We buy it so you don't have to: Sporting News Draft 2010

by Dan Kadar on Mar 16, 2010 7:52 PM EDT in 2010 NFL Draft

It's the time of the year where NFL Draft annuals start hitting the stands. Here's a look at the Sporting News Draft 2010 magazine. Why? So you don't have to buy it.

Pages: 152 | Cost: $7.99

Thoughts: This one is pretty. Glossy cover and pages, so slick on my fingers. The front-of-the-book features are solid – particularly a look back on the disaster 2005 draft. It's written by Pete Williams, author of The Draft: A Year Inside the NFL's Search for Talent (which I've read three times). The other features are nice and quick reads.

The mock draft is kind of a mess. If you've followed the comments here at MTD, you'll know what I mean. Need proof? With pick No. 16, they give San Francisco Thaddeus Gibson. On the next page, Gibson is rated as one of their most overrated players. Another highlight is Maurkice Pouncey dropping to third round. But mocks are unique to the writer, so whatever there.

Two pages are devoted to a chart so you can write in the draft picks. Does anyone ever do that? If so, please comment and let me know why.

Then, there's the rankings. I had to put this magazine down after seeing Jonathan Crompton rated as the No. 2 overall quarterback. Other notables: Tony Moeaki (No. 2 TE), Jason Worilds (No. 5 DE), Everson Griffen (No. 11 DE), Dan Williams (No. 10 DT), Donald Butler (No. 1 MLB), rating Earl Thomas' hands as his worst asset.

The back-end is filled with team needs, projected depth chart and 2009 draft overview.

Overall: This is a solid magazine. It feels like I got my money's worth on it. There is a lot of useless stuff – the draft chart, team needs that are moot following free agency, a history of Mr. Irrelevant. But this is decent.

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Comments

Sporting News is a great magazine and all but their so called Draft Experts are terrible. Russ Lande is the worst, Hes got undrafted guys going in the second round in mocks and his rankings are terrrible. I mean come on Thaddeus Gibson in the first round. The guy will probably be a third round pick. Crompton 2, thats just insane. Just terrible.

by Yankees10 on Mar 16, 2010 7:57 PM EDT reply actions

I know some people don’t like CLausen, but REALLY?? CROMPTON?

Scientific research has proven that you lose exactly 5.37 billion brain cells every time you listen to Todd McShay.

by TheRealSlimShady on Mar 16, 2010 8:22 PM EDT reply actions

As a Vols fan

Cromp really shouldn’t be drafted. He had a few decent games toward the end of last year but was only able to digest part of a play book and never really looked good. For some reason I think someone will pick him up in the 5th or later but it would be a mistake. I usually don’t bash former Vols, but he just doesn’t have “it”…

by BlueVol03 on Mar 16, 2010 11:46 PM EDT reply actions

I was waiting to hear what your thoughts on Crompton were. I think everyone is only looking at a few games and all-star game practices.

Mocking the Draft: Your NFL Draft source.

by Dan Kadar on Mar 17, 2010 12:25 AM EDT up reply actions

Honestly

Kiffin helped him last season in that he watered down the playbook so Crompton wouldn’t have to think too hard. Early in the season, and even the year before that, Crompton really showed he couldn’t play under pressure (or with anyone chasing him for that matter). He consistently threw the ball either way too high or straight at a receiver’s feet. Kiffin’s watered down playbook allowed him to get rid of the ball quickly and didn’t force him to make any decisions (which would’ve been bad).

Being a former Vol, I feel for the guy. However, I wouldn’t waste a pick on him and would only bring him in as a UDFA for the Practice Squad. Maybe a good staff could coach him up but I wouldn’t put him in any game situations for a few years.

Most Vol fans would agree, unless the last few games of the Crompton era actually did erase the year and a half of misery that he and the coaching staff put us through.

by BlueVol03 on Mar 17, 2010 9:27 AM EDT up reply actions