2010 NFL Mock Draft 3.0, Round 1

With some major player movement going on it is time for yet another version of the Mock Draft.

1. St. Louis Rams – Sam Bradford (QB, Oklahoma): Bradford becomes the front runner on the heels of a strong Pro Day workout.  He is scheduled to work out one more time for the Rams prior to the draft.  With the release of Marc Bulger it seems almost inevitable this pick will be a quarterback.

Previous Pick: Sam Bradford.

X-Factors: The Rams reportedly are talking to the agents of Ndamukong Suh, Gerald McCoy, and Jimmy Clausen.  Barring any unforeseen incidents Bradford is likely the guy though.

2. Detroit Lions – Gerald McCoy (DT, Oklahoma): The Lions reportedly prefer McCoy over Suh as he projects as the better pass rusher at the next level.

Previous Pick: Gerald McCoy.

X-Factors: The Lions are reportedly fielding offers for the pick.  Don’t be surprised if the Lions trade down a few slots to pick up an extra pick or two and grab one of the big tackle prospects in this year’s class.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Ndamukong Suh (DT, Nebraska): The Bucs were last in the league in rushing yards allowed and opponents average per carry last season.  They will take the best of who is left between Suh and McCoy.

Previous Pick: Ndamukong Suh.

X-Factors: If the unthinkable happens and Suh and McCoy are go 1 and 2 look for the Bucs to deal out of #3 with a team looking to jump up and steal Bradford.

4. Washington Redskins – Russell Okung (OT, Oklahoma State): The Redskins have expressed an interest in Okung and with Donovan McNabb landing in Philadelphia it seems an almost certainty that the team will grab whoever it has rated as the top tackle in the draft.

Previous Pick: Russell Okung.

X-Factors: The only wildcard here will be if Shanahan sees someone like Trent Williams or Bryan Bulaga as better fits.

5. Kansas City Chiefs – Bryan Bulaga (OT, Iowa): Bulaga is moving up a lot of draft boards and the Chiefs have to do a better job protecting Matt Cassell if they want to return to playing competitive football again.

Previous Pick: Eric Berry.

X-Factors: Berry is still going to be in the mix here as could an edge pass rusher, but given the investment they have in Cassell keeping him upright is the utmost importance right now.

6. Seattle Seahawks – Trent Williams (OT, Oklahoma): With Walter Jones retiring the Seahawks need to find a new anchor for the offensive line.

Previous Pick: Bryan Bulaga.

X-Factors: Will Pete Carroll decide he needs a young quarterback to build around in Jimmy Clausen?  Yes, they dealt for Charlie Whitehurst, but they only gave him a two year deal which is a minimal investment in a NFL QB these days.  C. J. Spiller is also rumored to be in the mix in Seattle.

7. Cleveland Browns – Eric Berry (S, Tennessee): Berry’s stock seems to be on the slide just a tad, but that is due more to teams placing a higher value in interior lineman than defensive backs this high in the draft.

Previous Pick: Joe Haden.

X-Factors: The Browns have reportedly been interested in Haden all along but Berry would be too good to pass up here and the recent acquisition of Sheldon Brown from the Eagles makes drafting an elite corner less of a need for the time being.  Don’t be shocked if they grab Jimmy Clausen here.  Mike Holmgren claims he is not interested but that could just be a smoke screen.

8. Oakland Raiders – Bruce Campbell (OT, Maryland): Al Davis loves workout warriors and Campbell was the best of the lot at the combine and the Raiders do need a legit left tackle.

Previous Pick: Bruce Campbell.

X-Factors: Given Davis’ affinity for speed players don’t rule out C. J. Spiller or Jahvid Best here as well.

9. Buffalo Bills – Jimmy Clausen (QB, Notre Dame): The Bills need a legit franchise QB and Clausen is largely considered to be the most NFL ready quarterback in this year’s class given he played in Charlie Weis’ system at Notre Dame.

Previous Pick: Jimmy Clausen.

X-Factors: If they don’t like Clausen the Bills could opt for a QB in a later round and pick up the best available tackle here.  With all of the tackles rated as potential top ten picks gone at this point I would not be surprised to see them deal down a few spots with a team interested in Clausen.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars – Derrick Morgan (DE, Georgia Tech): The Jags registered just 14 sacks last season easily making pass rusher the team’s biggest need this spring.  Aaron Kampman helps but he is really only a short term solution and is coming off a knee injury.

Previous Pick: Derrick Morgan.

X-Factors: The could go with a receiver but after Dez Bryant failed to bowl folks over at his Pro Day it seems unlikely they will opt for a receiver at this stage.

11. Denver Broncos – Dan Williams (DT, Tennessee): Jamal Williams turns 34 just after the draft and missed 15 games last season and Dez Bryant failed to impress at his Pro Day.  Dan Williams gives them a more long term solution to build the defense around.

Previous Pick: Dez Bryant.

X-Factors: They could still opt to deal Brandon Marshall and take Bryant here.  While Bryant failed to bowl people over he still performed well at his Pro Day.  Character concerns are the biggest thing weighing him down at this stage.

12. Miami Dolphins -Earl Thomas (FS, Texas): The Dolphins basically played last season with a pair of strong safeties and getting a ball-hawking free safety will go along way towards the development of their young corners.

Previous Pick: Dan Williams.

X-Factors: They also need receivers and an edge pass rusher with Joey Porter going to Arizona and Jason Taylor on the last legs of his career.

13. San Francisco 49ers – Joe Haden (CB, Florida): Haden ran his way back up towards the top of the draft and would be a steal at this spot.

Previous Pick: Trent Williams.

X-Factors: They do need a left tackle as well.  Would they be interested in trading up for Jimmy Clausen?

14. Seattle Seahawks – Jason Pierre-Paul (OLB/DE, South Florida): The Seahawks had just 28 sacks last season and need a game changing pass rusher.

Previous Pick: Jason Pierre-Paul.

X-Factors: Spiller is still on the board.

15. New York Giants – Rolando McClain (LB, Alabama): Tom Coughlin starts to rebuild the defense around the stand out linebacker.

Previous Pick: Rolando McClain.

X-Factors: Offensive line help or a pass rusher could be in the mix here as well.

16. Tennessee Titans – Everson Griffen (DE, USC): The Titans defensive line has been depleted the last couple of years losing both Albert Haynesworth and now Kyle Vanden Bosch via free agency.  Griffen gives them someone to re-build the line around.

Previous Pick: Carlos Dunlap.

X-Factors: The secondary was awful last season so taking a cover man could happen here as well.

17. San Francisco 49ers – C. J. Spiller (RB, Clemson): The offense was nothing special last season and was downright dreadful when Frank Gore missed two games with an injury.  Gore is still one of the better backs in the league but one wonders how much longer his knees will hold up and Spiller gives them that dynamic home run hitter the offense is missing.  He is someone they can line up all over the field a-la Brian Westbrook or Percy Harvin.  He gives them someone defense have to game plan for.

Previous Pick: Earl Thomas.

X-Factors: Offensive line help or a pass rusher could be in play here.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers – Mike Iupati (OG, Idaho): The Steelers have stated they want to get back to playing more smash mouth football next season and Iupati is the smash mouth kind of guy who will help bring that swagger back to the offensive line in Pittsburgh.

Previous Pick: Mike Iupati.

X-Factors: The secondary got exposed quite a bit when Troy Polamalu was hurt last season and bringing in better talent there is an off season priority.

19. Atlanta Falcons – Sergio Kindle (DE/OLB, Texas): With the addition of Dunta Robinson via free agency the Falcons turn their attention to upgrading a sagging pass rush.

Previous Pick: Everson Griffen.

X-Factors: With Abraham looking like he is in decline the Falcons need to find someone to potentially be their primary pass rusher.

20. Houston Texans – Kyle Wilson (CB, Boise State): By letting Robinson go via free agency corner back becomes the number one hole to fill this spring.

Previous Pick: Kyle Wilson.

X-Factors: The team also needs a running back in the event Steve Slaton does not make it back in time for the season opener, but it is easier to find a potential starting running back in later rounds than a starting corner.

21. Cincinnati Bengals – Jermaine Gresham (TE, Oklahoma): The Bengals went through several TEs due to injury last season and Chase Coffman never quite developed like they hoped he would.

Previous Pick: Jermaine Gresham.

X-Factors: Dez Bryant could be pretty tough to pass up here.  They could also look at a safety like Taylor Mays here as well.

22. New England Patriots – Dez Bryant (WR, Oklahoma State): Bill Belichick has rolled the dice in the past on “diva” players like Randy Moss and Cory Dillon and got them to buy into the program in Foxboro.  With Randy Moss entering a contract year and looking older with each passing year  and Wes Welker coming off the knee injury Bryant gives them some long term insurance for Tom Brady.

Previous Pick: Brandon Graham.

X-Factors: Carlos Dunlap has the size to play end in a 3-4, and the team does need to look at ways to enhance the pass rush.

23. Green Bay Packers – Anthony Davis (OT, Rutgers): The Pack has to do a better job protecting franchise QB Aaron Rodgers.

Previous Pick: Anthony Davis.

X-Factors: With Al Harris and Charles Woodson not getting any younger they could look at a young corner here.

24. Philadelphia Eagles – Sean Weatherspoon (OLB, Missouri): Linebacker was the weakest position for the Eagles last season.  They failed time and again in run support and struggled to cover TEs and backs coming out of the backfield on passing plays.

Previous Pick: Sean Weatherspoon.

X-Factors: With Sheldon Brown being dealt to the Browns finding another corner becomes a priority now.  They also need to find a safety who can cover and support the run.  With a bevy of picks due to recent moves don’t be surprised if the Eagles look to move up in this draft.

25. Baltimore Ravens – Devin McCourty (CB, Rutgers): The Ravens need to get younger and better at the corner positions.

Previous Pick: Devin McCourty.

X-Factors: Could go DT or TE here as well.

26. Arizona Cardinals – Jerry Hughes (OLB/DE, TCU): The Cards need to find a young edge rusher to take the place of the aging Bert Berry and Chike Okeafor.

Previous Pick: Sergio Kindle.

X-Factors: The team would like to find a TE to integrate into the passing game.

27. Dallas Cowboys – Arrelious Benn (WR, Illinois): Jerry Jones seems to think WR is the team’s biggest off season need which is odd given he just released his starting LT and a starting safety.

Previous Pick: Taylor Mays.

X-Factors: Don’t be shocked if Jerry tries to trade up and land Bryant he seems to be really enamored with this kid.  Could end up being a safety or tackle which would fill a need for them.

28. San Diego Chargers – Ryan Matthews (RB, Fresno State): Darren Sproles proved last year that he is not an every down back in the NFL.

Previous Pick: C. J. Spiller.

X-Factors: They also need help at corner and a true nose tackle.

29. New York Jets – Taylor Mays (S, USC): With Kerry Rhodes being dealt to the Cardinals the Jets have a hole to fill at FS.

Previous Pick: Arrelious Benn.

X-Factors: With Braylon Edwards’ long term status with the team up in the air they could go for a receiver here.

30. Minnesota Vikings – Jared Odrick (DT, Penn State): Pat Williams is 37 and the team needs to think about his successor.

Previous Pick: Brian Price.

X-Factors: Secondary help could be in the offing here as well.

31. Indianapolis Colts – Charles Brown (OT, USC): The Colts front office rolled the offensive line under the bus following the Super Bowl.

Previous Pick: Maurkice Pouncey.

X-Factors: The team has gone on record saying it needs to upgrade the offensive line this spring.

32. New Orleans Saints – Brian Price (DT, UCLA): The run defense let them down at times last season and the team has a hole to fill at DT.

Previous Pick: Jared Odrick.

X-Factors: They also have spots to fill at DE and OLB.

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