By Paul M. Banks and Peter Christian
Team needs have been taken into account for this mock draft. And of course, this is all highly subject to change between now and late April.
Team Player Position School
1. St. Louis Rams Ndamukong Suh DT Nebraska
Suh is an expert at winning his battle at the line of scrimmage and causes disruption in the backfield constantly. He is an every down defensive tackle due to his dual ability to stuff the run or crash the pocket.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Russell Okung OT Oklahoma State
Russell Okung is as good a left tackle you will find in all of college football. He has the fundamental base of a franchise tackle to go with his physical skills. Okung also gets praised by pretty much everyone for his intelligence as well.
3. Cleveland Browns Eric Berry S Tennessee
If you don’t know who Eric Berry is, look him up. He could be the heir apparent to Ed Reed as the elite defensive playmaker in the NFL.
4. Tennessee Titans Gerald McCoy DT Oklahoma
McCoy is a pillar of strength that can dominate from the center of the field. He is very agile for a guy just shy of 300 pounds and will be a combine favorite.
5. Oakland Raiders Trent Williams OT Oklahoma
The Okung or Williams debate over who is the better choice at offensive tackle is one where there really isn’t a loser. Trent Williams, like Okung, has good feet, strong hands and the talent to become elite in the NFL.
6. Jacksonville Jaguars Brandon Spikes LB Florida
You’ve heard that they were going to draft Tim Tebow, in order to get a badly needed publicity injection to help the ailing ticket sales. But Tebow’s pro potential is not worth a pick this high (or anywhere in the 1st round for that matter). This fact is easy to forget when you consider the ludicrous slurping job the press do for Tebow and the ridiculous amount of of overcoverage he receives. Lost in the hoopla is Tebow’s teammate Spikes who could be a star on the next level.
7. San Francisco 49ers (From Carolina) Jevan Snead QB Ole Miss
Snead’s stock has solidified as a first rounder but a good run through the SEC could determine if he is picked near the top or bottom. He isn’t elusive by any means but his pocket presence and second nature footwork in the pocket makes him a quarterback with a future in the NFL. He has the ability to throw to any spot on the field but his accuracy fails him when he gets lazy.
8. Kansas City Chiefs Greg Hardy DE Ole Miss
Greg Hardy may be the purest sack artist in the draft. He has a lethal combination of speed and power that he mixes up to get to the quarterback. Hardy also has a sort of “Overdrive” that he shifts into once he smells a possible sack.
9. Buffalo Bills Carlos Dunlap DE Florida
Dunlap is one of the biggest reasons Gator opponents have backfield mishaps. He is fast AND strong which will allow him to cause nightmares for opposing tackles for years to come. But because the press is busy kissing Tebow’s a$$ every time the Gators play, he’s a well kept secret.
10. Detroit Lions Charles Brown OT USC
Brown is a people mover that has the benefit of playing in a pro-style offensive scheme that will make the college-to-NFL transition much easier than some.
11. Washington Redskins Dez Bryant WR Oklahoma State
Bryant’s body of work is more than enough to impress scouts even with his current eligibility issue. His body control and athleticism is something that has NFL coaches very intrigued. He has battled injury issues, but when he’s on the field he is a force.
12. Miami Dolphins Taylor Mays S USC
If you asked a scout to write down their ideal size and speed numbers for an NFL free safety they’d list: 6-3, 235, 4.4. Oddly enough that is Taylor’s height, weight and 40 time on record. Enough said.
13. San Diego Chargers Terence Cody DT Alabama
Cody is a big time anchor guy who could go higher if he stays in good shape throughout the combine and workout process. He is a perfect 3-4 true nose tackle and can really control the flow and direction of a play.
14. Seattle Seahawks Jahvid Best RB Cal
Best is exactly what is name proclaims at his position. He has very good vision and an even better instinct on when to turn on the jets. He is very good at making defenders miss at every level. He isn’t a bruiser back but if coupled with a versatile offense he has the makings of the next young playmaking running back.
15. Houston Texans Sergio Kindle OLB Texas
Kindle is a versatile linebacker that is an excellent attacker. He takes very good angles to the ball and makes tackles all over the field. Sergio’s mix of energy and instincts allows him to overcome the fact that he is a little slower than coaches would want.
16. Dallas Cowboys Arthur Jones DT Syracuse
Jones’ is a gap filler and is stronger than Atlas. He is in a Pat Williams type run stopper that will be look like a man amongst boys at times. He plays hard on every play and is of the rare breed of football players that will never quit on any play.
