2010 NFL Draft Position Rankings
The Possible First Rounders
Going into the 2009 college football season season, here are the top
prospects to watch out for. For now, only FBS/D-I players who'll be
eligible for the 2010 NFL Draft are listed.
1. Ndamukong Suh, DT Nebraska
Preseason Skinny: Star DTs are worth
their weight in gold. Star DTs who can get into the backfield and have
the ability to play anywhere on the line in any scheme get the hard look
at the No. 1 overall spot.
2.
Taylor Mays, FS USC
Preseason Skinny: The
near-perfect safety prospect with impressive size, smarts, and
cornerback speed.
3. Dez Bryant, WR Oklahoma State (Jr.)
Preseason Skinny: Can he stay healthy? If so, he has
the type of drive and talent to be a ten-year superstar.
4.
Brandon Spikes, ILB Florida
Preseason Skinny:
While he might only be an inside linebacker, he's the type of defensive
quarterback who makes a team his immediately.
5. Eric Berry, SS Tennessee (Jr.)
Preseason Skinny:
He might not be Taylor Mays as far as size and speed, but he makes more
big plays.
6.
Greg Hardy, DE Ole Miss
Preseason Skinny:
If healthy, motivated, and with his head screwed on straight, he should
be a dominant next-level pass rusher.
7. Carlos Dunlap, DE Florida (Jr.)
Preseason Skinny: He'll make everyone drool at the Combine. He could
stand to be a bit bigger, but otherwise he's a prototype 4-3 end.
8.
Arrelious Benn, WR Illinois (Jr.)
Preseason Skinny: He has the athleticism and the quickness to be
a franchise receiver, and he has the attitude (in a positive way) to
make it happen.
9. Brandon LaFell, WR LSU
Preseason Skinny: If he can make the LSU passing game shine, he'll go
this high. However, his numbers might not be that great and he has to
play up to his tools.
10. Evan Royster, RB Penn State (Jr.)
Preseason Skinny:
With decent size and breakaway speed, he has the basics. His vision and
quickness through the hole, and his production this season, will make
him a high-rising prospect throughout the year.
11.
Jonathan Dwyer, RB Georgia Tech (Jr.)
Preseason Skinny:
Big, fast, and tough inside and out, he has all the makings of a back
who can carry an NFL offense. He'll get plenty of chances to shine in
the Tech offense.
12.
Sam Bradford, QB Oklahoma (Jr.)
Preseason Skinny: In
the right system he's the next Tom Brady, but he has to prove he can
handle a consistent pass rush. Everyone loves him, with many likely to
make him the No. 1 overall prospect, but how good will he be when he's
not behind a dominant line?
13. Arthur Jones, DT Syracuse
Preseason Skinny:
A poor man's Ndamukong Suh ... and that's not a bad thing. He could end
up making a ton of money as a 295-pound end in a 3-4.
14.
Gerald McCoy, DT Oklahoma (Jr.)
Preseason Skinny:
A building block to work a line around for a decade, he's an anchor
who'll dominate in a 4-3.
15. C.J. Spiller, RB Clemson
Preseason Skinny:
It's all about his durability. If he can last a full season, he'll be a
top 15 pick. If he has bumps and bruises that cost him playing time, he
could fall out of the first round. On pure talent he's a top ten pick.
16.
Jermaine Gresham, TE Oklahoma
Preseason Skinny:
Known for his receiving ability, he doesn't get enough credit for being
a strong all-around tight end.
17. Rolondo
McClain, ILB Alabama (Jr.)
Preseason Skinny: Very
fast and as sure a tackler as they come, the rangy, versatile defender
will be used in a variety of ways.
18. Jevan
Snead, QB Ole Miss (Jr.)
Preseason Skinny: The
hottest prospect this offseason, his stock has shot through the roof. He
could end up being the No. 1 overall pick if he has a big season and
leads Ole Miss to the BCS.
19. Trent Williams, OT Oklahoma
Preseason Skinny:
While not a Hall-of-Fame pro prospect, he's a sound, steady blocker who
was the best lineman on the nation's best front five last season.
20. Jahvid Best, RB California (Jr.)
Preseason Skinny: While he's not big enough or durable enough to be a
franchise back, he'll be deadly if he's in a Chris Johnson role on a
running team with a thumper who handles the dirty work.
21.
Sean Weatherspoon, LB Missouri
Preseason Skinny:
Very versatile and very disruptive, he cleaned up the messes made by a
lousy Tiger defense last year.
22.
Terrence Cody, DT Alabama
Preseason Skinny: A
top ten pick if he can get to around 340 pounds, he's a true anchor
who'll be stuck in the middle of a 3-4.
23.
Corey Wootton, DE Northwestern
Preseason Skinny:
A freak of nature with tremendous size and quickness, he appears to be
100% recovered from his bad knee injury suffered in the Alamo Bowl. The
light went on last season, and now he has the drive to go along with the
tools.
24.
Patrick Robinson, CB Florida State
Preseason Skinny: The
pressure is on. He could go anywhere in the top 100, and if he has a
shut-down season on one side of the Seminole secondary, he'll be the
first corner taken in a lean year at the position.
25.
Brandon Graham, DE Michigan
Preseason Skinny: An
end in any system, the 275-pounder can get into the backfield and can
hold up against the run in a 3-4.
26. Jermaine Cunningham, DE Florida
Preseason Skinny:
While not the prospect that his running mate, Carlos Dunlap, is, he'll
put up better numbers this year.
27. Tim Tebow, QB Florida
Preseason Skinny: He needs a lot of work on his
mechanics and his touch, but he has better NFL quarterback skills than
he gets credit for.
28.
Marvin Austin, DT North Carolina (Jr.)
Preseason Skinny:
Big, explosive, and very, very productive, he'll be the key interior
presence on a tremendous UNC defensive front seven.
29.
Sergio Kindle, OLB/DE Texas
Preseason Skinny:
A tweener, he's too small to be a regular defensive end, but he could be
used in a Terrell Suggs-like role.
30. Colt McCoy, QB Texas
Preseason Skinny:
Ultra-accurate and a tremendous leader, he's a more mobile Chad
Pennington. That's not a knock, but there's a ceiling on what he can do
at the next level.
31. Morgan Burnett, SS Georgia Tech (Jr.)
Preseason Skinny: With the speed and athleticism of a
corner and the tackling ability of a linebacker, he'll patrol someone's
secondary, and will be a leading tackler, for several years.
32. Russell Okung, OT Oklahoma State
Preseason Skinny:
With his quickness, strength, and attitude, he'll end up going in the
first half of the first round. Left tackles with his skills go early.