LKelley67

i study this stuff way too much i know but i have come up with a list i feel very confident about. after long analysis these are the players and the latest these players will be available in all probability, that is the lowest i think they can fall. thing is, it is as things stand now. niners sign garcia, bolts trade for howard, or the titans trade down then it all needs adjusting. anyhoo, here is the latest-

5th (TB) Cedric Benson RB and one of the two Auburn RBs
6th (TN) Derrick Johnson LB
7th (OAK) the remaining Auburn RB
8th (AZ) Aaron Rodgers QB and Alex Smith QB
9th (WAS) Braylon Edwards WR and Mike Williams WR
12th (SD) Erasmus James DE and Dan Cody DE
13th (TX) Alex Barron OT
14th (CAR) Jammal Brown OT
15th (KC) Antrelle Rolle CB and Pacman Jones CB

This list totals 14 players. That leaves one more to be picked before NO. It is a wild card the top candidate list to me would be- Mark Clayton, Troy Williamson, Heath Miller, Thomas Davis, Carlos Rogers, Justin Miller, David Pollack, Marcus Spears, or Shawne Merriman. The needs are greatest at DE so I would guess it would be one of the last three listed. This leaves Travis Johnson DT a sure thing for the Saints or probably Thomas Davis the Georgia SS/LB tweener. Reversing the fall list would show the likelihood of someone falling to the 16 spot (as Smith last year). That would be one of the top 2 CBs (a position deep enough for a good #2 NO pick) or big Jammal Brown (who I would be happy to see picked). A major free agent QB signing by any team from pick 8 ARZ upward could make Alex Smith being available a real possibility at 16.