By Paul M. Banks
For our draft big board rankings go here
To read our updated team needs go here
For round 1 click here
We finally added Round 3!! FOR ROUND 3 GO HERE
As always, you can check out my College Football and NFL blogs on the Washington Times.com by clicking the hyperlinked text.
For our NBA Mock Draft click here
Team Player Position School
33. St. Louis Golden Tate WR Notre Dame
I predict the Rams will grab their franchise QB in round one with the first overall pick; and complement him with a WR in round 2. There’s a drop-off from Bryant and Benn to Tate, when it comes to WR prospects, because there are many more questions about Golden than there are about Dez. Some wonder if Tate is too small. He measured below what they expected he would at the combine. Lowering his stock. Then he ran faster than expected, raising his stock; so I left him right back where he was before the combine.
34. Detroit Alex Carrington DE Arkansas St.
Carrington is essentially a “late bloomer” in the life of a NFL Draft prospect. Since the Senior Bowl, and through the combine, Carrington has been rising up the charts, and fulfills a major need. 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? Maybe that’s why I have them going DL (although different positions) in each of the first two rounds.
35. Tampa Bay Jahvid Best RB California
You can use the obvious pun on his name to describe his place in this year’s running back class. (After Ryan Mathews and CJ Spiller of course) He’s easily the third best RB, especially after that eye-catching 40 time he registered at the combine.
36. Kansas City Terrence Cody DT Alabama
To read an in-depth profile and interview of Terrence Cody, click here
Cody is a big time anchor guy who could go higher if he got into shape (well he is in a shape- he’s round) throughout the combine and workout process. He is a perfect 3-4 true nose tackle, but scouts worry about his conditioning and stamina. By the way, the Chiefs could REALLY use a nose tackle. However, many wonder is can keep his weight under control enough to really be solid contributor in this league. And if you saw those pictures of him with his shirt off at the combine, you really do wonder is he can keep his weight down. He definitely had bigger breasts than Jenn Sterger in her implant phase. (who is generously pictured in this mock)
37. Philadelphia Thaddeus Gibson OLB Ohio State
This fulfills a need, especially with Will Weatherspoon gone. Gibson is a solid pass rusher. For more Ohio State coverage click here
38. Cleveland Donovan Warren CB Michigan
For an in-depth profile of Warren click here
The secondary is one of many areas where the Browns are desperate for help. Therefore, I don’t think it’s very far-fetched for them to go with a safety in round one, and a corner in round 2. Hopefully for their sake, one of the two pans out. Otherwise their 2010 season will be about as successful as Sarah Palin’s term as Governor of Alaska.
For more on Cleveland’s 2010 NFL draft go here
39. Oakland Cam Thomas, NT North Carolina
Raiders could use a play-maker to sharpen up their run defense. But I’m not sure this pick might end up making a whole lot of sense. Then again how many Raiders picks lately have made any sense? So then this might make perfect sense
40. San Diego Roger Saffold OT Indiana
Going value here, or maybe need as well as Tomlinson’s departure changes the whole scope of the running game. They’ll need to rebuild their ground attack with some fresh blockers too.
They play football at IU? Yes, they do. Not very well, but the Hoosiers have a team. And the program produced an agile, athletic prospect who might be a decent LT some day. He’s an underrated talent, like Amanda Seyfried.
41. Buffalo Dekoda Watson, OLB, Florida State
The 2nd fastest LB at the combine, and he has good size to boot. A project pick at best, a very big stretch at worst. But with the Bills anything is possible on draft day- believe me.
42. Tampa Bay (from Chicago) Patrick Robinson CB Florida St.
This pick makes so much sense on so many levels that I almost don’t think it will happen. You know how NFL GMs get as the NFL Draft draws near. They throw logic out the window.
43. Miami Jared Odrick DT Penn State
I think Miami will go for some badly needed upgrades within the front seven in both rounds and two. Upgrading this area became an even bigger priority after trading away Jason Taylor. Regarding the talents and abilities of Odrick himself, I asked him about the best part of his game, “I hate this question. I let people decide that for me. I just try to be a smart player. If you’re a smart player than you can play faster, more efficient and that’s really what I want to try and do,” Odrick said.
To read the complete profile and exclusive of Odrick click here
44. New England (from Jacksonville) Damian Williams WR USC
This will be Randy Moss’ last season as a Patriot (and quite possibly his last stop in the NFL). After him, the Pats have Julian Edelman, a Wes Welker that will be gone a majority of next season, and….um Tory Holt who’s on his last legs, at WR. Although Holt did haul in over 50 passes and accumulate almost 800 yards receiving last season, so he’s no slouch. Williams was a big loser during combine week, but in this wideout class he’s still a winner, and will become a very rich man in this era of no salary cap.
For a more in-depth look at the Patriots draft options go here
45. Denver Mardy Gilyard WR Cincinnati
Here’s a guy who really has had an up and down 2009-10 in terms of his draft stock. I have no doubts that Josh McDaniels can work him into this rotation though.
