Version 1.0 - 2/8/10.
Version 3.0 - 4/20/10.
65. St. Louis Rams – Rob Gronkowski,
TE, Arizona
Injury-prone star is the total package if he can stay healthy. Health
concerns, particularly his back, drop him here, where he provides
a nice security blanket for their new franchise QB.
66. Detroit Lions – Chris Cook, CB,
Virginia
After an impressive Senior Bowl, he blew teams away at the Combine
with his size, speed and athleticism. Could go earlier, but still
raw, he missed a lot of time in college due to injuries and an academic
suspension for 2008 season, so he has a couple red flags. Safety
might end up the best place to play him.
67. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – John Jerry,
OG, Mississippi
Brother Perry was a first-round pick for the Falcons last year,
but John wasn’t viewed as nearly as much of an NFL prospect
until the evaluation season. He impressed at the Senior Bowl and
showed some surprising athleticism at the Combine for a mountain
of a man – enough that he could be considered as a potential
tackle as well as a guard.
68. Washington Redskins – NO PICK
This pick was used in the 2009 supplemental draft to select DE Jeremy
Jarmon.
69. Kansas City Chiefs – Koa Misi,
OLB, Utah
He has played pretty much every position in the front seven during
his career on the Utes, before settling in a DE. The Chiefs will
appreciate the versatility and look at him primarily at an OLB in
their 3-4, where he offers good pass rush potential but is a weakness
in coverage.
Bigger McCoy Nightmare - Falling into Round
Three or being drafted by the Raiders?
70. Oakland Raiders – Colt McCoy, QB,
Texas
Al Davis ends McCoy’s nightmare free fall. I admit this scenario
is unlikely, but I think it is not only completely plausible, but
hardly his floor. There is a world of difference between being talented
enough to be a great college QB and just a starting NFL QB. Short
and lacking arm strength, I won’t be surprised to see McCoy
fall further.
71. Philadelphia Eagles (from Seattle Seahawks)
– Vladimir Ducasse, OG, Massachusetts
A project from the Football Championship Subdivision (aka FCS, aka
Division I-AA) who has the size and physical attributes, but needs
to develop. He was getting a lot of hype until the Combine, where
he has a solid performance, but showed he is probably limited to
guard at the next level. A raw product with athleticism and promising
upside, he is exactly the type of player HC Andy Reid likes to identify
in the mid-rounds. The release of Shawn Andrews makes it certain
Reid will hit the offensive line at least once in this draft.
72. Cleveland Browns – Alex Carrington,
DE, Arkansas State
Massive small school project who stood out at Senior Bowl and had
a solid Combine. He is the perfect fit for end in a 3-4.
73. Buffalo Bills – Dan LeFevour, QB,
Central Michigan
They opt for the development prospect this year instead of chasing
one of the top guns. HC Chan Gailey has a good history with mobile
quarterbacks.
74. Miami Dolphins – Brandon LaFell,
WR, Louisiana State
The top senior WR prospect in the draft was bypassed by a caravan
of underclassmen and didn’t help himself at the Combine, but
is a great fit and value for Miami here. He doesn’t have elite
speed, but is the big target QB Chad Henne needs.
75. Jacksonville Jaguars – Sean Lee,
LB, Penn State
Considered a first-round talent after a great junior season in 2007,
Lee tore his right ACL in the spring of 2008 and missed the season.
After returning in 2009, he sprained the ACL in his left knee in
September. He missed three games and never returned to top form
with lingering issues in both knees. He was solid, but unspectacular
at the Combine, with an impressive 24 reps despite not really jumping
out at you in the eyeball test. However, he is a football player.
If he adds a solid 5-10 pounds, MLB is probably his best position
for the next level. He could be a three-down player in the middle,
with a great feel for dropping back in to coverage.
76. Chicago Bears – Carlton Mitchell,
WR, South Florida
Offers the size they need to upgrade with at the position with excellent
speed, but a very unfinished product. OC Mike Martz would prefer
a more polished route runner, but with no pick until the third round,
a developmental prospect with his tools is the better value at wide
receiver here. They really don’t need another small receiver
like Mardy Gilyard or Andre Roberts here. However, Blair White or
Taylor Price could be alternatives if they go receiver. Another
pick I could see here is DII hidden gem DB Akwasi Owusu-Ansah. A
speed/size DB with return skills from a small school who can play
anywhere in the secondary is a text book pick for GM Jerry Angelo.
77. New York Giants – Ben Tate, RB,
Auburn
Lots of inconsistency at running back for the Giants last year.
They’d probably prefer an option who is a better receiver
and more elusive with this pick, but Tate brings some speed they
are lacking and has feature back potential.
78. Tennessee Titans – Amari Spievey,
CB, Iowa
Lacks elite speed, but one of the most physical corners in the country
is an extremely overlooked prospect who is HC Jeff Fisher’s
type of player.
79. Carolina Panthers – Greg Hardy,
DE, Mississippi
For some time, the Panthers have tried via the draft and free agency
to find a compliment and, now, the successor to DE Julius Peppers
with little success. After the departure of Peppers, they have just
three ends on their roster. While Charles Johnson has gotten more
of an opportunity than Everette Brown, but neither appears to be
a certain solution. Tweener Hilee Taylor is just a situational player.
