Mock Draft 4.0 - Final Draft Thoughts

Here’s how I see things working out in what should be the best draft in recent memory. Due to the abundance of talent in this year’s class, I expect to be wrong an awful lot. Most teams have multiple urgent needs, and talent is stacked early on across the board. Ok, one last time here goes.

Round 1

1) STL – Sam Bradford (QB, Oklahoma)
With their need at QB and his strong offseason, I can’t see the Rams taking another player or trading this pick. I don’t think they deal for Roethlisberger, and I think the Suh ship has sailed.

2) DET – Ndamukong Suh (DT, Nebraska)
Their offseason actions tell me Okung isn’t the pick. The Lions continue to put an emphasis on getting stronger up front defensively. If they pick up Albert Haynesworth at the last minute, then my wishes have come true and House of Spears falls to the Bucs.

3) TB – Gerald McCoy (DT, Oklahoma)
If the Lions shock me and don’t take Suh, the Bucs will. Otherwise, it’s probably McCoy. Although, I’ve read/heard nothing that would convince me that he’s a slam dunk here. I don’t think we can absolutely rule out Dez Bryant or Russell Okung. Coach Morris has often remarked about the importance of building around Josh Freeman, and both of those guys would aid in that area. Still, I think they end up going DT. Now if San Francisco gets a little froggy and wants to jump up the board, I’d deal down for picks #13, #17, and #113 (R4). I’m not going by a trade chart, but I would think that in addition to the two R1 selections, the Bucs could get a mid round pick in the deal as well.

4) WAS – Russell Okung (T, Oklahoma State)
They have their QB in McNabb, and now they need to get someone to protect his backside. Trent Williams is getting buzz due to being a better immediate ZBS fit, but I think Okung grades out much higher at LT and won’t have trouble in that scheme. I’m going with the highest rated player at the position they need help the most. With LaRon Landry bulking up and likely to play SS this year, don’t be surprised if Eric Berry is the pick here. I’m sticking with Okung due to the urgent need, but Berry wouldn’t shock me.

5) KC – Dan Williams (DT, Tennessee)
If things didn’t fall apart with the Redskins’ pick, it’s going to happen here. The Chiefs have been linked to Okung, Trent Williams, Eric Berry, Rolando McClain, Bryan Bulaga, and Jimmy Clausen. Okung is off the board, and despite the addition of Charlie Weis, I don’t see them bringing in Clausen to crowd things under center with Matt Cassel. Same thing with the Kirk Ferentz / Scott Pioli connection as it relates to Bulaga. Is Trent Williams good enough at LT to move Branden Albert inside to guard or over to RT? I don’t think so. I’d list McClain as having an outside shot, but I think it’s a long one. Berry gets all the buzz here, but I’ve seen several things that say he’s not as high on their list as the public thinks. As the Chiefs showed last year with Tyson Jackson, they’re not afraid to take need over value. Their NT situation is horrid and is a reason they finished with the second worst run defense in the league last year. (Want to guess who was worst?) It’s definitely not a popular pick, but I’m going with Williams. I’ll grudgingly go with Berry as my alternate pick. Oh, this is also the spot where I think he have our first serious shot at trade.

6) SEA – Trent Williams (T, Oklahoma)
Switching from Bulaga here due to Williams’ supposed climb up the board and the fact that he’s a better fit for what they do.

7) CLE – Eric Berry (S, Tennessee)
The Sheldon Brown acquisition solidifies this one for me.

8) OAK – Bruce Campbell (T, Maryland)
The acquisition of Quentin Groves from Jacksonville might nudge them away from a pass rusher like Jason Pierre-Paul with this selection and towards an offensive tackle. I picked Campbell here at the Combine, and I won’t change it now. If he doesn’t go here, Campbell might be waiting a while to hear his name called.

9) BUF – Bryan Bulaga (T, Iowa)
I don’t think they’ll take Clausen and will instead go with their highest rated tackle. They’re weak on both ends of the line, and Bulaga might have L/R versatility.

10) JAX – Jason Pierre-Paul (DE, USF)
I’ve had Derrick Morgan here, and while he’s the guy I’d take, the Jaguars supposedly like JPP more. I’d consider Haden, especially given the conference in which they play, but they reportedly don’t have him graded that high.

11) DEN – Jared Odrick (DL, Penn State)
Brandon Marshall is gone, and while Dez Bryant is still getting a lot of buzz here, I just think that’s too easy of a pick. Rolando McClain would tie up a ton of $ at ILB, corner (Haden) isn’t a need, and Dan Williams is off the board. I still like Odrick in this spot.

12) MIA – Earl Thomas (DB, Texas)
I think it’s S or OLB here, and Thomas gives them versatility and the best value here IMO. If Derrick Morgan is available it will be interesting to see if they take him given how much they’ve been tied to him this offseason.

13) SF – Jimmy Clausen (QB, Notre Dame)
They’re reported to have interest in Clausen, and given their QB situation, he would be a very wise pick. I like this fit with Frank Gore, Michael Crabtree, and Vernon Davis. There’s talk that they might be eager to move up to get him, and if Bradford and Suh go 1-2 and I was Mark Dominik, I’d be on the phone with the Niners as soon as the Bucs go on the clock. I’d take picks #13, #17 and #113 and turn them into Morgan/Graham, Weatherspoon, and Marshall Newhouse. Then I’d take Tyson Alualu in R2 or Lamarr Houston in R3 to address DT. That grabs me a lot better than simply McCoy at #3.

14) SEA – Derrick Morgan (DE, Georgia Tech)
I still have them going T and DE in R1. If Morgan goes to Jacksonville and JPP makes it this far, I think they take him. A lot of folks still have Spiller going to Seattle, but if Pete Carroll truly wants to get bigger at the position, Spiller wouldn’t seem to be his target.

15) NYG – Rolando McClain (LB, Alabama)
I’m staying with McClain. I think it’s going to be either him or Spiller.

16) TEN – Joe Haden (CB, Florida)
No change. If JPP or Morgan is available, one of them might be the pick, but I’m not sure Brandon Graham is in the conversation. The Titans need to line up a reliable corner opposite Courtland Finnegan, and I think they’d be happy to take the draft’s first with this pick.

17) SF – CJ Spiller (RB, Clemson)
I think talent trumps need (OL) at this point, and I’m guessing they’d take Spiller over Anthony Davis.

18) PIT – Kyle Wilson (CB, Boise State)
Maybe I’m alone, but I think this would be an interesting 10 minutes if Clausen was still on the board.

19) ATL – Sean Weatherspoon (LB, Missouri)
No change. I’m leaning really heavy to Weatherspoon here, and the only other players I see as options would be Maurkice Pouncey and Brandon Graham.

20) HOU – Ryan Mathews (RB, Fresno State)
No change. They go with a RB instead of a DB.

21) CIN – Taylor Mays (S, USC)
I’m back on Mays. FS appears to be their biggest need, and they have an affinity for USC guys. I think the Gresham mockers will be wrong.

22) NE – Dez Bryant (WR, Oklahoma State)
He may not end up falling this far, but who’s going to take him? I still think Denver won’t work. Right or wrong, there’s a bunch of negativity around Bryant, and I doubt the Broncos will be eager to go down that road with a receiver at #11. Miami has Marshall, and I don’t think SF, NYG, TEN, HOU, or CIN take him. Maybe Seattle with pick #14, but DE is a huge weakness. I wouldn’t rule PIT or ATL out completely, but I think they’ll address more urgent needs; especially since the talent is still very high at this point. If Bryant does fall, I feel comfortable taking him over a pass rusher here. Randy Moss is on the down side of his Patriot career, and there’s no one on the roster remotely capable of filling his shoes. If Bryant is gone I think Sergio Kindle is the pick.

23) GB – Anthony Davis (T, Rutgers)
I had them taking Charles Brown last time, but I think they’d take Davis since he’s on the board in this version; more versatility, instant impact.

24) PHI – Maurkice Pouncey (OL, Florida)
No change. I really like him here.

25) BAL – Brandon Graham (DE/OLB, Michigan)
I’m sticking with Graham over Devin McCourty. I like his projection to a hybrid scheme like theirs. I think it comes down to one of these two guys here.

26) ARI – Kareem Jackson (CB, Alabama)
Word is he’s creeping up boards, and with Dan Williams gone, I think Arizona will go with their highest rated corner.

27) DAL – Mike Iupati (G, Idaho)
Demaryius Thomas would be my surprise pick here, but I think they like Iupati too much to pass on him. Safe to say it won’t be Tebow.

28) SD – Terrence Cody (DT, Alabama)
Easy pick for me with Ryan Mathews off the board.

29) NYJ – Sergio Kindle (LB, Texas)
Huge talent fills huge need. Yes, they just signed Jason Taylor, but he’s not a long term solution. His is a one year deal, and then they’re back to square one again.

30) MIN – Brian Price (DT, UCLA)
Williams Wall insurance.

31) IND – Charles Brown (T, USC)I’m guessing they take him if he’s there. They want to upgrade Peyton Manning’s protection, and the athletic Brown is a guy with potential.

32) NO – Everson Griffen (DE, USC)
I don’t love back-to-back picks from the same school, but that’s how it worked out here. Adding Alex Brown doesn’t solve the DE need IMO, and I think Griffen is good value at the bottom of the round.

END ROUND 1

Round 2

33) STL – Jermaine Gresham (TE, Oklahoma)
I still like pairing Bradford with his collegiate TE.

34) DET – Jahvid Best (RB, California)
They need playmakers and someone to split carries with Kevin Smith.

