After long wait, I finally have my first mock draft of this offseason done. Much like when Axl Rose writes a song for a soon to be released album, I changed it and scrapped it several times. There are so many things that go into research for mock drafts. Team needs, player rankings and free agency. I never like to release a mock draft before free agency starts as I believe the first week of so of free agency can tell you a ton of what teams are thinking. I will likely have 2.0 out by April 1st and only suspect 4 versions at most. I do not have the want or do I think it is feasible to do a complete mock draft of all 7 rounds. It is ludicrous. I will however predict the Steelers picks by rounds as I did last year. I nailed 2 players last year in Mike Wallace and Ra\’Shon Harris although I had the wrong round on Wallace.
OK, bitch away, here is 2010 NFL Mock Draft 1.0!
1. St. Louis Rams – Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma – If I were the Rams, I draft Suh or trade down. I do not think Bradford is the real deal. The NFL is a quarterback driven league however and I suspect the Rams will do the wrong thing and draft Bradford.
2. Detroit Lions – Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska – Not even Matt Millen could screw up this pick. The Lions will get the best player in the draft at the number 2 spot. Suh is a man child and I am glad he will be in the NFC and not the AFC.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma – The Buccaneers have a ton of needs, but the 4-3 defense could really be boosted with a player like McCoy. The only temptation here would be Eric Berry.
4. Washington Redskins – Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State – Chris Samuels has now called it a career and the Redskins need a left tackle. Okung is solid and someone Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen can build around.
5. Kansas City Chiefs – Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa – Chiefs GM Scott Pioli is good friends with Kirk Ferentz, the Iowa head coach. Bulaga has quietly climbed up the ladder. Matt Cassel needs protection and Bulaga fits the bill with this pick.
6. Seattle Seahawks – C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson – The Seahawks have two first rounders and Pete Carroll will not wait to see if Spiller last until the 14th pick to get him. Not many mocks have Spiller going this high, but he is worthy of the #6 overall selection.
7. Cleveland Browns – Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama – The Browns picked up Scott Fujita in free agency and may move him inside. McClain can play both inside or outside and has a strong motor. Jimmy Clausen will be tempting here, but the sting of Brady Quinn still lingers.
8. Oakland Raiders – Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame – Raiders owner Al Davis knows that JaMarcus Russell is a bust. He needs a quarterback and he needs one now.
9. Buffalo Bills – Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers – The Bills need a ton of everything and selecting Davis is a great place to start. Some consider Davis the best tackle in the draft, so if he falls here, it could indeed be a steal.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars – Joe Haden, CB, Florida – The Jaguars have seen quite a bit of the Floridian to not get caught up with NFL combine 40 times. Haden is the perfect fit for this defense. It would not be too far of a stretch to see Haden fall here.
11. Denver Broncos – Eric Berry, S, Tennessee – Berry is a hard-hitting defensive back that can play almost anywhere in the secondary. Pairing him up with Brian Dawkins to learn from could pay dividends quickly for Josh McDaniels.
12. Miami Dolphins – Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas – The Dolphins need linebackers and Kindle is a type player Bill Parcells likes on his squad. Kindle is easily the second best linebacker in the draft. This is a great match.
13. San Francisco 49ers – Earl Thomas, S, Texas – Head coach Mike Singletary is slowly building an impressive defense. Thomas fits the bill for that defense
14. Seattle Seahawks – Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma – Pete Carroll got his running back at #6 and now starts getting help on the offensive line.
15. New York Giants – Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida – Giants need to get back to putting consistent pressure on the opponents quarterback. Pierre-Paul can be brought along slowly and has shown the potential to be a dominant pass rusher in the NFL.
16. Tennessee Titans – Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech – Kyle Vanden Bosch is gone. Morgan fits everything that defense needs and 16th is the right place for Morgan.
17. San Francisco 49ers – Mike Iupati, G, Idaho – Iupati is a versatile lineman that can play just about anywhere on the line. His intensity matches that of head coach Mike Singletary.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers – Taylor Mays, S, USC – The last safety the Steelers drafted out of USC turned out pretty good. The Steelers need depth at the position and with Clark being resigned, Mays can be introduced slowly and also contribute on game days on special teams.
19. Atlanta Falcons – Brandon Graham, LB/DE, Michigan – Graham is a tweaner, but a pure athelete. He will help the Falcons defense immediately.
20. Houston Texans – Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State – The Texans lost one corner named Robinson via free agency. They get their replacement Robinson at #20 who very well could be the best corner in the draft.
21. Cincinnati Bengals – Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma – Gresham I think will go earlier than most think out of need. He is the best tight end in the draft and the Bengals desperately need one for Carson Palmer.
22. New England Patriots – Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri – Bill Belichick likes the type player that Weatherspoon is and will find a place for him. The kid has a high motor and an IQ to go along with it.
23. Green Bay Packers – Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State – The Packers need a shut down corner and help in the secondary.
24. Philadelphia Eagles – Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State – The Eagles need a pass rusher and will nit have to go far to find one. Odrick can play anywhere on the defensive line.
25. Baltimore Ravens – Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame – Despite signing Anquan Boldin and resigning Derrick Mason, Tate will be groomed for the future. He can be brought along slowly.
26. Arizona Cardinals – Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee – Cardinals veteran nose tackle Bryan Robinson will be 36 in June and Williams fits what the Cardinals are trying to do on defense.
27. Dallas Cowboys – Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State – Jerry Jones loves playmakers and kids with 5 cent heads. Jones will have no problem taking a chance on making a Cowboy one of his Cowboys.
28. San Diego Chargers – Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State – LaDanian Tomlinson is gone and Sproles is not an every down back. Mathews will be drafted to handle the between the tackle type work.
29. New York Jets – Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland – Campbell is considered a project and the Jets have time to bring him along. this is a case of the best player available on the board.
30. Minnesota Vikings – Brian Price, DT, UCLA – Pat Williams needs a breather every now and again and father time is ticking on him. Price is excellent inside and can help spell Williams on passing downs.
31. Indianapolis Colts – Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida – Sooner or later Jeff Saturday will need to retire. Pouncey is the best center in the draft and can be groomed to replace Saturday on Sundays.
32. New Orleans Saints – Jerry Hughes, LB, TCU – Scott Fujita is gone. The Saints do not need much to stay competitive. Hughes is a play maker and will help ease the loss of Fujita later in the year.
