Round 1 Draft Impressions

GENERAL COMMENT
Mock Drafts are definitely only a mock- I am just happy I got the first five right.

PACKERS
On the surface, Packers fans have to be elated that one of the consensus top 4 OT's fell to them at #23, although you could tell Bulaga was losing some draft stock as draft day drew closer. Solid pick. Kind-of Unsexy. Likely was the top-rated player on Ted's board. I am not a GM. Ted is building a team for more than 2011. Here is my beef - Yes, Al Harris is coming back, but an older player coming back from injury is no gimme - but essentially the Packers are fielding the same defense that couldn't stop Arizona at all in the playoffs (And Minnesota and Pittsburgh in the regular season). Ted does nothing in free agency to help this. The Packers have a Super Bowl capable offense. They do not have a Super Bowl capable defense for two reasons - they still don't get enough pressure and they lack quality depth in the secondary (and are aging in the secondary). I know Bulaga was highly rated and fills a perceived need. But before this draft it was well-known that it was deeper at OL and CB than quality pass-rushers. Jerry Hughes and Sergio Kindle could have fit this bill to play opposite Clay Matthews. I would have loved Kyle Wilson too. Rodger Saffold, Charles Brown and Bruce Campbell are all still available in the second round and I know there is no guarantee one would still be available at #56, but I might have taken that gamble.

OTHER RANDOM THOUGHTS

• The Raiders are catching a little flack this year that is a bit undeserved. McClain was projected by most to go #11, so they didn't reach. It might not have been a top perceived need, but it isn't as bad as some were making it out to be.
• Jacksonville made the reach of the first round - did they contact Philadelphia, San Diego or San Francisco about moving back?
• Dez Bryant will be the steal of this draft and might have a Super Bowl ring by this time next year. He is the type of playmaker (all Michael Irvin references aside) that can vault a team to that level.
• That said, and it is not hard with 2 top 14 picks, but Seattle had the best First Round. Getting Okung to fall to you and then Earl Thomas too. Very nice.
• San Diego is another case of a team that knows what it is doing. They needed a RB. They did what they needed to get one. And I believe Matthews is the real deal.
• Here is what the teams slated to pick in the last ten picks before the night ended up with -

Green Bay - Bulaga - some projected as a top 10 pick

Philadelphia - Brandon Graham

Baltimore - A veritable boatload of draft picks from Denver to reach for Tim Tebow

Arizona - Dan Williams - some projected as a top 10 pick

Dallas - Bryant - see above

San Diego - Matthews - see above

NY Jets - Kyle Wilson - again, some projected as top 10 pick and best cover corner in draft - may be covering Dez Bryant in the Super Bowl next season

Minnesota - Will still get the player they want plus took a pick from a divisional rival

Indianapolis - Got my man Jerry Hughes who fits them perfectly

New Orleans - Patrick Robinson - maybe not as good as those above

Bottom Line - those were the 10 best teams last year - by my count 7 got Top 15 talents and one got highly compensated for the 25th pick.

Now let's get this thing finished tonight and tomorrow.

FINAL MOCK DRAFT

New after lunch update adding a few trades that make sense.

Here is my final Mock Draft based on what I heard and read the last couple days. I still have Kindle to the Packers, although I would prefer Hughes. Of course, Ted will likely trade out of the first round.

1. St. Louis Rams select Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma Sooners
2. Detroit Lions select Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska Cornhuskers
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma Sooners
4. Washington Redskins select Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma Sooners
5. Kansas City Chiefs select Eric Berry, S, Tennessee Volunteers
6. Seattle Seahawks select C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson Tigers
7. Cleveland Browns select Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
8. Oakland Raiders select Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State Cowboys
9. Buffalo Bills select Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee Volunteers
10. Jacksonville Jaguars select Earl Thomas, S, Texas Longhorns
11. NY Giants (from Denver Broncos) select Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama Crimson Tide
12. Philadelphia Eagles (from Miami Dolphins) select Jason Pierre Paul, DE, South Florida Bulldogs
13. San Francisco 49ers select Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa Hawkeyes
14. Seattle Seahawks select Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers Scarlett Knights
15. Denver Broncos (from New York Giants) select Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida Gators
16. Tennessee Titans select Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan Wolverines
17. San Francisco 49ers select Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State Broncos
18. Pittsburgh Steelers select Joe Haden, CB, Florida Gators
19. Atlanta Falcons select Mike Iupati, G, Idaho Vandals
20. Houston Texans select Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State Bulldogs
21. Cincinnati Bengals select Jermain Gresham, TE, Oklahoma Sooners
22. New England Patriots select Jerry Hughes, DE TCU Horned Frogs
23. Green Bay Packers select Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas Longhorns
24. Miami Dolphins (from Philadelphia Eagles) select Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama Crimson Tide
25. Baltimore Ravens select Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State Cowboys
26. Arizona Cardinals select Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri Tigers
27. Dallas Cowboys select Charles Brown, OT, USC Trojans
28. San Diego Chargers select Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State Nittany Lions
29. New York Jets select Taylor Mays, S, USC Trojans
30. Minnesota Vikings select Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
31. Indianapolis Colts select Rodger Saffold, OT, Indiana Hoosiers
32. Buffalo Bills (from New Orleans Saints) select Tim Tebow, QB, Florida Gators

