2012 NFL Draft - Underrated Draft Picks

Once the 2012 NFL Draft started, it went by in a hurry. The first-round finished in about three hours, which is less than half of the time it took just three years ago. The picks were coming in faster than a commissioner's hug and the trades were flowing like water. The top of the draft went as planned, but my mock draft barely survived the early surprise picks (Bruce Irvin). The chain reaction caused a few top prospects to fall deep into the draft.

A lot of quality players were taken later in the draft, which is where a team's scouting department earns their money. The first few rounds have a greater percentage of sticking in the league, but the later rounds is where championship are won. Every Super Bowl team has a few guys like Donald Driver, Tom Brady, or Marques Colston, who were picked in the last two rounds of the NFL draft. Who were the steals in the 2012 NFL Draft? A few of these picks might surprise you, because there were a lot of smart draft picks this year.

12. Philadelphia Eagles - DT Fletcher Cox (Mississippi State) - I know what you're thinking, "How can a Top-12 pick be a "steal?" It's due to the fact that he was there at #12 and he was the #1 guy on their board. He wasn't even the first defensive tackle taken. Kansas City drafted an untested guys from Memphis (Donatri Poe). Cox has been compared to Warren Sapp and if you can get a guy like that at #12, it's a steal.

21. New England Patriots - DE Chandler Jones (Syracuse) - The Patriots could draft an 8-year old girl in the first-round and NFL analysts would defend it with "Belichick is a genius." As much as I say that every year, I really love Jones. He reminds me of Dwight Freeney, but with the ability to be a really good OLB in a 3-4. His brother is Jon "Bones" Jones of the UFC, so you know he'll be a fighter for you.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers - OG David DeCastro (Stanford) - DeCastro was a guy that I heard would be taken in the top 15, but teams didn't focus much on offensive linemen in the first-round. He could be the best guard to enter the draft since Steve Hutchinson. Pittsburgh's offensive line is old and fragile, so this was a pretty easy decision.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - RB Doug Martin (Boise State) - The Bucs were sneaky before the Draft and didn't squash the rumor that they wanted to move up for Trent Richardson. They kept their cool and ended up getting a better fit at running back at #31. Martin will be a nice complement to LeGarrette Blount. The duo reminds me of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, who had a nice run in New York.

34. Indianapolis Colts - TE Coby Fleener (Stanford) - Andrew Luck isn't able to practice at the Colts practice facility until June. He is finishing up his academic quarter and he needs a familiar target to help ease him into the NFL. Fleener will also be at Stanford during this time, so it was logical that he was high on the Colts draft board. The Giants was rumored to be interested in him at #32, but ended up taking a running back instead. Fleener reminds me of Rob Gronkowski, because he can line up at tight-end or wide receiver. He has big hands and he isn't a terrible blocker.

40. Carolina Panthers - OG Amini Silatolu (Midwestern State) - I didn't know of Silatolu until I started to research some of the offensive linemen in this year's draft class. I watched some videos online and read some of the chatter about him. The video of him is ridiculous, but I had to remind myself that he was facing sub-par talent at the D-II/D-III level. He is a project for the Panthers, but he impressed me enough to think of this pick as a steal.

51. Green Bay Packers - DT Jerel Worthy (Michigan State) - Just a few weeks ago, Worthy was mentioned as a first-round grade, just behind Cox and Poe. He will come into the league with a chip on his shoulder. If the Packers ever line up at a 4-3, he would be interesting beside of B.J. Raji, but in a 3-4, he'll come in the game to spell Raji.

54. Detroit Lions - WR Ryan Broyles (Oklahoma) - Broyles was a consensus All-American in 2010 & 2011 and the NCAA FBS leader in career receptions (349). The reason that he fell into the second-round was that he tore his ACL in a November game last season. He will start out the year on the PUP list, but if the Lions are patient with him, he could be a nice bookend to Calvin Johnson.

55. Atlanta Falcons - C Peter Konz (Wisconsin) - Konz is another guy that was rumored to be picked late in the first-round. Konz fell because teams were drafting based on need instead of using the "best player available" strategy. The University of Wisconsin manufactures NFL offensive linemen and Konz will be in the league for a long time.

