|
1
|
St. Louis Rams
|
Sam Bradford
|
Quarterback
|
Oklahoma
|
|
|
And so the Rams didn’t bite on trading for troubled Ben Roethlisberger and take the face of the franchise that we’ve all known they would since about mid-February and the combine.
|
|
2
|
Detroit Lions
|
Ndamukong Suh
|
Defensive tackle
|
Nebraska
|
|
|
For me, Suh was the best player in the draft and the Lions must have been laughing all the way to hand the name to Roger Goodell.
|
|
3
|
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
|
Gerald McCoy
|
Defensive tackle
|
Oklahoma
|
|
|
Ditto the Buccaneers. McCoy has been compared of late to Warren Sapp which is no mean thing. He just now has to live up to it.
|
|
4
|
Washington Redskins
|
Trent Williams
|
Offensive tackle
|
Oklahoma
|
|
|
The first ‘mini’ shock comes here. It seemed common knowledge the Skins were going with offensive tackle despite the smokescreen appearing earlier on Thursday that Eric Berry was their man. Most had Russell Okung pegged as the pick, but Williams is just as good and will slot in from day one on a poor offensive line. And with that we have three Oklahoma Sooners going in the first four picks – not to mention four Big XII players. Has that ever happened before?
|
|
5
|
Kansas City Chiefs
|
Eric Berry
|
Safety
|
Tennessee
|
|
|
A complete no-brainer here for the Chiefs. Berry projects just as well at safety as he does cornerback and should anchor the secondary for years to come.
|
|
6
|
Seattle Seahawks
|
Russell Okung
|
Offensive tackle
|
Oklahoma State
|
|
|
Pete Carroll knew that at #6 he was very likely to be able to pick the best that was out there and Okung right here was a steal. After his pick at #14 a running back could be next. Will he go back to USC to grab one?
|
|
7
|
Cleveland Browns
|
Joe Haden
|
Cornerback
|
Florida
|
|
|
A shock? Or perhaps just the usual draft hype and chatter ultimately proving irrelevant? Haden was maligned so much over recent months that you often heard people saying he wasn’t the best corner in the draft and had him dropping as far as the 20’s. Easily the best corner in the draft.
|
|
8
|
Oakland Raiders
|
Rolando McClain
|
Linebacker
|
Alabama
|
|
|
The Raiders in sensible pick shocker! McClain might lack the elite speed and ability to be regarded as an elite linebacker in the making, but he is smart, savvy and knows how to play football. A very shrewd pick by the old man in my book.
|
|
9
|
Buffalo Bills
|
C. J. Spiller
|
Running back
|
Clemson
|
|
|
The first real surprise. Did any mock draft ever have Spiller going to the North East? The Bills do have a multitude of gaps to fill but when you look at how Chan Gailey ran the offence in Kansas City, you know he’ll need a player like Spiller to spread the field and make it work. It should be very interesting to watch his role in the offence develop. Don’t be surprised to see a QB taken with their second rounder.
|
|
10
|
Jacksonville Jaguars
|
Tyson Alualu
|
Defensive tackle
|
California
|
|
|
The first “woah” moment comes here. Most draftniks didn’t have Aluala as a first round talent yet here he is rounding off the top ten. Funnily enough though, they couldn’t wait to lavish praise on him once he was selected. A grade A character by all accounts, has Del Rio pulled one of out of the bag?
|
|
11
|
San Francisco 49ers
(from Chicago via Denver)
|
Anthony Davis
|
Offensive tackle
|
Rutgers
|
|
|
Davis might have the biggest upside of all the offensive tackles in this draft, but has some question marks over his maturity and motivation. Because of this, the Bay might be the best place for him to go. He’s going have to perform now, knowing full well that the foot of Mike Singletary will never be far from being planted firmly in his ass unless he delivers.
|
|
12
|
San Diego Chargers
(from Miami)
|
Ryan Mathews
|
Running back
|
Fresno State
|
|
|
How much do the Chargers love Matthews? Look at how much they gave up getting him. I can’t say I disagree one bit with their assessment.
|
|
13
|
Philadelphia Eagles
(from San Francisco via Denver)
|
Brandon Graham
|
Defensive end
|
Michigan
|
|
|
Once we saw Philly trade into this slot I, like pretty much everyone else was saying Earl Thomas. But a bit of a curve ball from Andy Reid and co, as they take Graham and bolster their pass rush which was relatively poor last year. Another strong pick for the Eagles.
|
|
14
|
Seattle Seahawks
(from Denver)
|
Earl Thomas
|
Safety
|
Texas
|
|
|
And this all means that the ball-hawking play-maker Earl Thomas falls into the lap of Pete Carroll. Russell Okung and Earl Thomas; not a bad start for Pete.
|
|
15
|
New York Giants
|
Jason Pierre-Paul
|
Defensive end
|
South Florida
|
|
|
It’s become evident in the past week that Pierre-Paul was the preferred choice of the Giants who went from having one of the strongest defensive lines in the game to having one that seriously underperformed in 2009. This boy is a pure pass rushing phenom. And the NFC East is on notice. Course, this raises the spectre of an Osi Umeniyora trade at some point over the weekend.
|
|
16
|
Tennessee Titans
|
Derrick Morgan
|
Defensive end
|
Georgia Tech
|
|
|
I had Morgan rated as the top defensive end on the board so for the Titans to sit tight and have him drop to them halfway through the first round is a bit of a steal in my book. His attitude to the game will fit right in with Jeff Fisher’s ethos.
