2010 NFL Mock Draft: Round 3

St. Louis Rams: Navorro Bowman, OLB, Penn State

The Rams traded Will Witherspoon to the Eagles, so their current starting weakside linebacker is Paris Lenon. Navorro Bowman is a first-round talent, but he has been on probation twice and consequently could slip. It also hurts him that there are so many 3-4 teams out there now.

Pick change; previously Rob Gronkowski, TE

Detroit Lions: Dexter McCluster, WR/RB, Ole Miss

Outside of Calvin Johnson and Brandon Pettigrew, Matthew Stafford doesn’t have much to work with on offense. That would change with Dexter McCluster, who would provide Detroit with a home-run threat at multiple positions. McCluster would also be able to take some of the carries at running back until Kevin Smith is completely healthy again.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Greg Hardy, DE, Ole Miss

The Buccaneers acquired a second-round pick by trading the late Gaines Adams to the Bears. They’ll have to find another defensive end; the Bucs had just 28 sacks on the year, led by Stylez G. White’s 6.5.

A big drop for Greg Hardy – he weighed in at 279 pounds at the East-West Shrine game. He looked like he was overweight all year. If he can’t keep the weight off in college, how will he do so once he’s getting paid?

Kansas City Chiefs: Sergio Kindle, DE/OLB, Texas

The Chiefs’ pass rush has gotten a lot better, but that’s not saying much because they finished with 10 sacks last year. They concluded the year with 22, but only 13.5 if you take away Tamba Hali’s total.

Oakland Raiders: Marshall Newhouse, G, TCU

Last year, Al Davis gave us Michael Mitchell. This year, Marshall Newhouse! Newhouse is a monstrous guard (6-3, 326), but he’s projected to run a fast 40. If he does so at the Combine, Al will be infatuated with this great player.

Philadelphia Eagles: A.J. Edds, OLB, Iowa

With Will Witherspoon on the roster and Stewart Bradley coming back next year, the Eagles are set at two of the linebacker positions. They need a third guy.

Cleveland Browns: Tony Pike, QB, Cincinnati

As I wrote earlier, the only way the Browns are going to win on a consistent basis is if they find a franchise quarterback. Also, new regimes mean new quarterbacks, so Mike Holmgren will be looking for a guy he likes in this class.

Tony Pike is a smart and accurate quarterback who should be a good fit in Holmgren’s West Coast offense.

Buffalo Bills: Jevan Snead, QB, Ole Miss

Jevan Snead is coming off a horrific junior season mired by terrible accuracy and decision-making, but to be fair, he lost his left tackle (Michael Oher) and top receiver (Mike Wallace) to the pros. Snead has some glaring flaws, but he has too much upside for the Bills to pass on here in the third round. Buffalo’s new regime will be looking to draft its own guy.

Miami Dolphins: Koa Misi, DE/OLB, Utah

There’s a chance both Joey Porter and Jason Taylor won’t be back next year. Finding a young rush linebacker will be one of the few things the Dolphins must do this offseason.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida

I don’t think Tim Tebow will fall this far. And the Jaguars can’t risk it anyway. However, there’s a good chance Jacksonville will use this pick to trade up for Tebow in the second round, which is why I’m putting him here. The Jaguars CANNOT walk away from the 2010 NFL Draft without Tebow. Check out my Round 1 analysis for more.

Chicago Bears: Jon Asamoah, G, Illinois

Matt Forte fantasy owners, direct your hate mail toward left guard Frank Omiyale, who couldn’t open up any running lanes for his star back when he was in the lineup. A major overhaul is needed for Chicago’s offensive line.

New York Giants: Jared Veldheer, OT, Hillsdale

The right tackle position could be addressed here; Kareem McKenzie, 31 in May, appears to be wearing down. The Giants have William Beatty, but he’s not a physical run-blocker, and will eventually be moved to left tackle permanently, with David Diehl perhaps kicking inside again.

Tennessee Titans: Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State

Watching Tennessee’s Christmas night loss to the Chargers, each time I saw a missed tackle for the Titans, I wondered who it was and tried to spot the number. It was Nick Harper every single instance. This team desperately needs an upgrade across from Cortland Finnegan.

