2010 NFL Mock Draft

Last Updated: March 5, 2010
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com

Anticipate plenty of action in the next week, though with the larger-than-normal restricted free agent class, it's unclear how teams will handle RFAs. The so-called "poison pill" contract battle between Seattle and Minnesota in 2006 with transition tagged players has not been repeated since then for either the transition tag or any restricted free agents, but there is no rule against it being used.

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.

Coin flips broke three ties for the upcoming draft: Jacksonville (#10) ahead of Denver's pick acquired from Chicago (#11); Tennessee (#16) ahead of San Francisco's pick acquired from Carolina (#17); Atlanta (#19) ahead of Houston (#20).

2010 NFL Mock Draft

2. Detroit Lions - Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
The Lions seem very likely to draft a defensive tackle in this spot, and if Suh is on the board when they pick, he would likely be a no-brainer selection for the Lions. Suh has rare athleticism for his size and position, something that would be a huge boost for Detroit. If Suh isn't on the board here, then the Lions could instead select Oklahoma DT Gerald McCoy.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma ~
The days of Tampa Bay dominating in the middle of its defensive line with Warren Sapp and Anthony McFarland are long gone, and the Bucs very desperately need a top-flight defensive tackle. The odds of Suh falling to this point are slim, but if the Rams go with a QB at #1, it would ensure that Tampa Bay could land either Suh or McCoy at this point. McCoy is almost identical in height and weight to Suh, but he doesn't have Suh's unusual athleticism. But McCoy, like Suh, can both stuff the run and also pressure the quarterback, a rare trait at the DT spot.

4. Washington Redskins - Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma St.
It would seem entirely possible that the Redskins would draft Bradford if he was available at #4. If he's not on the board, it's possible that the team could target Jimmy Clausen, though offensive line is an issue in Washington with the retirement of Chris Samuels. Okung would be a great addition to the team, a strong prospect who has managed to stay at the top of most offensive tackle ranking lists.

5. Kansas City Chiefs - Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers ~
It would be ideal for Kansas City to land Okung at this spot, though Davis is also a very impressive prospect in his own right. 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 - Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame ~
Seattle has two picks in the top half of the first round, giving the team plenty of options to fill need spots with top-notch players. Opinions of Clausen vary considerably; some see him as the top QB prospect in the draft, while others have questioned his ability in the clutch and his capacity to become a star NFL quarterback. It all depends on how Pete Carroll evaluates the situation, but Clausen joining Seattle to learn under Matt Hasselbeck could be a way for Seattle to shore up its quarterback spot long-term.

7. Cleveland Browns - Eric Berry, SS, Tennessee ~
Berry is a possible top five pick, and him falling to Cleveland at this spot would be a most beneficial thing for the Browns. Since returning to the NFL in 1999, the Browns have lacked a playmaking safety, a role that Berry could fill quite well. He showed in college that he has elite ability, and Berry should have every opportunity to put that ability to use on the gridiron on the NFL level.

8. Oakland Raiders - Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, USF ~
As evidenced last year, Raiders owner Al Davis is not afraid of using big picks on freakishly talented (but very raw) players. Pierre-Paul only played one year of FBS football, making a huge impression last fall at South Florida. The Raiders could use a young player like Pierre-Paul on its defensive line, and over time he has the potential to develop into something very special in the NFL.

9. Buffalo Bills - Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama ~
The Bills are in the midst of switching to a 3-4 defense. McClain played in a 3-4 defense at Alabama and handle the ILB position exceptionally well. He projects highest as a 3-4 ILB, which happens to be a spot that the Bills could benefit greatly from filling.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars - Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
In 2009 the Jaguars had a tough time generating much pressure from the defensive end position. Morgan, who had 12 1/2 sacks in 2009, would help in that regard. His 6'3" 265 pound frame should be sufficient to allow him to bring the heat from the outside on the pro level.

11. Denver Broncos (from Chicago) - Sergio Kindle, DE/OLB, Texas
Adding a star-quality OLB to the team's 3-4 defense would make the Broncos stronger, to be sure, and Kindle has the potential to be a very sucessful pro in that spot.

12. Miami Dolphins - Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma St. ~
Question marks surround Bryant at the moment, with him missing most of the 2009 season and then not working out at the combine. But he remains the near-consensus top WR prospect out there, and he would be a solid addition to the Dolphins receiving corps.

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 - Brian Price, DT, UCLA
The Giants signed free agent safety Antrell Rolle earlier today, making him the highest-paid safety in the league. Another major need for the Giants exists on its interior defensive line, and a prospect like Price, who was the 2009 Pac-10 defensive player of the year and a dominant force on the line for the Bruins. He'd be a good fit here for the Giants.

16. Tennessee Titans - Everson Griffen, DE, USC ~
With Kyle Vanden Bosch gone to Detroit via free agency and Javon Kearse not coming back for 2010 (in all likelihood), the Titans would be well-advised to target the DE position with its first round pick. Griffen is 6'3" 265, and he had a streak last year of six consecutive games with at least one QB sack.

17. San Francisco 49ers (from Carolina) - Earl Thomas, S, Texas ~
Very few players leave the University of Texas early to enter the NFL (with Vince Young and Jamaal Charles being exceptions), but Thomas is one of the select few who managed to be tempted away from Mack Brown and the city of Austin for an opportunity in pro football.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers - Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho
Protecting Ben Roethlisberger from defensive pressure should be a priority for the Steelers in 2010, and drafting Iupati would help in that regard. He's not nearly as high-profile as other prospects out there, but Iupati played some impressive ball for Idaho and has the physical skills to be a success in the NFL for years.

