Just to be sure: styg, this is my entry into the official MHR mock draft contest.  Now, I put in everything from minor wrinkles to major curveballs, so it should be fun to see what you all think of it.  I can promise you that it looks unlike most others.  And so, without further ado:

1)  Detroit Lions – Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia: New management plays to the crowd (as well as the media), committing what will likely be a record-breaking rookie contract to a prospect that I believe has significant bust potential. 

2)  St. Louis Rams – Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia: The toss-up between the top two OT candidates goes to the more NFL-ready prospect despite his potentially lower ceiling.  This minor wrinkle has major ripple effects down the line.

3)  Kansas City Chiefs – Jason Smith, OT, Baylor: On the other hand, being in full-blown rebuilding mode allows the Chiefs to freely gamble on the less polished OT with the greater upside.  The so-called Patriot Way indicates that they might look to the trenches, not LB corps, this early.  They also have a lot invested in a new offensive-minded head coach and QB. 

4)  Seattle Seahawks – Mark Sanchez, QB, Southern California: Rumor has it that the Seahawks, unaccustomed to picking this high and expecting/hoping to keep it that way, will look to secure their long-term future with this forward thinking selection. 

5)  Cleveland Browns – Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forrest: The is the first match made in heaven of this draft, were value meets need for the perfect pick.  Should the first four picks break down as listed above, this fifth would become a mortal lock. 

6)  Cincinnati Bengals – Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi: While the Bengals have not shied away from character concerns in the past, but enough is enough and this is a viable alternative that addresses the same need effectively.

7)  Oakland Raiders – Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland: Every year there’s an absolute shocker early in the draft (usually in third of the top nine) and Al Davis picks some workout warrior with an impressive highlight reel but little more that makes observers around the league shake their heads and/or laugh out loud – this selection puts all of that together in one. 

8)  Jacksonville Jaguars – Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech: The biggest benefactor of Oakland’s folly is Jacksonville, who end up with the player that has to be the top prospect on their draft day big board.

9)  Green Bay Packers – Tyson Jackson, DE, Louisiana State: Like our Broncos, the Packers are switching to a 3-4 defense and that leaves their front seven in flux.  I believe they’re more comfortable with their potential NT situation as opposed to the guys in the DE mix.

10)  San Francisco 49ers – Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State: Perhaps the highest risk, highest reward prospect in my top ten, he’s probably a better fit in a 3-4 defense than the superior DE in Brian Orakpo. 

11)  Buffalo Bills – Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas: You don’t trade a Pro Bowl OT for a late first round pick only to turn around and draft his potential replacement with your original pick this early.

12)  Denver Broncos – B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College: Jackpot!  This pick could easily be switched with Green Bay’s above, but either way I think we’re going DL early in the first and I get the feeling we’ll be happy with that choice down the road.

13)  Washington Redskins – Andre Smith, OT, Alabama: Few franchises/owners in the league have the stones to make a pick like this, but this boom or bust pick may just pay off in multiple ways for Dan Synder and his gang as he moves forward with the QB he got stuck with. 

14)  New Orleans Saints – Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State: This is not so much a vote of no-confidence in former top pick Reggie Bush, but rather an investment in keeping him healthy, fresh and free to exploit his ridiculous versatility. 

15)  Houston Texans – Malcolm Jenkins, DB, Ohio State: The Texans continue to stockpile quality, underrated prospects on their young and improving defense.  With solid picks like this, their year may finally be around the corner.

16)  San Diego Chargers – Rey Maualuga, ILB, Southern California: This pick just feels right and I hate everyone involved for it.  Would he be the second coming of Junior Seau coming from the Trojans to the Bolts? 

17)  New York Jets – Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri: Though some people seem to think they’ll reach for a QB at this spot, I think they’re too close to take on a project at that position; so, instead, they improve the weapons around the QB – whomever he may be. 

18)  Denver Broncos (from the Chicago Bears) – Clay Matthews, LB, Southern California: This pick will almost certainly be a USC Trojan LB and, of the two left on the board, he’s the best fit.  I’m not sure that Cushing’s personality and reputation would work in Denver.

19)  Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State: Another team in the midst of rebuilding, it’s not a bad time to bring in a developmental QB prospect to groom for the future.

20)  Detroit Lions (from the Dallas Cowboys) – Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee: This pick might be a surprise to some, but he’s a versatile player who is shooting up the charts and could be plugged in several places on a leaky Lions defense. 

21)  Philadelphia Eagles – Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia: Another pick that just fits and it’s going to make people wonder how eighteen teams with twenty selections allowed for it to happen. 

22)  Minnesota Vikings – Max Unger, OL, Oregon: Another curveball, but it’s one that makes a ton of sense.  Unger could probably start at any position on the line (except for LT) at the next level. 

23)  New England Patriots – Brian Cushing, LB, Southern California: Versatility and a bit of a mean streak… this guy belongs on a Bill Belichick defense.  He could well be a Bronco, too, instead of Matthews above. 

24)  Atlanta Falcons – Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi: They were torn between the QB and a DT in the last draft, but things worked out just fine.  This time around, the choice might come down to which DT they like best and I think it’ll be Jerry.

25)  Miami Dolphins – Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut: Here’s a guy that snuck into the bottom of round one and he has staying power.  With the DB exodus out of Miami, he provides starter potential as a rookie and at least depth right out of the gate.

26)  Baltimore Ravens – Everette Brown, DE, Florida State: Taking a LB out of the state of Florida isn’t a bad way to go this franchise.  This kid could step right in and create havoc in classic Raven fashion.

27)  Indianapolis Colts – Evander Hood, DT, Missouri: I really liked the idea of the Colts deploying Harvin’s skillset, but with the recent news, I have to think they’d go in a different direction.

28)  Buffalo Bills (from the Carolina Panthers via the Philadelphia Eagles) – Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State: This could prove to be a serious steal, but it’s certainly possible that an unspectacular TE could slide this far.

29)  New York Giants – Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers: Unable to complete a trade for a veteran WR, they decide to draft Eli Manning a weapon at that position.  With what happened with Plaxico, I think they still steer clear of Harvin.

30)  Tennessee Titans – Percy Harvin, WR, Florida: This pick is a fun thought experiment for me.  Imagine Chris Johnson as the QB in the Wildcat formation with Percy rolling in on the end around…

31)  Arizona Cardinals – Larry English, DE, Northern Illinois: This was a difficult pick for me, because I don’t think they’re so desperate for an RB and they could really use an explosive prospect like English. 

32)  Pittsburgh Steelers – Alex Mack, C, California: Another tough pick, but this speaks to the excellent shape this franchise is in.  Mack’s the top pure center  in this class and that’s good enough for Pitt.