The Official 2010 NFL Draft Talk thread

[txboi_09]

Man with Warner retiring I think you guys can win the division next year. I hope you have a good draft and at least pick up some good depth in Free Agency.

From ESPN

San Francisco 49ers

Top needs: RT, G, DE, S, CB

First round (13, 16): Trent Williams, Earl Thomas

Second-round options (49): G Mike Iupati, DE Corey Wooton, S Morgan Burnett, CB Kyle Wilson

Third-round options (79): G Jon Asamoah, CB Syd'Quan Thompson, S Major Wright, DE Hall Davis, DE D.J. Wilson, OLB Rico McCoy

Summary: Some people will consider taking a RT at No. 13 a bit of a leap in terms of value, but Williams is an outstanding player that can strengthen you immediately. If the 49ers go with a guard, Iupati is a fantastic one, and the offensive line gets a lot better overnight. Thomas, as I said in the mock, covers a ton of ground and can help immediately. From there the Niners could try to get good value elsewhere in the secondary or look for a DE or even a pass-rushing OLB. I can also see San Francisco taking a later-rounds shot on a QB, but this team needs to focus on more glaring needs early on.

I would be happy with that draft Kyle Wilson supposedly lit it up at the Senior Bowl and so did Iupati so both are probably first rounders now. But This years class is full of talent at Safety so if they choose to go somewhere else with their second 1st round pick they can still draft a quality Safety or corner in the second. Im hoping with an entire year of Crabtree working with smith the Offensive can get it together.

 

[toheeb27]

Is Ndamukong Suh definately a lock for number one or do u guys think there is someone who can take that spot from him? Just like how Mario Williams came out of nowhere to grab the spot from Vince and Bush.

 

[ef cuttin2.0]

I think Suh goes #1, and Mays goes #32 to the Saints, who will convert him 2 OLB...They love his measurables and envision a LB that can compliment Vilma...JMO

 

[msuman]

Mike Mayock has been hyping up Gerald McCoy up over Suh. He is saying McCoy will be a better pass rusher and that Suh has had two knee surgeries will in college. I still think Suh goes number 1.

 

[txboi_09]

Mike Mayock has been hyping up Gerald McCoy up over Suh. He is saying McCoy will be a better pass rusher and that Suh has had two knee surgeries will in college. I still think Suh goes number 1.

Im thinking if they pass on Suh it would have to be for a QB either Bradford or Clausen but I dont see that happening. It going to be Suh #1, and McCoy #2 to the lions cause they definitely need help on defense maybe even Berry but thats way too high for a safety.

 

[msuman]

Mock Draft From ESPN

St. Louis Rams

Record: 1-15
Gerald McCoy*, DT, Oklahoma

The Rams have a poor track record when it comes to drafting defensive linemen early, and now they have a tough choice to make between the stronger, more instinctive Ndamukong Suh and the quicker, more disruptive McCoy. Coach Steve Spagnuolo is looking for defensive linemen who can penetrate, which is why we think McCoy could be the top overall pick.
Detroit Lions

Record: 2-14
Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

The Lions will gladly take Suh here. He won't provide the pass-rush production of McCoy, but he is a force versus the run and he consistently disrupts passing windows thanks to his excellent instincts and long arms.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Record: 3-13
Jason Pierre-Paul*, DE, South Florida

The Bucs will consider Tennessee S Eric Berry here, but they are in dire need of a speed rusher and Pierre-Paul is the most explosive one this draft class has to offer.
Washington Redskins

Record: 4-12
Anthony Davis*, OT, Rutgers

Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford has enough physical and mental tools to develop into a good NFL starter eventually. However, he also enters the league with enough question marks (shoulder injury, spread offensive system, etc.) for a team like the Redskins to pass and fill one of several other holes. Solidifying its offensive line should be Washington's top priority, and Davis is the most naturally gifted tackle in this year's deep group. Two other options at tackle are Russell Okung (Oklahoma State) and Bryan Bulaga (Iowa).
Kansas City Chiefs

