Mock Draft 3.0
By Brian Miller
The 2010 NFL draft is 35 days and counting. The Miami Dolphins will kick off their 2010 draft in the number 12 slot provided they don’t trade up, down, or out of it. While no one knows what might happen come April, one thing is for certain, you can count on our Phinphanatic.com draft guru for his take. Click continue to read Mock Draft 3.0 by our very own Onole.
And be sure to check out his big board here.
2010 NFL Mock Draft v 3.0
1. St Louis – Sam Bradford | QB | Oklahoma | 6’4” | 223 lbs
The Rams need many fixes and while Suh may be the surest pick for them here I don’t see the Rams forking out the reported $8.5m he is due in 2010. Originally I had Clausen as the pick but reports are the Rams like Bradford and if they feel his shoulder will be fine they are leaning towards him with their pick.
2. Detroit – Russell Okung | OT | Oklahoma State | 6’5” | 312 lbs
This is not the popular pick and I have been going back and forth on who I think the Lions will draft. Suh would be a great addition for this team, but it is a deep draft for DTs and Detroit must protect Staford. Okung is the best tackle in the draft and Detroit will make the investment to protect their young QB.
3. Tampa Bay – Ndamukong Suh | DT | Nebraska | 6’4” | 307 lbs
Tampa is thrilled to have Suh available at number three. Tampa has many needs, but the defensive line is always a good place to start, and with arguably the best player in the draft available they will take him.
4. Washington – Bruce Campbell | OT | Maryland | 6’6” | 3114 lbs
Campbell had a great combine and showed off his athletic ability and if anyone knows Mike Shanahan they know he loves athletic offensive linemen. Samuels is done and the Redskins already needed offensive line help. Campbell is smart enough to step in day one and start and his abilities fit Shanahan’s system.
5. Kansas City – Bryan Bulaga | OT | Iowa | 6’7” | 314 lbs
As with many of the top 10 teams KC could go many ways and could very easily take Berry here as well. But the fact that only 5 teams allowed more than the 45 sacks the Chiefs allowed means they must improve the offensive line. They made a very large investment in Matt Cassell and they need to give him some protection. Bulaga is a high character guy the Pioli will add to the Chiefs locker room.
6. Seattle – Gerald McCoy | DT | Oklahoma | 6’4” | 295 lbs
Carroll is going to be tempted to go with Clausen here but with McCoy still on the board his talent is too good to pass up at this point. Seattle was towards the bottom of the league in pass defense and sacks. McCoy is a guy that can bring pressure from the middle and help this defense.
7. Cleveland – Jimmy Clausen | QB | Notre Dame | 6’3” | 222 lbs
Holmgren will have Mangini install his west coast offense and Clausen would be a great addition to be the QB of the future in Cleveland. They could also go Berry here, but the lure of Clausen at this point will be too much to resist.
8. Oakland – Anthony Davis | OT | Rutgers | 6’5” | 323 lbs
Who really knows what the Raiders will do. They should bolster their offensive line and both tackles aren’t starting quality. Davis would be a huge upgrade to the current line in Oakland. Because this is probably the best thing to do means they won’t and Big Al will draft someone that runs a 4.2, lookout McCluster or Spiller…
9. Buffalo – Trent Williams | OT | Oklahoma | 6’5” | 315 lbs
Buffalo needed to upgrade the offensive line already and the sudden retirement of Brad Butler makes taking a tackle a must in this spot. Buffalo is switching to a 3-4 and they very well could go after a rush linebacker as well, but in the end I think they go tackle.
10. Denver – Rolando McClain | ILB | Alabama | 6’4” | 254 lbs
Assuming Denver deals Marshall they could go Bryant in this spot, but with them releasing Andra Davis they have a hole to fill in the middle of the linebackers and McClain would be a great fit for the 3-4 defense they converted to last year.
11. Jacksonville – Derrick Morgan | DE/OLB | GA | Tech | 6’4” | 268 lbs
I know Weaver has publicly stated he wants Tim Tebow, but I would be shocked if they took him here. Some team later in the draft may take Tebow in round one, but even in trying to boost ticket sales this would be a huge reach. Jacksonville instead finally gets the edge rusher they have been looking for years. Morgan is a physical freak and should draw comparison to the original Phreak Javone Kearse.
12. Miami – Eric Berry | FS | Tennessee | 6’0” | 211 lbs
Could it be real? Could Berry really fall to #12? Maybe, maybe not but thanks to Detroit and Washington for shaking up the draft he does. BP likes to take his linebackers and he very well could take one here, but Berry is arguably one of the top 3 players in this draft and has drawn comparisons to Ed Reed. He is physical and can cover in man or zone. Berry falling to Miami could be the best thing the Trifecta could hope for and if he’s there I feel they would jump all over him.
13. San Francisco – Joe Haden | CB | Florida |5’11” | 191 lbs
San Fran would be thrilled if Haden was still on the board with this pick. They had the 21st ranked pass defense in the league and can use an upgrade in the defensive backfield. Haden is a very physical receiver that many compare to Revis. He had a bad 40 time at the combine but there are rumors he had an injured back. I expect him to bounce back with a much better time at his proday. He would fit the hardnosed style of Mike Singletary.
14. Seattle – Charles Brown | OT | USC | 6’6” | 303 lbs
Carroll gets his replacement LT with his second pick in round 1. Carroll knows Brown better than anyone and he will reunite with him to be his LT for years. Brown has very good feet and may lack some in run blocking but he excels in pass blocking.
