Team Player Comments:
1. St.Louis Rams DT Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska: He’s the 2nd best player in the entire draft.
Rams definitely need a QB had Locker come out he’s be at this spot. But Sam Bradford’s injury-plagued season drops him out of contention for the #1 overall pick. Suh will anchor a unit that only finished 09 with 25 sacks; he still needs add more pass-rushing moves. He won’t be able to dominate guards and centers as easily as he did in college.
2. Detroit Lions DT Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma (JR): Nice size and explosiveness could’ve been a top 5 pick last year.
Would have been the #1 pick if he came out in 09. His great junior season was overshadowed by the emergence of Suh. The Lions need a lot but a great DT isn’t a bad start. McCoy needs to show more against the run that seems to be his only weakness.
3. Tampa Bay Bucaneers OT Russell Okung,Oklahoma State: Okung is an excellent pass blocker who excels in run-blocking as well.
Easily the best O-lineman in this year’s class. Had a dominant senior season in which he solidified himself as the best lineman. Held All-Americans Sergio Kindle and Von Miller without a sack in 09. Didn’t play in a pro-style offense but I don’t think that should hurt him much. The Bucs choose him to shore up the inconsistencies on the right side of the O-Line.
4. Washington Redskins SS Eric Berry (JR),Tennessee: Berry can play either safety positions and start instantly.
When you watch Eric Berry you can’t help but to compare him with Ed Reed. Berry possesses excellent speed, can play in space, and is an excellent tackler. He is 2nd all-time in the NCAA for INT return yds; he's the best DB in his school’s history. Laron Landry has been average and the Skins’ desperately need a spark in the secondary. Berry may need to bulk up some if he continues to play SS in the physical NFC East.
5. Kansas City Chiefs OT Anthony Davis,Rutgers: Davis has tremendous talent and potential but may need to be brought along slowly.
The Chiefs O-Line has been anything but spectacular as of late. A few of their picks haven’t found immediate success but Davis could. He’s a bruising run-blocker with tremendous footwork. Will be the opening day starter if the Chiefs draft him. Plays too high at times and this causes him to struggle against powerful DE’s.
6. Seattle Seahawks QB Jimmy Clausen,Notre Dame(JR): Clausen has the best skill-set of any of the quarterbacks in the draft.
With the hiring of Pete Carroll, the Seahawks need a to find a fresh new face for the franchise. Matt Hasselbeck has had a respectable career but he’s on his last legs. Clausen’s still raw but he has good size and a big-time arm. He also played in a pro-style offense that should help him with Carroll’s system. Clausen tends to lob the ball up for grabs and his decision-making is questionable at times.
7. Cleveland Browns SS Taylor Mays,USC: Plays the game similar to the late Sean Taylor.
The Browns could go with Dez Bryant with this pick but I think they’ll wait until the 2nd rd to address WR. Mays is an intimidating player who has a knack for the big hit. Weighing over 230lbs but running a 4.3 forty, Mays is the prototypical SS. But he doesn’t force many turnovers and his coverage skills are average at times. I believe most of his big hits happen because of him being out of position for the interception.
8. Oakland Raiders DE Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech: Morgan emerged as one of the best DE’s in the nation.
It’s no secret that Al Davis loves speed but this year he’ll be bringing some over to the defense this year. Morgan’s not just a speed rusher though he can use his power in the run game too. Since Derrick Burgess’ departure, the Raiders haven’t had anyone fill that void. I like Morgan’s tenacity, as he’ll play the run just as hard as he plays the pass. While he was dominant at GT, there were times when he failed to make plays.
9. Buffalo Bills OT Bryan Bulaga,Iowa (JR): The former Hawkeyes’ star will go early in a draft dominated by linemen.
The Bills offense last year was to put it nicely non-existent. It starts up front and the Bills played musical chairs on the O-Line all year. Enter Bulaga, who’ll open up holes on the left side for RBs Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson. He’s probably the strongest tackle in the draft and he plays a bit nasty a la Jon Runyan. He struggles against quick pass rushers who can get to the edge. This moves makes perfect sense because everyone in the AFC East runs a 3-4 anyway.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars CB Joe Haden, Florida (JR): Haden is excellent in coverage and he played against elite talent in the SEC.
Aside from Rashean Mathis, the Jags lack another playmaker in the secondary. Look for Haden, to make an instant impact opposite Mathis. He understands zone coverage and was the Darrelle Revis of college football last season. He’ll also come up in run support and deliver a big hit. Haden rarely gets beat but when he does its in off coverage he seems a little stiff at times.
11. Denver Broncos DT Terrence Cody, Alabama: Cody will be the perfect addition for the Broncos 3-4 defense.
Weighing 370lbs, you’d be inclined to think Cody lacks athleticism. But he displays decent quickness and is virtually unblockable by one man. He also blocked 2 kicks his senior year and even played some fullback. He reminds me of Shaun Rogers with his great size and athleticism. I worry about his weight problems because he showed up at the Senior Bowl weighing 370lbs. Hopefully he trims down to about 350lbs for the NFL Combine.
