A little more than 24 hours away from draft time, so here is my one – and surprisingly only – mock draft for 2010. Enjoy!
1. Rams – Sam Bradford, QB Oklahoma.
Analysis: This has been essentially set in stone since the Rams released QB Marc Bulger. For a team once holding the moniker “The Greatest Show on Turf”, St. Louis has been anything but; they ranked 29th in total offense in 2009, and that was despite RB Steven Jackson ranking second in the league for rushing yards with 1,416. Bradford has tremendous accuracy and proved he has fully recovered from a scary shoulder injury at the beginning of last season. He has great leadership potential, elite size for the quarterback position, and is the true embodiment of what teams are looking for when they say “franchise quarterback”. Bradford is the complete package, and deserves to go first overall based on his body of work and raw potential.
2. Lions – Ndamukong Suh, DT Nebraska.
Analysis: If you ask me, Suh has the natural ability to be the best defensive tackle since Warren Sapp, and is the best overall player in the 2010 Draft. He has the explosiveness and strength in the prototypical 4-3 DT that you look for, and a recent ESPN Sport Science study measured Suh’s hitting force to be equivalent to a freight train – literally. Even though the Lions actually won a game last year, they still ranked dead last in total defense and passing defense, and 25th in rushing defense.
3. Buccaneers – Gerald McCoy, DT Oklahoma.
Analysis: McCoy could have been a top-5 pick last year (along with his Sooner teammate Bradford), but chose to come back for his senior season where he had 32 tackles and 6 sacks from his DT position. There are some who say McCoy could be considered a better prospect than Ndamukong Suh based on McCoy’s NFL Combine performance in February. The Bucs went with a youth movement last year, and it showed: they were ranked last in rushing defense and 27th in total defense.
4. Redskins – Russell Okung, OT Oklahoma State.
Analysis: The first of a deep offensive line class goes 4th overall to Washington, and Okung is considered to be the best of that deep class. For someone who models his game after Conrad Dobler, one of the dirtiest players in NFL history, he will bring that nastiness to the “Hogs” tradition Redskin fans hold so dear. I always say the person who is happiest with the offensive line pick is the quarterback, and new acquisition QB Donovan McNabb will love having Okung protect his blind side. This pick also makes sense with the ‘Skins trying to replace the recently-retired Chris Samuels.
5. Chiefs – Eric Berry, S Tennessee.
Analysis: Despite owning a perennial top-5 selection in the draft, the Chiefs have not improved substantially in almost a decade. This past year, they brought in former Patriots genius Scott Pioli to be their general manager, and traded for former Patriot Matt Cassell to be their starting quarterback. While those moves have paid off to some degree, this team still has a long way to go before they can be considered competitive again. Some people think drafting a safety this high is risky, but Berry has shown throughout his career to be a smart ball-hawking player, totaling 14 career INTs and 241 tackles.
6. Seahawks – Bryan Bulaga, OT Iowa.
Analysis: New regimes are always tricky to gauge, as Pete Carroll takes over for the departed Mike Holmgren. This team needs a variety of things, but for a long time those needs have not included left tackle because of future Hall of Fame player Walter Jones. However, Jones is aging rapidly and this team needs a future stalwart on the line, so the rugged mauler Bulaga is the choice. He reminds me of current Browns tackle Joe Thomas; he has great feet and lateral agility, can get vertical in a hurry to block at the second level, and uses his hands well to set up his blocks and stop the rush.
7. Browns – Joe Haden, CB Florida.
Analysis: Usually I would make a joke here about how the Browns need everything, but in this case it’s actually true; they got rid of both QBs on their roster with any starting experience, and brought in former Carolina Panther Jake Delhomme who threw 18 interceptions in 12 games in 2009. Under normal circumstances, I would have Cleveland selecting Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen, but new GM Mike Holmgren has said he doesn’t like Clausen enough to draft him 7th overall. Enter Haden, who had 3 sacks along with his 4 INTs and 57 tackles in 2009. He will look to improve Cleveland’s 29th-ranked passing defense from last season.
8. Raiders – Anthony Davis, OT Rutgers.
Analysis: Inevitably this will be a pick that makes everyone scratch their heads a little bit, but to me Anthony Davis would actually be the sanest pick that Raider-in-charge Al Davis could make. There is a train of thought that has Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen coming to Oakland, but having two top-10 draft picks at QB on your roster is financial suicide, and even Al Davis can see that. Coming out of Rutgers, Anthony Davis has some great physical tools – maybe the best at OT in the entire draft – but he lacks the discipline and technique to be truly great at this point in his career. That makes him perfect for Oakland at 8th overall.
