2010 NFL Mock Draft
1. St. Louis Rams – Sam Bradford, QB
Although it is clear that the top 2 players of this draft are Defensive Tackles (Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy), it is clear the Rams have a more glaring need at QB. It is also difficult to justify giving a DT the amount of a #1 pick would normally get. They are in love with Bradford, despite some saying Jimmy Clausen is the most NFL ready QB in this draft. If they don’t rush to start him, he could develop into the franchise quarterback that they are looking for.
2. Detroit Lions – Ndamukong Suh, DT
It makes the most amount of sense for the Lions to trade down from here due to the moves they made to upgrade their defensive line already, but they will not be trading for Ben Roethlisberger. They have already invested in a franchise quarterback and the jury is still out on him. I’m not sure if the Lions will be able to find a suitable trading partner so the Lions may just have to take the best available player on the board, which is Suh or McCoy. Both will immediately help the Lions pass and rush defense, but Suh seems to have a slight edge.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Gerald McCoy, DT
Whether the Lions take Suh or McCoy, the Bucs do not lose out. McCoy may fit the Bucs system better, but this is a win-win situation for the Bucs.
4. Washington Redskins – Russell Okung, OT
Okung and Bryan Baluga are safe offensive tackles to take. Trent Williams can also go here, as he has the physical assets, but comes with a little baggage. After trading for Donovan McNabb, it would make sense for them to protect that investment with a quality OT.
5. Kansas City Chiefs – Bryan Baluga, OT
The Chiefs need a lot of work on their offensive line. If Okung is off the board, they will surely take Baluga. I don’t see Roethlisberger going here because they’ve already invested in another QB. Too early to give up on him now.
6. Seattle Seahawks – Trade to Pittsburgh Steelers (Jimmy Clausen, QB)
I can see this a potential trade: Pittsburgh Steelers send Ben Roethlisberger and a 4th or a 5th round pick for Matt Hasselbeck and Seahawks’ 1st round pick. This would help both teams, as Pittsburgh would be able to obtain Hasselbeck for this season and next season and groom a QB for the future. The Seahawks would get a franchise QB for the future and allow them to contend again this season.
7. Cleveland Browns – Eric Berry, S
Berry is the top safety in this year’s draft. People have compared him to Ed Reed and feel he will be a perennial Pro Bowler. People have mentioned the Browns trading up to #1, but if Berry is still available at #7, they would be much better off using a second round pick to take someone else. It’s also possible that the Browns could trade for Roethlisberger, but with Mangini’s no-nonsense attitude, it’s hard to see the Browns taking that chance.
8. Oakland Raiders – Trent Williams, OT
Okay, this is where it starts to get interesting. With Al Davis, anything is possible. He could take Dez Bryant just to surprise us all. I honestly thought this would be the place that Roethlisberger goes, but it seems that discussion was shot down earlier today. If Pittsbrugh cannot trade up past the Raiders, I can see Clausen going here. Otherwise, it is a terribly long reach for Colt McCoy or Tim Tebow here. But who knows? Al Davis is capable of anything.
9. Buffalo Bills – Dan Williams, DT
Bills need an offensive tackle. The best one on the board is Anthony Davis of Rutgers. But being a Rutgers alumni, I wouldn’t want him to be stuck in Buffalo. I’d much rather him go to sunny San Francisco. So they also need a nose tackle. Dan Williams makes sense here.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars – C.J. Spiller, RB
The Jaguars made a few offseason moves to improve their defense and they do have a need for a second running back behind Maurice Jones-Drew. This really isn’t a need pick, but Spiller may be the best player available and he is an explosive playmaker.
11. Denver Broncos – Rolando McClain, LB
This might be too early to pick McClain, but the Broncos have a desperate need for linebacker. He’s a great player who would fit their system well.
12. Miami Dolphins – Derrick Morgan, DE
Morgan is an excellent defensive end that would fit what Bill Parcells wants the Dolphins to do. He’s an excellent pass rusher, and this would be a great pick up for the Dolphins if he actually falls to them.
13. San Francisco 49ers – Anthony Davis, OT
The 49ers need help on their offensive line. I’m a big 49ers fan and a Rutgers alumni. So yes, this fits. And yes, he’s falling to them. (I hope.)
14. Seahawks – Jason Pierre-Paul, DE
Pierre-Paul is physically the type of player you would build if you could actually use parts to build a defensive end. There are doubts of his skills translating to the NFL, but he’s proven his ability in college and he has the tools to make himself a star.
15. New York Giants – Sergio Kindle, OLB
The Giants biggest needs are defensive ends and linebackers. Rolando McClain seems to be the one they want the most, but in this mock draft, he’s already gone. C.J. Spiller is another player being tossed around here, but I think he’ll definitely be gone by the time the Giants get to pick. I believe they would have to settle for Kindle to fill their need here.
16. Tennessee Titans – Joe Haden, CB
The Titans have many needs, cornerback being one of the biggest. Joe Haden is the obvious choice here.
17. 49ers – Earl Thomas, S
I actually wanted Haden to go to the 49ers here, but I can’t get everything I want, can I? Actually, Berry here would be phenomenal. But I guess we’ll just have to settle for Thomas here. Maybe the 49ers can trade this pick for Suh and Spiller too… The 49ers have a need at cornerback as well, but hopefully Devin McCourty can fall to the 49ers in the second round (also, probably not happening).
Actually, I will just fast forward to some other interesting picks instead of doing the whole first round:
22. New England Patriots – Jermaine Gresham, TE
The Patriots need a tight end and he will mesh well with Tom Brady. Some people felt that the Patriots might take Tim Tebow, since Bill Belicheck loves the kid, but Brady won’t be going anywhere soon so that just doesn’t make sense.
29. New York Jets – Jared Odrick, DT
The Jets need someone to bolster their aging defensive line. Odrick is solid and has potential.
You may have noticed, but I don’t have Tebow going in the first round. I do believe he would make a solid second round pick. And I think he’d make a solid QB in the future.
