1. St. Louis Rams—Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
For the past couple of months, I was certain that the Rams would take a quarterback, but now I'm certain that they will take Suh. Jimmy Clausen has a prima donna attitude. He put up good numbers, but Notre Dame had an easy schedule. Suh had a phenomenal senior season for Nebraska.
Suh had a spectacular Big 12 Championship Game performance. He exposed Texas' Colt McCoy, notching 4.5 sacks that day. He even was a Heisman Trophy finalist and placed fourth in the voting.
He was terrific in the Holiday Bowl, and Arizona was humiliated by a 33-0 score. There was no way around Suh. He had 12 sacks on the season, and he can play in a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme, which will benefit him in the NFL. He has been compared to Kevin Williams.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
2. Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
2. Detroit Lions—Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
The Lions should take Russell Okung, but their management is incompetent.
Their offensive line coach, George Yarno, has somehow praised tackle Jeff Backus, and head coach Jim Schwartz believes Backus should have gone to the Pro Bowl. Another genius in Detroit.
Yet quarterback Matthew Stafford suffered injuries in his rookie year with no protection. Another genius in Detroit. The Lions should have taken Michael Oher last year.
They need help on defense, too. McCoy may be the most talented DT in the draft.
McCoy is an elite defensive tackle. He has great intangibles, is explosive with high stamina, and helped Oklahoma's defensive line hold Toby Gerhart to 4.2 yards per carry during the Sun Bowl, his lowest average of the season.
However, he may need to bulk up a little, weighing in at 295 pounds.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
2. Russell Okung, T, Oklahoma State
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers—Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
Berry may be the most talented player in the whole 2010 NFL Draft Class. He is often compared to Ed Reed. He is just the kind of play-maker every general manager dreams of.
The Buccaneers have a screwy situation here because they need a DT, but Suh and McCoy are both off the board. The Buccaneers have a pretty good pass defense, but no other needs that the Buccaneers have are worthy of being addressed with a No. 3 pick, so Berry is a value pick here. Raheem Morris is a secondary minded coach, so it only makes more sense.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Russell Okung, T, Oklahoma State
2. Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
4. Washington Redskins—Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
Bradford may be taking back the position of top QB prospect because Clausen will have to skip the Combine to get surgery for torn ligaments. This is a big opportunity for Bradford.
With Mike Shanahan as the new Redskins coach, he will want to make a fresh start by drafting a franchise QB, and owner Daniel Snyder likes going for big name players.
Bradford has injury concerns, but when he was healthy, he was the most dominant college QB. However, scouts will be concerned about whether he can play under center because he played in a spread shotgun offense at Oklahoma.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
2. Russell Okung, T, Oklahoma State
5. Kansas City Chiefs—Russell Okung, T, Oklahoma State
The Chiefs have no offensive line, and Matt Cassel will continue to get beaten up if the Chiefs don't take a tackle now and move Branden Albert back to guard. If Scott Pioli sticks to his drafting methods, he would take Okung here.
Okung is a rare gem of a tackle prospect. He has amazing leadership skills and is a four-year starter. He can be expected to start from Day One.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
2. Bruce Campbell, T, Maryland
6. Seattle Seahawks- Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
With Pete Carroll as the new head coach and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck aging, Carroll will want to draft a new QB to take over for Hasselbeck when he retires. Carroll recruited Clausen when he was head coach for USC.
The reason I have Clausen going after Bradford and falling this far is due to his attitude and abrasive personality, which will likely turn many GMs off, and Bradford has a great attitude.
There's many other picks that would make sense, and Carroll has never been a GM before, so he could go any way.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Bruce Campbell, T, Maryland
2. Joe Haden, CB, Florida
3. Trent Williams, T, Oklahoma
7. Cleveland Browns—Joe Haden, CB, Florida
The Browns' pass defense finished 29th in the NFL, allowing 247.9 yards per game. Their current cornerbacks aren't reliable, and Haden is the best CB in college football. He led Florida's dominant defense, and if this scenario actually happens, this pick is an obvious one for the Browns.
Matt McGuire even compared him to Bengals CB Leon Hall in his scouting report on walterfootball.com.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Trent Williams, T, Oklahoma
8. Oakland Raiders—Bruce Campbell, T, Maryland
Al Davis loves players that can run a fast 40 time, and Campbell can run a 4.9, which is very fast for a tackle.
