My NFL Forums | NFL Forums & Blogs

Mock draft: SN projects 2010's top NFL picks

SportingNews Oct 13, 11:16 pm EDT


College football has reached its midseason; the NFL is getting there fast. It's time to give serious consideration to where college stars could be headed next season and for pro teams to get sharper focus on the best talent available in the 2010 NFL draft.

Sporting News' War Room Scouts are already deep in evaluation mode. And their latest mock draft has potential players for the first round ready for your examination.

Here's a look at the first 16 picks in the NFL draft, as projected by Sporting News' War Room Scouts (*—underclassman):

1. Cleveland Browns: Gerald McCoy*, DT, Oklahoma
The Browns need a ton of help, and their defensive struggles will lead them to grabbing McCoy to help coach Eric Mangini's defense become at least an adequate unit.

2. St. Louis Rams: Carlos Dunlap*, DE, Florida
Although the Rams need a quarterback, shoulder injury and thin frame of Oklahoma's Sam Bradford is a concern for a team already about to dump injury-prone Marc Bulger(notes). The team would be wise to jump on Dunlap to give the pass rush the boost previous first-round picks Chris Long(notes) and Adam Carriker(notes) have failed to do.

3. Kansas City Chiefs: Trent Williams, T, Oklahoma
LT Branden Albert(notes) has struggled in '09 and the right tackle spot is a long-term question mark. Williams would answer their right tackle problems right away and could shift over if Albert does not improve.

4. Tennessee Titans: Dez Bryant*, WR, Oklahoma State
Their offense has an elite running back and great line but needs weapons in the passing game. Bryant is a big-play receiver with excellent hands.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Taylor Mays, S, Southern Cal
The Bucs must upgrade at safety. Many personnel men expect them to go for Tennessee's Eric Berry because of his connection to former coordinator Monte Kiffin, but they would be better off with the bigger, stronger and more physical Mays.

6. San Francisco 49ers: Sam Bradford*, QB, Oklahoma
(Pick acquired from Carolina) The 49ers whiffed on QB Alex Smith in '05 but take another chance on a QB with high pick, gambling that Bradford can be a durable NFL passer.

7. Seattle Seahawks: Russell Okung, T, Oklahoma State
LT Walter Jones(notes) is nearing the end of a Hall of Fame career, and Okung is a top-level athlete who could start at right tackle in '10 and then slide over when Jones retires.

8. Detroit Lions: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
The Lions upgraded their offense in the '09 draft and should grab Suh here to improve their defense.

9: Oakland Raiders: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
Raiders owner/GM Al Davis finally admits his failure with JaMarcus Russell(notes) and again goes for the biggest name player on the board.

10. Buffalo Bills: Bryan Buluga*, T, Iowa
After they traded away LT Jason Peters(notes) last offseason, their offensive line has struggled mightily. The athletic Buluga could be the best offensive lineman ever to come out of Iowa.

11. Miami Dolphins: Arrelious Benn*, WR, Illinois
With second-year QB Chad Henne(notes) taking over the reins, the Dolphins need a big receiver to be his go-to guy. Benn is the big, physical wideout who complements the Dolphins' little receivers.

12. Arizona Cardinals: Cameron Heyward*, DE, Ohio State
The Cardinals have struggled to pressure the QB, and Ironhead Heyward's son would be a perfect end in their 3-4 scheme.

13. Green Bay Packers: Anthony Davis*, T, Rutgers
As their Monday night game against the Vikings showed, the Packers can't protect QB Aaron Rodgers(notes). With LT Chad Clifton(notes) having injury problems and aging, the Packers should nab Davis to start immediately at right tackle and replace Clifton when he's ready.

14. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Iupati, G, Idaho
Their offensive line remains a big question mark, and Iupati would give them an interior force with an aggressive attitude.

15. San Diego Chargers: Jonathan Dwyer*, RB, Georgia Tech
LaDainian Tomlinson's(notes) productive years are in the rearview mirror. If San Diego is going win in '10, it needs a back who can carry the load.

16. Washington Redskins: Tony Pike, QB, Cincinnati
With two-time Super Bowl winner Mike Shanahan ready to take over as coach, the first thing he'll want is a quarterback to build around. Pike is the big, strong-armed QB Shanahan prefers.


I have a feeling that the Raiders will be drafting much higher then #9 in the 2010 draft.
I would take Tebow, but prefer Bradford.....

Guys, we might as well talk about 2010 draft, we sure as Hell have nothing to talk about the rest of the 09 season.....

The season is over!

Tebow is the way to go. He seems like a winner and in your face type QB.

JaBust will get his contract reduced.

__________________
www.790thsfs.com

man im not sure about tebow, looks like most of his passes are a bunch of flying ducks. i like bradford, im sure we will be pickig in the top 2.

I agree.

Tebow will be another project. It'll take him 2 years to become adequate. It'll require a decompression chamber to transition him from his BS option-heavy spread to the under-center, play action NFL game.

Bradford is the next Matt Ryan/Mark Sanchez, only better.

Colt McCoy. That's our man.

i feel this mock draft is very off... i mean it is only half college and quarter... well just over a quarter thru nfl season... BUT... rams will go qb imo... they are debating between benching bulger for boller... so they will go qb not d-line.. imo... and titans i cannot see going wr... they just went into FA last offseason and got nate washington to be the big play threat. last years 1st rounder kenny britt, and still have justin gage who was the #1 wr 2 years ago... btw this also has san fran drafting at 6... i cant really see that happening unless they tank unbelievably from now on.. i think we will be drafting in the top 5... washington, tampa bay, rams, us, carolina, browns, lions. but i think washington could draft after us if they get a new coach and he can sumhow light a fire under their asses. and the lions seem to have a very good offense with stafford, kevin jones, and calvin johnson...

so i think it will be..
1. browns
2. rams
3. raiders
4. washington
5. carolina
6. tampa


and it sux because both teams before us are in the market for a qb. id love to see bradford fall to us but cant imagine it.

i agree with r8rs i think it is who said this... but i think our guy might be mccoy... i really like him... actually he is pretty mobile. can throw on the run which comes in need with our o-line sometimes. plus he is very smart, and seems to have what it takes to excel. and he will try his hardest...

my 2nd option is jimmy clausen. he has been starting since his freshman year in college. he is from a pro style offense.. and he has a drive to succeed...

now if we got tebow. i wouldnt mind just for the simple fact... he will bust his butt to do w/e it takes to win. he will do anything to help the team. and i think he will get w/e money he gets, and do everything possible to get the team going the right way... he is one of the hardest workers in college ball...

__________________
once a fan, always a fan,
always in the thoughts.
raidacane!

Tebow will never make it in the NFL IMO. He's great college football player, but for the NFL.

__________________
PEACE RAIDER NATION!

Thats is what they/NFL thought about Gannon....


I said Bradford, but Tebow will do....

What's funny about this article is that they actually think there are worse teams out there. Al will once again have the #1 pick, will not let on to anyone who he's taking, use all 15 minutes on the clock at the draft, and then take the player that everyone knew he would take in the first place.

ASS CLOWN EXTRAORDINAIRE.