Thursday, April 28, 2011
Revisiting the 2010 NFL Draft
1. Rams – Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma – Bradford was marvelous in his rookie debut leading one of the best turnarounds in recent memory taking the Rams to 7-9 after going 1-15 in 2009. Bradford won the 2010 Offensive Rookie of the Year by throwing for 3,512 yards and 18 TDs. A+
2. Lions – Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska – Much as I expected the NFL found out how great Suh really is. He won NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors and was named to the Pro Bowl after racking up 66 tackles and 10 sacks during his rookie campaign. Plus, he just became the record holder for Tweetups, whatever the hell those are. A+++
3. Buccaneers – Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma – The former Sooner was injured at times through the season but showed promise with 28 tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles. B-
4. Redskins – Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma – It’s hard for offensive linemen to assert themselves as rookies but Williams seems to be giving the Skins what they want from him and will book a book end on their line for the foreseeable future. B+
5. Chiefs – Eric Berry, S, Tennessee – This talented DB became a force to be reckoned with on a breakout team with 92 tackles, two sacks and four INTs. A+
6. Seahawks – Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State – Injury concerns overshadowed what is still likely to be a great pick. B-
7. Browns – Joe Haden, CB, Florida – Haden came around after learning a lot early in the season but needs more help in that Browns defensive backfield. B+
8. Raiders – Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama – Not every defensive player drafted in the first round ends up starting but McClain was a mainstay of the Raiders linebacker corps. B
9. Bills – C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson – This did not end well. The Bills wasted a Top 10 pick on a third down back who only earned 283 yards (2.8 per carry) on the ground last year. F
10. Jaguars – Tyson Alualu, DT, Cal – Alualu started the whole year for the Jags to quiet many of the critics who called this pick a reach. B-
11. 49ers – Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers – Davis started at RT the whole year with some really good moments and some bad ones as part of a pretty poor offense. C+
12. Chargers – Ryan Matthews, RB, Fresno State – Matthews was injured much of the year and finished with 678 yards and seven TDs on the ground. There’s almost no reason to take a back this high anymore. D+
13. Eagles – Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan – Graham was hurt most of the 2010 season, finishing with 13 tackles and three sacks, but still has a great upside. C-
14. Seahawks – Earl Thomas, S, Texas – His 76 tackles and five interceptions certainly were a factor in the Seahawks reaching the playoffs last season, even if they did have a losing record. A-
15. Giants – Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida – Everyone talked how raw Pierre-Paul was going into the 2010 Draft. Despite not starting he got 4.5 sacks. B-
16. Titans – Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech – Morgan was hurt most of the year but he wasn’t on the field that much even when he was healthy. He finished with five tackles and a sack. D+
17. 49ers – Mike Iupati, G, Idaho – Iupati was a full year starter on the 49ers young offensive line. That’s got to count for something. B-
18. Steelers – Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida – He made the Pro Bowl in his first season and made the Center/QB exchange perfectly with three different passers. A+
19. Falcons – Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri – Weatherspoon didn’t have much of an impact (42 tackles, one sack) after being said to be NFL ready. D-
20. Texans – Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama – He was part of the worst pass defense in the NFL last season so it couldn’t have been that great but he is the best DB the Texans have and finished with 65 tackles and two INTs. C-
21. Bengals – Jermain Gresham, TE, Oklahoma – He was the lone bright spot on an offense that fell apart last season, leading all rookie tight ends with 52 catches, 471 yards and four touchdowns. A-
22. Broncos – Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech – Thomas became a starter at wideout by the end of the season but the jury is still out on the receiver who only grabbed 22 balls for 283 yards. C-
23. Packers – Bryan Baluga, OT, Iowa – He was a starter on a Super Bowl team and part of an offensive line that protected one of the league’s top passers and opened holes that made undrafted rookie James Starks look pretty damn good. A-
24. Cowboys – Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State – Dez can’t be punished for quarterback injuries/issues and showed flashes of brilliance last season (45 catches, 561 yards, 6 TDs) but behavior issues and occasionally disappearing in the offense hold him back. C+
25. Broncos – Tim Tebow, QB, Florida – He didn’t get his shot until late in the year but he was his typical impressive self with 654 yards and five touchdowns passing and 227 yards and six touchdowns passing. Now we’ll see if the new coaching staff gives him a shot. B-
26. Cardinals – Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee – Williams became a starter on the Cardinals DL fairly quickly but failed to make a huge impact with 35 tackles. C-
27. Patriots – Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers – McCourty was a surprising Pro Bowl selection as a rookie as he racked up 82 tackles, seven interceptions and two forced fumbles. A+
28. Dolphins – Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State – In the great line of Penn State defensive linemen before him he showed nothing his rookie season before getting injured. F+
29. Jets – Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State – Had no impact as a rookie but in his defense, he was given almost no chance to play. Incomplete
30. Lions – Jahvid Best, RB, Cal – Best played hurt behind a slowly developing line and could end up being one of the better dual threat running backs in the league after gaining 555 yards and four touchdowns rushing and 487 yards and two touchdowns receiving last season. B+
31. Colts – Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU – Hughes had absolutely no impact as a rookie and seems to be another great college player who can’t transition to the NFL game. F-
32. Saints – Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State – Robinson didn’t get much playing time last season but is sure to get more next year. C-
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