Ok, I am back with my pre-combine mock draft for your readin pleasure. I am not going to be shy making bold predictions (such as Jack Edwards number one overall in my ESPN Mock Draft)…without further ado, let’s mock:
#1 St. Louis Rams
There appears increasingly likely that the St.Louis Rams are going to go defense with the first pick in the draft. In my first mock draft, I had them taking Sam Bradford first, but unless they are completely wowed with the workouts and interviews during the combine and draft process of one of the Quarterbacks, the pick is going to come down to two players:
Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy
The read are the Rams are looking at all options at QB, including Mike Vick and Jason Campbell. Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo is familiar with Campbell from his coaching days in New York.
My opinion, the Rams are going to look at a temporary QB answer for the short term and hope that it works out long term (a la Drew Brees’ situation). The thinking makes some sense because if one of those guys doesn’t work out, it would only be short term, the Rams would still be pretty bad next year earning a top-5 pick in the 2011 draft. Most would consider the choice of Jake Locker and Ryan Mallet better options than this years offering’s at QB.
I still disagree with this thinking. Bradford reminds me of Brees in many ways. They both played in spread offenses, possess great accuracy, have not thrown under duress much in college and possess many of the intangibles that people look for in a quarterback. Plus, Bradford is taller than Brees.
Either way, I think that the Rams are going to continue to build the defense first and take one of the two tackles. As much as the Gerald McCoy train has started rolling, I think the versatility of Suh will be too much for Spags to pass up.
The Pick: Ndamukong Suh
Suh attacking Super Bowl winning QB (technically he is) Chase Daniel
#2 Detroit Lions
The thinking all along has been that the Lions were going to take the ‘other’ defensive tackle, be it Suh or McCoy, but that thinking has changed lately. The Detroit Free Press said that the Lions would look at all options and would not rule out offensive players.
I think there is some code in this and that is the Lions might go offensive lineman. The thinking on this is sound too. The Lions have invested a large part of their immediate future in QB Matthew Stafford. They saw Stafford get beat up all season. The hits took their toll as Stafford’s season was ended early due to injury.
The Lions have already had one QB bust out of the league in the last decade (Joey Harrington) and they cannot afford to see another follow suit. By taking an offensive lineman, the Lions are showing a commitment to developing, not only a QB, but an entire offense. It will be essential for the success of Stafford to build a line in front of him.
Also, with the uncapped year all but a foregone conclusion, there will be a derth of offensive lineman available in free agecy, making the draft even more important than usual this year.
The pick: Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
The Blind Side protector of Matthew Stafford
#3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This pick will be quick. The Buccaneers will waste no time taking Gerald McCoy. I think this pick will be very similiar to the Redskins drafting Brian Orakpo last year in one minute.
McCoy will make the defense better and help improve the linebacker play. It will also take some pressure off of the quickly developing QB Josh Freeman to carry the team.
The Pick: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
#4 Washington Redskins
The draft will really begin here. There was a report yesterday on ESPN.com that the Redskins, along with the Lions, Bucs and Rams are all looking to move down. The Redskins might have the easiest go of moving down due to the huge discrepancy in pay between #1-#4. The Redskins have the ability to trade out to a team that might be interested in Eric Berry or Sam Bradford.
If the Redskins stay in the pick, and with Eric Berry on the board I think that is less of a possibility, I still don’t think the Redskins are taking Bradford. I believe Jason Campbell that the Redskins are committed to him next year. I do think the Redskins are going to take a QB, just not at #4. The Redskins have a similiar situation to the Rams. Go with the incumbent, see how it turn out, if it doesn’t work out there will be more talented QB options next year this high and the uncertainty of the collective bargaining agreement will be gone.
The Redskins will take a tackle here. That is a pick that makes sense and it won’t be a reach. If they trade out, I expect the Redskins to look at offensive lineman and running back.
The Pick: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers
Davis was huge in high school, I wonder if his mom was Sandra Bullock
#5 Kansas City Chiefs
I think this pick could go in multiple directions. There is the obvious need to protect QB Matt Cassell. Taking the best offensive tackle (Maryland’s Bruce Campbell), The Chiefs can move Brandon Albert to the right tackle position, which might be a better fit for him.
They could also go defensive and take the explosive athlete, South Florida’s Jason Pierre-Paul, or the most polished defensive player, Eric Berry. Pierre-Paul would fit the mold of the player that the Patriots and Chiefs covet, highly athletic and versatile guys. But Berry might be too special and football smart to pass up.
The Pick: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
WHAM! MOVE GET OUT THE WAY!
#6 Seattle Seahawks
Pete Carroll is going to begin his team over in Seattle by drafting a QB. At this point all the stud players are off the board and we are getting into the second-tier of players. I think the choice will be between Bradford and Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen.
If I had to put money on it, I think Carroll takes Clausen over Bradford. Clausen will play in the pro-style system that Carroll is going to run. Clausen has the California attitude that Carroll will get along with. Carroll recruited Clausen to USC. Lastly, I just think, that when people see the workouts and the difference in football readiness between Bradford and Clausen, Clausen will come out on top.
QB in his leisure time
#7 Cleveland Browns
This is a tough spot for the Browns. It’s not that there isn’t a talented player here, but it’s that the talented player will probably have to be paid more than he is worth. That is why at this point you take the best player for the least amount of money.
I think it’s a two horse race. Bradford or Pierre-Paul. I think the prospect of getting a QB, that could potentially be a ‘franchise qb’ (as much as I hate that term) is too tempting, especially at this value. Tom Heckert once took a QB that was controversial at #2 and again in the second round, and I think he will do it here again.
The Pick: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
The future?
#8 Oakland
I really don’t know. But if they look at measurables, which they seem to lean on, then they will come away totally impressed with Maryland’s Bruce Campbell. My concern with Campbell is his inability to stay healthy, but has that stopped Oakland before?
The Pick: Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland
Not how you are supposed to judge a football player
#9 Buffalo
I think Buffalo might look at an offensive weapon here. I don’t think they are enamored with Marshawn Lynch anymore, and I think that CJ Spiller is going to ‘wow’ his way into the top-10. The only other player I see them taking a strong look at is Dez Bryant. Everyone has to remember that they hired an offensive guy in Chan Gailey to run the team, and they are going to look in that direction. (I think the QB is going to be a veteran from outside the organization)
The Pick: CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson
DYNAMIC!
#10 Jacksonville
I really think they are going to take Tim Tebow. I can’t explain why, I just have the gut instinct that this is where they are going. I think Tebow wows them in interviews. Combine that with the comments by Del Rio that Garrard is servicable, but not a franchise QB, and we have all the makings of this upset pick. Conventional wisdom would be to take Pierre-Paul, but it’s not like he doesn’t have question marks either.
The Pick: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
Under Center in Jax next year: Tim Tebow
I know that Pierre-Paul is not in my top-10, and that he is the vogue ‘riser’ right now, but I believe that people will come back to earth on him before the draft and he will settle in between picks 11-15. If Brian Orakpo, a similiar player in many respects, went 13th, then it’s not a stretch to put Pierre-Paul there either.