The Sports Librarian

#1 St. Louis Rams – Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame


While Clausen is not the best player in the draft, the Rams are in desperate need of a quarterback to take over for the aging, ineffective Marc Bulger. Clausen, as much as peole may dislike him, is a really good quarterback. He was much improved this year and usually was able to keep the Irish in most games. He made great strides in his three years in South Bend. His completion percentage went from 56% to 60% to 68%. His yards went from 1250 to 3100 to 3700. His td’s went from 7 to 25 to 28. His int’s went from 6 to 17 to a remarkable 4 this year. Clausen would be a nice choice for a team that needs a quarterback right here.

#3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

While it may be hard to envision a defensive back going this high, the Bucs would be foolish to pass up Berry. He is Ed Reed art two. Berry makes game changing plays from the defensive side of the ball. He can hel shore up what has become a less than stellar defense in Tampa Bay.

#5 Kansas City Chiefs – Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma


McCoy is only a shade or two below Suh as a defensive tackle. The Chiefs could use some help in a few different laces at this point. Some have them going offensive line here with Okung, but I think they will stay on the defensive side of the ball.

#7 Cleveland Browns – Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State


This may be considered a reach right here, but the Browns need some type of offensive firepower. When your best chance of scoring a touchdown is on a special teams return, then you need some help on this side of the ball. Cleveland could probably use a new quarterback right here, but Brady Quinn will be re-evaluated by the new staff in Cleveland first. There really are not any qb’s worthy of this slot after Clausen and Bradford go off the board. Bryant is a dynamic receiver. He can jump with the best of them, make yards after the catch and has fairly reliable hands.

#9 Buffalo Bills – Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland

The Bills are another team that could use some help at the skill positions on offense. Who are they going to take here though? Tim Tebow is not going to be an NFL quarterback. Other quarterbacks are simply not rated highly enough to go here. Teams can always find a place for a good offensive lineman, so the Bills will select Campbell, another early entry lineman, from Maryland

#10 Jacksonville Jaguars – Brandon Spikes, ILB, Florida

I may not personally feel that Spikes deserves to go this high, but he is a Florida guy. Jacksonville will draft him and keep him in Florida. I just hope they can keep him from trying to gouge any more eyes out once he gets to the NFL.

#11 Denver Broncos – Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama


McClain is a monster in the middle. He’s over 250 pounds and can move. He reminds me of a slightly bigger version of Demeco Ryans, also from Alabama, who is laying in the pro bowl this year. Both have a nose for the ball. Both have the natural linebacker instincts. McClain will be a great NFL player for a long time.

#13 San Francisco 49ers – Joe Haden, CB, Florida


This is where a guy like Haden falling down can really help the Niners. Haden is too good of a prospect to pass up at this point. He has started a lot of big games for Florida, and he has a good nose for the ball. He will hel immediately.

#15 New York Giants – Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee

Defensive tackle is a need right now for the Giants. They have other needs, namely in the offensive backfield where Brandon Jacobs greatly underperformed this year. The defense could use some help too as they fell apart towards the end of the season. Williams is widely regarded as the third best defensive tackle behind Suh and McCoy. He would be a good fit for the Giants.

#16 Tennessee Titans – Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech


The Titans had trouble putting pressure on the opposing quarterback this year. This reared its head in the game against San Diego especially. They could use another receiver, but Britt seemed to be coming along nicely towards the end of the year. They have an offense that they can work with, but they just need a defense to stop someone. Morgan’s specialty is bringing pressure off the edge.

#17 San Francisco 49ers – Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma


The Niners have a need at offensive tackle. Williams probably would have gone higher had he came out last year. His stock slipped a little bit this year, but he is talented to last past this point in the first round.

#19 Atlanta Falcons – Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State


Atlanta needs some cover corners in the worst way. They were eaten alive by most passing attacks last year. Robinson is the second best corner behind Haden from Florida. Atlanta could use Robinson’s cover skills, and he will most likely start game 1.

Thomas is a bit undersized to play safety at the next level. He proved to be quite adept playing cover corner when he was forced into the role at Texas. The Texans have a gaing hole at corner in the secondary. Dunta Robinson is no where close to the level that he used to be a few years back. This is the one glaring weakness in an improving Houston defense.

#21 Cincinnati Bengals – Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame

The Bengals have a nice offense already, but they could use a compliment to Ochocinco on the outside. Tate is a former running back that can do a lot after the catch. The Bengals would be wise to snatch him up right here.

#22 New England Patriots – CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson

How do the Patriots always get this lucky? The one guy that every fan in the nation wishes their team would draft and he falls down to New England. The Patriots could definitely use some help at the position. Maroney has never really steped up to the plate. Siller is a home run hitter that could really thrive in an offense like this that gets him the ball in space.

#23 Green Bay Packers – Jerry Hughes, OLB/DE, TCU

Hughes is a fierce pass rusher off the edge. He is the tye of OLB/DE that you look for in a 3-4 defense that Green Bay runs. The ackers have a great defense already, but they could be even better after adding Hughes.

#24 Philadelphia Eagles – Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida

Dunlap has probably fallen in the eys of some after his recent trouble with the law. He does have a lot of ability though. After seeing Michael Vick go to the Eagles, it’s evident that Andy Reid does not mind giving second chances. The Eagles could use some help along the defensive line.

#25 Baltimore Ravens – Damian Williams, WR, USC

Let’s face it. Joe Flacco and Ray Rice need some help. Mark Clayton is not blossoming like the Ravnes would have liked. Derrick Mason is running on fumes. They need a go to receiver to take some pressure off of Ray Rice. Williams is dangerous with the ball in his hands. He could hel on special teams as well if need be.

#26 Arizona Cardinals – Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida

The Cardinals have what they need on offense. They have four great receivers. They have Beanie Wells coming along nicely. They have a prospect at qb that they can hopefully bring along. They need to be able to stop teams better than they have in the past few years though to take the next step. They need someone to bring the heat on the opposing quarterback. Pierre-Paul may not be known to the average fan, but teams would love to get this athletic defensive end on their roster. He’s an early entry, so the Cardinals are lucky in that he may have gone higher next year.

#27 Dallas Cowboys – Brandon LaFell, WR, LSU

Lafell is a olished pass receiver, and that is exactly what the Cowboys need. Miles Austin established himself as one of the young stars of the NFL. Roy Williams established that he is sliding, barely qualifying as a #2 receiver at this point. LaFell will be a much better receiver in the NFL than Williams, and they do not need the distraction any more in Dallas.

#28 San Diego – Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech

Tomlinson is on his way out the door. He needs someone to help share the load. Sproles will never be an every down back. Dwyer is probably the best running back left on the board at this oint.

#29 Minnesota Vikings – Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama

Pat Williams is getting up there in age. The Vikings identity is their ability to stop the run. Cody could come in and learn the ropes and take over for Williams once he decides to hang it up. Cody is a terrific run stopper, though he can not provide any sort of pass rushing at all.

#30 Indianapolis Colts – Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho

The Colts could use some help across the frontline. They have not been able to run the ball at all for the last few years. Iupati is the best guard on the table. He would be a great fit right here.

#31 New Orleans Saints – Ricky Sapp, LB, Clemson

The Saints have Scott Fujita starting at one outside linebacker. It is working though, as they are one ste away from the Super Bowl. Sapp would provide more athleticism to a team that could use some.