Here is my very early post combine mock draft

This is based on what I expect teams to do at this point
considering current needs, not including possible signings in free agency

Notes:

1. Free Agency is a guide, for whatever reason teams are unwilling to pay LBs and DBs big money. The positions in demand remain the offensive and defensive lines and QB. I expect this will be reflected in the top end of the draft, particularly with the depth and quality of talent at LB, CB and S; those teams will be more willing to invest in the premium positions, particularly as they are key needs.

2. This mock is without trades

Round 1

1 St. Louis Rams - DT Gerald McCoy Oklahoma (6-4, 295, 5.07, 23)

2 Detroit Lions - DT Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska (6-4, 307, 5.06, 32)

3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers - WR Dez Bryant, Oklahoma St (6-2, 225, DNP, DNP)

4 Washington Redskins - T Russell Okung, Oklahoma St (6-5, 307, 5.15, 38)

5 Kansas City Chiefs - T Trent Williams, Oklahoma (6-5, 315, 4.88, 23)

6 Seattle Seahawks - S Eric Berry, Tennessee (6-0, 211, 4.47, 19)

7 Cleveland Browns - RB CJ Spiller, Clemson (5-11, 196, 4.37, 18)

8 Oakland Raiders - T Bruce Campbell, Maryland (6-6, 314, 4.85, 34)

9 Buffalo Bills - QB Sam Bradford, Oklahoma (6-4, 236, DNP, DNP)

10 Jacksonville Jaguars - DT Brian Price, California (6-1, 303, 5.11, 34)

11 Denver Broncos - LB Rolando McClain, Alabama (6-3, 254, DNP, 24)

12 Miami Dolphins - DT Dan Williams, Tennessee (6-2, 327, 5.16, 27)

13 San Francisco 49ers - LB Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri (6-1, 239, 4.68, 34)

14 Seattle Seahawks - T Bryan Bulaga, Iowa (6-5, 314, 5.25, 26)

15 New York Giants - S Taylor Mays, USC (6-3, 230, 4.43, 24)

16 Tennessee Titans - DE Carlos Dunlap, Florida (6-6, 277, 4.71, 21)

17 San Francisco 49ers - CB Earl Thomas, Texas (5-11, 208, 4.49, 21)

18 Pittsburgh Steelers - G Mike Iupatui, Idaho (6-5, 331, 5.30, 27)

19 Atlanta Falcons - DE Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech (6-3, 266, 4.72, DNP)

20 Houston Texans - CB Joe Haden, Florida (5-11, 193, 4.58, 18)

21 Cincinnati Bengals - DE Everson Griffen, USC (6-3, 273, 4.66, 32)

22 New England Patriots - DT Jared Odrick, Penn St (6-5, 3-4, 5.06, 26)

23 Green Bay Packers - T Anthony Davis, Rutgers (6-5, 323, 5.40, 21)

24 Philadelphia Eagles - DE Jason Pierre-Paul, South Florida (6-5, 270, 4.69, 19)

25 Baltimore Ravens - TE Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma (6-5, 261, 4.72, 20)

26 Arizona Cardinals - LB Sergio Kindle, Texas (6-3, 250, 4.71, 25)

27 Dallas Cowboys - S Chad Jones, LSU(6-2, 221, 4.56, 24)

28 San Diego Chargers - DT Terrance Cody, Alabama (6-5, 354, 5.71, DNP)

29 New York Jets - LB Brandon Graham, Michigan (6-1, 268, 4.72, 31)

30 Minnesota Vikings - QB Jim Clausen, Notre Dame (6-3, 222, DNP, DNP)

31 Indianapolis Colts - T Charles Brown, USC (6-5, 303, DNP, 21)

32 New Orleans Saints - C Maurkice Pouncey, Florida (6-5, 304, 5.15, DNP)

Price 3rd overall?

