Line of Scrimmage: Mock Draft - Raiders Have To Take Russell

Football Betting Lines

04/18/2007 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Feel free to gush about Calvin Johnson.

Talk excitedly about his 6-foot-5, 239-pound frame, his incredible 4.37 speed, his impressive reserves of character and refreshing humility.

Just don't call the Oakland Raiders fools when they pass on the Georgia Tech wide receiver on April 28th. Anyone with a working knowledge of draft history knows that forgoing JaMarcus Russell - the consensus choice as the top quarterback in this year's class - in order to crown a pass-catcher as team savior is not nearly worth the risk.

Since the AFL/NFL merger, only two receivers - Keyshawn Johnson in 1996 and Irving Fryar in 1984 - have gone number one overall.

Though a solid pro, Johnson has been a 1,000-yard receiver in only four of his 11 NFL seasons.

Fryar was more than serviceable in his nine years with New England, but was a more effective player while with the Dolphins and Eagles later in his career.

Neither was the dominant, franchise-altering player that a team holding the No. 1 selection expects to draft at noon on selection Saturday.

And since 1996, when the Jets took Keyshawn, only one other wideout has been selected with one of the top two picks. Hey, what's Charles Rogers doing these days, anyway?

Not that picking a quarterback guarantees immediate success either. In the past 25 years or so, there have been great No. 1 signal-callers (John Elway, Troy Aikman, Peyton Manning), pretty good No. 1s (Vinny Testaverde, Drew Bledsoe, Michael Vick, Carson Palmer), disappointing No. 1s (Jeff George, Tim Couch, David Carr), and a couple of No. 1s for whom the jury is still out (Eli Manning, Alex Smith).

There is not now nor will there ever be a sure thing at No. 1, and the high profile with which that player is saddled by virtue of his top selection will always make it an uncomfortable situation for the team doing the choosing.

If the Raiders take Russell and he does a Couch-like face-plant, the organization will have to answer for the pick for decades. But what must be acknowledged at this moment is that the strong-armed LSU quarterback at least possesses the potential to alter the landscape of the Oakland franchise for the better. That potential should mean everything to Al Davis, Lane Kiffin, and the Silver and Black brain trust.

Calvin Johnson may be the best wide receiver the NFL Draft has ever seen, but as a wide receiver, is he worth the number one pick?

If you're a student of history, you know he's not.

The Sportsbook Betting Lines's updated 2007 mock draft is below:

1 - Raiders - JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU Physical talents are simply too enticing for Oakland to pass up.

2 - Lions - Joe Thomas, T, Wisconsin Matt Millen is looking to trade down, but would help his offense immensely by taking Thomas. 3 - Browns - Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma Some think they'll take Brady Quinn, but such a move would effectively sign Romeo Crennel's walking papers.

4 - Buccaneers - Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech One of the league's worst offenses just found a much-needed playmaker.

5 - Cardinals - Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson Figures to be a menace in the desert, especially if Bertrand Berry is healthy on the other side.

6 - Redskins - LaRon Landry, S, LSU Skins need help in a number of areas, the secondary primary among them.

7 - Vikings - Levi Brown, T, Penn State Brady Quinn might be available, but selecting him would be acknowledgment that last year's Tarvaris Jackson pick was a mistake.

8 - Falcons - Alan Branch, DT, Michigan Branch would offer strength to a front seven that has been soft against the run.

9 - Dolphins - Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame Cam Cameron can afford to bring Quinn along slowly, probably as the backup to Trent Green.

10 - Texans - Leon Hall, CB, Michigan Houston has long lacked secondary playmakers, and Hall is the best corner in the draft.

11 - 49ers - Ted Ginn, Jr., WR, Ohio State Does not project as an 80-catch guy right away, but his versatility will keep opposing defenses guessing.

12 - Bills - Patrick Willis, LB, Ole Miss With London Fletcher-Baker and Takeo Spikes now wearing different uniforms, the Bills have a particular need for a linebacker.

13 - Rams - Amobi Akoye, DT, Louisville 19-year-old prodigy projects as a longtime staple of a currently-soft defense.

14 - Panthers - Jon Beason, OLB, Miami-Florida LB was a trouble spot for underachieving Carolina defense a year ago.

15 - Steelers - Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas At 284 pounds, he can play end in either Dick LeBeau's 3-4 or Mike Tomlin's 4-3.

16 - Packers - Marshawn Lynch, RB, Cal Difficult to envision Vernand Morency being Pack's every-down running back.

17 - Jaguars - Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska Reggie Hayward's injury problems give Jags a major need coming off the edge.

18 - Bengals - Greg Olsen, TE, Miami-Florida Pass-catching tight end would offer a different dimension to Cincinnati offense, and Chris Henry suspension creates a need for another target.

19 - Titans - Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee Titans have equal need for a wideout and a cornerback, and will have their pick of several good ones at each position.

20 - Giants - Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh Tom Coughlin is perpetually searching for secondary reinforcements.

21 - Broncos - Jarvis Moss, DE, Florida After losing out on free agent Patrick Kerney, Denver will target end help on the first day.

22 - Cowboys - Dwayne Bowe, WR, LSU With Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn nearing the end, Dallas must think about its future at wideout.

23 - Chiefs - Aaron Ross, CB, Texas Aging Kansas City secondary needs an infusion of youth.

24 - Patriots - Lawrence Timmons, LB, Florida State Pats must identify Tedy Bruschi's potential successor on the first day.

25 - Jets - Brandon Meriweather, S, Miami-Florida Jets also need a cornerback, pass-rushing linebacker, and tight end, but would get better value by taking Meriweather at No. 25.

26 - Eagles - Michael Griffin, S, Texas Best strong safety in the draft fills Birds' most significant hole.

27 - Saints - Joe Staley, T, Central Michigan New Orleans o-line overachieved last year and requires some depth.

28 - Patriots - Reggie Nelson, S, Florida New England can't ignore its constant secondary problems.

29 - Ravens - Ben Grubbs, G, Auburn Might also take a look at an outside linebacker to replace Adalius Thomas, but would do well to grab a run-blocking lineman for Willis McGahee.

30 - Chargers - Justin Blalock, G, Texas Another guy to block for LaDainian Tomlinson and protect Philip Rivers.

31 - Bears - Paul Posluszny, LB, Penn State With the status of disgruntled Lance Briggs still unknown, Posluszny could start immediately next to Brian Urlacher.

32 - Colts - Justin Harrell, DT, Tennessee Indy won't forget how bad its run defense was during the 2006 regular season.