With draft approaching, here's a prediction of first 10 selections

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Tweet After weeks of NFL teams and analysts dissecting players based on their talent, potential and personality, the NFL Draft finally takes place Saturday. For months, mock drafts have been drawn up, erased and drawn up again, and I figured I might as well join the fun.

1. Oakland Raiders: quarterback JaMarcus Russell, LSU

It's too obvious: The Raiders need a quarterback, and Russell possesses the big arm that will keep Randy Moss and Jerry Porter happy. Well, he'll help anyway. Maybe.

2. Detroit Lions: defensive end Gaines Adams, Clemson

One way or another, the Lions are going to get out of the No. 2 slot, and Adams is the guy they want.

3. Cleveland Browns: quarterback Brady Quinn, Notre Dame

For some reason, Quinn wants to play for his hometown Browns, and when someone with Quinn's skills actually wants to play in Cleveland, the ownership better take him.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: wide receiver Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech

Whoever Tampa Bay's quarterback ends up being will be doing back flips at the thought of having the 6-foot-5 Johnson as his main target.

5. Arizona Cardinals: offensive tackle Joe Thomas, Wisconsin

There was a reason Edgerrin James struggled last year, and it wasn't because his skills have diminished. The Cardinals are set at the skill positions for years to come, and Thomas will help make Matt Leinart and Co. one of the premier offenses in the league.

6. Washington Redskins: defensive tackle Amobi Okoye, Louisville

The Redskins defense was just plain pitiful last year, struggling against both the run and pass. The 19-year-old, 6-foot-2, 302-pound Okoye will be a dominant run stopper for a long, long time.

7. Minnesota Vikings: safety LaRon Landry, LSU

Minnesota's rush defense was tops in the NFL last season, but its pass defense surrendered a horrendous 238 yards a game. The speedy and experienced Landry (he started all four years at LSU) will give the Vikings an athlete for the secondary.

8. Atlanta Falcons: offensive tackle Levi Brown, Penn State

They have other needs, but Brown is a good pick to provide more protection for Michael Vick when he decides to stay in the pocket.

9. Miami Dolphins: defensive end Jamaal Anderson, Arkansas

Teaming the athletic Anderson with 2006 Defensive Player of the Year Jason Taylor would give the Dolphins one of the premier pass rushes in the league.

10. Houston Texans: running back Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma

It's amazing that a player of Peterson's caliber would fall this far down on the draft board. Houston lucks out thanks to the earlier teams having solid running backs.

11. San Francisco 49ers: defensive end Adam Carriker, Nebraska

Let it be known: The Niners are back. The hard-nosed Carriker will fit into whatever defensive scheme coach Mike Nolan decides to run.

12. Buffalo Bills: linebacker Patrick Willis, Mississippi

The Bills have had a rough offseason, trading and/or losing their starting running back (Willis McGahee), a star cornerback (Nate Clements) and two linebackers (London Fletcher and Takeo Spikes). Buffalo wants an athletic linebacker, and Willis posted a 4.38 40-yard dash at his Pro Day.

13. St. Louis Rams: defensive tackle Alan Branch, Michigan

The Rams gave up a whopping 145 rushing yards per game last season. At 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds, Branch should clog up the middle.

14. Carolina Panthers: safety Reggie Nelson, Florida

Current safety Mike Minter is entering his 11th year. By taking Nelson, the Panthers would be grooming a young, athletic defensive backfield of Nelson and second-year safety Nate Salley.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers: linebacker Paul Posluszny, Penn State

The "Linebacker U" graduate will help fill the void left by Joey Porter's departure.

16. Green Bay Packers: wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr., Ohio State

The rumors were swirling this offseason about a possible Randy Moss trade to Green Bay. With Ginn, the Packers get a dynamite receiver without the character issues.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars: defensive end Jarvis Moss, Florida

Moss will give the Jaguars, who have been struggling with injuries at the defensive end position, a legitimate pass rusher.

18. Cincinnati Bengals: cornerback Leon Hall, Michigan

The Bengals' defense needs help now, and Hall is the most ready to play corner in the draft.

19. Tennessee Titans: wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett, USC

He's not a burner, and some even think he'll fall to the second round, but honestly, look at what he has accomplished. Jarrett will team up with Vince Young to form yet another young and exciting quarterback/wide receiver tandem.

20. New York Giants: running back Marshawn Lynch, California

The two back system is all the rage in the NFL right now, and Lynch will take Tiki Barber's place to team up with Brandon Jacobs.

21. Denver Broncos: offensive tackle Joe Staley, Central Michigan

The athletic Staley, a former tight end who ran a 4.8 40-yard dash, is the perfect fit for Denver's zone blocking scheme.

22. Dallas Cowboys: wide receiver Robert Meachem, Tennessee

Terry Glenn is getting older and T.O. is, well, T.O. In a toss-up between Meachem and LSU's Dwayne Bowe, Meachem gets the edge.

23. Kansas City Chiefs: cornerback Darrelle Revis, Pittsburgh

It's a bit of a stretch to think that Revis will fall this far down the board, but if he does, Kansas City will pounce on him.

24. New England Patriots: linebacker Jon Beason, Miami

The Patriots' linebackers are all getting up in years, and the hard-hitting Beason has experience at all three linebacker positions.

25. New York Jets: tight end Greg Olsen, Miami

The Jets need a tight end, and Olsen is hands-down the best in the draft.

26. Philadelphia Eagles: safety Michael Griffin, Texas

Griffin makes perfect sense, as Brian Dawkins is entering his 12th year while current strong safety Sean Considine is more suited to free safety.

27. New Orleans Saints: cornerback Aaron Ross, Texas

The Saints' cornerbacks are on the downside of their careers, which makes it a perfect time to select Ross.

28. New England Patriots: safety Brandon Meriweather, Miami

Rodney Harrison is getting older, and his retirement is creeping up on the Patriots. Until then, Meriweather can play all over the secondary.

29. Baltimore Ravens: offensive lineman Justin Blalock, Texas

The Ravens don't have any desperate needs anywhere, so they'll opt to shore up the offensive line with Blalock, one of the top guards in the draft.

30. San Diego Chargers: wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, LSU

LaDanian Tomlinson can't do it all — well, maybe he can. But, Philip Rivers needs a big-time wide receiver, and Bowe is the best one available.

31. Chicago Bears: wide receiver Sidney Rice, South Carolina

Rice possesses a ton of athletic ability and can immediately become a solid third receiver with great potential.

32. Indianapolis Colts: defensive tackle Justin Harrell, Tennessee

Until it miraculously appeared in the playoffs, the Colts' run defense was nonexistent. Harrell will be a welcome addition to the Super Bowl Champions.

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