65. St. Louis Rams - DB Trumaine Johnson (Montana) - Montana isn't known for it's NFL talent, but seven players will end up in NFL camps. Johnson is a bit cornerback at nearly 6'2 and the kind of physical corner that Jeff Fisher loves. He will compete to the be a starter in 2012.

66. Minnesota Vikings - DB Josh Robinson (Central Florida) - The Vikings drafted the fastest guy at the NFL Combine, with a 4.29 40-yard time. I usually hate teams drafting the fastest guy high in the draft, but I like it when he's a corner. He can play man-to-man or zone and he'll instantly help Minnesota's poor pass defense.

85. Detroit Lions - DB Dwight Bentley (Louisiana Lafayette) - This is the third "steal" of a cornerback in the 3rd round. He's an aggressive guy and reminds some of Eric Berry. He will need some work to get at Berry's level, but if you can get a starting cornerback at pick #85, you're doing something right.

97. Miami Dolphins - RB Lamar Miller (Miami FL) - The Dolphins didn't have to go very far to scount Miller. He has blazing speed (4.3) and will inject some life into Miami's running attack. Some scouts had him as a Top-50 talent, but he was leapfrogged by some other running backs with higher potential.

109. Pittsburgh Steelers - DT Alameda Ta'amu (Washington) - Ta'amu received a high grade by a lot of scouts (2nd-round), but he was also hurt by a few guys being taken higher because of upside. He can fill holes on the interior with his 348 pound frame. The Steelers hope that he will be the Casey Hampton's successor.

112. Arizona Cardinals - OT Bobby Massie (Mississippi) - One of Arizona's top needs was trying to fill the vacated right-tackle position. They confused a lot of people when they didn't address this issue in the first three rounds. Massie should win the starting right-tackle job and getting him here is a steal.

143. Carolina Panthers - DB Josh Norman (Coastal Carolina) - A lot of teams take small college cornerbacks in hopes of molding them into NFL talent. If they don't pan out there, they can stick them on the special teams. Norman is a nice gamble at #143, because he has a nose for the ball. He has good size and could end up as a nickelback and get his team a few turnovers.

163. Green Bay Packers - OLB Terrell Manning (NC State) - Manning's draft stock took a huge hit when he had knee surgery. He was a two year starter at NC State and Green Bay need depth at linebacker. They have been riddled with injuries at that position in the past. If they are patient with him, he'll be a nice substitution or much more.

164. Atlanta Falcons - DE Jonathan Massaquoi (Troy) - Troy has produced DeMarcus Ware & Osi Umenyiora, so taking a chance on Massaquoi could have a high payout. He will add depth to the position in Atlanta. He's a project, but all the raw talent is there to be a starter.

186. Dallas Cowboys - TE James Hanna (Oklahoma) - At Oklahoma, Hanna was a red-zone target with big play potential. He will add speed to the tight-end position, but will not be a good blocker. He will be an asset in a two tight-end formation and will be hard for a linebacker to cover with his speed. Drafting Hanna at #186 is great value for Dallas with little risk.

190. Tennessee Titans - S Markelle Martin (Oklahoma State) - If Martin didn't tear his meniscus after the Senior Bowl, he would have went in the third or fourth round. He scared off some teams and he fell into the Titans' lap in the sixth round. If he recovers fully from surgery, he can add depth to their secondary, exactly what you want from a late-round pick.

194. Philadelphia Eagles - WR Marvin McNutt (Iowa) - I'm starting to notice a theme with my "draft steals"...they are all coming off late-season injuries. McNutt is currently recovering from a shoulder injury, so he fell to the sixth-round. I watch a lot of Big Ten football games. McNutt seems to have been at Iowa for a decade, but all he did there was catch poorly-thrown balls. He's a big guy and he will be an asset for Michael Vick.

205. Cleveland Browns - DT Billy Winn (Boise State) - The Browns needed help stopping the run and Winn can add depth at the defensive tackle position. He would have been a second-day pick, but once again, an injury (foot) dropped his draft stock. Winn could be one of the biggest steals in the draft if he bounces back from his injury.

219. Minnesota Vikings - DE Trevor Guyton (California) - Guyton had a third/fourth-round grade coming into the draft, but a lot of teams filled their need in the first two days of the draft. He's a nice pick for Minnesota in the 7th-round.

