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2010 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 2/9): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3/Round 4
Other 2010 Mock Drafts: Matt McGuire (1/20 - 2 Rounds)
2011 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 1/22): Round 1 /Picks 17-32
2010 NFL Draft Prospects | 2010 NFL Free Agents and Beyond
(More links to previous years at the bottom of this page)

2010 NFL Mock Draft

Last update: Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010 - Changes in all rounds.
Next update: TBA

This order is based on the official 7-Round 2010 NFL Draft Order and the NFL Strength of Schedule.

St. Louis Rams: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame

FEB. 9 UPDATE: Just received a great e-mail from Rams fan Steven P. Here's an excerpt:

Walter, I am very upset by all the draft talk here in St. Louis. It seems like the Rams have already made the selection of Ndamukong Suh and I can't help but feel absolutely helpless and saddened by the whole thing.

We have passed on three franchise quarterbacks in the last four drafts. In 2006, we passed on Jay Cutler, in 2008, we passed on Matt Ryan, and in 2009, we passed on Mark Sanchez. If you look back at those three drafts, each pick we took a so-called safe pick.

In 2006, we took Tye Hill who was supposed to be a frachise shutdown corner with all the physical tools to succeed. In 2008, we opted to take Chris Long who was the for-sure pick of the top players in that draft. He was supposed to be what Suh is going to be, yet he hasn't been. And then comes the 2009 NFL Draft. Sanchez was there, and this team knew they needed a quarterback, yet they took the so-called "safe pick" in Jason Smith who now looks like he may have a severe concussion sydrome that may not allow him to ever live up to his potential.

All three picks were made because the Rams felt they were the safe pick, and all three picks have yet to pan out.

Sorry for the rambling, but I am very depressed over this. I don't know what to do; my hometown NFL team has become a laughing stock, and a laughing stock isn't worth $1,000 a year in season tickets.

I wish this team would make their mind up soon and make it clear that they are interested in Jimmy Clausen. I absolutely love his ability, leadership and toughness; not to mention his smarts and physical ability - something this team hasn't had since the Kurt Warner days. Clausen should not only be the pick, but the Rams should lock him up a week before the draft to help settle fans like me down and give us hope. I just don't think I can sit through another year hoping that this particular "safe pick" pans out while I watch another passed-on player become a franchise quarterback.

I spent two days writing an article for USA Today regarding why the Rams must take Clausen (will be released in March), but I could have saved myself all that time by just submitting Steven P's e-mail.

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.

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.

For more, check out why Jimmy Clausen the best NFL-ready junior quarterback in NFL Draft history.

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.

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. Backus isn't terrible, but he's not anywhere close to being a franchise left tackle. He would be a solid left guard, so drafting Okung would allow Detroit to slide Backus over, ensuring the best possible protection for Matthew Stafford. The Lions simply can't afford to have Stafford knocked around again. I know he suffered that shoulder injury on a fluke Hail Mary, but getting beaten into the ground by Clay Matthews four days later didn't help.

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.

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 would still be an enormous upgrade for their most prominent position of need. 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.

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.

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.

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 will make 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.

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.

Other 2010 NFL Draft Possibilities:

1. Quarterback - If the Rams foolishly pass on Jimmy Clausen, there's a great chance either he or Sam Bradford will be available. If so, Seattle will go in that direction. Also, don't count out the Seahawks leapfrogging the Redskins to get Bradford at No. 3.

2. Offensive Tackle - I mentioned Campbell as a possibility. I also wouldn't count out Anthony Davis if the Seahawks like him enough. Davis is big (6-6, 325), but has solid athleticism for his size.

Cleveland Browns: Joe Haden, CB, Florida

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 seven 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.

Other 2010 NFL Draft Possibilities:

1. Quarterback - Like the Seahawks, the Browns are a candidate to trade up for a quarterback. Moving from No. 7 to No. 3 may be difficult, but Cleveland could definitely go up two spots if the Redskins pass on Sam Bradford. All that would cost the Browns is a third-round pick, and they conveniently have two of those.

2. Rolando McClain, ILB - Inside linebacker is a big need for Cleveland, and Rolando McClain is the consensus No. 1 prospect at that position in this class. I think No. 7 is a bit too high for an inside linebacker, but it's still a possibility.

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.

By the way, pretty cool stuff - Campbell is currently ranked ninth in the DraftDebacled's Average NFL Draft Position. 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.

Other 2010 NFL Draft Possibilities:

1. Carlos Dunlap, DE - Doesn't fill a major need (assuming Richard Seymour is re-signed), but Carlos Dunlap is a 6-6, 280-pound defensive end who runs a 4.7.

2. Taylor Mays, SS/OLB - Doesn't fill a need at all, but Taylor Mays is a 6-3, 230-pound safety who runs a 4.4.

Buffalo Bills: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers

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.

Other 2010 NFL Draft Possibilities:

1. Quarterback - The Bills have nothing at the quarterback position and the new regime would love to get its own guy. Moving up from No. 9 to 3 is impossible (unless Eric Mangini is involved), but shifting from No. 9 to 5 would require Buffalo to surrender its second-round pick. If the Redskins pass on Sam Bradford, this is a major possibility.

2. Dan Williams, NT - The Bills are moving to the 3-4, but have nothing to speak of at nose tackle. I personally think No. 9 is too high for Dan Williams, but Buffalo may not be able to acquire Williams, Terrence Cody or even Cam Thomas in Round 2. This might be their only chance to obtain a stud nose tackle.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech

Tim Tebow's poor Senior Bowl 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 last 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.

Denver Broncos: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State

Owner Pat Bowlen said he wants Brandon Marshall to stay in Denver, but also said that he wouldn't veto any trade. This statement doesn't change my pick; what else was Bowlen going to say? "Marshall sucks, I want him gone!?" That would have lowered Marshall's value. Bowlen is just saying the right things.

If Marshall is traded this offseason to the Ravens or Bengals, 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.

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. And as e-mailer Eric K. reminded me, "Parcells only drafted Glenn in 1996 because owner Bob Kraft demanded it. Parcells wanted to take Vonnie Holliday with the seventh pick, but was overruled at the draft by Kraft. The disagreement and its outcome was one of the prime reasons that Parcells was eager to jump from the Pats to the Jets after the '96 season."

(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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Go to 2010 NFL Mock Draft: Picks 17-32

Sorry for cutting this into two halves; I've received complaints about load times and putting the mock draft on two pages saves bandwith.

2010 NFL Mock Draft - Round 2

2010 NFL Mock Draft - Round 3

2010 NFL Mock Draft - Round 4

2010 NFL Free Agents - Feb. 9

2010 NFL Mock Draft - Feb. 9

Matt McGuire's 2010 NFL Mock Draft - Feb. 4

2010 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings - Jan. 31

2010 NBA Mock Draft - Jan. 30

2011 NFL Mock Draft - Jan. 22

NFL Draft Links: