2010 NFL Mock Draft III: Pierre-Paul Cracks the Top Ten, Spiller Falls

The NFL Combine has come and gone, and Free Agency starts in a little under three hours.  Needless to say, this week could change the entire landscape of the 2010 NFL Draft. 

In this third edition of my NFL mock draft, Jason Pierre-Paul has jumped into the top 10, while there may be a fall or two that surprise you. 

So let the games, comments, and debate begin: The Rams are on the clock!

1.      St. Louis- Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

Look what putting on some weight has done for Bradford.  He has gone from No. 4 in my last mock all the way up to No. 1. 

The reasoning is simple; The Rams have drafted defensive line in the past couple of drafts, so it is time to draft their franchise quarterback. 

A bulkier Sam Bradford will need to wow scouts at his Pro Day to solidify this pick, but he is the perfect dome quarterback.

Previous Pick: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

2.      Detroit- Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

Now that Suh has fallen to the Lions, they can pass on taking their franchise right tackle and take the guy who will anchor their defensive line for the next 10 years.

Coach Schwartz knows that in order to have a dominant defense, you need a stud DT.  He had Haynesworth with the Titans, now he has Suh in Detroit.

Previous Pick: Russell Okung, T, Oklahoma State

3.      Tampa Bay- Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma

The smoke-screens about Tampa trading up to No. 1 to select Suh are not true.  McCoy is the better fit for Morris’ scheme because he can play the entire line.  Tampa really can’t afford not to take McCoy here, since they were terrible against the run last season.

Previous Pick: Gerald McCoy

4.      Washington- Russell Okung, T, Oklahoma State

Will they draft a quarterback or won’t they, that is the question?  However with former blind side protector Chris Samuels retiring yesterday, Washington now has a HUGE hole at left tackle.

It won’t matter who is taking the snaps if they can’t protect the quarterback.  Look for Washington to grab their QB of the future at the top of round two.

Previous Pick: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

5.      Kansas City- Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

Berry is a ball-hawk, period.  With a team that gave up entirely too many big plays over the top last season, look for Scott Pioli to take the guy who will instantly put a stop to that. 

Previous Pick: Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama

6.      Seattle- Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame

I guarantee the Seattle fans will start blowing up the comment section with this pick.  However, think about this before you start going nuts. 

Carroll wanted Clausen bad coming out of high school, but he chose Notre Dame instead.  There have been reports that Hasselbeck is on his way out of Seattle via trade or release, which leaves Seneca Wallace at the helm.

The Seahawks will NOT go into 2010 with Wallace as their starting QB, so look for Carroll to select his QB of the future at pick No. 6. 

Previous Pick: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

7.      Cleveland- Joe Haden, CB, Florida

Joe Haden is the top cornerback prospect, period.  His poor 40-yard dash time at the combine was more of a product of him not being a track runner then his actual speed. 

He will work out that form and post a time in the 4.4s at his pro day. 

Previous Pick: Joe Haden

8.      Oakland- Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida

Why?  Because Al Davis is picking.  JPP is a freak of an athlete at 6-5, 250 and just ran a 4.6 40 yard dash at the combine.  He can get to the quarterback, which is something that Oakland has trouble doing. 

Greg Ellis is not getting any younger, and JPP can learn from Seymour and Ellis while wreaking havoc on the AFC West QB’s. 

Previous Pick: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame

9.      Buffalo- Bruce Campbell, T, Maryland

This one could go one of two directions.  The Bills will either go offensive tackle or defensive line with this pick since there are no franchise quarterbacks left in the first round. 

Campbell is big, physical, and fast: three attributes that are important when protecting whoever your QB is.  With their franchise LT retiring, the Bills need a replacement. 

Previous Pick: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech

10.  Jacksonville-Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State

This is my first reach of the draft.  The problem with this pick is that the Jaguars desperately need help in their secondary.  Their starting cornerbacks accounted for seven total interceptions last year. 

Wilson is flying up draft boards after his solid performance at the combine, and could help a poor secondary in Jacksonville. 

Previous Pick: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida

11.  Denver- Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State

Brandon Marshall will be traded, that’s a fact.  He has worn out his welcome in Denver, and the team will need a new No. 1 receiver. 

Bryant has drawn comparisons to Houston’s Andre Johnson, so he should fit right on from day one as Marshall’s replacement. 

Previous Pick: Dez Bryant

12.  Miami- Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama

McClain’s performance at the combine will have him fall out of the top ten, but not that far.  After releasing Joey Porter, the Dolphins will be looking for some help at the linebacker position in general, even if McClain is projected as an inside linebacker. 

I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: this guy is the next coming of Ray Lewis. 

Previous Pick: Brian Price, DT, UCLA

13.  San Francisco- Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech

I cannot believe Morgan fell this far.  Luckily for San Francisco, he did, because this kid is going to be good. 

They will have to decide whether he is better suited for end or linebacker, but wherever they put him he will make an immediate impact. 

Previous Pick: Anthony Davis, T, Rutgers

14.  Seattle- Bryan Bulaga, T, Iowa

Franchise quarterbacks need protecting.  Bulaga really should not have lasted this long, but Seattle fans will be pumped to see this big farm boy coming to town. 

He’s big, strong, and will knock someone off their feet:  which is a good thing because Seattle couldn’t block last year. 

Previous Pick: C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson

15.  New York Giants- Brandon Graham, LB, Michigan

The Giants’ linebackers couldn’t get to the quarterback last season and with Pierce leaving town that makes this even worse. 

