Commish’s Board: Top 50 Draft Prospects Ranked

February 20th, 2010

This fine young JoeBucsFan.com draft subscriber can't believe that Arthur Jones, of Syracuse, checks in at No. 49.

In this installment of the finest NFL Draft coverage for Bucs fans anywhere, draft guru Justin Pawlowski, of WDAE-AM 620, ranks the 50 top draft-eligible players with an explanation for each one.

Pawlowski will update this “Commish’s Board” regularly, and expand it to ranking the top 100 players after next week’s combine.

Joe’s in-depth draft coverage kicked off Monday. Pawlowski’s opening 5,000+ word double mock draft is available here, and he rolled out detailed explanations of the Bucs’ selections on Wednesday.

Thanks to the many faithful who are enjoying the subscription draft coverage.  Please subscribe now and you’ll be entered to win a gift certificate to Mugs Grill & Bar. Joe’s got a stack to give away.

And after that shameless plug, it’s on to the Commish’s Board. And no, Gator lunatics, Tim Tebow did not make the cut.

1. Gerald McCoy – DT – Oklahoma{+++}
Best all-around defensive tackle in a deep defensive tackle draft.  Has a great combination of size, speed, and strength.  Was always in opposing backfields.

2. Ndamukong Suh – DT – Nebraska
Most productive defensive player in college football in 2009.  He has the strength to take on multiple blockers.  Needs to develop another move and more quickness.

3. Rolando McClain – MLB – Alabama
Size, speed, and leadership make McClain so valuable.  He’s a true student of the game.

4. Dez Bryant – WR – Oklahoma
True No. 1 receiver with the ability to take over games.

5. Russell Okung – OT – Oklahoma St
Strength is pass protection and agility

6. Eric Berry – S – Tennessee
Ball hawk who is always in on a play.  Tremendous in coverage.

7. Anthony Davis – OT – Rutgers
Nasty and mean.  Very balanced offensive tackle that can anchor a line for years.

8. Joe Haden – CB – Florida
Best corner in the draft by far.  Very balanced corner who can cover and tackle equally well.

9. Sam Bradford – QB – Oklahoma
Talented quarterback who can read a defense and deliver passes with excellent accuracy.

10. Jason Pierre-Paul – DE – USF
Tons of raw talent and potential.  Buyer beware, with reward comes tons of risk.

11. CJ Spiller – RB – Clemson
Every down back with power to run inside and speed to break long runs.  Can also catch and block.

12. Derrick Morgan – DE – Georgia Tech
Balanced end who might be better against the run than he is as a pass rusher.

13. Brian Price – DT – UCLA
Violent with his hands.  Price is a good fit as a 4-3 under tackle.

14. Trent Williams – OT – Oklahoma
Big tackle who would be a great fit at right tackle.  Very balanced, but might be a tad better at run blocking.

15. Carlos Dunlap – DE – Florida
All the talent, but lacks the mental aspect of the game.  Might not be driven as much as other players.  Scouts either love him or hate him.

16. Bryan Buluga – OT – Iowa
Tough hard-nosed Big 10 offensive tackle.  He’s balanced  and can start immediately.

17. Brandon Graham – DE – Michigan
He gets to the quarterback.  Period.

18. Mike Iupati – OG – Idaho
Mauler who can dominate games at times.  Also has the agility for pass protection or to pull.

19. Jared Odrick – DT/DE – Penn St
Odrick’s on the rise.  Can be an ideal fit in a 3-4 defense at end.  Good size and power make him valuable.

20. Earl Thomas – S – Texas
Free safety with tremendous cover skills.  Good centerfielder in coverage.

21. Dan Williams – DT – Tennessee
Nose tackle who excelled in Monte Kiffin’s defense.  Very active and able to take on multiple blockers.

22. Jimmy Clausen – QB – Notre Dame
Talent is there, but is the leadership?

23. Everson Griffen – DE – USC
Very good pass rusher who saw his sack totals rise each year at USC.

24. Arrelious Benn – WR – Illinois
Benn will be on the rise, mark my words.  He’s got all the tools, and if he had a quarterback to get him the ball, he’d be a top 10 pick.

25. Bruce Campbell – OT – Maryland
Better in pass protection than run blocking.  Campbell is tough and smart.

26. Taylor Mays – S – USC
Talent’s there…production wasn’t.

27. Jermaine Gresham – TE – Oklahoma
Great threat as a receiver, but how good of a blocker can he be?

28. Brandon Spikes – MLB – Florida
I love Spikes’ leadership and physical play.  His speed worries me.

29. Jahvid Best – RB –Cal
Durability is the big concern here.  If healthy, Best is a homerun threat every time he touches the ball.

30. Kyle Wilson – CB – Boise St
One of the big winners from the senior bowl.  Wilson is great in coverage, but takes a little long to diagnose run plays.

31. Sean Weatherspoon – OLB – Missouri
Big linebacker with speed.  From the film, Weatherspoon looks solid, but I didn’t see enough spectacular plays.

32. Maurkice Pouncey – OC – Florida
Best center in the draft with exceptional leadership skills.  Very balanced interior lineman.

33. Sergio Kindle – OLB – Texas
Another candidate to rise.  Kindle is the prototypical hybrid linebacker.  Great fit for a 3-4 defense.

34. Terrance Cody – DT – Alabama
Believe it or not, Cody could be the biggest game changer in this draft.  At 370+ lbs, He can stop opposing run games on his own.  Not much in pass rush and only a 2-down lineman.

35. Golden Tate – WR – Notre Dame
One of the more reliable receivers in this draft.  Love the hands and the shiftyness.  Could have leadership skills like Hines Ward during his career.

36. Navarro Bowman – OLB – Penn St
Very good speed with the ability to track down ball carriers.  Sure tackler, but might not be the strongest or toughest linebacker.