35) TB – Jerry Hughes (DE, TCU)
He’s still my top option with this pick, but if he’s gone or they choose to go in a different direction, I’d prefer Kareem Jackson or Golden Tate.

36) KC – Golden Tate (WR, Notre Dame)
He fills a need, and they’re familiar with his work.

37) PHI – Devin McCourty (CB, Rutgers)
With one of the picks they obtained for Donovan McNabb, the Eagles take a corner.

38) CLE – Tim Tebow (QB, Florida)
Tebow would be in great hands with Mike Holmgren. I also think they’re going to be looking for a new HC in a year, and there’s this guy working for ESPN who would love to develop this young QB.

39) OAK – Carlos Dunlap (DE, Florida)
Again with the back-to-back universities. If Al doesn’t take JPP in R1, then I like Dunlap here, even with the Groves trade. If he does, then maybe Saffold is the pick.

40) SD – Toby Gerhart (RB, Stanford)
I still like them going NT and RB with their first two picks. Gerhart is a nice pairing with Sproles. This might be a little high for Gerhart, so maybe they get him by dealing down a bit. I don’t think he’ll be there when they pick again (#91).

41) BUF – Linval Joseph (DT, ECU)
The fast-rising DT fills a need at NT for the Bills.

42) TB – Arrelious Benn (WR, Illinois)
Freeman gets a reliable, physical #1 receiver. My alternative pick here would be Patrick Robinson.

43) DEN – JD Walton (C, Baylor)
One of the Brandon Marshall picks goes to addressing the offensive line.

44) NE – Rodger Saffold (OL, Indiana)
The Patriots would be wise to add OL depth, and Saffold appears to be good value at this point.

45) DEN – Demaryius Thomas (WR, Georgia Tech)
Here they address their need for a WR. He may not fall this far, but I’m just not impressed with him enough to find a place for him any higher.

46) NYG – Tyson Alualu (DL, California)
No change. I like his fit with their defense.

47) NE – Koa Misi (OLB, Utah)
If they don’t get a pass rusher in R1, I expect one of their three R2 picks to focus on the position.

48) CAR – Taylor Price (WR, Ohio)
No change. Steve Smith has asked for a young playmaker across from him, and I’m high on Price.

49) SF – Patrick Robinson (CB, FSU)
If they go QB and RB with their first two picks, I think this next one is either a corner or lineman. I chose Robinson over Ducasse.

50) KC – Jason Worilds (OLB, Virginia Tech)
I think one of their R2 picks goes towards a pass rusher, and with the Bucs taking Hughes right ahead of them at #35, they settle for Worilds.

51) HOU – Nate Allen (S, USF)
I’m guessing they’d take Allen over the available corners in this spot.

52) PIT – Vladimir Ducasse (OL, Massachusetts)
Versatile depth.

53) NE – Corey Wootton (DL, Connecticut)
Youth is needed up front.

54) CIN – Brandon Ghee (CB, Wake Forest)
TE might be a more likely pick, but I’ve got Ghee breaking in as a nickel guy here. Dorin Dickerson seems to be high on their list, so that might be a surprise selection.

55) PHI – Morgan Burnett (S, Georgia Tech)
The Eagles add to the secondary once again.

56) GB – Chad Jones (S, LSU)
No change. They need to upgrade at SS.

57) BAL – Rob Gronkowski (TE, Arizona)
If they don’t get one in R1, I like a TE here.

58) ARI – Sean Lee (LB, Penn State)
I’ve now got him jumping into R2 attempting to fill their need at ILB.

59) DAL – Cam Thomas (DT, North Carolina)
If they can’t get a safety here, I think they’ll look to beef up the defensive line.

60) SEA – Jonathan Dwyer (RB, Georgia Tech)
Pete Carroll gets his physical presence.

61) NYJ – Jon Asamoah (G, Illinois)
After missing out on Pouncey and Iupati in R1, they get their replacement for Alan Faneca with this pick.

62) MIN – Chris Cook (DB, Virginia)
If they don’t get a corner in R1, I think they’ll focus on one here. Cook might also give them needed FS versatility.

63) IND – Austen Lane (DE, Murray State)
I’m going back to this pick. I like him developing with Freeney and Mathis.

64) NO – Colt McCoy (QB, Texas)
I think he’s a really safe pick for this team. There’s absolutely nothing behind Brees, so one Bernard Pollard knee shot could ruin the Champs’ season. They’d be wise to invest in a talented backup. If someone was to take McCoy before this, I like Darryl Washington as a WLB on that defense.

END ROUND 2

With the Bucs’ first three picks, I’ve got it down to:
1 – Suh or McCoy
2a – Hughes, Jackson, or Tate
2b – Benn or Robinson

These are three huge decisions for Bucs brass to make, and how they fare with those picks could go a long way in determining the tenure of this current regime.

I think getting a DT in R1 is pretty much a lock at this point, and McCoy looks much more likely. The only way I see the Bucs getting Suh is if the Lions trade for Albert Haynesworth. That would then, seemingly, have them addressing another position besides DT with the #2 overall pick, which would then have Suh falling into Tampa’s lap. Unlikely, but it’s a scenario nonetheless.

After that, I still want to come away with some combination of CB, WR, and DE with the next two picks. I think the value at pass rusher and corner is noticeably better at #35 than it will be at #42. That being the case, I’d lean towards Hughes or Jackson over Tate if either was there. Then at #42, I get my receiver. Here it’s Benn, and I think there’s a pretty good chance that Benn, Tate, or even Taylor Price is a Buccaneer after all is said and done on day two of the draft. They need to emerge with a serious threat at receiver, and I don’t think they can do it if they wait past this pick. There are fine complimentary players later on in the draft like Jordan Shipley, but the Bucs are desperate for a #1 receiver. Mike Williams is a mid round guy I think has the best shot of that bunch of being a #1, but will the Bucs take a chance on a guy who quit on his team?

With DT, DE, and WR being addressed, I’m looking for a CB with the next pick. Given the depth of talent at the position this year, the Bucs shouldn’t have a problem emerging with an eventual starter at pick #67. Moving on…

My remaining Buccaneer picks stay nearly the same (1 change):

R3 – Amari Spievey (CB, Iowa)
If they have yet to get a pass rusher and CB and WR have both been addressed, I’d look at either Austin Lane (DE, Murray State) or Jermaine Cunningham (DE, Florida) with this pick. If they haven’t chosen a receiver, I’d take Mardy Gilyard and Damian Williams over Jordan Shipley here.

R4 and R5 – James Starks (RB, Buffalo) and Pat Angerer (LB, Iowa)
I keep flip flopping these guys round-wise, so I’ll lump them together here; order doesn’t matter. If the Bucs were to wait until now (let’s hope not) to draft a receiver, Dezmon Briscoe (Kansas), Andre Roberts (Citadel), and Mike Williams (Syracuse) might get looks. Brandon Lang (Troy) is the pass rusher I’d be most likely to consider, and I still like Marshall Newhouse (TCU) as a versatile offensive lineman.

Through 5 rounds I have the Bucs addressing each of their primary needs, and from here on out I’m simply looking at the best talent on the board regardless of position.

R6 – Corey Peters (DT, Kentucky)
I’ve mocked Marcus Easley (WR, Connecticut) here before, but it looks like he’s climbing and someone might snatch him up a little earlier based on his potential. If that’s the case, the Bucs should have their choice of some talented players who had the misfortune of falling; possibilities like Jason Fox (T, Miami), George Selvie (DE, USF), Larry Asante (S, Nebraska), or Syd’Quan Thompson (CB, California). Even with the addition of Gerald McCoy in R1, the Bucs would be wise to get another DT at some point.

Round 7
The Bucs now have 5 selections in the final round – their original choice, JAX’s for Luke McCown, BAL’s for Marques Douglas, PIT’s for Byron Leftwich, and a compensatory pick at the end of the round. Here’s how I would spend those picks:

Barry Church (S, Toledo)
Patrick Stoudamire (CB, W. Illinois)
Drew Davis (T, Alabama)
Kyle Williams (WR, Arizona State)
Keenan Clayton (LB, Oklahoma)

If one of these players isn’t available, I’d go to my list of undrafted free agent possibilities listed below.


Undrafted free agents:
Danario Alexamder (WR, Missouri)
Seyi Ajirotutu (WR, Fresno State)
Aaron Pettrey (K, Ohio State)
Freddie Barnes (WR, Bowling Green)
Crezdon Butler (CB, Clemson)
Brandon Long (WR, Louisville)
Thomas Austin (OL, Clemson)
Antonio Coleman (DE, Auburn)
James Ruffin (DE, Northern Iowa)
Malcolm Sheppard (DT, Arkansas)

Finally, here’s the Tampa 12:

1) Gerald McCoy (DT, Oklahoma) – penetrating franchise DT

2) Jerry Hughes (DE, TCU) – accomplished pass rusher

3) Arrelious Benn (WR, Illinois) – all round talent with #1 potential

4) Amari Spievey (CB, Iowa) – underrated future starter

5) Pat Angerer (LB, Iowa) – depth and potential replacement

6) James Starks (RB, Buffalo) – impressive speed, vision, and hands

7) Corey Peters (DT, Kentucky) – proven player, athletic penetrator, nice added depth

8) Barry Church (S, Toledo) – still on my radar even with the Jones signing

9) Patrick Stoudamire (CB, W. Illinois) – another needed cover man

10) Drew Davis (T, Alabama) – right tackle competition

11) Kyle Williams (WR, Arizona State) – he’s fast

12) Keenan Clayton (LB, Oklahoma) – a true Tampa type; production makes up for missing measurables

Position breakdown:
WR – 3
DB – 3
DL – 2
LB – 2
RB – 1
OL – 1

GO BUCS!

