2010 NFL Mock draft: First Round (Updated 1, 18, 10)

In my first installment of my 2010 NFL Mock draft I received a lot of comments with people speaking out about two or three of my picks. Mainly Tim Tebow going sixth to the Seattle Seahawks, Gerald McCoy 12th to the Miami Dolphins and Jahvid Best 21st to the New York Jets.

So far no new big names have thrown their name into the 2010 draft pool. However I would like to point out that UW quarterback Jake Locker IS NOT going to be in the 2010 mock draft. I have seen at least five or more mock drafts in the last few days with Locker still in them.

So with that being said here is my second edition of my 2010 NFL mock draft. My mock draft order follows the offical order.

1) St Louis Rams: Ndamukong Suh, DT Nebraska

Examination: I still have the best overall player in the draft going No 1. Overall to the St Louis Rams, over Jimmy Clausen, Sam Bradford and even Eric Berry. The Rams have selected in the top two each of the last three years (Chris Long 08, Jason Smith 09 and now Ndamukong Suh 10). Chris Long has been great at defensive end racking up 83 tackles, nine sacks and one forced fumble in his two years in the NFL, however he only started five games which needs to be changed fast for him to have more of an impact on the defense. Jason Smith still looks to be their LT for the long term after getting into his second year next season. Having Chris Long along with Ndamukong Suh would go a long way in helping improve the Rams defense who allowed 436 points this season. Suh is a dominating force on defense and if the Rams do the right thing and go with Suh first overall that will allow the entire defense to become better.

2) Detroit Lions: Russell Okung, OT Oklahoma State

Examination: Yes the top two, and farther down will remain the same for the obvious reasons. The Lions selected Matt Stafford first overall in the 2009 draft, which is ok if you already have a decent, established offensive line. Problem for the Lions is they didn’t really have that offensive line. Stafford was inconsistent in his first season in the NFL, but rookies will have those problems. However Stafford didn’t play the entire season. He was sidelined by a knee injury that ended his season a little more than half way through the season. He also lost Calvin Johnson for a few games which hurt their chemistry. So with the Lions passing on a top left tackle last year there is no other choice other than to take the best offensive tackle in the draft. That tackle being Oklahoma State’s Russell Okung. Okung is an athletic monster; at left tackle at 6-8 300 lbs he’s a perfect fit in Detroit. Giving Stafford and the offense a solid offensive line anchored by Okung will go a long ways to help the Lions grow to a winning franchise

3)Tampa Bay Bucs: Eric Berry, S Tennessee

Examination: The Bucs have their quarterback in Josh Freeman and it’s way too early to reach for a play making wide receiver like Dez Bryant. So the only great pick the Bucs can make in this position is to go with Eric Berry, the talented safety from Tennessee and get some help in the secondary. People have been comparing Berry to former Bucs safety John Lynch. The Buccaneers have Tanard Jackson and Sabby Piscitelli currently starting at strong safety and free safety. Adding Eric Berry in the defensive backfield will help improve their young defense greatly.

4) Washington Redskins: Sam Bradford, QB Oklahoma

Examination: The Redskins have a new head coach and EVP in Mike Shanahan. The last time he was a head coach he got his quarterback in the form of Vandy QB Jay Cutler. Now Shanahan and new GM Bruce Allen have the task at hand of turning around the fortune of the Washington Redskins organization. With current starting quarterback Jason Campbell being a free agent this off season and not really playing as well as he could have to lock up a long term contract the most likely bet is for the Redskins to take the talented accurate quarterback from Oklahoma in Sam Bradford. Bradford is coming off right shoulder surgery but all signs have been great for his recovery and should be throwing in a month or two. Not only does the selection of Campbell fill their long term answer at quarterback but it also will bring a lot of revenue and give the Skins a face of the franchise for years to come.

5) Kansas City Chiefs: Bruce Campbell, OT Maryland

Examination: Same as my last mock draft with Russell Okung off the board and both the Chiefs and Lions having the similar situations of needing to protect their big money quarterbacks, in this case it’s Matt Cassel and his $63 million dollar contract. The Chiefs have former first round pick Brandon Albert but he’s been underperforming this season allowing 10sacks. Albert can also play at the LG position and that would allow the Chiefs to select talented offensive tackle Bruce Campbell to play LT.

