1. Carson Palmer: The Bengals did some work in free agency on defense in the month leading up to the draft, and that allowed them to work on their offense in the draft. Despite the losses of LB Takeo Spikes and FS Cory Hall, the Bengals strengthened their defense in the eyes of many by adding DT John Thornton, DE Carl Powell, CB Tory James, and LB Kevin Hardy. So turning their attention to the other side of the ball, they chose offensive players in the second and third round, and Iowa G Eric Steinbach and Tennessee WR Kelley Washington could help the team immediately. The Bengals chose another OL in the seventh round, NC State OT Scott Kooistra. This team has some offensive weapons. Cory Dillon is one of the best runners in the league, and the WR corps that adds Washington is already pretty good with Chad Johnson, Peter Warrick, Ron Dugans, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and Danny Farmer. Cincinnatti has an excellent pair of bookend tackles in Willie Anderson and last year's number one pick, Levi Jones, out of ASU. If the middle of the line can get better and Washington can stay healthy, this could be the makings of a good offense. So what does this mean for Carson? QB Jon Kitna played well enough at the end of last season to earn the starting job. Second stringer Akili Smith is likely the number three unless Carson completely falls on his face at the minicamps or in the summer. In essence, we have to root for Kitna to fail. A lot of people want to see QBs sit and learn for a few years before being thrown into the fire, citing Chad Pennington and Tom Brady. I'm not of that school of that. The only thing that makes you truly better, especially in the NFL, is game experience. For every Pennington, Brady, and Steve McNair you can name, I can name guys like Montana, Aikman, Marino, Bledsoe, Manning, Culpepper, Aaron Brooks, McNabb, Warner, and even Vick to a lesser extent, who were thrown into the action and learned from it. Watch guys like Carr, Harrington, and Brees play better this season with some experience and more talent around them, and ask yourself if they would have been better off this year if they would have sat last year. I also don't buy the stance from the Cincy brass that Carson will sit this year. How many times do you hear that from these teams, only to see them put the guy in after a few weeks of struggles. I think Carson will play this year, and I think he will be starting on Opening Day next season.

2. Troy Polamalu: What a perfect set-up for Troy to succeed. The Steelers have zero depth at SS, and last year's starter, Chris Hope, will only be a second year player. The coaches like Hope, but Cowher also mentioned how the team never really replaced former SS Lee Flowers. The smile on Cowher's face when they interviewed him after the pick told the story. Don't be surprised at all when Troy is starting the first game. He gives the kind of run support and blitzing that Pittsburgh defenses need out of their SS, and he has the kind of fire and selflessness that the emotional Cowher and the blue collar fan base will love. Troy becomes the first player that the Steelers have EVER traded up for. That's high praise from one of the historic franchises in the league. If Troy can stay away from injuries, he is about as can't miss there as you can get.

3. Justin Fargas: Justin is not as likely to play early as Carson and Troy, but he is in a good situation nonetheless. Charlie Garner and Tyrone Wheatley are both 31 years old, meaning they won't be around much longer, especially in the age of the salary cap. I think Fargas is very much like Garner. Both are quick, both hit the hole hard, and both have a tendency to get nicked up. If Justin can continue to come on in the receiving aspect as he did at the end of last year, he would be perfect for Oakland's system, which uses a combination of quick traps and sweeps in the running game along with a lot of passes out of the backfield. The only bad part is that Rich Gannon will likely be gone by the time Justin is really coming into his own. If Justin can avoid the injury bug that has really bit him in his college career, he could be a starter down the road.

4. Kareem Kelly: This could be a tough situation for Kareem in New Orleans, and he will have to work harder than he ever has before. Joe Horn has proven his worth as an NFL player, and Donte Stallworth had a daazling rookie year on the other side. Stallworth is the speed guy on the team, so Kareem will likely have to do his business as a #3 or #4 WR in the slot, which means that he will have to show more toughness than he has shown in the past. The good news is that New Orleans is a good offensive team led by a nice younr QB in Aaron Brooks. They could be the next St. Louis Rams, and Kareem could find his way into a role like Az Hakim's when he was with the Rams. He'll have to beat out veteran Jerome Pathon, who has been somewhat productive, Michael Lewis, and fellow draftee Talman Gardner out of FSU. This will be his best hope, because I don't think he'll help as a returner. He never played the position at SC because of fumble problems and too much dancing. Kareem will have an opportunity though if he works hard and keeps his chin up, because I think he's a better player than Gardner.

