DCPSR NFL Mock Draft 1.0

It’s finally here — the DC Pro Sports Report 2010 NFL Mock Draft 1.0. We will have at least one more mock draft coming from DC Pro Sports Report, but this is how we see it at the beginning of April, with the draft just 3 weeks away. Be sure to check out all our mock drafts in the DC Pro Sports Report NFL Mock Draft Database. It’s the biggest and best in the world and has been recommended by dozens of draft sites around the Internet. St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz writes that anyone obsessed with the NFL Draft should bookmark our site. So check it out after reading our first NFL mock draft of the 2010 season. Enjoy.

01. St. Louis Rams: QB Sam Bradford [Oklahoma]. The Rams are awful, their quarterback situation has been a mess since they gave that hideously expensive contract extension to Mark Bulger, and Bradford appears to be the best passer in this draft. It’s a gamble, but the passing offense has been so bad that Bradford almost could not do worse. Start him right away.

02. Detroit Lions: DT Ndamukong Suh [Nebraska]. Head Coach Jim Schwartz had Albert Haynesworth on the defensive line when he was the coordinator in Tennessee. Suh is exactly the sort of player Schwartz likes and needs. The Lions could go with Gerald McCoy, but I think Suh is the safer pick.

03. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DT Gerald McCoy [Oklahoma]. The Bucs were near the bottom of the league in sacks last year. They need an interior lineman who can really collapse the pocket and get after the quarterback. McCoy is the solution. In a year or two he’ll be reminding Bucs fans of Warren Sapp.

04. Washington Redskins: OT Russell Okung [Oklahoma State]. After flirting with quarterbacks the Redskins will finally do the smart thing and take the best offensive lineman in this draft who also happens to play the team’s greatest position of need. The Redskins need a left tackle in the worst possible way and drafting Okung is the best possible way to fill that need. Like the now-retired Chris Samuels, Okung will be ready to start from day one and should be an all star caliber player for a decade or so. He plays with great balance, has long arms and big hands and dominates edge speed rushers.

05. Kansas City Chiefs: S Eric Berry [Tennessee]. The Chiefs need a lot of help at offensive tackle, but their secondary is a complete mess and with passing offenses taking over the NFL, taking a safety this high can be justified if he’s a superstar like Berry. His combination of speed, power and instincts make him easily this draft’s top defensive back.

06. Seattle Seahawks: OT Trent Williams [Oklahoma]. It’s rebuilding time in Seattle and the team badly needs a left tackle. Williams is tougher than any other tackle in the draft and he’s hasn’t missed a game in the last 2 years. He needs to put on some more muscle, but he’s got the frame to do that. Seattle could go for Brian Bulaga here, but Bulaga has a questionable injury history.

07. Cleveland Browns: CB Joe Haden [Florida]. The Browns badly need a top wideout here, but Dez Bryant is just too much risk at this point and no other WR deserves to go this high. Cleveland could trade out of this spot, but if they don’t I think they’ll go with Haden. His combine was a bit disappointing, but he plays lights out in games and this is a position of need for the Browns. Haden’s speed allows him to make up for rookie mistakes.

08. Oakland Raiders: OT Bruce Campbell [Maryland]. Who the hell knows what Al Davis will do? He’s capable of anything, particularly after screwing up royally and taking Terp Derrius Heyward-Bey so high last year. Campbell is the prototypical left tackle with amazing size and quickness. He was fantastic at the combine and Davis loves workout warriors, often ignoring their productivity issues. Campbell is nowhere close to the best tackle in this draft, but he looks like the best on paper and playing in shorts.

09. Buffalo Bills: QB Jimmy Clausen [Notre Dame]. The Bills needs lots of everything and could take Trent Williams here, which would be safe. They badly need a passer, though, and Clausen is the best one still on the board. New Head Coach Chan Gailey will try to build around the fomer Notre Dame signal caller.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars: DE Jason Pierre-Paul [South Florida]. I think the Jags will take Clausen here if he’s still on the board, but if he’s not Pierre Paul is a solid pick. The Jags got a grand total of 2 sacks from their ends last season and Pierre-Paul, who is as physically gifted as any end in the draft, should change that quickly. Has the size and strength to play end in a 4-3 or 3-4 defense and the speed to get to the quarterback.

