Brett's 2013 NHL Playoff Conference Quarterfinals Predictions

About two weeks ago, I wrote my predictions for the 2013 NBA Playoffs and - apart from Denver - so far, so good.

Now, the NHL regular season has wrapped up and the playoffs are upon us. The Toronto Maple Leafs broke a nine year playoff drought. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Detroit Red Wings continued their impressive run in the post-season, making the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 22nd year in a row. And that's not even talking about the impressive seasons that the Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguin, and Anaheim Ducks have completed. Who will win? Here's my take:

Eastern Conference
(1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (8) New York Islanders
The good news for the Penguins is Sidney Crosby has been practicing with the team, wearing a funny looking jaw protector. Crosby, who broke his jaw at the hands of a Brooks Orpik slapshot in a game against the Islanders, is still waiting to be cleared by doctors before returning to the team. Pittsburgh won the season series between the two teams, including four straight wins. However, I don't believe that will be the main factor in the Penguins winning the series. They have an excess in playoff experience, adding even more after acquiring Jarome Iginla and Brenden Morrow. While it will be nice to see Islanders star John Tavares in the playoffs, it won't be a long visit. The Penguins have a lot of expectations and a lot to prove after last year's debacle.
Pittsburgh wins series 4-1.

(2) Montreal Canadiens vs. (7) Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators won their final game of the season to cement this match-up in the first round. Not only will this be a great series, but it guarantees a Canadian team in the second round. Anyways, on to the series: this is a close one. Being division rivals, these teams are very familiar with each other. They split the season series, and I see more of the same coming. The Senators received a boost with the unlikely return of reigning Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson. The 22-year-old defenceman recently came back after a nasty Achilles injury suffered at the hands skate of Matt Cooke. However, they don't appear to be getting centre Jason Spezza back any time soon. When it comes down to it, I trust Canadiens goalie Carey Price in a seven game series more than Senators goalie Craig Anderson. Also, expect a double-OT game in this one.
Montreal wins series 4-3.

(3) Washington Capitals vs. (6) New York Rangers
These two teams have met in the last two playoffs. Last year, they met in a seven game thriller in the second round. While the Rangers came out on top last year, I think the Capitals will get the job done this time around. Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin has been the hottest player in the second half of the season, storming past Steven Stamkos to lead the league with 32 goals. Plus, he's scored some fantastic goals against the Rangers in his playoff history. Now, New York won't just lie down for this series. They have arguably the best goalie in the league in Henrik Lundqvist, who was responsible for 24 of the 26 games the Rangers won this year. He'll steal them a couple of games, but the offense isn't there for New York, which was surprising after they acquired Rick Nash from the Blue Jackets in the offseason. Ovi and the Caps will use their firepower to get by a stiff test from the Rangers.
Washington wins series 4-2.

(4) Boston Bruins vs. (5) Toronto Maple Leafs
It seems fitting that the Leafs would play the Bruins in their first trip to the playoffs in nine years. It was just three and a half years ago that Toronto gave up two first round picks for winger Phil Kessel. Of course, those picks ended up being Tyler Seguin and Dougie Hamilton, both of whom will play this season. This series will be a defining moment in Kessel's young career. In two series with the Bruins, Kessel was a point-per-game player in the playoffs. While he has been a very nice addition for the Leafs, he can't find his game against the Bruins. In his career against his former team, Kessel has nine points in 22 games. If Toronto has any hope of winning this series, Kessel will have to get back to his point-per-game level. However, even if that happens, it doesn't look good for the Leafs. Since the Kessel trade, Boston is 15-4-3 against the Leafs. The Bruins also won't be intimidated by the physical game Toronto likes to play with players like Zdeno Chara, Shawn Thornton, and Milan Lucic. Not to mention the offensive ability of Seguin, Patrice Bergeron, Jaromir Jagr, and others. As much as it pains me to say this, it will be a quick series for Boston. Toronto wins one at home, but that's it.
Boston wins series 4-1.

Western Conference
(1) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (8) Minnesota Wild
Many, including myself, believe that the Minnesota Wild won the 2012 offseason by signing both Zach Parise and Ryan Suter to identical 13-year, $98 million deals. While some questioned the contracts, it was apparent they would help the team during the 2012-13 season. And it helped to some degree. For the first time in five seasons, Minnesota made the playoffs - barely. They needed all 48 games, but they edged the Blue Jackets. Their reward: drawing arguably the best team in the league in the first round. Chicago has been on fire this season, winning the President's Trophy this season. Led by their two young stars Patrick Kane (55 points) and Jonathan Toews (48 points), the Chicago offense was clicking all year. The Blackhawks also finally got some solid goaltending this year from Ray Emery and Corey Crawford. Chicago is just too good for the Wild.
Chicago wins series 4-0.

