Our resident "uninformed" arm chair GM Steve (Grey Suit) and the Bolts From the Blue 2009 Mock Draft Champion and Representative GM (that's me, Wonko) have been collaborating via email to come up with our very own Bolts From the Blue Mock Draft. We decided to divide it up so that I did the odds and Steve (Grey Suit) did the evens. Here are the first 5 picks, the remaining 27 come after the jump.
1. St. Louis Rams - Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
Wonko: I'll go with the current trend and say that the Rams go QB. This is a lot like the 49ers in 2005. The Rams know that they can't ignore the QB position and they've got to pick one of the two guys that no one really sees as worthy of the #1 pick. I was in love with Bradford last year and he's the best of the top 2 this year so he goes to play by the Gateway Arch.
2. Detroit Lions - Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
Steve (Grey Suit): It’s really a toss up between McCoy and Suh at the top of most experts draft boards. McCoy looks to be the better pass rusher while Suh looks to be the more polished and better all around player. If the Rams take Bradford with the number one overall pick the Lions really can’t lose by picking either player.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
Wonko: Boomer Sooner! Someone will have to pull up some stats about teammates drafted in the first 3 picks or something. Tampa Bay benefits the most from the Bradford to the Rams scenario since their pass rush sorely misses a dominant defensive tackle.
4. Washington Redskins - Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
Steve (Grey Suit): The OK state will continue to do well in the top of the 2010 NFL draft with the Redskins picking Oklahoma States Russell Okung, whom most experts believe to be a franchise quality left tackle prospect. If Okung falls out of the top three picks it would be great news for the Redskins who need to replace pro-bowl left tackle Chris Samuels after he suffered a career ending neck injury in October 2009.
5. Kansas City Chiefs - Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
6. Seattle Seahawks - Bryan Bulaga, OT, IowaWonko: The Chiefs made a mistake when they let Bernard Pollard go and they'll make up for it here by adding the premier safety in this draft. This is a definite upgrade for the Chiefs, but unfortunately one that comes at the cost of missing out on taking a top offensive lineman. But hey, they have Thomas Jones now, he'll fix everything so who needs better linemen? In all seriousness, Eric Berry has too much value to pass up at this spot.
Steve (Grey Suit): With the recent retirement of Walter Jones the Seahawks need to start the rebuilding process of what was once a great offensive line. Bulaga is a big offensive linemen with very quick feet and long arms. Bulaga is polished enough to start right away and should end up becoming a solid left tackle in the NFL for many years to come.
7. Cleveland Browns - Joe Haden, CB, Florida
Wonko: I actually have Jason Pierre-Paul higher on my board than Haden, but I just think a 3-4 team will value Haden better than Pierre-Paul who profiles better as a 4-3 DE. Mangini was the HC when Revis was drafted so we know he thinks highly of the cornerback position. I was really close to picking Dez Bryant here, but maybe Holmgren is once bitten twice shy after drafting Koren Robinson so high. That's it, time for draft fun time with the Raiders.
8. Oakland Raiders – Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland
Steve (Grey Suit): I really wanted to go with Taylor Mays with this pick, he is big, fast and exactly the type of guy Al Davis goes after in the draft but the Raiders have three young safeties on their roster (all under the age of 23) and two of which were high draft picks. Other than Mays, Bruce Campbell is the next best thing to a typical Al draft pick, Campbell is very big man (6'6 314lbs) and is incredibly athletic (he ran a 4.85 40 at the combine). The Raiders also have a dire need at OT so this pick just makes a ton of sense…which kind of scares me we are talking about the raiders after all so really your guess is as good as mine as to whom the #8 overall pick will be.
9. Buffalo Bills - Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
Wonko: I actually would think that Jason Pierre-Paul is more of a Raider-like pick. Whoops, I'm doing the Bills. They need someone to build around at QB. I personally don't rate Clausen this high, but the Bills can't keep sending the same guys out there and expect a different result. The Bills have so many holes though that they could go in almost any direction and this would be a good pick.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars - Earl Thomas, S, Texas
Steve (Grey Suit): Jacksonville’s true needs are at QB and OLB (in a 3-4) unfortunately there is really no one left on the board that would warrant this high of a pick at either position. Thomas is a bit young coming out as a red shirt sophomore and a bit small (at 5’11 195 lbs) but he stared 27 games for Texas over the last 2 seasons and never shies away from a big hit. Thomas is a hard-hitting ball hawking safety (he set a Texas record with 8 intersections this season) with great instincts and would be a big upgrade in the Jags secondary.