Record: 4-12
Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State

Berry could make a huge impact in the Chiefs' secondary as well, but Kansas City has too much work still to do at core positions to spend No. 5 money on a safety. The offensive line needs to be solidified, and that could happen by bringing in Okung, who has a quick first step, good power and a mean streak.
Seattle Seahawks

Record: 5-11
Bryan Bulaga*, OT, Iowa

Look for Seattle to pass on a quarterback in the top 10 for the second straight year. Finding a replacement for Walter Jones at left tackle is the more immediate need, and the team will get a safer prospect there than at quarterback. Bulaga still has room to improve in pass protection, but he displays the feet and balance to develop into a very good overall starting left tackle in the NFL.
Cleveland Browns

Record: 5-11
Eric Berry*, S, Tennessee

Oklahoma State WR Dez Bryant will be tough to pass up here, but the Browns did spend a pair of second-round picks on WRs Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi last year. Berry has the talent and experience to make the kind of impact for the Browns that perennial Pro Bowler Ed Reed made for the Ravens early in his career.
Oakland Raiders

Record: 5-11
Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma

Considering the team has used high draft picks on a quarterback (JaMarcus Russell), running back (Darren McFadden) and wide receiver (Darrius Heyward-Bey) in recent years, it would make sense to shift the focus to the offensive line this April. Both of the Raiders' starting offensive tackles (Mario Henderson and Cornell Green) are below average, and Williams has the physical tools and toughness to provide an upgrade at one of those two spots immediately.
Buffalo Bills

Record: 6-11
Sam Bradford*, QB, Oklahoma

Offensive tackle and quarterback are chief among the Bills' needs, and they should draft a tackle if Davis, Okung or Bulaga is available. This scenario has them selecting the top quarterback prospect in the 2010 class, though. Bradford is a bit of a project because of his slight frame and the spread system he played in at Oklahoma, but he has the football intelligence and accuracy to be molded into a good starter in the NFL.
Jacksonville Jaguars**

Record: 7-9
Derrick Morgan*, DE, Georgia Tech

Morgan will not wow scouts with his results at the combine, but he is a high-motor, technically sound player who can pressure the quarterback and set the edge against the run. He has the physical tools to develop into a good every-down starter at the next level.
Denver Broncos** (from 7-9 Chicago)

Record: 6-7
Dez Bryant*, WR, Oklahoma State

Denver still has needs along its offensive and defensive fronts as well as in the secondary, but it will be tough to pass on the clear-cut No. 1 wideout in this year's class should Bryant fall to the Broncos.
Miami Dolphins

Record: 7-9
Rolando McClain*, ILB, Alabama

Bryant falling to No. 12 would be a dream scenario for the Dolphins, but if he is off the board, look for Miami to target a top talent in the defensive front seven. McClain is NFL-ready with the size, straight-line speed and work ethic to win a starting inside linebacker job immediately.
San Francisco 49ers

Record: 8-8
Joe Haden*, CB, Florida

The 49ers could go in several directions with this pick, including quarterback, offensive line or a pass-rusher, but they wouldn't go wrong taking a top-10 skill player like Haden at this spot.
Seattle Seahawks (from 8-8 Denver)

Record: 5-11
C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson

Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen might be a possibility here, but we do not believe he's worthy of a first-round selection. After finding a left tackle at No. 6, it would make sense for the Seahawks to use this pick on a difference-maker like Spiller. Running backs generally are not worth drafting this high, but Spiller has additional value due to his home run ability as a receiver and return man.
New York Giants

Record: 8-8
Brian Price*, DT, UCLA

The Giants need to retool the middle of their defense, and Price would be a good player to start with. He possesses the quickness and power to develop into a disruptive playmaker who can get into opposing backfields.
San Francisco** (from 8-8 Carolina)

Record: 8-8
Mike Iupati, OT/G, Idaho

Iupati is a fast-rising guard/right tackle prospect who is strong and nasty and would fit in nicely with coach Mike Singletary's hard-nosed brand of football.