224. New England Patriots - DB Alfonzo Dennard (Nebraska) - He has some off-field issues, but New England can take on the risk. Their secondary was one of the worst in NFL history, so they will find a spot for Dennard.

237. San Francisco 49ers - DE Cam Johnson (Virginia) - The Niners lack depth on the defensive line and they should be glad that he fell so far in the draft. I predict that he makes the team and has a chance to develop into a nice backup in the NFL.

242. New York Jets - S Antonio Allen (South Carolina) - Allen was graded high by most of the network talking heads and I like the pick. Rex Ryan is a smart guy and he needs to be able to move some guys around in the defense. Allen has played linebacker and safety in college. He's the kind of guy that Ryan will love to coach.

250. San Diego Chargers - RB Edwin Baker (Michigan State) - I love this pick and could be my favorite of the sixth or seventh-round. Baker seemed to have peaked early in his college career, but he still had an above-average career. Ryan Mathews has had some durability issues and they needed a functional backup. Baker will be a cheap option and end up being Mike Tolbert-like goal-line back (if you subtract 40 lbs.).

What are some of your favorite picks from this year's NFL Draft?

2012 NFL Draft - 1st Round Mock Draft

The 2012 NFL Draft is one the deepest drafts in recent memory. Most of the guys who will be drafted are proven commodities. You won't have a lot of guys who rose into the first-round based just on their NFL Combine performance. It is quite reassuring for a team to draft a player based on their actual on-field production than to cross their fingers and take a risk on a guy who can bench more and/or looks better shirtless.

I do my impersonation of Mel Kiper and Todd McShay with my own Mock Draft.

Warning: Alabama and LSU will be represented well in this year's 1st round of the NFL Draft.

1. Indianapolis Colts - QB Andrew Luck (Stanford)
This is a pretty easy pick, you might as well write him in.


2. Washington Redskins - QB Robert Griffin III (Baylor)
Washington didn't trade up to draft anyone other than Griffin III.


3. Minnesota Vikings - OT Matt Kalil (USC)
Minnesota recently said that this pick was on the market. Don't take any of Jim Irsay's tweets seriously...ever. If they trade this pick or not, Kalil will go at #3.


4. Cleveland Browns - WR Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State)
Unless the Browns can trade down to pick a QB, Blackmon is too good to pass up.


5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - CB Morris Claiborne (LSU)
Who cares about Wonderlic scores! I love Claiborne and he'll be a good one.


6. St. Louis Rams - WR Michael Floyd (Notre Dame)
The Rams still need to bolster their receving corps and Floyd would help. He's a bit of a reach at #6, but he fills a team need.


7. Jacksonville Jaguars - DE Melvin Ingram (South Carolina)
This will give the Jaguars another pass rusher and will help Jeremy Mincey on the other end.


8. Miami Dolphins - QB Ryan Tannehill (Texas A&M)
If no one trades up to get Tannehill earlier, he'll be picked by the Dolphins. They need a QB of the future and he's worth the risk.


9. Carolina Panthers - DT Dontari Poe (Memphis)
Poe is the 'Mr. Upside' of the 2012 NFL Draft. Scouts see something special in him and he has all the tools to be a good defensive tackle.


10. Buffalo Bills - G David DeCastro (Stanford)
He's the best guard in the draft and will help get some holes for Fred Jackson to run through.


11. Kansas City Chiefs - LB Luke Kuechly (Boston College)
He's been compared to Keith Brooking...Kansas City needs a Keith Brooking-type linebacker.


12. Seattle Seahawks - DE Quinton Coples (North Carolina)
Seattle's defensive front was really bad in 2011, Coples will fill their need.


13. Arizona Cardinals - OT Riley Reiff (Iowa)
Reiff may not be available at #13, since teams like to trade up to get left tackles. If he's there at #13, Arizona would gladly pick him.


14. Dallas Cowboys - S Mark Barron (Alabama)
Dallas has needed a strong safety since Darren Woodson retired. He would be an upgrade over Abram Elam.


15. Philadelphia Eagles - DT Fletcher Cox (Mississippi State)
Andy Reid loves him some defensive tackles. They also need help at cornerback, but this will add depth.


16. New York Jets - RB Trent Richarson (Alabama)
I think I'm the only person who think that Richardson will fall in this draft. The NFL is a different league than it was a decade ago. If someone doesn't trade up to draft Richardson, the Jets will get a steal. He would be a nice complement to Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow.