Big Ben on the Move?

Thanks to his own moronic and possibly illegal behavior, a two-time Super Bowl winning QB might be changing locker rooms this weekend. If Ben Roethlisberger was to be moved, which team would be the best fit? Before you get to that, just how many possible destinations are there? The NFL isn’t littered with Elways, Marinos, and Montanas, but there don’t appear to be many teams in search of a franchise passer, whether it is due to the existing talent at the position or money already committed to it.

Here are teams we can eliminate due to talent:
Indianapolis – Peyton Manning
New England – Tom Brady
New Orleans – Drew Brees
Houston – Matt Schaub
San Diego – Philip Rivers
NY Giants – Eli Manning
Dallas – Tony Romo
Cincinnati – Carson Palmer
Green Bay – Aaron Rodgers
Washington – Donovan McNabb

Here are the teams we can eliminate due to $/picks committed:
NY Jets – Mark Sanchez
Miami – Chad Henne
Baltimore – Joe Flacco
Kansas City – Matt Cassel
Philadelphia – Kevin Kolb
Chicago – Jay Cutler
Detroit – Matthew Stafford
Tampa Bay – Josh Freeman
Atlanta – Matt Ryan

That’s 19 teams right there that I think can be safely eliminated.

Of the remaining candidates here are the ones who, while they may not have fixtures at QB, I believe have situations that will prevent them from pursuing Roethlisberger.
Tennessee – Vince Young
Arizona – Matt Leinart
Seattle – Matt Hasselbeck / Charlie Whitehurst

Vince Young showed promise again last year, and I don’t see Bud Adams putting his personal favorite back on the bench. In Arizona, the Cardinals don’t seem terribly thrilled to kickoff Leinart Era II, but would they squelch it from the start by acquiring Roethlisberger? Ken Whisenhunt was the OC in Pittsburgh when Ben came on board and won his first Super Bowl, so there’s obvious familiarity. Everything I’ve seen tells me that Arizona doesn’t have interest in him, and they publicly backed Leinart and Derek Anderson (yes, that Derek Anderson) when Donovan McNabb rumors heated up. Matt Hasselbeck won’t be a Seahawk much longer. Heck, he could be dealt this weekend as well. Even so, they have put a decent commitment into Charlie Whitehurst, and acquiring someone like Roethlisberger doesn’t seem likely.

That leaves 9 teams:

Minnesota – Brett Favre
I think they’re only an option if they find out tomorrow that Favre was done with football for good. Done laughing yet? It’s silly to write anything further since we know this isn’t happening, but if Favre was out of the picture, you’d have to think that Minnesota would be interested seeing as how they have a pretty sizeable Super Bowl window right now.

Carolina – Matt Moore
They’ve gotten behind Moore who closed out the season impressively, winning 4 of the 5 games he started. Why go to plan B now?

San Francisco – Alex Smith
Yes, I believe this team would become a legit contender with Roethlisberger behind center, but this doesn’t seem like a Mike Singletary type move. I think they address QB in the draft, but I’ll get to that later.

St. Louis – AJ Feeley
Sam Bradford at #1, or a suspended Roethlisberger on thin ice for probably the #1 pick and more? I’d take Bradford, keep my other picks, and let someone else gamble on Ben.

Cleveland – Jake Delhomme / Seneca Wallace
Within the division? To Cleveland?

Can we rule out those 27 teams, at least 99.99%? If so, you’re left with Oakland, Buffalo, Denver, and Jacksonville.

Jacksonville – David Garrard
The Jaguars may need to turn the page on the Del Rio / Garrard era, but is acquiring Roethlisberger getting them anywhere? They don’t have a R2 pick this year, so dealing for Ben would likely wipe out any other ammo they need to upgrade other weak areas like the FS, MLB, WR, and DE positions.

Denver – Kyle Orton / Brady Quinn
Orton is returning as a restricted free agent at a cheap $2.6 million, and Quinn is extremely cheap over the next two years, as his guaranteed money has been paid by Cleveland. Neither one would seemingly prohibit Denver from making an upgrade. When you consider the aggressive personality of a guy like Josh McDaniels, I’ve got to think he’d be at least a bit interested in Big Ben. Sure they fizzled at the end of ’09 and yes they traded away their #1 receiver, but would/does McDaniels think Roethlisberger is the guy to get them over the hump?

Buffalo – Trent Edwards / Brian Brohm
They self-admittedly need to upgrade under center, and Ben would do that. He’d give Buffalo an identity, a face of the franchise for the first time since the Kelly-Smith-Thomas era ended. Does Ralph Wilson want to make Roethlisberger’s rehabilitation the final part of his legacy? I certainly think they would be in the running.

Oakland – Jamarcus Russell / Bruce Gradkowski
Russell has two years at over $9 million each. He’s voidable in 2012, but will anyone want that contract? Will Al eat it? Sure Jamarcus is Al’s golden boy, but doesn’t Roethlisberger look like a Raider? A bad boy with a big arm? Davis is having fantasies as I write this.

Have I mentioned Ben’s contract? Well, in addition to the suspension and risk of future lengthier ones, any team acquiring Roethlisberger will take on a player who signed an 8 year, $102 million contract two years ago. Still due on that contract are yearly totals of $8 million in 2010, $11.6 million from 2011-2014, and another $12 million in 2015. Turned off yet?

Given all that, I think that Oakland, Buffalo, and Denver are the most likely destinations. Story-wise, I’d like to see him in Oakland, but of these teams, Denver could include the best QB in return in any deal for Roethlisberger. Would Pittsburgh want Orton, or would they be satisfied going with Dennis Dixon, Byron Leftwich, and Charlie Batch? I’m making this up here, but would Pittsburgh be intrigued by a #1, a #2, and Orton in exchange for Ben? Denver does have that Brandon Marshall R2 pick to work with and another one next year for that matter.

As a point of reference, Chicago gave up two R1 picks, a R3, and Orton in exchange for Jay Cutler. No, Cutler isn’t as accomplished as Roethlisberger, but he doesn’t have the legal/league issues that Ben does. Roethlisberger might get cheap in a hurry. With R1 picks at #11 (Denver’s) and #18, Pittsburgh could come away from Thursday with some combination of Jared Odrick, Dez Bryant, Rolando McClain, Brandon Graham, Joe Haden, Mike Iupati, CJ Spiller, Dan Williams, and Kyle Wilson.

I’m sure that dealing their knuckleheaded QB wasn’t in the initial offseason plans, but that might just be the best move for the Steeler franchise. Pittsburgh fans have voiced their displeasure in droves, and as evidenced by the Santonio Holmes trade, the Rooneys aren’t going to tolerate these distractions any longer.

Never before have I seen a player that is such a winner on the field and as equal a loser off of it.

2010 NFL Draft - Final Rankings - Top 10 By Position

Here are my final top 10 players at each position in this year’s draft. I expanded a few of the positions based on the high number of players I expect to be drafted fairly early at them. These rankings are intended to reflect my projections for the level of success each will attain in the pros, not the order in which I believe they will be selected.


Quarterback
1 – Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame)
2 – Sam Bradford (Oklahoma)
3 – Tony Pike (Cincinnati)
4 – Jevan Snead (Mississippi)
5 – Colt McCoy (Texas)
6 – Jarrett Brown (West Virginia)
7 – Tim Tebow (Florida)
8 – John Skelton (Fordham)
9 – Dan LeFevour (Central Michigan)
10 – Levi Brown (Troy)

Most likely to be a Buc – none
With the Bucs drafting Josh Freeman last year, it doesn’t appear that a QB will be high on the priority list this year. If we had picks to waste, I’d love to get Snead or Skelton in the middle rounds, but unfortunately we have too many other holes to fill.



Running Back
1 – CJ Spiller (Clemson)
2 – Jahvid Best (California)
3 – Ryan Mathews (Fresno State)
4 – Toby Gerhart (Stanford)
5 – Jonathan Dwyer (Georgia Tech)
6 – James Starks (Buffalo)
7 – Joe McKnight (USC)
8 – Montario Hardesty (Tennessee)
9 – Anthony Dixon (Mississippi State)
10 – Ben Tate (Auburn)

Most likely to be a Buc – Toby Gerhart
None of the backs stands out as a real obvious choice for the Bucs, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bucs drafted Gerhart with one of the R2 picks in order to give Freeman a reliable ground game weapon with the futures of Cadillac, Ward, and Graham in question.



Wide Receiver
1 – Dez Bryant (Oklahoma State)
2 – Arrelious Benn (Illinois)
3 – Golden Tate (Notre Dame)
4 – Taylor Price (Ohio)
5 – Mardy Gilyard (Cincinnati)
6 – Damian Williams (USC)
7 – Demaryius Thomas (Georgia Tech)
8 – Brandon LaFell (LSU)
9 – Eric Decker (Minnesota)
10 – Mike Williams (Syracuse)
11 – Dexter McCluster (Mississippi)
12 – Dezmon Briscoe (Kansas)
13 – Jacoby Ford (Clemson)
14 – Jordan Shipley (Texas)
15 – Andre Roberts (The Citadel)
16 – Marcus Easley (Connecticut)
17 – Jeremy Williams (Tulane)
18 – Emmanuel Sanders (SMU)
19 – Danario Alexander (Missouri)
20 – Riley Cooper (Florida)

Most likely to be a Buc – Jordan Shipley
It’s not the route I’d go, but having learned from Pewter Report that Josh Freeman has the staff’s ear about Shipley, I wouldn’t be surprised if they took him. They need to surround Freeman with weapons, and they may go with his personal request when doing so.



