» Brooks' mock drafts: 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0
Draft week is here, and teams have narrowed their focus on the prospects who are the best fits for their respective teams.
Through exhaustive film study and countless war room debates, the board has been set with a careful balance of overall talent and team need factoring heavily into the final rankings.
With the thought of taking the best available player playing a major role in every draft decision, let's take a look at my final mock draft:
1. St. Louis Rams
Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
After failing to select a future franchise quarterback in the past two drafts, the Rams pin their hopes on Bradford as their new field general. (Previous pick: Bradford)
2. Detroit Lions
Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
The opportunity to land a dominant defensive tackle is too enticing for Jim Schwartz to bypass. Suh gives the Lions an impact interior defender in the mold of Schwartz's former pupil, Albert Haynesworth. (Previous pick: Suh)
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
McCoy gives the Buccaneers a dominant "three-technique" in the mold of Warren Sapp. His presence on the inside should lead to a defensive revival in Tampa. (Previous pick: McCoy)
4. Washington Redskins
Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
The Donovan McNabb trade solved the team's quarterback woes, but the offensive line still needs considerable work. The argument can be made that Williams would be a better fit, but Okung gets the nod based on his skill set and clean profile. (Previous pick: Okung)
5. Kansas City Chiefs
Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa
General manager Scott Pioli opts against taking the best little man on the board (Eric Berry) to solidify his woeful offensive line by selecting Bulaga. (Previous pick: Bulaga)
6. Seattle Seahawks
Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
The Seahawks have needs at left tackle, running back and defensive end, so the team could go a number of different directions at this pick, but Williams makes the most sense because he fills a premium position. The versatile pass protector has played on both sides of the line, and may have the best footwork of any player at the position. (Previous pick: Williams)
7. Cleveland Browns
Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
The Browns' secondary needs to add a dynamic playmaker at the safety position, and Berry's exceptional skills make him an ideal fit. (Previous pick: Berry)
8. Oakland Raiders
Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers
Davis has the physical tools to be the top left tackle in the draft, but questions about his maturity and weight have led some teams to downgrade him. The Raiders, however, have never been afraid to go after a risky prospect, and he could pay big dividends if he handles his business off the field. (Previous pick: Davis)
9. Buffalo Bills
Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
The Bills desperately need a quarterback to stabilize their offense, and Clausen is a top-10 talent with the skills to blossom into an elite player. Though concerns about his personality have affected his status on some draft boards, he has sufficiently addressed those issues throughout the spring and re-emerged as a potential franchise quarterback. (Previous pick: Clausen)
10. Jacksonville Jaguars
Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama
McClain's presence gives the team the flexibility to move Justin Durant back to his natural outside linebacker position. With his smart, savvy and toughness, McClain could give the Jaguars defense some of the bite that has been missing over the past few years. (Previous pick: McClain)
11. Denver Broncos
Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
With Brandon Marshall no longer around, the Broncos need to identify a new No. 1 receiver. Bryant has the skills to fill the void, and his recent visit to Mile High allowed him to rebuff reports of being a character risk. (Previous pick: Bryant)
12. Miami Dolphins
Earl Thomas, S, Texas
Sergio Kindle will undoubtedly be in play at this pick, but Thomas is a rare find at the position, and he will surely upgrade a secondary that was victimized by the big play a season ago. (Previous pick: Thomas)
13. San Francisco 49ers
Joe Haden, CB, Florida
Haden is a terrific cover man with outstanding instincts and awareness for the position. He could step into the starting lineup immediately as a starter on the left or right side. (Previous pick: Haden)
14. Seattle Seahawks
C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
The Seahawks have to guard against a team jumping past them to grab the electrifying playmaker, but he would be an outstanding asset to their offense as a do-it-all weapon in the backfield. (Previous pick: Spiller)
15. New York Giants
Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas
The G-Men need to add more athleticism to their linebacker corps, and Kindle brings an added dimension with his exceptional rush skills. (Previous pick: Williams)
16. Tennessee Titans
Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
