Category Archives: NFL Draft

2011 NFL Draft Order

The 17 week marathon known as the NFL regular season has come to an end. 20 of the 32 teams aren’t plying anymore, so their attention is now focused on the 2011 NFL Draft. With the regular season complete, the first 20 picks for the 2011 NFL Draft is now set in stone. The 2011 NFL Draft order as of now is as follows:

1. Carolina (2-14)

2. Denver (4-12)

3. Buffalo (4-12)

4. Cincinnati (4-12)

5. Arizona (5-11)

6. Cleveland (5-11)

7. San Francisco (6-10)

8. Tennessee (6-10)

9. Dallas (6-10)

10. Washington (6-10)

11. Houston (6-10)

12. Minnesota (6-10)

13. Detroit (6-10)

14. St. Louis (7-9)

15. Miami (7-9)

16. Jacksonville (8-8)

17. New England – from Oakland (8-8)

18. San Diego (9-7)

19. New York Giants (10-6)

20. Tampa Bay (10-6)

21. Seattle* (7-9)

22. Kansas City* (10-6)

23. Indianapolis* (10-6)

24. Philadelphia* (10-6)

25. Green Bay* (10-6)

26. New Orleans* (11-5)

27. New York Jets* (11-5)

28. Baltimore* (11-5)

29. Chicago* (11-5)

30. Pittsburgh* (12-4)

31. Atlanta* (13-3)

32. New England* (14-2)

* = TBD by Playoffs

A few notes and observations:

• Back when the Pats traded Richard Seymour for the Raiders 2011 first round pick not many thought it would be Top 5 or Top 10. It ended up being 17. Still not too shabby when ou add in their first round pick and the 33rd pick they own from the Panthers and they have 3 picks in the top 33. Knowing Belichick, they will probably trade down from all three spots.

• The Rams might have missed the playoffs, but the 14th picks isn’t a bad consolation.

• You could argue that the Top 8 teams all could draft a quarterback.

• The Lions did finish the season on a four game winning streak building momentum heading into the offseason, but they cost themselves a lot in draft position. If they lost even 1 out of their last 4, they would have gained 6 draft spots.

2010 NFL Rookie Signing Tracker (UPDATED)

Training camps are underway and rookies are getting their first real NFL action.

Yet despite ther rookie status, they are getting paid like NFL studs.

Luckily, Cippin on Sports has you covered. We have listed below all of the contracts for the first round picks of the 2010 NFL Draft.

Last Update: August 6rd (C.J. Spiller and Russell Okung; All first round picks now signed.

Why Sam Bradford Will Be A Bust

The NFL Draft is the ultimate crap-shoot.

No matter how much scouting is done, there are bound to be busts.

From the first pick to the last pick, there is no guarantee that any player will live up to expectations.

Now earlier, I touched on which players from the 2010 NFL Draft I thought would be busts, but I left one player out.

I did this because this player is bigger than the rest. He has the most expectations of any other player in the draft. He was the number one overall pick. He is Sam Bradford and he will be a bust in the NFL.

Now I’m not saying he will be on the JaMarcus Russell or Tim Couch level, but yet he won’t be on the Peyton Manning level either. I see him more alike to David Carr or Alex Smith.

He simply has too many questions marks and too many things have to go right for him to be an elite NFL quarterback.

The first and most worrisome concern about Bradford is his durability. He hurt his throwing shoulder twice last season and needed surgery on it after he re-injured it.

Dr. James Andrews, who operated on Bradford, said his shoulder will be fine, but really what is he suppose to say. If he says he may be more vulnerable to further injury or it may never be as strong he will cost Bradford millions.

Even if it is fine, I’m sure Bradford will think twice before stepping up in the pocket to deliver that throw knowing his shoulder will be exposed to a possible injury.

Another concern is how we will transition from the spread offense he ran while at Oklahoma. Bradford rarely had to read defenses and coverage’s and seldom went through more than read on each throw. And when he did go to his secondary reads his primary strength, his accuracy, dipped dramatically.

