NFC Draft Capsules: Giants grab receiver they hope can replace Burress

EDITOR'S NOTE: For NFL Draft Overview Capsules, follow this link. For Texas Capsules, follow this link. For AFC Draft Capsules, follow this link.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Watching Hakeem Nicks at North Carolina, the New York Giants didn't see another Plaxico Burress.

They just saw a guy who could make plays like Plax.

The Giants made a bold move to replace their former troubled Super Bowl hero on Saturday, taking Nicks with the 29th pick overall after trade talks for a proven deep didn't pan out.

"We like him a lot," Giants general manager Jerry Reese said. "He's a big, strong kid, very productive."

Nicks set 14 school receiving records in three seasons with the Tar Heels, leaving as their all-time leader in catches (181), yardage (2,840) and touchdown receptions (21).

"You pull out any of his tapes and he makes spectacular catches," said Marc Ross, the Giants' director of college scouting. "Against Duke he catches one in the back of the end zone against his helmet. He is always going up making plays against people. That's the most intriguing thing. A lot of guys can catch without people around them. This guy guys catches with people around him, in traffic. He goes over people. He is a strong, physical guy. In my opinion, these guys are successful in the NFL."

The Giants (12-5) also went for need in the second round. With the 45th pick overall they took Clint Sintim of Virginia, a linebacker whose 27 career sacks were second in school history, and then they added a little beef to the offensive line, taking William Beatty of Connecticut with the 60th pick.

The big move was Nicks.

Coming to the Giants, many are going to expect the 21-year-old to take over for Burress, who was released earlier this month after turbulent seasons that were highlighted by his game-winning touchdown catch in the Super Bowl against the previously undefeated New England Patriots in February 2008.

His tenure also was dogged by fines and suspensions and eventually ruined when he accidentally shot himself in the thigh in a New York City nightclub in November. It led to another suspension, criminal gun possession charges that still could land him in prison and his eventual release by the Giants after the team concluded he was not going to change his ways.

There had been talk in the weeks leading up to the draft that the Giants were going to trade for a veteran receiver, with most of the chatter centering on Braylon Edwards of the Cleveland Browns.

Reese, however, said Saturday that the Giants never came close to a deal, adding that taking Nicks was the best value among the four players the team considered.

"We expect him to come in and get in the mix," Reese said.

Nicks had 68 catches for 1,222 yards (an 18-yard average) and 12 touchdowns this past season.

The junior tweaked a hamstring at the NFL Combine and gained some weight, but he has recovered and expects to be ready for rookie camp in early May.

Nicks will have to compete with veterans Steve Smith, Domenik Hixon, Sinorice Moss and Mario Manningham for playing time next season, but he does offer the deep threat that they cannot provide on a consistent basis.

Coach Tom Coughlin said Nicks has outstanding hands, long arms and goes over the middle well. Coughlin was impressed with his performance in the Meineke Car Care Bowl against West Virginia in his final collegiate game. He had eight catches for 217 yards and three touchdowns.

Coughlin cautioned about making comparisons to Burress.

"He is his own man," Coughlin said. "We're not into the comparison between players. We have to give Hakeem an opportunity to come in here. His ability level is very high. Let's let him be who he is, and I think he will do very well."

Speaking on a conference call from Charlotte, N.C., Nicks said he can't wait to join the team and contribute. He had heard the Giants were interested, but he decided to just wait until he heard his name announced.

Besides waiving Burress, the Giants also did not offer a contract to veteran receiver Amani Toomer.

"I just want to get in the program and find my role," Nicks said. "You know, just compete the best way possible. I am Hakeem Nicks and I want to get there and prove I have talent and that I want to play in the National Football League."

The Giants drafted Sintim with the 45th pick overall, one they acquired last season from New Orleans in a trade that send Pro Bowl tight end Jeremy Shockey to the Saints.

Sintim may have to adjust in the NFL. He played an outside linebacker position in the Cavaliers' 3-4 defense. The Giants play a 4-3 formation.

"He is a heck of a pass rusher, that's what we liked about him," Ross said, noting that Sintim can play both on the line and in coverage. "He's a physical at the point of attack guy who can rush the passer.

Sintim is projected as a strongside linebacker. Veteran Danny Clark was the starter there last season.

Ross said Beatty is a natural left tackle with raw ability and a big upside.

"With our situation, he doesn't have to come in right away and learn from those guys," Ross said, referring to the fact that David Diehl and Kareem McKenzie are relatively young.

The 6-foot-6, 306 pounder started 26 games over the past two seasons, many times paving the way for Donald Brown, the running back who was the first-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts.

