2011 NFL Draft: Best-Case Scenario Draft for Each NFL Team
There are mock drafts, and then there are daydream drafts.
In this piece, I will be giving an overview of what each NFL team needs and what would have to happen for them to land the player of their dreams.
Obviously, there has to be some realistic chance of the dream player to fall in the team's lap. For example, Auburn's Nick Fairley pretty much has no chance of dropping to the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 21 or the New Orleans Saints at No. 24.
This is your chance to daydream, fans, if only for a little while.
32. Green Bay Packers, Justin Houston, DE/OLB, Georgia
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After the Bulldogs junior declared for the draft, his stock instantly went through the roof.
For good reason: He had 11 sacks this season.
Houston may even rocket as far up as the middle of the first round, but I had him going to the New England Patriots at No. 28 in my mock draft.
If the Pats pass him up, he should be ripe for the taking for the Green Bay Packers, who can use him alongside Clay Matthews or insert him at defensive end as Cullen Jenkins will be a free agent after the season.
31. New York Jets, Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
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The Jets have found success late in the season doing what they do best, pounding the ball through the offensive line.
LaDainian Tomlinson has been better than expected after being released by the San Diego Chargers after last season, but he's got to slow down at some point.
Backfield mate Shonn Greene has been good, but not great, and it's questionable whether he could be a No. 1 running back when Tomlinson wears down.
Ingram is the answer.
I actually have him slipping to the Jets in my mock draft, due to the fact other teams have more pressing needs before them.
Cross your fingers, Jets fans.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike Pouncey, G, Florida
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Florida Gators guard Mike Pouncey is being projected in the late first round or early second.
But besides being the brother of Steelers Pro Bowl rookie center Maurkice Pouncey, Mike Pouncey is not a stretch at all at No. 30.
In fact, I see it being the perfect spot for him in my mock draft.
Pouncey would be a solid addition to a battered Steelers O-line.
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29. Chicago Bears, Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
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The Bears gave up the most sacks this season, with 56.
QB Jay Cutler often looked like a rag doll.
The Bears need a serious upgrade to the offensive line, and Wisconsin's Gabe Carimi, who excelled against tough competition, would be ideal.
If the Ravens pass him up at No. 26, he most likely will make it to the Bears.
28. New England Patriots, Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State
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The Patriots did not get much pressure from the defensive end position this season.
Ohio State's Cameron Heyward is considered to have the strength, speed and skills to be a solid player.
With a sack against No. 12 Arkansas to end the year, Heyward's stock, however, has probably jumped a little.
I see the Tampa Bay Buccaneers taking him at No. 20, but if they pass him up, I could see him falling to the Patriots because both the Chiefs and Saints are in more need of a defensive tackle, not defensive end.
27. Atlanta Falcons, Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame
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Who the Falcons want, Kyle Rudolph, they most likely will get.
No other team has a pressing need at tight end, and the Falcons need to find a replacement for the great Tony Gonzalez before he retires.
Rudolph, who had eight catches for 164 yards and a touchdown against Michigan this year, is that man.
26. Baltimore Ravens, Anthony Costanzo, OT, Boston College
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I like Boston College's Anthony Costanzo better than Wisconsin's Gabe Carimi, who I projected the Ravens to end up with.
If the Philadelphia Eagles pass up on Costanzo at No. 23, the Ravens have him.
The Ravens gave up 40 sacks this season, 10th-worst in the league.
25. Seattle Seahawks, Jake Locker, QB, Washington
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There's no question the Seahawks need a quarterback of the future.
I have Washington QB Jake Locker going to the Miami Dolphins at No. 15, but if they pass him up and go with, say, running back Mark Ingram, he could easily go to the Seahawks, as no other team after the Dolphins needs a QB.
Locker is also a Washington native.
24. New Orleans Saints, Cameron Jordan, DT, Cal
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The Saints obviously don't need help on offense.
After giving up 41 points to the Seattle Seahawks in the Wild Card round and getting to Matt Hasselbeck just once, it's obvious they need help on defense.