11. Denver Broncos: WR Dez Bryant [Oklahoma State]. Having made moves to solidify the defensive line, the Broncos need to get a wide receiver to replace the one they’re about to lose, Brandon Marshall. Bryant is a major character concern, but he’s clearly the best wideout in this draft. He won’t be a Randy Moss-type steal, but he’d be a nice pick at this point if he stays out of trouble. His private workout didn’t blow anyone away, but the game tape sure does. Bryant can make average quarterbacks look very good and Kyle Orton is a very average quarterback.

12. Miami Dolphins: DT Dan Williams [Tennessee]. With Jason Ferguson getting long in the tooth and facing an 8-game suspension to start the 2010 season, the Dolphins are desperate for a stout force in the middle of the line who can disrupt running games and play that two-gap defense Miami likes. Having filled their linebacking needs by grabbing Karlos Dansby in free agency, Williams is the smart and safe pick here.

13. San Francisco 49ers: OT Bryan Bulaga[Iowa]. San Fran badly needs a left tackle and Bulaga is easily the best on the board. He could be better than Williams and Campbell, who I have going earlier, but health concerns led me to drop Bulaga. If he can finally stay healthy, though, he’s a nasty, hard-nosed player with great size for the position and fine strength and quickness, as well. He’s solid in every area apart from staying on the field.

14. Seattle Seahawks: DE Derrick Morgan[Georgia Tech]. They traded Darryl Tapp to Philadelphia, Chris Clemons is not a starting end in the NFL and Patrick Kerney is injury-prone and not close to the player he once was. Seattle needs a DE badly and they’ll get one here. Seahawks get out of the first round filling their two most critical areas of need.

15. New York Giants: ILB Rolando McClain [Alabama]. Not the fastest linebacker around, but a smart player with great instincts and leadership qualities. The best defender on a first rate Alabama defense, he’ll be the leader of the Giants defense by his second year in the NFL. He’s strong, has good size, very tough and durable, and will use his brains to make his teammates better. A very nice pick at a need area for the Giants.

CLICK CONTINUE READING FOR PICKS 16-32…

16. Tennessee Titans: DE Everson Griffin [USC]. The Titans need help in the secondary and with their pass rush and Griffin is the best value pick at 16 that also fills a glaring need. He played DE in a 4-3 defense and as an OLB in a 3-4 defense at USC, so he’s versatile, but he looks more like a DE to me right now. Has good speed and decent size. A real threat to be a solid edge rusher for years to come. Sergio Kindle is also a possibility here.

17. San Francisco 49ers: OLB/DE Sergio Kindle [Texas]. Mike Singletary will love this tweener who consistently gets to the quarterback but, rare for edge speed rushers, also works his tail off against running backs. Kindle doesn’t have good size, but I like him as a playmaker at outside linebacker and after addressing their offensive line at 13, the Niners get the passrusher they need at 17.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers: OG Mike Iupati [Idaho]. The perfect smash-mouth guard for the Steelers who want to return to more of a power offense after becoming Air Roethlisberger last season. [And considering Big Ben's personal/legal troubles, getting a stronger running game would be a good idea.] Iupati looks like a consistent All Pro to me and he only drops this far because he plays guard. A great value pick for the Steelers.

19. Atlanta Falcons: OLB/DE Brandon Graham [Michigan]. Tough, nasty pass-rusher who plays up to the whistle. The Falcons had no pass rush last year and Jamal Anderson, taken with the 8th pick just a few years ago, has been a complete bust. Graham seemed almost unblockable at times last year and at the Senior Bowl. Unlike many pass-rushers, Graham is also a solid tackler who rarely gets out of position or makes a mistake.