(2) Anaheim Ducks vs. (7) Detroit Red Wings
It's not strange to see a first round series between the Ducks and the Red Wings. However, it's not too often that Detroit is the seven seed in the series. The Ducks have been strong all season after missing the playoffs last year. It's just so hard to go against Detroit, especially with the talent that takes the ice night-in and night-out. They have seemed to been getting their game back together later in the season. It was a big adjustment for the Wings this year, losing former captain Niklas Lidstrom to retirement. This will be another close series, and my gut is telling me to go with history. It doesn't hurt that history has players like Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, and Jimmy Howard.
Detroit wins series 4-3.

(3) Vancouver Canucks vs. (6) San Jose Sharks
I think this series wil be closer than most people expect. San Jose has been one of the best teams at home this season, losing only twice in regulation. They still have most of the veteran core of Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and Dan Boyle. Logan Couture will have to have a great series to knock off the Northwest Division Champions. Speaking of the Canucks, the season has been followed by the Luongo vs. Schneider storyline. With Schneider looking to be the starter heading into the playoffs, it will be interesting to see if he can rebound after last year's shaky performance against the Kings. Offensively, Vancouver has the spark and talent with the Sedin twins, Ryan Kesler, and even Alex Burrows. It just didn't seem to click this season, as the team only scored 122 goals. If they are able to rebound, the Canucks win the series. Too bad for San Jose that Game 7 will be on the road.
Vancouver wins series 4-3.

(4) St. Louis Blues vs. (5) Los Angeles Kings
In another rematch of last year's Conference Semifinals, the Blues host the defending Stanley Cup Champions. It's been an up and down season for both teams. For a while, Brian Elliott couldn't get things done in net. Heading into the playoffs, he's the NHL's second star for the month of April. Defense hasn't been a problem for the Blues, but scoring has been an issue: only three players had more than 10 goals this season. As for the Kings, they swept the Blues last year during their march through the Western Conference. Much of their team remains unchanged from last year, but Jonathan Quick hasn't shown the second gear he demonstrated last year. Los Angeles seemingly found their game again at the end of the year. They'll be able to take care of Blues again, except less dominant.
Los Angeles wins series 4-2.

Well, those are my predictions for the first round of the playoffs. Do you agree or disagree? Let me know in the comments below.

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Chris' 2013 NHL Playoff Predictions

So here we are! It's that time of year again and for once (as a Leaf fan) I get to see my team in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs. This is always one of my favourite times of the year. Every team starts with a clean slate, every team is on even terms. Whether you're the first seed of the eighth seed, every team has the opportunity to make it to the big dance and get their names inscribed not just on the Cup itself, but also in the annals of history. Sure this may be a short season, but that doesn't reduce in any way the power of Lord Stanley's Mug.

I do not pretend to be an expert on predictions as my first round predictions last year were, well, a little off and I will be honest in saying that. When it comes to the Western Conference specifically, I'm kind of reaching as I do not watch very many games. The East I know a little more about, but that doesn't make me any more accurate. So enough said, here they are.

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Minnesota Wild
Given how good the Blackhawks were all year and being heavily favoured to win the Cup, I don't think it's a stretch to say Chicago makes it through to the next round. Both cities have a rockin' crowd and I believe that will get Minnesota at least one win at home. The Wild don't score that many goals in a game, and with Chicago's defence to contend with, I don't think they have enough to make it through. Blackhawks win the series 4-1.

Anaheim Ducks vs. Detroit Red Wings
It can't be denied that the Red Wings have the experience advantage in the playoffs over, well, every other team. Detroit and Post-season are synonymous with each other and I believe are ahead overall against the Ducks. While it's true this may not be the same Anaheim team that swept the Red Wings years ago, they have earned their second spot thanks to solid goaltending so I pick the Anaheim Ducks to win the series 4-2.

Vancouver Canucks vs. San Jose Sharks
Vancouver comes off the heels of another very successful season and once again made the playoffs. It looks like Cory Schneider will get the nod this year, which may be a surprise, but I believe he is more than capable. Vancouver tends to do well (until the Cup is on the line) early in the playoffs so I pick them to win the series 4-2.

St. Louis Blues vs. Los Angeles Kings
The Kings are looking to defend their Stanley Cup Title from last year, but they won't surprise anyone this year with the team looking nearly the same. The Blues know who to watch for and how to prepare and with their excellent goaltending, they will be a force to be reckoned with. I believe this to be the only series in the West to go seven games and I believe it will be a joy to watch. I pick the Kings to win the series 4-3.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Islanders
The Penguins start the first round after a stellar season and after picking up some huge players at the deadline, mainly Jarome Iginla. While it's true that the Islanders have some star power and that Pittsburgh has had trouble winning a playoff series since their Stanley Cup win, I don't see them having a problem eliminating New York. I pick the Penguins to win the series 4-2.