The Raiders need offensive line help badly because their line is pretty much the worst in the NFL. Davis will not draft a QB here since Bradford and Clausen are taken, and Florida's Tim Tebow would be too big of a reach here.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Trent Williams, T, Oklahoma
2. Anthony Davis, T, Rutgers
3. Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
4. Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama
9. Buffalo Bills—Trent Williams, T, Oklahoma
Williams anchored Oklahoma's offensive line after Phil Loadholt, Duke Robinson, and Jon Cooper left for the NFL, and he was named a Third-Team All-American.
The Bills need a tackle badly, and the team seems to notice that. They still have faith in Trent Edwards as they should, and if they take Williams here, he would join Andy Levitre and Eric Wood to form a young, solid offensive line. Levitre and Wood had respectable rookie seasons.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Anthony Davis, T, Rutgers
2. Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
3. Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama
4. Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
10. Jacksonville Jaguars—Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
The Jaguars have terrible rush defense. Derrick Harvey has been a colossal bust, and Quentin Groves has disappointed a lot, too.
Morgan is an excellent 4-3 defensive end. He led Georgia Tech's defense with 12 sacks, and he would be a great fit for the Jaguars' defense.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama
2. Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
3. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida
11. Denver Broncos(from Chicago)- Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
Brandon Marshall is a free agent, and he will more than likely leave Denver. He was disgruntled when he was there, and he will more than likely go to Baltimore, New York, Cincinnati, or Chicago. The Broncos will want to replace him if he leaves, and Bryant is the top receiver in the draft.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama
2. C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
3. Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
12. Miami Dolphins—Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama
Here, the Dolphins can fill a hole at inside linebacker, and McClain is perfect here. He was the heart of Alabama's defense and makes many tackles. He played in a 3-4 defense too, just like the Dolphins do.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
2. C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
3. Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama
13. San Francisco 49ers—Anthony Davis, T, Rutgers
The 49ers' offensive line struggled, and Adam Snyder was terrible, allowing 9.5 sacks. Tony Pashos had a career-ending injury, and the depth on the already bad line is thin, so the 49ers will want to fix that.
Other Possible Picks:
1. C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
2. Bryan Bulaga, T, Iowa
14. Seattle Seahawks(from Denver)—C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
The Seahawks need a RB badly, since Julius Jones is subpar, and Justin Forsett won't be able to handle the carries alone.
Spiller is an explosive, speedy RB who can run a 4.2 and compares to Chris Johnson, this year's rushing champion.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Taylor Mays, S, USC
2. Bryan Bulaga, T, Iowa
3. Earl Thomas, S, Texas
15. New York Giants—Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
Barry Cofield and Fred Robbins are free agents, and the Giants' rush defense was shaky at times since Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard were injured most of the season. The defensive line coach was fired, and with a new one, the Giants will want to maintain their depth.
Williams had an excellent Senior Bowl showing and has skyrocketing draft stock, and he can play in a 4-3 or a 3-4 scheme, so Jerry Reese will love this guy and draft him if he gets the opportunity.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Brian Price, DT, UCLA
2. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida
3. Earl Thomas, S, Texas
4. Taylor Mays, S, USC
16. Tennessee Titans—Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida
The Titans have a lot of free agents at defensive end, and that includes Kyle Vanden Bosch, who will not likely be re-signed after registering only three-and-a-half sacks, and he is 31.
Pierre-Paul's named has popped up a lot in the past month among draft experts and their mock drafts, and he is a 4-3 DE, so he would fit the Titans' defensive scheme. He is a dark horse that could go as high as the No. 3 pick to Tampa Bay. Tyson Jackson went surprisingly high, so don't be surprised if Pierre-Paul does too.
I personally think he will be a bust just like Tyson Jackson, who I never liked, and I'm glad the the Packers didn't get him. He has questions surrounding his work ethic and intelligence, and he was a one-year wonder at South Florida.
17. San Francisco 49ers—Brandon Graham, DE/LB, Michigan
Graham was the star of the Senior Bowl, and he deserved the Senior Bowl MVP award. He is the top 3-4 rush linebacker in the draft for now, and he has vaulted his draft stock up to the first round. Mike Mayock even compared him to LaMarr Woodley, who played at Michigan.
