NFL MOCK DRAFTnfl draft | first round | today, 7:30 p.m., espn/nfl network

BY DAVE HUTCHINSON | STAR-LEDGER STAFF

NDAMUKONG SUH RUSSELL OKUNG

Bucs hope they have finally found the next Warren Sapp, minus pre-draft marijuana rumors. McCoy once again turns the three-technique tackle position into an art form, and some like him even more than Suh.

3TAmpA BAYbuCANeeRs

DT6-4, 295

GERALD McCOYOKLAHOMA

The Rams prefer to have him signed before draft, but he’s their guy nonetheless. Strong pre-draft workouts helped the 2008 Heisman winner allay concerns about his bum right shoulder.

1ST. LOUISRAMs

QB6-4, 236

SAM BRADFORDOKLAHOMA

Even the bumbling cats can’t screw up this one. Jim Schwartz, who had Albert Haynesworth plugging the middle when he was the Titans’ defensive coordinator, picks this one-man wrecking crew over Gerald McCoy.

2DETROITLiONs

DT6-4, 307

NDAMUKONG SUHNEBRASKA

New coach Pete Carroll tried to recruit Williams out of high school while at USC. The youngster has big shoes to fill replacing perennial Pro Bowler Walter Jones, who has retired. Aging QB Matt Hasselbeck needs a protector.

6SEATTLEseAHAWKs

OT6-5, 315

TRENT WILLIAMSOKLAHOMA

New ’Skins QB Donovan McNabb would probably be willing to pick up Okung at the airport. This pick makes a lot of sense — despite Mike Shanahan’s posturing leading up to the draft — after Chris Samuels’ retirement.

4WASHINGTONReDsKiNs

OT6-5, 307

RUSSELL OKUNGOKLAHOMA STATE

This playmaker is cut in the mold of Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott and Ravens perennial Pro Bowler Ed Reed. Conventional wisdom doesn’t call for a safety to go this high, but Berry is special.

5KANSAS CITYCHieFs

S5-11, 211

ERIC BERRYTENNESSEE

Buffalo’s general manager Buddy Nix and coach Chan Gailey resist taking Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen — his small hands likely don’t make him a good bad-weather QB — and opt to rebuild the offensive line.

9BUFFALObiLLs

OT6-5, 324

ANTHONY DAVISRUTGERS

New general manager Mike Holmgren goes for the best cover corner in the draft. Haden, despite some criticism after his slow 40-yard-dash times, isn’t a bad place to start. Or at least so the Browns hope.

7CLEVELANDbROWNs

CB5-11, 193

JOE HADENFLORIDA

Raiders owner Al Davis falls in love with Pierre-Paul’s pure athleticism and ignores the fact he’s a one-trick pony (though very good at that one trick) who played just one season of major-college football.

8OAKLANDRAiDeRs

DE6-5, 270

JASON PIERRE-PAULSOUTH FLORIDA

Bill Parcells takes a page out of protégé Mike Tannenbaum’s book: After acquiring bad boy WR Brandon Marshall, he addresses defense with replacement for veteran NT Jason Ferguson.

12mIAmIDOLPHiNs

DT6-2, 327

DAN WILLIAMSTENNESSEE

Jags coach Jack Del Rio passes on running back C.J. Spiller, admittedly a gamble, and shores up the back end of his defense. Thomas spent some time at Texas playing cornerback, so he has good instincts for the ball.

10JACKSONVILLEJAGuARs

S5-10, 208

EARL THOMASTEXAS

Sorry, Giants. If you can’t make a trade, Denver won’t be able to pass up on the tackle machine. Broncos want no part of diva-like WR Dez Bryant to replace the mercurial Brandon Marshall, so they go defense.

11DENVERbRONCOs

LB6-3, 254

ROLANDO McCLAINALABAMA

Falcons are ready to move on from former Jet John Abraham, whose production dropped from 16½ sacks in 2008 to 5½ last year. Graham had 10½ sacks last fall for the Wolverines and 29½ for his career.

19ATLANTAFALCONs DE

6-1, 268BRANDON GRAHAM

MICHIGAN

With Clausen the quarterback of the future, the Niners need a left tackle of the future. Bulaga was mentored by former NFL offensive line coach Kirk Ferentz. Of course, so was former No. 2 overall pick Robert Gallery.

17SAN FRANCISCO49eRs

OT6-5, 314

BRYAN BULAGAIOWA

Centers are no longer an afterthought in the NFL Draft thanks to the play of first-rounders such as the Jets’ Nick Mangold. Pouncey will have to adjust to snapping the ball directly to the quarterback.

18pITTSBURGHsTeeLeRs

C6-4, 304

MAURKICE POUNCEYFLORIDA

Bill Belichick finally gives up on the quick fix (i.e. Adalius Thomas and Junior Seau) and brings in a young stud. Kindle replaced Brian Orakpo at Texas; Orakpo turned out pretty well as a rookie, making the Pro Bowl.

