(Quick aside: Sam Bradford hasn't heard anything from Rams today - are they possibly wising up and leaning towards Suh at the eleventh hour?)
Most of my excitement stems from finding out where Tim Tebow will start his NFL career. I don't think I've ever been as big a fan of an athlete as I am of Tim Tebow - if I have, it was definitely of Mike Schmidt during my single-digit years. I find all the debate over his pro potential fascinating. In my opinion, those who relentlessly criticize his throwing mechanics, his arm strength and/or accuracy and the system he played in are either haters or just unable to believe what they see. His arm strength is high - he can make all the throws - and he can physically make all the throws, meaning he has a feel for the ball and the game, unlike a Michael Vick for instance. He's clearly an accurate passer, especially down the field, he played in a college football offense that, while it may not directly translate to the NFL, required him to make more reads pre- and post-snap reads than any other QB in this draft with the one possible exception of Jimmy Clausen, and, as Steve Young very eloquently illustrated during the pre-show, his throwing mechanics are sound. Eliminating the loop in his motion will allow Tebow to deliver the ball quicker at the next level, which will be important, but his loop looks a lot like Joe Montana's, who just happens to be the greatest quarterback to ever say "hut."
What's cool is that I feel like I'm waiting to find out who my new favorite team will be. For the record, my favorite team is the Patriots, and I do want them to draft Tebow. In a perfect world, the Pats will take an edge rusher in the 1st round, then land Tebow, Jahvid Best and Demaryius Thomas. We'll see how that goes.
Anyway, that's just a portion of my opinion - I'll save the rest for when Tebow is actually drafted. In the meantime, I need to make dinner and fold laundry so I can be ready to go in half an hour when the draft officially begins - be back soon...
7:30pm. And so it begins.
1. STL - Sam Bradford, QB Oklahoma
This won't be the last time Sam Bradford is booed. I agree with Trent Dilfer that this is a catastrophic mistake for the St. Louis Rams. Sam Bradford is a poor man's Marc Bulger - a very poor man. He's accurate and has a quick release, and I don't think the system translation is as big a concern as most experts believe. But he's fragile, has poor footwork, seems to lack the leadership qualities necessary of a starting quarterback, and his accuracy and quick release are not at the same level as Marc Bulger's.
On ESPN's NFL Live this week they played a game of "QB Association," similar to word association, with the top QB prospects in the draft. I thought the associations made on the show lacked vision. To me, Sam Bradford is a poor man's Marc Bulger (is that a Jake Delhomme? Joey Harrington perhaps?). Jimmy Clausen is a Drew Brees - laser for an arm and a guy who is in total control of the offense. Colt McCoy is a Brian St. Pierre, and that may not be fair to Brian St. Pierre. And Tim Tebow is a Steve Young - I think he'll flourish in a creative, quick-passing offense.
2. DET - Ndamukong Suh, DL Nebraska
It won't be long before he's a dominant defensive force in the NFL and, consequently, it might not be very long before the Lions are relevant (is the word "again" necessary here?). I agree with the comparison of Suh to Reggie White, and I think the is the one Hall of Fame lock in this draft.
3. TB - Gerald McCoy, DT Oklahoma
Smart, logical pick for the Bucs, but he disappears in games and I unfortunately do not think he will pan out and Tampa Bay will regret not taking Eric Berry.
4. WAS - Trent Williams, OT Oklahoma
Definitely another smart, need pick in the beginnings of this draft. Williams' athleticism should work well in Shanahan's blocking scheme. Like McCoy, he has the measureables, but also like McCoy (and Bradford), Williams didn't show up in the big games. Especially in the National Championship game against Florida, he looked outmatched against what was the best D-line he faced as a collegiate.
(I should point out that it only took til the 4th pick for my mock draft to be wrong - go me!)
5. KC - Eric Berry, S Tennessee
Like this pick a lot. Had to be enticing for Chiefs to take either an OT or Jimmy Clausen with Charlie Weis installed as the new OC, and 5 is high to take a safety, but Berry is the best player available here and should be a playmaker in the NFL.
6. SEA - Russell Okung, OT Oklahoma St.
Great pick for Seattle - the top of the draft fell well for them. Okung is a stud replacement for Walter Jones, and he has the meanness and aggression that Trent Williams lacks.
7. CLE - Joe Haden, CB Florida
It's puzzling to me how none of the so-called experts ever talk about how bad of a GM Mike Holmgren was in Seattle. He's a great tactical coach, great working with players in football situations. But as a talent evaluator he was fairly putrid. That being said, Joe Haden is an excellent pick. I thought Holmgren would reach for Earl Thomas here, but he made the better choice.
By the way, just once I would like to see one of these prospects show up to the draft alone, without an entourage. Seriously, how cool would that be?
8. OAK - Rolando McClain, LB Alabama
Raiders not wasting their time here (but apparently ESPN is - this is why I don't watch NFL Countdown anymore, and because Steve Young isn't on it anymore). And Al Davis doesn't disappoint - another surprise. Good player, but they took him high, but if he was their guy and there weren't any offers to trade down, they had to pull the trigger. At least they didn't select Bruce Campbell or the 3rd best WR in the draft.
9. BUF - C.J. Spiller, RB Clemson
Seems like the NFL Draft always goes into lightning round mode briefly early in the first round. Bills need weapons and Spiller is one and was probably the best player in their board, but they'd do well to find someone to block for him.
I'm surprised there have been no trades so far, but the price of these picks, both what teams need to give up to acquire them and what teams need to pay to sign the picks, makes it dfficult.
10. JAX - Tyson Alualu, DT Cal
While I realize the Jags lack a 2nd round pick this year, that doesn't mean they had to take a 2nd round player in the 1st round.
