2010 NFL Mock Draft

Last Updated: February 3, 2010
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com

Things are about to change drastically in the NFL as far as free agency goes next month, as the league enters into an "uncapped" year. As I understand it, there will be free agency restrictions for the final eight teams remaining in the playoffs going into this weekend, and there are all kinds of stipulations and rules for the uncapped 2010 season that I am still doing my best to learn about and understand.

One change unrelated to the uncapped year is that, unlike in years past, teams that miss the playoffs draft ahead of playoff teams, avoiding awkward situations like last year where the 8-8 Chargers not only got into the playoffs over the 11-5 Patriots, but also drafted ahead of them.

Two pairs of non-playoff draft spots remain to be determined: #10/11 (Broncos or Jaguars) and #16/17 (49ers or Titans); those will be set via coin flip at some point this off-season.

Note that this latest update includes the removal of Tim Tebow from the first round mock. Tebow is a major lightning rod player, the ultimate "X-Factor" who could go anywhere from the top ten to the third round. His shaky performance at both the Senior Bowl practices and the Senior Bowl game itself makes me think he won't go in round one.

2010 NFL Mock Draft

But the trend almost across the board is to connect Suh with the Rams at #1. And, while the Rams have used several high picks on defense in recent years, DT Adam Carriker has struggled at times and faced serious injury problems. Carriker's contract runs out after 2011, and there are some who believe that Carriker would start the season as a backup behind Suh and Clifton Ryan if the Rams in fact do take Suh at #1.

It will be interesting to see what the Rams do at quarterback. Will they like any of the QBs who might be on the board at #33? Do they hope to obtain a strong backup (like Kevin Kolb) via a trade? Will they look to free agency? There are many variables yet to be filled on that end.

2. Detroit Lions - Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma ~
It would be interesting what, if anything, the Lions would give up to trade to the top spot to land Suh. If that doesn't happen, it's fortunate for Detroit fans that another strong DT will be available in the form of McCoy. He is similar in both height and weight to Suh, and while he doesn't have Suh's freakish athleticism, McCoy has shown great skill at both stuffing the run and also forcing pressure on the quarterback from the interior defensive line spot.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Eric Berry, SS, Tennessee ~
Believe the hype -- Berry is a world-class athlete who plays the strong safety position with great skill. He can make an interception as easily as he can lay a knee-buckling hit on an opponent, and expectations are very high for him as a pro football prospect. He'd fill a big need for the Buccaneers defense if he lands in Tampa Bay.

4. Washington Redskins - Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma ~
Barring complications with recovery from the surgery he had to repair his injured right shoulder, Bradford should be on track to be ready to go by the time NFL training camps open next summer. There is a slim chance that Bradford could opt to return to the Sooners in 2010, but he has indicated that the only way that will happen is if there is a setback in his shoulder rehab work.

5. Kansas City Chiefs - Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma St.
At this point Okung appears to be the top offensive tackle prospect in the draft. There are some who fear that Okung's mechanics could cost him to slide a bit in the draft, but there's no doubting his size, strength, or work ethic. Kansas City used a first round pick on Branden Albert in 2008, but Albert showed some signs of regression with the Chiefs this past season, and I've heard whispers of Albert being moved to either right tackle or the guard position if the Chiefs can bring a top-notch offensive tackle to protect Matt Cassel's blind side.

6. Seattle Seahawks - Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, USF ~
While George Selvie drew a great deal of attention during his time at South Florida, it was fellow defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (who spent only one year at USF) who has made his move to be a bona fide first round prospect. His hype is built on his potential and athleticism, and this would be a bit of a reach for the Seahawks. But Seattle needs help on its defensive line, and a powerful playmaker like Pierre-Paul would be a solid addition to the tean.

7. Cleveland Browns - Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame ~
The irony of Clausen ending up on the Browns with former Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn would be striking, but Clausen fits a huge need for the Browns: a player who can effectively run a west-coast offensive sysytem. Keep in mind that Eric Mangini saw his former team, the Jets, make it to the AFC Championship game with a rookie signal-caller under center.

8. Oakland Raiders - Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida ~
Dunlap has faced all kinds of double-teaming and attention from opposing offenses that have been determined to make sure that Dunlap doesn't get to their quarterback. Dunlap is 6'6", weighs 295 pounds, and has amazing closing speed. That rare mix of size and speed that is sure to draw Dunlap all kind of attention from teams near the top of the draft board. And, while there are some who have knocked him because of a perceived laid-back attitude (and his DUI arrest won't help that), Dunlap has the athleticism to be an elite NFL defensive end. He is very much an Al Davis kind of prospect.

