1. St. Louis Rams--QB Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
We'd like to think Mike Holmgren's smarter than trying to mortgage half the draft to lunge the Browns up from seventh to first...but is he? Personally, I just don't see the Browns having enough firepower to convince St. Louis to part with the pick, and thereby Bradford. The Browns may be better off targeting Colt McCoy in the second and adding a defensive player at No. 7, anyway.
2. Detroit Lions--DT Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska
It's either him or Gerald McCoy, but DT is the way for the Lions to go. Add Suh to newcomers Corey Williams and Kyle Vanden Bosch and the returning Cliff Avril (10.5 sacks in 2 years), and suddenly Detroit may have a dangerous defensive front.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers--DT Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma State
If I'm Tampa GM Mark Dominik, I'd be working the phones looking to trade down and collect a few bonus picks, maybe calling Seattle to see if they'd want to part with those two firsts and have their pick of top OT's before Washington dips into that pool. Then, they could target a guy like Brian Price in Round 2. Failing that, their best fit here is McCoy, because Dez Bryant would be a Raiders-like reach here, and no one seems to want to pay Eric Berry top money as a safety.
4. Washington Redskins--OT Russell Okung, Oklahoma State
Lots of the speculation has Trent Williams here, because he's supposed to be a better fit for Mike Shanahan's zone-blocking scheme. Okung's not exactly chopped liver, either, and Williams seemed to struggle a bit as a left tackle his senior season. It's hard to justify drafting a right tackle at 4, so let's slot Okung in here and see what Shanny can teach his new Hog.
5. Kansas City Chiefs--S Eric Berry, Tennessee
As much as the Chiefs would love to grab an OT here, they should probably hold out for Okung. If Washington takes Williams, Okung's a Chief in about 12 seconds. If Okung's gone, it's time for people to get over their discrimination against safeties and pay Berry some cash. Every scouting report talks about how great a playmaker the guy is, but then says teams don't like to take safeties in the top 5. Plays need to be made in football, no matter what position they're made from. The Chiefs should take Berry, do a couple of cartwheels, and send him to a dozen Pro Bowls or so.
6. Seattle Seahawks--OT Trent Williams, Oklahoma
The Hawks are likely anxious to see if Berry falls in their laps, and when he doesn't, the Walter Jones Replacement Search continues. Alex Gibbs is the new Seachicken O-line coach, and he's the guy who started the zone-blocking scheme in Denver. If Williams is a good fit for Washington, it's pretty likely he's a good fit for Seattle, if they think he can handle the LT position.
7. Cleveland Browns--DE/OLB Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech
Mike Holmgren claims to have some bug up his ass about Jimmy Clausen, so one of the league's worst QB situations may not be remedied until Round 2 at the earliest. With Eric Berry gone, the Browns could try for CB Joe Haden here, but the pass rush already lacked a dominant force before Kamerion Wimbley got dealt. Morgan's not likely to fit on the end in a 3-4 setup, but could probably play OLB quite well.
8. Oakland Raiders--DE Jason Pierre-Paul, South Florida
Lots of wags want to cry Bruce Campbell here, but is Al Davis really crazy enough to reach 20 spots too high for a Maryland player twice in a row? Why not get the speed rusher who can fit Al's "The quarterback must go down, and he must go down hard" mantra? If JPP busts, oh well, it's just Al reaching 20 spots too high for a guy with a sexy 40 time again. If he becomes a Pro Bowler, Al gets to act like the smartest guy in the room again. Seriously, does Al watch the 40 runs at the Combine like others watch porn? I mean, with a bottle of lotion and some tissues handy?
9. Buffalo Bills--QB Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame
The Bills were linked to nearly every QB trade rumor, free-agent possibility, and guy-walking-in-off-the-street story all offseason, so take that as a subtle hint that they're looking under a lot of rocks to find a quarterback. One of the better ones drops into their lap, and they should pounce. If not, we can officially ignore any and all commentary about how terrible the Bills' offense is this year.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars--S Earl Thomas, Texas
The Jags are supposed to be anxious for either Pierre-Paul or Morgan to fall to 10, but if they don't, then it's time for Plan B. If they can't remedy the defensive front, it may be time to help the back, unless they're concerned about Thomas being another Reggie Nelson. C.J. Spiller starts getting rumored here quite a bit, and with the Jags having no second-round pick, it's tremendously possible. But, second RB is a luxury. Safety may be a little more important of a need.
