1. St. Louis Rams
2009 record: 1-15
The pick: Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford
Previous mock draft picks: Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh
Analysis: At this point, it looks like it would be a pretty big upset if the Rams took anyone other than Bradford. It’s getting to the point where contract negotiations are about to begin, and that’s when the poker game starts between Bradford’s camp and those of other prospective first picks.
2. Detroit Lions
2009 record: 2-14
The pick: Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh
Previous mock draft picks: Oklahoma State left tackle Russell Okung, Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy
Analysis: The Lions are sitting pretty with the second pick, and they’ll get to address one of their many defensive needs no matter who St. Louis drafts. And just because the Lions acquired Corey Williams from the Browns doesn’t mean they’ll shy away from taking another defensive tackle. That’d be like the time the Pistons took Darko Milicic over Carmelo Anthony because they already had Tayshaun Prince.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2009 record: 3-13
The pick: Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy
Previous mock draft picks: Tennessee safety Eric Berry
Analysis: Some draft analysts think McCoy could be the top pick, so the Bucs would be thrilled to get such a force at defensive tackle. They’ll need to send him straight to the weight room, though.
4. Washington Redskins
2009 record: 4-12
The pick: Oklahoma State tackle Russell Okung
Previous mock draft picks: Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen
Analysis: Just not getting the feeling that Mike Shanahan wants Clausen, and the Redskins have a glaring need at left tackle. If the Redskins really don’t want Clausen, expect them to trade the pick to a team that does.
5. Kansas City Chiefs
2009 record: 4-12
The pick: Iowa tackle Bryan Bulaga
Previous mock draft picks: Tennessee safety Eric Berry, Oklahoma State tackle Russell Okung
Analysis: With Okung off the board, the Chiefs look toward one of the next best tackles. After Okung, it’s a pretty cluttered group, but Bulaga’s stock has been skyrocketing for a couple of months.
6. Seattle Seahawks
2009 record: 5-11
The pick: Tennessee safety Eric Berry
Previous mock draft picks: Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen
Analysis: Charlie Whitehurst must have some kind of secret about Pete Carroll. I mean, if Carroll was willing to pay Whitehurst a cool $10 million, what was he shelling out to Reggie Bush at USC?
7. Cleveland Browns
2009 record: 5-11
The pick: Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen
Previous mock draft picks: Florida cornerback Joe Haden
Analysis: This is the first time we’ve taken Haden away from the Browns, but they’d be Sarah Palin crazy for passing up on a quarterback — although, it might be tough to sell another Notre Dame QB to the fan base.
8. Oakland Raiders
2009 record: 5-11
The pick: Rutgers tackle Anthony Davis
Previous mock draft picks: Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant
Analysis: As we pointed out last week, the Raiders will never put an organizational cap on Davises with character concerns.
9. Buffalo Bills
2009 record: 6-10
The pick: Maryland tackle Bruce Campbell
Previous mock draft picks: Rutgers left tackle Anthony Davis
Analysis: The Bills’ offensive line has more holes than a chain link fence.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars
2009 record: 7-9
The pick: South Florida defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul
Previous mock draft picks: Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain, Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan
Analysis: It’s time for the Jags to get back to their old formula and rebuild that front seven. Pierre-Paul is an interesting prospect who only has one year of big-time college experience, but he’s still highly touted. The Jaguars would get bonus points for adding a prospect from Florida, but it’s not that guy the fan base is begging for them to select.
11. Denver Broncos (From Chicago Bears)
2009 record: 8-8
The pick: Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain
Previous mock draft picks: Tennessee defensive tackle Dan Williams, UCLA defensive tackle Brian Price, Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan
Analysis: The Broncos have to add a middle linebacker to replace Andra Davis, but they also need a defensive end. Jared Odrick might make some sense, but he’d be a reach here and Penn State defensive linemen are sketchy draft prospects. Speaking of which, has anyone seen Aaron Maybin? Don’t worry about looking for him in the offensive backfield.
