2010 Pre-Combine NFL Mock Draft - Round 2

2010 Pre-Combine NFL Mock Draft

Ok, I am a little late here since the combine is done, but the reviews are still pending so I am going to push out as many of my predicted rounds from this first version as I can get typed up.

Round 2

Pick 1

RAMS: Golden Tate WR Notre Dame

Tate had almost 1500 yards receiving last season.  He is just about as ready a receiver as you are going to find, and he is really wonderful after the catch.  The Rams don't have time to wait on developmental projects right now, so Tate should be perfect.

Pick 2
LIONS: Brandon Graham DE Michigan

Graham is flying a bit under the radar after Michigan struggled his last 2 years in Ann Arbor.  None of that can be attributed to Graham though.  He is a solid D-End who can get good pressure.  He will be an immediate upgrade for the Lions at his position.

Pick 3

BUCCANEERS: Brandon LaFell WR LSU

The Buccaneers were short of receivers before they lost Bryant for the year.  LaFell is graded as a first round talent by a handful of teams and has the size and ability to grow into a #1.  Look for the Bucs to look to free agency for some immediate help, but LaFell could be the future.

Pick 4

CHIEFS: Jared Odrick DT/DE Penn State

Odrick is a horse on the D-Line who has shown that he can play some along the line in a 3-4.  The Chiefs are dedicated to their new scheme and need more quality players on the front line and Odrick can play all 3 spots.  He does not have the speed to be terribly disruptive from the edge in the passing game, but he is strong enough to potentially draw some double teams.

Pick 5

REDSKINS: Maurkice Pouncey OL Florida

The Skins need linemen and Pouncey is the best interior lineman in this draft.  He can play both guard spots and center which will allow the Skins to put him in place of their weakest link or even move him as needed. 

Pick 6

BROWNS: Ricky Sapp OLB Clemson

Ricky Sapp can fly at the linebacker spot.  His speed gives him the potential to be great in coverage and his potential as a blitzer is considerable.  He was productive in college and will the Cleveland linebacking corp a dimension they don't have.

Pick 7

RAIDERS: Navorro Bowman OLB Penn State

Bowman is a freak.  He is big, strong, and can move.  He is the latest great backers out of linebacker U.  To add to it, he has a mean streak, which the Raider fans would love.

Pick 8

SEAHAWKS: Kyle Wilson CB Boise

Wilson was a lockdown corner for Boise.  He took the best receiver for the other team all year long and erased them and he shocked people when he continued to do so in the college all star games.  He will be a good corner in the NFL.

Pick 9

BILLS: Colt McCoy QB Texas

Buffalo needs a leader on offense.  They have a lot of pieces but haven't been able to put it all together.  McCoy is the winningest QB in Texas history.  He carried the horns through the last 2 seasons and he is definitely a leader.

Pick 10

BUCCANEERS: Everson Griffin DE USC

The Bucs need young talent all over and really need an end after letting Gaines Adams (RIP) go last year after he never became what they thought he would.  Griffin is a solid end with real upside.  The grades on him vary, but he produced consistently and has the potential to be an every down lineman.

Pick 11

DOLPHINS: Greg Hardy DE Mississippi

Hardy would have been a first round pick if he had come out last year.  He is a big-time athlete on the edge and the dolphins need to start thinking about their front seven when Porter and Taylor are done.  At 6'5" and 255 lbs he has the body type to play OLB in a 3/4.  He also could possibly put on the weight needed to hold up at the point of attack in a 3-4 line. 

Pick 12

PATRIOTS: Chad Jones S

The Patriots are in a position to draft best player, and they always put an extra value on players who can play multiple positions.  Jones is a big safety who can run well enough to play both positions.  He is good enough in run support that he could possibly even play linebacker in dime schemes.  He is unique in a draft full of superb safeties.

Pick 13

BRONCOS: Damian Williams WR USC

Williams was never the dominant force at USC that was expected, but he was the goto guy for Mark Sanchez.  This would be a pick for potential, because Williams has all the potential in the world.  He is big, has hands, and can stretch the field.  If the Donkeys can coach him up a bit, they would have something on their hands.

Pick 14

GIANTS: Aaron Hernandez TE Florida

Hernandez was one of the linchpins of the Gator attack.  He is very good with the ball in his hands, and catches everything.  He does not excel as an in-line blocker, but has the potential to be a supremently capable H-Back type of Tight End. 

