Alen Dumonjic’s Mock Draft (v2.0 – 1 Round)
1. Rams – Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
The Rams need a quarterback, they released Marc Bulger and have very few, if any, quarterbacks that are starting material on their roster. Bradford’s got great accuracy, has very good footwork and has an underrated arm. Bradford would help sell some tickets as well as be the face of the franchise.
2. Lions – Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
Some think Okung could be the pick here but when you have an elite talent available to you, you take it. I’m not saying Okung is not elite but he’s not in Suh’s category either. Suh would help finish the overhaul of the defensive line, which now features free agent acquisitions Kyle Vanden Bosch and Corey Williams. The Lions can wait until the second round to address their blindside woes.
3. Buccaneers – Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
The Buccaneers have been looking for an under tackle since the departure of Warren Sapp years ago. McCoy may be the answer for them here because he’s got great quickness off the line of scrimmage and does a good job penetrating into the backfield.
4. Redskins – Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
The Redskins need someone to protect the blindside of their newly acquired quarterback, Donovan McNabb, and after the first round, there’s a drop off in tackles. Williams is the pick over Okung because he’s a better fit for the zone blocking scheme and fits the profile of a Mike Shanahan offensive tackle very well.
5. Chiefs – Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma St.
Scott Pioli and the Chiefs are looking to bring in someone to protect their franchise quarterback. Albert gave up 9 sacks last season and was flagged ten times, including six false starts. He has struggled with speed rushers at this level and is best fit on the right side. Okung would be a safe pick, an immediate starter and would give the Chiefs a cornerstone at left tackle.
6. Seattle – Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma St.
This is probably a surprise for some because of Bryant’s character issue and the report that came out that the Seahawks have taken Bryant off their board completely. However, this time of the year, I don’t believe anything other than that the Seattle Seahawks are keen on getting more weapons for Whitehurst or Hasselbeck. With that said, GM John Schneider tried relentlessly to acquire Brandon Marshall but in the end, failed to. He also has shown a love for wide receivers in the past, as he drafted Rod Gardner in the first round when he was in Washington. CJ Spiller is also an option here but taking a running back this high that often gets dinged up is tough to justify in my opinion.
7. Browns – Derrick Morgan, DE/OLB, Georgia Tech
Everywhere Holmgren has been, he’s taken a pass rusher. He took six in Seattle, including two first rounders, two second rounders and two fourth rounders. If one was to look at the average height and weight of those pass rushers, it would come out to be 6’4″, 271 pounds. Morgan checked in at 6’3″, 266 at the Combine and while that would be an inch shorter than Holmgren’s prototype, he does not hesitate to draft smaller players. He liked Daryl Tapp coming out, who checked in at 6’1″, 270 pounds, and Morgan’s game is very similar to Tapp’s, in my opinion.
8. Raiders – Mike Iupati, OG/OT, Idaho
The toughest pick to project by far, in my opinion. I went with Iupati here because I know the Raiders like him a lot, he is the massive lineman that they like and Tom Cable coached at Idaho at one point.
9. Bills – Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa
The Bills new GM Buddy Nix wants a safe pick and a immediate contributor in the first round. While I believe that they have other options here, such as Dan Williams, they need a blindside blocker and I know Nix loves Bulaga’s game. Bulaga fits the prototype that Nix seeks in his Tackles, checking in at slightly over 6’5 and 314 pounds.
10. Jaguars – Rolando McClain, MLB, Alabama
Tough projection here, almost filled in Brandon Graham but with Aaron Kampman in the fold at weak side rusher and the Jaguars having high hopes for Harvey on the strong side, I can’t see them taking Graham here and possibly making Harvey uncomfortable. Rolando McClain is the choice here because he fills a big need at middle linebacker. While he is a bigger linebacker than they usually draft, he would be a big help on defense.
11. Broncos – Eric Berry, FS, Tennessee
Josh McDaniels adores speed, physicality and ball skills and that’s what Berry would bring here. Brian Dawkins is getting old and Renaldo Hill is not the future so Berry would be a great fit in Denver. Berry has the ability to play some cornerback as well so they could use all three safeties on the field.
12. Dolphins – Jerry Hughes, DE/OLB, TCU
The Dolphins can go a few directions here. They can upgrade their safety position with Earl Thomas or select Brandon Graham to fill the pass rusher role on the strong side for them. However, I’m led to believe they will take Jerry Hughes here. Hughes combination of power, explosiveness and consistency is a major reason why the Dolphins select Hughes here. He has the strength to develop into a strong side linebacker down the road, in my opinion.
13. 49ers – Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
The 49ers have not had stability at the quarterback position for years and now is there opportunity to fix that by picking Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen. While Scott McCloughan did everything he could to let Alex Smith succeed, he is not the GM anymore. Trent Baalke is the new 49ers GM and he, unlike McCloughan, is ready to move on.
14. Seattle – CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson
Seattle is back on the clock and they are looking at possibly their second target on the board, Clemson’s CJ Spiller. GM John Schneider has taken a running back in the first round once before and it would not surprise me to see him do it again. Spiller would bring a much needed spark to the Seahawks offense and could form a nice tandem with Justin Forsett.
15. Giants – Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
The Giants are not shy of taking the best player available. Many people wondered what they were thinking when they took Kiwanuka at the end of the first round several years back. At the time, they had Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck at the end position. This year, they take Dan Williams to fill the role of recently departed Fred Robbins. Williams would not have all of the pressure on him because of the rotation along the defensive interior.
