1.  St. Louis (1-15) - Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

After Jake Locker decided to return to school, Suh took over the top spot on our draft board. With Marc Bulger’s days numbered in St. Louis the Rams do need a quarterback, but for now will have to settle for one of the better D-Line prospects to come around this millennium. Anyone who saw Suh’s performance against Texas in the Big 12 Championship game will have no problem putting him number one overall.

2.  Detroit (2-14) - Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma

Now that the Lions finally have found the answer at quarterback and have enough tools on offense, they can start building a tougher defense. They could go in a few different directions here, but 37-year-old Grady Jackson is a shell of what he once was and McCoy could anchor the defensive line without question.

3.  Tampa Bay (3-13) – Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

Berry is like a cross between Ed Reed and another former Miami Hurricane, Sean Taylor, because of his ability to dominate a game physically near the line of scrimmage and still make impact plays in the secondary. Berry doesn’t have ideal size, but fills hard and is a willing tackler. 

4.  Washington (4-12) – Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

Jason Campbell will be a restricted free agent, but our guess is that new coach Mike Shanahan will want a guy of his picking playing QB for the Redskins. Bradford has durability issues, but during his Heisman-winning campaign he displayed uncanny accuracy and a strong enough (though not elite) arm. All in all, Campbell had a pretty unfair run in Washington, but the offense badly needs a makeover. The Redskins could also look for help at offensive tackle.

5.  Kansas City (4-12) – Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State

Kansas City desperately needs help along the offensive line, and Russell Okung fits the bill as a huge, durable, and productive LT who started 34 straight games at Oklahoma State. Fun draft fact: an offensive tackle has gone in the first five picks in each of the last four drafts and five of the last six.

6.  Seattle (5-11) – Joe Haden, CB, Florida

This is where it gets tricky. Derrick Morgan seems to be the logical choice, but no teams between sixth overall and 14^th need a 4-3 defensive end. This is why the Seahawks would be wise to secure Haden, who will undoubtedly be gone by the time 14 rolls around, and wait for their pick from the Broncos to land Morgan. This scenario is very risky and allows for a team that covets Morgan to move up, but the prospect of adding both Haden and Morgan makes it worth it.

7.  Cleveland (5-11) – Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida

Dunlap over Derrick Morgan? For a 3-4 team, yes without question. Morgan couldn’t play on the line for the Browns and having Robaire Smith and Kenyon Coleman as bookends for another year shouldn’t be an option. Despite his DUI, a good interview should make it difficult for Dunlap to fall past the Broncos at 11.

8.  Oakland (5-11) – Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame

We’ve got good news and bad news, Jimmy. Well, really just bad news.

9.  Buffalo (6-10) – Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers

The Bills were absolutely decimated by injuries to their offensive line in 2009, so even if they think incumbent Demetrius Bell is the answer at LT, taking the raw-but-talented Anthony Davis might be the best move for a team that needs any impact players it can get its hands on.

10.  Jacksonville (7-9) – Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State

The Jaguars are one of the more difficult teams to project in this draft. They could go after Clausen if he falls to 10 or add a dynamic receiver in Bryant. Jacksonville passed on Michael Crabtree last year and instead landed two of the draft’s top tackles in Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton. Whether they were scared off by Crabtree’s attitude (one team refereed to him as being “not nice”) may have been a reason, but despite being suspended on a ticky-tacky interpretation of a rule, Bryant has no character issues.

11.  Denver [f/ CHI] (7-9) – Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama

We’ll keep an eye on the Brandon Marshall situation in Denver, but right now the Broncos could use a difference maker to pair with DJ Williams as an ILB in the 3-4. Rolando McClain is instinctive, fast, and by all accounts, a leader. 

12.  Miami (7-9) – Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida

Jason Taylor is a free-agent and Joey Porter has reportedly demanded a trade, meaning that the Dolphins need an influx of youth at outside linebacker badly. Pierre-Paul played only one season at USF, but showed enough speed and play-making ability to entice Miami to bolster their pass rush.

13.  San Francisco (8-8) – Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma

Adam Snyder’s play at right tackle is far from the problem in San Francisco, but a core on that line of Joe Staley, David Baas, and Williams will be step in the right direction for an offense that took four years to realize that Alex Smith is the right man at quarterback.  

14.  Seattle [f/ DEN] (8-8) – Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech

Morgan’s stock has dropped, but probably not enough for him to be the seventh defensive player chosen. Could you imagine how quickly this pick would be turned in if Morgan was still on the board at 14? The 3-4 teams in the picks prior (Browns, Broncos, Dolphins, 49ers) will keep more of an eye on the bigger Carlos Dunlap, who could play end in the 3-4. Considering Patrick Kerney reportedly held a retirement party last week, the productive (12.5 sacks) Morgan--who has great size for a 4-3 end--makes too much sense.

15.  New York Giants (8-8) – Sergio Kindle, OLB, Texas

The Giants need help in the secondary, but the potential departure of Osi Umenyiora and the love the Giants have of athletic pass-rushers makes Kindle the pick. His statistics as a senior won’t leap out at you, but he should test off the charts next month in Indianapolis. Kindle had an especially strong performance in the BCS Championship game (8 tackles, 2 sacks).

