Rob Rang

The Falcons are on the clock and word I've heard is that they're split on CB Darius Butler and DTs Ziggy Hood and Peria Jerry.

I believe the pick will be Hood, whose size and work ethic impressed the Falcons' staff.

A couple of quick picks have me playing catch-up on the blog.

The Browns decided to actually make a pick and went with Cal center/guard Alex Mack, who has the size, strength and versatility to compete against the physical defenses in the AFC North. Mack is a safe pick, but is a bit anticlimatic considering the high profile names and the repeated trade backs. Still, games in this division are won in the trenches and this move improves Cleveland there.

As I reported on the blog last night, Percy Harvin had been jumping up draft boards over the past few days and goes to the Vikings 22nd overall. His agility and speed make a great deal of sense for an offense needing an infusion of playmakers at receiver and returner. It is a surprising move considering the Vikings preference for high character players after the Loveboat scandal a few years ago...

The Patriots traded back with the Baltimore Ravens, who selected Mississippi OT Michael Oher, a top ten talent who slipped to this point in the draft because teams are so overcome with the concerns about his personality. Ozzie Newsome once again shows why he's one of the NFL's best, aggressively moving up to get a player than should have been taken a long time before.

Earlier today I was asked to compare Jeremy Maclin to an NFL receiver and I described him as a better version of Philadelphia's DeSean Jackson... Looks like we'll see how that comparison holds up, with the Eagles taking the versatile playmaker in a trade up.

The Lions are now on the clock and are in position to take the OT Michael Oher, if they'd like. The Lions are also in real need of a DT, so watch out for Peria Jerry or Ziggy Hood. The ILB Maualuga makes a great deal of sense, as well... ILB might be the team's biggest area of weakness, but teams are up and down on Maualuga, whose off-field concerns are significant.

Instead the Lions take Brandon Pettigrew, who gives the Lions an immediate target over the middle and a stout, physical presence as a blocker in the running game...

Perhaps I should have listened to my own advice. Most of my "safe" picks are flying off the board right now, whereas potential character concerns (Oher, Maualuga, Harvin, etc) are slipping...

The Browns -- AGAIN -- are on the clock and should consider Beanie Wells at this spot. Just too much talent at this point.

Had to run to do another radio spot, but am back... The Broncos added a pass rusher, but not one of the USC linebackers I had mentioned. Tennessee's Robert Ayers is an interesting player, whose inconsistency throughout his career I find a bit disturbing. There is no denying his upside, however, and he fills a clear area of need for the Broncos.

The Browns have played the board beautifully so far and have three players available to them at #19 that many would have thought they'd consider at #5 -- WR Jeremy Maclin, RB Beanie Wells, and OT Michael Oher -- who is the unofficial "winner" of the last man standing in the Green Room...

The Browns are moving down again and the Eagles are now on the clock. This could be the RB, Wells... 

The Bucs moved up and got the player Tampa coach probably knows best in this draft -- QB Josh Freeman.

The Broncos are on the clock and could be looking at the pass rushers and linebackers here necessary for making the transition to the 3-4. Watch out for a pair of Trojans, ILB Rey Maualuga or OLB Brian Cushing.

The Texans chose a USC linebacker as had been long projected. Cushing gives the club immediate flexibility, and more importantly, size at the outside linebacker position.

The Chargers, as they have consistently done to me, made the first pick of players I did not project in the first round. English has good burst off the snap as a defensive end, but will obviously be making the transition to the 3-4 rush linebacker position for the Chargers.

English was impressive at the Senior Bowl, but was never placed back in space while in Mobile, something I would have liked to have seen...

The Cleveland Browns are now on the clock and I believe are going to take WR Jeremy Maclin with this pick. RB Beanie Wells and OT Michael Oher makes sense, as well, but Maclin is the best player available and has the speed to compliment (or replace) Braylon Edwards.

I like this pick for the Saints. Jenkins can play the cornerback position. Like Moreno a few picks before, I don't care what he runs in shorts, the kid can flat play football. I like the move for the Saints in particular, because Jenkins has the ability to play free safety, as well. Had he been graded strictly as a free safety, he would have been universally viewed as a 1st round pick and the elite prospect at that position.

The Texans are now up. They have clear needs at linebacker and have long been rumored to like both Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews... Each makes sense here, with Cushing being the safer pick.

As it turns out, Brian Orakpo's final team visit was the one that mattered most, as he ends up with the Redskins. A good move for a club looking to add a pass rusher next to free agent signee Albert Haynesworth.

The Denver pick was the bigger surprise. Funny, months ago I was told that the Broncos liked Moreno, but really thought that they'd address their running back needs later in the draft. That said, I love Moreno and thought that he was among the more underrated prospects in this draft. Forget the 40 time on Moreno. He's a star and if he had a decent QB behind him, I'd already proclaim him to be the favorite to be the offensive rookie of the year. I'm that sold on him...

The New Orleans Saints are on the clock.

They could use help on the defensive side of the ball and will also consider a RB in Beanie Wells.

I see the possibilities as:

A. Brian Cushing, OLB, USC
B. Malcolm Jenkins, CB/FS, Ohio State
C. Clay Matthews, OLB, USC
D. Beanie Wells, RB, Ohio State

I've consistently projected Brian Cushing here because I thinkthe Saints are higher on him, but if it was me making the pick, I'd take Malcolm Jenkins.