Feels very strange to have the NFL draft opening in midweek, and in prime time, but there it is. Round One is almost upon us, and the Rams are on the clock.

((And speaking of the Rams, they should take Suh, not Bradford. Defense first. Spags knows that. I wonder if all this QB talk is just a smokescreen? We’ll find out soon))

Very odd year for both my teams. I have no idea who the Jets or Giants will select. The Giants have pick #15 in the first round, and those mid-round picks are always hard to project. No way of telling who will still be on the board. Most mock drafts have the Giants going after a linebacker, ideally Roland McClain of Alabama, the consensus #1 LB. The G-Men certainly need a game-changing impact LB, and if McClain falls to them, I think they need to take him… but about half the mocks suggest that he will be gone by the time they pick, most likely to Denver at #11. If it falls out that way, I think it would be a mistake for the Giants to pick the second-best LB at #15. No other player at the position is worth that high a pick. If they must have a LB, and McClain is gone, they should trade down to the end of the round and pick up an extra pick or two.

Some recent reports have the Giants targeting the draft’s top running back, C.J. Spiller of Clemson. Spiller would certainly make an exciting addition to the offense… but I don’t think there’s much chance he will fall to 15, which means in all likelihood the G-Men would need to trade up to get him. Is he worth the price? I don’t know. Yes, it’s true, the Giants run game fell apart last season… but Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw were both playing with injuries that required post-season surgery, and rookie RB Andre Brown spent the whole year on injured reserve. If all three come back healthy, the Giants should have plenty of talent and depth at the RB position, so I’m not sure we need Spiller.

As for the Jets… things look even more confusing for Gang Green, who don’t pick until #29. Up until last month, most of the mock drafts had the Jets taking Notre Dame WR Golden Tate at that position, to give their passing attack a little punch. But then Mike Tannenbaum traded a fifth-round choice to the Steelers for Santonio Holmes and his four-game suspension. Once Holmes gets on the field besides Jericho Cotchery and Braylon “Oops” Edwards, the Jets should be set at wideout, so Tate no longer looks so likely.

After the trade, most draft gurus figured the Jets would go after a pass-rushing DE or LB sack artist. Despite the league’s $1 defense last season, they did not get many sacks. A real force off the edge could only make the D even better. Vernon Gholston, alas, has proved to be a bust. So another pass rusher seemed called for. Only then the Jets signed Jason Taylor away from the Dolphins (Jason Taylor! in Jets green!! the end is nigh!!!). Taylor should give them the disruption Rex wants on passing downs. So maybe they don’t need a sack artist now.

Which leaves them… where? I have no idea.

I think it may come down to “Best Player Available” for both my teams.

Can’t wait for tomorrow!

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