Eagles happy to get receiver who slipped to No. 19

PHILADELPHIA - Seconds after the Philadelphia Eagles selected Jeremy Maclin, coach Andy Reid let Donovan McNabb know in a text message.

It probably read something like this: "Hey, big guy, we got you a playmaker!"

The Eagles landed a weapon they didn't expect for McNabb, trading up two spots to grab Maclin with the 19th pick in the NFL draft.

A star wide receiver in Missouri's high-octane offense, Maclin was expected to be a top-10 pick in many mock drafts. But he slipped several spots Saturday and the Eagles moved quickly to get him.

"I think it worked out for the best," Maclin said. "I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. I can't complain going to this organization. They have all the guys in the right spots to be contenders every year. They have one of the best quarterbacks in the league. I couldn't ask for a better situation."

The Eagles then bolstered their backfield, drafting Pittsburgh running back LeSean McCoy with the 53rd overall pick in the second round. McCoy provides insurance behind the dynamic-but-injury-prone Brian Westbrook.

"The wait was worth it," said McCoy, who grew up 90 minutes away in Harrisburg. "I knew I fit their system very well. I could learn so much from (Westbrook) and I think I can help him out, as great as he is, because now in the NFL they have this two-back system."

Philadelphia sent its first-round pick (No. 21) and a sixth-round pick (No. 195) to Cleveland for the 19th overall choice.

Maclin becomes the first receiver selected by the Eagles in the first round since they took Freddie Mitchell in 2001 at No. 25. Mitchell was a bust in Philadelphia.

Maclin, a speedster listed at 6-foot and 198 pounds, caught 102 passes for 1,260 yards and 13 touchdowns as a sophomore last season. He's known for stretching the field and making big plays, but also is an effective possession receiver. Maclin is a dangerous kick returner, too.

"I think he's just a heck of a football player, and, on top of that, a quality kid," Reid said. "Very intelligent, very fast, great hands and has return ability."

McCoy, listed at 5-foot-11 and 204 pounds, has a combination of speed and size. McCoy rushed for 2,816 yards and 35 TDs in two seasons at Pitt, including 1,488 yards and 21 TDs as a sophomore last year. He also caught 65 passes for 549 yards and one score.

"He has great quickness, very elusive in the open field, great vision and catches the ball extremely well," Reid said.

McNabb, the five-time Pro Bowl quarterback, hasn't had a true No. 1 target since Terrell Owens was kicked out of town in 2005, less than a year after helping the Eagles reach the Super Bowl.

Two years ago, Philadelphia stunned McNabb by drafting his potential replacement, Kevin Kolb, with its first overall pick in the second round.

But McNabb is still the man in Philly, and he has to be excited about the additions of Maclin and McCoy.

The Eagles, who lost to Arizona in the NFC championship game, were interested in acquiring Pro Bowl wideout Anquan Boldin from the Cardinals. But they couldn't pass up the chance to get Maclin. Reid said the team rated Maclin so high on its draft board they didn't even bring him in for a visit because they expected him to be long gone.

"We thought he was going to go quite a bit higher than what he did, so this was not who we had targeted," Reid said.

Maclin joins a deep receiving corps that includes DeSean Jackson, Kevin Curtis, Jason Avant, Hank Baskett and Reggie Brown. Jackson, a second-round pick last year, led the Eagles with 62 catches and 912 yards to go with two TDs.

"We have some versatility and flexibility," Reid said.

Most draft experts predicted the Eagles would select running back Knowshon Moreno in the first round, but he went to Denver at No. 12. Others had Philadelphia taking tight end Brandon Pettigrew, but the Eagles passed on him and he went to Detroit at No. 20.

Maclin caught 80 passes for 1,055 yards and nine TDs his freshman year. He also ran the ball quite a bit, finishing with 91 carries for 668 yards and six TDs on the ground. Maclin returned three punts and two kickoffs for scores in his two seasons.

"There are a lot of things you can do with him," Reid said. "He ran a ton of reverses and all of the little gadget plays that go with it."

The Eagles have seven picks remaining on Sunday, including four in the fifth round.

-- Rob Maaddi

'Lucky' Redskins get Texas DE Orakpo at No. 13

ASHBURN, Va. - The Mark Sanchez Sweepstakes was won by someone else, leaving the Washington Redskins to take the conventional approach - filling one of their most pressing needs with their first pick in the NFL draft.

