We are just one day away from one of the most over-hyped, overblown moments in sports: the first round of the NFL Draft. And adding fuel to the hype brushfire this year is the fact that ESPN, in all its self-importance, and the NFL Network will be broadcasting in prime time.
The 2010 NFL Draft will begin at 7:30 p.m. EST on Thursday, April 22 from New York City. It’s Earth Day. And the clowns on both networks will spend about five hours (on top of the last three months of hype) trying to convince you that the draft is the most important thing on it.
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I am curious if the prime time draft will have any impact on draft strategy. I think that most organizations are going to do what they do and will follow the form that they’ve showed in the past. However, I wonder if now that the spotlight is even brighter on these selections it will make teams much more conservative. Just a thought.
(Oh, and the ‘over/under’ on teams that don’t use up their full 10 minutes in the first round is 4.5. These teams are going to milk this for everything it is worth.)
Below is my final 2010 NFL mock draft for Doc’s Sports. I did this one a little differently. This time I projected who each team will select. But I also added the player (or players) that I think each team should pick. The draft never goes the way that people mock it out or think it will go. The main reason is that you can’t predict trades, which there will invariably be. Also, one or two surprises, reaches, or Al Davis selections and the whole house of cards comes down.
So with a day to go, here is Doc’s Sports 2010 NFL Mock Draft Version 3.0:
1. St. Louis Rams
Who they will pick: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
Who they should pick: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
They have a pathetic offensive line, no weapons in the passing game and one of the worst defenses in the NFL. But they’re going with a quarterback. Terrible call. Bradford may be a decent NFL quarterback. He seems extraordinarily accurate and has deceptive physical abilities. But let’s not get carried away. He’s not a consensus No. 1 pick. Not even close. And if there is this much dissent over whether a QB should go No. 1 overall or not then the answer is “not”. Can you name me a decent NFL quarterback from Oklahoma in the last 25 years? That’s because there isn’t one. There’s just no point in reaching here, but that’s what the Rams will do. They could take Suh and then grab Colt McCoy at the top of Round 2.
2. Detroit Lions
Who they will pick: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
Who they should pick: Suh
If Suh is available then I think this is the way to go. I know that they already bolstered the defensive line by adding Kyle Vanden Bosch and Corey Williams. They also already assisted Matt Stafford by giving him weapons at TE and WR as well. So I don’t think they could go wrong by adding top tackle Russell Okung with this pick either. But all I know is this: Suh nearly won the Heisman Trophy as a defensive tackle. He could be the next Warren Sapp. Or better. And for a defense that has been so dreadful can you ever really have too much D-line depth? If Suh is gone, Okung is a perfect consolation prize (and could make up for them passing over Michael Oher last year).
Now this is what I’m talking about. If I were a front office suit I would always look to take the biggest, nastiest lineman I could get my hands on. McCoy fits the bill. (I still like Suh, but whatever.) But here is where the Lions are smart: they signed DT Corey Williams to play DT and they brought in Kyle Vanden Bosch at DE. Those are two talented vets. Then they bring in the rookie freak to play alongside proven veterans. He can learn from them. He won’t have as much pressure on him. And they will do their thing and create opportunities to make plays. That, friends, is how you use the draft. (Still doesn’t forgive that terrible Brandon Pettigrew pick last season; they could have had Michael Oher protecting Matt Stafford’s blind side. That one has to hurt.)
3. Tampa Bay Bucs
Who they will pick: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
Who they should pick: McCoy
I almost feel like this pick is too easy and that this could be the first curveball of the draft. Tampa Bay has so many needs beyond DT that I wouldn’t be stunned no matter what they do. They could use an OT to help protect quarterback Josh Freeman. They need massive secondary help. McCoy has some upside and could contribute right away. But Eric Berry is a sleeper in this spot because of Raheem Morris’ experience as a secondary coach.
4. Washington Redskins
Who they will pick: Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
Who they should pick: Trade Down or Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
The smart money is on Okung. And I wouldn’t argue with that logic. This team’s line has been a disaster and Okung could be a bookend tackle. Plus, teams that have taken linemen early in the draft have experienced some significant turnarounds recently. But they don’t pick again until No. 103 and they could use some more picks. And Mike Shanahan uses undersized offensive linemen and runs a trap-blocking scheme. They have to find linemen that fit that system. If neither Okung – nor any of the other top tackles – fit the mold then I think they could do worse than Berry.