9. Buffalo Bills - Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers ~
Davis is a mammoth human being at 6'6" 325 pounds, and he was one of the most prized football recruits to ever attend Rutgers. He lived up to the billing with the Scarlet Knights, opening holes early on for Ray Rice and finishing his time in New Jersey strong (and healthy) with starts in 21 of his final 22 games. This may be perceived as a bit of a stretch pick by some, but the Bills need help and Davis has the physical tools to make a big impact for Buffalo.

10/11. Jacksonville Jaguars - Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma St. ~
Bryant is arguably the most talented wide receiver prospect who will be in the draft. The "lying to the NCAA" incident cost Bryant his college eligibility, but for Jacksonville he could be a strong pickup at this position. The Jaguars would benefit greatly by adding Bryant to their roster. Note that I intentionally moved Jacksonville ahead of Denver in the 10/11 coin flip scenario to illustrate that I think that they will NOT draft Tim Tebow. Teams don't draft players because they expect them to be regional drawing cards; this isn't minor league football.

10/11. Denver Broncos (from Chicago) - Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama ~
McClain is a gifted playmaker who was one of many reasons that the Crimson Tide won the BCS Title. He is skilled at reading plays, making tackles, and securing more tackles for loss than your typical inside linebacker. He is already proven as a strong commodity at ILB in a 3-4 defense, and he could fill that spot quite well for the Broncos.

12. Miami Dolphins - Joe Haden, CB, Florida *
Haden is a remarkably talented cover corner, a speedy playmaker who typically has been matched up with the best receiver in each game on Florida's schedule. Haden is beginning to separate himself from the rest of the cornerback pack, and he could end up knocking on the door of the top ten of the draft if he can maintain his momentum.

13. San Francisco 49ers - Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa ~
It's unusual in some respects that the 49ers would target an offensive tackle in the first round, as the team already has talented Joe Staley under contract literally through 2018. But when Staley went down with a knee injury midway through this season, it exposed the lack of depth of the team's offensive line, particularly at the right tackle position. Bulaga is young but is highly regarded because of his size and potential, and adding him into the mix in San Francisco could help the 49ers improve their chances for the long-term.

14. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver) - C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
The running game in Seattle hasn't been the same since the team parted ways with Shaun Alexander. Spiller is an exciting playmaker with world-class speed. With the NFL being a copycat league, and seeing how much success the Titans have had with ultra-fast RB Chris Johnson, it wouldn't surprise me at all to see the Seahawks select Spiller in this spot.

15. New York Giants - Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho
The Giants don't have many glaring needs, but one spot that the team could use help at is on its interior offensive line. Iupati has been a dominating force for the Vandals, generally overpowering his competition and looking as impressive as any interior offensive lineman in the mix for 2010.

16/17. San Francisco 49ers (from Carolina) - Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State
Robinson has battled some injury issues at FSU this season, but when healthy he is speedy and skilled at corner. The 49ers paid huge money to lure away Nate Clements from Buffalo a couple of years ago, but adding a player like Robinson would help Mike Singletary's crew improve a key position on defense.

16/17. Tennessee Titans - Jerry Hughes, DE/OLB, TCU
The contract for Titans DE Kyle Vanden Bosch expires after the season, but the franchise tag will likely be used if necessary to keep him in Nashville. But Vander Bosch turns 32 later this year, and it looks like now would be a good time for the Titans to bring in a talented young defensive end prospect.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers - Greg Hardy, DE/OLB, Ole Miss
It would be interesting to see Hardy playing OLB in a 3-4 defense after being used mostly as a 4-3 DE at Mississippi, but Hardy is the kind of player with the talent and the playmaking skills to potentially make that transition quite successfully. Injury prematurely ended Hardy's season, but when he's healthy he's among the best in college football at tracking down ball carriers.

19. Atlanta Falcons - Perrish Cox, CB, Oklahoma St.
The highlight of 2009 for Cox was making a pair of interceptions in OK State's win over Texas Tech. Another bonus with Cox is his skill at kick returning, which could help him elevate out of the cornerback prospects in the round 1-2 range.

20. Houston Texans - Donovan Warren, CB, Michigan ~
Warren has already announced that he plans to leave Ann Arbor early and enter the 2010 NFL Draft. The Texans used the franchise tag on talented cornerback Dunta Robinson last year, and while it seems unlikely that the team would let Robinson get away this off-season, it doesn't change the reality of the team needing another cornerback prospect.

21. Cincinnati Bengals - Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame
There's a ton of personal bias for me toward Golden Tate -- he's from the Nashville area, I've known about him since he was in high school (his alma mater and mine are rivals), and I've followed his career at Notre Dame closely. Originally recruited as a running back, Charlie Weis (for all his faults) and his staff saw the potential in Tate as a wide receiver and moved him to that spot with great results.

