Alen Dumonjic’s Mock Draft (v1.0) – 18/4/2010
1. Rams – Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
Sam Bradford going number one overall is a given at this point. The Rams need a quarterback, they released Marc Bulger and have very few, if any, quarterbacks that are starting material on their roster. Bradford would help sell some tickets as well as be the face of the franchise.
2. Lions – Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
Some think Okung could be the pick here but when you have an elite talent available to you, you take it. I’m not saying Okung is not elite but he’s not in Suh’s category either. Suh would help finish the overhaul of the defensive line, which now features free agent acquisitions Kyle Vanden Bosch and Corey Williams. The Lions can wait until the second round to address their blindside woes.
3. Buccaneers – Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
The Buccaneers have been looking for an under tackle since the departure of Warren Sapp years ago. McCoy may be the answer for them here because he’s got great quickness off the line of scrimmage and does a good job penetrating into the backfield.
4. Redskins – Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
The first surprise for the 2010 NFL Draft, the Redskins take Trent Williams of Oklahoma. Williams has been a riser since the Combine and his athleticism fits the zone blocking scheme better than Russell Okung.
5. Chiefs – Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma St.
Okung continues the run on talent from the state of Oklahoma. He is a very good pass blocker and a safe pick. The move would allow the Chiefs to move Branden Albert to the right side or to his natural position of left guard and it could provide a nice set of bookends for the Chiefs.
6. Seahawks – CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson
Pete Carroll loves fast running backs that can take it to distance at any time and that have great open field vision. Spiller fits that to perfectly and his addition would add a much needed spark to the Seahawks offense.
7. Browns – Eric Berry, FS, Tennessee
The Browns could go with a quarterback here and I really wanted to put Clausen here but I’m still not sold on the idea of Holmgren loving him. They need a free safety bad and Berry is the best available. He’s an elite talent that would help the revamped Browns secondary.
8. Raiders – Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers
Probably the hardest team to project, I went with Anthony Davis here. The Raiders have a need at offensive tackle, Davis is said to have some character concerns but has very good feet and does well getting to the second level. He struggles with power and he lacks a mean streak but he moves well and that’s key here.
9. Bills – Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa
I strongly believe that the Bills would like to get a blindside blocker in this years Draft and after the first four or five offensive tackles, there’s a drop off in my opinion. Bulaga is a tough, hard working pass blocker that doesn’t have great foot quickness nor does he always get his hands off his hips but he’s got upside. He needs to work on things but he’s a safe prospect because if he doesn’t pan out on the left side, he can be a good right tackle.
10. Jaguars – Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
The Jaguars simply need to get after the quarterback or at least apply pressure. They’ve shopped Quentin Groves twice in the past year and have not been pleased with Derrick Harvey’s development. They can go with a free safety here, by selecting Earl Thomas, but it all starts in the front seven and they desperately need a pass rusher. Morgan is a safe pick that will produce sacks or at worst, apply pressure and play the run well.
11. Broncos – Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma St.
The Broncos just dealt a troublesome wide receiver and they could possibly be getting another one? I think so. It wouldn’t surprise me to see the Broncos take Bryant because the character concerns are overblown in my opinion. He’s got a lot of talent and he could potentially do things that Marshall did for that offense.
12. Dolphins – Earl Thomas, FS, Texas
A lot of talk about the prototypical size in Miami but a glaring hole is the free safety spot. The Dolphins released Gibril Wilson, who struggled a lot last season, and now are left with Tyrone Culver as a replacement. While Culver is a solid player, he’s not a ball hawk and doesn’t have great range in my opinion. Earl Thomas has just that and has the talent as well as the willingness to become a better player against the run.
13. 49ers – Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
The 49ers are back and they are looking to upgrade the team. This team goes BPA as it upgrades the team’s crucial signal caller spot. Alex Smith, the former number one pick, has struggled and they recently dealt Shaun Hill. While the moving of Hill would say that they want Smith to be the number one guy, they can’t pass up on Clausen at this stage in my opinion.
14. Seahawks – Charles Brown, OT, USC
The Seahawks took CJ Spiller at six and now are back again in the first round to fill another hole. One of their biggest holes is offensive tackle and this is where Pete Carroll’s familiarity with USC comes into play. Brown is very raw but has a lot of potential and great athleticism for his size. His mobility fits well into the Seahawks zone blocking scheme.
15. Giants – Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
The Giants have a need at the MIKE linebacker spot but they also would like to upgrade the defensive line and Williams is a good pick here. Williams has struggled with inconsistency in my opinion but has a lot of talent and should fit well into the Giants defensive line rotation. He will not have high expectations and a lot of pressure on him as he continues to develop his game.
16. Titans – Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, USF
The Titans lost Kyle Vanden Bosch to the Lions this off-season and must upgrade the defensive line either way. The Titans made a raw Jevon Kearse into a star years ago and Pierre-Paul has some of the same talent as Kearse. Whilst Pierre-Paul is raw, Jim Washburn is arguably the best defensive line coach in the league and can get young guys to produce for him.