12. Miami Dolphins LB Rolando McClain, Alabama : The NFL’s best can excel at multiple positions; McClain’s no exception.
With the expected departure of Joey Porter, the Fins’ need some help at linebacker. McClain is my favorite to win Defensive Rookie Of The Year. He can play all three linebacker’s position and still has room to add more bulk. He plays a bit high sometimes which leads to him being blocked or missed tackles. He’ll be best suited playing OLB so he can cover tight ends and play more in space.
13. San Francisco 49ers OT Trent Williams,Oklahoma: Should give Alex Smith instant blindside protection.
Williams put together a good senior campaign and established himself as one of the premier pass-blockers in the nation. Didn’t allow many sacks while playing against some of the top pass-rushers. Gifted player with great strength who truly plays till the whistle. Still needs to work on his zone blitz pickup and his footwork is questionable. Wasn’t really the same player after he gave up the hit that ended Sam Bradford’s college career.
14. Seattle Seahawks S Earl Thomas,Texas: A ball-hawking safety that has a knack for being in the right place at the right time.
This is a tough pick because the Seahawks could go for CJ Spiller but I think they’ll opt for defense. The Hawks’ only had 13 picks last year and Deon Grant isn’t getting any younger. I see them moving Grant to SS and letting Thomas roam the middle. Thomas has good speed, great range, and seems to never drop an interception. Goes for the big hit too much and sometimes causes him to miss easy tackles.
15. New York Giants TE Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma Gresham had a great 08 season but he didn’t play in 09 due to injury.
Prior to the 09 season, Gresham tore his ACL in summer workouts. If he can regain his 08 form, it’ll be tough to stop him. Kevin Boss had a good 08 but a quiet 09 which will make the G-Men pull the trigger. He runs wide receiver routes with the mentality of a tight end. Corners and safety can’t keep up with this guy and teams had to bracket him in coverage. He doesn’t have any major flaws in his game but he’ll need to get better at run blocking.
16. Tennessee Titans DE Jason Pierre-Paul, USF (JR): Is easily the most athletic DE in the draft; he’ll be a steal at this late in the draft
Pierre-Paul reminds me of another Titans draftee (Jevon Kearse) with his athleticism and pass-rushing skills. Received All-American honors after only starting 7 games. Was constantly double-teamed but still had 6.5 sacks with 2 forced fumbles. His speed creates a problem for his opponents as him because he falls for screens too easily. I can see teams running draws at him as well and he tends to the let passer get out the pocket.
17. San Francisco 49ers DE/LB Carlos Dunlap, Florida: He played mostly DE for the Gators. But he’ll be playing OLB in Mike Singletary’s 3-4.
He’s had some off-field issues but I don’t think it’ll affect his draft stock too much. At 6’6 290lbs, Dunlap can play the run, drop in coverage, and most importantly rush the quarterback. Dunlap was a big reason for the success of Joe Haden and Janoris Jenkins. He’ll be going into an ideal situation because Singletary understands how to motivate his players. I like his physical tools but he seems to give up when he’s blocked.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers DT Dan Williams, Tennessee: Will fit perfectly in the Dick Lebeau’s 3-4 scheme. May need some time to develop though.
Will be a good pick for the Steelers because of the aging Casey Hampton. Gets up field quickly and truly plays in the opponents backfield. Faced constant double-teams which will prepare for the ones he’ll see on Sundays. Though he’s big, still needs to hold the point of attack better.
19. Atlanta Falcons CB Kyle Wilson,Boise State: The Falcons need a spark at corner.
Had it not been for Joe Haden, Wilson would have been the #1 corner in the draft. Wilson makes plays all over the field including in the return game. He ran back 3 punts his junior year and returned 2 picks his senior season. Still needs to work on his tackling and gives too much cushion at times.
20. Houston Texans RB CJ Spiller,Clemson: An excellent player with durability issues.
Won’t be a strong year for RBs but look for Spiller to round out the top 20. The Texans need an answer at RB with Steve Slaton underachieving. He’s the 2nd fastest back in the draft; he can catch as well as help in the return game. If Slaton can regain form, this could be one of the most explosive duos in the league. Durability issues are his and it’s the only reason he’ll be available this late
21. Cincinnati Bengals TE Anthony McCoy, USC: The Bengals haven’t had a threat I tight end since forever.
While McCoy isn’t a speed demon, he catches well and isn’t afraid to block. If he played somewhere else, he would’ve been an All-American. McCoy runs angry after the catch and looks to punish defenders instead of avoiding them. McCoy missed the Emerald Bowl because of academics luckily there aren’t any classes in the NFL. I think that he should work on his speed, as he seems to always get caught from behind.
22. New England Patriots WR Dez Bryant, Illinois(JR): Reminds me of Roddy White with a little more athleticism.
The Pats usually miss with 1st rd WRs but Bryant may be one of the safest picks at WR. The Pats WR core will be depleted because of Wes Welker’s injury. The Pats need another playmaker; he should do fine opposite Moss. Bryant plays with a chip on his shoulder and doesn’t shy away from hits. He only played in four games his junior season due to breaking NCAA rules but he was solid in the four games he did play. He'll add value in the return game but needs to show up more in big games.