Surprised to find him still available, the Redskins chose defensive end Brian Orakpo of Texas with the No. 13 overall selection Saturday, bolstering a pass rush that had the fewest sacks in the NFC in 2008.

"Sometimes you've got to be lucky in the draft," executive vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato said, "that the guy that you really covet falls to you. You know, I tried for an hour to move up to get the guy. Nobody would do it, and he fell to us."

Cerrato said he called "about five teams" in an attempt to trade up for the chance to choose the 6-foot-3, 263-pound speed rusher. When the Denver Broncos - selecting at No. 12 - didn't take Orakpo, there was fist-pounding excitement in the war room, according to coach Jim Zorn.

The Redskins used only 2½ minutes of their 10-minute time allotment to make the selection.

"I was shocked that he fell," Cerrato said.

Orakpo, who had 11½ sacks last year for the Longhorns, joins a defensive line that had no player with more than four sacks in last year's 8-8 season. The Redskins had only 24 total sacks, even though the defense ranked No. 4 overall in the NFL, and a vacancy at left defensive end was created when Jason Taylor was cut last month.

The Redskins first addressed the line by signing defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth to a $100 million contract during free agency. Now they've added Orakpo.

"I'm ecstatic," said Orakpo, the son of Nigerian immigrants. "Having one of the best defensive tackles in the league, in the game right now, will make my job a lot easier, I'll tell you that much. Because that's what you need - that force and that beast up the middle."

Orakpo wouldn't have been the choice, however, had the Redskins found the right price for Sanchez. The Southern California quarterback was essentially auctioned off to the New York Jets, who sent its selections in the first and second rounds along with three players to the Cleveland Browns to move up to the No. 5 overall pick.

Asked if the Redskins tried to trade up for Sanchez, Cerrato said: "We made a couple of calls, but it was too expensive."

The Redskins have spent a significant chunk of the offseason looking for an upgrade to Jason Campbell, who threw for 13 touchdown passes and six interceptions last year in his first full season as a starter. Owner Dan Snyder failed to get Jay Cutler from the Denver Broncos, then welcomed Sanchez for a two-day visit in the build-up to the draft.

The swirling QB scenarios have rattled Campbell, leaving him to wonder about his future with the team, but he has apparently survived the offseason and can now be assured once and for all by Zorn that he will enter the final year of his contract as the starter.

"Things were a little bit of a roller-coaster with the whole situation, through the media, through real or unreal situations with Cutler and the stuff about Mark Sanchez as well," Zorn said. "I just feel like we stayed true to what we were planning and didn't try to ride it with everybody else."

Ironically, it was the selection of Sanchez at No. 5 that helped Orakpo fall to No. 13. With Cleveland out of the top 10, that left one fewer team targeting defense ahead of the Redskins. Washington entered the draft looking at a possible rotation of 36-year-old Phillip Daniels and 34-year-old Renaldo Wynn at left defensive end.

Orakpo's top liability is run defense, with Zorn admitting that "there's going to be a learning curve there."

"Everybody's not perfect," Orakpo said. "One thing I know is ‘Don't think pass too much.' I have to be able to stop the run, obviously, with the division we're in, so that's something I know I have to work on."

Orakpo's first wide-eyed, "what did he say?" NFL moment came when he was asked what he plans to do with his first NFL paycheck.

"I'm going to buy me a huge bed," he said. "I need a big old comfortable bed so I can relax and witness all of it."

The Redskins also have needs at linebacker and tackle, which they will look to address on the second day of the draft. Washington didn't have a second-round draft, having traded it last year to acquire Taylor from the Miami Dolphins.

-- Joseph White

SOUTH

Saints take CB Malcolm Jenkins with 14th pick

NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Saints have selected Ohio State cornerback Malcolm Jenkins with the 14th pick in the first round of the NFL draft.

Jenkins, the Thorpe Award winner as the nation's best defensive back last year, had a career-high 57 tackles, intercepted three passes and forced three fumbles. He started 45 of 49 games at Ohio State, finishing his career with 196 tackles and 11 interceptions.

Jenkins was the first defensive back taken in the draft on Saturday. He played every game at cornerback for Ohio State.

The Saints scored an NFL-best 463 points in 2008 but finished last in the NFC South at 8-8 because they allowed 393 points, the seventh-highest total. Much of the attention fell on a secondary that allowed 221.7 passing yards per game.

Bucs draft Kansas State QB Josh Freeman

TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have selected Kansas State's Josh Freeman with the 17th pick in the NFL draft, opting to bring in their quarterback of the future instead of help for a sagging defense.

