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2010 NFL Mock Draft Round 1
Published by Walter Football on February 8, 2010
St. Louis Rams: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame 
FEB. 2 UPDATE: There have been rumors that the Rams will trade for QB Dog Killer. The bad news: My USA Today article (see below) will probably be scrapped because a move like that would mean that St. Louis won’t draft Jimmy Clausen. The good news: I’ll be able to make fun of the Rams for years.
The last time QB Dog Killer started a game was 2006. That season, he led the Falcons to a 7-9 record with a 52.6 completion percentage. He wasn’t even a good quarterback three seasons ago. The Rams would have to be absolutely insane to trade for him. Then again, there’s a reason this franchise has lost $250 million and won just six games in the last three years.
Starting with this update, I’ll post two alternate picks for teams at the bottom of each write-up. I’ll start with the top five in this update, then do the top 10 in my next one, and so on.
JAN. 27 UPDATE: I wrote a 2,000-word article for USA Today explaining why the Rams must draft Jimmy Clausen. USA Today is coming out with an NFL Draft magazine in early March, so look for it in there. I’ll also have an expanded version on this site afterward.
There’s always a chance St. Louis trades for Jason Campbell and Donovan McNabb, both of whom have experience in the West Coast offense. If they do that, this pick will be Ndamukong Suh. But until the Rams throw away a high draft choice on an unproven guy with a 23-32 career record (Campbell) or a 33-year-old in the final stages of his prime (McNabb), this selection will be Clausen.
JAN. 19 UPDATE: I was pleased to see that Mel Kiper has Jimmy Clausen ranked No. 4 on his 2010 Big Board. It’s nice to know someone at ESPN knows what they’re talking about.
If Clausen is considered the fourth-best player in this class, he has to be chosen here (just like Matthew Stafford was picked No. 1 despite being third on Kiper’s 2009 Big Board). Ndamukong Suh projects as a great player, but you don’t pay defensive tackles No. 1 money – especially if you don’t have a franchise quarterback. If the Rams do this, they would be committing the same error Daniel Snyder was guilty of a year ago. And you don’t want to group yourself with him in a football discussion.
In business terms, drafting Suh over Clausen would be like giving the best IT guy ever a 7-figure salary when you don’t even have a CFO. That computer whiz could be the best IT guy in the history of the planet (i.e. Suh being compared to Reggie White), but devoting all of your resources to him would eventually force you to file for Chapter 11. On the bright side, you’d never have a single computer virus!
JAN. 12 UPDATE: Let’s erase all speculation that the Rams can just simply wait until Round 2 to grab a quarterback. First of all, that position is way too important for St. Louis to just idly wait around. And second, there are no promising second-round candidates. Colt McCoy is a poor man’s version of Kyle Orton; Tony Pike is a system guy with a sub-par arm; and Jevan Snead’s passes are just as accurate as Shayne Graham’s kicks.
Also, second-round quarterbacks have a 90.9-percent bust rate (I’ll be exploring this soon). Excluding Drew Brees and possibly Chad Henne, name one successful Round 2 quarterback in the past decade. Don’t try, because there are none. Believe it or not, the next best guy is Tarvaris Jackson (Kevin Kolb and Chad Henne being unknowns right now).
DEC. 31 UPDATE: It’s deja vu all over again. Two years ago, people argued Glenn Dorsey over Matt Ryan. Last year, many believed that the Lions would choose Aaron Curry or Jason Smith over Matthew Stafford. Ultimately, the Falcons and Lions made the right decision.
This is pretty much a no-brainer. There’s no way the Rams can pass up on a franchise quarterback. New regimes mean new quarterbacks. Last year Steve Spagnuolo and Billy Devaney flirted with the possibility of taking Mark Sanchez, but ultimately couldn’t because of Mark Bulger’s contract. However, this season they can get rid of Bulger and finally obtain “their guy.”
Jimmy Clausen is unquestionably the top quarterback prospect in this draft. He threw for 28 touchdowns and only four picks on an 8.8 YPA and a 68.0 completion percentage this year. He’s superior to Sam Bradford because he has a bigger arm and has spent three years in a West Coast offense. Bradford, on the other hand, is coming out of a shotgun spread offense and just had shoulder surgery. His arm strength is also very questionable. Clausen is a much better fit for St. Louis’ offense than Bradford is.
