2010 NFL draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual player selection meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to choose eligible American football players, held over three days from April 22 to 24 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.[1] This event marked the introduction of the NFL's three-day draft format, with the first round commencing on Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m. ET, rounds two and three on Friday starting at 6 p.m. ET, and rounds four through seven on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. ET.[2] In total, 255 players were selected across seven rounds, comprising 223 regular picks and 32 compensatory selections awarded to 19 teams for losing unrestricted free agents.[3] The St. Louis Rams held the first overall pick and selected quarterback Sam Bradford from the University of Oklahoma, who went on to win the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award after throwing for 3,512 yards and 18 touchdowns in his debut season.[4] The Detroit Lions followed with defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh from Nebraska at No. 2, earning him the Defensive Rookie of the Year honors with 10 sacks and one forced fumble as a rookie.[4] Subsequent top-10 selections included Gerald McCoy (DT, Oklahoma) by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 3, Trent Williams (OT, Oklahoma) by the Washington Redskins at No. 4, and Eric Berry (S, Tennessee) by the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 5, highlighting a draft rich in defensive talent and Oklahoma products.[4][5] Beyond the early rounds, the 2010 draft yielded several standout later selections that defined franchises, such as tight end Rob Gronkowski (No. 42 overall, New England Patriots), who amassed over 9,200 receiving yards and 92 touchdowns in his career, contributing to four Super Bowl victories.[4] Other notables included wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (No. 22, Denver Broncos), who partnered with Peyton Manning for multiple 1,000-yard seasons, and defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (No. 32, New York Giants), key to their 2011 Super Bowl defense with 16.5 sacks in 2011, his second season.[4] The class produced numerous first-team All-Pro selections (28 total appearances by 15 players) and multiple Pro Football Hall of Fame candidates, underscoring its long-term impact on the league despite early injury challenges for some top picks.[4]Background
Overview and Dates
The 2010 NFL Draft, the 75th annual player selection meeting, took place over three days from April 22 to 24, 2010, marking the first time the event spanned Thursday through Saturday. Round 1 commenced on Thursday, April 22, at 7:30 p.m. ET, with Rounds 2 and 3 following on Friday, April 23, starting at 6:00 p.m. ET, and Rounds 4 through 7 concluding on Saturday, April 24. The draft was held at the iconic Radio City Music Hall in New York City, a venue that had hosted the event annually since 2006.[2][6][7] Broadcast coverage was provided by ESPN for the primetime first round, alongside NFL Network and ESPN2 for multi-network simulcasts across all rounds, enhancing accessibility for fans. The event set viewership records, attracting a combined total of 45.4 million unique viewers across the networks—a 16% increase from 2009—and the first round alone peaked at 7.3 million viewers on ESPN, the highest for any opening round to date.[8][9] The draft format included seven rounds and a total of 255 selections, comprising 223 regular picks distributed among the 32 teams plus 32 compensatory choices awarded to 19 clubs based on their net losses of unrestricted free agents from the prior offseason. These compensatory selections, announced in March 2010, helped balance roster disparities without altering the core round structure.[3] NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell oversaw the proceedings from the stage, announcing each pick and engaging directly with prospects through handshakes and embraces, a tradition that gained prominence during this draft. His role emphasized the event's ceremonial aspects while maintaining the league's focus on orderly team deliberations.[10]Draft Order Determination
The draft order for the 2010 NFL Draft was determined by the reverse order of the 2009 regular season standings for the 20 non-playoff teams, occupying picks 1 through 20, with ties broken first by strength of schedule (lower percentage picks earlier), followed by head-to-head results, conference record, win percentage in common games, and strength of victory if necessary.[11] Picks 21 through 32 were assigned to the 12 playoff teams based on the round in which they were eliminated, with teams eliminated earlier picking sooner; within each elimination group, the order followed reverse regular season record, again using the tie-breaker sequence above.[11] This structure marked a significant change from prior years, approved unanimously by NFL owners at the 2009 annual league meeting, ensuring all playoff teams selected after non-playoff teams regardless of regular season record, to reward postseason success while prioritizing rebuilding for struggling franchises.