Editor’s Note: War Room Report scout Matt Maccoy contributes his draft grades. Unlike other sites which give virtually every team the same grade, the War Room Report is not afraid to take a stand. Teams are ranked from 1-32.

Grade: A

1) Minnesota Vikings

• Positives: They drafted better per selection than any other team in the 2007 Draft and addressed their primary needs while doing so. Drafting RB Adrian Peterson in Round 1 was a great “value” pick and following that up with Sidney Rice in Round 2 will add an additional dynamic to the Minnesota offense. They then addressed their defense with a CB, Marcus McCauley and a DE, Brian Robinson at the most critical positions on their defense. Acquiring OLB Rufus Alexander in Round 6 was also a “steal”.
• Negatives: Negatives are few and far between with the Vikings. There is an element of volatility with their picks since Peterson has suffered several injuries in the past and their next three selections are classified as “raw” prospects, but the upside is undeniable.

2) Carolina Panthers

• Positives: Value picks everywhere down the Panthers draft class. They were savvy enough to trade down with the New York Jets 11 selections and still get the player they targeted all along LB Jon Beason. They then selected a WRR favorite in WR Dwayne Jarrett and also drafted one of the better C prospects in some time when they selected Ryan Kalil. They also selected DE Charles Johnson in Round 3 where it was excellent value, even though it wasn’t an area of need per say.
• Negatives: There were two areas of need in particular for the Carolina Panthers and that was at TE and S, and they addressed neither position. They did draft Dante Rosario in Round 5, but many view him as more of an H-back prospect, so it will be interesting if the Panthers utilize him. There are also rumors circulating that they have been shopping DT Kris Jenkins, and if they deal him at this point they will be thin at DT since they didn’t address that position with a draft pick.

3) Atlanta Falcons

• Positives: A team who all along the WRR thought would have an excellent draft did so indeed. They lost Patrick Kearney in the off-season so they addressed that position and selected DE Jamaal Anderson with the 8^th overall selection. They also had two second round picks since they traded backup QB Matt Schaub to the Houston Texans. They selected possibly the strongest player in the 2007 Draft in OT/OG Justin Blalock and then came back with an excellent pick in ultra-talented CB prospect Chris Houston. Selecting Laurent Robinson in Round 3 to bolster their wide receiving core as well as selecting OLB prospect Stephen Nicholas early on Day 2 were also excellent moves.
• Negatives: It was thought that new Head Coach Bobby Petrino was going to implement a new power running approach, but he did very little to show evidence to support this notion in the 2007 Draft. They did not select a power back ala Tony Hunt or Michael Bush, and only drafted one offensive line prospect. The move from a zone blocking scheme to a power game could be a slow process in Atlanta.

4) Detroit Lions

• Positives: The Lions resisted the urge to trade out of the 2^nd overall pick and stood pat and selected clearly the best prospect in the 2007 NFL Draft in WR Calvin Johnson. Johnson will become an immediate threat in the NFL. They selected QB Drew Stanton in Round 2, who is a solid QB prospect and did select their pass-rushing need with DE Ikaika Alama-Francis. Selecting CB AJ Davis and OG Manny Ramirez in Round 4 will also bolster this roster.
• Negatives: They traded up for S Gerald Alexander, and that may have given up a bit too much to make that move. Alexander is a solid prospect, but not one I would recommend trading up for. TE is still a position that is weak on this team, and was not addressed in the 2007 NFL Draft.

Grade: B+

5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Positives: A really solid draft class, just may not be spectacular. They addressed several needs beginning with DE Gaines Adams, who will add another pass rusher to a defense that has needed one desperately. They got a solid value pick with OG Arron Sears and selected SS Sabby Piscattelli who will fill an immediate need on this team. The Buccaneers succeed in selecting players who fit their scheme better than any other franchise. OLB Quincy Black, who was selected in Round 3, and CB Tanard Jackson, who was selected in Round 4, are great fits in this defense.
• Negatives: After the Tanard Jackson selection in Round 4, there is little else to get thrilled about if you’re a Buccaneers fan. This is a team who had many needs, and it would have been nice to see them draft some higher tier prospects as the draft proceeded in the late rounds. They really could have used another playmaker on offense, and did not get one in the 2007 NFL Draft.

