What makes Aaron Curry the smart pick at No. 1

Because of a contest Mocking the Draft is participating in, my mock has to be completed by tomorrow. However, I'm still not set on a first overall pick.

Reports and interviews lead me to believe that Matt Stafford will be the top overall selection. If not, most would point toward Baylor offensive tackle Jason Smith as being the logical choice.

When you start to think about the negatives of picking either first overall, you wonder if that's a smart pick. Stafford might not be a slam drunk franchise quarterback if his ceiling is comparable to Jay Cutler.

Smith has some run-blocking issues and might not all that much better than an offensive tackle the Lions could find at pick 20.

That leads me back to Wake Forest outside linebacker Aaron Curry. Ernie Sims is set on the weak side. Julian Peterson was signed to handle the strong side and provide a pass rush. So that would force Curry to the middle.

It's somewhat of a risky proposition to move the No. 1 overall pick before he even plays a down in the NFL. But the combination of Sims, Curry and Peterson is dangerous.

Curry would also have much better signability for the Lions, who are in a part of the country where saving money is tantamount. In an interview Tuesday, Curry said he'd be willing to take less money than Jake Long did as the first overall pick last year.

And, don't forget, Lions fans are already starting to voice their displeasure for Stafford.

So the combination of signability and giving the team a great core defensively would make Curry the smartest choice. But that doesn't mean he will be. And it certainly doesn't mean that's the direction I'll go in my final mock draft.