Al Fronczak's 2010 Mock Draft
(Version 21.0)
04/11
I've made a few changes once again, including a trade that could go down on draft day. I'll be updating this mock several more times before the Draft, due to teams' needs changing because of free agency and trades. For the latest scoop on the draft, click here. -Al Fronczak
1. St. Louis Rams...QB Sam Bradford (Oklahoma)...Sam Bradford appears to be the pick, if his right
shoulder passed an extensive set of tests that the Rams' medical staff put him through at the combine.
2. Detroit Lions...DT Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska)...The Lions acquired LG Rob Sims from the Seahawks, paving the way for the team to take Ndamukong Suh with this pick...Suh reminds Jim Schwartz of Albert Haynesworth who Schwartz coached in Tennessee.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers...DT Gerald McCoy (Oklahoma)...The Bucs take McCoy over Suh because he's a better fit for the Bucs defensive scheme....*Note - I wouldn't be surprised if the Bucs attempt to deal this pick, IF they can find a trading partner since the team has multiple needs. Trade down?
4. Washington Redskins...OT Russell Okung (Oklahoma State)...The Redskins acquired Donovan McNabb from the Eagles and clearly need a LT desperately for their line...The Skins have the pick of the litter at the OT position, since the Lions passed up Okung.
5. Kansas City Chiefs...OT Bryan Bulaga (Iowa)...A left tackle to protect Matt Cassel and open holes for their running game is high on the Chiefs priority list...This is a bit too high for Bulaga to come off the board, but Bulaga is reportedly the second rated tackle in the Chiefs war room.
6. Seattle Seahawks...OT Trent Williams (Oklahoma)...The Seahawks have two picks in the top 14 and would love to come away with a LT with one of the picks...Williams has the athleticism to be a good fit for the Seahawks zone-blocking scheme...S Eric Berry will also be considered since Pete Carroll is a former defensive backs coach and the Seahawks released safety Deon Grant...*Note - Jimmy Clausen is picking up steam and could become the Seahawks surprise pick here.
7. Cleveland Browns...QB Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame)...I'm starting to believe the Browns will take Jimmy Clausen with this pick since Jake Delhomme is only a one-year fix and backup Seneca Wallace is no better than a good west coast backup QB...If they pass up Clausen here, there's no guarantee that they will find their QB of the future in this draft, and would head into the 2011 Draft with the same pressing need...I think Mike Holmgren is starting to "like Jimmy Clausen" much better...If Clausen is taken off the board by the Seahawks, then S Eric Berry and DE Jared Odrick will be considered here. *Note - The Browns could use one of their three third-round picks to move up and ahead of the Seahawks to land Clausen.
8. Oakland Raiders...OT Anthony Davis (Rutgers)...A left tackle to protect the Raiders biggest investment - Jamarcus Russell (or the QB that beats him out for the job) is a very high priority for the Raiders going into the draft...Davis should be the next OT to come off the board, but don't be surprised if Al Davis raids the Maryland program for the second year in a row and shocks the Gallery Gods by taking Maryland OT Bruce Campbell here.
9. Buffalo Bills...NT Dan Williams (Tennessee)...I'm going back to my original selection of Dan Williams to the Bills, since Jimmy Clausen and the top four OT's have already come off the board...Williams would help solidify the Bills defensive line and could be used in a rotation with Kyle Williams at the NT position... This move would help the Bills matchup against the Jets and Dolphins, two division rivals that are run first teams...If the Bills pass up Williams here, look for them to target NT Terrence Cody with one of their other picks, since general manager Buddy Nix and head coach Chan Gailey were both present at Alabama's pro day workout back on March 10. *Note - See pick No. 28 for the Bills other pick in this round.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars...ILB Rolando McClain (Alabama)...The Jaguars signed DE Aaron Kampman to hopefully fill a need at DE and take LB McClain here to give the team a thumper for the middle of their defense...*Note - *I expect the Jaguars to have this pick "for sale' since they don't own a second round pick and owner Wayne Weaver is on record saying he intends to take QB Tim Tebow. Trade Down!
11. Denver Broncos (From Chicago)...OLB Brandon Graham (Michigan)...The Broncos surprise the Gallery Gods a bit by taking Graham here, because Rolando McClain is already off the board and Graham would be a great fit for the Broncos 3-4 scheme. *Note - Look for the Broncos to attempt to move down.
12. Miami Dolphins...S Eric Berry (Tennessee)...The Dolphins filled one of their needs on the defensive side of the ball with the signing of LB Karlos Dansby, and now add Eric Berry who has slipped through the cracks, and would fill a huge need at safety in their secondary...There's a good possibility that Berry falls out of the top 10, if the Browns don't take him at No.7. *Note - Look for the Dolphins to try to move down in the draft, unless a player like Berry falls to them here.
13. San Francisco 49'ers...CB Joe Haden (Florida)...The Niners would like to find a starting tackle in this draft, but they are also looking for a CB and Haden has slipped to their pick...Niners' coach Mike Singletary has covered the entire country looking scouting cornerbacks.
14. Seattle Seahawks (From Denver)...HB C.J. Spiller (Clemson) ...The Seahawks made OT Trent Williams their first pick and fill their need at HB with the selection of C.J. Spiller here.
15. New York Giants...ILB Sean Weatherspoon (Missouri)...The Giants have a hole in the middle of their defense to fill with the release of Antonio Pierce, but Rolando McClain is already off the board so the team could explore the possibility of moving down a bit and take Weatherspoon who can play ILB in Perry Fewell's defensive scheme.
