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 The college football season is over; withdrawals, depression, misery. Before you slip into an apathetic stupor for eight months, remember that the NFL Draft is just around the corner! From now until April's NFL Draft, I will be profiling some of the more interesting prospects. I can't promise that I'll get to your favorite player, but if you'd like to see a certain player profiled, shoot us an email and let us know. Here's who we've covered so far.
Now that the Combine is over and we're a few pro days deep, I thought this would be a good time to release the first mock draft of the season. Keep an eye out over the weeks leading up to the draft as things are sure to change...and as always, don't be bashful in expressing your own thoughts about the draft.
2010 NFL Mock Draft 2.0 - Updated 4/02/2010
Published 3/11/10
1. St. Louis Rams (1-15) - Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
 Personally, if I'm the Rams, I'm taking Ndamukong Suh. And if I'm taking a quarterback, I'm taking Jimmy Clausen. But ESPN's Adam Schefter, after considering all that he's heard around the league and everybody he's spoken to, was willing to say this on February 24: "I believe ultimately, when all is said and done, that the Rams' number one pick on April 22nd, two months from now, will be Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford. I'm willing to take all bets on that one right now."
Of course, Schefter is not a part of the Rams organization, but things seem to be leaning towards St. Louis taking the shot that Bradford can be their franchise quarterback. Stay tuned for Bradford's workout on March 25 in Norman, Oklahoma. (He did not participate in Oklahoma's pro day on March 9.)
2. Detroit Lions (2-14) - Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
A lot of people see the Lions' offseason run on defensive linemen (Corey Williams, DT and Kyle Vanden Bosh, DE) as an indication that they will look elsewhere in the draft. Not so. As hard as it is to take seriously anything that NFL coaches or GMs say before the draft, I do tend to believe that Detroit will continue to look at both Suh and Gerald McCoy with this pick. Vanden Bosh seems to like the idea of adding another Cornhusker to the defensive line. He called Suh the "best college tackle I've ever seen."
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-13) - Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
Eric Berry is hard to pass up here, but the Bucs, who reverted to a 4-3 defense, will have a harder time passing up on McCoy. Had the Bucs stayed with their 3-4 scheme, it would be difficult to imagine them drafting McCoy as a NT. They may have put him at end in a 3-4 scheme, but McCoy is unproven at the position. Things just seem to work out sometimes, huh?
4. Washington Redskins (4-12) - Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
There's also the possibility that the Redskins will address their needs along the offensive line by taking Russell Okung. Jason Campbell didn't have adequate time to throw the ball in 2009, but most saw this past season as his last chance to claim the keys to the offense. With a new head coach in Mike Shanahan, look for the Redskins to go another direction at quarterback.
5. Kansas City Chiefs (4-12) - Eric Berry, FS, Tennessee
 If the Rams go DT #1 and the Lions follow suit, Berry shouldn't slip past the Bucs at #3. However, as Bradford is now widely expected to go #1 to the Rams, Berry's draft position seems to be falling by no fault of his own. Kansas City needs an upgrade at the position and Berry is considered one of the most promising safety prospects in years. Some consider Berry the best player in this year's draft and he's even drawn comparisons to future Hall of Famer Ed Reed. Offensive tackle is another possibility with Russell Okung still on the board.
6. Seattle Seahawks (5-11) - Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
If Jimmy Clausen falls to #6, which is very possible, I would expect Pete Carroll to nab a franchise quarterback in his first draft in town. If he doesn't, the Seahawks will probably look to address their needs along the offensive line.
7. Cleveland Browns (5-11) - Joe Haden, CB, Florida
The Browns would love to draft Eric Berry if he slips this far, but don't bet on it. If either Clausen or Bradford slip to #7 it'll be interesting to see how the new Browns front office feels about Brady Quinn.
Haden is the best cornerback in this year's draft, but #7 may still be a bit too high for him. A less than stellar Combine performance has sparked questions about his speed (although I've never been one to buy into Combine numbers) and widened the gap between Berry and the rest of the defensive back pool. An offensive tackle may make more sense, but with a passing defense that ranked 29th in the league in 2009, the Browns will look to upgrade their defensive backfield.
