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There are always swirling rumors, ideas, theories, hunches etc. around this time of year. The following fall into the “ideas/theories/hunches” category.

In a recent phone interview with Earl Mitchell, he mentioned that shortly after the combine he was contacted by both the Cincinnati Bengals and the St. Louis Rams. For those who don’t know who Earl Mitchell is, he is a defensive end out of Arizona who recently attended the NFL combine.  Those who have followed several mock drafts since they were first released may have noticed some changes atop the draft board of late. Early mocks had Ndamukong Suh, the defensive tackle from Nebraska, at the top. Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy also got some top-pick mentions and the most recent mocks have featured Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford as top dog.

It’s no secret that the St. Louis Rams, who hold the first pick of the upcoming draft, need help at several different positions. But none more than at quarterback and defensive line, specifically the tackle and end positions which provide a pass rush. If the latest mock drafts hold form, Mitchell will likely be available after the first round. Mitchell also explained that the Rams were “persistent” when it came to meeting with him.  “…It was a pretty quick interview, but they were pretty persistent on getting me down there to speak with them. I feel like they’re very interested as well,” said Mitchell.  With all of this in mind, it would not be crazy to think that Mitchell very well could end up in St. Louis.

The Bengals are in better shape than the Rams, but their needs are similar. They aren’t deep at the defensive end position, or any pass rushing position for that matter. Mitchell is athletic, has played on the offensive side of the ball at several positions, and shows great footwork because of it. One person who has surely noticed Mitchell’s skill set is Bengal defensive line coach, Jay Hayes. Hayes got a chance to work with Mitchell as the West squad’s defensive line coach at this year’s East-West Shrine Game. Could he have put in a good word for Mitchell after working with him first hand? It is definitely a possibility, and the fact that the Bengals were one of only two teams to contact Mitchell after the combine only increases the likelihood.

Once again these are just theories, and hold no factual weight. However, the above information explains how Mitchell could easily end up in a Rams or Bengals uniform after the draft.

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Being able to play one position at a high level is a good thing, but being able to play numerous positions at a high level is great thing and is becoming more and more coveted by NFL teams. Two examples of players with this rare trait are Arizona’s Earl Mitchell and Virginia Tech’s Ed Wang. Mitchell, in his first two college seasons at Arizona, played halfback, fullback, and tight end before converting to defensive end for his final two seasons. He played so well on defense that some NFL teams at the combine had no idea that he began his football career as an offensive player. “You try and meet as many teams as possible because a lot of the head coaches and general managers, they really don’t know much about you. A lot of teams didn’t understand that I played offense for two years and then I played all on defense my last two years,” explained Mitchell. Once teams found out that he did in fact play different positions, and played them well, inquiries about his willingness to contribute at other positions at the next level started to surface. “I was asked by the Seahawks, asked by a couple guys, the Falcons…just different teams said they could see me in the future playing some goal line type deals with lead blocking and stuff and I told them I was willing to do it.”

In similar fashion, Wang converted to offensive tackle after playing tight end for the majority of his football career. He was even recruited out of high school as a tight end. “At first I didn’t really want to move to tackle because I really liked playing tight end. I played tight end for the better part of my football career, but when it got down to it, it was what the team really needed. When I embraced that and just went with it then everything, I think, went pretty smoothly,” explained Wang. That may not be Wang’s last transition as a football player, as some scouts have speculated that he may be suited to play the guard position as well. Several teams asked him about making the switch in the NFL. “Actually, they brought it up a couple of times.  I’d probably say maybe three or four teams brought it up saying, ‘If we needed you at guard, would you be willing to make that transition?’ Of course I’d love to make the transition if they needed me to be there.”

Whether this versatility ups both players’ stock come draft time remains to be seen, but it certainly won’t hurt. With the game evolving with bigger, stronger, and faster athletes, injuries are becoming commonplace. Finding a player that can play more than one position not only adds depth, it also allows general managers more freedom to take more risks on other roster spots that need to be filled. This trend of finding multi-position players, or hybrids, is becoming more popular because of the added benefits. This year’s draft will be the measuring stick of how far this trend has come, with Mitchell and Wang being the markers.

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One of the biggest stories coming out of the last day of the NFL Combine was cornerback Joe Haden of Florida running a 4.57 and a 4.60, forty-yard dash. Most people either saw it on NFL Network or heard about the news. Scouts, General Managers, media and football fans alike couldn’t believe it, most people expected him to run in the low 4.4-range and now many people feel unless he comes back and runs a good time at his pro day that he will drop in the draft.

But the real question should be; “Is Joe Haden the best cornerback in this years class?” The answer is a resounding YES. Prior to the combine, Haden was considered a top-ten talent. The NFL Combine and the test that the players do, allow scouts and personnel people to get a comparison on players at each position, but is it just a small part of their overall evaluation of a player.

