Of course it’s “way” too early to post an NFL Mock Draft a whole 100+ days before the the event in New York city begins but the reality is that it’s just too much fun to do a mock this early.
The actual draft order is becoming more clear with the NFL’s regular season now over and done with. I live for the draft, so you can guarantee that there will be plenty of more mocks to go around.
1. St Louis Rams: DT Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska
If there’s a lock this year, it’s Suh going in the top-3 picks. If the Rams select Suh, they’ll have a very stacked and talented young defensive line that will include Adam Carriker, Chris Long, and Victor Adeyanju.
2. Detroit Lions: DT Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma
Gerald McCoy may not be as good as Suh but he’s in the same category and he’s exactly what the Lions need to prevent teams from dominating Detroit’s defense every single week.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: S Eric Berry, Tennessee
This is WAY too high for a safety to be selected but not only is Berry a special defensive player that should test through the roof but he’d be a welcomed addition to a team that needs more play makers on defense. Berry is a special player.
4. Washington Redskins: QB Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
Bradford may be injured and some folks like Jimmy Clausen a lot more but I think, with Shanahan at the helm, he’ll want to snag the guy who I think is the best QB in this draft.
5. Kansas City Chiefs: OT Russell Okung, Oklahoma State
This appears to be a match made in heaven, as the Chiefs are desperate for O-Line help and Okung is the best tackle on my board. They made a huge reach for Tyson Jackson last year, so this could be anybody’s guess.
6. Seattle Seahawks: WR Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State
I know this is ridiculous and he’s had his problems but we’re talking about a very special athlete here, who has a ton of upside as a #1 wide receiver.
7. Cleveland Browns: DE Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech
The Browns really need a pass rushing presence on defense and Morgan could be their man. It’s very doubtful that they take another Notre Dame QB here and Morgan would give their front seven a nice upgrade.
8. Oakland Raiders: QB Ryan Mallett, Arkansas
With JaDumbass Russell partying in Vegas, getting outplayed by street free-agents, and being one of the larger failures in the NFL, I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Raiders roll the dice on the QB that chuck it a country mile.
9. Buffalo Bills: OT Bruce Campbell, 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 left tackle.
10t. Denver Broncos: LB Rolando McClain, Oklahoma
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.
10t. Jacksonville Jaguars: QB Tim Tebow, Florida
This franchise needs a shot in the arm and they need to sell more tickets. I personally don’t think Tebow is a real NFL quarterback but I do think he’s a player with a lot of marketability in a state that loves him.
12. Miami Dolphins: WR Brandon LaFell, Louisiana State
I really like this kid. You watch some college players and you just know they’re going to be pros from day one. Miami doesn’t have the big-bodied WR that they need to help their passing game down the field and I think LaFell could be the answer.
13. San Francisco 49ers: OT Anthony Davis, Rutgers
The 49ers need an answer on the other side of Joe Staley and I don’t think Adam Snyder or Tony Pashos are more than serviceable. Davis would be a welcomed addition to an offense that has a lot going for it.
14. Seattle Seahawks: QB Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame
I hate this kid. I really don’t think he’s got a prayer and I’m a HUGE Notre Dame fan but the games I’ve seen haven’t impressed me at all. I saw a weak arm with no velocity and minimal spin. He was accurate at times but I think he’s possibly the biggest bust at QB this year.
15. New York Giants: S Taylor Mays, Southern California
The Giants secondary needs play-makers and they’ll be lucky to see Mays slide this far. If Kenny Phillips can return from a degenerative knee condition long enough to play the season, the Giants would have a terrific safety tandem going.
16t. Tennessee Titans: DE Everson Griffen, 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 sure could use some help on a front line that missed Albert Haynesworth a lot.
