what would be best for us...
Texas QB Vince Young and/or Notre Dame's Brady Quinn declare...so we are in position to draft them, which mean we can attract an offer from another team, in need of a QB, who wants to trade up (Baltimore, Detroit)--I think the extra draft picks would help us out extremely.
Here's my top guys assuming we keep the #5 pick, in no serious order...
1. LB AJ Hawk, Ohio State
--Be wary of Tennessee at #3, I think they would go through and pick Hawk, but if we get a shot at him, do it--our defense would start to have some intensity, we already have Nick Collins, Hawk would make our defense's potential that much greater, and I'm in support of moving Barnett to the outside if Hawk is selected. However don't sweat it, if AJ is off of the board for us there are plenty of LB's available in this draft.
2. DE Mario Williams NC State / DE Mathias Kiwanuka, Boston College
--This is a tough choice, both defensive end prospects have high upsides, but they also have concerns entering the league--Mario has the ideal size, but lacks speed and quickness off the ball, Kiwi is as quick as can be, but at 260-265, he needs some weight. I'd like to wait for the combine before I'd determine which guy I want, I'll take Mario Williams, not witout some hesitation.
3. DT Haloti Ngata, Oregon
--I've been raving about this guy since this time last year. 6'5 340, and so quick at that size that Oregon has used him in coverage before, has the potential to be the guy that we need to draw double teams on every play (because I assume we lose Grady Jackson). He has the potential to be a run stopping force, as well as a threat to sack the QB from the interior line--Colin Cole, Cullen Jenkins, Corey Williams, they're GOOD at DT, but not GREAT, we need a guy who I believe can make the entire defensive line better the moment he steps on the field, and Ngata is it. Another reason I select Ngata over another d-lineman is, I would love to see Mike Montgomery get a shot to start opposite Kampman.
4. CB/S Jimmy Williams, VA Tech
--Fact, Al Harris is on the wrong side of 30, Fact, Ahmad Carroll still isn't setting the world on fire, Fact, NFL recievers are becoming too damn big--Williams at 6'3 could step in and solidify this position, or, he could also solidify free safety, making for a very potent tandem of Collins and Williams...Williams' ball skills are always talked about, we lack someone who can cause turnovers, specifically by picking passes off.
5. OT D'Brickshaw Ferguson, Virginia
--I view the first four picks as a crap shoot. A lot of needs for those teams, maybe this big fella falls to us. It will be interesting to see what Thompson does if he is on the board, you know how Thompson feels about drafting for value. Perhaps picking Ferguson would mean we would discard "False Start" Clifton. -OR- If Ferguson is still on the board at #5, I see some teams lining up to try and trade up and select possibly the best OT prospect since Orlando Pace, as some regard him.
6. RB Laurence Maroney, Minnesota / RB Deangelo Williams, Memphis
--I have no deep knowledge of these guys--I saw Maroney one game this season, during which he was on his back on the grass at State College for most of the afternoon; I wanted to catch Memphis' bowl game but, well, didn't. I know a lot of guys on here say select a running back, I say go with Gado for now and ALSO try to draft Lendale White, who might be on the board when we draft in the 2nd round, or sign a free agent.
With the 5th overall pick, surrogate Packer GM JW084 selects, from the University of Oregon, DT Haloti Ngata