20. Houston Texans: CB Kyle Wilson [Boise State]. Dunta Robinson left in free agency and he wasn’t very good anyway. The Texans need someone to make a few plays against opposing pass defenses or their own pass offense is going to have to produce 4 touchdowns every week for this team to win. Wilson excelled at the Senior Bowl and this looks like a nice value pick to me. Wilson should step in and start from day one.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: TE Jermaine Gresham [Oklahoma]. The Bengals were all steak and no sizzle last year. They could run the ball and play good defense, but they couldn’t make plays thru the air, which makes having a QB like Carson Palmer something of a waste. Gresham gives you a huge target with ideal size and strength, as well as first rate production. He’s got great ball skills, rarely drops a pass and is fast for his size at this position. Injuries are an issue.

22. New England Patriots: DL Jared Odrick [Penn State]. A good fit for the Pats defense with his versatility. He’s fast for a defensive tackle and strong for a defensive end. Besides, after trading Richard Seymour and losing Jarvis Green, the Pats need some help on the line.

23. Green Bay Packers: OT Anthony Davis [Rutgers]. Green Bay’s tackles are old and expensive and they need to upgrade the position desperately if they’re going to keep Aaron Rodgers alive much longer. He’s a character concern, but worth the risk at 23 because the risk to Green Bay of going another year with that awful offensive line is much greater.

24. Philadelphia Eagles: DE Carlos Dunlap [Florida]. People question his motor, but his speed isn’t questioned by anyone after he ran better than a 4.7 40 at Florida’s pro day and he’s excelled in big college games. He’s the quickest, fastest defensive end in this draft and if the Eagles can get him to work hard consistently, he’d be a pass-rushing terror.

25. Baltimore Ravens: S Earl Thomas [Texas]. The Ravens need help along the defensive line, but Ed Reed has hinted at retirement and most of the secondary is a mess. Earl Thomas is a great value pick at 25. He’s a hard worker who will be a natural leader on the team. He’s a bit undersized, but the speed is good and he never comes out of a game.

26. Arizona Cardinals: OLB Jerry Hughes [TCU]. A pass-rushing master with the quickness and burst to be an effective edge rusher. A solid tackler who fights through trash, Hughes needs to be kept out of the open field as much as possible. The size isn’t great, but he’s a superb tackler and runs hot all the time with his non-stop motor and passion to hit.

27. Dallas Cowboys: S Taylor Mays [USC]. Good size and terrific productivity go with excellent speed in Mays. The Cowboys have perhaps the deepest roster in the NFL, but they could use a bit of help at this position.

28. San Diego Chargers: RB Ryan Matthews [Fresno State]. Big, bruising style running back who can mix it up in the trash and fight hard for yards. Should be a decent replacement for LaDainian Tomlinson and a nice complement to the quicker, more versatile Darren Sproles.

29. New York Jets: WR Demaryius Thomas[Georgia Tech]. A bit of a risk here since Thomas broke his foot and won’t run at full speed before the draft. He’s expected to make a full recovery before this summer, though, and he’s got fantastic skills, size and speed. Head Coach Rex Ryan is a gambler by nature and if Thomas is healthy he could be a big steal this late in the draft. He doesn’t have the character concerns of a Dez Bryant and the Jets offense needs a playmaker with the unreliable Braylon Edwards under contract for just the 2010 season.

30. Minnesota Vikings: CB Devin McCourty[Rutgers]. A very productive corner with adequate size and strength and good, but not great speed. He’s a hard worker and a smart player who is fantastic in special teams, blocking 7 punts during his college career. He has good ball skills and plays well in press coverage. With Cedric Griffin and Antoine Winfield coming off injury-plagued seasons, this is a smart pick by the Vikes.

31. Indianapolis Colts: DT Brian Price [UCLA]. Price is a great value pick here for a team that badly needs to upgrade its sub-par defensive line. It’s time for the Colts to be something more than a high-scoring team and Price can really throw blockers around and provide a solid interior pass rush.

32. New Orleans Saints: LB Sean Weatherspoon [Missouri]. An easy pick for the Saints if he lasts this long because New Orleans lost Scott Fujita, who was a huge help during the Super Bowl season. The Saints have a strong offense that lost very little [Mike Bell], but the defense struggled to do anything apart from creating turnovers. Weatherspoon isn’t great, but he’s a reliable tackler with a good combination of size and speed, just what the Saints need.

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