Finally!
My
first
mock
draft
for
2010.
Let
the
hate
mail
begin.
I
love mock drafts just like everyone else, but let us remember that we
are still in January. Players' stocks are going to fluctuate so
expect many changes until the draft. I will try to read and
respond to all emails.
1. St.
Louis
Rams
–
Ndamukong
Suh, DT, Nebraska
With
the
number
one
pick
in
the
draft and a major need at the quarterback position it would
seem
likely for the Rams to draft their franchise quarterback at this spot. But with some questions around Jimmy Clausen
and Sam Bradford, and with Ndamukong Suh being the unanimous top player
in this
draft, the decision is not as easy. The
Rams franchise have not selected a quarterback in the 1st
round
since 1964 when the Los Angles Rams took Bill Munson and the last time
they
took a quarterback in round 2 was Tony Banks in 1996.
I have trouble seeing the defensive minded
Steve Spagnulo pass on the talent that is Ndamukong Suh.
I recommend the Rams to trade down this pack
if they want a quarterback. The Lions
and Buccaneers would love an opportunity at Suh.
Vote
and debate on who the Rams should draft #1 in our forums (no
registration required)
2. Detroit
Lions – Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
Well
the
Lions
can
blame
their
amazing
two win season for why they may have lost out on
the Suh
sweepstakes. If Jimmy Clausen or Sam
Bradford fail to impress the Rams, the Lions may have to “settle” for
Gerald
McCoy, who in almost any other year would be the dominant defensive
tackle in
the draft. However, Detroit fans shouldn’t
feel to upset though as McCoy is considered the 2nd best
prospect by
many analysts. If the Lions pass on
McCoy, look for them to pursue their future left tackle in Russell
Okung of
Oklahoma State.
3. Tampa Bay
Buccaneers – Eric Berry, FS, Tennessee
Usually
safeties
do
not
go
in
the
top 5 of the draft, but Eric Berry is special, very special. If both defensive tackles are off the board I
cannot see the Buccaneers passing on Berry. The
last
safety
to
have
this
kind
of
hype
was
the
late
Sean
Taylor, and
many experts think Berry is better. And
you cannot forget the Tennessee-Tampa Bay connection with Berry’s
defensive
coordinator last year being Monte Kiffin who was the longtime
coordinator for
the Buccaneers.
4. Washington
Redskins – Sam Bradford, QB,
Oklahoma
Let
the
debate
begin
between
Bradford
and
Clausen. There is
already a split among us writers at The Football Expert with Gregory
Cox on
Team Clausen while I remain on Sam Bradford. For
the
most
part,
Jason
Campbell
had
a
pretty
solid
year. He was definitely not the
reason why the
Redskins did so poorly, and it did not him that there was so much
turmoil with
the coaching staff and front office. With
Mike Shanahan at the helm I see him drafting his own quarterback to run
his
offense. There are still questions
regarding Bradford’s injury, but Oklahoma’s struggles last season was
proof to
how valuable he was and that he was not just a product of a
high-powered
collegiate system. Offensive tackle is another
possibility, but with Shanahan's zone blocking scheme, they may pursue
a smaller and quicker tackle later on in the draft or via free agency.
5. Kansas
City Chiefs – Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma St.
The
Kansas
City
Chiefs
invested
millions
in
their franchise quarterback before last season. Now
with
the
season
over
and
Matt
Cassel
banged
up, they may want to consider investing in his health.
The Chiefs’ current left tackle Branden
Albert may be better on the right side and with the addition of Russell
Okung
would add a solid, young tackle combo and more importantly be a long
term
protection plan for its franchise quarterback.
6. Seattle
Seahawks – Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
With
the
cool,
hip
Pete
Carroll
running
the show in Seattle right now, the first thing he will
want to
do is get himself a cool, sunny, California quarterback.
This though may disgust many USC fans because
not only did Carroll leave them, but he then goes out and drafts their
hated
rival’s quarterback. With Matt
Hasselbeck’s career looking done and Seneca Wallace looking like a
better
clipboard holder/wide receiver than starting quarterback, a franchise
quarterback
certainly makes sense here. The Seahawks
could also look at cornerback Joe Haden.
7. Cleveland
Browns – Joe Haden, CB, Florida
Cleveland
fans
may
rejoice
if
Jimmy
Clausen
is picked before them because I believe one of
their
biggest fears is their team investing in another quarterback from Notre
Dame. I still believe even if Clausen was
on the
board, they would bypass him and instead go defense.
This pick came down to the top cornerback in
the draft in Joe Haden and the top linebacker Rolando McClain. With the Brown’s passing defense being
absolutely atrocious and Haden being easily above and beyond the top
cornerback
prospect in the first round I see the Browns drafting Haden.