5. Kansas City Chiefs
Who they will pick: Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa
Who they should pick: Bulaga or Berry
The Chiefs are another team that is kind of in a win-win situation. If Berry falls to them it would be a treat. If they pass over Berry and go with Bulaga they would be addressing what I feel is the team’s most pressing need. The No. 2 need is pass rushers. But I don’t think there is anyone at this spot that would justify the value. They could have an interesting decision if Berry goes early and Gerald McCoy is still left on the board. But Bulaga seems “safe” to me. And when you look at all of the huge busts that the Chiefs have had in the last few drafts they need someone that can contribute. Period. And the track record of Big Ten offensive linemen succeeding in the NFL over the last 15 years is solid.
6. Seattle Seahawks
Who they will pick: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
Who they should pick: Berry
I know that I have written that everyone should take Berry. But the reality is that I think he is the No. 2 player in the draft. So why wouldn’t a team want him? Seattle desperately needs an OT to replace retired Walter Jones. But they have two first round picks (also at No. 14) and a high second round pick. Why not get someone like Anthony Davis at No. 14 and, if you’re not satisfied, grab another OT with a second rounder? Because as bad as the O-line was last year, the defense wasn’t much better.
7. Cleveland Browns
Who they will pick: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
Who they should pick: Berry or Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
A lot of people think that the Browns could be in the market for Jimmy Clausen. But Mike Holmgren has never used a first round pick on a quarterback. The Browns have been turning over the roster and I can’t say I’m 100 percent sure where his head is at. But Berry would be a gift this late. If not, the Browns played last year with one of the worst collection of skill position players I’ve ever seen. First round wideouts have a high bust rate. But when your top options are Mo Massaquoi and Mike Furrey what option do you have?
8. Oakland Raiders
Who they will pick: Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland (or Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, USF)
Who they should pick: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers or Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
Who knows what Al Davis is going to do? I’m certain that even Davis doesn’t know right now. Campbell and Pierre-Paul fit the mold of what Davis has done: reach for physical specimens. But the Raiders definitely need offensive line help. And I don’t think they are smart enough to know that they could probably get Campbell at the top of Round 2. So they should take a top defensive lineman and generally get the best player available. (Don’t rule out Bryant if he’s still on the board.)
9. Buffalo Bills
Who they will pick: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers
Who they should pick: Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
I think Davis is a little too raw to be a Top 10 pick. I think that they could get someone comparable in talent and upside in Round 2. Plus, they had the youngest offensive line in the NFL last year. Do they really need another green tackle? No. They need to rebuild their defense and get it to a level to compete in what has become a rugged AFC. If they take Jimmy Clausen I’m going to laugh my ass off. But then again, they did bring in Chan Gailey, which has already doomed them to four years of mediocrity.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars
Who they will pick: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
Who they should pick: Earl Thomas, S, Texas
The Jaguars picked up Aaron Kampman and still have a lot invested in Derrick Harvey. But I don’t think they can address their biggest needs at this slot so don’t rule out this team trading down. Also, watch for Joe Haden. He’s considered the best corner out there and they could use him. If Bryant somehow lasted this long the Jags should be sprinting to the podium.
11. Denver Broncos
Who they will pick: Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama
Who they should pick: McClain
Don’t sleep on the Broncos trading up or down out of this spot. They have been wheeling and dealing all offseason. They added Brady Quinn and still have Kyle Orton so they are set at quarterback (for now). They did add Jamal Williams but he is injury prone and aging so they still need a DT. But I think they can get good value in Round 2 at that slot. They need a center but can’t take one here. So they go with the best linebacker on the board, addressing a need and getting a quality player.
12. Miami Dolphins
Who they will pick: Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
Who they should pick: Sergio Kindle, OLB, Texas or Earl Thomas
They could use a pass rusher and there is no doubt in my mind that Sergio Kindle is a Parcells type of player. And Thomas would address a need. But we’ll go with Williams here. And the thinking is the same as I feel Denver should use: they have aging, breaking down tackle Jason Ferguson at the crux of the 3-4. Grab a talented rookie and let him split time with former Pro Bowler. They no longer have a second round pick so they need to make this one count.