We have seen plenty of quarterbacks excel in the spread at Oklahoma and then go on to do nothing in the NFL (Jason White, Josh Huepel).  White even won a Heisman like Bradford, and granted Bradford has an edge in psychical tools, but history isn’t on his side.

I also have worries about the situation he is going into.  While at Oklahoma, he was surrounded by NFL talent at all positions. In St. Louis, he is going to a team that has won six games in the past three seasons combined.

In college his offensive line was tremendous. He rarely faced pressure in face and he could stay back in the pocket and wait for his receivers to get open. He won’t have that luxury in St. Louis.

The Rams offensive line leaves a lot to be desired. They surrendered 44 sacks last season. Bradford doesn’t have a good feel for pressure and I fear when he faces a NFL pass rush he’ll panic and he never showed much ability to throw on the run and make plays with his feet. I’m afraid this could turn into a David Carr situation, where Bradford gets sacked so much his psyche is messed with.

Speaking of David Carr, at least he had Andre Johnson to throw to for a few years. Bradford doesn’t have anyone close to that. The Rams projected starting receivers right now are Donnie Avery and Brandon Gibson, who have 135 catches and 9 touchdowns between them for their careers.

You could argue that he had better receivers at Oklahoma where he threw to Jermaine Gresham (first rounder), Malcolm Kelly (second rounder), and Juaquin Iglesias (third round).

The final concern I have about Bradford is his throwing motion. He doesn’t posses a classic throwing motion and at times at times he drops down to a three quarters release.

Mike Mayock, of the NFL Network, described his motion as if he were “pushing” the ball. Now, he can succeed with this throwing motion, but it’s not ideal.

He has the potential to be a franchise quarterback, but there are far too many question marks and things that have to go right for him to be successful in the NFL.

When it’s all said and done Sam Bradford will go down as the latest bust from the ultimate crap-shoot, the NFL Draft.

2010 NFL Draft Busts

Bust. The word gets thrown around a lot come draft time. Memories of Ryan Leaf and Tony Mandarich come back and haunt the dream of NFL General Managers. Every team hopes to avoid drafting a “bust,” like a bingo player waiting for there last space to be filled, but if we have learned anything from the NFL Draft it’s that busts are unavoidable and plentiful.

While after the draft, reviews are mostly positive and every team is feeling good about its draft class, but those thoughts will soon be a distant memory. Just ask any Raiders fan about JaMarcus Russell.

Players can “bust” for a multitude of reasons. Some can never get over the injury bug (Charles Rodgers). Others underachieve and never live up to their potential (Vernon Gholston). And then there are those whose off the field issues get the best of them (Pacman Jones).

With that said here are a few players from the 2010 NFL Draft that I think will end up being busts in the NFL.

Terrence Cody, DT, Baltimore Ravens

Cody is a mountain of a man who can clog the the middle of the line. However, he has serious weight issues that might affect his play. He showed up at the Senior Bowl weighing a massive 370 lbs. He knew he was going to have to weigh in there and to show up that out of shape sends a poor message to teams about his self discipline.  Cody’s ceiling is already as a two down lineman, but if he is tipping the scales at 370 lbs that is seriously going to affect his stamina and long term productivity.

Anthony Davis, OT, San Francisco 49ers

Davis has all the talent to be an elite tackle in the NFL, but had big problems with consistency. One moment he flashed dominant abilities and then the next he looked like lazy and sluggish. There were also problems about his weight and reports says he lacks the “killer instinct” that is needed to succeed at the next level.  I worry that once he gets that big payday he will relax and not work to improve his game and maximize e his potential a la JaMarcus Russell.

Carlos Dunlap, DE, Cincinnati Bengals

Dunlap was once considered a first round pick and he still does possess that talent. However, there was far too much tape of him where he simply disappeared from games.  You barely noticed he was on the field at times. You can’t be lazy if you want to succeed in the NFL and Dunlap will have to work to overcome that. He also got a DUI last season and was suspended for the SEC Championship Game, raising concerns about his character.

Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, New York Giants

He has a great size and speed combination that would seem to make him an ideal pass rusher, but he is unlikely to ever be one at the NFL level. He only played one year at the Division I level after transferring from junior college and he wasn’t even that productive in college producing only 6.5 sacks. If you can’t dominate at the collegiate level, it’s hard to see him dominating at the NFL level. He was also lining up across George Selvie, who was the 207 Big East player of the year and drawing most of the attention from opposing offenses. He put up great numbers at the combine and comes off as more of a “workout warrior.” He reminds me more of Vernon Gholston than Jevon Kearse.

2010 NFL Dream Draft

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Immediately following the NFL Draft all of the pundits race to criticize the teams that they think dropped the ball. This year was no different as the pundits ripped the Jaguars for taking Tyson Alualu at #10 and the Broncos for taking Tim Tebow in the first round.

Instead of bashing teams for the picks they made right after the NFL Draft, I’m going to let it all play out for at least three years before making conclusions. Instead, I’m putting my football expertise against the General Managers as I craft my own NFL Draft for my hypothetical team.

Here are the rules:

• I can’t select a player taken in the first ten picks of any round
• I have to select a player that actually went in that round
• I can only select one player per position
• I’m not drafting for any offensive or defensive scheme
• I also get to select and undrafted player

Round 1: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State

The Cowboys got an absolute steal at 24 with Bryant. On pure talent, he would have been taken in the top ten, perhaps top five, but dropped because of character concerns, which were way overblown.  Jerry Jones passed on Randy Moss back in the day because of character concerns, but made not sure not to make the same mistake with Bryant. This guy has all the tools to become an elite wide receiver at the next level.

Round 2: Sergio Kindle, OLB, Texas

Many people were shocked to see Kindle slide into the second round. There were reports that he may need micro-fracture surgery on his knee, but as of now it appears to be just a rumor. Regardless, Kindle projects as an outstanding pass rusher. He has been compared to former teammate, Brian Orakpo, who notched 11 sacks in his rookie season.

Round 3: Colt McCoy, QB, Texas

The winningest quarterback in college football history slipped to the end of the third round. He is more pro ready than Tim Tebow, has great intangibles, and went two rounds later. He has pin point accuracy and has a great football IQ. He will take time to develop, but has the potential to be a starter in this league for a long time.

The Cowboys got a steal with Bryant.

Round 4: Corey Wootton, DE, Northwestern

Wooton didn’t have a great senior season after recovering from ACL surgery and admittedly wasn’t playing at 100%. Before the injury he was considered a first round possibility and if he can revert to his pre-injury form he will prove to be a steal in the fourth round. He is an all around end that can hold his own against the run and also rush the passer.  He also has the versatility to play either a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme.

Round 5: Cam Thomas: DT, North Carolina

Thomas has all the tools to be an elite defensive tackle, he just has to put it all together. He played like one at times at North Carolina, and then disappeared at times. He has a big frame and can be a run stuffer in the middle of any defense.

Round 6: Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech

After entering the draft as a junior, Dwyer was hoping to go a lot higher than the sixth round.  Reports say that he fell due to “medical reasons,” but regardless he was a steal at the end of the sixth round. While he will have to adjust to taking carries from the I-formation after playing in a triple-option offense in college, it shouldn’t take long for him to transition. He was extremely productive in college and is a true bruiser running the football.

Round 7: Dorin Dickerson, TE, Pittsburgh

Dickerson is not in the mold of a traditional tight end.  His skill set is more aligned with a “move tight end.” Think of how the Jets utilize Dustin Keller.  He is essentially a wide receiver in a tight ends body.  He is mismatch waiting to happen for opposing defenses.

Undrafted: Donovan Warren, CB, Michigan

Warren came out of school early after the NFL Draft Advisory Board told him he would be taken in the first three rounds. Then, Warren ran a disappointing forty time (4.6) and he plummeted down draft boards and eventually, out of the draft entirely. However, he plays faster on film. His skill set may be better suited to play safety at the next level and that is where the Jets, who signed him, are playing him as of now.

2010 NFL Mock Draft 3.0

Finally the NFL Draft has arrived.

