2010 NFL Mock Draft: Post-Thanksgiving Edition

Chris MaierNov 29, 2009

The college football season is prepping for its conference championships and bowl game announcements, making it a good time to for a mock draft update. The hardest part of doing a mock this time of year is determining who is and is not coming back, which means we project and could see a larger than usual number of underclassmen declare in light of a possible rookie wage scale in 2011. This number of declarations could especially impact the quarterback position as this mock will show. (Draft order based on records as of 11/24/09)

First Round:

1. Cleveland Browns, QB Jimmy Clausen , Notre Dame - The Browns do not want the No. 1 overall pick, and would prefer to see Brady Quinn blossom during the second half of the season. Unfortunately, the No. 1 pick is a real possibility, and Quinn is unlikely to shine enough to count on moving forward. While a new administration would love to get a veteran QB, drafting a true franchise QB is more likely, which could lead the Browns to yet another Irish signal caller. Clausen is not a surefire franchise QB, but he is the best QB prospect in the draft as long as his size does not become an issue. A reluctant selection on my part.

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2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, DT Ndamukong Suh , Nebraska - Suh is the best and safest defensive linemen in the draft and fits the Bucs needs to a tee. Easy pick although they would consider a pass rusher if they find one they like. No. 2 overall feels early for a DT, but Suh has played up to the hype this season.

3. St. Louis Rams, QB Sam Bradford , Oklahoma - Bradford is the draft's biggest curveball as he will be able to throw in a limited fashion at best prior to the draft. He fills a definite need and will be a popular pick in the St. Louis market, but he will be a risky selection. Almost as concerning as his injury is how he struggled when faced with a pass rush in limited action this season and in the title game last year.

4. Detroit Lions, OT Russell Okung , Oklahoma State - Gerald McCoy will be tempting for the defensive minded HC Jim Schwartz, but this season has shown 2009 No. 1 pick Matthew Stafford has talent, but they need to vastly improve his protection if they hope to keep him healthy. Okung is the best offensive tackle in the draft by far and the Lions will be able to find a DT in round two.

5. Washington Redskins, QB Jake Locker , Washington - The Redskins would prefer Okung fall to them, but if he does not (and possibly even if he does) they will look to select a franchise signal caller. Locker has the best tools of any quarterback in the draft, but he also is the one who would benefit the most from another year with Steve Sarkisian. He will likely come out in large part due to the pending rookie wage scale. It won't matter who the Redskins quarterback is if they do not improve their offensive line.

6. Buffalo Bills, DT Gerald McCoy , Oklahoma - Like the Redskins, the Bills need a left tackle badly but the drop-off after Okung is a significant one, and passing on a talent like McCoy could be tough considering run defense has been such an issue for the Bills.

7. Kansas City Chiefs, WR Dez Bryant , Oklahoma State - Scott Pioli would prefer to fix his team upfront (on either side of the ball), but knows he needs to give an offensive mind like Todd Haley a true No. 1 wideout. Bryant missed much of the season, but his blend of size and speed should make him an excellent fit at the next level.

8. Seattle Seahawks, S Eric Berry , Tennessee - The broken record of team's hoping to fix their offensive lines but failing to fill it continues as the Seahawks can't afford to pass up an Ed Reed-type playmaking safety to take a chance on one of the second tier tackles. Fortunately, they still have another first round pick thanks to Denver.

9. Oakland Raiders, DE Carlos Dunlap , Florida - Al Davis loves tools guys and Dunlap is the ultimate tools defensive end. Dunlap has rare size and speed for the position, but he has coasted through this season causing his stock to slip.

10. Denver Broncos (from Chicago), ILB Rolando McClain , Alabama - The Broncos defense has exceeded all expectations this season, but it adding a thumper in the middle could be what they need to take it to the next level.

11. San Francisco 49ers, CB Joe Haden , Florida - The early run on quarterbacks takes the Niners out of that market and turns their focus on other needs. Haden is easily the top cornerback prospect who plays with the type of physical style Mike Singletary loves.

12. San Francisco 49ers, OT Bryan Bulaga , Iowa - A big play safety such as Taylor Mays or Earl Clark is tempting but the 49ers need to take advantage of their draft spot to fill a bigger need at right tackle with Bulaga.

13. New York Jets, DT Terrance Cody , Alabama - Cody is a risky prospect based on his weight but after watching how the Jets defense has fizzled since losing Kris Jenkins, Cody fills a major need at a position with few top prospects.

14. Tennessee Titans, DE Derrick Morgan , Georgia Tech - The Titans will also consider linebackers and corners, but the best past defense is a pass rush and Morgan is quickly becoming the top pass rusher in the draft and a hard guy to pass on at 14.

15. Houston Texas, RB Jonathan Dwyer , Georgia Tech - Earl Clark or Taylor Mays would feel a decade long need at safety, but anyone who has watched the Texans struggled in short yardage sees the value a guy like Dwyer could bring to the team. Combine Dwyer with Steve Slaton and they could have one of the best running combos in the league.