Freeman is the first quarterback the Bucs have selected in the first round since taking Trent Dilfer sixth in 1994. Tampa Bay moved up two spots Saturday in the draft order, swapping places with the Cleveland Browns, who also received the Bucs' sixth-round pick.

Although landing a quarterback of the future was a need, many felt a defensive selection made more sense.

The Bucs have had one of the stingiest defenses in the league, however the unit fell apart in 2008 and was one of the reasons the team lost four straight after a 9-3 start to miss the playoffs.

-- Fred Goodall

Falcons take Mississippi DT Jerry in first round

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - The Atlanta Falcons have used the 24th pick in the NFL draft to take Mississippi defensive tackle Peria Jerry.

The Falcons already made a big move two days before the draft, acquiring 10-time Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez from the Kansas City Chiefs for a second-round pick in the 2010 draft.

Gonzalez filled a major hole on the Matt Ryan-led offense, freeing up Atlanta to pursue defensive help in this year's draft. On Saturday, the Falcons landed Jerry to bolster a thin front line.

Atlanta must replace five defensive starters lost in free agency: tackle Grady Jackson, linebackers Keith Brooking and Michael Boley, cornerback Domonique Foxworth and safety Lawyer Milloy.

-- Paul Newberry

WEST

Rams take Baylor's Smith with second pick in draft

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Rams filled their greatest need with the second pick of the NFL draft, taking offensive tackle Jason Smith of Baylor on Saturday.

The Rams have many holes to fill, as evidenced by their 5-27 record the last two years and the fact they picked second for the second straight year. They created the biggest gap on the line when they released seven-time Pro Bowl selection Orlando Pace.

Pace, a fixture at left tackle since being picked first overall in 1997, had been dogged by injuries in recent seasons and was released.

"Obviously, that is big shoes to follow," Smith said. "I have to go in and make my own shoes. At the end of the day and end of my career here, I want them to be saying the same things about me: ‘Hey young buddy, you've got to go in and replace Jason Smith, 20-time Pro Bowler."'

In the second round, St. Louis addressed a defensive need with Ohio State All-American linebacker James Laurinaitis. The 6-2, 244-pound Laurinaitis was Big Ten defensive player of year and led the school in tackles three times.

"He's been a tackling machine," general manager Billy Devaney said.

The Rams plan to move Will Witherspoon, who started 12 games at middle linebacker last year, to the outside. Chris Draft, who was at middle linebacker in the first minicamp earlier this month, is 33 years old.

Baylor's first first-rounder since 1996 has a sense of humor to match the talent. During a conference call, he pretended several times not to hear a question asking him to name his biggest weakness.

"You know I can hear you, right?" he said after laughing for several seconds.

The Rams passed on other enticing prospects such as Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry and Southern California quarterback Mark Sanchez, each representing less pressing needs. St. Louis used all 10 of its allotted minutes before taking the 6-foot-5, 310-pound Smith while awaiting offers to trade down, but Devaney said there was no action.

"We kind of started kind of planning what-ifs," Devaney said. "But we thought at the end of the day we'd be turning our card in, and that's how it played out."

Devaney said Smith separated himself from the field with his passion, production and smarts.

"He's off the charts in those categories," Devaney said. "We just thought for what we're trying to put together here, he's the perfect fit."

Both Devaney and new coach Steve Spagnuolo were impressed with Smith's ability to finish plays, and after numerous contacts discovered no negatives.

"Each time we kept looking," Devaney said. "What are the flaws and what are the problems? And there was never any with this guy."

Smith was a standout despite Baylor's four-year record of 18-31 when he was at school, and could be immediately plugged in at right tackle. Alex Barron, a first-round pick in 2005, moved from right tackle to the left side in St. Louis' first minicamp earlier this month, although Spagnuolo hinted that switch is not a done deal.

"We'll do what's best," Spagnuolo said. "You've got to give us a little time to get him in a helmet and pads first."

Smith said he didn't care where he landed, noting he began his college career as a defensive end, then moved to tight end, and played both right and left tackle.

The Rams selected Virginia defensive end Chris Long last year and got a solid rookie season out of the son of Hall of Famer Howie Long. Long started every game and had four sacks, second among NFC rookies, while giving the team a pass-rush threat opposite veteran Leonard Little.

Devaney said the Rams had explored trading up to a late first-round slot to make sure Laurinaitis, the son of former professional wrestler Joe "The Animal" Laurinaitis, was still available. Instead, Devaney said, the Rams "sweated it out" for a player who fulfills their desire for more size at the position.

"He's been in a lot of big games, made a lot of big plays," Spagnuolo said. "That gets me excited."

