I’m such a draft-nick it’s not even funny anymore. . .
The NFL Season is all wrapped up and I figured the best thing to do on my first Sunday without a live NFL game would be to hammer out a mock draft.
The Draft order is almost complete, with the exception of a few coin flips, and we’re about to fire up the NFL combine in Indianapolis as well. It’s actually the perfect time to do a mock and an even better time to talk about the best three days of the year. . . the NFL Draft!
I live for the draft, so you can guarantee that there will be plenty of more mocks to go around.
1. St Louis Rams: Ndamukong Suh – DT – Nebraska
I’ll laugh the Rams right out of the building if they don’t select Suh. He’s a great player that has the ability to collapse a pocket and will command a double team on most plays. He compares favorably to Minnesota’s Kevin Williams and has great speed for his size.
2. Detroit Lions: Gerald McCoy – DT – Oklahoma
Gerald McCoy remains a terrific pick for the Lions who need to add pieces to a defense that was a doormat last season. Some scouts have him rated higher than Suh because of his ability to fit into a 4-3 front and he could be an even better pass rusher than the above mentioned Nebraska product.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Dez Bryant – WR – Oklahoma State
Sure, this is WAY too high for a guy with some character concerns, but this kid is ready to go right now. He’s big, he’s fast, and he knows how to make moves in the open field. He’s going to be a playmaker and that’s exactly what Tampa needs to surround young QB Josh Freeman with.
4. Washington Redskins: Sam Bradford – QB – Oklahoma
If Bradford’s shoulder checks out ok, Washington will pull the trigger on what is the only franchise QB in this draft class. He’s got a nice release and excellent zip on his deep passes. Shanahan is a QB guru and he should prove to be a perfect mentor for the early stages of Bradford’s development.
5. Kansas City Chiefs: Eric Berry – S – Tennessee
The Chiefs have needs all across the board but adding to their 30th ranked defense would certainly be a good start. Berry is a special player who should not only test through the roof, but he has all the intangibles to be a terrific player at the next level who should turn into a leader in the locker room.
6. Seattle Seahawks: Russell Okung – OT – Oklahoma State
In a shocker, the Seahags have their pick of the top shelf in this year’s offensive tackle class and they actually make the right choice. Okung isn’t an absolute mauler but he’s also a really good athlete for his size and should transition into a great tackle at the pro level.
7. Cleveland Browns: Derrick Morgan – DE – Georgia Tech
The Browns really need a pass rushing presence on defense and Morgan could be their man. Morgan would give their front seven a nice upgrade and provide them with another option to get to the quarterback. Could be the best pass rusher in this class.
8. Oakland Raiders: Jason Pierre-Paul – DE – South Florida
Only Al Davis and his shiny stop watch know who the Raiders will be selecting but while Oakland’s needs would appear to be offensive line, that doesn’t mean they’ll adhere to anything logical. I’m thinking they go best athlete remaining on the board and Al’s old over-head projector probably has Jason Pierre-Paul’s name on it.
9. Buffalo Bills: Bruce Campbell – OT – Maryland
The Bills had a revolving door at offensive tackle but they have a very young interior with 2nd year players Eric Wood and Andy Levitre. They also love the potential of Demetrius Bell but they need another prototype tackle to pair with him. Campbell is explosive and has excellent size to control the point of attack.
10t. Denver Broncos: Rolando McClain – LB – Alabama
McClain is a great athlete with tremendous closing speed for his size and very long arms. Denver has a good LB corps but Andre Davis is long in the tooth and this would give them a nice influx of youth with Williams, Dumervil, and 2nd year pro Robert Ayers wreaking havoc for years to come in that 3-4.
10t. Jacksonville Jaguars: Joe Haden – CB – Florida
Jacksonville has more than a few needs but their secondary was downright terrible towards the end of the season. They not only need safety help but they could use the corner of the future to pair up with Derek Cox. The Jags will be lucky to see Haden slip this far in the draft.
12. Miami Dolphins: Sergio Kindle – DE – Texas
The Dolphins need to fill a number of holes along the front 7 of that 3-4 defense. One area they could certainly use some depth and youth in would be Outside Linebacker. With Joey Porter’s release and Jason Taylor getting long in the tooth, Kindle would be a perfect fit for the Dolphins.
13. San Francisco 49ers: Anthony Davis – OT – Rutgers
The 49ers were respectable last year but they want to improve on offense and find an answer on the other side of Joe Staley at the tackle position. They like running the ball and they want to be more physical at the point of attack, which should play right into Davis’ skill set as a big mauler in the run game. Should be a good fit on the right side.
14. Seattle Seahawks: CJ Spiller – RB – Clemson
This Seattle franchise needs a shot in the arm and they need playmakers in a running attack that averaged less than 100 yards per game last season. Spiller would bring a lot of explosiveness to that offense and he can also contribute on special teams with his dynamic kick return ability.
