2010 NFL Draft: Pick-by-pick analysis
| Meet the draft experts | |||
![]() | JOHN CZARNECKI FOX NFL Sunday Czar will analyze each team's draft night war room, the reasoning behind every first-round pick and why teams did or didn't cut a deal. | ![]() | PETER SCHRAGER FOXSports.com Live from New York's Radio City Music Hall, Schrager provides an insider's glimpse of the draft-night doings. |
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SCHRAGER ON THE SCENE: And we’re officially on. The Rams take Bradford, though there have apparently been no talks of a contract with uber-agent Tom Condon, no clarity on the franchise’s ownership situation, no veteran quarterback on the roster to learn from, and no offensive playmakers outside of Steven Jackson. And no defense! But hey, good luck with that, kid. As for Radio City, well the crowd’s ALIVE. I must say—I kicked and screamed about the draft being moved to primetime, but now that I’m here--it’s pretty damn cool. There was a red carpet (something I scoffed at but obviously ended up enjoying), Alyssa Milano just walked by me (I’ll never scoff at Sam Micelli), and there’s an incredible intensity in the building right now. It’s like we’re at the Oscars. Only, if the Oscars also happened to feature 350-pound Raiders fans in spiked headdresses and khaki shorts shouting swear words at comparably sized Jets fans. Ah, the draft. There’s nothing like it. Detroit’s on the clock!
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SCHRAGER ON THE SCENE: Mr. Suh! The Radio City crowd reacts with a “Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh”. I like that. Sounds kinda like “booooo”, though, which I assume at some point in his career in Detroit--the ‘Huskers superstar will hear. Jim Schwartz gets the top overall player on everyone’s board and a cornerstone to build his defense around. Meanwhile, somewhere in Texas, Matt Stafford quietly wonders whether he’ll ever get a left tackle to keep him on his feet. Through the “Suuuuuuuuuuuuuh” chants, I hear a Jets fan behind me scream, “Sanchez to Tomlinson, Touchdown!” He made the same “joke” after the first pick. No one laughed or acknowledged it then. There’s 30 picks left. It could be a long night. Suh walks by Marvez and me. He's not small.
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SCHRAGER ON THE SCENE: The Bucs go with Gerald McCoy and the crowd reacts with mild applause. Somewhere, a kid who did a mock draft just pumped his fist. 3 for 3! No surprises yet. The Jets fan changed his joke up a tad. He substituted Tomlinson’s name with Santonio Holmes. Jason Taylor’s name is next. There are some amazing Tampa creamsicle jerseys in this crowd. Warren Sapp, hello! Errict Rhett, hello! Trent Dilfer, hello! We’re seated right below the NFL Network studio. If you’re wondering at home, the NFL Network set is on one side of the building; ESPN’s on the other. There’s no interaction between the two. Sharks and Jets. Bloods and Crips. Mayocks and Kipers. Fox? We’re Switzerland. | |
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SCHRAGER ON THE SCENE: After weeks of crazy rumors, chatter about Eric Berry on all the blogs today, and just one pick in the first three rounds—the Redskins go with the guy everyone has pegged to them since January. I love when that happens. I’m a big Trent Williams fan. He can play right or left tackle. But can he play both at once? That’s what the ‘Skins new quarterback really needs. As for Donovan McNabb--I saw the most bootleg attempt at a customized NFL jersey in my life walking in…a HEATH SHULER Redskins jersey with scotch tape over the name Shuler and McNabb written over it in marker. The problem? It was spelled “McCnabb.” You can’t make this stuff up. Jets guy stayed quiet this pick, by the way. He’s checking his Blackberry and mumbling about David Wright’s inability to hit with runners in scoring position.
