Mock draft 1.0: After the combine, Bradford goes first to Rams

[BernietheKid]

Mock draft 1.0: After the combine, Bradford goes first to Rams
By Pat Kirwan


INDIANAPOLIS -- With the NFL Scouting Combine now over, it's a reasonable time to post my first mock draft. I'm sure many things will change with this projected first round, but here it is -- for now:
1. St. Louis Rams
Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

This is a QB driven league and if the Rams don't trade for a QB in free agency or move down in the draft, Bradford is this year's Matthew Stafford. At 6-foot-4 ¼ and 236 pounds, he could be a franchise QB.
2. Detroit Lions
Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

He is impressive on tape, he put on a show at the combine, and he will be Jim Schwartz' answer to his days in Tennessee, when Albert Haynesworth dominated the line of scrimmage.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma

The Bucs have returned to the Monte Kiffin style 4-3 defense, and McCoy can do many of the things Warren Sapp did back in the glory days of Tampa's defense.
4. Washington Redskins
Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State

Chris Samuels is expected to announce his retirement this week, leaving a glaring hole at left tackle. But I do wonder if the 'Skins want to move up for Bradford.
5. Kansas City Chiefs
Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa

Chiefs GM Scott Pioli wants high character guys, and Bulaga fits the bill. He was coached by one of Pioli's friends in the business, Kirk Ferentz.
6. Seattle Seahawks
Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame

With Matt Hasselbeck's health and age now becoming a concern, the Seahawks need a QB of the future. And with two picks in the first round of new coach Pete Carroll's initial draft, now is the time to pull the trigger.
7. Cleveland Browns
Joe Haden, CB, Florida

The Browns have 11 picks in this draft and should come out of this process with a number of starters. A corner to plug in right away is a necessity.
8. Oakland Raiders
Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers

Raiders owner Al Davis loves big linemen and has a special place for East Coast guys. Anthony Davis impressed at the combine and needs a push to reach his full potential. Tom Cable is an offensive line coach by trade and can get the most out of this guy.
9. Buffalo Bills
Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama

Buffalo can build the defense around McClain, especially since they are headed to a 3-4. He can play inside or outside.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars
Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

Berry can play anywhere in the secondary, which means he can match up well on division foes Dallas Clark or Andre Johnson
11. Denver Broncos
Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee

The Broncos aren't abandoning the 3-4 defense, but they need bigger people up front. Williams can two-gap or penetrate, and is just what they need, either as a nose tackle or in 5 techniques.
12. Miami Dolphins
Earl Thomas, S, Texas

The Dolphins had two fine rookie corners last year but really need a safety who can play coverage. Right now they play with two strong safety types. Thomas can also demonstrate corner skills and match up with the slot wide receivers, like Wes Welker, in their division.
13. San Francisco 49ers
Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma

The Niners need a tackle to play opposite Joe Staley if they want to keep pounding Frank Gore and protect Alex Smith. After drafting a guy like Williams, they can figure out who is left and right.
14. Seattle Seahawks
C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson

This draft's version of the Titans' Chris Johnson. Pete Carroll always had a matchup back like Reggie Bush at USC, and Spiller could touch the ball 20 times a game as a rookie when you factor in his return skills.
15. New York Giants
Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas

The Giants need linebacker help in the worst way, and Kindle can do it all. If he is gone at this point in the draft, they could turn to Sean Weatherspoon.
16. Tennessee Titans
Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech

The Titans always seem to build around defense, and without Kyle Vanden Bosch or Jevon Kearse Tennessee will like Morgan's production in 2009 when he had 12.5 sacks, 18.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.
17. San Francisco 49ers
Taylor Mays, S, USC

A rare athlete who will bring a presence to the 49ers' secondary.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers
Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State

The Steelers could take a serious look at G/OT Mike Iupati, but in the end they need the best corner on the board.
19. Atlanta Falcons
Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida

Hard to take a one-year wonder in the first round, but this guy is passing the eye-ball test and has the potential to be very good.
20. Houston Texans
Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State

The Texans will never win the division if they don't have the secondary to match up with the Colts' receivers. Dunta Robinson is leaving in free agency and must be replaced.
21. Cincinnati Bengals
Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame

Tate ran a sub 4.3 40 on a lot of scouts' watches at the combine (although officially he ran 4.42). The former running back is a high character guy who had 93 catches last year for 16.1 yards per reception and 15 touchdowns. Carson Palmer needs a deep threat with the passing of the late Chris Henry.
22. New England Patriots
Brandon Graham, LB, Michigan

