The 2010 NFL Mock Draft: Post Donovan McNabb Trade

Following the Donovan McNabb trade, all previous mock drafts can essentially be thrown out the window because the dynamics of the top ten picks have changed.

With the Redskins acquiring McNabb, Jimmy Clausen is no longer a likely candidate to be picked fourth overall, and may fall to another quarterback needy team. Left tackle then becomes the most likely position that the Redskins will draft, but regardless of where the Redskins go it can be safely assumed that they will not take a quarterback, and that shakes up the draft plans for other teams in the top ten.

The following slide show includes what I think the first ten picks in the upcoming NFL 2010 Draft will be.

1. The St. Louis Rams Select Sam Bradford

Barring some blockbuster trade, or any other cataclysmic event, the Rams will select Sam Bradford because in the NFL you need three things to have a successful NFL Franchise.

The first thing a team needs is a franchise quarterback, the second thing a team needs is a franchise left tackle, and the third thing a team needs is a premier pass rusher to be successful in the NFL.

Since St. Louis has addressed the second and third thing in 2009 draft (Jason Smith) and the 2008 draft (Chris Long) it is time for the Rams to get the number one thing you need in the NFL to succeed.

Even though I believe the Rams will take Bradford 1st overall, I think that they would be better off drafting Jimmy Clausen, because Clausen played in a pro-style offense for his entire career and has a more powerful arm than Bradford.

2. The Detroit Lions Select Ndamukong Suh

Following the Rob Sims trade, all signs point to the Lions drafting Ndamukong Suh, following their best player available drafting philosophy. He is arguably the best defensive tackle to come out of the draft in many years and the only concern teams have with him is his injury history with his knees. When Suh is on, he can single handedly destroy an offensive line.

I will state that I am opposed to this pick as I believe the Lions should draft Russell Okung here, the top tackle in this draft, for three reasons; Julius Peppers, Jared Allen, and Clay Matthews.

I know Matt Stafford is tough but I cannot think of any division in the NFL that has more fearsome pass rushers than the NFC North, good luck Jeff Backus.

3. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Select Gerald McCoy

The Buccaneers have one of the worst defensive lines in the NFL and they have absolutely no playmakers at the defensive tackle position.

Tampa Bay executives have already stated that they would prefer to have Suh over McCoy, but there are many people who believe that McCoy is a better defensive tackle prospect than Suh because of his superior pass rushing skills.

Defensive tackle is the biggest need for the Buccaneers, and at number three McCoy might also be the best player available so both drafting philosophies appear to work here. His incredible mortar and his leadership skills will be a perfect fit into a once proud Tampa Bay defense.

4. The Washington Redskins Select Russell Okung

With the Donovan McNabb trade, the Redskins can put off drafting their quarterback of the future for a few more years and focus on keeping McNabb off of his back.

With Chris Samuels retiring and Dan Synder neglecting the offense line for many drafts, the offensive line for the Redskins has become one of the worst in the NFL and using this pick on Russel Okung would immediately make the entire offensive unit better.

Once again this pick would satisfy the need drafting philosophy and while he might not be the best player on the board at number four, he is very close.

5. The Kansas City Chiefs Select Bryan Bulaga

Branden Albert has not been what the Chiefs envisioned him to be when they picked him in the 2008 NFL draft. While he should be a very good right tackle when they move him over, he is not a premier left tackle, which is what the Chiefs drafted him to be, so the Chiefs are forced to reach a little bit here to select Bulaga.

Scott Pioli, the GM for the Chiefs, is very high on drafting players of high positional value. The most important positions in the NFL are quarterback, defensive end/outside linebacker(based on whether a team runs a 4-3 or a 3-4 defense), defensive tackle, offensive tackle, and cornerback.

This pick would satisfy both the need and positional value drafting philosophy, but based on pure talent and ability, Bulaga would be a ten to fifteen pick.

6. The Seattle Seahawks Select Jimmy Clausen

Whenever there is a new coach in town they usually like to get "their guy" to play quarterback for them. Quarterback is undoubtedly the most essential position in football and most coaches like to get a guy who fits where they want to go with the offense.

Many people will say that the Seahawks have numerous holes and that they already have Matt Hasselbeck and just traded for Charlie Whitehurst but Hasselbeck is 34 years old and does not get better with age as Brett Favre mysteriously does, and Whitehurst has little to no experience in the NFL.

Jimmy Clausen would lock down the quarterback position for the next decade and he would have the benefit of sitting for a year or two behind a former pro bowler. See Aaron Rodgers if you want to see what a couple years of sitting behind and watching a future Hall of Fame quarterback (pro bowl quarterback in Jimmy Clausen's case) does when the young guy eventually takes over.

This pick would not satisfy the need drafting philosophy but it satisfies the positional value and best player available philosophies.

7. The Cleveland Browns Select Eric Berry

The Cleveland Browns had one of the worst secondaries in the NFL and getting a playmaker like Berry would be a godsend for the Browns.

Since 1991 only two safeties have been drafted in the top five picks; but since many scouts are calling Eric Berry the next Ed Reed I believe that a number seven pick might even be too low for what he brings to the table.

Berry is a natural leader who just flat out understands the game of football, he is a highly instinctual safety who hits hard and has a knack for causing turnovers. Berry would instantly make the Browns' secondary formidable in a division that boasts three potential pro bowl quarterbacks.

This pick would satisfy the need and best player available philosophy.

8. The Oakland Raiders Select Bruce Campbell

This pick would be a reach for 31 out of 32 teams in the NFL, but then again Al Davis doesn't care. Bruce Campbell is one of the best physical prospects in this draft, and Al Davis loves "workout warriors."

Having long arms, benching 225 32 times and running a 4.85s 40 will instantly make him the best player in the 2010 draft in the mind of Davis. Anyone who disagrees with the pick should review Al Davis' drafting history, but I'll save you the trouble and provide a few examples that supports my theory that Al Davis drafts the best physical prospect at a position of need for his team.

2009-Darrius Heyward-Bey WR, ran fastest 40 at combine.
2008- Darren McFadden HB, ran fastest 40 at combine for halfbacks.
2007-Jamarcus Russell QB, can throw a ball 60 yards on his knees.
2006- Michael Huff S, ran fastest 40 at combine for safeties.
2005-Fabian Washington CB, ran fastest 40 at combine.
2000- Sebastian Janikowski K, can kick a 60 yard field goal.

The only drafting philosophy that this pick satisfies is Al Davis' own drafting philosophy which baffles anyone with half of a mind.

9. The Buffalo Bills Select Trent Williams

The Buffalo Bills were fighting with the Redskins and the Chiefs for having the worst offensive line in the NFL. The GM of the Bills, Buddy Nix, was quoted saying "If they're good enough, they'll have a chance to be here ... It's hard to throw when you're lying on your back." That translates to 'we're taking a offensive tackle with our first round pick.'

The Bills foolishly traded away Jason Peters with no legitimate heir to the left tackle position, and they failed to address it in the 2009 draft. Now the Bills are forced to address it this year lest they want their quarterbacks to be injured for a good part of the season.

Trent Williams is a very good offensive tackle prospect so it satisfies all THREE drafting philosophies as he might be the best player on the board, and the Bills are in desperate need of a franchise left tackle.

10. The Jacksonville Jaguars Select Joe Haden

After Joe Haden ran a horrible 40 time at the combine most mock drafts had him falling out of them top ten, but I do not think that will be the case as he ran a very impressive 4.43s 40 at his pro day.

The Jaguars have Rashean Mathis, who is a solid NFL cornerback, but the Jaguars are in a division that has both Peyton Manning and Matt Schaub in it and having two top flight cornerbacks will only improve their chances of beating the Colts and the Texans.

Haden would satisfy the need and positional value drafting philosophies and would be a mainstay at cornerback for the Jaguars for the next ten years.