2010 NFL Mock Draft IV: Bulaga Slides in at No. 5, Buffalo Bills Shake Up Draft

The 2010 NFL Draft is less than a month away and players are finally beginning to solidify their positions in the draft. 

In the fourth version of my 2010 NFL Mock Draft, there have been quite a few changes because some teams addressed areas of need through free agency, rather than gambling on a high-paid rookie.

As always, debates, criticism, and comments are welcome.

With that said, the Rams are on the clock!

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

After putting up an amazing Pro Day, the only way that QB Sam Bradford doesn’t end up in St. Louis is if some team wows them with a trade offer. 

St. Louis is the best fit for Bradford. He would get to play at least half of his games in a dome, and if the Rams could add some blocking up front, he should provide fans with the second coming of the “Greatest Show on Turf”.

Previous Pick: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

2.  Detroit - Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma.

Two Sooners back to back...it could happen. Coach Schwartz knows the importance of having a stud DT on a defensive line, and McCoy gives him a versatile, young playmaker to put in between Kyle Vanden Bosch and newly acquired Corey Williams.   

Previous Pick: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska.

3.  Tampa Bay - Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska.

For so long it has seemed the Coach Morris preferred McCoy, but now I am hearing whispers that he actually likes Suh better.  With Schwarz opting for McCoy instead of Suh, Morris lands his man.

Previous Pick: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma.

4.  Washington - Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame.

New regimes equal new QB’s, and Shanahan picks the former Golden Domer to lead his team. He may not be the starter from day one, but Jason Campbell isn’t the long-term solution in Washington.

Previous Pick: Russell Okung, T, Oklahoma State.

5.  Kansas City - Bryan Bulaga, T, Iowa.

Left tackle is their biggest area of need, which is why I think that they take the next best tackle available...Bulaga. He is 6'6'', 314 pounds. While this is not a glamorous pick for the Chiefs, Bulaga could turn out to be the Joe Thomas of this draft.

Previous Pick: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

6.  Seattle - Russell Okung, T, Oklahoma State.

With the possibility of Walter Jones retiring, Seattle selects the heir apparent now. The Seahawks' line was dismal last season. Even if Jones returns, Okung can start at right tackle until Jones retires.

Previous Pick: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame.

7.  Cleveland - Eric Berry, S, Tennessee.

Somehow Berry fell to Cleveland, which is the best-case scenario for both parties.  Cleveland isn’t sold on Joe Haden here, and they really didn’t want to reach and select Earl Thomas, so they get their man and future starter at safety for the next ten seasons.

Previous Pick: Joe Haden, CB, Florida.

8.  Oakland - Bruce Campbell, T, Maryland.

Al Davis’ mind is fun to figure out. With so many glaring needs in Oakland, Davis takes the workout warrior in Campbell to solidify his line for whoever is playing QB next season. 

Campbell may not be the best tackle available, but he satisfies Davis’ need for a freak athlete. 

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

9.  Buffalo - Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State.

Buffalo pulls off the first shocker of round one. With no franchise QB’s available, Buffalo addresses an area of need with the top wide receiver in the draft. After not resigning T.O. and giving Josh Reed his release, Buffalo is left with very little outside of Lee Evans at the wide receiver position. 

No matter who the quarterback is in Buffalo, Bryant is a big-time, playmaking receiver who can rack up yards after the catch. 

Previous Pick: Bruce Campbell, T, Maryland.

10.  Jacksonville - Joe Haden, CB, Florida.

Jaguars’ fans get their gator—just not the one they expected. 

With huge holes at both defensive back and defensive line—the Jaguars grab Haden, whom many believed wouldn’t get past Cleveland at No. 7.

Previous Pick: Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State.

11.  Denver - Jason Pierre-Paul, DE/OLB, South Florida.

Let’s face it—Mario Haggan is not the answer at LOLB for the Broncos. With Elvis Dumervil bringing in 17 sacks last season—the Broncos need to find someone to complement him on the other side. 

Pierre-Paul is a beast who can line up as a lineman or be an outside linebacker.  When drafting a complement to someone it is always nice to draft a guy who is basically his clone.

Previous Pick: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State.

12.  Miami - Brian Price, DT, UCLA.

With the signing of Karlos Dansby, the Dolphins no longer have a need at ILB.  Since there are not any wide receivers worthy of the No. 12 pick—the Dolphins draft an area of need, and select the next best DT on the board in Price.    

Previous Pick: Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama.

