Version 2.0 - 3/18/10.
Version 3.0 - 4/20/10.
Note:
Coin flips will decide which teams pick 42nd, 48th and 51st.
33. St. Louis Rams - Colt McCoy, QB, Texas
If the Rams acquire a veteran like Michael Vick or Jason Campbell,
they still need a development prospect at QB. If they don’t,
the urgency becomes greater to add a QB with this pick. I’ll
assume the latter scenario, because McCoy is a bit of a reach here.
34. Detroit Lions - Patrick Robinson, CB,
Florida State
Robinson has first round talent, but may fall out due to inconsistency
and not being an impact player. Detroit is happy to add him here
to help their desperate situation at corner.
Tate is be a much-needed weapon for QB
Josh Freeman.
35. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Golden Tate,
WR, Notre Dame
With reliable hands and elusiveness in space, Tate is the perfect
fit for what the roster currently lacks and a much-needed new weapon
for their young QB.
36. Washington Redskins - Vladimir Ducasse,
OT, Massachusetts
After gambling on a franchise QB with their first pick, the Redskins
will be happy to find some help to keep him vertical with this pick.
Ducasse is a project from the Football Championship Subdivision
(aka FCS, aka Division I-AA) who has the size and physical attributes,
but needs to develop.
37. Kansas City Chiefs - Brandon Spikes,
ILB, Florida
Name recognition has Spikes valued higher by many, but unless he
demonstrates some unexpected elite athleticism at the Combine, he’s
more of a two-down thumper. Good fit inside for new DC Romeo Crennel’s
defense.
38. Seattle Seahawks – Charles Brown,
OT, Southern California
The gamble on C.J. Spiller with their second pick of the first round
pays off for new HC Pete Carroll as he lands one of his former players
to help fortify the line in Seattle. Brown is definitely one the
low end of the top tier of offensive tackles, but a solid option
here.
39. Cleveland Browns – Corey Wootton,
DE, Northwestern
After getting the playmaker for the secondary in the first round,
time to deal with lots of needs in the front seven. Wootton looked
like a potential first round pick in 2008, but tore up his knee
in their bowl game and then battled ankle problems on road back
last season. Definitely passes the eyeball test with the ideal size
and build for a 3-4 end.
40. Oakland Raiders - Terrence Cody, DT,
Alabama
Cody saw his draft stock fall as he showed up tipping the scales
at 370lbs. Al Davis will have visions of Ted Washington when he
gets a look at this guy and overlook the risk.
41. Buffalo Bills – Ricky Sapp, OLB,
Clemson
Undersized for DE at the next level, Sapp can use his quickness
and athleticism to develop in to a solid pass rusher. With Bills
converting to a 3-4, they need some players who fit the scheme.
42t. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Chicago Bears)
- Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers
Someday Ronde Barber will retire (probably) and depth at corner
is a problem, so a zone coverage corner with decent size and good
speed who is outstanding on special teams would be a great addition
here.
42t. New England Patriots (from Jacksonville
Jaguars) – Aaron Hernandez, TE, Florida
With Ben Watson likely to leave via free agency, HC Bill Belichick
needs another player to pair with Chris Baker in his two-TE sets.
Hernandez isn’t much of a blocker, which may be a problem,
but he was the top receiving TE in the country last year.
44. Miami Dolphins – Brandon LaFell,
WR, Louisiana State
The top senior WR prospect in the draft was bypassed by a caravan
of underclassmen that pushed him out of the first round, but in
to a great fit with Miami. He doesn’t have elite speed, but
is the big target QB Chad Henne needs.
45. San Francisco 49ers – Brandon Graham,
OLB, Michigan
The undersized tweener turned heads at the Senior Bowl and while
draftniks and pundits raced to move him up draft boards, the reality
of his limited size and measurables will knock him back down a bit
at the Combine. That doesn’t mean he can’t be the next
Elvis Dumervil, just that he won’t be drafted that high by
most teams that will point to physical limitations before investing
that much in him. HC Mike Singletary is definitely a guy who goes
by what he sees on the field over crunching numbers and won’t
hesitate to scoop Graham up if he falls here to help his pass rush.
46. Denver Broncos – Lamarr Houston,
DT, Texas
Houston has already seen work as an end in some 3-4 sets with the
Longhorns, the role which he’ll move to full time in Denver.
After ignoring their down linemen in last year’s draft, the
Broncos will be looking for some impact players for the whole front
seven in this draft.
