After months of speculation, talk and rumors, the 2011 NFL draft is finally here. With only 24 hours remaining it is time to post my final mock draft.
Here it is, enjoy.
1. Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
If this does happen, I will not be shocked, but I will be disappointed in the Carolina management. This is a team that used a high pick on a QB last year, and will do it again this year? That is not smart drafting, especially when you have nobody to block or throw the ball to…and your defense is terrible.
Newton is an elite talent, but he is also a bit of a risk on the field and off.
2. Denver Broncos: Marcel Dareus, DT/DE, Alabama
New Bronco head coach John Fox knows what it takes to build a good defense. He will do so in Denver by starting from the inside and working his way out. That is why I believe Dareus will be the pick over LB Von Miller and CB Patrick Peterson.
Either way, if they stay with this pick, it will be on D.
3. Buffalo Bills: Von Miller, LB, Texas A&M
If the Panthers come to their senses and do not select Cam at No. 1, the Bills will grab him here. Newton would fit here because he could sit behind Ryan Fitzpatrick and learn. However, with Newton off the board, the Bills will strengthen their pass rush by grabbing the Butkus Award winner.
4. Cincinnati Bengals: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
The Bengals may lose Carson Palmer. They will definitely lose Chad Ochocinco—who it seems has worn out his welcome in the Queen City—and also end the TO experiment as well. They need a playmaker to replace the loss of possibly two future Hall of Famers. Green is a great fit in the Cincy O and will match up well with a QB they grab in Round 2.
5. Arizona Cardinals: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
The Cardinals went with two rookie QBs last season and neither did anything. The Cardinals need to address the position and Blaine Gabbert is on the board, but I just don’t see them taking another gamble at the QB position this high. Don’t be surprised if they wait until the third round to grab a QB.
Patrick Peterson, however, will step in and make a difference immediately, whether it is as a safety, corner, or on special teams. The Cardinals may get a steal with Peterson at No. 5.
6. Cleveland Browns: Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina
In a perfect world, this would be someone else's pick. I believe the Browns would most certainly prefer to move down and grab Quinn or Alabama WR Julio Jones later in the first. With the Browns remaining at this pick though, they will select the best pass-rusher available, and that is Quinn.
7. San Francisco 49ers: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
The Niners need a QB. Alex Smith needs to move on and so does the franchise. Gabbert is a spread QB with a rifle arm, good accuracy and improving footwork. He will be a good selection here, but he will also need time to fully develop.
8. Tennessee Titans: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
I have had everyone from Nick Fairley to Andy Dalton to Jake Locker at this pick and finally chose to settle on Jones. After the failed Randy Moss experiment and the issue that is Kenny Britt, there is very little at the wideout position for the Titans. Jones is an elite prospect and will instantly help any QB who suits up for Tennessee.
9. Dallas Cowboys: Tyron Smith, OT, USC
Yes, I know. Jerry Jones has never taken an OT this early. However, the rest of the offense is very capable and if given time, Tony Romo could return to his previous form. If the line is strengthened, then the Boys may have a chance at making the playoffs.
10. Washington Redskins: Jake Locker, QB, Washington
The Skins would probably prefer to move up and grab Gabbert, Jones or Green. If they do not, I would not be the least bit surprised to see Locker go here.
Locker was once looked at as a possible No. 1 pick before staying for his senior season and allowing scouts to over-analyze him. McNabb is out of DC and Grossman is Grossman; they need to move on and Locker is a good choice.
11. Houston Texans: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
The Texans pass D was terrible, especially in the secondary. In a dream world, they would trade with the Cardinals or Browns and grab Patrick Peterson. If they stay, they will run the card up to grab the shutdown CB from Nebraska.
12. Minnesota Vikings: Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
The Vikings have needs on the offensive line, at the QB and WR positions, but at this spot, any one of those positions will be a reach. They allowed Ray Edwards to walk as a free agent, and Bryan Robinson is not an elite player at DE. That is why they will strengthen the D by adding Bowers.
13. Detroit Lions: Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
Every year, the Lions pass over an elite OT; and every year, franchise QB Matt Stafford goes down with an injury. Well, enough is enough and the Lions will come to their senses and select Castonzo who should plug into the OT position and be there for six-to-eight years, maybe longer.
14. St. Louis Rams: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
I am shocked Fairley went this low, but it is a definite possibility. With Jones off the board, the Rams will choose to improve their D-line and go with the best player available at this point in the draft. Fairley will impact immediately under the tutelage of Rams head coach Steve Spagnulo.
15. Miami Dolphins: Mike Pouncey, OG, Florida
In many scenarios, I have had Alabama RB Mark Ingram at this spot with the uncertainty of current Dolphins RBs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams.
However, after talking to people with knowledge of the Dolphins operation, it seems that they will either improve the interior of their line or grab a QB. Don’t be surprised if the pick is Colin Kaepernick from Nevada.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars: Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri
The Jags continue drafting ends in hopes of getting an actual pass rush. This may be the year that they finally find the guy by grabbing the athletic freak from Missouri. Smith is a Jevon Kearse-type monster who can get around the edge and punish the QB or ball-carrier.
