The Football Fan Spot
Written for football fans, by a football fan
2010 NFL Mock Draft- Week 13
1. Cleveland Browns 1-10
The Browns are going to have a hard time moving Derek Anderson and/or Brady Quinn this offseason (wonder why) which means they’ll have to pay the guaranteed part of both of their contracts for next season, which could mean that, even if they cut both of them, they’ll have a lot of money tied up in the quarterback position. However, if Eric Mangini has a chance to draft Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen, I think he still will even with all the money tied up in the position already. Ever since Andy Reid drafted Donovan McNabb with his first major decision as coach of the Eagles in 1999, there has been a major trend of new head coaches bringing in “their guy” at quarterback. It is extremely important for a coach to be able to trust his quarterback and a coach has a lot more trust in his quarterback if it’s someone he hand selected. Eric Mangini has ties to Charlie Weis, from their days as assistants with the New England Patriots, and Weis happens to be the coach of Jimmy Clausen, who happens to be the consensus top quarterback in the 2010 NFL Draft class.
Agree with this pick? Don't agree with this pick? Discuss this pick with other Browns' fans and football fans in The Football Fan Forum. The Browns' draft prospects are the topic of debate this week.
2. Detroit Lions 2-9
The Lions need a franchise left tackle badly, but they have proven that they will take the best available player regardless of need. Left tackle would help them and Matt Stafford majorly, but they are going to take best available player. Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh is the best available player and it’s not like the Lions don’t need any help at that position. Despite the surprisingly good play of Sammie Lee Hill at defensive tackle, they are still ranked 19th against the run, although they have looked better over the past few weeks. However, left tackle is more of an immediate need for them. I hope, if they don’t take one in the first round, that they take one in the 2nd round, for their own good. Jeff Backus is not the guy you want protecting Matt Stafford’s blindside during his development.
3. St. Louis Rams 1-10
The Rams need to take a quarterback this year. Marc Bulger sucks and his contract makes him easy to cut this offseason. I don’t think NFL scouts and GMs are as sold on Jake Locker as ESPN is, so, by default this would be Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford, who, despite his injury, has amazing potential. The Rams probably don’t want to risk waiting to draft a quarterback until the 2nd round when they’ll likely be stuck with Jevan Snead (gag!).
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1-10
Raheem Morris wants to build the defense his way as evidenced by the fact that he got rid of pretty much everyone who was on that defense last year and did not replace them. Not one of his better ideas. I’m sure he’ll take the best defensive player available here with all of the offensive necessities, quarterback and left tackle, as well as some good running backs, locked up. Tennessee FS Eric Berry is the best available defensive player here and is the type of safety that can make a good defense into a great one, a passable one into a good one, and a bad defense into a passable. They don’t have anyone like that.
5. Oakland Raiders 3-8
In a normal year, I wouldn’t make this pick for the Raiders, but next year is likely going to be an uncapped year, which means the Raiders can take another quarterback here, admit they messed up big time drafting JaMarcus Russell #1 overall, release him and start over again, which is not a bad idea. If Al Davis does decide to go quarterback, he will take Washington QB Jake Locker. Locker fits all of Al Davis’s qualifications. He is fast and can throw the ball a long way. He’s got a stronger arm than Tim Tebow and could run a faster 40 than Tebow, though I wouldn’t rule Tebow out here. Davis is going to forget the fact that Locker is not a good quarterback prospect, at least in my book, and just go with the 40 time and arm strength as he seemingly is incapable of learning from his mistakes.
6. Washington Redskins 3-8
The Redskins probably won’t want Jason Campbell back next season. He is a free agent and the Redskins searched for a quarterback this offseason so hard that it was as if Campbell wasn’t even there. Even if they want him back, I doubt Campbell will want to come back, so it’s safe to say that the Redskins will be looking for a quarterback when they draft in 2010. That means that the Redskins pick will be used on the biggest named quarterback available and that here is Florida QB Tim Tebow. He may not be a pure quarterback or fit the system all that well, but Daniel Snyder doesn’t care. He’ll sell tickets. The Redskins are considering Jon Gruden to coach their team. It’s no secret to anyone who watches Monday Night Football, Gruden loves Tebow.
7. Kansas City Chiefs 3-8
Matt Cassel has been sacked 29 times in 8 games. There were questions when the Chiefs drafted Branden Albert as to whether or not he could pass protect well enough to play left tackle in the NFL. Now, almost two years after he was drafted, it is clear the answer to that question is no. They can draft a true franchise left tackle here and move Albert around the offensive line some, either to right tackle or left guard, his natural position. Oklahoma State OT Russell Okung fits the value and the need here.
