5. Eric Berry to Kansas City
Kansas City needs help at a lot of positions, a fact that gave the Chiefs freedom to make whatever pick it saw as best. Given that Berry was the best player available, you have to commend them for pulling the trigger on it. He's looked like a first rounder for years at Tennessee, and he should fit right in on the next level.
7. Joe Haden to Cleveland
Haden was in danger of falling because his 40 time at the Combine wasn't as fast as scouts were hoping. He was dealing with an injury at the time though, and his time was improved at UF's pro day. Corner is not a position of extreme need for the Browns, but you can't have too many in today's NFL. Haden is heady and an excellent tackler, but whether he can be a true shut down corner remains to be seen as he's only played the position for three years.
8. Rolando McClain to Oakland
Instead of chasing measurables over talent like he so often does (see: Darrius Heyward-Bey, JaMarcus Russell), Al Davis went with a fantastic defensive performer in McClain. It almost makes you wonder if someone else was in charge of the pick. Anyway, he should help shore up the Raiders' bad run defense quite nicely. The team also will be rewarded for not reaching on a quarterback as Jimmy Clausen and/or Colt McCoy should be there for it in the second round.
18. Maurkice Pouncey to Pittsburgh
Few freshmen have come right in and started for Urban Meyer, but this Pouncey brother was one of them. He was a quality player his entire career at Florida, and he emerged as one of the most NFL-ready inside offensive linemen in this draft. It's not surprising that Pittsburgh would take him, as the team has been allowing too many people in the backfield lately.
20. Kareem Jackson to Houston
Corner is a position of need for the Texans, and hey, Jackson is a mighty fine one coming out of Alabama. His ceiling may not grade out to be quite as high as some of the corners already taken, but you could do a lot worse than a guy who trained for years under Nick Saban. This is the kind of draft pick that almost always works out: the team needed a playmaker at a spot, and they went and drafted a good one without reaching.
25. Tim Tebow to Denver
The Broncos were very active in trading last night, and at 25 they got their quarry. According to Pete Thamel of the New York Times, Josh McDaniels's father is a friend of Meyer's from being a high school coach in Ohio, and McDaniels worked under Bill Belichick, who is also close with Meyer. The pick makes sense in that light, especially because Kyle Orton is not a long term answer and Brady Quinn might or might not be able to play in the NFL. Tebow will get time to sit and develop though, making this one of the best places he could have gone.
26. Dan Williams to Arizona
What a difference a year under Monte Kiffin made for this guy. No one projected him this high last year, but his great play on the interior of Tennessee's line made him the only true nose tackle taken in the first round. He should have a great opportunity in Arizona, especially since being drafted by the Cardinals is no longer a curse. You have to feel good when guys like this go in the first round, as Williams really worked to earn what he got.