9. Bills – Trent Williams, OT Oklahoma State.
Analysis: Convention thinks that the Bills are the likely destination for QB Jimmy Clausen, but that is not set in stone. Chances are new GM Buddy Nix and head coach Chan Gailey will stick with what they have at QB for now and get a QB later in this draft to groom as an eventual replacement. The Bills need offensive line help ever since they traded Jason Peters to Philadelphia, and Williams has the physical tools necessary for success at tackle. He still needs a little work with his hands and gets beat from time to time, but there is no question about his potential to be a quality tackle in the NFL.
10. Jaguars – C.J. Spiller, RB Clemson.
Analysis: The consensus in Jacksonville is that Spiller is exactly what their offense needs – a change of pace back who can contribute in a variety of settings. Everyone knows about Spiller and his speed, but what makes him a complete player is his ability to be an asset in pass protection and to catch the ball out of the backfield. Pairing him with Maurice Jones-Drew gives the Jags’ offense two dynamic weapons at RB to use in a variety of packages.
11. Broncos – Dez Bryant, WR Oklahoma State
12. Dolphins – Rolando McClain, LB Alabama
13. 49ers – Jimmy Clausen, QB Notre Dame
14. Seahawks – Jason Pierre-Paul, DE/OLB South Florida
15. Giants – Sean Weatherspoon, LB Missouri
16. Titans – Derrick Morgan, DE/OLB Georgia Tech
17. 49ers – Earl Thomas, S Texas
18. Steelers – Kyle Wilson, CB Boise State
19. Falcons – Brandon Graham, DE/OLB Michigan
20. Texans – Dan Williams, DT Tennessee
21. Bengals – Taylor Mays, S Southern California
22. Patriots – Jermaine Gresham, TE Oklahoma
23. Packers – Bruce Campbell, OT Maryland
24. Eagles – Maurkice Pouncey, OL Florida
25. Ravens – Sergio Kindle, DE/OLB Texas
26. Cardinals – Everson Griffin, DE Southern California
27. Cowboys – Demaryius Thomas, WR Georgia Tech
28. Chargers – Kareem Jackson, CB Alabama
29. Jets – Jerry Hughes, OLB Texas Christian
30. Vikings – Charles Brown, OT Southern California
31. Colts – Devin McCourty, CB Rutgers
32. Saints – Carlos Dunlap, DE Florida
1. Rams – Sam Bradford, QB Oklahoma.
Analysis: This has been essentially set in stone since the Rams released QB Marc Bulger. For a team once holding the moniker “The Greatest Show on Turf”, St. Louis has been anything but; they ranked 29th in total offense in 2009, and that was despite RB Steven Jackson ranking second in the league for rushing yards with 1,416. Bradford has tremendous accuracy and proved he has fully recovered from a scary shoulder injury at the beginning of last season. He has great leadership potential, elite size for the quarterback position, and is the true embodiment of what teams are looking for when they say “franchise quarterback”. Bradford is the complete package, and deserves to go first overall based on his body of work and raw potential.
2. Lions – Ndamukong Suh, DT Nebraska.
Analysis: If you ask me, Suh has the natural ability to be the best defensive tackle since Warren Sapp, and is the best overall player in the 2010 Draft. He has the explosiveness and strength in the prototypical 4-3 DT that you look for, and a recent ESPN Sport Science study measured Suh’s hitting force to be equivalent to a freight train – literally. Even though the Lions actually won a game last year, they still ranked dead last in total defense and passing defense, and 25th in rushing defense.
3. Buccaneers – Gerald McCoy, DT Oklahoma.
Analysis: McCoy could have been a top-5 pick last year (along with his Sooner teammate Bradford), but chose to come back for his senior season where he had 32 tackles and 6 sacks from his DT position. There are some who say McCoy could be considered a better prospect than Ndamukong Suh based on McCoy’s NFL Combine performance in February. The Bucs went with a youth movement last year, and it showed: they were ranked last in rushing defense and 27th in total defense.
4. Redskins – Russell Okung, OT Oklahoma State.
Analysis: The first of a deep offensive line class goes 4th overall to Washington, and Okung is considered to be the best of that deep class. For someone who models his game after Conrad Dobler, one of the dirtiest players in NFL history, he will bring that nastiness to the “Hogs” tradition Redskin fans hold so dear. I always say the person who is happiest with the offensive line pick is the quarterback, and new acquisition QB Donovan McNabb will love having Okung protect his blind side. This pick also makes sense with the ‘Skins trying to replace the recently-retired Chris Samuels.