Morgan gives the Titans a workmanlike rusher with an outstanding motor on the edge; he may not dazzle with his athleticism, but his production and toughness may make him an ideal fit in Tennessee. (Previous pick: Morgan)
17. San Francisco 49ers
Mike Iupati, G, Idaho
Iupati is a rugged blocker with the strength and nastiness needed to upgrade the interior of the 49ers' offensive line. (Previous pick: Iupati)
18. Pittsburgh Steelers
Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State
The Steelers' secondary faltered down the stretch, and could benefit from adding a tough, ball-hawk such as Wilson to the lineup. The former Boise State star is an outstanding cover man with exceptional instincts for the position. (Previous pick: Wilson)
19. Atlanta Falcons
Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech
Thomas' injury and limited experience with a pro-style passing game makes him a bit of a gamble, but his immense potential as a big-play threat makes him worthy of the risk at this point. (Previous pick:Brandon Graham)
20. Houston Texans
Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State
The Texans' explosive offense is a consistent runner away from being regarded as an elite attack. Mathews is a big, physical runner with home run potential. (Previous pick: Mathews)
21. Cincinnati Bengals
Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
Gresham gives the Bengals' aerial attack a much-needed weapon in the middle of the field. Although he missed all of 2009 with a knee injury, he is a talented pass catcher with the skills to create mismatches in space. (Previous pick: Gresham)
22. New England Patriots
Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan
Graham is a high-motor pass rusher with the skills and versatility to thrive in Bill Belichick's hybrid scheme. Though he is a tad shorter than most outside linebackers Belichick has used in the past, his ability to create disruptive plays off the edge would be a welcome asset to a unit that struggled pressuring the passer. (Previous pick: Odrick)
23. Green Bay Packers
Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers
Al Harris may not return from his injury until after the start of the regular season, and his age (35) suggests that it is time to groom an eventual replacement. McCourty gives the team a solid cover man with exceptional special teams ability. (Previous pick: Kindle)
24. Philadelphia Eagles
Maurkice Pouncey, C/G, Florida
Jamaal Jackson's ACL injury creates a huge hole in the middle of the Eagles' line. Pouncey gives the team an immediate starter at center with the versatility to move to guard when Jackson returns to health. (Previous pick: Pouncey)
25. Baltimore Ravens
Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
The Ravens need to fortify their interior defense after losing Justin Bannan and Dwan Edwards during free agency. Williams gives them a stout interior defender to team with Haloti Ngata and form an impenetrable wall at the point of attack. (Previous pick:Terrence Cody)
26. Arizona Cardinals
Jason Pierre-Paul, DE/LB, South Florida
The Cardinals signed Joey Porter during free agency, but still need to add another pass rusher after losing Bertrand Berry and Chike Okeafor in the offseason. Pierre-Paul flashed dominant rush skills in his only season of major college football, and could emerge as a difference-maker as a pro. (Previous pick: Pierre-Paul)
27. Dallas Cowboys
Charles Brown, OT, Southern California
The team feels good about opening the season with Doug Free at left tackle, but the addition of Brown will give them another young prospect to groom for major playing time down the road. (Previous pick: Brown)
28. San Diego Chargers
Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama
"Mount Cody" would give the team a much-needed replacement for former Pro Bowler Jamal Williams at nose tackle. Though Cody's weight is a concern, his ability to stack blockers at the line would allow the team's athletic linebackers to roam freely against the run. (Previous pick: McCourty)
29. New York Jets
Jared Odrick, DE, Penn State
The Jets need bigger bodies inside to allow Rex Ryan to fully dial up his exotic pressures. Odrick's length and athleticism make him an ideal "five-technique" in the team's 3-4. (Previous pick:Jerry Hughes)
30. Minnesota Vikings
Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama
Injuries to Cedric Griffin and Antoine Winfield make it necessary for the Vikings to address their cornerback position early in the draft. Robinson is an outstanding cover corner with exceptional feet and movement skills. (Previous pick:Patrick Robinson)
31. Indianapolis Colts
Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU
It is time for the Colts to add another dynamic pass rusher to their lineup to alleviate some of the pressure on Pro Bowlers Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney. Hughes has explosive initial quickness, and is the kind of undersized edge rusher that the team prefers in its scheme. (Previous pick: Jackson)
32. New Orleans Saints
Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri
The Saints need to add an athletic playmaker to their linebacker corps. Weatherspoon possesses the speed and quickness to be a big-time playmaker as a weak-side linebacker in Gregg Williams' aggressive system. (Previous pick:Everson Griffen)