Tight End
1 – Jermaine Gresham (Oklahoma)
2 – Aaron Hernandez (Florida)
3 – Dennis Pitta (BYU)
4 – Rob Gronkowski (Arizona)
5 – Anthony McCoy (USC)
6 – Jimmy Graham (Miami)
7 – Dorin Dickerson (Pittsburgh)
8 – Tony Moeaki (Iowa)
9 – Ed Dickson (Oregon)
10 – Colin Peek (Alabama)

Most likely to be a Buc – Jeron Mastrud (Kansas State)
I question whether or not they’ll draft a TE with Winslow, Stevens, and Gilmore on board. I wouldn’t call Stevens and Gilmore locks, but is spending a pick on an upgrade here the best use of resources? Maybe they take Mastrud, a former target of Freeman’s, as an undrafted free agent. The two did have nice chemistry together during Freeman’s time at KSU, so it would make sense to pick him up after the draft.



Offensive Tackle
1 – Russell Okung (Oklahoma State)
2 – Bruce Campbell (Maryland)
3 – Anthony Davis (Rutgers)
4 – Trent Williams (Oklahoma)
5 – Bryan Bulaga (Iowa)
6 – Charles Brown (USC)
7 – Rodger Saffold (Indiana)
8 – Jared Veldheer (Hillsdale)
9 – Kyle Calloway (Iowa)
10 – Jason Fox (Miami)

Most likely to be a Buc – Jason Fox
Like the RB position, I don’t see a tackle standing out as an obvious fit for the Bucs. I don’t see any in the top 5 being our choice at #3, and with all their other dire needs, I’m not sure that Saffold or Brown (unlikely to be there) should be the choice in R2. I pick Fox because he’s a guy likely to fall due to medical questions, and the Bucs haven’t shied away from that kind of player in the past (see Xavier Fulton, shoulder, last year).

Center / Guard

1 – Maurkice Pouncey (Florida)
2 – Mike Iupati (Idaho)
3 – Vladimir Ducasse (Massachusetts)
4 – Jon Asamoah (Illinois)
5 – John Jerry (Mississippi)
6 – JD Walton (Baylor)
7 – Marshall Newhouse (TCU)
8 – Matt Tennant (Boston College)
9 – Mike Johnson (Alabama)
10 – Mitch Petrus (Arkansas)

Most likely to be a Buc – John Jerry
I don’t have him going to the Bucs in my mocks, but I think he’s a guy the Bucs will/should be looking at in the middle rounds as someone who can help you out on the right side of the line either at guard or tackle. Even though I have Jerry rated higher, I still prefer Newhouse because I think he’s a better value; can probably be had at least a full round later than Jerry.

Defensive End

1 – Derrick Morgan (Georgia Tech)
2 – Brandon Graham (Michigan)
3 – Everson Griffen (USC)
4 – Jerry Hughes (TCU)
5 – Jason Pierre-Paul (USF)
6 – Corey Wootton (Connecticut)
7 – Carlos Dunlap (Florida)
8 – Austen Lane (Murray State)
9 – Jermaine Cunningham (Florida)
10 – Brandon Lang (Troy)
11 – CJ Wilson (ECU)
12 – Lindsey Witten (Connecticut)
13 – Greg Hardy (Mississippi)
14 – George Selvie (USF)
15 – Kevin Basped (Nevada)

Most likely to be a Buc – Jerry Hughes
I think they’ll have a shot at him with pick 2a, and given our need for a pass rusher combined with his ability to do just that at a high level, he’s a perfect match. I don’t think he’s too small and has a chance to follow in the footsteps of guys like Dwight Freeney and Elvis Dumervil as undersized edge rushers.

Defensive Tackle

1 – Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska)
2 – Gerald McCoy (Oklahoma)
3 – Brian Price (UCLA)
4 – Jared Odrick (Penn State)
5 – Tyson Alualu (California)
6 – Dan Williams (Tennessee)
7– Lamarr Houston (Texas)
8 – Geno Atkins (Georgia)
9 – Terrence Cody (Alabama)
10 – Linval Joseph (ECU)
11 – Al Woods (LSU)
12 – Cam Thomas (UNC)
13 – Corey Peters (Kentucky)
14 – Arthur Jones (Syracuse)
15 – Torrell Troup (UCF)

Most likely to be a Buc – Gerald McCoy
I think he’s our pick at #3 overall because Suh won’t be there.



Outside Linebacker

1 – Sergio Kindle (Texas)
2 – Sean Weatherspoon (Missouri)
3 – Eric Norwood (South Carolina)
4 – Darryl Washington (TCU)
5 – Ricky Sapp (Clemson)
6 – Navorro Bowman (Penn State)
7 – Koa Misi (Utah)
8 – Jason Worilds (Virginia Tech)
9 – Dekoda Watson (FSU)
10 – Roddrick Muckelroy (Texas)
11 – O’Brien Schofield (Wisconsin)
12 – Thaddeus Gibson (Ohio State)
13 – Rennie Curran (Georgia)
14 – AJ Edds (Iowa)
15 – Keenan Clayton (Oklahoma)

Most likely to be a Buc – Sean Weatherspoon
I don’t see any of these players as future Buccaneers, but if I had to choose one, I’d say Weatherspoon. The Bucs would have to deal back up into R1 to get him (seemingly ahead of Atlanta at #19), but if the Bucs are in an aggressive mindset, I could see them trading up for Weatherspoon and possibly expediting Barrett Ruud’s departure.

Inside Linebacker

1 – Rolando McClain (Alabama)
2 – Sean Lee (Penn State)
3 – Brandon Spikes (Florida)
4 – Pat Angerer (Iowa)
5 – Micah Johnson (Kentucky)
6 – Jamar Chaney (Mississippi State)
7 – Reggie Carter (UCLA)
8 – Boris Lee (Troy)
9 – Kion Wilson (USF)
10 – Phillip Dillard (Nebraska)

Most likely to be a Buc – Pat Angerer

I expect that if the Bucs draft a LB that it will be someone to play the middle. Would they take Spikes if he was available in R3? What about Sean Lee? If they don’t spend a R6-R7 pick on someone like Johnson or Carter, Angerer makes a ton of sense in the R4-R5 range.

Cornerback

1 – Joe Haden (Florida)
2 – Patrick Robinson (FSU)
3 – Kareem Jackson (Alabama)
4 – Kyle Wilson (Boise State)
5 – Devin McCourty (Rutgers)
6 – Amari Spievey (Iowa)
7 – Brandon Ghee (Wake Forest)
8 – Chris Cook (Virginia)
9 – Perrish Cox (Oklahoma State)
10 – Walter Thurmond (Oregon)
11 – Akwasi Owusu-Ansah (Indiana PA)
12 – Dominique Franks (Oklahoma)
13 – Javier Arenas (Alabama)
14 – Alterraun Verner (UCLA)
15 – Syd’Quan Thompson (California)

Most likely to be a Buc – Patrick Robinson
I want to say Kareem Jackson here, but I think he’ll have trouble getting by Arizona at the bottom of R1. Robinson should be there, and Nole bias aside, I like his projection at the next level. I think he’d be a great pairing with Aqib Talib, and there’s a good chance that one of the Bucs’ R2 picks is spent on a corner.

Safety

1 – Eric Berry (Tennessee)
2 – Earl Thomas (Texas)
3 – Chad Jones (LSU)
4 – Nate Allen (USF)
5 – Taylor Mays (USC)
6 – Morgan Burnett (Georgia Tech)
7 – Reshad Jones (Georgia)
8 – Darrell Stuckey (Kansas)
9 – Barry Church (Toledo)
10 – Major Wright (Florida)
11 – Larry Asante (Nebraska)
12 – TJ Ward (Oregon)
13 – Terrell Skinner (Maryland)
14 – Myron Rolle (FSU)
15 – Quentin Scott (Northern Iowa)

Most likely to be a Buc – Larry Asante
With the signing of Sean Jones, I don’t think SS is high on the Bucs radar. It looks like he’ll compete with Sabby Piscitelli to start there next to Tanard Jackson. Speaking of TJ, he’s one strike away from a lengthy suspension, so maybe the Bucs do indeed bump this back up the list of needs. I’m not terribly high on him, but someone like Asante (or Reshad Jones if he fall far enough (R4)) would make sense in the R4-R5 range.

Brandon the Buc?

With it looking as if no one is interested in surrendering a first round pick for Brandon Marshall, I think the Bucs are in perfect position to end up with the disgruntled Denver receiver come draft weekend. Despite being an upper echelon #1 pass catcher, there hasn’t been a lot of buzz about him being dealt. One could easily argue that Tampa’s receiver situation is the league’s worst, so you would have to think that the Bucs are at least mildly intrigued at the thought acquiring Marshall’s services. Yes, he’s had off-field issues of both the team and non-team variety, but he’s an unquestioned game-changing talent. The Bucs invested in a franchise signal caller a year ago, and they’ve made it no secret that he’s the future. Well, he’s not going to be the present, much less the future, unless the wide receiver position sees a noticeable upgrade in talent.