All the months speculating will come to a stop and we will know for sure who goes where.

This is also the first draft which will take place in prime time.  While I was originally in favor of the switch, now that the draft is actually here I am not so sure I like it.  There are too many sporting events going on at night (NBA and NHL playoffs) and it just doesn’t feel like draft day usually does.

But I digress.  The first three picks of the draft appear to be set in stone, but after that who knows what will happen.  The questions starts with Washington, which sits in the four hole.  Washington will likely take an offensive tackle, but which one? Does Kansas City pass on Eric Berry? Does anybody spend a top 10 pick on C.J. Spiller? Will Jimmy Claussen experience a Brady Quinn, Aaron Rodgers type slide? What about America’s hero, Tim Tebow? I could go on and on, but that would take all day.  This is what makes draft day so great.  All of these questions will finally be answered.

With that said here is my best stab of what will happen in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft.

1. St. Louis Rams (1-15)

Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

After passing on Matt Ryan and Mark Sanchez the previous two years, the Rams finally get their franchise quarterback (they hope).

2. Detroit Lions (2-14)

Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

Jim Schwartz loves defensive lineman.  He had Albert Haynesworth in Tennessee and now he will have Suh in Detroit.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-13)

Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma

McCoy is a perfect fit for the Bucs system and will remind fans of Warren Sapp.

4. Washington Redskins (4-12)

Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State

The pick will either be Okung or Williams.  Okung is the safe selection and more suited to play left tackle.

5. Kansas City Chiefs (4-12)

Brian Bulaga, OT, Iowa

Bulaga would give the Chiefs a great bookend to tackle Branden Albert.

6. Seattle Seahawks (5-11)

Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma

The Seahawks need to find a heir apparent to Walter Jones.

7. Cleveland Browns (5-11)

Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

The Browns would love to snag Berry here, who has Ed Reed type potential.

8. Oakland Raiders (5-11)

Anthony Davis. OT, Rutgers

No one really knows what the Raider will ever do.  They may take Jimmy Clausen, but the more logical pick would be an offensive tackle and in this case, Anthony Davis.

9. Buffalo Bills (6-10)

Dan Williams, NT, Tennessee

The Bills are switching to a 3-4 defense and currently have no nose tackle.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-9)

C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson

Even with Maurice- Jones-Drew, the Jaguars covet Spiller, who can give the offense and special teams another dynamic.

11. Denver Broncos (via CHI)

Maurice Pouncey, OL, Florida

The versatile lineman is a great fit as the Broncos shift to more of a power based scheme.

12. Miami Dolphins (7-9)

Derrick Morgan, DE/OLB, Georgia Tech

After not resigning Jason Taylor, the Dolphins select the most pro ready pass rusher to replace him.

13. San Francisco 49ers (8-8)

Joe Haden, CB, Florida

Haden is the best cover corner in the draft and you don’t turn down the chance to draft a potential shutdown corner.

14. Seattle Seahawks (via DEN)

Earl Thomas, S, Texas

After considering Eric Berry at 6, the Seahawks get their safety here.

15. New York Giants (8-8)

Rolando McClain, MLB, Alabama

McClain can come in right away and replace the void left by Antonio Pierce.

16. Tennessee Titans (8-8)

Jason Pierre-Paul, DE/OLB, USF

Word is that the Titans see Pierre-Paul as the next Jevon Kearse.

17. San Francisco 49ers (via CAR)

Jimmy Claussen, QB, Notre Dame

He is hard to pass up at this point and when G.M. Scot McCloughan left the team so did Alex Smith’s biggest supporter.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)

Mike Iupati, OL, Idaho

The Steelers need all the help they can get in protecting Ben Roethlisberger.

19. Atlanta Falcons(9-7)

Brandon Graham, DE, Atlanta

The Falcons desperately need a pass rusher opposite John Abraham and Jaamal Anderson hasn’t panned out.

