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Features, NFL News, Top Posts2010 NFL mock draft, post-combine version
With the first pick in the 2010 NFL draft, the St. Louis Rams select …
1. St. Louis Rams – QB Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
Surprise. With needs throughout the roster outside of RB Steven Jackson, the Rams solve the biggest piece of the puzzle by landing their franchise QB. Sam Bradford has the size, strength, physical and mental skills to fill the role. The only question is his durability, two shoulder injuries aborted his junior season. Can he withstand the pounding Marc Bulger has suffered through the past few seasons?
2. Detroit Lions – DT Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska
The Lions would then benefit from having the choice of the two elite DTs in this draft, Ndamukong Suh and Oklahoma’s Gerald McCoy. Given McCoys’ weak showing at the NFL combine at the bench, the Lions opt for the sure thing. Suh is a one-man wrecking crew who exhibits freakish strength, explosiveness and quickness. And just like that, the Lions defense is improved.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – DT Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma
The best Sooner draft in decades picks up steam with Tampa downright giddy with the selection of Gerald McCoy. After only bench pressing 225 lbs. 23 times at the combine, McCoy is back behind Suh but his potential as a pass rusher is too good to pass up. All he needs to do is spend some extra time in the weight room.
4. Washington Redskins – OT Russell Okung, Oklahoma St.
Bradford would’ve been the choice and Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen is a possibility but with a top-heavy class in offensive tackles, and with LT Chris Samuels set to retire, the Redskins opt for the best in Russell Okung. Coming off a productive college career, Okung has a tremendous initial first step and the quickness to neutralize speed rushers as well as the strength to be a force on the run. There aren’t many holes in his game, perhaps a tendency to play a little high.
5. Kansas City Chiefs – OT Bryan Bulaga, Iowa
It’s doubtful that Chiefs QB Matt Cassel can make it through another season without improved protection. In Bryan Bulaga, the Chiefs get the most technically proficient tackle available. Three years under coach Kirk Ferentz, an offensive line specialist, means that Bulaga is NFL ready in terms of technique and tactics. Moreover, he displays the necessarity tenacity and nastiness to compete. His only drawbacks are his relative short (for tackles) 33” arms.
6. Seattle Seahawks – QB Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame
It’s rebuilding time in Seattle and new coach Pete Carroll reels in one of the few L.A. locals that got away from him when he was the USC head coach. Clausen nearly rallied the Fighting Irish to victory against the Trojans in 2009 before falling 34-27. Carroll won’t need game film from that one. Learning under Matt Hasselbeck will be a plus for Clausen.
7. Cleveland Browns – S Eric Berry, Tennessee
The Browns pick the top-rated defensive back in Eric Berry. The guided missile out of Tennessee comes from the Bob Sanders mold and hits with every ounce he can muster. In a black and blue division stacked with safeties Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu, young Berry will feel at home right away.
8. Oakland Raiders – DE Jason Pierre-Paul, South Florida
Ah, the Raiders. Because of his isolation, the Al Davis card is always the hardest to read. In DE Jason Pierre-Paul, the Raiders get the speed factor (4.64) and pass rush they crave as well as the potential (Paul played 1 season of 1-A ball). The other physical specimen with great upside that could be a possibility here is Maryland OT Bruce Campbell.
9. Buffalo Bills – OT Trent Williams, Oklahoma
O-K-L-A… With their offensive line in shambles and a noticeable drop to the next tier, the Bills take no chances and select the upwardly mobile Trent Williams. Williams, projected as a G or RT, nearly stole the show from Maryland’s Bruce Campbell at the NFL combine with a 4.88 40, a 34 1/2” vertical and a 9’5” standing broad jump. In other words; he’s athletic enough for the left side.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars – WR Dez Bryant, Oklahoma St.
Everybody’s mock draft, has WR Dez Bryant going to the Broncos. That was until the Jaguars beat the Broncos in a coin flip for the 10th pick. Having released veteran WR Torry Holt, the Jaguars get a playmaker with some baggage – he reportedly likes to be fashionable late, to help fill the seats.
11. Denver Broncos – DT Dan Williams, Tennessee
The Broncos patch up their run defense with the best DT available, the space eating Dan Williams. The 6-2, 327-pound Williams is not just a plugger, however. He led all SEC linemen with 61 tackles.
12. Miami Dolphins – LB Sergio Kindle, Texas
With the imminent release of LB Joey Porter, the Dolphins find a replacement in Sergio Kindle, a defensive end who reminds many of his former college teammate and rookie Pro Bowl LB Brian Orakpo. A few scouts believe Kindle may even have a bigger upside.
13. San Francisco 49ers – S Earl Thomas, Texas
Hook ’em again. Coach Mike Singletary will drool at adding Earl Thomas, and could address the team’s bigger needs at OT with their second first-round pick. The Longhorn playmaker will add even more bite, and force an occasional turnover for a unit that gave up too many big passing plays last season.
14. Seattle Seahawks – C.J. Spiller, Clemson
Last year, the Seahawks finished the season with Justing Forsett carrying the load. A gamebreaker with 21 TDs of 50 or more yards in college, Spiller is a triple threat running, receiving and returning. New coach Pete Carroll could have visions of a college Reggie Bush dancing in his head.
15. New York Giants – MLB Rolando McClain, Alabama
There’s a lock on this one. After releasing LB Antonio Pierce, the Giants have a huge hole to fill. Why not the defensive leader of the national champs and Butkus award winner? Though his speed might be in question, McClain’s productivity in the SEC and his 40 time at the Alabama pro day should negate the concern.
16. Tennessee Titans – DE Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech
Someone has to slide in every draft, and in this scenario, it’s Derrick Morgan, the ACC’s defensive player of the year. With DE Kyle Vanden Bosch expected to depart as an unrestricted free agent, the Titans hope Morgan can provide replacement pass rushing ability.