16.  Tennessee (8-8) – Everson Griffin, DE, USC

Griffin is not on the same level as Morgan but is still one of the top 4-3 ends. Tennessee loves to have depth on the defensive line, and Griffin fits in well with what they try to do. Kyle Vanden Bosch is a candidate to leave, which creates a hole at DE.

17.  San Francisco [f/ CAR] (8-8) – Taylor Mays, S, USC

At one point Taylor Mays was considered a sure-fire top-5 pick, but questions about instincts and ball skills have led to his drop. A good Senior Bowl has catapulted him back into the mid-first-round discussion.

18.  Pittsburgh (9-7) – Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee

Sniff ya later, Casey Hampton. The outspoken 33-year old defensive tackle wants the Steelers to pay him and it would be silly for them to oblige. His playing time has diminished and the Steelers would love to stick another rising star next to Ziggy Hood.  

19.  Atlanta (9-7) – CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson

Jerious Norwood and Jason Snelling have proven to be nice supplemental backs, but neither is capable of shouldering the load should Michael Turner go down. The ACC Player of the Year holds the FBS record for kick return touchdowns with nine and is a threat to score every time he touches the ball.

20.  Houston (9-7) – Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame

A year in which the Houston doesn’t need an offensive lineman? The Texans really have something here. Matt Schaub threw the ball more than any other quarterback in the 2009 season and the front office would be wise to reward him with another target. Tate would be a perfect slot receiver for the Texans, who have to be fed up with free agent Kevin Walter’s inconsistency. Tate has great hands and ability to run after the catch, but his draft position will ultimately be determined by his combine/pro day scores.

21.  Cincinnati (10-6) – Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State

Odrick has good size with the frame to get bigger, and Cincinnati needs depth along the defensive line. He should be able to step in and contribute immediately.

22.  New England (10-6) – Ricky Sapp, DE/OLB, Clemson

We want to badly to give the Patriots Brandon Graham, but Bill Belichick is so stubborn regarding the height of his outside backers that he has passed on top sub-6-foot-5 prospects time and time again, with the most recent examples coming last year in Clay Matthews and Connor Barwin. With Sapp the Patriots get the size they covet as well as great speed and a nose for the quarterback. It’s been fun Derrick Burgess, it really has.  

23.  Green Bay (11-5) – Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland

The entire state of Wisconsin has heard enough about Jered Allen’s 7.5 sacks in two games against the Packers. Considering how good Aaron Rogers was, it would be borderline cruel to not get the man some help. Enter Campbell, who would be a steal with the 23^rd pick.

24.  Philadelphia (11-5) – Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State

Philadelphia is always in the market for athletes in the secondary, and the presence of Asante Samuel and Sheldon Brown will make it easier for the raw Robinson to realize his considerable potential.

25.  Baltimore (9-7) – Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois

Don’t let his numbers fool you. Benn is a terrific prospect who was hurt by terrible quarterback play at Illinois. Baltimore would be thrilled to land Benn at 22, who would immediately bolster a receiving corps led by the aging Derrick Mason and the inconsistent Mark Clayton, both of whom are free agents. 

26.  Arizona (10-6) – Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma

With a new starting quarterback the Cardinals might need to go the predictable safety-valve route. Gresham suffered a season-ending injury early in the 2009 campaign, but still projects as the best tight end prospect in the class. In addition to having ideal size, Gresham is a smooth route runner and has reliable hands.

27.  Dallas (11-5) – Brandon Spikes, ILB, Florida

Keith Brooking, 34, is under contract for two more years but moving forward the Cowboys need someone a little more athletic to put next to Bradie James. Spikes is one of the better coverage linebackers in this year’s class. 

28.  San Diego (13-3) – Jahvid Best, RB, California

Best is lightning fast, though a little undersized. He may not be big enough to be an every down back, but he is an excellent kick returner and receiver out of the backfield. His presence will give San Diego insurance if they decide to cut LaDainian Tomlinson or let Darren Sproles walk.

29.  New York Jets (9-7) – Brandon Graham, DE/OLB, Michigan

Graham was a fringe-first-rounder entering the Senior Bowl, and at this point it would be surprising to us if we saw him fall past this pick. Graham would play standing up for the Jets, though with Marques Douglas a free agent they could use a real defensive end as well.

30.  Minnesota (12-4) – Arthur Jones, DT, Syracuse

Pat Williams isn’t going to be around forever, and though he has said he is “50-50” on retiring, the man is 37 years old. Jones will help to fill the void if Williams does retire.

31.  New Orleans (13-3) – Navorro Bowman, OLB, Penn State

Bowman is a sound tackler and athlete who has the potential to play all three linebacker spots. He will help a New Orleans defense that has struggled at times to stop the rush.

32.  Indianapolis (14-2) – Donovan Warren, CB, Michigan

With Gary Brackett a free agent the Colts could be in need of an inside linebacker, though getting Warren at the end of the first round might be too good of a value to pass up.