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. Unfortunately, he didn’t do himself any favors in combine week. But then again tradition dictates that safeties rarely get picked very high in the first round anyway- so he’s right where you expect him to be.
47. New England (from Tennessee) Jonathan Dwyer RB Georgia Tech
Dwyer got way too much positive press, once again proving the mainstream media’s east coast bias. I guess that will continue as he now goes to one of ESPN’s favorite teams.
It’s been a very bad year to be a New England Patriots running back. The Pats’ “starter” Laurence Maroney (a 2006 1st-rounder out of Minnesota) was benched and presumably sent to Siberia after a critical goal line fumble in midseason. They may really need to find a new man to carry the rock. And adversity is now spilling over to off-the-field, and affecting retired Patriots running backs. For more breaking news on retired Patriots RB Corey Dillon, his DUI and divorce, go here.
For a more in-depth look at the Patriots draft options go here
48. Carolina DeMaryius Thomas WR Georgia Tech
The Panthers desperately need more speed in the corps to complement Steve Smith, and the “Rambling Wreck” may be the exact place to do that.
49. San Francisco Ricky Sapp DE/OLB Clem
Sapp is so versatile, he may not fall this far, but if he does = perfect fit.
50. Kansas City (from Atlanta) Navorro Bowman LB Penn State
Bowman’s stock dropped A LOT at the combine. There were questions about his character heading in, and later a buzz about his lack of speed in the drills. Concerns were strong enough to drop him out of the first round. But remember, in midseason he was rated the #1 OLB. I think he can be a fine player in the right 3-4 system at the next level
For an interview/profile of Bowman, 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 Geno Atkins DT Georgia
Whatever diet Atkins is on, it’s working! Or his conditioning habits are…or both! Geno followed up an excellent Senior Bowl week with a stellar combine, kicking ass and taking names in both the speed and strength drills.
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 even 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. And if you saw how badly they were obliterated by Baltimore on both sides of the line of scrimmage in the playoffs, you’ll agree that they badly need to reconfigure their depth in that area in 2009.
For a more in-depth look at the Patriots draft options go here
54. Cincinnati Nate Allen S USF
Safety is high on the Cincinaughty Bungles wish list, and Allen is one of the best available in this class.
55. Philadelphia Corey Wootton DE Northwestern
The “Coreysaurus” had a pretty disappointing pro day, and his combine was nothing to write home about. I may even be ranking him too high here. 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
Here’s a pretty cool video I shot of Wootton sacking Wisconsin QB Scott Tolzien
56. Green Bay Jon Asamoah OG Illinois
To read an in-depth profile/exclusive of Asamoah click here.
We know GB needs help up front. At both Guard and Tackle, so I like them to address these concerns in both of the first two rounds. 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.) The squandering of talent drove the Illini community to drink heavily.
57. Baltimore Dominique Franks CB Oklahoma
Baltimore’s two biggest needs this offseason: WR and DB, they took care of one with Boldin, here they’ll try and fix two
58. Arizona Daryl Washington LB TCU
Zona’s D hasn’t exactly been the strongest at times this season (especially against the pass, and in between the hashes. Enter Washington, who could fit in well on the inside and be a help in shutting down the short-mid range passing game
59. Dallas Dexter McCluster WR/RB/RS
I think the ‘Boys will like McCluster’s versatility, and we all know they could use some help at wideout
60. Seattle Kareem Jackson CB Alabama
At times in ’09, the Hawks secondary looked worse than those ugly ass, Ecto Cooler meets Digger Phelps’ highlighter covered in booger jerseys they wore versus the Bears early in the season. Wilson has both the measurables and the experience. He led Boise State with five interceptions, 10 pass breakups and 15 passes defended, tied for 18th best in nation. So with upgrades to both positions in the secondary, and the D line- it will be very different in ’10.
61. New York Jets Kameron Chancellor S Virginia Tech
I know the Jets have addressed their secondary concerns this off-season, I’m just not sold on the changes they’ve made. 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.”
62. Minnesota 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.
For more on where I predict each Florida Gator will get drafted go here
63. Indianapolis Brandon Ghee DB Wake Forest
Ghee is a both physical and fast, especially in his backpedal. Indy doesn’t have a huge whole at DB, but trust me corners in this league, they get old and outdated fast-like Teri Hatcher these days.
64. New Orleans Vladimir Ducasse, OT/OG, Massachusetts
The earthquake in Haiti hit this big man hard. He immigrated to the United States ’02 and most of his family still lives there. Hopefully for him, this April will bring some sunshine (and a big paycheck) into his life. Ducasse did not allow a sack last fall, and only allowed 4 during his career.
To read Round One click here
As always, you can check out my College Football and NFL blogs on the Washington Times.com by clicking the hyperlinked text.
For our NBA Mock Draft click here