6) Seattle Seahawks: Jimmy Clausen, QB Notre Dame

Examination: Ok first off let me say that you people who read my mock draft, I know there is a lot but at least the ones who comment need to read the examination first before ripping. The Tim Tebow selection was based on Jim Mora Jr. and Greg Knapp still being in charge of the offense. Now with Mora and his entire offensive coaching staff fired and Pete Carroll and Jeremy Bates now running the offense the selection of Jimmy Clausen is a perfect fit. Pete Carroll endorsed Matt Hasselbeck but the Seahawks can’t pass on their future starting quarterback two years in a row. Last year they passed on Mark Sanchez and Hasselbeck had another horrendous season this year. He was very hit and miss. I see the Seahawks quarterback situation like the Lions last year. They have an NFL veteran in Matt Hasselbeck (Daunte Culpepper, Lions) but need a long term answer at quarterback and Jimmy Clausen (Matt Stafford, Lions) would be that answer. Clausen can learn behind Hasselbeck, get into the Carroll/Bates system and then when Hasselbeck’s contract runs up at the end of the upcoming season Clausen will become the full time starter and moving forward. He could even take over this season depending on his progression into the NFL which shouldn’t be that much. The Seahawks could also look OT or S here but Berry and Okung/Campbell are both gone so QB is the next biggest need without reaching.

7) Cleveland Browns: Dez Bryant, WR Oklahoma State:

Examination: The Browns have their front office and coach’s in place now for at least one more year (Eric Mangini was allowed back but he has to perform this upcoming year to stay long term). The Browns problems were never on defense this year, it was always the offense. Josh Cribbs wants out because Mike Holmgren “offered him an insulting contract” so Cribbs doesn’t think he will be back. They do have a quarterback in Brady Quinn and a running back in Jerome Harrison but don’t have any receiving support for Quinn. Don’t tell me that Mike Holmgren, one of the best offensive minded guy to ever be in the NFL to settle for Brain Robieski and Mohamed Massaquoi as his leading wide receivers. Massaquoi led the team in receptions with 34 (tied with running back Jerome Harrison) and receiving yards with 624 your offense is never going to get anywhere. The Browns have almost all the pieces in place on offense with a QB, RB, OL and now just need a real play making wide receiver. The Browns can get that in the form of Dez Bryant with the seventh overall pick.

8) Oakland Raiders: Carlos Dunlap, DE Florida

Examination: I’m sorry but when you are trying to figure out who Al Davis is going to take you can’t. It’s simply impossible. So don’t try to examine it or think of a logical selection because there is a reason they call Oakland the black hole. So you have to think of someone who at least fits Davis’ akward draft style. Fast and for this selection the Raiders need a young defensive end. Richard Seymour is not coming back and Dunlap, although being drafted way too early still has a lot of talent to offer Al Davis.

9) Buffalo Bills: Anthony Davis, OT Rutgers

Examination: Last time I had the Bills still going with an offensive tackle. However the OT was Oklahoma’s Trent Williams. This time I’ve looked at the comparisons of both Davis and Williams and I just have a gut feeling that Davis will wind up being that guy. As the draft continues to move closer and the combine and pro days come and go then it will probably change. Keep in mind that these upcoming mock drafts are before the combine and when teams really get into the draft mind. So all are subject to change but one thing is for sure. If there is no QB on the board (Bradford or Clausen) then the Bills will take an offensive tackle. For now I have that tackle being Anthony Davis from Rutgers.

10) Jacksonville Jaguars: Tim Tebow, QB Florida

Examination: Well Jags fans can now breathe easy that the Seahawks finally wised up, fired Jim Mora Jr and replaced him with Pete Carroll who knows how to be a head coach, and run an explosive offense. So now the Jaguars can get their man, in a non football related move. Everyone who knows the NFL and the Jacksonville Jaguars knows that Tim Tebow is the only way to save their franchise and actually put people in the seats. They went with a need pick last year with Eugene Monroe. They can’t do that again this year with their fan base all but gone. Tim Tebow wearing 15 and saying in his home state of Florida.

11) Denver Broncos: Rolando McClain, LB Alabama

Examination: The Broncos off season will kick off when the playoffs end and Brandon Marshall starts to talk again. There have been rumors about a possible trade with the Seattle Seahawks, and some people think that they could get a couple of players plus a draft pick for him but I have put a stop to those rumors with my last article. So people need to put aside any Brandon Marshall trade ideas for a while. Getting back the Broncos pick. For now they still need some help at linebacker and the best linebacker in the draft who can come in right away is Rolando McClain from Alabama. McClain is the best choice here and the best player who fits a need for the Broncos.

12) Miami Dolphins: Terrance Cody, NT Alabama

Examination: The Dolphins could go with a wide out but tell me the last time Parcells took a wide receiver in the first round. Probably before I was born. They have a need at nose tackle and Terrance Cody is a monster nose tackle at 6-5, 365 lbs. So because Parcells won’t take a wide receiver I see Terrance Cody going to the Dolphins 12th overall.

13) San Francisco 49ers: Trent Williams, OT Oklahoma

Examination: The 49ers have just about everything on offense. They have a QB in Alex Smith. A running back in Frank Gore. Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis as receiving options. All they are missing is a left/right tackle depending on where they put Joe Staley. Either way RT/LT will be the only hole the 49ers need to fix on offense and it just so happens that Williams is available at 13th overall. This would be a dream pick for the 49ers and I do think they will take him.

14) Seattle Seahawks: Charles Brown, OT USC

Examination: Well you know that Carroll won’t have any problems scouting the players from USC. It’s also obvious that Carroll, some point in the draft will take at least two or more players from USC because the Seahawks have needs at RB (McKnight), OT (Brown) and S (Mays) so this pick of offensive tackle Charles Brown will not come as a shock. The Seahawks have already selected their long term answer at quarterback with Jimmy Clausen and now they need to move to their long term answer at left tackle. Walter Jones missed the entire 2009 season because he was unable to “get started” after having off season knee surgery. Plus Jones is going to be 36 come the 2010 season and the Seahawks have seen that Sean Locklear won’t be that tackle to replace Jones long term. With Okung, Campbell, Davis and Williams all off the board at OT the Seahawks still need to take Charles Brown to solidify their long term answer at left tackle.

15) New York Giants: Gerald McCoy, DT Oklahoma

Examination: Well the Giants and Eli Manning worked wonders with Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, Dennis Dixon and Kevin Boss so they don’t have any problems at receiver but if they do want to patch up a need it would be on defensive line. They could go with Sergio Kindle from Texas, which I had them going with in my last mock draft. However if you look at how much emphasis Jerry Reese puts on the defensive line then the pick of Gerald McCoy 15th overall is a perfect selecting. Also defensive tackle is a need for the Giants.
16) Tennessee Titans: Sergio Kindle, DE/OLB Texas
Examination: The Titans and Jeff Fisher have one major need and only one need and that’s to get an aggressive, attacking and relentless defensive end this off season. They do have options to go sign a top defensive end in free agency like Julius Peppers, Richard Seymour and others but for the long term answer and overall talent for what the Titans need in a defensive end Kindle is the best of all their options. Kindle is this year’s version of Brian Orakpo, also out of Texas who went 14th overall to the Redskins last year. Kindle is very physically gifted but only had 3.5 sacks in his senior season so he might fall but I see Kindle going 16th overall to the Tennessee Titans.

17) San Francisco 49ers: Joe Haden, CB Florida

Examination: Well now that Tebow can go to Jacksonville it means that Haden will most likely fall to the 49ers who are in desperate need of an excelted cover corner back. Seattle might all snatch him before he gets to San Fran but for now I have Haden going the Niners 17th overall. Dre Bly won’t cut it and the majority of the Niners defensive backs have been injured this past season and they don’t have a talented young corner to lead the defensive backs. So with the 17th overall pick the Niners can fill their void at corner with Joe Haden from Florida.

18) Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Iupati, OG Idaho

Examination: Well this is kind of a tough spot for the Steelers to pick because its way too early to select OG Mike Iupati but they still need some serious help on the offensive line. Watching Max Starks and Willie Colon against the Dolphins in the first round of the playoffs just made me hang my head when every time you saw a flag being thrown you knew it was holding on Colon or Starks. So with that being said the Steelers need to improve the talent at OG and they can do that by selecting Mike Iupati 18th overall from Idaho, even though it’s a little early.

19) Atlanta Falcons: Navorro Bowman, LB Penn State

Examination: Mike Smith has led the Falcons to consecutive winning seasons for the first time in…well it’s been so long I can’t remember. The point is their defense has come around but still needs some work. They selected Curtis Lofton at MLB last year and he’s done wonders for the Falcons defense. They can improve upon that with the selection of Navorro Bowman 19th overall.

20) Houston Texans: Jahvid Best, RB Cal

Examination: The Texans have two key needs that could turn into three depending on what Kevin Walter decides to do. The Texans need a top corner, a bursting running back and possibly another wide receiver. Taking those three positions and then looking at who is still on the board the best pick for the Texans is to go with home run hitting running back Jahvid Best from Cal. Best was a Heisman favorite coming into the season but due to a concussion he had to miss the last part of the season. However Jahvid Best has been touted as the closet college player to Chris Johnson. For a team like the Texans who already have a great passing game with Matt Schaub adding Jahvid Best will make them one of the best teams in the AFC.

21) Cincinnati Bengals: Arrelious Benn, WR Illinois

Examination: It was very clear to me watching the Bengals-Jets game what the Bengals need to fix via the NFL draft. That is to add another top notch wide receiver, who is explosive and electric as the old Chad Johnson. The running game and the Bengals defense is really what led them into the playoffs this year so they are going to need to have their passing attack comes back and Chad Johnson and Laveranues Coles are not going to cut it. So with the 21st pick in the 2010 NFL draft I have Illinois play making wide receiver Arrelious Benn going to the Bengals.

22) New England Patriots: CJ Spiller, RB Clemson

Examination: As usual the Pats have four picks in the first two rounds and still have a lot to improve on. This seemed to be the most interesting season for the Patriots in a long time with Bill going for it on fourth down and then losing in the first round of the playoffs to the visiting Baltimore Ravens. For the entire year the Pats never had a running game. Also their linebackers outside of Mayo underperformed so LB will be a need as well. However I don’t see a linebacker for the Pats to take and currently Spiller is the best player available so it makes perfect sense for the Pats to take him 22nd overall.

23) Green Bay Packers: Jason Fox, OT Miami

Examination: Well here we have to go with another early selection but the Packers have a serious need on the offensive line and mostly at LT. Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher won’t make it another year and protecting Aaron Rogers is going to be curtail to their success. So I have Jason Fox going to the Packers 24th overall.

24) Philadelphia Eagles: Derrick Morgan, DE GT

Examination: Watching the Eagles get destroyed by Romo and the Cowboys offense showed me what they need to do to improve, mainly on defense. The Eagles NEED a young aggressive pass rushing defensive end to put more pressure on the likes of Eli Manning and Tony Romo. They could also improve the defensive backs and linebackers as well with this pick but seeing as they go with flash Morgan is the right pick.

25) Arizona Cardinals: Brandon Spikes, LB Florida

Examination: Well in my last mock draft I had the Cardinals taking OT Charles Brown. Well in my second mock draft he’s long gone to Seattle. With Karlos Dansby and many others wanting new contracts and Arizona not wanting to spend the money they are going to have to replace them through the draft. The number one need is offensive line but there aren’t really any offensive tackles that would be a good pick here so Spikes is the right pick to replace if they don’t bring back Dansby.

26) Baltimore Ravens: Brandon LaFell, WR LSU

Examination: Putting up three points against the Colts in the playoffs isn’t going to get you far at all and no one knows if there will be a wide receiver on the Ravens depth chart next year so no matter what they are going to have to get all the talented receivers they can. Brandon LaFell will get that started in the right direction.

27) Dallas Cowboys: Golden Tate, WR Notre Dame

Examination: The Roy Williams experiment in Dallas has gone worse than the David Beckham experiment in LA. However Beckham is at least decent and helpful in LA where as Roy Williams is a expensive paper weight in Dallas. Miles Austin will most likely stay and they still have Jason Witten but they are going to need another sure handed wide receiver to help out Romo next year. Tate is the best wide receiver available at 27th overall.

28) San Diego Chargers: Dan Williams, DT Tennessee

Examination: Jamal Williams is getting up there in age at 34 and they need a young defensive monster at DT for the long term and Dan Williams at 6-3, 327 lbs would fit the bill perfectly. They don’t need another running back because Darren Sproles is still in town so DT/NT is their next need to fill.

29) Minnesota Vikings*: Patrick Robinson, CB Florida State

Examination: It’s hard to think the Vikings defense still needs a little bit of help. However they do need to add another talented starting cornerback to the defensive backs. The Vikings can also go with Colt McCoy or defensive line help. But Robinson has the best value for the Vikings at a need position.

30) New York Jets*: Damian Williams, WR USC

Examination: The Jets have almost everything on offense except a young talented wide receiver. Braylon Edwards is full of questions and the Jets NEED a wide receiver who has real catchable hands and someone who can stretch the field for Mark Sanchez, also from USC. So this pick is an obvious one for the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets.

31) New Orleans Saints*: Sean Weatherspoon, LB Missouri

Examination: Well Weatherspoon is the best available player and the Saints defense is in need of a young talented strong side linebacker. So Weatherspoon would be the right pick for the Saints.

32) Indianapolis Colts*: Bryan Bulaga, OT Iowa

Examination: Well with their being only four teams remaining in the playoffs (Colts, Saints, Vikings and Jets) there is always those players you select at the backend of the draft that can always become the next star in your franchise. In this case Bryan Bulaga has that chance to be a great starting left or right tackle for the Colts.
Santonio Holmes turned out great for the Steelers.

NOTE: * means that team is in the playoff and current pick isn’t a lock (Overall wise).

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