My First NFL Mock Draft of the Year!

Folks it's that time when the spring arrives and the time of renewal we expect each year is upon us. No. I'm NOT talking about spring training and the Red Sox reacting to the umpire's cry of "PLAY BALL!". Heck no! They won their World Series for the rest of this century so as far as I am concerned Paplebon can fat pitch in the clutch his way out of town if he so desires.

No, I'm talking of the most important days of the year for the true NFL fan - The Draft! This is when hope springs eternal for all lovers of the pigskin sunday parade and we all can be general managers in our own minds for what is now going to be, for the first time, a three day affair broadcast during prime time. Yes, we do love us some football in this country.

So, without further ado, let me unvail to readers of CHOWMEINSAMMICH my first NFL Mock Draft for the 2010 season.

1  ST. LOUIS; Needs, EVERYTHING;

 Pick , QB Bradford, Sam

St Louis is a mess of a franchise. They could have the first five picks in this draft and still only win 3 games next year, if that. You just don't pass up an opportunity to draft a franchise QB, so Bradford it will be!

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2  DETROIT; Needs, Everything but QB, and 43DT /G /DB/ OT ;

Pick, OT Okung, Russell

Their young QB Stafford can be great, but not if he's trying to pass from a prone position. The Lions could pick either Suh or McCoy for a stud on their DL for the next ten years, but Okung should be an All-Pro for at least that long, and he'd immediately extend the length and effectiveness of Detroit's best asset and player.
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3 TAMPA BAY; Needs, Yeppers, most everything, but for the sake of argument, 43DT/ 43DE /WR/ 43OLB  ;
Pick, DT McCoy, Gerald

While they seemed prime to improve this year, they still have many needs, so they will strengthen their defense by picking McCoy, who is big, tough , experienced , fast and a fantastic interior rusher who will stop the run and put pressure on opponent's QB with the inside rush. He'll be an All-Pro no later than next year, if not this year . McCoy has been rising on most draft boards of late.
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4  WASHINGTON; Needs, OT /G /34DT/ 34OLB ;

Pick, DT Suh, Ndamukong

After having solved their QB problem by trading for McNabb, the Redskins are trying to unload DT Al Haynesworth and RB Clinton Portis, two players who new Coach Mike Shanahan feels are "non-believers" and just plain too much trouble for the paychecks they pull down. In order to make their defense stronger, the pick of the player I feel is the most clear choice for "can't miss" in this draft, DT Ndamukong Suh, is just what Shanahan needs to set the right tone for his new regime. He'll be an All -Pro immediately and will stay one for at least a dozen years. Snyder will finally get  value for all that cash he will lay out for the best player in this draft.

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5 KANSAS CITY; Needs, 34ILB /S /OL/ 34DT;

Pick, OT  Bulaga, Bryan

Ex-Patriot Matt Cassell needs a 10 year All-Pro LOT in order to survive in KC, and this guy Bulaga is a beast with experience, strength, quickness, good footwork and a nasty disposition. This one is NOT hard to figure.

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6  SEATTLE; Needs, 43DE/ OT/ QB/ 43DT;

Pick,  RB  Spiller, C.J.

Ok, I know, I know, not on the needs list. But the new coach needs an exciting offensive weapon and a ground game, both of which he gets with C.J. Spiller, the fastest guy in this years draft. Score points, win a few games, sell out your stadium, and make your owner some cash right off the bat and you'll keep your job and have a longer chance to rebuild, right?

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7 CLEVELAND; Needs, S/ 34OLB/ 34DE/ QB;

Pick,  S Berry, Eric

I cannot see any pick sticking to the expected script more than this one, for a team with a huge need for a safety with special talents and who could be the best to enter the league since the likes of Ed Reed or Ronnie Lott. Another double digit year All-Pro.

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8 OAKLAND; Needs, OT/ G/ 43DT/ WR ;

Pick, OT Williams, Trent

Another need pick as Al Davis gets ready to give 290 pound QB Jamarcus Russell one more chance to achieve greatness by getting him a big, nasty, strong and quick LOT to protect his blindside. Tthe Raiders will be trading their 2012 1st and 2nd round picks for someone's low 1st round pick in next years draft for Russell's QB replacement. Just call me Kreskin.
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9 BUFFALO; Needs, OT/ 34DL/ 34OLB/ WR;

Pick, QB  Clausen, Jimmy

Here we go again, going off the script. Yes the Bills need OL's, and alot of other things. But first they need a decent QB to rebuild that franchise around. They have the makings of a fine defense. Just a few more tweaks and they are a division winning quality defense. The offense, on the other hand  is, well, offensive. A reliable and talented QB is required. You can get an OT in the second round.

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10  JACKSONVILLE; Needs, SS/ DB/ WR/ QB ;

Pick, DE/LB Morgan, Derrick

Jacksonville, a team with many holes,  is not going to pass up one of the best young pass rushers in this year's draft,  just full of good young pass rushers,  to make the full-time professional prognosticators happy. If Morgan isn't taken here, it will be one or two picks later, Here's my vote for the Jacksonville braintrust not being that stupid.

