What's that Mel?

On Sportscenter tonight, Mel Kiper laid out his mock draft, from the bottom up. He started with a surprise: the Steelers taking Ohio State linebacker Bobby Carpenter. Kiper called linebacker a "need" for the Steelers, but he didn't elaborate. Certainly, the Steelers could use linebacker depth--the fourth OLB last year was Andre Frazier, a rookie free agent--but the starting positions are set. I've liked Carpenter for a long time, and feel as though he would make an excellent Steeler, but the pick surprised me--in part because, for Carpenter to be available, he would have to drop past the Patriots.

Other surprises in Mel's world: Tamba Hali to the Browns (in a 3-4??); Tye Hill picked after Jonathan Joseph; Chad Jackson picked (by the Cowboys) over Santonio Holmes; Vernon Davis to the Rams. Actually, the Davis pick is one I like a lot, though it seems difficult to justify the Rams drafting for offense. (Incidentally, the Rams began the climb to respectability on defense recently by cutting Chris Claiborne and signing La'Roi Glover.)

The top picks, however, were not surprising. Unlike last year's draft, this year's seems set at the top. Repeat after me: Bush, Leinart, Young, Ferguson, Williams, Hawk....