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2010 NFL Draft Prospects
by T.O. Whenham - 3/19/2010
I don't find NFL mock drafts particularly useful. In fact, I think that they are pretty much a waste of time. there is no way that anyone can be inside the heads of the decision makers for each team so they are just full of guesses, and one incorrect guess early on renders the whole thing useless. What's far more interesting and useful to me is to look at the rankings of the players. That's a far more meaningful assessment of quality and usefulness of the prospects. With that in mind, here's a look at my top 50 NFL Draft prospects in the 2010 NFL Draft class:
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1. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska - What else is there to say? He's a Heisman finalist as an interior defensive lineman. That's special.
2. Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma - There seems to be little to divide McCoy and Suh. I like Suh, but I couldn't fault anyone for taking the Oklahoma behemoth.
3. Eric Berry, S, Tennessee - Berry is a freak who has a sense for where the ball is going to be, and he's athletic enough to play in several places on the field.
4. Anthony Davis, T, Rutgers - Davis may not be as polished as instant stars like Jake Long or Joe Thomas were, but he has that kind of potential at left tackle
5. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida - In the year of the defensive tackle, Pierre-Paul is the king of the ends. He's good now, but he'll be seductive because he has the offensive tools and instincts to be much, much better.
6. Russell Okung, T, Oklahoma State - I love it when teams draft a good tackle, and Okung has the tools to be a good tackle for a long time. Not flashy, but very effective.
7. Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma - The lost year last year is a bit of a concern, but there isn't a smarter QB in the draft. He has a good arm, and he knows exactly what he has to do to win. The QB star of this class.
8. Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech - Pierre-Paul is higher up because he has more upside, but if you were looking for a player to play tomorrow then Morgan would be your guy. He is NFL ready.
9. Joe Haden, CB, Florida - Haden didn't have a great Combine, but he's still the best player in a position of need for many teams. A good corner is highly valued, and Haden is that.
10. C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson - This guy can do anything - run straight ahead, get fancy on his feet, catch a pass, return a kick. The guy is a one-man wrecking crew who will make his new coach look very good.
11. Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan - I watched every game that Graham played in college, and I was constantly in awe. He was stuck on a terrible defense, but there isn't a guy who works harder or gets more done.
12. Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State - He missed most of last season, but in 2008 he was the biggest reason why Oklahoma State was as good as they were. He's versatile and loves to go deep.
13. Bryan Baluga, OT, Iowa - A big, strong, athletic guy who will have a long future as a cornerstone of someone's O-line. He's a prototypical solid lineman.
14. Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama - He's the class of the LB field this year. What's not to like - he's a run stopping beast and a natural leader who is well coached off a great team.
15. Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho - He plays like he hates everyone on the field - even the band. He has helped himself in the Combine because he is massive and impressive.
16. Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida - Some maturity issues will drop him down the board, but he's very athletic for his position - he has four blocked kicks in his career,
17. Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma - Williams could be a left tackle with a little patience, but he could start on the right side for anyone right now. Any team with line needs will be happy.
18. Earl Thomas, S, Texas - Thomas is fast and tough, plays bigger than his size, and has been a key part of a very good defense. Maybe not a superstar, but a reliable starter.
19. Brian Price, DT, UCLA - Price doesn't get the attention of the tackles ahead of him, but he could have a career as good as either of them. He's a beast who is very harder to contain.
20. Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas - Kindle offers versatility to the team that takes him - he's big enough to play defensive end in some systems, but athletic enough, and enough of a leader, to play linebacker.
21. Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee - It's amazing how deep this draft is at DT. In a lot of years Williams would be at the top of the list for the position, but this year he's not even close.
22. Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State - Wilson is a pure playmaker who has played at a very high level at Boise State. It seems odd to see a starter who isn't returning to the Broncos.
23. Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma - He lost last season to a knee injury, but what he accomplished before makes him worthwhile. He blocks well, catches very well, and fights for every play.
24. Taylor Mays, S, USC - Mays wasn't quite as good last year as he was expected to be, but neither was the team around him. He had a very good Combine, and has the tools to be the real deal.
25. Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida - He's the top center in the draft by a wide margin. A team that needs someone to snap the ball will be happy with him.
26. Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland - This guy may not have accomplished what some of the line prospects ahead of him have, but he's absolutely stunning to look at - he has a linebacker body pumped up to OT size.
27. Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State - Yet another strong, impressive DT in this class who is hard to stop, has a non-stop motor, and has the versatility to dominate in a number of ways.
28. Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama - Jackson may wind up as the best corner in the draft. He plays faster than he is, he sticks to receivers like glue, and he's very aware of the play around him.
29. Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers - He's a good size, he's fast, and he has shown good ball instincts through his career. A solid, impressive corner prospect who has a good chance of evolving into a starter.
30. Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech - The most dangerous deep threat in the draft. He had a reception of at least 50 yards in nine of his 13 games last season. He'd be Mike Martz' wet dream.
31. Everson Griffen, DE, USC - Right now Griffen is a stout run-stopper who will help a team plug their holes. With some work he's also be a pretty solid pass rusher.
32. Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State - You can't tackle this guy. He has one of the best stiff arms I have seen, and he bounces up for another charge when most guys would go down. Not flashy, but certainly effective.
33. Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois - He doesn't have the numbers of other receivers, but he measures very well, he has an explosive step, and he is very useful on kick returns.
34. Rob Gronkowski, TE, Arizona - What stands out most for him is his hands. Many tight ends have rock hands, but his are soft like a wide receiver. He catches most things tossed his way, too.
35. Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri - There's one word that accurately describes Weatherspoon - aggressive. He's got a ball radar, and he makes people hurt every time he has the chance.
36. Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida - Pure instinct and great leadership skills make this a guy who could be a real steal in this draft.
37. Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State - The best compliment a cornerback can get is when teams throw at him less. His numbers fell off last year, but that's because teams just didn't throw at hm.
38. Nate Allen, S, South Florida - Allen is a nice playmaker, but what really stands out for him is his willingness to get physical. He seems to thrive on contact - the harder, the better.
39. Jahvid Best, RB, Cal - I don't trust his durability or respect his versatility, but there's no question that few are better when he breaks loose.
40. Charles Brown, OT, USC - He's quite a bit bigger now than he was in college. If he can effectively carry that weight then he could be a long term fixture on the O-line of whoever picks him.
41. Perrish Cox, CB, Oklahoma State - He's a big corner who closes the gap remarkably well if he does get in trouble. He's big enough to be useful against the run as well, and has shown he is capable of doing so.
42. Dezmon Briscoe, WR, Kansas - I love this guy. Three-year starter who didn't miss a game, was a production machine, and gave opponents headaches. Talented when he doesn't have the ball as well.
43. Chad Jones, S, LSU - Nothing stands out when you watch Jones - in a good way. He doesn't make mistakes or get caught, and he just quietly goes about doing his job. A low risk pick.
44. Navorro Bowman, LB, Penn State - Linebacker U has produced yet another good one. He's poetry in motion moving side to side, has strong instincts, and is a true leader.
45. Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame - As this ranking shows, I am not a Clausen fan at all. He has the skills, but I've never seen the toughness and raw desire to go with that.
46. Cam Thomas, DT, North Carolina - Thomas is a monster. He's not the kind of DT that will touch the QB often, but he's a brick wall against the run.
47. Aaron Hernandez, TE, Florida - He catches well and is very dangerous once he has the ball in his hands. Needs to become a better blocker if he wants to be an NFL star.
48. Sean Lee, LB, Penn State - Another prototypical Penn State guys - a great leader with strong work ethic and excellent instincts.
49. Anthony McCoy, TE, USC - A well rounded tight end. He catches well and can run after the catch, but he's equally effective blocking or creating a diversion.
After you finish this NFL article check out our mocking the draft page. When it comes to betting NFL our NFL Schedule Strength feature is a must for any NFL fan. Our /Suicide Pool page is also must read when studding the NFL. Since 1971 Doc's Sports has been recognized as a leader and trusted name in sports handicapping information.
50. Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati - I have him higher than some. He needs some polish, but he's a pure gamer, and I haven't seen many guys ever who work harder after the catch.
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