8. Seattle Seahawks (via DEN) 4-7
Oklahoma DT Gerald McCoy could go top 3, so the Seahawks are getting a steal here. Its not like their interior line couldn’t be upgraded, with Brandon Mebane, Cory Redding, and Colin Cole making up their defensive tackle rotation at the moment. They are ranked 17th in the league in YPA rushing allowed.
9. Buffalo Bills 4-8
Dick Jauron is out as head coach of the Bills and has been replaced with interim coach Perry Fewell. Whoever is the coach next year, whether Fewell as someone else, possibly Marty Schottenheimer, will want to bring in his own guy at quarterback. Neither Trent Edwards nor Ryan Fitzpatrick are established quarterbacks. Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett is inexperienced, but has huge time upside. He’s not NFL ready yet, but can sit a year behind either Edwards or Fitzpatrick to get ready. The Bills desperately need an identity at quarterback and a face of the franchise and with time, Mallett can be that guy.
10. San Francisco 49ers 5-6 (via CAR)
Joe Staley is supposed to be the left tackle, but he’s hurt. Even when he’s healthy, he’s a liability against the pass and belongs at right tackle where the Niners currently have a load of crap. The Niners have 2 picks in this first round and can use the first of the two, with no other huge needs that they can fill with the players left on the board, on an elite left tackle. Maryland OT Bruce Campbell is shooting up draft boards with his strong season this year and is deserving of a top ten selection.
11. Denver Broncos 7-4 (via CHI)
Before shutting down Brandon Jacobs and the Giants on the ground last week, the Broncos had given up 472 yards on the ground in the last 3 weeks. I’m not actually surprised that they stopped Jacobs, who has been really struggling this season, and of course I’m not surprised at the Broncos struggles stopping the run because they, with the exception of a few starters, basically made their front 7 out of castoffs from other bad teams. They need to take the best 3-4 front seven player available here. Andra Davis is starting at middle linebacker right now. He is so bad that the Browns wouldn’t even bring him back last season. Alabama MLB Rolando McClain is an elite middle linebacker talent that fits perfectly into Mike Nolan’s 3-4 defense, the way Patrick Willis fit into Nolan’s defense in San Francisco.
12. New York Jets 6-6
Darrelle Revis is an amazing shutdown corner, who can take any wide receiver out of the game by himself. However, it kind of defeats the purpose of having a guy like Revis if the quarterback can just pick on the opposite cornerback all day for a big game. Lito Sheppard was brought in during the offseason to start opposite Revis, but he’s been hurt and hasn’t played well when healthy. In place of Sheppard the Jets have been starting Dwight Lowery who is a good nickel corner, but not a great starting cornerback. Bringing in a talented young cornerback like Florida CB Joe Haden would help make their secondary even more dangerous.
13. Miami Dolphins 5-6
Jason Ferguson will be 35 by draft day 2010 and also will be a free agent. Bill Parcells knows how important nose tackles are for a 3-4 defense so he should take 370 pound Alabama NT Terrence Cody here. He may be a 2 down nose tackle in the NFL, but so is Jamal Williams of the Chargers and he’s still an extremely valuable player.
14. Houston Texans 5-6
The Texans only have 15 sacks this season. Mario Williams only has 5 sacks this season because he’s being double teamed constantly. In addition to drawing the name for starting running back out of a hat, there’s one thing you can always count on Coach Gary Kubiak to do, build around his offensive and defensive lines. If the Texans get a chance to draft a big time every down left end like Georgia Tech DE Derrick Morgan, I think Kubiak takes it, assuming he hasn't been fired by then.
15. San Francisco 49ers 5-6
When ‘Dre Bly is not busy making a fool of himself on an interception, by high stepping starting from the 30 yard line with a potential tackler a few feet behind him such that he gets tackled, loses the ball, and turns 7 points into a fumble, he’s busy getting burnt by quicker, faster, younger, more athletic receivers. The only reason he has a job is because Walt Harris, who is equally old and slow, had to have season ending knee surgery before the season. The Niners need some young blood at the position. Michigan CB Donovan Warren is shooting up draft board this season, after a down year last season. He’s a great man-on-man corner who quarterbacks don’t even try to throw on and he’s tough and physical against the run which Mike Singletary will love.
