By Paul M. Banks
Welcome to Round 2. In case you haven’t checked out round one yet, you can do so by clicking here
We also have a special treat for you this week! Click on the following highlighted/bold phrases to read our:
Team Player Position School
33. St. Louis Colt McCoy QB Texas
For a profile/interview of McCoy click here
Do you hear that? It’s the sound of Colt McCoy’s draft stock falling after the national title game. Still, the Rams might want a new QB, and McCoy will be the best on the board at this point.
34. Detroit Mike Iupati G Idaho
There were times when Detroit’s interior blocking was about worthwhile and useful as cheerleaders in baseball and/or hockey. Iupati (not to be confused with IUPUI) could be just what it’s needed to help remedy that.
For pics and discussion about D-List cheerleader/dancers click here
For more Lions coverage click here
35. Tampa Bay Everson Griffen DE USC
If the Buccaneers opponents had a theme song, it would be Black-Eyed Peas: “running running and running running”, because that’s exactly what they’re opponents did to them. With the addition of Griffen, the run defense can maybe “get it started in here”.
36. Kansas City Toby Gerhart RB Stanford
Why not upgrade the depth at tailback this draft? You do recall that whole “incident” with Larry Johnson this fall, correct? I was a bit surprised that Gerhart declared this season, but now that he has I’d take the Heisman runner-up over Fresno’s Ryan Mathews. Because Gerhart seems like he has less mileage on him and more durability.
37. Washington Sergio Render G Virginia Tech
A hog in training? Render won’t have to travel far in making the jump from college to the pros…of course, that’s if you expect this regime to do something that makes sense- I’m not ready to make that leap of faith.
38. Cleveland Ryan Mathews RB Fresno St
For an in-depth profile, exclusive interview of Mathews click here
The Browns desperately need a boost to their running game and Mathews would be perfect. His running style has been described as many things: elusive, balanced, powerful, even, consistent, reliable, Fergalicious…well maybe not that last one.
39. Oakland Bruce Carter OLB North Carolina
Raiders could use a play-maker to sharpen up their run defense. This pick is of course contingent on Carter running a sub 4.5 at the combine in Indianapolis
40. Seattle Brandon Graham DE Michigan
Graham would go much higher in any draft other than this one. He’s got a lot of what you look for in an End, but this class is loaded at that position. The 2010 draft will be to defensive ends what white women are to wearing giant, over-sized sunglasses.
For more Michigan coverage click here
41. Buffalo Darryl Clark QB Penn State
If the Bills don’t pick up a signal-caller in round one, they’ll take one in round 2, and Clark’s mobility, leadership and throwing accuracy make him a tantalizing prospect.
For a feature profile/interview of Clark click here
42. Tampa Bay (from Chicago) Jerry Hughes DE/OLB TCU
The versatile Hughes will bring acumen to help improve T.B.’s ailing run defense
43. Miami Jermaine Gresham TE Oklahoma
The tough, tenacious Gresham would be another good piece to fit into the puzzle Parcells is putting together.
44. New England (from Jacksonville) Arrelious Benn WR Illinois
Since Jacksonville doesn’t have a pick this round, I guess Tebow won’t be drafted in the second round either.For my theory on why God actually might hate Tim Tebow click here
After Moss, Welker, and Edelman, the Pats have NADA at WR, so they’ll grab the next Anquan Boldin when he comes along. His size, speed and contributions on special teams make him a special player, even though his ’09 production at Illinois was down. That lack of production dropped his stock, and it was also extremely agonizing for Illini fans this past fall. The squandering of talent drove the Illini community to drink heavily (as you can see from the picture below).
For a more in-depth interview/detailed profile of Benn click here
45. Denver John Jerry OG Mississippi
Can Jerry follow in the big footsteps of fellow Ole Miss OL Michael “the Blind Side” Oher in having a phenomenal NFL rookie season? Whoever takes him will certainly hope so. And the Broncos system could be a good fit.
46. New York Giants Chad Jones S LSU
Safety is a primary need in Gotham and Jones is a hard-hitter who seems to have a nose for the ball.
47. New England (from Tennessee) Brian Price DT UCLA
As illustrated by their postseason dispatching at the hands of Baltimore, the Pats need help stuffing the run. Price had 48 tackles last season and a whopping 23.5 tackles for loss. He also added 7 sacks and forced 2 fumbles. Scouts also love his measurables.
48. Carolina Tony Pike QB Cincinnati
The Panthers had one of the worst quarterbacking situations in the NFL this past season, maybe they’ll address that first. If not, a heady leader like Pike could be exactly what they need.
49. San Francisco Anthony Davis OT Rutgers
It’s a very deep OT draft, and Davis is a “1st round talent”.
