Completely caving in to public pressure, I’ve cobbled together my first-ever February mock draft. I figured I better hurry and submit this now. After all, the 2010 NFL draft is only 10 weeks from now.
Just call this: Dumb Guy Mock Draft 1.0.
If nothing else, if will give all of you amateur draftniks an opportunity to make calm and rational critiques of my guesses. You can even despite my Mock Coin Flips, if you wish.
So here it is . . .
1. Rams – Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska: A team with so many needs takes the top player, regardless of position, in the draft.
2. Lions – Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma: At least they don’t have to worry about taking a QB, after selecting one with the top pick a year ago.
3. Bucs – Eric Berry, S, Tennessee: It’s awfully high to take a safety, but Berry has a chance to be a rare game-changer from that position.
4. Redskins – Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame: Mike Shanahan takes no chances and grabs his quarterback now.
5. Chiefs – Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State: With Brandon Albert on one side, KC now has bookend tackles for a long time.
6. Seahawks – Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma: He’ll receive a thorough examination at the combine. If his rehabilitation is on schedule, Pete Carroll plucks his QB of the future.
7. Browns – Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State: When Bryant reports after a 70-day contract stalemate (Eugene Parker is his agent), he’ll provide a spark.
8. Raiders – Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland: His stock will soar after the combine, and Al Davis will get smitten.
9. Bills – Joe Haden, CB, Florida: Best player at a position of need.
#10. Jaguars – Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech: In my mock coin flip, Jacksonville wins the right to choose ahead of the Broncos.
#11. Broncos – Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee: Should give Denver a little more beef to fit into their 3-4 defense.
12. Dolphins – Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida: He has great athleticism, and will be earmarked to step into Jason Taylor’s spot.
13. 49ers – Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama: His smarts and passion fits the 49ers mold. He and Patrick Willis will be team’s top-two tacklers for a long time.
14. Seahawks – C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson: With his ability to run between the tackles, he has a much better chance of making it than Reggie Bush.
15. Giants – Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers: Can’t pass up an opportunity to find protection for quarterback investment.
#16. Titans – Brandon Graham, DE/OLB, Michigan: He capitalizes on momentum from strong showing at Senior Bowl practices and game.
#17. 49ers – Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa: It’s projected that 49ers lose the coin toss, but they still get their starting right tackle.
18. Steelers – Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma: And this completes the first-round run on offensive tackles.
#19. Texans – Taylor Mays, S, USC: He will test well, so on potential alone he is too tempting to pass up.
#20. Falcons – Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida: Hoping for a lot more production than what Jamaal Anderson has given them.
21. Bengals – Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho: Cedric Benson’s new best friend.
22. Patriots – Sergio Kindle, DE/OLB, Texas: New England‘s new defensive coordinator, some guy named Belichick, gets a new toy.
23. Packers – Ricky Sapp, DE/OLB, Clemson: Another 3-4 team finds a good fit for their scheme.
24. Eagles – Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida: They get their mean, green tackling machine.
25. Ravens – Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois: Get used to hearing Flacco-to-Benn calls.
26. Cardinals – Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma: Assuming Matt Leinart is the starting QB, he’ll find his security blanket underneath.
27. Cowboys – Chad Jones, S, LSU: Big, physical safety has great instincts; all he needs is to prove he can keep his weight down.
28. Chargers – Brian Price, DT, UCLA: After injuries decimated this unit, San Diego decides to beef up.
29. Jets – Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame: TSome young help arrives for the league’s No. 31-ranked passing game.
30. Vikings – Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State: With the Mike Martz invasion into the NFC North, you need all the corners you can find.
31. Colts – Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri: The middle of the Indy defense gets an injection of attitude.
32. Saints – Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State: I mean, come on, who else?
#-Pending coin toss.
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Note: Just in case you think I might have forgotten some folks – which is entirely possible – I’ll let you know that among the players who did not make this list were S Earl Thomas (I’ve heard there’s a chance his size might keep him out of the first round), RBs Ryan Matthews and Jonathan Dwyer (I don’t really have a good reason for them), WR Brandon LaFell (him, either) or CB Devin McCourty (or him).
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