Final NFL Mock Draft: Tim Tebow a First Rounder? (Part III)

Read the first part (picks 1-10) here
Read the second part (picks 11-20) here

21. Cincinnati Bengals: TE Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma
Carson Palmer has shown throughout his career that when he's at his best, he is one of the most effective quarterbacks in the NFL. However, last year Palmer struggled mightily late in the season and the Bengals were forced to rely on their running game. The team faced adversity after WR Chris Henry tragically passed away. While football wasn't the first priority, in a sense it left them with a big hole to fill. The team addressed this though, by signing Antonio Bryant and Matt Jones.

This leaves the Bengals with two options. They could draft a big strong tight end to take the pressure off players like Chad Ochocinco. This would open up space and  give Palmer another reliable player to throw to. Jermaine Gresham is the top tight end in the class and would be a solid fit in Cincinnati. At 6'5'', 260 he has ideal size for a tight end in the passing game. There are concerns about Gresham's health because of a knee injury that caused him to miss all of 2009. At workouts, Gresham showed he was healthy though.

22. New England Patriots: OG Mike Iupati, Idaho
Many believe that New England will be selecting a pass rusher with their first round pick. After all, they were one of the worst teams in 2009 at getting to the quarterback. No player outside of Tully Banta-Cain had more than five sacks. They also have a big hole at defensive end after trading Richard Seymour to the Oakland Raiders that has yet to be filled. Despite all this, the Patriots per usual will go the unconventional route. They will probably end up trading this pick for multiple middle round picks, as they have many needs to fill.

If they don't trade the pick, they are going to nab one of the more underrated players in the draft. Mike Iupati was one of the more productive offensive linemen in college football last year. He played offensive guard at Idaho and was a consensus All-American after allowing zero sacks. Stephen Neal has missed 17 games since 2007 and is clearly no longer reliable at age 33 to play a full season injury-free. New England showed last year they had confidence in young players on the offensive line with Sebastian Vollmer and Iupati may not have to even play until an injury occurs.

23. Green Bay Packers: CB Kareem Jackson, Alabama
The Green Bay Packers were one of the more horrendous teams at protecting the quarterback for most of 2009. Their offensive line started to click at the end of the season, but they can't afford for Aaron Rodgers to take so many brutal hits for another year. Even though Rodgers was hit so many times, he was still able to throw for over 4,000 yards. Luckily for the Packers he is very good at eluding pressure and didn't get seriously injured.

Taking an offensive tackle this high would be a reach, because the best players left on the board at the position are Maryland's Bruce Campbell and Indiana's Roger Saffold. The Packers are very old and banged up in the secondary and they are missing the valuable young cornerback that many teams have been trying to latch on to. Kareem Jackson was a standout at Alabama and has the ability to be a starting cornerback at the NFL level. He is aggressive and is very intelligent. He is the type of player who will be able to dissect an NFL playbook fast. The good thing for the Packers is that he won't have to play right away and they will be able to slowly groom him into a star.

24. Philadelphia Eagles: CB Kyle Wilson, Boise State
By trading Donovan McNabb, the Eagles showed that they are dead set on moving towards the future. McNabb is a thing of the past and Kevin Kolb is the future. That was their number priority this offseason, after a generally successful 2009. They didn't meet all their expectations but honestly had a lot to be proud of. They are pretty much all set at most positions but could stand to add some depth everywhere.

A few positions of interest are cornerback and defensive end. DE Trent Cole and CB Asante Samuel are both proven All-Pro talents at their respective positions but they can not do everything by themselves. The Eagles traded for Darryl Tapp to play defensive end, so they can wait until round 2 or 3 to draft another end. After trading Sheldon Brown, there is a gigantic hole at cornerback. Kyle Wilson is a potential starter and showed his abilities at Boise State. The Eagles use man to man coverage most of the time and this is where Wilson thrives.

25. Baltimore Ravens: OLB Brandon Graham, Michigan
Baltimore finally got their number one receiver when they traded for Anquan Boldin. It only cost them a 3rd and 4th round pick as well. They also secured depth at receiver by bringing Derrick Mason back and bringing in Donte' Stallworth. Joe Flacco is a talented quarterback and can succeed with this type of solid talent at receiver. Todd Heap has been slowly declining though and they may be looking at taking a tight end early. The thing is though, they can afford to wait for one.

The Ravens are better off drafting the best player available here. That would be Brandon Graham. He is a big body that can not only play physical but play disciplined as well. He is a very good form tackler and would fit in great with Baltimore's 3-4 defense. Graham has solidified himself as the best 3-4 outside linebacker in the class and it is a shame that he has fallen so far. He led the nation with 24 tackles for loss in 2009.

26. Arizona Cardinals: CB Devin McCourty, Rutgers
After losing Anquan Boldin via trade and Kurt Warner via retirement, the Cardinals may be a bit more offensively challenged in 2010 then they were in 2009. They still have Larry Fitzgerald though and he is one of the premier playmakers in the NFL. The Cardinals for the past few years have been one of the league's top offensive teams but they appear to be headed in a defense-first direction after signing Joey Porter and trading for Kerry Rhodes.

While they could stand to draft somebody to protect their potential quarterback here, there isn't any first round talent left on the board at offensive tackle. It has been a preconceived notion that the Cardinals are going to draft a defensive player here, it is just a question of who it will be. Cornerback Devin McCourty of Rutgers could be an option here. He doesn't necessarily have the size when it comes to defending players like Brandon Marshall, Terrell Owens, Calvin Johnson etc. but he is good enough in coverage to be a starting cornerback against most top receivers in the league.

