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2010 1st Round Mock Draft: Updated 10/28


I've sprinkled in some more underclassmen because of the probable rookie wage scale and lockout in 2011 and will continue to do so. Because of this, several players have fallen out of the first round. The biggest drop has been Florida DE Carlos Dunlap who, despite his size and speed, has had a very disappointing season and looks to be this years Vernon Gholston.

1. St. Louis Rams: Jimmy Clausen QB, Notre Dame
The Rams number one priority this off season will be to find a new Quarterback. There’s no debate about it. In the last two years they have passed on Matt Ryan and Mark Sanchez. Clausen is having a great season and pro scouts will love the fact that he plays in a pro-style offense under center. Another option may be Washington QB Jake Locker. Locker is more mobile and has a slightly stronger arm but has faced lesser competition in his collegiate career, plus he plays almost entirely out of the shotgun formation.

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Ndamukong Suh DT, Nebraska
The Bucs have needs in multiple areas but Suh is playing lights out this year and is a dark horse to win the Heisman trophy. Other considerations here could be Tennessee safety Eric Berry who is just about the consensus top player in college football or Oklahoma State OT Russell Okung to protect their QB of the future Josh Freeman.

3. Tennessee Titans: Eric Berry S, Tennessee
The Titans are having the most disappointing season this year after having the regular seasons’ best record a year ago. They have multiple needs, including the QB position, but DB is probably their biggest need. Berry can play cornerback or safety and is the best player in college football. Titans owner Bud Adams still likes Vince Young and that is the only reason I see them not going after a QB with this pick.

4. Cleveland Browns: Gerald McCoy DT, Oklahoma
Cleveland needs help everywhere. McCoy could be used to replace Shaun Rogers on passing situations and could also play end. A better option would be Eric Berry if he were to fall. The most likely scenario though will be for the Browns to trade down again like last year to acquire more picks.

5. Kansas City Chiefs: Russell Okung OT, Oklahoma State
Matt Cassell needs a LT that will give him enough time to throw the ball down field. KC spent a lot of money on Cassell and it would be nice if they got a return on their investment. It would also allow them to move 2008 1st round pick Brandon Albert to LG, his natural position, since it doesn't seem like he can make it playing on the outside. Right now Okung is the only complete Tackle in the draft, with no holes in his game. He is very athletic and is great at using his hands to keep defenders off of him.

6. Detroit Lions: Bruce Campbell OT, Maryland
They need a cornerstone LT to protect their 40 million dollar man in Matt Stafford. This is high for Campbell even though right now he’s the only other OT prospect who is a complete player so if Okung and Berry are both off the board look for the Lions to trade back.

7. Oakland Raiders: Taylor Mays S, USC
Against Oregon State Mays was exposed as the player he is, reckless and undisciplined. With all of his exceptional athleticism, he takes poor angles in coverage and is only concerned with trying to lay out the big hit. We all know that Al Davis is enamored with speed, so if Mays is available this is a lock pick. Mays will stumble on draft day if Oakland comes to its senses and picks a replacement for the failed JaMarcus Russell experiment. In that event, Davis will surely go with Washington QB Jake Locker. Locker has the arm strength to throw the deep passes and is very mobile with a 4.6 40 time.

8. Washington Redskins: Jake Locker QB, Washington
With the benching of Jason Campbell the Redskins have clearly lost all faith in him. Coach Zorn was stripped of his play-calling duties and will almost definitely be fired at the end of the season. Regardless, team owner Dan Snyder is going to replace Campbell. The only other option would be Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford.

9. Buffalo Bills: Charles Brown OT, USC
Look for the Bills to replace the gaping hole left by the Jason Peters trade to Philly unless one of the top tier prospects like McCoy or even Locker fall. This is a little high for Brown but he’s the only OT prospect left who projects to play on the left side with the struggles of Oklahoma OT Trent Williams and the injuries to Iowa OT Bryan Bulaga.

