By PFW staff
April 29, 2007

So just how sound were all those decisions that ended up making Saturday’s first round of the NFL draft the longest in league history?

Did Browns GM Phil Savage make amends for passing on Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn with the third pick overall by scrambling to acquire him 19 picks later? Did the Browns and Niners do the right thing when they each traded away first-round picks next year in order to acquire Quinn and Central Michigan OT Joe Staley, respectively, in the first round? Did the Vikings make up for a previously mediocre offseason with the addition of Oklahoma RB Adrian Peterson with the seventh pick overall?

In the following "Ask the Experts," Seven PFW editors offer their opinions on which NFL team did the best job of drafting on Saturday, and only two of them picked the same team. 

Managing editor Mike Holbrook – 49ers
I loved what the 49ers did on Saturday, picking up the best linebacker in the draft in Patrick Willis, a versatile guy who can line up outside or inside in Mike Nolan’s 3-4 scheme. Then, they added an offensive tackle with big-time upside in Joe Staley. Finally, in the third round, San Fran picked up a receiver in Jason Hill who could contribute right away and has the ability to become a starter one day. They wrapped up the first day with the selection of productive DE Ray McDonald of the national-champion Florida Gators, another young piece to Nolan’s emerging defense. Yes, the Niners gave New England their first-round pick in 2008 to move back into the first round to get Staley, but if he becomes the building block tackle some scouts believe he can become, it will have been worth it. And if these draft picks do as well as observers think, the Niners’ first-rounder next year might be a lot lower than the Patriots were anticipating when they agreed to the deal.

Executive editor Dan Arkush — Browns
The Browns deserve a ton of credit for being quick enough on their feet to switch gears and aggressively go after Brady Quinn once the team realized it had a shot of trading back up to the 22nd spot in the first round to acquire the player a lot of people thought they should have taken with their top pick at No. 3. Granted, they had to trade a No. 1 pick next year to get Quinn, but the team won’t be sorry they took a local guy who is champing at the bit to be a hometown success. The player they actually selected with third overall pick, Wisconsin OT Joe Thomas, shapes up as a quality, instant starter on an offensive line that had already been significantly upgraded with the addition of free agent Eric Steinbach. The Browns’ other pick on Saturday, UNLV junior CB Eric Wright, whom they traded up to acquire in the second round, comes with his share of baggage. But it says here Browns GM Phil Savage could afford to gamble after pulling off an amazing double-whammy heist in the first round.

Associate editor Trent Modglin – Raiders
I think Cleveland is tough to ignore here, obviously, and I like Carolina and Arizona as well, but coming from where they started, I have a feeling the Raiders have really helped themselves for a number of reasons. First, they added a talented passer like JaMarcus Russell to build around. TE Zach Miller in the second round was a little bit of a surprise, considering the four tight ends they have on the roster, but new head coach Lane Kiffin no doubt was interested in adding weapons. Georgia DE Quentin Moses represents great value in the third round and will help fill the void opposite Derrick Burgess — the only real weakness on a talented, young defense. Florida State’s Mario Henderson brings athleticism to an offensive line that desperately needs some, and he should be the starting right tackle within a year or two. But the main reason I’m choosing Oakland here is the trade for Lions QB Josh McCown and WR Mike Williams for only a fourth-rounder. McCown could end up starting a year or two and adds experience, and Kiffin should get the most out of Williams, who played under the coach at USC.

Associate editor Chris Neubauer — Panthers
Few teams can boast that they traded down and still drafted four starters with their first four picks. The Panthers can. Carolina traded its first-round pick (No. 14 overall) to the Jets for New York's first-round pick (No. 25) and second- and fifth-round picks. With the No. 25 pick, the Panthers selected Miami LB Jon Beason (their target at No. 14). Beason should compete for the starting WLB job and could move to the middle if injuries catch up to Dan Morgan again. The Panthers selected USC WR Dwayne Jarrett with the first of their two second-round picks. Jarrett should fill the No. 3 WR role this season and replace fellow USC alum Keyshawn Johnson in the starting lineup when Johnson retires in the next year or two. USC C Ryan Kalil followed his college teammate to Charlotte when the Panthers selected him with their second Round Two pick. Kalil fortifies the center position and remedies the mistake of signing Justin Hartwig to a big free-agent contract last year. The Panthers closed out Day One of the draft by picking Georgia DE Charles Johnson, who will anchor the starting DLE position until veteran Mike Rucker recovers from a late-season knee injury.

Associate editor Eric Edholm — 49ers
I had a hard time picking one team. I liked what the Rams, Panthers, Patriots, Cowboys, Steelers and Falcons did on Saturday. But the 49ers got impact with their four picks and even got back a 2008 first-rounder (from the Colts) that they had traded to the Patriots to go get Joe Staley, who either replaces OLT Jonas Jennings or ORT Kwame Harris. Top pick Patrick Willis almost needs no introduction here; he’s going to rack up 120 tackles and force half a dozen turnovers. What’s great is what the team did with its two third-rounders, getting WR Jason Hill (who could start) and DE Ray McDonald, who will be an excellent five-technique once he’s healthy. The 49ers came away with at least three starters — and because we’re talking about the first day, I can’t include the Darrell Jackson trade — in one day of drafting. Nice work.

Associate editor Mike Wilkening — Cowboys
The Cowboys had a very successful first day of the draft. They traded the No. 22 overall pick in the ‘07 draft to Cleveland for the Browns’ second-round pick (No. 36) and their 2008 first-round pick. I would be stunned if the Browns’ pick isn’t in the top half of the draft; even with Brady Quinn under center, Cleveland figures to struggle in a loaded AFC North. But Dallas wasn’t done dealing. The Cowboys traded back into Round One, acquiring Philadelphia’s first-rounder (No. 26) for the Nos. 36, 87 and 159 picks. The Cowboys’ target: Purdue DE-OLB Anthony Spencer, who could be an edge rusher extraordinaire in Wade Phillips’ defense. The Cowboys made a third and final Day One trade, trading down again with Cleveland and acquiring selections Nos. 67, 103 and 178 for the Nos. 53 and 195 picks. Dallas’ Draft Day maneuverings are a sign of an organization that understands value and can identify the right players for its schemes.

Associate editor Court E. Mann — Cardinals
It was a banner day for the cellar dwellers of the NFL. The hapless Browns scored two blue-chip first-rounders, but quietly, the Cardinals weren’t far behind in their first-day exploits. After adding monster ORT Levi Brown to address a long-standing need and to protect the blind side of franchise QB Matt Leinart, Arizona moved up in the second round to grab mammoth NT Alan Branch. The Michigan product was once considered a top-10 prospect, and the Cardinals didn’t hesitate to pounce when an opportunity presented itself. The Cards’ new coaching staff under Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm, who saw firsthand in Pittsburgh that championships are won in the trenches, acquired two huge building blocks on each side of the ball.