16. Atlanta Falcons 6-5
The Falcons weren’t very good against the pass before Brian Williams went down, but when he did, things just went south in the Atlanta defensive backfield and they can’t stop anyone, not even rookie quarterback Josh Freeman and the Buccaneers. Brian Williams is a good quarterback, but they lack any depth behind him. Kentucky CB Trevard Lindley is a great fit for their coverage scheme and would compliment Brian Williams well at cornerback.
17. Tennessee Titans 5-6
The Titans are known for their defense under Jeff Fisher. However, defense is now an issue for them. They lost Albert Haynesworth and replaced him with Jovan Haye, which, no offense to Haye, is a big downgrade. Starter corner Nick Harper is 35 and their linebackers are very mediocre with the exception of Keith Bulluck, who happens to be 32 and in the last season of his contract. However, their biggest defensive need is defensive end, where both starters, Kyle Vanden Bosch and Jevon Kearse are free agents after the 2009 season and could leave the team. Tennessee should draft USC DE Everson Griffen in case one or both of them leave. Even if neither of them do, Griffen could be a good depth guy and a future replacement for Kearse, who turns 33 this season. It would be too big of a risk for them not to take an end, as defensive end has quickly grown into the most important position on defense.
18. Jacksonville Jaguars 6-5
Jags owner Wayne Weaver stated early in the season that he’s so desperate to sell tickets that he would strongly consider drafting Tim Tebow in the first round, likely leading current starter David Garrard who has completed 60% or more of my passes in each of his four years as starter to question whether or not he would have a job next season and also lose some confidence. The Jags can’t get Tebow here, so they’ll likely just take the biggest name. It’s hard to believe that a safety could be the biggest name available, but USC SS Taylor Mays is a big name safety due to his freakish athleticism and his uncontrolled tackling as part of the USC defense. Plus, it’s not like Gerald Alexander can’t be upgraded.
19. New York Giants 6-5
Kenny Phillips might be done for his career due to injury and even if he isn’t, the Giants need an upgrade at safety next to him. The Giants defense is extremely vulnerable down the middle because of their lack of talent at safety. Texas FS Earl Thomas has a reputation as an athletic ball hawking safety and is a good value at a position of need for the Giants.
20. Seattle Seahawks 4-7 (via DEN)
Its unknown if 36-year-old Walter Jones will ever play again and Sean Locklear is more of a right tackle than a left tackle. The Seahawks need a strong pass blocking left tackle, they will allow Locklear to move back to the right side where he belongs and allow right tackle Ray Willis to move back to guard, strengthening their entire offensive line for the future. Iowa OT Bryan Bulaga is a perfect fit for the Seahawks’ zone blocking scheme and will help whoever is the quarterback in the future for a long time.
21. Green Bay Packers 7-4
Add bruised ribs to the laundry list of minor injuries Aaron Rodgers has sustained this season, along with two sprained feet. The Packers have done a better job of protecting Rodgers since Mark Tauscher and Chad Clifton have returned from injury, but both are in their 30s and could retire soon. Before those two were both healthy, Rodgers was sacked 37 times in 8 games. If Tauscher and Clifton retire and neither are replaced by then, Aaron Rodgers could actually die on the field. They need a good young tackle familiar with a zone blocking scheme and athletic enough to play in it. USC OT Charles Brown might be the best pure zone blocking tackle in this draft class and that will shoot him up draft boards like it did with former USC tackle Sam Baker in 2008.
22. Baltimore Ravens 6-5
Baltimore did not draft a wide receiver which means they are confident in their ability to resign Derrick Mason, a free agent after the 2009 season. That might be a bad move because if Mason leaves, they are really only left with Mark Clayton, which would be very bad for young quarterback Joe Flacco’s development moving forward. Even if Mason returns, he will be 36 by next year’s Super Bowl, so they need a longterm replacement. USC WR Damian Williams is the best available at a position of huge need and is the logical pick here.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers 6-5
If you think the Steelers have trouble protecting Big Ben now, just wait until next season, when a lot of their offensive lineman will have left via free agency. They desperately need a versatile offensive lineman and Rutgers OT Anthony Davis can play left tackle, right tackle, and both guard positions. He’s the big mauling blocker this line lacks at the moment.
