NFL Draft 101 Staff Seven Round 2010 Mock Draft - Post Senior Bowl Mock Draft
02-09-2010
The staff of NFLDraft101.com gathered after the Senior Bowl to conduct our first seven round mock draft of 2010. Please note, we have included estimated supplemental picks based on analysis conducted by AdamJT13.blogspot.com to provide the most realistic mock possible. These supplemental picks are subject to change. We also assumed the supplemental picks were assigned by first round draft position for each round.
Round 1
| Pick | Team | Pos | Player | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Louis Rams | DT | Ndamukong Suh | Nebraska |
| The St Louis Rams have a combined 6 wins over the last three seasons. From a talent standpoint, this team is arguably worse than the 0-16 Lions of 2008. Ndamukong Suh is the most talented defensive tackle to enter the draft in the last 10 years. A defensive line anchored by Suh and Chris Long could finally jump start the Rams rebuilding efforts and Spagnuolo's pressure schemes. If the Rams were to pass on Suh and draft Jimmy Clausen, I would not be critical of that selection. Keep in mind the Rams are a dome team and very few dome teams have had success building their team as a "smash-mouth" football team. With the selection of offensive tackle Jason Smith in 2009, the Rams are in position to draft a quarterback. Just some food for thought. | ||||
| 2 | Detroit Lions | DT | Gerald McCoy # | Oklahoma |
| The Lions struggled mightily up front on both sides of the ball in 2009. All signs point to the Lions fixing the defensive tackle side with Gerald McCoy with this pick. McCoy should help the Lion's anemic pass rush and run defense. There are two major risks if the Lions decide to draft Gerald McCoy instead of offensive tackle Russell Okung: 1. Defensive tackles have a high bust rate. 2. The number of times quarterback Matthew Stafford was hit in 2009. If you look at the recent success of Matt Ryan and Mark Sanchez as rookies, all you have to do is look at the quality of their offensive lines. Passing on upgrading at left tackle could hinder the development of QB Matthew Stafford and the dropoff in quality at left tackle in round 2 is expected to be severe esp. if Charles Brown is off the board as this mock indicates. | ||||
| 3 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | S | Eric Berry # | Tennessee |
| If McCoy gets past Detroit, he will be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. If not Tampa can go a number of directions including Russell Okung, Eric Berry or Dez Bryant. With Tampa Bay ranked 27th in overall defense, I expect them to take the best defensive player on the board. Eric Berry is a safe pick with a similar skill set to Ed Reed. | ||||
| 4 | Washington Redskins | OT | Russell Okung | Oklahoma State |
| The Redskins need a quarterback but are in no shape to add a young quarterback with the current state of the offensive line. Russell Okung is the best tackle on the board and its not close. If Okung is off the board, I expect the Redskins gamble on a quarterback or trade down and select either A.Davis, B.Campbell or B.Bulaga. | ||||
| 5 | Kansas City Chiefs | WR | Dez Bryant # | Oklahoma State |
| This is a key draft for Chiefs GM Scott Pioli. The Chiefs are in search of more offensive weapons to help Matt Cassel while still trying to help themselves on the offensive line and in the front seven on defense. With Russell Okung off the board, I expect Kansas City to go another direction than offensive line. Dez Bryant is by far the best wide receiver prospect in this class and would be an excellent fit for the pass happy offense Todd Haley and Charlie Weis prefer. | ||||
| 6 | Seattle Seahawks | QB | Jimmy Clausen # | Notre Dame |
| For the Seahawks to contend in the NFC West its clear they must find a replacement for the recently retired Walter Jones but with two first round picks they have a lot of flexibility with two first round picks in the top 14. If just Okung is off the board at tackle, the Seahawks may take their future franchise quarterback at six and get his backside protector at 14. Jimmy Clausen gets a slight edge over Sam Bradford based on his experience in a pro style offense in college not to mention not having the healthier shoulder. | ||||
| 7 | Cleveland Browns | ILB | Rolando McClain # | Alabama |
| The Cleveland Brown organization from top to bottom has lacked leadership since its return to the NFL in 1999. The Browns have missed on countless draft picks over the years. Team President Mike Holmgren is an offensive guy, but this draft is clearly loaded on the defensive side. Rolando McClain is the smartest defensive football player on the board and provides a big body that can bring pressure up the middle. Joe Haden is tough to pass up but improving the front seven and adding a defensive leader comes first. | ||||
| 8 | Oakland Raiders | DE | Carlos Dunlap # | Florida |
| Common sense would dictate that the Raiders take advantage of this deep offensive line class and address their biggest need. Also keep in mind Al Davis is running the show in Oakland. Al has been searching for a dominant pass rusher for several years now. Carlos Dunlap is the most athletically gifted defensive lineman in this year's class. Work ethic and off the field concerns will not phase Al Davis. | ||||
| 9 | Buffalo Bills | OT | Anthony Davis # | Rutgers |
| Like the Redskins, Buffalo's offensive line would be unable to keep a rookie quarterback off injured reserve without a major upgrade at tackle. The Bills addressed the interior of their offensive line last year with Eric Wood and Andy Levitre. Davis provides an upgrade on the outside and has the size and strength to start at either tackle spot. | ||||
| 10 | Jacksonville Jaguars | DE | Derrick Morgan # | Georgia Tech |
| In 2008 Jacksonville traded several draft picks to fix their pass rushing problems to pick Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves. So far the experiment has not panned out - causing the Jaguars to consider a do over with Morgan who can not only rush the passer but stop the run. The pass defense needs help but the best pass defense is a pass rush. | ||||
| 11 | Denver Broncos | QB | Sam Bradford # | Oklahoma |
| So far the Jay Cutler trade hasn't helped either team. Kyle Orton was barely serviceable and clearly not a franchise quarterback. If Dez Bryant is off the board, Denver would have to give strong consideration to Sam Bradford. He fits the Denver offense as it features elements of the spread and they have the offensive line to protect a rookie quarterback coming off shoulder surgery. The Broncos taking a QB would not be as big a surprise as it appears on the surface. | ||||
| 12 | Miami Dolphins | RB | C.J. Spiller | Clemson |
| In the first drafts of the Parcells administration the Dolphins have fixed their offensive line, defensive line, and secondary. This year look for Miami to add youth to running back and linebacker. With the depth available at 3-4 OLB, expect the Dolphins to go after CJ Spiller. Spiller is the best offensive playmaker in the draft and is an ideal fit for a creative offense like the Dolphins. | ||||
| 13 | San Francisco 49ers | CB | Joe Haden # | Florida |
| In every draft a top 10 player drops farther than expected but we were as stunned as anyone when Haden was the guy (he was mentioned with nearly every selection starting with Cleveland). If he falls, chances are another team would trade up into the top 10 to get Haden (possibly the 49ers). If he falls here, saying Mike Singletary would be happy is an understatement. Their defense in need of a major upgrade in the secondary and Haden would be just what the doctor ordered. | ||||
| 14 | Seattle Seahawks | OT | Bryan Bulaga # | Iowa |
| Having one of the top 4 left tackles still on the board at 14 makes the earlier QB selection look better. Bulaga had injury issues in 2009, but the talent is clearly there. He has tremendous upside and the football IQ to start right away at left tackle for any team. | ||||
| 15 | New York Giants | S | Earl Thomas # | Texas |
| In year one of the post Steve Spagnuolo era the Giants fell to 30th overall in total defense. The last two years a dominant front four covered up weaknesses in the secondary. With or without Kenny Phillips in 2010, the Giants could use an upgrade at safety. Thomas is the best coverage safety in the draft. | ||||
| 16 | Tennessee Titans | DT | Brian Price # | UCLA |
| The Titans felt the loss of Albert Haynesworth in a major way in 2009. Haynesworth had the ability to collapse the pocket up the middle and force hurried throws. Brian Price is a different type of defensive tackle, but can penetrate and wreck havoc in opposing backfields. The Titan pass defense ranked 31st in 2009 and the lack of an interior pass rush played a big role in that ranking. Linebackers Navarro Bowman and Brandon Spikes also received consideration. | ||||
| 17 | San Francisco 49ers | OT | Bruce Campbell # | Maryland |
| Right tackle has been a consistent problem for the Niners the last five years. LT Joe Staley is a merely average left tackle who would fit better on the right side. Bruce Campbell is raw yet talented left tackle prospect with a high ceiling. | ||||
| Pick | Team | Pos | Player | School |
| 18 | Pittsburgh Steelers | OT | Charles Brown | USC |
| The once vaunted Steeler offensive line has fallen on hard times the past few seasons as witnessed by giving up a combined 13 sacks to Kansas City and Cleveland in 2 losses in 2009. Those games cost the Steelers a shot at the postseason. Finding an athletic left tackle to keep Ben Roethlisberger upright has to be a top priority. Charles Brown is not a traditional Steelers mauler but the converted tight end has excellent tools and could fly up draft boards after the combine. | ||||
| 19 | Atlanta Falcons | OLB | Navorro Bowman # | Penn State |
| The Falcons need to add impact players on each level of the defense. Based on the current players available Navarro Bowman is the best defensive player at a positon of need. His speed and athletic ability is a perfect fit as an outside linebacker for a dome team. | ||||
| 20 | Houston Texans | DT | Jared Odrick | Penn St. |
| The Texans have made strides in fixing their front seven the last four years but are still missing a tackle that bring pressure up the middle. Amobi Okoye has not lived up to expectations, but hasn't had much help either. Jared Odrick is a high effort guy who can get up the field while still remaining stout against the run. | ||||
| 21 | Cincinnati Bengals | G | Mike Iupati | Idaho |
| Most mock drafts have the Bengals selecting a wide receiver or tight end in round one so selecting a guard is a bit of a surprise. However, a closer look shows the offensive line (and notably guard) as a weak link that spurred the team's run first ball control offense in 2009. By upgrading at guard with a mauler like Iupati, they improve their rushing attack and allow Carson Palmer to have the patience to take looks downfield again. | ||||
| 22 | New England Patriots | RB | Ryan Mathews # | Fresno State |
| The Patriots offense will always be a pass first attack as long as Tom Brady is the quarterback but 2009 showed they needed to bring back some semblance of balance to the attack. Ryan Mathews is the all-around back they were hoping for when they drafted often injured Lawrence Maroney in 2006. Bill Belichick has a history of drafting Fresno St players. Don't be surprised if an aging offense gets more attention than expected this year's draft. | ||||
| 23 | Green Bay Packers | OT | Trent Williams | Oklahoma |
| The Packer offensive line improved in the second half of the season, but tackle remains a major need. We are not as high on Trent Williams as other publications, but when you consider the dropoff at the tackle position after Williams, they make the pick knowing they may have improved their right tackle situation instead of their left. In general, they hope one of the true left tackles falls or possibly consider trading up to get one of them. | ||||
| 24 | Philadelphia Eagles | OLB | Sean Weatherspoon | Missouri |
| When Stewart Bradley went down in training camp, the Eagle linebacking corps was not the same. Chris Gocong is clearly not a fit in a 4-3 scheme. Sean Weatherspoon is strong side linebacker who is an effective blitzer and a perfect fit in Sean McDermott's defense. His ability to play all three linebacker spots is an added plus. | ||||
| 25 | Baltimore Ravens | WR | Golden Tate # | Notre Dame |
| If the Raven are going to take the next step they must upgrade the wide receiver position. Golden Tate is a big play receiver who can make catches underneath and turn them into big plays. Don't be surprised if the Raven get involved in the Anquan Boldin or Brandon Marshall rumors this offseason but until a trade is made drafting a wide receiver is a near certainty early in the draft. | ||||
| 26 | Arizona Cardinals | 34LB/OLB | Sergio Kindle | Texas |
| Even with the retirement of Kurt Warner, the Cardinals are not going to reach on a quarterback in round 1. To make their 3-4 defense work they need to add an outside pass rusher. Kindle's experience at defensive end and linebacker would also allow them to continue to run some hybrid schemes. | ||||
| 27 | Dallas Cowboys | ILB | Brandon Spikes | Florida |
| With all of the first round tackles off the board, Dallas will go for best player available. Aging veterans Zach Thomas and Keith Brooking have started at inside linebacker in 2008 and 2009 respectively making an inside linebacker a good fit. Brandon Spikes has the ideal size and football instincts to start right away in Wade Phillips' 3-4 scheme. | ||||
| 28 | San Diego Chargers | DT | Terrence Cody # | Alabama |
| In addition to Nate Kaeding, the reason San Diego lost to the Jets was up front on both sides of the ball. This team lacks depth on offensive and defensive lines. 2009 draftee Vaughn Martin has upside, but making the transition from Candian college football to the NFL will take time. Terrence Cody has two years starting experience in a 3-4 scheme and despite weight and conditioning concerns he has ideal tools for a run stuffing nose tackle. | ||||
| 29 | New York Jets | DT | Dan Williams | Tennessee |
| The Jets defense had a great year in 2009. The two areas of concern are nose tackle and 3-4 outside linebacker. The drop off in talent at 3-4 NT is greater than 3-4 OLB at this point in the mock draft. Dan Williams improved dramatically under Monte Kiffin in 2009 and has the skillset of a nose. Williams could also play a litte 3-4 DE in Rex Ryan's diverse scheme. | ||||
| 30 | Minnesota Vikings | CB | Kyle Wilson | Boise State |
| The Vikings are tempted to draft a quarterback here, but are going to gamble that Brett Favre will return in 2010. With Antoine Winfield headed to free agency, the Vikings address their cornerback situation with Kyle Wilson. Wilson is tad undersized but has the best football instincts of any corner left on the board. | ||||
| 31 | Indianapolis Colts | DE/34LB | Brandon Graham | Michigan |
| The Colts are in a position to take best player on the board. Brandon Graham has a similar body type and skillset to Dwight Freeney. With Freeney turning 30 this year and Mathis closing in on it the time is now to groom a replacement and add depth. Graham would also upgrade the run defense. | ||||
| 32 | New Orleans Saints | DE/34LB | Jason Pierre-Paul # | South Fla. |
| Will Smith is the heart and soul of the Saints defensive line and he needs help. Jason Pierre-Paul rose from JUCO ranks in 2008 to the top NFL Draft Prospect on a talented South Florida defense. Pierre-Paul is raw, but would contribute immediately as a third down pass rushing specialist in Gregg Williams' aggressive scheme. | ||||
# Denotes Underclassman