Tate is perceived by some as being undersized, but having him alongside Chad Ochocinco could create all kinds of possibilities for the Bengals, who lost WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh to free agency in February 2009 and then lost WR Chris Henry to a tragic accidental death in December 2009. Perhaps Tate will fall out of round one, but he has big play ability and great hands, which makes me think he will be snatched up somewhere toward the bottom of the first round.

22. New England Patriots - Jahvid Best, RB, Cal ~
Laurence Maroney has not panned out as the Patriots had hoped he would, and his contract expires after the 2010 season. Kevin Faulk will also be entering the final year of his contract in 2010, and he'll also be turning 34 in June. Best is an athletic playmaker who would be a strong addition to the Patriots' backfield.

23. Green Bay Packers - Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
It's been tough to get a read on where Williams might go in the draft. Some see Williams as the second-best offensive tackle prospect (behind Russell Okung), but others don't see him being an especially standout prospect. He would fill a huge need for the Packers, whose patchwork offensive line has had trouble keeping Aaron Rodgers upright at QB at times this season.

24. Philadelphia Eagles - Brandon Spikes, ILB, Florida
The Eagles had an inordinate amount of injury problems at linebacker in 2009, including the early-season loss of MLB Stewart Bradley to a torn ACL in his left knee. Bradley will be back in 2010, but that's the final year of his contract, and Spikes is an immensely talented linebacker who would be a solid addition for Philadelphia.

25. New York Jets - Corey Wootton, DE, Northwestern
Corey Wootton is a mountain of a man at 6'7" 270 pounds. He would be an ideal fit for a 3-4 defense as a space-filling run stuffer who can also open blitzing lanes for outside linebackers and safeties, and he would add youth to a position that is showing age with the Jets.

26. Baltimore Ravens - Brandon LaFell, WR, LSU
LaFell is a superb wideout who has thrived in the spotlight in Baton Rouge. Derrick Mason teased retirement before coming back for 2009, but regardless on Mason's plans for 2010, the Ravens would be wise to bring in a player of LaFell's caliber.

27. Arizona Cardinals - Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
Injury deep-sixed Gresham's season almost before it began, but people with memories of 2008 and before know that Gresham is a serious receiving threat who can also block well and do basically anything you'd want out of a tight end. Adding another viable receiving threat to Arizona's offense would be a frightening prospect for the rest of the NFC West.

28. Dallas Cowboys - Taylor Mays, FS, USC
Opinions on Mays vary across the board, but he is an extremely athletic playmaker. With the proper coaching and opportunity to learn, Mays has the potential to be a long-term playmaker in the NFL. There are some who see Mays falling out of the first round altogether, and while that is possible, I think that Mays will impress onlookers at his workouts with his almost freakish athleticism and playmaking ability. Dallas hasn't had the production out of current free safety Ken Hamlin that some has expected, and it's possible that the team could cut Hamlin this off-season (to avoid salary cap ramifications in an uncapped year plus relieve the team of his high base salary) and bring Mays on board to help fill the void.

29. Minnesota Vikings - Brandon Ghee, CB, Wake Forest
Ghee has shown the ability to defend taller receivers quite nicely. With the Vikings possibly losing multiple cornerbacks to free agency after the season, a player like Ghee makes sense for them at this spot.

30. San Diego Chargers - Terrence Cody, NT, Alabama
I think higher of Cody than some others, particularly those who see him as a one-dimensional player. But Cody is anything but that -- he is easily the most intriguing 3-4 NT prospect to come through this season. He played only two years at Alabama, but the huge Cody is an ideal prospect for any team running a 3-4 defense that needs a star nose tackle. Cody isn't just a space-filler; his two blocked field goals against the University of Tennessee helped the Crimson Tide make it to the SEC Championship Game with an undefeated record.

31. New Orleans Saints - Sergio Kindle, OLB, Texas
Is this the year that the Saints finally draft an outside linebacker in round one? If so, Kindle could be a great addition to a team that already has an elite MLB with Jonathan Vilma. Adding him to the weakside would be rather intriguing for the Saints.

32. Indianapolis Colts - Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan
Graham had a fantastic showing at the Senior Bowl, and he would be a bit of a steal at this point. It's true that the Colts have two excellent defensive ends in the form of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, but Freeney turns 30 later this month and Mathis turns 29 later this month. Both players have two years remaining on their respective contracts, but the chance to add Graham might give the Colts some latitude as far as keeping both Freeney and Mathis around for 2011 (and give the team depth at the spot in the short-term).

* indicates player with NCAA eligibility for 2010 who may opt to enter the 2010 NFL Draft
~ indicates player with NCAA eligibility for 2010 who has either declared for the 2010 NFL Draft or who has signed with an agent

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