By Max Sass, Sports Editor
1. St. Louis Rams – Sam Bradford – QB – Oklahoma
Bradford injured his shoulder twice this past year but appears to be the consensus number one overall pick in the 2010 draft. The Rams released previous starter Mark Bulger in early April and need to fill the hole. Bradford won the Heisman Trophy and put up gaudy passing numbers as a sophomore in 2008-09.
2. Detroit Lions – Ndamamukong Suh – DT – Nebraska
Suh entrenched himself as a top pick after his impressive performance against Texas in the Big 12 Championship game. He impressed at the combine and his combination of speed and strength should translate well to the NFL.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Gerald McCoy – DT – Oklahoma
McCoy battled Suh for the top DT spot for a long time but Suh's better showing at the combine (9 more reps on the bench press) pushed the Nebraska star ahead of his Oklahoma counterpart. Tampa Bay has solid safeties in their defensive backfield making it okay for the team to pass on Eric Berry.
4. Washington Redskins – Russell Okung – OT – Oklahoma State
The Redskins just acquired franchise quarterback Donovan McNabb and the first thing they must do is to protect him. Okuung is the best in a very deep offensive tackle draft. The team's running game is weak and all three backs on the roster are older and fading but there are no elite running backs available besides CJ Spiller and Spiller is not a top five pick.
5. Kansas City Chiefs – Eric Berry – S – Tennessee
While the Chiefs could desperately use a playmaker on the outside to help Matt Cassel there are no elite wide receivers other than Dez Bryant, who is too risky to take at this point. The Chiefs could opt for an offensive tackle here but still see Branden Albert as the future at left tackle. Berry is the best player left on the board and also helps shore up an atrocious Chiefs defense.
6. Seattle Seahawks – Trent Williams – OT – Oklahoma
Seattle could potentially take Jimmy Clausen here but are in desperate need of an elite tackle to replace former All-Pro Walter Jones. Williams is a big tackle who will help protect Matt Hasslebeck in his last few years.
7. Cleveland Browns – Jimmy Clausen – QB – Notre Dame
Cleveland should not be scared off by the last Notre Dame QB they drafted. Brady Quinn, who was just traded to the Broncos, is nowhere near as ready for the NFL and gifted as Clausen. It is a bit puzzling as to why the Browns passed on Mark Sanchez last year and traded their pick but they have a chance to make up for it this year with Clausen.
8. Oakland Raiders – Brian Bulaga – OT – Iowa
Similarly to the Browns the Raiders go in a similar direction as a former bust pick. Robert Gallery was an Iowa OT, but Bulaga could help protect the blind side of whoever is playing QB for the Raiders and is a more physical tackle than Gallery was.
9. Buffalo Bills – Anthony Davis – OT – Rutgers
Buffalo really wanted Clausen but there are too many teams ahead of them that need a QB. The Bills have been looking for a left tackle since trading Jason Peters to the Eagles and Davis' stock has been rapidly rising.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars – Dez Bryant – WR – Oklahoma St.
Jacksonville had a lot of success with Mike Sims-Walker late in last year's draft but needs a truly explosive no. 1 receiver to help David Garrard and Maurice Jones-Drew. The Jags could surprise some and take Joe Haden the cornerback from Florida to help shore up their back four.
11. Denver Broncos – Joe Haden – CB – Florida
Haden is too talented for the Broncos to pass up in this spot. Haden could either start across from Champ Bailey right away or could be groomed as his replacement. Another option would be selecting Rolando McClain to pair at inside linebacker with D.J. Williams.
12. Miami Dolphins – Derrick Morgan – DE – Georgia Tech
After acquiring Brandon Marshall the Dolphins can look to defense early in the draft. Morgan could play OLB in the Dolphins 3-4 and could rack up double-digit sacks in the AFC East. The Dolphins also need to replace Jason Taylor who just signed with the Jets.
13. San Francisco 49ers – Jason Pierre-Paul – DE – South Florida
The Niners could look for an offensive tackle to pair with Joe Staley or a receiver to pair with Crabtree but will select Pierre-Paul. He is a 6' 6" animal who can rush the passer from stand up or down position.
14. Seattle Seahawks – C.J. Spiller – RB – Clemson
Spiller is the only elite back on the board and Seattle desperately needs an explosive ball carrier. Between Spiller and Trent Williams (see pick 6) the Seahawks should have a more balanced and dynamic offense in 2010.
15. New York Giants – Rolando McClain – LB - Alabama
The Giants may have taken Spiller if he were still on the board but McClain fills a need for the Giants after letting Antonio Pierce walk. The team should improve defensively as players get healthy but having a dominant inside linebacker like McClain would be a good step towards regaining the form they had in their Super Bowl year.