Laurinaitis said his agent, St. Louis-based Tom Condon, told him the Rams wanted to pick him. He's billed as a three-down linebacker with coverage skills and made an impression with his first workout in St. Louis.

"I'm excited to show everybody what I can do," Laurinaitis said. "My agent had kind of been telling me they had a dire need for a middle linebacker."

Laurinaitis started the last 39 games of his college career and was voted team captain for the second straight season by his teammates.

-- R.B. Fallstrom

Niners grab star WR Crabtree with 10th pick

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - When Michael Crabtree unexpectedly slipped to the 10th pick in Saturday's NFL draft, the San Francisco 49ers eagerly caught their highest-profile receiver since Terrell Owens left town.

Crabtree claimed he was delighted to join the 49ers after his record-setting career at Texas Tech, where he won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's best college receiver after each of his two seasons. He was widely considered the best pass-catcher in the draft, and San Francisco was thrilled to address its longtime dearth of star talent at the position where Jerry Rice, Dwight Clark, John Taylor and Owens once excelled.

"We had no idea he would be there at 10," coach Mike Singletary said. "It was one of the last scenarios we thought we would end up with. He's been one of the best guys, the past couple of years in college football."

Crabtree is among the college game's most dynamic playmakers of recent years, catching 231 passes for 3,127 yards and 41 touchdowns in the Red Raiders' spread offense. Yet he clearly slipped in several teams' estimation when a stress fracture was discovered in his left foot at the combine.

He underwent surgery that scuttled much of his pre-draft workout schedule while he rested his foot in a protective boot, never running a 40-yard dash. He's not expected to participate fully in next weekend's minicamp while continuing his recovery, but should be ready for training camp.

Nine teams passed on him - including the cross-Bay rival Oakland Raiders, who went with Maryland receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey with the seventh pick. While Crabtree's statistics dwarf Heyward-Bey's accomplishments with the Terrapins, the Raiders apparently thought Crabtree wasn't fast enough to fit their needs.

"My whole thing was patience," Crabtree said. "I was just trying to be patient. I like the 49ers. I grew up watching the 49ers and Cowboys. It's a great history behind the 49ers. A lot of people have played there, and I have big shoes to fill."

The developments delighted the 49ers' draft room, where the club's selection process suddenly became easy when Jacksonville didn't choose Crabtree with the eighth pick.

"I really didn't think it would happen," general manager Scot McCloughan said. "That's a long way for a guy like that to fall, to 10. ... He's the closest thing I've seen to Anquan Boldin in college football. He's a highly competitive guy that's not afraid to make plays."

Crabtree was the 49ers' only selection on the draft's first day after they traded their second-round and fourth-round picks to Carolina for the Panthers' first-round pick in 2010. McCloughan said he didn't have a player on his draft board who justified the salary that would be required for the 43rd overall pick.

With remarkable catching skills, a solid blocking technique and what Texas Tech coach Mike Leach described as an inexhaustible work ethic, Crabtree clearly is the biggest addition to the 49ers' receiving corps since Owens left after the 2003 season.

Crabtree doesn't shy from praises of his talent.

"When I played quarterback, I always wanted a receiver ... where I could just throw it up and he could go get it," Crabtree said. "Or if I threw a pass, I knew he was going to cut in front of that DB and not let the interception happen, and make a play. I said I wanted to play receiver as soon as I got to college, and I kept that with me, and I'm never going to turn back."

San Francisco has had some of the NFL's least impressive groups of pass-catchers since then, struggling through five years with few solid receivers for quarterbacks Alex Smith and Shaun Hill, but their targets should be a whole lot more impressive next year. Isaac Bruce will be back for another season alongside Arnaz Battle, returning youngsters Josh Morgan and Jason Hill, and free-agent signee Brandon Jones.

Singletary doesn't yet know where Crabtree will play, although McCloughan sees him as a split end.

"We'll figure it out," Singletary said. "You've got a playmaker. He's going to have to earn his way on, but the most important thing is that we know we have a playmaker."

Leach was effusive about Crabtree's toughness and tenacity. He also responded harshly to pundits and unnamed NFL coaches who have labeled Crabtree as a high-maintenance prima donna.

"There's no diva in him, and part of that is because he's too shy to do that," Leach said. "He's got people around him that want to share in his experience and share in this moment, but when all that's over, Michael knows it's a whole lot of time in the film room by himself, a whole lot of time in the weight room. ... I've seen Michael Crabtree run from the spotlight more than I've seen him chase the spotlight."

