NFL Mock Draft Version 1.0

Usually, I do one and only one mock draft and it's normally posted the day before the Draft. However, this year, I decided to post a rough draft(or a rough mock draft...whichever makes sense to you) to have something to compare to when the final draft is done two weeks from now. Here's how I see the NFL Draft's 1st round shaking out as of right now:

1. St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma - The only thing that may have stood in the way of Bradford coming to Nellyville would be if Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen put on a Pro Day for the ages(he didn't) or if Nebraska DT Ndomakong Suh somehow ran a 4.2 40 at HIS Pro Day(um, I'd say that didn't happen either). Bradford wowed scouts at his Pro Day and only needs to dot a few I's and cross a few T's on his rookie contract to become the 1st name called by Commissioner Goodell. I'll be the first to admit I have my doubts about Bradford going #1. Even with his stellar post-surgery workout, I question whether his surgically-repaired right shoulder can hold up behind THAT offensive line against an actual defense. There's also the issue of Bradford playing mostly from the shotgun at OU. I understand the pick, but if it was my call, Ndomakong Suh would be looking for real estate in St. Louis right now.

2. Detroit Lions: Ndomakong Suh, DT, Nebraska - Instead, Suh will be looking for a house in Motown(something tells me he should be able to find one). Suh was not only the most dominant defensive player in the college ranks last year, but he's the best prospect we've seen in years and seriously deserved to hoist the Heisman Trophy instead of Alabama RB Mark Ingram. Some mocks have the Lions finally filling their hole at left tackle with either Oklahoma State's Russell Okung or Oklahoma's Trent Williams. Those aren't bad moves, in theory, but I can't co-sign passing on Suh. He's a disruptive defensive force and, under the tutelage of defensive maestro Jim Schwartz, can turn this Lions D from a laughing stock to an intimidating force. In a division where all three division rivals will sling it, it would be wise to have an interior force like Suh to get in the faces of the Aaron Rodgers, Jay Cutler and Brett Favres of the world.

3. Tampa Bay Bucs: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma - McCoy was the big name during last year's preseason and, by all means, he lived up to his billing. However, when Oklahoma took a nose dive after Bradford's injury, McCoy's star was overshadowed by Suh's(especially after the Big 12 championship when Suh chased Colt McCoy like Colt owed him money). McCoy flying under the radar certainly benefits the Bucs, who get the interior pass rush they haven't had since Warren Sapp left. Tennessee safety Eric Berry could warrent some consideration here if, for some reason, McCoy and Suh are gone when Tampa goes on the clock, but right now it looks like McCoy will be a Buccaneer.

4. Washington Redskins: Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State - With 6-time Pro Bowl QB Donovan McNabb now in the nation's capital, the 'Skins can now shift their focus from the Clausen/Bradford duo and to the more logical need: Left tackle. With Pro Bowl LT Chris Samuels retired due to injury, the team needs someone to watch McNabb's blind side(cue Sandra Bullock joke). Okung is widely considered the top offensive line prospect in this draft, with insanely long arms, solid quickness and elite strength. There's talk that Trent Williams is a better fit and, if that's the case, he's the call here, but the Redskins should not look anywhere beyond those two men unless some wild scenario occurs that drops Suh into their lap.

5. Kansas City Chiefs: Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa - From a "best player available" standpoint, Eric Berry makes the most sense here. However, KC pit boss Scott Pioli believes in positional value over taking the best available player(a gameplan emphasized by his taking Tyson Jackson over Aaron Curry last year). With franchise face Matt Cassell getting sacked 42 times last year, it became clear that former 1st rounder Branden Albert is better suited to play guard than left tackle and that the team needed to bring in an elite pass protector in a Draft chock-full of them. Enter Bulaga, who handled Georgia Tech pass rush dynamo Derrick Morgan superbly in the Orange Bowl. Some project Bulaga a bit lower(in the 9-12 range) and might consider Trent Williams a bit better, but Pioli is good friends with Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz and Ferentz's advice may be enough to push Bulaga ahead of Williams. Either way, the Chiefs will go left tackle....if they stay at 5.