17. Cincinnati Bengals - DT Michael Brockers (LSU)
Cincinnati has bolstered its defense with physical guys. Brockers would be a nice fit in that defense and it would be the best pick for the Bengals.


18. San Diego Chargers - CB Dre Kirkpatrick (Alabama)
The Chargers have yet to replace Antonio Cromartie and Kirkpatrick is their guy.


19. Chicago Bears - OT Jonathan Martin (Stanford)
Jay Cutler has found that it is hard to throw the ball while on your back. The Bears have whiffed on a few other offensive tackles recently, but Martin will help him stay on his feet.


20. Tennessee Titans - CB Stephon Gilmore (South Carolina)
A ballhawk cornerback with 4.40 speed? The Titans will jump on him if he's there at #20.


21. Cincinnati Bengals - G Cordy Glenn (Georgia)
He was a beast at the NFL Combine and replaces Bobbie Williams, who left via free agency.


22. Cleveland Browns - OT Mike Adams (Ohio State)
Mike Holmgren likes a talented offensive line. Adams might be a reach at #22, but there isn't a quarterback worth the reach. They could pick Brandon Weeden, Kirk Cousins, or Brock Osweiler later in the draft.


23. Detroit Lions - CB Janoris Jenkins (North Alabama)
The Lions have spent the last two drafts building their defensive line. It is time for them to spend some picks on their secondary.


24. Pittsburgh Steelers - ILB Dont'a Hightower (Alabama)
He's the perfect pick for the Steelers. His name sounds like he should have played for the team in the 1970s.


25. Denver Broncos - DT Jerel Worthy (Michigan State)
Denver needs help against the run and Worthy would be the best defensive tackle on the board.


26. Houston Texans - WR Kendall Wright (Baylor)
If the Texans pick Wright at #26, it would free up Jacoby Jones to focus on just being a receiver. Wright will help in the receiving corps, but he's a threat as a kickoff & punt returner.


27. New England Patriots - OLB Courtney Upshaw (Alabama)
This draft is becoming very Crimson Tide heavy. He's undersized and doesn't have a true position at either defensive end or outside linebackers. Even though many mock drafts have him going much higher, he's a project.


28. Green Bay Packers - DE Chandler Jones (Syracuse)
The younger brother of UFC champion, Jon "Bones" Jones, would look good in a Green Bay jersey.


29. Baltimore Ravens - C Peter Konz (Wisonsin)
Konz would be the "Center in waiting" and would take over when Matt Birk retires.


30. San Francisco 49ers - WR Stephen Hill (Georgia Tech)
Alex Smith needs more targets and I wouldn't be surprised if Coby Fleener is picked here instead of Hill. Jim Harbuagh coached him at Stanford and having another big target would benefit Smith. I think they go with Hill because I don't know how Vernon Davis would react to having another tight-end as competition.


31. New England Patriots - S Harrison Smith (Notre Dame)
Even though New England needs to improve their front seven, their secondary was the worst group to have every made it to the Super Bowl. 


32. New York Giants - TE Coby Fleener (Stanford)
Kevin Boss is a good tight-end, but Fleener could be the next Rob Gronkowski. He's a big target for Eli Manning and he'll get open in their offense.


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Toby Gerhart Has a Hot Girlfriend

Toby Gerhart's wait to be drafted into the NFL lasted until the middle of the 2nd round. He should be a decent back in Minnesota's offense, he's very physical, but most of America, especially sports bloggers, took notice of Toby Gerhart's girlfriend. I dig deep into the blogosphere to find her identity.

Well, i didn't have to dig too deep. I went to one of my favorite blogs (SPORTSbyBROOKS) and found out the beautiful lady's name. Her name is Meredith Ayres and she's a swimmer from Stanford. Apparently, she has a thing for two-sports stars. Maybe if it doesn't work out with Gerhart, she can call up Deion Sanders or Brian Jordan.

Here are a few more pictures of the lovely Meredith Ayres.




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How Ben Roethlisberger Helped Tim Tebow

We all know about the recent trouble that Steelers quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, got himself into. Teams are trying to stay away from players with possible "character issues," could this have been the reason Tim Tebow shot up the draft board as a first-round pick?

