Wednesday, April 27, 2011

2011 NFL Mock Draft

1. Carolina Panthers- Cam Newton (QB, Auburn)
Although this is an extremely risky pick, Cam might have the best upside of any player in the entire draft. The Panthers have repeatedly said they need a franchise quarterback and are willing to wait for him to develop. The question is does Cam have what it takes to turn his raw ability into production in the NFL? This pick will certainly cause some controversy.

2. Denver Broncos- Marcell Dareus (DT, Alabama)
Dareus is not only an elite prospect but will immediately fill a glaring need. The Broncos are converting to a 4-3 defense and desperately need a defensive tackle to anchor the line. At 320 pounds, Dareus shows surprising quickness and could develop into one of the DTs in the NFL.

3. Buffalo Bills- Von Miller (OLB, Texas A&M)
With no real pass rush threat the Bills need to address this issue. Von Miller is arguably the top prospect in the draft and should prove to be a force coming off the edge for many years to come. He should fit perfectly as an OLB in the Bills 3-4 scheme, which is what he was familiar with in college.

4. Cincinnati Bengals- A.J. Green (WR, Georgia)
As one of the top receiving prospects to come out over the past decade, A.J. Green should be able to step in and immediately contribute for this Bengals offense which has a lot of question marks. A receiver with his combination of size, speed, hands, route running ability, and vertical ability hasn't come around since Calvin Johnson four years ago.

5. Arizona Cardinals- Patrick Peterson (CB, LSU)
While Blaine Gabbert would be a very tempting pick here, they have an almost equally large need at cornerback across from Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Peterson is the better prospect overall and is the last of the elite prospects. Most experts consider him the top player in the entire draft. His freakish athletic ability should prove to be an excellent pick for the Cardinals.

6. Cleveland Browns- Robert Quinn (DE/OLB, UNC)
Arguably the best DE in a draft class loaded with talent at that position, Quinn has the athletic ability to convert to a 3-4 OLB and torment opposing QBs for years to come. A year long suspension and past health concerns may scare some teams away from taking him, but all indications show that he should be good to go.

7. San Francisco 49ers- Blaine Gabbert (QB, Missouri)
With Jim Harbaugh now at the reigns, he will want to find a franchise quarterback to develop since it seems the Alex Smith debacle will finally be coming to an end. Harbaugh is just the man to harness Gabbert's natural athletic ability and teach him a pro style offense after playing in a shotgun system for his 3 years at Missouri.

8. Tennessee Titans- Da'Quan Bowers (DE, Clemson)
Bowers was an absolute freak last year leading the nation in sacks until suffering a knee injury late in the year. While many doctors haven't given his knee the best of grades and he didn't have the best showing at the combine and his pro day, it would not be surprising if a team grabbed him early regardless. Think Terrell Suggs in 2003.

9. Dallas Cowboys- Tyron Smith (OT, USC)
The Cowboys desperately need an offensive tackle and most agree Smith is the best of the bunch. Although this is one of the weakest offensive tackle classes in recent memory, Smith is extremely athletic for his weight and should protect Tony Romo for years to come. He will need to work on his run blocking ability but should serve as a fine pick.

10. Washington Redskins- Julio Jones (WR, Alabama)
With arguably the worst receiving corps in the entire NFL and Santana Moss becoming a free agent, the Redskins need a talented receiver to step in immediately and contribute. Many experts believe he could turn out to be a better player than A.J. Green due to his build and freakish athleticism. It is not often a 6'3" 225 pound receiver runs a sub 4.4 40 at the combine on a broken foot.

11. Houston Texans- Prince Amukamara (CB, Nebraska)
It would not be surprising at all of the Texans selected a CB two years a row in the first round after how awful their pass defense was last year. Amukamara is a very safe pick who should help solidify their secondary for years to come.

12. Minnesota Vikings- Nick Fairley (DT, Auburn)
While considered a potential #1 pick immediately following the BCS Championship game, questions about his slight weight and lack of production before last season sent his stock plummeting. While he is considered to be a "boom or bust" type player, it would not be surprising to see Vikings take a chance on him at this point in the draft.

13. Detroit Lions- Anthony Costanzo (LT, Boston College)
For too long have the Lions gone without a legit LT to protect Matt Stafford. After all of the injuries he suffered last year, the Lions should be desperate to get him some protection. This pick will allow Jeff Backus to slide right and play guard, where he is better suited at this point in his career.

14. St. Louis Rams- J.J. Watt (DE, Wisconsin)
Head coach Steve Spagnuolo will almost certainly want to upgrade on defense and give Chris Long some help with the pass rush on the other side of the line. While there are quite a few options available that can serve that role, Watt is probably the best available. Aldon Smith is another option.