6. Seattle Seahawks: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma - Again, Eric Berry makes a ton of sense here, given how abysmal the Seahawk's pass D was and new head coach Pete Carroll's affinity for defensive backs but with so many teams in the top 10 needing a stud left tackle, there is no guarentee that one will be left when Seattle goes back on the clock at 14. Williams has skyrocketed up draft boards thanks to some great workouts and a great Combine(4.88 in the 40, for starters). With Walter Jones' status uncertain, the Seahawks need a quality left tackle and will be more than happy with whomever is left from the Okung/Bulaga/Williams triumvirate. The pick could still be Berry, an all-world safety who is considered the next Ed Reed, but the safer option would be to take the tackle now rather than later.

7. Cleveland Browns: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee - Here's where the Jimmy Clausen Watch begins. With two of the teams believed to be in the Clausen Sweepstakes addressing their QB needs(Washington with McNabb, Seattle with Charlie Whitehurst....Yes, THAT Charlie Whitehurst), Clausen's ceiling is probably 7 after a solid but not outerworldly Pro Day. The reason I don't see Clausen going to Cleveland is that new GM Mike Holmgren already doled out $7 million to make Jake Delhomme his starter(for some reason) and spent the entire offseason cleaning up the QB mess left by the old regime, dealing Brady Quinn to Denver and cutting Derek Anderson. You really think he'll spend 7th overall pick money on Clausen, a good but not great QB prospect, when he's already paying Delhomme? Me neither. Do I think Cleveland will take a QB in the Draft? Absolutely, but it will be Colt McCoy or Tony Pike before it will ever be Jimmy Clausen. As for Berry, with Sheldon Brown now in town, the team can further improve its pass defense by eschewing CB and taking a ball-hawk like Berry. Berry led all defensive backs in the 40-yard dash(extremely impressive for a safety) and comes highly recommended from former Vols DC Monte Kiffin(who happens to know a thing or two about defense). If Berry slips here, Holmgren may have netted himself the steal of the draft.

8. Oakland Raiders: Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland - This pick seemed to be locked up the minute Campbell blew people away at the Combine. Campebll ran a 4.85 and benched 225 pounds 34 times, this despite his abnormally long 36 inch arms. Campbell is a bit raw and there are questions about his motivation(making him the perfect Al Davis pick) but you can't teach his size(6'6, 314) and there's no doubting the Raiders need someone to protect whomever is taking snaps under center. USF's Jason Pierre-Paul, a high rising defensive end who also tore up the Combine, may also get some consideration but I'd be shocked if Davis doesn't go back-to-back Terps with his 1st round pick.

9. Buffalo Bills: Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee - This seems to be the most logical spot for Clausen to go. After all, the Bills need a strong-armed QB for the gusts of upstate New York and Clausen fits that bill and, theoretically, Clausen should be gone by now. However, I just can't wrap my head around Clausen being a top 10 pick. Many champion Clausen's arm and his experience in a pro offense, but those are the same qualities scouts loved in Brady Quinn(who also dropped in the Draft). Clausen's intangibles, including sketchy leadership ability and questionable maturity make him suspect to me and his Pro Day didn't exactly make me think he's the second coming of John Elway. On top of that, the Bills are moving to a 3-4 defense, where a nose tackle is paramount to dominate the point of attack. Currently, nobody on the roster fits the nose tackle mold and it would be awfully risky for the Bills to pass up Williams and hope a big body is there later in the draft. I'll admit 9 is a bit high for Williams and, certainly, this could change to Clausen by time a week from Wednesday rolls around, but until I hear different, I think Clausen gets passed Buffalo.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech - You would think, after using two high picks on Derrick Harvey and Quentin Moses and also signing Aaron Kampman, that the Jags would look elsewhere at this spot. Certainly, they could. Florida CB Joe Haden, who rebounded from a bad Combine with a great Pro Day, is an option here. So is Oklahoma St. WR Dez Bryant. Another dark horse is Clemson RB C.J. Spiller. However, with the AFC South becoming more pass-happy, the Jags need to continue to boost the pass rush. After all, Kampman's 30 and coming off a torn ACL and Harvey clearly isn't getting it done. Jason Pierre-Paul could be the pick here instead of Morgan, but the Jags may be scared away by JPP's stigma of being a "one-year wonder".