-- Greg Beacham

Cardinals nab Ohio State's Wells with 31st pick

TEMPE, Ariz. - The Arizona Cardinals have selected running back Chris "Beanie" Wells of Ohio State with the 31st pick overall in the NFL draft.

The Cardinals were looking for a running back, and Wells was the last of the top three available when the team made its choice. One of their potential picks, Donald Brown of Connecticut, went to Indianapolis with the No. 27 pick.

Concerns about durability led to Wells' availability so late in the first round.

The selection is intended to bolster what was the worst ground game in the NFL last season. It also means the Cardinals will grant Edgerrin James his release soon.

Despite a flurry of rumors, there was no deal for Arizona wide receiver Anquan Boldin.

-- Bob Baum

Seahawks take OLB Aaron Curry at No. 4

RENTON, Wash. - The Seahawks have selected outside linebacker Aaron Curry of Wake Forest with the fourth pick in the NFL draft.

Seattle's choice on Saturday addresses its most immediate need: finding a replacement for traded Julian Peterson. Franchise player Leroy Hill, the Seahawks' other starting outside linebacker, also could be gone next year.

Curry's head was bowed when his name was announced inside Radio City Music Hall in New York. Curry then wiped away tears and said he expected to go into Seattle's defense and "fly around."

The 6-foot-1, 254-pound Curry will be expected to start immediately this fall. He is Seattle's highest pick since Shawn Springs was the Seahawks' No. 3 choice in 1997.

-- Gregg Bell

NORTH

Lions start rebuilding project with QB Stafford

ALLEN PARK, Mich. - The Detroit Lions became the NFL's first 0-16 team last season in large part because their defense was one of the worst in league history.

Detroit decided to ignore its many needs on ‘D' in the first round of the draft Saturday, choosing Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford as expected with the No. 1 pick and Oklahoma State tight end Brandon Pettigrew in a surprising selection at 20th overall.

"We stuck to our core values, looking for value ," Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said. "We weren't tempted to go offense or defense. We took the best player both times."

Even though Jim Schwartz's background is on defense, Detroit's new coach didn't mind waiting to address that side of the ball.

"We have a number of needs," Schwartz said. "Our No. 1 need is talent."

Detroit did bolster its defense, which came close to setting an NFL record for points allowed last year, by taking Western Michigan safety Louis Delmas with the first pick in the second round.

"He plays liked a guided missile," Schwartz said.

Stafford said "winning solves a lot of problems," and he's got plenty of them to overcome with the Lions.

He will, though, be paid well.

Stafford, from Dallas, signed a six-year contract with $41.7 million in guarantees and $78 million in maximum value on Saturday.

The night before, he stepped outside of a restaurant in New York where he was with about 20 people, including his parents, to talk to agent Tom Condon, after the negotiations were completed.

"I went back in and gave everybody the thumbs up," Stafford recalled.

Who picked up the check?

"I did," Stafford said quietly.

Stafford can't fix all the problems associated with a franchise that has been bad enough to go 31-97 since 2001 in what has been the worst eight-year stretch by an NFL team since the Chicago Cardinals won 23 percent of their games from 1936-43.

But Detroit can't afford to have Stafford join its list of draft-day busts that includes Joey Harrington, Charles Rogers and Mike Williams.

"The great thing about the game of football is, it's a team game," Stafford said on a conference call. "I'm just going to be one piece of the puzzle."

The strong-armed quarterback might get a chance to develop slowly, watching Daunte Culpepper from the sideline.

But Stafford isn't conceding anything.

"I'm a competitive guy," Stafford said. "I'm going to try to get ready as quick as I can."

Stafford said it will be up to the coaches to decide if he's ready to start in Week 1 on the road against the New Orleans Saints, when Detroit will try to win its first game since Dec. 23, 2007.

But with the money the Lions are paying Stafford, there will be pressure to put him on the field.

When Stafford does play, Pettigrew will likely help him as a pass-receiving threat and blocking asset.

The 6-foot-5, 263-pound Pettigrew became the first tight end in Oklahoma State history with 100-plus receptions in a career, but as a senior had as many receiving touchdowns (none) as the Lions had wins last season.

Pettigrew, though, was a first-round pick in part because he loved blocking so much that he asked for running plays to be run in his direction.

Pettigrew, from Tyler, Texas, said the Lions have "big plans," for him.

"They know I'm a complete tight end," Pettigrew said.

Delmas, from North Miami Beach, Fla., might get a chance to start right away because safety Gerald Alexander is recovering from a neck injury.

