By Paul M. Banks and Peter Christian

Our draft order is based on how we predict the final NFL standings might will look. Team needs have been taken into account for this draft. And of course, this is all highly subject to change between now and late April. Especially the draft order. By now you’ve probably heard that former Super Bowl Head Coach Tony Dungy said he thinks Tim Tebow will be a “franchise quarterback in the NFL”, and that anyone who has the chance to draft him #1 overall should do just that. We are now all dumber for having heard Dungy say that. It’s a good thing for NFL GMs that none have to deal with Dungy screwing up their organization.

Team                             Player               Position     School

1. St. Louis Rams  Ndamukong Suh   DT      Nebraska

Suh is an expert at winning his battle at the line of scrimmage and causes disruption in the backfield constantly. He is an every down defensive tackle due to his dual ability to stuff the run or crash the pocket.

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Russell Okung  OT  Oklahoma State

Russell Okung is as good a left tackle you will find in all of college football. He has the fundamental base of a franchise tackle to go with his physical skills. Okung also gets praised by pretty much everyone for his intelligence as well. His time spent at T. Boone Pickens University will serve him well.

3. Cleveland Browns    Eric Berry      S      Tennessee

If you don’t know who Eric Berry is, look him up. He could be the heir apparent to Ed Reed as the elite defensive playmaker in the NFL. And if there’s one thing Cleveland needs, it’s defensive plays. And offensive plays, and special teams plays and….

4. Kansas City Chiefs Trent Williams        OT        Oklahoma

The Okung or Williams debate over who is the better choice at offensive tackle is one where there really isn’t a loser. Trent Williams, like Okung, has good feet, strong hands and the talent to become elite in the NFL.

5. Oakland Raiders Gerald McCoy      DT             Oklahoma

McCoy is a pillar of strength that can dominate from the center of the field. He is very agile for a guy just shy of 300 pounds and will be a combine favorite. It’s always interesting to see teammates go back-to-back in the high picks of the 1st round. Makes you wonder why the Sooners couldn’t beat Florida in the title game.

6. Jacksonville Jaguars Jake Locker     QB      Washington

Rumors were previously circulating that said the Jags might take Tim Tebow, partially as a quasi-publicity stunt to help sell more tickets. Why not take a QB with actual pro potential instead? Locker’s draft stock has shot up with his solid play this season for the Huskies. Even if his team’s overall record is anything but solid. I expect things will come down by draft time but he’s raised enough eyebrows to maintain his status as a potential number one pick.

7. San Francisco 49ers (From Carolina) Jimmy Clausen QB Notre Dame

Remember when Clausen was being recruited out of high school, and his game was rumored to “bigger than Jesus”? (I’m sorry, bigger than Tim Tebow)  All the tools college scouts raved about then (arm strength, accuracy, pocket poise, ability to read defenses) are being raved about again, this time by pro scouts

8. Tennessee Titans Greg Hardy   DE          Ole Miss

Greg Hardy may be the purest sack artist in the draft. He has a lethal combination of speed and power that he mixes up to get to the quarterback. Hardy also has a sort of “Overdrive” that he shifts into once he smells a possible sack.

9. Buffalo Bills  Sam Bradford QB Oklahoma

Trent Edwards is obviously not the answer, not with that 30th ranked passing attack. After season ending surgery, Bradford’s draft stock was, to paraphrase Snoop Dogg “dropping it like its hot,” but it hasn’t fallen as fast as you might think. His body of work still speaks volumes about what he could do on the next level.

10. Detroit Lions Carlos Dunlap DE Florida

Dunlap is one of the biggest reasons Gator opponents have backfield mishaps. He is fast AND strong which will allow him to cause nightmares for opposing tackles for years to come. But because the press is busy kissing Tebow’s a$$ every time the Gators play, he’s a well kept secret.

11. Washington Redskins Charles Brown OT USC

The group of offensive linemen in D.C. right now, aren’t exactly the next incarnation of The Hogs. They’re not even The Hoggettes. And Brown is a people mover that has the benefit of playing in a pro-style offensive scheme that will make the college-to-NFL transition much easier than some.

12. Miami Dolphins Taylor Mays S USC

If you asked a scout to write down their ideal size and speed numbers for an NFL free safety they’d list: 6-3, 235, 4.4. Oddly enough that is Taylor’s height, weight and 40 time on record. Enough said.

13. Green Bay Packers Jonathan Dwyer RB Georgia Tech

Dwyer is an old school workhorse running back. He can run inside and outside and can handle as many carries as the coach gives him. Dwyer’s a big back, but he has good speed as well and can be the muscle of a two back system or handle the lone number one duties as well.

14. Seattle Seahawks Jahvid Best RB Cal

Best is exactly what is name proclaims at his position. He has very good vision and an even better instinct on when to turn on the jets. He is very good at making defenders miss at every level. He isn’t a bruiser back but if coupled with a versatile offense he has the makings of the next young playmaking running back.

15. Houston Texans Sergio Kindle OLB Texas

Kindle is a versatile linebacker that is an excellent attacker. He takes very good angles to the ball and makes tackles all over the field. Sergio’s mix of energy and instincts allows him to overcome the fact that he is a little slower than coaches would want.

