This is the official Rotokingdom NFL Mock Draft. It will be updated once a week until April 22. We will add rounds 2, 3 and 4 as we near the draft.
Given the new format of the draft (Round 1 on Thursday, Rounds 2-3 on Friday, Rounds 4 on Saturday), we hope to update the draft after Thursday night and Friday night on draft weekend.
FIRST ROUND
1. Rams – DT Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska)
Some people believe the Rams will address their QB situation here. I'm waiting to see how Bradford throws at his individual workout. If his shoulder is questionable at all, he's not worth the money the Rams would have to pay here. They added A.J. Feeley in free agency, but he's obviously not the answer. Suh is the best player available, so I'm keeping him here for now.
2. Lions – OT Russell Okung (Oklahoma State)
Biggest need for the team + best player available at the position. I'm sure the Lions would prefer to trade down, but I think it's wise to lock down the LT position when you can. With the addition of Corey Williams, they may not want to spend too much on a DT.
3. Buccaneers – DT Gerald McCoy (Oklahoma)
The Bucs have openly coveted both McCoy and Suh, so this is easy.
4. Redskins – QB Sam Bradford (Oklahoma)
The team's #1 need is a LT, but it's hard to pass on a QB-of-the-future when you know you've only got your QB-of-the-present for one more year. If Bradford's shoulder checks out, I think this is the pick (if Okung is gone by now).
5. Chiefs – S Eric Berry (Tennessee)
The best defensive player available. Even though the Chiefs have more pressing needs, Berry is too talented a prospect to allow to fall any farther.
6. Seahawks – WR Dez Bryant (Oklahoma State)
Losing Nate Burleson hurt this team quite a bit. T.J. Houshmandzadeh seems like a FA bust so far, and the receivers still on their roster are promising but unproven. Bryant is far and away the best rookie WR this year. Even though he's a bit immature, Coach Carroll will focus on turning him into a pro.
7. Browns – OLB Sergio Kindle (Texas)
The Browns really want a corner, but I wonder if Joe Haden's slow times at the Combine have spooked them a bit. The team also needs a pass rush, and Kindle is a perfect candidate to switch to the 3-4 OLB spot. This could also help Kamerion Wimbley's stunted growth.
8. Raiders – OT Trent Williams (Oklahoma)
Al Davis is impossible to predict for me. There is no way in hell he should have passed up Crabtree for Bey last year (or drafted Michael Mitchell in the 2nd round). Some folks are predicting that Davis goes back to Maryland for another freakish athlete who hasn't proven anything on the field: OT Bruce Campbell. I think Trent Williams is athletic enough for Davis to settle for the SECOND best 40-time... but the best prospect. Then again, he's proven me wrong before.
9. Bills – QB Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame)
Even though I'm not totally sold on Clausen, the Bills need to find a future QB badly. They can't pass this kid up.
10. Jaguars – CB Joe Haden (Florida)
I'm sure some people think Haden is going too high here, given his poor time in the 40-yard dash at the Combine. WATCH HIS GAME TAPE! He's the only consistent shut-down corner available. Haden and Rashean Mathis (plus the rush of Aaron Kampman) could be just what the Jaguars need to beat the Colts.
11. Broncos (thru Bears) – ILB Rolando McClain (Alabama)
Some folks are down on McClain, but I think he's a very nice fit at ILB in the 3-4. His lack of blazing speed is hidden, but his knack for picking his way through trash will make him a Pro Bowler in the 3-4.
12. Dolphins – RB C.J. Spiller (Clemson)
Ronnie Brown can't stay on the field, and Ricky Williams can't have much life left. Spiller is the home-run hitter the Dolphins could use in the Wildcat. His straight-line speed is unparalleled at the position, and the Dolphins really could use a playmaker on offense. They'll address the pass-rush later.
13. 49ers – OLB Jason Pierre-Paul (South Florida)
The freakish athlete still needs to mature as a football player, but he's got all the tools that DeMarcus Ware did coming out of Troy. I bet Mike Singletary has already fallen in love with this guy. He's a bit big to transition to OLB, but he's got unreal athleticism.
14. Seahawks (thru Broncos) – OT Bryan Bulaga (Iowa)
The #1 need for the 'Hawks: OT. Walter Jones is gone and his replacement isn't on the roster. Bulaga has shorter-than-average arm length for the position, but Seattle needs to take a risk here. Iowa turns out fine O-linemen, and Bulaga is as well-trained as any rookie can be. He'll start immediately, but he'll need to figure out how to overcome his physical shortcomings.
15. Giants – DE Derrick Morgan (Georgia Tech)
The Giants seem to draft defensive ends all the time, and they always seem to need them too. Osi Umenyiora fell out of favor quickly, and he's probably poisoned the well for the future. Justin Tuck and Matthias Kiwanuka are fine starters, but New York looks to the future with the most seasoned DE in this year's class.
16. Titans – DE Brandon Graham (Michigan)
Graham is maybe too small for a 4-3 team, but he's got an awesome motor. He opened eyes at the Senior Bowl, and he's coming from the same program that produced LaMarr Woodley. Tennessee needs D-linemen pretty badly, and Graham promises enough of a disruptive force that they roll the dice on him.
17. 49ers (thru Panthers) – CB/S Earl Thomas (Texas)
The Niners are okay at free safety, but Thomas is too promising a player to let slip. He can step right in and become the most feared nickel back in the league.
18. Steelers – CB Kyle Wilson (Boise State)
Pittsburgh really does need help at CB, and Wilson is the best bet remaining. He didn't work out at the combine, so he'll need to impress at his Pro Day to justify this selection.
19. Falcons – DT Brian Price (UCLA)
Atlanta would have liked for CB Kyle Wilson to slip here, but they'll address corner later. For now, it's DT and Bryan Price. They selected DT Peria Jerry last year - so they may not double up on the position. But when Jerry succumbed to injury, their lack of depth showed up right away. Another high-motor guy like Price may be a wise selection.
20. Texans – DE Everson Griffen (USC)
Mario Williams is a stud on one side of the ball, and last year's selection of Connor Barwin should start paying dividends next year. But the Texans still need help getting after the QB. The team is lucky to have Griffen fall this far. There's a chance the front office may be sick of drafting defensive linemen in the first round, and they could opt to go another route though.
21. Bengals – DE Carlos Dunlap (Florida)
No one has cost himself more than Dunlap. His off-field issues will scare off most teams. Not the Bengals. No matter how much they insist they want "character guys," they really don't care. They just want athletes. Dunlap is just that. I think he's a future bust, but Cincy will take the risk.
22. Patriots – ILB Brandon Spikes (Florida)
There are serious concerns about Spikes and his off-field problems. On the field, he's not always giving 100%. He may not be a Belichick guy, but no one can doubt the need at the linebacker position in New England. Also, Spikes has great promise for his instincts and ferocity. New England may take a small risk to select a guy with top-10 talent but 4th-round brains.
23. Packers – OT Anthony Davis (Rutgers)
Davis is probably the 2nd best pass protector in the draft, but he looked absolutely awful at the Combine. He's no athlete, that's for sure. But the Packers need help at the position, and Davis really doesn't need to be much of an athlete to contribute.
24. Eagles – OLB Sean Weatherspoon (Missouri)
This guy just makes plays. Knock his size. Knock his speed. Go ahead. But he inspires his teammates and he's always around the ball. He's the leader this squad needs.
25. Ravens – WR Golden Tate (Notre Dame)
Tate's speed at the Combine makes him too compelling to pass up. Even though the Ravens made a great deal for WR Anquan Boldin, they still need receiving help. At this point, there's no guarantee Derrick Mason will return. Even if he does, he's not a long-term solution. Tate could be gold in the return game AND as a #2/#3 receiver.
26. Cardinals – OT Bruce Campbell (Maryland)
It's about time to take a risk on the most physically-perfect OT the draft has seen in a while. Campbell could convert to TE he's so athletic. Arizona really wants to upgrade the OT spot, and they'll take a flyer on Campbell and hope he learns how to play the position.
27. Cowboys – OT/G Mike Iupati (Idaho)
Dallas has coveted this guy for a while now. He's a mauler inside, and since his arms are so long, he could even play a little tackle too. It's about time to shuffle this line to get rid of Flozell "The Flag" Adams.
28. Chargers – RB Jahvid Best (California)
Best may be a bit of an injury risk, but his amazing speed and home-run ability is too tempting to pass up here. RB is obviously a need position for the team, and they get to choose between California talents: Best or Mathews. They take the kid who's faced the tougher competition here.
29. Jets – NT Dan Williams (Tennessee)
While the team played just fine without Kris Jenkins last year, KJ's injury was a wake-up call for the team. You can't run the 3-4 effectively without a stout nose tackle. Williams could play the DE spot but also move into the nose if Sione Pouha can't hold up behind Jenkins.
30. Vikings – QB Colt McCoy (Texas)
This seems like a perfect fit. If Brett Favre returns for his 49th season, McCoy could settle in behind him and learn from another guy who ran an unconventional offense in college, was much loved by his teammates, is shorter than ideal, got injured just before the draft, and fell a bit as a result.
31. Colts - OT Charles Brown (USC)
The Colts needs linemen badly - either side. Tony Ugoh seems to have failed as the team's LT of the future. Brown has the talent and size for the job.
32. Saints – DE Jerry Hughes (TCU)
The Saints don't have great needs anywhere, so they can take a flyer on a promising talent. Hughes can replace Charles Grant and rotate with Bobby McCray on the other side of Will Smith.
- Uncle Scurvy - RotoKingdom Staff Writer