11. Denver Broncos(from Chicago) - Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama - Had the Broncos not traded their 1st rounder to Seattle for CB Alphonso Smith, they could be looking at the possibility of either McClain or Haden here and perhaps Dez Bryant at 14. Instead, they'll be picking at 11 with the Bears pick obtained in the Jay Cutler trade and they would fit a mighty big hole by selecting McClain here. Some are down on McClain(dropping him as far as Pittsburgh at 18 in some mocks) and his insistence on playing in a 3-4 may also hurt his stock, but he's an instinctive inside linebacker who knows how to get into the backfield. With Andra Davis cut and a severe lack of depth at middle linebacker, McClain makes tremendous sense here. Of course, if WR Brandon Marshall is traded, then Dez Bryant makes sense here too, as does freakish safety Taylor Mays. For now, however, McClain(despite the recent trend of MLBs falling in the Draft) is the pick for Denver.

12. Miami Dolphins: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE/OLB, USF - Many want to see Dez Bryant come to South Beach, but Bill Parcells has taken a wideout in the first round twice in his GM career(and one was Terry Glenn, who he had to be talked into taking). With Joey Porter cut and Jason Taylor on his way to the Jets, the Dolphins suddenly are without an edge rusher. JPP might be a Vernon Gholston-type workout warrior who benefited from a strong season of playing opposite the more notable George Selvie at USF, but he still has the always tantalizing "upside". Parcells loves drafting LBs and JPP fits that bill. Parcells also likes defensive backs and now has a huge hole at safety with Gibril Wilson gone, so don't be surprised if the Phins reach for Texas S Earl Thomas or USC's Taylor Mays.

13. San Francisco 49ers: Joe Haden, CB, Florida - Another team that could land Clausen is the Niners, who sent away former starter Shaun Hill and now have nothing behind oft-injured, former top pick Alex Smith(No, David Carr doesn't count as a suitable backup). However, the Niners had to bench high-priced corner Nate Clements last year because of his ineffectiveness and some new blood in the secondary would certainly be welcomed. A back sprain caused Haden to run slower than normal at the Combine, but he made up for it at his Pro Day when he ran a 4.4 on a wet surface at Florida. That should be enough to get San Fran to call Haden's name at this spot, but don't be surprised if they opt for Clemson RB C.J. Spiller, just so they don't have to see him twice a year in a Seahawks uni.

14. Seattle Seahawks(from Denver): C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson - Spiller and Seattle are the perfect marriage of talent and need. The Seahawks haven't found a suitable every down back since re-signing Shaun Alexander's rotting corpse a few years ago and then shipping it off to see. Spiller, meanwhile, has been the top back in the Draft for months and hammered down that status with a 4.27 40 at the Combine. A bit small at 5'11, 196 lbs, Spiller makes up for it with great vision and speed. He also can be a valuable asset in the return game, something the 'Hawks desperately need with Nate Burleson gone. Speaking of which, with Burleson gone as well as Deion Branch, the Seahawks suddenly are in need of a wideout to play opposite overpriced loudmouth T.J. Houshmanzadeh, so don't be shocked to see Dez Bryant here if Spiller is unavailable or if Seattle isn't enamored with the Clemson back.

15. New York Giants: Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri - Linebacker has been a position largly ignored early in the draft by Big Blue, a mistake that has been exploited over the years. While some(including Gabe) would love to see Rolando McClain in the Big Apple, the versatile Sean Weatherspoon is actually the better fit for new DC Perry Fewell's Cover 2. Able to play inside or outside, Weatherspoon can either replace Antonio Pierce as the D's leader at middle linebacker or fill one the Giants' holes on the outside. With DE Osi Umenyora on the outs, don't be surprised if the Giants try for a DE like Carlos Dunlap of Florida to try to send Osi a message. A DT like UCLA's Brian Price could be interesting as well, with former starter Fred Robbins now in St. Louis.

16. Tennessee Titans: Everson Griffen, DE, USC - One thing the Titans love is physical freaks of nature and Everson Griffen fits that bill. At 6'3, 268 pounds, Griffen ran a 4.59 in the 40 at his Pro Day. With Kyle Vanden Bosch and Jevon Kearse gone, the Titans need someone to come off the edge to put pressure on the likes of Peyton Manning and Matt Schaub. This pick could be the start of a big DL coup for Tennessee as they are also in talks with Washington about bringing back former Pro Bowl DT Albert Haynesworth. A Griffen-Hayneworth combo would be formidable, but if the Titans don't go DE, look for them to try their hand at a corner like Boise St.'s Kyle Wilson or even Rutgers' Devin McCourty(who would be reunited with his twin brother, Jason).

