2010 NFL Mock Draft: Zeta Version

It's about time I did another mock draft. Now that most of the pre-draft stuff is finished, I have a chance to do one. This is my second-to-last mock this year, and it is one round. My last one will be seven rounds, and will be posted a couple days before the draft (right around the point where St. Louis signs their pick).

Plenty of surprising picks! Feedback is always welcome.

As usual, eight picks per slide.

Round One, Picks 1-8

1.1 St. Louis Rams - Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

This pick is basically a foregone conclusion. Barring a contract issue, Bradford will be a Ram. I'm not a big fan of Bradford, but this pick had to be a QB. They can't go another year with guys like Keith Null.

1.2 Detroit Lions - Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma St.

A pick to protect Stafford's blind side. If Stafford had another second to throw each play, he could be a top-10 QB this year.

1.3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

Apparently, the Bucs are enamored with Suh. Personally, I believe Gerald McCoy makes more sense because his quickness makes him a better fit for Tampa's scheme, but Suh would be fine as well.

1.4 Washington Redskins - Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma

There's been a lot of talk about this pick and whether the Redskins would pass on Okung in favor of Trent Williams. In this mock, that isn't an issue. Williams would be a perfect fit for Shanahan's zone-blocking scheme, and with McNabb now in Washington, this pick HAS to be a LT.

1.5 Kansas City Chiefs - Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame

One of two things are going to happen here: either the Chiefs are going to stay put and draft Clausen, or a team like Buffalo will move up to this pick and take Clausen. Either way, Clausen is the pick here. Matt Cassel is owed a $7.2 million bonus at the end of this season, so there's a great chance he would be cut. Plus, Clausen wouldn't have to learn a whole new offense, and he could sit a year behind Cassel while the talent around him is upgraded, notably the offensive line.

1.6 Seattle Seahawks - Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

Tough call between Berry and McCoy here, but I think in the end Seattle opts for the superior prospect.

1.7 Cleveland Browns - Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma

A replacement for the recently traded, failed experiment Corey Williams

1.8 Oakland Raiders - Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland

Oakland starts the run on Maryland players, to copy Kansas City's run on LSU players. Seriously, though, this pick is purely h/w/s. No other logic is used.

Round One, Picks 9-16

1.9 Buffalo Bills - Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa

The Bills can't go another year with Demetrius Bell at LT. Really, their future QB's life depends on it.

1.10 Jacksonville Jaguars - Joe Haden, CB, Florida

A stud CB to help a below-average passing defense for a team that is chasing Peyton Manning.

1.11 Denver Broncos (from Chicago) - Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama

Inside help for a defense that completely fell apart the second half of the season.

1.12 Miami Dolphins - Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri

If Denver passes on McClain in lieu of Dez Bryant, than this pick is McClain. There's been talk that some teams are considering Weatherspoon as a 3-4 ILB. Maybe Miami is one of them. I don't see a WR here, because the only time Parcells has taken a first-round WR is Terry Glenn.

1.13 San Francisco 49ers - Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise St.

Some secondary help. Kyle Wilson reminds me a lot of Asante Samuel. With all the top LTs gone, the Niners go BPA. I considered C.J. Spiller here, but I just can't see it with Frank Gore and Glen Coffee already there. Plus, Staley is good enough on his side that the Niners can afford to wait a round to address the other side.

1.14 Seattle Seahawks (from Denver) - Charles Brown, OT, USC

Pete Carroll gets to make a nice homer pick here. Brown is a borderline first round prospect, but LT is a HUGE need, and unlike SF, Seattle can't really afford to wait a round, with problems at both tackle positions.

1.15 New York Giants - Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech

With the Antrell Rolle signing, this pick now becomes a DE. Earl Thomas should probably still be the pick here, and he still could be, but the Giants could use an upgrade at DE, too.

1.16 Tennessee Titans - Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee

A replacement for Albert Haynesworth a year later.

Round One, Picks 17-24

1.17 San Francisco 49ers (from Carolina) - Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers

With Brown taken, the Niners get antsy and reach for Davis here. I wouldn't touch Davis in the first round, personally, but his upside will get him drafted in the top 25. He could develop into a good bookend for Staley. I wouldn't hold my breath, though.

1.18 Pittsburgh Steelers - Earl Thomas, S, Texas

No one is happier that the Giants pass on Thomas than Pittsburgh. If he was taken, the only pick that would even remotely make sense would be Mike Iupati, and that would be a reach. Thomas and Polamalu would be a heck of a safety combo.

1.19 Atlanta Falcons - Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, USF

There's a really good chance JPP goes before this, but he falls here out of circumstance. I would be a little scared of a one-year wonder, but his upside is undeniable. If JPP is gone, this pick is Brandon Graham. This pick has to be a DE or an OLB, if Weatherspoon is here.

1.20 Houston Texans - C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson

A match made in heaven. Houston gets a dynamic playmaker in the run game, and Spiller goes to a team that already has a good offense in place.

1.21 Cincinnati Bengals - Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma

You can never have enough weapons. Oh, is this supposed to be about football?

1.22 New England Patriots - Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma St.

There's a good chance Bryant could take a fall on draft day, but this is as far as he could fall. New England needed a receiver before the Welker injury. Sam Aiken isn't gonna cut it at the other WR.

1.23 Green Bay Packers - Mike Iupati, G, Idaho

Help for an O-line who handed and punched Jared Allen's ticket to the Pro Bowl.

1.24 Philadelphia Eagles - Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers

A replacement for Sheldon Brown, whom they foolishly traded to Cleveland

Round One, Picks 25-32

1.25 Baltimore Ravens - Jared Odrick, DE, Penn St.

Remind me again why Baltimore let Dwan Edwards go? Because I have no idea. This pick could be Gresham if he falls. It could also be a CB if McCourty's available or an OT, if Gaither is traded.

1.26 Arizona Cardinals - Brandon Graham, RLB, Michigan

The Cardinals need a QB, an ILB, and a RLB. Only one position has any players worth this pick. Graham has been impressive throughout this whole process, and there's only a very slight chance he falls past here.

1.27 Dallas Cowboys - Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois

Not the best WR available here, but Benn has the most upside of any WR left. He's got some issues, namely with production, but Jerry Jones won't care about that.

1.28 San Diego Chargers - Terrence Cody, NT, Alabama

The Chargers have two options here: Cody and Ryan Matthews. Both players would serve as replacements for players who were foolishly let go. I have Cody slightly higher on my board, and RB is much deeper than NT in this class, so Cody is the pick IMO.

1.29 New York Jets - Taylor Mays, S, USC

Apparently, the Jets FO is enamored with Mays. If he's available here, there's little chance the Jets pass on him.

1.30 Minnesota Vikings - Nate Allen, S, USF

An upgrade over Madieu Williams, who is an amazing person, but a liability in coverage.

1.31 Indianapolis Colts - Jahvid Best, RB, California

Joseph Addai will be a FA next season, and Bill Polian likes to go BOPA (best offensive player available). Best would fit that bill. Jerry Hughes, Brian Price, Daryl Washington, Maurkice Pouncey, and Rodger Saffold are all options here, too.

1.32 New Orleans Saints - Brian Price, DT, UCLA

Great value pick for New Orleans. It fills both a need and gives them a player who could go as high as 16 to Tennessee.