17. 49ers – Joe Haden, CB, Florida
The 49ers have a need at cornerback as well as offensive tackle. With the top offensive tackles gone, the 49ers look to upgrade their cornerback situation and Haden is argued as a top corner. He’s got a lot of talent. He’s got good ball skills as well as recovery speed to make up the gap between himself and the wide receiver if he’s beaten at the line.
18. Steelers – Maurkice Pouncey, OC/OG, Florida
The Steelers have a need at center, guard and cornerback. However, they can’t upgrade all three here and while Kyle Wilson is on the board, Maurkice Pouncey would help them more because he would help upgrade the crucial run game and possibly protect the fill-in quarterback for Ben Roethlisberger, if he was to get suspended.
19. Falcons – Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan
The Falcons like high character guys that work hard and Graham fits that very well. Graham still has some upside as a pass rusher, though its limited in my opinion, and plays the run very well. Graham opposite of John Abraham could be a deadly combo. (h/t Conuficus)
20. Texans – Ryan Matthews, RB, Fresno St.
The Texans need someone to run the ball after Slaton’s poor season last year and it’s said they really like Matthews, so he’s the pick here. Matthews can do a bit of everything and would also be a great compliment to the speedy Steve Slaton. It would give the Texans a two headed attack, which they have been seeking.
21. Bengals – Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
Gresham is coming off a knee injury that sidelined him during his senior season but there is no doubt he has talent and the Bengals are happy to take him here. Gresham fills the role as a seam buster for them as well as a big target for Carson Palmer. Gresham still needs work as a run blocker and needs to have better concentration but the upside is high and its a good pick here.
22. Patriots – Sergio Kindle, OLB, Texas
The Patriots need a pass rusher and they like size, strength, and speed. Kindle provides all three of them and has a lot of upside as a pass rusher. He would also be a good fit on the strong side, opposite of Tully Bunta Cain.
23. Packers – Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise St.
The Packers could go a couple different directions here, with cornerback or offensive tackle. I was so tempted to put Vladimir Ducasse here but with the re-signing of their Tackles, I went with Kyle Wilson. Wilson is physical and can run well. He’s got fluid hips and has a lot of upside. Idaho’s Mike Iupati is a option here as well.
24. Eagles – Daryl Washington, OLB, TCU
The Eagles are said to be seeking a strong side linebacker and with Washington dropping here, the Eagles will happily take him. He fills a void and is a very good cover linebacker. He also has good range and is willing to get physical despite him being lighter than one would like.
25. Ravens – Jared Odrick, DE, Penn State
This is a BPA pick in my opinion and the Ravens always seem to get top notch talent late in the Draft. Odrick has the versatility and motor that the Ravens adore. I’m in the opinion of Odrick playing some one technique nose tackle as well as five technique defensive end and with the Ravens constantly shifting and giving different looks, Odrick could be a big help.
26. Cardinals – Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama
With the departure of Karlos Dansby to the Miami Dolphins, the Cardinals have the opportunity to get a very similar talent, in my opinion, in Alabama’s Rolando McClain. McClain is more of a finesse linebacker that has great instincts and is an excellent student of the game.
27. Cowboys – Nate Allen, FS, USF
The Cowboys could go with an offensive tackle here by selecting Bruce Campbell of Maryland, who the Cowboys scouts are fans of, but I’m going with Nate Allen. Allen would fill the role of the recently departed Ken Hamlin and could prove to be an asset against the run and the pass.
28. Chargers – Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers
There is two other options here for the Chargers and I think it could be Terrence Cody or Linval Joseph but I’m going with Devin McCourty to replace Antonio Cromartie. Cromartie was dealt to the Jets and McCourty could do well filling in for him. AJ Smith doesn’t like troubled individuals and McCourty has been a model citizen at Rutgers, willing to play special teams (very well, I may add) and constantly working hard to develop his game at cornerback.
29. Jets – Tyson Alualu, NT/DE, California
The Jets are searching for nose tackle help and Alualu could help at the nose spot as well as the end spot. He has a great motor and is not a bad pass rusher. He has a good rip but it’s not consistent. Alualu coupled with Kris Jenkins at the nose spot could be a very good tandem for the Jets.
30. Vikings – Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
This could go many ways but with the uncertainty of Favre’s future and the possible lack of confidence in Tarvaris Jackson, the Vikings could look to Tim Tebow. Tebow has won many games in college and has a great work ethic. He could also sit a year behind Jackson or Favre and develop until he’s ready to take over.
31. Colts – Rodger Saffold, OT, Indiana
The Colts have been adamant about upgrading their offensive line, especially Peyton Manning’s blind side. Saffold has had talks with the Colts and he has impressed every chance he was given this off-season. I watched him live at the Shrine Game and came away very impressed by his mobility and strong hands.
32. Saints – Sean Weatherspoon, OLB, Missouri
The Saints need to fill the void left by Scott Fujita’s departure and they look to the best guy on the board, Missouri’s Sean Weatherspoon. Weatherspoon is an exceptional cover linebacker that also reads the game well and has shown good range. I worry a bit about him going downhill but I’m confident that Greg Williams can find a way to use Weatherspoon to his strengths.