Carolina Panthers: Geno Atkins, DT, Georgia

The Panthers really need help on the interior of their defensive line. Outside of Julius Peppers, no one on Carolina had more than five sacks. Geno Atkins had a great Senior Bowl. He completely embarrassed Mike Iupati, which makes me wonder why Atkins didn’t play like this at Georgia as a senior.

Pick change; previously Tyson Alualu, DT

San Francisco 49ers: Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama

Even though I have the 49ers going C.J. Spiller-Trent Williams in the first round, there’s a chance they could pick two defensive backs. If not, they’ll look for some secondary upgrades later on.

Pick change; previously Jerome Murphy, CB

Denver Broncos: Colt McCoy, QB, Texas

Josh McDaniels isn’t the most cunning drafter and talent evaluator in the world, so he might be fooled by Colt McCoy. McCoy sadly possesses almost everything McDaniels looks for in a quarterback.

Houston Texans: Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford

The Texans could have finished 13-3 if they had a clutch kicker and a running back who could plunge into the end zone from the 1-yard line. Steve Slaton was placed on IR, so the running back situation in Houston is murkier than ever. Arian Foster’s fumbling problems only reinforces the Texans’ need at this position.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Jerome Murphy, CB, South Florida

The Steelers have to upgrade a secondary that couldn’t stop Bruce Gradkowski in a must-win December game. Even if they take Earl Thomas in the first round, cornerback is definitely an option here.

Pick change; previous Sergio Kindle, DE/OLB

Atlanta Falcons: Willie Young, DE, N.C. State

Atlanta’s secondary was a major issue this year, but part of the problem was the lack of a pass rush. The Falcons compiled just 28 sacks in 2009.

Cincinnati Bengals: Rob Gronkowski, TE, Arizona

Cincinnati has absolutely nothing at the tight end position, and Carson Palmer could really benefit from having a potent weapon going over the middle of the field.

Pick change; previous Javier Arenas, CB/KR

Oakland Raiders: Taylor Price, WR, Ohio

Taylor Price is a great wide receiver. In fact, Al Davis will be wondering why he wasn’t drafted in the first round. Price is 6-0, 198, and runs a mid 4.3. Great players like this don’t come around too often!

Green Bay Packers: Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State

Running back isn’t a huge need for the Packers, but depth at the position will be added this offseason. Green Bay needs someone capable behind Ryan Grant, and Brandon Jackson doesn’t look like he’s the answer.

This goes along with Ted Thompson’s Best Player Available formula. Ryan Mathews is a steal this late in Round 3.

Pick change; previously Mike Johnson, G

Philadelphia Eagles: Javier Arenas, CB/KR, Alabama

More help in the seconary – Ellis Hobbs will be a free agent this offseason, while Sheldon Brown turns 31 in March. Javier Arenas would also help in the return game.

Pick change; previously Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, CB/KR

Baltimore Ravens: Amari Spievey, CB, Iowa

Baltimore’s habit of committing pass interference penalties reared its ugly head once again in a playoff loss to the Colts. Cornerback must be upgraded.

Arizona Cardinals: Jarrett Brown, QB, West Virginia

I’ll be mildly surprised if the Cardinals don’t trade for Donovan McNabb before May. If they do, it means they have no faith in Matt Leinart and will be looking for a young quarterback to groom. If they don’t, they need an alternative in case Leinart stinks up the joint.

Jarrett Brown has the tools to fit Arizona’s vertical offense, but he’s raw and needs some time to develop.

Dallas Cowboys: Reshad Jones, S, Georgia

Despite getting burnt for a long touchdown against the Vikings, Gerald Sensabaugh played well this year. The Cowboys will now have to focus on finding an upgrade at free safety.

Pick change; previously Morgan Burnett, FS

San Diego Chargers: Linval Joseph, NT, East Carolina

Jamal Williams turns 34 in April. He’s due $5 million in 2010 and is coming off a season-ending injury. A successor at the position is needed.

Pick change; previously Jason Fox, OT

Cleveland Browns: Jamar Chaney, ILB, Mississippi State

The Browns need someone to go along with D’Qwell Jackson in the middle of their defense. The 2010 season could also be Jackson’s final year in Cleveland.

Pick change; previously Reshad Jones, S

Minnesota Vikings: J.D. Walton, C, Baylor

Replacing Matt Birk was no easy feat for John Sullivan. Sullivan had a poor season, particularly in the run-blocking department. The Vikings will likely look for an upgrade at center this offseason.