10. Seattle Seahawks: Sam Bradford QB, Oklahoma
Without any top tier left tackle prospects left to replace the aging Walter Jones, look for the Hawks to find an heir apparent to often injured Matt Hasselbeck. Bradford has an injury history and will need time to develop, be he’s very accurate and the best available option left. They would LOVE Jake Locker to fall to them and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them trade up to get him.

11. San Francisco 49ers(via Carolina Panthers): Bryan Bulaga OT, Iowa
The 49ers greatest need is a RT to play opposite Joe Staley. Bulaga has had a down season with injuries and a thyroid condition but would be a perfect fit at RT at the pro level with his work ethic and run-blocking ability. Another option may be Florida CB Joe Hayden.

12. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dez Bryant WR, Oklahoma State
The Jags need a number one receiver despite being burned by plenty of them in recent years(Matt Jones, Reggie Williams) and find one in Bryant. I know Jags owner Wayne Weaver insists that he will draft Florida QB Tim Tebow if he gets the opportunity but Tebow is not a first round talent and will be available in the second or third round. The recent suspension of Bryant for lying about conversations with Deion Sanders will not hurt is draft stock. He’s got all the intangibles you look for in a receiver and looks a lot like Andre Johnson did when he came out of Miami.

13. New York Jets: Joe Hayden CB, Florida
Having found a legitimate downfield threat, at least for now, in the trade for Braylon Edwards, the Jets will most likely look for someone to play opposite Darrell Revis. They may also look for defensive line help, especially at DT where Kris Jenkins just had the second season-ending injury of his career.

14. Miami Dolphins: Terrence Cody DT, Alabama
With the secondary shored up in last years draft look for the Fins to plug up their defensive front. They have been using aging veterans to plug the gaps for some time and could really use a shot of youth. Alternatives here could be help at linebacker, although this might be too high to draft any of the ones available.

15. Denver Broncos(via Chicago Bears): Rolando McClain ILB, Alabama
The Broncos have very few holes to fill. Look for them to take the best defensive player available. McClain is continuing to rise up draft boards and would be a perfect fit for a 3-4 defense. Also look for them to possibly add some youth to the secondary with CB Ras-I Dowling from Virginia even though they drafted Alphonso Smith last year.

16. Dallas Cowboys: Damian Williams WR, USC
Even with the sudden appearance of Mile Austin, look for the Cowboys to upgrade their receiving ranks. Williams can also sub for often injured Felix Jones on kick return duties. Other options may be to take the best defensive player available. Perhaps SC OLB Eric Norwood or Florida ILB Brandon Spikes would be options but this is too early for either of them.

17. San Diego Chargers: Brandon LaFell WR, LSU
Assuming they resign LT Marcus McNeill and in all probability franchise tag Shawn Merriman, they will most likely target someone to play opposite budding wideout Vincent Jackson. Another option may be to take Cal RB Jahvid Best since they will most likely lose either Darren Sproles or Tomlinson after the season. LaFell fits the mold of a taller wideout that the Chargers prefer.

18. Houston Texans: Ras-I Dowling CB, Virginia
The Texans need help in multiple areas but the biggest concern is in the secondary, especially if they let the unhappy Dunta Robinson leave via free agency in the offseason.

19. San Francisco 49ers: Travis Lewis OLB, Oklahoma
Having already taken care of the o-line earlier in the draft and after finally signing Michael Crabtree the 49ers will turn their attention to the defense. They need another pass rushing threat to go with stud linebacker Patrick Willis. But the 49ers' will go with the best defensive player available. Lewis is only a redshirt sophomore but like many underclassmen will probably declare early because of the implementation of a rookie wage scale in 2011.

20. Green Bay Packers: Trent Williams OT, Oklahoma
Green Bay will take the best tackle available after watching QB Aaron Rogers eat dirt every week.