17. San Francisco 49ers(from Carolina): Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers -Why, yes, I do have the Niners passing on Jimmy Clausen twice. Look, I have nothing against Clausen but the Niners have bigger needs here. Anthony Davis was once considered a Top 5 pick but saw his stock plummet after issues over his weight and preparation. A solid left tackle with huge upside, Davis' biggest troubles have been motivation and conditioning, which shouldn't be a problem under head coach Mike Singletary(just ask Vernon Davis). After giving up 40 sacks, the Niners cannot continue to pass up on fixing the offensive line(which they did last year when they passed on Michael Oher for holdout Michael Crabtree). With Davis manning the right side under Drill Sargent Mike's supervision, the team can finally see what they have in Alex Smith now that he has time to throw.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Iupati, G, Idaho - The Steelers O-Line has been a weakness for years, perhaps never more so than last year when they gave up 50 sacks. While some of that can be attributed to QB Ben Roethlisberger's tendency to hold on to the ball, the team still needs to address the needs up front. Mike Iupati's calling card is he's a punishing run blocker. He's a massive guard at 6'5, 331 lbs and, with some seasoning, could eventually moved to right tackle. The problem with Iupati is he's still a bit raw when it comes to pass protection. Despite being considered the best player at the Senior Bowl by some scouts in attendence, there were times when Iupati got overwhelmed by talented pass rushers. That can be a bit of a problem when playing for a team that has become more pass friendly like the Steelers but at least Iupati can contribute to the Steelers' winter staple: a power run game.

19. Atlanta Falcons: Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan - With the offense now set with QB Matt Ryan, RB Michael Turner and WR Roddy White, the team can now focus on defense. Having got nothing from former top 10 pick Jamaal Anderson, the Falcons have to once again go back to the drawing board to muster up a pass rush. Brandon Graham is a bit undersized at 6'1, but he has a big body at 268 pounds and he was almost Freeney-like at his Pro Day with a 4.68 40 and 31 reps in the bench press. Graham notched 9.5 sacks for an underachieving Wolverines team and could be this draft's breakout star if he falls in the right hands.

20. Houston Texans: Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State - Year after year, the Texans have passed up the opportunity to fix the running game. They thought they found a solution to their running woes when they drafted Steve Slaton two years ago, but Slaton took a huge step back last year after his breakout rookie season. Ryan Mathews, on the other hand, showed at the Combine that he's the total package. A big back at 6', 217 lbs, Mathews ran a 4.41 in the 40, notched a 10'1 in the broad jump and showed great hands in receiving drills. At the very least, Mathews' size can complement Slaton's speed. If the Texans choose to continue going defense in the first round, local product Earl Thomas, a safety out of Texas, could get the nod.

21. Cincinatti Bengals: Taylor Mays, S, USC - I was vastly disappointed when Taylor Mays opted to return to USC for his senior season. He could have been a legit top 15 pick in last year's draft. Instead, some flaws were exposed last season and Mays has dropped a bit. While there's no questioning Mays is an absolute freak(running a 4.3 40 at 6'3, 230 lbs), there are questions about his ability to cover and whether he may be better suited to play linebacker. Oddly enough, those are the same knocks on current Bengals safety Roy Williams. The addition of Mays, who would continue Cincy's trend of drafting Trojans, will only aid an already promising young secondary. For all of Mays' defieciencies, there's nothing major in his flaws that can't be coached up. With his speed and ability to lay the boom, the combination of Mays and Williams will be a nightmare for receivers going over the middle.

22. New England Patriots: Sergio Kindle, DE/LB, Texas - Sergio Kindle didn't follow up last year on the promise of his '08 season. After notching 10 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss as a first-year starter, Kindle only had six sacks last season. Still, he's shown the ability to get to the passer and the Patriots are desperately lacking in the pass rush department. With Mike Vrabel traded last year and Adalius Thomas on the way out, there's room for Kindle to step in and unleash on QBs from Day 1. At 6'3, 250lbs, Kindle has good size and quickness, which could make him a terror when combined with Bill Belichick's teachings.

23. Green Bay Packers: Charles Brown, OT, USC - The Packers' offensive line problems are well-documented. They led the NFL is sacks allowed with 51 and their inability to protect Aaron Rodgers on the first drive in overtime caused Rodgers to fumble away the team's first post-Favre playoff game. As a Packers fan, I'd love to see Mike Iupati drop here and fill in at guard, but Charles Brown isn't a bad consellation prize. Brown beefed up at the Combine, going from 290 to 303 and his long arms make him an outstanding pass protector. He's also versatile enough to move inside to guard, if the Packers want to start him there before taking over for either Chad Clifton or Mark Tauscher at tackle. If Brown goes off the board(which is possible) and no OL prospects of note are available, the Packers could address their need for youth in the secondary with safeties Taylor Mays or Earl Thomas(if available) or corners Kyle Wilson and Devin McCourty.