19. Atlanta Falcons - Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida ~
With the Falcons signing Dunta Robinson today, the team filled a rather large need at cornerback. This should allow the team to concentrate on its front seven, particularly the defensive end position. The Falcons used the #8 overall pick in 2007 on DE Jamaal Anderson, and while he has been steady he's also been unspectacular. There is talk that Anderson might be moved to defensive tackle, which would open the door for Atlanta to take a shot at Dunlap. There's no questioning Dunlap's ability, but there are some observers who see Dunlap as a boom-or-bust type player.

20. Houston Texans - Joe Haden, CB, Florida ~
There are some concerns about Haden's 40 time from the combine, but despite those concerns he remains at the top of most cornerback prospect charts. This would represent a bit of a slide for Haden compared with earlier projections, but he'd fit a major need for Houston, which just lost Dunta Robinson to the Falcons via free agency.

21. Cincinnati Bengals - Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame
Youth at wide receiver is a major need for the Bengals, and even though the team signed former Jaguars WR Matt Jones to a contract, the idea seems to be that Jones will be used as a tight end (a need spot for the Bengals which should help them perform better against 3-4 defenses in 2010). Even if Terrell Owens signs in Cincinnati, the team needs to invest in its future at wide receiver. Tate is speedy, athletic, and a good character person from everything I've ever heard about him, going back to his high school days in the Nashville area.

22. New England Patriots - Brandon Graham, OLB/DE, Michigan
Graham impressed onlookers at the Senior Bowl, and he would fill a need spot for the Patriots as an OLB in their 3-4 defense. Graham has the potential to become a great NFL player.

23. Green Bay Packers - Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland ~
One of the big surprises for novices coming out of the combine was the lightning-quick 40 time posted by Campbell at 4.85. But people who know Maryland football have been aware of Campbell and his workout warrior reputation. The Packers signed Chad Clifton to a new contract recently, but the team desperately needs an injection of youth to its offensive line. Campbell could provide a boost to a unit that had trouble at times protecting QB Aaron Rodgers in 2009.

24. Philadelphia Eagles - Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State
Robinson might not have ideal size for a corner, but he looked impressive against a variety of skilled wide receivers. The Eagles have a number of options at this spot, and there are variables still to be worked out for them (such as what will happen with their QB situation), but adding Robinson would help to make the team's secondary stronger.

25. Baltimore Ravens - Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
Todd Heap has suffered from multiple injuries in recent years, and a very talented tight end like Gresham could fill that role quite nicely. Gresham, himself an injury victim in 2009, would likely have been a top ten selection if he had played a full season. As it is, he would represent the biggest first-round tight end steal since Heath Miller if he was to slide to this spot.

26. Arizona Cardinals - Taylor Mays, FS, USC
Antrel Rolle has signed with the Giants and OLB Karlos Dansby has signed with the Dolphins. That's a tough one-two combo for Cardinals fans, particularly on the same day that the team traded Anquan Bolden, but that's life in the NFL. Drafting Mays would fill a hole created in the secondary by Rolle's departure, and while there are some questions about Mays as a top-tier prospect, he's an athletic, talented playmaker who can break up a pass as easily as he can separate the receiver from the ball with a perfectly-timed, bone-crushing hit.

27. Dallas Cowboys - Donovan Warren, CB, Michigan ~
A bright spot on a team that struggled in 2009, Warren is a talented corner who would give useful depth to the Cowboys. Yes, Dallas already has Terence Newman and Mike Jenkins, but Newman turns 32 this year and has a very high base salary not only for 2010 ($9 million) but also for 2011-2014. Adding Warren would allow Dallas to work him into the mix slowly, learn from two solid pros in Newman and Jenkins, and potentially end up replacing Newman if he becomes a salary casualty.

28. San Diego Chargers - Terrence Cody, NT, Alabama
The Chargers parted ways with NT Jamal Williams earlier this month, and they could replace him with an ideal prototypical 3-4 nose tackle in the form of Cody. He only played two years at Alabama, but Cody's mammoth size helped him to plug the middle and force teams playing the Crimson Tide to gameplan around him. He slimmed up a bit for the combine and might end up going higher than this spot. He represents a bargain for the Chargers (in my estimation) at this position.

29. New York Jets - Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois
Benn is an athletic, tall wide receiver who would be a great addition to the Jets. He is a bit raw, but with proper coaching and time he has the potential to become a playmaker for the Jets.

30. Minnesota Vikings - Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
Pat Williams and Kevin Williams have been outstanding at defensive tackle for Minnesota, but time is taking its toll on both players. Adding another Williams at defensive tackle might sound comical, but there's no doubt that a player with Dan Williams' size and strength would be a strong addition to the team. Moreover, Pat Williams turns 38 this year and is in the final year of his contract. There is also the issue of the StarCaps case, which if the NFL wins would allow a pending four-game suspension for Pat and Kevin to go into effect -- and leave the Vikings quite vulnerable on its interior defensive line.

31. Indianapolis Colts - Maurkice Pouncey, C/OG, Florida ~
Protecting Peyton Manning has been a top priority in Indianapolis for some time now, and adding Pouncey to the mix should work to help with that. Pouncey proved himself against talent in the SEC during his college career, and he's built on that with an overall positive showing thus far in the weeks leading up to the NFL Draft.

32. New Orleans Saints - Sean Witherspoon, OLB, Missouri
It looks like that OLB Scott Fujita will be leaving as a free agent. In a move that ultimately worked out well, Saints head coach Sean Payton signed both Fujita and Scott Shanle as free agents the off-season following all three being in Dallas (with Payton working as an assistant coach there). Putting Witherspoon in this slot makes sense, and he could help the team out right away.

* 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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