By Paul M. Banks
There are plenty of places to get 2010 NFL Draft prospect lists. But why stop at just providing a mere list? I’m giving you a prediction of where I think all of these great defensive ends (one of this draft’s most loaded positions) will end up in the draft this April.
12. Miami Dolphins Ricky Sapp DE/OLB Clemson
Miami has front seven needs, at multiple positions. So it would behoove them to add a fast-rising prospect like Sapp who can play at different spots, while also bringing something to the Dolphins’ pass rushing table.
13. San Francisco 49ers Derrick Morgan DE Georgia Tech
This is a very deep DE draft, and Morgan is the most athletic of the bunch. He was probably the most dominant defensive player in the ACC this year. He also played in the shadows of 2009 NFL draftees Michael Johnson, Darryl Richard and Vance Walker the past two seasons, so he should be seasoned like Lawry’s once the draft process begins. Which will no doubt help his stock.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers Jermaine Cunningham DE Florida
Cunningham isn’t as explosive as his teammate Carlos Dunlap but he is more reliable on a play by play basis. He gets to the quarterback with regularity and makes a lot of tackles in the run game as well.
24. Philadelphia Eagles Jason Pierre-Paul DE South Florida
The 6-6 260 lb junior has an explosive burst, and he registered 6.5 sacks and 16.5 TFLs last season. This is an EXTREMELY deep draft at the Defensive End position, so you really can’t go wrong by picking any of the 6-7 top prospects that will likely land in the first round.
26. Arizona Cardinals Brandon Graham DE Michigan
The Arizona Cardinals badly need to upgrade their 29th ranked pass defense. Getting more pressure consistently would help. 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. However, Graham’s Senior Bowl- two sacks, forced fumble, MVP performance, looking pretty much unblockable, makes him potentially a 1st round lock
SECOND ROUND PROSPECTS
32. New Orleans Saints Greg Hardy DE Ole Miss
Greg Hardy may be the purest sack artist in the draft. He has a lethal combination of speed and power that he mixes up to get to the quarterback. Hardy also has a sort of “Overdrive” that he shifts into once he smells a possible sack. Because of Carlos Dunlap’s off-the-field issues, Hardy now overtakes him on the DE draft board.
34. Detroit Carlos Dunlap DE Detroit
The Lions have had a pretty rough go of it with their draft picks lately, so they’re due for another one to pan out, right? Dunlap’s DUI has hurt his stock immensely, but his pass-rushing skills and explosiveness will get him noticed. And we all know Detroit can use some help with their awful pass defense.
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”.
40. Seattle Jerry Hughes DE/OLB TCU
The versatile and seasoned Hughes will bring acumen and speed to help improve Seattle’s less than stellar DL.
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.
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.
60. San Diego Alex Carrington DE Arkansas St.
Senior bowl standout has all of our attention now. In a loaded defensive end class, Carrington’s play has said “hey, I’m a player a this party too!” And San Diego might make a great fit for him.
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 the entire NFL Mock Draft go here
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