On Thursday, April 22, the first round of the NFL Draft comes for the first time to primetime. It’s a day where all the teams feel like winners, where they all feel that they have made some change that will change the future of their organization for the better. But it’s also a day of caution, as draft picks are huge investments that could set an organization back years. Just look at how long it took San Diego to recover from the Ryan Leaf debacle. And just look at Oakland too. But then again, it’s Oakland. It’s expected. Here’s a breakdown of the first round of the NFL Draft as it appears now.
1. St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
This pick is pretty much a foregone conclusion after the Rams released longtime quarterback Marc Bulger on April 5. Bradford impressed the team at his Pro Day at Oklahoma and looks fully recovered from a shoulder injury he suffered against BYU in September that ruined his senior season. Bradford looks like he can make all the throws needed to survive in the pros despite playing in a spread-style offense in college. While some could make a case for St. Louis to go defense here, the team has used its last two high picks on defensive end Chris Long and offensive tackle Jason Smith. While foundations of championship teams are built in the trenches, an organization has to address the skill positions at some point, which is right now for the Rams.
2. Detroit Lions: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
Lions head coach Jim Schwartz is a defensive-minded coach, bringing in defensive tackle Corey Williams from the Browns and defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch from the Titans. Schwartz will want to solidify his defensive line with a defensive tackle. The question is whether Schwartz goes with Suh or Oklahoma’s Gerald McCoy. Both are dominant, and both are regarded as the top two prospects in this year’s draft class. Detroit goes with Suh here because he seems to be more NFL ready and will make a more significant impact in less time. Detroit wasn’t 0-16 last year, but there are still numerous holes to fill. Filling in the defensive line will do wonders for the team.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
Tampa Bay has needs a defensive tackle, defensive end, cornerback, and safety, not to mention an offensive line. It’s almost like the organization needs an entirely new defense. Defensive tackle seems like the most logical place to start, working from the inside out with McCoy. Helping Tampa Bay is the fact that four of the first 67 draft picks belong to the Buccaneers, giving the team time to address other needs later and allowing the front office to draft the most dominant player remaining on the draft board.
4. Washington Redskins: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
This is one of the most intriguing picks in the first round after the acquisition of Donovan McNabb from the Philadelphia Eagles to replace Jason Campbell and the signing of Rex Grossman in the offseason. The Redskins will most likely get rid of Campbell through a trade, leaving Grossman to backup McNabb. McNabb is 33 years old and will turn 34 in November. Given injury problems during the last few seasons and durability concerns, McNabb appears to have at most two to three seasons left in him. That is the perfect amount of time for Clausen to sit on the bench and learn the game before taking over, much like the Green Bay Packers did with Aaron Rodgers sitting behind Brett Favre for the first years of his career. Clausen would be better for it and the Redskins’ future would be better for it, even though the trade for McNabb signifies that the team wants to win now.
5. Kansas City Chiefs: Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa
Bulaga comes into the NFL as one of the most mentally ready offensive line prospects. The 2010 draft class lacks elite talent like Jason Smith in 2009, but Bulaga is exactly what the Chiefs are looking for to protect quarterback Matt Cassel’s blind side. Current left tackle Branden Albert could easily shift to the right tackle spot is the team were to take Bulaga, giving Kansas City two solid bookend tackles to protect Cassel and clear paths for Jamaal Charles. With Scott Pioli in the front office, Kansas City won’t take any high risk prospects, so look for a solid pick like Bulaga.
6. Seattle Seahawks: Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
With future Hall of Fame left tackle Walter Jones’ future in limbo, the obvious pick for Seattle here is to go with Okung, the second best line prospect in the draft behind Bulaga. The Seahawks were not expecting to have two top six picks in a row, but injuries to Matt Hasselbeck in 2009 really set the team back. Protecting Hasselbeck is a top priority for Seattle and if the team were to lose Jones and not replace him, Hasselbeck and the Seahawks’ season would be at risk. Okung brings protection, and protection brings the potential for Hasselbeck to lead the Seahawks to a good season.
7. Cleveland Browns: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
Cleveland has 12 choices in the first 186 picks of the draft, giving it a chance for a complete overhaul of a roster that needs help at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, linebacker, corner, and safety. Berry provides instant playmaking at the safety position and eliminates a need immediately. The team would have the remaining 11 early draft picks to address the rest of those needs. Berry plays bigger than his appearance suggests, plus his athleticism gives him big upside. He would provide a cornerstone for Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert to build the Browns’ secondary around along with giving the Browns a hard-nosed, intimidating presence in the middle of the field.
8. Oakland Raiders: Joe Haden, CB, Florida
Al Davis likes his athletes, and Joe Haden fits this profile perfectly. A shutdown corner in Gainesville, Haden is a ballhawk with decent size that would get plenty of experience playing opposite of Nnamdi Asomugha in Oakland’s defense. Corner is a need for the Raiders so this pick would be Davis actually making a smart pick. The team still has question marks at quarterback, offensive line, and defensive line, but an addition in the secondary would not stunt the growth of the team and give the defense a boost.
9. Buffalo Bills: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
The third Sooner to go in the Top 10, Williams will be the anchor of the future for the Bills offensive line that was shredded by injuries and inconsistency in 2009. After trading Jason Peters to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Bills had no solid anchor on the line and were forced to use multiple offensive line combinations which had a ripple effect on bad quarterback play and running game struggles at times. Williams has great strength as a run blocker, something that running backs Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson will be salivating over. A great run game will help open the pass game for whomever is playing quarterback, helping to revamp the struggling Bills.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
The big question: do the Jaguars draft Tim Tebow? The hometown hero would do wonders to reinvigorate a stagnant Jacksonville fan base, but at No. 10 with David Garrard already in place, Tebow is too much of a reach. The Jaguars could trade down a few spots for a shot at Tebow because the team lacks a second-round pick, but if the team does pick at No. 10, it will be Morgan. Morgan would team with the newly-acquired Aaron Kampman to give the Jags two defensive ends with non-stop motors. Kampman underperformed in Green Bay’s 3-4 defense last year before suffering a major knee injury, so drafting Morgan would take some pressure of him in his recovery, allowing the Jaguars’ defense to develop.
11. Denver Broncos: Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama
12. Miami Dolphins: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
13. San Francisco 49ers: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers
14. Seattle Seahawks: C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
15. New York Giants: Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri
16. Tennessee Titans: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida
17. San Francisco 49ers: Taylor Mays, S, USC
18. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State
19. Atlanta Falcons: Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida
20. Houston Texans: Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
22. New England Patriots: Jerry Hughes, DE/LB, TCU
23. Green Bay Packers: Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland
24. Philadelphia Eagles: Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho
25. Baltimore Ravens: Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida
26. Arizona Cardinals: Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida
27. Dallas Cowboys: Earl Thomas, S, Texas
28. San Diego Chargers: Jonathon Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech
29. New York Jets: Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois
30. Minnesota Vikings: Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers
31. Indianapolis Colts: Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
32. New Orleans Saints: Sergio Kindle, DE/LB, Texas
Daniel Gallen can be reached for comment at [email protected].