The NFL Scouting Combine begins this week in Indianapolis, and I will be there to cover all the action. And, believe me, there will be a lot of action.
Not only will general managers, coaches and scouts from across the league be there to evaluate the draft stock of hundreds of pro prospects, they are trying to size up other teams' offseason needs.Often when GMs aren't watching prospects running the 40, they are in back rooms talking to agents and other front office personnel.
Our coverage of the combine will kick off on Friday, as we present the big story lines concerning key draft prospects. Also, on Friday, Texans president Jamey Rootes will hold his first ever Live Chat on HoustonTexans.com. You can email in your questions now by clicking **here**.
To build some combine excitement, here is ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.'s most current mock draft:
First Round
1. Detroit: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
2. St. Louis: Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
3. Kansas City, Mark Sanchez, QB, USC
4. Seattle: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
5. Cleveland: Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
6. Cincinnati: Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
7. Oakland: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri
8. Jacksonville: Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
9. Green Bay: Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio St.
10. San Francisco: Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn St.
11. Buffalo: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma St.
12. Denver: B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College
13. Washington: Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas
14. New Orleans: Vontae Davis, CB. Illinois
15. Houston: Everette Brown, DE, Florida St.16. San Diego: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
17. New York Jets: Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
18. Chicago: TysonJackson, DE, LSU
19. Tampa Bay: Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas St.
20. Detroit (from Dallas): Rey Maualuga, LB, USC
21. Philadelphia: Chris "Beanie" Wells, RB, Ohio St.
22. Minnesota: Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina
23. New England: Brian Cushing, LB, USC
24. Atlanta: Larry English, DE/OLB, No. Illinois
25. Miami: Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland
26. Baltimore: D.J. Moore, CB, Vanderbilt
27. Indianapolis: Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi
28. Philadelphia (from Carolina): Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi
29. New York Giants: James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio St.
30. Tennessee: Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech
31. Arizona: LeSean McCoy, RB, Pittsburgh
32. Pittsburgh: Alex Mack, C, California
