NFL News and Notes - April 23, 2010
By admin
The new three-day draft format allows for an instant mock draft scorecard tallying, and in my mock draft, I got 7 of 32 picks exactly right, with the latest picks being Florida center Maurkice Pouncey to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Texas safety Earl Thomas to the Seattle Seahawks.
Of the 32 players chosen last night, I had projected 25 going in round one. Jimmy Clausen (QB, Notre Dame), Everson Griffen (DE, USC), Taylor Mays (S, USC), Sergio Kindle (LB, Texas), Terrance Cody (NT, Alabama), Brian Price (DT, UCLA), and Charles Brown (OT, USC) were the seven players I thought would go on Thursday night, but are still available...Of the five seven players chosen, I had all seven going in the Top 7, and had 5 picks exactly right, with Trent Williams and Russell Okung going to different teams who selected them...I did not have Tim Tebow going in round one, but had him going 43rd to Denver, who traded up to select him at the end of the first round.
With teams having 18 hours to jockey for positioning at the top of round two, I am not expecting my mock draft--or any mock draft--to come anywhere close to accurately projecting rounds 2 through 7. And if one does, well, then that outlet get to charge people for their guesses next year.
Here's your "Draft Day II" spin around the National Football League!
To the surprise of no one, the St. Louis Rams used the first overall pick on Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, who'll become the face of the franchise's rebuilding effort.
Detroit Lions draft choice Ndamukong Suh is living the American dream, writes John Niyo of the Detroit News.
When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers called his name, Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy's thoughts turned to his late mother, reports Rick Stroud of the St. Petersburg Times.
Oklahoma offensive tackle Trent Williams was chosen by the Washington Redskins with the fourth overall pick because head coach Mike Shanahan thinks he'd be a better fit in the team's zone-blocking system, reports Jason Reid of the Washington Post.
Kansas City Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli defied convention by selecting Tennessee safety Eric Berry with the fifth overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft.
With the first of their two first-round picks, the Seattle Seahawks selected Oklahoma State offensive tackle Russell Okung, who'll start at left tackle on "Day One, Hour One", offensive line coach Alex Gibbs said.
Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini called the team's first-round pick, Florida cornerback Joe Haden, "a green-sticker guy", indicating he has the "core characteristics" they look for in a player.
To bolster their run defense, the Oakland Raiders selected Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain with the eighth overall pick in the draft.
The Buffalo Bills injected some speed into their offense by choosing Clemson running back C.J. Spiller in the first round.
In a surprise pick, the Jacksonville Jaguars chose Cal defensive tackle Tyson Alualu with the 10th overall pick after unsuccessfully attempting to trade down.
San Francisco 49ers acting general manager Trent Baalke bolstered the team's offensive line, trading up to select Rutgers offensive tackle Anthony Davis and choosing Idaho guard Mike Iupati six spots later.
San Diego Chargers first-round Ryan Mathews idolized LaDainian Tomlinson growing up.
Eyeing pass-rushing help, Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman and head coach Andy Reid made a bold move traded up to select Michigan defensive end Brandon Graham.
Texas safety Earl Thomas, chosen by the Seahawks with the 14th pick, is expected to start at free safety.
New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese and head coach Tom Coughlin comment on the selection of South Florida defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul with the 16th overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft.
Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan fell to the Tennessee Titans with the 16th pick.
For the first time since World War II, the Pittsburgh Steelers used a first-round pick on a center, choosing Florida center Maurkice Pouncey with the 18th overall pick.
In Missouri linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff says the team "got the guy we were targeting all along", reports D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.\
A successful college career convinced the Houston Texans to select Alabama cornerback Kareem Jackson in round one, reports Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle.
After missing all of last season with a torn ACL, Cincinnati Bengals first-round tight end Jermaine Gresham is 100% and "ready to prove everyone wrong", reports Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Chosen with the 22nd pick overall, Georgia Tech wide receiver Demaryius Thomas gives the Denver Broncos who "gives us the opportunity to have a bigger receiver and makes some match-up problems", Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels said.
Green Bay Packers first-round offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga will begin his career at left tackle, Packers general manager Ted Thompson said.
Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant gives the Dallas Cowboys' offense another big-time weapon, writes Tim Cowlishaw of the Dallas Morning News.
In the draft's biggest surprise, the Broncos traded back into the first round to select Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.
With the 26th pick of the 2010 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals chose Tennessee nose tackle Dan Williams to anchor their defensive line.
After trading down, the New England Patriots selected Rutgers cornerback Devin McCourty with the 27th pick.
Miami Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland wanted to trade down in round one, pick up a second-day pick, and improve the defense, and he went three-for-three.
After using the 29th pick on Boise State cornerback Kyle Wilson, New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum said they've addressed their "most pressing need".
The Lions traded back into the first round to select Cal running back Jahvid Best.
On a team short on needs, selecting pass-rushing defensive end Jerry Hughes out of TCU fills a major want for the Indianapolis Colts, writes Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star.
Choosing Florida State cornerback Patrick Robinson with the 32nd pick may allow the New Orleans Saints to move Malcolm Jenkins to free safety, writes Jeff Duncan of the Times-Picayune.
And those who traded down or were without draft picks last night...
By trading out of the first round, the Baltimore Ravens added picks in the second, third, and fourth rounds, but failed to trade back into the first-round later on.
Upgrading the secondary is the top priority for the Chicago Bears when they finally get a pick tonight.
The Minnesota Vikings traded their first-round pick to the Detroit Lions, passing on a chance to take Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen.
Several quality players fell out of the first-round, deepening the talent pool for the Carolina Panthers, who have the 48th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.
Today's NFL birthdays: Falcons offensive tackle Quinn Ojinnaka (26), Cowboys linebacker Jason Williams (24), Broncos defensive end Ryan McBean (26), Saints offensive tackle Na'Shan Goddard (27), Eagles running back Mike Bell (27) and center Dallas Reynolds (26), Buccaneers linebacker Lee Robinson (23), and former NFL cornerback Sam Madison (36).?