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11 DENVER ; Needs, C/ 34ILB/ G /WR/;

Pick, WR Thomas, Demaryius

Whether Marshall is gone or not ( and I think he will be) Josh McDaniels will want to add this big, quick, high jumping, good blocking, good hands receiver who may be the best all around WR in this years draft. But the biggest thing about Thomas is that he's a reliable TEAM player. He will be a star, although it may take a full season before he makes an All-Pro type impact.

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12  MIAMI ; Needs, WR/ 34DT/ 34OLB/ 34ILB;

Pick, 34ILB McClain, Rolando

I hate Miami and I hate this pick...because this offense killing 34ILB will be an All-Pro for years to come, crushing Patriot's backs twice a year. Great pick by Miami, and if he's available, this is about as much of a lock in the 2010 draft as you can expect to see.

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13 SAN FRANCISCO ; Needs, OT/ DB/S/ G/ 34OLB;

Pick, LOT Davis, Anthony 

Another pick aligns well with the popular script. Davis is a tad immature , but that won't last long with SF and their crazy eyed coach. He's strong, quick, experienced and doesn't like human beings very much. Nuff said.

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14 SEATTLE; Needs, 43DE/ OT/ QB/ 43DT;

Pick, 43DE  Pierre-Paul, Jason

Back to script, almost. Jason Pierre-Paul is a physical freak, a real great all around athlete, but is really an unknown quantity because of his  scant few games played against good competition. He promises to be a boom or bust pick. I think he could be a boom pick if he has patient teachers.  Seattle's staff , many coming from USC with their old head coach, Pete Carroll, will be doing alot of teaching across the board on this Seattle team. He does ok in 2010, and will eventually grow into a dependable All-Pro.
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15 NY GIANTS ; Needs, 43MLB/ DB/ OL/ 43OLB ;

Pick, 43ILB/OLB Weatherspoon, Sean

Weatherspoon can play any linebacker position in either 34 or 43 defense. He's got the size, speed, strength, experience, football IQ and football instincts to be an All -Pro in  a couple of years, as well as a long, productive career in the NFL. Loves to inspire and talk on the field, a real swagger guy, who the fans in NYC will love. A match made in heaven, a big play guy who'll fly all over and make plays in the biggest TV market in the world.

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16 TENNESEE ; Needs, DB/ 43MLB/ WR/ C ;

Pick,  CB Haden, Joe

Haden was expected to go much sooner then #16 just a week or ten days ago, but a couple of fast risers like Kyle Wilson and Devin McCourty have been playing havoc with revised Mock Drafts. Not here. Haden is fast, tough, physical and a big hitter and has played many, many games for Florida against the best competition in the best football conference in college football, the SEC. He's the best CB in this years draft. No one is a close second, no matter what they say about his ten yard quickness.

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17 SAN FRANCISCO; Needs, OT/ DB/S /G /34OLB

Pick; 34 OLB  Graham, Brandon

The SF head coach loves talented, smart, tough , relentless and athletic LB's, and that's just what he gets in Brandon Graham. He'll be an instant impact player because of that combination of strength, quickness and constant motor. A total team layer and a coaches dream.

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18  PITTSBURG ; Needs,  OT / G/C/  34OLB/ 34DT ;

Pick,  OG Iupati, Mike

A pretty popular projection that I agree with. Iupati is a no-nonsense tough guy who comes to war on every play...tough and strong, he is another player who hates humanity once the uniform is on. A classic lunch pail type of blue collar worker tailor made for Pittsburgh.

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19  ATLANTA ; Needs, 43OLB/ 43DE/  WR/TE/  OL ;

Pick, TE Gresham. Jermaine

The Falcons perennial All-Pro TE Anthony Gonzalez won't play forever. So Atlanta thinks about the future and takes the only first round worthy, all around talented and experienced TE in Jermaine Gresham. Gresham is alot like Gonzalez in that he's tall, rangy, fast, has good hands, runs good routes and is a better blocker.

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20  HOUSTON ; Needs, DB/ G/ S/ OT ;

Pick,  CB Wilson, Kyle

Once again we go according to script. Wilson fills a big need in the Houston def. backfield, a backfield that was unable to hold opponents in several games when the Teaxans had leads against good teams during the second half of the year. Wilson is tough , experienced and fast, and should fit in nicely with a young defense.

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21 CINNCINATI ; Needs, TE/ G/ S /43DE;

Pick, S  Mays, Taylor

The Bengals pick a tall, fast, big, rangy hard hitting safety known for absolutely awesome smack downs in the def. backfield. He's could be a game changing hitter, able to alter the feel of a game with his violent hits. Anyone going into the def. backfield will always have an eye out for this hitting machine. That alone will prevent plays as opponents will be forced to make "career decisions" (ie, run out of bounds) when not sure if he's lurking close by, and particularly if he is.

