The NFL made a bold move by moving round one of the 2010 NFL Draft to primetime Thursday night for the first time in league history, and not only was it historic, it was fun. The night had more twists and turns than the latest episode of Lost. More moves (7 trades) than Dancing with the Stars, and more drama than Law and Order. The only thing missing was the hot alien chick from V, Morena Baccarin.
With the first 32 picks in the books, here are ten thoughts I had as I watched round one unfold.
1) The Detroit Lions got their claws back!
Not only did they select DT Ndamukong Suh with the second pick overall, they took RB Jahvid Best with the 30th pick overall. They traded their second-round pick, flipped fourth-round picks and gave up a seventh round pick to the Minnesota Vikings to make that move. That was an aggressive move by Detroit and they managed to obtain a playmaker for both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. The Lions are finally showing some teeth and the NFC North is getting tighter.
2) Jerry Jones was not going to let history repeat itself.
The Cowboys traded up with the Patriots and selected WR Dez Bryant and got what I believe to be the best value in the first round. Much like Randy Moss in the 1998 draft, Bryant was sliding down the first round, due to perceived off-field character issues. Jerry Jones and the Cowboys passed on Moss in ’98, and they were not about to make that mistake again. Dez Bryant should have been a top five pick, and the Cowboys snagged him up with the 24th pick overall. If Bryant stays out of trouble, he could be great for years to come in Dallas.
3) The Denver Broncos are taking a huge gamble.
The Broncos traded down a few times then traded up to select WR Demaryius Thomas with then the 22nd pick overall. Then they shocked the football world when the traded second, third and fourth round picks to the Ravens to move back into the first round and selected QB Tim Tebow. A few years from now this move will either have been genius, or a complete bust. I am leaning towards a complete bust here. First, passing on WR Dez Bryant for WR Demaryius Thomas is a mistake. Byant is a legitimate superstar, while Thomas will be more of a possession type receiver. Second, giving up three picks to move up in the draft to select a “project” player who many believe may never be able to play quarterback in the NFL could hurt a team that is already mired in a rebuilding phase. Selecting Tebow and paying so much for him was a huge stretch.
4) Looks like Pete Carroll is not going to play favorites in the NFL.
The Seahawks drafted Russell Okung with their first pick (6th overall) and that was a huge need for the birds. However with their second pick (14th overall) Carroll went looking for a safety and selected Texas Safety Earl Thomas. What does that tell you about what the coach thinks of USC Safety Taylor Mays? On the whole the Seahawks had an excellent day one, and this should put to rest all of the folks saying Pete Carroll would be looking to reunite with some of the players he coached while at USC.
5) Arizona gets the second best value in Day 1.
The Cardinals must have felt like unwrapping a Christmas present in April when they looked up and saw that DT Dan Williams was still on the board. Williams is fast and athletic and should provide Arizona with an immediate big man for the middle of their 3-4 defense. I, as well as plenty of others, had Williams in the top 10 and it was certainly a gift for the Cardinals to select him with the 26th pick overall.
6) The Raiders surprise everyone again.
Every year during the draft, Raiders fans everywhere are because it seems that owner Al Davis and the Raiders make poor choices with their first round picks. This year folks feared Davis would select WR Darrius Heyward-Bey again. Well surprise, surprise! The Raiders shocked everyone again, but this time, by making a great selection. The Raiders improved their 26th ranked defense by adding LB Rolando McClain. McClain should help a defense that gave up 155 yards per game last season.
7) The Rams are going all in with QB Sam Bradford.
Rachel Nichols of ESPN tweeted “As for concern over whether Bradford can play right away, Rams stress this pick is not for Week 1 or Week 8, but for long term.” And that says plenty about how the Rams feel with their new quarterback. He was brought in to be the future and face of the franchise, however if the Rams don’t find a way to protect Bradford better than they protected their QBs last season, they may not get the mileage they hope to get from him.
8) San Diego is already feeling the loss of LaDainian Tomlinson.
The Chargers diminished Tomlinson’s role as a running back last season, and this year outright released him after nine years. Well it appears the Chargers no longer believe that little Darren Sproles can carry the load at the running back position, because they gave up a ton to move up all the way to twelve to select Fresno State RB Ryan Mathews. The Chargers have become a passing team with QB Philip Rivers under center and Mathews was not asked to pass block or catch coming out of the backfield at Fresno State. The Bolts gave up their second-round pick (40th overall) to move up to 12 which is much too high a price for a runner with many unknowns.
9) I really like Safety Eric Berry.