37. Ryan Matthews – RB – Fresno St
Not many questions with Matthews, just a flat-out solid running back.  Has the power to run inside and the speed to break a long run.  MUST get better as a receiver.

38. Ricky Sapp – DE/OLB – Clemson
Tough to judge here.  Every time I watch Sapp, I see some of Gaines Adams.  I think it’s those Clemson jersey’s.  Has nice speed off the edge as a hybrid linebacker.

39. Vladimir Ducasse – OT/OG – UMASS
Can play guard or tackle and is very big and physical lineman.  Best part is he is equally GOOD in pass and run blocking.  Lack of competition worries me.

40. Patrick Robinson – CB – FSU
Good size and excellent speed.  Adequate tackler who won’t deliver the big hit, but gets the job done.

41. Kareem Jackson – CB – Alabama
Durable and is always around the ball.  His movement in the defensive backfield is excellent. 

42. Alex Carrington– DE – Arkansas St.
Small school product who stood out at the Senior Bowl.  3-4 defensive end that could continue to rise with great workouts and interviews.

43. Perrish Cox – CB – Oklahoma St
Seems to play big than his frame.  Cox has tremendous ball skills.  That’s what somebody said. Lol.

44. Charles Brown – OT – USC
Solid tackle who lacks the elite size of a franchise left tackle.  He does have a frame to put on weight, and he will need to do that.

45. Nate Allen – S – USF
Allen’s a playmaker.  When the defense needs a turnover, Allen saves the day.  Not much in run support, but a great centerfielder.

46. Mardy Gilyard – WR – Cincinnati
Speed threat with good hands.  Also, a threat in the return game.

47. Jerry Hughes – DE/OLB – TCU
Hughes knows how to get to the quarterback.  Best fit is at OLB in a 3-4 defense.

48. Chad Jones – S – LSU
Great size and durability for a safety.  He’s a big hitter.

49. Arthur Jones – DT – Syracuse
Injuries have really hurt Jones.  When he is healthy, he has 1st round talent.  Big tackle with a frame to get bigger.  He also has a great burst off the line.

50. Mike Williams – WR – Syracuse
Tons of character issues here, but might be the second most talented receiver in this draft.

15 Responses to “Commish’s Board: Top 50 Draft Prospects Ranked”

  1. Greg Says:

    Joe, which cheerleader is in the picture? OH MY!!

  2. admin Says:

    Joe here,

    She’s a personal favorite and not a member of the Bucs’ squad.

  3. Greg Says:

    Very nice!!

  4. Eric Says:

    “nice” is a bit of an understatement, Mr. Greg……………………with all due respect.

  5. Greg Says:

    Eric, I prefaced it with “VERY”, but, yeah, it was still an understatement! 🙂

  6. Eric Says:

    Thats ok Greg, I don’t think mere words could do it justice anyhow…………………….

  7. Greg Says:

    All I have to say is that Joe’s been holding out on us Eric!

  8. adam Says:

    joe please make her a member of the bucs cheer squad if you can….if you have any pull at all please do it……she almost looks like the same female you had pics of from the superbowl the past 2 years ….the one in the white pants….i have good seats, so if i can watch her and lets say drink a delicious cigar city brew at the ray jay life would be sweet……..they again i could settle for 40 male midgets in bikinis and watered down bud light if the bucs would just win a few!!…..adam from ny

  9. FlBoy84 Says:

    I find it kinda amusing that all we heard towards the end of the college season was how Suh was the greatest D-lineman in the last 20 years, yet now he’s playing second string to McCoy, who was virtually ignored by the various on-air personalities. Curious to see who has the better NFL career.

  10. Joe Says:

    FlBoy84:

    I find it kinda amusing that all we heard towards the end of the college season was how Suh was the greatest D-lineman in the last 20 years, yet now he’s playing second string to McCoy

    Part of that is Suh had one of the games of the ages on national television in primetime with few other games broadcast at the same time against a team that played for the national title.

    There were a lot of eyeballs on that game and Suh made a huge, huge splash.

  11. FlBoy84 Says:

    I agree Joe, but he was the talk of most networks even prior to that game. McCoy was mentioned as well, but not to the extent that Suh was hyped. I think both guys could help the Bucs, so wouldn’t be disappointed if either was drafted. Wouldn’t be opposed to trading down and picking up an extra 2nd and grabbing Price either.

  12. Sgt Mike Says:

    I think she is trying to say “Read my lips . No new taxes”

  13. Radio Mushmouth Says:

    Flboy84:

    I find it amusing also. It’s the same phenomenon that had many “experts” rating Ryan Leaf ahead of Peyton Manning.

    A Lot of times these experts out-think themselves, when it’s pretty apparent who the better player really is…

    I’d still be thrilled to land McCoy , but Suh is better, IMO. Period.

  14. Greg Says:

    Sgt Mike, I thought her lips were saying something, and if you look at her mouth, she looks like she’s saying something up there as well!! 🙂

  15. ddiroma Says:

    I understand that Suh and Mc Coy are great players but do the BUCs really want to spend the $$$ and draft choice on them. I do not think either are the second coming of Sapp. There is plenty of depth on the d-line in the draft with great guys to fill our d-line shortcomings in the 2nd & 3rd rounds. I think the 3rd pick needs to make a statement & I think that is made with picking someone to help Josh Freeman. I think Dez Bryant is the playmaker we need to help Freeman develop. We don’t need an old free agent with a couple years left. We need a guy for the long term like Bryant. Then pick-up d-line in later rounds. Since Bryant is a late top ten possibility this may allow the bucs to trade down to get him.
    I guess we will see draft day.
    I am starting the Dez Bryant to BUCs rumors now!!!!!!