Other 2010 NFL Draft Possibilities:
1. Sam Bradford, QB – If the Rams are convinced that Sam Bradford’s shoulder is OK and that he’s the better quarterback, they’ll take him. I don’t see how St. Louis can walk away from the 2010 NFL Draft without a franchise signal-caller. But then again…
2. Ndamukong Suh, DT – The Rams are one of the dumbest organizations in the NFL. Their franchise value has fallen from $950 million in 2007 to $700 million in 2009. They’ve won six games in that span. I don’t have much confidence that they’ll do the right thing.
2)
Detroit Lions: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska 
If I were calling the shots in Detroit, this pick would be Russell Okung – even over Ndamukong Suh. To win in this league, you need to (in order): have a quarterback, protect your quarterback and get to the other quarterback. Detroit cannot do the second thing on that list. Last year, I berated the Lions for not drafting Michael Oher or William Beatty, so I can’t say I’m surprised that Matthew Stafford suffered an injury. Beatty has shown some promise with the Giants, while Oher has been prolific at both left and right tackle this year.
Unfortunately for Detroit fans, the team still likes Jeff Backus, even though he allowed eight sacks this year. Hey, if the Lions want Matthew Stafford to bust because he takes too many sacks and develops the Marc Bulger “I’ve been sacked so many times that I’m just going to heave the ball into triple coverage to avoid getting hit again” syndrome, that’s their problem. Good luck, Detroit. I just hope enough Lions fans can see past all of the lies that the coaching staff is feeding them.
Other 2010 NFL Possibilities:
1. Gerald McCoy, DT – If the Rams keep their ineptness streak alive and take Ndamukong Suh, the Lions will draft Gerald McCoy.
I found it interesting that Mike Mayock ranked Suh behind McCoy. So much for all the Reggie White comparisons. Let’s remember that White was an athletic freak at 300 pounds who ran a 4.6 40. Suh may not crack 5.0. I know 40 times don’t mean much – yes, Al Davis, it’s true – but it just goes to show how athletically gifted White was. I see Suh as more of a Cortez Kennedy (this comparison is important for the aforementioned USA Today article).
2. Russell Okung, OT – Hey, maybe all of this Jim Schwartz “Jeff Backus is the best OT evarrrr” nonsense is all a smokescreen. Maybe the Lions won’t screw up this year! Yeah, probably not.
3)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma 
The Buccaneers had Ndamukong Suh locked up, but for some reason felt like they had to beat Seattle and New Orleans. If Suh goes on to have a Hall of Fame career, Tampa Bay fans will only be able to look back on those two meaningless victories at the end of the 2009 season and wonder what would have happened if things played out differently. I know the wins saved Raheem Morris’ job, but would you rather have Suh or Morris?
Suh is off the board, but the Buccaneers still go defensive tackle. Gerald McCoy isn’t as great of a fit for Tampa Bay’s defense as Suh would have been (though he’s a better fit for the Cover 2 if the Buccaneers plan on sticking with that), but he would still be an enormous upgrade for their pedestrian defensive line. And Mike Mayock ranked McCoy over Suh, so it’s not like Tampa is getting some lame consolation prize.
Other 2010 NFL Draft Possibilities:
1. Eric Berry, S – Berry is a strong possibility here, though defensive backs are never chosen in the top three picks.
2. Derrick Morgan/Jason Pierre Paul, DE – A darkhorse pick. If Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy are off the board, and the Buccaneers fall in love with either defensive end, they’ll go that route. Defensive end is a big need for Tampa, and taking one in the top three makes much more sense than selecting a safety.
By the way, if you’re a Bucs fan, make sure you check out Pewter Report.com. It’s the ultimate source for inside news on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, including all of the draft prospects they’re targeting.
4)
Washington Redskins: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
I was thinking about this one for a while, and I have to admit that I’m about 55-45 right now in favor of Sam Bradford.
