The 1st Round of the 2010 NFL Draft is complete, and there are three things that always seems to hold true. Players move up higher than they should, players slide down because others move up, and you just never know what is going to happen.
The first 9 picks of the draft had little suspense or surprises. Sam Bradford, Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy going 1-2-3 was nearly a given. Washington going with an offensive tackle was not a surprise so much as the one they chose. Many saw Russell Okung going #4 as a better bet than Trent Williams, but the Redskins went with Williams. Okung went to Seattle two picks later, after Kansas City chose Eric Berry as expected. Joe Haden going to Cleveland was one of my choices all along, and they took the cornerback #7 overall. Oakland taking Rolando McClain at #8 may have been a surprise, but he is also the best linebacker in the draft, and the Raiders need help stopping the run. Buffalo went with the playmaker in C.J. Spiller, maybe indicating that the days of Marshawn Lynch are numbered.
Then all the fun started. Jacksonville pulled off the shocker of the night in taking Tyson Alualu at #10. Not that he isn't a talented defensive tackle, but he was a player they could have gotten much later in the first round, and teams showed they were willing to trade up in the round. As deep as the draft is Jacksonville could have added a number of picks later on and still gotten Alualu.
I had San Diego taking Ryan Mathews in the first round, but too many teams ahead of they also targeted the running back. The Chargers then traded up 16 spots to take Mathews. Then Philadelphia moved up from #24 to #13, and by all accounts they were going to select Earl Thomas. Then they threw everyone a curveball and took Brandon Graham. If I were Pete Carroll I'd be on a plane to Vegas tonight. Russell Okung slides two spots to Seattle at #6, then Earl Thomas is there at #14, and they didn't have to trade any later picks to get them. A good night with two solid building blocks for the Seahawks.
Teams picking late in the first round that got maybe the best quality picks for their teams were Cincinnati, Green Bay and Indianapolis. The Bengals get the big target tight end in Jermaine Gresham, giving Carson Palmer a valuable option for their offense. The Packers needed help at offensive tackle, and Bryan Bulaga, who many saw as the #1 or #2 tackle, fell all the way to #23. Then the Colts get Jerry Hughes at #31, a pass rushing end/linebacker who should fit in very well in their defense.
The players who were not taken would make a nice list of first rounders any other year. Jimmy Clausen, , Colt McCoy, Sergio Kindle, Taylor Mays, Bruce Campbell, Terrence Cody, Brian Price, Carlos Dunlap, Golden Tate, Everson Griffen, Rob Gronkowski, Charles Brown, Rodger Saffold, Sean Lee, Daryl Washington. I expect to see many more trade on Friday.
Then there are the moments that make you scratch your head. If someone can tell me how the Denver Broncos can pass on both Dez Bryant and Jimmy Clausen and then take Demayrius Thomas and Tim Tebow please send along an explanation. I'd love to hear it.
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