2010 NFL Draft Preview/Mock Draft

Things to know before the Draft:

So here we are, another Draft about to begin, when every team looks to the future of the franchise and hopes they don't blow it big time. Every year there are busts, steals, major trades, and disappointed fans. This year shouldn't be any different.

Before we even talk about who's going where, you have to remember the most critical part of the NFL Draft: Trades. Sure, the Rams have the #1 pick, and everyone expects them to select Sam Bradford. But what happens if they trade it to, say, Seattle, who uses it to pick Ndamukong Suh? It throws of every pick after it, and renders most mock drafts completely moot. And on Draft Day, anything can happen. At this point, the Steelers could trade Ben Roethlisberger to the Browns for their first round pick and a case of Mr Pib.

Obviously, these things happen because team executives know more than us. We can watch a game and talk about a player's abilities all we want. NFL execs have to go deeper than that. They have to determine if a player is the right fit for their team, both in the lockerroom and on the field. Tim Tebow is a perfect example of this.

There's is no doubting that Tebow has great skill on the football field, and no one is doubting his moral character. He's been called the greatest college football player in history. So why isn't he the #1 pick? Well, where would you put him? He isn't a traditional QB, his power running style seems more fit for a fullback, and he's a year or two removed from having the mechanics needed to complete throws in the NFL. Looking at his college stats, these are things you might not know right away.

So how do we know who each team might pick? We don't. All we can really do before the Draft begins is look at what we think a team needs, what's available, and make our best guess.

So without further ado, I present the 2010 NFL Mock Draft:

#1: St Louis Rams
Pick: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

Early on, everyone was saying Ndamukong Suh was the #1 pick. Problem is, the Rams don't need a defensive lineman nearly as much as they need a QB. Last season, the Rams had Marc Bulger, Kyle Boller, and Keith Null under center. Nothing says "We need a franchise QB" more than that. Some people think Jimmy Clausen is the better QB, but I strongly disagree. Clausen's stats at Notre Dame, in my opinion, had more to do with throwing to strong, playmaking receivers than his own ability. Bradford is the right choice here, as long as his shoulder holds up in the NFL.

2010 MLB Preview - Old, Familiar Territory

PROJECTED AL WILD CARD STANDINGS:
(Top five contenders only)

1. Boston Red Sox

2. Chicago White Sox
3. Texas Rangers
4. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
5. Tampa Bay Rays


Last season, a good arguement could have been made that the Yankees were the best team in baseball, followed by the Phillies, with the Red Sox in third. With their offseason moves, Boston may have moved in to second. This could be the last time thats true for a while, unless they do something about their declining players and get younger in center. The White Sox, Rangers, and Angels may all put up a fight, but the Red Sox are the clear frony-runner here. The Rays make it in at #5 thanks to feasting on Toronto and Baltimore in their division, while getting beat down by Boston and the Yankees.

2010 MLB Preview - The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same

PROJECTED AL EAST STANDINGS:

1. New York Yankees

2. Boston Red Sox
3. Tampa Bay Rays
4. Toronto Blue Jays
5. Baltimore Orioles


After a start to last season that had them looking like they may be out of the playoffs, the Yankees ended up the only 100 game winner, and won their 27th World Series. They cut out their older position players, traded away the sometimes underacheiving Melky Cabrera, and brought in Curtis Granderson and Nick Johnson to fill their spaces. They still have a hole in left, but when you only have one hole on your roster, you're in pretty good shape. The Red Sox made a lot of changes to a team that was good enough for the Wild Card last season. Most of them are solid moves, like signing Marco Scutaro and John Lackey, but I have to question the wisdom of putting a 37-year-old Mike Cameron, with a history of injuries, into the cavernous center field at Fenway. It could be a concern in a late season push. The Rays had their run at a title, and they lost to the Phillies. They may contend this year, but they don't have the overall depth and ability to win in the AL East. The Central or West, maybe, but not the East. The only shakeup in the divison could be at the bottom. Loses of Scutaro and Roy Halladay will really hurt the Jays, and the Orioles have some up and coming players from the minors that could pay off. I'm thinking it won't until next year, but anything can happen.