NFL Mock Draft (alternate version)

All it takes is one pick or one trade to throw the draft in a slightly different direction. Here is an alternative to my main mock draft posted first yesterday.

1. St. Louis - Sam Bradford - it just seems like too much for Washington or Cleveland to trade-up to get here.

2. Detroit - Ndamokung Suh - other possibilities are McCoy and Trent Williams.

3. Tampa Bay - Gerald McCoy

4. Washington - Russell Okung - rumors they might take Clausen - just doesn't make sense unless they only view McNabb as a 1 year solution

5. Kansas City - Eric Berry - I think Berry is the better pick if Pioli can get over the "you don't take a safety this high" rule

6. Seattle - C.J. Spiller - he will be gone before 14, so why not take him here and see what OT might fall to them later

7. Cleveland - Dan Williams - another potential Clausen spot, but Holmgren seems a little leery on him

8. Oakland - Trent Williams - they could take anybody - Al Davis loves speed, so even Jason Pierre Paul is in play here

9. Buffal0 - Jimmy Clausen - the Bills decide a potential franchise QB is too hard to pass up here

10. Jacksonville - Derrick Morgan - top 10 talent too hard to pass up even though they signed Kampman

11. New York Giants from Denver - Rolando McClain - the Giants covet McClain and the Broncos pick up another pick or two

12. Philadelphia from Miami - Earl Thomas- the Dolphins seem like a team that would love to move down, although 24 is pretty low - but the Eagles have a ton of picks to throw at them if they covet Thomas or Haden here

13. San Francisco - Bryan Bulaga

14. Seattle - Jason Pierre Paul - OL is deeper than pass rushers, so Seattle goes for the one-trick pony

15. Denver from NY Giants - Dez Bryant - it makes so much sense that no one thinks they will pick Bryant now - but if they can trade down and do it, maybe they will

16. Tennessee - Brandon Graham

17. San Francisco - Joe Haden - in every scenario, San Fran is going to end up with two players who can help

18. Pittsburgh - Maurkice Pouncey - I don't know why this seems to be the lock of the middle of the draft

19. Atlanta - Demaryius Thomas

20. Houston - Ryan Mathews - can't rule this one out, even though losing Dunta Robinson appears to leave a huge hole - but maybe they like a Mathews/Patrick Robinson combo better than a Kyle Wilson/Toby Gerhart combo

21. Miami from Cincinnati - Jerry Hughes - New England and Green Bay would both be looking at Hughes

22. New England - Sergio Kindle

23. Green Bay - Kyle Wilson - Anthony Davis would be attractive here, but I think the Packers will gamble that Saffold, Charles Brown or the small college guy will be there in Round 2

24. Cincinnati from Miami via Philadelphia - Jermaine Gresham

25. Baltimore - Mike Iupati

26. Arizona - Tim Tebow - are they really that sold on Matt Leinart?

27. Dallas - Anthony Davis

28. San Diego - Terrence Cody - the next Gilbert Brown

29. New York Jets - Taylor Mays

30. Minnesota - Kareem Jackson

31. Indianapolis - Jared Odrick

32. Cleveland from New Orleans - Colt McCoy - why not 4 QB's in the first round when most think 2

Mock Draft (trade version)

