From our friends at KFFL.com, Ryan Bonini has one of the more interesting mock drafts around, complete with a blockbuster trade
The 2010 NFL Draft is just hours away and, as like every year, it has been a wild and crazy ride to get here. The first round kicks off Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by rounds two and three Friday and the remainder of the draft Saturday.
Will Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford be taken No. 1 overall or will the St. Louis Rams go another direction? Will Florida quarterback Tim Tebow be selected during the first or second day based on long-term potential?
It’s time to rock the mock. Here is my 2010 NFL Draft first round mock. Be forewarned; as there are some picks that buck the common thought process, including the No. 1 pick:
1. St. Louis Rams – DT Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska
The 2010 NFL Draft starts with a shocker, as the Rams choose to bolster their defense instead of committing $50 million in guaranteed money to Sam Bradford.
2. Seattle Seahawks (via trade with Detroit) – QB Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
A potential Seahawk?
When the Rams pass on Bradford, the Seahawks cannot pass on the potential of adding their franchise quarterback for years to come and work out a deal with the Detroit Lions to move up.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – DT Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma
The Buccaneers focus on improving an area that’s been an issue lately, and that’s being soft in the middle of their defense. McCoy is a great start at changing that.
4. Washington Redskins – OT Russell Okung, Oklahoma State
Protecting quarterback Donovan McNabb will be the top priority for the Redskins, and it all starts on the front line. Okung can elevate a position that has struggled the past few seasons.
5. Kansas City Chiefs – OT Trent Williams, Oklahoma
Rebuilding the offensive line has been a need for the Chiefs for a number of years; protecting quarterback Matt Cassel and opening holes for running backs Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones starts with Williams.
6. Detroit Lions (via trade with Seattle) – S Eric Berry, Tennessee
After trading down, the Lions pick up extra picks in the future and snag Berry, who can be a game-changing safety and the cornerstone of their secondary for years to come.
7. Cleveland Browns – DT Jared Odrick, Penn State
So many needs, never enough picks. The Browns are, as usual, rebuilding, so filling fundamental positions is key. While they would have liked a quarterback here, none are worthy of the pick. Trading down makes the most sense, but the team opts to build their defensive line for now. When you play in a division with run-happy teams like the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers, you need to prepare to stop the run, which is what Cleveland does here.
Will off-the-field issues be ignored?
8. Oakland Raiders – WR Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State
A first-round shocker? Maybe. The pick doesn’t make much sense after the team drafted Darius Heyward-Bey in the first round last year, but since when do the Raiders do anything that agrees with conventional wisdom? Plus, if you throw enough receivers on the field, quarterback JaMarcus Russell will eventually complete 25 percent of his passes, right?
9. Buffalo Bills – DT Dan Williams, Tennessee
The Bills have so many needs they could use six first-round picks to start filling them all. After flirting with the idea of taking a quarterback here, the team opts to fill a void on the defensive line.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars – OT Anthony Davis, Rutgers
The Jaguars are built around ball protection and running the football. Bolstering their front line can never hurt. The ideal option for them would be trading down.
11. Denver Broncos – OLB/DE Brandon Graham, Michigan
The Broncos need a wide receiver – or two – desperately, but none are worth the pick at this juncture. With linebacker Elvis Dumervil playing games about his tender offer, the Broncos find another option that can provide more talent to the position and long-term security.
12. Miami Dolphins – DE/OLB Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech
Jason Taylor flew the coup to the New York Jets earlier this week, and the Dolphins need to ramp up their defensive pressure. Morgan would be asked to make the transition from a defensive end to an outside linebacker in Miami’s 3-4 scheme.
13. San Francisco 49ers – CB Joe Haden, Florida
Despite spending a lot of money in free agency on this position in recent years, it is still a need for the 49ers. Haden, considered by many the best corner in this year’s NFL Draft, fills that need for many years to come.
The top back in the draft?
14. Detroit Lions (via trade with Seattle) – RB C.J. Spiller, Clemson
The Lions snagged this pick when the Seahawks moved up to No. 2.
Now that defensive issues have been addressed, the Lions fill a gapping hole at the running back position with the addition of Spiller, who will be their Week 1 starting tailback.
15. New York Giants – LB Rolando McClain, Alabama
Inside backer has been a problem spot for the Giants recently, adding McClain should quickly solve that in both the short- and long-term picture.
16. Tennessee Titans – DE Jason Pierre-Paul, South Florida
Toyed with the idea of Miami taking him at No. 12 overall, but if he skips past them Tennessee is a good landing spot. The Titans’ “D” needs to up their pass-rush and they are off to a good start here.
17. San Francisco 49ers – QB Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame
I hate this pick and would have loved to have found a way to let Clausen slide out of the first round completely, but the 49ers’ ownership is reportedly enamored with him. With him sitting on the board at this point, his potential is too good to pass up for the 49ers.