20. Houston Texans (9-7)

Ryan Matthews, RB, Fresno State

The Texans are desperate for a big back that could handle early down work and compliment Steve Slaton.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6)

Taylor Mays, S, USC

The Bengals have a history of taking USC players (Palmer, Maualuga, Rivers) and they have a glaring need at safety.

22. New England Patriots (10-6)

Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State

The signing of Torry Holt won’t prevent the Patriots from passing up on Bryant, the next potential Moss, if he falls this far.

23. Green Bay Packers (11-5)

Charles Brown, OT, USC

The Packers offensive line struggled last year and both starting tackles are both over 30.

24. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)

Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State

The Eagles dealt Sheldon Brown and are rumored to have Asante Samuel on the trade block.

25. Baltimore Ravens (9-7)

Jared Odrick, DL, Penn State

Odrick is built perfectly to play end in the 3-4 system.

26. Arizona Cardinals (10-6)

Sergio Kindle, OLB, Texas

He fits the system and would give the Cardinals a much needed pass rush presence.

27. Dallas Cowboys (11-5)

Nate Allen, S, South Florida

This may be a bit of a reach her, but the Cowboys have a glaring need at safety.

28. San Diego Chargers (13-3)

Linval Joseph, DL, East Carolina

With Jamal Williams gone, the Chargers need all the help they can get on the defensive line and Joseph is versatile enough to play any position on the line.

29. New York Jets (9-7)

Jerry Hughes, OLB, TCU

Rex Ryan loves pass rushers and Hughes could be his version of Terrell Suggs.

30. Minnesota Vikings (12-4)

Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama

The Vikings need a corner and Jackson has been rising up draft boards lately.

31. Indianapolis Colts (14-2)

Roger Saffold, OT, Indiana

The Colts have soured on Tony Ugoh as Peyton Manning blind side protector.

32. New Orleans Saints (13-3)

Daryl Washington, LB, TCU

Washington has been rising up draft boards and offers great speed and athleticism.

2010 NFL Mock Draft 2.0

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The actual draft is now only one week away. Months of speculating will finally come to an end as the young men find their new homes.

A lot has changed in the month since we did our last mock.  The Donovan McNabb trade has thrown a wrench into the top of the draft with the Redskins now a lock to take an offensive lineman. The question now becomes where does that leave Jimmy Clausen? The much-debated quarterback could anywhere from #6 to Seattle to an Aaron Rodgers esque slide all the way to Minnesota at #30. Right now I have him going to Buffalo with the 9th pick, but with so many other needs the Bills may pass him up.

This will be the penultimate mock draft on Cippin on Sports with out final one coming out next week, most likely the day before the actual draft. With that said let’s get it started off with the Saint Louis Rams.

1. St. Louis Rams (1-15)

Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

2. Detroit Lions (2-14)

Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-13)

Gerlad McCoy, DT, Oklahoma

4. Washington Redskins (4-12)

Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State

5. Kansas City Chiefs (4-12)

Brian Bulaga, OT, Iowa

6. Seattle Seahawks (5-11)

Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma

7. Cleveland Browns (5-11)

Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

8. Oakland Raiders (5-11)

Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland

9. Buffalo Bills (6-10)

Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame

10. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-9)

Earl Thomas, S, Texas

11. Denver Broncos (via CHI)

Rolando McClain, MLB, Alabama

12. Miami Dolphins (7-9)

Dan Williams, NT, Tennessee

13. San Francisco 49ers (8-8)

Joe Haden, CB, Florida

14. Seattle Seahawks (via DEN)

Dez Bryant , WR, Oklahoma State

15. New York Giants (8-8)

Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers

16. Tennessee Titans (8-8)

Jason Pierre-Paul, DE/OLB, USF

17. San Francisco 49ers (via CAR)

C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson

18. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)

Maurkice Pouncey, OL, Florida

19. Atlanta Falcons(9-7)

Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech

20. Houston Texans (9-7)

Ryan Matthews, RB, Fresno State

21. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6)

Taylor Mays, S, USC

22. New England Patriots (10-6)

Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma

23. Green Bay Packers (11-5)

Charles Brown, OT, USC

24. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)

Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State

25. Baltimore Ravens (9-7)

Jared Odrick, DL, Penn State

26. Arizona Cardinals (10-6)

Sean Witherspoon, LB, Missouri

27. Dallas Cowboys (11-5)

Mike Iupati, OL, Iadaho

28. San Diego Chargers (13-3)

Terrence Cody, NT, Alabama

29. New York Jets (9-7)

Sergio Kindle, DE/LOB, Texas

30. Minnesota Vikings (12-4)

Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama

31. Indianapolis Colts (14-2)

Brian Price, DT, UCLA

32. New Orleans Saints (13-3)

Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan

2010 NFL Mock Draft

The combine is over and free agency is well underway so that means it’s time for a Mock Draft.  The draft boards are virtually set with just pro day reaming before the draft takes place April 22^nd.  With that in mind here is how I see the first round playing out as of now:

1. St. Louis Rams (1-15)

Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

The Rams were thought to leaning toward selecting a defensive lineman, but the recent reports have them leaning toward Bradford.  With Marc Bugler likely to be cut soon, the pick makes sense.

2. Detroit Lions (2-14)

Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

Coach Jim Schwartz loves to build a good defensive line like he did in Tennessee and adding Suh would bolster an improving line that has already added Kyle Vanden Bosch and Corey Williams in the off-season.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-13)

Gerlad McCoy, DT, Oklahoma

The Bucs will be happy to land either McCoy or Suh at this spot.  McCoy would add a much needed pass rush from the interior to a team that desperately needs one.  Eric Berry will also get some consideration here.

4. Washington Redskins (4-12)

Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame

With a new regime in control in Washington, a potential franchise quarterback will be hard to pass up.  Clausen is a good fit for Mike Shanahan’s offense and can sit behind Jason Campbell for a year before taking over.

5. Kansas City Chiefs (4-12)

Russell Okung, OT, Oklahmoa State

The Chiefs invested $63 million in Matt Cassel and now need someone to protect his blind side after he was sacked 42 times last season.  If they select Okung, they can slide Branden Albert to guard, his natural position.

6. Seattle Seahawks (5-11)

Brian Bulaga, OT, Iowa

The Seahawks would love to get their hands on either Bradford or Clausen, but with both gone their attention shifts toward left tackle.  Longtime standout Walter Jones is on his last legs and Sean Locklear is a better fit on the right side, making Bulaga a nice fit.

7. Cleveland Browns (5-11)

Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

Berry is considered one of the top players in the draft, but because teams don’t value safety as much so he will slide a little and much to the delight of the Browns.  Berry would be an immediate upgrade in the secondary and could develop into an Ed Reed type safety.

8. Oakland Raiders (5-11)

Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland

This pick makes too much sense not happen.  Campbell ripped up the combine showing off an impressive strength and speed for his size.  It’s a match made in heaven.

9. Buffalo Bills (6-10)

Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma

The Bills offensive line is in shambles and Williams would bring some stability to it.  He is capable of playing either tackle spot.  The Bills may also consider Clausen if he drops.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-9)

Jason Pierre-Paul, DE/OLB, USF

Even after signing Aaron Kampman the Jaguars won’t ignore defensive end.  Improving the pass rush is a priority after their defensive ends recorded only two sacks last year.  Pierre-Paul is arguably the best pure pass rusher in the draft and can help out is obvious passing situaitons as a rookie.

11. Denver Broncos(f/CHI)

Dez Bryant , WR, Oklahoma State

It appears as if Brandon Marshall is on his way out of Denver, so the Broncos draft his replacement in Bryant.  There have been rumors of Bryant falling down team’s boards, but I don’t buy it.  He is too talented to drop too far.

12. Miami Dolphins (7-9)

Dan Williams, NT, Tennessee

The key to any 3-4 defense is nose tackle and when one is available it is hard to pass up.  Especially for the Dolphins considering  Jason Ferguson is 35 and is suspended for the first eight games of next season.

13. San Francisco 49ers (8-8)

Joe Haden, CB, Florida

Haden ran a disappointing 4.57 at the combine and his stock has seemed to take a hit because of it.  Despite that time, Haden possesses elite cover skills and has the potential to become a shutdown corner in this league.