|
|
17
|
San Francisco 49ers
(from Carolina)
|
Mike Iupati
|
Guard
|
Idaho
|
|
|
Along with Davis, the Niners now have now instant upgrades for their offensive line. You can bet Frank Gore and Alex Smith are both smiling today.
|
|
18
|
Pittsburgh Steelers
|
Maurkice Pouncey
|
Center
|
Florida
|
|
|
The Steelers have known that they need to protect Ben Roethlisberger better for a few years now – of course, he needs to look after himself a bit too these days. And Pouncey offers immediate help either at centre or at guard. He’s tough, doesn’t miss games and always plays hard. A Steelers offensive lineman.
|
|
19
|
Atlanta Falcons
|
Sean Weatherspoon
|
Linebacker
|
Missouri
|
|
|
Another pick that I think most people saw coming. Mike Smith is a defensive coach and likes his defensive players and whilst the Falcons could have looked elsewhere, Weatherspoon is a leader and will slot right in the organisation
|
|
20
|
Houston Texans
|
Kareem Jackson
|
Cornerback
|
Alabama
|
|
|
A reach some people might say, given the corners left? Not me. Jackson comes from the Saban school of the secondary and knows how to play.
|
|
21
|
Cincinnati Bengals
|
Jermaine Gresham
|
Tight end
|
Oklahoma
|
|
|
One of the most predictable choices out there; the Bengals have needed a pass-catching tight end for some time and after bolstering their receiving corps, this was the gaping hole to be addressed. Gresham missed his entire senior season through injury but the ability is there for him to become a superstar.
|
|
22
|
Denver Broncos
(from New England)
|
Demaryius Thomas
|
Wide receiver
|
Georgia Tech
|
|
|
And the first wide receiver taken is … Demaryius Thomas? The Broncos needed to upgrade at receiver once they moved Brandon Marshall down to Miami and whilst it’s not the safest pick given Thomas’ recent injuries and role in a multi-option offence, he has the talent. Curiously though, he reminded Josh McDaniels of the guy he just traded away hence why he picked him. This begs the question…
|
|
23
|
Green Bay Packers
|
Bryan Bulaga
|
Offensive tackle
|
Iowa
|
|
|
A tough nasty offensive lineman that many had going as high as #5 at some points in the none-too-distant future is just what the Packers ordered. Their line is getting old and needs to protect one of the best QB’s in the NFL – Bulaga will help do that.
|
|
24
|
Dallas Cowboys
(from Philadelphia via Denver and New England)
|
Dez Bryant
|
Wide receiver
|
Oklahoma State
|
|
|
I’m going to say it – as a Cowboys fan – I love this pick. Dallas doesn’t need to be accumulating players this year after taking eleven last year. They need impact players who can come in and try help this team further in the post-season. And is there a bigger impact player in the draft than the best receiver in the early twenties? Forgot the character issues which are all hype. No arrests, no indiscretions, and a player with unlimited ability. All in all a very nice birthday present for Tony Romo.
|
|
25
|
Denver Broncos
(from Baltimore)
|
Tim Tebow
|
Quarterback
|
Florida
|
|
|
Wow. After moving on Cutler, Marshall and Scheffler as well as passing over Bryant to take Thomas, and now selecting Tebow is there any doubt that Josh McDaniels’ first criteria in finding players is character? McDaniels is either a genius or this is all a mad plan of a mad man!
|
|
26
|
Arizona Cardinals
|
Dan Williams
|
Defensive tackle
|
Tennessee
|
|
|
A very solid pick from the Cardinals looking for someone to anchor their defensive line. They could have looked at the multitude of 3-4 pass rushers still there like Jerry Hughes and Sergio Kindle but plumped for Williams.
|
|
27
|
New England Patriots
(from Dallas)
|
Devin McCourty
|
Cornerback
|
Rutgers
|
|
|
The Patriots have had a few go’s in recent years at plugging the gaps in the secondary through the draft, and they have had relatively limited returns on doing so. Last season they went with veterans and now they’ve got themselves a young corner with a ton of potential, as well as the ability to offer something to their return game.
|
|
28
|
Miami Dolphins
(from San Diego)
|
Jared Odrick
|
Defensive tackle
|
Penn State
|
|
|
A tough nasty football player for Bill Parcells. Defensive tackle has been a need since Jason Ferguson has hit the end of the line. Odrick offers a long-term replacement as well as the flexibility to slot in at defensive end.
|
|
29
|
New York Jets
|
Kyle Wilson
|
Cornerback
|
Boise State
|
|
|
Another corner for the Jets? Is Revis and Cromartie not enough for them? Probably a case of best player available for Rex Ryan here and one that might be regarded as a bit of a steal. Wilson is highly regarded in many quarters and will strengthen even further that nasty Jets defence led by its mad captain.
|
|
30
|
Detroit Lions
(from Minnesota)
|
Jahvid Best
|
Running back
|
California
|
|
|
Detroit trade back into the first round to grab themselves the next best playmaker after CJ Spiller. Best is electric, pure and simple. I have some concerns over his durability and proneness to suffering injuries. But worked into the right situation he will make a huge impact.
|
|
31
|
Indianapolis Colts
|
Jerry Hughes
|
Defensive end
|
TCU
|
|
|
We saw during the Superbowl that behind Freeney and Mathis, the Colts are lacking a little in their pass rush. Hughes has a motor that goes all day, is a leader and will fit right in with the Colts.
|
|
32
|
New Orleans Saints
|
Patrick Robinson
|
Cornerback
|
Florida State
|
|
|
The reigning Champions close out the first round and select a corner to help continue to improve their secondary. Whilst there was no doubt it was much better in 2009, it still has some way to go. Robinson will help in ensuring this.
|
NCAA Scouting
