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NFL Draft -- Round 1 at a glance

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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.

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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.

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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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