24. Dallas Cowboys 8-3
Jerry Jones likes money and the big name players so he’ll draft Florida MLB Brandon Spikes. The Cowboys will be looking for inside linebackers that can play both 3-4 and 4-3, because Wade Phillips might not be back next season. Spikes can play both and the Cowboys will be looking for linebackers after failing to upgrade Zach Thomas last offseason, only replacing him with Keith Brooking.
25. Arizona Cardinals 7-4
The Cardinals already have 3 good wide receivers, but they have yet to get an upgrade at tight end. Oklahoma TE Jermaine Gresham is too good for them to pass up at this point. Even with his injury, Gresham is one of the best pass catching tight end prospects of the decade. He will make this Cardinals offense that much deadlier for whoever the quarterback is in the future.
26. Philadelphia Eagles 7-4
Even with all of the offensive linemen the Eagles brought in during the offseason, they are still not playing well on the offensive front. Andy Reid, who loves to draft offensive linemen, will want to do something about that this year and draft the biggest offensive lineman available to help himself feel more secure about his own weight problems. He doesn’t have a starting offensive lineman who weighs less than 320 pounds. 330 pound Anthony Davis isn’t available, so 330 pound Idaho OG Mike Iupati will have to do. Think Andy Reid won’t draft an offensive guard in the first round, think again. He’s done it before.
27. Cincinnati Bengals 8-3
The Bengals proved by signing Larry Johnson that they are not done taking chances on guys with character problems, even though the team is playing well. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, Cedric Benson looked like the MVP of the league before he got hurt and Larry Johnson helped the Bengals win last week when Benson was hurt and 2009 2nd round pick Rey Maualuga who dropped for character reasons will be in the running for defensive player of the year this season. Florida DE Carlos Dunlap has an awful work ethic and recently was arrested for drunk driving, but those things are like turn ons to whoever if drafting for the Bengals. Antawn Odom is talented when healthy, but he rarely is so, assuming Michael Johnson doesn’t pan out, the Bengals still need a right end of the future and Dunlap, who has athleticism, 6-6 290 4.7, could be that guy if he straightens himself out.
28. New England Patriots 7-4
As a Patriots fan, the Pats defense makes me cringe. They let Devery Henderson run straight down field for a touchdown without a guy within 10 yards of him last week and then missed 4 tackles as the Saints turned a loss on a screen play to a touchdown and they were only able to sack Brees once all last week. However, Bill Belicheck will go value over need every time, especially with 3 picks in the 2nd round to work with. California RB Jahvid Best would help the Patriots become even more explosive on offensive by adding that explosive homerun hitting back that they lack right now. He would compliment Laurence Maroney and Kevin Faulk well.
29. San Diego Chargers 8-3
The Chargers’ top two wide receivers, Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd are both free agents this offseason. I don’t think they’ll resign both and even if they do, they could still use an upgrade at wide receiver over Floyd. The Chargers also have a habit of drafting for value and big names over need and Oklahoma State WR Dez Bryant has both value and need for the Chargers. Plus, he’s a tall wide receiver which the Chargers love.
30. Minnesota Vikings 10-1
The Vikings seem to be set on the offensive end, with the exception of quarterback, but, even if a new regime comes in, I doubt the Vikings would reach for Colt McCoy in this situation, especially since he could be there when they pick in the 2nd round. Defensively, they have a few issues that need to be filled. This team is built upon their defensive line’s ability to stuff the run. Pat Williams will turn 37 in October and the Vikings need to bulk up their line and their depth at the defensive tackle position. They can’t afford to lose their biggest strength, so they take a high upside defensive tackle here, in Penn State DT Jared Odrick, who can come in, learn from the Williamses, and hopefully be able to take Pat’s place when he moves on. Odrick is an amazing pass rusher for his size and would fill Pat’s old pass rushing tackle role nicely.
31. Indianapolis Colts 11-0
The Colts know value and need an upgrade at outside linebacker. Oklahoma OLB Travis Lewis has top ten pick value, but drops because of his position and lack of size. For the Colts, he’s an extremely valuable player who fills a need and fits their cover 2 system perfectly, despite his lack of size, because he is good in pass coverage and has great speed.
32. New Orleans Saints 11-0
The Saints, with only 1 pick in the first 3 rounds of the 2009 NFL draft, were unable to secure a good young outside linebacker. Good news for them, they’ll be able to add a great one here in Missouri OLB Sean Weatherspoon. Lewis will add another young playmaker to an improving defense and help this team in all facets of the game.
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-12/4/09