The Chiefs selected Tennessee Safety Eric Berry with the 5th overall pick in the draft. Not only is Berry an electrifying playmaker on the defensive side of the ball, he brings leadership to a defensive unit that ranked 30th in the league last year. But I like the fact that Barry was able to stand toe to toe with Deion Sanders and answer Deion’s questions all the while maintaining his poise and dignity and answering respectfully. Like the kid already and the fact he can ball makes him all the more likable.
10) The New York Jets are creating some lofty expectations.
The J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets are going to be facing some plenty of pressure next year, and not just from their opponents. By adding a great first-round pick, CB Kyle Wilson (29th overall), to a growing list of off-season acquisitions, the Jets have everyone in New York talking Super Bowl. The Jets have added RB LaDainian Tomlinson, WR Santonio Holmes and LB Jason Taylor to a team that was within one game of the Super Bowl last year. Unfortunately for the Jets, last year’s record means nothing when you start the season, and the Jets fans can get nasty if things start to go south.
AJ smith gave up way to much for Ryan Mathews. Charger fans have to pray that Terrence Cody falls into the third or we can trade back into the 2nd round
I really liked how the new format kicked the draft to another level. Tomorrow should see lots of wheeling and dealing. As for the draft little Joshie McDaniels seems to be hell bent on put the Broncos in the wilderness. Two years ago they were a nearly team and this year I can’t see them doing better than 6-10.
Was great to be able to watch this live in the UK on ESPN, enhanced by your Tweets. The 2 biggest shocks for me were the great Raiders pick (hopefully we strengthen O line in round 2) and Tebow. Clausen must be glad he stayed at home! Thanksfor the tweets, great to read your thoughts as the night progressed. Now I need some sleep.
Great article.
As a Bears fan i do not fear the Lions …yet. But I must admit that they seem to be moving in the right direction for once.
The Broncos… oh my they are sliding faster and faster…
I’m not sure “the team on the clock” made the right move using their 1st pick… I think they’d have been better to trade it for a bunch of lower picks (cuz they need help EVERYWHERE!)
I think it was the right move by the Chargers. The 2nd round pick they traded was the one they acquired by Seattle via the Charlie Whitehurst trade.
Though they jumped pretty high for Matthews, it was the only possibility for them.
The other really good RB’s were all smaller and less powerful, and the Chargers – as contenders, needed an everydown back like him.
I give em props!
Mr Miranda I have to ask. With the selection of Bryant at 24 and Miles Austin emerging. What happens with Roy Williams? Didn’t he cost a 1st and a 3rd?
Dolphins did well to trade down and get a better value pick and have an early 2nd day. Alot of people thought they were going to take Kindle at 12 and he’s dropped out of the first round and could still end up a Dolphin but I think the Rams will take him.
I’m not sure the Raiders pick was as ‘great and sensational’ as everyone is saying, but it is certainly better then that of previous years. I’m also surprised that you did not comment on the Jags pick.
As a patriots fan,
I wish that we could have taken bryant, but it was better to get the type of player we got. Don’t worry about bill b, he has got everything under control.
Wow, Steven: I just relived a fun night all over again. Thanks for the recap. What a blast.
Monk – I think it is the fact that the Raiders actually took the best player at a given position. I agree it was not necesarily the biggest need for the team, or best value at that slot . Still an ‘effing miracle!
“As a patriots fan,
I wish that we could have taken bryant, but it was better to get the type of player we got. Don’t worry about bill b, he has got everything under control.”
You guys passing on Dez was a huge mistake ! Cowboys gonna kick butt and Dez gonna be a playmaking pro bowler for years to come ! Belicheck is losding it ! Going for it on that 4th down and now this lolol……… Cowboys for life!
Thanks for the analysis. I find myself at a loss come draft time, maybe it’s because I’m Canadian and don’t follow US College football (Heck, my University hasn’t had a football team since 1976, so at least I can say my School is undefeated since 1976). I really need you guys to explain who the potential draft picks are to me. I’m curious if the other listeners find the same thing since I doubt there’s much of a chance to watch College Football across the pond. My wife and I are trying to decide if we’ll go to a NFL game this year, maybe we’ll win the lottery and end up going to the game in London.
Al didn’t pick on athleticism this time, he in fact picked a LB who’s 40 time was slow. We’ve got hopefully a poor man’s Patrick Willis, McClain is huge for a MLB and should help us stop the run. With a run stuffing DT and a decent CB from the later rounds of the draft we’ll have a top 10 defense. The offense with some offensive line help should be enough to win us games.
PS Look out for us picking Carlos Dunlap today, he’s the name I’ve heard we are taking.