16. Tennessee Titans – Dan Williams – DT – Tennessee
The Titans desperately need a defensive end but with Morgan and Pierre-Paul already selected they will have to go in another direction. The Titans may want to look to replace the size they lost when Albert Haynesworth signed with Washington. Williams is close to where the Titans are based as a University of Tennessee grad and could help clog up the middle for the Titans.
17. San Francisco 49ers – Bruce Campbell – OT – Maryland
Campbell had an absolutely astonishing combine, impressing scouts with crazy speed for his size. He would have to play right tackle acrosse from Joe Staley but would help SF immediately.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers – Mike Iupati – OG – Idaho
The Steelers want to get back to a rough and tumble, grind-it-out running style of offense and need more offensive line depth to do it. Iupati at 6' 5" should help clear paths for Rashard Mendenhall.
19. Atlanta Falcons – Earl Thomas – S – Texas
Thomas could have been a top-10 pick and Thomas Dimitroff is too slick to let Thomas fall past him here. The Falcons are in dire need of help in the secondary and Thomas can come in and contribute immediately. The other choice here could be Boise St cornerback Kyle Wilson.
20. Houston Texans – Arrelious Benn – WR – Illinois
The Texans are going to surpise some people here and take Benn, the receiver out of Illinois. Thomas would have been a great pick for the Texans but went to the Falcons one pick earlier. Benn would give Matt Schaub one more weapon across from all-world receiver Andre Johnson.
21. Cincinnati Bengals – Brian Price – DT – UCLA
The Bengals need help defensively and Domata Peko and Price could combine to make a very formidable run-stuffing duo. Tank Johnson is not sufficient if the Bengals want to make a run in the playoffs.
22. New England Patriots – Brandon Graham – DE – Michigan
The Patriots love versatile players and Graham could either play end or outside linebacker, both needs for the Patriots. The team needs a running back as well but there are no backs good enough to go at this point. If not Graham, expect the Pats to look at Texas DE/OLB Sergio Kindle.
23. Green Bay Packers – Kyle Wilson – CB – Boise St
While Kindle would be tough for the Packers to pass on at this point in the first round, Wilson is the pick to start across from Charles Woodson. He could start in the nickel and eventually replace Treman Williams.
24. Philadelphia Eagles – Taylor Mays – S – USC
The Eagles just picked up Ernie Sims to start at linebacker so the teams looks to the secondary with this pick. They have been looking for a dominant safety ever since Brian Dawkins left and Mays can be that enforcer in the back for the Eagles.
25. Baltimore Ravens – Devin McCourty – CB – Rutgers
Golden Tate will be looked at here but the Ravens are defensive organization and will be trying to shore up the back four. Fabian Washington and LaDarius Webb will not cut it in the back for a one-time defensive juggernaut.
26. Arizona Cardinals – Jermaine Gresham – TE – Oklahoma
Gresham is the best tight end available and with new starter Matt Leinart at quarterback, the Cardinals will want as many offensive weapons as possible. Gresham could serve as a check down option for the inexperienced lefty.
27. Dallas Cowboys – Sean Weatherspoon – LB – Missourri
Dallas needs to look to defense with its first pick. Weatherspoon could step in right away and help DeMarcus Ware and the rest of the ‘Boys defense. If a safety were available (Mays or Thomas) the Cowboys would jump but Weatherspoon is the best defensive player available.
28. San Diego Chargers – Terrance Cody – DT – Alabama
After releasing Jamal Williams, the Chargers need a mammoth, space-eating defensive tackle to stuff the run and occupy blockers and Cody does that. Another option may be Jahvid Best a small, fast running back from Cal to replace Ladanian Tomlinson.
29. New York Jets – Everson Griffin – DE – USC
Griffin would be a perfect fit as a 3-4 defensive end for Rex Ryan's already impressive defense. Griffin could rush the passer as well as anchor against the run. If Griffin is gone (potentially 16 to the Titans) the Jets could select Jared Odrick, an even bigger defensive end, from Penn State.
30. Minnesota Vikings – Navarro Bowman – LB – Penn State
The Vikings are very close to winning a Super Bowl (assuming Brett Favre returns) and one of the few improvements the team could make is another linebacker. Bowman could eventually supplant Ben Leber at outside linebacker.
31. Indianapolis Colts – Maurkice Pouncey – OG/C – Florida
Pouncey would be able to step in right away and play right guard for the Colts. The Colts have predicated their offense on continuity along the offensive line and after recent losses Pouncey would be able to provide stability for years to come.
32. New Orleans Saints – Jared Odrick – DE – Penn State
The Saints, last year's Super Bowl champions, do not need any more weapons on offense and adding Odrick on defense would help them look to repeat. It is surprising to see Sergio Kindle and Jerry Hughes still on the board, but they need to be drafted specifically as 3-4 outside linebackers.