16. Titans – Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, USF
The Titans are lacking pass rushers right now, with Kearse and Vanden Bosch gone so they must address this position early in the Draft. They are intrigued by the skill set of Jason Pierre-Paul because of how much he resembles Jevon Kearse. The Titans defensive ends go around 6’5″ and about 260 pounds on average and Pierre-Paul comes in at 6’5″, 270 pounds.
17. 49ers – Charles Brown, OT, USC
The 49ers have been looking to upgrade their bookends and have gone through various players in the past at the position. They have a lot of interest in USC’s Charles Brown and Brown is quickly rising up draft boards because of his athleticism and upside.
18. Steelers – Maurkice Pouncey, OC/OG, Florida
The Steelers are trying to upgrade the interior of the offensive line and Pouncey is a player they like a lot because of his versatility. Pouncey has the talent to play both guard and center at the next level, though I expect to see the bulk of Pouncey’s snaps at center next season.
19. Falcons – Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan
Thomas Dimitroff has said that he’s not focusing on one side of the ball for the first time, he’s got a complete board and will take the best player presented. Graham would fill a major void on the strong side of the defensive line.
20. Texans – Joe Haden, CB, Florida
The Texans must address their secondary, whether it be at cornerback or safety. Florida’s Joe Haden is the top cornerback on most boards and would be great value here for the Texans. They could also look to pair up Earl Thomas with Bernard Pollard but with the loss of Dunta Robinson, cornerback is a pressing need.
21. Bengals – Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
The Bengals have been looking to add a seam busting tight end as well as one that has the potential to develop into a quality blocker. Luckily, Gresham has the ability to do both so he’s the pick here. The Bengals could go with a safety here as well but they tend to like bigger safeties than Earl Thomas.
22. Patriots – Jared Odrick, DE, Penn State
If anyone knows Belichick, they know that it all starts up front with him. Jared Odrick is a player that I believe Belichick likes a tremendous amount and would love to get him here. With the departure of Seymour, the Patriots are going to be looking to add a defensive end here and Odrick fits the size requirements, which is a big plus in Belichick’s book. Odrick checked in at 6’5″, 304 pounds, which is not far from the 6’5″, 301 pound average that Belichick has drafted at the end spot.
23. Packers – Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise St.
The Packers are lacking depth at the defensive back position and with Al Harris being injured and Tramon Williams having some struggles, they need to solidify that position. Kyle Wilson has the bump and run ability as well as the speed to cover man to man downfield, which is something the Packers seek.
24. Eagles – Earl Thomas, FS, Texas
Thomas slipping this far is a surprise but the lifespan of a safety in the NFL is not long and Thomas still has room to become a better player against the run. However, the Eagles covet Thomas and have the opportunity to snag him here. Thomas is a very good cover safety that will give more flexibility for the defense because of his range and ability to be the single high safety.
25. Ravens – Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers
The Ravens have made it known that they like McCourty a lot and lucky for them, he is available at twenty-five. McCourty has the talent to be a good cover corner, he is very aggressive and physical. He also is a key contributor on special teams, which I believe the Ravens would like a lot.
26. Arizona – Sean Weatherspoon, ILB, Missouri
The Cardinals like Sean Weatherspoon a lot and they believe he can play the inside linebacker position for them. He is a very good cover linebacker that has good enough range to get sideline the sidelines and make plays. While he is not overly physical, the Cardinals have the talent along the defensive line to protect him and allow him to roam.
27. Cowboys – Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland
The Cowboys were very intrigued by Campbell at the Combine and were said to really like him. They also have a need at the offensive tackle position, which Campbell could come in and fill. Campbell would be a developmental prospect but he could sit behind Doug Free for a year while Colombo occupied the right tackle spot. When Campbell is ready, he could slide in at left tackle and Free goes to right tackle.
28. Chargers – Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno St.
The Chargers need a running back now that they have cut LaDanian Tomlinson and Mathews fits the team very well here. Mathews has good vision, is a one cut and go running back that can also turn the corner.
29. Jets – Tyson Alualu, NT, Jets
The Jets are searching for nose tackle help and Alualu could help at the nose spot as well as the end spot. He has a great motor and is not a bad pass rusher. He has a good rip but it’s not consistent. Alualu coupled with Kris Jenkins at the nose spot could be a very good tandem for the Jets.
30. Vikings – Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
This could go many ways but with the uncertainty of Favre’s future and the possible lack of confidence in Tarvaris Jackson, the Vikings could look to Tim Tebow. Tebow has won many games in college, which is mostly what Spielman looks at, and has a great work ethic. Spielman has drafted a quarterback nearly every year since he’s been the Vikings GM. Tebow would sit a year behind Jackson or Favre and develop until he’s ready to take over.
31. Colts – Rodger Saffold, OT, Indiana
The Colts have been adamant about upgrading their offensive line, especially Peyton Manning’s blind side. Saffold has had talks with the Colts and he has impressed every chance he was given this off-season. I watched him live at the Shrine Game and came away very impressed by his mobility and strong hands.
32. Saints – Daryl Washington, OLB, TCU
The Saints need to fill the void left by Scott Fujita’s departure and they look to TCU’s Daryl Washington, a quick riser. Washington’s cover skills would be a great fit in New Orleans.