What this comes down to is Bradford’s shoulder. If he’s healthy – and the Redskins have Dr. James Andrews working for them, so they’ll know better than anyone – Bradford will be the pick. If Andrews is pessimistic, Washington will take Russell Okung (or Jimmy Clausen if he’s available).
If the Redskins tender Jason Campbell and keep him for a year, it doesn’t mean that they won’t take a quarterback with this selection. They may opt to use Campbell as a transitional guy for their quarterback of the future.
New regimes mean new quarterbacks, so unless Shanahan wants to keep Campbell around for a long time, he’ll probably choose Sam Bradford. Snyder loves big-name players, so you know he’ll definitely sign off on this move.
By the way, if the Redskins don’t pick Bradford, he could take a huge fall. If I’m running the Seahawks, Browns or Bills, and I see that the guy who operated on Bradford isn’t convinced that he’s healthy, I’m not taking Bradford either.
Other 2010 NFL Draft Possibilities:
1. Jimmy Clausen, QB – There’s a good chance the Rams will screw up. If so, Jimmy Clausen and Mike Shanahan are going to light up the scoreboard for a decade.
2. Russell Okung, OT – If Clausen is off the board, and Dr. Andrews is pessimistic about Bradford, the Redskins will draft Russell Okung. Their offensive line is an abomination and must be fixed.
5)
Kansas City Chiefs: Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State 
Branden Albert improved over the season and was pretty flawless in the final month. But I’m not convinced that he’s a franchise left tackle. There’s a chance that he could be, but I don’t think anyone can seriously say that he’s a lock to be one.
Scott Pioli invested $63 million into the noodle-armed Matt Cassel. He can’t afford to have Cassel sacked 42 times again next year. If Albert’s finish was a fluke, he’s putting his big investment in jeopardy.
Fortunately, Pioli, who is a big believer in positional value, can take Okung without sacrificing too much of his team’s payroll into the left tackle position. Albert makes less than $1 million in each of the next two seasons, and was a guard at Virginia anyway.
Okung is the real deal. He could take the Chiefs’ offense to the next level, though the team will ultimately struggle in the playoffs because of Cassel’s limitations.
Other 2010 NFL Draft Possibilities:
1. Eric Berry, S – Berry is the other major option here, but it would go against everything Pioli believes in if he were to take a safety without having his offensive and defensive lines finished.
2. Trade Down – If either Jimmy Clausen or Sam Bradford is available at No. 5, the Browns, Bills or Broncos could be eager enough to leapfrog the Seahawks. All three teams are desperate for a franchise quarterback.
6)
Seattle Seahawks: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee 
In his first NFL Draft with the Seahawks, Pete Carroll will have a ton of options at this juncture, ranging from Eric Berry, to Derrick Morgan, to Joe Haden, to Bruce Campbell.
Carroll will be looking for his own “guy” to play quarterback and a franchise left tackle to protect him. The only non-reach who could satisfy either of those needs here is Bruce Campbell. While Campbell could definitely be the pick, there are two things that are swaying me toward Berry.
First, Berry is the far superior prospect. Campbell’s no slouch, but Berry is being hailed as the next Ed Reed. And second, Campbell has an extensive history of minor injuries that may deter some teams from taking him in the top 5-8. Recall what happened to Eugene Monroe last year.
And it’s not like Seattle couldn’t use Berry; the team was miserable against the pass this year, allowing seven of their final 10 opponents to compile at least 249 passing yards each game, with the three exceptions being two rookies and Vince Young.
If Berry and the top two quarterbacks are off the board, I believe the Seahawks will draft Campbell.
By the way, pretty cool stuff – Okung is currently ranked fourth in the DraftDebacled’s Average NFL Draft Position – even higher than Berry. If you click on the names, you can read all of the mock draft analysis for that player and see the percentage of teams targeting each prospect. You can also create your own 2010 NFL Mock Draft to possibly have it listed in the 2010 NFL Mock Draft Database.
7)
Cleveland Browns: Joe Haden, CB, Florida 
JAN. 27 UPDATE: It must have been really painful for Browns fans to watch the Jets advance to the AFC Championship. Braylon Edwards was their receiver. Mark Sanchez was a guy they should could have picked at No. 5 last year. On the bright side, maybe Mike Holmgren can ship Eric Mangini off somewhere else in a few years and take advantage of the Mangina’s ineptness with a few one-sided trades.