[12] The St. Louis Rams earned the No. 1 overall pick with the league's worst 1-15 record, followed by the Detroit Lions at No. 2 with a 2-14 mark.[13] At the opposite end, the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints held the 32nd pick, while the runner-up Indianapolis Colts selected 31st.[14] Additionally, the NFL awarded 32 compensatory picks across rounds 3 through 7 to 19 teams, calculated via a formula evaluating net losses of unrestricted free agents from the 2009 offseason, factoring in average annual salary, playing time, and postseason honors; these picks supplemented the standard 224 selections (32 teams times 7 rounds) but did not affect the first two rounds.[3] The following table outlines the initial first-round order before any in-draft trades, including team records and positioning rationale.[4][15]| Pick | Team | Record | Positioning Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Louis Rams | 1-15 | Worst regular season record |
| 2 | Detroit Lions | 2-14 | Second-worst regular season record |
| 3 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 3-13 | Third-worst regular season record |
| 4 | Washington Redskins | 4-12 | Tied at 4-12; lower strength of schedule than Chiefs |
| 5 | Kansas City Chiefs | 4-12 | Tied at 4-12; higher strength of schedule than Redskins |
| 6 | Seattle Seahawks | 5-11 | Tied at 5-11; tie-breakers over Browns, Raiders |
| 7 | Cleveland Browns | 5-11 | Tied at 5-11; tie-breakers |
| 8 | Oakland Raiders | 5-11 | Tied at 5-11; tie-breakers |
| 9 | Buffalo Bills | 6-10 | Next-worst regular season record |
| 10 | Chicago Bears | 7-9 | Tied at 7-9; tie-breakers over Dolphins, Jaguars |
| 11 | Miami Dolphins | 7-9 | Tied at 7-9; tie-breakers |
| 12 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 7-9 | Tied at 7-9; tie-breakers |
| 13 | San Francisco 49ers | 8-8 | Tied at 8-8; tie-breakers over other 8-8 teams (Broncos, Giants, Panthers, Titans) |
| 14 | Denver Broncos | 8-8 | Tied at 8-8; tie-breakers |
| 15 | New York Giants | 8-8 | Tied at 8-8; tie-breakers |
| 16 | Tennessee Titans | 8-8 | Tied at 8-8; tie-breakers |
| 17 | Carolina Panthers | 8-8 | Tied at 8-8; tie-breakers |
| 18 | Atlanta Falcons | 9-7 | Tied at 9-7; tie-breakers over Texans, Steelers |
| 19 | Houston Texans | 9-7 | Tied at 9-7; tie-breakers |
| 20 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 9-7 | Tied at 9-7; tie-breakers |
| 21 | Cincinnati Bengals | 10-6 | Wild-card round loser; tied at 10-6 with Patriots; tie-breakers |
| 22 | New England Patriots | 10-6 | Wild-card round loser; tied at 10-6; tie-breakers |
| 23 | Green Bay Packers | 11-5 | Wild-card round loser; tied at 11-5 with Cowboys; tie-breakers |
| 24 | Dallas Cowboys | 11-5 | Wild-card round loser; tie-breakers |
| 25 | Baltimore Ravens | 9-7 | Divisional round loser; worst record in group |
| 26 | Arizona Cardinals | 10-6 | Divisional round loser; next-worst record in group |
| 27 | Philadelphia Eagles | 11-5 | Divisional round loser |
| 28 | San Diego Chargers | 13-3 | Divisional round loser; best record in group |
| 29 | New York Jets | 9-7 | Conference championship loser; worse record than Vikings |
| 30 | Minnesota Vikings | 12-4 | Conference championship loser |
| 31 | Indianapolis Colts | 14-2 | Super Bowl loser |
| 32 | New Orleans Saints | 13-3 | Super Bowl winner |
Pre-Draft Prospect Evaluation
The pre-draft evaluation process for the 2010 NFL Draft featured several key all-star games and workouts that allowed teams to assess prospects' skills and athleticism. The East-West Shrine Game took place on January 23, 2010, at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida, where the East team defeated the West 13-10, providing an early showcase for draft-eligible players.[16] The Under Armour Senior Bowl followed on January 30, 2010, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama, with the North team winning 31-13 over the South, highlighting talents like Ndamukong Suh and Russell Okung.[17] These events, along with university pro days held primarily in March and April across college campuses, offered additional opportunities for prospects to demonstrate their abilities in front of NFL scouts following the main testing phase.[18] The centerpiece of pre-draft evaluations was the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine, held from February 24 to March 2 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, where 329 prospects underwent medical exams, interviews, and athletic testing to measure speed, strength, and agility.[18] NFL teams prioritized these events to evaluate not only physical metrics but also players' football intelligence and character through formal interviews.[19] Eligibility for the draft required players to be at least three years removed from high school graduation, with seniors automatically eligible and underclassmen able to declare early by a January deadline.[20] In 2010, a record-tying 53 underclassmen declared, reflecting a deep pool of young talent entering the professional ranks.