 

[msuman]

Tennessee Titans**

Record: 8-8
Carlos Dunlap*, DE, Florida

Dunlap is a bit immature and there are questions about his work ethic, but he also possesses a rare combination of size and athleticism for a defensive end. The Titans have enough veteran leadership on that side of the ball to pull the trigger here on a developmental project like Dunlap.
Pittsburgh Steelers

Record: 9-7
Dan Williams, NT, Tennessee

The Steelers would like to use this pick on a top offensive line prospect like Iupati or Trent Williams, but with both off the board, they will avoid reaching for another offensive lineman. They also will avoid stretching for a tackle like Maryland's Bruce Campbell to go for value with Dan Williams, who has the size and strength to develop into the eventual replacement for NT Casey Hampton, who is set to become a free agent.
Atlanta Falcons**

Record: 9-7
Kareem Jackson*, CB, Alabama

The Falcons need to improve their secondary talent after getting shredded through the air this past season. Jackson is one of the most underrated prospects in the 2010 class, and has the size, agility and balance to hold up in bump-and-run coverage on the perimeter. Plus, Jackson's instincts and technique are outstanding, so he should be ready to play as a rookie despite leaving school a year early.
Houston Texans**

Record: 9-7
Earl Thomas*, S, Texas

Thomas is undersized but physical enough to play safety in the NFL if used properly. Regardless, he's one of the three most talented defensive backs in the 2010 class, and the Texans could use an upgrade at both free safety and cornerback, so Thomas is a fit no matter where he ends up playing.
Cincinnati Bengals

Record:10-6
Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma

The Bengals are likely to use an early-round selection on a tight end, and while Gresham is a risk due to knee injuries (torn left ACL in high school, season-ending cartilage damage to right knee in 2009), his combination of size and athleticism is rare and he can stretch the seam effectively.
New England Patriots

Record: 10-6
Brandon Graham, OLB, Michigan

Graham is a bit undersized to play a traditional defensive end role, and he does not have the ideal athleticism you want in an outside linebacker. If used properly, though, Graham can excel in the NFL, and he appears to be in Bill Belichick's wheelhouse with his nonstop motor, excellent technique and good overall football intelligence.
Green Bay Packers

Record: 11-5
Bruce Campbell*, OT, Maryland

Campbell will turn some heads with his performance at the combine. However, while he might have the best combination of physical tools in this year's offensive tackle class, we expect Campbell to slip to the bottom half of the first round due to injury concerns and below-average technique.
Philadelphia Eagles

Record: 11-5
Taylor Mays, S, USC

The Eagles need a replacement for the physical presence former defensive leader Brian Dawkins took with him when he left for Denver. Mays is a bit of a liability in deep coverage and he needs to learn to wrap up more consistently as a tackler, but it is hard to imagine a player with his combination of size, straight-line speed and explosive hitting falling out of the first round.
Baltimore Ravens

Record: 9-7
Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State

Wilson is a fast-rising prospect after showcasing his upper-echelon bump-and-run coverage skills at the Senior Bowl. A cornerback-needy team like the Ravens could easily pull the trigger on Wilson late in the first round.
Arizona Cardinals

Record: 10-6
Sergio Kindle, DE/OLB, Texas

Kindle is a bit overrated, but we do think he is worth a pick at this point in the first round. The Cardinals could put him to work as a situational edge rusher early in his career while he works on getting bigger and stronger in order to hold up better versus the run.
Dallas Cowboys

Record: 11-5
Nate Allen, S, South Florida

Allen is far from a first-round lock, but the Cowboys need to improve their athleticism at safety, and Allen has the right combination of speed and fluidity in coverage to help fix the problem.
San Diego Chargers

Record: 13-3
Jahvid Best*, RB, California

Best's draft stock could take a big hit depending on how the medical reports (back/neck, concussion) from the combine look. Assuming he checks out, Best likely will be high on the Chargers' board, along with Dan Williams, fellow RBs Ryan Mathews (Fresno State) and Jonathan Dwyer (Georgia Tech), and DT/DE Jared Odrick (Penn State). A healthy Best gets the nod thanks to his game-breaking speed.
New York Jets