Montreal Canadiens vs. Ottawa Senators
This series makes me happy in the knowledge that there is guaranteed to be a Canadian team in the second round. Ottawa lost some key players early in the season and although they look to be healthy in time for the start of the playoffs, I don't think it will be enough. The Senators put up a good fight last year against the Rangers, but I think Montreal is prepared for a solid playoff performance and, with Subban playing well at the right time and arguable the best playoff crowd in the league on their side, I predict the Canadiens to win the series 4-2.

Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers
Despite his slow start, Alex Ovechkin propelled the Capitals to a playoff berth with an excellent finish to the season. There is no denying that both teams are gifted and have a lot of star power, but when it comes to the Rangers, there is one man no one can ignore and that is Henrik Lundqvist. As good as Washington is, I see them having great difficulties scoring on Lundqvist. The best chance for them is to get on him early and chase him from the net, no easy feat, especially when the Rangers have their own gifted players to watch out for. Therefore I predict the Rangers to win the series 4-2.

Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
While it is true that I (the author) am a Leafs fan, I will be unbiased in my assessment of this original-six matchup because I am a realistic Leaf fan as well. The Leafs saw the emergence of a lot of young players this season and I do believe are primed for future playoff runs once this young team gets some playoff experience, something it is seriously lacking. The Bruins struggled to close out the season, but in the wake of the Boston Marathon Bombings, I don't think anyone blames them for that. This is a city that looks to it's athletic heroes at a time like this and I expect Boston to give all they got for the hometown fans. As impressed as I am at Toronto making the playoffs, I think the Bruins are too big and too strong as a team to be defeated this early and with a record of 15-4-3* since the Kessel trade, I pick the Bruins to win the series 4-1.

*Any information about team records, trades, player performances, etc. are taken from TSN's website.

An Event 9 Years in the Making

I had to let this sink in for a while because I almost didn't believe it. Part of me had to wait until that magnificent little "x" appeared beside their name on the standings page of NHL.com. It took nine years, but it finally happened again. The Maple Leafs are in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

R.I.P. Playoff Drought (2004-2013)

I'll add here that I am a Leafs fan. My dad told me when he moved to Canada from Aberdeen, Scotland, my grandfather had a choice of hockey teams between the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs. They went with the blue and white, and it's been in my family ever since.

Now, I thought of doing a post about all the things that were different about my life and hockey in 2004. That would be the easy way out, not to mention done to death. Granted, I was in Grade 10 the last time the Leafs qualified for the postseason. After the Flyers eliminated the Buds in Game 6 the Conference Semi-Finals, I told my 15-year-old self that there's always next year.

But the lockout followed after after my proclamation. Then, the losing kept happening. I kept waiting for things to turn around. Draft picks were made - some were traded away. GMs were brought in with the promise of bringing a Stanley Cup contender to the city and not wanting to compromise the future to sneak into an eighth place spot. And fans of other teams relished in the fact that the Leafs again missed the playoffs, adding to the longest-running Stanley Cup drought in the NHL. It got worse when teams like Chicago and Boston won their latest Cups, ending their long droughts.

Then, a magical thing happened. There was a second lockout! This led to the shortened season we are in now and cut out the worst part of most Toronto seasons: the second half. And now we're in the playoffs thanks to a core put together by the recently-fired Brian Burke. Led by players like Joffrey Lupul, an emerging Nazem Kadri, and netminder James Reimer, the city is buzzing with playoff aspirations.

Photo credit: theleafsnation.com

Reimer will be the key to the series against any team the Leafs draw in the first round, whether it be Montreal (Yes please!) or Boston (Dear God, no!). The team has been drastically shot all year, especially in games down the stretch. Although most of the shots have been from non-scoring areas, it just takes one to trickle in or take an awkward bounce off of a skate to destroy the confidence of a goalie. The pressure will already be high on the Manitoba-native as he will have two withstand nine years of pent-up playoff pressure.

Now, the fans of other teams can't let us Leafs fans live in the moment. It's not unusual to get bombarded with statements that we won't make it out of the first round, it's only a shortened season, or we shouldn't be celebrating something that 53% of teams in the league do. No matter how many things you say, no one can take away the fact that the Leafs made the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Sure, they might get knocked out in the first round, but the Leafs were there.

My message to them: let us be. Do some of us have high expectations? Sure. It's really hard to look at the standings and the schedule and think, "Hey, that second seed isn't out of the question." But is it realistic? Of course not. Just let us be happy with our drought being over. Small victories. And, if you're right about us not going far, you won't hear from us again until the offseason when the team gets attached in rumours to every player out there. You'll also get to keep saying that we haven't made the playoffs in a full 82-game season since 2004.

