NFL Draft -- Round 1 at a glance
N. TEAM: 1. Oakland
PLAYER: JaMarcus Russell.
P: QB
HT: 6-6
WT: 265
COLLEGE: Louisiana State
IT’S A FACT: Led Tigers to eight fourth-quarter or overtime come-from-behind victories.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: Now the Raiders need to protect him. They gave up a league-worst 72 sacks last season.
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N. TEAM: 2. Detroit
PLAYER: Calvin Johnson
P: WR
HT: 6-5
WT: 239
COLLEGE: Georgia Tech
IT’S A FACT: Best athlete in the draft. Had 76 catches and won the Biletnikoff Award.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: For the fourth time in five years, the Lions take a receiver in the top 10. They got this one right.
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N. TEAM: 3. Cleveland
PLAYER: Joe Thomas
P: OT
HT: 6-7
WT: 311
COLLEGE: Wisconsin
IT’S A FACT: Agile for his size; don’t be surprised if he lines up at tight end in short yardage.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: Since Browns came back in 1999, they’ve never finished higher than 20th in rushing.
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N. TEAM: 4. Tampa Bay
PLAYER: Gaines Adams
P: DE
HT: 6-5
WT: 258
COLLEGE: Clemson
IT’S A FACT: School’s second unanimous All-American; had 21 career pass deflections.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: The Buccaneers are getting old on the defensive front. They needed an explosive pass rusher.
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N. TEAM: 5. Arizona
PLAYER: Levi Brown
P: OT
HT: 6-6
WT: 323
COLLEGE: Penn State
IT’S A FACT: Former defensive tackle started every game he played in during college.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: Russ Grimm, the offensive line coach, thinks this guy is more promising than Wisconsin’s Thomas.
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N. TEAM: 6. Washington
PLAYER: LaRon Landry
P: FS
HT: 6-1
WT: 213
COLLEGE: Louisiana State
IT’S A FACT: Four-time All-SEC player never gave up a touchdown and caused 15 turnovers.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: In 2006, the Redskins finished last in TD passes given up, sacks and takeaways.
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N. TEAM: 7. Minnesota
PLAYER: Adrian Peterson
P: RB
HT: 6-2
WT: 217
COLLEGE: Oklahoma
IT’S A FACT: Limited by injuries, is still third in Sooners history with 4,045 yards rushing.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: Obviously, the status of Peterson’s collarbone didn’t scare off Vikings.
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N. TEAM: 8. Atlanta-a
PLAYER: Jamaal Anderson
P: DE
HT: 6-6
WT: 288
COLLEGE: Arkansas
IT’S A FACT: Big-time athlete was a star receiver in high school before switching to defense.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: Should help pick up slack left by Patrick Kerney. But Falcons wanted Georgia Tech’s Johnson.
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N. TEAM: 9. Miami
PLAYER: Ted Ginn Jr.
P: WR
HT: 5-11
WT: 178
COLLEGE: Ohio State
IT’S A FACT: 125 career receptions rank seventh on the school list and is top return man.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: No Brady Quinn? Strange. Ginn helps ease the departure of Wes Welker, but Ginn this early?
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N. TEAM: 10. Houston-b
PLAYER: Amobi Okoye
P: DT
HT: 6-2
WT: 302
COLLEGE: Louisville
IT’S A FACT: Made 55 tackles last season, including eight sacks. Also caused three fumbles.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: Okoye, 19, who tested into high school at 12, is the youngest first-round pick in the modern era.
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N. TEAM: 11. San Francisco
PLAYER: Patrick Willis
P: ILB
HT: 6-1
WT: 242
COLLEGE: Mississippi
IT’S A FACT: Was first Ole Miss player in 13 years to lead SEC in tackles.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: The 49ers needed to improve vs. the run with Davis, Alexander and James in the division.
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N. TEAM: 12. Buffalo
PLAYER: Marshawn Lynch
P: RB
HT: 5-11
WT: 215
COLLEGE: California
IT’S A FACT: Averaged 8.8 yards per carry -- best by a Cal back since 1949.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: With Willis McGahee in Baltimore, the Bills needed to strengthen their running game. Lynch could do it.
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N. TEAM: 13. St. Louis
PLAYER: Adam Carriker
P: DE
HT: 6-6
WT: 296
COLLEGE: Nebraska
IT’S A FACT: Former high school QB ranks sixth in Huskers history with 20 1/2 career sacks.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: The Rams add a sturdy base to play opposite explosive pass rusher Leonard Little.
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N. TEAM: 14. N.Y. Jets-c
PLAYER: Darrelle Revis
P: CB
HT: 6-0
WT: 204
COLLEGE: Pittsburgh
IT’S A FACT: Was first Pitt player to return interceptions for touchdowns in consecutive games.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: Jets had to jump up 11 spots to take this guy ahead of the Steelers.
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N. TEAM: 15. Pittsburgh
PLAYER: Lawrence Timmons
P: LB
HT: 6-1
WT: 234
COLLEGE: Florida State
IT’S A FACT: In only season as a starter, he made 79 tackles including five sacks.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: Only one other time (Robin Cole, 1977) have the Steelers selected a linebacker in the first round.
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N. TEAM: 16. Green Bay
PLAYER: Justin Harrell
P: DT
HT: 6-5
WT: 300
COLLEGE: Tennessee
IT’S A FACT: Arm injury kept him out of 10 games, but he toughed it out to return vs. Florida.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: Brett Favre might have wanted a receiver here, but maybe the Packers will wind up with Randy Moss.
