Mock NFL Draft: Go ahead, be mean.
March 12th, 2010 by Drew Smith
It is that time of the year again where we (and all footballs fans) start to focus on the NFL draft. I present to you my first mock draft of the 2010 season which I will continue to update up until the draft. There are a few surprises as Ndamukong Suh and Joe Haden slides a little and of course, the always comical Oakland Raiders projection.
1) St. Louis Rams – Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
Bradford might not be the top rated player in the draft but he is the top rated QB. The Rams are desperate for a franchise QB and will almost certainly take one with the top pick unless they make a trade for a QB they believe can win them games before the draft.
2) Detroit Lions – Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma St
The Lions must protect their big investment in Matthew Stafford by shoring up the offensive line. The Corey Williams trade allows them to patch up the middle of the line and grab the top rated OT in the draft in Okung.
3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
The Bucs find themselves with an interesting dilemma having to choose between the two DTs. Ndamuking Suh has out-preformed McCoy on the playing field and in work-outs but the experts still considers them virtually equal, with many giving the nod to McCoy. I think McCoy is a better fit for the Bucs defense so he gets the call.
4) Washington Redskins – Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame
If McCoy and/or Okung was available then we might have a debate with who the Redskins would take; with both players gone in this mock draft, Clausen seems like a lock here.
5) Kansas City Chiefs – Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa
If we learned anything from last year’s draft, it is that Scott Pioli is big on positional value. That alone should rule out Eric Berry from the discussion as drafting a safety with the 5th pick. Suh is a possibility because of his high rating but in the end, the Chiefs can make the biggest improvement by drafting an OT. The question now is: which one they would take as there is no clear cut #2 at the moment? Bulaga might not had the press as some of the other OT in the draft but he is a solid player who can start contributing immediately, plus a mean streak that coaches love from their linemen.
6) Seattle Seahawks – Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska-
The Seahawks would love to grab Clausen in the draft but would have elated to see Suh still on the board at #6, who many considered a lock for the top spot a month ago.
7) Cleveland Browns – Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
Just like the Seahawks, the Browns would also love to get Clausen in the draft and likewise would be quite happy settling for the highest rated safety in the draft since Sean Taylor. The Browns secondary is a mess and Berry would go a long way to improving it immediately.
8) Oakland Raiders – Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida
The Raiders drafting style is just plain laughable. Who are the biggest combine freaks at a position they need? Bam there is your pick for the Raiders. It seems like this pick will come down to Bruce Campbell or Pierre-Paul. While Campbell fills a bigger need, Pierre-Paul is the bigger freak and therefore in Al Davis’s mind is obviously the logical pick.
9) Buffalo Bills – Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
The Bills need to fix their OL and Williams has been climbing up the charts, looking like a Top 10 pick. Dan Willams, the big NT from Tennessee, will be another option as the Bills are switching to a 3-4 defense. However it is usually easier to find a big DT than a franchise left tackle, therefore Trent will be the Willams that the Bills select.
10) Jacksonville Jaguars – Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
The Jags signed Aaron Kapman but he is old and coming off knee surgery so I think that Morgan will be too tough to pass on. Dez Byrant is another strong possibility to give Tim Tebow <cough>, I mean David Garrard another weapon as part of the Jags front office is probably still upset with passing on Michael Crabtree last year.
11) Denver Broncos – Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
The Broncos seemed like a lock to select Dan Williams before signing Jamal Williams. After addressing most of their defensive needs with free agents, the Broncos have the luxury of drafting the top WR in the draft. Even if Brandon Marshall stays, which is highly unlikely, the Broncos need another WR; this should be the pick regardless of whether Marshall is on the roster.
12) Miami Dolphins – Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
The Dolphins have to be ecstatic to hear about the Jamal Williams signing by the Broncos as they get their man in Dan Williams. If Bryant was still on the board then it would be interesting to see if they pass on him or not.
13) San Francisco 49’ers – Joe Haden, CB, Florida
Haden has seen his stock drop after a disappointing combine but I don’t expect to see him drop too far. The 49’ers have been linked to CJ Spiller with this pick but if they are choosing between the top CB in the draft and a change-of-pace RB, I think we know the answer. If you recall this is the same situation with the Saints last year– everyone was predicting RB but they took the top CB in Malcolm Jenkins.
14) Seattle Seahawks – CJ Spiller, Ohio State
Seattle needs some excitement on offense and Spiller is just the player for it. Pete Carroll would be bragging to people saying ‘what is so hard about this drafting stuff?’ if he could come away with Suh and Spiller as his top two picks.
