Mock Draft Picks 1-6

Here is the first installment of my Round 1 mock draft. The first six picks, without predicting trades. Final pick is in BOLD

1. Houston Texans
The needs this team has to fill are at offensive tackle and at defensive end. The offensive line has been one of the worst year in and year out. Maybe if they can keep Carr on his feet, they can find out if there is any talent on offense. The defense is making the switch from the 3-4 to the 4-3. That means they need quality DE's to rush the passer.

Both of the these needs suggest that the pick is either; DE Mario Williams or OT D'Brickashaw Ferguseon. HOWeva (channeling Stephen A. Smith) the pick is going to be Reggie Bush, the consensus number 1 pick in this year. You all know my feelings on Bush and his future in the NFL, but I'm not making this pick. The smart thing to do would be to trade down and take D'Brickashaw and fill a hole that should have been filled years ago.

2. New Orleans Saints
With the signing of Drew Brees the Saints don't need to fill the hole at QB, this means they could go any number of directions with this pick. This is another spot where it makes sense for the team to trade out. Only because I don't think that the Saints can make a value pick at this spot. DE isn't a need, with Charles Grant and Will Smith on the roster, but I was always told that you don't draft for need in the first round. So the pick ends up being Mario Williams, the best player on the board.

With Williams, the Saints get depth at End and a guy who compares to Julius Peppers. Whether or not Williams ends up being that guy remains to be seen.

3. Tennessee Titans
The Titans have locked the door on veteran Steve McNair, which means that oft injured Billy Volek is the starting QB for the time being. The pick that makes the most sense is Matt Leinart, especially with former USC offensive Coordinator, Norm Chow, now running the offense in Tenn. Leinart is the most polished QB out of the top three and would probably be starting by the middle of the season.

Don't be surprised if the Titans go after A.J. Hawk in this spot to fill a big hole in the middle of their defense. After all Leinart may not be there at 3 and I don't know how sold the Titans are on Vince Young or Cutler.

4. N.Y. Jets
This team is on the downside and it doesn't look like its getting better anytime soon. Assuming that Leinart is off the board the pick is D'Brickashaw Ferguson. The Jets line is old and injured and Ferguson will go along way to protecting either Penington or Patrick Ramsey's backside.

5. Green Bay Packers
Lock this pick in if he's still there, A.J. Hawk. Hawk will line up outside and be a menace in the NFC North for a decade. Hawk may be the safest pick in this years draft. Solid pick for the Pack, even though they will still suck next year, (Sorry Andy)

6. San Francisco 49ers
Really a bad team with tons of holes, most of those holes can't be filled at this spot with value. I assume they don't want to give up on Alex Smith yet, so Vince Young is out. The team might lean towards an offensive weapon that would benefit Smith, like TE Vernon Davis. I personally aren't that high on him, nor do I think that the 49ers would be best served taking him here. I think the pick here is S Michael Huff . Huff can fill a hole at either safety or at CB. And would remind some in Frisco of a young Ronnie Lott (alright, that's a stretch).

that's it for now, tune in tomorrow for Picks 7-12.