2010 NFL Mock Draft: Defensive Talent Is Good Edition (Picks 17-32)

Welcome to part two of my first complete Round One mock draft for this coming April. If you would like to read who I picked in the first 16 spots, click here . To bring new readers up to speed, I compared all my picks with draft guru Mel Kiper's first mock draft posted last week.

Yes, looking at the draft order, I’m picking the Colts to win the Super Bowl, deal with it.

17. Tennessee Titans

For people wondering what went wrong with the Titans in 2009, who they draft in the first round will go a long way toward answering what the Titans’ front office thought went wrong in 2009. Dan Williams is a promising nose tackle and will give the Titan’s defense a solid middle. Kiper had Griffen at this slot.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers

Ben Roethlisburger got the crap kicked out of him this last season. If Pittsburgh wants to avoid having to draft Roethlisburger’s replacement next year, they’re going to have to draft some serious upgrades to their offensive line. Brian Bulaga is the best offensive lineman still on the board at this point. Kiper agrees and Steelers fans can take a sigh of relief.

19. Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons will be the latest team to dip into the defensive pool as any upgrades they  need to make on their offense are either gone or can wait until the second round. Kiper goes with defensive end/linebacker Sergio Kindle. I like cornerback Donovan Warren, who can be very effective in his rookie year if developed correctly.

20. Houston Texans

Kiper has Texans going with a defensive pick again, but a few sites have the Texans taking running back Jonathon Dwyer out of Georgia Tech. The Texans ranked 13 overall in total defense in 2009. That tells me they’re going to look offense in the first round. Chalk up Dwyer for the Texans here.

21. Cincinnati Bengals

With the Bengals having the fourth ranked defense in the league, and with Rey Maualuga entering his second year, the Bengals' defensive upgrades also will have to wait until the second round. Carson Palmer needs help, Kiper agrees with me, and we’ll both take Aaron Hernandez, the tight end out of Florida.

22. New England Patriots

No one works the draft like Bill Belichik, and for the first time since he took over the team, his needs are many, especially on the defense. The emerging favorite, and Kiper’s pick is Ricky Sapp. Sapp is an athletic defensive end who looks like the kind of guy Belichik would pick. 

23. Green Bay Packers

Even with Sapp still available, the Packers have to upgrade their offensive line. Even with the vast improvement in play in the second half of the season, the Packers know how rough a season it was for Aaron Rodgers. Kiper took Mays here, but I’m going offense and offensive tackle Charles Brown out of USC.

24. Philadelphia Eagles

Taylor Mays goes here. The Eagles will go with the safe pick at this point, and Mays is a strong safety who has a lot of potential. Kiper chose Navorro Bowman, outside linebacker out of Penn State. Mays probably is higher rated at this point, making him the more logical defensive pick.

25. Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens' offense was uneven in 2009 and benefited from playing the Cleveland Browns twice. Quarterback Joe Flacco needs targets to throw to, so with Illinios wide receiver Arrelious Benn still on my board, Benn is a Raven. Kiper went with tight end Jermaine Gresham out of Oklahoma. Either pick will get the job done.

26. Arizona Cardinals

After the debacle week after week in the playoffs, the Cardinals really need to think about upgrading their defense, so they also will dip their toes into the pool of talent and take safety Earl Thomas out of Texas. He’ll give the Cardinals a lot more flexibility with their coverages. Kiper has Dan Williams, a defensive tackle out of Tennessee.

27. Dallas Cowboys

The question here isn’t what do the Cowboys really need first, because a new quarterback won’t be addressed this offseason. I’m sorry Dallas fans, Tony Romo will never lead this team to a Super Bowl. Since it’s a moot point going into 2010, Kiper went with offensive tackle Bruce Campbell out of Maryland.

Since protecting your journeyman quarterback is the next best thing to getting a new one, I’ll second that pick.

28. San Diego Chargers

The Chargers' running game is in doubt next year as LaDanian Tomlinson begins succumbing to father time. It’s cruel, but it happens to everybody. Darren Sproles has stepped up, though, so I’m not so sure they go after a running back in the first round like Kiper does, taking Dwyer at this position.

With Dwyer gone from my board, the Chargers probably would seek some help on their defensive line, say Brandon Spikes out of Florida. It’s a bit of a reach, but Spikes could raise his draft stock in the next month.

29. New York Jets

Mark Sanchez is going to need help next year. This is not an debatable point. Kiper and I both believe the Jets will take a wide receiver, he has them picking Golden Tate out of Notre Dame while I have them taking Damien Williams out of USC.

30. Minnesota Vikings

The “will he or won’t he” drama constantly surrounding Brett Favre’s retirement decision won’t affect the first round draft pick. Kiper and I both believe defense is the need here for the Vikings and I’ll concur with his pick of cornerback Patrick Robinson.

31. New Orlean Saints and 32. Indianapolis Colts

Kiper’s picks of Jared Odrick and Brandon Graham make as much sense as any other mock draft out there. Both these teams have powerhouse offenses that will be the least of their concerns in the first round come April, no matter the outcome of the Super Bowl.

So I’ll defer one last time to the draft guru on the last two picks of the draft. So there you go, that’s how I think it could go down in April on a cold, snowy day in January.

Will that be what I think the next time I do this? Check back in a few weeks to find out.