There’s more than 12 hours before the official start of the NFL draft, which means my mock draft will be accurate for a little more than 12 hours.

Here’s what I submitted to good folks at The Press Democrat for publication later today:

 

1. Detroit Lions

Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia

Here’s your $40 million, and good luck with this sorry franchise. (I’m thinking I have a pretty good shot at getting this one correct.)

 

2. St. Louis Rams

Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia

Have I made a mockery of this mock draft, yet?

 

3. Kansas City Chiefs

Jason Smith, OT, Baylor

A change of plans when this tackle slides to them at this spot.

 

4. Seattle Seahawks

Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest

Decided on help for defense rather than offensive playmaker.

 

5. Cleveland Browns

B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College

He’s big and talented, and if he checks out clean, he’s the pick here.

 

6. Cincinnati Bengals

Andre Smith, OT, Alabama

And he’ll be instructed to never, ever take his shirt off in public again.

 

7. Oakland Raiders

Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech

Finally, JaMarcus Russell gets somebody who can help him succeed.

 

8. Jacksonville Jaguars

Mark Sanchez, QB, USC

It might not be the Jaguars making the pick, but the QB is the call.

 

9. Green Bay Packers

Michael Oher, OT, Virginia

Blind side protected whether it’s Pack or Pats trading up.

 

10. San Francisco 49ers

Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU

Need? No. Nice fit for 49ers’ defensive scheme? Yes.

 

Click here to see the remainder of my NFL mock draft at pressdemocrat.com

 

  

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Here’s the article I wrote for the Saturday paper, “Many options for 49ers with 10th pick.”

 

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The NFL Network got special behind-the-scenes access to the 49ers’ draft room. The first “tease” will air on the network at 9:15 a.m. (PT). The tours of the draft room are scheduled to air at 10:15 and 11:40.

 

The doors of the Santa Clara Convention Center will open at noon. At 12:20 p.m., the team will officially unveil the new/old uniforms.

 

The draft begins at 1 p.m. There will be 10 minutes between picks in the first round, so the 49ers can be expected to make their first-round selection at No. 10 at some point between, say, 2:20 and 2:45 p.m.

 

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As always, I will be blogging throughout the day right here. This year, I’ll also be interacting with friends on Facebook and tweeting on Twitter, too.

 

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