January 19, 2009 - Mock Draft II

The players haven't run the overrated 40 yard dash. Heck, the BS (er, BCS) Championship Game hasn't been played and a slew of juniors haven't officially declared yet, but rather than rant and comment on other terrible mock drafts (see Todd McShay, aka Toad McShortdick), I'm going to throw a few darts and offer up my own mock.

1. St. Louis - Ndamukong Suh (DT, Nebraska) - Consensus #1 who will benefit from the likes of Chris Long and fellow former Cornhusker Adam Carriker. I don't mind that it's going to help Laurinaitus improve as well.
   
2. Detroit - Eric Berry (S, Tennessee) - What is the fascination with Gerald McCoy? I don't get it. Berry will perform well at the combine and go #2 overall. Game changers like Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu and Bob Sanders are few and far between. Berry fits the bill.
   
3. Tampa Bay - Dez Bryant (WR, Okie State) - It's not inconceivable that the Bucs will trade up to get Berry, but assuming Berry is off the board, Bryant fills a needs to run opposite (or in place of) the oft-injured Antonio Bryant. You want Freeman to continue to improve, right?
   
4. Washington - Russell Okung (OT, Okie State) - The offensive line is old and offensive. Your QB can succeed if he's not always on his back. He replaces the recently retired, Leonard Davis.
   
5. Kansas City - Gerald McCoy (DT, Oklahoma) - I was torn between a DT and a CB, but when it came down to it, McCoy was the answer considering the 3-4 scheme and follows suit with the other two DLs that KC has drafted over the past two seasons.
   
6. Seattle - Jimmy Clausen (QB, Notre Dame) - Goodbye Hasselbeck.
7. Cleveland - Rolando McClain (LB, Alabama) - A big name LB to add to a mostly no-name LB group. Trusnik? Really?
   
8. Oakland - CJ Spiller (RB, Clemson) - The logic here: Al Davis drafts the fastest player in the draft. Any other player would make too much sense.
   
9. Buffalo - Anthony Davis (OT, Rutgers) - The Bills need help up front. The talking-heads that say the Bills need a CB should note that the Bills had a strong pass-defense this year with their current roster. Not to mention, they'll get McKelvin and McGee back from IR.
   
10. Jacksonville -Joe Haden (CB, Florida) - When you play Indy and Houston twice a year, you need more than one shut-down corner.
    
11. Denver - Brian Price (DT, UCLA) - help for a defense that got run the fugg over by the KC Chiefs. How embarrassing.
    
12. Miami - Derrick Morgan (DE, Georgia Tech) - Not sure which DE they pick, but I'm confident they'll be looking to replace Jason Taylor.
    
13. San Francisco - Taylor Mays (S, USC) - I'm not 100% sure how this fits, but to me, it just works.
14. Seattle - Brandon Spikes (LB, Florida) - It's only fair that the defense gets a new QB as well.
    
15. NYGiants - Dan Williams (DT, Tennesse) - Could I see the G-men selecting a LB instead? Absolutely.
    
16. Tennessee - Brandon Graham (DE, Michigan) - A player who will help generate a pass-rush in a division where it's a necessity.
    
17. San Francisco - Terrance Cody (DT, Alabama) - A massive DT who will benefit from Singletary's tutlage.
    
18. Pittsburgh - Patrick Robinson (DB, Florida State) - Based on feedback from Steelers fans, this pick should be a DB...
    
19. Atlanta - Ricky Sapp (LB, Clemson) - I can't name ONE Atlanta LB... Can you?
    
20. Houston - Golden Tate (WR, Notre Dame) - This is a shot in the dark, but it would immediately make Houston one of the most feared offenses in the AFC.
    
21. Cincinnati - Mardy Gilyard (WR, Cincinnati) - The Bengals keep this flash in a pan in Ocho Cinco's neighborhood. The Bengals will not, I repeat, not draft a TE in the first round.
    
22. New England - Navarro Bowman (LB, Penn State) - The Pats pick a LB... but which one? Maybe Sergio Kindle? Sean Witherspoon?
23. Green Bay - Jon Asamoah (OG, Illinois) - A boring but solid choice due to needs.
    
24. Philadelphia - Carlos Dunlap (DE, Florida) - Could also line up at DT and is a steal at 24.
25. Baltimore - Arrelious Benn (WR, Illinois) - WR has been a need for years... 2010 is no different. If he's here, the Ravens will take him.
    
26. Arizona - Jerry Hughes (DE, TCU) - Some other publication said he's a good fit for 3-4... which is what they run in AZ.
27. San Diego - Sergio Kindle (LB, Texas) - personally, I think Merriman will be escorted from SD in the near future.
28. Dallas -Bruce Campbell (OT, Maryland) - stole this from another publication. Cowboys seem to be pretty decent at all other positions.
    
29. NYJets - Jason Pierre-Paul (DE, South Florida) - Another toy for Rex Ryan to play with on defense.
    
30. Minnesota - Earl Thomas (CB, Texas) - Antoine is getting a little old...
31. New Orleans - Kyle Wilson (CB, Boise State) - whoever thinks NO needs another WR is smoking crack. Or doing qualudes.
    
32. Indianapolis - Daryl Washington (LB, TCU) - regardless of position, this will be a defensive pick...

**Editor's Note: This could be the first year since 2005 that a Buckeye isn't drafted in the First Round...