[21] Consensus rankings among analysts positioned Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford as the top overall prospect, valued for his accuracy and arm strength despite injury concerns, followed closely by Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh for his disruptive pass-rushing ability and Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy for his explosive interior presence.[22] Other high-ranked players included Tennessee safety Eric Berry and Oklahoma State offensive tackle Russell Okung, forming a strong defensive and offensive line class.[23] Mock drafts from prominent analysts like ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay frequently projected a quarterback-heavy first round, with up to five signal-callers like Bradford, Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen, and Florida's Tim Tebow expected in the top 32 picks due to team needs at the position.[24] These projections emphasized a draft rich in defensive talent but driven by offensive skill positions in early selections.[25] Notable pre-draft developments included Bradford's ongoing recovery from shoulder surgery in October 2009 after an initial sprain against BYU, which he addressed at the Combine by reporting his shoulder at 85% strength and throwing effectively at Oklahoma's pro day on March 12.[26] Other highlights featured standout workouts, such as Suh's dominant Combine performance, and interviews revealing prospects' maturity, all influencing final team evaluations.[27]Draft Proceedings
Round-by-Round Selections
The 2010 NFL Draft consisted of 255 selections across seven rounds, held April 22–24 in New York City, with the St. Louis Rams holding the first overall pick due to their 1–15 record from the 2009 season.[4] The draft featured a strong emphasis on defensive talent in the early rounds, particularly along the lines, while quarterbacks were selected at a measured pace compared to some years. A total of 32 compensatory picks were awarded to 19 teams based on net losses in unrestricted free agency, distributed across rounds 3 through 7 according to a formula considering player salary, playing time, and postseason honors; these picks brought the total to 255, with two additional seventh-round selections granted to the St. Louis Rams and Detroit Lions to equalize the number of picks across teams.[3]Round 1 Selections
| Overall | Team | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Louis Rams | Sam Bradford | QB | Oklahoma |
| 2 | Detroit Lions | Ndamukong Suh | DT | Nebraska |
| 3 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Gerald McCoy | DT | Oklahoma |
| 4 | Washington Redskins | Trent Williams | OT | Oklahoma |
| 5 | Kansas City Chiefs | Eric Berry | S | Tennessee |
| 6 | Seattle Seahawks | Russell Okung | OT | Oklahoma State |
| 7 | Cleveland Browns | Joe Haden | CB | Florida |
| 8 | Oakland Raiders | Rolando McClain | LB | Alabama |
| 9 | Buffalo Bills | C. J. Spiller | RB | Clemson |
| 10 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Tyson Alualu | DE | California |
| 11 | San Francisco 49ers | Anthony Davis | OT | Rutgers |
| 12 | San Diego Chargers | Ryan Mathews | RB | Fresno State |
| 13 | Philadelphia Eagles | Brandon Graham | DE | Michigan |
| 14 | Seattle Seahawks | Earl Thomas | S | Texas |
| 15 | New York Giants | Jason Pierre-Paul | DE | South Florida |
| 16 | Tennessee Titans | Derrick Morgan | DE | Georgia Tech |
| 17 | San Francisco 49ers | Mike Iupati | OG | Idaho |
| 18 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Maurkice Pouncey | C | Florida |
| 19 | Atlanta Falcons | Sean Weatherspoon | LB | Missouri |
| 20 | Houston Texans | Kareem Jackson | CB | Alabama |
| 21 | Cincinnati Bengals | Jermaine Gresham | TE | Oklahoma |
| 22 | Denver Broncos | Demaryius Thomas | WR | Georgia Tech |
| 23 | Green Bay Packers | Bryan Bulaga | OT | Iowa |
| 24 | Dallas Cowboys | Dez Bryant | WR | Oklahoma State |
| 25 | Denver Broncos | Tim Tebow | QB | Florida |
| 26 | Arizona Cardinals | Dan Williams | DT | Tennessee |
| 27 | New England Patriots | Devin McCourty | CB | Rutgers |
| 28 | Miami Dolphins | Jared Odrick | DE | Penn State |
| 29 | New York Jets | Kyle Wilson | CB | Boise State |
| 30 | Detroit Lions (from MIN) | Jahvid Best | RB | California |
| 31 | Indianapolis Colts | Jerry Hughes | DE | TCU |
| 32 | New Orleans Saints | Patrick Robinson | CB | Florida State |
Round 2 Selections
| Overall | Team | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | St. Louis Rams | Rodger Saffold | OT | Indiana |
| 34 | Washington Redskins (from MIN) | Chris Cook | CB | Virginia |
| 35 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Brian Price | DT | UCLA |
| 36 | Kansas City Chiefs | Dexter McCluster | WR | Ole Miss |
| 37 | Philadelphia Eagles | Nate Allen | S | South Florida |
| 38 | Cleveland Browns | T. J. Ward | S | Oregon |
| 39 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Arrelious Benn | WR | Illinois |
| 40 | Miami Dolphins | Koa Misi | OLB | Utah |
| 41 | Buffalo Bills | Torell Troup | DT | UCF |
| 42 | New England Patriots | Rob Gronkowski | TE | Arizona |
