Mock Draft 1.0: Falcons select Brandon Graham

BIRDLAND – Let’s get at it.

Michigan defensive end Brandon Graham, wears the same number as John Abraham.

This is our first Mock draft for this season. Mock Draft 1.0!

We will update it each Friday leading up to the April 22, 23 and 24 draft.

For starters, we have the Falcons winning the coin flip with Houston and selecting 19th overall.

Commissioner Roger Goodell will step to the podium and announce, “With the 19th pick in the 2010 NFL draft, the Atlanta Falcons select Michigan defensive end Brandon Graham.”

Under this scenario, based mostly on post-season college games, conference calls with draft analysts Mel Kiper (ESPN) and Mike Mayock (NFL Network) and some reporter chatter, the Falcons will have a tough decision.

Boise State cornerback Kyle Wilson, Oklahoma State cornerback Perrish Cox and Missouri linebacker Sean Weatherspoon will all be available.

This is more of the Kiper scenario where a really good player is going to fall to the Falcons, and while they may need a cornerback, they are far enough along in the rebuilding program that they can take the “best player available” instead of “the need” player.

The “need” pick would be Wilson.

Here’s how the first round is going to shake out.

AJC’s 2010 MOCK DRAFT
Staff writer D. Orlando Ledbetter projects the first round:

Ndamokung Suh.

1. St. Louis Rams: Ndamokung Suh, DT, Nebraska. Wonder if the Rams, with so many needs, trade out of the first spot to accumulate picks and take one of the quarterbacks.

2. Detroit Lions: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma. He’s the defensive anchor that Lions coach Jim Schwartz has been looking to acquire.

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4. Washington Redskins: Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State. “Russell Okung had a year that didn’t start out great,” Kiper said. “He has that nasty streak. Okung has the long arms. He has a lot of talent.”

5. Kansas City Chiefs: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers. “Anthony Davis is enormously gifted,” Kiper said. “Yeah, he’s a little inconsistent. . . But he had the great week in October against Greg Romeus, the great end from Pitt. . . He could be as good as Walter Jones. When Walter Jones came out of Florida State, you looked at him and had a similar evaluation.”

Wow!!! Walter Jones!!!

6. Seattle Seahawks: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame. Pete Carroll recruited the California product when he was at USC and got to see him up close in games against the Fighting Irish.

Bradford is headed for Cleveland.

7. Cleveland Browns: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma. New Cleveland president Mike Holmgren understands the importance of the quarterback position. Browns fans have seen enough the Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson show. “The issue I have with Sam Bradford is that we haven’t seen him in a NFL-type setting where he’s getting pressure and when he’s got to throw into tight windows,” Kiper said.

8. Oakland Raiders: Joe Haden, DB, Florida. The former Gator will look good in the silver and black.

9. Buffalo Bills: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida. “Jason Pierre-Paul is probably the top rated defensive end out there,” Mayock said. “He’s a 4-3 guy.” Highlights!

# 10. Denver Broncos: Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama. “He’s got a lot of fire,” Kiper said. “He’s got a lot of intensity. He’s very passionate about football. He sets the tone. He was the leader. He was the guy that gave you that kind of Ray Lewis enthusiasm for the game.”

# 11. Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech. He will be the first of possibly three Yellow Jackets to be selected in the first round.

12. Miami Dolphins: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State. The Dolphins have to get some weapons to help with the continued development of Chad Henne.

13. San Francisco 49′ers: C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson. “I think they need him (Spiller),” Kiper said. “They need a back of his ability to complement Frank Gore.”

14. Seattle Seahawks: Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas. The Seahawks need to add some pop to their defense.

15. New York Giants: Carlos  Dunlap, DE, Florida. General manager Jerry Reese sets out to rebuild the defensive line

Florida's Carlos Dunlap.

that helped the G-men win Super Bowl XLII.

# 16. San Francisco 49ers: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma. “He’s a versatile kid,” Kiper said. “He played left tackle. Ultimately he will be a right tackle, which is where he was as a junior. He played along the interior as well.”

# 17. Tennessee Titans: Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa. Some have him rated higher.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Iupati, OT, Idaho. He had a super showing at the Senior Bowl.

# 19. Atlanta Falcons: Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan. He’s a good character guy and explosive football player. “He’s got that great work ethic,” Kiper said. “He comes to play on every play.” Highlights.

# 20. Houston Texans: Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri. The three-time all-Big 12 pick had a solid showing at the Senior Bowl.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma. He’s the top tight end in the draft.

22. New England Patriots: Earl Thomas, S, Texas. Might be a reach here, but safety play was an issue last season for the Patriots.

Arrelious Benn is a playmaker.

23. Green Bay Packers: Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee. The Packers need an anchor for their 3-4 defense.

24. Philadelphia Eagles: Ricky Sapp, DE, Clemson. He had five sacks and 22 quarterback pressures last season.

25. Baltimore Ravens: Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame. The Ravens get a weapon to help out Joe Flacco and their weak passing attack.

26. Arizona Cardinals: Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland. Has great size at 6-foot-7, 310 pounds. Has a big upside.

27. Dallas Cowboys: Taylor Mays, S, USC. Cowboys need to sure up the back end of their defense.

28. San Diego Chargers: Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech. Dwyer is going to show the NFL scouts that he’s a Jamal Lewis clone. His strong and powerful style should translate well to the NFL. “The comment that I get from a lot of the NFL folks is that he’s a difficult kid to do because of the type of offense that he’s coming out of,” Mayock said. Highlights!

29. New York Jets: Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois. Big target at 6-2, 220. Check out the Washington, D.C. Dunbar High product’s highlights.

30. Minnesota Vikings: Patrick Robinson, CB, FSU. “What he’s got is a natural gifted skill set,” Mayock said. “It doesn’t take real long, once you put the tape in to see his back pedal and change of direction.”

31. Indianapolis Colts: Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama. Everyone else will see that Mount Cody is too big at 370. Bill Polian will see the football player.

32. New Orleans Saints: Chad Jones, S, LSU. “He’s not as polished overall as some of the other top safeties, but his upside potential is outstanding,” Kiper said.

# – To be decided by coin flip

ON THE FRINGE: Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech; Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State; Ryan Matthews, RB, Fresno State; Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State; Perrish Cox, CB, Oklahoma State; Jahvid Best, RB, California; Everson Griffen, DE, USC and Colt McCoy, QB, Texas.

HEY, BAY BAY: Georgia Tech wide receiver Demariyius “Bay Bay” Thomas suffered a broken foot on Tuesday working out in Scottsdale, Arizona. Here’s the report.

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