Tim Tebow is probably the most celebrated college football player to come out since Roger Staubach. He was a tremendouse college football player and he is a model citizen. He is the kind of player that the NFL would love to have to represent "the shield." With the recent trouble that some high-profile players have gotten themselves into, the NFL would love to have 50-players on every team like Tebow.

The rumors is that Ben Roethlisberger has been shopped around the league are probably true, but realistically, he isn't going anywhere. It has been a long time since the Steelers have had a quality franchise quarterback, off the field issues or not, he's staying in Pittsburgh. The Rooney family has a very high standard for their players and didn't hesitate to send Santonio Holmes to the New York Jets after reports that he threw a glass at a woman at a club. The Steelers have a reputation for letting players go at the right time, but could Holmes have a Plaxico Burress type of career with the Jets? Absolutely. Unforunately, Burress is currently in jail after being convicted of a gun charge.

Clearly the recent reports of Roethlisberger acting like a drunken frat boy helped Tebow get drafted so early. Jimmy Clausen is a much better quarterback and is more NFL-ready than Tebow, but he also fell under the "character issue" trap that Dez Bryant fell into last night. Clausen had a run-in at a bar early in his Notre Dame career and he even threw a wide-receiver under the bus during a recent interview. Tebow is the perfect pick for Denver, even if they already have Kyle "Neckbeard" Orton and Brady "Abercrombie" Quinn. He'll have a place on the team and Josh McDaniels isn't afraid to run the Wildcat since he had Knowshon Moreno run many plays from it last season.

Let's hope that Tebow proves his naysayers wrong and develops into an elite quarterback, even if his mechanics aren't perfect, but you'll never read anything in the police blotter about him. The NFL has directed their focus on that, rather than on the field ability.


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2009 NFL 1st Rounders - The First 4 Games

NFL 1st-round picks are either slowly groomed to be a star or instantly thrown into the starting line-up. You have seen successes and failures either both ways. What can the first four games show about a player? If they are already doing well, the team has instant gratification about taking that player in the 1st-round. If the player isn't doing great, they can just use the excuse "he's a work in progress." Here is what the 2009 NFL 1st-round picks have done so far this season.