17. New England Patriots: J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin
The Pats are very good in the draft. They never reach for a player; they let their board fall as is. Watt, who many have as a top 10 pick, is a perfect fit as a 3-4 DE and will be able to impact early on for the Pats. Watt is 6’6”, 292 pounds and can play the run as well as the pass.
18. San Diego Chargers: Ryan Kerrigan, DE/OLB, Purdue
The Bolts have let Sean Merriman go, Larry English does not look like an impact player at this point in his career, they could possibly grab Cameron Jordan from Cal as they need 3-4 DEs, but I believe they will choose the pass-rusher over the end…in the end…
19. New York Giants: Cameron Jordan, DE/DT, Cal
The Giants need to rebuild their ageing D.
By drafting Jordan they will get an extremely versatile player who is capable of playing DE or DT. He would fit as a DT in the Giants even front and would probably have gone earlier if this draft was not so stocked at the D-line positions.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
Former first-round selection Aqib Talib cannot keep himself out of trouble and reports are that he will find himself without a team after the lockout ends. While I would love to give the Bucs a DE or a LB, the need at CB is bigger at this point in the draft.
Smith is 6’2” and over 200 pounds and very good in both press and zone coverage. He will be an immediate starter for the Bucs and could be an All-Pro eventually.
21. Kansas City Chiefs: Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
Carimi could possibly be the best OT in this draft, but like Locker, was subject to over-analyzing and has seen his stock drop. Former NFL center Le’Charles Bentley told me that Carimi can be a very successful LT, though many have envisioned him as an RT.
Either way, KC needs to improve their line if they want to keep Matt Cassel upright.
22. Indianapolis Colts: Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State
Colts LT Charles Johnson will be a free agent…eventually…whenever the lockout ends. They need to give Peyton someone to keep him standing upright if they want to return to the Super Bowl.
With Nate Solder on the board, I still believe they would prefer Sherrod because he is a more natural player at the position—now. Either way, this pick should solidify the line.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Ben Ijalana, OG, Villanova
The Eagles need to address the CB position at some point in this draft. Without moving up, and with three CBs already off the board, they will need to address another need—the interior line.
Ijalana is a local product who has made a name for himself this draft season and will continue to do so while blocking for Micheal Vick.
24. New Orleans Saints: Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois
I will be shocked if Liuget falls to the Saints—but in my mock, he does, so they waste no time scooping him up. Even though they added former Brown Shaun Rogers, they still need to solidify the interior line on D. Liuget is an athletic, quick DT who penetrates and makes plays.
25. Seattle Seahawks: Andy Dalton, QB, TCU
I am not a big fan of Dalton. He’s good, but I do not feel he is elite. However, NFL teams are all very high on Dalton and many are being swept away by him. One will select him in the first round and in this case, it will be the Seahawks.
Dalton is an accurate leader and can be successful in the NFL under the right circumstances.
26. Baltimore Ravens: Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio St.
The Ravens need to improve at three positions in my opinion: WR, DE and CB. There will by WRs available later that will help them, Brandon Harris is the next best CB available and I believe this is too high for him, so Ozzie and his assistants will jump on the chance to select the son of “Ironhead” and place him in their 3-4 D for years to come.
27. Atlanta Falcons: Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA
I will not be surprised to see Atlanta try and move up and grab Jones or Green and get Matty Ice another weapon or improve their options at DE.
However, at this point in the draft, I believe they will select the player who will make the quickest impact on the team, and that player is Ayers. Some believe Ayers is capable of putting his hand on the ground and playing DE—and Atlanta will possibly try that—but he is best suited at OLB.
He is athletic, agile and versatile and can heal the wound left by former first-round bust Jamaal Anderson.
28. New England Patriots: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
Ingram is a top 15 player in this draft in my opinion. With great burst, vision and small steps, Ingram is an Emmit Smith-type back. He is an instant improvement in the Brady-led New England backfield and can help the Pats offense become more balanced. This is a steal.
29. Chicago Bears: Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland
The Bears do not have a No. 1 WR. They have other areas of need but at this point I believe they will reach and grab a player many feel has a chance to be special. Smith is talented, athletic, fast and skilled but he is very reminiscent of former Terrapin Darius Heyward-Bey, who has been a bust thus far in the NFL.
Smith could be a boom-or-bust player for the Bears.
30. New York Jets: Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple
Wilkerson is a former basketball player who is athletic, strong and has very long arms. He has great ability to shoot gaps and rush the QB, while also being very stout against the run. The Jets will be able to add a player who will have a chance to dominate in their aggressive D.
Expect Wilkerson to be a household name in a few years or you'll never hear from him again.
31. Pittsburgh Steelers: Brooks Reed, DE/OLB, Arizona
This pick will either be a LB, CB or OT/OG. At this point, however, the Steelers will select the player that best fits their system and Reed will be the guy. Reed is a very good fit in the 3-4 and has a chance to be an elite pass-rusher at the next level.
32. Green Bay Packers: Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor
The defending champs are hard to pick for because they are deep everywhere. B.J. Raji is a very good nose tackle in their 3-4 front, but Cullen Jenkins is a free agent and will probably not be back. Raji will be able to slide over to DE and Taylor will step in immediately at the nose.
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