Al Fronczak's 2010 Mock Draft
(Version 22.0)
04/16
I've made a few changes to my mock once again as the pieces to the puzzle are falling into place. For the latest scoop on the draft, click here.
My Final and most accurate mock will be posted on Thursday, April 22 at 9:00 a.m. EST
-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 Trent Williams (Oklahoma)...A left tackle to protect Matt Cassel and open holes for their running game is high on the Chiefs priority list...The Chiefs might entertain trade talks for this pick since they have multiple needs to fill.
6. Seattle Seahawks...S Eric Berry (Tennessee)...The Seahawks have two picks in the top 14 and would love to come away with a LT with one of the picks...Pete Carroll is a former defensive backs coach and the Seahawks released safety Deon Grant to pave the way for the addition of Berry if he falls here.
7. Cleveland Browns...QB Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame)...Jimmy Clausen is the 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.
8. Oakland Raiders...ILB Rolando McClain (Alabama)...The first surprise of the draft!...The Raiders were lousy against the run last season and the team is looking for a bigger linebacker to plug into the middle of their defense...McClain fits the bill...Finding a left tackle is also a very high priority for the Raiders going into the draft, but the team has done it's homework and will take an OT with one of their other picks in the draft.
9. Buffalo Bills...HB C.J. Spiller (Clemson)...The second surprise of the draft!...The Bills were hoping Jimmy Clausen or Rolando McClain would be on the board at this pick, but since both are gone, the Bills go with the best player available...Bills general manager Buddy Nix has stated that the team needs a back that can be a difference maker and be a threat to score from anywhere on the field...Spiller is just that...this move will pave the way for the Bills to move Marshawn Lynch during the draft...The Bills as an organization feels better about their offensive line, than what the general perception is.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars...DT Dan Williams (Tennessee)...The Jaguars signed DE Aaron Kampman to hopefully fill a need at DE and take DT Williams here to give them a big presense in the middle of their defensive line. *Note-*I expect the Jaguars to have this pick 'for sale' since they don't own a second round pick and owner Wayne Weaver has said that he will consider taking QB Tim Tebow. Trade Down!
11. Denver Broncos (From Chicago)...OLB Derrick Morgan (Georgia Tech)...The Broncos surprise the Gallery Gods a bit by taking Morgan here, because Rolando McClain is already off the board and Morgan would be a fit for the Broncos 3-4 scheme.
12. Miami Dolphins...S Earl Thomas (Texas)...The Dolphins filled a need on the defensive side of the ball with the signing of LB Karlos Dansby, and gave up their second-round pick for WR Brandon Marshall...
Without a second-round pick, the Dolphins must make this pick count and take Earl Thomas to fill a huge need in their secondary...Bill Parcells was very dissapointed that he missed out on S Ryan Clark...
*Note - Look for the Dolphins to try to move down and reacquire a second-round pick.
13. San Francisco 49'ers...OT Bryan Bulaga (Iowa)...The Niners would like to find a starting tackle in this draft, but they are also looking for a CB as well...Niners' coach Mike Singletary has covered the entire country looking scouting cornerbacks and the position is very deep.
14. Seattle Seahawks (From Denver)...OT Anthony Davis (Rutgers)...The Seahawks made S Eric Berry their first pick and fill their need at OT with the selection of Davis here...The team had Davis in for a private visit at the Seahawks complex...If the Seahawks don't address their need at the LT position in the first round, they could make a play for Ravens OT Jared Gaither in a trade with the Ravens.
15. New York Giants...DE Jason Pierre-Paul (South Florida)...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 will likely go with the best player available in DE Jason Pierre-Paul.
16. Tennessee Titans...CB Joe Haden (Florida)...The Titans would like to fill the void at DE left by Kyle Vanden Bosch's departure, but the top DE's on their board are already gone...The Titans signed two CB's during FA, but Joe Haden would help the Titans secondary...*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 OT Bryan Bulaga with their first pick in the round and add a player that can help the teams defense here...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...OLB Sean Weatherspoon (Missouri)...The Falcons filled their biggest need in their secondary by signing CB Dunta Robinson, and would like to add another DE in the draft and improve their linebacking core...Weatherspoon would be a weak-side backer for the team and would shake up the Falcons linebacking core.*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 Brandon Graham or Jerry Hughes might be considered and the 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...OLB Brandon Graham (Michigan).....The Cards would like to add another OT (not necessarily a LT since Matt Leinart is a southpaw) and upgrade their linebacking core...Graham would be a great fit for the Cardinals defensive scheme.
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. *Note - The Cowboys are also looking for a safety and will address that need in the second round...The team could also re-sign Flozell Adams at a reduced rate after the draft.
28. San Diego Chargers...HB Jahvid Best (California)...The Chargers have needs at NT, RT, HB and they need depth at DE...Of all the prospects at those positions, Best will be the highest rated player on their board and would fill a big need for the team.
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 or be on the field at the same time as Taylor.
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:
WR Golden Tate, WR Demaryious Thomas, OT Bruce Campbell,
DE Carlos Dunlap, S Taylor Mays, CB Devin McCourty, CB Kareem Jackson
