By Nick Wagoner
Senior Writer

There might not be a more inexact and pointless exercise than the NFL mock draft. The fact is, there is nobody in the world that knows for sure what every team in the league is going to do on draft day.

Heck, most teams don’t even know what they are going to do on draft day until their name comes on the clock. With that said it’s become a pastime of NFL draftniks and wanna be draftniks everywhere.

So, without further ado, here is my mock draft for 2006. This mock draft includes no trades (it’s hard enough as it is) and probably a very slim chance of any kind of respectable amount of accuracy.

1. Houston – Reggie Bush, RB, USC – The only pick in the draft that seems like a sure thing. Bush is the most electrifying talent to enter the draft since Michael Vick.

2. New Orleans – D’Brickashaw Ferguson, OT, Virginia – Tough call between Ferguson and DE Mario Williams, but the Saints have invested plenty of first-round picks on ends. A combo of Ferguson and Brown sets New Orleans at tackle for the next 10-12 years.

3. Tennessee – Vince Young, QB, Texas – Play making skills on a par with Bush make Young the man to replace Steve McNair. Sure, Matt Leinart goes way back with offensive coordinator Norm Chow, but Young has more upside.

4. New York Jets – Matt Leinart, QB, USC – Leinart would be embraced as the next coming of Broadway Joe. He already has celebrity status and the Jets have serious interest in adding a big-time signal caller.

5. Green Bay – Mario Williams, DE, North Carolina State – The Packers would love A.J. Hawk here, but they really would love it if Williams fell this far. While it seems outrageous, there wildest dreams come true as they get one of the best defensive prospects to enter the draft in years.

6. San Francisco – Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland – Hawk would also be tempting here, but it seems that Davis is the apple of the 49ers’ eyes. Simply the best athlete at his position and one of the most freakish athletes to ever enter the draft. Davis gives Alex Smith his first legitimate pass catching threat.

7. Oakland – A.J. Hawk, LB, Ohio State – The Raiders have eyes for Young also, but feel fortunate to grab what many scouts think is the most surefire prospect in the draft. Hawk has the ability to change games and Oakland’s defense needs all the help it can get.

8. Buffalo – Winston Justice, OT, USC – There are always a few curveballs in the top 10 and this seems to be a good spot for one. Justice is a bit raw and has had some off the field issues, but he has as much upside as anyone. The Bills desperately need help at tackle and Justice won’t last much past this spot.

9. Detroit – Michael Huff, DB, Texas – The Lions have made it known that they love Huff. If the best defensive back on the board is available here, it’s a no brainer. Well, nevermind, with Matt Millen running the show anything could happen, but new coach Rod Marinelli has a good enough head on his shoulders to do the right thing.

10. Arizona – Jay Cutler, QB, Vanderbilt – Kurt Warner’s replacement comes to town here. Cutler has been all over the board for most mock drafts, with some having him landing in the top five and others dropping him into the 15 range. We’ll settle for the difference.

11. St. Louis – Brodrick Bunkley, DT, Florida State – The best and most complete defensive tackle prospect on the board falls in the laps of the Rams after they lost Ryan Pickett, Damione Lewis and Tyoka Jackson in the offseason. Bunkley is stout against the run, but gets good enough push to rush the passer, making him a perfect fit in defensive coordinator Jim Haslett’s defense.

12. Cleveland – Kamerion Wimbley, LB/DE, Florida State – The Browns added Willie McGinest to help the 3-4 scheme of Romeo Crennel in the offseason. Now, they grab the guy they believe could be the next McGinest.

13. Baltimore – Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon – The Ravens haven’t had a pure run stuffing tackle since Tony Siragusa. This mass of humanity should help keep blockers off Ray Lewis and allow him to get back to his dominant self.

14. Philadelphia – Ernie Sims, LB, Florida State – A fast, hard hitting linebacker with a nasty streak. Should fit right in on a defense that has been lacking those at the linebacker position.