The 49ers need a 3-4 rush linebacker since their sack leader only had 5.5.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Earl Thomas, S, Texas
2. Taylor Mays, S, USC
3. Jerry Hughes, DE/LB, TCU
18. Pittsburgh Steelers—Earl Thomas, S, Texas
Ryan Clark is a free agent, so the Steelers will need a free safety.
Thomas had a phenomenal year. He had eight interceptions for 149 yards and two of them have been returned for touchdowns. He is only a redshirt sophomore, but he made the right decision to leave for the NFL since Texas will be rebuilding, and his draft stock is as high as it will ever be.
He and Troy Polamalu would form an invincible safety duo.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama
2. Taylor Mays, S, USC
3. Bryan Bulaga, T, Iowa
19. Atlanta Falcons- Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri
The Falcons need an outside linebacker as an upgrade over Mike Peterson, who is aging and will likely retire soon.
Weatherspoon could start for the Falcons right away. The Falcons need to improve their struggling defense, and Weatherspoon shined at the Senior Bowl and proved to be an excellent vocal leader.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida
2. Taylor Mays, S, USC
20. Houston Texans—Brian Price, DT, UCLA
The Texans need a RB badly because they finished 30th in rush offense in the NFL. Spiller is taken, so it may be a good idea to trade up for Spiller, but I'm not predicting any trades, so Price goes to the Texans here.
The Texans need a defensive tackle because Amobi Okoye is a bust. Their rush defense is solid, but the interior has struggled. Price had an outstanding junior year at UCLA with 23.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks, and the Texans have a 4-3 defense, so Houston would be a great destination for him.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Taylor Mays, S, USC
2. Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame
3. Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford
21. Cincinnati Bengals—Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame
The Bengals need a receiver badly, and they proved that against the Jets, having nobody to throw to when Ochocinco was at the bottom of his game. They had a bit of bad luck before the playoffs there too since Chris Henry was killed.
Tate is a First-Team All-American, and he played in a pro-style offense at Notre Dame. He followed Clausen to the NFL after Head Coach Charlie Weis was fired. According to Sporting News, the Bengals have been scouting Tate heavily and have expressed interest in him.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
2. Damian Williams, WR, USC
3. Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida
22. New England Patriots—Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
Ben Watson only had 404 receiving yards, and he was in a contract year. What better way to end your contract year with a one-catch, 3-yard performance?
The Patriots clearly will not be inclined to re-sign Watson, so it's time for the Patriots to look elsewhere at tight end.
Signing Owen Daniels would be a great option, but Gresham is the best tight end in college football, and he has the tools to be a good NFL tight end. He sat out this season injured, but when he played, he was dominant, and if the Patriots can handle losing Tom Brady to injury, they can surely handle Gresham's injury risk. With risk comes reward.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida
2. Jerry Hughes, DE/LB, TCU
3. Damian Williams, WR, USC
4. Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford
23. Green Bay Packers—Bryan Bulaga, T, Iowa
The offensive line struggled badly the first half of the season. While they improved, it would still be foolish to not draft a tackle if there is one valuable enough in the first round.
Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher are both unrestricted free agents, so they may retire, and the Packers have key free agents that are bigger priorities than Clifton, but Tauscher may be worth re-signing for one more year.
Bulaga was the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and named to the First-Team All-Big Ten, so he would be a great addition to the Packers' line, and getting Bulaga here is a steal, as he is talented enough to go in the top 10.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Charles Brown, T, USC
2. Jerry Hughes, DE/LB, TCU
3. Taylor Mays, S, USC
4. A cornerback(a lot to choose from)
24. Philadelphia Eagles—Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida
Victor Abiamiri has been struggling, and the Eagles' rush defense has been kind of shaky as a result, so Abiamiri should be replaced. Andy Reid likes drafting O-line and D-line players.