11. Denver Broncos (from Bears)--WR Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State
I had no doubt that Brandon Marshall would be getting traded, but I expected that it would happen somewhere ON draft day, only when the Ponies were sure they'd be getting Bryant. Marshall going to Miami clears the way. If someone snags Bryant first, Joe Haden may fit here.
12. Miami Dolphins--DT Dan Williams, Tennessee
Personally, I could flip a coin here between Williams, Rolando McClain and Sergio Kindle. So, as soon as I find a three-sided coin, I'll get right on that. Jason Ferguson has a half-season suspension looming, Joey Porter's gone, and they need the depth at inside linebacker. Problem is, there aren't a ton of true 3-4 DT's in this draft, so grab Williams and hope for the best later.
13. San Francisco 49ers--RB C.J. Spiller, Clemson
Frank Gore and Glen Coffee are both battering-ram runners, and the Niners could use a little lightning to go with all the thunder. It's a great spot for him, since there are concerns about him being sturdy enough to be a featured back. Caddying for Gore can keep some extra tread on both guys' tires.
14. Seattle Seahawks (from Broncos)--DE/OLB Brandon Graham, Michigan
The Hawks may be painted into a corner here, with their hopes of getting Spiller dashed one pick before. They can get a solid pass rusher if they can't get that big-play RB they wanted, and they might have to wheel and deal if they want to get high enough to grab Jahvid Best or Jonathan Dwyer in the second round.
15. New York Giants--ILB Rolando McClain, Alabama
With Antonio Pierce put out to pasture, the Giants have a donut hole at MLB, and McClain might be able to step in and start Week 1. Some scouts think he has range issues, but with veterans Danny Clark and Mike Boley on either side, he should have some good support.
16. Tennessee Titans--CB Joe Haden, Florida
The Titans' two biggest needs appear to be defensive end and a corner to play opposite Cortland Finnegan. With Graham, Pierre-Paul, and Morgan all gone here, it's either reach or trade down for an Everson Griffen or Jerry Hughes...or fill the corner spot with the consensus #1 guy at that position. They'd have to get a tremendous offer to take the former.
17. San Francisco 49ers (from Panthers)--OT Anthony Davis, Rutgers
Whether the Niners end up able to get Jimmy Clausen, as some have pondered, or they can get Spiller (see above), tackle is still a trouble spot. The Bust Brothers, Alex Smith and David Carr, need protection, too. Besides, if anyone can keep a lineman in the weight room and out of the drive-thru, it's Mike Singletary.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers--CB Kareem Jackson, Alabama
The Steelers were firmly in the middle of the pack in pass defense last season, and with the Ravens and Bengals trying to upgrade their receivers, another CB (they drafted two last year, neither of whom accomplished much) might make more sense than we might think. Most everyone has either Mike Iupati or Maurkice Pouncey going here, and honestly, Pouncey might make them seriously think.
19. Atlanta Falcons--C Maurkice Pouncey, Florida
The Dirty Birds get happy when the Steelers let Pouncey slide. The main need early on was a corner, but signing Dunta Robinson may have helped there. They have some front seven issues on defense, but their decidedly mediocre offense should have been better after adding Tony Gonzalez. Pouncey should help clear lanes for Michael Turner and buy time for Matt Ryan.
20. Houston Texans--CB Kyle Wilson, Boise State
Lots of mocks have Fresno State RB Ryan Mathews here, but the Texans' decision-makers come from the Denver organization, where RB's where interchangeable parts. Mike Iupati will make them think long and hard, but after losing Dunta Robinson to Atlanta, the secondary must be kept a priority, lest Peyton Manning tear the defense up for 300 yards two more times this season.
21. Cincinnati Bengals--S Taylor Mays, USC
The original Roy Williams is turning 30 and running out of whatever gas he ever had, so why not draft the next Roy Williams to replace him? Park him behind former Trojan teammate Rey Maualuga, and there's a pair of guys who can make receivers hear some footsteps.