13.  San Francisco - Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama.

Takeo Spikes isn’t getting any younger, and like I’ve said before: I think McClain is the next coming of Ray Lewis. Putting McClain next to Patrick Wills gives the 49ers the best linebacker combination I have ever seen. 

Previous Pick: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech.

14.  Seattle - C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson.

The Seahawks have no running game.  Julius Jones was about as ineffective as a running back can be last season. After addressing their offensive line problems with Okung at No. 6—Spiller is the best player available for the Seahawks. 

Previous Pick: Bryan Bulaga, T, Iowa.

15.  New York Giants - Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State.

Here’s something you may not know about the Giants: They finished 22nd in defensive interceptions last season. The NFC East is a pass-happy division, and with no clear-cut starters at cornerback, the Giants select Wilson—who will be a starter from day one. 

Previous Pick: Brandon Graham, LB, Michigan:

16.  Tennessee - Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech.

Morgan falls right into the hands of the team who needs him most.

The Titans' defense has been reeling since the departure of Albert Haynesworth last offseason, and it took another uppercut when long-time defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch left for the Lions this off-season. Morgan will be a steal at pick No. 16, and fill in nicely for the departed Vanden Bosch. 

Previous Pick: Brian Price, DT, UCLA.

17.  San Francisco - Trent Williams, T, Oklahoma.

No change.

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: Trent Williams, T, Oklahoma.

18.  Pittsburgh - Mike Iupati, G, Idaho.

Whether the starting quarterback is Big Ben, Dennis Dixon, or Charlie Batch next season—one thing is apparent: the Steelers need to protect the quarterback. 

Iupati has the versatility to play on either side of the line, and will provide some protection for whoever is under center. 

Previous Pick: Anthony Davis, T, Rutgers.

19.  Atlanta - Brandon Graham, LB, Michigan.

Atlanta has a ton of talent on offense, but nobody to get to the QB on defense.  With the addition of Graham, who can play 4-3 end or 3-4 OLB, the Falcons take the best defensive playmaker available. 

Previous Pick: Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame.

20.  Houston - Earl Thomas, S, Texas.

The Texans will draft the best defensive back available here, and Earl Thomas slides to them somehow. 

With all the talk about Thomas being drafted higher because of his 4.3 40 yard dash, I think he still falls to them here because teams are not sure if he is a safety or a cornerback.

Previous Pick: Earl Thomas, S, Texas.  

21.  Cincinnati - Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma

Another pick that stays the same. 

If there was one glaring problem that I saw with Carson Palmer last 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 - Sergio Kindle, OLB, Texas.

The Patriots need help on defense badly. 

Their players aren’t getting any younger, and Kindle provides the hard-nosed, instinctive player the Coach Bill loves.

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

23.  Green Bay - Anthony Davis, T, Rutgers.

Aaron Rodgers won’t last much longer if he keeps ending up on his back as much as he did in 2009. The Packers need big blockers to protect their franchise QB, and Davis is just that.

Previous Pick: Mike Iupati, G, Idaho.

24.  Philadelphia - Taylor Mays, S, USC. 

Sean Jones is gone, Quintin Mikell isn’t that impressive, and Mays just cannot drop any further. He is fast, strong and can play either safety or linebacker in Philly. 

Previous Pick: Taylor Mays, S, USC. 

25.  Baltimore - Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State. 

They lost Justin Bannon and Dwan Edwards to free agency, which means that they need someone to step in from day one in their front three. Odrick is their man.

Previous Pick: Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech:

26.  Arizona - Jerry Hughes, OLB, TCU.

With Kindle off the board, Arizona needs someone to replace the production that Bertrand Berry provided at OLB last season. Hughes is quick and instinctive, and at No. 26—provides a lot of upside this late in the draft.  

Previous Pick: Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas.

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

Romo needs help up front badly, after spending a lot of 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: Maurkice Pouncey, C/G, Florida.

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, the power back will be selected. 

Previous Pick: Ryan Matthews, RB, Fresno State

29.  New York Jets - Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame.

With the addition of Cromartie from the Chargers, the Jets can add its long-term solution at WR in Tate. 

They re-signed Braylon “Stone Hands” Edwards to a one-year deal, which means they aren’t sold on him.  

Previous Pick: Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers.

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: Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama.

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, DT, Tennessee.

32.  New Orleans - Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri.

After losing Scott Fujita to Cleveland, the Saints need an athletic replacement for him.  Weatherspoon is their man.

Previous Pick: Everson Griffen, DE, USC.