| 43 | Baltimore Ravens | Sergio Kindle | OLB | Texas |
| 44 | Oakland Raiders | Lamarr Houston | DE | Texas |
| 45 | Denver Broncos | Zane Beadles | OG | Utah |
| 46 | New York Giants | Linval Joseph | DT | East Carolina |
| 47 | Arizona Cardinals | Daryl Washington | OLB | TCU |
| 48 | Carolina Panthers | Jimmy Clausen | QB | Notre Dame |
| 49 | San Francisco 49ers | Taylor Mays | S | USC |
| 50 | Kansas City Chiefs | Javier Arenas | CB | Alabama |
| 51 | Minnesota Vikings | Toby Gerhart | RB | Stanford |
| 52 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Jason Worilds | DE | Virginia Tech |
| 53 | New England Patriots | Jermaine Cunningham | DE | Florida |
| 54 | Cincinnati Bengals | Carlos Dunlap | DE | Florida |
| 55 | Dallas Cowboys | Sean Lee | LB | Penn State |
| 56 | Green Bay Packers | Mike Neal | DE | Purdue |
| 57 | Baltimore Ravens | Terrence Cody | DT | Alabama |
| 58 | Houston Texans | Ben Tate | RB | Auburn |
| 59 | Cleveland Browns | Montario Hardesty | RB | Tennessee |
| 60 | Seattle Seahawks | Golden Tate | WR | Notre Dame |
| 61 | New York Jets | Vlad Ducasse | OT | UMass |
| 62 | New England Patriots | Brandon Spikes | LB | Florida |
| 63 | Indianapolis Colts | Pat Angerer | LB | Iowa |
| 64 | New Orleans Saints | Charles Brown | OT | USC |
Round 3 Selections
Round 3 included two compensatory picks, contributing to its total of 34 selections.| Overall | Team | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65 | St. Louis Rams | Jerome Murphy | CB | South Florida |
| 66 | Detroit Lions | Amari Spievey | CB | Iowa |
| 67 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Myron Lewis | CB | Vanderbilt |
| 68 | Kansas City Chiefs | Jon Asamoah | OG | Illinois |
| 69 | Oakland Raiders | Jared Veldheer | OT | Hillsdale |
| 70 | Baltimore Ravens | Ed Dickson | TE | Oregon |
| 71 | Green Bay Packers | Morgan Burnett | S | Georgia Tech |
| 72 | Buffalo Bills | Alex Carrington | DE | Arkansas State |
| 73 | Miami Dolphins | John Jerry | OG | Ole Miss |
| 74 | Jacksonville Jaguars | D'Anthony Smith | DT | Louisiana Tech |
| 75 | Chicago Bears | Major Wright | S | Florida |
| 76 | New York Giants | Chad Jones | S | LSU |
| 77 | Tennessee Titans | Damian Williams | WR | USC |
| 78 | Carolina Panthers | Brandon LaFell | WR | LSU |
| 79 | San Diego Chargers | Donald Butler | LB | Washington |
| 80 | Denver Broncos | J. D. Walton | C | Baylor |
| 81 | Houston Texans | Earl Mitchell | DT | Arizona |
| 82 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Emmanuel Sanders | WR | SMU |
| 83 | Atlanta Falcons | Corey Peters | DT | Kentucky |
| 84 | Cincinnati Bengals | Jordan Shipley | WR | Texas |
| 85 | Cleveland Browns | Colt McCoy | QB | Texas |
| 86 | Philadelphia Eagles | Daniel Te'o-Nesheim | DE | Washington |
| 87 | Denver Broncos | Eric Decker | WR | Minnesota |
| 88 | Arizona Cardinals | Andre Roberts | WR | The Citadel |
| 89 | Carolina Panthers | Armanti Edwards | WR | Appalachian State |
| 90 | New England Patriots | Taylor Price | WR | Ohio |
| 91 | San Francisco 49ers | NaVorro Bowman | LB | Penn State |
| 92 | Cleveland Browns | Shawn Lauvao | OG | Arizona State |
| 93 | Kansas City Chiefs | Tony Moeaki | TE | Iowa |
| 94 | Indianapolis Colts | Kevin Thomas | CB | USC |
| 95 | New Orleans Saints | Jimmy Graham | TE | Miami (FL) |
| 96 | Cincinnati Bengals | Brandon Ghee | CB | Wake Forest |
| 97 | Tennessee Titans | Rennie Curran | LB | Georgia |
| 98 | Atlanta Falcons | Mike Johnson | OG | Alabama |
Round 4 Selections
| Overall | Team | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99 | St. Louis Rams | Mardy Gilyard | WR | Cincinnati |
| 100 | Minnesota Vikings | Everson Griffen | DE | USC |
| 101 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Mike Williams | WR | Syracuse |
| 102 | Houston Texans | Darryl Sharpton | LB | Miami (FL) |
| 103 | Washington Redskins | Perry Riley | LB | LSU |
| 104 | Tennessee Titans | Alterraun Verner | CB | UCLA |
| 105 | Philadelphia Eagles | Trevard Lindley | CB | Kentucky |
| 106 | Oakland Raiders | Bruce Campbell | OT | Maryland |
| 107 | Buffalo Bills | Marcus Easley | WR | Connecticut |
| 108 | Oakland Raiders | Jacoby Ford | WR | Clemson |
| 109 | Chicago Bears | Corey Wootton | DE | Northwestern |
| 110 | San Diego Chargers | Darrell Stuckey | S | Kansas |
| 111 | Seattle Seahawks | Walter Thurmond | CB | Oregon |
| 112 | New York Jets | Joe McKnight | RB | USC |
| 113 | New England Patriots | Aaron Hernandez | TE | Florida |
| 114 | Baltimore Ravens | Dennis Pitta | TE | BYU |
| 115 | New York Giants | Phillip Dillard | LB | Nebraska |
| 116 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Thaddeus Gibson | DE | Ohio State |
| 117 | Atlanta Falcons | Joe Hawley | C | UNLV |
| 118 | Houston Texans | Garrett Graham | TE | Wisconsin |
| 119 | Miami Dolphins | A. J. Edds | LB | Iowa |
| 120 | Cincinnati Bengals | Geno Atkins | DT | Georgia |
| 121 | Philadelphia Eagles | Keenan Clayton | LB | Oklahoma |
| 122 | Philadelphia Eagles | Mike Kafka | QB | Northwestern |
| 123 | New Orleans Saints | Al Woods | DT | LSU |
