1. St. Louis Rams
2009 record: 1-15
The pick: Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford
Previous mock draft picks: Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh
Analysis: By releasing quarterback Marc Bulger, Bradford essentially won the Rams’ starting job, and he’s not even on the team yet.
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: Suh would only be the second player in Big 12 history to get drafted in the top two. (The Cardinals took Texas tackle Leonard Davis with the second pick in 2001.)
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2009 record: 3-13
The pick: Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy
Previous mock draft picks: Tennessee safety Eric Berry
Analysis: McCoy would be the highest drafted player in Oklahoma State history. Defensive tackle Kevin Williams, who was taken ninth in 2003, is the only Cowboy ever taken in the top 10.
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: There is little debate with this pick now that the Redskins have Donovan McNabb. Get that franchise left tackle, and let Mike Shanahan go to work.
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: Bulaga makes them better, but he surely doesn’t make them any more exciting. These are the steps teams have to take when they’re so far in the hole.
6. Seattle Seahawks
2009 record: 5-11
The pick: Tennessee safety Eric Berry
Previous mock draft picks: Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen
Analysis: Berry’s nickname is apparently “The Fifth Dimension,” which is about as cool as “Psycho T.” Pete Carroll’s first order of business is making sure that never ends up on a billboard in Seattle.
7. Cleveland Browns
2009 record: 5-11
The pick: Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen
Previous mock draft picks: Florida cornerback Joe Haden
Analysis: They’ve worked out Haden, so the interest is obviously there. But he’s got to be the backup plan in case someone trades up for Clausen. Hey, there’s always Jake Delhomme.
8. Oakland Raiders
2009 record: 5-11
The pick: Rutgers tackle Anthony Davis
Previous mock draft picks: Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant
Analysis: Still not confident Al Davis has any desire to improve his offensive line — not with a guy like Bryant on the board. Yet Anthony Davis has the physical tools to warrant the eighth pick. At the very least, Al Davis will get a minimum of eight fewer catches out of Anthony Davis than Darrius Heyward-Bey.
9. Buffalo Bills
2009 record: 6-10
The pick: Oklahoma tackle Trent Williams
Previous mock draft picks: Rutgers tackle Anthony Davis, Maryland tackle Bruce Campbell
Analysis: Williams’ stock is soaring, and Campbell’s is getting soupy (get it?).
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: Pierre-Paul will be the highest selected player in South Florida history, surpassing defensive back Mike Jenkins, who was taken 25th by the Cowboys in 2008.
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 Crimson Tide will be well-represented in this draft, and McClain should be the first one off the board.
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: Derrick Morgan used to collaborate with Bob Marley, but the Dolphins won’t be drafting a 70-year-old. That would just be irresponsible.
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: The Niners would likely be happy with Thomas, but they should be ecstatic to land Haden.
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: Bryant’s freakish skills will be too much for Pete Carroll to overlook. After all, that type of athleticism is what drove his program at USC.
15. New York Giants
2009 record: 8-8
The pick: Missouri linebacker Sean Weatherspoon
Previous mock draft picks: Tennessee defensive tackle Dan Williams, Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain, UCLA defensive tackle Brian Price
Analysis: Weatherspoon is a second-cousin of Teresa Weatherspoon, who was an original member of the WNBA and played for the New York Liberty.
16. Tennessee Titans
2009 record: 8-8
The pick: Texas outside linebacker/defensive end Sergio Kindle
Previous mock draft picks: South Florida defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan, Missouri linebacker Sean Weatherspoon
Analysis: Critics say Kindle doesn’t bring it on every play and is sometimes useless when he’s not rushing the passer. A sturdy coach like Jeff Fisher shouldn’t have any problem getting the most out of Kindle.
17. San Francisco 49ers (From Carolina Panthers)
2009 record: 8-8
The pick: Maryland tackle Bruce Campbell
Previous mock draft picks: Iowa tackle Bryan Bulaga, Oklahoma tackle Trent Williams
Analysis: San Francisco held its opponents to single digits in five of its last eight games and six times overall last season. It might be really tempting to go after Earl Thomas here, but the need is truly on the offensive line.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers
2009 record: 9-7
The pick: Idaho guard Mike Iupati
Previous mock draft picks: Oklahoma tackle Trent Williams
Analysis: Iupati is a good story and the latest of a number of solid football players to come from American Samoa. If he’s drafted by Pittsburgh, he’ll join forces with Troy Polamalu, who is one of the most famous football players of Samoan descent.
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: Griffen was an integral part in one of Pete Carroll’s legendary pranks at USC.
20. Houston Texans
2009 record: 9-7
The pick: Texas safety Earl Thomas
Previous mock draft picks: Boise State cornerback Kyle Wilson
Analysis: Thomas will generate instant excitement from the home fans. With a local kid starring for a team that is on the rise, the Houston fan base will keep its good times rolling.
21. Cincinnati Bengals
2009 record: 10-6
The pick: Oklahoma tight end Jermaine Gresham
Previous mock draft picks: Idaho guard Mike Iupati, Florida offensive lineman Maurkice Pouncey
Analysis: Gresham was the original pick here, and he has gained steam since last week’s pro day at Oklahoma. Now that Cincinnati has re-signed guard Bobbie Williams, it’s unlikely the Bengals would add an interior lineman here unless Mike Iupati falls or Gresham goes far too early.
22. New England Patriots
2009 record: 10-6
The pick: Florida defensive end Carlos Dunlap
Previous mock draft picks: Florida middle linebacker Brandon Spikes, Oklahoma tight end Jermaine Gresham
Analysis: Gresham only lasted one week in this spot, and Dunlap is back in the mix. Penn State defensive lineman Jared Odrick might be a useful pick here, but he probably doesn’t have the on-field upside of Dunlap. On the other hand, Odrick has never been charged with driving under the influence after he was found passed out at an intersection.
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: Graham might give the Packers the outside pass rusher they need, but it could be a while before he learns how to handle other responsibilities on the field.
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: So, um, Kevin Kolb, huh? Andy Reid and the Eagles have typically known what they’ve been doing and probably deserve the benefit of the doubt, but Kolb will really have to perform to validate the Donovan McNabb trade.
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 Ravens might also go in the direction of an offensive lineman, but it doesn’t look like restricted free agent Jared Gaither will get picked up anywhere. Odrick, on the other hand, could be a perfect fit in Baltimore.
26. Arizona Cardinals
2009 record: 10-6
The pick: TCU outside linebacker Jerry Hughes
Previous mock draft picks: Maryland tackle Bruce Campbell, Florida middle linebacker Brandon Spikes, USC defensive end Everson Griffen, Texas outside linebacker/defensive end Sergio Kindle
Analysis: Just speculation here, but if the Cardinals did make a run at Donovan McNabb, it’s likely they would have had to include this draft pick to get him. They’ll get criticized for failing to acquire the quarterback, but this might have been too steep of a price to pay.
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: Brown is an intriguing prospect. He is 6-foot-5 and was listed at 285 pounds during his senior season, but he checked in at 303 pounds at the Combine. That shows an obvious drive to improve his size, which would have been a big question mark for a first-round pick. Teams will really like that work ethic.
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: Spiller might be the most interesting first-rounder to track during the draft. He has been linked as a top-five pick (highly unlikely) but could fall as far as No. 28. It will be a tense Thursday night for this running back.
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 could turn out to be a star, but he’ll have some immediate adjustments to make in the NFL. As we’ve said here before, the Jets have the luxury of letting Mays develop, and that could pay huge dividends in a few years.
30. Minnesota Vikings
2009 record: 12-4
The pick: Boise State cornerback Kyle Wilson
Previous mock draft picks: Texas quarterback Colt McCoy
Analysis: Wilson looks like the second-best cornerback on the board, and if he falls this far, it really would be foolish to let him pass, despite how much this mock draft has praised McCoy.
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: Hometown college stars have worked out well in Lucas Oil Stadium recently.
32. New Orleans Saints
2009 record: 13-3
The pick: UCLA defensive tackle Brian Price
Previous mock draft picks: Penn State defensive tackle Jared Odrick, Tennessee defensive tackle Dan Williams, Florida defensive end Carlos Dunlap
Analysis: There’s an interesting dynamic here. First, keep in mind the draft is under a new format and will only hold the first round Thursday night, and the next six rounds will take place over the next two days. But, if the Saints pull a Mike Tice and don’t make their pick in their allotted time slot, the Rams, who pick No. 33, can immediately make their selection. That will run down the line until New Orleans makes its first pick. So, let’s say the Saints completely fall asleep at the wheel (OK, we understand that will never happen), then the entire draft could be done by Thursday night or the early hours of Friday morning. Take that, prime-time TV.