6) Dallas Cowboys

• Positives: The Cowboys were very crafty in their maneuvering during the early portions of the 2007 NFL Draft. They traded out initially and acquire a possibly top 10 selection in the 2008 Draft from the Cleveland Browns, and then moved back in to the draft to select a player they had targeted from the beginning DE/OLB prospect Anthony Spencer. Teaming Spencer with DeMarcus Ware could be a great move by the Cowboys. They also addressed their depth along the offensive line by selecting OT prospects James Marten and Doug Free. Cowboy fans will have to wait until the 2008 NFL Draft to reap the rewards of their investment in the trade with the Browns, but it could be a significant reward.
• Negatives: Drafting Isaiah Stanback in round 4 may have raised some eyebrows. It is unsure at this point whether they are going to utilize him as QB in the future or transition him from QB to WR like they did with Patrick Crayton. The Cowboys didn’t necessarily have too many areas of need, but selecting a kicker followed by a fullback leaves something to be desired with their Day 2 selections.

7) San Fransisco 49ers

• Positives: The 49ers had a lot of momentum following a good off-season of free agent pick-ups and continued that into the 2007 NFL Draft. Selecting the best linebacker in this class Patrick Willis with the 11^th overall selection was an excellent move. They also helped solidify that offensive line when they selected OT Joe Staley late in Round 1. They addressed a position of desperate need WR when they selected Jason Hill in Round 3 and traded a 4^th round selection for Darrell Jackson, formerly of Seattle. Ray McDonald also represented great value at that selection for a 3-4 Defensive End.
• Negatives: The 49ers were another team that was jockeying for position during the 1^st Round of the 2007 NFL Draft. They traded away their 2008 1^st Round pick, but then later on was involved in a transaction with the Indianapolis Colts to garner their 1^st round selection next year. The difference in the two selections could be substantial however, since the Colts are one of the better teams in the league and the 49ers, who are making strides for sure, still have room to develop and could still have a pick in the early teens next season. They didn’t address their NT position, which was expected, and took a risk with the selection of CB Tarell Brown in Round 6 which could result in a solid player or nothing.

Grade: B

8 ) Cleveland Browns

• Positives: What the Cleveland Browns did in the 2007 NFL Draft was excellent, but the moves they made need to be treated with cautious optimism. They selected clearly the best OT in the draft Joe Thomas with the 3^rd overall selection and then in one of the more dramatic moves in 2007 NFL Draft traded up into the latter portion of Round 1, 22^nd pick overall to select hometown favorite QB Brady Quinn. Having Quinn and Thomas would have been a dream situation for Browns fans, so having completed these moves along with the move for CB Eric Wright, who is an ideal fit for the Browns, gives the Browns a solid ‘B’ grade.
• Negatives: The move for Brady will be one that we will be talking about for some time due to the impact it has on the Cleveland franchise, as well as the fact that they traded their 1^st round selection in 2008 to make this big splash, a pick that is very reasonably thought to be considered a potential top 10 selection, if not top 5. After their top 3 selections, the Browns did very little to improve this team in 2007.

9) New England Patriots

• Positives: When considering the New England Patriots draft, you have to also include possibly the biggest transaction of the weekend, when the Patriots sent a 4^th round selection to the Oakland Raiders for WR Randy Moss. The Patriots were viewed by many as the front-runner to hoist the Lombardi Trophy next season prior to this move, now they are a dominant favorite. They selected S Brandon Meriweather in Round 1 of the draft, who should give them the depth in the secondary that they needed, and an eventual replacement for Rodney Harrison. The Patriots also received the 49ers 1^st round selection so next season, so for the second off-season in a row, it is presumed that they will enter the NFL Draft with two 1^st round picks.
• Negatives: Having only one selection on Day One of the 2007 NFL Draft will give the class of the Patriots draft picks a lackluster look. There are several intriguing prospects, Kareem Brown, Corey Hilliard, and Oscar Lua, but it is conceivable that the Patriots don’t get anything out of the 2^nd day picks they made in the 2007 NFL Draft.