1. St. Louis Rams select Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma Sooners

2. Detroit Lions select Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska Cornhuskers

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma Sooners

4. Washington Redskins select Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State Cowboys

5. Kansas City Chiefs select Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa Hawkeyes

6. Seattle Seahawks select Eric Berry, S, Tennessee Volunteers

7. Denver Broncos (from Cleveland Browns) select Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama Crimson Tide

8. Oakland Raiders select Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma Sooners

9. Buffalo Bills select Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee Volunteers

10. Jacksonville Jaguars select C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson Tigers

11. Cleveland Browns (from Denver Broncos) select Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

12. Philadelphia Eagles (from Miami Dolphins) select Earl Thomas, S, Texas Longhorns

13. San Francisco 49ers select Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers Scarlett Knights

14. Seattle Seahawks select Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

15. Houston Texans (from New York Giants) select Joe Haden, CB, Florida Gators

16. Atlanta Falcons (from Tennessee Titans) select Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan Wolverines

17. San Francisco 49ers select Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State Broncos

18. Pittsburgh Steelers select Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida Gators

19. Tennessee Titans (from Atlanta Falcons) select Jason Pierre Paul, DE, South Florida Bulldogs

20. New York Giants (from Houston Texans) select Mike Iupati, G/T, Idaho Vandals

21. Cincinnati Bengals select Jermain Gresham, TE, Oklahoma Sooners

22. New England Patriots select Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State Cowboys

23. Green Bay Packers select Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas Longhorns

24. Miami Dolphins (from Philadelphia Eagles) select Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU Horned Frogs

25. Baltimore Ravens select Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

26. Arizona Cardinals select Everson Griffen, DE, USC Trojans

27. Dallas Cowboys select Rodger Saffold, OT, Indiana Hoosiers

28. San Diego Chargers select Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State Bulldogs

29. New York Jets select Taylor Mays, S, USC Trojans

30. Minnesota Vikings select Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama Crimson Tide

31. Indianapolis Colts select Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida Gators

32. New Orleans Saints select Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri Tigers

NFL Mock Draft

Here is my 2010 NFL Mock Draft for the First Round Thursday. One trade or reach pick will throw the draft into a whole new direction, but I thought why not take a shot at it. Time permitting, I might add a mock with a few mock trades to see how it could shake out differently. Cleveland, Buffalo and Jacksonville are the picks that give me the most trouble, as well as the Bulaga-Berry pick by Kansas City.

1. St. Louis Rams select Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma Sooners

2. Detroit Lions select Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska Cornhuskers

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma Sooners

4. Washington Redskins select Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State Cowboys

5. Kansas City Chiefs select Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa Hawkeyes
(could very well be Eric Berry, which would move Trent Williams to Seattle and Bulaga to Oakland)
6. Seattle Seahawks select Eric Berry, S, Tennessee Volunteers

7. Cleveland Browns select Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee Volunteers

8. Oakland Raiders select Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma Sooners

9. Buffalo Bills select Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers Scarlett Knights
(A lot of people think Clausen here, but Buffalo has many needs)
10. Jacksonville Jaguars select C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson Tigers
(Taking a chance here based on rumors, McClain or Thomas would seem to fit better)
11. Denver Broncos select Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama Crimson Tide

12. Miami Dolphins select Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU Horned Frogs
(Hughes is a fast riser, but the Dolphins should be able to trade down and get him or Kindle)
13. San Francisco 49ers select Earl Thomas, S, Texas Longhorns
(May flip-flop with Spiller going to SF and Thomas to Jacksonville)
14. Seattle Seahawks select Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

15. New York Giants select Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida Bulls
(They covet McClain, but I don't see them trading up, so they will re-tool the pass rush)
16. Tennessee Titans select Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan Wolverines

17. San Francisco 49ers select Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
(If not here, where?)
18. Pittsburgh Steelers select Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida Gators

19. Atlanta Falcons select Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
(With the pass rushers they want gone, why not add a weapon alongside Roddy)
20. Houston Texans select Joe Haden, CB, Florida Gators
(The Texans are beaming with the choice between Haden, Kyle Wilson, and Ryan Mathews)
21. Cincinnati Bengals select Jermain Gresham, TE, Oklahoma Sooners

22. New England Patriots select Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State Cowboys
(With Welker out and Moss in his final year, the Patriots start to refine the WR corps)
23. Green Bay Packers select Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas Longhorns
(Everyone thinks OT, but Capers D needs to put more pressure on the QB)
24. Philadelphia Eagles select Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State Broncos
(The Eagles want to trade-up, but this would not be a bad Plan B)
25. Baltimore Ravens select Mike Iupati, G/T, Idaho Vandals
(BAP pick - Best Available Player)
26. Arizona Cardinals select Everson Griffen, DE, USC Trojans