Until then, please let us have our moment. We've let you have yours for nine years.

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2013 NBA Playoff Predictions

It's a very exciting time for sports: baseball is back, the NFL Draft is almost upon us, and both the NBA and NHL are gearing up for the playoffs.

With the quest for the Larry O'Brien Trophy beginning this Saturday, I'm going to take a look at all eight of the first round series in The Association (high seed listed first).

Western Conference

Oklahoma City Thunder (60-22) vs. Houston Rockets (45-37)
This will be an extremely entertaining series to watch. Not only does it have the built-in James Harden vs. his old team storyline, but the two teams like to get up and down the court. The Rockets and Thunder were #2 and #3 respectively in points per game. Houston also averaged the most possessions per game in the league. The Thunder won the regular season series 2-1 and I don't see this playoff series being any different. OKC put up 363 points in three games against the Rockets. Even with the loss of Harden, the Thunder are still a deep team with Kevin Martin coming off the bench. Plus, having two of the top-10 players in the league with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook never hurts.
Oklahoma City wins the series 4-1.

San Antonio Spurs (58-24) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (45-37)
Many people thought this could be a potential Western Conference Final. Now, these two storied franchies are meeting in the first round of the playoffs. If Kobe Bryant didn't recently go down with an ankle injury, I'd feel better about the match-up for the Lakers. However, he's on the shelf with an Achilles injury. Add that to the fact that Manu Ginobli just returned for the Spurs, it's hard to imagine the Lakers pulling an upset.  And don't forget: Steve Nash isn't the most capable defender in the league. At 39, he'll be in charge of keeping Tony Parker in check.  The only bright spot for the Lakers is that Dwight Howard carried the Orlando Magic to the 2009 Finals on his now surgically-repaired back. If he can reclaim that form, the Lake-show can push the Spurs. That being said, Tim Duncan and the Spurs have one last run in them.
San Antonio wins the series 4-2.

Denver Nuggets (57-25) vs. Golden State Warriors (47-35)
The Nuggets are another team that like to run, leading the NBA in points per game and being a very close second to the Rockets in possessions per game. They'll play even faster without injured forward Danio Gallinari. Ty Lawson loves to push the team in transition. My only concern with Denver is the health of "The Manimal" Kenneth Faried. He should rebound quickly from his sprained ankle. The case for Golden State comes from the sharpshooting of Stephen Curry, who just set the record for most made 3-pointers in a season. Golden State will go as far as Curry will take them, but the Nuggets have too much depth. If the Nuggets get past Golden State, expect them to make a long run through the rest of the playoffs -- possibly to the NBA Finals?
Denver wins the series 4-1.

Los Angeles Clippers (56-26) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (56-26)
It'll be a strange sight to see the Clippers have a home playoff game before the Lakers do, especially this year. And I know it's a disservice to this Clippers team by mentioning the Lakers right away. It just comes with the territory. Anyways, I doubt Lob City wanted to see this Memphis team in the playoffs again after last year. L.A. won the series 4-3, but it could've been very different. The Grizzlies gave up a 27-point lead in Game 1 and did not have the strongest Game 7. As for this year, Memphis is 27-10 after trading Rudy Gay to the Toronto Raptors in January. As much as I think Blake Griffin's game has improved, I see Memphis taking this series. However, it's really hard to pick against Chris Paul...
Memphis wins the series 4-3.

Eastern Conference

Miami Heat (66-16) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (38-44)
Really? Heat will romp all over the Bucks. Except a really quick series to give LeBron and Co. some time off for the rest of their run in the playoffs. Milwaukee will wish that the league went back to the best-of-five this season.
Miami wins the series 4-0.

New York Knicks (54-28) vs. Boston Celtics (41-40)
Two more teams that met in last year's playoffs. The Celtics knocked out the Knicks last year, and I think this year will be another tight series. Since Rajon Rondo tore his ACL, Paul Pierce has put this Celtics team on his back. It's also hard to find a player more intense than Kevin Garnett, who showed earlier this season he could get under the skin of New York superstar and NBA scoring champion Carmelo Anthony. It will be up to Melo to show he can fight back with his play on the court. If the Celtics can get Anthony off his game, the bulk of the scoring will have to come from *gulp* J.R. Smith. I think this will be a very close series as Boston isn't ready to relinquish their hopes of a playoff run. However, the Knicks will knock the veteran team out of the playoffs.
New York wins the series 4-3.

Indiana Pacers (49-32) vs. Atlanta Hawks (44-38)
While Josh Smith may be playing for a contract, Paul George has shown he is capable of carrying a team. Now, will he make "The Leap" in the playoffs? He has a nice opponent in an Atlanta team that hasn't shown a lot of life coming down the stretch, as they are 4-6 in their last 10 games. It will still be a close series. The teams split the season series, so that doesn't help clear up this picture. In the long run, I think the Pacers will be able to clog up the middle with Roy Hibbert and ride George to a close series win.
Indiana wins the series 4-2.