15. New York Giants: Donovan Warren – CB – Michigan
This is a little high for Warrne but he would address a huge need for a Giants secondary that got abused in games last season. Warren is a terrific tackler and has the potential to be a good cover corner at the next level. The league features a lot of big time passing teams and New York needs more youth at the position.
16t. Tennessee Titans: Everson Griffen – DE – Southern California
I love this guy’s pass rushing ability. He could be one of the better pure defensive ends from this class and the Titans need to get stronger along the front four. Griffen uses his hands well and can shed would-be blockers very quickly. He’s a much needed addition, considering the Titans’ lack of a pass rush last season.
16t. San Francisco 49ers: Dan Williams – DT – Tennessee
The 49ers got a really great season from Aubrayo Franklin but he can’t play every single down and they need to build depth at a position that is crucial to their 3-4 defense. Williams is a prototype nose with the terrific size and tremendous strength he showed off at the Senior Bowl.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers: Brian Bulaga – OT – Iowa
Maybe this is too good a fit but you know what you’re getting with a Hawkeye and that’s very physical run blocking technique. Bulaga should work out well at right tackle to start but will eventually be able to hold his own on the left side in the future.
19(t). Atlanta Falcons: Earl Thomas – S – Texas
While most scouts and teams will be looking at Thomas playing free safety for their team, the Falcons could try him at corner. He’s got the wheels to play outside and has proven to be very durable, despite being a fierce hitter. Could eventually be the future center fielder of almost any NFL franchise.
19(t). Houston Texans: Taylor Mays – S – Southern California
The Texans had a lot of success with the last USC Trojan they selected and they might be lured in to drafting Mays too early. He’s a physical specimen and a vicious hitter but he’s shown lapses in coverage multiple times. His physical upside is still too great to ignore though.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Brian Price – DT – UCLA
The Bengals need to be more consistent against the run and free up their talented corps of linebackers. Price would fit in really well with what the Bengals do and his high motor/extra effort play is exactly what coordinator Mike Zimmer wants on his defense.
22. New England Patriots: Jermaine Greshem – TE – Oklahoma
I know that it’s a bit of a shock but I am hearing that the Patriots are sending Ben Watson his walking papers, so they’re going to need another big target over the middle of the field with Welker likely missing the early part of the season rehabbing from knee surgery. The Pats will continue to surround Brady with talent.
23. Green Bay Packers: Charles Brown – OT – Southern California
Maybe these are more of my high hopes for the Packers but Brown’s athleticism, being a former TE, would be a great fit for Green Bay’s zone blocking scheme and their need at tackle is strong. They’ve got some really good interior linemen, so they can only improve their chances on offense if they give Aaron Rodgers even more time to throw the ball.
24. Philadelphia Eagles: Carlos Dunlap – DE – Florida
Philly still wants a blue-chip defensive end to pair with Trent Cole and Dunlap is a heck of an athlete that will fall due to character concerns. Philadelphia management loves to collect defensive linemen like they’re comic books, so don’t be surprised to see the Eagles pass on linebacker yet again.
25. Baltimore Ravens: Arrelious Benn – WR – Illinois
I know the stats and production in college just aren’t there but we’re talking about a very talented player, who’s got a lot to offer an NFL franchise. While he’s not ready to hit the ground running just yet, he’ll be a terrific fit for a team that needs to surround their QB of the future w/ talent.
26. Arizona Cardinals: Terrence Cody – DT – Alabama
It’s one of two things for the Cards, upgrade their defensive front or add to their offensive line. They have one of the last defensive tackles on the board with the potential to be a dominant nose tackle in a 3-4 front. His weight issues may drop him off most team’s draft boards but he’s a great fit here if his weight is under control.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Trent Williams – OT – Oklahoma
I’m obviously not as big a fan of Williams as some others are but he does play very physical and excels at run blocking, which is what the Cowboys like to do. They need an eventual replacement for Flozell Adams and Williams could be a left tackle but his pass blocking will need some work.
28. San Diego Chargers: Mike Iupati – OG – Idaho
This guy is one of the better guard prospects to enter the draft in some time. He’s a nasty player who is very explosive off of the line and can blow up the man in front of him. He would be a welcomed addition in San Diego, a team that features big physical linemen.
29. New York Jets: Brandon Graham – LB – Michigan
Graham may not be around for the Jets but they’ve got to get younger on their front seven and Rex Ryan definitely wants some more weapons for his defense. Gholston has been a total bust and Graham may give them the impact pass rusher they thought they were getting back when they took Gholston with the sixth overall pick two years ago.
