I made my first attempt at a mock draft on the Move The Sticks Podcast just before the start of free agency. After a few trades and signings, I decided to update the mock draft before putting it up on the website. I have some notable omissions compared to what others in the media are projecting for the 1st Round. I don’t have Jimmy Clausen, Taylor Mays or Bruce Campbell being selected in the opening round of the 2010 draft. This is a very deep draft and because of that, there are going to be a lot of “big name” players that get pushed into the 2nd round.

1. Rams- S. Bradford QB Oklahoma- Glaring need at the position trumps everything
2. Lions- N. Suh DT Nebraska- More versatile than McCoy
3. Buccaneers- G. McCoy DT Oklahoma- Much needed dominant interior presence
4. Redskins- R. Okung OT Oklahoma St- Must address the biggest issue and that’s the OL
5. Chiefs- E. Berry FS Tennessee- Easy pick for a team that needs playmakers
6. Seahawks-C. Spiller RB Clemson- (See previous comment)
7. Browns-D. Morgan LB Georgia Tech- Browns are big on smart, productive players
8. Raiders- J. Paul DE South Florida- Physical Freak with huge upside
9. Bills- D. Williams NT Tennessee- Perfect fit for the Bills new 3-4
10. Jaguars- R. Matthews RB Fresno St- Copying the Panthers with a deadly duo at RB
11. Broncos- E. Thomas FS Texas- This gives them some youth at Safety and a capable Nickel CB
12. Dolphins- B. Graham DE Michigan- Reminds me of Anthony Spencer
13. 49ers- B. Bulaga OT Iowa- Maybe a little early but a “high floor” pick
14. Seahawks- A. Davis OT Rutgers- Raw talented pass protector fills a void
15. Giants-R. McClain LB Alabama- Size and instincts are excellent but this isn’t Pat Willis 2.0
16. Titans- D. Bryant WR Oklahoma St- A little risky but the talent is too great to pass up
17. 49ers- K. Wilson CB Boise St- Best press corner in the draft
18. Steelers- J. Haden CB Florida- He can go higher if he runs better at his pro day
19. Falcons- K. Jackson CB Alabama- A real fast riser that is excellent on tape
20. Texans- D. McCourty CB Rutgers- Fast, physical press corner that is also a stud on special teams
21. Bengals- J. Gresham TE Oklahoma- They finally land a big time TE for Palmer
22. Patriots- E. Griffen OB USC- Has as much upside as any defender in the draft
23. Packers- T. Williams OT Oklahoma- Fills a huge need and can play both sides
24. Eagles- S. Kindle DE/OB Texas- A nice compliment to Trent Cole
25. Ravens- B. Price DT UCLA- Need to get a younger sidekick for Ngata
26. Cardinals- S. Weatherspoon IB Missouri- Excellent replacement for Dansby
27. Cowboys- C. Brown OT USC- Provides a young athletic OT that can eventually replace Adams
28. Chargers- J. Odrick DE Penn State- Excellent run defender with upside as a rusher
29. Jets- J. Hughes OB TCU- Super productive pass rusher that is athletic in coverage as well
30. Vikings- J. Best RB Cal- Imagine that RB combo
31. Colts-M. Pouncey OC/OG Florida- Need to upgrade the interior of the OL
32. Saints- D. Washington LB TCU- Explosive, playmaking LB that would look great next to Vilma

Ask5 Results: Bradford- 4 votes,  DT- 1 vote

Here is a simple Pros/Cons list for the Rams on Suh vs Bradford

Suh- Pros

1. Best player in the draft
2. Rams don’t have a dominant interior DL
3. High Character

Suh- Cons

1. Already have a ton of money invested in the DL
2. Not a deep QB draft- Won’t be a QB worthy of the 33rd pick
3. Can upgrade the DL in the 2nd round at cheaper price

Bradford-Pros

1. One of the most accurate QB’s to come out in the last 5 years
2. Excellent intangibles (leader, worker, winner, smart)
3. Team has a HUGE hole at the position and needs a face of the franchise

Bradford-Cons

1. Durability- Can he hold up to the NFL pounding with his narrow frame *I was shocked that he weighed in at 236 lbs today
2. He doesn’t come out of a traditional NFL drop back offense
3. Who is he going to throw to? Are they better off adding other pieces first before adding the QB?

I have been a HUGE Suh fan over the last 2 years. I have mentioned before that I thought he was the best football player in last year’s draft. I think he is the best player in this draft as well. However, if you are a team without competent QB play, you are going to have a hard time winning NFL games. So the question the Rams have to answer is whether they should select a “really good” QB with durability issues or a “great” DT with limited risk.

