Touchdown Dance: NFL Mock Draft 3.0

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We are less than a week away and the excitement that the NFL Draft brings is coming to a head. The new draft TV format has me put off of some sorts, I liked the old two day marathon format instead of the new spread out version. It is what it is though, besides I won't be watching it live anyways as the family and I will be visiting the happiest place on Earth during the whole drawn out event.

So I figured I better get my last two cents in on how I feel the first round will fall later this week. For some reason I think all the experts won't have much chance of matching much of this draft as I forsee a bunch of draft day moves that will throw everyone's draft boards out of whack. I just can't pinpoint which team I think will make a NY Jets/Mark Sanchez type of move in 2010. Jimmy Claussen seems to be a hot commodity this week and somebody will jump up in front of Cleveland to nab him, but since my crystal ball is in the shop I'll try to predict the first round in how the actual draft order stands right now.

Lets take a look at our final version.

St. Louis Rams- (QB) Sam Bradford/Oklahoma- the Rams have done very little to steer us away from this prediction, though I feel it will be a huge franchise mistake. Who am I to tell them how to waste their money though? (Previous: unchanged)
Detroit Lions- (OT) Russell Okung/Oklahoma St.- though many experts are leaning towards Suh I see the Lions brass and coaching staff seeing more promise on the offensive side of the ball, but without a proper left tackle it the growth will all be for naught. So the Lions shake things up first and take the top tackle in the draft. (Previous: unchanged)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers- (DT) Ndamukong Suh/Nebraska- the Lions selection lets the Buccaneers have a glorious moment in the sun. Though they would be plenty happy with McCoy landing Suh gives this defense much more flexibilty. (Previous: unchanged)
Washington Redskins- (OT) Trent Williams/Oklahoma- Williams seems to have jumped Bryan Bulaga as far as tackle rankings go making this a all Big 12 first 5 which is an amazing feat in itself. Williams secures the blind side for new Shanahan toy, Donovan McNabb. (Previous: (OT) Bryan Bulaga/Iowa)
Kansas City Chiefs- (S) Eric Berry/Tennessee- the current order and selections gives the Chiefs something they desperately need, a real football athlete. Berry is probably the best pure athlete in the draft, but is much more than just numbers he has excellent football instincts to match. A nice place to start a defense that needs a whole lot of help. (Previous: unchanged)
Seattle Seahawks- (OT) Bryan Bulaga/Iowa- Pete Carroll knows one thing for sure, a couple more big hits for Matt Hassellbeck and it will be Charlie Whitehurst time much sooner than expected. So the Seahawks will do their best to replace a legend in (LT) Walter Jones and protect Hassellbeck for one more season with this pick. (Previous: (DT) Gerald McCoy/Texas)
Cleveland Browns- (QB) Jimmy Claussen/Notre Dame- the Browns fans will have to try their second Fighting Irish quarterback, but this time they may find a bit more success. Claussen won't have to start game one, but may find his way to the field later on when both Jake Dlehomme and Seneca Wallace struggle. (Previous: (DE) Jason Pierre-Paul/South Florida)
Oakland Raiders- (OT) Bruce Campbell/Maryland- Al Davis will stick to his guns and go with the draft combine's best workout warrior which was Bruce Campbell who showed tremendous athleticism, but needs a ton of polishing and shows a real lack of football desire at times. Sounds like JeMarcus Russell Jr. (Previous: unchanged)
Buffalo Bills- (DT) Dan Williams/Tennessee- the Bills get shafted and miss out on the quarterback of the future for another year. Williams is the next best thing here with a move to the 3-4 and a drop off at the offensive tackle spot to reach at this point in the draft. (Previous: (QB) Jimmy Claussen/Notre Dame)
Jacksonville Jaguars- (DT) Gerald McCoy/Texas- McCoy will stop falling and be able to relax and breath as he is finally selected at #10. The Jags benefit from team fillinf needs as they will get a super productive player that can stop the run and apply pressure form the middle which they desperately need. (Previous: (DE) Derrick Morgan/Georgia Tech)
Denver Broncos- (C/G) Maurkice Pouncey/Florida- McDaniels will have the Broncos fans up in arms again as he continues his unconventional draft ways and fill a huge team need instead of selecting the best player available. (Previous: (DT) Dan Williams/Tennessee)
Miami Dolphins- (DE/OLB) Jason Pierre-Paul/South Florida- the days of Jason Taylor in South Beach look to be ending very soon and we all know how much Bill Parcells loves getting after the passer. Pierre-Paul is ra, but has the talent to be great and a long term pass rushing answer in South Beach for many years to come. (Previous: (CB) Joe Haden/Florida)