50. Kansas City (from Atlanta) Javier Arenas CB Alabama
Arenas, has a drive and work ethic that few can match. And most importantly, he doesn’t have the crazy streak possessed by his gun-toting relative. “Out of high school, I had probably like three solid offers, Florida International, Florida Atlantic, and I guess here the last week of the signing process. I never really thought about it giving me motivation, because regardless, I was going to go out there and give it my all, whenever I was working on the football field,” Arenas said.
To read an in-depth profile/interview of Gilbert Arenas’ cousin Javier, click here
51. Houston Tyson Alualu DE/DT California
The big, strong Polynesian has versatility (which should get him plenty of playing time on the next level) and a knack for penetrating the opponents’ backfields.
52. Pittsburgh Kameron Chancellor S Virginia Tech
Chancellor has said that he attempts to emulate the former Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor, and said, “[He was a] big safety, the prototype guy for the position. I’m a big safety, too, and I’ve just always wanted to be just like him. I don’t necessarily say I can be Sean Taylor before it’s over, but I think I can be just as good.”
53. New England Sergio Kindle DE/LB Texas
His ability to play multiple positions in the front seven is reminiscent of current Patriot Adalius Thomas (but Thomas may not be a Pat by the time Kindle arrives) Nevertheless, Kindle makes perfect sense as Foxboro has made no secret they’re going in a younger direction in the defensive front 7.
54. Cincinnati Jon Asamoah OG Illinois
To read an in-depth profile/exclusive of Asamoah click here.
Cincy could use some help at the guard position, and Asamoah is a great combination of strength, quickness and agility. As a UI grad, it’s frustrating to think about how poorly most Illini offenses have performed this decade given all the NFL talent they’re produced on the OL (Duke Preston, Brandon Moore, David Diehl, Ryan McDonald etc.) It’s enough to turn Illini fans into depressed and/or crazy drunks.
55. Philadelphia Kareem Jackson CB Alabama
Philly’s secondary could use some depth, and Jackson provides speed and tackling to aid the Eagles’ nickel and dime packages
56. Green Bay Trevard Lindley CB Kentucky
A value pick? A needs-based pick? Actually both, and a great one at that
To read the ten most painful Packer moments of the 2000s, click here
57. Baltimore Kyle Wilson CB Boise St.
Expect to see some transition in the Ravens’ secondary this offseason. Wilson led Boise State with five interceptions, 10 pass breakups and 15 passes defended. Fifteen passes defended (interceptions plus breakups) tied for 18th best in nation.
58. Arizona Eric Norwood LB South Carolina
Zona’s D hasn’t exactly been the strongest at times this season (especially against the pass, and in between the hashes. Enter Norwood who could be a help shut down the short-mid range passing game
59. Dallas Eric Decker WR Minnesota
Decker’s injury has dropped his stock, but he’s a gamer who knows how to overcome adversity and make the most of his talents. Did you see that TD catch he made in the Cal game? Where he held on despite being clobbered? The play encapsulates what his career has been all about, and could be on the next level
For an in-depth profile, exclusive interview of Decker click here
For more Minnesota Gophers coverage click here
60. San Diego George Selvie DE USF
Selvie holds the Big East Conference record for tackles for a loss in a season. He also holds the USF records for career sacks, sacks in a season, and tackles for a loss in a season. At 6-4, 245 He’s a lean, mean getting into the opponents’ offensive backfield machine.
61. New York Jets Sherrick McMannis CB Northwestern
It would be good for the Jets to augment their pass defense, and McMannis has good cover skills, and great closing speed. There are concerns about his health though.
Roar roar roar! For more NU Wildcats coverage click here
Not sure if McMannis is one of the players in the mob celebrating with fans on-field in the video below. But it’s kind of a cool video nonetheless
62. Minnesota Corey Wootton DE Northwestern
To help keep their monstrous DL fresh, the Vikings will bolster their rotation with the Coreysaurus. The 6’7” Wootton explained to me how he got that moniker: “I got dubbed that nickname from a teammate of mine that just graduated, Todd Dockery cuz of my long neck. I used to be real thin when I was a freshman. Since then he’s always called me “Coreysaurus.”
The 6’7” Wootton explained to me how he got that moniker: “I got dubbed that nickname from a teammate of mine that just graduated, Todd Dockery cuz of my long neck. I used to be real thin when I was a freshman. Since then he’s always called me “Coreysaurus.”
For an in-depth profile/interview of Wootton click here
Cue the Wildcat Roar! For more NU Wildcats coverage click here
To see a cool vid I shot of Wootton sacking Wisconsin QB Scott Tolzien, watch below
63. New Orleans Sean Lee LB Penn State
So what would this prospect bring to the Saints’ proverbial table? “I think my leadership, my intensity, a sense of urgency in trying to become a better player, encouraging others to become a better player,” Lee says.
For an in-depth profile/exclusive interview of Lee click here
64. Indianapolis Earl Thomas S Texas
The Colts might go value here, and Thomas is a great find at this position in the draft. The man who wore Colt McCoy’s number on defense is a playmaker that
To read a profile/interview of Thomas click here
