FANTASY FOOTBALL NFL DRAFT COVERAGE

With the Combine behind us and free agency kicking off, it’s time to revisit our mockery of the NFL Draft.

Previous NFL Mock Draft: Version 2.0  |  Version 1.0

1. St. Louis Rams — Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
Ultimately, I think the Rams end up trading this pick. If they don’t deal for Michael Vick, they could move down to No. 3 and still take Sam Bradford. And if they can’t get enough from the Bucs (the reported offer to switch places in Round One is a third and developmental quarterback Josh Johnson, who would be a nice fit behind Vick for a couple years), Suh is a heckuva fallback plan.

2. Detroit Lions — Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
Recent word in Detroit is that an elite defensive tackle isn’t a necessity in a Jim Schwartz defense; did they miss the Albert Haynesworth years? With a bevy of quality pass rushers in this class, it would make sense to snag McCoy here and a defensive end like Corey Wootten or Everson Griffen at the top of Round 2 as opposed to reaching for Derrick Morgan here and maybe Jared Odrick in the second.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
Tampa would love to get their hands on one of those elite defensive tackles and it would make sense to throw a little something at the Rams or Lions—both of whom have multiple needs to address—to ensure one falls their way. With the Redskins likely to snag a quarterback, this might be a hot spot to trade up (or in the Rams’ case, down) to if a team has its sights set on Sam Bradford. If the Bucs are unable to swing a deal, they could address their pass rush with Jason Pierre-Paul... but it’s more likely that they upgrade their secondary with the versatile Berry.

4. Washington Redskins — Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
Yes, the Redskins signed Jason Campbell to a first-round tender; that doesn’t mean Mike Shanahan thinks he’s the long-term answer. Assuming Bradford throws well at his Pro Day and the shoulder checks out, it’s tough to see Shanny passing on him—if he gets past the Rams. Daniel Snyder’s decidedly unsexy backup plan is a much-needed offensive tackle.

5. Kansas City Chiefs — Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
Don’t be surprised if Scott Pioli deals out of this spot; if he stands pat and makes the pick, a left tackle (allowing Branden Albert to move to the right side, something the team has already announced) makes the most sense. Pioli’s ties to Kirk Ferenz could lead him to pick Bryan Bulaga over Okung, but the former’s shortish arms have led to some discouraging comparisons with Robert Gallery. It’s a tackle-rich class anyway, and if Pioli thinks he can get value at the position in a later round he may pass on both Okung and Bulaga to get younger at linebacker with Rolando McClain.

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