In the Trenches: Fabiano's mock draft

The Guru wants to hear from you! Each week we'll ask a Fantasy Football question to our readers, with the results being posted as a new feature for In the Trenches. Be sure to put Attn: Question of the Week in the subject field.

This week's question: Now that superstar WR Randy Moss is in Oakland, who would you select first in drafts next season: Daunte Culpepper or Donovan McNabb? Send us your thoughts!

Here are the results from last week's question: Who is your best sleeper candidate for next season?

1. Carson Palmer (19 percent)
2. Tatum Bell (13 percent)
3. LaMont Jordan (9 percent)
4. Charles Rogers (6 percent)
(Note: David Carr, Kerry Collins, Lee Evans, Joey Harrington, Julius Jones and Kurt Warner all received three percent of the vote. All other entries received less than two percent).

Michael Fabiano predicts the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft, which will be held in New York City on April 23-24.

2005 NFL Mock Draft

1. San Francisco 49ers
	Alex Smith, QB, Utah: No team needs a quarterback worse than the 'Niners, who will pass on the local QB Aaron Rodgers to select the talented Smith, who could have some value as a rookie in seasonal leagues.
2. Miami Dolphins
	Ronnie Brown, RB, Auburn With Smith off the board, the Dolphins go back to Plan A and select Brown. Barring the return of Ricky Williams, Brown could be the most valuable rookie back in Fantasy Football.
3. Cleveland Browns
	Braylon Edwards, WR, Michigan: The Browns and coach Romeo Crennel will pass on Rodgers and take the best player on the board in Edwards. On a team with no true No. 1 wide receiver, Edwards will have a chance to thrive.
4. Chicago Bears
	Cedric Benson, RB, Texas: The Bears aren't sold on Thomas Jones as a featured back, so expect the team to select Benson, who is a perfect fit for the offense and has the skills to be a long-term star in the Windy City.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
	Carnell Williams, RB, Auburn: The Buccaneers won't utilize Michael Pittman as a featured back and will choose to ride their new Cadillac into the future. This could change if the Bucs pull off a deal to move up and acquire Smith.
6. Tennessee Titans
	Antrel Rolle, CB, Miami: Rolle's stock has soared this offseason and he's a perfect fit for the Titans, who released CB Samari Rolle (Ravens). This a positive move for the future, but the team's DST still needs work.
7. Minnesota Vikings (from Oakland)
	Mike Williams, WR, USC Williams is no Randy Moss, but he does have immense potential and should add to what will continue to be a potent Vikings' offense. A draft-day trade to move up to acquire Edwards is also possible.
8. Arizona Cardinals
	Adam "Pacman" Jones, CB, West Virginia: The Cardinals need a solid corner and will draft one in Jones, who lacks size (5-foot-9) but is an incredible talent with great speed and potential. His addition will make the Cardinals DST more formidable in 2005.
9. Washington Redskins
	Troy Williamson, QR, South Carolina: The Redskins lose out on Rolle and Jones and decide to turn their attention to offense. Williamson's stock has soared in recent weeks, and he adds another vertical threat for the team's pass attack.
10. Detroit Lions
	Derrick Johnson, LB, Texas: The Lions will add the most athletic linebacker in the draft in Johnson, who will add immense speed and skills as a playmaker to what could be a sleeper DST next season.
11. Dallas Cowboys
	Shawne Merriman, DE, Maryland: The Cowboys need a playmaker at defensive end, so Merriman will be a welcomed addition. This DST was a disappointment in leagues with 12-plus teams last season, so Merriman should make it more attractive.
12. San Diego Chargers
	Mark Clayton, WR, Oklahoma: Clayton is a solid playmaker and could become the heir apparent to veteran WR Keenan McCardell. Look for Clayton to have some low-end value in the later rounds in Fantasy drafts.
13. Houston Texans
	Alex Barron, OT, Florida State: Barron has the size, strength and footwork to develop into a solid tackle for the Texans, who will look to bolster protection for QB David Carr and create holes for RB Domanick Davis.
14. Carolina Panthers
	Aaron Rodgers, QB, California: Rodgers drops from a possible No. 1 to the Panthers at No. 14. He will be mentored by starter Jake Delhomme and should be considered the team's quarterback of the future.
15. Kansas City Chiefs
	Carlos Rogers, CB, Auburn: The Chiefs need to improve their defensive backfield, and the athletic and quick Rogers fits the bill. His stock has risen in recent weeks, but he alone won't make a significant impact on the value of the Chiefs DST.
16. New Orleans Saints
	Thomas Jones, S, Georgia: Jones is a solid addition for the Saints, who can use him at either safety or weak-side linebacker. However, his presence alone won't improve the unit's overall value.
17. Cincinnati Bengals
	David Pollack, DE, Georgia: Pollack might lack size (6-foot-2, 265 pounds), but he's a fearless competitor with incredible football instincts. He'll be a nice fit for a Bengals DST that should be improved from last season.