27. Dallas Cowboys: S Taylor Mays, USC
The Dallas Cowboys finally won a playoff game in 2009, but there are still many positions that need to be addresses in the draft. They have holes all over the field. The biggest holes are at free safety and left guard. It is unknown what direction they will go in this draft but they probably won't be looking at somebody who will be able to play right away regardless of who they take. Unless they reach for an upper echelon talent that has been slipping, they're probably looking at a minor project here.

Many scouts  have figured out that Taylor Mays of USC is no longer a top ten pick and that he has flaws in coverage. Mays is an explosive athlete and can hit with the best of them, but he just doesn't have the instincts in coverage that you would hope a player of his caliber does. He probably reminds Cowboys fans a bit of Roy Williams. However, Mays is still young and should surpass Williams' career accomplishments if the proper steps are taken. History can repeat itself, but not if the Cowboys are smart about his development.

28. San Diego Chargers: RB Ryan Mathews, Frenso State
In 2009, LaDainian Tomlinson was no longer the player that he had been. He couldn't break off big runs or make defenders miss much anymore. He had been downgraded to a 3rd down back and had some health issues as well. The Chargers thankfully had Darren Sproles, but he can't carry a team on his back. He's going to need another back to compliment him.

The Chargers are almost a lock to pick a running back here. Looking up and down the board, after Spiller, there isn't a clear cut top running back available. Ryan Mathews fits the bill though. He has the ideal height and weight you would ask for out of a running back and is a downhill runner. Sproles thrives in the speed game, where he can make defenders miss. By drafting Mathews, you bring in a complimentary back who can pound the ball up the middle.

29. New York Jets: OLB/DE Sergio Kindle, Texas
The New York Jets have made the most noise out of any team this offseason. They've acquired Santonio Holmes, Antonio Cromartie, LaDainian Tomlinson and Jason Taylor alone. They appear to be a team primed for a Super Bowl run and fully committed to that. They could still stand to make some adjustments. Jason Taylor will be playing outside linebacker and all they honestly have at defensive end is an aging Shaun Ellis.

Defensive end becomes a big priority in the 2010 draft after the Jets have already filled a bunch of holes. Sergio Kindle of Texas would bring a lot of energy to the team and make their pass rush explosive. The Jets are thankful that Kindle has fallen to them at 29 and he can play defensive end. Kindle actually prefers to lineup as a defensive end with his hand in the dirt. He's versatile too and Rex Ryan loves players that can play multiple positions.

30. Minnesota Vikings: QB Colt McCoy, Texas
Kindle's Texas brethren Colt McCoy may be selected immediately after him in the draft. McCoy was my pick for the Vikings in February and I still stand by that. McCoy has done nothing but further elevate himself in the eyes of NFL teams through combines, interviews and medical tests. He is a good quarterback and while he may not be on the level of Sam Bradford or Jimmy Clausen, at 30, he won't have to be.

With Brett Favre likely retiring and uncertainty at quarterback, it is something the Vikings are eventually going to have to address. As many teams in the past have shown, delaying the process of adding a quarterback of the future is costly to a franchise. Especially when they could be getting one for as "cheap" as McCoy will come as a late first round pick. The Vikings don't have many holes to fill and even if Favre does come back, he will be able to teach McCoy the ins and outs of the game and groom him into the quarterback of the future.

If they don't go quarterback though, I expect the Vikings to draft a cornerback or a free safety. They can afford to wait for one of those though; this draft is loaded with them.

31. Indianapolis Colts: DT Tyson Alualu, California
The Indianapolis Colts were a Peyton Manning interception away from winning the Super Bowl. This is one of the most well-respected organizations in sports and they have been a model of consistency for the past decade. Peyton Manning is the best quarterback in the NFL and there isn't too much debate about that. There are some issues to be addressed though, as minuscule as they may be.

The Colts are looking for a true franchise left tackle and if their scouting department can come up with a rough in the diamond, they may get one here. A safer pick, if they don't see anybody who stands out would be at defensive tackle. Tyson Alualu out of California is definitely the best player available at the position that they have next to nothing of. It is the wisest pick and at 31 is more of a second round selection anyways.

32. New Orleans Saints: OLB Sean Witherspoon, Missouri
As the defending Super Bowl champions, the New Orleans Saints don't have many upgrades to make. They are all set at most positions and don't need to draft by need. They are better off the drafting the best player available. It is no easy task to figure out who the best player out of a group of borderline first rounders is.

The best players available are mostly skill players but there is one significant player at outside linebacker who stands out and may actually be able to help them sooner rather than later. Sean Witherspoon of Missouri has the ability to play weakside linebacker for the Saints. It actually appears that the Saints love Witherspoon and that it would be a perfect fit. He actually has visited them and it has been noted by multiple media sources that he is on their radar. Scott Shanle wasn't the best of the Saints players last year and Witherspoon could certainly replace him in time.

And that's it! My mock draft series has finally come to an end. That means one thing, the NFL draft is on the horizon. Tomorrow, dreams will come true for players across the nation. There should be plenty of surprises and trades in store with the new draft format. With the second round starting on Day 2, teams will get a chance to re-evaluate their draft boards. Teams with picks early in the second round should get plenty of phone calls regarding their picks. I am sure Tim Tebow will be one of those players considered for an early second round pick. After a lot of the hype in college, I don't think he's cut out to be a first round pick and the team that took him would be taking a huge risk. I also don't think it's too early to rule out teams in the top five overall trading down. It should be a fun year.