This NFL Draft: 2010 Mock Draft, the second Mock Draft in as many days by Zennie62.com, has the Washington Redskins and the San Francisco 49ers trading 1st round draft picks. The idea here is that with Donovan McNabb and Jason Campbell, the Redskins have depth at quarterback and feel they can trade down and stockpile players. The 49ers, with two picks in the 1st round, want to trade up and get a difference maker like C.J. Spiller, the running back from Clemson.
This is rooted in the fact that the Niners saw first hand the difference a speed running back can make when Chris Johnson of The Tennessee Titans ran for 135 yards on 25 carries against them. At times, Johnson made the Niners defense look like it was in slow motion. While there's an argument that the Niners don't need running backs, they also don't have one with C.J. Spiller's blazing speed and don't want to worry about Frank Gore's durability over the season. Seeing how this position switch impacts the NFL Draft is a "teachable moment."
What we learn is that even though what player available impacts what a team does, on many occasions the basic need of the team points them to the same player as in the normal order, or another player at the same position. That's especially true for the New England Patriots, who really need defensive line help.
The other developments noted in the first Mock Draft remain:
- The St. Louis Rams taking Ndamukong Suh, the Nebraska defensive tackle, and not Oklahoma Quarterback Sam Bradford. Really, taking Suh means you can pencil him in as a certain starter, where Bradford is not a player the Rams need and one they would have to develop.
- The Oakland Raiders picking a wide receiver, Florida's Dez Byrant, to make up for, push, and complement Darrius Haywood-Bey, who can only get better in 2010. Bryant would give the Raiders a passing attack that on paper can be one of the best, but the Raiders coaches have to make that a reality.
- Seattle's Pete Carroll takes one of his former USC players, Taylor Mays, to become the enforcer in the defensive secondary the Seahawks need.
Other developments still have Cal's Jahvid Best going to the San Diego Chargers, which seems to be a scenario that could play out as Best could fall to The Chargers at number 27. Again, Best is better and faster than Fresno State's Ryan Matthews. But Matthews is ranked higher by some draft services, and Best is ranked higher by other draft services.
The order is in pick number, team, player, and reason.
1. St. Louis - Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska: The Rams ranked near the bottom in total defense in 2009, giving up an average of 30 points-per-game. Ndamukong Suh is a gamer and would complement DE Chris Long. Plus, he comes cheaper than a QB and as in 2006 would set the tone for the lower NFL Draft salary structure.
2. Detroit - Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma: This is a clear need pick as Detroit had the worst defense in the NFL and drafted a QB in Matt Stafford. McCoy can be the player that improves their defense overnight.
3. Tampa Bay - Eric Barry, S, Tennessee: A case could be made for the offensive tackles, but passing Eric Barry just seems stupid. Plus, Tampa Bay's offensive problems are borne of a bad scheme more than player issues.
4. San Francisco from Washington - C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson: The 49ers could make great use of this super-fast back to both complement and spell Frank Gore. Spiller, who runs a 4.27 40-yard-dash, is also much like Chris Johnson, the Tennessee Titans running back who scorched the Niners last year.
5. Kansas City - Joe Haden, CB, Florida: The Chiefs had one of the NFL's worst defenses and gave up 231.7 passing yards a game, and were not respectable against the. Haden is the pass defender the Chiefs need who can offer run support as well.
6. Seattle - Taylor Mays, S, USC: Pete Carroll's first pick of his first year back in the NFL. Carroll knows Mays and Taylor's wild combination of size and speed will give the Seahawks an enforcer in the secondary and stop teams from racking up 245 yard per game in the air.
7. Cleveland - Sam Bradford, QB, Qklahoma: Bradford would be perfect to sit behind Jake Delhomme and learn for about two years, before he's ready. The Cleveland Browns have entirely rebuilt their team already and the need in the draft is for defensive playmakers that can stop the run. But the DTs are gone and Bradford's too good to let drop down past the Browns.
8. Oakland - Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State: A make-up for Darrius Hayward-Bey? Yes. The Oakland Raiders do not have a deep-threat receiver who will consistently separate and catch the ball. Bryant may not have had a great pro-day, but get him on the field and he will do fine, perhaps on the order of Jerry Rice.
9. Buffalo - Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State: The Bills problems were scheme-based, not player-based. Oklahoma State's Okung will solidify the left side and remain their for 7 years.
10. Jacksonville - Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech: The Jacksonville Jaquars gave up 235.9 passing yards a game. Morgan would provide the speed pass-rush not unlike Dwight Freeney of the Indianapolis Colts.
11. Denver from Chicago - Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa: The Denver Broncos are in need of larger, better pass blockers and Bulaga is the perfect choice.
