Welcome pundits to the predraft overview for the 2010 season.
A complex and promising draft cohort is preparing for the AY draft, the availability of quality players some positions is low, while some positions are particularly well represented this year. A strong group of offensive linemen anchor the draft class, and are highlighted by a plethora of quality running backs. Several QBs are of future starting calibre, though behind the top 4 Qbs the pickings are slim. The majority of the future stars selected early will be Quaterbacks and Running backs, while the unsung players on defence and on the lines will follow.
In the first round the A-grade players are predominantly from the offensive side of the football, of the players with 3 or 4 skills (and there are 27 of them) only 9 of them (a third) play defence.
The first round is stacked full of great signal callers and star all-round running backs. So many infact that oen or two of these players are expected to drop to the second round. The best offensive athlete, who is expected to be drafted 2nd or 3rd overall, is a QB with a very sharp eye and a good arm. In addition to the 5 great RBs there are also 2 standout tight ends who can stretch the defence in the passing game, though few teams make use of these skills, so they are likely to drop to late in the first round, or even to a lucky early team in the second.
This draft features one of the best cohorts of offensive linemen seen it some years, of the top 60 players expected to be taken in the first 2 rounds 11 of them, (or 18.3%) are offensive linemen. The first two rounds are both well represented with 5 A-grade OLinemen and 6 B-grade Olinemen.
Expected to be in high demand in this years draft as in every year are the special teams skilled recievers, of which there are two all round solid starters and 3 speedy kick returners and one
quick punt specialist. Many of these athletes are expected to be taken in the first round, leaving the teams with the top 5 to 10 picks with the oportunity of taking 2 A-grade players in the first two rounds.
Defensive players in the first round are scarse, the two great Defensive linemen and the all-round defensive backs are expected to be highly sought after in the middle of the first round for teams looking to inject a future stalwart into their defensive unit. The three dominating linebackers will also get considered for round one selection, though the depth of the offensive talent may see one or two of these stars drop to early in the second round.
Players looking to rebuild their defence will probably look to pick up defensive players in the second and third rounds. Of the B-grade players (there are 33 of them) only 14 of them are offensive players. For the defence 6 linemen (5 passrushers and a run stopepr), 6 linebackers of every type and 8 variously skilled defensive backs from cover corners, pick-hungry safeties and special teamers fill out the second round,
Of the offensive positions offensive line is the strongest in the second round. Teams looking to build on their offence in the second round may also look at drafting a TE, to add both runblocking and pass catching, expect the 3 B-grade TEs to go between mid 2nd round to early 3rd round.
In the kicking game the punters in this years draft are well overshadowed by the skilled place kickers, of the top 4 special teamers 3 of them are kickers. Ever one of the kickers in this years draft class is top notch- worthy of starting anywhere in the league, but teams that want one will need to get in quick as there are only three kickers in this years draft, perhaps a team with an eye to drafting a kicker will look at trading down to get one.