10) Arizona Cardinals

• Positives: The Cardinals came away with top prospects at the biggest area of needs for them. They selected OT Levi Brown with the 5^th overall selection to finally fill a need they have had for some time. According to several reports the Cardinals brass’ preferred Levi Brown over fellow OT prospect Joe Thomas. The Cardinals are also in a transition from a base 4-3 defense to 3-4 scheme and they moved up to the first selection in round 2 in order to nap the perfect prospect to fill their NT position Alan Branch. They also came back with a good “value” selection at ILB with Buster Davis in Round 3 and they got one of the steals in the 2007 NFL Draft when they selected TE prospect from the University of Delaware, Ben Patrick in Round 7.
• Negatives: The Cardinals only had 5 selections in the 2007 NFL Draft, so they still have several holes to fill, primarily on the defensive side of the ball. Steve Breaston will primarily be a kick returner for them, and that selection could have been better well spent on a prospect who could have a chance at playing on an every down basis.

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The AFC Grades are in:

Baltimore Ravens - The Ravens are usually one of the best drafting teams and again had a good draft, despite reaching in Round 2. Ben Grubbs was a solid pick in Round 1, but the player they really wanted, Joe Staley, was snatched directly in front of them. In Round 3, Yamon Figurs was a huge reach, based too much on the impact of Devin Hester last season. Figurs is only going to be able to contribute in the return game. The second Round 3 pick was strong with another versatile lineman in Marshall Yanda. Antwan Barnes will be used perfectly to rush the passer by the Ravens and could reach double digit sacks as a rookie if given playing time. Le’Ron McClain will likely start at FB and Prescott Burgess, despite a lack of speed, was a reasonable pick in the 6th round. Grade: B

Buffalo Bills - After seeing Patrick Willis snatched directly ahead of them, the Bills solved their running back problems with Marshawn Lynch, but surprisingly also selected Dwayne Wright in the 4th round. They made the correct move in trading up for Paul Posluszny in the 2nd. Posluszny can play either MLB or OLB and will be a Day One starter. Adding Trent Edwards was an interesting move for a team that already has J.P. Losman, but it was a reasonable pick in Round 3. The Bills did well at the end of the draft with John Wendling, Derek Schouman, and C.J. Ah You, 3 players who all should make the team. Interestingly enough for a team that needs CB help, they did not draft a single player at that position. Grade: C

Cincinnati Bengals - The Bengals were lucky enough to have one of the best values in Round 1 fall to them when Leon Hall made it to pick 18. Hall is not only a fine technician who should immediately start across from Jonathan Joseph, but he is a great character player that the Bengals could use. Kenny Irons was a bit perplexing in Round 2, as it appears the Bengals have tired of former 1st round pick Chris Perry. Marvin White could be a player and the Bengals need a future replacement for Dexter Jackson. The Bengals must be content with the linebacker position as they did not add draft any OLBs. Despite a terrific selection in Round 1, the Bengals only had an average draft. Grade: C

Cleveland Browns - The Browns are coming away as the big winner on most boards because of the addition of a franchise LT in Joe Thomas and a potential star in QB Brady Quinn. The cost for moving up to acquire Quinn was high, as the Browns sacrificed their 2008 first round pick in the trade up. The Browns need to see instant improvement in 2007 to make the trade worth it. If they land a top 3 pick again next year, they will have made a huge mistake. They made a good selection with CB Eric Wright at 53 overall, who was a first round talent that fell on character concerns. The rest of the draft was relatively tame, but Thomas and Quinn could potentially make the Browns big winners. Grade: A-