San Francisco 49ers- (CB) Joe Haden/Florida- the Niners defense is good, but its weakest point is the secondary which Haden will greatly improve adding to a growing number of young defensive studs Mike Singletary has to work with. (Previous: (OT) Trent Williams/Oklahoma)
Seattle Seahwaks- (DE) Derrick Morgan/Georgia Tech- this 1st round really couldn't fall any better for Pete Carroll as he nabs an offensive line anchor at #6 then falls into a huge need here with Morgan who will fill the shoes of recently retired Patrick Kerney. (Previous: (WR) Dez Bryant/Oklahoma St.)
NY Giants- (LB) Rolando McClain/Alabama- some say that McClain isn't a good fit for Perry Fewell's scheme, but smart "football" players can fit in any system. McClain is to "football" smart to pass up and quarterback the Giants defense back to health. (Previous: unchanged)
Tennessee- (LB) Sean Weatherspoon/Missouri- a surprise pick here as Jeff Fisher selects the loud linebacker who wreaks of football which he absolutely loves. Weatherspoon will patrol the Nashville area with tremendous violence and football vigor. (Previous: (DE) Everson Griffen/Florida State)
San Francisco 49ers- (OT) Charles Brown/USC- the Niners stay in state and pick up a major need in some offensive line talent. (Previous: (CB) Kyle Wilson/Boise St.)
Pittsburgh Steelers- (CB) Kyle Wilson/Boise St.- the fall of this draft lets the Steelers fill a huge need , one in which has been a weak spot for the past couple seasons. Hopefully Wilson will be a better guy off the field than the Steelers have had as of late. (Previous: (LB) Sean Weatherspoon/Missouri)
Atlanta Falcons- (DE) Everson Griffen/Florida St- the Falcons need some help to pair with John Abraham who just doesn't have enough left to rush the passer all on his own. (Previous: (DE) Brandon Graham/Michigan)
Houston Texans- (FS) Earl Thomas/Texas- Thomas doesn't have to travel far for new employment where the Texans are in desperate need of playmakers since they lost Dunta Robinson to free agency. (Previous: (RB) CJ Spiller/Clemson)
Cincinnati Bengals- (SS) Taylor Mays/USC- the USC to Cincinnati pipeline continues to be strong as the Bengals add another athletic piece to an already improving defense. (Previous: (FS) Earl Thomas/Texas)
New England Patriots- (TE) Jermaine Gresham/Oklahoma- the Patriots need to add some weapons for Mr. Bunchen to throw to since Welker won't be 100% for awhile and though Moss is still very good he is no longer great. (Previous: unchanged)
Green Bay Packers- (OT) Anthony Davis/Rutgers- the Pack really has to consider protecting Aaron Rodgers this season or he may not be long for a 10 year career let alone a 19 year career. (Previous: (OT) Charles Brown/USC)
Philadelphia Eagles- (CB) Devin McCourty/Rutgers- the Eagles and Andy Reid have left themselves very thin in the secondary not to mention a very bad tackling group so the selection of McCourty makes the most sense. (Previous: (SS) Taylor Mays/USC)
Baltimore Ravens- (RB) CJ Spiller/Clemson- many have Spiller flying up draft boards with teams willing to trade up for the speedster, but why? He isn't an every down back and the NFL has learned that decent running backs can be found almost anywhere. (Previous: (DT) Jared Odrick/Penn State)
Arizona Cardinals- (DE/OLB) Jerry Hughes/TCU- the Cardinals got their loudmouth in signing (OLB) Jerry Porter, now he has someone to teach his ways to. Hopefully, more of his pass rushing ways. (Previous: (OT) Anthony Davis/Rutgers)
Dallas Cowboys- (WR) Dez Bryant/Oklahoma St- probably forgot I thought about him. This is far from the case, but recent player woes has teams staying away from troubled souls until Jerry Jones has Bryant fall in his lap to pair with Miles Austin and Roy Williams can become a well overpaid slot gut where he won't fit either. (Previous: (C/G) Maurkice Pouncey/Florida)
San Diego Chargers- (RB) Ryan Matthews/Fresno State- this offense needs someone to fill the Tomlinson role, because Sproles can't do it everydown. Not saying that Matthews will ever be as good as LT, but he is a three down back. (Previous: unchanged)
NY Jets- (DT) Jared Odrick/Penn State- this time the Jets don't have to trade up to have a great draft, because Odrick fall right in their lap-banded lap. A player that fills a need in the middle to improve an already dominate defense. (Previous: (LB) Sergio Kindle/Texas)
Minnesota Vikings- (G) Mike Iupati/Idaho- the Vikings offensive line doesn't have many weaknesses, but they do fill a need with Iupati. Now they just have to have Purple Jesus hold on to the ball. (Previous: unchanged)
Indianapolis Colts- (OT) Rodger Saffold/Indiana- protecting the franchise, the league, Peyton Manning is and always will be the Colts biggest concern. (Previous: unchanged)
New Orleans Saints- (DT) Brian Price/UCLA- the rich get richer in actually finding great value at a position of need. (Previous: unchanged)