How are the Bucs in perfect position to get Marshall? If you look at the teams making the first ten picks of round two, I don’t see a lot of angling for him at the top of the round. Aside from having two of those ten picks, the Bucs have an edge over other teams due to the fact that most of them don’t figure to be pursuing a receiver, whether it’s Marshall or a draftee, with their pick. Let’s break it down:

33) St. Louis Rams
They’re expected to get their QB with the first overall pick and do have a need for a #1 receiver.

34) Detroit Lions
They already have Calvin Johnson and would seem to be out of the chase for Marshall.

35) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The team needs a #1 receiver badly.

36) Kansas City Chiefs
Dwayne Bowe is their #1, and dealing for Brandon Marshall doesn’t seem like part of their offseason plan. Plus they’re a divisional opponent. Golden Tate would be far more likely IMO if he's still on the board at #36. He fits the complimentary receiver mold opposite Bowe and would be reunited with Charlie Weis.

37) Philadelphia Eagles
Receiver certainly isn’t a top need.

38) Cleveland Browns
They’re as desperate as the Bucs for a #1 receiver.

39) Oakland Raiders
Would they deal within the division?

40) San Diego
See Oakland.

41) Buffalo Bills
How does Marshall like Canada?

42) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
They still need a #1 receiver.

What helps (if you think Tampa has a serious shot) is that all of Denver’s divisional foes are among those nine teams. Of those teams, I think you can instantly cross of five of them – Detroit, Kansas City, Philadelphia, Oakland, and San Diego.

That leaves St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Cleveland, and Buffalo.

A writer for the Rams flat out denied that the team has any interest in Marshall. I’ve also read where Mike Holmgren shot down any possibility of a deal for Marshall, but I can’t find any direct quotes. Even without a quote, acquiring Marshall doesn’t really seem like a Holmgren-type move. I really don’t see the Bills as a possibility, despite their huge need for a #1 receiver, especially if a NT like Terrence Cody or maybe Linval Joseph or Cam Thomas is there at #41.

Brandon Marshall could easily still be a Bronco when the Bucs are on the clock at #42. If Tampa Bay was able to draft a combination of Ndamukong Suh / Gerald McCoy and Jerry Hughes / Everson Griffen / Kareem Jackson / Patrick Robinson with the 35th pick, I think it’s time to get on the phone with the Broncos. I still have Arrelious Benn going to the Bucs with this pick and like his potential as a #1 guy, but Marshall, despite his “baggage”, is a proven commodity.

Sure, the Bucs would be taking a risk by acquiring Marshall, but you can’t sit on the sidelines forever. If the staff feels that they can provide Marshall with an agreeable environment, they need to get the deal done for pick #42 at that point. The Bucs have said that they are going to do everything they can to make Freeman a winner and acquiring a player with Marshall’s talent could pay off with a lot of wins.

2010 NFL Mock Draft 3.0

The last version I put together looked a little too inside the box. As a general rule, if you see the same picks by a lot of people, they’re unlikely to come true. So I tried reshuffling things a little bit, still focusing on need and value but coming up with some “un-public” picks, and here are my results:

1) Saint Louis Rams
Candidates: Ndamukong Suh and Sam Bradford
I still think the Suh is easily the best player in this draft, but can the Rams afford to pass on a possible franchise QB yet again? Will they find a better QB in a later round? Will they go through 2010 with AJ Feeley and Keith Null behind center? Colt McCoy and Tony Pike aren’t going to sell tickets, and Bradford’s shoulder is reportedly checking out well. He blew away his Pro Day and seems safely on the path to the #1 pick.

Rams pick…Sam Bradford (QB, Oklahoma)

2) Detroit Lions
Candidates: Ndamukong Suh, Gerald McCoy, Russell Okung
I don’t see any other player gaining consideration for this pick aside from those three. According to sources close to the Lions, Suh was atop their board a month ago. With free agent acquisitions in Kyle Vanden Bosch and Corey Williams, the Lions have put a focus on improving the defensive line. When you consider how impressive Sammie Lee Hill was as a rookie at NT, the money going to Corey Williams, and the fact that both of those players are starting material, Suh isn’t a slam dunk. Now go through all that again and substitute McCoy for Suh. Is he any more likely to be the pick? The Lions would have been justified in upgrading from Jeff Backus at LT the last couple of offseasons, and they have a perfect opportunity to fill two holes with one selection here by drafting Okung to play LT and moving Backus in to LG. Offseason activity and the need to protect their franchise QB Matthew Stafford are big reasons to think Okung is the man for them. Still, I have a hard time seeing a second defensive-minded head coach passing on one of the best defensive prospects in recent years. The best player in the draft will not fall in Tampa’s lap. Shades of ’07, the Lions do it again.

Lions pick…Ndamukong Suh (DT, Nebraska)

3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Candidates: Russell Okung and Gerald McCoy
I am 100% convinced that Suh would be the pick if he was still on the board, but at least here, he’s not. If the draft falls out this way, and the Bucs aren’t able to deal down, I really don’t see anyone other than these two even being in the discussion. CJ Spiller would be a nice offensive weapon, but he’s not good value in this spot. I was never a fan of Eric Berry with this pick, and that becomes (or at least it should) a non-issue with the Sean Jones signing. Dez Bryant? It is all about #5, but I have a hard time seeing the Bucs drop this pick on a receiver who is creating more questions than answers. I can’t possibly see the Bucs passing on one of the top defensive tackles if one remains. McCoy projects as the penetrating presence the Bucs have lacked since Warren Sapp left town, and while he’s a consolation prize to those hopeful of winning the Suh sweepstakes, McCoy is a high ceiling disruptor capable of making an instant impact. I’d wager that Okung would be the pick if for some reason both Suh and McCoy were unavailable.

Bucs pick…Gerald McCoy (DT, Oklahoma)

4) Washington Redskins
Candidates: Russell Okung and Jimmy Clausen
The Redskins are playing this one close to the vest, but I’ve got to think it comes down to one of these two guys. I don’t want to give Clausen to the Redskins simply because there’s a new guy wearing the headset on the sidelines, but Mike Lombardi says Clausen is right up Mike Shanahan’s alley. It’s hard to argue with him, and being a fan of Clausen’s, I won’t. Jason Campbell is a RFA, and while I expect him to return to Washington in 2010, the question is for how long he will remain. QBs are a precious commodity, and there’s no reason to give him away. Still, I don’t think he’s Shanahan’s guy. All that said, it seems like no one wants to make Clausen the pick here. Whoever is under center for the Redskins will need to keep his head on a swivel given the shoddy offensive line. They’ve made a couple of moves to shore up that line, but LT and LG remain big weaknesses. Okung makes sense, but with the Skins moving to a ZBS they could wait a round or two and pick up a Roger Saffold (R2) or Selvish Capers (R3) to man the left side. Okung projects just fine in a ZBS, but I’m not sure Shanahan’s QB can be found later on.

Redskins pick…Jimmy Clausen (QB, Notre Dame)

5) Kansas City Chiefs
Candidates: Russell Okung, Bryan Bulaga, Eric Berry
If you believe the buzz, Eric Berry probably won’t garner much consideration for this pick. I think that if the Chiefs stay in this spot, the pick is almost certain to be a tackle. It’s high for any OLB or NT, and I don’t see Dez Bryant joining this team. Speaking of buzz, word is that the Chiefs’ current LT Branden Albert is on the move this offseason either inside to guard or over to the other tackle spot. I know that Scott Pioli and Kirk Ferentz have a connection, but would the Chiefs really take Bulaga if Okung was still on the board?

Chiefs pick…Russell Okung (T, Oklahoma State)

6) Seattle Seahawks
Candidates: Eric Berry, Bryan Bulaga, Derrick Morgan, Jason Pierre-Paul, CJ Spiller
The Seahawks could go in a lot of directions with this pick, especially when you consider that they choose 14th as well. With the Charlie Whitehurst acquisition, I don’t see Clausen being the pick if he was still available, and I really doubt Dez Bryant is on the radar right here. I’ll eliminate both defensive ends as well because I think there’s much better value at that position with the 14th pick. If they were to take an end at #6 I would guess that it would be JPP based on upside. Pete Carroll is reportedly looking for a “physical presence” at RB to go with Justin Forsett and Julius Jones, so I’ve got to think that Spiller isn’t high on his list here. That leaves Bulaga and Berry. SS is certainly a need, especially with them cutting Deon Grant, but they’ve got nothing at tackle with Walter Jones retiring. Berry’s nice, but do you “need” him at #6? You just invested a little bit in Whitehurst. Do you want him to stand upright?

Seahawks pick…Bryan Bulaga (T, Iowa)

7) Cleveland Browns
Candidates: Joe Haden, Eric Berry, Dez Bryant
The Browns need a #1 receiver, but I can’t see them bypassing Haden or Berry for a receiver with questions. They spent a #3 overall pick on Braylon Edwards a few years ago and didn’t exactly get the bang for their buck with that selection. Given how the draft has turned out so far, I think they must address one of the league’s worst secondaries with their first pick, and it’s a question of value/preference between Haden and Berry. Haden’s poor Combine may have turned off some teams and raised questions as to just what his ceiling/potential might be. The Browns are weak at safety, and that was before Brodney Pool joined the Jets. Abram Elam is a Mangini favorite, but he’s marginal at SS. I’ll go with the guy likely to make the bigger impact.

Browns pick…Eric Berry (S, Syracuse)
* Cleveland acquired Sheldon Brown from the Eagles, so that makes this Berry pick a lot easier.