Graham has drawn comparisons to the Steelers Lamar Woodley, and who couldn’t use a Lamar Woodley on their team? 

Previous Pick: Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas

16.  Tennessee- Brian Price, DT, UCLA

Life after Albert Haynesworth has been hard for the Titans. Their defensive line is getting older, they don’t have someone who can get to the QB, and there aren’t too many solid choices in free agency. 

Enter Brian Price who will step in and start from day one at any of the positions on the line. 

Previous Pick: Corey Wootten, DE, Northwestern

17.  San Francisco- Trent Williams, T, Oklahoma

He really should not have fallen this far, but it’s a perfect fit.  Williams can play both tackle positions, and the 49ers are desperate for help up front. 

With Alex Smith attempting his comeback, how can’t the 49ers protect him? 

Previous Pick: Earl Thomas, S, Texas

18.  Pittsburgh- Anthony Davis, T, Rutgers

Big Ben spends too much time on his back, period.  While I enjoy that (hint: I may be a Browns fan lol), the Steelers select the best tackle available to help shore up that TERRIBLE offensive line. 

Previous Pick: Trent Williams, T, Oklahoma

19.  Atlanta- Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame

This pick stays the same.  Atlanta is losing two WR’s to free agency.  Golden Tate has excellent hands and will provide just another weapon for Matt Ryan to use in the offense. 

Previous Pick: Golden Tate

20.  Houston- Earl Thomas, S, Houston

The Texans will draft the best DB available here, and Earl Thomas slid to them somehow.  Longhorn fans rejoice because their college favorite stays in their backyard. 

Previous Pick: Taylor Mays, S, USC  

21.  Cincinnati- Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma

Another pick that stays the same.  If there was one glaring problem that I saw with Carson Palmer this season, it was that he didn’t have a big, pass catching tight-end to check down to.  Insert Gresham. 

Coming off an injury, he will be hungry and ready to prove to the league he was worth the wait.  Imagine if teams have to creep the safety up to help cover him, Ochocinco with man-to-man outside means: Mas Celebrations en la end zone.

Previous Pick: Jermaine Gresham

22.  New England- C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson

I get to this point and just have to stop.  How did Spiller, who only improved his stock at the combine, fall this far?  Well the free-fall stops here because the Patriots FINALLY draft the home-run threat to compliment Tom Brady’s passing game. 

Imagine Moss drawing double coverage, an extra linebacker helping on Welker on the inside, and the slower linebacker attempting to cover Spiller in the flat, scarryyyyy. 

Previous Pick: Carlos Dunlap, DL, Florida

23.  Green Bay- Mike Iupati, G, Idaho

Franchise quarterbacks don’t last very long in this league when they are flat on their back, ask Aaron Rodgers. 

He began to wear down towards the end of the season because of the poor line Green Bay put in front of him.  Iupati is versatile enough to play on either side of the ball. 

Previous Pick: Bryan Bulaga, T, Iowa

24.  Philadelphia- Taylor Mays, S, USC

Sean Jones is a free agent, Quintin Mikell isn’t that impressive, and if Mays doesn’t work out at safety, he will fill a big need in the Philly linebacker corps. 

Previous Pick: Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida 

25.  Baltimore- Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech

This pick may be different if the Ravens decide to trade for a receiver before the draft, but selecting Thomas here makes sense. 

He is a big, physical receiver that is the home-run threat that Flacco lacks.  If he can heal from that broken foot, he could end up being the steal of the first round. 

Previous Pick: Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State

26.  Arizona- Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas

This kid is going to be special.  During the National Championship game he showed an instinct in covering screens and showed a nose for the ball that will be huge for this poor Arizona defense. 

They need immediate help at LB, and Kindle is the answer. 

Previous Pick: Navorro Bowman

27.  Dallas- Maurkice Posey, C/G, Florida

Romo needs help up front badly after spending time on his back last season.  Posey has the versatility to play either guard position or center: all of which are aging positions on the Dallas line.

Previous Pick: Charles Brown, T, USC

28.  San Diego- Ryan Matthews, RB, Fresno State

I debated between Jahvid Best and Matthews here for a while.  However, after Matthews’ strong combine, and the fact that San Diego placed a first- and third-round tender on Sproles today, the power back will be selected. 

Previous Pick: Jahvid Best, RB, California

29.  New York Jets- Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers

McCourty had a solid combine and after the Jets released Lito Sheppard today, it has become apparent that they are going corner in this draft.  Since Haden and Wilson are gone, McCourty is the next best option. 

Previous Pick: Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State

30.  Minnesota- Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama

Minnesota’s defensive backs got carved up in the playoffs.  Winfield is getting old, and they don’t have anyone on the opposite side.  Jackson is jumping up the draft boards after running a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash at the combine. 

Previous Pick: Syd’Quan Thompson, CB, Cal

31.  Indianapolis- Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee

This guy is going to be a solid pick-up at the end of the first round.  He can get to the QB, and eat up defenders up front.  Imagine how much more fun Dwight Freeney is going to have playing next to this guy. 

Previous Pick: Dan Williams

32.  New Orleans- Everson Griffen, DE, USC

After releasing Charles Grant, the Saints will be looking for his replacement, and Griffen is their guy.  At 6’3” 272, Griffen is almost a mirror image of the departed Charles Grant, and may even be more athletic. 

Previous Pick: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida