ESPN NFL

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

ESPN.com put its eight NFL divisional bloggers on the clock for a quick run through the draft's first round. The eight-man mock produced a few potential surprises -- Mark Sanchez lasting until Denver at No. 12 comes to mind -- and ample fodder for debate.

Each blogger made the call for the teams in his division.

No. Team Player/Position/School Analysis 1. Matthew Stafford QB Georgia The curse of Bobby Layne ends. It's time to find his replacement. Nothing happens without a quarterback. -- KS 2. Eugene Monroe OT Virginia The Rams need a tackle, no question, but they have options with this pick. Aaron Curry or Michael Crabtree would certainly make sense as well. --MS 3. Aaron Curry LB Wake Forest Trading down will be tough, so the Chiefs take the best defensive player on the board. Curry may not be a perfect fit for the 3-4, but he'll instantly help this weak defense. -- BW 4. Michael Crabtree WR Texas Tech Crabtree and Curry would make sense in this spot because both would contribute right away. A quarterback or tackle might not. -- MS 5. Brian Orakpo DE/OLB Texas The Browns will need an elite edge rusher to run a successful 3-4 defense. Orakpo is the best prospect at getting to the quarterback and he has the ability to play the hybrid DE/OLB role. -- JW 6. Jason Smith OT Baylor The Bengals turn cartwheels in their draft room as Smith falls to them. Cincinnati was nervous about landing one of the top two offensive tackles -- Smith or Eugene Monroe -- but winds up with arguably the top-rated player in the draft. -- JW 7. Jeremy Maclin WR Missouri Maclin reminds some of Cliff Branch, who just happens to be one of Al Davis' all-time favorite players. Maclin gives Oakland an instant vertical threat. -- BW 8. B.J. Raji DT Boston College New GM Gene Smith believes in building from the inside out. The versatile Raji can do whatever the Jaguars ask inside. That should mean helping restore the personality Jacksonville had when it was largely identified by the John Henderson-Marcus Stroud duo of defensive tackles while helping leave favorable matchups outside for Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves. -- PK 9. Andre Smith OT Alabama Packers GM Ted Thompson faces a tough choice, but ultimately he chooses the best available player on the board, despite some conditioning and judgment concerns. -- KS 10. Michael Oher OT Mississippi The 49ers need pass-rush help, too, but they're happy to find one of the four top-rated tackles available. -- MS 11. Aaron Maybin DE Penn State The Bills had trouble generating a pass rush when defensive end Aaron Schobel was out of the lineup, and Spencer Johnson has been a colossal disappointment. Maybin is the best available player at one of the Bills' many critical positions of need. -- TG 12. Mark Sanchez QB USC The Broncos are going to have a difficult time bypassing defense here, but Sanchez has a chance to make folks forget about Jay Cutler fairly quickly. -- BW 13. Brian Cushing OLB USC The Redskins try to move up to take Sanchez, but can't find a partner. They wanted Aaron Maybin, but Cushing will give them an immediate starter on the strong side. -- MM 14. Malcolm Jenkins DB Ohio State There are rumblings about the Saints going with a running back, but they need more bodies to make the defensive overhaul complete. Jenkins can play cornerback or safety. -- PY 15. Clay Matthews LB USC Matthews' uncle, Hall of Fame offensive lineman Bruce, is now on the Texans' coaching staff, and the Texans love bringing in people to which they have connections. Clay is a high-character athlete who hasn't come close to maxing out yet and has the bloodlines to suggest he'll bring the Texans the sort of durability they desire. -- PK 16. Rey Maualuga LB USC He gives San Diego's defense an instant burst. Maualuga could be the playmaker San Diego needs to finally become a Super Bowl team. -- BW 17. Josh Freeman QB Kansas State As much as Rex Ryan insists he's OK with the quarterbacks on his roster, Freeman will be difficult to overlook. The Jets also crave help at receiver, but the only two players worth taking this early are long gone. --TG 18. Tyson Jackson DE LSU Jackson could go to San Diego, but Denver is thrilled he is on the board. Jackson will be an instant contributor and a great fit for the 3-4 de fense. --BW 19. Everette Brown DE Florida State The Bucs need help across the defensive line, but there are no run-stuffing tackles that make sense at this point. The other option is to get a pass rusher. -- PY 20. Knowshon Moreno RB Georgia The Lions can't allow need to trump talent, and in this mock draft, Moreno is the best player remaining. -- KS 21. Chris Wells RB Ohio State The Eagles are elated to find Wells available in this spot. Wells is a big back with big-play ability and a worthy successor to Brian Westbrook. -- MM 22. Eben Britton OT Arizona The Vikings need help at right tackle far more urgently than they do at receiver. -- KS 23. Vontae Davis CB Illinois Davis is the best pure corner in the draft. The Patriots signed free agents Leigh Bodden and Shawn Springs, but Bill Belichick knows the value of growing the position. In his past five drafts, he has selected 21 defensive players and 10 were defensive backs. -- TG 24. Peria Jerry DT Mississippi After scraping through last season with an aging Grady Jackson, the Falcons need a young set of legs to pair with Jonathan Babineaux. -- PY 25. James Laurinaitis LB Ohio State Even though the Dolphins crave a receiver and Percy Harvin, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Hakeem Nicks are on the board, Bill Parcells loves defense. The Dolphins weren't thrilled with Channing Crowder, and Laurinaitis could be great. -- TG 26. Darrius Heyward-Bey WR Maryland The Ravens get a superb combination of size and speed. Heyward-Bey is the deep threat quarterback Joe Flacco is looking for, and Heyward-Bey also is a local product who played at the University of Maryland and grew up in Owings Mills, where the Ravens have their practice facility. -- JW 27. Hakeem Nicks WR North Carolina Nicks is a quality route runner with great body control and hands, and a nice ability to run after the catch -- qualities that might just mirror those of the guy he'll be asked to help replace -- Marvin Harrison. Nicks will likely be able to work as Peyton Manning's weapon opposite Reggie Wayne on opening day. -- PK 28. Brandon Pettigrew TE Oklahoma St. The Bills would have to take the best tight end in the draft if available. They're hurting at the position. Although they need an offensive lineman, a dangerous tight end would fill out their skill positions nicely. -- TG 29. Kenny Britt WR Rutgers Even if the Giants land Braylon Edwards by trade, there's a good chance they'll select a receiver. Britt is a No. 1 receiver in waiting. -- MM 30. Alphonso Smith CB Wake Forest Has the instincts, ball skills and smarts to play in the Titans' multiple defensive schemes effectively. He may not be tall or super fast, but he's got the game, brains and attitude to work well opposite Cortland Finnegan in a year when he's likely to inherit Nick Harper's job. -- PK 31. Donald Brown RB Connecticut Value matches need as the Cardinals, seeking more offensive balance, find their likely starter and successor to Edgerrin James. -- MS 32. Alex Mack C California Pittsburgh finally addresses its offensive line. Mack provides depth, competition and versatility in the interior to give the Steelers options for 2009. -- JW Key: KS (Kevin Seifert); MS (Mike Sando); BW (Bill Williamson); JW (James Walker); PK (Paul Kuharsky); TG (Tim Graham); MM (Matt Mosley); PY (Pat Yasinskas).