he can find Cover-2 corners later in the draft. He's also not traditionally big on taking outside linebackers high, but Timmons has intriguing physical tools. That's something the Colts lack at the position, but Freddy Keiaho, Gilbert Gardner and Rob Morris can hold the fort until Timmons is truly ready to make an impact in 2008.

DROPPED OUT THIS WEEK: Jon Beason (LB, Miami, 32nd).

Derek Harper is a senior editor for NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by The Sports Xchange.