With pick No. 23, the Birds should select a beast for the offensive line, a guy who can protect quarterback Michael Vick this fall. If I was in Andy Reid’s seat, I’d go with Tyron Smith, the broad-shouldered tackle out of Southern Cal. Reid has a good eye for O-linemen, so I’m sure he has a few others on his radar. I would not be surprised if Wisconsin’s Gabe Carimi, Baylor’s Danny Watkins, and Colorado’s Nate Solder get hard looks.

But if the top offensive-line talent is picked early, and Reid does not trade up, I see him going with a defensive tackle (or cornerback) to shore up some weak spots from last season.

— Robert Costa is a political reporter for National Review.