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22  NEW ENGLAND ; Needs, 34DE/ 34LB/ WR/ TE ;

Pick, 34OLB  Kindle, Sergio

I am torn between selecting Kindle, a proven commodity at OLB and an outstanding athlete with experience and pass rushing skills, or Everson Griffen, a much bigger, tougher player with speed, but little direct experience playing the 34OLB position. In this case I'm picking Kindle because of the track record for a team playing in a tough conference and his history of playing well in big BCS games. Texas' Def. Coordinator has a history with Bellichick and is a friend.

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23 GREEN BAY ; Needs, DB/ OT/ 34OLB /RB;

Pick, LOT Campbell, Bruce 

Campbell is a workout warrior with a chisled body and great stats from the combine. His stats are a bit better than his performance, however, but anyone who's over 6'5" inches, weighing in at @ 300 lbs, has long arms, can lift a barn, runs a sub 5.0 second 40 yard dash , plays in a good league -ACC- is going to be drafted in the first round of the NFL draft.

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24 PHILADELPHIA ; Needs, FS /43OLB/ 43DE/ G/C ;
Pick, 43DE Griffen, Everson
              Everson Griffen will fill a need at DE, but is also probably the best athlete available on a defense that has gradually been getting younger over the past couple of seasons. This is a good fit and should pay dividends right away in the ever competitive NFC East.
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25 BALTIMORE ; Needs, DB/ 34DE/ S/ 34LB ;

Pick, 34DE Dunlap, Carlos

Dunlap has the speed and quickness to  rush the passer and strength to play tough against the run, but will need a season or two to build himself up in the weight room and he can do that with a deep team like the Ravens. His motor has been questioned in the past, but the veternas on the Ravens won't let that become a problem. A great pickup for the Ravnes who have a real knack of developing good, tough defensive linemen.

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26 ARIZONA;  Needs, 34OLB/ 34ILB/ DB/ 34DT;

Pick,  Odrick, Jared

The once great Arizona Super Bowl team has gone through what all great teams do once they've made it to the top of their Conference...player defections over money! They must now rebuild a bit to get back into playoff significance, and will pick the best 34DT in the draft, Jared Odrick from Penn State. Odrick is 6'5", 300 lbs. runs a sub 5.0 40 yard dash, has the strength and quickness to play the 34 or 43 def. tackle position. A solid pick for the Cardinals.

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27 DALLAS ; Needs, OT/ G/ 34DT/ WR ;

Pick,  OC/G Pouncey, Maurkice

Dallas just may pick Earl Thomas from U-Texas, but I think Pouncey is the best G in the draft after Iupati, and may be the best value on the board at this point because he's just as good a center as he is a guard. Dallas likes flashier first round picks but they will love Pouncey over the course of the year.

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28 SAN DIEGO ; Needs, 34DT/ RB/ OT/ 34ILB ;

Pick, RB Mathews, Ryan

San Diego cannot have a good, solid ground game with just Sproules. In order to make their passing game effective they have to be able to keep teams honest up the middle. To do that they need a human "between the tackles" battering ram, just like Fresno State's Ryan Matthews. He's quick and fast ,strong at the point of attack, can make defenders miss him when he breaks past the line of scrimmage and line backers and is a very good blocker in the backfield. NEXT!

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29 NEW YORK JETS; Needs, 34OLB/ G/ WR/ FS;

Pick, WR  Bryant, Dez

NYJ want a game breaking WR who can catch AND run fast to get open deep and that man is Dez Bryant. He's a load to manage and motivate, but between Ryan and the veterans on that team I don't think it will be a problem in the long run. If it is, I'll enjoy that even more! BAHAHAHAHA!

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30 MINNESOTA ; Needs, DB/ OT/ G/ S ;

Pick, CB Robinson, Patrick

The Vikings get a first rate CB with all the tools...he's tall, rangy, fast, quick, an athlete and will play at a high level for many years. He will solidify the Vikings def. backfield and will help prevent late game meltdowns like the one the Vikings experienced against the Saints.

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31 INDIANAPOLIS; Needs,  43DT/ G/ DB/ 43OLB ;

Pick, 43DT Price, Brian

This is one of those rich getting richer deals. Brian Price is one of the best penetrating, quick DT's in this years draft who spends alot of time in the opponents backfield . He's also strong and tough as well. He'll fit in great with the Colt defensive philosophy of quick penetration and disruption between DE's Freeny and Mathis. I hate him already.

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32 NEW ORLEANS ;  Needs, 43OLB/ 43ILB 43DE/ 43DT;

Pick, 43DT Cody, Terrence

Well...he's a biggun, that's for sure. At 6'5" tall, 350+ lbs and actually quick from tackle to tackle, this immoveable object can dominate double team blocking at times. After an unimpressive combine it didn't look good for this talented DT, but watching a few years worth of Alabama game films shows a man who can destroy a line of scrimmage when motivated. He'll ALWAYS draw a double team, and beat it more often than not.

No real surprises here at all, really. And for teams with additional picks in round two, the sins of the first round can still be made good the second time around because this draft is very deep (3 rounds) for starter grade players.

I'll be updating this Mock Draft each week until the NFL's version of a birthing room starts April 22. I just can't wait to hear the Jets fans protest whoever is their team's first round selection. It makes me so happy I thinks it's my birthday - until Belichick trades down! :-(