Picks 1-16
17.San Fransisco 49ers (from Carolina)- Earl Thomas S Texas- After addressing OT with their first of 2 first roud picks, expect the 49ers to take a DB with their second pick. Other then Nate Clemens, their secondary lacks some one who is good in coverage. Thomas may be the best cover safety in the draft, some teams even have him as a corner. He will likely succeed at either position, because of his outstanding footwork. He is a bit undersized, but there is no denying his ball hawking abilities.
18.Pittsburgh Steelers- Mike Iupati OG Idaho- Since the departure of Alan Faneca, the Steelers once proud run game has been beyond mediocre. This is do in large part to a patch work middle of the line. Iupati brings a nastiness and physicality the Steelers have lacked the past few years. He is also very athletic for such a large player, and is very good at pulling, which the Steelers have their guard do a lot of. Iupati still has plenty of room to get better, and can be one of the best guards in the league.
19.Atlanta Falcons- Jason Pierre-Paul DE South Florida- The Falcons have a solid core of players on the offensive side of the ball, but they need to stock up on defense. They ranked 26th in the NFL in sacks this year, so look for them to add a pass rusher here. Pierre-Paul is widely considered the top DE in this draft. He has freakish athleticism for such a large player. I am not as high on him as most, based on his lack of production in his only year of major college football and his lack of pass rushing moves. He does have huge upside, but is a big risk as well.
20.Houston Texans- Brian Price DT UCLA- The Texans have spent a number of early picks on the defensive line in recent years, but only Mario Williams has really panned out. They will look to improve both at DT and DE, and Price would fit well. Price relies more on his quickness then his size and strength, and may not be as strong against the run as you would like. He reminds me a lot of Glen Dorsey, and could be one of the better pass rushing DT you will see.
17.San Fransisco 49ers (from Carolina)- Earl Thomas S Texas- After addressing OT with their first of 2 first roud picks, expect the 49ers to take a DB with their second pick. Other then Nate Clemens, their secondary lacks some one who is good in coverage. Thomas may be the best cover safety in the draft, some teams even have him as a corner. He will likely succeed at either position, because of his outstanding footwork. He is a bit undersized, but there is no denying his ball hawking abilities.
18.Pittsburgh Steelers- Mike Iupati OG Idaho- Since the departure of Alan Faneca, the Steelers once proud run game has been beyond mediocre. This is do in large part to a patch work middle of the line. Iupati brings a nastiness and physicality the Steelers have lacked the past few years. He is also very athletic for such a large player, and is very good at pulling, which the Steelers have their guard do a lot of. Iupati still has plenty of room to get better, and can be one of the best guards in the league.
19.Atlanta Falcons- Jason Pierre-Paul DE South Florida- The Falcons have a solid core of players on the offensive side of the ball, but they need to stock up on defense. They ranked 26th in the NFL in sacks this year, so look for them to add a pass rusher here. Pierre-Paul is widely considered the top DE in this draft. He has freakish athleticism for such a large player. I am not as high on him as most, based on his lack of production in his only year of major college football and his lack of pass rushing moves. He does have huge upside, but is a big risk as well.
20.Houston Texans- Brian Price DT UCLA- The Texans have spent a number of early picks on the defensive line in recent years, but only Mario Williams has really panned out. They will look to improve both at DT and DE, and Price would fit well. Price relies more on his quickness then his size and strength, and may not be as strong against the run as you would like. He reminds me a lot of Glen Dorsey, and could be one of the better pass rushing DT you will see.
21.Cincinnati Bengals- Jermaine Gresham TE Oklahoma- In the recent past, the Bengals were known as an air it out type team with a weak defense. In 2009, things were the polar opposite, and their once high-flying offense played more of a grind-it-out style. To be an elite team, they will need to bolster their passing game. Jermaine Gresham brings rare speed and athletic ability at the tight end position. He can stretch the field vertically, and take it to the house from anywhere on the field. He has injury concerns, and is a poor blocker, which may sour teams.