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SCHRAGER ON THE SCENE: Mr. Rocky Top, himself, Eric Berry. Berry’s been compared by draftniks to every great safety from Ronnie Lott to Troy Polamalu to Ed Reed. Apparently, he’s a cocktail of all three. Not bad. The Chiefs were the one team in the league no one had heard ANYTHING from all week. It was like Scott Pioli put the entire organization in a room, threatened to take away their keys to the complex if they spoke to anyone, then called Belichick to gossip about “American Idol.” (Pioli: "How about that Bowersox?" Belichick: “She’s all heart and hustle. Would love to have her on our squad.”) The Kansas City fan contingent at Radio City is all over the board. I saw one gentleman in a candy striped shirt and a Chiefs tie. He was shaking hands, kissing babies, and talking about Tyson Jackson in a 3-4. Classy. I then saw a grown man in fuzzy Chiefs pajamas. Matching top and bottom. It’s 8:11 PM in the evening. Can't be doing that. What happens when you walk in the door to your family later on having worn pajamas in public for an entire night? Do you just cry yourself to sleep?
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SCHRAGER ON THE SCENE: Pete Carroll and Jon Schneider’s first pick is a pragmatic one. After draft day rumors linking Seattle to everyone from Jimmy Clausen to Dez Bryant, the ‘Hawks pick Walter Jones’s successor in Okung. On cue, the house deejay plays Nirvana’s "Smells Like Teen Spirit." One of these days, Temple of the Dog’s "Hunger Strike" is going to supplant that tune for Seattle on Draft Day. Better song. (Yeah, I said it.) New Buccaneer Gerald McCoy is introduced to the Radio City crowd and house emcee Alan Roach asks him what he’s looking forward to in Tampa Bay. He says "Hopefully, a Super Bowl." And with that, he becomes the first comedian in New York City history to make everyone in Radio City Music Hall laugh in unison. What a joker.
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SCHRAGER ON THE SCENE: Well, I’m an idiot. I had Haden slipping to Green Bay at No. 23. He just went No. 7. I’m not sure why I wasn’t sold on Haden. I’d seen him singlehandedly shut down SEC superstars and future pros A.J. Green, Julio Jones and Brandon LaFell on Saturdays. Stupid combine numbers — they get me every time. The Dawg Pound reacts with barks and howls. One Browns fan is dressed in a Tim Couch jersey. I appreciate that. His buddy is sporting a Kelly Holcomb jersey. Who can forget THAT magical era of Browns football? Meanwhile, serious rumors of Rolando McClain to Oakland. A Giants fan behind me just fell off his chair when he heard that news.
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![]() | ROLANDO McCLAIN, LB, ALABAMA - Profile | Highlights |
SCHRAGER ON THE SCENE: Raiders Nation is pleased. Or, at least the crew here is. The Raiders fans I saw in the spikes and khaki shorts earlier are hugging and chanting “Let’s Go Raiders!” After seven consecutive seasons of 5 wins or less, April is always the best day of the calendar year for these guys. The other fans in the house are giving them a pass. Let them celebrate. There’s not much to cheer about for the silver and black. Meanwhile, the Giants fan contingent here is treating this like the day all of their dogs died. Just long faces and depression. Rolando McClain was supposed to be the next great Giants linebacker. Instead, he’ll be in a locker room with fellow SEC stars Darren McFadden and JaMarcus Russell. Hopefully, his pro career starts a little better. | |
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SCHRAGER ON THE SCENE: I read somewhere last month about a kid in Indiana who had a perfect NCAA Tournament bracket after two rounds. I’d like to find the kid who had Haden-McClain-Spiller on his mock draft. Hire him now. Give him his own column. Let him and Todd McShay yell at each other on 11 different networks on 34 different shows. The draft has officially gone haywire. I see a Bills fan in the distance who’s got the Marshawn Lynch jersey on. He’s cheering. Little does he know that the jersey he’s wearing just went from $20 to 20 cents on eBay. C.J. Spiller — enjoy Buffalo, buddy. A Florida kid who went to Clemson, and now goes to a team with no quarterback, no offensive line and no notable receivers. Pack a winter coat, C.J.!
