2010 NFL Mock Draft 4.0: Rounds 1-3

It’sover a month since the last incarnation of a mock draft when I came out with version 3.0. Since then there have been quite a few players changing teams and draft picks sent via trade. There have also been plenty of pro day workouts that have shifted the perceptions of some prospects.

The Draft is just weeks away and hopefully this will be my final mock draft. It will be near impossible to keep up to the minute on all the changes that occur in the next couple weeks but hopefully the old adage about teams already knowing what they want holds true.

We could follow which teams host which draft prospects and who attends whose pro days. But that would be an excercise in futility. Besides, by this point, the smoke screens are in full effect so you can’t put much, if any stock in such things. We can only sermise that each team will take the best player at the positions for which they have needs. Although, witha team like theRaiders, anything is possible. Last season they didn’t take anywhere near the best player at his position (WR, Darrius Heyward-Bey) and the year prior they took the best player at a position that had absolutely no need for (RB, Darren McFadden).

So all we can do as prognosticators is choose the player who we think is the best fit and hope each team’s GM or President or coach or Managing General Partner, does the right thing. Keeping that in mind, enjoy my picks for the first three rounds of the 2010 NFL draft.

1. St. Louis Rams

Sam Bradford*, QB, Oklahoma

The Rams need just about everything. However, they have passed up drafting a quarterback the last three seasons that saw them with a high pick and in need at the position. What could they have been waiting for? Sam Bradford, that what. If he had come out last year, the Rams would probably have taken him. But with Bradford heading up a potentially star studded class that looked to include Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy and Jake Locker, the Rams waited. Now the time has come, the Rams have the top pick again and Bradford can finally join the team. And as if you needed further proof of this, the Rams have released longtime starting quarterback,Marc Bulger to clear the way forthedrafting of Bradford.

2. Detroit Lions

 

Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

Not surprisingly, the Lions also have an extremely long wish list. But none more glaring than defensive tackle. So how fortunate for them that the best overall football player is on the board and he happens to play defensive tackle. This could prove to be one of the best draft picks the Lions have ever chosen.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Gerald McCoy*, DT, Oklahoma

Odd to think of the Buccaneers being one of the worst defensive teams in the NFL. Changing to a new system and completely overhauling a defensive unit will do that to a team. The Bucs have needs at just about every defensive position and McCoy is the best player on the board at this point. There is not a lot of drop-off between Suh and McCoy so this pick is a no-brainer.

4. Washington Redskins

Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State

Chris Samuels, the Redskins long-time, Pro Bowl left tackle called it a career this off-season. The Redskins number one priority is to fill his shoes. They do it here with the best offensive tackle prospect in the draft. There are some draft gurus such as Mel Kiper who think that the Redskins acquistion of Donovan McNabb changes their plans for this pick. My thoughts on that?– Not a chance in hell. Okung was Shanahan’s choice all along as I have had for a while. You don’t lose a left tackle and replace him with a rookie quarterback. Not if you hope to win any games. And you can bet Shanahan was not hired to rebuild.

5. Kansas City Chiefs

Eric Berry*, S, Tennessee

Offensive tackle is a need for the Chiefs but with Okung out of the picture, they go for the best available player. And since safety is also a position in need of an upgrade, getting Berry here is a great fit.

6. Seattle Seahawks

Brian Bulaga, OT, Iowa

Davis has the most potential of any offensive tackle in the draft. He is still a bit raw but he has a lot of upside. The Seahawks’ six time All-Pro left tackle, Walter Jones, is reaching the end of his career. Even with talk that he would like to come back for one more year, injury concerns make that unlikely. The Hawks look to not miss a beat by drafting his replacement in the form of Brian Bulaga.

7. Cleveland Browns

Joe Haden*, CB, Florida

The Browns have a weak secondary and they can nab the bestcornerin the draft at this spot in Haden. And therefore we have the perfect meeting of need and best player available

8. Oakland Raiders

Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma

The Raidershave beenin desperate need for a solid right tackle for the past few seasons. Cornell Green was never the answer and last year he became the problem. Now he is gone and there is a question mark as to who will replace him. Trent Williams locked down the right tackle position for the Sooners since half way through his freshman season. So he would be the perfect choice. The Raiders have other glaring needs but the truth is that there are so many teams that are desperate for offensive tackles, if the Raiders hope to get a top tier talent, they must take one now. After the first round is over, there is a significant drop-off in talent at offensive tackle.

