Below is my fifth annual mock draft on Buffalobills.com. As I state every year I don't claim to know any more than the collection of other media types who put a mock draft together. This is just how I think, and to a certain degree hope, things could pan out in round one. My intent here, as always, is to be informative and entertaining. As we all know anyone who puts a mock draft together would be fortunate to nail a third of the actual selections.
| Team | Top 3 Needs | Possible Selections |
| 1. Detroit | QB, DT, MLB | Top choice:QB Matt Stafford - Georgia LB Aaron Curry |
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Plain and simple the Lions need an offensive leader and Stafford fits the bill. | ||
| 2. St. Louis | OT, WR, LB | Top choice:OT Jason Smith - Baylor OT Eugene Monroe |
| With Alex Barron their only starting caliber tackle, the Rams need more protection for Marc Bulger. | ||
| 3. Kansas City | NT, LB, OT | Top choice:DT B.J. Raji - Boston College LB Aaron Curry |
| GM Scott Pioli will try to trade out, but Raji would give the Chiefs a D-line similar in talent to Pioli's former front in New England. | ||
| 4. Seattle | OT, DB, RB | Top choice:OT Eugene Monroe - Virginia QB Mark Sanchez |
| Instead of getting Matt Hasselback's eventual replacement they get him more protection. | ||
| 5. Cleveland | OLB, RB, WR | Top choice:DE Brian Orakpo - Texas LB Aaron Curry |
| The need to improve the pass rush is something the defensive-minded Eric Mangini will not ignore. | ||
| 6. Cincinnati | OT, DE, C |
Top choice:OT Andre Smith - Alabama |
| The hole at tackle is cavernous and Smith can capably fill it. | ||
| 7. Oakland | OLB, WR, S |
Top choice:WR Michael Crabtree - Texas Tech |
| Al Davis can't pass up a playmaker. | ||
| 8. Jacksonville | LB, DT, DB | Top choice: LB Aaron Curry - Wake Forest WR Jeremy Maclin |
| Jack Del Rio plugs Curry in at middle linebacker to run his defense. | ||
| 9. Denver (from GB) | DT, LB, CB | Top choice:QB Mark Sanchez - USC LB Brian Cushing |
| Broncos overpay with their second round pick (#48) to ensure they land Sanchez. | ||
| 10. San Francisco | QB, WR, OL | Top choice:OT Michael Oher - Mississippi WR Jeremy Maclin |
| Niners get beat to Sanchez so they fortify their pass protection. | ||
| 11. Buffalo | DE, OL, SLB | Top choice:DE Everette Brown - Florida St. LB Brian Cushing |
| After getting a playmaker for the offense in Owens, Bills try to do the same for the defense. | ||
| 12. Green Bay (from Den) | DE/OLB, CB, OL | Top choice: OLB Aaron Maybin - Penn State DE Tyson Jackson |
| Packers get pass rush help for Kampman. | ||
| 13. Washington | DE, OLB, OL | Top choice:LB Brian Cushing - USC DE Robert Ayers |
| Redskins don't have picks this year to trade up for Sanchez, replace the released Marcus Washington instead. | ||
| 14. New Orleans | OLB, OL, RB | Top choice:LB Clay Matthews - USC DB Malcolm Jenkins |
| Def. coordinator Gregg Williams can't resist taking Bruce Matthews nephew after his years with the HOF linemen in Houston. | ||
| 15. Houston | LB, OL, S |
Top choice:LB Rey Maualuga - USC |
| Texans create dynamic duo inside with Demeco Ryans and big USC hitter. | ||
| 16. San Diego | ILB, OL, DB | Top choice:DE Tyson Jackson - LSU RB Knowshon Moreno |
| Jackson is too good a fit up front in San Diego's 3-4 system. | ||
| 17. New York Jets | QB, CB, WR | Top choice:WR Jeremy Maclin - Missouri DB Malcolm Jenkins |
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The Jets can't believe their good fortune as Maclin finally gives New York's passing game a deep threat. | ||
| 18. Denver | DT, LB, CB |
Top choice:DE Robert Ayers - Tennessee |
| Needing help just about everywhere on defense Ayers is just too good to pass up. | ||
| 19. Tampa Bay | OLB, DT, RB | Top choice:DT Peria Jerry - Mississippi WR Darrius Heyward-Bey |
| The Bucs need an interior penetrator and Jerry fits the bill. | ||
| 20. Detroit | DT, MLB, CB | Top choice:DB Malcolm Jenkins - Ohio St. LB James Laurinaitis |
| Lions address the back end of their defense. | ||
| 21. Philadelphia | RB, TE, LB | Top choice:RB Knowshon Moreno - Georgia TE Brandon Pettigrew |
| Andy Reid grabs the heir apparent to Brian Westbrook. | ||
| 22. Minnesota | CB, OL, QB | Top choice:CB Darius Butler - UCONN CB Vontae Davis - Illinois |
| Vikings add more playmaking talent to secondary. | ||
| 23. New England | DL, S, LB | Top choice:DT Ziggy Hood - Missouri LB James Laurinaitis |
| With three of their top four defensive linemen all in the final year of their contracts, they can't keep them all. | ||
| 24. Atlanta | OLB, CB, S | Top choice:CB Vontae Davis - Illinois CB Alphonso Smith |
| Falcons have options after acquiring Gonzalez in trade with Chiefs. | ||
| 25. Miami | LB, WR, CB |
Top choice:OLB Larry English - No. Illinois |
| Dolphins add another pass rusher as complement to Porter. | ||
| 26. Baltimore | LB, CB, WR | Top choice:CB Alphonso Smith - Wake Forest WR Hakeem Nicks |
| Ravens add another playmaker on defense with Smith. | ||
| 27. Indianapolis | DT, LB, WR |
Top choice:LB James Laurinatis - Ohio St. |
| Though they're desperate for a DT, Bill Polian won't reach and lands quality linebacker help. | ||
| 28. Buffalo | OL, SLB, TE | Top choice:TE Brandon Pettigrew - Oklahoma St. OT Eben Britton |
| Buffalo lucks out and lands best tight end in draft. Must address offensive tackle in round two (Phil Loadholt?) | ||
| 29. New York Giants | WR, LB, DT | Top choice:WR Kenny Britt - Rutgers OLB Connor Barwin |
| Giants take local kid to revitalize the passing game post-Plaxico. | ||
| 30. Tennessee | CB, LB, DT | Top choice:OLB Connor Barwin - Cincinnati CB Alphonso Smith |
| Titans will address their back seven on defense early. | ||
| 31. Arizona | RB, OLB, OL | Top choice:RB Donald Brown - UCONN. RB Beanie Wells |
| Cards need to give Tim Hightower some help with league's worst running game. | ||
| 32. Pittsburgh | OL, DE, CB | Top choice:C Alex Mack - Cal C Max Unger |
| Steelers re-tool the offensive interior. | ||