22.New England Patriots- Sergio Kindle OLB Texas- The past few years, New England has bid fair well to a number of stalwarts in the defenses front 7. Adalius Thomas may also be on the way out, leaving the Pats with as many as 4 spots in the front seven that must be filled. One of them is a pass rusher. Kindle is the best pass rusher remaining. He has some of the field issues and only recorded 5.5 sacks last season as a hybrid DE-LB (3 of which came in one game) in a pass heavy league, but he did get constant pressure on the QB and teams like his ability.
23.Green Bay Packers- Brian Bulaga OT Iowa- The Packers allowed the most sacks in the NFL last season, and if that's not bad enough, their only reliable pass protector (Chad Cliffton) is a free agent. There's a good chance the Packers will not retain him, though, because of injury concerns. With that in mind, they will take Bulaga in round 1. Bulaga is an outstanding run blocker and skilled enough athletically to play on the left side. If he stayed in school for his senior year, he could have been the top tackle taken, possibly in the top 5.
24.Philadelphia Eagles- Sean Weatherspoon OLB Missouri- The Eagles need to improve their defense in this year's draft. After Stewart Bradley's injury in the preseason, it really weakened their linebacking unit. Neither of Philly's outside backers are outstanding, so I think Weatherspoon is the pick. Weatherspoon is an explosive play maker, who can cover and blitz well. He was one of the standout performers at the Senior Bowl, and has been rising up draft boards.
25.Baltimore Ravens- Areleous Benn WR Illinois- For the Ravens, they have almost everything in place for a Super Bowl run. The only things lacking are CBs and people for Joe Flacco to throw the ball to. (It is a passing league after all.) With Derek Mason possibly retiring, I'd expect them to take a receiver in round 1. I personally think Golden Tate is the second best receiver in this draft, but his height may scare teams off in round 1. Benn is an incredible athlete with good size and solid hands. He hasn't been as productive as other receivers, but he did not have great QB play.
26.Arizona Cardinals- Brandon Graham OLB Michigan- The Cardinals need a major overhaul of their line backing corps. Karlos Dansby will likely leave as a free agent, and they lack an impact pass rusher on the outside of their 3-4 defense. Brandon Graham has shot up draft boards after dominating all week at the Senior Bowl. He is a little undersized, and not overly fast, but he can get after the QB. He reminds most scouts of another undersized DE from Michigan, Lamar Woodley who was among the league leaders in sacks in the NFL last season.
27.Dallas Cowboys- Charles Brown OT USC- Jerry Jones has already made it clear that the Cowboys will address the tackle position early in the draft. Flozzell Adaams is up there in age, and a replacement will be needed soon. Brown is not a massive blocker like the Cowboys prefer, some might say he is undersized, but he is a really good in pass protection and maybe the most athletic lineman in the draft. He needs to add strength and may be best suited for a zone blocking scheme, which the Cowboys have dabbled with recently.
28.San Diego Chargers- Javid Best RB California- The Chargers need desperately to address the running back position early, and may be multiple times in the draft. Darren Sproles is likely to leave via free agency, and LaDanian Tomlinson was released, 2 years removed from being the top back in the NFL. Javid Best is a dynamic player. He is fast, can catch, and runs well inside for a smaller back. If he did not have injury concerns, he would be the top running back in the draft, possibly going in the top 15.
29.New York Jets- Jared Odrick DT Penn State- The Jets would like to add a play maker at WR, but they will probably resign Braylon Edwards and address receiver later. They will turn their attention to the defensive side of the ball early on, with corner, a pass rusher and DE a possibility. Odrick is a great fit for teams in need of a 3-4 end. He is strong, long, holds double teams and can get into the back field and make plays with a wide array of moves.He could be a steal at this spot, and will probably go higher.