JAN. 19 UPDATE: I’ve received tons of e-mails from Browns fans who have expressed their disdain about their team drafting a quarterback. As several e-mailers have said, “Defense, defense, defense.”
Well, good news and bad news… The good news is that with Sam Bradford off the board, most Browns fans will be happy with this selection, assuming they take Eric Berry or Joe Haden. The bad news is that Cleveland is delaying its return to playoff contention for another year. To win in the NFL CONSISTENTLY, you need a franchise quarterback. The Browns are the only team in the AFC North without one, so it’s no coincidence that they contend for the postseason only once every five seasons.
Haden projects as a shutdown corner, don’t get me wrong – the scouting report compares him to Leon Hall – but cornerbacks don’t lead teams to the Super Bowl. Franchise quarterbacks do. Just look at the last six NFL champions if you don’t believe me.
Haden will provide a huge boost for Cleveland’s defense, but the Browns won’t be a consistent winner until they find a franchise signal-caller.
Oakland Raiders: Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland 
There are only four possibilities here: Taylor Mays, Carlos Dunlap, Bruce Campbell and Everson Griffen. That’s it. If you think otherwise, you really don’t realize how horrible of a drafter Al Davis is.
With Ryan Mallett headed back to Arkansas for another year, I think Al Davis will turn his attention to the offensive line. Despite being 6-7, 310, Campbell has a good shot of running a 4.9. If Al is awake at the Combine and sees this, he may think Campbell is the second coming of Anthony Munoz. Sad, but true.
Despite all of the Al jokes, Campbell would be the right selection here. The Raiders need help at left tackle, and Campbell is certainly worthy of being chosen at No. 8 overall.
9)
Buffalo Bills: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers 
If Sam Bradford’s available here, he’ll be the guy. But because there’s no quarterback worth drafting at this juncture, Buffalo’s options are cut down to Derrick Morgan, Anthony Davis and Rolando McClain.
General manager Buddy Nix recently spoke of his team’s quarterbacks: “If they’re good enough, they’ll have a chance to be here … It’s hard to throw when you’re lying on your back.”
Perhaps an indication of where the Bills are headed come April? Left tackle is a huge need for the Bills, and they really have to be kicking themselves for passing on Michael Oher last year. They’ll need to make amends here.
10)
Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech 
Tim Tebow’s Senior Bowl struggles was the best possible thing Wayne Weaver could have seen. It’ll allow the Jaguars owner to obtain Tebow a bit later in the draft. More on that below.
Jacksonville’s top need is selling tickets and drawing fan interest. The team’s No. 2 need is finding someone who can get to the quarterback. The Jaguars tried the 4-3 and the 3-4 in 2009, but nothing worked. Amazingly, the team finished with just 14 sacks, and no one had more than three. Derrick Morgan nearly had as many sacks last season (12.5) as Jacksonville’s entire defense!
Other 2010 NFL Draft Possibilities:
1. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE – The Jaguars may prefer Jason Pierre-Paul’s upside. I think this would be a mistake (more on this below).
2. Trade Down (Tim Tebow) – The talk at the Senior Bowl was how dire things are in a few NFL cities, particularly Jacksonville. Wayne Weaver lost a lot of money this year. And by a lot of money, I mean A LOT OF MONEY. The situation is code-red for the Jaguars. Not even Jack Bauer, Chuck Norris or Carl Winslow could remedy things.
But Tebow can. Matt called me Thursday from the Senior Bowl and told me that he vastly underestimated how much love Tebow has. Thousands of people showed up just to see him practice. College girls made the trip to support him. The fans during the Senior Bowl continuously chanted, “We Want Te-Bow!”
If you haven’t been to Florida recently, you don’t know how much of an icon Tebow is down there. People love him and look up to him. He would solve all of Jacksonville’s fiscal issues for the next two years. If Tebow struggles, Weaver could still recoup his money and sell the team. And if Tebow actually turns out to be a good quarterback? Weaver would be able to bathe in gold coins as if he were Uncle Scrooge.