15. New York – Dan Williams | DT | Tennessee | 6’3” | 327 lbs
Giants need improve their defense and especially against the run. They probably would have loved to have McClain here, but Williams will give them a big DT that is stout against the run.
16. Tennessee – Brandon Graham | DE | Michigan | 6’3” | 263 lbs
Tennessee’s defensive line will be a position of need this off-season. Vanden Bosch is gone and Tennessee must revamp the defensive line. Graham gives Tennessee an edge pass rusher to get after Manning and Schaub.
17. San Francisco – CJ Spiller | RB | Clemson | 5’11 | 195 lbs
Spiller gives San Fran the lighting to Gore’s thunder. Spiller will be an instant help with his return abilities and playmaking abilities in space. He is the change of pace type of back that San Fran needs.
18. Pittsburgh – Mike Iupati | OL | Idaho | 6’5” | 325 lbs
The Steelers must improve the offensive line. Last year they were not able to run the ball and Big Ben was running for his life too often. Iupati looks to be a probowl type RT or an elite guard. They would like to upgrade the LT position, but putting Iupati next to Starks would give Starks a huge boost.
19. Atlanta – Carlos Dunlap | DE | Florida | 6’6” | 290 lbs
Dunlap when motivated is a beast. Atlanta could look towards Jason Pierre-Paul here as well, but Dunlap would give them an edge rusher that is also stout against the run. Dunlap has top 10 talent, but the concern on him is can you keep his motor running and I believe Mike Smith thinks he can.
20. Houston – Earl Thomas | S | Texas | 5’10” | 197 lbs
The Texans could go a few different ways here, but Thomas could provide immediate help in a division that faces the Colts twice a year. Thomas is athletic enough to play safety and the nickel back in passing situations. Texans could also go D Line here, but Thomas may be too much to pass up.
21. Cincinnati – Jermaine Gresham | TE | Oklahoma | 6’6” | 258 lbs
A pass catching TE is a glaring weakness for the Bengals. Gresham would give Palmer another weapon to help pull the linebackers away from the LOS in order to give more running lanes for Benson.
22. New England – Sergio Kindle | DE/OLB | Texas | 6’4” | 255 lbs
In my opinion Kindle is 1b with Graham as the top DE/OLB in the draft. Graham may be more explosive, but Kindle may be more fluid in coverage and sideline to sideline. The Patriots need to upgrade the outside linebackers and be able to get pressure on the QB.
23. Green Bay – Devin McCourty | CB | Rutgers | 5’11” | 193 lbs
The Pack needs to improve the offensive line, but there doesn’t seem to be the value here. They would have loved Iupati but Pittsburgh beat them to the punch. The Packers CBs are getting a little long in the tooth and McCourty could come in to play nickel and give solid special teams help until he wins a spot.
24. Philadelphia – Sean Weatherspoon | LB | Missouri | 6’2” | 241 Lbs
Weatherspoon made a believer out of me during his Senior Bowl week. He just looks like a perfect fit for the Eagles defense. He can play inside or out, but should be able to slide right into the WOLB spot and give leadership to a defense that is lacking that after the loss of Dawkins.
25. Baltimore – Dez Bryant | WR | Oklahoma State | 6’3” | 220 lbs
The Ravens traded for Boldin and very well could pass on a receiver here, but Bryant is the best receiver in the draft and he would not be rushed into making and impact right away and his value is too much to pass up. His maturity has been questioned and the leaders on the Ravens could really help him grow.
26. Arizona – Maurkice Pouncey | OL | Florida | 6’5” | 304 lbs
The Cards must improve the offensive line. Lienart is taking over the reigns now and they must work on and upgrade in the line to be able to run the ball more consistently. Pouncey can step right in at guard or center and be an instant upgrade.
27. Dallas – Taylor Mays | S | USC | 6’3” | 235 lbs
The Cowboys don’t have many needs, but safety has been a thorn in the side of that defense. Mays is a physical specimen and with the other talent on the Cowboys Mays coverage weakness could be hidden somewhat.
28. San Diego – Ryan Mathews | RB | Fresno State | 5’11” | 220 lbs
With the departure of Tomlinson RB is a need position for San Diego. Best and Dwyer may be ranked higher on most boards but Best size and Dwyer’s lack of a pro-style offense makes Mathews a better fit fo the Chargers at this point. They are very close and need an impact from the running back position right away.
29. New York – Terrence Cody | DT | Alabama | 6’4” | 348 lbs
Jets are a solid team, and they could go a couple of different ways, but Kris Jenkins will be 31 and he only played in 6 games in 2009. Cody has shown good dedication in getting his weight down after the Senior Bowl, and Ryan should be able to keep him motivated.
30. Minnesota – Jared Odrick | DL | Penn State | 6’5” | 301 lbs
Vikings are solid all around, but the D Line showed some weakness late in the season. Pat Williams will turn 38 this year so they must find someone that can fill that hole. Odrick is very aggressive and is stout against the run, but can also get penetration from the DT spot.
31. Indianapolis – Brian Price | DT | UCLA | 6’0” | 300 lbs
Colts could go any level on the defense, but they still struggle in the middle. Price would give them a player that can fill the hole against the run, but is able to get penetration and play on the offensive side of the LOS.
32. New Orleans – Jason Pierre-Paul | DE | USF | 6’6” | 260 lbs
Fresh off the Super Bowl win the Saints may be the most complete team in the NFL. With that being said they could stand to improve the defensive line. With a name like Pierre-Paul is there anywhere else he should play? JPP may have the most upside of any defensive lineman in the draft, but he lacks experience. New Orleans could bring him on slowly and use his speed in pass rushing situations.