Also felt running back Jahvid Best could be a strong option here.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers – OT Bryan Bulaga, Iowa
This could change a couple of different directions if the team actually trades away quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. I don’t see that actually playing out, but stranger things have happened.
Continuing to build the offensive line is important for the Steelers, especially with Roethlisberger suspended and the likes of Byron Leftwich possibly starting at quarterback for the first four to six games of the year.
19. Atlanta Falcons – LB Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri
The Falcons strongly consider tight end Jermaine Gresham here, but decide to keep rolling the dice with Tony Gonzalez for another year or two. They snag Weatherspoon using the best-player-available mentality for more talent at the outside backer position.
20. Houston Texans – CB Kyle Wilson, Boise State
Losing Dunta Robinson during the offseason made this pick a necessity, but the consideration of running back Ryan Matthews is high, too.
21. Cincinnati Bengals – S Earl Thomas, Texas
Continuing to build off of last year’s strong showing on defense, the Bengals snag Thomas to give them one of the youngest and most talented secondaries in the league.
22. New England Patriots – TE Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma
This one bothers me a bit, but the Patriots lost Benjamin Watson during the free-agent market and who knows when wide receiver Wes Welker will be healthy enough. Gresham adds a big, athletic option as a pass receiver for quarterback Tom Brady to rely on. Tough passing on the big defensive needs, but the team has plenty of second-round picks to address that.
23. Green Bay Packers – CB Kareem Jackson, Alabama
Cornerback Charles Woodson isn’t getting any younger and the team needs to start looking long term at the position. Jackson gives the team solid depth and could push for the nickel back role immediately.
24. Philadelphia Eagles – DE Everson Griffen, USC
Linebacker need dropped a lot with the addition of Ernie Sims via trade with the Detroit Lions earlier this week, so now the Eagles can focus on adding more to their defensive line rotation. I could see them trading up, too, with safety Earl Thomas as their target.
25. Baltimore Ravens – CB Devin McCourty, Rutgers
USC safety Taylor Mays was almost locked in here, too, but the more immediate need for the Ravens is cornerback. They’ve been exposed more often than not the last two years on the outside, which McCourty should help correct right away.
26. Arizona Cardinals – LB Sergio Kindle, Texas
The Cardinals have a couple of directions they could go here, but finding a way to replace the departed Karlos Dansby is a big need. Kindle won’t be to the same level, but he’ll help the cause.
27. Dallas Cowboys – G Mike Iupati, Idaho
I considered having the Cowboys go with wide receiver Demaryius Thomas from Georgia Tech here, as the Roy Williams experiment needs the plug pulled and Miles Austin will command a lot of money very soon. However, offensive line continues to be an area of need for the squad and one that must be addressed early this year.
28. San Diego Chargers – RB Ryan Mathews, Fresno State
LaDainian Tomlinson is gone from San Diego, and Darren Sproles cannot be an every down back. For as talented as the Chargers’ passing game is, they’re going to need a back they can depend on from time to time to carry the load. Matthews gives them that ability, but they may be forced to move up a little in the NFL Draft to secure him.
29. New York Jets – WR Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech
The Jets have been so damn busy during the offseason, they truly can enter the NFL Draft with the best-player-available mentality. Wide receiver Santonio Holmes is suspended the first four games of the year and is playing out the final year of his contract. Receiver Braylon Edwards is also in the final year of his deal. The Jets can bring Thomas aboard now and let him learn the ropes while grooming him for long-term use.
30. Minnesota Vikings – RB Jahvid Best, California
Chester Taylor has departed and the Vikings have flirted with a few big-name running backs ( Brian Westbrook appears to still be an option, too), but the reality is they still don’t have a good backup for Adrian Peterson. Best gives them some game-breaking ability and would be a nice change-of-pace option.
Will he sneak into the first round?
31. Indianapolis Colts – QB Tim Tebow, Florida
Another first-round shocker is in the books!
Yes, Peyton Manning is still an elite quarterback, but they need a long-term answer at the position and Tebow is going to need several years to make the NFL transition. In Indy, there will not be pressure to get on the field any time soon. Learning behind Manning surely won’t hurt.
32. New Orleans Saints – S Taylor Mays, USC
The Saints still want Darren Sharper to return, but even if he does they have to think long term. Bringing Mays into the fold would allow them some security and a long-term starting option.
Be sure to also check out KFFL.com’s official NFL Mock Draft, which has been powered by KFFL.com’s senior NFL Draft editor Cory J. Bonini.
NFL Draft Fast Facts:
- The longest first round since 1967 was in 2007, which lasted six hours and eight minutes.
- The shortest first round was in 1967, as it lasted just two hours.
- The most trades to occur in the first round is 15, which occurred in 1995. In the past two years combined there have been 16 trades.