Mock Draft

The era of free agency made for an active off-season in the NFL. Staff writer T.J. Simers takes a look at the teams’ key acquisitions and their prospects heading into today’s draft.

NO. & TEAM: 1. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS TOP ACQUISITION: Leon Seals, Defensive Tackle COMMENT: Patriots get DE Aaron Smith, QB Scott Secules, OG Steve Trapilo, DE John Washington. A who’s who of who? PROBABLE PICK: Drew Bledsoe, QB, Wash. St. COMMENT: Parcells needs QB, but is he going to deal topspot to Garrison Hearst suitors?

NO. & TEAM: 2. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS TOP ACQUISITION: Kelvin Martin, Wide Receiver COMMENT: TE Ferrell Edmunds and Martin add skill to receiving corps. Tom Flores, however, is still team’s best QB. PROBABLE PICK: Rick Mirer, QB, Notre Dame COMMENT: A no-brainer, even though Seattle hasn’t shown smarts in past (Kelly Stouffer, Dan McGwire) when picking QBs.

NO. & TEAM: 3. NEW YORK JETS TOP ACQUISITION: Eric Thomas, Cornerback COMMENT: SS Ronnie Lott, QB Boomer Esiason, DE Leonard Marshall are eligible for social security soon. PROBABLE PICK: Marvin Jones, LB, Florida State COMMENT: Jets pass on best offensive player (RB Garrison Hearst) to grab best defender. How many TDs will Jones score?

NO. & TEAM: 4. PHOENIX CARDINALS TOP ACQUISITION: Steve Beuerlein, Quarterback COMMENT: QB Timm Rosenbach gets brushoff. Beuerlein, WR Gary Clark add sizzle, but will Beuerlein have time to throw? PROBABLE PICK: Garrison Hearst, RB, Georgia COMMENT: Rams, Bucs, Colts all trying to jump ahead of Cardinals to draft Hearst.

NO. & TEAM: 5. CINCINNATI BENGALS TOP ACQUISITION: Sheldon White, Cornerback COMMENT: There were more than 300 free agents available when this process began. Bengals studied, signed White. PROBABLE PICK: John Copeland, DT, Alabama COMMENT: If 49ers trade up here, they take Eric Curry. Bengals take pass rusher over OT Willie Roaf.

NO. & TEAM: 6. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS TOP ACQUISITION: Hardy Nickerson, Linebacker COMMENT: Failed to steal QB Neil O’Donnell from Pittsburgh, but swiped Nickerson. Steelers don’t appear upset. PROBABLE PICK: Eric Curry, DE, Alabama COMMENT: Sam Wyche is known to be wacky. It appears Buccaneers will play 1993 without a starting QB.

NO. & TEAM: 7. CHICAGO BEARS TOP ACQUISITION: Craig Heyward, Running Back COMMENT: Saints get Brad Muster, Bears get dining partner for William Perry. CB Tony Blaylock nice last-minute pickup. PROBABLE PICK: Dan Williams, DE, Toledo COMMENT: Richard Dent isn’t happy, Steve McMichael is older than Harry Caray and Alonzo Spellman needs help.

NO. & TEAM: 8. DETROIT LIONS TOP ACQUISITION: Bill Fralic, Offensive Guard COMMENT: Barry Sanders gets Fralic, OG David Richards and OG David Lutz. Bid for LB Derrick Thomas fizzles. PROBABLE PICK: Willie Roaf, OT, Louisiana Tech COMMENT: Saints reportedly might trade LB Pat Swilling to Lions for this pick. Lions want Curry, would love Roaf.

NO. & TEAM: 9. ATLANTA FALCONS TOP ACQUISITION: Bobby Hebert, Quarterback COMMENT: Indecent proposal: How much to play for Jerry Glanville? DE Pierce Holt needs $7.5 million guaranteed. PROBABLE PICK: Lincoln Kennedy, OT, Washington COMMENT: Free agency took mighty bite out of line, so Falcons take guy who has tried to eat himself out of first round.

NO. & TEAM: 10. RAMS TOP ACQUISITION: Shane Conlan, Linebacker COMMENT: OT Irv Eatman, LB Henry Rolling, OG Leo Goeas help, but Gerald Perry, Kevin Greene, Joe Milinichik were better. PROBABLE PICK: Jerome Bettis, RB, Notre Dame COMMENT: They say Bettis has only one little problem--he fumbles. Holy Cleveland Gary, surely they jest.

NO. & TEAM: 11. CLEVELAND BROWNS TOP ACQUISITION: Mark Carrier, Wide Receiver COMMENT: Browns want QB Vinny Testaverde. Now, how do they keep Dawg Pound inmates from throwing at him? PROBABLE PICK: Tom Carter, CB, Notre Dame COMMENT: Cleveland might trade down, take LB Wayne Simmons and let someone else take Curtis Conway or Carter here.

NO. & TEAM: 12. RAIDERS TOP ACQUISITION: Jeff Hostetler, Quarterback COMMENT: Raiders get Kelly! Joe Kelly, the LB. You were thinking Jim Kelly? Raiders get Gaston Green, lose announcer Bill King. PROBABLE PICK: Patrick Bates, SS, Texas A&M; COMMENT: One scout says whoever takes this guy in first round is making a mistake. The Raiders don’t make mistakes.

NO. & TEAM: 13. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES TOP ACQUISITION: First-round pick COMMENT: Eagles lose DE Reggie White, get first-round payoff. Used-up TE Mark Bavaro replaces Keith Jackson. PROBABLE PICK: Brad Hopkins, OT, Illinois COMMENT: Eagles’ line in a shambles and Randall Cunningham can’t keep running away from trouble.

NO. & TEAM: 14. DENVER BRONCOS TOP ACQUISITION: Rod Bernstine, Running Back COMMENT: Operation “Save John Elway’s Life:” Bernstine, OT Brian Habib and OT Don Maggs take heat off No. 7. PROBABLE PICK: Curtis Conway, WR, USC COMMENT: Conway might go higher--sixth or seventh slot. Denver or San Diego might move up to get him.

NO. & TEAM: 15. GREEN BAY PACKERS TOP ACQUISITION: Reggie White, Defensive End COMMENT: White said he checked with God before picking Green Bay.Maybe Vince Lombardi had something to do with the choice. PROBABLE PICK: Sean Dawkins, WR, California COMMENT: Packers prefer CB--maybe Ryan McNeil, but also looking for companion for WR Sterling Sharpe.

NO. & TEAM: 16. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS TOP ACQUISITION: Kirk Lowdermilk, Center COMMENT: Colts lose WR Billy Brooks and add WR Aaron Cox. Well, there’s always basketball to watch in Indiana. PROBABLE PICK: Lester Holmes, OG, Jackson State COMMENT: Hoosier Dome undoubtedly will fill up when fans hear this pick. Colts really want Bettis.

NO. & TEAM: 17. WASHINGTON REDSKINS TOP ACQUISITION: Al Noga, Defensive End COMMENT: Washington loses Gary Clark, Martin Mayhew, James Geathers, Fred Stokes, Joe Gibbs. Gets Bill Clinton. PROBABLE PICK: Carlton Gray, CB, UCLA COMMENT: Redskins will wait for Charger GM Bobby Beathard to swap firsts. If so, they might take RB Natrone Means.

NO. & TEAM: 18. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS TOP ACQUISITION: Steve Bono, Quarterback COMMENT: Who needs Joe Montana? By re-signing Bono, 49ers remain prepared if run-happy Steve Young gets hurt. PROBABLE PICK: Dan Footman, DE, Florida State COMMENT: ESPN’s Mel Kiper will say he can’t believe Footman lasted this long. 49ers may wish he hadn’t.

NO. & TEAM: 19. HOUSTON OILERS TOP ACQUISITION: Buddy Ryan, Def. Coordinator COMMENT: No free agents. But postseason collapse against Bills offset by hiring of colorful defensive coordinator. PROBABLE PICK: Steve Everitt, C, Michigan COMMENT: Buddy Ryan has a tantrum. Oilers, however, need help up front on offense. Would prefer Hopkins.

NO. & TEAM: 20. PHOENIX CARDINALS TOP ACQUISITION: Ricky Proehl, Wide Receiver COMMENT: Cardinals match offer sheet from Patriots to keep Proehl. Effort to get Charger OT Harry Swayne fails. PROBABLE PICK: Ernest Dye, OT, South Carolina COMMENT: Coach Joe Bugel is former offensive line coach and maybe team’s best blocker. Somebody has to block for Hearst.

NO. & TEAM: 21. MINNESOTA VIKINGS TOP ACQUISITION: Jim McMahon, Quarterback COMMENT: OK, so who will be the starting QB in the second week of the season when McMahon goes on injured reserve? PROBABLE PICK: O.J. McDuffie, WR, Penn State COMMENT: Vikings want offensive lineman, but none left. Kevin Williams is a burner, but McDuffie is more polished.