2010 MLB Preview - No Single Game Playoff This Season!

PROJECTED AL CENTRAL STANDINGS:

1. Minnesota Twins

2. Chicago White Sox
3. Detroit Tigers
4. Cleveland Indians
5. Kansas City Royals


The Twins barely pulled out this division last season, winning a play-in game against the Tigers. This year, they should win it outright, but not by much. Last season's roster is mostly intact, and the players they brought in are more for leadership and role playing, rather than trying to bring in a big name player to push them over the top. It will win them the division, but probably won't get them anywhere in the playoffs. The White Sox are the Central's most improved team. Unfortunately, most of their improvement could easily sink the team. JJ Putz, Andrew Jones, and Omar Vizquel are all risky signings. They keep the Sox in contention, but won't win them any titles. The Tigers continue to try to pretend that the local economy isn't hurting the team. They give up Curtis Granderson, then sign over-the-hill Johnny Damon to replace him. They bring in young, cheap, untested players. This year is probably going to begin a down cycle for the team, so don't expect them in the playoffs the next few years. And at the bottom, the Indians and Royals continue to do what they do best lately: not a whole lot.

2010 MLB Preview - This is Seattle's Year. Really.

PROJECTED AL WEST STANDINGS:

1. Seattle Mariners

2. Texas Rangers
3. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
4. Oakland A's


Last season, a lot of people picked the Mariners to win the AL West. A quick glance at their roster would have told anyone with a brain that, while the team had some excellent hitters, they had no pitching. This offseason, they added Cliff Lee as their new ace, and brought in even more speed by signing Chone Figgins from the Angels. The loss of Figgins, as well as losing P John Lackey to the Red Sox, significantly weakens the team, dropping them to third. The Rangers made some decent offseason moves, but none of them add up to a division title. The A's took some risks in their free agent signings, bringing in the likes of Ben Sheets, Justin Duchscherer, and Jack Cust, all hit-or-miss, and I don't see them paying off overall.

2010 MLB Preview - Wild, Wild West

PROJECTED STANDINGS:
(Top five contenders only)

1. San Francisco Giants

2. Atlanta Braves
3. Chicago Cubs
4. Florida Marlins
5. Cincinnati Reds


The NL Central may be the toughest division, but that isn't good for Wild Card possibilities. With all the teams there winning at home, it dilutes the records of the rest of the division. They may all be good teams, but that hurts their chances when put against an equally good team in a weaker division. The Giants and Braves have the best chances of taking the fourth playoff spot, due to their opponents. While the Braves have to face a Marlins team on the rise and the NL's best team, the Phillies, the Giants will be able to take advantage of the falling Dodgers, the lowly Padres, and the not-quite-there-yet Diamondbacks.

2010 MLB Preview - The NL East Still Belongs to the Phillies

PROJECTED STANDINGS:

1. Philadelphia Phillies

2. Atlanta Braves
3. Florida Marlins
4. New York Mets
5. Washington Nationals


The Phillies didn't really do anything to improve this offseason, but they didn't need to. The deal that got them Roy Halladay and sent Cliff Lee to Seattle is pretty much an even trade, and with how weak the East has become, its enough to keep them in first. The Braves and Marlins both made some nice additions in the offseason, but neither did enough to put up much of a fight. The Marlins may be overvalueing their home-grown talent. If they can stay in second place instead of dropping to third, they're probably doing the right things. The Mets probably won't be competetive this year, even if they stay healthy. Without a first baseman, it's kinda hard to beat the back-to-back NL Champions. The Nats picked up Steven Stroudsburgh, and while he may be the future of MLB pitching, he'll start the season in the minors. Even if he was in the majors, he can't pitch every game.