When Detroit faces Green Bay, Delmas is looking forward to facing another former Western Michigan star, Packers receiver Greg Jennings.

"I'm about to text him in a minute," Delmas said, "and tell him, ‘Don't slip up and come across the middle because it's going to be a rude awakening."'

-- Larry Lage

Packers build up defense with DT Raji, LB Matthews

GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Green Bay Packers added a big piece to their rebuilding defense in the first round of the NFL draft, taking Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji with the No. 9 overall pick on Saturday.

Packers general manager Ted Thompson then pulled a surprise later in the first round, trading up with the New England Patriots to take Southern California linebacker Clay Matthews with the 26th pick. The Packers sent their second-round pick and both of their third-rounders to the Patriots, getting the first-round pick and a fifth-rounder in return.

Thompson called Raji a rare combination of size and power, and said he was mildly surprised that Raji still was still available. And while it wasn't immediately clear where Raji will fit in the Packers' new 3-4 defensive scheme, Thompson said they'll find a place for him.

"He has the ability to take people backwards, where they don't want to go," Thompson said. "He also has the quickness to go around them. He's a very powerful player. It's unbelievably hard to find the combination of the skill set he brings. The good Lord just didn't make many people like this."

Raji said he was looking forward to joining the Packers.

"I just feel honored to be selected by such a great franchise with so much tradition," Raji said.

After the Packers' defense bore the brunt of the blame for a disappointing 6-10 season in 2008, Green Bay brought in a new defensive coordinator, Dom Capers, and is in the process of switching from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defensive alignment.

By taking Raji, Thompson passed on the chance to draft Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree - a player many analysts considered perhaps the most talented in the draft.

"We think a lot of Michael Crabtree and a couple other guys," Thompson said. "Yeah, it was a difficult call. But we feel confident we did the right thing."

The pick was relatively well-received by Packers fans who had gathered in the Lambeau Field Atrium for a draft party, marking the first time in two seasons that Thompson's first-round draft decision wasn't roundly booed.

"They're getting soft," Thompson joked.

Fans didn't like the last first-round pick Thompson used on a defensive tackle, Justin Harrell in 2007 - and they've been right so far, as Harrell has played in only 13 games because of injuries. And fans certainly didn't like Thompson's decision to trade out of the first round last year.

Thompson said public opinion matters - but only to a point.

"The Jets picked a pretty good quarterback, and I saw people in New York booing that," Thompson said, referring to USC's Mark Sanchez. "What matters is all the work that our staff puts in and all the miles that our scouts travel, and when it comes down to, ‘Can you get a good player?' We think we were able to get a good player."

At 6-1 and 337 pounds, Raji had 42 tackles and eight sacks in Boston College's 4-3 defense last season. Thompson said veteran Ryan Pickett remains the Packers' nose tackle in the new 3-4 scheme - Raji's natural position - but expects the team to find ways to exploit Raji's versatility.

"He's more than a space-eater," Thompson said "He's a little bit more than that. We're excited about him."

The Packers' defensive line was one of the team's biggest strengths in their 2007 run to the playoffs, but has since grown thin. Thompson has always valued drafting the best player available over filling an immediate need, but said need does factor in when a team has two players rated similarly.

"It's always going to be a factor," Thompson said. "It's not that it doesn't factor in. But you don't take a lesser player, in your opinion."

There were concerns about Raji's character coming into the draft. He was ruled academically ineligible to play the entire 2007 season and faced questions about his work ethic from scouts. However, reports that Raji failed a drug test at the NFL scouting combine were false.

"I couldn't help but be frustrated," Raji said. "How that all came about, I still don't understand."

Raji said his reputation crumbled almost overnight.

"I didn't feel like that was right," Raji said.

Raji's parents both are pastors, and his father originally is from Nigeria.

"It was different," Raji said of his upbringing. "They're a lot stricter than most parents."

Thompson called Raji engaging and bright, and said he was comfortable with the information the team had gathered about Raji's character and background.

"He's a good guy," Thompson said.

-- Chris Jenkins

Vikings take WR Percy Harvin with No. 22 pick

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress had plenty of questions for Percy Harvin when he visited the receiver in Florida only three days before the NFL draft.

The speedy Gators star must have had all the right answers.

The Vikings selected the big-play threat with the 22nd overall draft choice on Saturday after speaking with Harvin, his family and Gators coaches about a failed drug test at the NFL combine and concerns about his durability.

"I think he's a guy that's made a mistake. We've all made mistakes," Childress said. "The big thing is that you look at him in the eye and you recognize it for what it is. You admit to it.