16. Miami Dolphins, RB CJ Spiller , Clemson - Ronnie Brown is constantly banged up and Ricky Williams is not getting any younger making Miami a perfect landing spot for the best offensive playmaker in the draft. Spiller lacks the size to be an every down back but the Dolphins offensive creativity will find ways to get him 20 touches per game.

17. Atlanta Falcons, DE Greg Romeus , Pittsburgh - One thing is certain, the Falcons will use this pick to fill a need on defense be it a pass rusher, or pass defender. Romeus is the best prospect on the board to fill one of those needs (as long as he come out).

18. Baltimore Ravens, WR Arrelious Benn , Illinois - Benn has hardly lit up the stat sheet in 2009, but it is hard to deny his talent. His ability to get deep would make him an ideal fit for strong armed Joe Flacco.

19. Green Bay Packers, OT Charles Brown , USC - Brown has the footwork and the upside to be an excellent left tackle, which instantly would make him Aaron Rodgers best friend in Green Bay.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars, S Taylor Mays , USC - This could be Tim Tebow's only shot to be drafted before round three but Mays would fill a more immediate need in the secondary (unless selling tickets counts as a draft need).

21. Pittsburgh Steelers, OT Anthony Davis , Rutgers - Seeing Ben Roethlisberger getting beat up every week has got to be a concern and while Davis is more of a right than a left tackle he still fills a major need for a Steelers offensive line needing multiple upgrades. Davis also has the potential to be an excellent drive blocker in the Steelers mold.

22. Philadelphia Eagles, OLB Sean Weatherspoon , Missouri - Philadelphia has been playing smoke and mirrors with its linebackers all season and needs to make upgrading the position a priority in 2010. Don't be surprised if the Eagle go offensive line though as the Andrews brothers have not worked out as expected.

23. Seattle Seahawks, OT Trent Williams , Oklahoma - Taking a safety with their first pick virtually forces the Seahawks to go offensive line here. Williams stock has fallen mightily this season as he has failed to convert to the left side. He has the ability to be a solid right tackle, however, which would be just fine for the Seahawks who will take the best right or left tackle available given Sean Locklear's ability to play either side.

24. New York Giants, S Earl Thomas , Texas - Seeing how badly the Giants defense has fallen apart after losing Kenny Phillips has shown why the Giants need to improve their secondary depth. Thomas is an excellent ball hawk who would provide the center fielder type they need for their aggressive scheme.

25. Dallas Cowboys, ILB Brandon Spikes , Florida - Spikes does not have ideal measureables, but he is a playmaker who would fit nicely in the middle of the Cowboys defense.

26. Cincinnati Bengals, TE Jermaine Gresham , Oklahoma - Gresham slides due to his knee injury and would be a tremendous value for a Bengals team in dire need of a competent not to mention dangerous tight end.

27. New England Patriots, DE/OLB Jerry Hughes , TCU - Hughes is a tough guy to peg due to his lack of size, but he would be an excellent fit in a Patriots' hybrid scheme in need of a pass rusher. When Tully Banta Cain is considered one of your best pass rushers, its time to upgrade.

28. Arizona Cardinals, OLB Sergio Kindle , Texas - Kindle has some coverage concerns making him pretty much a 3-4 OLB. The Cardinals have been searching for a pass rusher ever since switching to the 3-4.

29. San Diego Chargers, DT Dan Williams , Tennessee - A need pick as Jamal Williams is nearing the end of the line, and without him the Chargers have been extremely vulnerable to the interior run.

30. Minnesota Vikings, QB Tony Pike , Cincinnati - You never know if Brett Favre is going to come back, but it is hard to imagine the organization being comfortable with Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels as the quarterback of the future. Pike is the type of high risk/reward pick that only a playoff team can take.

31. New Orleans Saints, OLB Navarro Bowman , Penn State - The Saints could go a variety of directions including RB, O-Line, D-Line, LB, or S making this a best player available type pick. An athletic linebacker like Bowman would add versatility to Gregg Williams aggressive schemes.

32. Indianapolis Colts, DE Greg Hardy , Mississippi - The Colts are going away from the undersized defenders on defense, and grabbing a guy like Hardy provides insurance for the oft-injured Dwight Freeney. A team can never have too many pass rushers.

Round Two:

33. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, WR Golden Tate , Notre Dame

34. St. Louis Rams, DE Jason Pierre-Paul, South Florida

35. Cleveland Browns, RB Jahvid Best , California

36. Detroit Lions, DT Arthur Jones , Syracuse

37. Buffalo Bills, OT Selvish Capers, West Virginia

38. Kansas City Chiefs, DE/OLB Eric Norwood , South Carolina

39. Seattle Seahawks, QB Case Keenum , Houston

40.Oakland Raiders, DT Marvin Austin , North Carolina

41. Washington Redskins, OT Ciron Black , LSU

42. Carolina Panthers, QB Colt McCoy , Texas

43. San Francisco 49ers, S Morgan Burnett , Georgia Tech