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It's a fun time to mock the draft right now. All kinds of coaching changes and personnel decisions play havoc with teams strategies. Here are some of the factors influencing the draft:

NO VETERAN QB'S AVAILABLE: Without a CBA no trades can be consummated. That means any QB still under contract, Donovan McNabb, Kevin Kolb, Kyle Orton, they're staying with their current teams possibly into September or October. Only players who are without a contract or cut from their roster spot can sign. That's probably just Vince Young who would be a stretch as a franchise savior. Combine that with...

NO LUCK IN THE DRAFT: Andrew Luck's decision to go back to Stanford means the 2011 draft class is down to 4 potential franchise QBs now with as many as 12 teams possibly in the market for a new signal caller. Guys who might have slipped into the 2nd round like Ryan Mallet or Jake Locker will probably hear their name called on Day One. It's supply and demand. Speaking of which...

FEW WRS: An under reported story is the number of underclass WR prospects returning, chief among them Justin Blackmon and Michael Floyd. The WR class is now down to 3 1st round WR prospects. Then finally there is the...

THE COACHING CHANGES: Teams made specific choices when they brought in their new HCs. So with all that here's my latest mock, first 8 choices

1 CAROLINA - Nick Fairley: Ron Rivera is a defensive guy. He's a very good one. AJ Green might be the best player on the board but that would mean Rivera would be taking his fate and placing it in Jimmy Clausen's rather shaky hands. Carolina does not have a 2nd round pick. Too much pressure to get it right. I say he goes with what he knows.

2. DENVER - Patrick Peterson: John Fox is the same way, defensive guy. Does he trust Tebow? Doesn't have much choice. He needs to make an impression and if he can't get the Denver D finally turned around and fast he won't be around to make any other changes.

3. BUFFALO - AJ Green: Chan Gailey is an offensive guy. He says thank you and takes the best offensive weapon on the board. Unless he decides he really needs ANOTHER RB and takes Mark Ingram.

4. CINCINNATI - Da'Quann Bowers: Green is off the board, Lewis is back, Palmer is back. That just leaves another DE to line up next to Carlos Dunlap

5. ARIZONA - Robert Quinn: The Cards are high on John Skelton. Even though they probably won't be able to bring in a veteran QB they'll stick with him and try to bulk up their D.

6. CLEVELAND - Julio Jones: Strong possibility of a trade here with QB hungry teams who want to pick ahead of San Fran and the Titans. But even if there is no trade this is the pick. Jones was a middle 1st prospect on the old boards. With so few WRs left he's considerably more valuable

7. SAN FRANCISCO - Jake Locker: Honestly it's hard to tell the QB prospects apart. It all comes down to HC preference. I have to think Harbaugh is targeting Locker after having coached against him.

8. TENNESSEE - Ryan Mallet: Again real hard to tell which is why a trade is possible. Do the Titans love Mallet or Blaine Gabbert. Or Cam Newton. What about Minnesota and Washington? Who does coach Fisher like? He'd better like somebody after running VY out of town otherwise his head is next on the block.