With that, here is the NESN.com Mock Draft Version V. Check back every Thursday from now until the draft for an updated version.
1. St. Louis Rams
2009 record: 1-15
The pick: Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford
Previous mock draft picks: Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh
Analysis: Suh might be the safer pick, but this reeling organization needs to blast one out of the park. Adding Bradford would give the fans something to get excited about.
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: Build that defense from the inside out, and there’s no better place to start than with the hulking Husker.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2009 record: 3-13
The pick: Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy
Previous mock draft picks: Tennessee safety Eric Berry
Analysis: They probably can’t go wrong with McCoy or Berry, but linemen have more of an impact. It would be intriguing to put Berry in the secondary with cornerback Aqib Talib, but if no one can create pressure up front, those two would be helpless.
4. Washington Redskins
2009 record: 4-12
The pick: Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen
Previous mock draft picks: Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford
Analysis: The bet is Clausen will go here, whether the Redskins take him or not. The Seahawks, Browns, Bills and Jaguars all have top-10 picks to trade, and each needs a franchise-caliber quarterback.
5. Kansas City Chiefs
2009 record: 4-12
The pick: Oklahoma State tackle Russell Okung
Previous mock draft picks: Tennessee safety Eric Berry
Analysis: Okung isn’t leaving this spot, and the Chiefs should be perfectly happy to take the best offensive lineman in the draft.
6. Seattle Seahawks
2009 record: 5-11
The pick: Tennessee safety Eric Berry
Previous mock draft picks: Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen
Analysis: This could potentially be South Florida defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, and if the Seahawks are among the camps that believe he’s an elite talent, they’ll probably snag him. If not, Berry would be a great boost behind Seattle’s talented linebackers.
7. Cleveland Browns
2009 record: 5-11
The pick: Florida cornerback Joe Haden
Previous mock draft picks: Same
Analysis: Haden might be a tick slow for some scouts, but he has the coverage skills and physicality to be a top-level corner in the NFL.
8. Oakland Raiders
2009 record: 5-11
The pick: Rutgers tackle Anthony Davis
Previous mock draft picks: Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant
Analysis: Bryant was a fun pick for this spot, but the Raiders need help on the offensive line. Davis has the talent to make Al Davis ignore the character flaws. And hey, what’s another Davis with character flaws to the Raiders?
9. Buffalo Bills
2009 record: 6-10
The pick: Maryland tackle Bruce Campbell
Previous mock draft picks: Rutgers left tackle Anthony Davis
Analysis: Campbell might be the second-best lineman in the draft class, and the Bills are fine with him being third off the board.
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: They might do a double-take if Dez Bryant is still on the board here, but Pierre-Paul would be huge for their defense. They couldn’t generate a thing from the outside last year, and they can’t bank on Aaron Kampman being an absolute answer after his injury.
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: This is another team that would look at Dez Bryant (actually, just about every team down the board will), there are more pressing needs at linebacker due to the release of Andra Davis. Sure, Bryant would give Denver the ability to unload Brandon Marshall, but there’s little to suggest Bryant would be any less of a headache.
12. Miami Dolphins
2009 record: 7-9
The pick: Clemson outside linebacker Ricky Sapp
Previous mock draft picks: Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain
Analysis: There’s a lot of pressure in Miami to add an outside linebacker, and there is a good crop of them available. It seems to be a little jumbled, but Sapp was a wrecking ball in college.
13. San Francisco 49ers
2009 record: 8-8
The pick: Texas safety Earl Thomas
Previous mock draft picks: Florida defensive end Carlos Dunlap, South Florida defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul
Analysis: They’re still looking for some spunk in the secondary, and Thomas appears as though he’ll be off the board in the top half of the first round.
14. Seattle Seahawks (From Denver Broncos)
2009 record: 5-11
The pick: Iowa tackle Bryan Bulaga
Previous mock draft picks: USC defensive end Everson Griffen
Analysis: This is just a solid pick. As we’ve pointed out before, the Seahawks can take a chance and get aggressive with the sixth selection, and that will leave them open to take a solid lineman — on either side of the ball — at No. 14.
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: The Giants brass probably felt a little sick after the Broncos cut ties with Andra Davis, which reduced the chance of McClain slipping this far. That said, the Giants still need help at defensive tackle.
16. Tennessee Titans
2009 record: 8-8
The pick: Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan
Previous mock draft picks: South Florida defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, Texas outside linebacker/defensive end Sergio Kindle
Analysis: Morgan is the better prospect than Kindle, although they each have a similar style when it comes to transitioning for the pro game.