It seems like every year you can count on a few small school prospects to tear up the combine and vault up NFL draft boards. Here are my candidates to make some noise this week:

• Citadel WR Andre Roberts

• Hillsdale OT Jared Veldheer

• Stillman DE/OB Junior Galette

• James Madison DE/OB Arthur Moats

• William & Mary DE/OB Adrian Tracy

• Indiana Pa CB Akwasi Owusu-Ansah

I had a chance to talk with Nick Wagoner of StLouisRams.com to discuss what the Rams should do with the #1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Check it out! Rams Draft Discussion

ASK5 Results: 4 votes for Edge Rusher and 1 vote for DT

By: Joey Roberts

MTS Contributor

Name (Drafted By, Currently With)

• 2007 2^nd Round (9/32 (28%))

• QB John Beck (Miami, Baltimore)
• RB Chris Henry (Tennessee, Houston)
• RB Brian Leonard (St. Louis, Cincinnati)
• DT Turk McBride (Kansas City, Detroit)
• DE Tim Crowder (Denver, Kansas City)
• DE Ikaika Alama Francis (Detroit, Miami)
• OG Samson Satele (Miami, Oakland)
• DB Gerald Alexander (Detroit, Jacksonville)
• DE Dan Bazuin (Chicago, Houston)

• 2007 3^rd Round (13/35 (37%))

• DE Quentin Moses (Oakland, Miami)
• OT James Marten (Dallas, Chicago)
• LB Buster Davis (Arizona, Houston)
• RB Lorenzon Booker (Miami, Philadelphia)
• DB Marcus McCauley (Minnesota, Washington)
• WR Yamon Figurs (Baltimore, Tampa Bay)
• WR Laurent Robinson (Atlanta, St. Louis)
• OG Andy Alleman (New Orleans, Kansas City)
• DB Aaron Rouse (Green Bay, New York Giants)
• RB Tony Hunt (Philadelphia, No Team)
• DB Daymeion “Dante” Hughes (Indianapolis, San Diego)
• LB Anthony Waters (San Diego, Indianapolis)
• DT Quinn Pitcock (Indianapolis, No Team)

• 2008 2^nd Round (2/32 (6%))

• QB Brian Brohm (Green Bay, Buffalo)
• WR Dexter Jackson (Tampa Bay, Carolina)

• 2008 3^rd Round (3/36 (8%))

• DE Bryan Smith (Philadelphia, Jacksonville)
• LB Bruce Davis (Pittsburgh, New England)
• QB Kevin O’Connell (New England, New York Jets)

• 2009 2^nd & 3^rd Rounds- None of these players have been released/traded by their drafting team.

Draft analysts always talk about how you can truly grasp a team’s draft class after the players have had three years of experience. It’s interesting to see 2^nd rounder’s such as: Sidney Rice, Steve Smith and David Harris and 3^rd rounder’s like Jacoby Jones and Mike Sims-Walker come into their own and prove the validity of the “Three Year Theory”. However, it’s more interesting to discover that in the 2007 draft class only 72% of the 2^nd rounder’s and 63% of the 3^rd rounder’s were given an opportunity to prove their worth to the team that drafted them. This appears to prove the point that this is a  “what have you done for me lately” league. Also, keep in mind, there will likely be even more turnover by the time 2010 pre-season wraps up.

I got a chance to catch up with Adam Silverstein from the popular CFB site Only Gators Get Out Alive. I discuss my thoughts on all of the Florida draft prospects. Check it out!

Florida Gators Draft Discussion

I was asked by my good friend Bruce Feldman to compare Suh and Dorsey. Here is my take on whether or not Suh will be downgraded by NFL teams because Dorsey has failed to live up to his draft slot. (They were both coached by Bo Pelini)

There aren’t sure things when it comes to the draft but I feel as comfortable with Suh as I have with any player to come out in the last 5 years.

• This afternoon, the representatives for Sam Bradford (Tom Condon and Ben Dogra of CAA Sports) sent an email to all 32 teams informing them that Bradford will fully participate in the medical examinations, interview process and wonderlic testing at the combine. Based on the advice of Dr. James Andrews, he will not participate in any football drills or physical activities in Indianapolis. Bradford will have his own pro day workout on March 25th at the University of Oklahoma. He will not be in attendance for the Sooners pro day on March 9th.

• A letter from Dr. Andrews was attached in the email distributed to the teams. In that letter, Andrews mentions that Bradford is ahead of schedule in his recovery from shoulder surgery. He writes that Sam has been increasing the distance on his throws weekly and is on schedule to fully participate at the pro day workout in late March.