47. New York Giants – Jahvid Best,
RB, California
Despite plenty of options, the running game struggled for the Giants
last year. Best brings a different skill set than any other runner
on their roster, with home run speed and plenty of utility.
48t. Carolina Panthers - Demaryius Thomas,
WR, Georgia Tech
A raw prospect who didn’t see much work in Tech’s run-heavy
offense, he is a big target with good hops and nice YAC –
the perfect complement to Steve Smith.
48t. New England Patriots (from Tennessee
Titans) – Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
Few coaches have the job security to spend an early pick and figure
out what to do with Tebow later. There is plenty to like about Tebow
– he is an impressive physical specimen and his leadership
and intangibles are off the chart. Belichick has the luxury of taking
time to see if he can develop Tebow into a pro QB, while finding
ways to work him in certain packages for short-term return. You
know Tebow will be dedicated and put the work in, so it won’t
be for lack of effort if it doesn’t work out. This pairing
is actually a no-brainer, the question is does Belichick see enough
upside to make the move. RB Jonathan Dwyer is another possibility
here.
50. Pittsburgh Steelers – Mike Johnson,
G, Alabama
Owner Art Rooney II has called for the team’s offensive philosophy
to return to running more. While he won’t be play calling
on Sunday’s like Jerry Jones might if he issued such an edict,
you can expect the message was received. Johnson helped pave the
way for Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram and would upgrade the
weakness on the interior line of the Steelers. 51t.
Kansas City Chiefs (from Atlanta Falcons) – Chad Jones,
S, Louisiana State
After passing on Eric Berry in the first round, GM Scott Pioli
adds the versatile big safety from LSU who adds value as a returner,
as well.
51t. Houston Texans – Jonathan Dwyer,
RB, Georgia Tech
During a injury-plagued sophomore slump by Steve Slaton, HC Gary
Kubiak struggled to find any consistency from a variety of runners
he paraded in and out of the lineup. While I think Slaton will
bounce back, the episode proved the team needs a reliable second
option, preferably a Thunder to Slaton’s Lightning. Dwyer
is the perfect fit. His numbers were down, as Tech’s option
offense afforded plenty of carries to Anthony Allen and mobile
QB Josh Nesbitt, but Dwyer was no less impressive. A future feature
back, he is a steal in the second round.
53. Cincinnati Bengals – Nate Allen,
S, South Florida
The injury-plagued safety position needs to be improved even if
all the principles are healthy this year.
54. New England Patriots – Amari
Spievey, CB, Iowa
Spievey lacks elite speed, but one of the most physical corners
in the country is an extremely overlooked prospect that is a great
fit for HC Bill Belichick’s system at a position of need.
55. Green Bay Packers – Dominique
Franks, CB, Oklahoma
The Packers need to inject some youth behind aging, chronically-injured
starters Charles Woodson and Al Harris.
56. Philadelphia Eagles - Navorro Bowman,
LB, Penn State
Local boy can bring some consistency and quality depth to an LB
corps that was exposed when hit by injuries.
57. Baltimore Ravens – Brandon Ghee,
CB, Wake Forest
A physical defender with good speed, but needs to learn how to
cover, upgrades their patchwork group of corners.
58. Arizona Cardinals – Selvish Capers,
OT, West Virginia
Three starting offensive linemen are free agents and declining
LT Mike Gandy among them is likely to not return.
59. Dallas Cowboys – Sean Lee, ILB,
Penn State
Depth needs to be addressed at the inside linebacker position.
60. San Diego Chargers – Ryan Matthews,
RB, Fresno State
Last year’s leading NCAA Division I rusher becomes the compliment
to Darren Sproles with the expected departure of LaDainian Tomlinson.
61. New York Jets – Donovan Warren,
CB, Michigan
With Lito Sheppard and Donald Strickland likely out, depth at
corner is a high priority need for the Jets.
62. Minnesota Vikings – Kareem Jackson,
CB, Alabama
A torn ACL late in the year by Cedric Griffin could prevent him
from starting the season healthy and depth at corner is a concern
for Minnesota regardless.
63. Indianapolis Colts – Tyson Alualu,
DT California
Alualu is a high motor guy is type of player GM Bill Polian excels
at finding on defense.
64. New Orleans Saints – Anthony
Dixon, RB, Mississippi State
Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell are free agents, while rumors (prior
to their Super Bowl victory) swirl that Reggie Bush is gone unless
his contract is renegotiated to a lower cap number. Bottom line
is the running game in New Orleans is likely to need new faces
this year.
Round Three  |
