NFL Draft 2006 – Round 1 #32 – New York Giants (from Steelers) – DE Mathias Kiwanuka

The Giants raced to the podium to grab Boston College defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka.

Mel Kiper thought this guy was a late second round pick but Rick Gosselin had him at #37.

NFL Draft 2006 – Round 1 #31 – Seattle Seahawks – CB Kelly Jennings

The defending NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks are on the clock.

Pick: Miami CB Kelly Jennings

Mel Kiper describes him as “technically sound” and a “safe pick.” Rick Gosselin had him at #42, however.

NFL Draft 2006 – Round 1 #30 – Indianapolis Colts – RB Joseph Addai

The Colts grabbed LSU RB Joseph Addai before I could get my quick post on the previous pick written. I was not surprised to see them take a running back with the loss of Edgerrin James but thought they’d take LenDale White.

NFL Draft 2006 – Round 1 #29 – New York Jets – C Nick Mangold

The Jets are on the clock with the second pick of the draft. Could they grab LenDale White?

Nope: They took OSU center Nick Mangold.

Rick Gosselin had him projected going to the Bears at #25, giving him high praise: “[O]ne of the safest picks in this draft. The only knock on him is his position. Centers don’t generally go high in drafts. He’s been described as a Mark Stepnoski with a bit more size.” Fans of football, especially the Dallas Cowboys, in the 1990s need hear no more. Stepnoski was a perennial Pro Bowler.

NFL Draft 2006 – Round 1 #28 – Jacksonville Jaguars – TE Marcedes Lewis

The Jags are on the clock. Goose projected them taking USC running back LenDale White, who would seem a steal at this point.

The pick: Marcedes Lewis, TE/UCLA

An interesting pick and apparently consistent with many mock drafts seen by Mel Kiper. Lewis was rated #34 on the Goose board. Frankly, a potential superstar running back to bolster the fragile Fred Taylor makes more sense.

NFL Draft 2006 – Round 1 #27 – Carolina Panthers – RB DeAngelo Williams

The Carolina Panthers grabbed Memphis runing back DeAngelo Williams almost immediately when they got on the clock.

Mel Kiper had him as the top RB in the draft. Rick Gosselin had him ranked 25th overall and slightly behind Laurence Maroney (#22), who went to the Pats at #21. I’ll go with Bill Belichick and Goose on that one.

NFL Draft 2006 – Round 1 #26 – Buffalo Bills (from Bears) – DT John McCargo

The Chicago Bears, winners of the NFC North, are on the clock.

They’ve traded their pick to the Buffalo Bills, who chose NC State DT John McCargo, who Mel Kiper had projected late in the 2nd round and Rick Gosselin had him at #52. So, either the Bills are idiots–as evidenced by their offseason moves and two draft picks so far–or almost everyone else evaluating football this year are.

NFL Draft 2006 – Round 1 #25 – Pittsburgh Steelers (from Giants) – WR Santonio Holmes

The New York Giants are on the clock. They won their division last year and have quality young players at many of the key positions, notably quarterback and tight end. They could use another wide receiver or corner. Goose projected them to take Tye Hill here but the Rams took them way up at #15. Not a single wide receiver has gone yet, so they have their pick of the litter.

The Giants traded their pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers. They picked Ohio State wide receiver Santonio Holmes, the consensus best WR in this draft class.

They reportedly traded their 3rd and 4th round picks to move up from the #32 spot. They must have been high on Holmes; there would surely have been a top receiver available at #32, a mere seven spots later, with none yet off the board.

NFL Draft 2006 – Round 1 #24 – Cincinnati Bengals – DB Johnathan Joseph

It has been nearly twenty years since the Cincinnati Bengals were this far down in the draft. Jason Allen, the player projected here, was taken by the Dolphins at #16.

Pick: They went for another DB, Johnathan Joseph of South Carolina.