Mock Draft: 3.0

With the NFL Scouting Combine now complete, here is the National Football Post’s third mock draft of the season:

1. St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
The Rams need a franchise quarterback they can begin to build around, and Bradford looks to be the draft’s best option.

2. Detroit Lions: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
Suh grades out as the draft’s top prospect and gives the Lions the type of player who can control the line of scrimmage up front.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
The Buccaneers have needs across the board, so getting a talent like McCoy, who can instantly improve their defensive line, makes a lot of sense.

4. Washington Redskins: Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
The Redskins have question marks along their offensive line, and Okung looks like a guy who can step in and play at a high level from day one.

5. Kansas City Chiefs: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
Kansas City has needs on the offensive line and across its defensive front seven, but Berry is the type of playmaker who can mask a lot of deficiencies in a secondary.

6. Seattle Seahawks: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
Clausen possesses the type of skill set and pedigree that new coach Pete Carroll loves in his signal callers.

7. Cleveland Browns: Joe Haden, CB, Florida
Cleveland is in desperate need of playmakers at the cornerback position, and Haden is the best the draft has to offer.

8. Oakland Raiders: Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland
After an amazing workout at the combine, you get the feeling that Campbell will end up being the Raiders’ pick.

9. Buffalo Bills: Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa
Bulaga might not be the most physically gifted tackle in this year’s class, but he’s a technically sound player who can win in both the run and pass game and should pay instant dividends along the Bills O-line.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
Despite investing two high picks on the defensive end position in 2008, the Jaguars simply aren’t getting the production needed in the sack department to pass on a guy like Morgan.

11. Denver Broncos: Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama
For a defense that struggled significantly against the run down the stretch, McClain would be a huge upgrade inside.

12. Miami Dolphins: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
There are some character concerns here, but Miami is the kind of tough-minded team that could bring out the best in Bryant at the next level.

13. San Francisco 49ers: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers
Davis is a talented kid, but questions about his immaturity might cause him to drop a bit on draft day. He might be ideally suited to play on the right side in the NFL.

14. Seattle Seahawks: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida
The Seahawks have to find a way to improve their pass rush this offseason, and Pierre-Paul possesses the kind of upside to intrigue at No. 14.

15. New York Giants: Maurkice Pouncey, OL, Florida
The interior of the Giants’ offensive line struggled last season, and some youth at the center position needs to be added.

16. Tennessee Titans: Brandon Graham, DE/OLB, Michigan
Tennessee needs to add some talent to its defensive end position; Graham looks like one of the draft’s more NFL-ready prospects.

17. San Francisco 49ers: Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State
Wilson really made a statement this postseason and now looks like one of the few prospects in the mix to be the second cornerback off the board.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho
Iupati gives the Steelers a talented body inside who can win at the point of attack as well as hold up in pass protection.

19. Atlanta Falcons: Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU
Hughes is a gifted edge rusher who can come in and instantly improve the Falcons’ ability to get after the quarterback.

20. Houston Texans: Dan Williams, DT Tennessee
The Texans need to become stouter up front if they hope to take that next step as a team; Williams gives them that ability.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Arrelious Benn, WR Illinois
Finding a guy who can complement Chad Ochocinco in the pass game is a must for the Cincinnati offense this offseason.

22. New England Patriots: Jared Odrick, DL, Penn State
Odrick is a talented defensive lineman and a versatile athlete who will quickly find a home in New England.

23. Green Bay Packers: C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
I know there are bigger needs across the O-line for the Packers, but adding a dynamic talent like Spiller is quite a find at this point.

24. Philadelphia Eagles: Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama
If the Eagles want to beat Dallas next season, they need to add a defensive lineman who can match up with the size and power of the Cowboys massive offensive line. Cody can do just that.

25. Baltimore Ravens: Aaron Hernandez, TE, Florida
I don’t think there’s a wideout on the draft board worthy of this slot, so a potential dynamic tight end who can make plays and create mismatches in the pass game makes a lot of sense.

26. Arizona Cardinals: Charles Brown, OT, USC
Brown offers the Cardinals a major upgrade at the left tackle position and has the kind of footwork/athleticism needed to mature quickly into an NFL-capable pass blocker. Plus, he’s very natural on the move.

27. Dallas Cowboys: Taylor Mays, S, USC
It doesn’t matter what Mays has done up to this point; the size/speed ratio he displayed at the combine will get him drafted in round one.

28. San Diego Chargers: Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech
With all the questions surrounding the Chargers’ running back position, getting a guy like Dwyer at this stage is one heck of a find.

29. New York Jets: Sergio Kindle, OLB, Texas
Kindle is an explosive, quick-twitch athlete who should mature quickly into a 3-4 OLB in the NFL.

30. Minnesota Vikings: Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama
Jackson is a smooth, coordinated defensive back with a nose for the football and is an ideal fit in the Vikings’ Cover 2 defense.

31. Indianapolis Colts: Rodger Saffold, OL, Indiana
We know Colts president Bill Polian loves to draft Big Ten guys, and Saffold has the talent and versatility to play either guard or tackle at the next level.

32. New Orleans Saints: Brian Price, DT, UCLA
Price is a great value at the end of round one and would give the Saints one of the more talented interior defensive lines in the NFL.

Follow me on Twitter: WesBunting

Upcoming Games