23. Green Bay Packers OT Bruce Campbell,Maryland Probably the most obvious pick for the Pack.
Lets not kid ourselves; the Packers O-Line was horrible they practically sent Jared Allen to the Pro Bowl. But there’s hope, and it’s in the form of a left tackle from Maryland. Has good initial punch and he stays with his man until the play ends. Also helped RB Darel Scott reach 1000 yds. Struggles with quicker pass-rushers but he does recover well.
24. Philadelphia Eagles DE Brandon Graham, Michigan: A ferocious pass-rusher who can beat blockers with speed or power.
Had the best Senior Bowl of any defensive prospect, really dominated. Can move to LB or play opposite Trent Cole on the line. Bulky DE that reminds you of Elvis Dumervil on the field. While he has tremendous potential sometimes he disappears on the field and doesn’t make plays.
25. Baltimore Ravens CB Patrick Robinson, Florida State: Has the best footwork of any DB in the draft.
It’s a possibility that Ed Reed won’t be back for the 2010 season. If that’s the case the Ravens need to get stronger at CB. Robinson is great in man coverage and is decent in zone. He also isn’t afraid of contact which is a must playing for the Ravens D. Honestly, Robinson didn’t play up to his potential in 09. I think he suffered from not having Myron Rolle behind him. He made some mental errors but physically the tools are all there for him to make an impact.
26. Arizona Cardinals LB Sergio Kindle,Texas: A pass-rusher who’ll be asked to play LB in the league.
With the offense pretty stacked, the Cards add some youth to an already solid unit. With aging OLBs, Kindle will fit just fine on a defense that was 6th in sacks a year ago. He’s a strong rusher with decent speed off the edge. He didn’t do a lot in coverage at Texas but he won’t be asked to do that in Arizona either. I predicted that Kindle would lead the nation in sacks in 09 but he only finished with 3. While he’s aggressive and athletic he still needs to add more pass-rushing moves to his repertoire.
27. Dallas Cowboys SS Myron Rolle,Florida State Didn’t play in 09 because he was studying in Oxford.
At this point, the Boys’ really don’t need much but safety is their glaring weakness. After the Roy Williams left, the play of the SS has been terrible. Rolle is big, fast, and understands where to be in coverage. This is a reach pick but Rolle’s stock has been improving since the season ended. Rolle suffers the same criticisms as Taylor Mays he doesn’t force many turnovers. I blame that on the way FSU used him but he does need to emerge as a playmaker.
28. San Diego Chargers RB Jahvid Best,California (JR): The fastest full-time player in the draft easily.
Ladainian Tomlinson says he won’t be returning in 2010 and this move will add validity to that claim. Best and Darren Sproles will be one of the fastest duos the league has ever seen. Prior to 09, Best was in fact the best back in the nation. He combines great speed with excellent vision. If it weren’t for his concussion, he’d probably be in the top 10. He has durability issues but its probably because of his workload at Cal.
29. New York Jets DE Jared Odrick,Penn State: One of the sleepers of this year’s 1st rd.
Rex Ryan stresses flexibility in his 3-4 scheme and Odrick is the perfect candidate. Odrick quietly won Big Ten DPOY and he projects well in any defense. Throughout his senior season, he played every position on the D-Line. The Jets are getting old along the D-Line and Odrick won’t need to play right away. He’s a high-motor guy who just never seems to quit on a play. He does struggle against double teams and I believe he’d be better served playing end in a 3-4 scheme.
30. Minnesota Vikings CB Donovan Warren, Michigan: Was the best corner in the Big Ten in 09. We all know about the Vikes great pass rush now they need to improve their play at corner. Warren is physical and rarely misses a tackle in the open field. He plays mostly off coverage but understands when to drive on the ball and isn’t fooled by double-moves. Even if Warren doesn’t start he’ll add depth to an injury-prone unit. He needs to locate the ball better; he likes to faceguard. He also has trouble with WRs with elite speed; Golden Tate gave him problems last season.
31. New Orleans Saints LB Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri: An excellent leader with production to match.
Weatherspoon will be perfect on a team that likes undersized but speedy LBs. He’ll probably play outside with Vilma controlling the middle. Has been the leader of the Missouri’s defense for the last 2 seasons. He has excellent range and he really excels in pass coverage. By far the best coverage LB in this year’s draft. Needs to get stronger because he tends to struggle against powerful lead blockers.
32. Indianapolis Colts DT Brian Price,UCLA (JR): Will make an already dominant pass-rush even better.
It’s hard to find a flaw in the Colts defense and the only position of need is at DT. Price is the quickest tackle in the draft; he lives in the opponent’s backfield. He reminds me of Warren Sapp how he rushes the passer, just relentless. In a class dominated by DTs he’ll round out the 1st rd but he’d easily be in the top 10 next year. Price is quick but he has to work on his footwork because he falls down too much.