8. Oakland
Raiders – Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama
Nothing
is
more
exciting
in
making
a
mock draft than projecting who the heck Al Davis
is going
to pick. Offensive tackle makes sense
here, but I can’t imagine Al bypassing on the wonderful, athletic
specimen that
is Rolando McClain. With Kirk Morrison’s
future in Oakland still questionable, and the amazing fan hype around
McClain,
he seems to be a great choice. No, he
doesn’t run a 4.5 40, but he is a force on the field and would look
awesome in
Silver and Black. He is already my
projected defensive rookie of the year and should make an immediate
impact
similar to Patrick Willis and Jerod Mayo.
9. Buffalo
Bills – Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers
After
trading
away
Jason
Peters
last
season,
I was almost positive the Bills were going to
take
offensive tackle Michael Oher. But
instead they chose defensive end Aaron Maybin. Hopefully
after
watching
their
offensive
line
struggle
and
suffer
injury
after
injury,
they
take
the tackle. And
with only Okung off the board, they should have their selection of
tackle. Right now, it seems New Jersey
native Anthony
Davis is the next best available.
10. Denver
Broncos – Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
Last
year,
the
Broncos
shocked
us
by
taking the offensive weapon Knowshon Moreno. This
year,
I
expect
the
Broncos
to
do
the
same
thing, but at the receiver position. There
are
many
questions
regarding
the
future
of
Brandon
Marshall
in
Denver,
and
I think it is a high probability that he will be playing
somewhere
else. After Marshall, the Broncos are
lacking in playmakers. Eddie Royal is a
nice slot guy, but not a number one receiver. Despite
his
suspension,
Dez
Bryant
is
the
top
receiver
in
this
draft.
11. Jacksonville
Jaguars – Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
I
should
already
set
aside
a
folder
for emails specifically about this pick. I
do
not have the clue if the Jaguars and the
NFL are working a way to ensure Tebow will be playing for Jacksonville
to help
save the team. But I do know this: the Jaguars need a quarterback and if Tim
Tebow does well in the Senior Bowl and at the Combine, he very well
could be
deserving of being drafted this high. The
Jaguars have a run oriented offense around
Maurice Jones-Drew; they
do not need a quarterback who can throw the ball 30 times a game. Tebow can succeed in the NFL with the proper
offense, and more importantly to Jacksonville, he can fill seats.
12. Miami
Dolphins – C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
Too
bad
Cam
Cameron
is
still
not
the head coach because he could have said this: “We just
drafted a
wonderful kick returner in C.J. Spiller.” Spiller
is
an
excellent
returner
and
Ted
Ginn
very
well
could
be
out
in
Miami, but the Dolphins will be drafting Spiller for his running back
talents. Ronnie Brown is coming back
from another injury and fumbling Ricky Williams said 2010 will be his
last NFL
season, so the Dolphins need more help in the backfield.
Even if Brown comes back, the NFL has become
a league where teams need multiple running backs.
13. San
Francisco
49ers – Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland
Last
year,
tackle
Jason
Smith
rose
the
draft
boards
to
be
the
first
tackle
to be drafted. This
year, look for the 6-7 mammoth Bruce
Campbell to be that prospect rising the draft boards.
He probably won’t beat out Russell Okung
(unless Okung goes Andre Smith the next few months), but he very well
could be
the second tackle picked in this draft. The
49ers
seem
set
at
one
tackle
spot
with
Joe
Staley,
but
still
have
questions with the right side where Adam Snyder is the current starter. With two picks in the first round, the 49ers
have a lot of options in which they pursue.
14. Seattle
Seahawks – Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida
It
really
shows
how
talented
of
a
player Carlos Dunlap is because he only drops to 14 after
his
drunk driving incident a few months ago. However,
Dunlap
could
still
improve
his
stock
and
make
it
back
into
the
top
10. His 6-6 frame and 4.75 speed
make him extremely difficult to pass on. The
Seahawks
would
love
to
see
C.J.
Spiller
drop
this
far,
but
if
he
doesn’t they should help improve its struggling pass rush.
Patrick Kerney looks to be over the hill, and
USC alum Lawrence Jackson has yet to develop. Carroll
could
take
USC
defensive
end
Everson
Griffen
if
he
feels
more
comfortable
with
his guy, but Dunlap is the better talent.
15. New York
Giants – Earl Thomas, FS, Texas
For
a
team
that
did
not
make
the playoffs, the Giants really do not have too many holes, well
on paper
they don’t. There are numerous questions
on the defensive line, especially who is staying and who is going, but
an area
I see as a possible improvement is the defensive backfield. The Giants struggled last season especially
without
their strong safety, Kenny Phillips who they lost to injury. Thomas and Phillips would create a strong,
young nucleus at the safety positions and be a nice complement in the
backfield
to fellow Longhorn, Aaron Ross. Thomas
may have helped his draft stock more than anyone this past 2009 college
football season.
16. Tennessee
Titans - Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
There
seems
to
be
this
undisputed
belief
around
the
internet
that
the
Titans’
number
one priority is the
defensive end position. With Morgan the
top defensive end on the board, this pick seems to be pretty straight
forward. Morgan did struggle in his last
collegiate game in which he went up against NFL quality tackles in
Bryan Bulaga
and Riley Reiff which may worry some scouts.