30. Minnesota Vikings: Jonathan Dwyer – RB – Georgia Tech
The Vikings aren’t likely to retain the services of backup running back Chester Taylor and Adrian Peterson’s upright running style, combined with his penchant for doling out punishment at the end of his runs, leads me to believe that the Vikings will target a running back early. Dwyer could learn behind Peterson and he would also have the ability to spell him.
31. Indianapolis Colts: Jared Odrick – DT – Penn State
The Colts have been looking to get bigger and quicker up front on defense ever since defensive coordinator Larry Coyer got in town. Fili Moala didn’t pan out as expected and Bill Polian wants a more physical presence to hold the point against the run and give them a pass rushing presence. Odrick would be a perfect fit as an under tackle in the Colts’ cover-2.
32. New Orleans Saints: Brandon Ghee – CB – Wake Forest
This kid is rising up a lot of draft boards and the Saints might have visions of having Ghee paired up with Porter at corner, while Jenkins(last year’s first rounder) and Roman Harper complete their secondary at the safety spots. Ghee is a speedy corner who has the potential to make an impact right away in their secondary and he would make a lot of sense, being that pro bowl safety Darren Sharper has hinted at retirement.
Thanks a ton for reading and please bang out some feedback or comments below. You can also e-mail me questions, comments, and even complaints to joe@rookiedraft.com
Baltimore – The Ravens are in dire need of a physical wide receiver and Marshall fits that bill. They have an aging defense, but their offense is making strides and QB Joe Flacco needs to be surrounded with more targets. This makes a lot of sense but with Marshall, there will always be character concerns to go along with his game-breaking ability.
Cleveland – WTF! I know right? We’re looking at a Browns team with not a lot of weapons in the receiving corps outside of Josh Cribbs. With Mike Holmgren in town, expect the Browns be a west-coast offense that would actually fit Marshall’s skill set very well. We also know Holmgren’s penchant for wanting to acquire WR talent.(Robinson, Burleson, Branch) The bottom line is that the Brownies need more playmakers.
Chicago – I’m listing them here out of blind hope, plain and simple. I still have dreams of seeing Cutler throw touchdowns to Marshall for the orange and blue, so maybe they can still do that. . . except wearing Bears jerseys? I doubt the Bears have the funds and with a number of other players coming up for contract, they might be best served bringing in some more offensive lineman on the cheap to give Cutler more time.
Oakland – Nobody knows what Al Davis will do when free agency begins but you can rest assured he’ll make some kind of splash. The Raiders’ receiving corps is desperate need of a makeover with Darrius Heyward-Bey, Chaz Schilens, and Johnnie Lee Higgins being the team’s top wide-outs. They have a tremendous player at Tight End in Zach Miller and adding a player of Bryant’s caliber would certainly make life easier for Miller.
Cincinnati – This is more of my high hopes for AB. He needs a team that’s willing to invite him into their locker room and draw double teams away from Esteban Ocho Cinco. The Lavernaues Coles experiment was a failure and while Andre Caldwell has shown some nice flashes, Jerome Simpson has been a huge bust. The Bengals need another possession type receiver to fit into their passing attack.
Houston – While it doesn’t seem likely that the Texans would pay Bryant that much to play second fiddle to Andre Johnson, they would certainly open their offense up in a big with a target like AB on the other side of Andre the Giant. The Texans run a derivative of the west coast under Kubes and Bryant is a veteran who could pickup the offense in a very short period of time.
Washington – Even Redskins haters have to admit that they wouldn’t mind seeing Owens back in the division playing for them but they’d have to get the QB situation addressed first. The bottom line remains, Washington will be running the west coast offense under Shanahan and he’ll likely want a big target in town to give his running game breathing room
Buffalo – There’s no reason why the Bills wouldn’t just bring him back with the lack of big money deals coming Owens’ way. While the Jills are likely to go run-heavy under Chan Gailey, they can still use a receiver with Lee Evans’ contract also set to expire. The Bills’ real problem is at quarterback and they need a player who’s not afraid to go deep and can make quick decisions on the fly.
Oakland – Don’t rule out Oakland on any lists is the only thing we can count on. Al Davis makes decisions that are beyond bizarre at times and bringing in a veteran hot head that criticizes QBs for a living wouldn’t be out of the question. I would love to see the move personally because after a month or two with Owens, JaMarcus Russell would feel so bad that he’d crying himself to sleep into his huge bag of skittles.
Atlanta – I expect the Falcons to add another physical back to their roster. They’re certain to address the position in the draft with the expiring contracts of both Jason Snelling and Jerious Norwood. The Falcons are run-heavy and with the injuries they suffered at the position last season, it would make a lot of sense to add a veteran and a rookie ball-carrier.
