SportsTemps home

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

2010 NFL Draft Rd 1

For the last couple of seasons I've joined the madness and created my own mock draft.  It's fun but it also gets old looking and hearing about everyone else's mocks. Gladly we'll all know the results for the entire draft in just a few days.

  1. St. Louis - Sam Bradford QB - Oklahoma - His college career was great. His pro day was great. The only real concern here is his shoulder but his added bulk should reduce the likelihood of the injury reoccurring. Quarterback is the most important position on the field and with the release of Marc Bulger there's an opening.
  2. Detroit -  Ndmamukong Suh DT - Nebraska - The Lions go for best talent available which works out because they need a makeover on the defensive line.  Recent rumors have been speculating they could go tackle here but that's not going to happen.
  3. Tampa Bay - Gerald McCoy DT - Oklahoma - Possibly the worst team in the league last year, Tampa needs everything. McCoy would be the undisputed number one tackle in most draft's and some believe he is the best in this draft. Once selected he'll remind fans of Warren Sapp.
  4. Washington - Russell Okung OT - Oklahoma St. - Mike Shanahan wants to win now and he proved that was his intention by trading for QB Donovan McNabb.  Okung is the pick to help shore up the weakest link on the offense.  
  5. Kansas City - Brian Bulaga OT - Iowa - Kansas City likely wants to trade out of this spot but with such a deep draft I'm doubtful one occurs.  Eric Berry is the best player available at this point but the Chiefs are desperate for help on the offensive line. Bulaga is a safe pick and can start from day one.
  6. Seattle - Trent Williams OT - Oklahoma - There are many who believe Williams is an elite talent but can he play left tackle (ask Sam Bradford how that worked out)?  Seattle will attempt to find out as Walter Jones is going to retire.
  7. Cleveland - Eric Berry S - Tennessee - Cleveland fans should be ecstatic.  With this selection Cleveland will have nearly completed the overhaul of their secondary this offeseason. Berry reminds many of Ed Reed and we all know how good he is.
  8. Oakland - Mike Iupati OG - Idaho - Al Davis has his own agenda.  If Iupati is really #1 on their board look for the Raiders to try and trade back to #15 or so.  I don't like projecting trades so Iupati's the pick at #8.
  9. Buffalo - Anthony Davis OT - Rutgers - I don't think Buffalo takes Jimmy Clausen because they are dead set on taking the best OT available.  Davis has huge upside but also has some character issues. Buffalo's dealt with those before.
  10. Jacksonville - Jimmy Clausen QB - Notre Dame - Yes, Jacksonville has been saying all along they need a pass rush but they also need a franchise QB. David Garrard is nice and all but he's not a top 5 QB.
  11. Denver - Rolando McClain ILB - Alabama - Denver needs pieces for their 3-4 defense linebacker was clearly an issue last season. McClain is a tackling machine who excels in a 3-4.
  12. Miami - Derrick Morgan OLB - Georgia Tech - A week ago this pick was Dez Bryant but the Brandon Marshall trade temporarily alleviates that need.  Instead look for Parcells to stick to his gut and draft defense with the first pick.  Miami needs OLB to replace the departed Joey Porter and Jayson Taylor.  There will be a transition period since Morgan was a DE in college but in a couple of years he'll be a good one.
  13. San Francisco - Joe Haden CB - Florida - SF's secondary was pretty bad last year. Nate Clements has apparently lost a step and a move to FS is possible. Joe Haden is clearly the best corner in the draft.
  14. Seattle - CJ Spiller RB - Clemson - Seattle's second draft pick is a doozy.  Think Chris Johnson is good? Spiller is a similar runner with similar speed but will also make a huge impact on special teams. 
  15. NY Giants - Earl Thomas S - Texas - The Giants really wanted a LB here but McClain is the only one worth a first round pick. Instead they go with the second best safety prospect. Thomas provides insurance for Kenny Phillips but also is a very good cover guy.
  16. Tennessee - Jason Pierre-Paul DE - South Florida - JPP is an athletic freak but only played one year of DI ball making him a project for NFL coaching.  I'm not a believer but scouts love him and the Titans need more pass rush.
