There is very little rest for National Football League general managers, coaches and scouts ahead of Thursday’s 75th edition of the NFL draft. Draft strategy can change hour-to-hour, so here is an updated version of the first 32 selections.
Every team is hoping to pull off the mythical Steelers draft from 1974. That was the year the Steelers took four Hall of Famers Jack Lambert, Lynn Swann, Mike Webster and John Stallworth, thus laying the foundation for four Super Bowl titles the rest of the decade.
With all that being said, here is how I think the first round of the draft will go down Thursday night, version 2.0.
The best part of the NFL draft is the massive speculation. Every front office in the NFL holds its own mock draft every day to prepare for every possibility. With that in mind, here is a new take on the first round of the draft and how I think it might go down.
Once again, other than the first three picks, all bets are off this year. Check back Thursday for an update on the draft and any potential moves to be made.
1. St. Louis Rams — Sam Bradford (QB – University of Oklahoma)
The Rams are desperate to turn its franchise around, and will gamble that Bradford is the right man to make this team a winner once again.
2. Detroit Lions — Ndamukong Suh (DT – Nebraska)
The Lions can not pass up what is arguably the best athlete in the draft. Nebraska’s Suh is capable of starting right now in the NFL and instantly becomes an effective interior defensive lineman.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Gerald McCoy (DT – University of Oklahoma)
With Suh gone, the Bucs will take McCoy. If Suh is the No. 1 interior defensive lineman in the draft, than McCoy is No. 1A.
4. Washington Redskins — Russell Okung (OT – Oklahoma State)
With the acquisition of Donovan McNabb, logic would dictate that the Redskins will take an offensive tackle to replace the recently retired Chris Samuels. To protect McNabb, the ‘Skins will draft Oklahoma State offensive tackle Russell Okung.
5. Kansas City Chiefs — Eric Berry (S – Tennessee)
The Chiefs covet a big, stud offensive tackle. After being sacked 42 times last year, so does Matt Cassell. However, Berry is a perfect fit for Scott Pioli and his new defensive co-ordinator Romeo Crennell.
6. Seattle Seahawks — Trent Williams (OT – University of Oklahoma)
Pete Carroll is the wild card in the draft because the Seahawks have two picks in the first round. With Walter Jones on the verge of retirement, Carroll will do the smart thing at this pick and take Williams.
7. Cleveland Browns — Joe Haden (CB – Florida)
Mike Holmgren knows what the Browns need in its secondary. With Eric Berry off the board, the Browns will decide to take the best corner in the draft and select Florida’s Haden.
8. Oakland Raiders — Bruce Campbell (OT – Maryland)
Only Al Davis truly knows what Al Davis is going to do. Davis doesn’t always think that way (remember Darrius Heyward-Bey?) After watching 315-pound offensive tackle Campbell from Maryland run a stunning 4.85 in the 40 at the combine, Davis has already made up his mind.
9. Buffalo Bills — Brian Bulaga (OT – Iowa)
General manager Buddy Nix made it clear last week that the player the Bills select in the first round needs to start right away. So that means the Bills will take Bulaga from Iowa, and then consider QB Colt McCoy in the second round.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars — Derrick Morgan (DE – Georgia Tech)
Jack Del Rio was able to save his job, now he will be attempting to save his defence. After finishing dead last in the NFL in 2009 with 14 sacks, Del Rio and the Jags will take Morgan.
11. Denver Broncos — Dez Bryant (WR – Oklahoma State)
With Brandon Marshall gone, Josh McDaniels and the Broncos go after a receiver and select possibly the most intriguing talent on the board in Bryant.
12. Miami Dolphins — Dan Williams (DT – Tennessee)
Tony Sparano likes them big and tough so it makes perfect sense if the Dolphins select Williams. Besides, Jason Ferguson will miss the first eight games of the season as a result of a suspension.
13. San Francisco 49ers — Kareem Jackson (CB – Alabama)
Like Seattle, the 49ers have two picks in the first round. Since coach Mike Singletary is all about the defence, the 49ers take the Alabama cornerback.
14. Seattle Seahawks — CJ Spiller (RB – Clemson)
Jimmy Clausen is still on the board and Pete Carroll tried to recruit him at USC. But they did give up a lot to get Charlie Whitehurst so they end up taking the fastest running back in the draft and Spiller.
