The NFL Draft starts tonight (April 22), and with it the hopes of every team are raised. The better teams will fill needs and draft role players they hope can help push them to a championship. The Oakland Raiders and Detroit Lions of the world will draft who they hope can be their next star player. Whether your favorite team is good, bad, or somewhere in-between, the NFL Draft is a fun event that always builds optimism. This year’s class of rookies looks to be one of the deepest and most talented in recent memory, which should make for an exciting draft.

Until this year, the draft started on a Saturday morning with rounds one through three, with the final four rounds being held the next day, Sunday. In recent years, the draft has become very popular, and with millions of viewers tuning in on a Saturday morning, the NFL saw a marketing opportunity. The draft was moved to prime time on Thursday night, the most-watched night in television. The first round starts at 7:30 p.m., the second and third rounds start Friday, April 23 at 6 p.m., and the final rounds (4-7) start Saturday, April 24 at 10 a.m. The NFL will generate more interest and make more money with the current format, plus there is a good chance more trades will be executed because teams now have two nights to work out deals between rounds. Despite the benefits, I think I’ll always miss waking up Saturday morning and having that Christmas Day feeling, but business is business, and the NFL should benefit from the changes.

In addition to this draft being so deep and full of talent, many teams have more options in the first few picks, and one of many, many combinations of picks will happen in this year’s first round. I’ll take a stab at the top ten picks:

First Overall - St. Louis Rams:

The Rams won only one game in 2009 and have many holes to fill. Quarterback, offensive line, and defensive line are three of their biggest needs, and more often than not, a team in need of a franchise quarterback will take one with its first pick. Sam Bradford out of Oklahoma profiles perfectly as the QB the Rams are looking for. He was hurt for much of last season but still possesses three qualities essential to an NFL quarterback: mental capacity, accuracy, and leadership. The Rams have passed on quarterbacks and taken linemen with their last two first-round picks, but I doubt they can pass on Bradford. If they do, either one of a pair of defensive tackles, Ndamukong Suh of Nebraska and Oklahoma’s Gerald McCoy would be the likely pick.

Projected pick: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma


Second Overall - Detroit Lions:

The Lions, not unlike the Rams, have needs everywhere you look, but quarterback is not one of them. The Lions will almost certainly take their choice of Suh or McCoy, or pick the leftover if St. Louis elects to take one. Suh is more of a run-stopper and sound tackler, while McCoy tends to be more of a penetrating DT. Both were forces in college and project to be much of the same in the NFL.

Projected pick: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska


Third Overall – Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

Tampa Bay’s defense was the worst Bucs fans have seen in recent memory last season, so they will probably look to improve it with their first pick. If Suh or McCoy is available, Tampa would most likely be more than happy to take one. If they are both gone or Tampa decides to go elsewhere, an offensive tackle or Tennessee safety Eric Berry would also help greatly.

Projected pick: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma


Fourth Overall - Washington Redskins:

The Redskins were one of the top suitors for Bradford until they acquired Donovan McNabb from Philadelphia, but they will now most likely look to protect their investment. Incumbent starter Jason Campbell was battered and bruised last year, so the ‘Skins most obvious pick would be an offensive tackle to prevent McNabb from suffering the same fate. There are several top-tier OT’s in this year’s draft, but the safest is probably Oklahoma State’s Russell Okung. Washington could also go with one of the other top offensive tackles, but Okung is the most highly regarded. He should be able to start at right tackle immediately and do a solid job protecting McNabb’s blind side.

Projected pick: Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State


Fifth Overall – Kansas City Chiefs:

Kansas City’s pick is where it really gets crazy. There are several options for the Chiefs here, as they have significant needs on their offensive line and in their secondary, making an OT or Berry good options. Berry is a playmaking safety who is compared exhaustingly to future Hall of Famer and current Ravens’ safety Ed Reed. Berry is a ball-hawk who can make a big difference immediately. Working against him is the fact that most teams don’t draft safeties this early, but if there is ever a case to buck that trend, it’s Berry. Options on the offensive line are Bryan Bulaga from Iowa and Oklahoma’s Trent Williams. Either would start at right tackle for KC and would greatly improve their line. A dark-horse candidate is Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen, as Kansas City hired Clausen’s head coach at Notre Dame, Charlie Weiss, to be their offensive coordinator in January. The Chiefs traded for Matt Cassel and gave him a multi-year deal to be their starting quarterback last off-season, but he did not perform to expectations and there is a small chance Weiss could convince his peers to take Clausen. The Chiefs are also short on playmakers and could look at the playmaking but egotistical wide receiver Dez Bryant out of Oklahoma State.