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: Once again, the 49ers need to make sure they snag one of the draft’s best offensive linemen in the first round. There’s no doubt they’ll succeed with two of the top-17 selections.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers
2009 record: 9-7
The pick: Idaho guard Mike Iupati
Previous mock draft picks: Oklahoma tackle Trent Williams
Analysis: Iupati should be a lay-up selection if he’s still around for the Steelers, who should have their card handed in as soon as Roger Goodell finishes announcing the Niners’ pick.
19. Atlanta Falcons
2009 record: 9-7
The pick: Texas outside linebacker/defensive end Sergio Kindle
Previous mock draft picks: Clemson outside linebacker Ricky Sapp, USC defensive end Everson Griffen
Analysis: Kindle, Sapp and Griffen have been a revolving door with this pick since the Mock Draft’s inception.
20. Houston Texans
2009 record: 9-7
The pick: Boise State cornerback Kyle Wilson
Previous mock draft picks: Texas defensive back Earl Thomas
Analysis: They pretty much let Dunta Robinson walk free, and Leigh Bodden opted for New England over Houston. It’s hard to imagine the Texans targeting any position here other than cornerback.
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: This is as close as we’ve come to removing Dunlap from this position, but Spikes, Navorro Bowman, Griffen and Brandon Graham don’t offer an overwhelming amount of intrigue in comparison to Dunlap. We’ll wait to hear more reaction from Florida’s Pro Day.
23. Green Bay Packers
2009 record: 11-5
The pick: Penn State outside linebacker Navorro Bowman
Previous mock draft picks: Michigan defensive end/outside linebacker Brandon Graham, USC defensive end Everson Griffen
Analysis: This is almost like a free upgrade at the position after the Packers lost Aaron Kampman, first to injury and then to the Jaguars.
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: They’ve added depth to the secondary by scooping up cornerback Marlin Jackson, so Williams would be a logical fit to the line, which needs a little more beef.
25. Baltimore Ravens
2009 record: 9-7
The pick: Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant
Previous mock draft picks: Notre Dame wide receiver Golden Tate, USC safety Taylor Mays, Illinois wide receiver Arrelious Benn
Analysis: This would cause quite the drama if Bryant fell this far, but if he’s not off the board in the first dozen picks, there’s a pretty solid chance he’ll tumble into the latter part of the first round. Adding Bryant, Anquan Boldin and Donte Stallworth will make Joe Flacco every synonym of the word “happy” you can find.
26. Arizona Cardinals
2009 record: 10-6
The pick: USC defensive end Everson Griffen
Previous mock draft picks: Maryland tackle Bruce Campbell, Florida middle linebacker Brandon Spikes
Analysis: Bad pro day for Spikes, whose 40 was reportedly clocked around 5.05 seconds, which is really on the slow side for linebackers, especially if they were thought to have first-round talent. Therefore, the Cardinals will look to improve another need along the defensive line.
27. Dallas Cowboys
2009 record: 11-5
The pick: Oklahoma tackle Trent Williams
Previous mock draft picks: Maryland tackle Bruce Campbell, Penn State outside linebacker Navorro Bowman, Rutgers tackle Anthony Davis
Analysis: Many reports indicate the Cowboys want to upgrade their offensive line, and unless a big defensive prospect slips, that’s the direction the Cowboys will likely take.
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: If Spiller slips this far, the Chargers would be crazy not to take him, but otherwise, they might choose to address holes in the defense or the offensive line and opt to take a running back in a later round.
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: Mays might be a bit of a project, but he’s got real-deal potential. The Jets are pretty set with their identity on offense, so Rex Ryan certainly won’t be opposed to stocking up on talent for his defense.
30. Minnesota Vikings
2009 record: 12-4
The pick: Texas quarterback Colt McCoy
Previous mock draft picks: Same
Analysis: Snore, another mock draft, another McCoy-to-the-Vikings selection.
31. Indianapolis Colts
2009 record: 14-2
The pick: USC tackle Charles Brown
Previous mock draft picks: Idaho guard Mike Iupati
Analysis: What Bill Polian wants, Bill Polian gets. He can’t draft stricter rules against the defense, but no one is stopping him from selecting an offensive lineman.
32. New Orleans Saints
2009 record: 13-3
The pick: Penn State defensive tackle Jared Odrick
Previous mock draft picks: UCLA defensive tackle Brian Price, Tennessee defensive tackle Dan Williams
Analysis: So far, we’ve just given the Saints the best defensive tackle available. This week, it’s Odrick.
