T-minus two weeks until the mysteries get solved, until the lies are revealed and the picks come off the 2010 NFL draft board. Teams around the league still are putting the finishing touches on their predictions of how things will go in the new three-day format and of where they believe each player belongs.
Despite weeks of discussions with personnel executives, coaches and scouts, the whole truth and nothing but the truth is a rare commodity. NFL reporter Jeff Legwold takes a swing at how the first round will shake out. Get updates to this mock draft at as the first day of the draft on April 22 approaches:
1. St. Louis Rams (1-15)
Needs: QB, WR, DL, T
They need more help than they can get in this draft, but they have a shot at the one thing that helps a franchise turn it around — a quarterback prospect who’s up to the job. So, with an optimistic medical report in hand, expect St. Louis to take Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford.
2. Detroit Lions (2-14)
Needs: RB, DT, T, LB
Coach Jim Schwartz has his hands all over the team’s draft plan and is looking to duplicate the Lions’ success of last April. At the moment they only have five picks so they’ll look hard at a defensive tackle. With a QB he loves and wants to protect, the prudent move would for Schwartz to take Oklahoma State tackle Russell Okung.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-13)
Needs: DL, CB, G
They have four of the first 67 picks and appear to be looking to trade down because they don’t want to pay what it will cost to pick here. If they stay put, they’re looking for an upfield, one-gap defensive tackle such as Oklahoma’s Gerald McCoy.
4. Washington Redskins (4-12)
Needs: T, C, G, CB, DT
It will be a stunner if they do not deal Albert Haynesworth to the Titans before they make this pick. They’ll likely get a third-round selection. They’ll have a significant hole in the defensive line to deal with as well as an offensive line in shambles. They’ve scouted QBs plenty, but really need Oklahoma tackle Trent Williams.
5. Kansas City Chiefs (4-12)
Needs: T, NT, LB, S
They need a tackle, but could get one later if they’re willing to leave Branden Albert on the left side. If things fall this way, they would be remiss if they don’t take the best player on the board at a position of need in Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.
6. Seattle Seahawks (5-11)
Needs: RB, T, DE, S, CB
They have two first-round picks, but far more needs. The trade for Charlie Whitehurst is at least an indication they aren’t all that excited about the quarterback class. Coach Pete Carroll likes running backs who can do a lot of things and that makes the pick Clemson running back C.J. Spiller.
7. Cleveland Browns (5-11)
Needs: QB, CB, LB, WR, RB
They have 10 picks in the last five rounds of the draft and are looking to fill plenty of holes on their roster. They traded for two linebackers and a cornerback — Chris Gocong and Alex Hall to go with corner Sheldon Brown. Browns need a passer, but Florida cornerback Joe Haden is the fit.
8. Oakland Raiders (5-11)
Needs: QB, CB, T, LB
There’s prudent and then there’s the Raiders. They need a quarterback, but there isn’t a big-armed passer like Al Davis covets that’s worth this pick. They could look cornerback here, but Iowa tackle Bryan Bulaga would be the smart play.
9. Buffalo Bills (6-10)
Needs: T, QB, LB, WR
They need a tackle, but one of the closest friends of coach Chan Gailey is Notre Dame defensive coordinator John Tenuta. Gailey knows what he needs to know about Irish quarterback Jimmy Clausen to make the pick.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-9)
Needs: LB, G, C, LB
Their fans want hometown favorite Tim Tebow in the team’s uniform, but they’ll have to move down to do it. That’s a possibility, given the expectation that they’ll try to make many trades during the draft weekend. Could put a crimp in the Broncos’ draft plans and take Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain.
11. Denver Broncos (from Chicago) (8-8)
Needs: LB, C, G, WR, DL
McClain would be the best fit and they need another inside player on defense after releasing Andra Davis. If McClain is not there, they’ll have to take a long look at making an interior lineman a rare first-round pick, trading down to take Florida center Maurkice Pouncey.
12. Miami Dolphins (7-9)
Needs: WR, DL, LB, S
When Bill Parcells has a chance at a pass rushing linebacker, he’ll usually take him. See Ware, DeMarcus and Taylor, Lawrence. But the Dolphins also need some big-guy help. Tennessee defensive tackle Dan Williams would fit nicely into their 3-4.
13. San Francisco 49ers (8-8)
Needs: QB, S, T
This is the first of their two first-round picks. And with the top two quarterbacks likely gone, the best athlete on the board here is Tennessee safety Eric Berry.
14. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver) (5-11)
Needs: RB, T, DE, S, CB
If Brandon Marshall doesn’t end up in Seattle, the Seahawks would have to look receiver here. Texas safety Earl Thomas also is a consideration, but the need is a rusher and the player is Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan.
15. New York Giants (8-8)
Needs: T, LB, CB, DT
They need help at middle linebacker, but this draft board is a light at the position this high. The Giants signed safety Antrel Rolle in free agency and signed Deon Grant as well. The pick here is Rutgers tackle Anthony Davis.
16. Tennessee Titans (8-8)
Needs: LB, DE, S, CB
They have only one pick in the first 76, just two in the first 100. They need help on defense, especially with LB Keith Bulluck still recovering from knee surgery. They like Texas players and will take long look at another one in defensive end/outside linebacker Sergio Kindle.
17. San Francisco 49ers (from Carolina) (8-8)
Needs: QB, S, T
They need a linebacker, and Missouri’s Sean Weatherspoon is a possibility. And they need offensive linemen, but they took a trip to take a look at Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant for themselves this past week.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
Needs: CB, DE, T, RB
They would be elated to look up and find a player like Boise State cornerback Kyle Wilson available.
19. Atlanta Falcons (9-7)
Needs: LB, C, DT, DE
They signed Dunta Robinson and Brian Williams at corner, but they’re still looking for younger players in the defensive front seven. Michigan defensive end Brandon Graham fits their mold.
20. Houston Texans (9-7)
Needs: RB, CB, S, DL
Could take a long look at Fresno State running back Ryan Mathews here, but with Peyton Manning on the docket twice a year and their best corner — Robinson — having left in free agency, they need help in the secondary so Rutgers cornerback Devin McCourty is the pick.
21. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6)
Needs: S, DT, DE, TE
They would certainly take a long look at Texas safety Earl Thomas, but they roll the dice plenty on draft day so they’ll take one of the rawest players on the board if they have the chance in South Florida’s Jason Pierre Paul.
22. New England Patriots (10-6)
Needs: LB, DE, T, TE
They have four picks among the top 53. They’ll open with Penn State defensive end Jared Odrick, who is rising on plenty of teams’ draft boards. He’s a 3-4 end with plenty of potential.
23. Green Bay Packers (11-5)
Needs: CB, S, T, RB
They’ll be looking, as always, to trade out to get more picks. They need some depth at tackle, but have a chance at Texas safety Earl Thomas.
24. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
Needs: G, LB, CB, DE
They have some holes one defense, but really need help in the offensive front. Idaho guard Mike Iupati would fit quite nicely.
25. Baltimore Ravens (9-7)
Needs: DE, CB, S, TE
Much of their free agency action was directed toward receivers: Anquan Boldin, Dontè Stallworth and re-signed Derrick Mason. Their draft attention will be on defense, and Alabama nose tackle Terrence Cody would be a good start.
26. Arizona Cardinals (10-6)
Needs: LB, T, TE, WR
They need to try to replace Karlos Dansby in their defense at some point, but here they could look to top-shelf athleticism with Maryland tackle Bruce Campbell.
27. Dallas Cowboys (11-5)
Needs: T, S, LB
They have only six picks, so they need to hit early and often. It would be a surprise if Jerry Jones can resist USC safety Taylor Mays.
28. San Diego Chargers (13-3)
Needs: RB, T, CB
They have released LaDainian Tomlinson, Darren Sproles is not an every-down player, which is why Fresno State’s Ryan Mathews will look like the right man in the right place right here.
29. New York Jets (9-7)
Needs: LB, T, DE, WR
Head coach Rex Ryan is likely looking defense, especially for a little more pop in the pass rush, but Georgia Tech wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, even rehabbing from a fractured left foot may be too good to pass up in this spot.
30. Minnesota Vikings (12-4)
Needs: CB, RB, LB, DT
They need to start adding some depth on defense and Florida State cornerback Patrick Robinson was one of the players they took a long look at with a pre-draft visit to the team’s complex.
31. Indianapolis Colts (14-2)
Needs: T, CB, DT
They need some depth in the secondary with the pile of injuries they had there last season. But they’re used to picking at the bottom of the first round and making the most of it. This time it’s USC tackle Charles Brown.
32. New Orleans Saints
Needs: RB, LB, S, DE
They have a few more holes than you would expect from a defending Super Bowl champ and they have only six picks in this draft at the moment. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams likes upfield players and UCLA defensive tackle Brian Price fits the mold.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