8) Oakland Raiders
Candidates: Bruce Campbell, Jason Pierre-Paul, Dez Bryant
When the Raiders acquired Kamerion Wimbley, I figured they were set at DE. Well, apparently Wimbley is going to play SLB, so DE isn’t completely out of the question. How can I not mention Dez Bryant? Most teams wouldn’t consider taking a WR in this spot after selecting one a pick earlier the previous draft. Would Al? Left tackle is their biggest need that they’re likely to address. QB is #1, but an upgrade there seems unlikely unless they’re able to get Donovan McNabb. Who does Al like? Dez Bryant is causing me some hesitation, but I called my shot at the Combine and am not changing it here.

Raiders pick…Bruce Campbell (T, Maryland)

9) Buffalo Bills
Candidates: Anthony Davis, Trent Williams, Dan Williams, Dez Bryant
Is Dez Bryant the kind of pick a new ownership group is going to make? This looks really high for Dan Williams, but NT is right up there with QB and LT in the need category. I don’t have much of a feel for what the Bills think of Clausen and whether or not they’d take him if he were here, but he just doesn’t strike me as a Chan Gailey kind of QB. I think it’s a tackle with this pick, but which one will it be? If you’re following their stock, Davis’ is going down while Williams’ is on the rise. I haven’t been terribly high on the guy, but he’s had a fine offseason leading up to the draft and might be the safer selection.

Bills pick…Trent Williams (T, Oklahoma)

10) Jacksonville Jaguars
Candidates: Jason Pierre-Paul, Derrick Morgan, Joe Haden, Earl Thomas, Rolando McClain
Here’s my toughest pick so far. While the Aaron Kampman signing addresses a need, I don’t think you can say it’s filled. Is it bad enough that they need to take JPP or Morgan here? McClain has garnered recent buzz among some “experts” and makes a bit of sense here. Like the Bucs, the Jags could use an attitude change on defense and a leader to build around. The time seems right under Jack Del Rio for this kind of pick. How fed up with Reggie Nelson are the Jags? Enough to reach a little for Earl Thomas? Corner isn’t an urgent need with Rashean Mathis and Derek Cox as starters, but the Jags are in a division with the Colts and Texans, two teams who throw the ball with regularity. I want to give them Haden here, but word is that the Jags aren’t going to draft him. Gene Smith is a BPA kind of guy, and apparently they don’t have Haden that high. When the offseason started, the Jags put a huge huge huge emphasis on improving their pass rush. I think they go to the well again here, especially since a DE has yet to be selected.

Jaguars pick…Derrick Morgan (DE, Georgia Tech)


Recapping the top 10:
1) STL – Sam Bradford (QB, Oklahoma)
2) DET – Ndamukong Suh (DT, Nebraska)
3) TB – Gerald McCoy (DT, Oklahoma)
4) WAS – Jimmy Clausen (QB, Notre Dame)
5) KC – Russell Okung (T, Oklahoma State)
6) SEA – Bryan Bulaga (T, Iowa)
7) CLE – Eric Berry (S, Tennessee)
8) OAK – Bruce Campbell (T, Maryland)
9) BUF – Trent Williams (T, Oklahoma)
10) JAX – Derrick Morgan (DE, Georgia Tech)

Quarterbacks and defensive tackles make up the top 4, and 4 of the other 6 picks are offensive tackles.

11) Denver Broncos
Candidates: Dez Bryant, Joe Haden, Jared Odrick, Dan Williams
The Broncos are a team I could see passing on both Haden and Berry if they were available due to their depth at both positions. Dez Bryant is slotted here in a lot of mocks, but would Josh McDaniels really take on another receiver with question marks? This looks to be Bryant’s strongest possibility so far, but I really don’t see them drafting him. Even with the signing of Jamal Williams, don’t be shocked if the Broncos took Dan Williams here. Jamal will be 34 before the season starts and isn’t a long term solution. It may seem a little odd to have Odrick this high, but looking at their needs and talent on the board, I wouldn’t be shocked if they went for a DE with this pick. Odrick is better than Tyson Jackson IMO, and Jackson went #3 to the Chiefs last year.

Broncos pick…Jared Odrick (DL, Penn State)
It’s probably safe to say that no one else has them drafting this guy, but every year there are picks that you didn’t see coming. Hopefully this is one of them. I just don’t see a clear cut no-brainer for the Broncos, and his talent certainly fits their need.

12) Miami Dolphins
Candidates: Jason Pierre-Paul, Sergio Kindle, Dan Williams, Dez Bryant, Earl Thomas
Nearly all defense here. Do they take Thomas to upgrade Gibril Wilson’s FS spot? He has some corner versatility, and that might work well since Sean Smith, a guy Miami drafted last year, is a corner with safety versatility. Dan Williams got some Dolphin buzz recently, but while NT is a need, is it enough to pass up these other players? Do they have to get Williams here, or do they address the bigger need at OLB? Kindle brings the athleticism and sideline to sideline ability that Parcells loves. What about Derrick Morgan (who’s not available here)? I question playing him as a 3-4 OLB, but Miami is rumored to be really high on him. What about Bryant? The guy has been trashed this offseason, but has it all been warranted? They need a #1 target for Chad Henne, but Parcells isn’t a WR in R1 kind of guy.

Dolphins pick…Earl Thomas (DB, Texas)
I think his huge Pro Day justifiably catapults him into this range.

13) San Francisco 49ers
Candidates: Anthony Davis, Mike Iupati, CJ Spiller, Joe Haden
The Niners pick 13th and 17th, and I believe that they want to emerge from the first round with one lineman. If they do get one with this pick, I don’t think it’s Iupati. Do they take Davis to fill the need at RT, or can they wait until pick #17 thinking that one of these two will be there? I think at least one of them will. Haden and Spiller likely won’t. The Niners could use another pair of young legs in the secondary. Frank Gore is the man in San Francisco, and the passing game has some promise with Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis. Barring a Donovan McNabb acquisition, it looks like Alex Smith is going to return as the #1 next year, so why not give him another weapon with which to work? Spiller would double as a return man and versatile offensive weapon. I still firmly believe in this selection, and when it happens, remember I called it back in early February.

49ers pick…CJ Spiller (RB, Clemson)

14) Seattle Seahawks
Candidates: Everson Griffen, Jason Pierre-Paul, Dez Bryant, Joe Haden
After addressing LT with their first pick, I think the focus is on DE, RB, SS, WR, and CB. Ryan Mathews hasn’t been linked to Seattle at all, but he’d be my sneaky pick in this spot. There’s not a SS I’d spend this pick on, but Haden might get some consideration here. I still say no to Dez Bryant. I passed on a pass rusher last time, but given their huge need here (Patrick Kerney might be retiring, and they traded away Darryl Tapp), I can’t pass on one this time. Do they prefer JPP, the high rising athletic wonder, or Griffen, Pete Carroll’s Trojan end? If I had to guess I think they take the guy with the highest upside as a pure pass rusher. Pete doesn’t play favorites here.

Seahawks pick…Jason Pierre-Paul (DE, USF)

15) New York Giants
Candidates: Anthony Davis, Rolando McClain, Brian Price
Davis would address a need of upgrading at RT where Kareem McKenzie isn’t getting any better. He also comes with the possibility of becoming the eventual blindside protector for Eli Manning. McClain is reportedly high on New York’s list, and they’ve got a huge hole at MLB. He seems like a Coughlin kind of pick. If they address the defensive line, the need is greater in the middle. Fred Robbins was about all they had worth mentioning, and he left for St. Louis. Price has been a popular pick, including by me. Not anymore.

Giants pick…Rolando McClain (LB, Alabama)

16) Tennessee Titans
Candidates: Joe Haden, Kyle Wilson, Sean Weatherspoon, Brandon Graham, Everson Griffen
I think it’s one of these three defensive positions. Weatherspoon would fill a hole at WLB, but do they have him rated this high? The Titans signed Will Witherspoon in free agency, and both he Weatherspoon have the versatility to play both outside spots and possibly the middle as well. Plus they’d have the cool Weatherspoon/Witherspoon name thing going for them. Tennessee could use an upgrade at the starting corner spot opposite Courtland Finnegan, and they might be licking their chops here with Haden and Wilson both on the board. They need a pass rusher badly. Kyle Vanden Bosch is now in Detroit, and Jevon Kearse isn’t returning. If Morgan or JPP were here, I might give them one, but they’re not.

Titans pick…Joe Haden (CB, Florida)

17) San Francisco 49ers
Candidates: Kyle Wilson, Mike Iupati, Anthony Davis, Taylor Mays
Wilson is still on the board, and the Niners need youth at corner. Iupati and Davis are still here and could be their solutions at LG and RT. I list Taylor Mays because Mike Singletary reportedly likes him.

49ers pick…Anthony Davis (T, Rutgers)

18) Pittsburgh Steelers
Candidates: Mike Iupati, Maurkice Pouncey, Kyle Wilson, Dan Williams
The Steelers re-signed Casey Hampton to a three year deal, so, while Williams would be a nice addition to an aging line, he wouldn’t be addressing a terribly urgent need. Iupati and Pouncey would be attractive options on the interior, but that isn’t one of their higher needs. The Steelers spent two picks on the cornerback position last year, and it looks like they’re going to have to do it again at least once this year. The position is deep, but why not take one from the top tier? After all, that’s why they’re going back to the well again this draft.