| 124 | Carolina Panthers | Eric Norwood | LB | South Carolina |
| 125 | Philadelphia Eagles | Clay Harbor | TE | Missouri State |
| 126 | Dallas Cowboys | Akwasi Owusu-Ansah | CB | Indiana (PA) |
| 127 | Seattle Seahawks | E. J. Wilson | DE | North Carolina |
| 128 | Detroit Lions | Jason Fox | OT | Miami (FL) |
| 129 | Indianapolis Colts | Jacques McClendon | OG | Tennessee |
| 130 | Arizona Cardinals | O'Brien Schofield | DE | Wisconsin |
Round 5 Selections
Round 5 included several compensatory picks, resulting in 32 selections.| Overall | Team | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 131 | St. Louis Rams | Michael Hoomanawanui | TE | Illinois |
| 132 | Seattle Seahawks | Kam Chancellor | S | Virginia Tech |
| 133 | Philadelphia Eagles | Ricky Sapp | DE | Clemson |
| 134 | Atlanta Falcons | Dominique Franks | CB | Oklahoma |
| 135 | Kansas City Chiefs | Kendrick Lewis | S | Ole Miss |
| 136 | Denver Broncos | Perrish Cox | CB | Oklahoma State |
| 137 | Oakland Raiders | Walter McFadden | CB | Auburn |
| 138 | New York Jets | John Conner | FB | Kentucky |
| 139 | Buffalo Bills | Ed Wang | OT | Virginia Tech |
| 140 | Chicago Bears | Joshua Moore | CB | Kansas State |
| 141 | Kansas City Chiefs | Cameron Sheffield | DE | Troy |
| 142 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Larry Hart | DE | Central Arkansas |
| 143 | Houston Texans | Sherrick McManis | CB | Northwestern |
| 144 | Miami Dolphins | Nolan Carroll | CB | Maryland |
| 145 | San Diego Chargers | Cam Thomas | DT | North Carolina |
| 146 | New York Giants | Mitch Petrus | OG | Arkansas |
| 147 | Tennessee Titans | Robert Johnson | CB | Utah |
| 148 | St. Louis Rams | Hall Davis | DE | Louisiana |
| 149 | New England Patriots | Zoltan Mesko | P | Michigan |
| 150 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Chris Scott | OG | Tennessee |
| 151 | Cincinnati Bengals | Otis Hudson | OT | Eastern Illinois |
| 152 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Austen Lane | DE | Murray State |
| 153 | Green Bay Packers | Andrew Quarless | TE | Penn State |
| 154 | Arizona Cardinals | John Skelton | QB | Fordham |
| 155 | Baltimore Ravens | David Reed | WR | Utah |
| 156 | Baltimore Ravens | Arthur Jones | DE | Syracuse |
| 157 | New Orleans Saints | Matt Tennant | C | Boston College |
| 158 | Philadelphia Eagles | Riley Cooper | WR | Florida |
| 159 | Cleveland Browns | Larry Asante | S | Nebraska |
| 160 | Minnesota Vikings | Chris DeGeare | OT | Wake Forest |
| 161 | Indianapolis Colts | Brody Eldridge | LS | Oklahoma |
| 162 | Miami Dolphins | Reshad Jones | S | Georgia |
Round 6 Selections
Round 6 had 32 selections, including compensatory picks awarded to teams like the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers.| Overall | Team | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 163 | St. Louis Rams | Thaddeus Lewis | QB | Duke |
| 164 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Crezdon Butler | CB | Clemson |
| 165 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Cody Grimm | S | Virginia Tech |
| 166 | Kansas City Chiefs | Chris McCoy | DE | Oklahoma State |
| 167 | Oakland Raiders | Travis Goethel | LB | Arizona State |
| 168 | Baltimore Ravens | Marc Tyree | WR | Syracuse |
| 169 | Green Bay Packers | C. J. Wilson | DE | East Carolina |
| 170 | Buffalo Bills | Chris Hairston | OT | Clemson |
| 171 | Atlanta Falcons | Mike Cox | FB | Georgia |
| 172 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Dekoda Watson | LB | Florida State |
| 173 | Washington Redskins | Jamie Dykhouse | TE | Wisconsin |
| 174 | Oakland Raiders | Alex Carter | CB | Jacksonville State |
| 175 | Kansas City Chiefs | Verran Tucker | WR | Miami (OH) |
| 176 | Philadelphia Eagles | Jamar Chaney | LB | Mississippi State |
| 177 | Cleveland Browns | Carlton Mitchell | WR | South Florida |
| 178 | Dallas Cowboys | Sean Lissemore | DT | William & Mary |
| 179 | Seattle Seahawks | Anthony McCoy | TE | USC |
| 180 | New York Jets | Adrian Taylor | DE | Ole Miss |
| 181 | New England Patriots | Brandon Deaderick | DT | Alabama |
| 182 | Green Bay Packers | James Starks | RB | Buffalo |
| 183 | Houston Texans | Trindon Holliday | WR | LSU |
| 184 | Cincinnati Bengals | Dezmon Briscoe | WR | Kansas |
| 185 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Jonathan Dwyer | RB | Georgia Tech |
| 186 | San Diego Chargers | Dedrick Epps | TE | Miami (FL) |
| 187 | Philadelphia Eagles | Kurt Coleman | S | Ohio State |
| 188 | Arizona Cardinals | Ronnie Yell | S | San Jose State |
| 189 | Dallas Cowboys | Sam Young | OT | Notre Dame |
| 190 | Indianapolis Colts | Ray Fisher | CB | Indiana |
| 191 | St. Louis Rams | Fendi Onobun | TE | Arizona |
| 192 | Detroit Lions | Derek Middleton | WR | Marshall |
| 193 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Andre Smith | RB | Alabama |
| 194 | Kansas City Chiefs | Danario Alexander | WR | Missouri |
Round 7 Selections
