Raiders are back on top

Al Davis has to be loving this: His Oakland Raiders are relevant again.

If the Raiders use the No. 1 pick on Georgia Tech receiver Calvin Johnson -- as the mock draft below suggests -- things should chug along rather smoothly in the early going of the NFL draft, which begins today with rounds one through three.

But if the Raiders take Louisiana State quarterback JaMarcus Russell, as many prognosticators think they will, it could trigger a mad scramble for the second spot and the chance to draft Johnson. Atlanta wants to trade up for him, and so does Tampa Bay.

Detroit is the franchise crossing its fingers that Russell goes first, because the Lions could trade down and potentially still get the player they want -- Clemson’s Gaines Adams -- for less money and another draft pick or two.

So, on this topsy-turvy day, the 2-14 Raiders have everyone’s attention.

By the way, this list doesn’t include a USC or UCLA player taken in the first round. USC receiver Dwayne Jarrett and center Ryan Kalil are possibilities, but if they drop out it would mark the first time since 1987 that the Trojans and Bruins have been shut out in the first round.

The first USC or UCLA pick that year: Trojans defensive back Tim McDonald, who later was credited with coining the phrase, “Show me the money!” He was taken in the early second by the old St. Louis Cardinals.

A look at one way the first round could unfold:

1. Oakland -- Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech: Now all they need is someone to get the ball to him.

2. Detroit -- Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson: This is the player the Lions want, but they’d love to trade down, take him later, and save money.

3. Cleveland -- JaMarcus Russell, QB, Louisiana State: The Browns decide to pass on Ohio boy Brady Quinn.

4. Tampa Bay -- Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin: Buccaneers like 1) Johnson, 2) Adams, 3) Thomas and 4) Amobi Okoye.

5. Arizona -- Levi Brown, OT, Penn State: Cardinals line coach Russ Grimm could mold this guy into a great one.

6. Washington -- LaRon Landry, S, Louisiana State: Redskins can move Sean Taylor to strong safety and let Landry roam.

7. Minnesota -- Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma: The Vikings also could go with QB Quinn at this spot.

8. Atlanta -- Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas: Falcons really want WR Johnson. If they can’t get him, they’ll take a pass rusher.

9. Miami -- Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame: If the Raiders take Russell No. 1, Quinn could land in Cleveland.

10. Houston -- Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh: Revis joins a collection of young stars on the Texans defense.

11. San Francisco -- Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska: The 49ers are sorely in need of explosive edge rusher.

12. Buffalo -- Leon Hall, CB, Michigan: Bills need to take the sting out of losing Nate Clements.

13. St. Louis -- Patrick Willis, LB, Mississippi: Rams also like Brigham Young QB John Beck, but it’s way too early.

14. Carolina -- Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville: Some teams really like this 19-year-old phenom, others are more cautious.

15. Pittsburgh -- Lawrence Timmons, LB, Florida State: Joey Porter is gone; Steelers need help at OLB.

16. Green Bay -- Marshawn Lynch, RB, California: Time to usher in a new era of Packers running backs.

17. Jacksonville -- Reggie Nelson, S, Florida: Jaguars have to appreciate a player with so much range.

18. Cincinnati -- Alan Branch, DT, Michigan: Aging Bengals are old and subpar in the interior.

19. Tennessee -- Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee: He trumps, among others, the Dwaynes -- Bowe and Jarrett -- as next-best receiver.

20. New York Giants -- Ted Ginn Jr., WR, Ohio State: Eli Manning desperately needs another target.

21. Denver -- Jarvis Moss, DE, Florida: The retooled Broncos need a pass rusher.

22. Dallas -- Michael Griffin, S, Texas: Better in coverage than Miami’s Brandon Meriweather.

23. Kansas City -- Ben Grubbs, G, Auburn: With the retirement of Will Shields, the Chiefs need a guard.

24. New England -- Brandon Meriweather, S, Miami: Team leaders will keep this guy in line.

25. New York Jets -- Greg Olsen, TE, Miami: Now both Jets and Giants can have tight ends from Miami.

26. Philadelphia -- Jon Beason, LB, Miami: Eagles would really like a safety, but the top ones are gone.

27. New Orleans -- Justin Harrell, DT, Tennessee: Saints can run; now, they need to stop the run.

28. New England -- David Harris, LB, Michigan: Patriots are getting old at ILB, and Harris will help.

29. Baltimore -- Joe Staley, OT, Central Michigan: USC center Ryan Kalil is a possible fit here too.

30. San Diego -- Paul Posluszny, LB, Penn State: With Donnie Edwards gone, Posluszny picks up the slack.

31. Chicago -- Aaron Ross, CB, Texas: A good fit for the Bears’ scheme; they want to trade down.

32. Indianapolis -- Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Ohio State: Is this the new Brandon Stokely? Maybe better.

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sam.farmer@latimes.com

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NFL draft

First-round order of today’s NFL draft (9 a.m., ESPN; 5 p.m., ESPN2) and each team’s picks by rounds. Three rounds will be held today, and the final four rounds Sunday:

*--* 1ST ROUND Other picks by round 1. Oakland 2, 3 (2), 4, 5 (2), 6, 7 (2) 2. Detroit 2, 3, 4, 5 (4), 7 3. Cleveland 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 4. Tampa Bay 2 (2), 3, 4, 5, 7 (3) 5. Arizona 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 6. Washington 5, 6 (2), 7 7. Minnesota 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 8. Atlanta-a 2 (2), 3, 4 (3), 5, 6, 7 9. Miami 2 (2), 3, 4, 6 (2), 7(3) 10. Houston 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 11. San Francisco 2, 3 (2), 4 (4), 5, 6 12. Buffalo 2, 3 (2), 4, 6 ,7, (2) 13. St. Louis 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 (2) 14. Carolina 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 15. Pittsburgh 2, 3, 4 (2), 5(2), 6, 7 16. Green Bay 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (3) 17. Jacksonville 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (3) 18. Cincinnati 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 (2) 19. Tennessee 2, 3, 4 (2), 5, 6 (3), 7 20. N.Y. Giants 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (2) 21. Denver 2, 3 (2), 6 (2), 7 22. Dallas 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (2), 7 (3) 23. Kansas City 2, 3, 5 (2), 6, 7 24. New England-c (Has two 1st-round picks) 25. N.Y. Jets 2 (2), 3, 5, 6 26. Philadelphia 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 27. New Orleans 2, 3, 4 (2), 5, 7 28. New England 3, 4, 5, 6 (4), 7 29. Baltimore 2, 4 (2), 5 (2), 6 (2) 30. San Diego 2 , 3 (2), 4, 5 (2), 7 31. Chicago 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 (2) 32. Indianapolis 3 (2), 4 (3), 5 (2), 7

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a-from Houston; b-from Atlanta; c- from Seattle

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Source: nfl.com