5. Malaefou MacKensie: The Jaguars are not very deep at running back after Stacey Mack left for Houston, and the star of the group, Fred Taylor, is injured almost every year. I don't think MacKensie will ever be a starter in the NFL because he is not quick or fast, and he gets injured too much to get 25-30 carries a game. He can help in special teams though, and I can see him playing as a rookie in third down situations, where the team needs a pass blocker and a guy who can make some plays out of the backfield. Malaefou can do both of those things, and that's why the Jaguars took a flier on him even with McCullough, who has many more physical gifts, was still available. MacKensie will join first year coach and former Trojan LB Jack Del Rio.

6. Zach Wilson: The good news is that the Lions are old at guard, and opportunities are available. Despite the need there, the Lions did not draft a guard, choosing to stand with 40 year old Ray Brown and 32 year old Tony Semple. Zach could make the team just because of the lack of depth and youth here, but he would really have to pick up his game to be anything more than a practice squad player.

7. DeShaun Hill: Second year man Jon McGraw from KSU will be the starting free safety for the Jets after mistake prone Damien Robinson was released. It remains to be seen whether he can be a consistent NFL starter, so the Jets drafted Iowa free safety Derek Pagel in the fifth round, and don't be surprised if the Jets scour the free agent market after June 1 looking for a free safety. Pagel is not big but he has pretty good speed. This was one of the better situations for DeShaun to find himself in, but he's going to have to make his mark on special teams to gain a roster spot.

8. Darrell Rideaux: Corners are always at a premium in football, and Darrell's speed and special teams experience could earn him a roster spot. The way Darrell played last season, I would not be surprised at all to see him become a serviceable nickel back some day, although for now he'll have to make his bacon covering kicks and maybe as a returner. His size will always make him someone that GMs are skeptical of, but Chad Morton has turned that stigma away and has become a rich man. Donald Strickland of Colorado was drafted in the third round to eventually fill the side opposite Walt Harris, but I was never a big fan of his when he played for the Buffs.

9. Bernard Riley: Yikes! Talk about your uphill battles. Bernard joins a team with maybe the best group of defensive tackles in football. Sapp and MacFarland are both Pro Bowl caliber, and Chartric Darby is very good as well. Devone Claybrooks has seen some time as well. It will be a tough row to hoe for Bernard to make the team. He might have to try again somewhere else.

10. Sultan McCullough: Sultan was likely very disappointed that he was not drafted, but he could wind up in a good situation any way. Redskin coach Hue Jackson coached Sultan at SC, so he will likely have an ally in the upper echelon. Steve Spurrier is enamored with speed guys at back, and Sultan is extremely fast. Washington made a deal with the Rams to acquire Trung Canidate, and after an excellent game against the Jets when Marshall Faulk was injured, he has not lived up to the potential that caused the Rams to use a first round pick on him. LaDell Betts and Kenny Watson are the other backs, and they are hardly a who's who at the position. Washington did not take a RB in the draft, so Sultan has a chance to really catch everyone's eye there. Plus he joins former SC teammate Chad Morton. I think Sultan will definitely make the team, and he can be a contributor soon if he works on his receiving and pass blocking. Spurrier is a pass first coach, so that will be one of the ways to his heart. He calls the plays, so he's the guy you've got to impress. Sultan won't be able to do that with just his speed alone.

11. Chad Pierson: Chad will join Justin in Oakland, but he is a longshot to make the team. The Raiders lost FB Jon Ritchie in free agency to Philadelphia, but they still have Zach Crockett, and they signed Martin Cecil from Philly, and Chris Hetherington from the Rams. Chad is versatile enough to run and catch passes in the offense, but he never was a great blocker. He'd have to really play above his head to earn a roster spot.

12. Grant Mattos: I think a lot of us were shocked when Grant was signed by the Chargers. He wasn't really a big contributor for the Trojans in most of the games he played. He did make some plays on special teams though, which could be a reason that the Chargers will give him a shot. It's hard to believe though that Grant will be able to win a roster spot. The Chargers upgraded at WR big time with David Boston over Curtis Conway, and they have decent depth. They also have a few TEs, if you're thinking they'll bulk Grant up and move him there, because he did show some blocking ability. But that was against corners, not DEs and LBs. My guess is that Grant gets a cup of coffee and gets cut in the first go around, but I'd be happy to be wrong.

Good luck to all Trojans in the NFL. There are no former Trojans, just Trojans who have left school.

Comments, questions, or info? Contact me at tvenegas@msn.com.