12. Miami - Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland: While some would argue for a linebacker here, the Dolphins also need an offensive lineman, and Campbell is ranked higher than Sergio Kindle.
14. Washington from San Francisco - Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma: Having traded down, the Redskins can add a playmaking tight end to add depth and speed to their passing game. Gresham's the perfect choice at this spot.
15. Seattle from Denver - Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers: One of the Seahawks' needs is at Offensive Tackle where Walter Jones has been a star. Davis is said to have "character issues" but there's no one better than Seahawks' Head Coach Pete Carroll to work with him.
16. New York Giants - Earl Thomas, S, Texas: Called "young" but all of the players in the NFL Draft are. Thomas is a playmaker for a NY Giants team that needs a new safety who can play nickle-back. That's Thomas.
17. Tennessee - Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State: The Titans have openly stated they seek a cover cornerback and Kyle Wilson fits here.
18. Washington from San Francisco - Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida: When a center is ranked as high as Maurkice Pouncey appears, you don't pass on him because that's a rare event. Redskins GM Bruce Allen would agree. He's a player that would make a good line great over time. The point is, even with the Redskins picking here, the choice is Pouncey.
19. Pittsburgh - Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame: Aside from the character events, Ben Rothlisberger is not getting younger and won his Super Bowl ring. Clausen can be Pittsburgh's quarterback of the future and push Ben to play at an even higher level.
20. Atlanta - Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri: The Falcons have a number of defensive needs, but linebacker and defensive end are prominent. But Sean's an athlete and a team leader and a playmaker. The nasty streak some say he needs will come when he gets angry for being blocked in the NFL.
21. Houston - Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State: The Texans have tried to secure a deal with Cornerback Dunta Robinson, who's now with the Atlanta Falcons. That opens a need that Robinson can fill.
22. Cincinnati - Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida: The Redskins shift with the Niners allows the Bengals to shift to defense, and take Carlos Dunlap off the board. He gives the Bengals more needed defensive edge speed.
23. New England - Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee: Defensive line is the concern of the New England Patriots and Williams can help stop the run, but is an effective pass rusher. Again, the Redskins shift with the Niners brings Williams up one spot.
24. Green Bay - Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida: The Green Bay Packers could move the ball, but they could not stop other teams from starting what turns out to be a track meet. Jason Pierre-Paul of South Florida: is a run stopper the Packers need for their defensive line. In other words, the same words for Dan Williams apply to Jason Pierre-Paul. Both fill the Packers needs.
25. Philadelphia - Charles Brown, OT, USC: The Eagles need a potential offensive tackle starter for new starting QB Kevin Kolb; USC's Charles Brown, one of the best tackles available and best NFL Draft players, can provide that and challenge for a starting role.
26. Baltimore - Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho: while the Ravens need a playmaking linebacker, a player as good as Mike Iupati must be taken if he falls to Baltimore, who's run-oriented offense can be helped by this physical blocker.
27. Arizona - Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech: Some would say the need is for offensive line, but Demaryius Thomas will help Arizona fill the void left by the loss of Anquan Boldin. Yes, they did well in the passing game in 2009, but Thomas falls here; Arizona should take the talented pass catcher.
28. Dallas - Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State: The Cowboys have are great at the edge of the defense, but a run-stopping defensive tackle and more line depth are needed. Penn State's Jared Odrick is perfect.
29. San Diego - Jahvid Best, RB, California: With the loss of LaDainian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles, the running back position takes priority. Jahvid Best is the speedster the Chargers have not seen, even with Sproles, who's more quick than fast. Best, being a Cal Football player, would also sell tickets in San Diego.
30. New York Jets - Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame: The perfect complement to the veteran playmaker Braylon Edwards, Tate can come in, work with Jets QB Matt Sanchez, and form a threatening passing attack.
31. Minnesota - Morgan Burnett, S, Georgia Tech: The Vikings lack a playmaker in the secondary to complement their great defensive front seven. Burnett would help address problems at safety that were exposed in the 2009 Arizona 30-17 loss.
32. Indianapolis - Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers: The Colts really need an enforcer in the secondary but even more a shut-down cornerback. Devin McCourty led Rutgers in pass breakups, and may be good enough to land a starting job with the Colts.
33. New Orleans - Chris Cook, CB, Virginia: When New Orleans lost games, or came close to being beaten, their defensive secondary was the problem. Like Indianapolis, New Orleans lacks a shut-down cornerback and ranked 22nd against the pass in 2010. Cook could play close to that level, and perhaps evolve into one.
That's how the NFL Draft 1st round would look with a Redskins and Niners 1st round trade. Stay tuned for more scenarios.