I don’t think the Jaguars will spend the No. 10 selection on Tebow. They can trade down to the 18-22 range (the Steelers would like Rolando McClain) and get him there. Or, they can trade this year’s third-round pick and next year’s second-round selection to obtain Tebow in Round 2.
The bottom line is – and I can’t stress this enough – the Jaguars NEED to walk away from this draft with Tebow. If they don’t, Weaver will continue to lose millions upon millions of dollars. The NFL is a business-first model, and Tebow would be an extremely value commodity for Jacksonville’s troubled owner.
Pick change; previously Tim Tebow, QB
11)
Denver Broncos: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
It looks like Brandon Marshall won’t be playing in Denver again. There’s a good chance he’ll be traded this offseason, perhaps to the Ravens or Bengals. If that happens, the Broncos will be targeting Dez Bryant here; with Marshall gone, Eddie Royal will be the team’s No. 1 wideout. Royal is talented, but Josh McDaniels hasn’t figured out how to use him yet (which honestly boggles my mind).
If Marshall isn’t dealt, this pick will be Rolando McClain.
12)
Miami Dolphins: Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama 
I’ve seen a receiver mocked to the Dolphins, but I just can’t imagine Bill Parcells spending a No. 1 pick on a wideout. It could happen, but except for one occasion (Terry Glenn, 1996), Parcells has always waited on taking receivers.
(Note: If I get one more e-mail saying, “Your stupid, Parcels drafted Keshawn Johnson!” I’m going to debacle myself. Keyshawn was drafted in 1996. Parcells joined the Jets in 1997.)
Conversely, Parcells has spent a whopping six first-round selections on linebackers. And inside linebacker is a huge need for the Dolphins; Channing Crowder is banged up far too often, while Akin Ayodele needs to be upgraded.
It’s safe to say that Miami would be thrilled if the Broncos eschew Rolando McClain in favor of Dez Bryant.
13)
San Francisco 49ers: C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson 
Running back is obviously not a big need for the 49ers, but they really could benefit from an enormous home-run threat like C.J. Spiller.
Spiller is the most dynamic offensive talent in this class, capable of going the distance at any moment. Having him on the roster could really open things up for San Francisco’s offense. As an added bonus, he would also assist a pedestrian return game.
14) Seattle Seahawks: Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa 
Aside from finding a franchise quarterback – Matt Hasselbeck is done – Seattle’s top priority is upgrading the offensive line.
The Seahawks are really hurting for left tackle help. They have nothing at the position, as Sean Lockler is more of a right tackle. And besides, Locklear is really unreliable; he has missed 10 games in the past season and a half, and he’s bound to get injured again sooner or later.
Bryan Bulaga is an athletic lineman who fits Seattle’s zone-blocking scheme.
Pick change; previously Derrick Morgan, DE
15)
New York Giants: Brian Price, DT, UCLA 
Brian Price made a great decision by declaring for the 2010 NFL Draft. He just had a monstrous junior campaign with 23.5 TFL and seven sacks. He’s currently the third-best defensive tackle available behind Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy (though Dan Williams may have something to say about that). It’ll be a big upset if he slips out of the first round.
Giants GM Jerry Reese loves bolstering the trenches, and defensive tackle just happens to be a big need.
16)
Tennessee Titans: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida 
Defensive end is Tennessee’s No. 1 need. The Titans weren’t able to get any sort of pressure on Philip Rivers without blitzing in a must-win game on Christmas Eve.
With a number of expiring contracts at defensive end this offseason – go here for the 2010 NFL Free Agent Rankings – this selection will be spent on a pass-rusher unless the Titans acquire a high-priced player at the position via free agency.
Jason Pierre-Paul’s stock is soaring right now, and there’s a good chance he’ll be a top-16 pick. I personally think he’s going to bust; there have been questions about his effort and he’s a one-year wonder. Pierre-Paul has tremendous upside and athleticism, but spending a top-25 selection on him is a huge risk I wouldn’t want to take
17) San Francisco 49ers: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
The 49ers have a huge hole at right tackle. Tony Pashos is out for the year, while Adam Snyder allowed 9.5 sacks. Finding an upgrade here is San Francisco’s greatest priority.