15) New York Giants – Brian Price, DT, UCLA
Price hasn’t received a lot of press because everyone is talking about Suh and McCoy, but he has quietly solidified a Top 20 spot in the draft. The Giants love drafting lineman and Price would be a nice value here.
16) Tennessee Titans – Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan
The Titans are a tough team to predict as they usually draft the best player available. Unless they are drafting near the top or someone slips then it is difficult to know who they have at the top of their board. As this mock draft has unfolds there isn’t anyone slipping this far so I have them taking Graham; he fills a major need and also was highly productive at Michigan.
17) San Francisco 49’ers – Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland
The 49’ers have a need at OT and Campbell is the last one in that first tier who many project as a Top 10 player. If Spiller is still on the board, then I could see them selecting him here.
18) Pittsburgh Steelers – Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama
McClain ran a disappointing 40 time but that shouldn’t hurt his draft stock too much as he was most likely never going to be a Top 10 pick anyway. McClain is an ideal fit for the Steelers who have to be glad to see him still on the board.
19) Atlanta Falcons – Earl Thomas, S, Texas
The Falcons need a lot of assistance in the secondary and while signing Dunta Robinson helps, they will still find it hard to pass up on Thomas. I know that Berry is an elite safety but Thomas is much closer to him (in my opinion) than some people realize.
20) Houston Texans – Ryan Matthews, RB, Fresno State
The Texans need a RB who they can count on contributing if not carry the load out of this draft. Matthews is a bit of a reach at #20 but I don’t think the risk waiting to grab their back.
21) Cincinnati Bengals – Travis Mays, S, USC
The Bengals could go after a WR with this pick if they fail to sign one during FA but I think they will get one. Roy Williams is not the answer at safety so look for the Bengals to continue to go to their USC pipeline and grab Mays.
22) New England Patriots – Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State
This pick seems like it would come down to Odrick and Sergio Kindle as both players are expected to go in this range and both fit a big need. History says that the Patriots would value the defensive lineman over a rush linebacker; so Odrick.
23) Green Bay Packers – Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State
I am a big fan of Wilson and wouldn’t be surprised if other teams picking earlier don’t fall in love with him as well. If he is on the board for the Packers, I think it is a no brainer. Ted Thompson is not known to reach for a player; I don’t see them drafting a OT here.
24) Philadelphia Eagles – Everson Griffen, DE, USC
The Eagles are looking to upgrade their DE and Andy Reid loves to draft lineman. Carlos Dunlap is another option here depending on which boom or bust defensive end Andy Reid fancies.
25) Baltimore Ravens – Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
Gresham was a Top 15 talent before missing all of the 2009 season. The Ravens get a steal with here as they continue to add weapons for Cam Cameron and Joe Flaco.
26) Arizona Cardinals – Sergio Kindle, OLB, Texas
The Cardinals are in need of help at the linebacker position and will most likely choose between Kindle and Sean Weatherspoon, if he is available. The Cardinals will be basically choosing between talent and intangibles as Kindle has Top 15 talent but comes with lots of baggage. The NFL usually sides on talent in the draft, making Kindle the likely pick.
27) Dallas Cowboys – Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho
The Cowboys don’t usually draft OL in the 1st round but this is just too perfect of a fit. Iupati is a big, nasty interior lineman that the Cowboys like and could utilize.
28) San Diego Chargers – Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama
The Chargers will be looking for a running back but won’t find one worthy of the 28th pick. Instead they will look to replace Jamal Williams with a prototypical 3-4 NT in Cody.
29) New York Jets – Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame
The Jets had a glaring need at CB but at least temporally filled that with the trade for Antonio Cromartie. This will allow the Jets to add another weapon for Marc Sanchez in Tate. He will be a perfect fit in the Jets offense opposite Braylon Edwards.
30) Minnesota Vikings – Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida
The Vikings were lacking last year with the interior line and looked poised to take Alex Mack before the Browns jumped in front of them and they ‘settled’ for Percy Harvin. While Harvin looks to be an exciting play-maker, the Vikings struggled to run up the middle. Pouncey will be an excellent selection if he makes it to them at #30.
31) Indianapolis Colts – Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers
The Colts are one of these teams that tend to draft the best player available. They could use more depth on the offensive line and Davis is a high upside OT that is sliding in the draft due to a poor combine.
32) New Orleans Saints – Sean Weatherspoon, OLB, Missouri
Weatherspoon has the type of intangibles that could see him come off the board much sooner even though his talent projects him in the 27-37 draft pick range. He made a fan out of me at the Senior Bowl but in this mock draft slips to the Saints.
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