"And then I think (it's about) how you deal with adversity as you go forward," he added. "Do you run and bury it? Or do you fix it? That's part of growing up."

The 5-foot-11 Harvin split time between running back and receiver in three seasons at Florida. He racked up nearly 3,800 total yards, using his versatility to help the Gators to two national titles.

Harvin battled a few foot injuries in college, but the Vikings say he is healthy and will pair with Adrian Peterson to give them two dynamic threats with noses for the end zone.

Harvin scored 17 touchdowns last season and had 14 touches for 170 yards and a score in Florida's 24-14 win over Oklahoma in the national title game.

"When we evaluated him just on football between the lines, he was definitely a top-10 pick," Vikings vice president for player personnel Rick Spielman said.

Spielman raved about Harvin's ability and insisted the team was satisfied with his character after several visits with the 184-pound native of Virginia Beach, Va., who skipped his final season of eligibility at Florida. Spielman and receivers coach George Stewart, who once worked with Terrell Owens with the San Francisco 49ers, talked to Harvin after his workout for scouts on campus.

Childress then made the personal visit to Florida and surprised Harvin by asking him to drive him to his family's house near Jacksonville so the coach could get a better idea about the person behind the player.

"Obviously you want to do the right thing and you want to make sure you're bringing the right people in here," Childress said. "Can he fit? Can he coexist? Can he be a good teammate. All those kind of things."

Harvin knew he had some explaining to do, about the drug test, his injury history and a history of altercations in high school.

"With these coaches, I opened up to them and they opened up to me," Harvin said. "So when it got to those subjects, the only thing I could do was tell them the truth, be up front, and let them judge me from there. We had a great respect for each other and obviously them picking me showed they believed in me. I've got their back and they got mine."

The Vikings filled another major need in the second round, taking massive Oklahoma right tackle Phil Loadholt with the 54th pick.

"I don't think we could've asked for a better scenario," Spielman said.

Add to that Harvin, who has the ability to return, and the Vikings say it was a successful first day.

"This scenario was almost like when Adrian Peterson was there at No. 7," Spielman said, referring to the 2007 draft. "He's that high on your board, he's that explosive of a playmaker - you just can't pass up good football players like that if you feel comfortable with everything that comes along with him. And we felt more than comfortable with that."

The Vikings spent millions to bring in wide receiver Bernard Berrian in 2008, but they were still in need of production at the position - especially after failing to sign T.J. Houshmandzadeh in free agency two months ago.

Now he is looking forward to putting those issues behind him.

"All the stuff that happened was just growing up," he said. "It was a mistake and I grew from it. I'm just looking forward to playing football."

-- Jon Krawczynski

Bears trade 2nd-round pick to Seattle

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - The Chicago Bears traded away their second-round pick in the NFL draft, leaving them without a selection on Saturday.

The Bears already had sent their first-round pick to Denver in a trade earlier this month for quarterback Jay Cutler.

The Bears swapped their second-round choice, which was No. 49 overall, to Seattle for the Seahawks' picks in the third and fourth rounds.

"Obviously it was an uneventful day today," Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said.

It was the first time since 1978 the Bears did not make a pick in the first two rounds. Angelo said the Bears made an attempt to trade for disgruntled Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin.

"Nothing was able to get resolved," Angelo said.

Angelo wouldn't reveal details of the talks, but said he assumes the deal is dead because, "I felt like if it was going to happen, it would have happened today."

The Bears had interest in Oregon defensive back Jarius Byrd, wide receiver Brian Robiskie of Ohio State and a defensive end, according to Angelo, but all went earlier in Round 2.

Angelo said the Bears made attempts to move up in Round 2 and select those and other players, but failed.

"There was absolutely no way we were able to move up," he said. "That's the hardest place to get to in the draft is that top half of the second (round) because those are the best buys. Those are the players where you really get a great deal."

The Bears' first-round pick and third-round pick this year, quarterback Kyle Orton and a first-round pick in 2010 all went to Denver for Cutler.

They were the talk of the NFL after the deal, but had to be content to watch others from the sideline Saturday.

After Angelo saw Detroit, Minnesota and Green Bay add talent throughout the first two rounds, he admitted to feeling some frustration.

"Our work is cut out for us," he said. "Everybody in our division got better today. And we might not have gotten better today, but we got better a few weeks ago and tomorrow hopefully we're going to get a lot better."

The Bears have nine picks in Rounds 3 through 7 Sunday. They have two choices in the third, fourth, fifth and seventh rounds.