15. Denver – Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio State – Rod Smith isn’t getting any younger and Ashley Lelie has disappointed. Holmes and Jackson are considered the best on the board. Holmes doesn’t have the upside of Jackson, but he should be a more immediate contributor.

16. Miami – Chad Jackson, WR, Florida – Giving Daunte Culpepper a burner on the side opposite Chris Chambers should give the Dolphins one of the best young offenses in the NFL. Jackson has the speed to get deep and could be a home run threat as a rookie. 

17. Minnesota – Chad Greenway, LB, Iowa – The Vikings would like a quarterback and could move up to get one with their extra second and third round picks. But, assuming the top three are gone, this team needs defensive help in the worst way. Greenway is the best option at linebacker.

18. Dallas – Donte Whitner, S, Ohio State – Tough call between Whitner and Jason Allen. Whitner has a little more experience and is a bit of a safer pick so Bill Parcells take the hard hitting safety.

19. San Diego – Antonio Cromartie, CB, Florida State – Perhaps the most talented corner in the draft, Cromartie would have gone in the top 10 if not for a season-ending knee injury. Could be the steal of the draft for the Chargers.

20. Kansas City – Tye Hill, CB, Clemson – Hill gives the Chiefs something they haven’t had in the secondary for a long time…speed. He is one of the fastest players in the draft regardless of position and though a bit undersized, has the ability to break up passes and make plays on the ball.

21. New England – Manny Lawson, LB/DE, North Carolina State – With McGinest gone to Cleveland, Bill Belichick could use a pass rushing outside linebacker for his 3-4 defense. Lawson is a bit of a ‘tweener, but a perfect match for this defense with freakish speed.

22. San Francisco – Johnathan Joseph, CB, South Carolina – After going offense with Davis at the first pick, the 49ers need the best defensive back available to patch up a shoddy pass defense. Joseph fits the bill.

23. Tampa Bay – Jimmy Williams, DB, Virginia Tech – Once thought to be the best corner or safety prospect in the draft, Williams has slipped down many boards. Potential to be great, but also potential to be a bust. Probably better off as a safety. 

24. Cincinnati – Jason Allen, DB, Tennessee – Putting Allen next to the talented Madieu Williams would significantly improve the Bengals’ ailing pass defense. They could use a corner also.

25. New York Giants – Sinorice Moss, WR, Miami – The Giants could use defensive help at almost every position, but the chance to add a slot receiver with game breaking ability to the offense is just too good to pass up.

26. Chicago – Marcedes Lewis, TE, UCLA – The addition of cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. gives the Bears the secondary help they need. That allows them to address their next position of need which is tight end. Lewis can stretch the field and make plays in the passing game.

27. Carolina – LenDale White, RB, USC – The fall of the running backs comes as a big surprise, but it ends here with the start of a run on backs. White has slipped some, but he remains one of the best backs in the draft.

28. Jacksonville – DeAngelo Williams, RB, Memphis – Fred Taylor hasn’t been able to stay on the field because of injury problems and the Jags need to add some fresh legs. Williams should go much higher than this, but because of the proliferation of talented backs already in the league, he falls.

29. New York Jets – Laurence Maroney, RB, Minnesota – Curtis Martin is edging closer to the end of the line. The Jets find their replacement in the physical back from St. Louis.

30. Indianapolis – Joseph Addai, RB, LSU – The Colts would be disappointed if the top backs all went right before their choice and would probably move up for a shot at Maroney, Williams and White. If not, Addai has plenty of potential and could be the guy.

31. Seattle – Ashton Youboty, CB, Ohio State – The Seahawks feel fine with Marcus Trufant on one side. But Kelly Herndon is an average player. At the least, Youboty provides competition.

32. Pittsburgh – Nick Mangold, C, Ohio State – The perfect fit for the Steelers. Mangold is big, strong and possesses a great work ethic. He’s a blue collar guy at a position of need and has the ability to start from day one.