Round One (Version 2)

1. St. Louis Rams (1-15): Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
Its official Marc Bulger is gone and Bradford seems the favorite over Clausen. Right now it doesn’t seem like the Rams are going to finish contract negotiations before the draft.

2. Detroit Lions (2-14): Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
The Lions had the first overall pick last year and Matthew Stafford. If the Lions want him to reach his true potential then the Lions need to improve their line and improve the protection of their prized QB, especially since he has shown some injury concerns last year.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-13): Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
Buccaneers fans and front office must be dancing because of this pick. Because of the previous two teams needs arguably the best player in the draft and best defensive lineman in along time falls to the Bucs. This fills a huge hole on the team and should invoke images of the good times when Warren Sapp commanded the interior on their Super Bowl champion team.

4. Washington Redskins (4-12): Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
What one day does to a team’s future. The addition of McNabb makes the Redskins instant playoff contenders and means they will NOT be drafting a QB now. This pick is very difficult for me to decide on, do the Redskins take the best player on the board or an offensive lineman? My money is going on the protection for McNabb. William’s goes here at this pick because he fits their zone-blocking scheme.

5. Kansas City Chiefs (4-12): Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa
Pioli doesn’t believe in taking Safeties early in the draft. Berry would be the best pick here but the Chiefs do need to improve their protection of Matt Cassel. They certainly have enough invested into him.

6. Seattle Seahawks (5-11): Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
How the draft works out has been very friendly to every team so far. McCoy fills a need for Seattle. He fits the 4-3 defense and will provide pass rush in the middle that their defense desperately needs. McCoy is a top-5 talent and getting him at #6 is a bargain. Funny thing is Eric Berry is still on the board but McCoy fits a bigger need.

7. Cleveland Browns (5-11): Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
Good news for the Browns is that they don’t have to trade up to get a franchise QB. Holmgren has to make this pick Clausen, Delhomme is a gap filler and Wallace isn’t an opening day starter

8. Oakland Raiders (5-11): Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland
I can’t see the Raiders taking Eric Berry even though a top-5 talent has fallen this far to them. Campbell fits a need and fills the role of the workout warrior Al Davis just loves. I am set in stone that if Campbell is there this will be their pick.


9. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
This pick was very difficult for me to make. The Bills need a franchise LT but the top 4 lineman are already and gone and the only two QB’s worth taking are gone, plus on top of that drafting Eric Berry would be stupid because they don’t need help at defensive back at all. This pick will come down to reaching for the next best LT (Anthony Davis), adding a playmaker in Dez Bryant or filling a big need in Dan Williams. The Bills are going to run a 3-4 defense this year and it all starts in the trenches.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-9): Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
I can’t believe that Eric Berry can fall this far. But because of the Redskins trade it is now possible. The Jags pass defense cannot defend anyone and that’s a big problem when you play Payton Manning two times a year. Berry is a blue-chip prospect and is believed to be the next in line of Brian Dawkins, Ed Reed and Sean Taylor type players.

11. Denver Broncos (from Chicago) (7-9): Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama
Right now Brandon Marshall is still with the Broncos, but I would suspect that a draft day deal goes down and he is shipped out of town like Randy Moss a few years ago. The Broncos defense improved a lot under Coordinator Mike Nolan. Inside linebacker is still a weakness on the team so it makes sense for the best ILB in the draft to be picked here. If Dez Bryant is still on the board then I wouldn’t be surprised if the Broncos take him.

12. Miami Dolphins (7-9): Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida
The Dolphins miss out on drafting Williams so time to look to improving their pass rushing situation. Joey Porter is gone and Jason Taylor is probably going to retire after this season. Pierre-Paul is a very athletic raw talent, high upside but high chance of being a bust.

13. San Francisco 49ers (8-8): Joe Haden, CB, Florida
At his pro day Haden rebounded with an impressive 40-time. But how the draft plays out it doesn’t matter since he will probably end up falling all the way to the 49ers. Corner is a need for the 49ers, Shawnte Spencer has proven he is a good starter but Nate Clements looks to be on the decline and Terrell Brown is average. Adding Haden give the 49ers a very respectable defense and should help put them in the top-10 defense next year.

14. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver) (8-8): C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
This pick probably couldn't have worked out any better then the Seahawks. After picking up a top-5 talent, the Seahawks can fill their void at running back and get a true play maker they haven't had since Shaun Alexander's MVP season. They could use some help on the offensive line but this class is fairly deep and can address it later.

15. New York Giants (8-8): Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
The Giants tried to improve their pass defense by overpaying for Antrel Rolle. Now the Giants defense that took down the mighty Patriots 3 Super Bowls ago now need help. Derrick Morgan is probably the safest and best DE in the draft.

16. Tennessee Titans (8-8): Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan
The Titans released former Pro Bowler Kyle Vanden Bosh opening a big void on their defense. The Titans have some pieces in their secondary but the result of no pass rush last year exposed the holes in their defense. Pass rushers improve the whole defense.