21. Arizona Cardinals: Navorro Bowman OLB, Penn State
Arizona needs LT help bad. They drafted Levi Brown a couple years ago to be a RT when they thought Matt Leinart, a lefty, would be the QB of the future. Well he hasn't been so far and Warner is suffering because of it. Unfortunately, there are no more tackles left with a first round grade. Look for the Cards’ to take the best defensive player available. Bowman had a spectacular performance against Michigan in which he racked up 11 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT, and a fumble recovery.

22. Baltimore Ravens: Jermaine Gresham TE, Oklahoma
Todd Heap hasn't played a 16-game season in years and Gresham is the type of speedy, pass catching TE that is perfect for the development of QB Joe Flacco. Even though he's out with a knee injury for the rest of the year, he will have plenty of time to rehab before the NFL combine. A lot of people will think that the Ravens will draft a CB, especially considering how badly they have been torched through the air, but the Ravens draft on value and if Gresham wouldn’t have hurt his knee this year he would’ve been a top 10-15 pick. Plus there won’t be any other first round CB’s left.

23. Cincinnati Bengals: Jahvid Best RB, Cal
The Bengals don’t have many real needs at this point, so look for them to take Best, who would be a perfect compliment to the emerging Cedric Benson.

24. Philadelphia Eagles: Von Miller OLB/DE, Texas A&M
Without any tackle prospects left to replace the often injured Shawn Andrews, look for the Eagles to take the top linebacker prospect available. Miller already has 10 sacks on the year and even beat up on Russell Okung when they played against each other this year.

25. Atlanta Falcons: Greg Hardy DE, Ole' Miss
The Falcons will take the best defensive player available. Hardy has some injury issues but is adept at playing both the run and the pass and will be an upgrade over the disappointing Jamaal Anderson.

26. New York Giants: Derrick Morgan DE Georgia Tech
The Giants will continue to stockpile D linemen and Morgan has continued to rise up the draft boards.

27. Pittsburgh Steelers: Morgan Burnett FS, Georgia Tech
With DT Terrence Cody already off the board, look for the Steelers to find a safety who will eventually replace Ryan Clark. I’ve seen mock drafts where Cody is a top 10-15 pick and some where he doesn’t even go in the first round. Both Clark and Tyrone Carter have expiring contracts at the end of the season and they are also getting up there in age. The offensive line has been getting better every week and no longer seems like a dire position of need, although they may look for a guard like Alabama’s Mike Johnson or Idaho’s Mike Iupati. Other considerations would be to find an heir apparent to James Farrior. As with every year, I personally keep my fingers crossed that they will get a DB who can return punts and kicks. Stephan Logan hasn’t been bad but it’s inefficient to take a roster spot with a return specialist.

28. New England Patriots: Sergio Kindle DL/OLB, Texas
The Patriots recently resigned 40 year old LB Junior Seau. They need more youth and depth in their linebacking corps. Kindle lines up all over the field for Texas and is the sort of versatile player Belichick loves.

29. Minnesota Vikings: Arthur Jones DE/DT, Syracuse
Without too many major holes on the team the Vikings have the luxury of bolstering the strength of their team, the defensive line. The one weak link is the end spot opposite Jared Allen. They may also consider future replacements for the Williams boys such as Rickey Sapp of Clemson or Jared Odrick from Penn State.

30. Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos): Jonathan Dwyer RB, Georgia Tech
Having taken care of their QB needs earlier in the draft, the Seahawks will turn to RB since there are no more tackles with a first round grade. With Jahvid Best already taken, Dwyer is the best remaining back available. He’s a between the tackles type of back with deceptive speed.

31. Indianapolis Colts: Jerry Hughes DE/OLB, TCU
As always, the defense is the weak spot on this team. The Colts will take the best available defensive player.

32. New Orleans Saints: Brian Price DT, UCLA
The Saints will continue to add to an improving defense. Like many underclassmen, Price will probably leave school early because of the pending rookie wage scale.

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