11. SF (from Denver) - Anthony Davis, OT Rutgers
Good pick by San Fran, but I'm struggling to figure out why they made a trade to go get him. Seems unlikely that both Davis and Bulaga would be taken at 11 and 12, and even if they were USC OT Charles Brown would have been there at 17. Intriguing...
12. SD (from Miami) - Ryan Mathews, RB Fresno St.
Good need pick for SD. I like Mathews and think he will do very well for the Chargers, but I'm surprised they traded all the way up to 12 to take him when it seems unlikely he would be taken before Houston at the 20 spot.
13. PHI (from Denver) - Brandon Graham, DE Michigan
The Eagles' pass defense issues are more a result of their lack of pass rush in recent years than the play of their secondary. I like the choice to go after a D-lineman aggressively.
14. SEA - Earl Thomas, DB Texas
I fear Thomas may be stuck between FS and CB in the NFL and never really settle into one position for any length of time.
15. NYG - Jason Pierre-Paul, DE USF
16. TEN - Derrick Morgan, DE Georgia Tech
Good picks - enough said.
17. SF - Mike Iupati, G Idaho
Though questioning their earlier trade, I really like what the 49ers are doing here. By solidifying their O-line and definitively stating their confidence in Alex Smith, the 49ers are acting like a team that plans to win now.
18. PIT - Maurkice Pouncey, C Florida
(see reaction to picks by NYG and TEN)
19. ATL - Sean Weatherspoon, LB Missouri
My little sister (BC class of '07) is kinda in love with Matt Ryan - though Tim Tebow has her wavering on that a bit - so the Falcons have become a team that we follow. Seems like Weatherspoon has shot up the draft boards in the last two weeks - hopefully for good reason.
20. HOU - Kareem Jackson, CB Alabama
With San Diego jumping ahead of them to take Mathews, this is the best pick for the Texans, and I like Jackson over Wilson - played in better conference against better competition.
21. CIN - Jermaine Gresham, TE Oklahoma
Probably a really good pick, but I find it troubling that this many players have been taken from an OU team that underperformed the past three or four years.
22. DEN (from New England) - Demaryius Thomas, WR Georgia Tech
Of course the Pats traded down, and allowed Denver to take one of the players I really wanted the Pats to get. Thomas looks good in a football uniform. I think he's a bit of a risk in the 1st round, but I have a feeling I might really like what the Broncos do in this draft.
23. GB - Bryan Bulaga, OT Iowa
Chris Berman is right - he looks like a Packer. Teams in the latter half of the 1st round are going to benefit from some of these OTs falling to them.
24. DAL (from New England) - Dez Bryant, WR Oklahoma St.
Jerry Jones likes his toys as much, if not more so, than Al Davis. I think Bryant will be a very, very good NFL WR, but the Cowboys need to keep Tony Romo upright.
Tim Tebow is on the phone! Tim Tebow is on the phone! And the NYC crowd is chanting his name! It's amazing how people take to this guy.
25. DEN (from Baltimore) - Tim Tebow, QB Florida
And the Broncos are my new favorite team! They're taking all the guys I wanted the Pats to take in this draft. Kiper is wrong about Tebow - he reminds me of Steve Young and Mark Brunell in how he plays the game and how I believe he translates to the NFL. People who doubt his arm strength are silly - he doesn't uncork his throws very often, but when he does he has an absolute rocket! I think this is a great fit for Tebow - McDaniels is the right coach to develop him into an NFL quarterback and Denver seems like a city that will fully embrace his character. To make a long story short, Tim Tebow is not just a great player, he's not just a once-in-a-generation player or a once-in-a-lifetime player. He's a once-ever player.
26. ARI - Dan Williams, DT Tennessee
I'd wager the Cardinals never thought they would get Williams, probably the best 3-4 tackle in the draft, at 26.
27. NE - Devin McCourty, CB Rutgers
Football minds consider this a strong pick for the Pats. I agree they need secondary help, but I think a pass rusher is a greater need.
28. MIA - Jared Odrick, DT Penn St.
Is Odrick a 3-4 tackle? Seems like a pass rusher would have been a better pick.
29. NYJ - Kyle Wilson, CB Boise St.
At first I was puzzled by the pick, but after Steve Young and Jon Gruden explained it, I get it. Rex Ryan can play all 3 corners together and blitz 8 guys. I like it!
30. DET (from Minnesota) - Jahvid Best, RB Cal
Lions are looking like a sleeper team for next year.
31. IND - Jerry Hughes, DE TCU
I like this pick a lot, but I can't help wonder if Peyton would have preferred an O-lineman.
32. NO - Patrick Robinson, CB Florida St.
I was hoping that the Saints would somehow walk away from this draft with Tim Tebow. I thought playing behind Drew Brees and for Sean Payton was the perfect spot for Tebow to be for the next two years. For the Saints, he wouldn't be a replacement for Brees, but they could develop him into a valuable asset while using him situationally. This pick is interesting. I think defense was definitely the way to go, but thought they would grab a LB. Similar to the Jets pick, this sures up their secondary and allows the Saints to blitz even more, and that is probably a good thing.
Well, that was a wild and crazy first night of the 2010 NFL Draft. I must admit, I do like the primetime format, and I'm already eagerly anticipating rounds 2 and 3 tomorrow - maybe the countdown clock ESPN has already placed on screen has something to do with that. My take on Round 1 winners and losers...
Winners: San Francisco, Detroit, Tim Tebow
Losers: New England, St. Louis, Jacksonville, Jimmy Clausen
I'm really intrigued to see what Denver does with their picks tomorrow. I'm impressed with Josh McDaniels' football knowledge and am gaining respect for how he is reshaping their roster to fit his vision for that team with high energy, high character players.
Anyway, time for bed tonight - look for another NFL Draft post tomorrow.
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