Denver Broncos - The Broncos may have made an unnecessary move up, but they coveted DE Jarvis Moss, who may only see the field as a pass rushing specialist as a rookie. DE Tim Crowder was an excellent pick at 56th overall, as was OT Ryan Harris, a prototypical zone blocking tackle, at 70. The Broncos moved up again to acquire DT Marcus Thomas, who could potentially be the best DT in the draft if he can alleviate any concerns about his off the field issues. On a talent basis, the Broncos had one of the strongest drafts, however off the field concerns and the price they had to pay for trading up twice downgrades their grade slightly. Grade: B-

Houston Texans - The Texans passed on the top CBs on the board in order to select one a strong value in Amobi Okoye. Okoye and Mario Williams could provide a long term difference on the defensive line. Jacoby Jones was selected to give Matt Schaub another target, but the raw player may not be ready to start at the beginning of the 07 season. There may have been better value at that pick. Fred Bennett was a solid pick at 123 and should see the field as a rookie. A pair of interesting offensive line prospects were added on Day 2, Virginia Tech OT Brandon Frye and OG Kasey Studdard of Texa. Studdard may be limited to just a back up role, but Frye could become a starter at some point. The high price the Texans paid for Matt Schaub has to be reflected in their grade. Grade: C-

Indianapolis Colts - As predicted, the Colts were in a tough spot in Round 1 with the potential Cover 2 linebackers off the board. Alan Branch would have made sense for them, but instead they go offense with WR Anthony Gonzalez who will play an important role as a slot receiver for Indianapolis. He really fits their system, though he may not have been the best value at 32. The Colts paid a high price - their 2008 1st round pick - in order to acquire OT Tony Ugoh, who does not fill a major need and will need development before being an NFL starter. Daymeion Hughes and Quinn Pitcock were good values in Round 3, and both could play in 2007. Hughes is an ideal fit for the Cover 2 system, and may compete with Kelvin Hayden and Tim Jennings for a starting job. The rest of the draft was not outstanding, though Michael Coe was a great pick in the 5th round. Grade: C-

Jacksonville Jaguars - The Jaguars made a very shrewd move in moving down with Denver and still acquiring the player they desired in S Reggie Nelson, who fits their system perfectly next to S Donovan Darius and will be an instant starter. They reached for LB Justin Durant in the 2nd round, but he has the ability to push Daryl Smith in 2007 and could eventually replace Mike Peterson at MLB. As predicted, they added Adam Podlesh who was a reasonable pick in the 4th round, and should take the punting job. They did very well on Day 2 adding a number of potential starters including S Josh Gattis, who could be the eventual replacement for Darius. Grade: B

Kansas City Chiefs - After neglecting the WR position in the draft for several seasons, the Chiefs passed on a potential difference maker along the offensive line in Joe Staley to select Dwayne Bowe. Bowe was not a poor pick but there was depth at the position and they may have been able to wait to select a WR. They did well to improve their interior defensive line with Turk McBride, more of a pass rushing DT, and the run stuffer Tank Tyler. If both players put forth the proper effort and remain consistent, they could start in the 2007 season. Kansas City did well on Day 2, adding a backup for Larry Johnson in Kolby Smith, a new place kicker in Justin Medlock, and an interesting TE prospect in Michael Allen. OT Herbert Taylor may be too undersized for the Chiefs scheme and could be moved to guard. Grade: B

Miami Dolphins: To the shock of many, the Dolphins passed on potential franchise QB Brady Quinn to select WR Ted Ginn Jr. While Ginn should have an immediate impact in the return game, at pick #9, the player needs to be outstanding and among the faces of your franchise. The Dolphins took John Beck in Round 2, but we are not high on Beck’s potential as an NFL starter. Samson Satele is a good player, but was not much of a value in Round 2 and does not fulfill a major need. Lorenzo Booker is a good change of pace back and a good value in the 3rd round, but again, does not fulfill a need. Paul Soliali was a good selection in the fourth for the nose tackle position. The rest of the Dolphins draft was reaches, save 7th rounder Kelvin Smith. Grade: D-

