NFL draft 2010, top five
Possibly the most anticipated sporting draft in America takes place tomorrow giving fans hope for the coming season.
If your team has a pick in the first five, you know last year was bad but the consolation prize is one of the best young talents in the country and possibly a franchise-changing talent. With that, here is a look at the top five players in tomorrow’s draft.
1 – Gerald McCoy, Defensive Tackle
McCoy is considered to be the best overall talent in the draft this year but unfortunately for him he won’t be picked No.1 just because the team picking first, the St Louis Rams, need a franchise quarter-back and Sam Bradford is the answer for the Rams there. McCoy has great speed for a DT and has displayed mental and physical toughness in college. He’s ranked as exceptional against the pass rush by scouts and will consistently penetrate and disrupt the opposition offence. His 2009 stats: (13/13) 34 tackles, 15.5 TFL, 6 sacks, 2 PBU, 1 FF. He will likely end up going third to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, giving the Bucs immediate help on defence.
2 – Ndamukong Suh, Defensive Tackle
The difference in talent between Suh and McCoy is minimal and the only disadvantage Suh has is his durability. He suffered a knee injury in 2005 which required surgery and then suffered another knee injury in 2007 which forced him to miss time. Since then, however, he hasn’t missed a game appearing in 25 consecutive games. He has amazing upper body strength combined with quick feet, making him one of the hardest players to cover one-on-one. He’s ranked as exceptional against the run due to his speed and against the pass rush he collapses the pocket regularly and has great power in a straight line. The Lions will likely pick Suh with the second pick as he fits better than McCoy in their defensive system.
3 – Sam Bradford, Quarter Back
He is the best quarter-back in the draft but some have questioned whether he is worthy of a No.1 pick. But for the St Louis Rams who won one game last year, Bradford is the franchise quarter-back they need to start building a winning team. He does carry a surgically repaired shoulder but has proved that his arm is strong and shouldn’t be a problem in the future. He scored well on the Wonderlic test and has a great footballing IQ as well as being a great team player and extremely competitive. What makes him stand out is his amazing accuracy. He can throw from the pocket or when he’s under pressure and has shown he can throw the ball while on the run. One of his biggest assets is the ability to drop the ball in between defenders and in the NFL that will help him adapt quickly in the pros. St Louis in all likelihood will take Bradford but it won’t be a complete shocker considering the QB depth in next year’s draft.
4 – Eric Berry, Safety
Berry projects to be a very successful NFL safety considering his tool set. He has great speed which helps him recover if he does make a mistake, but rarely does he get caught out largely thanks to his high football IQ. He can play both corner and safety and scouts have commented on his competitive nature, playing hard even when the game is lost. He won’t be out run due to his speed and when on the blitz can get to the quarter back in a hurry. He jumps well enough when trying take balls out of the air and tracks the ball well, and when he does get an interception picks up good yards. He’s projected to go fifth or sixth, whoever takes him will be getting the best defensive back in the class.
5 – Russell Okung, Offensive Tackle
Okung will go fourth in the draft to the Redskins because he’s the best left tackle in the draft and he fills a big need for Washington. He’s got great speed for his size, 6ft 4in and 307lbs, and has started 34 consecutive games. Great balance and awareness and has nearly elite level footwork. He’s got long arms and big hands allowing him to control and block defenders. He works hard and has shown great leadership according to scouts and the hard working ethic is what the Redskins will want to help protect Donovan McNabb.
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