24. Philadelphia Eagles: Earl Thomas, S, Texas - Having gotten bombed out by Dallas in back to back weeks as well as dealing away corner Sheldon Brown, the Eagles need help in the secondary. The effect of the loss of Brian Dawkins was evident all season(though none more so than the last two games) and the speedy Thomas could fill that void. After a stellar Pro Day, Thomas went from a 2nd round possibility to someone who can go as high as 12 to Miami. Needless to say, if Thomas is still here at 24, the Eagles would be lucky(although, with the extra 2nd rounder gained from Washington in the McNabb trade, the Eagles now have ammo to move up if need be). Another need is at guard after the team parted ways with former Pro Bowler Shawn Andrews. Florida's Maurkice Pouncey, a center capable of playing guard, would be a nice choice here as well.

25. Baltimore Ravens: Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers - The Ravens addressed their biggest need a couple months ago, swinging a deal to bring in Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin. Now, they can focus on fixing a banged up secondary. With Ed Reed mulling retirement and corners LaDarius Webb and Fabian Washington coming off injuries, there's a need for some infusion at corner. McCourty has been rising high as of late, thanks to some good workouts. McCourty showed the ability to hit at Rutgers, notching 80 tackles, and he has speed to burn after running a 4.34 40 at the Combine(fastest of any corner). While McCourty would be a good pick, Oklahoma tight end Jermaine Gresham is also an option(though some may be scared away by his durability concerns). The Ravens could also pull the trigger on Dez Bryant, who is surpremely talented wideout who has saw his stock drop thanks to a slow 40 and some character questions. If Bryant makes it down this far, he certianly would be an upgrade over Mark Clayton and could give the Ravens a nice 1-2 punch in the passing game.

26. Arizona Cardinals: Jerry Hughes, DE/LB, TCU - When you give up nearly 100 points in your final two games, defense is obviously a big need. That need became exponentially bigger when star defenders like LB Karlos Dansby and S Antrel Rolle went elsewhere. Jerry Hughes is coming off a huge year, where he had 16.5 tackles for loss(11.5 of which were sacks). He ran a 4.59 at the Combine and he would clearly help a defense that needs help everywhere. Other options would be Penn State's Jared Odrick or Alabama's Terrence Cody. Another intriguing option I've seen mentioned? Jimmy Clausen. The coaching staff isn't exactly sold on Matt Leinart and if a guy like Clausen falls this far, it may take a chance on him to put pressure on Leinart to finally put it all together.

27. Dallas Cowboys: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State - I know, I know, the Cowboys have need at offensive line with Flozell Adams gone and they can use some help in the secondary but can you really see a guy like Jerry Jones passing on a talent like Dez Bryant? With Roy Williams and his stone hands continually moving closer to the first thing smoking out of Texas, the presence of Bryant can safeguard the Cowboys in the event they part ways with the overpaid wideout. Now, Bryant has his share of issues. His lack of concentration has caused him to drop passes at times(something that may cause him to slip passed Dallas, since Roy Williams already covers the pass-dropping for them). There's questions about his maturity. He's also missed most of last season after being suspended for lying about meeting with former Cowboy Deion Sanders. Then, there's the 4.6 40 he ran at his Pro Day, which is pretty slow for a wideout. Still, Bryant's the top receiver in this draft on most boards and would be the best talent available here. The more likely option may be to trade down and that may give us a repeat of a few years ago. With the Cowboys on the clock and a certian high-profile Notre Dame QB still in the green room, the Cowboys traded away the 22nd pick so the Browns could select Brady Quinn. This time around, another Notre Dame QB could be still available when Dallas picks and Cleveland may once again be tempted to move up to secure the services of Jimmy Clausen. Let's just say that is Clausen gets past San Francisco at 17, the plot will officially thicken.

