The Showdown...

Looks like me and Borders will recoil an old rivalry as we battle off in a "Mock NFL Draft" showdown! This makes the third year we have squared off, with this year being the "rubber match". I won in 2008 and he won last year. This year the stakes are high! The loser must buy the other a steak dinner and will probably brag on a "must-read" post on this website. All in all, I don't like to lose and neither does he.





Since he posted yesterday, I guess we have saved "The Best for Last!" Here is my revised mock draft, which is much different from the one I posted a month ago.





1. St. Louis Rams- Sam Bradford, QB... Rams will try to hit a home run and get their quarterback for the future. Question is can he come back from a nasty arm injury to be their QB for a long time to come? Only time will tell.





2. Detroit Lions- Ndamukong Suh, DT... Best player in the draft. He looks like a young John Randle, Suh will have an immediate impact in Detroit.





3. Tampa Bay Bucs- Gerald McCoy, DT... Strength and quickness not only to stop the run, but also get to the quarterback in a hurry. The "Tampa 2" will be back with McCoy being the Warren Sapp hybrid.





4. Washington Redskins- Russell Okung, OT.... With the new acquisition of Donovan McNabb, Mike Shanahan will look to protect his new quarterback and get an offensive tackle to help in his zone blocking scheme.





5.Kansas City Chiefs- Brian Bulaga, OT... If I were the Chiefs GM I would go with Eric Berry at this position, but I can see the relevance of bolstering your line as well. I see the Chiefs going safe and taking Buluga to play opposite beside one of the their first round draft picks last year Brendan Albert.





6. Seattle Seahawks- C.J. Spiller, RB... This will come as a shocker to some, but I see Pete Carroll pulling the trigger and taking a Reggie Bush-esqe back in Spiller. Carroll will find ways to use this speedster just like he did Bush at USC.





7. Cleveland Browns- Eric Berry, S...This is the steal of the draft! Berry when it is all set in done, maybe the best player to come out of 2010 draft. He's a younger version of Ed Reed with his pursuit of the football. The Dawg Pound will love this pick and they will get exactly what they want: A playmaker on the defensive side of the ball.





8. Oakland Raiders- Trent Williams, OT... He has some character issues, but who doesn't in Oakland? Williams will make a great addition to the Raiders line. This is just a guess, because who knows what Al Davis is going to do?





9. Buffalo Bills- Dan Williams, DT...Williams has moved up the draft board in a hurry. Buffalo will use the big nose tackle to give their 3-4 defense some much needed credibility.





10. Jacksonville Jaguars- Earl Thomas, S... Two safeties in the top 10? I must be crazy! I know they wasted a pick on safety Reggie Nelson in the past, but this time they will get a gem in Thomas, he's mentally and physically ready for the NFL.





11. Denver Broncos- Rolando McClain, ILB... Some people say Dez Bryant, but with his character issues in question, they will look to bring in a tackling machine in McClain.





12. Miami Dolphins- Derrick Morgan, DE... He will fit in nicely to the 3-4 defense. They can use this quick defensive end outside as either an end or an outside linebacker to put pressure on the quarterback.





13. San Francisco 49ers- Anthony Davis, OT... Best pure pass-blocker in the draft, they need a right tackle and Davis has great value at 13.





14. Seattle Seahawks- Jason Pierre-Paul, DE... The comparison to Mario Williams is spot on, this would give the Seahawks a great guy on the edge with pass rushing ability. This would give the Seahawks two great picks in the first round.





15. New York Giants- Mike Iupati, OG... The Giants have a need at the guard position and Iupati is going to be a great one. He has great footwork and the power to help the Giants relentless run attack offense.





16. Tennessee Titans- Brandon Graham, OLB... Graham has shot-up the draft board since the senior bowl. He will be an under-sized end in the NFL, but the Titans had success on prior under-sized ends, so why not Graham?





17. San Francisco 49ers- Jimmy Clausen, QB... Maybe Alex Smith's days are numbered in San Francisco, if not, watch for someone to trade up to this pick and get Clausen.




18. Pittsburgh Steelers- Maurkice Pouncey, OC/G...Pouncey has the versitility to play either center or guard for the Steelers, his physicality will be well liked in the "Steel" city.





19. Atlanta Falcons- Jerry Hughes, DE... This guy could go anywhere from 12-30, just depends on your preference. He's a great speed-rusher from the outside with excellent speed, a good fit for Atlanta.





20. Houston Texans- Joe Haden, CB... They're definitely going corner. After Dunta Robinson left town; it is currently the Texans biggest weakness. Haden will be a great fit in Houston.




21. Cincinnati Bengals- Dez Bryant, WR... Marvin Lewis must have found a four-leaf clover, because Bryant would be an instant playmaker for the Bengals. He's got top 10 talent and an attitude that will right along with the rest of the "riff-raff" in Cincy. If his character problems dwindle he could be the offensive rookie of the year.





22. New England Patriots- Sergio Kindle, OLB... Perfect fit for the Patriots. His pass-rushing abitlity will already put him in a starting role for the Pats, if he drops this far, he will be a steal.





23. Green Bay Packers- Kareem Jackson, CB... They need a corner to go with Woodson, and he's the best on the board.





24. Philadeaphia Eagles- Charles Brown, OT... This guy is underrated, he played in a great system at USC, and will be around the league for many years to come. Great runblocker and could possibly be the best offensive tackle taken in this draft, when it's all set and done.





25. Baltimore Ravens- Jermaine Gresham, TE... I see Baltimore trading this pick, but if they get it look for them to take someone to replace Todd Heap and his production, Gresham is the best pass-catching tight end in the draft.





26. Arizona Cardinals- Demaryius Thomas, WR... Good replacement for Boldin, has top-15 potential, and will be a great asset for Matt Leinart or Derek Anderson.





27. Dallas Cowboys- Roger Saffold, OT... They need someone to replace Flozell Adams and he's the best offensive tackle left. Similar situation to what Green Bay has to do at 23. If Brown slips the Cowboys wouldn't hesitate to get his services.





28. San Diego Chargers- Ryan Mathews, RB... Great 1-4 gap runner and will be a great compliment to Darren Sproules. Watch nose tackle Terrence Cody's name to come up here as well, after the departure of Jamal Williams





29. New York Jets- Jared Odrick, DE... Chalk-up another good pick up for the Jets this offseason. He's versatile and can play defensive end or tackle.





30. Minnesota Vikings- Kyle Wilson, CB... Great value pick at this point, he would be a nice addition to a secondary who gave up a ton of yards last year.




31. Indianapolis Colts- Tyson Alualu, DT... Fits the penetrating, all-or-nothing, defensive style of the Colts.





32. San Diego Chargers- Everson Griffen, DE... The super bowl champs get a kid with great pass-rushing skills and character flaws, if he gets his act together, he could be great.





On the Brink of the First Round

• Taylor Mays, S


• Colt McCoy, QB


• Arrelious Benn, WR


• Carlos Dunlap, DE


• Bruce Campbell, OT

There are a number of scenario's that could come up. Trades will probably be abundant, but we don't know those yet. I can see it now, a delicious Ribeye compliments of Neil Borders, ah, how sweet it will be!

Until Next Time, Adios