22NEW ENGLANDPATRiOTs SERGIO KINDLE

TEXAS

The Texans go with the Piscataway native to help soften the loss of first-rate cover guy Dunta Robinson. Would be the third Piscataway High first-rounder in the past two years (Anthony Davis and Malcolm Jenkins, Saints).

20HOUSTONTeXANs

CB5-10, 194

KYLE WILSONBOISE STATE

It’s no longer bombs away in Cincinnati. Quarterback Carson Palmer will start looking underneath to balance the offense, and Gresham — despite missing most of last season — is a big-time receiver.

21CINCINNATIbeNGALs

TE6-5, 261

JERMAINE GRESHAMOKLAHOMA

Although the Ravens acquired Anquan Boldin, they still want more firepower. Hopefully, Bryant checks his ego at the door. If he does, that gives Joe Flacco three talented targets — Boldin, Donte’ Stallworth and Bryant.

25BALTImORERAVeNs

WR6-2, 225

DEZ BRYANTOKLAHOMA STATE

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been a human tackling dummy the past two seasons. The Packers allowed 51 sacks last season, and that doesn’t include the one that ended their season in the first round of the playoffs.

23GREEN BAYPACKeRs

OT6-5, 303CHARLES BROWN

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Eagles think the USC product will turn Brian Dawkins into a distant memory. That’s a heady comparison for Mays, who has been projected as a first-rounder for several years and had uneven performances for the Trojans.

24pHILADELpHIAeAGLes

S6-3, 230

TAYLOR MAYSSOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

The NCAA’s leading rusher (1,808 yards) last season has power, speed and size. If Mathews can come along and provide a complement to Darren Sproles, Chargers fans could find themselves asking, LaDainian who?

28SAN DIEGOCHARGeRs

RB5-11, 217

RYAN MATHEWSFRESNO STATE

Cardinals go with Missouri product to try to ease the loss of Karlos Dansby. Weatherspoon had 42½ tackles for losses during his final three seasons with the Tigers, though he might be a bit smaller than the NFL would like.

26ARIZONACARDiNALs

LB6-1, 239

SEAN WEATHERSPOONMISSOURI

No one had heard of him until he blew up at the Combine. In fact, one analyst even said he was the best pros-pect at tackle until you watched him on film. Perhaps a hidden gem. Or a bust.

27DALLASCOWbOYs

OT6-6, 314

BRUCE CAMPBELLMARYLAND

Niners finally admit Alex Smith was a mistake. (This would give them three first-round picks at quarterback, counting David Carr as well.) Hope is this Charlie Weis product is closer to Tom Brady than Brady Quinn.

13SAN FRANCISCO49eRs

QB6-2, 222

JIMMY CLAUSENNOTRE DAME

Titans go for a replacement for the departed Kyle Vanden Bosch, who ended up in Detroit. Morgan is more an anchor at defensive than a sack king, but there were times that he took over games for the ACC champions.

16TENNESSEETiTANs

DE6-3, 266

DERRICK MORGANGEORGIA TECH

’Hawks need some juice in the backfield as Julius Jones isn’t getting the job done. Carroll has to have a big-time back, and Spiller could remind him of a more NFL-ready version of Reggie Bush (running, catching, returning).

14SEATTLEseAHAWKs

RB5-11, 196

C.J. SPILLERCLEMSON

With McClain and Spiller gone, the Giants nab a big body for the offensive line. You never have too many, and the Giants are seeing a once-imposing line — one that not long ago was the league’s best — get old in a hurry.

15GiANTs G6-5, 331

MIKE IUPATIIDAHO

Jets coach Rex Ryan can never have enough good corners in his blitz-happy scheme. Moreover, McCourty’s abil-ity on special teams could give Mike Tannenbaum room to maneuver in the Jets’ dance with Leon Washington.

29JeTs CB5-11, 193

DEVIN McCOURTYRUTGERS

Hard to find fault with the Super Bowl champs but they pick up a versatile big body who was the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year last fall after posting seven sacks. Still, he will have to improve his pass-rushing skills.

32NEW ORLEANSsAiNTs

DE6-5, 304

JARED ODRICKPENN STATE

Vikings had the league’s No. 2 ranked run defense last season but finished 19th in pass defense. Alabama coach Nick Saban has a good track record of putting cornerbacks in the NFL (Corey Webster).

30mINNESOTAViKiNGs

CB5-10, 196

KAREEM JACKSONALABAMA

Colts can dish it out via the pass but they can’t take it. Robinson had 11 pass breakups his final season with the Seminoles, but the word often used with him is “upside.” That has positive and negative connotations.

31 INDIANApOLISCOLTs

CB5-11, 190

PATRICK ROBINSONFLORIDA STATE

LB6-3, 250

SAM BRADFORD JIMMY CLAUSEN