Brooklyn Nets (49-33) vs. Chicago Bulls (45-37)
The Nets face a tough challenge here against Chicago. The Bulls have been crippled by injuries all season, losing a total of 180 games due to injury this year. However, they are getting (somewhat) healthy at the right time. Joakim Noah is back, but will see limited minutes to start. Will the Nets be able to take advantage of that? They should have a favourable match-up at the point guard spot with Deron Williams. He'll need to be at his best to beat this tough, defensively-sound Bulls team. This one will probably be a toss up, but Chicago has been resilient this season.
Chicago wins series 4-3.

Overall
Now, since the NBA has a weird schedule in the playoffs, it's hard to do round-by-round predictions. So, I'll give the remainder of my predictions here. I'll start off with I think may be the easiest pick of them all. The Miami Heat will win the Eastern Conference. Vegas has you losing money if you place a bet on the Heat winning the conference. That's not a good sign for the remaining teams.

As for the Western Conference, I think it'll be an Oklahoma City/Denver Conference Finals. This will be an exciting series, but OKC will prove to be too much for the Nuggets. It will be a close series though, probably going the distance.

So that brings us to a rematch of last year's NBA Finals. As much as I love the Durant-Westbrook combo in Oklahoma City, it's hard to beat the best player in the world. While Durant - or "Iceberg Slim" as Jalen Rose calls him - may be the best pure scorer in the game, LeBron is the best overall. After this season, it'll be two rings for The King. It's very hard seeing any team stopping the runaway freight train that is the Miami Hat.

So, there you have it. If you're going to watch any playoff basketball, lean towards the Western Conference. Do you agree or disagree with my picks? Do you think I'm taking the easy way out having Heat win it all again? Let us know in the comment section below.

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2013 NFL Mock Draft

Now that the dust has settled from free agency, it's time to look ahead to the upcoming NFL Draft on Thursday April 25, 2013. I decided to look at the first round and give my predictions on who is going where. You might want to grab a snack. This is a long one.

(If you want to see other NFL Mock Drafts, check out the hailRedskins.com 2013 NFL Mock Draft page.)

1. Kansas City Chiefs - Luke Joeckel (OT) Texas A&M

Photo credit: USA Today

With the Chiefs trading for Alex Smith, Geno Smith will not going here. Picking another potential stud  offensive lineman to pair with Branden Albert - like Luke Joeckel - would make them a wrecking machine waiting to happen. Jamaal Charles would be able to run through the massive holes the line will be making and Smith will have all day to sit back and throw to newly resigned Dewayne Bowe. Joeckel is a stud tackle, but not quite at the Joe Thomas level. Think early Jake Long in Miami for a comparable.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars - Dion Jordan (DE) Oregon

Photo credit: The Daily Emerald

I don't think Geno Smith is worth the pick here for the Jaguars, who really do need to move on from Blaine Gabbert. Look for a quarterback at the top of round 2. Dion Jordan makes a ton of sense here. He has great pass rush potential for a team who really needs it after finishing dead last in sacks last season. Between him and a possible revitalization of Jason Babin after getting out of Philadelphia, that should help out Gus Bradley's new defense.

3. Oakland Raiders - Sharrif Floyd (DT) Florida

Photo credit: alligator.org

For once, the Raiders will not go for the fastest guy on the board. They will get a stud defensive tackle. After letting both of their starting tackles from last season go, they will need bodies to fill up the middle. Sharrif Floyd reminds me of a raw Gerald McCoy from Tampa Bay. Floyd will be great at penetrating the hole and being stout versus the run. He will struggle to begin with in Oakland with the lack of help around him, but has Pro Bowl potential.

4. Philadelphia Eagles - Dee Milliner (CB) Alabama

Photo credit: nflsfuture.com

Like the Raiders above, the Eagles let both of their starting cornerbacks from last year go off to free agency this year. They did sign Cary Williams away from the Super Bowl Champion Ravens, but they need another corner to help out on the back end. Dee Milliner has amazing upside with his size, athleticism, and talent. With having to face Tony Romo, Robert Griffin III, and Eli Manning in the NFC East, having a shut down corner that Nnamdi Asomugha was suppose to be should help that Eagles' defense.

5. Detroit Lions - Eric Fisher (OT) Central Michigan

Photo credit: gcobb.com

The Lions have two major needs: offensive tackle and defensive end. With that in mind, Eric Fisher from Central Michigan is my pick here. By making this pick, you are getting a stud left tackle to protect the blindside of Matthew Stafford while moving last year's first pick Riley Reiff to right tackle. This will also help out in the ground game by getting new addition Reggie Bush bigger lanes to burst through for big gains. Defensive end is also a big need here, so look for Ezekiel Ansah here potentially. But I think he is to raw to be spending the 5th overall pick on.

