Ap’s Nfl First-Round Draft Prediction

Here is a look at the Associated Press’ first-round predictions:

1. CAROLINA: The Panthers want this to be a showcase draft. The showcase player is KI-JANA CARTER, RB, Penn State, who’s the first pick, no matter who has it.

2. JACKSONVILLE: The Jaguars could make it Carter-Carter by taking Florida’s Kevin, a defensive end. And maybe it’s a smokescreen that they’re giving out all those signals about the guy dubbed the next Anthony Munoz. The signals are real. TONY BOSELLI, OT, Southern Cal.

3. HOUSTON: Floyd Reese, the general manager, loves Steve McNair. Coach Jeff Fisher wants defense. Long Term: STEVE McNAIR, QB, Alcorn State.

4. WASHINGTON: The Redskins have their quarterback. If they go up, they take Ki-Jana. If Charlotte is here, it takes Kerry Collins. But if it’s Washington, it’s KEVIN CARTER, DE, Florida.

5. CINCINNATI: They thought they might make Boselli the next Munoz. They give Dan Wilkinson a sidekick whose motor runs all the time. WARREN SAPP, DT, Miami.

6. ST. LOUIS: Now that the Rams are out of Los Angeles, they can stop the hometown picks. So they bypass J.J. Stokes and take KERRY COLLINS, QB, Penn State. 7. TAMPA BAY: How can a team mess up so many high picks? The new owners may change the team’s luck, although it’s Sam Wyche who takes MIKE MAMULA, DELB, Boston College.

8. SEATTLE: They have Rick Mirer to throw and no one to catch. Now they do - MICHAEL WESTBROOK, WR, Colorado.

9. NEW YORK JETS: New York’s draftniks want McNair. He won’t be there and J.J. Stokes might be the next Al Toon. But they take LUTHER ELLISS, DL, Utah.

10. CLEVELAND: Got this pick by dumping Eric Metcalf and his salary on Atlanta. Browns use it for the tight end they haven’t had since Ozzie Newsome: KYLE BRADY, TE, Penn State.

11. MINNESOTA: Why trade up for a running back when TYRONE WHEATLEY, RB, Michigan, is there?

12. PHILADELPHIA: Used to have pass rushers. Eagles go for another in DERRICK ALEXANDER, DE, Florida State.

13. NEW ORLEANS: Things have changed in New Orleans, where a good defense has gone sour and a dead offense has revived. ELLIS JOHNSON, DT, Florida, figures to plug the middle.

14. BUFFALO: One reason the Bills sank last year was the offensive line. If he keeps down his weight, KOREY STRINGER, OT, Ohio State, can help lift up the Bills.

15. INDIANAPOLIS: Another piece of the offensive puzzle to augment Marshall Faulk. JOEY GALLOWAY, WR, Ohio State.

16. ARIZONA: Buddy Ryan could take pass rusher Hugh Douglas, his kind of guy. But even Buddy knows someone has to catch the ball. J.J. STOKES, WR, UCLA.

17. NEW YORK GIANTS: George Young’s favorite phrase is “Save The Whales.” This year’s whale is 305-pound REUBEN BROWN, OL, Pitt.

18. LOS ANGELES: Al Davis sometimes picks guys nobody’s heard of. JIMMY HITCHCOCK, CB, North Carolina brings some youth to the secondary.

19. KANSAS CITY: The Chiefs need offensive linemen. But if BOBBY TAYLOR, DB, Notre Dame is there, they grab him.

20. DETROIT: Remember Barry Sanders gaining minus-1 yard in 13 carries. That’s why they’ll take BARRETT BROOKS, OT, Kansas State.

21. CHICAGO: Need speed and RASHAAN SALAAM, RB, Colorado, is faster than Lewis Tillman.

22. GREEN BAY: Need help at cornerback and linebacker. HUGH DOUGLAS, DE-LB, Central State, is the pass rusher to take Bryce Paup’s place.

23. NEW ENGLAND: Like Buddy Ryan, Bill Parcells will never pass up a defensive player for offense unless the offensive guy’s name is Drew Bledsoe. ANTHONY COOK, DT, played at South Carolina State.

24. MINNESOTA: Vikings think a running back can put them over the top. But MARK FIELDS, LB, Washington State, can plug holes.

25. MIAMI: Dolphins think they can get over the top with a blocker, like MATT O’DWYER, G, Northwestern.

26. ATLANTA: No defense. If SHAWN KING, DE, Northeast Louisiana can learn to play as well as he works out, he can help.

27. PITTSBURGH: The run on offensive tackles continues with BLAKE BROCKERMEYER, OT, Texas.

28. DALLAS: This is a team with no holes among the starters, but a lot of depth problems. The worst are on the offensive line. BILLY MILNER, OT, Houston.

29. SAN DIEGO: Any more OTs out there? Try LORENZO STYLES, LB, Ohio State.

30. SAN FRANCISCO: Could trade up or down. If they don’t, they have to find a runner like JAMES “Little Man” STEWART, RB, Tennessee.

31, JACKSONVILLE: There are a lot of quarterbacks out there. Let Steve Beuerlein teach and ROB JOHNSON, QB, USC learn.

32, CAROLINA: Need help up front so it’ll be CORY RAYMER, C, Wisconsin.