13. San Francisco 49ers
Who they will pick: Joe Haden, CB, Florida
Who they should pick: Earl Thomas
This one is pretty basic: they need a corner and they can get the best one available. Why make it more complicated? I think that Earl Thomas would be good value and would fit a need here. But as long as they address the secondary here, offensive tackle later, and then they get more pass rush at OLB they will have a solid draft.
14. Seattle Seahawks
Who they will pick: Earl Thomas, S, Texas
Who they should pick: Everson Griffen, DE, USC
Seattle is in an interesting spot here. If they go with an OT with their first pick and still have Thomas fall to them that would be a bonanza. If they were to follow my advice and take Berry, were he still around, then they could upgrade their feeble pass rush with a former USC guy for new coach Pete Carroll. Or, if Haden were to slip they could go there as well. Their first pick is, obviously, the determinant. But they need a DE to replace retired Pat Kerney and they could do worse than Griffen.
15. N.Y. Giants
Who they will pick: Sean Witherspoon, ILB, Missouri
Who they should pick: Sergio Kindle, OLB, Texas
I have to admit: I have no idea what Giants GM Jerry Reese is looking for or what he’ll do here. C.J. Spiller is a name I’ve seen floated. And if one of the top secondary players were still around that would be a nice way to go. But I just really like Kindle’s physicality and think he would fit right in with the G-Men. I like Jon Goff, the current MLB starter now that Antonio Pierce is gone. But Witherspoon projects well as a 4-3 middleman and fits a need. Regardless, I think they just need to find someone to bolster the front seven.
16. Tennessee Titans
Who they will pick: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida
Who they should pick: Pierre-Paul or Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech
I feel like there is a lot of depth at defense end. But the Titans are so desperate for help on the defensive line that they would have to pounce on Pierre-Paul if he lasted this long. I am wary of one-year wonders in college, so I don’t know if I would grab the guy. But people are comparing him to a young Jevon Kearse. That worked out well for Tennessee. This club has an awful lot of holes (DE, DT, OLB, WR) for a team that is just 16 months removed from being the AFC’s No. 1 seed.
17. San Francisco 49ers
Who they will pick: C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
Who they should pick: Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State
This is another really interesting pick. If I’m San Fran, I’m looking to trade down out of this spot for a team that may want to jump up to get Clausen, Spiller, or someone else. And this is why I think that they should take Earl Thomas with their first pick, because there are several good corners that they can get here. There probably isn’t an offensive tackle worth reaching for here. Maybe Bruce Campbell if the Raiders don’t bite. Or, if no one wants to trade, no OTs are around, they already have a CB, and Thomas is gone, I could see them picking up Clausen for themselves.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers
Who they will pick: Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State
Who they should pick: Anyone
The Steelers have a ton of different directions they could go. They definitely need a cornerback. But they also could use help along the defensive line. But with no top tier talents left they can wait and address that in the later rounds. This team could grab Spiller, if he was around, and they definitely need to rebuild the offensive line. Along with the Giants, this is the team I think I have the least amount of “feel” for in terms of what and who they are looking for.
19. Atlanta Falcons
Who they will pick: Brandon Graham, DE/OLB, Michigan
Who they should pick: Taylor Mays, S, USC or Kindle or Witherspoon
I am a fan of Mays and I think the Falcons have a big hole at safety. Also, Witherspoon, Kindle or a corner would give them added flexibility and upgrade any of those positions. But they only mustered 28 sacks last year and they need to address the pass rush. I am not high on Graham at all but scouts have projected him even higher than this.
20. Houston Texans
Who they will pick: Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama
Who they should pick: Jackson or Mays
They lost Dunta Robinson to Atlanta so they are desperate for secondary help. They still could use a safety as well. This pick has to be a back four player.
21. Cincinnati Bengals
Who they will pick: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
Who they should pick: Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho, Mays, Any CB
This is another team that just does dumb things on draft day, so who really knows where their head is? I don’t think that Mays would be a bad choice and I think they need to keep stockpiling defensive players, especially in the secondary. They’ve used a bunch of picks on the O-Line so I would be a bit surprised to see them to back there. But Iupati would give them a lot of value. And their line still stunk last year so it still needs help. I am never, ever a fan of taking a TE in the first round.
22. New England Patriots
Who they will pick: Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho
Who they should pick: Kindle
The Patriots have to upgrade and get younger on the offensive line. It has been at the heart of their success for a decade but is showing signs of weakness. Maurkice Pouncey is an option as well. Because looking at the pass rush that the Jets have built the last place the Pats can afford to be weak is on the line. That said, their defense stinks. They need to get some edge back and they need to regain their physicality. I think Kindle would be a perfect fit.