  17. San Francisco - Maurkice Pouncey C - The 49ers have several key pieces in place as they look to get back to the playoffs.  Their interior line, though, is severely lacking.  Pouncey may be the best interior lineman in the draft so the pick fits.
  18. Pittsburgh - Kyle Wilson CB - Boise St. - Pittsburgh missed the playoffs last season in large part to their poor passing defense. Wilson is a sound tackler and good defender who - with the return of Polamalu - will help solve this issue.
  19. Atlanta - Sean Weatherspoon OLB - Missouri - The Falcons linebackers are both aging and devoid of playmakers. Weatherspoon fits the scheme and will make big plays. Makes sense to me.
  20. Houston - Dan Williams DT - Tennessee - Williams can also play NT in a 3-4 but Houston has been looking for help on their defensive line.  This huge space eater will help the run defense and can also help collapse the pocket when Peyton Manning comes to town.
  21. Cincinnati - Jermaine Gresham TE - Oklahoma - This pick makes a lot of sense and at the same time I have a hard time seeing it happening.  Cincinnati almost never uses the tight end as a receiving option but the Bengals really struggled passing the ball last season. Gresham is a lot like Antonio Gates so I think the Bengals will find a way to incorporate him into the offense.
  22. New England - Jerry Hughes OLB - TCU - Hughes super quick off the line allowing him to excel in getting to the quarterback. The Pats biggest weakness last year was the pass rush. 
  23. Green Bay - Bruce Campbell OT - Maryland - The latest draft buzz has the Packers selecting a running back here but they can find a good one in round two.  Instead I think they'll address the tackle position so Aaron Rodgers isn't running for his life on half of his snaps.
  24. Philadelphia - Brandon Graham DE - Michigan - The Eagles look to add depth to their pass rush though the secondary is still an issue. Graham is valued as a top 15 pick for many but I can't picture him playing OLB for a 3-4 defense. The Eagles run a 4-3 so he'll fit in nicely.
  25. Baltimore - Jared Odrick DT - Penn St. - Baltimore's entire defense is getting up there in age so getting some premium talent in the draft seems important.  Odrick could start for many teams from the get go but he'll get to intern behind Trevor Pryce for a year or so.
  26. Arizona - Sergio Kindle OLB - Texas - Arizona will look to improve their pass rush also as they already lost an OLB during free agency.  Kindle showed in college he can get to the quarterback though there may be a transition period as he learns how to drop into coverage.
  27. Dallas - Dez Bryant WR - Oklahoma St. - Bryant is far and away the best WR in this draft.  Miami and Denver seemed like possible destinations but the Dolphins recently acquired Brandon Marshall and I have the Broncos taking Rolando McClain in this mock.  Several character issues don't help Bryant's case any.  Jerry Jones doesn't care about that so he'll happily take Bryant to replace the oh-so-popular Roy Williams.
  28. San Diego - Ryan Mathews RB - Fresno St. - Tomlinson is gone and I'm not sure the Chargers believe Darren Sproles can be a featured back.  Plus, he's a free agent at the end of the season. Mathews is tough and would be a good compliment to Sproles in San Diego's offense.
  29. NY Jets - Taylor Mays S - USC - Rex Ryan wants tough guys and Mays is just that. Sure he has his limitations in coverage but he's a big hitter and has cornerback speed.
  30. Minnesota - Kareem Jackson CB - Alabama - Minnesota lacks depth in the secondary and last year their performance was nothing to brag about. Jackson is a solid cover guy who fits well in the Cover-2 scheme.
  31. Indianapolis - Rodger Saffold OT - Indiana - Several mocks have the Colts going with Saffold here and I agree.  Manning is a great player but even he needs a running game to be effective. Last year's line didn't allow that to happen which may be why the Colts weren't champions. Saffold is the fourth or fifth best tackle prospect so the Colts will snag him here instead of waiting a round to grab another.
  32. New Orleans - Brian Price DT - UCLA - The Saints go best player available here and get a nice talent at DT.  Playing in the NFC South means going against several good running backs. Price is a good fit for a team needing help in this area.
I fully expect to miss 75% of my picks but this is my best guess.

No comments: