Forcing myself to do a mock draft

If you’ve noticed, I haven’t really been putting out a lot of mock drafts this year. There’s been way too much other stuff going on with the site and otherwise.

So, in an effort to get myself ready for the final mock draft next week, I thought I’d put a post up and force myself to do a mock draft tonight. Follow along if you want and rip it as it happens. Just refresh as I’m only putting the picks in the post. If you happen to have some solid news that may be tipping a pick, post it in the comments. I’m far more apt to listen to that over “dude, teh (insert team) are nevah picking him!!1!”

At least one round will get done tonight. No guarantees when I’ll have picks in. I may take a break and play some Modern Warfare 2 (xbox name: smooth danny k -- for real).

1. St. Louis - Sam Bradford | QB | Oklahoma - Fairly obvious choice at this point. The Rams are bringing him in for a two-day workout this week.

2. Detroit - Ndamukong Suh | DT | Nebraska - There’s been some discussion this week that Detroit may like Gerald McCoy better because he may be a better scheme fit. That’s posturing, if you ask me. You didn’t ask? Oh.

3. Tampa Bay - Gerald McCoy | DT | Oklahoma - Seems like an obvious pick at this point. So obvious that I’d rather talk about the Wilco concert I was at in Pittsburgh last night. Phenomenal. Three hours of musical bliss. Just non-stop great songs. Don’t like Wilco? I don’t like you.

4. Washington - Russell Okung | OT | Oklahoma State - Another obvious pick. Anyone have a guess on what the ‘Skins will get for Jason Campbell? I’m saying a third this year and a conditional fourth or fifth next year.

5. Kansas City - Bryan Bulaga | OT | Iowa - This pick continues to make me scratch my head. Eric Berry seems like an obvious choice, but safeties don’t go that high often. So, I’m basing this pick on this post from Arrowhead Pride. When it’s wrong, I will blame them.

6. Seattle - Eric Berry | S | Tennessee - As I’ve said before, when I need Seahawks draft knowledge, I use Rob Staton’s site. Good stuff there. I’ve had a suspicion that Berry will be the pick here for several reasons. 1) He’s the best player available. 2) I want Berry on my Browns. 3) He’s better than Jonathan Babineaux who would move over.

7. Cleveland - Earl Thomas | S | Texas - I really think Cleveland would like to trade this pick and take Jared Odrick before New England can grab him. But if they don’t, Thomas makes sense to me. The team has too many linebackers to consider Rolando McClain. Trading for Sheldon Brown meant they don’t have to reach slightly to take Joe Haden. Dez Bryant doesn’t fit the team’s character mold.

8. Oakland - Trent Williams | OT | Oklahoma - A little surprised this isn’t Bruce Campbell? Don’t be. Al Davis is crazy, but not that crazy. Besides, Williams broke five seconds in the 40 at the combine. He’s more athletic than most think.

9. Buffalo - Jimmy Clausen | QB | Notre Dame - I think the Bills really want this pick to be a left tackle. But this seems too early for Anthony Davis.

10. Jacksonville - Joe Haden | CB | Florida - A defensive end is still need but maybe not a top priority after the signing of Aaron Kampman. C.J. Spiller going here has been picking up a lot of steam lately, but adding talent in the secondary is going to be key. Sorry SoCalStites. I know you don’t like Haden.

11. Denver - Rolando McClain | MLB | Alabama - I know a lot of Broncos fans want Maurkice Pouncey, but with pick 11, that seems too early. McClain is far and away the best 3-4 middle linebacker prospect in the draft. He’d help improve the team’s 26th ranked run defense instantly.

12. Miami - Dan Williams | DT | Tennessee - This one was pretty easy. It was either Williams or Sergio Kindle.

13. San Francisco - Anthony Davis | OT | Rutgers - In this scenario, Davis carries a lot of value. The 49ers really need a tackle and Seattle could snag Davis with the next pick. This draft is starting to become what should happen instead of what will happen. Next week’s will hopefully be a little bit more based on reality.

14. Seattle - Derrick Morgan | DE | Georgia Tech - Seattle’s pass rush was poor in 2009 and the team jettisoned end Darryl Tapp. I know it’s hard to imagine the Seahawks not getting an offensive tackle in round one, but offensive line coach Alex Gibbs can coach up anyone.

15. New York Giants - C.J. Spiller | RB | Clemson - Giants general manager Jerry Reese is a believer in taking best player available, which Spiller represents.

16. Tennessee - Jason Pierre-Paul | DE | South Florida - I’m not a big fan personally, but the Titans need to add a pass rusher.

17. San Francisco - Sergio Kindle | OLB | Texas - This came down to Kindle and Brandon Graham. Kindle is much more natural as a linebacker

18. Pittsburgh - Mike Iupati | G | Idaho - This one was between Iupati and Maurkice Pouncey. Either would be a good fit for the Steelers.

19. Atlanta - Brandon Graham | DE | Michigan - Atlanta’s need for a pass rusher is well known. They could also be looking for a cornerback in this spot.

20. Houston - Ryan Mathews | RB | Fresno State - The Texans need cornerbacks, but Mathews would give them a legit running back and allow Steve Slaton to play a more natural role as a secondary back.

21. Cincinnati - Dez Bryant | WR | Oklahoma State - Bryant is probably the hardest player to project in the first round. I put him here based on value. A foursome of receivers of Brant, Chad Ochocinco, Antonio Bryant and Andre Caldwell is scary.

22. New England - Jared Odrick | DL | Penn State - This has really become one of the most en vogue picks of late. This would be way too early for a wide receiver and the best pass rushing linebackers are gone.

23. Green Bay - Charles Brown | OT | USC - There’s been speculation of late that Brown won’t be around this long, so getting him here would be a marginal steal for the Packers.

24. Philadelphia - Sean Weatherspoon | OLB | Missouri - Weatherspoon would be the weak-side replacement for Will Witherspoon. This could also be a landing spot for Taylor Mays or a cornerback.

25. Baltimore - Kyle Wilson | CB | Boise State - The Raven’s cornerbacks have been pretty bad for years and Wilson is a talent. There have been rumblings of late that this pick could also be Georgia Tech wide receiver Demaryius Thomas.

26. Arizona - Jerry Hughes | OLB | TCU - I don’t have Hughes rated as high, but there’s a sentiment that he won’t make it until the second round. The Cardinals need a lot of linebacker help and Hughes would provide it.

27. Dallas - Devin McCourty | CB | Rutgers - With the top offensive tackles off the board, a player like McCourty could come in and challenge for a starting job as a rookie. At worst, he could back up Terrence Newman for a year before taking the starting job.

28. San Diego - Terrence Cody | DT | Alabama - Without Jamal Williams, the Chargers’ defense struggled. While they do like some of the running backs, they can get one in the second round if Mathews is gone.

29. New York Jets - Everson Griffen | DE | USC - The feeling here is that the Jets would move Griffen to outside linebacker. But in reality, I’m kind of expecting the Jets to want to trade up so they can get a player like Hughes.

30. Minnesota - Patrick Robinson | CB | Florida State - Last year’s starting cornerbacks -- Cedric Griffin and Antoine Winfield -- may still be injured at the beginning of the season.

31. Indianapolis - Maurkice Pouncey | C | Florida - The idea is that Pouncey would move over to guard early in his career and eventually replace Jeff Saturday, who will be 35 at the beginning of the season. Yes, the Colts signed Andy Alleman, but there’s a reason he’s bounced from team to team.

32. New Orleans - Daryl Washington | LB | TCU - Washington represents the kind of athletic and aggressive linebacker that the Saints need badly.