Steelers pick…Kyle Wilson (CB, Boise State)

19) Atlanta Falcons
Candidates: Brandon Graham, Everson Griffen, Sean Weatherspoon, Maurkice Pouncey, Dez Bryant
Mostly defense here, and none of it looks good from Tampa’s perspective. Pouncey would be a huge upgrade in the middle of the line. Do they like him this high? What about Dez Bryant? He’d be one hell of a #2 across from Roddy White. I see two primary needs, DE and OLB. At end, John Abraham is football old, and Jamal Anderson was a bust. Lawrence Sidbury was taken in last year’s draft, but they still need big time talent at the position. At LB they need to get better in space and in coverage. Weatherspoon would help them tremendously there. I think the Falcons select a DE for the third year in a row, but I’m guessing it’s not here.

Falcons pick…Sean Weatherspoon (LB, Missouri)

20) Houston Texans
Candidates: Ryan Mathews, Dez Bryant, Brian Price
The secondary is in bad shape, but I don’t see them taking Devin McCourty or Kareem Jackson in this spot. Taylor Mays? No thanks. Reportedly, they’re really high on Mathews and think he’s a great fit for their running game. Do they “need” to get him, or do they stick to their history of not draft a runner in R1? Price would help their interior get more of the push it needs.

Texans pick…Ryan Mathews (RB, Fresno State)

21) Cincinnati Bengals
Candidates: Jermaine Gresham, Taylor Mays, Dez Bryant, Golden Tate
The Bengals added Antonio Bryant this offseason to go along with Chad Ochocinco and Andre Caldwell, so the position doesn’t appear to have an urgent need. I still love Golden Tate in this offense and think he’d give them exactly what they need. Dez Bryant, this class’ highest rated receiver, is still on the board. Even with the Antonio Bryant addition, do you pass on him? The Bengals need to become more explosive offensively, so what better way to put an exclamation mark on this offseason. Cincinnati hasn’t been a team to heavily utilize the TE, but a prospect like Gresham might cause them to change their tendencies. The Bengals have shown a propensity to take players from USC, and they reportedly have Mays on their radar. FS is also probably their biggest need at this point IMO.

Bengals pick…Dez Bryant (WR, Oklahoma State)

22) New England Patriots
Candidates: Golden Tate, Sergio Kindle, Brandon Graham, Jermaine Gresham
Tate would give them a needed field stretcher, and Gresham would be an upgrade over the departed Ben Watson. I like the idea of going defense here and spending two of their three R2 picks on offensive skilled players. Graham would address a big need as a pass rushing linebacker, but he doesn’t really fit the mold (tall and fast) of rushers that Belichick has gravitated towards in the past. Kindle does.

Patriots pick…Sergio Kindle (OLB, Texas)

23) Green Bay Packers
Candidates: Charles Brown, Brandon Graham, Jahvid Best
I see them in somewhat of a crunch with the way this has played out so far. The Packers really need an infusion of youth at corner with both Charles Woodson and Al Harris being football old, but Kyle Wilson is off the board. Would they go for the third rated corner at this point? Jahvid Best would be a wow pick right here. I actually think he’d be a nice pick and would add quite a bit to their running game. They’re not deep at pass rusher, so I think Graham will at least get some consideration here. If Anthony Davis was still on the board, they might take him and play him at RT. He’s not, so do they take Charles Brown at LT even though Chad Clifton re-signed? Clifton is on the downside, and I like the potential in Brown. Safe pick IMO.

Packers pick…Charles Brown (T, USC)

24) Philadelphia Eagles
Candidates: Mike Iupati, Devin McCourty, Maurikce Pouncey
Stacy Andrews was a crappy signing and ended up being benched. Iupati would be an upgrade at RG. The Eagles need a center while Jamaal Jackson recovers from a torn ACL, and Pouncey could do that as well as slide over to guard if/when Jackson returns. I think Sean Weatherspoon would be high on their board as a replacement for Will Witherspoon, but he’s not available. McCourty might have some attraction as a nickel corner. I feel pretty strongly about this selection.

Eagles pick…Maurkice Pouncey (OL, Florida)

25) Baltimore Ravens
Candidates: Jermaine Gresham, Brandon Graham, Devin McCourty, Mike Iupati
Gresham makes a lot of sense, but he almost seems too obvious. Adding him and Boldin in the same offseason would be a serious upgrade to Joe Flacco’s arsenal. I haven’t thought much about it (not sure why), but Graham would be a really nice add to their hybrid defense as an edge guy. Paul Kruger looks to be moving to DE, but they still need more there. They apparently really like McCourty, and corner is a huge need seeing as how their best, Lardarius Webb, tore his ACL at the end of the season. At worst, Iupati would be an upgrade over Chris Chester.

Ravens pick…Brandon Graham (DE/OLB, Michigan)

26) Arizona Cardinals
Candidates: Devin McCourty, Dan Williams, Jerry Hughes
For a team that has been to the playoffs in each of the last two years, they sure do have a lot of urgent needs. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie got injured late in the season, and exposed their lack of depth at corner. McCourty would be a nice upgrade. Their NT situation is a joke. Williams would have a chance to play a lot early. They signed Jerry Porter, but that assclown already got into trouble. They don’t have any young proven talent at the position. They drafted Cody Brown and Will Davis last year, but neither showed much. Would they spend an early pick on another pass rusher?

Cardinals pick…Dan Williams (DT, Tennessee)

27) Dallas Cowboys
Candidates: Mike Iupati and Terrence Cody
I’ve read that Jerry Jones really loves Iupati. They need to find a successor plan to Marc Colombo at RT, but I don’t think that player is under consideration here. Iupati would be a replacement for Kyle Kosier and would team with Leonard Davis to give Dallas almost 700 pounds of man at guard. Cody could allow them to be more versatile up front.

Cowboys pick…Mike Iupati (G, Idaho)

28) San Diego Chargers
Candidates: Jahvid Best and Terrence Cody
With LT in KC and Darren Sproles not resembling a workhorse back, an addition is needed. If Mathews was still here, I think they definitely take him. Best? I’m not so sure. With the release of Jamal Williams, the Chargers don’t have a viable NT on their roster. Cody is here, and he’s as prototypical as they come. They pick again at #40 (due to the Whitehurst trade and swap of second rounders with Seattle), but there are several teams who could/would take Cody before he got around to them again.

Chargers pick…Terrence Cody (DT, Alabama)

29) New York Jets
Candidates: Jerry Hughes, Taylor Mays, Golden Tate, Demaryius Thomas
I have OLB, DE, G, WR, and FS as their biggest needs. With Iupati off the board, I don’t see a guard worth taking. I don’t see a DE with value here either; probably too early for Corey Wootton. Taylor Mays is enticing. Do you think a guy like Rex Ryan might be the slightest bit intrigued with the idea of lining up a physical specimen like Mays in the back of his defense? At receiver they have Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery as starters. Demaryius Thomas has a lot of R1 buzz, but I don’t think he’s different enough for NY. Tate would give them a real deep threat and help keep defenses honest against the run game. But then again, he’s one of those “popular” picks. Will the public be right? I mentioned before that the Jets might be turned off from converting collegiate ends into outside backers given their Vernon Gholston experience, but if they were to choose one, I would guess it would be Hughes due to his experience playing with his hand off the ground.

Jets pick…Taylor Mays (S, USC)

30) Minnesota Vikings
Candidates: Jahvid Best, Brian Price, Devin McCourty
Their secondary is banged up and depleted, so McCourty would see the field early. I have corner as their biggest need due to Antoine Winfield’s declining plan and Cedric Griffin’s torn ACL and the fact that I’m not a big fan of the talent behind those two starters. Price would be a nice addition behind the Williamses, but I think a Super Bowl contender like Minnesota will look for a player who can make an immediate impact. I really want to give them another explosive offensive weapon like Jahvid Best. Think of the plays they could draw up with Peterson, Best, Harvin, and Rice all on the field at the same time. Would they do it?

Vikings pick…Devin McCourty (CB, Rutgers)

31) Indianapolis Colts
Candidates: Jerry Hughes and Brian Price
With Pouncey and Brown off the board, I think the Colts have to wait a little bit to work on improving Peyton’s protection. They could use another pass rusher to go with Freeney, Mathis, and Brock, and Hughes excels at getting to the passer. The Colts rank near the bottom of the league in yards allowed per game on the ground. Imagine how bad they’d be if teams didn’t have to throw to catch up to their offense all the time. I like Antonio Johnson, but he’s about it in the middle of their defensive line.

Colts pick…Brian Price (DT, UCLA)

32) New Orleans Saints
Candidates: Chad Jones, Jerry Hughes, Carlos Dunlap, Everson Griffen, Jermaine Gresham, Colt McCoy
I’ve got to think they go defense here, but I wouldn’t be shocked if they took either one of the offensive players listed above. They need a backup to QB, and I’ve said that McCoy is a poor man’s Brees. Some might think he’s a waste of a pick at this point, but what happens if Brees gets hurt? It’s a severe drop to Mark Brunell and Chase Daniel. Yes they have Jeremy Shockey and David Thomas at TE, but one is almost always hurt and the other is a backup. Gresham would be a hell of an extra weapon for Sean Peyton and that offense. Defensively, Chad Jones might be on their radar depending on how they think the Darren Sharper situation is going to work out. What they really need right now is a pass rusher. Will Smith is all they have, and they got rid of Charles Grant. I’m not sure Hughes is the guy they’d want since Smith is on the right side. Is New Orleans the right place for Dunlap?

Saints pick…Everson Griffen (DE, USC)

END ROUND 1

Ok, here’s how the first 32 picks break down position-wise:
DL – 9
OL – 8
DB - 6
LB – 4
QB – 2
RB – 2
WR – 1
TE – 0

Linemen dominate the first round from my perspective. R2 should show more than a combined 3 receivers and backs selected.