5. Chiefs – Eric Berry, S Tennessee.
Analysis: Despite owning a perennial top-5 selection in the draft, the Chiefs have not improved substantially in almost a decade. This past year, they brought in former Patriots genius Scott Pioli to be their general manager, and traded for former Patriot Matt Cassell to be their starting quarterback. While those moves have paid off to some degree, this team still has a long way to go before they can be considered competitive again. Some people think drafting a safety this high is risky, but Berry has shown throughout his career to be a smart ball-hawking player, totaling 14 career INTs and 241 tackles.
6. Seahawks – Bryan Bulaga, OT Iowa.
Analysis: New regimes are always tricky to gauge, as Pete Carroll takes over for the departed Mike Holmgren. This team needs a variety of things, but for a long time those needs have not included left tackle because of future Hall of Fame player Walter Jones. However, Jones is aging rapidly and this team needs a future stalwart on the line, so the rugged mauler Bulaga is the choice. He reminds me of current Browns tackle Joe Thomas; he has great feet and lateral agility, can get vertical in a hurry to block at the second level, and uses his hands well to set up his blocks and stop the rush.
7. Browns – Joe Haden, CB Florida.
Analysis: Usually I would make a joke here about how the Browns need everything, but in this case it’s actually true; they got rid of both QBs on their roster with any starting experience, and brought in former Carolina Panther Jake Delhomme who threw 18 interceptions in 12 games in 2009. Under normal circumstances, I would have Cleveland selecting Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen, but new GM Mike Holmgren has said he doesn’t like Clausen enough to draft him 7th overall. Enter Haden, who had 3 sacks along with his 4 INTs and 57 tackles in 2009. He will look to improve Cleveland’s 29th-ranked passing defense from last season.
8. Raiders – Anthony Davis, OT Rutgers.
Analysis: Inevitably this will be a pick that makes everyone scratch their heads a little bit, but to me Anthony Davis would actually be the sanest pick that Raider-in-charge Al Davis could make. There is a train of thought that has Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen coming to Oakland, but having two top-10 draft picks at QB on your roster is financial suicide, and even Al Davis can see that. Coming out of Rutgers, Anthony Davis has some great physical tools – maybe the best at OT in the entire draft – but he lacks the discipline and technique to be truly great at this point in his career. That makes him perfect for Oakland at 8th overall.
9. Bills – Trent Williams, OT Oklahoma State.
Analysis: Convention thinks that the Bills are the likely destination for QB Jimmy Clausen, but that is not set in stone. Chances are new GM Buddy Nix and head coach Chan Gailey will stick with what they have at QB for now and get a QB later in this draft to groom as an eventual replacement. The Bills need offensive line help ever since they traded Jason Peters to Philadelphia, and Williams has the physical tools necessary for success at tackle. He still needs a little work with his hands and gets beat from time to time, but there is no question about his potential to be a quality tackle in the NFL.
10. Jaguars – C.J. Spiller, RB Clemson.
Analysis: The consensus in Jacksonville is that Spiller is exactly what their offense needs – a change of pace back who can contribute in a variety of settings. Everyone knows about Spiller and his speed, but what makes him a complete player is his ability to be an asset in pass protection and to catch the ball out of the backfield. Pairing him with Maurice Jones-Drew gives the Jags’ offense two dynamic weapons at RB to use in a variety of packages.
11. Broncos – Dez Bryant, WR Oklahoma State
12. Dolphins – Rolando McClain, LB Alabama
13. 49ers – Jimmy Clausen, QB Notre Dame
14. Seahawks – Jason Pierre-Paul, DE/OLB South Florida
15. Giants – Sean Weatherspoon, LB Missouri
16. Titans – Derrick Morgan, DE/OLB Georgia Tech
17. 49ers – Earl Thomas, S Texas
18. Steelers – Kyle Wilson, CB Boise State
19. Falcons – Brandon Graham, DE/OLB Michigan
20. Texans – Dan Williams, DT Tennessee
21. Bengals – Taylor Mays, S Southern California
22. Patriots – Jermaine Gresham, TE Oklahoma
23. Packers – Bruce Campbell, OT Maryland
24. Eagles – Maurkice Pouncey, OL Florida
25. Ravens – Sergio Kindle, DE/OLB Texas
26. Cardinals – Everson Griffin, DE Southern California
27. Cowboys – Demaryius Thomas, WR Georgia Tech
28. Chargers – Kareem Jackson, CB Alabama
29. Jets – Jerry Hughes, OLB Texas Christian
30. Vikings – Charles Brown, OT Southern California
31. Colts – Devin McCourty, CB Rutgers
32. Saints – Carlos Dunlap, DE Florida