Pick change; previously Bryan Bulaga, OT
18)
Pittsburgh Steelers: Dan Williams, NT, Tennessee
Casey Hampton will be 33 in September. He’s still an effective player, but he’s not the dynamic force he once was. Hampton is also a free agent, and while he could be franchised, Pittsburgh will be looking for a long-term replacement.
Dan Williams had an incredible Senior Bowl week. He looked great in practice and commanded double teams during the game. He would be a great nose tackle of the future for the Steelers.
Pick change; previously Earl Thomas, FS
19)
Atlanta Falcons: Sean Weatherspoon, OLB, Missouri 
Mike Peterson, 34 in June, started off the season pretty well at weakside linebacker, but predictably wore down the stretch.
The Falcons need help in their linebacking corps. Not only was Sean Weatherspoon the vocal leader of the North team in the Senior Bowl, he also made several outstanding plays during the game, pretty much cementing his first-round status. Weatherspoon is the type of leader Atlanta’s defense needs.
Pick change; previously Donovan Warren, CB
20)
Houston Texans: Earl Thomas, FS, Texas 
Houston’s primary goal is to beat the Colts. They came close twice this year, but ultimately failed because of missed field goals and sloppy turnovers. However, their inability to stop Peyton Manning didn’t help matters. In those two contests, Manning was a combined 61-of-85, 562 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions.
Free safety isn’t Houston’s biggest need, but the position can be upgraded. And besides, Earl Thomas is the type of ballhawking free safety that could get the Texans one step closer to finally defeating Manning.
21)
Cincinnati Bengals: Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois 
Aside from a fluky blowout over the Bears, the Bengals failed to score more than 24 points in a single game since Oct. 4. Part of the problem is the lack of a competent No. 2 receiver across from Chad Ochocinco, and this issue was clearly evident in the team’s inexplicable loss to the Jets.
Arrelious Benn is a very talented receiver, but has lapses with effort and tends to drop a lot of passes. The Bengals would still consider him in the first round because they don’t put much stock into character.
22)
New England Patriots: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
Ben Watson probably won’t be back. If that’s the case, and the Patriots have the opportunity to draft Jermaine Gresham, I have to believe that they’ll take it. Gresham, a first-round talent who could fall because of his knee injury, would be yet another dynamic weapon for Tom Brady to have at his disposal. If Wes Welker isn’t ready by the start of the 2010 season, Brady will need someone talented to work with besides Randy Moss.
Jerry Hughes would appear to be an option, but it’s worth noting that Bill Belichick has never spent a first-round pick on a rush linebacker. Belichick is smart, and knows that rush linebackers have extremely high bust rates because they didn’t play the position in college, making the transition to the pros a very taxing one. And by the way, Belichick spent two first-round selections on tight ends in the last decade (Daniel Graham, Ben Watson).
23)
Green Bay Packers: Charles Brown, OT, USC 
Aaron Rodgers received much better pass protection since losing to the Buccaneers, but things ultimately fell apart in Arizona. Relying on Chad Clifton to protect Rodgers’ blind side for another year is not a good idea. Green Bay’s No. 1 priority this offseason is finding a top-notch left tackle for Rodgers.
24)
Philadelphia Eagles: Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida
Andy Reid loves drafting linemen on both sides of the ball, and the Eagles will be looking for an upgrade over mediocre left end Victor Abiamiri this offseason.
Carlos Dunlap lacks consistent effort and was charged with DUI recently, so there’s a chance he could fall out of the first round. However, Andy Reid seems to be on a mission to redeem every single football player in America, and given his new (unwarranted) contract extension, Big Red can afford to take a chance on a high-upside, low-effort guy like Dunlap.
25)
Baltimore Ravens: Damian Williams, WR, USC
If available, Jermaine Gresham is an option because Todd Heap is unreliable. However, Mark Clayton has been so inconsistent that he would force my hand anyway. If Derrick Mason retires, Joe Flacco will have absolutely no one to work with. Cornerback is also an option.
