Projecting the first round of the NFL draft
It has been 30 years since a University of Oklahoma player was selected first in the NFL draft — Detroit made running back Billy Sims the top pick in 1980 — but in 2010 a Sooner will go soonest.
FOR THE RECORD:
On the NFL: Sam Farmer’s On the NFL column in the March 7 Sports section, a mock draft, misidentified Russell Okung’s school as Texas. He played for Oklahoma State. —
The St. Louis Rams will hand Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford a cap and No. 1 jersey and introduce him as the future of their franchise.
That’s the way Times NFL writer Sam Farmer sees it, at least, in his first mock draft of the post-combine, pre-draft season. A lot can change between now and the draft, which takes place April 22-24 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
Bradford needs a strong performance at Oklahoma’s pro day on March 9, seeing as he’s coming off shoulder surgery and didn’t throw at the combine. If he does what he and scouts expect him to do, it will solidify his spot at the top of the heap.
A look at one way the first round could go:
1. ST. LOUIS — QB Sam Bradford, Oklahoma: If Bradford’s shoulder checks out OK, the Rams need to make this move. They have used their top pick to bolster their defensive line in two of the last three drafts. Now, like Detroit did last year, they need to take a quarterback.
2. DETROIT — DT Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska: Suh would immediately upgrade a defense that finished 25th against the run last season. The Lions could also take defensive tackle Gerald McCoy here, as he’s a slightly better pass rusher.
3. TAMPA BAY — DT Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma: Teams ran for a league-high average of 158.2 yards per game against the Buccaneers last season. Either McCoy or Suh could help stem that.
4. WASHINGTON — QB Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame: It’s a weak quarterback draft, and the free-agency picture doesn’t look any better. Clausen needs to prove he’s charismatic enough to lead. He’d be lucky to have Mike Shanahan bring him along.
5. KANSAS CITY — T Russell Okung, Texas: Okung is the best tackle in a draft filled with good ones. The Chiefs, who are going to be trying hard to trade down, could look to improve their offensive line, or add a playmaker such as safety Eric Berry. The Redskins might take Okung at
6. SEATTLE — S Eric Berry, Tennessee: Even with the terrific combine of Taylor Mays, the Seahawks like Berry better. Seattle has a lot of needs, but should be able to address several with three picks in the first 37. If Clausen is still around, Seattle is likely to take him.
7. CLEVELAND — CB Kyle Wilson, Boise State: The Browns need a right corner, and Florida’s Joe Haden is a popular projection here. But Haden was slow at the combine, and Wilson is coming on strong.
8. OAKLAND — T Bruce Campbell, Maryland: Campbell is an amazing physical specimen. He’s fast and has a bodybuilder’s physique. Still, some scouts don’t even consider him a first-rounder. Sounds like a good against-the-grain Raiders pick.
9. BUFFALO — T Trent Williams, Oklahoma: Bills quarterbacks were sacked 46 times last season, and tackle Brad Butler’s surprise retirement further increased the pressure to grab a big man in this tackle-rich draft.
10. JACKSONVILLE — DE Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech: Even with top pass rusher Reggie Hayward back and healthy after suffering a broken leg in the opener, the Jaguars need help generating pressure on the quarterback. Morgan could be their man.
11. DENVER — WR Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech: A lot of people predict receivers Dez Bryant and Golden Tate will go before him, but Thomas has great size and stood out in an offense known for running the ball.
12. MIAMI — LB Rolando McClain, Alabama: McClain is the best inside linebacker in this class. With so many good defensive tackles, the Dolphins might also use this pick to replace nose guard Jason Ferguson. It could be Tennessee’s Dan Williams.
13. SAN FRANCISCO — T Bryan Bulaga, Iowa: Some scouts have Bulaga rated higher than Oklahoma’s Williams. But Bulaga wasn’t helped by a so-so combine and questions that have arisen about his ability to play left tackle in the pros.
14. SEATTLE — T Anthony Davis, Rutgers: The Seahawks need a tackle, and if they’ve already addressed safety — as they have in this mock — Davis works well here.
15. NEW YORK GIANTS — WR Golden Tate, Notre Dame: Tate is a smart player who runs good routes and really impressed teams at the combine. He could go 11th to Denver. The Giants need to develop a tight end, too, but it’s too early to take Oklahoma’s Jermaine Gresham, the best in this draft.