8. Oakland Raiders (5-11) - Usain Bolt, Athlete, Jamaica - Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland
Campbell is 6'7, 310 lbs. He has long arms that will help him keep edge rushers away from whoever ends up under center for the Raiders. He's exceptional in pass protection, which the pass-happy Al Davis will love. And how can Davis pass on a guy who measures so well? Then again, who the hell knows what will be going through Davis' head on April 22. Personally, I hope they try to draft Usain Bolt.
9. Buffalo Bills (6-10) - Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers
The Bills have a few positions of need. Left tackle is probably the biggest, although they'll be hoping and praying that Clausen or Bradford falls to them at #9. It won't happen. They'll take the best left tackle prospect available, which is Davis. He didn't show well at the Combine and there are question marks about his work ethic, but he'll be hard to pass up for the tackle-needy Bills. Trent Williams will be given a look here, but the general consensus is that he'll make a better right tackle in the pros.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-9) - Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
 The Jaguars addressed their pass rushing needs by signing DE Aaron Kampman and are unlikely to invest top dollar in another defensive lineman. Bryant makes sense here to add depth to a pretty thin wide receivers corps. A swap with Denver involving the disgruntled Brandon Marshall is also a possibility.
11. Denver Broncos (from 7-9 Chicago Bears) - Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
After losing Jay Cutler, the Broncos seemingly struck gold with Kyle Orton when the season started, but his production declined in the second half of the season after injuring his ankle. And he's never proved he's a top tier quarterback in Chicago or even in Denver.
Could the Broncos package Marshall with the 11th pick to move up into the top 10 or top 5 to nab Clausen or Bradford? With a first round tender placed on him, Orton should be back in Denver. The Broncos aren't looking for a quick fix at the position, but having Clausen or Bradford developing for a year or two under Orton could be a good situation to be in.
A trade to nab Dez Bryant, who may be taken a spot ahead of him by the Jaguars, makes sense, too. If that little theory turns out to be nothing, they'll take 6'2, 327 pound Dan Williams to fill a hole (or two) on their defense that ranked 26th against the run in 2009.
12. Miami Dolphins (7-9) - Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama
Bill Parcells is the Vice President of Football Operations in Miami and has a history of selecting defensive linemen, offensive linemen and linebackers in the first round. The Dolphins' signing of Karlos Dansby has many thinking they'll draft Dez Bryant if he isn't already off the board. If Bryant is available, it will be interesting to see if Parcells opts for a wide receiver (he's not the most wide receiver-friendly front office man in the league) or adds McClain to play inside with Channing Crowder, while moving Dansby outside to play with Jason Taylor or Cameron Wake.
13. San Francisco 49ers (8-8) - Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
The run on offensive tackles in the top half of the draft continues with Williams. Considered a better right tackle than left tackle, Williams makes sense with Joe Staley (the 49ers' 2007 first round pick) entrenched at left tackle along an offensive line that has otherwise been less than impressive.
14. Seattle Seahawks (from 8-8 Denver Broncos) - C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
This may be a reach at #14, especially considering a lot of analysts and experts see Spiller as a situational back. However, having addressed their need along the offensive line, the Seahawks cannot afford to pass on the best running back in this year's draft. Seattle has tried just about everybody at the position since Shaun Alexander's record breaking 2005 campaign.
15. New York Giants (8-8) - Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
Defensive line has been a strong point for the Giants lately and they maintain that by taking the best defensive end in this year's draft. With Mathias Kiwanuka, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora already on the roster, it doesn't seem to make much sense for the Giants to add another DE. But with Umenyiora threatening retirement if he's not a starter in 2010, the Giants could turn to Morgan for leverage/insurance. If Osi is traded before the draft, Morgan or another DE seems to become a lock at #15.