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ALSO SEE:

Oakland Raiders 2010 Defensive Needs

Oakland Raiders 2010 Offensive Needs

9. Buffalo Bills

Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers

The Bills are desperate at the left tackle spot and find that they need only head up the road a bit to Rutgers to find their man. The Bills lost their starting left tackle last offseason and their plan to move Langston Walker over from the right tackle spot failed miserably. The signing of Cornell Green is simply and insurance policy (and not a good one at that). They are desperate for a stalwart at the position.Anthony Davisis a bit raw but he has the potential to be the best offensive tackle taken in this draft. He is certainly the best athis position still on the board.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars

Dez Bryant*, WR, Oklahoma State

The Jags have not had a dominant player at the receiver spot since…well ever. After years of poor draft picks and failed attempts at dusting off other team’s waste product (cough-JerryPorter-cough), they finally get their man in Dez Bryant.He is the best receiver in this draft for which thereis little or no disagreement.His issue with Deion Sanders getting him suspended all of last season isnearly a non-issue in the eyes of those NFL teams thatwatch him dazzle and dominate on the field of play.

11. Denver Broncos(from Chicago)

Brandon Graham, OLB/DE, Michigan

Brandon Graham finished up a fantastic week of Senior Bowl practices with an equally impressive Senior Bowl game. Then he further solidfied his status with an outstanding combine and equally outstanding individual workouts. While the Broncos have put a first round tender to invite teams to trade for their problem-child receiver, Brandon Marshall, teams have sniffed around while none have taken the bate. If they get a deal made, expect the compensatory pick to be used on a receiver. As things stand now, they use their pick to bookend Elvis Dumervil and give them a fearsome pass rush from the outside linebacker spot.

12. Miami Dolphins

Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida

Jason Taylor’s days in Miami, striking fear into opposing offenses are over. The Dolphins are in immediate need of finding his replacement. And at 6’6″ tall, Pierre-Paul will look much like Taylor did in a Dolphin uniform. The ‘Phins should be familiar with him too as he playedat in state South Florida.

13. San Francisco 49ers

Earl Thomas*, S, Texas

The 49ers weakest area was the secondary. They could use a good safety with neither Dashon Goldson or Michael Lewis playing well consistently. Goldson showed flashes but the team would like to move him to strong safety. Earl Thomas is thought by some to be the best safety in this draft. The 49ers are extremely happy to get him at this pick.

14. Seattle Seahawks(from Denver)

CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson

The Seahawks spent the greater part of last season trying to find a temporary fix at the running back spot to go along with Julius Jones. Nothing seemed to work. CJ Spiller is an amazing talent and he is too intriguing to pass up. The Seahawks will be ecstatic that he is still on the board.

15. New York Giants

Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama

Rolando McClain has been described as the smartest player in this draft on either side of the ball. He was also a vocal and firey leader in the middle for the National Champion Crimson Tide. The Giants love their linebackers and with Antonio Pierce not getting it done prompting his release, they are in dire need of a man in the middle. After the Giants front office and coaches finish popping champaigne and chest bumping, they will be seeing just how fast they can fill out their draft card to select McClain.

16. Tennessee Titans

Derrick Morgan*, DE, Georgia Tech

Kyle Vanden Bosch took his services to the Detroit Lions which left the Titans, an already weak pass rushing team, in dire straights at the position. Just Two seasons ago, the combination of Vanden Bosch and Travis Laboy and Albert Haynsworth was a potent one. But all of them have now moved on to other teams and the Titans are suddenly exposed.DerrickMorganisa fantastic pickas he is definatelythe best defensive end on the board.

17. San Francisco 49ers(from Carolina)

Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho

Iupati was the most dominating guard in college football last season. He boasts having not given up a sack in over 800 plays at his position. He is also a great run blocker with superior hand fighting abilities. His style is reminiscent of a sumo wrestler with football skills. He could step in as an immediate upgrade at right guard or they could look to convert him to right tackle, which is the weakest link along their offensive line.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers

Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State

The Steelers achilles heal last season was the corner position. They drafted corners in the third and fifth rounds last season but neither is a sure thing at this point. Kyle Wilson was a highly regarded corner after last season and since the season ended, he has only impressed even further. His fantastic pro day cemented his value as a top pick. The Steelers get an immediate starter across from Ike Taylor and give their young corners from last year time at nickel to see what kind of future they have.

19. Atlanta Falcons

Everson Griffen, DE, USC

Since the end of the last season, Griffen has been up and down draft boards. But after an eye popping combine workout that saw him in the top five 40 yard dash times among defensive ends, he has solidified his first round status. The Falcons weak area last year was their lack of a pass rush. It hampered the efforts of the rest of the team all season. Griffen could come in immediately and bring much needed pressure on the edge.