12. Miami Dolphins
2009 record: 7-9
The pick: Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan
Previous mock draft picks: Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain, Clemson outside linebacker Ricky Sapp
Analysis: There’s been some worthy hype since they signed middle linebacker Karlos Dansby, but there are still plenty of holes on the Miami defense, particularly on the edge.
13. San Francisco 49ers
2009 record: 8-8
The pick: Florida cornerback Joe Haden
Previous mock draft picks: Florida defensive end Carlos Dunlap, South Florida defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, Texas safety Earl Thomas
Analysis: This would be a pleasant surprise for the 49ers, and it’s probably about as far as Haden could fall. It’s pretty remarkable that a change of heart in Washington could so greatly affect Haden’s wallet.
14. Seattle Seahawks (From Denver Broncos)
2009 record: 5-11
The pick: Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant
Previous mock draft picks: USC defensive end Everson Griffen, Iowa tackle Bryan Bulaga
Analysis: This would give them two supremely talented skill position players in Bryant and Eric Berry. While there might be a greater need at defensive end or on the offensive line, it’s clear the Seahawks are still in the market for a big-time wideout. In that case, they’d be crazy to pass over Bryant.
15. New York Giants
2009 record: 8-8
The pick: UCLA defensive tackle Brian Price
Previous mock draft picks: Tennessee defensive tackle Dan Williams, Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain
Analysis: We mentioned last week that the Giants must have been a little disheartened after the Broncos cut Andra Davis, because that put another team in the market for McClain. What we didn’t say is the Giants should have just sealed up that hole at middle linebacker by signing Davis. Either way, they still need a defensive tackle, and Price is a good one.
16. Tennessee Titans
2009 record: 8-8
The pick: Missouri linebacker Sean Weatherspoon
Previous mock draft picks: South Florida defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan, Texas outside linebacker/defensive end Sergio Kindle
Analysis: He’s climbing up the board, and it looks like he has jumped past Kindle and Ricky Sapp.
17. San Francisco 49ers (From Carolina Panthers)
2009 record: 8-8
The pick: Oklahoma tackle Trent Williams
Previous mock draft picks: Iowa tackle Bryan Bulaga
Analysis: After stealing Joe Haden at No. 13, it might be tempting to completely overhaul their secondary and add Texas safety Earl Thomas. But the Niners have to stay disciplined and grab an offensive lineman. Someone like Williams, who is a possible top-10 pick, would help the Niners remain on course with that specific need.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers
2009 record: 9-7
The pick: Idaho guard Mike Iupati
Previous mock draft picks: Oklahoma tackle Trent Williams
Analysis: The Steelers can add a pass rusher later in the draft, but they won’t find an offensive lineman with comparable quality to Iupati later on.
19. Atlanta Falcons
2009 record: 9-7
The pick: USC defensive end Everson Griffen
Previous mock draft picks: Clemson outside linebacker Ricky Sapp, Texas outside linebacker/defensive end Sergio Kindle
Analysis: Hey, another edge rusher for the Falcons. Are you sensing a theme with this pick?
20. Houston Texans
2009 record: 9-7
The pick: Texas safety Earl Thomas
Previous mock draft picks: Boise State cornerback Kyle Wilson
Analysis: Houston can get a pretty good cornerback with its next pick, so if the second-best safety slides to No. 20, the Texans should be all over this Texan.
21. Cincinnati Bengals
2009 record: 10-6
The pick: Florida offensive lineman Maurkice Pouncey
Previous mock draft picks: Oklahoma tight end Jermaine Gresham, Idaho guard Mike Iupati
Analysis: There will be tight ends galore throughout the second and third rounds, so the Bengals can load up later. For now, they need an interior offensive lineman, and Pouncey fits the bill.
22. New England Patriots
2009 record: 10-6
The pick: Florida defensive end Carlos Dunlap
Previous mock draft picks: Florida middle linebacker Brandon Spikes
Analysis: Bill Belichick was rumored to be at Florida’s pro day. Granted, the Gators have about a million draft-eligible players, but maybe the Pats were interested in Dunlap, who has extreme talent and could be reigned in under Belichick and the image-conscious Bob Kraft.
