Dr. Z's Mock First Round

"I have a feeling you're going to see one of the most active
drafts in history," 49ers coach Steve Mariucci says. "People
trading up, trading down, last-minute jockeying for position.
It's going to be crazy." San Francisco wants additional picks,
and it could give up the No. 12 spot to get them. The Chiefs,
who need a running back, could do likewise. If the Jets, who
have two first-round choices, trade wideout Keyshawn Johnson,
they could end up with a quartet of No. 1 selections. Where
would they find the money to pay them all? (Asterisk denotes a
projected trade.)

1 BROWNS Courtney Brown, DE, PENN STATE
Assuming all goes well in negotiations, Brown's the man.
Otherwise Cleveland may turn to teammate LaVar Arrington.

2 REDSKINS LaVar Arrington, LB, PENN STATE
Skins celebrate. They were thinking about trading with the
Browns to get this lightning-fast 250-pound playmaker.

3 REDSKINS Chris Samuels, T, ALABAMA
Best offensive lineman on the board. Washington will plug this
291-pounder in at LT to replace the aging Andy Heck.

4 BENGALS Peter Warrick, WR, FLORIDA STATE
Concerns about a disappointing 40-yard time on a slow surface
erased by recent clockings in the mid-4.5 range.

5 BRONCOS (from Ravens)* Chad Pennington, QB, MARSHALL
A head-scratcher. Smart guy with a medium-range arm...sounds
just like the QB Denver already has, Brian Griese.

6 EAGLES Corey Simon, DT, FLORIDA STATE
Philly coaches were worried about the four shoulder operations
he has had--until he bench-pressed 225 pounds 20 times.

7 CARDINALS Thomas Jones, RB, VIRGINIA
Explosive 216-pounder with a 4.47 clocking, but Arizona could
pull a switch and go with New Mexico LB Brian Urlacher.

8 STEELERS Plaxico Burress, WR, MICHIGAN STATE
At 6'5", 231, he's a Randy Moss clone--tremendous potential,
weird attitude. Could take Pennington if he's available.

9 BEARS Brian Urlacher, LB, NEW MEXICO
A converted safety who grew into a linebacker (6'3 1/2", 258)
but retained his DB speed, as his 4.57 scouting combine time
showed.

10 RAVENS (from Broncos)* Jamal Lewis, RB, TENNESSEE
Dazzling 240-pounder with 4.37 speed. The trade gives the Ravens
extra picks, and they still get the man they wanted all along.

11 GIANTS Ron Dayne, RB, WISCONSIN
In-house debate over Dayne and Alabama's Shaun Alexander ends
when New York takes the punishing 254-pounder.

12 49ERS Keith Bulluck, LB, SYRACUSE
Bulluck will get first crack at departed Lee Woodall's
strongside spot. Niners feel they can address CB needs later in
the draft.

13 BUCS Travis Taylor, WR, FLORIDA
At 6'1", 200 pounds, fits trend toward big wideouts with speed.
Tampa Bay is desperate for a receiver who doesn't drop the ball.

14 PACKERS Shaun Ellis, DE, TENNESSEE
Neck injury the only question about this 280-pound pass-rush
specialist who had 8 1/2 sacks and 11 tackles for a loss last
season.

15 RAVENS Sylvester Morris, WR, JACKSON STATE
Another big wideout, at 6'3", 216, with big-play potential.
Averaged a gaudy 20.3 yards a catch last year.

16 JETS Bubba Franks, TE, MIAMI
When was the last time New York had a productive pass-catching
TE? Mickey Shuler in the 1980s? Jerome Barkum in the '70s?

17 RAIDERS John Abraham, DE-LB, SOUTH CAROLINA
A third-down rusher. Long-range potential gives him the edge
over Michigan State LB Julian Peterson, another Oakland favorite.

18 JETS Stockar McDougle, T, OKLAHOMA
New York's biggest player since famous fat man of the 1960s,
Sherman Plunkett. He's a 355-pound power blocker with a mean
streak.

19 SEAHAWKS Deltha O'Neal, CB, CALIFORNIA
Can double as a return man. Top three corners are tightly
bunched, but Seattle likes the versatility that O'Neal offers.

20 LIONS Chris McIntosh, T-G, WISCONSIN
Desperate to reestablish a running game, Detroit plans to move
Dayne's favorite escort inside to guard.

21 BROWNS (from Chiefs)* Shaun Alexander, RB, ALABAMA
Cleveland likes him enough to trade up. If Kansas City stays
put, Ohio State CB Ahmed Plummer will be the man.

22 SEAHAWKS Julian Peterson, LB, MICHIGAN STATE
More defensive help. Peterson, 6'4", 240 and athletic, will play
over the tight end, freeing LB Chad Brown for the pass rush.

23 PANTHERS Dwayne Goodrich, CB, TENNESSEE
"I always like defensive linemen," George Seifert says, "but
this year I might cross 'em up." Clockings in the 4.3 range sell
Seifert.

24 49ERS Ahmed Plummer, CB, OHIO STATE
Mariucci can't believe his favorite cover man is still on the
board. He had assumed one of three other teams would have picked
Plummer.

25 VIKINGS Chris Hovan, DT, BOSTON COLLEGE
Takes the place of an aging Jerry Ball as a sturdy run-stopper
who can cover for John Randle's upfield rushes.

26 BILLS Rashard Anderson, CB-S, JACKSON STATE
Physical, 6'2 1/2", 206-pound corner counters trend toward big
wideouts. Might be switched to departed FS Kurt Schulz's spot.

27 BUCS Todd Wade, T, MISSISSIPPI
Tampa Bay has done a lot to shore up its line, but LT Paul
Gruber broke his leg in the regular-season finale and may retire.

28 COLTS Darren Howard, DE, KANSAS STATE
Everyone says Brigham Young MLB Rob Morris is a lock here, but
Indianapolis will gamble that it can pick him up later.

29 JAGUARS Dez White, WR, GEORGIA TECH
Would prefer a tackle, but at this spot the "best athlete"
theory applies. White, with tremendous big-play potential,
qualifies.

30 TITANS Anthony Becht, TE, WEST VIRGINIA
Jackie Harris is gone. Frank Wycheck is a pass-catching H-back.
Tennessee can see this 270-pounder blocking for Eddie George.

31 RAMS Adrian Klemm, T, HAWAII
Super Bowl champs have lost two linemen to free agency. They've
filled the positions from within, but this quick 307-pounder
provides depth.

COLOR PHOTO: BOB ROSATO RUN ON BACKS Alexander, who ran for 1,383 yards as a senior at 'Bama, is one of four rushers expected to be chosen in the first round.