18. Minnesota Vikings
	Marcus Spears, DE, LSU: Considered a "tweener" by most scouts, Spears is a fearless competitor with incredible football instincts. He'll be a nice fit for a Vikings DST that might be the most improved unit in the league.
19. St. Louis Rams
	Jamaal Brown, OT, Oklahoma The war of words between coach Mike Martz and OT Kyle Turley appears to have left a hole in the line, so the Rams will look to fill it with Brown, who has the size and footwork to develop into a solid pro tackle.
20. Dallas Cowboys
	Erasmus James, DE, Wisconsin: The Cowboys will take a chance on another DE in James, whose value has decreased due to injury concerns and his less-than-impressive workout at the combine. Overall he is a solid addition for a line that will be much improved in 2005.
21. Jacksonville Jaguars
	Khalif Barnes, OT, Washington: The Jaguars need to upgrade the left side of their offensive line and will look to develop Barnes, whose stock soared at the Senior Bowl. He could become imperative to the protection of QB Byron Leftwich.
22. Baltimore Ravens
	Roddy White, WR, UAB: The Ravens' wide receivers improved with the addition of veteran Derrick Mason, but the team could still use more weapons in the pass attack. White has immense potential, though he'll need time to make an impact.
23. Seattle Seahawks
	Dan Cody, DE, Oklahoma: The Seahawks need to get younger on the defensive line and will steal Cody, who adds depth and possesses the speed, athleticism and overall tools to become a solid pass rusher for coach Mike Holmgren.
24. Green Bay Packers
	Shaun Cody, DT, USC: Cody is a "tweener" who can line up at either end or tackle, which is an attractive trait for coach Mike Sherman and the Packers. He'll also add depth to a defensive line that was vulnerable for much of last season.
25. Washington Redskins (from Denver)
	Jason Campbell, QB, Auburn: Reports indicate the 'Skins dealt three picks to Denver to move up and land Campbell, who some scouts consider to be on the same level as Rodgers and Smith. This could be bad news for QB Patrick Ramsey.
26. Oakland Raiders (from N.Y. Jets)
	Fabian Washington, CB, Nebraska: The Raiders need to upgrade their cornerback position after the Phillip Buchanon deal, so Washington fits well at this spot. His stock rose at the combine with an incredible 4.25 in the 40-yard dash.
27. Atlanta Falcons
	Brodney Pool, S, Oklahoma: With Johnson, Shaun Cody and White all off the board, the Falcons will look to fill a need in their defensive backfield with a versatile athlete like Pool, who will also add depth.
28. San Diego Chargers
	Matt Roth, DE, Iowa: Roth is a raw talent who used to play linebacker but transitioned to end in his sophomore season. He'll be a nice addition for a Chargers' defense that finished with the third-fewest sacks (29) last season.
29. Indianapolis Colts
	Channing Crowder, LB, Florida: The Colts need to retool at the linebacker position, and Crowder is an attractive option. He's a raw talent who won't improve the value of the team's DST, but Crowder is an athletic defender who has great potential.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers
	Heath Miller, TE, Virginia: The Steelers lack a playmaker at the tight end position and will select Miller, who has great hands and the potential to make an impact as a sleeper in his rookie season.
31. Philadelphia Eagles
	Kevin Burnett, LB, Tennessee: This isn't a need selection for the Eagles, who will instead look to stockpile talent for pure depth purposes. The confident and powerful Burnett is a nice fit.
32. New England Patriots
	Marlin Jackson, CB, Michigan: With CB Ty Law gone, Jackson would be a nice addition for the three-time Super Bowl champions and combine with Duane Starks to form a nice duo for the future.

Mailbag

Gabriel Tabraue, Miami: Which is the best keeper combination (1 QB/1 TE or 1 RB/1 WR): Marc Bulger, Jake Delhomme, Matt Hasselbeck and Todd Heap or Julius Jones, Jamal Lewis, Fred Taylor and Laveranues Coles, Donald Driver, Ashley Lelie?

M.F.: The best combo has to be Lewis and Coles, even after both had mediocre 2004 seasons. Lewis should bounce back and produce solid numbers for an improved Ravens' offense, and Coles should profit from the deal that sent him back to New York.

Scott R. Goodacre: What is the scoop on Rod Gardner?

M.F.: The Redskins would like to trade Gardner this offseason -- the team has Santana Moss and David Patten slated to start -- but a move might not be made until after the draft. His top suitors continue to be Cleveland and Seattle.

You can e-mail your questions to Michael Fabiano at gridguru@commissioner.com. Be sure to put Attn: In the Trenches in the subject field. Please be aware that due to the large volume of submissions received, we cannot guarantee personal responses or answers to all questions.

Michael Fabiano is the champion of the 2004 Fantasy Sports Trade Association (FSTA) Experts League.