From the time the Super Bowl ends, until baseball has its opening day, I like to make mock drafts to pass the time. Since it's difficult to know how teams rank prospects, or watch film on prospects, I use a number of sources to complete my mock drafts. movethesticks.com provides insight on what a former scout thinks of prospects, and what their league sources think of prospects. cbssportsline.com and ESPN's Todd McShay and Mel Kipper provide scouting reports, and team needs. I use the information from all of these sources, plus my knowledge of a player from watching them in college, to form an opinion and complete my mock draft.
1.St.Louis Rams- Ndamukong Suh DT Nebraska- The Rams desperately need a QB, but taking Bradford or Clausen would be a reach, especially when there is a player of Suh's caliber available. Suh has every thing you look for in a DT, size, strength, instincts, quickness, and explosion. He has the ability to stuff the run and get after the passer (he had 12.5 sacks as a DT!). Steve Spagnuolo's defense relies heavily on pressure and adding Suh to an already strong, young D line should do wonders for their pass rush.
2.Detroit Lions- Gerald McCoy DT Oklahoma- In some drafts, McCoy might be the top prospect. He is just a notch below the level of Suh, based mostly on production in college. McCoy is very strong and stout, can split a double team and lives in the back field. The Lions need help in a number of areas, but they have almost nothing on the interior of their defensive line. Jim Schwartz should know how important a dominant DT is to a defense, as he had great success with Albert Haynesworth in Tennessee.
3.Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Eric Berry S Tennessee- Since the glory days of Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, John Lynch and Co. Tampa Bay has lacked a difference maker on defense, and the unit has suffered. Berry could be the solution to the problem. He is a ball hawk and is great in coverage. He fits the Bucs Tampa 2 scheme perfectly, and played the same scheme at Tennessee. Safetys generally don't go this high, but Berry is a special player.
4.Washington Redskins- Jimmy Clausen QB Notre Dame- The Redskins seem content with letting Jason Campbell leave via free agency, so QB will be their biggest need. I personally prefer Bradford over Clausen, but I think Clausen is more of a Mike Shanahan QB. Shanahan usually prefers QBs with a strong arm (Clausen > Bradford in that department), and will have no problems with a big ego/bad attitude QB like Clausen, which is one of the biggest knocks on his draft status. (Remember, he did draft Jay Cutler.)
5.Kansas City Chiefs- Russell Okung OT Oklahoma State- Kansas City needs help in a number of area's, but the most important need is on the offensive line. Former first round pick Brandon Albert is probably better suited at RT or guard, so they need to invest in protection for Matt Cassel's blind side. Okung is a physical, nasty mauler who can dominate in the run game. He is also a skilled enough pass blocker to be a franchise left tackle. This pick would improve the offensive line at two areas.
6.Seattle Seahawks- Sam Bradford QB Oklahoma- As Pete Carroll takes over in Seattle, he inherits an offense that needs to be rebuilt. Step one should be taking your QB of the future, as Matt Hasselbeck is no longer an elite QB and has had injury problems recently. Sam Bradford is a controversial prospect. Some believe in his accuracy, smarts, and athleticism. Some doubt his health, arm strength, and do not like the fact he played in a spread offense. I personally like Bradford a lot, and I think his arm is being sold short by a great deal. I think he is a franchise QB.
7.Cleveland Browns- Joe Hadden CB Florida- Hadden is one of the top players in this years draft class. The only thing holding him out of the top 5 is he is a little shorter then you would prefer. Hadden is fast and physical, and being labeled as a "shut down corner" which is extremely rare in football today. The Browns have bigger needs then CB, like a pass rusher, but Hadden is the best player on the board, and there is not a clearly defined top pass rusher in the draft worthy of going this high.
8.Oakland Raiders- Taylor Mays S USC- The only predictable thing about the Raiders drafts in recent years is expect the unexpected. They often over look a player's football skills and draft a workout warrior higher then they should. Taylor Mays fits this bill, to a t, as he has the size of a linebacker and great speed. The problem is: he is a safety who is terrible in coverage. Most teams have him rated as a late fist/early seconder. If the Raiders were smart, they would draft an offensive tackle.