Example: Flashback to the 2005 NFL Draft, there where three running backs that where vying for the number one spot; Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams of Auburn and Cedric Benson of Texas. When we went into the combine and everyone thought that these three players where all top-five picks but didn’t know what order that they would go in, but when Ronnie Brown had a great combine and blew everyone away with his forty-yard dash, it was set and Ronnie Brown was going to be the first running back off the board.

So with no other prospect challenging Haden for the number one cornerback spot in this year’s draft, his slow forty-time doesn’t really hurt him as much as people think. Now he will get a chance to run it again on March 17th at Florida’s Pro Day and he hopes for a better time, but when Aprill 22nd comes around Joe Haden will still hear his name called in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft.

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Every Monday we will bring you a new mock draft from one of our staff writers. This week’s mock draft comes courtesy of NFL Draft Bible Editor-In-Chief Ross "Rosstradamus" Mandel.

1.    St. Louis Rams— Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska. What do you get the team that needs everything? Ndamukong Suh, that’s what. Those who nitpick about his lack of pass rush ability and so-so athleticism are delusional. There are no flaws here—he’s big, athletic, disruptive, strong, and can take over a game at any time. Taking a QB here would be a reach and the Rams would be wise to wait until the second round, or even the 2011 draft, to do so.

2.    Detroit Lions—Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma. The former Sooner is going to be a pass-rushing force in Detroit. He’s a terrific athlete that is quick off the snap and possesses wide variety of NFL-ready moves. Even though he’s going to jump in and make a name for himself, there remains some upside. Like Suh, he’s a solid character guy. No worries for Detroit here.

3.    Tampa Bay Buccaneers—Eric Berry, S, Tennessee. Tampa needs help everywhere on defense, but they should begin with the playmaker from Tennessee. His tackling has improved and the ubiquitous comparisons to Ed Reed are fair ones.

4.    Washington Redskins—Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma St. The Redskins have plenty of problems, but quarterback is a bit down the list. Besides, you must first protect the quarterback and there’s no one better suited to do so right away than Okung.

5.    Kansas City Chiefs—Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers. Although he’s a bit less polished than Okung, Davis’ upside might be higher. The Rutgers man possesses strength, athleticism, and the ability to block effectively in the run and pass games.

6.    Seattle Seahawks—Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma. Seattle needs a quarterback…now. Matt Hasselbeck is contracted through this season, but the writing has been on the wall for some time—this team isn’t going anywhere with him. Pete Carroll has a choice to make here, but it’s between players at the position. Bradford will not disappoint.

7.    Cleveland Browns—Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame. Shocking? Not really if you think about it. Brady Quinn has been anything but impressive and Mike Holmgren is going to want his own guy manning the position. Clausen is football smart, can make all of the throws, has an abundance of moxie, and played well despite the lack of a supporting cast. Sounds like a perfect fit.  

8.    Oakland Raiders—Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland. No one buys combine hype like Al Davis and Campbell is sure to soar up the Raiders’ board after his outstanding performance in Indy. His reach, strength and 40-time will be too much for Davis to pass up.

9.    Buffalo Bills—Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa. The Bills would be wise to trade up for a quarterback, but they won’t. Instead, they’ll choose a player that can protect the quarterback and Bulaga can certainly do that.

10.    Jacksonville Jaguars—Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida. He’s a bit raw, but has enough athleticism to get to NFL quarterbacks. Jacksonville needs massive pass rush help and the USF man will provide at least some of it.

11.    Denver Broncos—Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma St. The new Brandon Marshall (complete with some of the diva qualities?) arrives in the Mile High with deep-threat ability and the size to frustrate even the best NFL corners. He doesn’t have elite speed, but getting open is more important and Bryant can do it better than anyone in the draft.

12.    Miami Dolphins—Dan Williams, NT, Tennessee. The Fish need a nose man and here’s where they’ll have to take one. Williams will take up a tremendous amount of space and help Miami’s mediocre run defense.   

13.    San Francisco 49ers—Joe Haden, CB, Florida. The Niners will be fortunate to have the best corner in the draft fall to them, but they’ll certainly take him. Haden’s outstanding cover skills and body control should have him higher than this, but teams will no doubt be scared off by his sluggish 40-time at the combine. It will be their mistake.

14.    Seattle Seahawks—Charles Brown, OT, USC. Seattle needs help protecting the quarterback, and Pete Carroll is quite familiar with the athletic lineman out of Southern Cal. He needs to put on some weight and play a more physical game, but he can pass block now and will only get better once he bulks up.

15.    New York Giants—Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama. The perfect Giants player—heady, strong-willed, and a leader. The lack of linebacking talent in Gotham makes this a pretty easy pick. Yeah, he might be better initially in a 3-4 scheme, but the man is a ‘baller. He’ll be fine.

16.    Tennessee Titans—Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech. Jeff Fisher’s crew needs a pass-rushing end, and they’ll be overjoyed to have Morgan land in their laps. He’s an explosive and athletic player with an array of moves and the ability to stuff the run.

17.    San Francisco 49ers—Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma. He measured in with acceptable height, weight, and wingspan at the combine, but there remain doubts about his ability to man the left side. He may get there eventually, but he’ll be better suited on the right. The Niners need him there.