I dont believe the Chargers gave up too much for Ryan Mathews. All they did was swap picks in rounds 1 and 4, moving up 16 spots in both, and they received Miami’s sixth-round pick in exchange for the Nos. 28 and 40 picks, plus inside linebacker Tim Dobbins. That really isnt a bad deal. The Chargers saw a player they really wanted, and they did what they had to do to take him.
The unknows about Mathews are all centered around the pass game, an area in which Sproles really excells, so the Chargers have themselves covered there.
Being a Lions fan I am not that happy with the Best move, first of all I was on my way out the door to get a couple games of bowling in when I heard the Lions have traded up so it cost me a game. Also I am not sure if I like Best I was hoping they were going to draft Jerry Hughes and have one of the best defensive lines in the North for years to come and give the Vikings a run for their money. Its a similar sentiment here on the radio right now. Some people are ok but most of the guys don’t understand why they traded up. When Mayhew basically said in interviews they thought they probably would get him with the second round pick. There is also the boom or bust factor where he could be Chris Johnson or he could be out of the league in two years. I don’t mind it but I am not happy with it. The only thing that makes me ok with it is in reality we only gave up a 7th.
Hey guys, wondering which of those invited to NY for the draft, and were in the green rooms, ended up not drafted in the 1st round…. can’t seem to find the list of invitees on the web….thanks…..
Well that was a lot of fun! I live in the UK, so I taped ESPN’s coverage and watched it last night with a few beers. As a Bengals fan I was desperately hoping we’d take Bryant but the consensus has been TE all along and JG should be a great addition to the squad. Steven, you’ve got to be so happy that the Cowboys took him (and I was kinda pleased that you took him out of the Ravens grasp!). He’s gonna be a Superstar. I wasn’t too surprised about Teebow going, but thought someone would have pulled the trigger earlier on Klausen.
Ngii – it was lucky Klausen didn’t accept his invite. That would have been an even worse moment than Brady Quinn and Aaron Rodgers. Not sure who else didn’t get picked. Think the last one I saw was Morgan.
I love the Mathews pick. We gave essentially gave up Charlie Whitehurst, the clipboard holder for the past couple of years, to grab a solid running back in Ryan Mathews. There were many teams (Texans, Patriots, Seahawks, Broncos?) looking at picking up Mathews and AJ Smith made the right move to go pick him up. He’s going to be a starter from day one and I believe he’ll create a balance for the offense.
I can’t wait. This kid is a stud.
Good to see the Redskins trying to strengthen the O line.
I had a ball watching the draft. I was by myself because I’m working in Spokane Washington this week. I felt like a football geek wearing my Seahawks jersey and writing down draft selections in a copy of Pro Football Weekly and drinking beer in a bar.
I’m very happy with both our draft picks and our trades. The team is definitely stronger today than it was Thursday morning. Much of the national media also complement the Seahawks saying they had one of the best drafts of all the teams.
September seems a long way away yet but I can’t wait.
Don’t Steven and Jeff did a fabulous job?
What happened to the forum?
Bears pick was GREAT!!
Oh wait, they didn’t have one… *barf*
Cheers for the Comment Raider_Dave.
I live in Australia, so i followed NFL.coms coverage and i had a great time following the draft and i am fairly happy with the players that the Cowboys drafted. Although i am confused why we drafted CB Jamar Wall after having picked CB Owusu-Ansah in the fourth and a safety late in the 6th would have been a better pick.
@Ngii, here is a list of the Green Room players and with what pick they were drafted.
Round 1:
Sam Bradford, Rams at #1
Ndamukong Suh, Lions at #2
Gerald McCoy, Bucs at #3
C.J. Spiller, Bills at #9
Jahvid Best, Lions at #30
Joe Haden, Browns at #7
Russell Okung, Seahawks at #6
Bryan Bulaga, Packers at #23
Trent Williams, Redskins at #4
Jared Odrick, Dolphins at $28
Dan Williams, Cards at #26
Derrick Morgan, Titans at #16
Demaryius Thomas, Broncos at #22
Eric Berry, Cheifs at #5
Round 2:
Rob Gronkowski, Patriots at #42
Lamarr Houston, Raiders at #44
Round 3:
Brandon Ghee, Bengals at #96
As a Raiders fan, this draft has convinced me that we’re on course to at least get to .500 this season. Last season we had often inept offense and couldn’t stop the run on defense. Now with Houston and McClain we should be able to stop the run, while Groves and Wimbley along with Mike Mitchell and our d-line we’ll have one hell of a pass rush. With two new offensive lineman and a good QB who will have an environment where he is appreciated and valued a lot more than in Washington, we’re looking much more respectable on offense and overall looking really good. Mr Davis, for this offseason I salute you sir!!!
Got to agree. Eric Berry looks amazing! Hoping he does well