Pick 15

PANTHERS: Mardy Gilyard WR Cincinatti

Gilyard has consistently suprised people with his athletic ability and playmaking.  The Panthers have been looking for a running mate for Steve Smith for most of this decade.  Gilyard could be it.

Pick 16

PATRIOTS: Jahvid Best RB California

Before his injuries last year, Best was the best runningback in the country, hand's down.  He is as explosive as DeSean Jackson was coming out of Cal, but from the running back spot.  It looks like he likely won't be durable enough to be an everydown back, but if there is a team that is good at taking advantage of a players abilities in limited roles, it's the Pats.

Pick 17

49ers: Perrish Cox CB Oklahoma State

Cox lined up against some of the best passing offenses in the Big 12 the last few years and accounted for himself very well.  He has good size and strength, and plus ball skills.  One more piece of a quickly improving 49er defense.

Pick 18

CHIEFS: Nate Allen FS South Florida

The Chiefs have a good young defensive backfield, but have been searching for that last piece.  Allen is a rangy free safety with good ball skills and is just the kind of player that the Chiefs are looking for.

Pick 19

TEXANS: Brandon Ghee CB Wake Forest

With Dunta leaving, the Texans need a corner.  Ghee was solid in a good Wake Forest defense. 

Pick 20

STEELERS: Marvin Austin DT/DE North Carolina

Austin was a bit of a disapointment at North Carolina, but when he is motivated he is a terribly disruptive force at DT.  In Pittsburgh's 3/4 he would be a monster at end. 

Pick 21

PATRIOTS: Vladimir Ducasse OL Massachusetts

One of the early surprises in the draft process, Ducasse can play multiple positions along the line, and has held up better in the all-star games than was expected.

Pick 22

BENGALS: George Selvie DE South Florida

Selvie was one of the best pass rushers in the country until his teammate Pierre-Paul pushed him into the background.  He is a steal in the second round and will team with Michael Johnson to give the Bengals a furious pass rush.

Pick 23

EAGLES: Rob Gronkowski TE Arizona

The Eagles are forever looking for a weapon at tight end.  Celek can play, but he is not a premier athlete at tight end.  This pick is depending on Gronkowski being healthy after his back injury, but if he is right, he is one of the best in this class.  This kid can do it all.

Pick 24

PACKERS: Kareem Jackson CB Alabama

The Pack's corners are aging, talented as they may be.  Jackson is the bigger of a pair of talented Bama corners coming out this year.  You can't go wrong with a player out of a Saban secondary.

Pick 25

RAVENS: Javier Arenas CB Albabama

Arenas is the faster of the cornerbacks coming out of Bama this year.  He is a weapon in the return game as well, which reflects directly on his ball skills.  He may have some trouble with the bigger receivers, but his talent is considerable.

Pick 26

CARDINALS: Eric Norwood OLB South Carolina

Norwood is one of the best run stuffing linebackers in this draft.  He is big, fast, and mean. 

Pick 27

COWBOYS: Morgan Burnett S Georgia Tech

The Cowboys need to improve both Saftey spots.  Burnett can play both of them well enough to start at either on this team.  This give the Boys flexiblity to look for another quality safety later on.

Pick 28

CHARGERS: Toby Gerhart RB Stanford

The Chargers are unloading at running back, so you can't help but expect that they will look hard at this position.  Gerhart is a rare power back and will make for a nice combo with Sproles if they can bring him back.

Pick 29

JETS: Demaryius Thomas WR Georgia Tech

Thomas is an NFL talent hidden in a rushing offense at Tech.  He has all the measurables and hit some big plays for the Ramblin Wreck this year.  Also, he is a considerable run blocker, which is huge for the Jets.

Pick 30

VIKINGS: Von Miller OLB Texas A&M

He was one of the sack leaders in the country coming out of College Station.  He will need to work on his coverage skills, but will contribute immediately in passing situations as a rush linebacker.

Pick 31

COLTS: Joseph Barksdale OT LSU

Big and Mean coming out of the SEC.  Barksdale will give the Colts depth along their aging line.

Pick 32

SAINTS: Reshad Jones FS Georgia

The Saints used free agency to load up their defense last year.  It worked, but they need  young players to groom as replacements.  Jones is solid in all facets from the free safety spot.