Dunlap has character issues with a DUI arrest before the SEC championship, and he is lazy and doesn't seem to care much about football, but he has a lot of upside. Reid may see that in Dunlap and believe he can instill discipline in him.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Mike Iupati, G, Idaho
2. Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama
25. Baltimore Ravens—Damian Williams, WR, USC
The Ravens need a receiver badly because Derrick Mason will probably retire, and Mark Clayton is not reliable. He constantly drops passes. These factors are definitely contributing to QB Joe Flacco's passing struggles.
Williams has a strong work ethic, and he played in a pro-style offense at USC, so he has the tools to succeed in the NFL.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State
2. Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State
3. Brandon Ghee, CB, Wake Forest
4. Brandon LaFell, WR, LSU
26. Arizona Cardinals—Jerry Hughes, DE/LB, TCU
The Cardinals need a pass rusher because Bertrand Berry retired, and Chike Okeafor is a free agent and not likely to be re-signed because he is 34.
Hughes has got to be one of the most underrated players in college football. He is a two-time First-Team All-American, and the Cardinals need help on their rush defense. He had a solid Fiesta Bowl performance too.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Sergio Kindle, DE/LB, Texas
2. Charles Brown, T, USC
3. Mike Iupati, G, Idaho
27. Dallas Cowboys—Mike Iupati, G, Idaho
Iupati had an impressive Senior Bowl performance, and the Cowboys have an aging offensive line. Jerry Jones said that the Cowboys are staying with their No. 27 pick, which probably means that he is planning to take Iupati, but it will be interesting if a team such as the Eagles takes him.
Iupati is versatile since he can play both tackle and guard, and Todd McShay said that he has improved his draft stock the most out of any prospect other than Brandon Graham.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama
28. San Diego Chargers—Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama
Cody had an embarrassing Senior Bowl weigh-in at 370 pounds. He was a great nose tackle at Alabama, but his weigh-in will lower his draft stock and possibly even drop him to Round 2.
The Chargers won't likely pass on him if he falls to them though, since they need a 3-4 nose tackle to replace Jamal Williams.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford
2. Jahvid Best, RB, Cal
3. Brandon LaFell, WR, LSU
29. New York Jets—Brandon LaFell, WR, LSU
The Jets need a wide receiver because Braylon Edwards has been a disappointment. He is extremely talented, but he drops way too many passes, so the Jets will not pay to re-sign him. Sanchez was efficient in the playoffs, but he didn't have very many passing yards because he had pretty much nobody to throw to, and Shonn Greene and the Jets' defense picked up a lot of the slack.
LaFell made a wise decision in returning for his senior year since 2009 had a loaded wide receiver class, and now he is a lock to go in early Round 2 or earlier.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State
2. Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State
3. Brandon Ghee, CB, Wake Forest
30. Minnesota Vikings—Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State
Wilson was another shining star at the Senior Bowl, and he was previously a 2nd round prospect at best, but now he's creeping his way into the 1st round.
Wilson should have been a 1st round prospect all along since he's a great defensive leader, as he helped lead Boise State to a 49-4 record over his four years as a Bronco.
Cedric Griffin tore his ACL, and the Vikings have a shaky pass defense. It struggled against the Saints badly, and Wilson is a speedy, explosive cornerback who could vault the Vikings' defense to elite status and provide an unstoppable return duo with Percy Harvin.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Brandon Ghee, CB, Wake Forest
2. Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State
31. Indianapolis Colts—Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida
Gary Brackett will be a free agent, and even if he is re-signed, the Colts need depth at LB if they have any needs.
Spikes had 285 career tackles and 6 interceptions at Florida, and he was a big part of their defense, but he has character concerns surrounding him because of the eye-gouging incident against Georgia.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Lamarr Houston, DT, Texas
2. Navorro Bowman, LB, Penn State
3. Charles Brown, T, USC
32. New Orleans Saints—Navorro Bowman, LB, Penn State
The Saints may win the Super Bowl, but their defense has room for improvement, particularly at OLB. Bowman is a strong LB who had 106 tackles his sophomore year and 93 his junior year and an interception returned for a 73-yard touchdown.
He has character concerns that may cause him to go in the second or third round because of disorderly conduct for fighting and for smoking weed, but he has a lot of upside, and Sean Payton is a great disciplinarian, so I can't imagine Payton being afraid to draft Bowman.
Other Possible Picks:
1. Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State
2. Taylor Mays, S, USC
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