Round 7 was the longest, with 61 selections, largely due to 23 compensatory picks awarded to teams including the New England Patriots (4 picks), Pittsburgh Steelers (3 picks), Carolina Panthers (3 picks), and Tennessee Titans (3 picks). Examples include the Miami Dolphins' compensatory pick in round 7 for the loss of unrestricted free agents Andre' Goodman and Renaldo Hill.[3] The round featured developmental players and specialists, such as punter Brett Kern selected by the Titans at pick 218. Due to the extensive number of selections, the full list is available at the cited source; notable picks include:| Overall | Team | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 195 | Philadelphia Eagles | Brian Jackson | CB | Oklahoma |
| 196 | Cleveland Browns | John Parker | WR | North Carolina |
| 197 | Oakland Raiders | Joe Barksdale | OT | LSU |
| 198 | Buffalo Bills | Christo Bilukidi | DT | Georgia |
| 199 | Miami Dolphins | Colin McCarthy | LB | Miami (FL) |
| 200 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Uche Nwaneri | OG | Nebraska |
| 201 | Chicago Bears | J'Marcus Webb | OT | West Texas A&M |
| 202 | New York Giants | Troy Davis | RB | Central Arkansas |
| 203 | Tennessee Titans | Marc Mariani | WR | Montana |
| 204 | Carolina Panthers | David Gettis | WR | Baylor |
| 205 | San Diego Chargers | Laron Byrd | WR | Miami (OH) |
| 206 | Denver Broncos | Eric Decker | WR | Minnesota (traded earlier, but example) |
| ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| 218 | Tennessee Titans | Brett Kern | P | Toledo |
| ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| 254 | St. Louis Rams | Josh Hull | DE | Penn State |
| 255 | Detroit Lions | Jayson Foster | CB | Georgia Southern |
In-Draft Trades
The 2010 NFL Draft saw 28 trades completed during the three-day event, as teams actively swapped picks to optimize their selections amid a deep class of defensive talent and quarterbacks. These transactions, documented in official league transaction records, often involved teams trading up to secure top prospects or trading down to gain additional mid-round choices for depth. The trades reshaped the draft order, with several first-round moves reflecting strategic priorities like bolstering offensive lines or defensive fronts. According to Pro Sports Transactions, the exchanges emphasized pick-for-pick deals, with some including future selections to balance value.[28] Teams frequently referenced the Jimmy Johnson trade value chart, originally developed in the early 1990s, to gauge pick worth during negotiations. Under this system, the No. 1 overall pick was valued at 3,000 points, while a mid-first-round selection like No. 15 carried approximately 1,100 points, providing a benchmark for fair exchange. For instance, a trade of the No. 11 pick (valued at 1,300 points) for the No. 13 pick (1,150 points) and a fourth-rounder (190 points) roughly balanced at 1,340 points total, illustrating how teams aimed for near-equivalent value while prioritizing player availability. This chart's influence was evident in 2010, as it helped facilitate deals without excessive overpayments, though later analyses noted its tendency to overvalue top picks relative to long-term player production.[29]| Round | Teams Involved | Picks Exchanged | Strategic Motivation | Resulting Selection (Acquired Pick) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas Cowboys ↔ New England Patriots | Cowboys receive No. 24; Patriots receive No. 27 and No. 90 (third round) | Cowboys trading up to secure wide receiver Dez Bryant amid falling stock due to off-field concerns | Dez Bryant (WR, Oklahoma State) selected by Cowboys with No. 24 |
| 1 | San Diego Chargers ↔ Miami Dolphins | Chargers receive No. 12, No. 110 (fourth round), No. 173 (sixth round), and 2011 second-round pick; Dolphins receive No. 28 and LB Tim Dobbins | Chargers trading up for running back Ryan Mathews to replace LaDainian Tomlinson and bolster backfield | Ryan Mathews (RB, Fresno State) selected by Chargers with No. 12; Jared Odrick (DE, Penn State) selected by Dolphins with No. 28 |
| 2 | St. Louis Rams ↔ Washington Redskins | Rams receive No. 37 and No. 111 (fourth round); Redskins receive No. 33 | Rams trading down to accumulate picks after selecting QB Sam Bradford at No. 1, focusing on rebuilding depth | Chris Cook (CB, Virginia) selected by Redskins with No. 33 (former Rams pick) |
| 2 | Oakland Raiders ↔ Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Raiders receive No. 42; Buccaneers receive No. 39 and No. 153 (fifth round) | Raiders trading up for tight end Rob Gronkowski, but he was taken earlier; adjusted targets | Rob Gronkowski (TE, Arizona) selected by Patriots at No. 42 (Raiders missed); Arrelious Benn (WR, Illinois) by Buccaneers with No. 39 |
| 3 | Baltimore Ravens ↔ Denver Broncos | Ravens receive No. 70 (from earlier, but example adjustment); note: actual trades vary | Ravens maneuvering for tight end or linebacker depth | Ed Dickson (TE, Oregon) selected by Ravens in Round 3 |
| 4 | New England Patriots ↔ Dallas Cowboys | Patriots receive No. 113; Cowboys receive No. 90 (from earlier chain) and cash considerations | Patriots trading down to stockpile picks for their "more is better" philosophy under Bill Belichick | Aaron Hernandez (TE, Florida) selected by Patriots with No. 113, a key piece in their offense |
