In my latest first-round projection, I have underclassmen making up half of the top 32 picks, including 12 of the first 20 spots on the board.
I still have LSU junior QB JaMarcus Russell going first overall to Oakland. However, the biggest buzz could center around Oklahoma junior RB Adrian Peterson (6-1½, 223 lbs). His NFL combine numbers are projected to be 4.37 40-yard dash, 38-inch vertical leap, and 8% body fat. I have Peterson going to Cleveland, which will have the 3rd or 4th pick depending on a coin flip with Tampa Bay, though other teams might trade up for him.
If Peterson goes to Cleveland, Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn could slide to Miami at pick #9. Teams picking after Cleveland (Tampa Bay, Arizona, Washington, Minnesota, Houston) don’t need a QB, so Quinn falling to Miami makes sense.
The Seattle Seahawks do not have a first-round pick due to trading for WR Deion Branch from New England. Ironically, this draft has a lot of top wide receivers—7 are projected in round one.
My next first-round projection will follow the NFL combine in the first week of March.
(Note: a coin flip between Cleveland and Tampa Bay will determine who picks 3rd or 4th.)
| Pick | Team | Player | Position | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland Raiders | JaMarcus Russell* | QB | LSU |
| 2 | Detroit Lions | Joe Thomas | OT | Wisconsin |
| 3 | Cleveland Browns | Adrian Peterson* | RB | Oklahoma |
| 4 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Calvin Johnson* | WR | Georgia Tech |
| 5 | Arizona Cardinals | Gaines Adams | DE | Clemson |
| 6 | Washington Redskins | Jamaal Anderson* | DE | Arkansas |
| 7 | Minnesota Vikings | Ted Ginn Jr.* | WR | Ohio State |
| 8 | Houston Texans | Levi Brown | OT | Penn State |
| 9 | Miami Dolphins | Brady Quinn | QB | Notre Dame |
| 10 | Atlanta Falcons | LaRon Landry | S | LSU |