28. San Diego Chargers: Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama - The Chargers are in desperate need of a RB and it wouldn't surprise me if they move up a few spots, ahead of Houston, to grab Ryan Mathews. This being a mock with no trades, I have San Diego addressing their other big need: Replacing Jamal Williams at nose tackle. Terrence Cody is an interesting prospect. He clearly has the size to clog the middle as a nose tackle in a 3-4 or in a 4-3, but teams are a bit concerned with his weight, which at times was damn near 400 lbs. Cody showed up at the Combine at 370, and made it to 349 for his Pro Day but his ability to stay in the 350 or below range will be what convinces teams to take a chance on him in the first round. There's no doubting Cody has the power to stop runners in their tracks up the middle, but he doesn't give you much in terms of a pass rush, which makes ability to remain healthy on the field to stop the run that more crucial.

29. New York Jets: Jared Odrick, DE/DT, Penn St. - Fans of Gang Green want a WR here and they'll no doubt be leading the march for Dez Bryant if he continues to fall. Notre Dame's Golden Tate, Illinois' Arrelious Benn and Georgia Tech's Demaryius Thomas are other names to look out for here. However, the Jets are old on the defensive line, with all starters being 30 and up. Rex Ryan already has Jerricho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards at wideout and he addressed his need at corner with Antonio Cromartie, so defensive line is the only reasonable way to go unless a big time wideout emerges. Odrick had 10 tackles for loss and 6 sacks at Penn State and, at 6'5 and 304lbs, he fits perfectly as an end in the 3-4.

30. Minnesota Vikings: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame - Two weeks from now, we could be looking at this mock and laugh hysterically about how far I thought Clausen would fall. Clausen could very well go 7 to Cleveland, 9 to Buffalo, 13 or 17 to San Francisco, or some team can move up in the 20's and take him. Jimmy Clausen isn't a terrible QB prospect. He isn't Brian Brohm. He just lacks a wow factor. He also lacks maturity. He also lacks leadership. He also is saddled with the stigma of Brady Quinn's spectar. He's also had the unfortunate luck of having teams that would have taken him look elsewhere. Some of the reasons behind Clausen's drop are beyond his control. Some aren't. Do I think Clausen is the most pro-ready QB in this draft? Yes. Do I think he may be better than Sam Bradford? Sure. I'd say he and Bradford are neck and neck in terms of both being guys who can be very good but will never be great. I strongly doubt we will look back at the '10 Class of QBs and compare it to 2004. Again, Clausen is a mystery here, but we've seen guys like him fall before. Brady Quinn fell. Joe Flacco fell. Aaron Rodgers fell. Drew Brees fell. Sometimes, you're a victim of circumstance and, right now, that's what Clausen is. Now, if he ends up in Minnesota, he hits the jackpot. With Brett Favre coming back(probably) this season and (maybe) next season, Clausen gets to sit and watch(much like Rodgers did) behind one of the best to ever play the game. He'd get to take over in 2011 or 2012 and be the signal caller of a team that is Super Bowl calibur. He'll have Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin to throw to. He'll have an All-Pro offensive line. He'll have a great defense and, most importantly, he'll have Adrian Peterson behind him to run the ball. This could work out well for Jimmy Clausen. Being a B+ prospect may be the best thing to ever happen to him.

31. Indianapolis Colts: Maurkice Pouncey, C/G, Florida - The Colts' offensive line has been an underlying problem for years. They've managed to get by on solid coaching improving subpar OL prospects. That, however, can't go on forever. Maurkice Pouncey is the top center in this draft and he also can play some guard. That kind of versatility late in the opening round makes you very valuable. Certianly, the team can use a presence in the middle of the defensive line like, say, UCLA DT Brian Price or a solid LB or CB, but when Bill Polian calls out the O-Line after the Super Bowl, you know he's thinking about making some adjustments.

32. New Orleans Saints: Brian Price, DT, UCLA - The Saints addressed thier need for a DE by signing Alex Brown from Chicago. That doesn't mean they're done improving the defense. The secondary can still use some help, eventhough they took Malcom Jenkins last year in the first round. An outside linebacker to replace Scott Fujita would help, too. However, Brian Price is coming off an great junior year in which he had 16.5 tackles for loss and 5 sacks. On top of that, he'll be 21 in April, which means he'll have time to grow as the Saints work him in the rotation. The Saints have swung and missed before on 1st round DT, most recently Jonathan Sullivan a few years back, but Price would clearly be the best defender available for a team that needs more D. The team could also take tight end Jermaine Gresham(who will probably go 1st round, but wasn't mocked as such in this one) or go for a RB like Georgia Tech's Jonathan Dwyer to improve a subpar running game.