1. Matthew Stafford - QB - Detroit Lions - 79 for 139, 894 yards, 3 TDs, 6 INTs, sacked 10 times

2. Jason Smith - OT - St. Louis Rams - currently injured, has played in 2 games.

3. Tyson Jackson - DE - Kansas City Chiefs - 2 tackles, no sacks

4. Aaron Curry - OLB - Seattle Seahawks - 22 tackles, 1 sacks, 1 forced fumble

5. Mark Sanchez - QB - New York Jets - 63 for 110, 744 yards, 4 TDs, 5 INTs, sacked 9 times

6. Andre Smith - OT - Cincinnati Bengals - currently injured, has yet to play this season

7. Darrius Heyward-Bey - WR - Oakland Raiders - 2 catches, 36 yards, 1 rush attempt, 20 yards, 0 TDs

8. Eugene Monroe - OT - Jacksonville Jaguars - Has played in 3 games.

9. B.J. Raji - DT - Green Bay Packers - 4 tackles, 0 sacks, 0 forced fumbles

10. Michael Crabtree - WR - San Francisco 49ers - Has not played this season.

11. Aaron Maybin - DE - Buffalo Bills - 2 tackles, 0 sacks, 0 forced fumbles

12. Knowshon Moreno - RB - Denver Broncos - 60 attempts, 249 yards, 1 rushing TD, 4 catches, 33 yards, 1 receiving TD

13. Brian Orakpo - DE - Washington Redskins - 13 tackles, 2 sacks, 0 forced fumbles

14. Malcolm Jenkins - DB - New Orleans Saints - 6 tackles, 0 INTs, 2 forced fumbles

15. Brian Cushing - OLB - Houston Texans - 33 tackles, 0 sacks, 0 forced fumbles

16. Larry English - DE - San Diego Chargers - 6 tackles, 1 sacks, 1 forced fumbles

17. Josh Freeman - QB - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Has yet to play, currently 2nd-string QB

18. Robert Ayers - DE - Denver Broncos - 3 tackles, 0 sacks, 0 forced fumbles

19. Jeremy Maclin - WR - Philadelphia Eagles - 6 catches, 45 yards, 0 TDs

20. Brandon Pettigrew - TE - Detroit Lions - 10 catches, 131 yards, 0 TDs

21. Alex Mack - C - Cleveland Browns - Has played in 4 games

22. Percy Harvin - WR - Minnesota Vikings - 14 catches, 167 yards, 2 receiving TDs

23. Michael Oher - OT - Baltimore Ravens - Has played in 4 games

24. Peria Jerry - DT - Atlanta Falcons - 1 tackle *knee injury - out for year

25. Vontae Davis - DB - Miami Dolphins - 4 tackles, 1 INTs, 0 forced fumble

26. Clay Matthews - OLB - Green Bay Packers - 7 tackles, 1 sacks, 0 forced fumble

27. Donald Brown - RB - Indianapolis Colts - 38 carries, 132 yards, 2 rushing TDs, 5 catches, 125 yards, 0 receiving TDs

28. Eric Wood - C - Buffalo Bills - Has played in 4 games

29. Hakeem Nicks - WR - New York Giants - 3 catches, 72 yards, 1 TDs

30. Kenny Britt - WR - Tennessee Tians - 17 catches, 271 yards, 0 TDs

31. Chris Wells - RB - Arizon Cardinals - 16 rushes, 71 yards, 0 TDs

32. Ziggy Hood - DE - Pittsburgh Steelers - 0 tackles, 0 sacks, 0 forced fumbles

2009 Off-Season - AFC Team Needs

2008 was a great season for the NFL. The entire season was filled with drama and stayed competitive until the final week of the season. Some teams came from obscurity (Dolphins) and and some teams took a step back (Patriots). Here are the needs of all 16 AFC teams for the 2009 Off-Season. Let's hope it's very active and teams get what they need in the draft and free agency.

Pittsburgh Steelers - Offensive Line - "The Steel Curtain" was back on the defensive side of the ball, but the offensive line looked like tin foil. Big Ben needs to stay upright to stay healthy and lead this team.

Cleveland Browns - Defensive End - The Browns couldn't get any pressure on the quarterback this season. They were decent on short yardage situations, but they gave up too many 3rd and long first downs.

Cincinnati Bengals - Cornerback - Teams lit up the Bengals secondary in 2008. Injuries plagued the team, but Ndukwe can't be your best defender. They need to upgrade with more than one new face covering wideouts.

Baltimore Ravens - Wide Receiver - Baltimore took a step in the right direction last season by drafting Joe Flacco. He has a huge arm and can spread the field with long passes. They don't have any deep threats on the team currently and it would even help their running game by signing an #1 receiver.

Indianapolis Colts - Defensive Tackle - This has been a need for the Colts for a few years. They have been taking their early draft picks on offense and taking fliers in the late rounds with DTs that don't work out. They need to lighten the run-stopping load from Bob Sanders and get a large body to plug up running lanes.

Tennessee Titans - Wide Receiver - Whomever the quaterback is in Nashville next season, they need someone better than Justin Gage catching footballs. Bo Scaife is their best receiver and he's a top-15 TE, at best.

Houston Texans - Defensive End - Mario Williams is a great pass rusher and they are very fortunate to take him over Reggie Bush and Vince Young. He is often double-teamed and they would could be a playoff team if they had a book-end pass rusher on the other side to help him out.

Jacksonville Jaguars - Defensive Tackle - In 2007, the Jaguars had one of the best defenses in the NFL. Marcus Stroud, left via free agency, and they Jaguars couldn't stop the run. If Jacksonville is going to compete, they need a good defense. Their offense isn't built to consistently score 30 points a game.

Miami Dolphins - Wide Receiver - Chad Pennington had a good season for the Dolphins. He deserves all the credit for their success. If you step back and realize Greg Camarillo was his #1 receiver for most of the year, it's even more amazing.

Buffalo Bills - Quarterback - I'm not sold on Trent Edwards. I think he will be a decent quarterback eventually, but he needs more grooming. Dick Jauron has one more season in Buffalo and he needs to win or he's out of there.

New England Patriots - Linebacker - Jerod Mayo will be a great linebacker for many years. Unfortunately for the Patriots, the rest of the linebacking corps has an average age of 38. If they sign a few linebackers and stay healthy, the Patriots will be back on top of the AFC East, if not the entire conference.