16t. San Francisco 49ers: CB Joe Haden, Florida
The 49ers defense needs more help in the secondary and Haden is a potential shut-down corner that would come in handy playing against the likes of Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and TJ Houshmandzadeh twice a year.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers: OT Bryan Bulaga, Iowa
The Steelers’ offensive line isn’t that far off but they need to get better, younger, and more physical. Bulaga is a massive tackle that has some nice athleticism and would be a welcomed addition to a line that needs a shot in the arm.
19t. Atlanta Falcons: CB Donovan Warren, Michigan
Atlanta’s secondary struggled this year and never really recouped from injury. They need a corner with great cover abilities and great tackling prowess, which is exactly what Warren brings to the table.
19t. Houston Texans: RB CJ Spiller, Clemson
Some say Spiller won’t slip past the top-10 but I don’t see any team jumping on him any earlier than 15 or 20. He is a play-maker and a dynamic kick returner. I could see Houston completely ruining what could be a great fantasy RB one day.
(21) Baltimore Ravens: CB Ras-I Dowling, Virginia
The Ravens secondary has fallen off the map and it appears to be an achilles heel for them as of late. They’ll do their homework and snag the 6′2″ Cavalier that has a ton of up-side as a lock-down corner.
(22). Green Bay Packers: OT Charles Brown, Southern California
The Packer tackles got abused this year and they’re still dependent on aging veterans Mark Tauscher and Kyle Clifton. They need an influx of youth at this position and Brown could be a great pro some day.
(23). Cincinnati Bengals: RB Jahvid Best, California
I really like this kid and while Cincinnati has Cedric Benson and Bernard Scott, their offense needs more play-makers. Best brings a ton of speed to the table and moves on top of moves in the open field.
(24). New York Jets: DT Terrence Cody, Alabama
The Jets should get Kris Jenkins back from injury next year but they want insurance and depth at a crucial position. Cody is massive and could be a great run stuffer in this league but could go even higher in the draft if he proves he can manage his weight.
(25). Arizona Cardinals: TE Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma
The Cardinals don’t really have a need for more pass catchers but they could certainly use a TE with some upside. If Anquan Boldin is dealt to another team, then this pick will make a lot of sense. Bottom Line, Greshem is a WR in a TE’s body and compares very favorably to Plaxico Burress.
(26). New England Patriots: DT Dan Williams, Tennessee
The Patroits love collecting interior linemen more than my uncle love’s weather. Seriously though, the Pats always want depth on their front 7 and Williams brings a lot of different skills to the table for Belicheat’s 3-4 D.
(27). New Orleans Saints: S Earl Thomas, Texas
The Saints still stink at covering the pass and they need more play-makers in the secondary. Thomas has a ton of speed and the potential to be a true center-fielder for the future, something the Saints definitely need.
(28). Philadelphia Eagles: DE Carlos Dunlap, Florida
Speaking of a team that collects defensive linemen like they were comic books, Philly still wants a blue-chip defensive end to pair with Trent Cole and Dunlap is a heck of an athlete that will fall from character concerns.
(29). Minnesota Vikings: LB Brandon Spikes, Florida
Speaking of Character concerns, old Brandon “Eye-Ball” Spikes brings his fair share of off-field issues but he is a great player that would be a timely pick for the Vikes, as they look to be without EJ Henderson for at least another 6 months.
(30). San Diego Chargers: DT Brian Price, U.C.L.A.
The Chargers were terrible against the run and a lot of that can be credited to the Jamal Williams injury but they obviously need more depth at the position and Price could be a nice fit for their interior defensive line.
(31). Dallas Cowboys: WR Damian Williams, Southern California
The Cowboys will continue surrounding Romo with play-makers and attempt to make up for their Roy Williams blunder. Williams is fancied as a top-20 pick by some and I agree that he gets a 1st round grade but he will slide to the end of the 1st round.
(32). Indianapolis Colts: CB Brandon Ghee, Wake Forest
One of my favorite draft mysteries, is what direction the Colts go on draft day. I see them trying to add to a secondary that was abused late in the season and might have seen the last of Bob Sanders.
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