New England Patriots - The Patriots got an ideal fit in S Brandon Meriweather in the 1st round and good value in trading down with San Francisco for the 2nd of their Round 1 picks. The Pats got a solid player in Kareem Brown in the 4th round and also used a 4th rounder to acquire WR Randy Moss, who could really help the team. The round 6 and 7 picks are not inspiring. It is interesting that the Patriots did not add any significant competition at the ILB or CB spot, save late round picks. Grade: B-

New York Jets - The Jets decided that this draft would be about quality over quantity and added two impressive defensive pieces in CB Darrelle Revis and ILB David Harris. Both players will start in the 2007 season. Revis is instantly the best CB on the team and the thought of David Harris next to Jonathan Vilma should worry AFC running backs. The Jets did very well in Round 6 to acquire developmental tackle prospect Jacob Bender and a good value in the 7th with WR Chansi Stuckey. The Jets got two very good players, and that can not be ignored, but they paid a high price in trades. Grade: B

Oakland Raiders - Oakland took their potential franchise QB in JaMarcus Russell and if given time to develop, he could be the leader of their franchise. Zach Miller is a good player, but 38 may have been too high for him. The Round 3 picks of Quinton Moses, Mario Henderson, and Johnnie Lee Higgins give the Raiders 3 potential starters, and they made a terrific value pick with Michael Bush at pick 100. The rest of the draft was a typical Al Davis draft of taking measurables guys, including a major reach for CB John Bowie, a track star, at pick 110. Grade: C+

Pittsburgh Steelers - The Steelers showed that they want players that can transition from the 3-4 to the 4-3 that Mike Tomlin will eventually employ. Lawrence Timmons may have been a slight reach at 15, but he is a good player and should start immediately. Lamar Woodley is one of our favorite players in the draft, but he probably would have been available after pick 46 and may have trouble transitioning to the 3-4 OLB spot. Matt Spaeth was our 4th ranked TE, but the way some of the other TEs fell, he could have been available much later. The Steelers did well to get a good punter in Daniel Sepulveda in Round 4 and another versatile defender, Ryan McBean, who projects as a 3-4 DE or a 4-3 DT. Dallas Baker was a good addition in the 7th round. Grade: C+

San Diego Chargers - The Chargers reached for WR Craig Davis in Round 1. There were better receivers, including Sidney Rice, Dwayne Jarrett, Anthony Gonzalez, and Steve Smith on the board. Eric Weddle is a solid player, but the price the Chargers paid to move up was high, and pick 37 was too high for Weddle. The rest of the Chargers draft was typically strong. They selected great depth and possibly future starters at ILB in Anthony Waters and Brandon Siler, added a TE project in Scott Chandler, and another WR project in Legedu Naanee. Still, the early round reaches really downgrades their draft grade. Grade: D

Tennessee Titans - Michael Griffin was an odd pick for the Titans in Round 1. They are deep at safety and Griffin was a reach at that pick. They had two huge needs at WR and CB, yet passed on Dwayne Bowe, Robert Meacham, Aaron Ross, and Chris Houston. The Titans added a 3 WRs in the draft, but none project as instant starters and were all reaches. Chris Henry was a huge reach in the 2nd round - he is a workout warrior who averaged 3.5 yards a carry at Arizona. Antonio Johnson was a good pick in the 5th round and the Titans did well late in the draft adding situational pass rusher Jacob Ford and a solid offensive tackle prospect in Mike Otto. Still, the Titans will be entering the season with glaring needs at CB and WR. Grade: D

Let’s get right to the most relevant rumors as we lead up to the draft!

