It's that time of year again. The time where I get up early on a Saturday morning and, to quote Steve Linzmeier, drink 40's like they run 40's. Oh wait, Roger Goodell put moving the NFL Draft just below "Punish Big Ben" and above "Negotiate New Collective Bargaining Agreement" and this year it will be on Thursday.
For those of you who haven't heard, the draft will now start on Thursday night at 6:00 CST. On Thursday, the masses will be treated to the first round. The next night, the NFL will have the 2nd round of its draft and on Saturday will be your senseless 3rd to 7th round draft picks. The NHL has used this formula in the past and if I'm the NFL, I want to be just like the NHL. (They locked out too you know?)
Before I get into my mock draft, I'd also like to remind you that on Tuesday, the NFL will FINALLY unveil it's 2010 schedule. Every stinkin' game. It is highly likely, that the New Orleans Saints will open the season on Thursday night at home. Their opponent would likely be...the Minnesota Vikings. If it winds up happening, I have some words for that matchup, however, let's take a look at the draft!
1. St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
The Rams have passed up two franchise QBs in the past couple years, they won't pass up a third.
2. Detroit Lions: Ndmukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
The Lions get the best defensive prospect in a long time to fall into their lap at 2. That's good news for the NFC North!
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
They could go for Eric Berry here, but McCoy reminds the Bucs brass a lot about a former DT named Warren Sapp.
4. Washington Redskins: Russel Okung, OT, Oklahoma St.
The Redskins got their QB, now they need to protect him.
5. Kansas City Chiefs: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
There's a trend in the top 10 as most of these teams couldn't keep their QBs upright. The Chiefs are no exception.
6. Seattle Seahawks: Brian Bulaga, OT, Iowa
Seems like a reach, but the Seahawks have two first round picks and are in the same boat as the Chiefs.
7. Cleveland Browns: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
Jimmy Claussen and C.J. Spiller would make sense too, but Eric Mangini is a defensive coach, so he takes the defensive player. Also know that the Browns have talked to the Rams about trading for the #1 pick.
8. Oakland Raiders: Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland
The Raiders are going to take a tackle here, and Bruce Campbell put on a show at the combine. After taking Darius Heyward-Bey last year when there were better WR on the board, I'm not overlooking Al Davis this year.
9. Buffalo Bills: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers
Another offensive tackle in the first round. Bills could try and go with Claussen, but what's the point if you can't keep him off his ass?
10. Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
I've heard the Jags want to trade down from this spot, but if they keep it, they'll take a pass rusher.
11. Denver Broncos (f/CHI): Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama
McClain could be the quarterback of Josh McDaniels' 3-4 defense.
12. Miami Dolphins: Brandon Graham, OLB, Michigan
A lot of people say this is a Belichek type player, but the Dolphins are molded like a Belichek team. This makes sense.
13. San Francisco 49ers: Joe Haden, CB, Florida
A lot of experts think Haden's stock is slipping after running two slow 40's at the combine, but I think he would be a great fit in a cover 2 defense. Think Antoine Winfield.
14. Seattle Seahawks (f/DEN): C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
The worst kept secret in the draft. The Seahawks are one of the few teams with a clear cut need at running back and spiller would give them an explosive playmaker.
15. New York Giants: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida
They're going to have their eyes set on McClain, so if he's not there, the Giants might trade down.
16. Tennessee Titans: Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
The Titans missed a bruising force in the trenches last season. They get their replacement for Albert Haynesworth here.
17. San Francisco 49ers (f/CAR): Jimmy Claussen, QB, Notre Dame
It might not be San Francisco that drafts him, but somebody will. The Niners will trade down from this spot, but if they want to get insurance in case Alex Smith falls on his face...let's just say that the last time the Niners took a Notre Dame QB, it went OK.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma St.
Mike Ipuati might be the better pick here, but Pittsburgh is gonna need some flash on offense. They may be without Ben Roethlisberger for a couple of games, but at the same time they just traded Santonio Holmes. With the loss of Willie Parker, the Steelers need some sizzle.
19. Atlanta Falcons: Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida
I don't know why teams continue to love Florida DE as most of them have flopped recently, but Atlanta needs help there and Dunlap is the best available on the board.
20. Houston Texans: Earl Thomas, CB/S, Texas
The Texans will want him to play his primary position, corner, to replace Dunta Robinson, who took the cash in Atlanta.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
Another Sooner in the first round. Gresham tore his ACL last season, but the Bengals need to find a pass catching tight end to make things easier for Chad Ochocinco and company.
22. New England Patriots: Sean Weatherspoon, OLB, Missouri
Sergio Kindle could also get taken here too, but I think that Weatherspoon is more fit to play OLB in a 3-4 scheme.
23. Green Bay Packers: Mike Ipuati, G, Idaho
Another Packer great, Jerry Kramer, played his college ball at Idaho too. With a division filled with the Williams Wall, Ndmukong Suh, and Tommie Harris, the Packers might want to try and upgrade that interior line.
24. Philadelphia Eagles: Everson Griffen, DE, USC
The Eagles usually trade down, so we'll see if somebody falls, or wants to reach for someone. Otherwise, the Eagles will be looking for help at defensive end.
25. Baltimore Ravens: Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers
This is the guy I'd like to see the Vikings get, but I don't think it's going to happen. McCourty would be a perfect fit for someone in a cover 2 scheme and while the Ravens play an attacking scheme, McCourty can also hold his own in one-on-one coverage.
26. Arizona Cardinals: Sergio Kindle, OLB, Texas
Karlos Dansby bolted for Miami, so the Cardinals will need to look to replace his production.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Taylor Mays, S, USC
I've heard that the Cowboys don't want to take him, but they want to trade down if McCourty is already taken. If someone wants to take a risk on Mays, they might throw some picks at the Cowboys who will also look to upgrade at offensive tackle.
28. San Diego Chargers: Ryan Matthews, RB, Fresno State
They need a replacement for LT, and it's not going to be Darren Sproles. Matthews is a workhorse back who can take the carries that LT took for many years in San Diego.
29. New York Jets: Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State
At this point, I'm guessing, but Kris Jenkins is old and coming off a torn ACL injury, so some depth there would be nice. They also want an OLB, but there isn't much to write home about at this point. This could be a prime spot to trade up to if a team were interested in...oh...a certain quarterback from Florida?
30. Minnesota Vikings: Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State
Now, this is the smart pick. Cedric Griffin tore his ACL in the NFC Championship game and while Childress loves Tim Tebow, it may be too early to take him. The other wrench in that thought process is that Rick Spielman doesn't want to take him. They also could try and upgrade that interior line and take Maurkice Pouncey (C/G Florida) and throw him at right guard to replace Anthony Herrera. OR the Vikings could take a DT like Bryan Price or Terrance Cody to ease the Vikings into Pat Williams eventual retirement. Whichever way the Vikings go, I'm sure I'll be surprised or dissapointed.
31. Indianapolis Colts: Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama
The Colts would like to replenish their depth in the secondary as they traded away Marlin Jackson, however Jerry Hughes (OLB, TCU) could also be taken at this spot.
32. New Orleans Saints: Bryan Price, DT, UCLA
Todd McShay likes him, and the Saints defense is in shambles after a majority of their players saw their contracts run out after the Super Bowl. They'll look to add a playmaker in the trenches.
So there you have it. I'm hoping that this will be a busy week on the blog so I hope you won't miss it. Once the schedule gets released, I'll break down the Vikings and Packers schedules, among with many other things. Then on Thursday Night, we'll have the 4th annual Drunken Draft Chronicles with an edited, more thought-out version on Friday morning (I hope...)
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