Record: 9-7
Arrelious Benn*, WR, Illinois

The Jets need perimeter weapons for QB Mark Sanchez to throw to, and Benn is a better prospect than his 2009 production might indicate. He played through a nagging ankle injury and his quarterback was inconsistent, but Benn shows good initial burst and the ability to generate yards after the catch. Still, he needs to be more consistent catching the ball away from his body and must become a more savvy route runner.
Minnesota Vikings

Record: 12-4
Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State

The Vikings have proved they will take the best player available on the board, and in this scenario, Odrick fits the bill and would be groomed as an eventual replacement for aging DT Pat Williams. Other possibilities include Clausen, ILB Brandon Spikes (Florida), TE Anthony McCoy (USC) and C/G Maurkice Pouncey (Florida).
Indianapolis Colts

Record: 14-2
Maurkice Pouncey*, OL, Florida

Odrick would make sense if he was still on the board, or the Colts could reach for an athletic offensive tackle like USC's Charles Brown. But Pouncey is a gifted interior lineman with the quick feet, versatility and football intelligence to help the Colts solidify their interior offensive line.
New Orleans Saints

Record: 13-3
Sean Weatherspoon, OLB, Missouri

Weatherspoon is expected to turn some heads at the combine with his speed, and we're hearing that some teams grade him out as a mid-first-round pick. We're not quite as high on Weatherspoon because we question his ability to play in space, but the Super Bowl champs are expected to focus on upgrading the speed and athleticism of their defense, and Weatherspoon fits the mold.

* Denotes underclassmen

** Indicates picks that will be decided by coin flip

 

[af.r.i.c.a.]

Rams should trade down they have too many holes

 

[detcatinva]

lions need to get mccoy from oklahoma assuming the rams take suh. u can't go wrong either them 2 picks

 

[Dick Shitman]

the rams need clausen. mark bulger aint cuttin it

 

[msuman]

the rams need clausen. mark bulger aint cuttin it

Bradford > Clausen

On the real the Rams need to trade for Vick and pick up another need.

 

[MillzOG]

Bradford > Clausen

On the real the Rams need to trade for Vick and pick up another need.

Clausens potential >>> Bradfords potential

and LMAO @ Vick being the answer for any teams QB need

 

[msuman]

Clausens potential >>> Bradfords potential

and LMAO @ Vick being the answer for any teams QB need

Potential are you serious? I am not a fan of Bradford but reading the scouting reports they have him ahead of Clausen and it is not even close. So I will fix it for you Bradfords potential > Clausen's Potential

Also not saying Vick is the answer my point is the Rams have so many holes they do not need to spend the first pick on a QB rather it be Clausen or Bradford. Send the Eagles a late pick in the draft and use that number 1 pick on a difference maker. I do not know the Rams needs but I do know they are not a QB away from competing.

 

[nujerz84]

Defensive Tackle is the hardest position on Defense to project and have a high bust rate. What happend to Glenn Dorsey from LSU who went # 5 to Kansas City 2 yrs ago, he was just as hyped, decorated (with awards/honors) and was from the SEC has he done anything in the 2 yrs since being drafted?

Also with Rams they have had a terrible record with Defensive lineman in the first round, Ryan Pickett, Damion Lewis, Jimmy Kennedy, Adam Carriker and Chris Long all were drafted pretty high in the first round and have not come close to living up to expectations.

 

[msuman]

Defensive Tackle is the hardest position on Defense to project and have a high bust rate. What happend to Glenn Dorsey from LSU who went # 5 to Kansas City 2 yrs ago, he was just as hyped, decorated (with awards/honors) and was from the SEC has he done anything in the 2 yrs since being drafted?

Also with Rams they have had a terrible record with Defensive lineman in the first round, Ryan Pickett, Damion Lewis, Jimmy Kennedy, Adam Carriker and Chris Long all were drafted pretty high in the first round and have not come close to living up to expectations.