16. Tennessee Titans...DE Derrick Morgan (Georgia Tech)...Morgan would help fill the void at DE left by Kyle Vanden Bosch's departure... *Note - Look for the Titans to try to move out of this pick, since they don't own a pick in the second round. Trade Down
17. San Francisco 49'ers (From Carolina)...OLB Sergio Kindle (Texas)..The Niners took CB Joe Haden with their first pick in the round and would like to take a tackle with this pick, but the top 4 have already come off the board...Kindle would be able to provide some much needed heat off the edge for the team.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers...OG/OT Mike Iupati (Idaho)...The Steelers biggest need is to improve their offensive line, and Iupati can start at guard from day one, and kick out to tackle if needed...The Steelers could also fill their need at cornerback with this pick.
19. Atlanta Falcons...S Earl Thomas (Texas)...The Falcons filled their biggest need in their secondary by signing CB Dunta Robinson, but their secondary still needs help and Thomas is better than any of the safeties on the Falcons roster and can be their nickle and dime corner...Thomas trumps all of the DE's on the board....*Note- The Falcons are candidates to move down in the draft, if the prospect they are targeting is off the board, since they don't own a second round pick. Trade Down
20. Houston Texans...HB Ryan Mathews (Fresno State)...The Texans need serious at the CB position after losing Dunta Robinson, but Mathews is the perfect one-cut HB that the Texans offense has been looking for...*Note - The Texans might be tempted to trade down and out of this pick.
21. Cincinnati Bengals...TE Jermaine Gresham (Oklahoma)..The Bengals have been looking for a TE that can stretch the field and catch the football for a while and Gresham proved in his workout for NFL teams that he's back to being 100%...The Bengals also feel they need to find a DT that can push the pocket for their defense and put some heat on the QB from the middle of their line.
22. New England Patriots...DE Jared Odrick (Penn State)...The Patriots reportedly have Odrick rated high on their board, but I'm not entirely sold on him being their pick...an edge-rusher like Jerry Hughes might be considered and team could be tempted to take a HB like Ryan Mathews if he's available, or roll the dice on WR Dez Bryant with this pick.
23. Green Bay Packers...CB Kyle Wilson (Boise State)...The Packers re-signed both of their tackles, so taking a young OT is no longer a very high priority...McCourty would help bolster a Packers secondary that's getting old and was exploited late in the season.
24. Philadelphia Eagles...C/G Maurkice Pouncey (Florida)...The Eagles filled one of their needs by acquiring DE Darryl Tapp from the Seahawks and switch to the offensive side of the ball with the selection of Pouncey here...Pouncey could play center for the Eagles until Jermaine Jackson fully recovers from his ACL injury and then move over to guard for the team...Look for the Eagles to address the defensive side of the ball with the rest of their picks in this draft.
25. Baltimore Ravens...WR Dez Bryant (Oklahoma State)...The Ravens acquired WR Anquan Boldin from the Cardinals to fill one of their needs at the WR position, but Derrick Mason is getting up there in age and the team has the lockeroom to keep Bryant in check...the Ravens also need a DE since they lost Justin Bannan and Dwan Edwards in free agency, and still have a big need at CB.
26. Arizona Cardinals...OT Charles Brown (USC).....The Cards would like to add another OT (not necessarily a LT since Matt Leinart is a southpaw) and a replacement inside for Carlos Dansby.
27. Dallas Cowboys...OT/OG Roger Saffold (Indiana)...The Cowboys need to upgrade their offensive line at the OT position since the team released Flozell Adams and Saffold is picking up steam with the draft approaching...The fact that the Cowboys couldn't protect Tony Romo in their playoff game against the Vikings has left a bad taste in Jerry Jones mouth during the offseason.
28. Buffalo Bills (Trade from San Diego)...QB Tim Tebow (Florida)...The Chargers have needs at NT, RT, HB and they need depth at DE, but none of the prospects left on the board at those positions are worthy of this pick, making them a candidate to move down...The Chargers and Bills hook up on a draft day trade, since the front offices know each other very well and the Bills are looking to move back into the round, since they didn't take a QB with their first pick...The Bills send RB Marshawn Lynch, and a late round 2011 draft pick to the Chargers, to move up 13 spots from their second round pick..The move helps the Chargers get out of this pick, fills their need at HB, and gives them back to back picks (No. 40 & 41) in the second round of the draft...Tim Tebow will need time to develop, but the Bills are interested in him because he would be a great fit in Chan Gaileys offense, and the Bills need a big splash to generate ticket sales at the box office.
29. New York Jets...OLB Jerry Hughes (TCU)...The Jets appear to be on the verge of signing Jason Taylor, but how much gas does he have left in his tank?...Hughes has the ability to bring heat off the edge and could be used in a rotation with Taylor, or be on the field at the same time as Taylor...The Jets could also use another playmaker at the WR position, since Braylon Edwards has been inconsistent at best up to this point.
30. Minnesota Vikings...CB Patrick Robinson (Florida State)...The Vikings will be tempted to take HB Jahvid Best with this pick, but they have a huge need at CB and Patrick Robinson is still on the board...
The Vikings need to add another DT for depth, since the team is waiting for a decision on the Star Caps case that could sideline both of their DT's for four games next season.
31. Indianapolis Colts...DT Brian Price (UCLA)...The Colts could use some help in their secondary and upgrade their offensive line across the board, but Brian Price would help improve the middle of their defensive line...The Colts could also pluck WR Demayious Thomas off the board here.
32. New Orleans Saints...OLB Daryl Washington (TCU) ...The Saints have some tweaking to do despite being World Champions...The Saints filled one need by signing DE Alex Brown, so their number one priority is to upgrade both of their OLB positions here.
Prospects that just missed the first round:
HB Jahvid Best, WR Golden Tate, WR Demaryious Thomas, OT Bruce Campbell,
DE Jason Pierre-Paul, DE Carlos Dunlap, S Taylor Mays, CB Devin McCourty, CB Kareem Jackson