11. Denver Broncos - Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
Wonko: I tried really hard to think of a way to make the Mile High guys go insane with this pick, but I didn't want to get too out there. I assume that Dan Williams won't work because of the Jamal signing and everything else doesn't work well enough for me to justify it. I'll operate under the assumption that Marshall is gone this year or next and the Bryant gives them the #1 WR they need.
12. Miami Dolphins – Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
Steve (Grey Suit): Sorry Bolts fans I don’t see Williams getting past the Dolphins at #12. With the aging (35) and undersized (310) Jason Ferguson facing an eight game suspension to start the 2010 season (violation of the leagues performance enhancing drug program) the dolphins should be looking to add some beef up front through the draft.
13. San Francisco 49ers - Jason Pierre-Paul, OLB, South Florida
Wonko: Our draft was following Todd McShay's latest a little too closely, so I'll mix it ever so slightly. The 49ers take Pierre-Paul because I think he's the best player available and it keeps a couple of other teams from grabbing him. They still need right tackle help, but I imagine one of the tackles will be left when they make their second first round pick. With Pierre-Paul and Patrick Willis running wild on that defense, big plays are going to be even harder to come by against the '9ers.
14. Seattle Seahawks – Everson Griffen, DE, USC
Steve (Grey Suit): The Seahawks ranked 26th last year in sacks (with only 28), so getting a pass rushing DE should be one of their top items on their off seasons to do list. Personally I like Derrick Morgan a bit more than Griffen but I would imagine that Pete Carroll will remain loyal to his former player. Griffen knows Carroll’s system and should be able to make an impact from day one.
15. New York Giants - Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama
Wonko: I think the whole world is of the belief that if McClain makes it to the Giants they will sprint up to the podium to take him. They need linebacker help and this is the best linebacker available. Sure you can make some noise about his top speed, but he was a middle linebacker on a championship team with great tackling and diagnostic ability. He makes Big Blue better, bottom line.
16. Tennessee Titans - Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
Steve (Grey Suit): In my opinion Morgan is the best DE in the draft and the best player left on the board. The Titans will be counting their lucky stars if Morgan falls to them at #16. Morgan will provide the Titans the pass rushing DE they desperately need to replace Kyle Vanden Bosch.
17. San Francisco 49ers - Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho
Wonko: Aha! I knew there'd be offensive linemen left. Since the 49ers already have a left tackle prospect on their team, they can sit and wait to find someone for the other bookend, but there's only 1 OG that projects as elite in this draft and it's Iupati.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers - Trent Williams, OT, Okalahoma
Steve (Grey Suit): Williams played both left and right tackle in his tenure at Oklahoma but seemed to have a bit more success defending the right side. Williams is not as polished as the linemen drafted before him, he may develop into a starting left tackle but unless his footwork improves he is more likely that he will end up on the right side of the line. Williams is a great run blocker and plays with a mean streak which I think makes him a perfect fit in the Burgh.
19. Atlanta Falcons - Brian Price, DT, UCLA
Wonko: The current Atlanta DTs are nothing special so they need an upgrade. Brian Price would be an excellent compliment to John Abraham and perhaps the catalyst that helps former 1st round pick Jamaal Anderson develop. Other mocks have the Falcons taking a DE to help the pass rush, but I'd rather stick with the DEs they have and try to upgrade their no name DTs.
20. Houston Texans – C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
Steve (Grey Suit): Running back may not be the Texans top need (my guess is that it’s DT and O-Line) but for a team that likes to use their running backs in the passing game, like the Texans do, to pass on Spiller at this point would be criminal.
21. Cincinnati Bengals - Taylor Mays, S, USC
Wonko: The Bengals re-signed their previous strong safety Roy Williams, but he has trouble staying healthy. Mays can do basically what Williams can only faster (and younger), so he's a logical successor. Marvin Lewis has been quoted as saying he just wants to take the best player available and if the Bengals already don't ask for much coverage out of their SS then he probably is at the top of their board.
