BBSA Mock Draft 2.0
Without further ado…here’s part I. Part II will makes its way here at some point soon.
1) St. Louis Rams – Sam Bradford, QB Oklahoma
The Sooner passer should be a lock here, as Rams’ GM Billy Devaney would love to add a franchise QB after St. Louis passed on Matt Ryan in 2008. There’s no question Bradford would start immediately with last year’s #2 overall pick Jason Smith protecting his hind side (let’s get that phrase to catch-on, people).
– Tsuj’s take: Over/under on games it takes for Bradford’s right shoulder to fall off?
2) Detroit Lions – Ndamukong Suh, DT Nebraska
I had McCoy here in the first mock, but Suh is too much of a force against the run and as a pass-rusher to overlook. Any advantage McCoy had initially was neutralized by his suspect 23 bench press reps at the combine. Don’t think that the off-season addition of former free-agent bust Corey Williams to the defensive line automatically takes Detroit out of the running for an elite DT.
– TT: Somewhere Matt Millen is pleading for the Lions to take a wide receiver..
3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Gerald McCoy, DT Oklahoma
The Bucs can’t complain, though; McCoy would be a sure-fire #1 overall pick in many drafts in the past decade. Although he doesn’t upgrade their putrid run defense (32nd last season) to the extent that Suh would have, McCoy shows rare quickness for an interior lineman and forces the opposing quarterback to account for him on every play.
– TT: The Bucs will still finish in the bottom three against the run.
4) Washington Redskins – Trent Williams, OT Oklahoma
That makes three Sooners in the top five picks; Bob Stoops is doing something right in Norman. Russell Okung was long thought to be the top tackle on the board, but Williams’ superior speed suggests a better fit with the ‘Skins new zone blocking scheme, and there’s not that big of a talent-gap between Okung and Williams. Donovan McNabb would be happy with either of the big o-linemen.
– TT: Buddy Nix slams the table with his fist in the Bills’ war-room.
5) Kansas City Chiefs – Russell Okung, OT Oklahoma State
The Chiefs get a great value at #5, but this pick may not be as cut-and-dry as you’d think. Eric Berry, the Tennessee safety, may sneak in here, but teams are reluctant to draft a player in the secondary this high. After all, a cornerback or safety hasn’t been selected in the top ten since 2006 or the top five since 2004 (R.I.P Sean Taylor). To put it succinctly, a franchise left tackle carries infinitely more value than a franchise safety; Okung is the pick. Don’t buy in to the ‘Weis – Clausen reunited’ chatter.
– TT: Buddy Nix slams both fists on the table.
6) Seattle Seahawks – Bryan Bulaga, OT Iowa
Let’s face it – Walter Jones’ stellar career is all but over. Also, Seattle GM John Schneider’s head-scratching investment in Charlie Whitehurst as the team’s quarterback of the future becomes even uglier if he has no competent offensive lineman to pass-protect. Eric Berry is by-passed again here, and I’ll assume that Schneider will address his secondary holes with later picks (the ‘Hawks only have one safety currently on the roster). The addition of second team All-American Bulaga would ease Seattle’s concerns over Walter Jones’ potential retirement.
– TT: Buddy Nix is rushed to the hospital after slamming his head against the table.
7) Cleveland Browns – Dez Bryant, WR Oklahoma State
Five of the first seven picks from the state of Oklahoma? I guess we know the college football hot-bed. Endless media attention has been paid to Bryant’s character concerns, but in the end he’s an elite talent, and it seems like all but a select few of the NFL’s elite wide receivers are divas anyways. A Bryant-Winslow duo would immediately give Delhomme better receiving weapons than he had during his entire time in Carolina.
– TT: Over/under on character-related suspensions for Bryant in his rookie year?
8) Oakland Raiders – Jimmy Clausen, QB Notre Dame
It’s time to end the eagerly-anticipated Bruce Gradkowski vs. JaMarcus Russell camp battle early; Clausen’s prepared enough to start off the bat, and his swagger will mesh nicely in Oakland. With the three elite offensive linemen off the board already, there are few alternatives to Clausen, as Huff and Branch at safety will likely rule out taking Eric Berry. Rutgers’ left tackle Anthony Davis could be a dark horse selection here.
– TT: Al Davis makes his first ever savvy pick as Tom Modrak starts to sweat profusely.