17. San Francisco 49ers – OT Bruce Campbell, Maryland
The run on tackles continues with Bruce Campbell. The junior could have used more seasoning in college and may have been one of the top tackles selected in 2011. Nevertheless, his eyepopping physique and athleticism, similar to fellow former Terp Vernon Davis, means Campbell’s decision to turn wasn’t so far off the mark after all.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers – CB Joe Haden, Florida
The Steelers can’t believe their luck. An unimpressive 40-yard dash at the combine drops Joe Haden from top-10 to top-20 but the Gator remains the best all-round corner in the draft. Plus he’ll get another shot at the 40 on his pro day, where he might be overshadowed by some guy named Tim Tebow.
19. Atlanta Falcons – DE Brandon Graham, Michigan
The Falcons need better corners and pass rushers. Though Boise St. CB Kyle Wilson could be had here, Brandon Graham, thanks to undersized DEs like Elvis Dumervil and Dwight Freeney, is the pick. The Senior Bowl MVP provides an instant upgrade and provides a nice bookend to John Abraham.
20. Houston Texans – CB Kyle Wilson, Boise St.
The Texans look to replace unrestricted free agent Dunta Robinson with the next best corner on the board. Kyle Wilson is climbing up draft boards and could become the second player from Boise St. (T Ryan Clady in 2008) to be drafted in the first round.
21. Cincinnati Bengals – TE Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma
The fourth Sooner in the first round, Gresham fills a massive need at TE for the Bengals as an able blocker and dangerous receiver. Coming off a season lost to injury, Gresham did enough at the NFL combine to regain his top-ranked status.
22. New England Patriots – WR Golden Tate, Notre Dame
The ever productive Golden Tate gave his draft status a huge boost by clocking a 4.42-40 at the NFL combine. Great running with the ball after the catch, Tate could slide in as the X-factor 3rd receiver behind Wes Welker and Randy Moss, much like Percy Harvin did with the Vikings last season.
23. Green Bay Packers — OT Vladimir Ducasse, Massachusetts
The Packers address RT needs with Vladimir Ducasse, a physical blocker who RB Ryan Grant will appreciate instantly. Though he could use more seasoning as a pass blocker, Ducasse has a great upside and the talent to move to the left side with more experience.
24. Philadelphia Eagles – LB Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri
The LB-needy Eagles get productive Sean Weatherspoon, who finished the combine in the top 10 at his position in strength, speed and explosion drills. An oustide backer in college, Weatherspoon could find a home inside in Philly.
25. Baltimore Ravens – WR Arrelious Benn, Illinois
Arrelious Benn is a big, physical receiver whose senior season was hampered by an sprain and a putrid passing attack that had 4 different starting QBs. As a junior, he caught 50 passes for 1,147 yards and 17 TDs, the kind of production that should make QB Joe Flacco smile.
26. Arizona Cardinals – LB Brandon Spikes, Florida
With LB Karlos Dansby an unrestricted free agent, the Cards will roll the dice with Brandon Spikes. The Florida LB was suspended this season for an eye-gouging incident against Georgia and then opted not to run the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, increasing the volume of the concerns about his speed.
27. Dallas Cowboys – LT Charles Brown, USC
The converted TE will give Linus, er, the Cowboys a security blanket should either T Flozell Adams or Marc Colombo yield even more to the aging process. Brown is not a stout tackle but possesses the quickness and athleticism of a former TE.
28. San Diego Chargers – RB Jahvid Best, Cal
In their first season after LT, the Chargers move quickly to address the need and may pick up another back in later rounds. For now, the Cal speedster (4.35 at the combine) should do just fine.
29. New York Jets – DE Carlos Dunlap, Florida
The Jets need speed off the edge and will get it from Carlos Dunlap if the Florida DE focuses on football. The MVP of the 2009 BCS championship game, Dunlap had an uneven season that bottomed when he was arrested for DUI days before the SEC title game.
30. Minnesota Vikings – DT Brian Price, UCLA
The Vikings plant the first seed in replacing the Williams Wall by selecting Brian Price, a junior who’s shooting up draft boards after posting 23.5 tackles for losses and 7 sacks as a junior.
31. Indianapolis Colts – G Mike Iupati, Idaho
The Colts would be delighted to land Mike Iupati, a thick-legged mauler who will help spring RBs Joseph Addai and Donald Brown and steer inside pressure away from QB Peyton Manning.
32. New Orleans Saints – LB Daryl Washington, TCU
The Super Bowl champs add athleticism and sideline-to-sideline range in this weakside LB whose college production (219 tackles) indicates possible impact in his rookie campaign.
FROM THE 2010 NFL SCOUTING COMBINE:
Ndamokung Suh tops Gerald McCoy
C.J. Spiller leads the running of the bulls
See Tim Tebow jump, see Tim Tebow run
Pitt TE Dorin Dickerson will be on the move
Maryland’s Bruce Campbell is 2010’s workout warrior
Rams open to drafting QB No. 1
NFL scouting combine fails as a character study
2010 NFL DRAFT PREVIEWS:
Florida CB Joe Haden far from ordinary
South Florida DE Jason Pierre-Paul’s meteoric rise
Oklahoma State’s Russell Okung leads OT parade
Texas S Earl Thomas busts a move
Oklahoma St. WR Dez Bryant says he still has it
Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen and the golden hype
Should the Cowboys take Oklahoma T Trent Williams?
USC S Taylor Mays and Pete Carroll destined to reunite in Seattle
Cal RB Jahvid Best and his sick speed
Tennessee S Eric Berry and Ed Reed