22. New England Patriots – Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame
Steve (Grey Suit): The Patriots have some big holes to fill on the defensive side of the ball but with Welker’s return uncertain and Tate’s experience in a similar offence to what the Patriots run he may be too tempting to pass up.
23. Green Bay Packers - Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers
Wonko: Priority number one for the Cheeseheads is keeping Aaron Rodgers upright. If they had done a better job at that early on they may have stolen the division from the Vikings. Davis is still a bit raw and will take time to develop, but the Packers need to make sure that Aaron Rodgers' blind side is protected for years to come.
24. Philadelphia Eagles – Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan
Steve (Grey Suit): The Eagles have two big needs to fill in this year’s draft, OLB and DE, depending on who their scouts like more they could either go with Brandon Graham who has the size (6’1 268 lbs) to play DE in a 4-3 or Sergio Kendle (Texas) who can get after the QB but projects to be your prototypical 4-3 OLB. In the end I think the Eagles will go with Graham because it is it will be easier to find value at OLB later in the draft than it will to find a pass rushing DE.
25. Baltimore Ravens - Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State
Wonko: The Ravens have been in need of a top corner for a while now and their defense needs to get younger. Ed Reed has also been muttering things about retirement so it could be really useful to have another play maker in the secondary. Some will want them to keep upgrading their offense, but their offensive line is good, Flacco is solid, Boldin provides an upgrade and Mason and Rice should be able to repeat their 2009 performances.
26. Arizona Cardinals – Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri
Steve (Grey Suit): After switching to the 3-4 the Cardinals still need to find a dominate NT who can clog up the middle of the line, unfortunately none warranting a first round pick will be available at #26. With the recent free agent departure of Karlos Dansby the Cardinals have another big hole to fill on their defense. Weatherspoon should be able to fill the hole from day one and help to stabilize the AZ linebacking corps.
27. Dallas Cowboys - Jared Odrick, DE, Penn State
Wonko: Marcus Spears is a free agent in 2010 and you can never have too many quality defensive linemen. Odrick is a good fit for the DE position in the 3-4 so he gets the nod here. There are probably some guys the Cowboys would have liked to have fall here, so I'd expect them to maybe make a move up or down to avoid this situation if they see it coming. Aurelious Benn, Charles Brown and Nate Allen are other options if they don't make a deal.
28. San Diego Chargers – Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State
Steve (Grey Suit): No surprise here to Chargers fans, but to be honest I would be a bit surprised if AJ does in fact pick Mathews in the first round. The last time I was able to correctly predict a Charger first round draft pick was in 2004 with Eli Manning, and we all know how that worked out. Nobody except AJ and probably a few other Charger executives know what AJ has up his sleeve for this years draft, we do know however that AJ will pick the player he feels will help the team the most, regardless of where he is projected to go on other teams draft boards.
29. New York Jets - Sergio Kindle, OLB, Texas
Wonko: We're in the home stretch now with the final four and most of you have already stopped paying attention. Kindle has already fallen too far in this draft and represents a lot of value at this point. So I'll give him to the Jets to help them terrorize Brady some more.
30. Minnesota Vikings - Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida
The Vikings are a deep team and if Farve come back they can really take the best player available and plan for the future. You don’t see too many offensive Centers go in the first round but Maurkice Pouncey would make a good exception to that rule. Pouncey pretty much started every game he played in at Florida and consistently dominated against top competition.
31. Indianapolis Colts - Charles Brown, OT, USC
Wonko: Colts have to keep Manning protected. Charles Johnson isn't your prototypical LT, but he got them to the Super Bowl. They probably got lucky with that, so it's best to plan for the future and find an OL that can take over.
32. New Orleans Saints – Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida
Steve (Grey Suit): With the departure of Scott Fujita and the potential departure of Darren Sharper the Saints should be looking at the Safety and Linebacker positions with their first pick, unfortunately for them there may not be a quality pick at either position when their turn comes around. With no one to pick to fill their key areas of need, I think the Saints will end up taking the best defensive player left on the board in Carlos Dunlap. There are questions/concerns about Dunlap’s maturity that may cause him to fall this far in the draft, but there are no questions about his productivity on the field (Dunlap is the all time sack’s leader at Florida with 19.5)