26)
Arizona Cardinals: Brandon Graham, DE/OLB, Michigan 
Arizona compiled 43 sacks on the year, but only a few came from the rush linebackers. The leader in that department was Bert Berry, a 35-year-old free agent who had six sacks. After that, 33-year-old Clark Haggans notched five sacks, followed by Chike Okeafor’s 4.5. Okeafor, 34, is also a free agent.
The Cardinals spent a second-round pick on Cody Brown last year, but he hasn’t played a single down in the NFL because of a wrist injury.
Clearly, rush linebacker is a dire need for Arizona this offseason – and this was evident before the Cardinals couldn’t put any pressure on Drew Brees in their playoff loss.
This may seem a bit low for Brandon Graham, who had an incredible Senior Bowl. Two things to consider here: First, at 6-1, Graham could struggle as a 4-3 end in the NFL, so he’s a much better fit in the 3-4. And second, teams are much more hesitant to take rush linebackers now because the conversion is so unpredictable. Just look at last year’s results – no one in the top 15 selections took a rush linebacker. The Chargers (No. 16), Broncos (18) and Packers (26) went with one, but only Green Bay’s selection (Clay Matthews) has panned out thus far.
It wasn’t just last year; in 2008, the Jets were burnt by Gholston. They were the only team to gamble on a rush linebacker in the first round. I think some of these 3-4 guys will take a tumble come April.
Pick change; previously Jerry Hughes, DE/OLB
27)
Dallas Cowboys: Mike Iupati, G, Idaho 
Mike Iupati makes too much sense here. He’s the type of mauling offensive lineman Dallas loves to have up front. The Cowboys need help at the position. It’s a perfect match, and I found it highly amusing that the Dallas Morning News reported that the entire Cowboys coaching staff “perked up” when Iupati’s name was announced for the Senior Bowl Weigh-Ins.
Iupati had a great week of Senior Bowl practices, but he really struggled in pass protection during the game. He has a ton of upside, but he’s still raw. I’d be surprised to see him go much higher than this (i.e. No. 17 to the 49ers).
Pick change; previously Terrence Cody, NT
28)
San Diego Chargers: Terrence Cody, NT, Alabama
Jamal Williams turns 34 in April. He’s due $5 million in 2010 and is coming off a season-ending injury. A.J. Smith is generally unpredictable and certainly has tons of options at this juncture, but if either Terrence Cody or Dan Williams is available to him, he’ll probably pull the trigger.
29)
New York Jets: Jared Odrick, DE/DT, Penn State 
The Jets’ top priority this offseason will be finding upgrades at the defensive end and rush linebacker positions. To get past the Colts, they’ll need to get to Peyton Manning without exposing their secondary.
When New York was projected to draft in the early 20s, I thought it was a bit too early for someone like Jared Odrick. Now that the Jets are slated at No. 29, Odrick becomes a strong possibility.
Odrick is a first-round talent, but he has some off-the-field incidents in his past (nothing too major) that might drag him into Round 2.
30)
Minnesota Vikings: Donovan Warren, CB, Michigan
As if literally fumbling away the NFC Championship wasn’t enough, the Vikings lost Cedric Griffin to a torn ACL. Griffin probably won’t be ready for the season opener, which means that the cornerback position becomes one of Minnesota’s biggest priorities this offseason.
Pick change; previously Brandon Ghee, CB
31)
New Orleans Saints: Everson Griffen, DE, USC
Charles Grant is not expected back with the Saints next year. Grant, 31, had just 5.5 sacks this season and is set to make $4 million in 2010.
Having a potent pass-rusher across from Will Smith and next to Sedrick Ellis would take New Orleans’ defense to another level.
32)
Indianapolis Colts: Lamarr Houston, DT, Texas
The Colts are a team without any major needs, but two areas they could stand to upgrade are at left tackle and defensive tackle.
Lamarr Houston’s stock has been rising over the past month. I currently list him as a Round 2 prospect in my 2010 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings, but he certainly makes sense here at No. 32, especially with Charles Brown and Everson Griffen off the board.
WalterFootball.com: 2010 NFL Mock Draft.
© 2010, Seahawks 12th Man Army. All rights reserved.
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