16. Denver Broncos (From Chicago) Dez Bryant Oklahoma State

Did you hear that? It’s the sound of Bryant’s NFL Draft stock falling after his reinstatement attempt failed. I expect him to fall a bit more between now and the spring, but when combine rolls around, he should win some of that interest from scouts back

17. San Francisco 49ers Sean Weatherspoon OLB Missouri

Weatherspoon can play both sides of the field (he’ll end up near the ball anyway) and is always around a big play. Whether he’s rushing the passer, busting up a play in the backfield, breaking up a pass or chasing down a receiver from behind, Weatherspoon can do it all.

18. San Diego Chargers Terence Cody DT Alabama

Cody is a big time anchor guy who could go higher if he stays in good shape throughout the combine and workout process. He is a perfect 3-4 true nose tackle and can really control the flow and direction of a play.

19. New York Jets Brandon LaFell WR LSU

LaFell is a rubber band man when it comes to contorting his body in the air to make the catch. His hands are his biggest asset as he catches the ball softly and away from his body. He needs to improve his route running as he isn’t a super fast runner but as long as he makes catches to bail out his quarterback he’ll be a good NFL player.

20. Dallas Cowboys Arthur Jones DT Syracuse

Jones’ is a gap filler and is stronger than Atlas. He is in a Pat Williams type run stopper that will be look like a man amongst boys at times. He plays hard on every play and is of the rare breed of football players that will never quit on any play.

21. Atlanta Falcons Rolando McClain LB Alabama

McClain is an amazing tackler in space and can cover a lot of ground from the middle linebacker spot. He’s got great fundamentals and has a knack of shedding blockers to make big tackles.

22. Arizona Cardinals Joe Haden CB Florida

Haden has jumped to the top of the board amongst other corners with solid coverage and ball skills. He makes good reads and adjusts well to the ball when its in the air. And if weren’t for all of the college football media devoting 90% of their coverage to telling us what a model American Tim Tebow is, we’d all be more well aware of these facts.

23. Philadelphia Eagles Brandon Graham DE Michigan

Graham is a big body that plays very well upfield. Scouts will love that he is versatile enough to play the end position in either scheme.

24. New England Patriots Brandon Spikes LB Florida

The Patriots front-seven can use another injection of youth, especially if Adalius Thomas is indeed on his way out, at season’s end. The “incident” if you will that Spikes was involved in will surely send his draft stock-a-tumbling as all the “character issues” will come into play. But if the Bill Belichick regime can make model citizens of miscreants like Randy Moss and HGHers like Rodney Harrison, they can easily get Spikes into line.

25. New York Giants Jermaine Gresham TE Oklahoma

Gresham is an elite pass catching tight end. He can run a perfect seam route or he can cover a lot of space over the middle. He needs to work on his blocking but he should be a touchdown machine with his hands, size and route running skills.

26. Baltimore Ravens Arrelious Benn WR Illinois

To cite the film Wedding Crashers: “Crab cakes and football, that’s what Maryland DOES!” And the Ravens will help bring the D.C. area native home once he formally decides to skip his senior season. And why would he not? with the clusterf@%k going on in Champaign, the Illini coaching staff has ruined his draft stock enough already for him to stick around another year.

27. Cincinnati Bengals CJ Spiller RB Clemson

Spiller’s a fast runner built on a solid frame. His outside running game and ability to catch the ball out of the backfield is where he’ll make his mark, but he’s not afraid to go right at a defender. A little extra muscle and being able to show his durability will help Spiller’s stock go up.

28. Pittsburgh Steelers Jermaine Cunningham DE Florida

Cunningham isn’t as explosive as his teammate Carlos Dunlap but he is more reliable on a play by play basis. He gets to the quarterback with regularity and makes a lot of tackles in the run game as well.

29. Minnesota Vikings Patrick Robinson CB Florida State

Robinson is a super fast coverage man that is above average in nearly every aspect of the game. He anticipates routes but isn’t a huge risk taker and tackles well in the open field. He is also a very good return man.

30. Seattle Seahawks (From Denver) Jon Asamoah G Illinois

Obviously, the University of Illinois has had a very challenging season, even with the copious amount of talent on offense, but what might actually surprise some is that the top rated player by position, according to ESPN’s NFL draft guru Mel Kiper isn’t Arrelious Benn – it is offensive guard Jon Asamoah. And the Seahawks have got to be realizing that some of their big uglys up front are over the hill or getting there quickly.

31. New Orleans Saints Trevard Lindley CB Kentucky

Give how potent their O is, NOLA will obviously draft for D this spring. And Lindley is about to put the finishing touches on what could be the best-ever career by a University of Kentucky defensive back.

32. Indianapolis Colts Navorro Bowman LB Penn State

More of a value pick than need. Bowman has spent much of the year ranked the #1 OLB prospect from ESPN.com Finally healthy, he’s been an absolute force down the stretch for PSU, and it’s becoming impossible not to compare him to Lavar Arrington- same school, position, and jersey number. Arrington went on to six Pro Bowls, so that’s quite a complement.

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