The Patriots need a pass rush, and they love smart outside linebacker candidates for their 3-4 defense. Belichick likes to jump into a 4-3 look occasionally, and Graham can do that as well. Graham had 29.5 sacks and 56 tackles for loss at Michigan.
23. Green Bay Packers
Mike Iupati, G, Idaho

Iupati is a versatile lineman with a lot of intensity. He could wind up playing anywhere along the front, but left guard would be ideal.
24. Philadelphia Eagles
Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri

This guy has character, athletic ability, the football IQ to play in the middle, and he impressed at the combine. He finished his college career with more than 400 tackles, 43.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, and 18 passes defensed.
25. Baltimore Ravens
Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State

A talented receiver with some baggage, though. The Ravens locker room could take care of Bryant, and this team needs a playmaker for QB Joe Flacco.
26. Arizona Cardinals
Charles Brown, OT, USC


The Cardinals need linebacker help and could look at a guy like Ricky Sapp, but they also lost their starting left tackle, Mike Gandy. And Brown looked better than most of the tackles at the combine.
27. Dallas Cowboys
Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland

Campbell is a major project, and a team with an older starting left tackle who won't need to put Campbell in immediately should take a chance on this athlete. If Campbell has to play early, though, this experiment would be a disaster. The Cowboys like their linemen big, and someday he could replace Flozell Adams.
28. San Diego Chargers
Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State

LaDainian Tomlinson is gone and Darren Sproles is testing free agency. Matthews needs work in the passing game, but he is a work-horse back who had 3,280 yards and 39 touchdowns as a Bulldog, and who ran a 4.41 40 at the combine.
29. New York Jets
Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State

Odrick has the size to play anywhere along the defensive line. He's a high character guy, and the Jets have some age up front.
30. Minnesota Vikings
Brian Price, DT, UCLA

Pat Williams isn't getting any younger, and Price is a very disruptive force inside. The Vikings need corner help but can find it in the next round or free agency (Dunta Robinson or Leigh Bodden).
31. Indianapolis Colts
Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida

If the Colts lose middle linebacker Gary Brackett, then things could change at this pick. But Pouncey is the best center in this draft, and Jeff Saturday can't play forever.
32. New Orleans Saints
Jerry Hughes, LB, TCU

The Saints could go in a number of different directions here, but Hughes brings pass rush and the athletic ability to play linebacker.



I don't think there is anyway that we pass on Berry if he is there.

[jason j]

Reports out if St. Louis indicate talks with the Eagles are "serious" in regard to Donovan McNabb heading to MO.

It's like they're trying to jerk with your Mock Draft.


-jj

[BernietheKid]

It ain't my mock!

[DaBrowns41]

I find it hard to believe that Jacksonville would pass up on JPP if he got to #10. They will address the pass rush in the first round having only had 14 sacks last season, not to mention Reggie Nelson and Gerald Alexander, while not great, are more than suitable, and will only get better if there is actually some sort of pass rush.

[Adz1987]

No way in hell we take Haden over Berry.

[jason j]

Originally Posted by BernietheKid

It ain't my mock!

That was supposed to be "our Mock Drafts". This iPhone has nothing for typing and I really don't have a great feel for the auto-correction.

-jj

[BernietheKid]

Originally Posted by jason j

That was supposed to be "our Mock Drafts". This iPhone has nothing for typing and I really don't have a great feel for the auto-correction.

-jj

No worries man just didn't want people to think that I was the author. There is no way I would have the Browns pass on Berry if he was there.

[AdaM]

Yeah, Iphones suck


Droid much better

[mz.]

Many on this board would be in tears if Bryant ended up in Baltimore.

And on the Berry/Haden thing, I guess Kirwan isn't as concerned about the Haden 40 time at all. Though I'd probably select Berry over Haden, this does slightly reassure me that Haden is still the prospect he was before yesterday.

[damajuki]

Wow. Well, this would be fine with me.

Though I would take Berry over Haden. I only like Haden in Berry's absence. Berry seems the safer prospect to me.

[heckofajobbrownie]

Haden over Berry would be a crime.

[Shep]

I think it would come down to what we got in free agency. I really don't see starting a rookie corner and safety at the same time.

I could see Dunta Robinson and then Eric Berry in the draft. Another corner in round 4.