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N. TEAM: 17. Denver-d
PLAYER: Jarvis Moss
P: DE
HT: 6-7
WT: 250
COLLEGE: Florida
IT’S A FACT: In his last 24 games had 15 sacks and 22 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: New defensive coordinator Jim Bates must love this guy if they traded up to get him.
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N. TEAM: 18. Cincinnati
PLAYER: Leon Hall
P: CB
HT: 5-11
WT: 193
COLLEGE: Michigan
IT’S A FACT: Made school-record 43 career pass deflections along with 12 interceptions.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: Bengals liked Michigan’s Alan Branch, but nobody thought teammate Hall would still be on the board.
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N. TEAM: 19. Tennessee
PLAYER: Michael Griffin
P: SS
HT: 6-0
WT: 202
COLLEGE: Texas
IT’S A FACT: Big 12 record-holder with eight career blocked kicks -- along with 364 tackles.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: Titans could have used a receiver, but the league’s 32nd-ranked defense needs an overhaul.
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N. TEAM: 20. N.Y. Giants
PLAYER: Aaron Ross
P: CB
HT: 6-1
WT: 193
COLLEGE: Texas
IT’S A FACT: Won Jim Thorpe Award as college football’s top defensive back.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: Ross fills a major need for Giants, who let lots of receivers run free last season.
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N. TEAM: 21. Jacksonville-e
PLAYER: Reggie Nelson
P: FS
HT: 6-0
WT: 198
COLLEGE: Florida
IT’S A FACT: Blocked seven kicks in 36 games with the Gators; had five in one season in JC.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: The Jaguars, who lost Deon Grant to Seattle, got the player they wanted, plus a pick for the trade.
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N. TEAM: 22. Cleveland-f
PLAYER: Brady Quinn
P: QB
HT: 6-4
WT: 232
COLLEGE: Notre Dame
IT’S A FACT: Per-game passing yardage improved by more than 110 since sophomore year.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: Amazing that the Browns could strongly consider taking a player third overall, then get him at 22.
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N. TEAM: 23. Kansas City
PLAYER: Dwayne Bowe
P: WR
HT: 6-2
WT: 221
COLLEGE: Louisiana State
IT’S A FACT: His 154 career receptions ranks fourth on school’s list.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: It’s been a long time since the Chiefs have had a big-play receiver. But who will be throwing to him?
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N. TEAM: 24. New England-g
PLAYER: Brandon Meriweather
P: FS
HT: 5-11
WT: 195
COLLEGE: Miami
IT’S A FACT: His part in brawl with Florida International didn’t knock him down too much.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: The Patriots are hurting for some star power at safety. Meriweather could provide that.
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N. TEAM: 25. Carolina-h
PLAYER: Jon Beason
P: OLB
HT: 6-0
WT: 237
COLLEGE: Miami
IT’S A FACT: Despite some nagging injuries, his 76 tackles led the Hurricanes last season.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: Panthers are concerned about the health of Dan Morgan, and Beason is a good understudy.
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N. TEAM: 26. Dallas-i
PLAYER: Anthony Spencer
P: DE
HT: 6-3
WT: 261
COLLEGE: Purdue
IT’S A FACT: His 93 tackles last season were the most in Purdue Coach Joe Tiller’s tenure.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: Cowboys traded within the division to get a player some scouts see as a reach.
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N. TEAM: 27. New Orleans
PLAYER: Robert Meachem
P: WR
HT: 6-2
WT: 214
COLLEGE: Tennessee
IT’S A FACT: Made 71 catches for a school-record 2,140 yards.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: Saints just got younger -- and a lot faster -- at receiver. Good for Drew Brees.
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N. TEAM: 28. San Francisco-j
PLAYER: Joe Staley
P: OT
HT: 6-6
WT: 306
COLLEGE: Central Michigan
IT’S A FACT: Arrived at college as a 225-pound TE. Watch out for him as a tackle-eligible.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: The 49ers must expect a lot from Staley, considering they gave up a 2008 first-round pick.
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N. TEAM: 29. Baltimore
PLAYER: Ben Grubbs
P: OG
HT: 6-3
WT: 311
COLLEGE: Auburn
IT’S A FACT: A LB in high school, he played TE and DE and DT before settling in at OG.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: Ravens are really old on the offensive line, and Grubbs can make an impact right away.
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N. TEAM: 30. San Diego
PLAYER: Craig Davis
P: WR
HT: 6-1
WT: 200
COLLEGE: Louisiana State
IT’S A FACT: Ranked seventh in the SEC with 56 catches for 836 yards.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: Third time in NFL history that a pair of receivers from the same school went in the first round.
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N. TEAM: 31. Chicago
PLAYER: Greg Olsen
P: TE
HT: 6-6
WT: 254
COLLEGE: Miami
IT’S A FACT: Latest in long line of All-American TEs from Miami.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: The last tight end selected by Chicago in the first round? Mike Ditka.
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N. TEAM: 32. Indianapolis
PLAYER: Anthony Gonzalez
P: WR
HT: 6-0
WT: 193
COLLEGE: Ohio State
IT’S A FACT: Though smallish, gaining yards after contact is one his strengths.
SAM FARMER’S COMMENT: Best slot receiver in the draft will fit nicely between Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne.
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a-from Houston; b-from Atlanta; c-from Carolina; d-from Jacksonville; e-from Denver; f-from Dallas; g-from Seattle; h-from NY Jets; i-from Philadelphia; j-from New England
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