Josh Sanchez’s 1st-Round Mock Draft – v.1.0

By Josh Sanchez | Dec 26, 2009

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The NFL Draft is still four months away, but it is never too early to start speculating. Here is the release of my first mock of for the upcoming draft.

Draft order is based off of current records and strength of schedule.

Pick	Team	Player Selected	Player’s Position	Player’s School	Analysis
1.		Ndamukong Suh	Defensive Tackle	Nebraska	The Rams added the likes of Adam Carriker and Chris Long along the defensive line in recent years. By adding Suh, the best player in the draft, St. Louis adds quality depth to their d-line and Carriker could bump out to left end.
2.		Russell Okung	Offensive Tackle	Oklahoma State	Detroit selected their quarterback of the future in the ’09 Draft, so it only makes sense to select a guy to protect him. Okung is an athletic, well-rounded offensive tackle who can secure the left tackle position. With Okung and Cherilus, the Lions have their bookends for 10+ years.
3.		Gerald McCoy	Defensive Tackle	Oklahoma	In what may be a surprise to some, the Bucs pass on top safety Eric Berry in favor of bolstering the defensive line. Many sources close to the Buccaneers organization have indicated that the team is looking very closely at the top two defensive tackles, McCoy and Suh. With Suh off the board, McCoy becomes the pick
4.		Jimmy Clausen	Quarterback	Notre Dame	The Cleveland Browns won’t be able to do anything in the AFC North until they get a reliable offense and that starts at quarterback. Cleveland goes back to Notre Dame and grabs yet another Golden Domer in hopes of turning around the franchises future.
5.		Eric Berry	Safety	Tennessee	Kansas City would be ecstatic is Eric Berry fell to them at number five. Berry has drawn comparisons to Ravens safety Ed Reed and he would be a huge, and welcomed, upgrade in the Chiefs secondary.
6.		Sam Bradford	Quarterback	Oklahoma	It has been clear for a while now that Jason Campbell’s future is not in Washington. The organization is a mess and it appears as if Mike Shanahan will be taking over as head coach next season. Look for Shanahan to grab his quarterback in the first-round, whether it be Clausen or Bradford.
7.		Bruce Campbell	Offensive Tackle	Maryland	Campbell will become the replacement for long-time left tackle Walter Jones. While the Seahawks would prefer to land Russell Okung, Campbell is an excellent consolation prize. At 6’7″, 310, Campbell has the size you want in a tackle and he is still growing. He should help open things up in the Seahawks running game.
8.	(CHI)	Rolando McClain	Inside Linebacker	Alabama	McClain is a perfect fit for inside linebacker in the 3-4 defense. He has an intriguing size/speed ratio and McClain is never afraid to lay a devastating hit. He has drawn comparisons to All-Pro linebacker Ray Lewis.
9.		Dez Bryant	Wide Receiver	Oklahoma State	Buffalo is really looking to add a left tackle with their first pick, but with both Okung and Campbell gone in this scenario they must look elsewhere. Bryant adds a physical receiver to the mix and he could replace Terrell Owens if T.O. moves on in the offseason. Bryant would be a perfect compliment to the Bills speedster Lee Evans.
10.		Joe Haden	Cornerback	Florida	Joe Haden is the only premier corner in this draft. Partner him with Nnamdi Asomugha and the Raiders could have one of the best cornerback duos within a few years (assuming Asomugha stays). Oakland’s pass defense has been an issue, so don’t be surprised when they acknowledge that with this selection. Of course, this is Al Davis we are talking about, so who knows.
11.		Trent Williams	Offensive Tackle	Oklahoma	Alex Smith has done a serviceable job behind center, but to fully reach his potential he is going to need some more protection. Williams is a versatile guy who can play any position along the line which increases his value. The offense needs to focuse on giving the rock to Frank Gore more, so this pick makes the most sense.
12.	(CAR)	Taylor Mays	Safety	USC	San Francisco needs any help they can get in the secondary. Look for them to add the best defensive back available with one of their two first-round picks. It ends up being Taylor Mays in this mock. Mays runs like a corner and hits like a linebacker. He will remind 49er fans of Ronnie Lott.
13.		Earl Thomas	Safety	Texas	When Troy Polamalu was injured, everything seemed to fall apart for the Steelers’ defense. Ryan Clark is also a free agent this offseason, so the team will need to add some depth. Thomas has great cover skills and he will be able to play center field and allow Troy Polamalu to do his thing.
14.		Tim Tebow	Quarterback	Florida	Rumor after rumor points to Tebow winding up in Jacksonville. The team needs to find any possible way to put fans in the seats or else the team could end up in Los Angeles or London. Tebow will be a project QB in the NFL, but he can be brought in during special situations and spark the offense.
15.		Derrick Morgan	Defensive End	Georgia Tech	Jamaal Anderson has been a bust for Atlanta and the team needs to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Hometown boy Derrick Morgan is a top ten talent, and the Falcons would be happy to see him available at 15.
16.		C.J. Spiller	Running Back	Clemson	With their targets off the board, Houston adds some running back depth and an explosive runner in Spiller. He is a home run threat and could be a dynamic weapon for this offense.