1. Detroit Lions — Matthew Stafford — QB — Georgia

I don’t see any way that the Lions would get away with picking anyone else. Sure, a good offensive lineman such as Jason Smith will give you a sturdy player to build around, but after a 0-16 season, you need a face for your franchise that can help turn it around. Stafford is the guy.

2. St. Louis Rams — Jason Smith — OT — Baylor

The Rams need Smith to fill the gap that former Pro Bowl lineman Orlando Pace left when the team released him. While this team is also in a rebuilding phase, an offensive lineman is a primary need for the Rams, who would be getting an extremely talented player.

3. Kansas City Chiefs — Aaron Curry — OLB — Wake Forest

I was tempted to give the Chiefs a receiver after the news broke today that 10-time Pro-Bowl TE Tony Gonzalez was traded to the Falcons, but Curry is too talented to pass over at the No. 3 spot. He is the best defensive player in this year’s draft, and he will add to a Chiefs defense that is rebuilding itself into a dominant unit.

4. Seattle Seahawks — Eugene Monroe — OT — Virginia

This is the first mock draft pick that most sports commentators can’t agree on. The Seahawks acquired WR T. J. Houshmandzadeh in the offseason, and the organization says it’s set with QB Matt Hasselbeck at the helm. That said, Seattle has done an awful job of protecting Hasselbeck, so they should pick the second-best offensive lineman in the draft in Monroe.

5. Cleveland Browns — B.J. Raji — DT — Boston College

The Browns need a player that has a strong presence on the field, and they would surely get it with Raji, the best defensive tackle in the draft. This pick would certainly suit Cleveland’s new coach, defensive-minded Eric Mangini.

6. Cincinnati Bengals — Michael Crabtree — WR — Texas Tech

The Bengals no longer have the talented Houshmandzadeh on the field, while their No. 1 receiver right now, Chad Ocho Cinco, suffered a horrendous statistical season last year. Crabtree is the best receiver in the draft, and with QB Carson Palmer returning to the lineup after an injury derailed his 2008 season, the Bengals need to pick up Crabtree if he falls this far.

7. Oakland Raiders — Jeremy Maclin — WR — Missouri

The Raiders have been in close contact with Maclin for weeks now. Maclin’s greatest asset is his blinding speed, and Raiders owner Al Davis loves to pick up speedy players.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars — Andre Smith — OT — Alabama

If Crabtree or Maclin drop this far, the Jaguars would be foolish not to pick them up, as their receiving core is essentially nonexistent. But if both are gone, an offensive tackle to protect QB David Garrard and pave the way for RB Maurice Jones-Drew would help the offensive production almost immediately.

9. Green Bay Packers — Tyson Jackson — DE — LSU

The Packers are making the switch from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4, and picking Jackson, the most NFL-ready 3-4 defensive end in this year’s draft, would make perfect sense.

10. San Francisco 49ers — Aaron Maybin — DE — Penn State

Some say that the 49ers would be crazy to pass on USC quarterback Mark Sanchez if he falls this far, but are they really ready to give up on 2005 No. 1 pick, Alex Smith? Maybin is an explosive defensive end that could greatly benefit the 49ers defense.

11. Buffalo Bills — Brian Orakpo — DE/LB — Texas

Why stop at the top ten? I’m from Buffalo; enough said. After trading Pro Bowl underachiever (believe me, that’s not an oxymoron) Jason Peters, the team needs to draft an offensive lineman. But because they obtained the 28th pick from the Eagles for Peters, they should be able to take a good offensive lineman there. They also need a tight end, and the draft’s best is Brandon Pettigrew, but Orakpo is difficult to pass up. He thrives in the 4-3 defensive setup, and he would certainly be gone before the Bills’ next pick. Now that they have a potentially explosive offense, the Bills could definitely use some more tenacious defensive talent for its fierce-looking pass rush, and for that reason, Orakpo is the pick.