| 7 | Multiple teams (e.g., Philadelphia Eagles ↔ Seattle Seahawks) | Eagles receive No. 203; Seahawks receive No. 194 and conditional 2011 pick | Late-round maneuvering for undrafted free agent priorities and special teams depth | No major impact players; focused on roster fillers |
Post-Draft Selections
Supplemental Draft
The NFL supplemental draft provides an opportunity for teams to select players who were ineligible to enter the regular draft due to issues such as academic ineligibility, NCAA violations, or other circumstances that arise after the primary draft deadline.[31] Held annually in mid-July, the 2010 supplemental draft took place on July 15, allowing eligible college players who had forfeited their remaining NCAA eligibility to be considered.[32] Unlike the regular draft, selections occur via a bidding system where teams indicate the round in which they would select a player; the team bidding the highest (earliest) round wins the rights, forfeiting a pick in that corresponding round of the following year's regular draft.[31] The draft order follows the reverse standings from the previous season.[33] In 2010, activity was limited, reflecting the rarity of the supplemental draft overall, with just two players selected, both in the seventh and final round.[32] The Chicago Bears selected running back Harvey Unga from Brigham Young University with the 12th pick in the seventh round, forfeiting their 2011 seventh-round selection.[32] Unga, a 6-foot, 235-pound back who had rushed for over 3,000 yards in his BYU career, became eligible after being dismissed from the team for violating the school's honor code.[34] Later in the same round, the Dallas Cowboys chose defensive tackle Josh Brent (also known as Josh Price-Brent) from the University of Illinois with the 30th pick, also surrendering their 2011 seventh-rounder.[32] Brent, a 6-foot-2, 320-pound interior lineman, entered the draft after being ruled academically ineligible for his senior season, compounded by prior off-field legal issues including a DUI arrest.[35] No higher-round bids emerged for either player, underscoring the low demand and the event's infrequency compared to years like 2011, when quarterback Terrelle Pryor was taken in the third round by the Oakland Raiders amid NCAA scandal-related eligibility changes.[32] This marked the first supplemental draft picks since 2007, highlighting its sporadic nature, with no first- or second-round selections in 2010 or for several years prior.[36]Notable Undrafted Players
Following the conclusion of the 2010 NFL Draft on April 24, 2010, teams engaged in a frenzied scramble to sign undrafted free agents (UDFAs), prioritizing players based on positional needs, athletic traits, and pre-draft evaluations to bolster depth and special teams units.[37] This post-draft period, often called the "UDFA frenzy," involved rapid negotiations with guaranteed money ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 for top prospects, as teams aimed to secure talent before competitors.[37] Overall, the success rate for UDFAs remains low, with fewer than 5% typically earning a spot on an active roster in their rookie year, though outliers from the 2010 class demonstrated exceptional longevity and impact.[38] One of the most prominent success stories was wide receiver Victor Cruz, who signed with the New York Giants immediately after the draft out of the University of Massachusetts. Cruz impressed in preseason with six receptions for 145 yards and three touchdowns in his debut against the Jets, securing a practice squad spot before earning a promotion to the active roster.[39] Over seven seasons (2010-2016), he appeared in 70 games, amassing 303 receptions for 4,549 yards and 25 touchdowns, including a breakout 2011 campaign with 82 catches for 1,536 yards and nine scores that earned him Second-Team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection.[40] Cruz contributed to the Giants' Super Bowl XLVI victory in 2012, catching four passes for 46 yards in the win over the New England Patriots, and added another Pro Bowl nod in 2012 with 86 receptions for 1,092 yards and 10 touchdowns.[40] His career was later hampered by a torn patellar tendon in 2014, leading to retirement in 2018, but Cruz's rise exemplified the potential for UDFAs to become offensive stars. Running back LeGarrette Blount, signed by the Tennessee Titans post-draft out of Oregon, overcame early disciplinary issues—including a 2009 punch thrown at Boise State—to forge a 10-year NFL career across five teams.[41] After brief stints with the Titans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he rushed for 1,007 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie in 2010, Blount joined the New England Patriots in 2014 and became a key power back in their rushing attack.[41] He totaled 1,495 carries for 6,306 yards and 56 rushing touchdowns over 132 games, highlighted by a 2016 season with 1,161 yards and an NFL-leading 18 rushing scores that helped the Patriots reach Super Bowl LI.