After the departure of Peppers, those are the only three ends on
their roster, so they have to look at further addressing the position
at some point in the offseason. Hardy was looking like a surefire
first-round pick until injury problems started becoming a bigger
issue in 2008. He has had a couple of surgeries on his right foot
for stress fractures and aggravated the problem prior to camp last
year. Then he broke his wrist in mid-season and struggled through
the rest of the year, while questions about his dedication and work
ethic began to arise. He showed flashes of his potential in the
Shrine Game, but was typically inconsistent. The Combine was a disappointment,
with poor performances in most of the work outs. However, when healthy,
he can be a force with great pass rush skills and at a legitimate
6’4” and 280 lbs., he has the ideal size to be a two-way
end in a 4-3. Tremendous upside, but horrible durability. He’s
likely too big a risk for the Panthers here, but he is the last
remaining prospect in this draft who could be a dominant 4-3 end.
Selecting a quarterback here would be a logical move too.
80. San Francisco 49ers – Mardy Gilyard,
WR, Cincinnati
The 49ers have expressed their desire to improve their return game
in this draft. This undersized multi-talented playmaker is the perfect
fit as a slot receiver and excellent returner with this pick. Confident
effort guy who HC Mike Singletary will love.
81. Denver Broncos – J.D. Walton, C,
Baylor
After cutting Casey Wiegmann, nice fit for the team’s need
at center.
82. Houston Texans – Akwasi Owusu-Ansah,
CB, Indiana (PA)
40 at the Combine, but he ran again at Ohio State’s Pro Day
and despite the pain of torn labrum, showed much better speed on
a fast track. Size/speed guy with return skills who can play anywhere
in the secondary. Sorting out where to put him and where to put
Earl Thomas is a problem the Texans will be glad to have in their
secondary.
83. Pittsburgh Steelers – Joe McKnight,
RB, Southern California
With Willie Parker on his way out, a new speedy compliment to the
pounding Rashard Mendenhall.
84. Atlanta Falcons – Jimmy Graham,
TE, Miami
Converted hooper could become next Antonio Gates under HC Mike Smith.
Grabbed attention at Senior Bowl for his great hands and runs. Raw,
but has time to develop behind Tony Gonzalez for another year or
two.
85. Cincinnati Bengals – Morgan Burnett,
S, Georgia Tech
Age and inconsistency are problems in at safety in Cinci. Burnett
slipped briefly after sitting out the Combine with a hamstring,
but blew scouts away at Georgia Tech’s Pro Day. He was named
to several All-American teams after an outstanding sophomore campaign
in 2008. His numbers were down a bit in 2009, but he still flashed
his playmaking skills with four picks, a forced fumble and a blocked
kick. He’s climbing back up draft boards, so probably doesn’t
fall this far, but DC Mike Zimmer would love to get his hands on
Burnett here.
86. Cleveland Browns (from Oakland via New
England) – Thaddeus Gibson, OLB, Ohio State
The Browns use the pick they acquired for Kamerion Wimbley to draft
his potential replacement. Workout warrior who is too small to remain
a DE at the next level has impressed in conversion to OLB so far.
87. Green Bay Packers – Jared Veldheer,
OT, Hillsdale
The 6’8” DII prospect is a fast riser after a tremendous
Combine. He is raw, but with Clifton and Tauscher resigned to be
their bookends for this year, the Packers can afford to develop
his appealing potential.
88. Philadelphia Eagles – Dexter McCluster,
WR, Mississippi
Despite adding free agent RB Mike Bell, more depth is needed at
running back after parting ways with Brian Westbrook. A multi-talented
utility back, McCluster was one of the stars of Senior Bowl. HC
Andy Reid will find a way to utilize his skills.
89. Arizona Cardinals (from Baltimore Ravens)
– Jamar Chaney, ILB, Mississippi State
Great size and athleticism, but it didn’t always translate
on the field.
90. Arizona Cardinals – Selvish Capers,
OT, West Virginia
Promising athlete with good athleticism, but needs to hit the weight
room and learn. Not ready for prime time, but more upside than other
prospects who could be plugged in faster.
91. Dallas Cowboys – Jacoby Ford, WR,
Clemson
Significantly upgrades return game and offers big play potential
as a slot receiver.
92. San Diego Chargers – Perrish Cox,
CB, Oklahoma State
After being suspended from the Cotton Bowl for missing curfew, twice,
and turning in a disappointing Combine performance, Cox has seen
his stock plummet. He wasn’t allowed to participate in Oklahoma
State’s Pro Day and will have a private workout on March 30th.
A physical corner who was considered a potential first-round pick,
Cox has plenty of upside and adds value as a kick returner.
93. Cleveland Browns (from New York Jets)
– Major Wright, S, Florida
Solid football player and physical tackler who can play either safety
position, he answered questions about whether or not he had the
athleticism for the next level at the Combine.
94. Minnesota Vikings – James Starks,
RB, Buffalo
A torn labrum kept him out all of the 2009 season, otherwise he’d
be discussed earlier than this. Starks is a versatile player who
started as a quarterback before switching to cornerback and finally
settling in to become the University of Buffalo’s all-time
leading rusher. He put on a show at the Combine and his stock is
rising. The Vikings have yet to address the gap in their backfield
left by Chester Taylor’s departure, so they will likely draft
a RB at some point. New England is also reported to be very interested
in Starks.
95. Indianapolis Colts – Dekoda Watson,
LB, Florida State
Watson pleasantly surprised with his size, coming in over 6’1”
and a chiseled 240 pounds at the Senior Bowl and Combine. He was
expected to be a bit smaller and possibly need to convert to safety,
but that is decent size for WLB in their Tampa Cover 2. Injury and
academic problems have been a problem, but he played every game
last year and put up great numbers. He has kept the momentum going
through the evaluation process and could squeeze in to the third
round. Safety will be a strong
96. New Orleans Saints – Dennis Pitta,
TE, Brigham Young
Consensus All-American demonstrated more speed and athleticism than
expected at Combine and Pro Day. The Saints carry a lot of risk
at the position with Jeremy Shockey as their primary TE.
Round One  |