10 notable players not drafted in R1:
Jerry Hughes, Carlos Dunlap, Demaryius Thomas, Jermaine Gresham, Patrick Robinson, Tim Tebow, Arrelious Benn, Kareem Jackson, Golden Tate, and Jahvid Best.

That means that with two of the first ten picks in R2, the Bucs should be able to come away with three possible R1 material guys with their first three picks. While trading back into R1 for Sean Weatherspoon, Earl Thomas, or Brandon Graham might seem appealing, the Bucs can sit tight and still get prime talent at #35 and #42.

A quick R2 rundown:

33) St. Louis – Jermaine Gresham (TE, Oklahoma)
Come on. With Bradford as their #1 pick, they’d be stupid not to take Gresham here.

34) Detroit – Jahvid Best (RB, California)
Still love him here; a great weapon for Stafford and a weak running game.

35) Tampa Bay – Jerry Hughes (DE, TCU)
I’m back to Hughes after going with Graham last time. I feel really good about going DT (Suh/McCoy) with the first pick and DE (Hughes/Graham/Griffen) with this one.

36) Kansas City – Golden Tate (WR, Notre Dame)
If Matt Cassel is going to be their QB, they need to find him more weapons to throw to. Tate follows Charlie Weis to KC.

37) Washington – Roger Saffold (T, Indiana)
Saffold is a high riser whose athleticism should be a fine fit on Washington’s rebuilt line.

38) Cleveland – Colt McCoy (QB, Texas)
I think they’ll have to take him here if they’re really interested in him. If not, they risk Minnesota or New Orleans getting him before they pick again. I expect Holmgren to emerge with a young QB, and McCoy projects very well in a WCO.

39) Oakland – Carlos Dunlap (DE, Florida)
With Wimbley at SLB there’s room for a pass rusher. Dunlap fits Davis’ mold.

40) San Diego (via SEA) – Toby Gerhart (RB, Stanford)
After missing out on Mathews in R1, they get a guy who fits in quite well with their scheme and existing personnel.

41) Buffalo – Tim Tebow (QB, Florida)
Chan Gailey + Jim Kelly + a team desperate for an identity = Tim Tebow

42) Tampa Bay – Arrelious Benn (WR, Illinois)
The Bucs have to emerge from the second round with a serious receiving target for Josh Freeman. Jordan Shipley isn’t my idea of a wise selection here, but I could live with Demaryius Thomas if they prefer him over Benn.

43) Miami – Ricky Sapp (OLB, Clemson)
Parcells gets his tall and fast pass rusher here.

44) New England (via JAX) – Kareem Jackson (CB, Alabama)
As much as I’d like to make Tebow the pick here, I think the Bills or even the Browns will take him before this pick. Taking the QB out of Jacksonville’s back yard with the pick that originally belonged to them would be a nice double slap. I’m really (honestly) intrigued to see what Tebow could become working with Bill Belichick in a role behind Tom Brady, but since he’s not here, I’m looking at the top talent at the WR, DE, ILB, RB, CB, and TE positions. Jackson is probably BPA IMO.

45) Denver – Demaryius Thomas (WR, Georgia Tech)
The Broncos wait until R2 to address the need at receiver. JD Walton (C, Baylor) would be my second choice here, but this might be a little high for him.

46) New York Giants – Tyson Alualu (DT, California)
I really like this pick. They get a high reward guy in Davis in R1 and another here with Alualu.

47) New England (via TEN) – Corey Wootton (DE, Connecticut)
The defensive line gets addressed here; nice value.

48) Carolina – Taylor Price (WR, Ohio)
I’d give them Alualu if he were still on the board, but here they get a needed upgrade across from Steve Smith. Speaking of Smith, he recently came out and said he’d like Carolina to get a young playmaker across from him. Price fits the bill.

49) San Francisco – Patrick Robinson (CB, FSU)
They get younger and faster at corner here.

50) Kansas City (via ATL) – Jason Worilds (OLB, Virginia Tech)
After going offense with the first two picks, the Chiefs add a much-needed pass rusher.

51) Houston – Chris Cook (DB, Virginia)
Cook appears to have some corner/safety versatility, and they could use help at both positions.

52) Pittsburgh – Vladimir Ducasse (OL, Massachusetts)
Here the Steelers get a versatile offensive lineman which should help with depth and give them an eventual replacement at one of the spots up front.

53) New England (again) – Aaron Hernandez (TE, Florida)
They definitely need a pass catcher at the position, and I like the Hernandez’s athleticism in this offense.

54) Cincinnati – Nate Allen (S, USF)
I hope they pass on Taylor Mays in R1 because I think Allen will be the better pro.

55) Philadelphia – Daryl Washington (LB, TCU)
He gives them a replacement for Will Weatherspoon at WLB.

56) Green Bay – Chad Jones (S, LSU)
I think he’s a real value this late, and SS could use some attention.

57) Baltimore – Dominique Franks (CB, Oklahoma)
If they don’t get a corner in R1, I expect them to get one here.

58) Arizona – Brandon Ghee (CB, Wake Forest)
A nice blend of size/speed, Ghee addresses their biggest need IMO.

59) Dallas – Morgan Burnett (S, Georgia Tech)
Ken Hamlin’s release was only a matter of time.

60) Seattle (via SD) – Jonathan Dwyer (RB, Georgia Tech)
The “physical presence” Pete Carroll is seeking.

61) New York Jets – Eric Norwood (OLB, South Carolina)
Here’s another guy I think fits really well with the Jets. Norwood gives them a very accomplished pass rusher.

62) Minnesota – Jon Asamoah (G, Illinois)
They could use upgrades at C, RG, and even LT (McKinnie is a shell of himself). Imagine what Adrian Peterson could do with an elite line.

63) Indianapolis – Jared Veldheer (T, Hillsdale)
The Colts get a strong and athletic bookend who could be quite a steal in this spot.

64) New Orleans – Navarro Bowman (LB, Penn State)
The Saints get an upgrade over Shanle on the weak side.

END ROUND 2

Through the first two rounds, the Bucs have added:
Gerald McCoy (DT, Oklahoma)
Jerry Hughes (DE, TCU)
Arrelious Benn (WR, Illinois)

If they were to go with another position other than WR with that last pick, I would prefer Kareem Jackson or Patrick Robinson. Then you can come back in R3 with Mardy Gilyard, Brandon LaFell, or Damian Williams. This is of course assuming they don’t want to make my draft and take Chad Jones. I doubt they look safety early (if at all) with the signing of Sean Jones. I don’t think they’re set talent-wise, but I doubt they add someone else to Jones and Sabby.

My remaining Buccaneer picks stayed nearly the same.

R3 – Amari Spievey (CB, Iowa)
alt – Mardy Gilyard (WR, Cincinnati), Lamarr Houston (DT, Texas) (even with Suh/McCoy)

R4 – Pat Angerer (LB, Iowa)
Yes, I still have the back-to-back Hawkeyes.
alt – Marshall Newhouse (OL, TCU) or Dezmon Briscoe (WR, Kansas)

R5 – James Starks (RB, Buffalo)
alt – Kevin Basped (DE, Nevada) or Micah Johnson (MLB, Kentucky)

I wouldn’t be surprised if we added another pick in the R4/5 region some way or another. If/When they do, I lean towards Newhouse. He’s a player with G/T versatility that I think would be a nice asset to the team. I’d obviously like to take any of these guys, but I mention Newhouse specifically because I think the Bucs need to and will take a lineman in the middle rounds. I would just like them to acquire another pick in order to get that guy.

R6 – Marcus Easley (WR, Connecticut)
alt – Corey Peters (DT, Kentucky), Colin Peek (TE, Alabama)

Round 7
Barry Church (S, Toledo)
Patrick Stoudamire (CB, W. Illinois)
Drew Davis (T, Alabama)
Kyle Williams (WR, Arizona State)

With the Bucs being awarded another selection, Williams goes from my undrafted free agent list to a draft pick.

This gives us a grand total of:

1) Gerald McCoy (DT, Oklahoma) – penetrating franchise DT

2) Jerry Hughes (DE, TCU) – accomplished pass rusher

3) Arrelious Benn (WR, Illinois) – all round talent with #1 potential

4) Amari Spievey (CB, Iowa) – underrated future starter

5) Pat Angerer (LB, Iowa) – depth and potential replacement

6) James Starks (RB, Buffalo) – impressive speed, vision, and hands

7) Marshall Newhouse (OL, TCU) – versatile interior depth

8) Marcus Easley (WR, Connecticut) – lacks production; shows potential

9) Barry Church (S, Toledo) – still on my radar even with Jones

10) Patrick Stoudamire (CB, W. Illinois) – another needed cover man

11) Drew Davis (T, Alabama) – right tackle competition

12) Kyle Williams (WR, Arizona State) – he’s fast

Position breakdown:
WR – 3
DB – 3
DL – 2
OL – 2
RB – 1
LB – 1

Undrafted free agents:
Danario Alexamder (WR, Missouri)
Aaron Pettrey (K, Ohio State)
Freddie Barnes (WR, Bowling Green)
Crezdon Butler (CB, Clemson)
Brandon Long (WR, Louisville)
Thomas Austin (OL, Clemson)
Antonio Coleman (DE, Auburn)James Ruffin (DE, Northern Iowa)
Malcolm Sheppard (DT, Arkansas)
Levi Brown (QB, Troy)