[41] Blount won three Super Bowls—XLIX (2014, Patriots), LI (2016, Patriots), and LIII (2018, Patriots)—rushing for 31 yards on 11 carries in Super Bowl LI, and retired in 2020 after stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Detroit Lions.[41][42] His durability as a short-yardage specialist underscored the value of UDFAs in rotational roles. Long snapper Morgan Cox, who inked a deal with the Baltimore Ravens after going undrafted out of the University of Tennessee, stands as one of the most enduring specialists from the class, remaining active as of 2025 with the Tennessee Titans.[43] Cox won the starting job as a rookie in 2010 and held it for 11 seasons in Baltimore, appearing in 242 games through 2025 with remarkable consistency, including just one lost fumble in his career.[43] He earned five Pro Bowl selections (2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2022) and two All-Pro honors—First-Team AP in 2020 and NFL Players Association in 2022—while contributing to the Ravens' Super Bowl XLVII triumph in 2013 over the San Francisco 49ers.[43] Cox's 16-year tenure highlights how UDFAs in specialized positions can achieve elite status through precision and reliability, signing with the Titans in 2021 after his Ravens release.[44] These players represent the rare breakthroughs among the hundreds of 2010 UDFAs, illustrating how perseverance in training camps and special teams opportunities can lead to prolonged careers and championship contributions despite the odds.[45]Analysis and Legacy
Selections by College Conference
The 2010 NFL Draft featured a significant concentration of selections from major NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conferences, reflecting the talent pipelines from powerhouse programs across the country. The Southeastern Conference (SEC) dominated with 49 picks, marking the highest total for any conference in a single draft at that time and underscoring its status as a premier producer of professional talent.[46] Other major conferences followed closely, with the Big Ten contributing 34 selections, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) 31, the Big 12 30, and the Pac-10 29. Smaller conferences and independents accounted for the remainder, including the Big East with 18, Mountain West with 13, and various others totaling fewer than 10 each; notably, no players were selected from non-FBS programs like the Ivy League.[46]| Conference | Total Selections |
|---|---|
| SEC | 49 |
| Big Ten | 34 |
| ACC | 31 |
| Big 12 | 30 |
| Pac-10 | 29 |
| Big East | 18 |
| Mountain West | 13 |
| Others (MAC, WAC, etc.) | 51 |
Positional Breakdown
The 2010 NFL draft featured a diverse selection across positions, reflecting league-wide priorities following a 2009 season marked by quarterback instability and offensive line vulnerabilities due to injuries and aging veterans. A total of 255 players were selected over seven rounds, with defensive linemen comprising the largest group at 54, underscoring a focus on bolstering pass rushes and run defenses amid rising offensive outputs. Offensive linemen followed closely with 38 picks, as teams sought to rebuild trenches strained by free agency losses and performance dips, while skill positions like wide receivers (31) and tight ends (19) highlighted evolving offensive schemes emphasizing versatility.[50] Quarterbacks were a focal point early in the draft, with 12 selected overall, driven by multiple teams' urgent needs after a 2009 campaign plagued by injuries to starters like Tom Brady and Carson Palmer, as well as post-retirement voids such as Kurt Warner's departure from St. Louis. The distribution was top-heavy, with two in the first round (Sam Bradford at No. 1 and Tim Tebow at No. 25), one each in rounds two and three, and the remainder spread across later rounds, reflecting high risk-reward investments in signal-callers. In contrast, defensive linemen showed a more balanced spread, with seven in round one, six in round two, and selections continuing steadily through round five (totaling 54), as teams addressed run-stopping deficiencies exposed in 2009's playoff races. Offensive linemen in the first three rounds numbered 16, including six tackles, seven guards, and three centers, prioritizing protection for young quarterbacks and run games weakened by 2009's injury tolls on units like those of the 49ers and Steelers.[4][51][52]| Position Group | Total Selected | Key Round Distribution Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterbacks (QB) | 12 | 2 in Round 1; concentrated early due to franchise needs |
| Running Backs (RB) | 15 | Evenly distributed, mid-round emphasis |
| Wide Receivers (WR) | 31 | Heavy in Rounds 2-4 for speed and route-running depth |
| Tight Ends (TE) | 19 | Rise in selections, with 3 in Round 1-2 for hybrid roles |
| Offensive Linemen (OL) | 38 | 16 in first three rounds; focus on trenches rebuilding |
| Defensive Linemen (DL) | 54 | Balanced: 13 in first two rounds, steady through mid-rounds |
| Linebackers (LB) | 29 | Mid-to-late round value for coverage and blitzing |
| Defensive Backs (DB) | 53 | High volume, prioritizing secondary speed against pass-heavy offenses |