14. Seattle Seahawks (f/DEN)

C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson

Most teams don’t like to draft running backs in the first round because you can find one later in the draft, but Spiller is an exception.   He is an all around player that can help out in the return game and passing game as well as solidifying the Seahawks ground attack.

15.New York Giants (8-8)

Rolando McClain, MLB, Alabama

McClain would be an ideal fit to replace the recently released Antonio Pierce.  His speed has come into question, but he is a solid tackler and a great leader.

16. Tennessee Titans (8-8)

Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech

The Titans lost Kyle Vanden Bosch in free agency and aren’t brining back Jevon Kearse, making defensive end a major need.  Morgan is the prototypical 4-3 defensive end, who can rush the passer and stop the run.

17. San Francisco 49ers (CAR)

Mike Iupati, OL, Iadaho

Iupati played guard in college, but some project him to right tackle in the pros.  Either way he would help the 49ers offensive line in the running game.  There were some doubts about the lack of competition he faced, but he proved at the Senior Bowl that he can play with the big boys.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)

Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers

The Steelers offensive line needs some fixing after a disappointing 2009 season.  Davis may be a bit of a risk, but he has the potential to be a Pro Bowl caliber left tackle, which Ben Roethlisberger desperately needs.

19. Atlanta Falcons(9-7)

Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan

The Falcons failed to generate much of a pass rush last season and need a pass rusher to play opposite John Abraham.  Graham may be a bit small at 6’1, but can really get after the quarterback and cause havoc in the backfield.

20. Houston Texans (9-7)

Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State

Losing Dunta Robinson in free agency has left a huge void at corner for the Texans.  Wilson was one of the most impressive players at the Senior Bowl and should be able to contribute right away.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6)

Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma

The Bengals lack of a passing attack hurt them down the stretch last year as they proved to be one-dimensional.  They already added Antonio Bryant to help the receiving corps and Gresham would be the best receiving threat Carson Palmer has ever had at tight end.

22. New England Patriots (10-6)

Sergio Kindle, DE/OLB, Texas

The Patriots flirted with Julius Peppers to help their pass, but ultimately passed.  Kindle would fit in nice as an outside linebacker in the Pats 3-4, where he show off his strength at rushing the passer.

23. Green Bay Packers (11-5)

Charles Brown, OT, USC

The Achilles heel of the Packers last season was their offensive line.  It improved as the season progressed, but they can’t rely on aging tackler Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher forever.  Brown is the best tackle available and can be groomed as Aaron Rodger’s future blindside protector.

24. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)

Carlos Dunlap,DE, Florida

Dunlap has seen his stock fall dramatically ever since he was arrested for a DUI in December.  He still remains a great talent that has the potential to be an elite pass rusher in this league.

25. Baltimore Ravens (9-7)

Devin McCourtey, CB, Rutgers

The Ravens finally found a number one receiver and can now shift their attention over to the defensive side of the ball.  Cornerback remains a huge question mark after Fabian Washington and Lardarius Webb suffered torn ACL’s last season and McCourtey has risen up draft boards as of late making him a nice pick here.

26. Arizona Cardinals (10-6)

Ricky Sapp, OLB, Clemson

The Cardinals have taken some hits in the off-season losing Karlos Dansby, Antrel Role, and Anquan Boldin.   They have replacements for Rolle and Boldin and no inside linebacker is worthy of this pick so they go with Sapp, who will give them a pass rushing option off the edge.

27. Dallas Cowboys (11-5)

Earl Thomas, S, Texas

The Cowboys will be delighted to see Thomas on the board when they pick.  Thomas not only fills a need at safety, but is also played his college ball at nearby Texas.

28. San Diego Chargers (13-3)

Ryan Matthews, Fresno State

The release of L.T. not only marked the end of an era, but also created a need at the running back position.  Matthews is a hard nose inside runner who would compliment Darren Sproles well.