16. Tennessee Titans (8-8) - Jason Pierre-Paul, DE/OLB, South Florida
Pierre-Paul played just one season of FBS football, but asserted himself as a freak of an athlete and a force on the field. Still, with only a year of experience and physical tools that some say overshadow certain weaknesses, some have put Pierre-Paul on bust-alert.
The Titans lost Kyle Vanden Bosh to the Lions earlier this month and could use help in the pass rush. (Keep in mind that despite all the hype surrounding Pierre-Paul as a pass rusher, he managed just 6.5 sacks in 2009.) A year removed from their 13-3 season, and after finishing 8-2 after an 0-6 start, and without any urgent needs on offense, the Titans can afford to gamble on Pierre-Paul.
17. San Francisco 49ers (from 8-8 Carolina Panthers) -Taylor Mays, S, USC
 There are mixed feelings about Mays. Some consider him a freak of an athlete with too much of an upside to pass up, while others see him as lacking the football skills necessary to play the safety position. The 49ers have a need at strong safety and indications are that head coach Mike Singletary is a Taylor Mays fan.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) - Mike Iupati, G, Idaho
The Steelers let up 50 sacks in 2009, good for second most in the league. They need an upgrade on the interior of their line and Iupati is the best guard available. At 6'5, 330 pounds, defenders will have a tough time bull rushing him. He's also pretty athletic for his size.
19. Atlanta Falcons (9-7) - Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State
Atlanta ranked 29th in the league in pass defense in 2009 and need a number one cornerback. Robinson picked off only 1 pass in 2008 and none in 2009, but that may be partly due to an unwillingness to throw to Robinson's side of the field after a 2007 campaign in which he intercepted 6 passes. Robinson is an excellent cover corner and while the Falcons may be hoping that Joe Haden magically slips to #19, they'll gladly nab his cross-state rival.
20. Houston Texans (9-7) - Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State
The Texans were blasted for passing on Reggie Bush in 2006 in favor of Mario Williams. They have struggled to maintain a steady rushing game since they entered the league in 2002 and coming off a 2009 season in which they averaged less than 100 yards per game on the ground, the Texans have to address the gaping need in the backfield. Andre Johnson can't do it all, you know.
Mathews was overshadowed by Alabama's Mark Ingram and Stanford's Toby Gerhart despite amassing 1808 yards on the ground-only 63 yards fewer than Gerhart for the most in the nation. At 5'11, 220 pounds, Mathews managed a 4.45 40 at the Combine.
21. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6) - Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
Tight end has been a hole on the Bengals offense for years. They desperately need to upgrade their current #1 tight end: 27 year-old journeyman J.P. Foschi. Gresham is the top tight end prospect in this year's draft despite missing the 2009 season with a knee injury.
The Bengals could also select safety Earl Thomas to fill another need and wait until the second round to address their need at tight end. With prospects like Arizona's Rob Gronkowski and Florida's Aaron Hernandez expected to be available in the second round, and fast-riser Jimmy Graham of Miami expected to go in round 3 or 4, picking a safety may be a wise move.
22. New England Patriots (10-6) - Brandon Graham, OLB/DE, Michigan
This year's Senior Bowl MVP, Graham, who recorded 10 sacks in each of the last two seasons, provides a jolt to a New England defense that struggled to sack the quarterback in 2009. Graham's versatility as a linebacker and defensive end makes him a perfect candidate for the Patriots' 3-4 defense.
23. Green Bay Packers (11-5) - Brian Bulaga, OT, Iowa
Buluga is a talented tackle and deserves to go much higher than this. He could easily replace Bruce Campbell, Anthony Davis or Trent Williams in their respective draft positions. Green Bay needs to make keeping Aaron Rodgers upright a priority. Adding Bulaga or whichever tackle is left on the board is a step in the right direction. One would have to doubt that the Packers are comfortable with Chad Clifton protecting Rodgers' blind side for the next few seasons.
24. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) - Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida
 Dunlap's 'asleep at the light' DUI incident may have just been a dumb lapse in judgment, but some are still worried about his maturity. His 4.71 40 was tied for 5th among defensive linemen at the Combine and he's been praised for his top end speed. He would likely line up opposite Trent Cole in the 4-3 scheme.
25. Baltimore Ravens (9-7) - Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers
The Ravens has been known for defense for most of their existence. They struggled at cornerback in 2009 though and, especially with future Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed flirting with retirement, will need to address the problem this offseason. McCourty is climbing draft boards in a hurry and could even crack the top 20 of this year's draft before all's said and done.
26. Arizona Cardinals (10-6) - Sergio Kindle, DE/OLB, Texas
After losing ILB/OLB Karlos Dansby to the Dolphins, the Cardinals will look to address the hole in the draft. Kindle is an excellent pass rusher that will fit nicely with Arizona's 3-4 scheme. He could even line up on the edge in obvious passing downs. Kindle's teammate at Texas, Earl Thomas, is also a possibility following the loss of Antrelle Rolle to the Giants in free agency.
27. Dallas Cowboys (11-5) - Earl Thomas, S, Texas
The last two times the Cowboys took a defensive back from the Big 12 in the first round it worked out pretty well with Roy L. Williams in 2002 and Terrence Newman in 2003. Despite his only two years of collegiate experience, some have Thomas projected as a top 15 or top 10 pick. He has excellent cover skills and would likely be developed to play with Ken Hamlin in the Cowboys' secondary.
28. San Diego Chargers (13-3) - Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois
Jahvid Best may get some consideration here, but he is too similar to Darren Sproles for the Chargers to take him. If Ryan Mathews falls to them at #28, I'd expect them to take the Fresno State product to compliment Sproles.
The Chargers have struggled to find a wide receiver to play opposite Vincent Jackson and may be looking to give it another shot after Chris Chambers didn't pan out. Despite a lackluster junior campaign, many scouts still view Benn as the second best receiver in this year's draft and one who has worlds of potential.
29. New York Jets (9-7) - Everson Griffen, DE, USC
 Inside linebacker is a need, but with McClain gone, picking anybody else in the first round is a reach. Griffen would be groomed behind Shaun Ellis and could even be used as an outside linebacker in the Jets' 3-4 scheme. Griffen's 4.66 40 was tied for the second fastest time at the Combine among defensive linemen and he's been praised for his quickness and agility.
30. Minnesota Vikings (12-4) - Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State
The Vikings were so-so against the pass last season and with Antoine Winfield set to turn 33 by the start of next season, picking up a little help at cornerback is important. And don't forget that Cedric Griffin is out following surgery to repair a torn ACL. Corner Benny Sapp recently resigned, but adding Wilson, whose stock has been on the rise since the Senior Bowl, makes sense.
31. Indianapolis Colts (14-2) - Maurkice Pouncey, C/G, Florida
It may seem unusual for a team that allowed the fewest sacks the previous season to use their first round pick on an offensive lineman, but with the release of starting guard Ryan Lilja and a 34 year old Jeff Saturday at center, the Colts could use some help on the interior of the offensive line. Pouncey is considered one of the top interior linemen in this year's draft. He started at guard for most of his freshman year before moving to center in his sophomore season. He won the 2009 Rimington Trophy as the nation's top center, but will probably begin his NFL career as a guard.
32. New Orleans Saints (13-3) - Sean Weatherspoon, OLB, Missouri
Upon Scott Fujita's departure to Cleveland, the Super Bowl champs will look for somebody to take his place on the outside. Weatherspoon is often praised as a coachable player who will only benefit from being a full-time football player in the NFL. He's billed as solid against both the pass and the run, although he could stand to improve in both areas. - Danny Hobrock
Danny is a sports journalist primarily covering college football and professional baseball. His work for Xtra Point Football has garnered national attention and is critically acclaimed. Danny is the former editor of a political and current events website and the editor of our college football content.
- For more player profiles and complete coverage of this Year's NFL Draft, visit our NFL Draft Prospects Home Page with new profiles being added each week.
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