• ESPN’s Ed Werder reports that the Browns may actually try to trade up with the Raiders to secure the selection of JaMarcus Russell. The rumor is that the Browns will give up Braylon Edwards, the third overall pick in the 2005 draft, in order to move up. This would be a great deal for the Raiders, if it was indeed true, but it seems too outlandish to be accurate.
• There are many whispers that Lance Briggs could still be moved by the Chicago Bears. The Washington Redskins are the most likely destination. The Bears and Briggs are at odds, and if the Bears find a deal that they like, they will not hesitate to move him.
• Inside the League is reporting that the Texans may be trying to trade down with the Denver Broncos. The rumored trade would be the 21st and 56th picks exchanged for the 10th overall pick. That would not be a great deal on the part of the Texans - but if they can get a 2008 2nd round pick they may pull the trigger. The Texans would at least be able to add a WR and CB in the first two rounds this way. The Broncos would likely target Adam Carriker, Patrick Willis, or Amobi Okoye. The trade is not likely to happen until the Texans are on the clock. If Willis is available, I see a trade as very likely. [UPDATE: Adam Schefter, who is well connected in Denver, reports that there have been no talks in regards to this trade. While that seems unlikely - he might be saying what the Broncos want, it appears likely that another site posted a deal as “done” before it was]
• There is increasing rumors that Patrick Willis is a wanted man - Buffalo and San Francisco are apparently both on the Ole Miss MLB, with Denver (as mentioned above) a suitor if they can work in front of those teams.

Here are the latest rumors as we approach the draft. Hard to separate fact from fiction this time of year.

• New England is in love with MLB David Harris of Michigan and would like to select him in Round 1. Denver also has some interest in Harris who now appears likely to go in Round 1.
• Don Banks of SI.com reports that Adrian Peterson re-injured his collar bone in the Fiesta Bowl. If true - Peterson rushed for a TD on his final collegiate carry, the news may help Peterson slide past #3 and could present a situation where Green Bay or Buffalo trade up for the talented rusher.
• Banks also reports that Atlanta is very interested in moving up for Calvin Johnson, something that the War Room Report speculated on almost immediately after the Matt Schaub trade. It could still happen, but Atlanta should get a good value pick if they stay at #8.
• In an update to yesterday’s column regarding the third QB taken, Adam Schefter chimes in with a suggestion that Kevin Kolb could be the third QB taken.
• Schefter also reports that San Francisco could be targeting Patrick Willis - a player they coached in the Senior Bowl. We still think, as we have for months, that Adam Carriker makes more sense there.

Stay tuned to the War Room Report for the latest draft updates!

The rumor mill is still cranking. Who is moving up and down the draft boards?

Darrelle Revis, CB, Pitt - As predicted earlier today in the Hot Reads feature by WRR writer Matt MacCoy, there are now whispers that Revis could be the first corner off the board, possibly as early as 7th.

Jarvis Moss, DE/OLB, Florida - If Moss gets past Denver at #21 and the Jets at #25, Moss could easily slide out of Round One. There are concerns that he lacks the bulk to play DE every down after a poor workout in terms of his bench press reps.

Lawrence Timmons, OLB, Florida State - Timmons is a wanted man in the middle of the draft. He appears to be a likely target for Pittsburgh at #15, the Giants at #20, and the Broncos at #21.

Green Bay trading down? Packers GM Ted Thompson loves to trade down to acquire additional picks and mentioned yesterday that two teams have already called about the pick. The Packers have been projected to take Marshawn Lynch in virtually every mock draft, but the pick is far from a certainty. They may be tempted to move down if the offer is strong.

As the draft approaches, the draft rumor mill is in full swing. Many of the rumors this time of year can be taken with a grain of salt. Yahoo Sports points out some of the more ludicrous rumors of recent years, including the rumor that Kevin Hardy had a broken neck that broke just days before the draft in 1996. Below are some of the rumors we are hearing and our take on them.

Adam Schefter of the NFL Network is speculating that Adrian Peterson could be a player that falls. In fact, if he gets past Cleveland at #3, he could go all the way to #10 with Houston. The Bucs have Cadillac Williams, Arizona has a large investment in Edgerrin James, and Washington has two strong RBs. Minnesota is projected to take Peterson in some mock drafts, but after the investment they made in Chester Taylor last season and the huge needs they have at CB and WR, it would be a foolish move. Atlanta could certainly consider Peterson if he is there. The Falcons do not have a running back to fit Bobby Petrino’s system and Peterson would certainly be interesting there. Miami is unlikely to take a QB, which would potentially put Houston in the position to auction off #10 to Buffalo (#12), Green Bay (#16), or Tennessee (#19).

A casual mention in the Denver Post of a possible trade up by the Broncos has garnered a lot of attention. The article states that Denver offered #21, #56, #86, plus their first rounder in 08 for the #2 pick currently owned by the Lions, provided that Calvin Johnson is still on the board at #2. While this sounds good, it still may not be enough. Plus, Denver is more likely to target other players - potentially Patrick Willis or Amobi Okoye, than Johnson.

Lance Briggs trade rumors still persist. The latest rumor is that the Tampa Bay Bucs are interested in the disgruntled Bears OLB. The reliable Adam Schefter reports the rumor, but it seems very unlikely. The Bucs already have a pair of weakside Tampa 2 OLBs in Cato June and Derrick Brooks. The Bucs trading for Briggs makes even less sense than the rumored Redskins deal for Briggs. It just goes to show that the rumor mill can get out of control this time of year.

Stay tuned to the War Room Report Blog for the latest NFL Draft Rumors and be sure to check out our seven round 2007 NFL Mock Draft.

The 2007 NFL Draft is fast approaching and this year could see an unprecedented number of trades. The needs of the teams at the top of the draft do not line up with the value of the players available. In addition, several of the top teams have multiple needs and few picks, so it would make sense for them to trade down.

Teams likely to trade down:

Detroit Lions - The Lions are likely to see Calvin Johnson on the board, but after recently spending 3 first rounders on WRs, with only Roy Williams to show for it, the Lions will be hesitant to pull the trigger. They need a player to pressure the QB to make the Tampa 2 scheme work and are reportedly in love with Gaines Adams. They should find no shortage of suitors for the pick, particularly if Johnson is available.

Washington Redskins - The Redskins have already tried to move out of this spot. The best move for the team, particularly if Adams is gone, would be to trade down to replace some of the picks they have lost in other trades. The Skins do not have a pick in rounds 2-4 and trading down slightly would help a team with several needs replace those needs and build for the future.

Minnesota Vikings - One of the best examples of a team whose needs do not fit the draft slot. The Vikings desperately need to add a cornerback or a wide receiver, but pick 7 is probably too high for Leon Hall or Ted Ginn. The Vikings would easily be able to make a trade out of the 7 spot if LaRon Landry was available.

Houston Texans - The Texans, like the Redskins, have a number of needs but not the necessary amount of picks to fill the spots. They traded their 2nd rounder in the Matt Schaub deal. Like the Vikings, they need to add a CB or a WR most of all, but may be better served by moving down slightly and targetting those two positions in the first 2 rounds.

Teams most likely to trade up:

Tampa Bay Bucs - The Bucs want Calvin Johnson and have the ammunition to make a move. Though it seems unlikely they will pay the price that Yahoo Sports has suggested (basically all of their picks) to move up to the #1 slot, if Oakland takes Russell, look for Tampa to move up to the #2 slot to add Johnson.

Atlanta Falcons - The Falcons may want Calvin Johnson too and the Lions may be able to start a bidding war. The Falcons, thanks to the Matt Schaub trade, have the ammo to move up to #2. If the Falcons decide they want Joe Thomas or LaRon Landry, they may choose to move up slightly to acquire one of those two players.

Denver Broncos - The Broncos have been very active in free agency and Mike Shanahan seems to think this team is ready to compete for the Super Bowl this year under second year QB Jay Cutler. The Broncos do not have a lot of needs, but the release of Al Wilson may make them players for Patrick Willis. The public statements that D.J. Williams will move to the MIKE linebacker spot could be a smokescreen from the calculating Shanahan.

