2010 NFL Draft: Tackles Popular, Browns Land Berry (Pre NFL Combine Mock Ed.)
In the online realm of the NFL offseason, there are few articles that outnumber the amount of 2010 NFL mock drafts that a reader and fan ingest.
After resisting the urge to publish a full mock of my own until after the Super Bowl, the following is my first official 2010 NFL mock draft (post-Super Bowl edition) of the offseason.
Previously, I had only projected the non-playoff teams before the NFL playoffs began. Read it here.
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No. 1 St. Louis Rams – Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
In what may be one of the hardest decisions to make out of any other NFL team, the Rams have to decide if they go with a dominating defensive lineman or a quarterback of the future.
The Rams cannot pass up the chance to grab former Heisman winner Bradford in order to better their team for the future since Marc Bulger is a big question mark.
No. 2 Detroit Lions – Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
With the Rams picking Bradford, Suh drops into the lap of the Lions. Fans can be heard screaming all the way from Detroit.
No. 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
The Bucs may want to go with Berry here, but no defensive back has been picked higher than No. 5 since 1998 when Charles Woodson went at No. 4.
No. 4 Washington Redskins – Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
Since Jason Campbell will be in the last year of his contract, new coach Mike Shanahan will wait a year to pick a quarterback and he will instead give Campbell one last chance to prove himself, giving him a big offensive lineman in Okung to protect his back.
No. 5 Kansas City Chiefs – Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers
The Chiefs may be tempted to pick Berry here, but the reality of this situation is that they need to protect Matt Cassell and his large contract at the line of scrimmage. Davis will watch Cassell's back for years to come.
No. 6 Seattle Seahawks – Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
Another team that will be tempted to pick Berry, but new coach Pete Carroll will be eyeing a former USC Trojan at No. 14 instead. Since All-Pro left tackle Walter Jones has retired, his replacement is now the number one priority.
No. 7 Cleveland Browns – Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
Browns fans get their wish and the reality of this pick happening is not far-fetched like many think. The Browns have a huge need in their secondary and Berry will be able to step in and start opposite safety Abe Elam on opening day of the 2010 season.
No. 8 Oakland Raiders – Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan
The Raiders are one of the hardest teams to predict in the draft, since owner Al Davis can be easily obsessed with speed and has been known to reach for players regardless of what anyone says.
Again Davis reaches for Graham, who is projected later in the first round, but Davis doesn't care about that at all.
No. 9 Buffalo Bills – Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
Trent Edwards' days as a Bill appear to be nearing an end and Clausen will be the next quarterback to try and shine in Buffalo since former quarterback Jim Kelly.
Brandon Marshall is likely going to be traded and Bryant will easily fill those shoes since he is the more than capable of becoming a No. 1 receiver at the NFL level.
No. 11 Jacksonville Jaguars –Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
Jacksonville needs to rebuilding their entire defense and Morgan will help in the pass rush and run defense, as the Jaguars start rebuilding with Morgan.
No. 12 Miami Dolphins – Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida
Miami needs to get more out of their pass rush; Pierre-Paul is very quick off the line and has speed to get around blockers.
No. 13 San Francisco 49ers – Joe Haden, CB, Florida
The 49ers need help in their secondary and Haden is the top cornerback coming out of college, and will be able to step right in as a starter from day one.
No. 14 Seattle Seahawks (from Denver) – Taylor Mays, S, USC
Pete Carroll will go after his safety from USC and look to Mays to help install his defensive system into Seattle.
No. 15 New York Giants – Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama
The Giants just cut Antonio Pierce and McClain will be a perfect fit to take over and run the Giants' defensive play calling for many years.
No. 16 San Francisco 49ers (from Carolina) – Earl Thomas, S, Texas
With coach Mike Singletary a master of defense, he will continue to rebuild his secondary by taking another defensive back in Thomas, who will be able to patrol the backfield and read the opposing quarterbacks' eyes.
No. 17 Tennessee Titans – Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida
A pass rush is needed and Dunlap will bring an ability to get to the quarterback.
No. 18 Pittsburgh Steelers – Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa
If the Steelers do not revamp their offensive line, then quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's career will not be a long one. Bulaga will be the first step in keeping Big Ben upright and stop him from taking so many sacks.
No. 19 Atlanta Falcons – Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State
Wilson will help fill a void in the secondary and increase depth at the position.
No. 20 Houston Texans – Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
A monster in the middle of the Texans' defense is needed and Williams is that monster. He will get double-teamed often, which will help free others like Mario Williams to get to the quarterback.
No. 21 Cincinnati Bengals – Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
Tight end was a glaring weakness for the Bengals in 2009 and Gresham will be a nice addition since he has good hands and is sufficient in blocking as well.
No. 22 New England Patriots – CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson
This pick will make teams fear the Pats offense even more. Adding a dynamic and explosive weapon like Spiller to an offense that already has Tom Brady, Randy Moss and Wes Welker is a very scary thought. Spiller will also help the Pats' running game get back on track.
No. 23 Green Bay Packers – Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland
The offensive line was questioned early in 2009 and the Packers need to protect quarterback Aaron Rodgers, since his star is shining very brightly after a huge statistical 2009 season.
No. 24 Philadelphia Eagles – Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas
Kindle will help the Eagles' defense not only in the pass rush, but in stopping the run and pass coverages too.
No. 25 Baltimore Ravens – Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame
Joe Flacco has running back Ray Rice, but he still needs a playmaker out on the perimeter and Tate will bring a whole new dimension to the Ravens' offense in 2010.
No. 26 Arizona Cardinals – Brian Price, DT, UCLA
Price is a big body that will help plug up holes and free up other pass rushers to get to opposing quarterbacks.
No. 27 Dallas Cowboys – Nate Allen, S, Central Florida
Owner Jerry Jones know he needs to add a safety in this draft and even though Allen might be a bit of a reach here, he does fill a hole in the Cowboys' roster.
No. 28 San Diego Chargers – Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech
LaDainian Tomlinson is most likely going to be wearing different colors in 2010, and Darren Sproles may not be able to run the ball 20-25 times a game every week.
Dwyer is a big body who will bring a new bruising style of running to compliment Sproles' quick and shifty style of running.
No. 29 New York Jets – Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati
Quarterback Mark Sanchez needs more targets on the outside and receiver Braylon Edwards is nowhere near the player he was when he made the Pro Bowl in 2007.
Gilyard is fast and precise in his route running and breaks, which will be a great addition to Sanchez's development.
No. 30 Minnesota Vikings – Parrish Cox, CB, Oklahoma State
The Vikings need more depth at cornerback and Cox will not only add to the depth, but he will be able to compete for a starting job on the defense.
No. 31 Indianapolis Colts – Mike Iupati OG, Idaho
What better way to help protect Peyton Manning then to add a big offensive guard who can help the Colts' running game get back on track.
No. 32 New Orleans Saints – Ricky Sapp, LB, Clemson
The Saints really don't need any more offense and the defense will probably be the main focus in this draft. Sapp will add versatility to the linebacker position that is much needed for the Super Bowl champs.
My next mock draft update will occur after the NFL Combine.
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