22. New England Patriots--TE Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma
Maybe it's just me, but it seems that the Patriots open every season with a different TE. This time, perhaps they find a good receiving option...without even having to forfeit any of their three second-rounders to deal up.
23. Green Bay Packers--G Mike Iupati, Idaho
Iupati may get his first snaps at tackle, which makes him a tremendous value pick sliding down this far. One more mauler to open holes for Ryan Grant may help the Pack get another year out of him. Doesn't mean they won't go fishing for Dwyer or Toby Gerhart in the second, though.
24. Philadelphia Eagles--CB Patrick Robinson, Florida State
Trading Sheldon Brown to Cleveland created a bit of an opening at corner, and unless they want to roll with Ellis Hobbs starting (yes, Eagles fans, time to shudder), an infusion of talent is necessary. Whether Robinson will actually do anything with all that talent depends on who you ask. Eagles fans will either love him or demand he be shot on the courthouse square immediately.
25. Baltimore Ravens--WR Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech
Sure, the Ravens have done some retooling at WR, adding Anquan Boldin and Donte Stallworth to Derrick Mason...but Mason's 36 and seems to always be threatening retirement these days, Boldin's always nursing some kind of injury, and Stallworth is a total wild card. A long-term answer would greatly help Joe Flacco's peace of mind.
26. Arizona Cardinals--CB Devin McCourty, Rutgers
Just because they defeated the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs, doesn't mean that the Cards didn't get righteously torched. No division champion has so many glaring needs on draft day (OT and pass rushing DE/LB are the most commonly discussed), but McCourty may be the last of the first-round CB's.
27. Dallas Cowboys--OT Charles Brown, USC
Brown's getting the "need bump," where a second-round prospect gets dragged into the first because a team has a glaring need. With Flozell Adams gone, the Cowboys need a young lineman to groom as a replacement.
28. San Diego Chargers--DT Terrence Cody, Alabama
Mount Cody will get a chance to plug the holes that the Jets kept ripping in the Chargers' defensive front in the playoffs. Trading up with Seattle to #40 in Round 2 will definitely give them a good chance to find the RB they're supposed to be looking for.
29. New York Jets--DE/OLB Sergio Kindle, Texas
Hopefully, Kindle's not attending the draft, because he's got the Aaron Rodgers/Brady Quinn Green-Room Wait of Doom on this board. Him falling this far is excellent for the Jets, who play the 3-4 scheme that can allow Kindle room to rush off the edge. If he's half as good as his ex-Horns teammate Brian Orakpo, who needs Jason Taylor?
30. Minnesota Vikings--S Nate Allen, South Florida
As tempting as it is to speculate that the Vikings are the team that can afford to wait on Tim Tebow, the truth is that if Brett Favre decides to leave the Purple and Gold (why, Prince, why?) in the lurch, Tebow will struggle mightily (biblically?) to guide the offense. Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels aren't terribly appealing, either, but give them the chance and fill in one of the few holes on the D. Allen's a good fit for a Cover 2 system, and could probably start on day one.
31. Indianapolis Colts--G/T Rodger Saffold, Indiana
Bill Polian bitched out the offensive line following the Super Bowl loss, and a versatile guy like Saffold could help right away. The fact that he's a local product is an added bonus. An extra pass-rusher like Everson Griffen or Jerry Hughes will get serious talk here, as well.
32. New Orleans Saints--OLB Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri
A greater athlete at OLB than the departed Scott Fujita, Spoon could slide anywhere the Saints need him to play. If he's able to read the play quickly enough, he could be a force in coverage and shouldn't embarrass himself on the rush, either.
And there you go. In case I hit on a ton of these picks and the cynics among you think these are edited after the fact, remember that I'll be covering all of them on 4Q. The podcast will be linked from here as my proof. So there.
THE ONE EDIT I'LL ALLOW MYSELF: Yep, I completely spaced Bryan Bulaga. No, I don't think he'll dive to the second round. Yep, I'm senile. Yep, I owned it on the air. Fail: me.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment