2010 NFL Mock Draft: An Early Look

The college and pro season's are now underway giving us an opportunity to better gauge prospects and team needs making it a perfect time for an updated mock draft.

Hint: This mock is very light on quarterbacks despite the pub the position has received due to early season struggles by the top prospects (Snead looks nothing like a first rounder thus far, for example) and a lack of knowledge on which hot prospects (Locker, Clausen) are coming out. (* denotes underclassman)

1. Tampa Bay Buccanneers, DT Gerald McCoy*, Oklahoma—Taking a defensive tackle No. 1 overall would not be a sexy pick, but after drafting their franchise quarterback last year with Josh Freeman, it is time to find a defensive anchor. 

McCoy is the rare defensive tackle who can rush the passer and stuff the run and would fill a major hole.  Defensive end Carlos Dunlap is also an intriguing possibility, but his early season struggles make him a riskier option.

2. Cleveland Browns, QB Sam Bradford*, Oklahoma—The Browns have showed us how not to develop a franchise quarterback with the disaster that was Tim Couch and the barely got a chance of Brady Quinn, but the new staff will look for a fresh face and hope the third time is a charm. 

Bradford is the guy for now, but I am not convinced he will be the top quarterback selected based on his injury and worries of him being a product of the system but for now he remains the top quarterback.  If you don't like Bradford insert your favorite quarterback here.

3. St. Louis Rams, DE Carlos Dunlap*, Florida—The Rams need a major facelift on both sides of the ball and a quarterback will be get top consideration but with a defensive coach like Spag's my gut tells me they get him some difference makers up front first.  Dunlap has rare size for a defensive end and could excel as a Justin Tuck type in Rams defense.

4. Kansas City Chiefs, WR Dez Bryant*, Oklahoma State—Todd Haley has discovered two things very quickly, his offensive line is terrible and his receivers are not much better. 

This brings his decision down to the two Cowboys, Bryant and Okung, and he picks Bryant because the one offensive line spot he has filled is left tackle.  Bryant provides a much needed weapon in the passing game and would give Haley a Larry Fitzgerald type to pair with Dwayne Bowe (whom Haley is not especially fond of).

5. San Francisco 49ers (from Carolina), OT Russell Okung, Oklahoma State—The 49ers trade with Carolina is starting to look like a San Francisco treat and the type of trade that builds franchises.  There are multiple directions they can go here including quarterback, but with Singletary at the helm expect them to go with the safe need pick in Okung.

6. Miami Dolphins, S Eric Berry*, Tennessee—The Dolphins could go with a skill position but their front office loves defense and Berry is one of the best defensive playmakers in the draft.

7. Tennessee Titans, LB Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri—First, let me say I will be stunned if Jeff Fisher's tough luck team is drafting this high come next April, but if they are a quarterback will be considered. 

They took care of the offensive skill positions this year which means they will look at the best defensive player available.  Weatherspoon is the pick for now based on the age of Keith Bullock and David Thornton.

8. Washington Redskins, QB Tony Pike, Cincinnati—The Redskins need to fix their offensive line, but the one given next offseason is Daniel Snyder will make a splash at the quarterback position.  I don't know that Pike qualifies as a splash but he is one of the fast rising quarterback prospects in the country and is the prototypical pocket quarterback.

9. Oakland Raiders, DT Terrance Cody*, Alabama—The Raiders need a quarterback and offensive line help, but Cody fits the Al Davis mold of a risky boom\bust prospect who could fill the team's long standing need for a run stuffer.  The Raiders are the only team I think that would take Cody over Suh at this point.

10. Detroit Lions, DT Ndakumong Suh, Nebraska—The Lions will decide between the best offensive tackle and best defensive tackle on the board and this one is a no brainer with blue collar Suh still on the board.  He's not flashy but his lunch pail style will suit Jim Schwartz and Co. just fine.

11. Buffalo Bills, OT Ciron Black, LSU—If the Bills have learned anything about their offense this season it is that you need to have good tackles if you have a pair of deep threats for wide receivers.  I'm not sure if Black is an ideal left tackle but he is a major upgrade over what the Bills have be it the right or left side.

12. Seattle Seahawks, S Taylor Mays, USC—A quarterback or offensive tackle is a possibility, but a playmaking safety for their maligned secondary such as Mays would be awful tough to pass up.

13. Jacksonville Jaguars, DT Arthur Jones, Syracuse—The Jaguars defense needs to toughen up its interior if they hope to regain their winning ways.  Of course, if this season unravels they could be looking for a franchise quarterback.

14. Arizona Cardinals, DE/OLB George Selvie, South Florida—The Cardinals coaching staff's pedigree wants to add a defensive edge to their high powered offense and they need an elite pass rusher to make their 3-4 defense work.

15. Houston Texans, S Nate Allen, South Florida—Allen feels every bit as much of a reach as reading his name this high appears to be, but the Texans are going nowhere until they improve their defense. 

They would probably get better value at corner with Trevard Lindley or Joe Haden but no need is bigger than the one at safety. They can only hope Berry or Mays falls or better yet, they are picking later in the first stanza.

16. Pittsburgh Steelers, OT Trent Williams, Oklahoma—The Steelers can only ignore their offensive line needs for so long.

17. Green Bay Packers, OT Bryan Bulaga*, Iowa—Anyone who has watched the Packers this year knows they will be hot for a tackle in next year's draft.  Bulaga's stock has slipped a bit due to injury concerns, but he is one of the best offensive line talents in the college ranks.

18. Denver Broncos, ILB Brandon Spikes, Florida—The Broncos defense has overachieved thus far this season, but Spikes would be a nice fit in the middle of their 3-4 and an excellent value this late.  Wide receivers and quarterbacks will get consideration as well but knowing McDaniel he does not think he has to draft either in round one.

19. Cincinnati Bengals, TE Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma—The team's tight end ranks were decimated by injuries this preseason and with the emergence of Cedric Benson at running back, the tight end position along with maybe guard is the weakest spot on the offensive side of the ball right now.

20. Dallas Cowboys, WR Arrelious Benn*, Illinois—Benn has the raw skills to be an elite talent, but he is starting to go the Darius Heyward-Bey route as a top talent without anyone to get him the ball.  His stock is slipping as he has caught just five passes through three games and has not scored a touchdown since Oct. 18, 2008. 

21. New England Patriots, RB Jahvid Best, California—You never know what the Patriots are going to do on draft day, but the Pats are in major need of a young playmaker on offense and Best could be a nice fit in a Reggie Bush kind of way.

22. Atlanta Falcons, DE Greg Hardy, Mississippi—With its offense in place the Falcons will focus on building its defense with either a pass rusher or a cornerback.  Hardy has battled injuries this season but has good all-around skills, above average size and a nose for the quarterback.

23. San Diego Chargers, RB CJ Spiller, Clemson—The Chargers rarely do what you would expect but finding a young back should be a priority with LT showing his age and Sproles not capable of carrying an every down load.  A bigger back like Jonathan Dwyer might be a better fit in a two back system, but my guess is Spiller for his versatility especially in the passing game.

24. Philadelphia Eagles, OT Charles Brown, USC—Shawn Andrews has likely played his last game as an Eagle and after focusing on skill position guys in this year's draft Andy Reid and Co. will go back to the trenches next year.

25. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver), RB Jonathan Dwyer*, Georgia Tech—After taking a best player available safety with their first pick, the Seahawks would need to fill their needs at quarterback, offensive tackle or running back with their second pick.  Dwyer is the best player available at those positions right now (Hint: I am not sold on Colt McCoy as an NFL quarterback).

26. San Francisco 49ers, CB Trevard Lindley, Kentucky—Lindley has good size and cover skills and would fill a major need for the 49er defense.  Surprisingly, it took 26 picks to get a cornerback off the board.

27. Indianapolis Colts, DE/OLB Jerry Hughes, TCU—The Colts are probably the only team in the league that will consider Hughes as a defensive end, but with Dwight Freeney becoming injury prone the past two years, it would not be a surprise if the Colts look to develop a replacement.  The Colts will also be on the lookout for a left tackle.

28. Minnesota Vikings, DE Brandon Graham, Michigan—Not really a major need, but Graham is a great athlete who can hold up against the run and would be a nice fit opposite Jared Allen.  A defensive tackle or corner would also get consideration.

29. New York Jets, WR Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati—The Jets need a playmaker at wide receiver to stretch defenses and Gilyard is one of the top playmakers at the position.  He's like DeSean Jackson with size.

30. New Orleans, OLB Sergio Kindle, Texas—Kindle is a big athletic linebacker who would be an excellent fit in Gregg Williams scheme.

31. Baltimore Ravens, WR Brandon LaFell, LSU—By the end of this season, the Ravens will have gotten about two more years than expected from Derrick Mason and finding a true No. 1 wide receiver for young quarterback Joe Flacco will be a priority next offseason.  If they go defensive they may consider a CB or ILB.

32. New York Giants, CB Joe Haden*, Florida—The Giants have an embarrassment of riches up front and hope to have filled their wide receiver and left tackle needs in this year's draft and look to find a shutdown corner with Haden who will challenge for top cornerback honors if he comes out.

Chris Maier is Senior Editor for NFLDraft101.com.  He can be reached at [e-mail].