2010 NFL Mock Draft 4.0, Round 1
Time for an updated version to round one of the NFL mock draft.
1. St. Louis Rams – Sam Bradford (QB, Oklahoma): Barring any unforeseen complications Bradford will be the guy.
Previous Pick: Sam Bradford.
X-Factors: The Rams are also looking at Jimmy Clausen who is considered by many to be the more polished pro prospect of the two. With so many holes to fill could the Rams be willing to trade down a few spots to pick up an extra pick or two and grab Clausen instead?
2. Detroit Lions – Gerald McCoy (DT, Oklahoma): McCoy grades out as a better pass rusher between he and Ndamukong Suh and the Lions pass defense was atrocious last season.
Previous Pick: Gerald McCoy.
X-Factors: They could opt for Suh who got more hype towards the end of the college season. Don’t be shocked if the Lions take a left tackle or trade down and take a left tackle. Matthew Stafford got knocked around quite a bit last season and the Lions invested too much money in him to have him missing several games a year due to injury.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Ndamukong Suh (DT, Nebraska): The Bucs were dead last in rushing defense last season and will take the best DT to rebuild the defense around with this pick.
Previous Pick: Ndamukong Suh.
X-Factors: Any pick other than Suh or McCoy would not make a lot of sense here. The only other move that make a lick of sense would be if the Bucs opt to trade down a few spots and take Dez Bryant. Upgrading the receiver position is a top priority for the Bucs as well this spring.
4. Washington Redskins – Russell Okung (OT, Oklahoma State): Rebuilding the offensive line is the a-one top priority for Mike Shanahan this spring.
Previous Pick: Russell Okung.
X-Factors: The ‘Skins offered Laron Landry to the Eagles in the McNabb deal and were rebuffed and there is some sentiment the team may be looking at Eric Berry here. Trent Williams could also be the guy here. Some think his skillset fits Shanahan’s offense better than Okung’s.
5. Kansas City Chiefs – Trent Williams (OT, Oklahoma): Williams and Okung seem to be neck-and-neck in terms of the top two tackles in the draft and Branden Albert appears to be more suited to play RT than LT.
Previous Pick: Bryan Bulaga.
X-Factors: The Chiefs are also looking at Berry to rebuild the secondary around.
6. Seattle Seahawks – Bryan Bulaga (OT, Iowa): With Walter Jones retiring the team needs a new LT to build on.
Previous Pick: Trent Williams.
X-Factors: C. J. Spiller would give Pete Carroll and Reggie Bush type back and Eric Berry could be too good to pass up here.
7. Cleveland Browns – Eric Berry (S, Tennessee): The Browns have secondary needs and Berry is too good to pass up here.
Previous Pick: Eric Berry.
X-Factors: They have been rumored to be in on Joe Haden and could take Jimmy Clausen here as well.
8. Oakland Raiders – Bruce Campbell (OT, Maryland): The trend of Maryland workout warriors continues in Oakland.
Previous Pick: Bruce Campbell.
X-Factors: Al Davis loves speed and Jahvid Best and C. J. Spiller were two of the fastest players at the combine.
9. Buffalo Bills – Jimmy Clausen (QB, Notre Dame): Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick simply are not cutting it. There is even talk that Brian Brohm will get a shot to win the job this spring.
Previous Pick: Jimmy Clausen.
X-Factors: With Aaron Schoebel leaning toward retirement and Aaron Maybin being rather underwhelming his rookie year the Bills could look at grabbing a pass rusher here. They also need to beef up the run defense making Dan Williams or Rolando McClain possibilities as well.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars – Derrick Morgan (DE, Georgia Tech): The Jags were dead last in sacks last season and Aaron Kampmen only brings some improvement and is not the long term solution.
Previous Pick: Derrick Morgan.
X-Factors: The Jags are in the market for a starting receiver and could opt to go with Dez Bryant. Jacksonville’s secondary was brutal last season making Joe Haden a strong possiblity given the cache of him playing for the Gators. Tim Tebow could also factor in here as well. Would the Jags entertain trading down several spots to pick up some picks and take Tebow knowing that it seems unlikely anyone else is considering him in the first round of the draft?
11. Denver Broncos – Dez Bryant (WR, Oklahoma State): Brandon Marshall being dealt to the Dolphins almost makes this more of a certainty than before.
Previous Pick: Dan Williams.
X-Factors: They could still go with Williams here and look at taking a receiver in the second round. Bryant’s stock has slipped a bit this spring and Jamal Williams is by no means a long term solution at NT. I would also not be shocked if this pick ended up being Arrelious Benn. He has run faster than anticipated and his measurables are better than Bryant’s in some instances. He was once considered a top 15 prospect prior to his disappointing season at Illinois.
12. Miami Dolphins – Dan Williams (DT, Tennessee): Parcells loves big beefy DTs to build his defensive lines around and Jason Ferguson is 35 and coming off a season that ended early due to injury.
Previous Pick: Earl Thomas.
X-Factors: The Dolphins essentially played with a pair of strong safeties last season and could use a true free safety. The Dolphins are also rumored to be showing an interest in Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain.
13. San Francisco 49ers – Joe Haden (CB, Florida): He could go higher than this based on running much better at his Pro Day than he did at the combine. The Niners need to get better and younger at the corner position.
Previous Pick: Joe Haden.
X-Factors: They could go with a left tackle or potentially make a play for Jimmy Clausen.
14. Seattle Seahawks – Jason Pierre-Paul (DE/OLB, South Florida): The Seahawks need a dynamic pass rusher to boost a sagging pass rush.
Previous Pick: Jason Pierre-Paul.
X-Factors: Spiller could be in play here as well. Everson Griffen played for Pete Carroll at USC and should not be ruled here either.
15. New York Giants – Rolando McClain (ILB, Alabama): The Giants need to find a replacement for Antonio Pierce.
Previous Pick: Rolando McClain.
X-Factors: Several of the offensive lineman started looking old and broken down last season and they could look for some fresh horses on the o-line. A pass rusher could be in the offing as well.
16. Tennessee Titans – Everson Griffen (DE, USC): After losing Albert Haynesworth and Kyle Vanden Bosch to free agency the past two years the Titans need to find a young lineman to rebuild around.
Previous Pick: Everson Griffen.
X-Factors: Secondary is a huge need as well.
17. San Francisco 49ers – C. J. Spiller (RB, Clemson): The Forty Niners need to be more explosive on offense. Frank Gore is a nice back but does not have the versatility or explosiveness that Spiller brings to the table.
Previous Pick: C. J. Spiller.
X-Factors: Earl Thomas could be too good to pass up at safety which is another need position for the Niners.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers – Mike Iupati (OL, Idaho): With Ben Roethlisberger facing a suspension to start the season the Steelers need to shore up the offensive line and Iupati may be the best run grader in the this year’s draft.
Previous Pick: Mike Iupati.
X-Factors: The secondary got exposed quite a bit when Polamalu was out and Thomas could be too good to pass up for the Steelers. This pick could also be a corner.
19. Atlanta Falcons – Brandon Graham (DE/OLB, Michigan): The Falcons desperately need to find a pass rusher.
Previous Pick: Sergio Kindle.
X-Factors: With John Abraham in decline they need to get a pass rusher here.
20. Houston Texans – Kyle Wilson (CB, Boise State): With Dunta Robinson jumping ship getting a corner becomes the team’s top priority.
Previous Pick: Kyle Wilson.
X-Factors: With Steve Slaton’s status up in the air they could opt for a running back here.
21. Cincinnati Bengals – Earl Thomas (S, Texas): The Bengals are ecstatic to have Thomas fall to them here.
Previous Pick: Jermaine Gresham.
X-Factors: TE and safety are the team’s two biggest needs right now and they could still go with Gresham.
22. New England Patriots – Sergio Kindle (OLB/DE, Texas): The Pats need to get younger and more athletic on the edges.
Previous Pick: Dez Bryant.
X-Factors: Carlos Dunlap has the size to play end in a 3-4 defense and Bill Belichick has rolled the dice on guys with baggage in the past.
23. Green Bay Packers – Anthony Davis (OT, Rutgers): The Pack needs to do a better job of protecting Aaron Rodgers if they want to make a return trip to the playoffs.
Previous Pick: Anthony Davis.
X-Factors: They need to start thinking about Charles Woodson and Al Harris’ successors and could be looking at a pass rusher to replace Aaron Kampmen.
24. Philadelphia Eagles – Sean Weatherspoon (OLB, Missouri): The Eagles need an outside ‘backer who can tackle and cover. Weatherspoon gives them both.
Previous Pick: Sean Weatherspoon.
X-Factors: With Sheldon Brown being dealt they could opt for a corner here but it seems they could get a good corner with the pick they got in the McNabb deal. There is some sentiment they could go for Maurkice Pouncey to give some depth at the interior line positions.
25. Baltimore Ravens – Devin McCourty (CB, Rutgers): The Ravens need to get younger and better at corner.
Previous Pick: Devin McCourty.
X-Factors: They could go with a tight end or pass rusher here as well. Taylor Mays could also be an option if they think Ed Reed is serious about retiring.
26. Arizona Cardinals – Jermaine Gresham (TE, Oklahoma): The Cards have been in the market for a TE for a few years now.
Previous Pick: Jerry Hughes.
X-Factors: They could still go with a pass rusher here.
27. Dallas Cowboys – Arrelious Benn (WR, Illinois): Jerry seems hellbent on finding another elite type of receiver this spring.
Previous Pick: Arrelious Benn.
X-Factors: The Cowboys really need a LT and a safety now that last year’s starters, Flozell Adams and Ken Hamlin, have been released.
28. San Diego Chargers – Ryan Matthews (RB, Fresno State): Darren Sproles is not the answer at RB for them.
Previous Pick: Ryan Matthews.
X-Factors: The Chargers are also in the market for a nose tackle and corner back.
29. New York Jets – Jerry Hughes (OLB/DE, TCU): The Jets are definitely in the market for an edge rusher.
Previous Pick: Taylor Mays.
X-Factor: The Jets are currently trying to coax Jason Taylor to sign with them. If that happens that may put finding a pass rusher on the back burner until next year.
30. Minnesota Vikings – Jared Odrick (DT, Penn State): The Vikes need some young depth at DT.
Previous Pick: Jared Odrick.
X-Factors: The Vikings also need to think up upgrades in the secondary and interior offensive line positions.
31. Indianapolis Colts – Charles Brown (OT, USC): The Colts are on the record saying offensive line is their top off-season priority.
Previous Pick: Charles Brown.
X-Factors: They will take the best available lineman here.
32. New Orleans Saints – Brian Price (DT, UCLA): Price fills an immediate need for the Saints.
Previous Pick: Brian Price.
X-Factors: They also have needs to fill at end and OLB.
