2010 NFL Mock Draft

Alrighty, so I am going to try a new thing for me… A mock draft. Everyone has always seen and looked for NFL Mock drafts before, so I think it would be fun to try and put one of my own together. The first one is very tricky; trying to get a read on college players and see how they would translate their game into the NFL can be very difficult. But at the same time, it will be fun to see how many picks you can get correct. Now, a lot can and will change between now and the draft which will be held in NYC in April. So without any further ado…. the mock draft

1: St. Louis Rams:
Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
The Rams need a lot of help. They need the QB of the future in addition to help at WR, but with a pick like Suh, who is a defensive monster, will be a very safe pick. This pick might have drawn some criticism if Mario Williams didn’t pan out for Houston a few years back. The Rams need to shore up the defensive line in order to put some pressure on the QB, which was very scarce last year. (They finished with 25 total sacks on the season, third to last in the NFL.) They can find some other needs with their later picks. Wide receivers and QB’s can be found in later rounds and pan out.
2: Detroit Lions:
Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
The Lions, like the Rams also need help in a variety of positions. The Lions finished fourth to last in the NFL with only 26 sacks last season and getting another monster on the defensive line will force the opponents offensive line to double team McCoy, thus opening up an extra lane for other defenders. The Lions also need help on the OL so reaching for a guy like Russel Okung, the OT from Oklahoma State can be an option as well, but I think the Lions decide to go defense with their first pick and McCouy is the second best defensive player in the draft.
3: Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
And we see the trend of lousy defenses picking at the top of the draft continue. The Buccaneers found their QB of the future in Josh Freeman, their first round pick last year, who played well down the stretch. Now they need to find their bookend on defense to help force some turnovers and give the offense some short fields to play with. Morgan is the best defensive end in the draft. He is very versatile, someone who can rush the passer, stop the run and even drop back into coverage on occasion.
4: Washington Redskins:
Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
People will go back and forth on which QB should be taken off the board first. I think Clausen is a better pro prospect. He has a solid arm, played in an NFL style offense and was coached by Charlie Weis. Now Sam Bradford would have been the number 1 overall pick had he came out of college last year, but since he stayed in school he will likely drop due to his shoulder injury. I think that Clausen will fit in well in Washington and can lead the Redskins into the future.
5: Kansas City Chiefs:
Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
I think the Chiefs can go one of two ways here. They can look at their offensive line, which gave up 45 sacks last season, sixth most in the NFL, and say they need to protect their huge investment in Matt Cassel. Or, they can look at their defense, which gave up 388 YPG, and decide that shoring up their secondary will be what helps them. I think that once they look at some other options for the secondary they will pass on Eric Berry and decide that protecting Matt Cassel is highly important and getting a guy like Okung, someone who brings instant credibility to their OL, will be the wise choice.
6: Seattle Seahawks:
Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
Pete Carroll is rejoicing in his war room that Berry dropped to him. Berry reminds Carroll of another great safety with similar size and skills, Troy Polamalu. Carroll loved coaching Troy at USC and will now cherish having a guy with the ball hawking skills of Berry on his defense on Seattle. It should make his transition back to the NFL a little smoother.
7: Cleveland Browns:
Joe Haden, CB, Florida
The Browns are a little uncertain at QB. They have Brady Quinn, whom they used a first round pick on a few years back. I don’t think they use another first round pick on Bradford. Instead I think they focus on defense and pick the best CB in the draft in Haden. He is shutdown corner from the first day he puts on that Browns uniform. He has solid tacking skills and is by far the best corner in the draft. With the way the Browns closed out their season and with the new additions in the front office I think the Browns fans have something to cheer for next season. That’s for you Erik!
8: Oakland Raiders:
Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers
The Raiders are always the most unpredictable team in the NFL draft, maybe this year they go with a guy who can protect JaMarcus Russell. Al Davis still is high on Russell, not sure why, but since he is, he should draft a guy that is trending upward in terms of skills on the OL. With Davis in the mix Russell can have a little more time to make reads and get the ball out.
