NFL.com By Pat Kirwan 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 ΒΌ 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.
Is it just me or does that "high character guy" sound like saying a blind date has a "good personality" hmy: If I'm taking someone if the 1st RD, I hope that's not the best thing you can say about him
That was the first thought I had when looking at this. It doesn't look like Kirwan put any real thought into this pick. After hearing about Davis' immaturity problems, this pick makes more sense than anyone else. That's a reach.
I am not a Jared Odrick fan at all. I really hate PSU players though, so maybe I'm just biased? I totally agree with Tate being the first WR taken in this draft, even before the combine. Not saying that Dez Bryant wont be any good, I just think Tate will translate that much more in the NFL. Especially at first. I can't see the 49ers completey messing up with Mays, the Clemente experiment should still be leaving a bitter taste in their mouth. Just can't see this pick making much sense. Brandon Graham going to the Patsies just makes to much sense. I will be sick to my stomach if they land him, which they are in position of doing. He is by far my favorite player in this draft, just my luck that this may happen. :/
I am a big Odrick fan. Thomas is alright at OLB, but we need a DE. Ellis is good, Jenkins/Pouhu is good, and Douglas is meh. The Colts burnt use, because we couldn't touch Manning without rushing 5+
I like Odrick, but I much rather have Cody if if the board falls that way. No one could run on us with Jenkins and Cody up front.
So he's got Dunlap completely out of the 1st? I heard all about those that said his combine wasn't great, and those that said it was solid, but to be out of the 1st? Those odds have to be low.
I would agree. He has too much talent to fall that far unless the reports that he bombed his interviews are true. Some headstrong choch has to belive he can get the most out of him in the late first. I see him gone in the 22-25 range at latest.
It's like Kirwan decided that Odrick had to go in round 1 and just picked us because our pick could go a million ways. thus his comment that odrick is high character, and thats the best he can for us.
I like Kirwan but would puke if this is how it shook out. Odrick reminds me of Carriker on the Rams. OK, but nothing special(and I liked Carriker coming out of college).