Pittsburgh – Talk about a team that changed its identity last year. With Parker injured and the offensive line lacking the ability to open holes, the Steelers turned into a passing team last season. The coaching staff has put out a commitment to run the ball more and LJ would pose a nice compliment to Rashard Mendenhall to give them to solid inside options.
Detroit – I know that Detroit has been leaning towards developing their roster with younger players but they do not have a physical back that can move the chains between the tackles. Not that the Lions have the tackles to drive the point of attack but having a legitimate threat would certainly be a much better stance than rolling out a gimp Kevin Smith, Mo Morris, or Aaron Brown.
San Francisco – You could almost copy & paste the same list for LJ but Chester is a much better receiver out of the backfield. The 49ers already drafted Glenn Coffee but weren’t satisfied with what he did when he got his opportunity last season. It would behoove San Fran to get a solid insurance policy on Frank Gore in case he breaks down again in 2010.
San Diego – It’s a guarantee that the Chargers are going to part ways with LaDainian Tomlinson but they can’t be sold on Darren Sproles as their main ball-carrier. Expect them to bring in a veteran and with their team gearing more towards throwing the ball, Chester would make a really nice fit in southern California.
Kansas City – There’s a lot of folks that are very high on Jamaal Charles after his breakout 2009 season and I’m not going to take away from that but it would certainly be a good decision to back him up with a proven veteran that can do a multitude of things.
New England – Where all old receivers go to die. Seriously though, with the Pats likely to be without Wes Welker who will still be rehabbing from his knee surgery. Mason could bring a lot to the table and he’s certainly a great veteran presence for the young players in Foxborough.
Cleveland – There aren’t a lot of options for Mason but he would be welcomed on Cleveland’s roster with their lack of a veteran presence on the wide receiving corps. The Browns don’t have a lot of pass catchers and with a young group, Mason could offer a lot in the coaching aspect of the game.
Houston – Once again, I think that the Texans will go out of their way to ensure that they have a proven target opposite Andre Johnson because it’s very unlikely that they will retain Kevin Walter and Jacoby Jones doesn’t look like the answer. Mason would give them another nice underneath target to go along with one of the better passing games in the league.
Seattle – Duh! Seriously, it’s Pete Carroll and he’s putting the band back together. Don’t be surprised to see other former Trojan players flock to the great northwest to join their former mentor but this is also a good fit. The Seahags need a physical back for the tough yards and Julius Jones appears to be as good as gone.
Denver – Denver wants to be a more physical running team with bigger linemen and some bigger backs. They might want to get more beef behind Moreno and Buckhalter. The Broncos don’t really need a big back but that won’t stop Josh McDaniels from making even more miscues on his way out of town.
Philadelphia – The Eagles need to compliment LeSean McCoy with another running back that can move the chains and that player is not Leonard Weaver or Brian Westbrook. The Eagles might take a look at White in free agency.
Dallas – Floyd is another guy that might not make it out of his contract if 2010 is a non-capped year, which it’s looking like it is. Don’t be surprised to see Jerry Jones add another big deep threat to compliment Miles Austin, who will be resigned to a long-term deal if Floyd becomes available.
Carolina – Quarterback is a much bigger are of need but the club still hasn’t found the answer on the other side of Steve Smith and the big-bodied Floyd offers up a nice skill set for the Panthers offense.
Chicago – The Bears really could use a receiver with some size and deep speed, two thing that Floyd can offer. He’s been making Jay Cutler’s nemesis(Phillip Rivers) look good for the past few years, so maybe he can do the same for Cutler in the windy city.
Cleveland – Another team likely to be running the west coast offense and in major need of pass catchers. The Chef would be a welcomed addition for the Brownies and he’d be a big hit with the fan base. I love this fit!
Cincinnati – As previously stated above, the Bengals need more pass catchers and they’re especially week at the tight end position. Last year’s 4th rounder, Chase Coffman, hasn’t lived up to expectations and while I love John Paul Foschi, he’s not the answer at the position.
Kansas City – This is another team that simply hasn’t found the answer at tight end and they still need a legitimate pass catching tight end to open up their offense, especially with Charlie Weis in town. Look for the Chiefs to be one of the many suitors for Tony Scheffler’s services.
Detroit – There simply won’t be a lot of interest for Parkers’ services but the Lions really need to have some insurance behind Kevin Smith w/ that injury situation. The knee completely gave out on him without contact, so it’s got me worried enough.
St. Louis – The Rams still don’t have a lot behind Steven Jackson, who will once again carry the bulk of the offense until he breaks down again. Parker would be a nice fall back option and a good back to spell Jackson, as well as compliment him.
Pittsburgh – It’s not out of the question that Parker may end up back w/ Pittsburgh if he gets no significant offers. He knows their scheme, he’s familiar with the quarterback, and he would still be a competent backup to Mendenhall.