15. New York Giants — Rolando McClain (LB – Alabama)
Linebacker is a priority with the New York Giants and GM Jerry Reese makes the right call by going with McClain.
16. Tennessee Titans — Jason Pierre-Paul (DE – University of South Florida)
If they pull off the rumoured deal to bring Albert Haynesworth back to Nashville, then the Titans could replace the departed Kyle Vanden Bosch by taking the University of South Florida’s Pierre-Paul.
17. San Francisco 49ers — Anthony Davis (OT – Rutgers)
The 49ers debate long and hard about Jimmy Clausen, but in the end decide to go with Rutgers offensive tackle Davis.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers — Mike Iupati (G – Idaho)
The Steelers decide that receiver Golden Tate from Notre Dame will still be available in the second round and go after Idaho’s guard Mike Iupati.
19. Atlanta Falcons — Maurkice Pouncey (C – Florida)
General manager Thomas Dimitroff has proven himself to be a very shrewd executive on draft day. Dimitroff and the Falcons will be thrilled to see Florida centre Maurice Pouncey still on the board at No. 19.
20. Houston Texans — Devin McCourty (CB, Rutgers)
The Texans need to find secondary depth after Dunta Robinson left town, with Kareem Jackson and Joe Haden off the board, McCourty’s stock goes up.
21. Cincinnati Bengals — Jermaine Gresham (TE – University of Oklahoma)
To give Carson Palmer another weapon to work with, the Bengals take Oklahoma a tight end in Gresham.
22. New England Patriots — Sergio Kindle (DE/LB – Texas)
There’s little debate that the Patriots will go defence in the first round, and Texas defensive end/linebacker Kindle would help replace the loss of Richard Seymour.
23. Green Bay Packers — Kyle Wilson (CB – Boise State)
The Packers though long and hard about that playoff loss to the Cardinals and decide to take Wilson from Boise State.
24. Philadelphia Eagles — Earl Thomas (S – University of Texas)
The secondary is a position of need for the Eagles in the first round with the Eagles, so they grab Thomas from Texas. Of course the Eagles could also trade up and grab a bigger name.
25. Baltimore Ravens — Jared Odrick (DT – Penn State)
With the offseason acquisitions of receivers Anquan Boldon and Donte Stallworth, the Ravens can concentrate on defence. A great fit for the Ravens is Penn State’s Odrick.
26. Arizona Cardinals — Jimmy Clausen (QB – Notre Dame)
The Cardinals have a huge debate on its hands: After deciding they can get a solid linebacker in the second round the Cardinals decide to draft some insurance for Matt Leinart and take the Fighting Irish pivot.
27. Dallas Cowboys — Taylor Mays (S – University of Southern California)
It has been way too quiet in Dallas. I find it hard to believe that the Cowboys won’t try to trade up and grab a more high profile player. Barring that, the Boys will take the hulking Mays.
28. San Diego Chargers — Ryan Matthews (RB – Fresno State)
With Chargers legend playing for the Jets now, the Chargers need a running back to complement Darren Sproles. The Chargers won’t have to look far as they take Fresno State back Matthews.
29. New York Jets — Everson Griffen (DE – University of Southern California)
Easily the busiest team in the offseason, the Jets will enjoy a relatively calm draft experience as they take defensive end Griffen.
30. Minnesota Vikings — Brian Price (DT – UCLA)
Cal’s Jahvid Best will still be there in the second round and Pat and Kevin Williams are both getting old. So the Vikes take massive UCLA defensive tackle Brian Price.
31. Indianapolis Colts — Terrence Cody (DT – Alabama)
The Colts could use more size and toughness along its front seven, and Alabama’s 350-pound tackle would be a good start.
32. New Orleans Saints — Sean Weatherspoon (LB – Missouri)
With the loss of Scott Fujita to the Browns via free agency, linebacker has to be a priority for Mickey Loomis and Sean Payton. The Saints won’t be disappointed when they take Weatherspoon from Missouri.
Once again, expect a lot of trades during the first round Thursday and again Friday during the second round. It will be interesting to see what teams make deals in the second round to go after Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy.
The Redskins still need to trade quarterback Jason Campbell and, despite what Mike Shanahan says, defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth could be on the move as well. Because the draft doesn’t resume until Friday night this year, don’t be surprised to see a flurry of deals in the second round.