16. TENNESSEE —DE Jason Pierre-Paul, South Florida: Pierre-Paul is projected all over the first round these days. Some team might fall in love with him and take him earlier. He’s a physical freak — watch him do 13 consecutive back hand springs on YouTube — but he’s raw, raw, raw.
17. SAN FRANCISCO — RB C.J. Spiller, Clemson: Running back is not a pressing area of need for the 49ers, but a player with Spiller’s quickness and talent would be difficult to resist. He’d be a great complement to Frank Gore’s power.
18. PITTSBURGH — CB Joe Haden, Florida: The Steelers badly need help in the secondary, and Haden could be a good fit to play opposite Ike Taylor. Although Haden ran poorly at the combine, a lot of scouts still consider him the best corner in this draft.
19. ATLANTA — C Maurkice Pouncey, Florida: Pouncey and Idaho’s Mike Iupati are the best interior offensive linemen in this draft, and either could help the Falcons up front. Atlanta needs to groom an eventual replacement for center Todd McClure.
20. HOUSTON — RB Ryan Matthews, Fresno State: The Texans are looking for more run-pass balance, and having the league’s 30th-ranked ground game doesn’t help matters. Matthews is the second-best running back in this draft.
21.CINCINNATI — S Taylor Mays, USC: Mays is a good kid and a spectacular athlete who ran some astoundingly fast times at the combine (some scouts had him at 4.28 seconds in the 40). There are questions surrounding his playmaking skills. The Bengals have had good luck with USC players.
22. NEW ENGLAND — LB Sergio Kindle, Texas: The Patriots will definitely be taking a pass rusher with one of their first four picks, and Kindle is a good one. New England also needs a running back, so Matthews, Dexter McCluster, Jahvid Best or Stanford’s Toby Gerhart are considerations.
23. GREEN BAY — T Charles Brown, USC: The Packers could wind up having openings at both tackle spots, depending on what happens with free agents Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher. If Brown is still on the board at this point, he’d be a smart pick.
24. PHILADELPHIA — CB Earl Thomas, Texas: Thomas can play corner or safety, where he played for the Longhorns last season. The Eagles need a free safety and could take Mays if he’s still on the board. They also could use help at defensive end and along the offensive line.
25. BALTIMORE — LB Brandon Graham, Michigan: The Ravens satisfied their need for a receiver by trading for Arizona’s Anquan Boldin. Graham is the best defensive player on the board at this point.
26. ARIZONA — WR Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State: A lot of people consider Bryant the best receiver in this draft class. If he happens to slip this far, the Cardinals fill their need for a receiver now that Boldin was traded to Baltimore.
27. DALLAS — S Nate Allen, South Florida: The Cowboys are in need of a playmaking safety, and the underrated Allen could be their man. This is also a good landing spot for Idaho’s Iupati, the best guard in the draft.
28. SAN DIEGO — RB Toby Gerhart, Stanford: Even if they hang onto Darren Sproles, the Chargers need help at running back. Cal’s Jahvid Best is interesting here, too, but Gerhart is bigger and can provide the short-yardage punch the team has lacked.
29. NEW YORK JETS — NT Dan Williams, Tennessee: He isn’t likely to fall this far, but if he does Coach Rex Ryan could never pass up such a disruptive defensive presence. Texas Christian linebacker Jerry Hughes is another possibility here.
30. MINNESOTA — CB Patrick Robinson, Florida State: The Vikings sorely need help at corner after Cedric Griffin suffered a knee injury and Antoine Winfield battled foot problems. Robinson and Oklahoma’s Dominique Franks are good candidates to provide help.
31. INDIANAPOLIS — DT Jared Odrick, Penn State: The Colts have outstanding pass rushers in Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, and now need to solidify the interior of their defensive front. Odrick gets the nod over the otherwise evenly-matched Brian Price because he’s bigger.
32. NEW ORLEANS — DT Brian Price, UCLA: The Saints were inconsistent against the run last season and need someone to complement Sedrick Ellis, who’s good but can’t do it on his own. Oklahoma tight end Gresham is also a possibility.
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