6. Browns - Xavier Rhodes (CB) Florida St.

Photo credit: Chicago Tribune

I'll start off by saying with Dee Milliner already being selected, I do not expect Cleveland to stay in the 6th pick. I expect the Browns to trade down for a team who wants to select Geno Smith or the last remaining stud offensive tackle, Lane Johnson. With that in mind though, I am not going to predict trades. So, Xavier Rhodes is the pick here. He will make a fantastic addition to the defensive to play opposite of Joe Haden. Like Milliner he has fantastic size, athleticism, and talent but is much more raw then Milliner but the potential is there for a solid starter for many years especially on the other side from Joe Haden.

7. Arizona Cardinals - Chance Warmack (OG) Alabama

Photo credit: rosterwatch.com

Arizona could go with Chance Warmack or offensive tackle Lane Johnson here. Either would be solid choices. I feel that Arizona has slightly better tackles than guards, so Warmack is the pick here. This man more closely resembles a mountain. He will help protect newly acquired Carson Palmer, and help open up lanes for Ryan Williams and Rashard Mendenhall.

8. Buffalo Bills - Geno Smith (QB) West Virginia

Photo credit: The Bleacher Report

Finally the first quarterback is off the board, and to a team who's been looking for next superstar quarterback since the great Jim Kelly. Geno Smith is a fantastic prospect: great arm, good scrambler, and just as good in the pocket. I think he is being a little underrated this year just because of Andrew Luck and RG3 in last year's quarterback class. Smith is not going to be those guys, but look for a stronger armed Russell Wilson as a solid comparison.

9. New York Jets - Ezekiel Ansah (OLB/DE) BYU

Photo credit: BYUCougars.com

Hopefully for the Jets this pick doesn't turn into Vernon Gholston 2.0. Ezekiel Ansah is a freak of nature athlete who can get to the quarterback. His measurables are off the chart. More suited as a defensive end in a 4-3, Ansah can but used as an outside linebacker in Rex Ryan's 3-4 defense. He is extremely raw when it comes to experience. But he will be going to a team that can potentially make him into Demarcus Ware -- if properly coached. Rex has his work cut out for him.

10. Tennessee Titans - Jonathan Cooper (OG) North Carolina

Photo credit: theacc.com

Even with adding Andy Levitre in free agency, guard is still an issue in Tennessee. Adding Jonathan Cooper from UNC will greatly help. Extremely athletic for a big man, Cooper will be a great help in the running game to help Chris Johnson get to the outside and run for big gains. Also a solid pass blocker will hopefully for Titans fans keep Jake Locker up right and getting the Titans back to pushing for AFC South title.

11. San Diego Chargers - Lane Johnson (OT) Oklahoma

Photo credit: gcobb.com

Poor Philip Rivers has been taking an absolute beating the last couple of seasons. Finally, he will start to get some help and protection here with Lane Johnson out of Oklahoma. The last of the stud tackles in this years draft he will help keep Rivers jersey clean. Having a great combine and Senior Bowl has launched Johnson to this pick. Great in pass protection will help get Chargers back to passing offensive they once were, look for a wide receiver in round 2 to help out even more.

12. Miami Dolphins - DJ Fluker (OT) Alabama

Photo credit: zimbo.com

Another Alabama product being taken here -- the third in the first 12 picks. Miami needs a new tackle with Jake Long moving on to St Louis in free agency and DJ Fluker will be a solid replacement. I see him starting at right tackle with Jonathan Martin being the starting left tackle.  Like Chance Warmack, he is a big man who is a road grader. Look for him to be a strong presence on the strong side of the line and help Ryan Tannehill take the next step.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Star Lotulelei (DT) Utah

Photo credit: The Bleacher Report

I personally do not think Tampa will be picking here come draft day. I think the Jets will be making their second pick of the first round after making a trade for Darrelle Revis. Since I'm not doing trades, Star Lotulelei is the pick. This will make that Tampa defensive line even better. The number one team versus the run last year, that play will not drop off with Star on the line, will play NT for Tampa keeping offensive linemen off Gerald McCoy and the defensive ends while also providing pressure on the quarterback.

14. Carolina Panthers - Cordarrelle Patterson (WR) Tennessee

Photo credit: palmbeachpost.com

Oh boy. This pick will make Cam Newton that much more deadly and effective. Cordarrelle Patterson can be a great weapon across from Steve Smith in this offense, moving Brandon Lafell to the slot and making the criminally underrated Greg Olsen that much more effective. Patterson is another big deep threat that has the size and speed to stretch defenses. He catches the ball very well too. Experience will be Patterson's weakness here, but that will come with time. He might start slow next year, but will be a solid pick two to three years down the road.