So very true but I do not think they could pass on Suh. If they do not want him they need to trade down cause I do not think either QB is worthy of being the number 1 pick.

 

[Dick Shitman]

Bradford > Clausen

On the real the Rams need to trade for Vick and pick up another need.

Ive never seen the fuss with Bradford. Clausen played in a pro style offense, has a better arm, more potential and no injury concerns. I think Bradford will be a bust

 

[msuman]

From Mel Kiper
Q: There's so much talk of the risk that comes when a guy is a shotgun QB. Tim Tebow got panned for it. But all along, Sam Bradford has been a shotgun QB, and he seems to not take hits to his stock for it in the way guys like Tebow and Colt McCoy have? Why the benefit of the doubt?

-- Mark P. (Port Orchard, Wash.)

A: It's really a fair question Mark. And the fact is, you are taking a chance. Because it's true that even as we see NFL systems where quarterbacks do take a fair number of snaps from the shotgun, there hasn't been a great rate of success. Before the season, people in Norman probably hated me because I said, "We need to see Bradford get harassed. We need to see this kid take a hit." Well, I didn't want him to get hurt, but when he did take a hit, that's what happened. It's too bad, too, because we wanted to see Bradford when he wasn't behind that great offensive line anchored by Phil Loadholt and Duke Robinson and without quite the same level of WRs. Then it got worse when Jermaine Gresham went out. Now you go in not knowing as well how he responds to that.

That said, he's where he is because he's shown an extremely high level of accuracy, and there's no indication we'll see a lesser version of that now. He showed an advanced, NFL-like ability to hit everyone in stride, which is key when you face the smaller windows he will. But again, he still has doubters, and his best success was throwing into those big windows. When it comes down to evaluations, you could see people who say, "Well, the under-center stuff, Clausen has done that." And maybe he jumps Bradford again on my board as well.

 

[msuman]

Kiper Again
Q: How much does the way Jimmy Clausen play remind you of Brady Quinn. I'm only wondering because Quinn slipped in the draft and hasn't made an impact in the NFL yet.

-- Jordan (Melrose, Mass.)

A: They're two completely different guys, the biggest similarity being that both were coached by Charlie Weis. In the case of Quinn, let's at least point out that the jury is still out on how this guy will be perceived as an NFL quarterback. He still has a chance, bottom line, and that's up to Mike Holmgren and Eric Mangini. Start with style. Clausen, despite really gaudy TD-INT numbers, has a bit of riverboat gambler in him, and until this year, his surrounding team and blocking were bad. Quinn played with much better talent. Clausen is also a more accurate thrower. Their arm strength is similar -- neither guy is remarkable there, but both can get it done. Neither is a scrambler, but they can maneuver.

One thing I'll say about Clausen: he's tough, and when I talk to people who know, his marks as a competitor are off the charts. Former Notre Dame defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta told me that if everyone played with Clausen's competitiveness, the last staff would all still have their jobs. Golden Tate said he can't remember throws that were off the mark, and Tate, as good as he is, wasn't a guy who gets much separation. He's more physical. I know Clausen could drop, and I'm higher on him than a lot of people, but this kid's done well, played hurt, and he's done it under center, which means a lot. He could even go higher.

 

[msuman]

KC Joyner Analysis
What this is: During the year, Football Scientist K.C. Joyner has evaluated top NFL draft prospects. This week he looks at former Notre Dame Fighting Irish QB Jimmy Clausen.

When grading a quarterback's arm strength, I often think back to a line from former San Francisco 49ers coach Bill Walsh in Dr. Z's classic book, "The New Thinking Man's Guide To Pro Football." Some in the media had called Super Bowl XVI a battle between Walsh's brains and Cincinnati coach Forrest Gregg's discipline. That viewpoint led Walsh to ask this question: What constituted discipline? Was it being physically tough on someone? Or could it also be executing a highly choreographed set of moves under the pressure of competition? The answer is that it could be either, and it really depended on what one meant by the word discipline.

