2010 NFL Mock Draft - A First Look
The 2009 NFL Draft is in the books which means it is time to start focusing on the 2010 draft which is just a little over 11 months away. As hard as it is to project which players will be first rounders next year is determining which teams will be drafting where. Scouting the 2010 draft class will have the added intrigue of having arguably the top 3 college quarterbacks returning, two of whose stock is hard to project due to the offenses they run. Ok enough babbling here is my first mock draft attempt for 2010.
1. Kansas City Chiefs – WR Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State – After being forced to overdraft DE Tyson Jackson at #3 this year, there is nothing Scott Pioli wants to do more than avoid drafting #1 overall and overpaying for the #1 overall pick. Obviously, he will hope someone will trade up for Sam Bradford but if he is picking #1 overall he will be choosing between a WR, RB, OT or NT. There is not a player at any of those positions worth the #1 overall pick at this point but Bryant is the selection so far based on his upside and the offense’s need for a playmaker in the passing game opposite Dwayne Bowe. To justify this pick Bryant will need to step up his game vs. the top teams in the Big 12 in 2009.
2. Detroit Lions – OT Russell Okung, Oklahoma State – After failing to upgrade in the trenches in the 2009 draft, the Lions will likely be picking high again in 2010 and will be choosing between Okung or one of the many top defensive tackles.
3. Oakland Raiders – DT Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma – The Raiders have done little to toughen up in the trenches in recent years and McCoy would be a step in the right direction. That said, don’t be surprised if they draft the most athletic DE.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – DE Carlos Dunlap, Florida – Dunlap has tremendous upside and has the ideal size to play left end opposite Gaines Adams. Solid against the run and a good pass rusher for his size. Dunlap is a potential matchup nightmare.
5. St. Louis Rams – QB Sam Bradford, Oklahoma – Hard to believe Bradford last to number 5 but each of the team’s picking ahead of them have made franchise quarterback moves in recent years. Plus, with most of his offensive line gone and scouts nitpicking his game, don’t be surprised if Bradford is not considered the can’t miss guy many think he is right now.
6. Cleveland Browns –DT Terrence Cody, Alabama – Cody is a mountain of a man and at 370 lbs he is the ideal building block for a 3-4 defense. Shaun Rogers will wear out his welcome if the Browns have another down season.
7. Buffalo Bills – OT Ciron Black, LSU – Black has not played like an elite prospect yet but has the skillset to become one. By failing to fill Jason Peter’s spot in 2009, the Bills will look to make up for the error with a tackle in 2010.
8. Washington Redskins – QB Jevan Snead, Mississippi – Snead is a fast rising quarterback prospect and may have better measureables than Sam Bradford but needs to improve his accuracy if he wants to be a first rounder. With all the talk of replacing Jason Campbell this year, expect the Redskins to replace him in 2010 barring a breakout season.
9. Cincinnati Bengals – RB Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech – After passing on the skill positions in the 2009 draft, the Bengals will look to add an offensive playmaker next year most likely a running back. Dwyer is the top running back on the board as of now with his combination of size and deceptive speed.
10. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver) – S Eric Berry, Tennessee – Berry is one of the top safeties in college football and should benefit from playing under Monte Kiffin this year. Picking Berry would fill the team’s need to add a playmaker in the secondary.
11. San Francisco 49ers – DE/OLB George Selvie, South Florida – Whether the 49ers decide to stay with the 3-4 or shift to a 4-3 they need to add a pass rusher like Selvie.
12. New York Jets – WR Arrelious Benn, Illinois – In 2009 the Jets drafted their quarterback in Mark Sanchez and in 2010 they will look to upgrade his receiver corp with a player like Benn. Benn is not true deep threat but rather is a playmaker in the Anquan Boldin mold.
13. Jacksonville Jaguars – S Taylor Mays – Big physical presence with outstanding speed, Mays will have an chance to emerge as a leader on an otherwise young Trojans defense this year.
14. Miami Dolphins – DE/OLB Jerry Hughes, TCU - Joey Porter and Jason Taylor are not getting any younger and the Dolphin 3-4 defense will be looking for a young pass rusher like Jerry Hughes.
15. Seattle Seahawks –RB CJ Spiller, Clemson – The Seahawks need to upgrade from Julius Jones at running back and Spiller has the playmaking and receiving skills the Seahawks prefer in their west coast offense.
16. Green Bay Packers – OT Trent Williams, Oklahoma – The Packers hope 2009 picks TJ Lang and Jamon Meredith fill their offensive tackle needs but the odds are against two mid-round picks in the same draft emerging as a teams tackle anchors. Williams hopes to emerge at as a left tackle prospect by protecting Sam Bradford’s blindside on a rebuilt Sooner offensive line.
17. Denver Broncos (from Chicago) – DE/OLB Sergio Kindle, Texas – For the Broncos 3-4 defense to work they need to add pass rushers and Kindle has the look of a rush linebacker.
18. Tennessee Titans – QB Tony Pike, Cincinnati – Kerry Collins is not going to last much longer and Vince Young is looking like anything but a franchise quarterback. Pike has ideal size and above average arm strength. In 2010 he will be given a chance to see if he can improve his consistency and carry an offense.
19. Dallas Cowboys – OT Bryan Bulaga, Iowa – A wide receiver might be tempting but the Cowboys offensive line is not getting any younger. Learning under Kirk Ferentz, Bulaga is fundamentally sound and will rank among the top tackles in the country in 2010.
20. Atlanta Falcons – OLB Navarro Bowman, Penn State – The Falcons filled several needs in the 2009 off-season but their outside linebackers are a motley group and Bowman would be the upgrade they need. Bowman is the next in the long line of Nittany Lion linebackers.
21. San Francisco (from Carolina) – CB Trevard Lindley, Kentucky – With their 2nd first round pick the 49ers will be tempted to look at quarterbacks and offensive tackles but their pass defense is nothing to get excited about and Lindley is the top corner on the board.
22. Houston Texans – DT Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska – The Texans have worked endlessly to upgrade their defense and the Texans hope adding Suh could be the final piece. Of course, if Suh breakout as expected in 2010 he could be long gone by 22nd overall.
23. Baltimore Ravens – TE Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma – Todd Heap is past his prime and Gresham would be a tremendous value here. It seems a little late for Gresham to be getting pick but tight ends are always hard to place in the draft. After all, who thought the Lions would take Brandon Pettigrew.
24. New York Giants – ILB Brandon Spikes, Florida – Antonio Pierce’s contract will be up and the Giants don’t have a replacement on the roster. Spikes ranks higher than the 24th overall player but middle linebackers tend to slide on draft day.
25. San Diego Chargers – RB Jahvid Best, California – Best will need a top 40 time to justify a 1st round pick but he has gamebreaking ability and would be an excellent scheme fit for an offense that will be looking to replace LT a year from now.
26. New Orleans Saints – OLB Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri – An athletic playmaker for the outside of a defense in need of another playmaker.
27. Arizona Cardinals – DE/OLB Brandon Lang, Troy – The key to the success of the 3-4 defense is being able to get to the pass rusher and Lang hopes to follow in fell Troy-alum DeMarcus Ware.
28. New England Patriots – WR Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati – Gilyard is a playmaking receiver whom the Patriots can groom as a future replacement for an aging Randy Moss.
29.Minnesota Vikings – DT Marvin Austin, North Carolina – Pat Williams is not getting any younger and the key to the Vikings defense is their strength on the interior.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers – G Sergio Redner, Virginia Tech – The Steelers offensive line is still in need of upgrading and they will be in line to draft the best lineman available although they would prefer a tackle.
31. Indianapolis Colts – ILB Rolondo McClain, Alabama – The new coaching staff in Indy may be more willing to invest in their linebackers. He is a bit of the anti-Tampa 2 at 249 lbs but a big physical force in the middle could do wonders for the run defense.
32. Philadelphia Eagles – DE Greg Hardy, Mississippi – Hardy is a tremendous pass rusher who will allow Andy Reid to focus on the trenches again after going fishing for skill position guys in the 2009 draft.
Chris Maier is senior editor for NFL Draft 101. He can be reached at cmaier@nfldraft101.com
Comments
05-23-2009chiefsfanjake
The Chiefs will not pick 1st, they will compete this year. Wate and see.