9.Buffalo Bills- Anthony Davis OT Rutgers- After trading Jason Peters prior to last year's draft, the Bills ran through a number of journey men LTs unsuccessfully last year, and offensive tackle has become an even bigger need now that RT Brad Butler has retired. Anthony Davis is the most talented tackle in this years draft, but has major red flags. His concentration, weight, and consistency has been called into question. He also was not as dominant in college as he could have been. Think of him as this year's Andre Smith.
10.Jacksonville Jaguars- Derrick Morgan DE Georgia Tech- In the 2008 draft, the Jaguars went pass rusher happy early, but still have have one of the worst pass rushes in the NFL. Morgan is a really good all around end, playing well against the run as well as the pass. He may not be the best pure pass rusher in this draft, but he is still very good at it, and the best DE available. Typically, you play your best pass rusher on the defense's right, but Morgan was a left defensive end in college, which could be a problem if the Jaguars want to play him on the right side.
11.Denver Broncos (from Chicago)- Dan Williams DT Tennessee- Denver really struggled on the defensive side of the ball towards the end of the year, after a strong start. The transition from the 4-3 to a 3-4 defense usually takes a couple drafts, and Dan Williams would be a great fit. Williams is big and strong and is an ideal nose tackle for the 34. Moist people would expect to see Dez Bryant here, but I can't see him getting along with Josh McDaniels, who clearly has a problem with star players.
12.Miami Dolphins- Dez Bryant WR Oklahoma State- The Dolphins have depth at the wide receiver position, but they lack one stand out, #1 guy. Dez Bryant could be that guy. Many talent evaluators feel Bryant is a better then Michael Crabtree was a year ago, and has the size, ball skill, and physicality to be one of the top receivers in the league. Bill Parcells normally does not like taking WR this high, but Bryant is the best player on the board, and fits a position of need for Miami. Outside or inside linebacker is a possibility as well.
13.San Fransisco 49ers- Trent Williams OT Oklahoma- San Fransisco has been in need of a right tackle to play opposite Joe Staley for a couple years now, and Trent Williams is just the guy. Williams played right tackle his first three years at OU, before moving over to the left side as a senior. He can play either tackle spot, as he is athletic enough, but he may be a tad to short for the left side. He is a good run blocker and could be one of the better right tackles in the league in a few years.
14.Seattle Seahawks- C.J. Spiller RB Clemson- As mentioned before, the Seahawks need to rebuild their offense. Ideally, they would draft a left tackle here, but with Okung, Davis, and Williams all off the board, and it possibly being a bit high to take Bulaga (who I like, but insiders say won't go this high), they could go with Spiller. Spiller brings a home run hitting ability which the Seahawks currently lack, with his blazing speed. The Seahawks have already said they want to improve their run game this season, and this pick will do just that.
15.New York Giants- Renaldo McClain MLB Alabama- The Giants need a major overhaul on the defensive side of the ball after an 8-8 year that resulted in a schematic change. After the release of Antonio Pierce, the Giants are in need of a MLB who can play the middle of the field in the Tampa 2 defense. Luckily for them, Renaldo McClain is the perfect linebacker for this defense. He is great in coverage, and is better suited in this type of defense because he is not as physical or explosive as you would like in other defenses.
16.Tennessee Titans- Carlos Dunlap DE Florida- Tennessee lacks a dominant edge rusher now that Kyle Vandenbosh was held to 4 sacks last year. Last time they drafted a DE in the 1st round was 1999, when they drafted a DE from Florida who was huge, a speed rusher, and a "freak" athlete. With that in mind, they will draft another huge speed rushing "freak" from Florida in Dunlap. Dunlap has a hot and cold motor, and has off the field issues, but he may be the best pass rusher in the entire draft.
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