15. New Orleans Saints - Jarvis Jones (OLB) Georgia

Photo credit: savannahnow.com

This pick will be a steal for the Saints, with Jarvis Jones slipping because of health concerns. A top 5 talent as long as his spinal issues don't flare up, Jones will be a great pick for the Saints. Moving to the 3-4 this season with Rob Ryan coming in as defensive coordinator, Ryan will need someone who can bring the heat. With most of the Saints linebackers being more coverage guys and not as much pass rushers, Jones will get after the quarterback on the outside. I'd compare him to a slightly less talented Aldon Smith. Jones will make an impact immedately on this defense.

16. St. Louis Rams - Tavon Austin (WR) West Virginia

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With the first of the two first round picks for the Rams, I have Tavon Austin going to help Sam Bradford out in the Lou. Think of him as Percy Harvin 2.0. He is a speedster with the ability to break open the game anytime he can get his hands on the ball. Austin will be a great slot guy for the Rams with newly acquired Jared Cook. Look for a big bounce back year from former first overall pick Sam Bradford.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers - Eddie Lacy (RB) Alabama

Photo credit: The Bleacher Report

Maybe a little bit of a shocker or an earlier pick then most would have Alabama running back Eddie Lacy going, but the Steelers current batch of runners do not inspire faith. Lacy would be a great fit in Pittsburgh. He's a solid downhill runner that can bruise and batter the opposing defense. Lacy has solid hands and is a capable blocker. Even though he is coming off an injury and a lackluster pro day, the pick should not worry Steelers faithful. Lacy will help Big Ben as a 3 down back.

18. Dallas Cowboys - Slyvester Williams (DT) North Carolina

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With Dallas moving away from the 3-4, into a more traditional 4-3 and Cover 2 scheme of Monte Kiffen, Dallas will need a pass rushing defensive tackle. Only having more nose tackle type tackles, Slyvester Williams will be their man. Williams is athletic for tackle. His ability to get penetration reminds me of Henry Melton from Chicago. He will help America's team get more set up for the type of pass rush Kiffen likes to use to get to quarterback in his Tampa 2, using only the four down defensive lineman to get pressure.

19.   New York Giants - Kenny Vaccaro (S) Texas

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The Giants could use a little help back in their secondary and this pick of Kenny Vaccaro will help solidify that back end. Vaccaro is solid in pass coverage and with dropping down into the box. He can handle any duty the Giants ask of him. Since he's very athletic, Vaccaro can cover a lot of ground, allowing the Giants' corners to be more aggressive and go for turnovers knowing Vaccaro will have their backs.

20. Chicago Bears - Desmond Trufant (CB) Washington

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I know the Bears already have 2 solid corners. But in a division with Matt Stafford and Aaron Rodgers, you need all the corner help you can get. Desmond Trufant is a ball-hawking corner if I have ever seen one. Playing on this extremely opportunistic defense of Chicago as a nickelback, Trufant can let the corners all play more aggressive in their Tampa 2 and go for the pick-six. This is a luxury pick, but the Bears are almost there -- especially after picking up a tackle to protect Jay Cutler

21. Cincinnati Bengals - Keenan Allen (WR) California

Photo credit: The Bleacher Report

Keenan Allen will be a great addition to the Bengals. He'll help give their offense some more explosion, take some heat off A.J. Green, and make Andy Dalton more explosive. Bengals receiver Mohamed Sanu is a good wide receiver, but no team is going to be afraid of him going off for a big gain. Allen will be the guy on the other side of Green, making Sanu a solid, big-bodied slot receiver. Allen has good acceleration, size, and hands. He projects as more of a possession guy, lacking top end speed. But he can make this offense better. With, an already solid defense, look for a playoff push from the Bengals.

22. St Louis Rams - Alec Ogletree (OLB) Georgia

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Outside of James Laurinaitis, the Rams linebacking core is quite weak. Alec Ogletree is the selection using the pick they received from Washington in the RG3 deal. A versatile linebacker able to play the inside or outside, Ogletree will make their nickel package better. A sideline to sideline player, he is very rangy and can lower the boom when he wants. This pick makes a Rams team looking push for one of the wild card spots in the NFC much better.

23. Minnesota Vikings - Eric Reid (S) LSU

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A great safe pick who will play center field in the Vikings defense, Eric Reid was the safety valve for the great LSU defense. He allowed their play-making defensive players do their thing. A big hitter, Reid has good size and is great in run defense. However, Reid can be exposed by the elite tight ends he will be asked to cover in the NFL. He will make a solid pick to put next to Harrison Smith for years to come.