18.    Pittsburgh Steelers—Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho. It’s no secret that the Steelers need offensive line help and with the big man from Idaho, they’ll get it. Iupati struggled at tackle during the Senior Bowl, but he did make the effort to play a relatively new position. Pittsburgh will figure out how best to use him.

19.    Atlanta Falcons—Everson Griffen, DE/OLB, USC. He has nice size, adequate speed…but will he be able to deliver on a consistent basis? Atlanta will say “yes” to that, and hope that Griffen will help them increase their sack total from 2009 (28).

20.    Houston Texans—Earl Thomas, S, Texas. The Texans secondary was shaky last season, and now they’ve lost Dunta Robinson to Atlanta. However, reaching for a CB here would not be wise; instead, they’ll grab Thomas. A ball-hawking safety would start the rebuilding process in the secondary with a bang.

21.    Cincinnati Bengals—C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson. He’ll be shocked to fall this far, but the bottom line is Spiller isn’t a franchise running back. However, he IS a terrific outside complement to Cedric Benson. In the ever-evolving two-back scheme, he’s a great get at this point.  

22.    New England Patriots—Brandon Graham, DE/OLB, Michigan. If he’s here, there’s no way the Pats pass on him. They need a pass rusher and some youthful energy on the defensive side of the ball. Graham’s knack for making big plays and his overall talent outweighs his so-called lack of size.

23.    Green Bay Packers—Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri. There are a lot of well-known names at the linebacking spot for Green Bay, but some of those names are just that. Weatherspoon is a productive all-around player; he might not be the best at penetrating into the backfield or dropping into coverage, but he does both very well. Drafting a corner here would be a reach.

24.    Philadelphia Eagles—Taylor Mays, S, USC. Philly needs a safety and their fans may actually cheer a draft pick with this selection. Mays can lay the wood and looks the part with his physique…but despite his big-time reputation, there is still some work to be done here. He’ll be one of the more interesting players to follow in 2010.

25.    Baltimore Ravens—Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma. It’s enough with Todd Heap already. Gresham’s health has held up and the Ravens will complete their two-man offensive overhaul (Anquan Boldin) when they call his name. Adding a smooth route runner with excellent after-the-catch skills would be enough, but the former Sooner can block too.

26.    Arizona Cardinals—Sergio Kindle, OLB, Texas. The former Longhorn fills a major need at linebacker for the Cards. His athleticism and pass-rushing skills will be a welcomed addition.

27.    Dallas Cowboys—Maurkice Pouncey, C/OG, Florida. Versatile, quick, and intelligent, Pouncey will bring much-needed help to the Dallas offensive line. He also has that nasty streak which coaches love.

28.    San Diego Chargers—Jared Odrick, DT, Penn St. Versatile enough to play in either a 3-4 or a 4-3, Odrick’s strength/speed combo is what will ultimately make the Chargers pleased with this pick. Running back is a need, but that can be addressed later in this draft.  

29.    New York Jets—Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida. He’s got plenty of red flags, but a coach like Rex Ryan may see that as a challenge, especially when dealing with someone with Dunlap’s talent. To Ryan, he’s worth the risk. Dunlap has strength aplenty as well as a quick initial burst…but he’ll have to be more consistent with his effort. Expect Ryan and the rest of the Jet D to make sure he is.

30.    Minnesota Vikings—Brian Price, DT, UCLA. Tough and athletic, Price will help the Vikes get a bit younger on the defensive line, something they must do if they’re going to remain among the elite teams in the NFL. Price’s sub par combine showing is what caused him to drop this far after lofty expectations just a few months ago. He’s the type of player that will take that personally and make those who passed on him live to regret it.

31.    Indianapolis Colts—Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers. Corner help is needed in Indy and with his fluid hips, football smarts, and overall cover ability, the former Scarlet Knight will bring it. In addition to being a solid cover man, McCourty is a willing run supporter and can play special teams as well…the latter being something the Colts desperately need.

32.    New Orleans Saints—Navorro Bowman, LB, Penn St. The Saints are hurting at linebacker other than Jonathan Vilma so expect Bowman to be one of at least two ‘backers selected by the champs. Bowman’s 40-time may scare some teams away, but it must be noted that he added some bulk, which is at least partly responsible for his slow time (4.72). Bowman will bring quickness and solid tackling ability to New Orleans. He blitzes well, too, which will allow him to fit right in.

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Photo Courtesy of Dennis Hubbard, College Press Box

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow will throw at the school’s pro day March 17, and it will be an unscripted workout, meaning he’s willing to do any passes asked of him by scouts. Tebow declined to throw at the NFL Scouting Combine last weekend, but he’s now ready to show off his revamped delivery. Tebow also revealed Sunday that he already has individual workouts with the Seahawks and Bills lined up after his pro day according to Gil Brandt of NFL.com.

*The All Access Football ninth annual 2010 NFL Draft Bible Package Is Now Available! Click Here To Learn More…

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