NO. & TEAM: 22. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS TOP ACQUISITION: Jerrol Williams, Linebacker COMMENT: Best free agent nobody ever heard of, but then that’s Bobby Beathard’s strength, discovering stars. PROBABLE PICK: Demetrius DuBose, LB, Notre Dame COMMENT: Chargers will offer next year’s No. 1 pick to move higher in round one. They want Conway, Everitt.

NO. & TEAM: 23. PITTSBURGH STEELERS TOP ACQUISITION: Kevin Greene, Linebacker COMMENT: Defense made for Greene, who excels at mugging QBs. Adding Mike Tomczak spells doom for Bubby Brister. PROBABLE PICK: Wayne Simmons, LB, Clemson COMMENT: LB Chris Slade also mentioned, but Coach Bill Cowher reportedly pushing for DuBose.

NO. & TEAM: 24. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES TOP ACQUISITION: Tim Harris, Linebacker COMMENT: 49ers not only lost out on White, but it cost them Harris, their premier pass rusher, who replaces White. PROBABLE PICK: Irv Smith, TE, Notre Dame COMMENT: Most teams have him ranked higher, but who wants to take a TE? Eagles do, to fill Keith Jackson vacancy.

NO. & TEAM: 25. MIAMI DOLPHINS TOP ACQUISITION: Irving Fryar, Wide Receiver COMMENT: No truth to rumor WR Mark Clayton leaving because Dan Marino didn’t give him Isotoner Gloves for Christmas. PROBABLE PICK: Robert Smith, RB, Ohio State COMMENT: Dolphins wanted Marcus Allen, inquired about Eric Dickerson. What about Means here?

NO. & TEAM: 26. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS TOP ACQUISITION: Wade Wilson, Quarterback COMMENT: Saints’ quarterback lineup reads: Wilson, Mike Buck and Steve Walsh. How ‘bout that defense? PROBABLE PICK: Troy Drayton, TE, Penn State COMMENT: Saints, who already have Hoby Brenner and John Tice at TE, will surprise by announcing choice of TE.

NO. & TEAM: 27. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS TOP ACQUISITION: Tim McDonald, Safety COMMENT: The Ronnie Lott of the ‘90s, and ladies and gentlemen, your next Monday night TV star. PROBABLE PICK: Darrien Gordon, CB, Stanford COMMENT: Teams spend thousands of dollars to find just the right guy. 49ers spend 20 cents, call Bill Walsh.

NO. & TEAM: 28. BUFFALO BILLS TOP ACQUISITION: Bill Brooks, Wide Receiver COMMENT: Leaves Hoosier Dome to play on Buffalo tundra. Why? When is last time Colts played in a Super Bowl? PROBABLE PICK: Ryan McNeil, CB, Miami COMMENT: Will Wolford mess unsettling to Bills, but not as much as Troy Aikman’s performance in Super Bowl.

NO. & TEAM: 29. DALLAS COWBOYS TOP ACQUISITION: Charles Haley, Defensive End COMMENT: Haley re-enlists. No one tried to sign Emmitt Smith--so much for free agency. Super Bowl champs keep team intact. PROBABLE PICK: Natrone Means, RB, North Carolina COMMENT: DBs Carlton Gray and Deon Figures more touted, but Cowboys like to think they’re smarter than everyone else.

NO. & TEAM: NEW YORK GIANTS* TOP ACQUISITION: Phil Simms, Quarterback COMMENT: Dan Reeves won’t be trading for Elway. He sticks with veteran Simms, signs WR Mark Jackson and WR Mike Sherrard. PROBABLE PICK: Dave Brown, QB, Duke COMMENT: Giants used No. 1 choice, which turned out to be ninth pick, to select Brown in supplemental draft last year.

NO. & TEAM: KANSAS CITY CHIEFS* TOP ACQUISITION: Joe Montana, Quarterback COMMENT: Chiefs get Montana and OG Danny Villa, and that’s only time those two names will appear in the same sentence. PROBABLE PICK: Darren Mickell, DL, Florida COMMENT: Chiefs gave No. 1 for Montana, surrendered No. 2 last year in supplemental draft for Mickell.

* No pick in first round. Giants used their selection to pick quarterback Dave Brown of Duke in the supplemental draft last year. Chiefs sent their selection to the 49ers as part of the trade for quarterback Joe Montana.