23. Green Bay Packers
2009 record: 11-5
The pick: Michigan defensive end/outside linebacker Brandon Graham
Previous mock draft picks: USC defensive end Everson Griffen, Penn State outside linebacker Navorro Bowman
Analysis: Thinking Graham might have higher stock than Bowman, but there are some real concerns about Graham’s size.
24. Philadelphia Eagles
2009 record: 11-5
The pick: Tennessee defensive tackle Dan Williams
Previous mock draft picks: USC safety Taylor Mays, Clemson running back C.J. Spiller, California running back Jahvid Best, UCLA defensive tackle Brian Price
Analysis: We’re sticking with Williams because the Eagles need a little more solidarity up the middle.
25. Baltimore Ravens
2009 record: 9-7
The pick: Penn State defensive lineman Jared Odrick
Previous mock draft picks: Notre Dame wide receiver Golden Tate, USC safety Taylor Mays, Illinois wide receiver Arrelious Benn, Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant
Analysis: The versatile defensive lineman could help Baltimore’s front across the board. He’d probably be a really good fit for this system, but if the Ravens disagree, they could nab pass-rushing specialist Sergio Kindle.
26. Arizona Cardinals
2009 record: 10-6
The pick: Texas outside linebacker/defensive end Sergio Kindle
Previous mock draft picks: Maryland tackle Bruce Campbell, Florida middle linebacker Brandon Spikes, USC defensive end Everson Griffen
Analysis: The Cardinals have a more glaring need at middle linebacker, but Spikes is a shady pick after clocking such a slow 40 time. Kindle would kindle that core of linebackers from the outside.
27. Dallas Cowboys
2009 record: 11-5
The pick: USC tackle Charles Brown
Previous mock draft picks: Maryland tackle Bruce Campbell, Penn State outside linebacker Navorro Bowman, Rutgers tackle Anthony Davis, Oklahoma tackle Trent Williams
Analysis: It’s truly difficult not to laugh every time Flozell Adams is flagged for a false start, whether it’s in real life or Madden '10. The Cowboys are going to draft a tackle and try to rid themselves of that problem.
28. San Diego Chargers
2009 record: 13-3
The pick: Clemson running back C.J. Spiller
Previous mock draft picks: Fresno State running back Ryan Mathews
Analysis: Don’t think the Chargers will complain if Spiller slips to them. Running back is a major need in San Diego, and Spiller is considered the best in the draft class.
29. New York Jets
2009 record: 9-7
The pick: USC safety Taylor Mays
Previous mock draft picks: Wide receiver Brandon LaFell, Boise State cornerback Kyle Wilson, Alabama cornerback Kareem Jackson
Analysis: The Jets can afford projects on defense, and one with Mays’ potential is worth it.
30. Minnesota Vikings
2009 record: 12-4
The pick: Boise State cornerback Kyle Wilson
Previous mock draft picks: Texas quarterback Colt McCoy
Analysis: We’ve snapped out of our McCoy-to-the-Vikings obsession and will address another pressing need. A lot of mock drafts and analysts have McCoy going anywhere from the second to third round, so the Vikings might get lucky and snag him on their next turn.
31. Indianapolis Colts
2009 record: 14-2
The pick: Indiana tackle Rodger Saffold
Previous mock draft picks: Idaho guard Mike Iupati, USC tackle Charles Brown
Analysis: There was a bigger run on offensive linemen in this mock draft, so Saffold makes his debut. Welcome to the party, kid.
32. New Orleans Saints
2009 record: 13-3
The pick: Georgia defensive tackle Geno Atkins
Previous mock draft picks: UCLA defensive tackle Brian Price, Penn State defensive tackle Jared Odrick, Tennesse defensive tackle Dan Williams
Analysis: Dan Williams is good, but we've overhyped him a little too much. Since Williams can't play for both the Saints and Eagles, New Orleans will have to settle for the speedy Atkins.