27. Dallas Cowboys select Rodger Saffold, OT, Indiana Hoosiers
(Saffold has been rising, Brown from USC also a possibility)
28. San Diego Chargers select Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State Bulldogs
(The Chargers gladly thank the rest of the teams for their next franchise back)
29. New York Jets select Taylor Mays, S, USC Trojans

30. Minnesota Vikings select Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama Crimson Tide
(Choice between Jackson and McCourty)
31. Indianapolis Colts select Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida Gators
(Freeney and Mathis need to be spelled)
32. New Orleans Saints select Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri Tigers

Coming Attractions

What is even harder than bracketology? Predicting the NFL draft - but I will provide a mock 1st round by tomorrow.

Also coming - a recap of the UW Spring Game and continuation of the All-30-Year teams in College Basketball.

2010 Major League Baseball

The 2010 Major League Baseball season is upon us. Hope springs eternal in 30 cities (o.k., maybe 25). All of my fantasy teams are drafted, Opening Day went off in grand style and it is now time for my 2010 Major League Baseball predictions.

AL EAST
1. New York Yankees 2. Boston Red Sox 3. Tampa Bay Rays 4. Baltimore Orioles 5. Toronto Blue Jays

I wanted to pick this differently, but I could not justify it. The Rays fooled us two years ago, but otherwise this top 2 has been set in stone. The Rays have the ability to make this a three-team race and a key injury could derail New York or Boston. Baltimore should be much improved, but that doesn't get you much in this division.

AL CENTRAL
1. Chicago White Sox 2. Minnesota Twins 3. Detroit Tigers 4. Kansas City Royals 5. Cleveland Indians

Chicago looks to be the pick based on pitching depth, as long as the back-end of the bullpen can do its job. Minnesota has good balance, professional players and always seems to play its best down the stretch. Detroit seems to lack a little in the hitting department to compete with the top 2.

AL WEST
1. Anaheim Angels 2. Texas Rangers 3. Seattle Mariners 4. Oakland Athletics

Seattle is the sexy pick, but they added Milton Bradley which is worth 10 losses in itself. They have rotation questions beyond #1 and #2, and that is if Cliff Lee can get healthy, and line-up questions beyond spots #1 and #2. Anaheim lost a few parts, but with the best manager in baseball and solid hitting and pitching, I see them as the class of this division once again. Texas could surprise and Oakland, well, have you seen the line-up they are trotting out?

NL EAST
1. Philadelphia Phillies 2. Atlanta Braves 3. Florida Marlins 4. New York Mets 5. Washington Nationals

Nothing earth-shattering here either. The Phillies line-up is too good and adding Halladay makes them even better. Atlanta has a great rotation and could be the real sleeper if they score some runs. I would like the Mets better if they were ever healthy. And Washington will not be the worst team this year.

NL CENTRAL
1. St. Louis Cardinals 2. Milwaukee Brewers 3. Chicago Cubs 4. Cincinnati Reds 5. Pittsburgh Pirates 6. Houston Astros

I was going to pick the Brewers last, since my NCAA predictions were so spot-on. But if you can win 80 games with that pitching last year, you can win 85-90 with better pitching. Not enough to overtake the Cardinals, and just enough to beat out the Cubs and Reds in a dogfight for 2nd. The improved Pirates will be better than the re-building Astros.

NL WEST
1. Colorado Rockies 2. San Francisco Giants 3. Los Angeles Dodgers 4. Arizona Diamondbacks 5. San Diego Padres

Everything came together for the Rockies last year after they fired their manager and they look to be just as good this year. The Giants have superior pitching and will contend if they can score. There is too much turmoil in Dodger nation this year, while the Diamondbacks will be improved in 2010.

AL PLAYOFFS
New York Yankees over Anaheim Angels
Boston Red Sox over Chicago White Sox
New York Yankees over Boston Red Sox

NL PLAYOFFS
St. Louis Cardinals over Atlanta Braves
Philadelphia Phillies over Colorado Rockies
Philadelphia Phillies over St. Louis Cardinals

WORLD SERIES
Philadelphia Phillies over New York Yankees

MVP
AL - Alex Rodriguez
NL - Albert Pujols

CY YOUNG
AL - Felix Hernandez
NL - Tim Lincecum

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
AL - Austin Jackson
NL - Jason Heyward