But one 2010 mock had us winning it all

These are fun because it highlights who we should pay attention to during the next college football season, but they are extremely inaccurate. For one, McShay is only using players who will have used up eligibility after the 2009 season. No one believes that will happen. Next, as I look at the top 10 picks in this years draft and try to remember where they were in last year’s mock draft I think only Crabtree, Andre Smith, Eugene Monroe and Aaron Curry were guys projected to go that high. Maualuga and Laurentitis were both seen as top 5 picks. Donald Brown, Robert Ayers, Larry English, Tyson Jackson, Clay Matthews weren’t even in the conversation as 1st rounders last April. These mocks are also just projections of team needs and who they might like. Unlike the mocks that come right before the draft, there is no insider information that helps fit the pieces together.

Other than that, I trust McShay enough to figure that at least 67% of the guys mentioned here would be first round picks if the draft were held today. There are just way too many forces working against a mock like this to treat as anything other than fun garbage.

It might be more interesting to work this backwards. McShay should put out a list of 1st round talents for 2010, a small description, a note as to whether their stock was rising or falling at the end of 2009 and list the teams that have a need for a player at that position. That would be 10 times more useful. But, you got to give the people what they want and they want mock drafts.

I’ve got Hughes at 15 in my 2010 mock.