29. New York Jets (9-7)

Jared Odrick, DE/DT, Penn State

The Jets need to get younger along the defensive line making Odrick an ideal fit.  He would base end in their 3-4 scheme and could challenge for playing time right away.

30.Minnesota Vikings (12-4)

Brian Price, DT, UCLA

Pat Williams has said he is coming back next season, but the fact remains that he is 37 years old.  Price can come in and give him a breather as a rookie before taking over full time when Williams retires.

31. Indianapolis Colts (14-2)

Maurkice Pouncey, OL, Florida

The Colts don’t have many holes to fill, but their offensive line could be upgraded.  Pouncey is versatile and can play either guard or center.  He would likely start off at guard before moving over to center when Jeff Saturday retires.

32. New Orleans Saints (13-3)

Everson Griffin, DE, USC

The Super Bowl will likely either go defensive end or outside linebacker here.  Griffin would replace the recently released Charles Grant and at the 32 slot he provides nice value here and has a big upside.

Senior Bowl Stock Watch

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The Senior Bowl marks the official start of draft season.  We’ve seen the first of many battles between Todd McShay and Mel Kiper on Sportscenter, which are sure to get even more heated as we get closer to the draft.

A side note here.  How much do you think Mel Kiper Todd McShay hate each other?  Every time they have a debate it turns into each of them yelling at each other like they just insulted the other one’s mom.  You can see the disgust on their faces as McShay just wants to scrub all that moose out of Kiper’s hair and Kiper is furious that this baby faced, little squirt is trying to and eventually going to take his job.  Personally, I love it.  It’s made the draft a lot more entertaining the past couple years.

Anyway, this past week, many of the nations top prospects took the field in Mobile, Alabama looking to up their draft stock.  Some players succeeded and some fell flat flat on their face.  Here’s a breakdown on how they fared:

Stock Up:

Myron Rolle, S, Florida State

If not for Tebow’s presence, Rolle may have been the story of the Senior Bowl.  The former Seminole was studying at Oxford this past year as a Rhodes Scholar, but you never would have know that by watching him.  He was in excellent shape and as the week progressed he started to get back into the groove of playing football.  The talented safety should go off the board in the first three rounds.

Brandon Graham, DE/OLB, Michigan

After measuring in at only 6-1, the week didn’t start off well for Graham.  Though when he stepped on the field, all seemed to be forgotten.  He showed gret pass rushing ability and could fit in either a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme.  In the actual game, Graham recorded two sacks and a forced fumble, earning him MVP.

Dexter McCluster, RB/WR

McCluster may not possess the size to be an every down back in the NFL as he’s  just a shade under 5-8, but he showed he can be a valuable weapon on any team.  He showed off his versatility lining up at running back, in the slot, and returning kicks.  The explosive back has vaulted himself up draft boards and may come off in the second round.

Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State

Wilson was the most impressive corner back down in Mobile.  He excelled in both press and off man coverage, shutting down any receiver that he guarded.  He isn’t the fastest corner back though, and his forty time at the combine will be a big determinant in where he ultimately goes.

Mike Iupati, G, Idaho

The question heading into last week was how Iupati would face against upper level competition.  Well, he erased the scouts doubt and then some.  He was dominant in line drills and showed the versatility to play multiple line positions.  He looks like a sure fire first rounder and could go in the top half.

Stock Down:

Tim Tebow

The most talked about player at the Senior Bowl had a week he’d like to forget.  It started out with strep throat and it didn’t get better from there.  He struggled taking snaps from under center and showed poor throwing mechanics including an elongated release.  He was mercifully ripped all week long by Todd McShay on Sportscenter.  His struggles continued in the game where he fumbled twice and threw for only 50 throws on 12 attempts, a 4.2 yards per attempt average.

2010 NFL Draft Underclassmen List

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The deadline passed at 5:00 today for underclassmen to declare for the 2010 NFL Draft.

In total, 53 underclassmen declared.  Players who didn’t sign with an agent have until Monday to withdraw if they want.

Notable underclassmen who will return next year include Jake Locker, Noel Devine, Ryan Mallet, and Marvin Austin.