Indianapolis selecting Connecticut running back Donald Brown at No. 27.
Conventional wisdom had Indianapolis drafting a first-round wide receiver to replace the departed Marvin Harrison. Instead, the Colts selected a running back for the second time in the past four years. This move raises questions about Joe Addai's long-term future in Indianapolis. It also may open the door for a Harrison return later this offseason.
Florida State defensive end Everette Brown slipping to Carolina at No. 43.
Considered a potential top-10 pick by some draft analysts, Brown had the biggest slide of any highly regarded prospect. It cost the Panthers their 2010 first-round pick to trade with San Francisco and select Brown, but he could be worth that steep price. The Panthers need a pass rusher to potentially replace Julius Peppers if both sides remain unable to cement a long-term contract extension.
Kansas City selecting Louisiana State defensive end Tyson Jackson at No. 3.
Casual fans will consider this move a shocker because Jackson wasn't as hyped as other top prospects. But an NFL team I spoke with last September had Jackson pegged as one of the top five senior prospects.
New Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli hopes Jackson becomes the second coming of Richard Seymour, a five-time Pro Bowl choice that he and New England coach Bill Belichick selected at No. 6 in the 2001 draft. Even so, selecting a 3-4 end so early can't be considered good value for such an early pick.
Minnesota selecting Florida wide receiver Percy Harvin at No. 22.
Harvin is smoking fast. He also got busted for smoking marijuana and failing a drug test at the NFL Scouting Combine, sources told FOXSports.com earlier this week. Rick Spielman, Minnesota's vice president of player personnel, told Vikings media that the team "felt comfortable enough (with Harvin's character)" and "he was just too explosive of a playmaker and too hard to pass up when we were picking." This is the kind of risk/reward pick that can cost coaches and personnel chiefs their jobs if Harvin doesn't get his act together off the field.