17. Denver Broncos (From Chicago) Sam Bradford QB Oklahoma
Falling 16 spots? Yep that’s what season ending surgery will do. But he’s said he’s for sure going on to the next level, so get ready. If heals up properly than he could be a steal. Besides Kyle Orton is still (despite the record) a “game manager” not a franchise QB.
18. Green Bay Packers Jonathan Dwyer RB Georgia Tech
Dwyer is an old school workhorse running back. He can run inside and outside and can handle as many carries as the coach gives him. Dwyer’s a big back, but he has good speed as well and can be the muscle of a two back system or handle the lone number one duties as well.
19. New York Jets Brandon LaFell WR LSU
LaFell is a rubber band man when it comes to contorting his body in the air to make the catch. His hands are his biggest asset as he catches the ball softly and away from his body. He needs to improve his route running as he isn’t a super fast runner but as long as he makes catches to bail out his quarterback he’ll be a good NFL player.
20. San Francisco 49ers Sean Weatherspoon OLB Missouri
Weatherspoon can play both sides of the field (he’ll end up near the ball anyway) and is always around a big play. Whether he’s rushing the passer, busting up a play in the backfield, breaking up a pass or chasing down a receiver from behind, Weatherspoon can do it all.
21. Atlanta Falcons Brandon Graham DE Michigan
Graham is a big body that plays very well upfield. Scouts will love that he is versatile enough to play the end position in either scheme.
22. Arizona Cardinals Joe Haden CB Florida
Haden has jumped to the top of the board amongst other corners with solid coverage and ball skills. He makes good reads and adjusts well to the ball when its in the air. And if weren’t for all of the college football media devoting 90% of their coverage to telling us what a model American Tim Tebow is, we’d all be more well aware of these facts.
23. Philadelphia Eagles Rolando McClain LB Alabama
McClain is an amazing tackler in space and can cover a lot of ground from the middle linebacker spot. He’s got great fundamentals and has a knack of shedding blockers to make big tackles.
24. New England Patriots Derrick Morgan DE Georgia Tech
The Pats LB corp certainly got hold, seemingly overnight, didn’t they? The same thing might happen with their DL soon. Especially with Adalius Thomas seemingly wearing out his welcome.
25. New York Giants Jermaine Gresham TE Oklahoma
Gresham is an elite pass catching tight end. He can run a perfect seam route or he can cover a lot of space over the middle. He needs to work on his blocking but he should be a touchdown machine with his hands, size and route running skills.
26. Baltimore Ravens Arrelious Benn WR Illinois
To cite the film Wedding Crashers: “Crab cakes and football, that’s what Maryland DOES!” And the Ravens will help bring the D.C. area native home once he formally decides to skip his senior season. And why would he not? with the clusterf@%k going on in Champaign, the Illini coaching staff has ruined his draft stock enough already for him to stick around another year.
27. Cincinnati Bengals CJ Spiller RB Clemson
Spiller’s a fast runner built on a solid frame. His outside running game and ability to catch the ball out of the backfield is where he’ll make his mark, but he’s not afraid to go right at a defender. A little extra muscle and being able to show his durability will help Spiller’s stock go up.
28. Pittsburgh Steelers Jermaine Cunningham DE Florida
Cunningham isn’t as explosive as his teammate Carlos Dunlap but he is more reliable on a play by play basis. He gets to the quarterback with regularity and makes a lot of tackles in the run game as well.
29. Minnesota Vikings Patrick Robinson CB Florida State
Robinson is a super fast coverage man that is above average in nearly every aspect of the game. He anticipates routes but isn’t a huge risk taker and tackles well in the open field. He is also a very good return man.
30. Seattle Seahawks (From Denver) Jake Locker QB Washington
Locker’s draft stock has shot up with his solid play this season for the Huskies. I expect things will come down by draft time but he’s raised enough eyebrows to maintain his status as a potential number one pick.
31. New Orleans Saints Trevard Lindley CB Kentucky
Give how potent their O is, NOLA will obviously draft for D this spring. And Lindley is about to put the finishing touches on what could be the best-ever career by a University of Kentucky defensive back.
32. Indianapolis Colts Bryan Bulaga OT Iowa
A big reason why Iowa is so good, yet so BORING to watch, is that their best talent is at the OL. And Bulaga is big reason that the Hawkeyes are winning ugly this season. Well, actually winning hideously.
The post NFL Mock Draft 10-27 appeared first on The Sports Bank.