Round 2

33 St. Louis Rams - CB Patrick Robinson, Florida St (5-11, 190, 4.46, 15)

34 Detroit Lions - RB Jahvid Best, California (5-10, 199, 4.35, 18)

35 Tampa Bay Buccaneers - WR Aurelious Benn, Illinois (6-1, 219, 4.53, 20)

36 Kansas City Chiefs - WR Golden Tate, Notre Dame (5-10, 199. 4.42, 17)

37 Washington Redskins - LB Ricky Sapp, Clemson (6-4, 252, 4.70, 23)

38 Cleveland Browns - CB Brandon Ghee, Wake Forest (6-0, 192, 4.45, 15)

40 Seattle Seahawks - RB Ryan Matthews, Fresno St (6-0, 218, 4.45, 19)

41 Buffalo Bills - T Vladimir Ducasse, Massachusetts (6-4, 332, 5.27, 29)

42 Tampa Bay Buccaneers - CB Kyle Wilson, Boise State (5-10, 194 , DNP, 25)

43 Miami Dolphins - TE Rob Gronkowski, Arizona St (6-6, 264, DNP, 23)

44 New England Patriots - QB Tim Tebow, Florida (6-3, 236, 4.72, DNP)

45 Denver Broncos - LB Brandon Spikes, Florida (6-3, 249, DNP, DNP)

46 New York Giants - DT Linval Joseph, East Carolina (6-5, 328, 5.11, 39)

47 New England Patriots - LB Eric Norwood, South Carolina (6-1, 245, 4.70, DNP)

48 Carolina Panthers - DT Lamarr Houston, Texas (6-3, 306, 4.85, 30)

49 San Francisco 49ers - S Nate Allen, South Florida (6-1, 207, DNP, 16)

50 Kansas City Chiefs - DT Cam Thomas, North Carolina (6-4, 330, 5.28, 31)

51 Houston Texans - RB Toby Gerhardt, Stanford (6-0, 231, 4.55, 22)

52 Pittsburgh Steelers - CB Jerome Murphy, South Florida (6-0, 207, 4.52, 16)

53 New England Patriots - DE Corey Wootton, Northwestern (6-6, 270, DNP, 20)

54 Cincinnati Bengals - TE Anthony Hernandez, Florida (6-2, 245, DNP, DNP)

55 Philadelphia Eagles - S Reshad Jones, Georgia (6-1, 214, 4.56, 24)

56 Green Bay Packers - LB Jerry Hughes, TCU (6-2, 255, 4.69, 26)

57 Baltimore Ravens - WR Damien Williams, USC (6-1, 193, 4.53, 19)

58 Arizona Cardinals - LB Daryl Washington, TCU (6-2, 230, 4.66, 17)

59 Dallas Cowboys - T Jared Veldheer, Hillsdale (6-8, 312, 5.09, 32)

60 San Diego Chargers - LB Navarro Bowman, Penn St (6-1, 242, 4.72)

61 New York Jets - CB Devin McCourty, Rutgers (5-11, 193, 4.48, 16)

62 Minnesota Vikings - CB Kareem Jackson, Alabama (5-10, 196, 4.48, 13)

63 Indianapolis Colts - DT Tyson Alualu, California (6-2, 295, 4.93, 21)

64 New Orleans Saints - CB Myron Lewis, Vanderbilt (6-2, 203, 4.48, 10)

Pizan wrote:Price 3rd overall?

This was the pick I am not totally happy with, it came down to Bryant or Price.

I went with Price because that is their urgent (almost critical) need

Tampa need a DT badly, and Price is the kind of guy you either love or hate (much like Freeman). But a strong case can be made that he is a legit top 10 talent (not sure if I personally agree with it)

Bottom line is DT is a priority and Price is quick, athletic and powerfull, he is also a very dispruptive guy that can get into the backfield.

The bucs have been very spendthrift in recent years I don't see them shelling huge money on another positions like safety or lb.

If it pans out like this, Tampa would almost certainly trade down. I think they are really hoping one of the top 2 DTs slip.

Thinking about it, I will put Bryant there, that seems a little better imho

The slightly updated version came out pretty well

any thoughts or comments?

Props on doing a two round mock. I was gonna toy with a 1st round but cant find the time. I like the giants picks considering we stay put and Weatherspoon is already gone.

I like Price, but I dont think he'll go top ten because of his shorter arms.

Overall not bad but I gotta give you a failing grade because you let the best corner in this draft slip outta the first round.

I am happy to be criticised

I was looking at doing a third and subsequent rounds.

btw who do you think is the best CB?

I do see your point on Price, but I think if you are after a disruptive DT to anchor your defense, Price is a very good option.

Opinions will be varied on him, but it only takes one team. If you like him, you tend to like him alot.


I thought I might cop some flak for the Giants 2nd round in the mock; he is a small school DT, but he has similar tools and production to Suh (that is to say huge)

I had alot of trouble with the 2nd round pick, there isn't much imho if the Giants go with safety in round 1.

I have been wondering about safety options. I kind of suspect Mays and Berry could flip where they go in the mock. That is not to say Berry is a bad prospect, but teams are putting premium on the trenches and managing contracts alot better. Also the 1-14 teams have more urgent needs at premium positions.

I wouldn't be surprised if Berry slipped to 15, if it did happen you would see Jerry Reese take a nanosecond to pick him. Actually if he starts slipping a little, Reese would very likely trade up to pick Berry.

The other thing is that all teams want to trade down, it won't cost as much as it has historically.

also note Rams GM's comments
"When you're 1-15, there's a lot of different directions you can go," Devaney said. "There's pros and cons whatever way you decide to go."

Whilst a trading for the 1st is unlikely, I could se us trading up.

Think about it, how about #15 and Osi to Kansas City for #5? Can you say Mr Berry welcome to NY