9: Buffalo Bills:
Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
The Bills need some help at QB. They don’t have anyone who can take the reigns of the position and guide the team into the future. Bradford, as mentioned earlier, would have been the unanimous number 1 pick in last years NFL draft. Bradford has an underrated, but strong and accurate arm. Bradford can be the steal of the first round with him dropping this far.
10: Denver Broncos:
Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida
The Broncos have a lot of different ways they can use this pick. If Brandon Marshall is gone, they can easily use this pick on Dez Bryant, who has the home run capabilities of making huge plays in the vertical passing game. They can also go with a QB if either Clausen or Bradford fall this far as well all know Kyle Orton doesn’t scare anyone. But what I think Denver does is get someone who can rush the passer form the edge and is very athletic.
11: Jacksonville Jaguars:
Brian Price DT, UCLA
The Jaguars have a decent team assembled. They do need some help on defense and the parade of DT to be drafted early in the first round keeps on coming. Price, who has a mammoth presence inside will help clog up the middle of the defensive line and help with the rush defense of the Jags.
12: Miami Dolphins:
Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
The Dolphins have some other, maybe more pressing, needs other than WR, however when a guy like Bryant falls in your lap at number 12 you have to pounce. The Dolphins need some help at WR and I hear whispers they might be afraid to draft one this high in the draft, because of the whole Ted Ginn thing, but Bryant is a guy who give Chad Henne an instant big time threat. I like the way he can play off of Devone Bess and Greg Camarillo. The Dolphins can also use this pick to grab a great ILB like Rolando McClain. But I think the Dolphins should add the big time playmaking abilities of Dez Bryant.
13: San Francisco 49ers:
Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
The 49ers need help at the right tackle position. Williams gives them someone who will help out in the running game. He will also help with protecting the QB and giving their playmaker receivers more time to operate.
14: Seattle Seahawks:
Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida
The Seahawks get another great defensive presence on the line in Dunlap. The guy is big and can rush the QB. Couple him with Berry and the Seahawks have the makings of strong defensive foundation for the future. Dunlap will give the Seahawks an instant pass rush as he gets of the edge quickly and efficiently. Carroll will use their later picks to grab some offensive help.
15: New York Giants:
Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama
The Giants need help at linebacker and McClain is an ILB who can be a great leader in the huddle for the Giants. McClain is the highest rated LB in the draft and to grab him this late in the draft could be a steal. He will fill a great void in the Giants defense.
16: San Francisco 49ers:
Earl Thomas, S, Texas
The 49ers have a great deficiency in the secondary. Thomas is the best safety available, who has the athleticism and cover skills to be an immediate contributor in the 49ers defense. The 49ers have a great draft and with the retirement of Kurt Warner, they should be the favorites to win the NFC West.
17: Tennessee Titans:
Everson Griffen, DE, USC
The Titans need help in the secondary and with pressuring the QB. Since no DB fell to them here that has first round talent, they take a value pick in Griffen. He has been consistent this season and has the NFL body to boot. He is very versatile and will be a good fit with the Titans.
18: Pittsburgh Steelers:
Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
The Steelers need some help up front on both side of the ball. Their OL was very inconsistent this season, but they also need a replacement for Casey Hampton who is near the end of time in the NFL. With Williams, the Steelers get a DL that will replace Hampton after learning fro him for a year. If the Steelers decide to go with protection for Big Ben then look for them grab Bryan Bulaga for their offensive line.
19: Atlanta Falcons:
Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan
The Falcons need someone to shore up the outside on their defensive line. By picking Graham, the Falcons get someone who led the nation in tackles for a loss, which shows he is able to get off the edge and put pressure in the defensive backfield something that was missing from Atlanta last season. They need to create a better pass rush in order to bring up their sack total from last season.
20: Houston Texans:
C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
The Texans can also use some help at safety and DT so Taylor Mays or Jared Odrick can be in the picture. However, I think the Texans go with the RB who has been slipping down the draft board. Spiller is a very talented and versatile player. He also posses the skills to be a game-breaker, he is a great value pick here for Texans.