30.Minnesota Vikings- Maurkice Pouncey C/G Florida- The Vikings had one of the top offenses in the NFL last season, and the only spot they may improve is center or right guard. Pouncey is capable of filling in either spot. He has the size and athleticism to be a great interior lineman at the next level. He is surprisingly strong and powerful for a spread offense center, and should impress teams with his smarts. If the Vikings go defense, look for them to add a CB or a DT if one of the top guys falls.
31.Indianapolis Colts- Bruce Campbell OT Maryland- After their Super Bowl loss, team president Bill Polian blamed the offensive line that gave up zero sacks and allowed the Colts to run for over 5 yards a carry. So I would expect them to take an offensive lineman in round 1. A left tackle is their biggest need up front, after former starter Tony Ugoh was benched. Bruce Campbell is projected to go way to high in most mock drafts. He has great size, and athletic ability, but his game tape is less then impressive, and is raw, and has injury questions.
32.New Orleans Saints- Navorro Bowman OLB Penn State- It seems like every season, most mock drafts project the Saints to improve the outside linebacker position, and with Scott Fujita it seems like they finally will this year. Bowman is a linebacker who can do everything. He stuffs his gap in the run game, can cover, run people down, and force turnovers. He is the latest linebacker to come out of Linebacker U, and is the best prospect coming out of Penn State at the position since LaVar Arrington.
27.Dallas Cowboys- Charles Brown OT USC- Jerry Jones has already made it clear that the Cowboys will address the tackle position early in the draft. Flozzell Adaams is up there in age, and a replacement will be needed soon. Brown is not a massive blocker like the Cowboys prefer, some might say he is undersized, but he is a really good in pass protection and maybe the most athletic lineman in the draft. He needs to add strength and may be best suited for a zone blocking scheme, which the Cowboys have dabbled with recently.
28.San Diego Chargers- Javid Best RB California- The Chargers need desperately to address the running back position early, and may be multiple times in the draft. Darren Sproles is likely to leave via free agency, and LaDanian Tomlinson was released, 2 years removed from being the top back in the NFL. Javid Best is a dynamic player. He is fast, can catch, and runs well inside for a smaller back. If he did not have injury concerns, he would be the top running back in the draft, possibly going in the top 15.
29.New York Jets- Jared Odrick DT Penn State- The Jets would like to add a play maker at WR, but they will probably resign Braylon Edwards and address receiver later. They will turn their attention to the defensive side of the ball early on, with corner, a pass rusher and DE a possibility. Odrick is a great fit for teams in need of a 3-4 end. He is strong, long, holds double teams and can get into the back field and make plays with a wide array of moves.He could be a steal at this spot, and will probably go higher.
30.Minnesota Vikings- Maurkice Pouncey C/G Florida- The Vikings had one of the top offenses in the NFL last season, and the only spot they may improve is center or right guard. Pouncey is capable of filling in either spot. He has the size and athleticism to be a great interior lineman at the next level. He is surprisingly strong and powerful for a spread offense center, and should impress teams with his smarts. If the Vikings go defense, look for them to add a CB or a DT if one of the top guys falls.
31.Indianapolis Colts- Bruce Campbell OT Maryland- After their Super Bowl loss, team president Bill Polian blamed the offensive line that gave up zero sacks and allowed the Colts to run for over 5 yards a carry. So I would expect them to take an offensive lineman in round 1. A left tackle is their biggest need up front, after former starter Tony Ugoh was benched. Bruce Campbell is projected to go way to high in most mock drafts. He has great size, and athletic ability, but his game tape is less then impressive, and is raw, and has injury questions.
32.New Orleans Saints- Navorro Bowman OLB Penn State- It seems like every season, most mock drafts project the Saints to improve the outside linebacker position, and with Scott Fujita it seems like they finally will this year. Bowman is a linebacker who can do everything. He stuffs his gap in the run game, can cover, run people down, and force turnovers. He is the latest linebacker to come out of Linebacker U, and is the best prospect coming out of Penn State at the position since LaVar Arrington.
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