23. Green Bay Packers
Who they will pick: Charles Brown, OT, USC
Who they should pick: Brown or Kindle or CB
Their need is clearly at tackle. Brown is a bit of a reach, but their tackles were a joke last year so what options do they have? Kindle would be a nice replacement for Kampman and they definitely need to get younger in the secondary. The Packers have options. The trouble is that at this point it’s about whom they have scouted out and projected as the best future pro.
24. Philadelphia Eagles
Who they will pick: Maurkice Pouncey, C/OG, Florida
Who they should pick: Pouncey or CB
The Eagles love taking offensive linemen in Round 1 and they are getting nice value here. Philly released Shawn Andrews and center Jamaal Jackson tore his ACL in December. That leaves them a little thin up front. And when you trade the franchise quarterback to go with an unproven guy like Kevin Kolb the last thing you want is for the young QB to be running for his life. If they don’t go with someone on the line they desperately need a cornerback.
25. Baltimore Ravens
Who they will pick: Everson Griffen, DE, USC
Who they should pick: Odrick or Kindle
Due to defections in the offseason the Ravens are a little thin on the line all of a sudden. I think their defense took an obvious step back last year and that they need to bolster the front seven. And like the rest of the teams at the back of the first round they could use more corner help.
26. Arizona Cardinals
Who they will pick: Sergio Kindle, OLB, Texas
Who they should pick: Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers
There is no way that Kindle will fall this far. I have too many other teams that I think “should” pick him and one of them will. But if he were on the board he would be a nice rebuilding piece for the Cards. I actually am not sure if McCourty will be around either because of all of the teams that need corner help. But same deal: if he is it’s solid value and it addresses a need. Arizona has lost a lot of talent in the last two offseasons. They really can’t miss with this pick.
27. Dallas Cowboys
Who they will pick: Jerry Hughes, OLB, TCU
Who they should pick: Bruce Campbell
Dallas has only drafted one OL in the last 21 years (Steve Wisniewski) so this would be a break from the norm for them. But they need to find a replacement for Flozell Adams. I have the Raiders reaching for Campbell. But if he were to fall he is the type of load the Cowboys love on their line. Hughes doesn’t fit a need. And it’s next to impossible to predict what the Cowboys will do here without knowing who is on the board. I think they obviously need OL help, followed by safety help, followed by pass rushing.
28. San Diego Chargers
Who they will pick: Ryan Matthews, RB, Fresno State
Who they should pick: Matthews
The Chargers are obviously in the market for a running back and they know all about what Matthews can do since he is local. I think this team definitely needs to get Terrance Cody in Round 2 to replace Jamal Williams. Nose tackle is a pressing need for this group.
29. N.Y. Jets
Who they will pick: Jared Odrick, DL, Penn State
Who they should pick: Odrick
It’s been a dizzying offseason for the Jets and I don’t think anyone can say they know where the front office is looking with this selection. But they are aging a bit on the defensive line and could use some energy up there. Odrick just seems like the type of guy that Rex Ryan built his defense in Baltimore around: athletic, high-motor workers that would do the dirty work.
30. Minnesota Vikings
Who they will take: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
Who they should take: Jahvid Best, RB, Cal
It would be hard to argue with taking Clausen here if he were still around. I have zero faith in him developing into a top-notch NFL quarterback and I wouldn’t want him on my team. But considering the sketchy situation that the Vikes have under center right now I guess I can think of worse long-term plans. I think Best is a stud and injuries slowed him down last year. They lost Chet Taylor. So with the same idea they could build for the future by taking a quality RB here. The Vikings definitely need secondary help but there is no value at reaching for someone here.
31. Indianapolis Colts
Who they will take: Brian Price, DT, UCLA
Who they should take: Whoever They Want
Who am I to critique whoever the Colts take? Carlos Dunlap and Sean Lee are potentials here, as is someone like Campbell if he slips. They could use another OT but I think they will be a bit gun-shy about reaching for someone.
32. New Orleans Saints
Who they will take: Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida
Who they should take: Tyson Alualu, DT, Cal
This might be a bit of a reach but the Saints need some help at end and at outside linebacker. As long as they continue to build their front seven this will be a good pick.