20. Houston Texans

Brian Price, DT, UCLA

The Texans are lacking an anchor in the middle andBrian Price can fill that role perfectly. This could finally allow the Texan defense to catch up with their offense.

21. Cincinnati Bengals

Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma

The Bengals have been one of the most active suitors for the services of free agent receivers. Laveraneus Coles didn’t work out as a replacement for TJ Houshmandzadeh and was cut this offseason. Theyeventually landed free agentAntonio Bryant. Their need then shifted to the other receiver position: tight end. Gresham gives them an underneath receiver to free up Ocho Cinco and Bryant.His stock was uncertaindue to the injury that kept him outnearly his entire senior season. Buthe removed a lot of doubtby placingamong the top five fastest receivers in the 40 yard dash at the combine.

22. New England Patriots

Sergio Kindle, DE/OLB, Texas

The big free agent signing of Adalius Thomas has not quite worked out the way they had hoped. This team only has one solid linebacker in Jerrod Mayo. They consider themselves lucky that the best “tweener” in this draft is still on the board when it is their turn.

23. Green Bay Packers

Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland

The Packers re-signed Chad Clifton this offseason but the three year contract he signed is set up as a one year deal and protects the Packers against injuries. So it is obvious they don’t seeClifton as the solution after this season. Campbell is a first round prospect whose status was strengthened after a freakish combine workout. He had the best 40 yard dash time of any offensive linemanand wasin the top five in the bench press.

24. Philadelphia Eagles

Sean Weatherspoon, OLB, Missouri

The Eagles finished the season at 11-5 but almost all of those eleven wins were against sub .500 teams. The loss that hurt the most was the last game of the season against the Cowboys. Because it meant they would lose the NFC East and had to play the Cowboys in Dallas in the first round; a game they would lose. The culprit was defense. The Eagles need a few positions but none more than linebacker.

25. Baltimore Ravens

Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State

Odrick has seen his stock rise steadily since the end of season. His performance in the Senior Bowl and combine workouts only stood to further prove that his dominance in college was no fluke. He fits perfectly with the Ravens because he can play DE in the 3-4 which the Ravens are looking for.

26. Arizona Cardinals

Daryl Washington, OLB, TCU

The Cardinals’ first priority in the draft will be to attempt to replace the production that Karlos Dansby too with him to Miami. Daryl Washington has been rising on draft boards since the end of last season. He can play inside or outside linebacker and with the Cardinals in need of both, that will come in handy.

27. Dallas Cowboys

Charles Brown, OT, USC

The Cowboys have finally decided to move on from the aging Flozell Adams. He has been a great offensive tackle in Dallas for many years but he really began to show his age last season.He went down with injury and Doug Free started in his place to nominal success. It was clear that Cowboys were at very least going to need to prepare forlife without Adams anchoring the left side of the line. But with his release; the future is now. And since Charles Brown is the last of the top tier offensive tackles in this draft, so they take him without hesitation.

28. San Diego Chargers

Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee

Jamal Williams battled injuries every season the last few years and was released by the Chargers and signed with the Broncos.The Chargers needed insurance before anda plan for the future at nose tackle. Now they have a gaping hole to fill. DanWilliams is the absolute perfect choice to fill it.While they would like to bring in a running backafter cutting ties withLaDainian Tomlinson, defensive tackle is far more crucial.

29. New York Jets

Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech

Demaryius Thomas was considered a great talent after last season but since then his stock has only risen. The tape doesn’t lie. He is a big, fast, dominating receiver and he provides and instant deep threat to whichever team chooses him. The Jets hoped to get that from Braylon Edwards but as everyone else in the NFL had already concluded; getting open doesn’t mean much when you drop half the balls that touch your hands. They are in need of an offensive tackle as well but there are none worth this pick. They are better off waiting until the second round or later.

30. Minnesota Vikings

Jimmy Clausen*, QB, Notre Dame

Brett Favre originally saidthat it was “highly unlikely” he would be back next year. That has since changed to “undecided” which means that he will probably come back. But whether he comes back or not, will not effect the Vikingsneed to draft a quarterback. Clausen would greatly benefit from a season backing up Favre the same way Aaron Rodgers did in Green Bay. And if Favre does actually retire, Clausen could compete with Sage Rosenfels for the starting job. He has worked in a pro system at Notre Dame and many scouts think that he has the potential to be special. If the Vikings don’t agree, I still say they get a quarterback. It would just be Colt McCoy instead.

31. Indianapolis Colts

Arthur Jones, DT, Syracuse

There are many positions that the Colts could address here and defensivetackle is one of those postions that could use an upgrade. They take the best player on the board at a position that could use an upgrade.

32. New Orleans Saints

Navorro Bowman*, LB, Penn State

The Saints have a considerable need at outside linebackerand Bowman is the last of the top tier outside linebacker talent on the board.After winning the Super Bowl with a couple of retreads at outside linebacker (one of whom has signed elswhere), a young upgrade at the position such as Bowman puts them in a nice “reload” situation to make another run.

Click here to see the Mock Draft version 3.0: Rounds 1-3

Click here to see the Mock Draft version 2.0

Click here to see the Mock Draft version 1.0

Round 2

 

33	Rams	Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois
34	Lions	Perrish Cox, CB, Oklahoma State
35	Bucs	Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame
36	Chiefs 3-4	Ricky Sapp, DE/LB, Clemson
37	Eagles (From Redskins)	Taylor Mays, S, USC
38	Browns 3-4	Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida
39	Raiders	Sean Lee, ILB, Penn State
40	Chargers (from Seahawks)	Jahvid Best, RB, California
41	Bills	Colt McCoy, QB, Texas
42	Bucs (from Bears)	Nate Allen, S, South Florida
43	Dolphins	Mardy Gilyard, WR, Texas Tech
44	Patriots (from Jaguars)	Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State
45	Broncos	Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida
46	Giants	Greg Hardy, DE, Mississippi
47	Panthers	Rob Gronkowski, TE, Arizona
48	Patriots (from Titans)	Ed Dickson, TE, Oregon
49	49ers	Jerry Hughes, OLB, TCU
50	Texans	Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State
51	Chiefs (from Falcons)	Damian Williams, WR, USC
52	Steelers	Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama
53	Patriots	Donald Butler, ILB, Washington
54	Bengals	Jon Asomoah, G, Illinois
55	Eagles	Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers
56	Packers	Chad Jones, S, LSU
57	Ravens	Anthony McCoy, TE, USC
58	Cardinals	Eric Decker, WR, Minnesota
59	Cowboys	Major Wright, S, Florida
60	Seahawks (from Chargers)	Corey Wootton, DE, Northwestern
61	Jets	Selvish Capers, OT, West Virginia
62	Vikings	Vladimir Ducasse, OG, UMass
63	Colts	George Selvie, DE, South Florida
64	Saints	D’Anthony Smith, DT, Louisiana Tech
—–	Round 3	—————————————————
65	Rams	Tyson Alualu, DT, California
66	Lions	Taylor Price, WR, Ohio
67	Bucs	Javier Arenas, CB, Alabama
68	Chiefs	Joe McKnight, RB, USC
69	Raiders	Montario Hardesty, RB, Tennessee
70	Eagles (from Seahawks)	Mike Johnson, OG, Alabama
71	Browns	Larry Asante, S, Nebraska
72	Bills	Jermaine Cunningham, OLB, Florida
73	Dolphins	Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech
74	Jaguars	Eric Norwood, OLB, South Carolina
75	Bears	Jordan Shipley, WR, Texas
76	Giants	Geno Atkins, DT, Georgia
77	Titans	Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama
78	Panthers	Riley Cooper, WR, Florida
79	49ers	Thaddeus Gibson, DE/LB, Ohio State
80	Broncos	Brandon LaFell, WR, LSU
81	Texans	Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford
82	Steelers	Tony Washington, OT, Abilene Christian
83	Falcons	Justin Walton, C, Baylor
84	Bengals	Brandon Spikes, ILB, Florida
85	Browns (from Raidersthru Patriots)	Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
86	Packers	Chris Cook, CB, Virginia
87	Eagles	Willie Young, DE, North Carolina State
88	Cardinals (from Ravens)	Brandon Ghee, CB, Wake Forest
89	Cardinals	Pat Angerer, ILB, Iowa
90	Cowboys	Jeremy Williams, WR, Tulane
91	Chargers	Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, CB, Indiana (PA)
92	Browns (from Jets)	O’Brien Schofield, OLB, Wisconsin
93	Vikings	Darryl Sharpton, ILB, Miami (FL)
94	Colts	Syd’Quan Thompson, S, California
95	Saints	Morgan Burnett, S, Georgia Tech
96	Bengals (comp)	Dezmon Briscoe, WR, Kansas
97	Titans (comp)	Rod Muckelroy, OLB, Texas
98	Falcons (comp)	Antonio Coleman, OLB, Auburn