1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ndumakong Suh DT, Nebraska
Suh is one of the biggest play makers in college football. Tampa needs to get back to their roots and restrengthen their defensive front. I was happy to see that he received more votes than Tebow.
2. St. Louis Rams Jimmy Clausen QB, Notre Dame
It wasn’t getting punched in the face that pushed Jimmy to declare early, but Charlie Weis. Maybe Weis bet Jimmy that if he could eat a whole cow, Jimmy would have to declare for the draft. The Rams have passed up a QB the past few years in the draft, and Bulger’s hurt again.
3. Detroit Lions Russell Okung OT, Oklahoma State
The Lions have a good start to their rebuilding, but they need to keep Stafford on his feet. He’s gotten injured twice now and he’s too important to their franchise to become injury prone. Okung is the best tackle in this year’s draft and he’ll be able to start from day one. Eric Berry could also be their choice.
4. Cleveland Browns Sam Bradford QB, Oklahoma
Mike Holmgren is apparently talking with the Browns. It’ll be interesting over the next few months to see what’s going to happen in Cleveland. For now, I don’t know what they think of Brady Quinn, although I think it’s not that much. Bradford will have to pass medical tests with flying colors if he wants to go this high after shoulder issues.
5. Kansas City Chiefs Eric Berry S, Tennessee
I think Berry is the best prospect this year, with Suh a close second. Bernard Pollard was a huge mistake to let go. So they make up for that mistake somewhat here. Berry should go higher, but safeties don’t have high positional value.
6. Washington Redskins CJ Spiller RB, Clemson
The best quarterbacks are off the board, so Dan Snyder will go with the super exciting CJ Spiller. The question is if he is a top 10 pick. One thing for sure is that he may be the biggest playmaker this year coming out.
7. Oakland Raiders Taylor Mays S, USC
Best forty time. Bingo! At least Mays won’t be a major reach here, unlike Heyward-Bey last draft. However, Mays’ stock is dropping because of a sub-par season. Al Davis’ team has quite a bit of talent, but are under achievers.
8. Seattle Seahawks Trent Williams OT, Oklahoma
Would the Seahawks reach for a running back here? Again, it’s too early to tell, but I’m pretty sure Jahvid Best isn’t good enough to go this high. Seattle would more likely take the best tackle on the board. Walter Jones is getting older and injured quite a bit.
9. Denver Broncos (from Bears) Rolando McClain LB, Alabama
The Broncos 3-4 defense needs to continue to be transformed. It takes more than one off season to switch to a 3-4. You must continuously collect linebackers (ala Pittsburgh). If McClain comes out, he’ll be the best linebacker.
10. San Francisco 49ers (from Panthers) Gerald McCoy DT, Oklahoma
Mike Singletary would be thrilled to have another great player drop to him just like last year and Michael Crabtree. McCoy is definitely a top 10 pick, even top 5. The 49ers could also use a tackle, but there’s not a good projected NFL left tackle available without reaching.
11. Buffalo Bills Bryan Bulaga OT, Iowa
The Bills need…well, a lot. They’ll be searching for offensive and defensive linemen and a quarterback probably this coming offseason. After trading Jason Peters, the Bills were left pretty thin on that O-line. The drafted offensive lineman Eric Wood, but he had quite a bad injury a few weeks ago.
12. Tennessee Titans Joe Haden CB, Florida
What a comeback this team has made, that’s Jeff Fisher for ya. Oh, and FYI…it’s not Vince Young, it’s Chris Johnson. As far as I’m concerned, Young is just a glorified Trent Dilfer, only with running ability. (Not to mention that since the Tits apologized to The Towel, they haven’t lost and Fisher’s Peyton Manning jersey thing).
13. San Francisco 49ers Brandon Spikes LB, Florida
Takeo Spikes is getting kinda old and the 3-4 requires a lot of linebackers. The 49ers get a lot better at the LB position if they add Spikes here. That is quite a linebacker core then.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers Greg Hardy DE, Ole Miss
Hardy has some injury issues and is out for the rest of this season. There are some positions in the defensive front seven that the Steelers are getting old at. It’s time to get younger at the key positions for that 3-4.