15. Miami Dolphins- Mark Ingram (RB, Alabama)
As the third player being selected from Alabama in the top half of the first round, the former Heisman Trophy winner should step in right away and be effective. This once scary rushing attack needs a serious infusion of youth. Ricky Williams is just too old and they aren't expected to resign the fragile free agent Ronnie Brown. Ingram should provide relief for QB Chad Henne as he needs to show this year that he is a franchise QB.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars- Aldon Smith (DE/OLB, Missouri)
The Jaguars have desperate for a pass rush for years now and Smith is arguably the best player available. Although Smith was a "one year wonder" similar to Nick Fairley, his raw skills are just too good to pass up.

17. New England Patriots- Mike Pouncey (C/G, Florida)
Pouncey is the typical safe and versatile prospect Belichick has come to love. With Logan Mankins' possible departure Pouncey should step right in and make Belichick continue to look like a genius. Pouncey is arguably the best player available at this point as well.

18. San Diego Chargers- Cam Jordan (DE, California)
The Chargers need to solidify that defensive line and it will be a steal if Cam Jordan slides this far. He will fit perfectly as a DE in the Chargers 3-4 system at 285 pounds.

19. New York Giants- Akeem Ayers (LB, UCLA)
Lots of question marks arise when discussing the Giants linebacker corps. Ayers may not be the best available at this pick but the Giants have the luxury to make a pick to fill a need here. He has been a late riser in mock drafts and could prove to be an excellent pick here.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Ryan Kerrigan (DE, Purdue)
The Buccaneers had one of the worst pass rushes in the league last year. Lucky for them this draft is full of pass rushers. Kerrigan is the best available who is ideally suited as a 4-3 DE.

21. Kansas City Chiefs- Gabe Carimi (OT, Wisconsin)
The Chiefs are still in the process of solidifying that offensive line to give Cassel protection. Carimi is a safe pick who can play on either side of the line.

22. Indianapolis Colts- Cory Liuget (DT, Illinois)
Liuget is totally legit and should be a real safe pick for the Colts. It seems as if the Colts always need help with their rush defense and Liuget is a steal at this point of the draft. Although Polian hasn't been the best with early round picks recently, he should turn his luck around with this pick.

23. Philadelphia Eagles- Muhammad Wilkerson (DT, Temple)
The local prospect could go here at this point simply because he is the best player available. DT isn't necessarily a big need for the Eagles, but then again they are pretty set everywhere. A quarterback certainly won't be picked here.

24. New Orleans Saints- Nate Solder (OT, Colorado)
They need a left tackle and Solder is the best available. Done.

25. Seattle Seahawks- Jake Locker (QB, Washington)
The local boy going here would make a lot of sense. Charlie Whitehurst clearly isn't the answer at QB and Locker's upside could prove to be just too tempting. His questionable accuracy may never allow him to develop into an effective starting QB in the league, but he should have plenty of time to learn and develop as the Seahawks aren't going anywhere anytime soon.

26. Baltimore Ravens- Jimmy Smith (CB, Colorado)
Smith has some of the best raw ability regardless of position in the entire draft, yet many question marks may lead teams shying away from him in the first round. The Ravens have a massive need at cornerback though and might be willing to take a chance on him. They have enough defensive veterans to make sure he will keep his head on straight.

27. Atlanta Falcons- Adrian Clayborn (DE, Iowa)
The Falcons need help with the pass rush opposite John Abraham and Clayborn could be a steal at this point.

28. New England Patriots- Cameron Heyward (DE, Ohio State)
The Patriots have a void to fill after Richard Seymour departed for the Raiders and Heyward will fill it perfectly as a 3-4 DE. Heyward is a very safe pick who should be able to contribute immediately.

29. Chicago Bears- Aaron Williams (CB/S, Texas)
Williams' versatility should prove vital for the Bears in that they need help all over their secondary.

30. New York Jets- Stephen Paea (DT, Oregon State)
DT is a glaring need after Kris Jenkins was cut and Paea is by far the best nose tackle available right now. His combine record-breaking bench press performance is the kind of thing Rex Ryan will love as well.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers- Kyle Rudolph (TE, Notre Dame)
Rudolph is the best player available here and should become a suitable target for Roethlisberger.

32. Green Bay Packers- Mikel Leshoure (RB, Illinois)
Ryan Grant is coming off a knee injury and although James Starks proved to be a very effective running back in the playoffs this year, they could use an elite running back to really take this offense to another level, if that's even possible.

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