New York Jets - Quarterback - Brett Favre has a 10% chance he'll be back and the Jets have to ask themselves if they even want him. Kellen Clemens is their next best option, but Matt Cassel could be a free agent and he could be a nice addition to open the new stadium.

Oakland Raiders - Offensive Line - After drafting many offensive linemen and none of them working out, Oakland has to get better fast. They spent a lot of money on JaMarcus Russell and he can't live up to his potential if he is running for his life.

Kansas City Chiefs - Linebacker - I would have mentioned quarterback for Kansas City, but Tyler Thigpen started looking like Len Dawson the last half of the season. The Chiefs have to get better at linebacker to help their young defensive line out.

San Diego Chargers - Fullback - After letter Lorenzo Neal leave last off-season, the Chargers realized his worth during the 2008 season. L.T. didn't look himself and needs a fullback to clear a path. If they sign a fullback, L.T. should go back to his normal numbers and scoring nearly 20 touchdowns a season.

Denver Broncos - Cornerback - Dre Bly and Champ Bailey looked good on paper, but when they are together on the field, it's quite scary. The Bly/Bailey duo looked old when they faced better-than-average wideouts. If they get younger and faster at this position, it should help them out, but they clearly need much more help in a variety of areas.

2009 Off-Season - NFC Team Needs

In 2008, we didn't have the one dominant team like we had last season. We did have a lot of good teams (Giants, Panthers, Eagles), but they still all had more than three losses each. Every team in the NFC has needs and this off-season will be full of free agent signings, trades, and drafting young talent. Here are all 16 NFC teams and their main need going into next season. I could write and entire post about the Lions needs, but I'll spare everyone's eyes and just list one.

Detroit Lions - Defensive End - I could go quarterback or every other position here, but they need to get to put pressure on the quarterback.

Chicago Bears - Wide Receiver - Devin Hester and Brandon Lloyd aren't #1 or #2 WRs in the NFL.

Green Bay Packers - Cornerback - Their secondary is getting older and they need some youth to keep up with the speed of the WRs.

Minnesota Vikings - Cornerback - Their defensive line is one of the best in the NFL, unfortunately teams can pass all over them.

New York Giants - Wide Receiver - Plaxico Burress will not be back in 2009 and this team will not go far with Domenik Hixon as your #1 option.

Philadelphia Eagles - Wide Receiver - If Donovan McNabb comes back in 2009, remember how he played with T.O.? The Eagles need a legit #1 receiver to catch passes, not Reggie Brown or Kevin Curtis.

Dallas Cowboys - Offensive Line - Tony Romo was on his back after every snap the last four games of the season. If you protect Romo and give him time, he can help get this team to the playoffs.

Washington Redskins - Offensive Line - With Jim Zorn as the head coach, the Redskins will be a run-first offense. Clinton Portis will have a monster season if you give him some holes.

Carolina Panthers - Tight End - Jake Delhomme is stacked with every offensive tool but Tight End. If they work on a short passing game, the long ball will be there for Steve Smith.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Linebacker - Derrick Brooks is getting older and I'm not completely sold on Cato June. If they want to keep the Tampa 2 intact once Monte Kiffin leaves, they need to get better at Linebacker.

Atlanta Falcons - Cornerback - The Falcons have a nice defensive line and linebacker personnel, but lack an elite corner. They have to fill the void that DeAngelo Hall left, back when he was good.

New Orleans Saints - Safety - The Saints were passed on in every game this season. They need a good safety to help cover when their corners get beat.

Arizona Cardinals - Running Back - If Arizona had a decent running back, they wouldn't have staggered into the playoffs. Tim Hightower and his sub-3.0 yards per attempt isn't going to cut it in the desert.

San Francisco 49ers - Defensive End - With Mike Singletary as their coach, the 49ers need to take on the personality of the '85 Bears. They don't have anyone to put pressure on the quarterback. I hear Julius Peppers is a free agent, he would look good next to Patrick Willis.

Seattle Seahawks - Running Back - Matt Hasselbeck may only have a few more seasons left in him and he'll do in this re-building period. A running back tandem of Maurice Morris and Julius Jones deserves an upgrade.

St. Louis Rams - Left Tackle - The Rams have to replace the spot Orlando Pace stood for many years. If there isn't any left tackles in free agency, Alabama has a couple nice tackles that could be available with the St. Louis pick.