15. Houston Texans Jahvid Best RB, California
The Texans need a running game. That may be the underlying factor that is holding them back. It could also be their defensive backfield as well. They have two options it looks like now: improve their secondary or running game with this pick.
16. Atlanta Falcons Sean Weatherspoon LB, Missouri
The Falcons spent 6 of their 7 draft picks last year on defense. It hasn’t helped this season, but I’m sure down the road they’ll improve. There’s still work to be done on their defense however. Sean Weatherspoon isn’t spectacular, but he is very consistent and will be a solid pick.
17. New York Jets Dez Bryant WR, Oklahoma State
Sanchez needs a big play, favorite target. Bryant’s stock won’t be too affected by his suspension from this season. I don’t think people will even remember it come April.
18. New York Giants Terrence Cody, DT Alabama
Mount Cody will provide a clog in the defensive line to help the Giants improve against the run. Early indications are that he’s only a 2 down player, but that can always change. Can’t wait to watch him with his shirt off, running a 40!…Just like Andre Smith from last year.
19. Miami Dolphins Jared Odrick DT, Penn State
Jason Ferguson is getting too old to be the prime player at such an important position. The Dolphins should draft a good defensive tackle to take his place. Odrick has good height and weight for the position.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars Brandon Graham DE, Michigan
This pick will definitely change between now and the draft, because there will be juniors defensive lineman who declare for the draft that I have not included in my mocks yet. The Jaguars just can’t get to the QB and have a league low 14, although Derrick Harvey has had a sack 2 weeks in a row, which is amazing considering what he’s done already.
21. Baltimore Ravens Brandon LaFell WR, LSU
LaFell is the WR that Joe Flacco has been praying for in Baltimore. He really needs a number one receiver, especially since Mason won’t be back next year.
22. New England Patriots Dan Williams DT, Tennessee
The Patriots will be looking to get young on their defense and try to get back to the level they’re used to. This team has regressed and it’s because they haven’t had a productive draft class since 2005.
23. Seattle Seahawks (from Broncos) Colt McCoy QB, Texas
The Seahawks will need to move on from Hasselback eventually, so they might as well groom McCoy for the future.
24. Dallas Cowboys Bruce Campbell OT, Maryland
Dallas needs a new LT. Flozell Adams should be gone and Campbell would be able to come in and maybe start in his rookie season.
25. Arizona Cardinals Charles Brown OT, USC
Thank you ESPN blog watchers for calling me out on my Adam Ulatoski pick. Maybe that pick was the best thing to happen to my mock draft…it got me a headline on ESPN.com. Aaron Rodgers really needs protection. He may hold on to the ball more than he should, but the tackle position definitely needs an upgrade.
26. Philadelphia Eagles Carlos Dunlap DE, Florida
The Eagles look like they’ll need defense this after this season. They could go with the big upside of Dunlap here. At this point in time, I’m unsure where to put Dunlap. He has loads of potential, but like Michael Johnson last year, seems to have work ethic issues, plus his DUI.
27. Green Bay Packers Mike Iupati OG, Idaho
Ted Thompson you know will go best available. Iupati is this year’s best guard and he will be given looks at the end of round one come April.
28. Cincinnati Bengals Trevard Lindley CB, Kentucky
This could be their year if they put it all together, hopefully LJ helps and doesn’t distract. Kudos to Marvin Lewis for turning this team around. They could also go WR. They’re pass defense could use a little help.
29. San Diego Chargers Damian Williams WR, USC
The Chargers could continue the run on offensive tackles, because they really need one to help the running game. But they have wide receivers that are leaving, so I think they’ll go with Williams.
30. Minnesota Vikings Corey Wooton DE, Northwestern
They’ve got a great defensive line. Taking Wooton would give them another good defensive end. I’m surprised they didn’t get any sacks against the Cardinals.
31. Indianapolis Colts Patrick Robinson CB, Florida State
Robinson’s stock has slipped a bit after this season, but he still could be taken in the first round. The Colts need defense, which is fairly obvious.
32. New Orleans Saints Eric Norwood LB, South Carolina
Nothing much that this team needs. It seems like they’re getting tested now. Their games are getting closer and closer. They’re getting battle tested for the playoffs though, which I think is a good thing.