24. Indianapolis Colts -  Manti Te'o (ILB) Notre Dame

Photo credit: The Bleacher Report

We finally see the much hyped/ talked about Manti Te'o go -- to the Colts of all teams. The Colts have a need at inside linebacker, and while Alec Ogletree might be a better suit for them here, Te'o is not a bad consolation. A solid prospect, he is a student of the game. Te'o is a decent athlete that is better on the field in pads than he is off the field in shorts. A solid tackler who is good in coverage, he can solidify the inside of that Colts front-7 and will be helped out by his big interior line. He won't be dominated like he was in the BCS National Championship.

25. Minnesota Vikings - Bjoern Werner (DE) Florida St.

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With theoir 2nd pick in the first round, I have the Vikings taking FSU stand-out Bjoern Werner. A solid defensive end, Werner will create pressure and hold up against the run. He reminds me of Michael Bennett in Seattle, but with more athleticism. Werner will help take pressure off Jared Allen, letting Allen run free and take another shot at that sack record.

26. Green Bay Packers - Menelik Watson (OT) Florida St.

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Aaron Rodgers needs to be protected. The man took the most sacks in the league last year and still put up a MVP-calibre season. So the raw but talented Menelik Watson out of FSU is the pick here. He will fit in with the Packers, and being around a veteran organization will help his development. Watson has great athleticism, long arms and is a strong, mean son-of-a-gun. Give this man time and he can turn into a Pro Bowler...or a bust.

27. Houston Texans - Robert Woods (WR) USC

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How long have the Texans needed another wide receiver to play on the other side from the great Andre Johnson? Well, they finally take Robert Woods out of USC to be that guy. This situation is very similar to the Cardinals taking Michael Floyd to protect Larry Fitzgerald from constant double teams. A very good route runner and play maker, Woods can open the field up for Johnson and Owen Daniels. Woods lacks explosive speed but makes it up with the previously-mentioned route-running.

28. Denver Broncos - Barkevious Mingo (DE) LSU

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What a slide for Barkevious Mingo! From being talked about in the top 10-15 in most mock drafts, down to 28 in ours. But I don't think he minds the slide after being picked up by Denver. After losing Elvis Dumervil due to his crazy contract situation, the Broncos are going to need a pass rusher to replace him. Mingo will be a great replacement. He's a crazy athlete who will be able to get around the corner on most offensive tackles in the league. Since Mingo has more size than Dumervil, he will hold up better in the run game. But Mingo will still not be elite in that regard. Mainly a pass rusher, Mingo will make the Broncos forget that Elvis has left the building.

29. New England Patriots - Matt Elam (S) Florida

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New England has a terrible pass defense, but this pick paired with the addition of Adrain Wilson to the safety position will help. By selecting Matt Elam, it will allow Devin McCourty to be able to slide back to corner to play across from Aqib Talib. In Elam, New England is getting a solid ball-hawking, big-hitting safety who is solid in coverage or run stopping. He's a little short at 5'10, so the elite tight ends in the league might take advantage of that. Elam also goes for big hit too much, so better tackling fundamentals might help as well.

30. Atlanta Falcons - Tyler Eifert (TE) Notre Dame

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Well, the rich just get richer. I have Atlanta taking Tyler Eifert out of Notre Dame, adding to an already potent offense. Clearly, this is a pick for next year when Tony Gonzalez retires. But in the mean time, it gives Matt Ryan two fantastic tight ends and makes Atlanta that much more scary. The Falcons could mimic a New England style attack, but with better wide receivers on the outside. Athletic and with good hands, Eifert's blocking is only okay at best. With his size and ability and in this offense, look for him to have a great season this year and dominate after that when Gonzalez retires.

31. San Francisco 49'ers - Margus Hunt (DE) SMU

Photo credit: SI.com

After his showing at the combine, Margus Hunt proved he's an athletic freak. Hunt is extremely raw, but will have time to develop on the defending NFC Champions. He can play DE across from Justin Smith. Hunt is extremely strong and has a great rush up field. At 6'8", he is a massive man and great fit in the 3-4. Hunt will add even more pass rush to a team that has more then enough.

32. Baltimore Ravens - Zack Ertz (TE) Stanford

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With both of Baltimore's tight ends being restricted free agents and have yet to sign, Zack Ertz makes a ton of sense here. Ertz is an upgrade on both tight ends he might be replacing. He is a solid all around tight end in the mould of Heath Miller, but with a little more explosiveness. Ertz gives Joe Flacco a go to guy at the goal line. If both tight ends are resigned, look for cornerback Jamar Taylor from Boise St. to be picked here.

So, there you have it. That's what I think will happen in the first round. Do you agree or disagree? Should someone be higher or did I reach? Sound off in the comment section below.

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