21: Cincinnati Benagls
Aaron Hernandez, TE, Florida
The Bengals need someone at TE and Hernandez is the best one in the draft. He has great hands and excellent YAC skills. He will give Carson Plamer an instant threat down the middle of the field.
22: New England Patriots:
Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas
The Patriots need major additions on the defensive side of the ball. They need someone who can rush the passer form the LB position on a consistent basis. Kindle will fit in perfectly in Belichick’s 3-4 alignment and be a great addition for the linebackers group that already has an up and coming stud with Jarod Mayo. The Patirots also need a RB so they will take a hard look at Spiller if he drops to them, or possibly jonathan Dwyer. But I think in the end they need to find someone who can rush the passer and Kindle is their guy.
23: Green Bay Packers:
Bryan Bulaga, OL, Iowa
The Packers need major help on the offensive line. Buluga will be a great fit up in Green Bay. He has great positioning and leverage skills that allow him to thrive while protecting the QB. The Packers could go defense with this pick and look to draft another USC product in Taylor Mays. They had enormous success with Brain Cushing coming out of USC last year.
24: Philadelphia Eagles:
Taylor Mays, S, USC
If Mays slips past the Packers look for the Eagles to swoop in and draft him, the Eagles need help in the secondary and Mays has the physical tools to become a ball-hawking safety in the NFL.
25: Baltimore Ravens:
Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
The Ravens need some help for Joe Flacco and adding a big talented TE will help Flacco in the play action passing game. Gresham is tall and athletic, everything you look for in a TE.
26: Arizona Cardinals:
Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland
Arizona needs help protecting Matt Lienhart now that Warner has retired. Campbell is still learning the position, but has the physical skills and the determination to become a force on the offensive line. The Cardinals could also go defensive line with this pick and draft Terrance Cody. However, I like the pick of Campbell.
27: Dallas Cowboys:
Sean Weatherspoon, OLB, Missouri
The Cowboys have some talent on the defensive side of the ball, but pairing Weatherspoon opposite DeMarcus Ware makes their pass rushing ability dynamic. They have some needs on the OL so if Campbell drops to them, they would happily take him.
28: San Diego Chargers:
Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech
The Chargers need to find their replacement for LaDainian Tomlinson and they have that in Dwyer. Dwyer has the ability to carry the ball 20+ times a game and gives them the explosiveness as well. He runs low to the ground and has a good center of gravity that allows him to evade would-be tacklers.
29: New York Jets:
Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State
The Jets need someone who can play over the ball and protect the middle of the defense against the run. Odrick is a big, strong defensive presence that will help the Jets with their rush defense, which despite how great their passing defense is needs help.
30: Minnesota Vikings:
Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State:
The Vikings need help in the secondary and they can use a guy like Robinson right away to bring some stability to their defense. He is the second best cornerback in this draft and has the characteristics to develop into a shutdown corner in the NFL.
The last 2 picks depend on who will win the Super Bowl, and I don’t want to give away my prediction just yet, so I will just give you who I think each team will take with no order starting with the AFC Colts
Indianapolis Colts:
Mike Iupati, G, Idaho
The Colts need a big guy in the middle of the offensive line to pass block and open up holes for their running backs to squeeze through. Iupati is the best guard in the draft and should be able to be an immediate starter on the line.
New Orleans Saints:
Terrance Cody, DT, Alabama
The Saints can use some help on the defensive end and they get a great value pick this late in the draft. Cody is huge and gets good penetration off the edge of the line. He should be able to cause some havoc in the backfield.

Today Kurt Warner announced his retirement from football. He will be missed form the game, but hopefully he will continue to be part of the NFL. He was always a class act who knew how to compete on the field. He retires as one of the best QB’s this past decade and should eventually work his way into the Hall Of Fame.

Next week I will break down the Super Bowl matchup.