Projected pick: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

Sixth Overall – Seattle Seahawks:

If Berry was still available here, the Seahawks would probably take him, but if the Chiefs take Berry, Seattle will probably look to upgrade its offensive line to protect veteran QB Matt Hasselbeck and improve their running game. Bulaga or Williams would likely be the pick here, and while Williams has more physical skills, some teams question his work ethic. Despite the risks, he is probably currently the better player and Seattle needs help immediately.

Projected pick: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma


Seventh Overall – Cleveland Browns:

The Browns have many needs, and Florida cornerback Joe Haden was the consensus pick at no. 7 until the Browns acquired Sheldon Brown in a deal with Philadelphia. Brown has been a starter at cornerback for many years, but at 31 may be losing some of his edge despite a solid season last year. The Browns could go with Haden here but it is now very unlikely. If Berry slips to the Browns, they would gleefully jump at the chance to take him, but he will most likely be gone. Bryant, Bulaga, Clausen, Tennessee defensive tackle Dan Williams, safety Earl Thomas from Texas, defensive ends Derek Morgan of Georgia Tech and Jared Odrick from Penn State, and running back C.J. Spiller of Clemson are all options for the Browns as new Team President and football czar Mike Holmgren looks to overhaul the Browns’ roster. More likely than not, the Browns would shy away from a running back or offensive lineman because they are less pressing needs, and Williams is unlikely as the Browns have a good backup nose tackle in Athyba Rubin even if Shaun Rogers is charged for accidentally taking his gun on a plane with him. The Browns are looking hard at Texas QB Colt McCoy with their second round pick, so Clausen isn’t likely either. That leaves the safety Thomas, the receiver Bryant, and the defensive ends, Odrick and Morgan. Thomas probably fills the most important need for the Browns, but Bryant helps out the most talent-wise. Bryant is the classic “diva” receiver who is great on the field but can cause problems with his attitude. Morgan is ranked more highly than Odrick, but Odrick has been rising on every expert’s draft board since the combine and during pro days. The best case scenario for the Browns involves trading down and taking either Thomas or Odrick a few picks later, but if forced to pick I think the Browns would address their most pressing need, defensive playmaker.

Projected pick: Earl Thomas, S, Texas


Eighth Overall - Oakland Raiders:

The Raiders have been one of the worst drafting teams in the league the last several years, with the majority of their first-round pick being busts. They have needs everywhere, but mostly on offense. Oakland could take any player ranked in the top 40 or so, as last year they took Darrius Heyward-Bey with their first pick about fifteen picks ahead of where most people thought he should go. If they are smart (highly doubtful), Oakland would take an offensive lineman because they are usually pretty safe picks, and the Raiders need their pick here to produce. Clausen is definitely an option, as the Raiders have been lacking a good quarterback since Rich Gannon retired over five years ago. Bulaga or Rutgers’ Anthony Davis are the two best offensive lineman available, and the Raiders would be wise to take one. But there is never a dull moment in the Raiders’ draft room, so this pick could go anywhere.

Projected pick: Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa


Ninth Overall – Buffalo Bills:

The Bills have their biggest needs at quarterback, offensive line, and wide receiver. Last season their offensive line was absolutely horrid, getting ransacked by most opposing defenses. As much as they would love to take Clausen here, the Bills should be smart and build an offensive line before trying to get a new QB. Davis is the best one available, and is a terrific pass blocker. He fits what the Bills need perfectly, but the prospects of drafting a potential franchise quarterback could very well be too hard to pass up.

Projected pick: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers

Tenth Overall – Jacksonville Jaguars:

The Jags could use Bryant as a playmaking receiver or Spiller as a compliment to starting running back Maurice Jones-Drew, but they will probably pick a defensive playmaker. If Thomas falls to them, The Jaguars would happily draft him here. If he is gone, the next best defensive playmaker is linebacker Rolando McClain out of Alabama. McClain gives Jacksonville a very good linebacker, which they are currently lacking. Many experts predict Jacksonville will take Spiller, but it would not be smart for a mediocre team to take a player they don’t need. Spiller is a terrific player and could help their offense, but they can get a change-of-pace running back later in the draft.

Projected pick: Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama

As is always with the NFL draft, anything can happen, and many unpredictable things probably will. It should make for an exciting event and I know I’ll be tuning in to see just how many of these predictions come true.