The same thing goes for measuring the velocity of a passing arm. The gold standard in this area is the deep out pass, but that throw requires a much different kind of delivery and less touch than many other important vertical passes, such as the go, corner, post and fade routes.

Now, let's look at Jimmy Clausen. It is pretty much a given that Clausen will be a first-round draft pick, but his arm strength is enough of a question mark to cause his predicted draft slot status to vary significantly. For example, Mel Kiper's initial mock draft has Clausen going to the Buffalo Bills at the No. 9 spot because he possesses "an NFL arm." Scouts Inc.'s Todd McShay, on the other hand, has Clausen going in the No. 23 spot (to the Seattle Seahawks) in part because "he doesn't have ideal arm strength."

So which analyst is right?

The odd thing is that they both are on the money. After breaking down six of Clausen's 2009 game tapes (at Michigan, at Michigan State, vs. USC, vs. Boston College, vs. Connecticut and at Stanford), I found metrics and scouting notes to back both sides of that argument.

For example, Clausen did a fine job on the 13 deep out passes he threw. Eleven of them were on target (on target being defined as landing within the catching frame of the receiver) and seven ended up being completed. He was also 2-for-2 on the comeback route -- which is a close cousin of the deep out -- so he was on the money on 13 out of 15 of the vertical outside routes.

Clausen also displayed superb accuracy on the long passes that require more arc than the deep out. He was one for two on the corner route and would have been two for two if not for a dropped pass. Clausen also completed the only deep post route he threw.

Throwing into high traffic areas also was an area of strength for Clausen, something that is evidenced by his seven completions in eight attempts on deep in passes.

For all of his vertical plusses from a metric perspective, the scouting eye indicated Clausen had some issues on certain types of throws. This was especially evident in the Michigan contest. In that game, Clausen had multiple occasions when he threw a low hard pass when a higher, arced passed would have been more appropriate. It almost looked as though he was trying to show just how hard he could throw the ball and was putting more mustard on passes than was necessary. That trend didn't show up later in the season, so it might have been an early season psychological issue he has since overcome.

Clausen also had issues when facing a pass rush. The scouting notes indicated numerous instances where Clausen threw passes off of his back foot when the defense did a heavy blitz. The first negative on this front is that he would do at times even when the blitz was picked up, so that leads to concerns about whether he will get what Phil Simms calls "pocket cabin fever" whenever a defense comes after him.

The second negative is that those aerials ended up well short of the mark. That clearly shows Clausen cannot effectively gun a pass downfield unless he has the ability to step into the pass.

If the game tape reviews showed both an upside and a downside in terms of Clausen's arm, they were perfectly clear about his ability to read a defense. He made only four bad decisions in 224 passes (a bad decision being defined as when the quarterback makes a mistake with the ball that leads to either a turnover or a near turnover). That equates to a 1.7 percent bad-decision rate, which is a mark that would usually rank among the top 10-15 quarterbacks if it were accomplished at the NFL level, so Clausen gets high marks here.

The Football Scientist Lab Result: Drew Brees and Philip Rivers have proven that the ability to read a defense is much more important than possessing a cannon for an arm. Clausen has displayed superb ability in that area, and when that is added to his more than adequate skill in placing accurate throws downfield, it equals a TFS seal of approval.

 

[MallyMaL]

Defensive Tackle is the hardest position on Defense to project and have a high bust rate. What happend to Glenn Dorsey from LSU who went # 5 to Kansas City 2 yrs ago, he was just as hyped, decorated (with awards/honors) and was from the SEC has he done anything in the 2 yrs since being drafted?

Also with Rams they have had a terrible record with Defensive lineman in the first round, Ryan Pickett, Damion Lewis, Jimmy Kennedy, Adam Carriker and Chris Long all were drafted pretty high in the first round and have not come close to living up to expectations.

Chris Long did his thang last year! Them rest them cats, your spot on.