The agent for Al Wilson has indicated that the Denver Broncos are shopping the Pro Bowl middle linebacker, with the Lions, Giants, and Eagles having interest. All three teams need linebackers. If the Giants completed the deal, expect Antonio Pierce to move to the weakside.

The Broncos would likely move D.J. Williams to the middle and would probably draft a replacement for Williams on the outside.

The Broncos need help on the defensive front, particularly at tackle. The Lions could send franchise player Cory Redding to the Broncos, especially if he can rework his deal. The Eagles have an assortment of talented young linemen, and recently signed another DT, Monte Reagor, which would allow them to trade a player like Mike Patterson or Trent Cole.

The strength of the Giants is probably at defensive end. Mathis Kiwanuka could be a target for Denver.

Of course, Mike Shanahan could be looking to acquire addition draft picks in order to move up and select Joe Thomas or Calvin Johnson.

• Denver Broncos added tight end Daniel Graham from New England. Graham signed a five year, $30 million deal, with $15 million dollars guaranteed. It seems like a huge amount of money for a “block first” tight end on a team that already has a promising weapon at TE, Tony Scheffler, but the Broncos do run the two TE Set often, and appear to be really gunning up for a 2007 playoff run.
• Desperate times call for desperate measures. The Minnesota Vikings, who currently have first round bust Troy Williamson at the top of the depth chart, signed Bobby Wade of the Titans. Wade had 33 catches last year for Tennessee. The Titans have now lost two WR, at what was already a weak position. They will definitely be looking for a weapon early in the draft.
• In draft news, we are hearing rumors that the Raiders were less than impressed with JaMarcus Russell’s attitude at the combine. He showed up overweight and told teams that “he would lose it in a few weeks”. Troy Smith also showed up a few pounds heavy, but seemed more remorseful about it. Russell is still the favorite to go #1, but do not discount Calvin Johnson’s chance.

After shipping starter Tatum Bell to the Lions, the Denver Broncos have filled the void with Travis Henry, who was cut by Tennessee. Henry should be very productive as the starter for the Broncos, who will pay him $12 million dollars in guarantees over a five year contract.

This is a great move by Denver and is likely to cause several of the other free agent running backs to fall into place.

(Source: ESPN.com)

• The Washington Redskins were back at it, signing FAs London Fletcher-Baker and Fred Smoot. Some analysts were celebrating their “restraint” but investing in a 32 year old middle linebacker does not seem like the right move for a team that is not a Super Bowl contender. As Justin Davis of the WRR asked about Fred Smoot - “Is it possible for the same team to overpay a player twice?”.
• Seattle is aggressively pursuing free agents Patrick Kearny and Daniel Graham. Denver is also on both players, but it is reported that Seattle is offering more money to both. Seattle does not have a Round 1 pick (shipped to New England in the Deion Branch deal), but if they do not acquire Kearney, they could look to select a player from the deep defensive end class in Round 2 of the draft. The latest WRR 2007 NFL Mock Draft has Seattle taking an interior defensive lineman in Round 2.
• Brady Quinn worked out on Saturday at Notre Dame’s pro day. Quinn did not run, choosing only to do passing drills. He indicated that he will run at the 2nd Notre Dame Pro Day. Interesting to note that while Minnesota, Houston, and Cleveland had a large number of decision makers present, Matt Millen of the Lions was absent. (Source: ESPN.com)
• An underrated signing could be Cleveland signing former Redskin and Jaguar CB Kenny Wright. While Wright is not exceptional, it may free up the Browns to focus on other positions of need, like offensive line, in the draft.
• The offensive line building continues - Dallas signs Leonard Davis to a big contract, Arizona is hosting seemingly every FA offensive lineman, and Washington is trying to sign Luke Pettigout. It is going to be very interesting to see what happens to salaries once “marquee” players become available.

Regarding the earlier post about the Jake Plummer trade,  NFL Network’s Adam Shefter reports that Plummer has decided to retire instead of being traded to the Bucs.

Stay tuned!