9) Buffalo Bills – Dan Williams, DT Tennessee
GM Buddy Nix crushes his first selection, as Williams is a tremendous fit in Buffalo’s new 3-4 defense. The former Volunteer is 20 pounds heavier than Kyle Williams – the current favorite to start at nose tackle – and is more acquainted with occupying multiple blockers. Williams’ stock has exploded of late, as teams’ recognize the value of a legitimate 3-4 nose tackle. He’s not an exceptional pass-rusher, but fortunately the Bills won’t need him to be. If Buffalo’s war room is higher on Anthony Davis, the biggest risk/reward of the OTs, he may be the choice.
– TT: McShay describes Davis as a player who needs a kick-in-the-butt and must have his weight monitored. Does that sound familiar, Bills fans?
10) Jacksonville Jaguars – Eric Berry, S Tennessee
Two Vols jump off the board on consecutive picks, as the Jaguars are stunned that Berry remains available. Reggie Nelson was indeed a bust as the 21st overall pick in 2007; I doubt he could cover a lineman in pass coverage. GM Gene Smith receives a top-five value at #10, and he couldn’t be more pleased.
– TT: What, no Tim Tebow here?
11) Denver Broncos – Earl Thomas, S Texas
Mel Kiper Jr.’s suggests that Earl Thomas is the “best pure, instinctive football player in the draft.” I’m more of a McShay fan myself, but I liked what I saw from Thomas in both the Big 12 Championship and the national title game (granted, I don’t evaluate college football talent for a living). Brian Dawkins and Ty Law are, in fact, not getting any younger, and Thomas would inject some youth in a defense that looked awfully old down the stretch last year. Joe Haden is another option here.
– TT: Who cares? I’m more excited about the Kyle Orton vs. Brady Quinn mid-season QB controversy!
12) Miami Dolphins – Derrick Morgan, DE Georgia Tech
D-Morgan should never drop this far in the first place, but Miami’s blossoming defense (added Karlos Dansby) gets even fiercer after this pick. As McShay notes in his most recent mock, a 3-4 defense would better suit Morgan’s skill-set, but the Yellow Jacket’s blend of pass-rushing skills and run-stuffing ability provides another worry for Brady or Sanchez.
– TT: Demetrius Bell just cursed in his sleep.
13) San Francisco – C.J. Spiller, RB Clemson
Talk about a perfect complement to the grinding running style of Frank Gore. Spiller possesses roughly 90% of Chris Johnson’s ability, and that’s enough to satisfy the Niners, who still lack a general manager. Adding the Clemson Tiger home-run threat (12 TDs of 50+ yards) is just another step toward post-season relevance for the Bay Area.
– TT: The 49ers will represent the NFC in the Super Bowl by 2012.
14) Seattle Seahawks – Jason Pierre-Paul, DE South Florida
GM Schneider would be ecstatic if Earl Thomas was available here, as Deon Grant and Lawyer Milloy will not be back with the team in 2010. After addressing the offensive line with the #6 pick, the ‘Hawks add a piece to the D-line; Patrick Kerney will turn 34 this year, and Lawrence Jackson won’t generate consistent pressure by himself. JPP is an athletic freak who can produce in pass-rushing situations immediately and eventually become an every down player.
– TT: Jason ‘Paul-Pierce,’ as he was labeled in our International Bowl media guide, can do 1,000 back-flips in a row.
15) New York Giants – Rolando McClain, LB Alabama
McClain, the play-caller in Nick Saban’s National Champion defense, will step in and fill Antonio Pierce’s role at middle linebacker from week one. McClain, even though he’s not an ideal sideline-to-sideline linebacker, ran a quicker 40 time than Pierce did in college (4.60 for McClain to 4.80 for Pierce), and the two share fantastic football instincts. 20 pounds of muscle, however, is what makes McClain superior to his predecessor; the Crimson Tide star may not have the rookie impact of Brian Cushing or Clay Matthews, but he’s a solid NFL middle linebacker.
– TT: I’ve always liked it when analysts refer to linebackers as ‘thumpers.’ I do not know why.
16) Tennessee Titans – Joe Haden, CB Florida
Every single mock I’ve seen (okay, that’s exaggerated) has Jason Pierre-Paul slipping to the Titans, but after Cortland Finnegan, Tennessee has no start-able cornerback (they did sign Tye Hill though! Hill is terrible, by the way – you know when you can’t cut it in St. Louis, you’re not long for the NFL.) Haden has seen his stock slip considerably due to speed concerns – he was once considered a top five pick – but his hips and height are above average for a corner. GM Mike Reinfeldt fills a serious need at 16.
– TT: I was always a big ‘Rod Hood’ fan. That’s too bad.
