NFL Mock Draft 21-32

Here is the final third of the first round.

21. Philadelphia - Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State. The Eagles were atrocious in short yardage situations and Brian Westbrook is starting to show signs of slowing down. Wells is a big back with some wheels that can come in and take some pressure of the offense. While RB isn't a glaring need for the Eagles, the talent of Wells will be too much to pass up.

22. Minnesota - Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina. The Vikings need to get a WR that can move the chains. Bernard Berrian is more of a deep threat that isn't a good route runner or has the hands to make tough catches in traffic. Anyone who watched Nicks against West Virginia in the bowl game, knows he can make catches with people all over him. Nicks would be a perfect fit in their offense, assuming they stick with a QB.

23. New England - Brian Cushing, OLB, USC. The Patriots always seem to pick a player that produced at a high level that might be a little overlooked. Cushing at times was the best player on the field for the top rated Trojan defense. He played DE early in his career before switching to OLB when the team went to a 3-4. He is very versatile and will provide the team with some much needed youth at OLB after the Pats were forced to re-sign Junior Seau and Roosevelt Colvin late in the year.

24. Atlanta - Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State. The Falcons hit it big last year with QB Matt Ryan and now will give him another weapon. Pettigrew might not be the fastest TE in the class, but he is by far the most complete. He is a very good run blocker which is necessary in the Falcons offense. He also possesses prototypical size and good hands for the position.

25. Miami - Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU Bill Parcells has proven in the past that he loves big defenders with his first round picks. Jackson fits the bill for a 3-4 DE with his 6'4" 295 frame. He might remind The Tuna of another LSU DE he drafted with the Cowboys in Marcus Spears. The Dolphins could use an athletic rush LB, but with Cushing gone look for the Dolphins to improve their front seven with a run stuffing DE.

26. Baltimore - Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest. The Ravens could potentially lose 3 All-Pro LBs through free agency in Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, and Bart Scott. The feeling is that they will probably sign 2 of them back so LB isn't going to be their biggest need. The Ravens are getting old at CB and having a tough time keeping Chris McAllister and Samari Rolle on the field. Smith is a little bit short for a front line corner, but he fits the Ravens ball hawking defense as he had 15 interceptions in the last 2 years in college.

27. Indianapolis - Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois. The Colts could have a huge need at CB is Kelvin Hayden leaves as a free agent. Davis has good size/speed ratio 5'11" 205 lbs and 4.47. He has been inconsistent in the past and playing in a Tampa 2 system could play to his advantage. He also has good bloodlines as he is the brother of 49er TE Vernon Davis.

28. Philadephia - Eben Britton, OT, Arizona. The Eagles had success last year in the first round with a PAC-10 player and might go back there with the top rated OL left on the board. Both of the Eagles starting tackles are over 34 and Britton would allow them to add much needed depth on the OL. Britton is more of a pass blocker which also lends itself to the Eagles style of offense.

29. New York Giants - Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland. The Giants could use anoter big play WR assuming Plexico Burress isn't on the team in 2009. The Giants really struggled without a WR that demanded a double team down the stretch. Heyward-Bey is a world class athlete at 6'2" 205 lbs and has allegedly run a 4.23 40. The production wouldn't tell you the story of a potential #1 WR in the NFL, but the QB play at Maryland wasn't the greatest during his tenure at the school.

30. Tennessee - Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech. The Titans don't have any real needs so they could take the most intriguing player left on the board. Johnson has ideal size for a 4-3 weakside end at 6'7" 259 lbs. Johnson looks like Tarzan but hasn't played like it in his college career. The Titans have some leaders on defense and they might be able to turn on a switch with Johnson and unleash Pro-Bowl potential. A high risk, high reward pick.

31. Arizona - LeSean McCoy, RB, Pittsburgh. The Cardinals are in need of a playmaer at RB with Edgerrin James likely out the door. Tim Hightower was given a chance to cement himself as the feature back, but he didn't show anything to convince the Cardinals he is the answer. McCoy is super athletic and has the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. He could be another Brian Westbrook type creating mismatches against LBs. His only glaring weakness could be short yardage situations, but Hightower has proven he can handle those duties.

32. Pittsburgh - Duke Robinson, OG, Oklahoma. The Steelers always seem to pick productive players from high profile programs. They also are in need of some depth on the OL. Robinson is a mammoth guard at 6'5" 345 and could bring the Steelers run game back into prominance. He has some trouble with speed, but his talent and value at this point will be too much for the Steelers to pass up.