Now that the Colts have paraded around Indianapolis with the Vince Lombardi trophy there are a couple of things to look forward to: the NBA All-Star game, Daytona 500, countdown to pitchers and catchers (eight days, 19 hours), conference tournaments and March Madness. But why leave the gridiron so soon? No, I’m not going to waste all of our time writing about the Pro Bowl, which is about as useless as boobs on a nun, but it’s time to start looking at the NFL Draft, which takes place April 28 and 29.
This is the first of I’m sure many Mock Drafts from The Phanatic, but it’s never too early to start thinking about next season. A coin flip between Tampa Bay and Cleveland will determine who gets the third and fourth picks.
1) Oakland Raiders (2-14) – QB JaMarcus Russell – LSU - New head coach Lane Kiffin needs to rebuild the offense since the defense kept them in a game or two. Russell had a fantastic season and tore apart Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl on a national stage. He’s got size (6-6, 260) and he can make plays with his legs. However, the arm strength is what has scouts salivating. He may not be the safest pick, but Aaron Brooks couldn’t stay on his feet long enough to get the ball to Calvin Johnson.
2) Detroit Lions (3-13) – QB – Brady Quinn – Notre Dame – While Jon Kitna may be good for the not too distant future the Lions are in desperate need for someone to lead their offense. Charlie Weis has Brady Quinn ready for the NFL game, and he’s got the size and smarts to lead the Lions out of the dungeon.
