With only four teams remaining in the hunt for the Vince Lombardi trophy, 28 franchises are itching to improve. That chance is given when the NFL Draft rolls around in April.
Here’s an EARLY look at who I would choose if the first five decisions were left up to me. Let’s Mock!
1. St. Louis Rams (1-15) — Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
Words cannot describe the domination that Suh portrayed in the Big 12 Championship against Texas when the 6-foot-4, 300-pounder registered 12 tackles and four sacks. Suh collected 23 sacks in four seasons with the Cornhuskers and is the most definite prospect in the draft.
It’s clear the Rams have tons of holes and couldn’t go wrong by selecting either side of the ball. Suh makes the most sense because he can step right in and produce for a defense that lacked any sort of identity in 2009. If Suh is chosen with the No. 1 overall choice, it would be the first time since 1994 that a team selected a defensive tackle (Dan Wilkinson, Cincinnati Bengals).
2. Detroit Lions (2-14) — Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
The Lions were the worst team in the NFL against the pass in 2009 and 26th against the run. Like the Rams, Detroit has more holes than a spaghetti strainer.
Detroit has to think defense with this pick. Head Coach Jim Schwartz is a defensive-minded coach and has plenty of talent to choose from. Suh would have been the ideal selection, though.
McCoy has the tools to be an incredibly disruptive force in a 4-3 base defense, which is exactly why he would be a great choice for the Lions’ current system. I like Joe Haden here because of the Lions inability to cover, but McCoy’s addition aids Detroit in both run and pass situations.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-13) — Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
Another line-of-scrimmage force from the Big 12, Okung gives the Bucs a nice protective blanket for franchise QB Josh Freeman. Okung has started every game since his true-freshman season and has experience at both tackle spots. At 6-foot-8, 300 pounds, Okung lends immediate help to Tampa Bay’s rushing attack, which finished 25th in yards per carry.
It was hard to pass on Eric Berry, but the Buccaneers ranked 10th in the NFL against the pass. I’ve always been a need-first guy, so I’m going with Okung.
4. Washington Redskins (4-12) — Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
I don’t know how he does it, but Berry seems to always make the big plays when his team needs it. And if there is one thing the Redskins lack, it’s the lack of an explosive threat on the defensive side.
Washington owned the fifth worst turnover margin in the NFL last year. Berry, who’s been compared to All-Pro Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed, is just the guy to fix this huge problem. To give you an idea of how important turnover margin is in the NFL, the four teams with a worse margin than the Redskins are the Oakland Raiders, the Cleveland Browns, the Rams and the Lions. That’s a combined 2009 record of 13-51.
Ouch.
Though, I could see quarterback Sam Bradford in this spot, the Redskins would be ill-advised to pass on the talent of Mr. Berry.
5. Kansas City Chiefs (4-12) — Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama
The addition of defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel means the Chiefs will transition to a 3-4 base defense in 2010. In order to own a successful 3-4 defense, one must have a strong front seven. McClain is a great fit in Kansas City because of both need and value.
I know I’m higher than all the other draft pundits on McClain. Some say the fifth overall pick is too high for a linebacker. I argue McClain is more than just a linebacker.
After watching a few Crimson Tide games this season, I quickly learned McClain is, most importantly, a football player. The Chiefs need an identity on defense, and grabbing McClain would provide just that.
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