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![]() | 10. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS TYSON ALUALU, DT, CALIFORNIA - Profile | Highlights |
SCHRAGER ON THE SCENE: In my seven-round mock draft, I had Alualu going early in the second round. I think that’s the highest I saw him in any of the mock drafts. The reaction here at Radio City is a collective "Who?!" Meanwhile, the Jets fans from earlier are losing interest. It’s been a good six hours since the Jets signed a 40-year-old veteran or player with off-the-field issues. They’re bored. The Jets better trade their entire draft for Tebow soon or their fans may all lose interest in the team.
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SCHRAGER ON THE SCENE: A fellow Jersey native, I’m happy to see Anthony Davis taken in the Top 15. Questioned for his consistency, Davis dominated George Selvie and Greg Romeus in college. He’ll now be the bookend at tackle with Joe Staley down in San Francisco. Meanwhile, the Niners fan contingent is downright giddy. Just saw a guy in a Steve Young jersey slap his buddy five. Left handed, no less! The Draft. It's amazing.
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SCHRAGER ON THE SCENE: Ryan Mathews wore no. 21 in high school because he idolized LaDanian Tomlinson. Oh, the irony. Just as this selection is being digested by the crowd, though, the Eagles-to-13 pick is announced. The room explodes. Before the Eagles fans can even crack a smile, the Giants and Jets fans unite — for possibly the first time ever — and get a deafening “Eagles SUCK” chant going. I actually saw a Jets fan and a Giants fan laugh and hug over this. This is monumental stuff. What's next? Israel-Palestine? Al Davis and Lane Kiffin going out for tea? Mathews goes to San Diego, the Eagles suck, and fans are still looking up Tyson Alualu on their cell phones. What’s next?
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![]() | BRANDON GRAHAM, DE, MICHIGAN - Profile |
SCHRAGER ON THE SCENE: There’s an "Earl…Thomas" chant here in Radio City by the Philly fans. The Giants and Jets fans don’t want to hear it. They’re still going with "Eagles Suck" and having a blast with it. Mr. Jets fan behind me from earlier is suddenly alive again. He’s into this "Eagles Suck" thing. He just pumped a fist, SNOOKIE-style. Brandon Graham was a pass rush demon on an otherwise abysmal Michigan squad. He was the Senior Bowl MVP, led the nation in sacks, and is an all-around great kid with no character issues. Perfect for Philly. What’s not perfect for Philly? The 360 pound guy in the 4-sizes-too-small Brian Westbrook jersey screaming in the face of a Redskins fan. That’s all going on above me. The NFC East is alive and well.
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SCHRAGER ON THE SCENE: The ‘Hawks take the sixth-rated player on my big board in Earl Thomas. With Deon Grant gone, it makes sense. I heard a certain network analyst — it was one of the guys from the Bloods or Crips — say that Seattle will take a combination of offensive tackle, defensive end, or running back with 6 and 14. He said it very confidently. Well, what about the safety? Oh well. Meanwhile, the Giants fans are quietly getting ready for their pick. By quietly getting ready, I mean jumping on top of one another and chanting “Let’s Go Giants!”
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SCHRAGER ON THE SCENE: JPP! All I’ve heard about Pierre-Paul are the details about his back flipping ability. He did 23 of them once! He was on YouTube doing them! Shawn Johnson, move over—there’s a new gymnast in town! ESPN’s been really excited about these back flips, even running an entire "Sports Science" segment on it last night. Apparently, there’s lots of back flipping in the NFL. When DeAngelo Williams runs over Pierre-Paul on the first play from scrimmage at the new Giants Stadium in September, does the rookie plan on back flipping down field to chase him down? Can he play football? I didn't hear much about that. OK, now on to the crowd. There’s apprehension, confusion, and mild applause from the Giants fans in the building. Certainly not the reaction I heard here when the Jets took Sanchez last year. That was pure mayhem. One conversation I did overhear? Two Giants fans sitting a row behind me discussing Mizzou linebacker Sean Weatherspoon. Giants Fan 1: "Know what’s in Missouri?" Giants Fan 2: "Nope Never been." Giants Fan 1: "Just tumble weeds and fresh air. And nothin’ else."…solid 3 second pause… "I was out there once." And then they both nodded. Ah, the Eagles suck.
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MORE ANALYSIS: Picks 17-32
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