'Tis the Season To Be Mocking: 2010 NFL Draft First Round

The 2010 NFL Draft may be four months away, but Christmas is right around the corner.  Since my tree won't feature one of santa's helpers above, I decided to put together a first round present for all of the GM's around the league.

Since this is my first mock draft of the season, I hope to provide updates weekly based on the feedback I get from readers and additional scouting that I do.

This mock will not include trades, even though I have a feeling that there will be at least two in the top 10 this year. 

Alright everyone...Tampa Bay is on the clock!

1. Tampa Bay-Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska : Tampa Bay has a tough decision with the first overall pick.  Suh is the best overall player in this draft, and is versatile enough to play DE or DT in their defensive system.  

2. Cleveland-Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma : This pick scares me.  The Browns would prefer to trade out of this spot and will be hoping that Suh would be available.  McCoy would have been the first defensive lineman taken last year if he came out, and outside of Shaun Rogers, nobody on their defensive line should start in the NFL.  McCoy will make an immediate impact next to the “Big Baby.”

3. St. Louis-Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma : Alright, so this is the first pick that I guarantee I will be scrutinized on.  Let’s face it, if Bradford came out last year, he goes first overall to Detroit instead of Stafford.  People tend to forget that when he comes back from injury, he will regain the form that won him the Heisman last year.

4. Detroit-Russell Okung, T, Oklahoma State : Detroit drafted a franchise QB in Matt Stafford last year.  Now it is time to protect him with a franchise left tackle.  The poor kid has been taking hit after hit all season.  Okung is hands down the best tackle in the draft.

5. Washington-Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame : The Jason Campbell era finally comes to an end this season.  With Zorn likely to be on the way out, the new head coach will draft “his guy.”  Clausen is tabbed as the most NFL ready QB in the draft, so he will take his precision passing to the nation’s capital.

6. Kansas City-Eric Berry, SS, Tennessee : This was another tough pick.  The Chiefs lack playmakers on defense, and Eric Berry has the look of a once in a decade player.  I thought about Rolando McClain here, but their linebackers are better than the secondary.

7. Buffalo-Trent Williams, T, Oklahoma : Last year, the Bills traded Tackle Jason Peters to the Eagles.  This year, they draft his replacement in Trent Williams.  The kid has been described as an all-pro at either tackle position.  This type of versatility will help whoever is under center next season.

8. Oakland-Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida : Trouble in college, check. Better players available at his position, check.  Al Davis drafts another player entirely too early, check.

9. San Francisco (from Carolina)-Taylor Mays, S, USC : 49er nation just erupted.  Mays provides San Fran with a hard-hitting local product that will be sure to remind them of the glory days with Ronnie Lott back there.  Now only if Alex Smith could turn into Joe Montana or Steve Young.

10. Denver (from Chicago)-Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech : Thanks to Al Davis’ usual reach, Denver snags the top DE product in the draft.  Morgan has the ability to play end or linebacker for the Broncos.

11. Seattle-Jake Locker, QB, Washington : For three seasons we have wondered when they were going to select the successor to Hasselbeck.  Locker is zooming up draft boards with his size, speed, and strength.  The Seahawks will have to look no further than their own backyard for the future face of the franchise.

12. San Francisco-Joe Haden, CB, Florida : How Haden falls this far is beyond me.  San Fran won’t think twice before making this pick.  Dre’ Bly is too old to be a starting corner in the NFL, and Haden will be the perfect complement to the $80 million man Nate Clements.

13. Houston-Earl Thomas, S, Texas : Houston has a problem in their backfield, but there isn’t a running back worth a pick this early.  Houston fills a need for an impact safety by plucking Thomas from their backyard.

14. Tennessee-Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama : The Titans need defensive playmakers and McClain shouldn’t have slipped this far.  He will provide a tough, hard-hitting attitude that will instantly impact the defensive unit.

15. Pittsburgh- Bryan Bulaga, T, Iowa : The Steelers need protection up front for Big Ben, the best way to do this is to draft the junior from Iowa.  At 6'6", 312lbs he will protect Ben on either side of the line.

16. Atlanta-Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State : Atlanta is losing two wide receivers to free agency.  So as a present to their franchise QB, they give him a guy who would have been a sure top ten pick if he would have actually played this season.

17. New York Jets-Corey Wootton, DE, Northwestern : Scouts say this kid would have been a high first-round pick if he didn’t hurt his ACL last year.

18. Miami-Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama : Miami is a division with Tom Brady.  This means twice a year they have to find a way to disrupt his offensive attack.  What better of a way then to put this mammoth of a man in the middle of their line and let him attack two offensive linemen at a time.

19. Baltimore- Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas : The Ravens have a knack for having stud players fall into their laps.  Kindle is an athletic freak that will add to their strong core of linebackers, and replace Bart Scott. 

20. Jacksonville-Ras-I-Dowling, CB, Virginia : Jacksonville has a need for a shut down corner, and many experts feel that he has the ability to be just that.  The Jaguars could shock the world and take Tebow here to put fans in the stands, but upgrading their poor secondary is the better option.

21. New England-C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson : Tom Brady’s arsenal just got a little bit bigger.  Spiller has been drawing comparisons to Chris Johnson all season long, and with his receiving skills and quick cuts, he is finally the running back that New England has been searching for since they swung and missed on Maroney.

22. New York Giants-Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida : Let’s face it, there aren’t too many areas the Giants need.  With that said, Spikes would provide a dominant presence over the middle that will help when facing the likes of McNabb and Romo.

23. Green Bay-Charles Brown, T, USC : Aaron Rodgers is the man.  He should be mentioned for the MVP of the league the way he has been playing, especially since he spends half his time flat on his back.  Adding Brown to this line well help protect their franchise QB.

24. Dallas-Anthony Davis, T, Rutgers : Tony Romo needs more protection, the running game needs good run-blockers, Davis is the answer at this point in the draft.

25. Philadelphia- Navorro Bowman, LB, Penn State : The Eagles don’t have many needs, but one of those will be filled with the drafting the OLB from Penn State. 

26. Arizona-Brandon Graham, LB, Michigan : It’s always good when you have the opportunity to improve on a position of strength.  Graham is being touted as a Lamar Woodley clown, and Arizona may decide to go with a young OLB and let Okeafor or Berry go.

27. Seattle (from Denver)-Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford : Julius who?  Seattle’s running game is pathetic.  Gerhart is a stud running back that will declare for the draft after he either wins or finishes second in the Heisman voting.

28. Cincinnati-Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma : Who honestly saw this coming? The Bengals are one of the best teams in the NFL.  Their defense is playing on another level, and Carson Palmer has the offense amped up.  The only thing they lack is a playmaking TE to open up the downfield game for Ochocinco...enter Gresham.

29.  San Diego-Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida : After watching the Chargers take on the Browns on Sunday, I thought to myself, why can’t they get to Brady Quinn?  The Browns right side of the line is awful, and the Chargers couldn’t take advantage of it.  Watching Pierre-Paul either stand up or put his hand down, he would be the perfect addition to the San Diego line.

30. Minnesota-Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State : The Vikings need to get younger in the secondary.  After Winfield, there really isn’t much to work with at the corner position.  Robinson has the speed to run with the best the NFL has to offer.

31. New Orleans-Jared Odrick, DT,  Penn State : The Saints defensive front is getting old.  Odrick has the versatility to play all of the line positions, and will help take some of the load off of the older linemen.

32. Indianapolis- Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee : This guy has been flying up draft boards with his athletic abilities, and excellent play in the Florida game.  The Colts could use a more athletic DT up front or a LB at this spot.