They had a middle-of-the-pack 33 sacks this season.
Cameron Jordan of Cal had six sacks in consecutive seasons and is an outstanding tackler at his position.
If the Kansas City Chiefs pass him up at No. 21, the Saints could nab him.
23. Philadelphia Eagles, Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State
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The Eagles gave up 50 sacks this season, second-worst in the league.
This is despite Michael Vick's scrambling and ducking prowess.
I have the Indianapolis Colts picking Sherrod at No. 22, but if they go with someone else, say, Anthony Costanzo of Boston College, then Derek Sherrod lands right in the Eagles' lap.
22. Indianapolis Colts, Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
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Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year Nate Solder has been an exceptional offensive tackle with Colorado. He is widely considered one of the top offensive linemen in the draft.
The New York Giants could very well pick him at No. 19, but if they don't, the Colts won't hesitate to grab him and introduce him to his new best friend, Peyton Manning.
21. Kansas City Chiefs, Cameron Jordan, DT, Cal
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Cal's Cameron Jordan, who I projected to land in KC in my mock draft, is honestly the dream option for the Chiefs.
He's one of the better defensive tackles in the draft, and will probably be the next DT taken after Marcell Dareus.
If he drops to the Chiefs, coach Todd Haley may just blow his top.
Note: Jordan is said to spook QBs just by jumping at them.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Allen Bailey, DE, Miami
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I don't see Wisconsin's J.J. Watt falling to the Bucs, but I could conceivably see Miami's Allen Bailey in TB.
With only 26 sacks last year, the Bucs need pressure from the outside big time.
If the San Diego Chargers pass up on Bailey at No. 18, the Bucs defense will welcome Bailey with open arms. He had 44 tackles and seven sacks this season.
19. New York Giants, Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
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The Giants, who can't be very happy with left tackle William Beatty, can't ask for anything more than to land Nate Solder of Colorado.
The Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year is a can't-miss prospect.
18. San Diego Chargers, Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
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The Chargers have clearly been affected by the departure of linebacker Shawne Merriman, as they have had trouble getting pressure on the quarterback from the corners this season.
With the Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars and New England Patriots picking before them, I don't see them getting linebacker Akeem Ayers or defensive end J.J. Watt, but I could see Iowa's Adrian Clayborn dropping to them.
Clayborn's a big-time presence on the line.
17. New England Patriots, J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin
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If the Jags somehow pass up on J.J. Watt of Wisconsin, the collective country is going to groan, knowing the all-mighty Patriots just landed a big-time player.
Coach Bill Belichick might even smile.
Defensive end and outside linebacker are the Patriots' biggest needs this offseason.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars, J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin
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With only 26 sacks this season, the Jaguars were only better than the Denver Broncos getting to the quarterback.
J.J. Watt IS the solution.
Watt had seven sacks against tough competition this season.
15. Miami Dolphins, Cameron Newton, QB, Auburn
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With Chad Henne, Tyler Thigpen and Chad Pennington, the Dolphins are right to be very worried.
They could use some help in the backfield with an aging Ricky Williams and an injury-prone Ronnie Brown, but their top need is QB.
However, the only way they are going to land Cameron Newton is if the Vikings make a trade for a veteran QB and pass him up at No. 12.
Or Dolphins fans can hope Brett Favre comes out of retirement again.
14. St. Louis Rams, Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
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I actually have Julio Jones going to the Rams at No. 14, based on the pressing needs of other teams and A.J. Green of Georgia being off the board.
Imagine what rookie QB sensation Sam Bradford could do with Jones.
Just imagine, Rams fans...
13. Detroit Lions, Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
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The Lions are in search of a linebacker after letting Julian Peterson go, and a disappointing defensive season.
They could do no better than Texas A&M's Von Miller, who had 11 sacks this season, including a nine-tackle, one-sack performance against No. 10 LSU in the Cotton Bowl.
But the defense-hungry Houston Texans are going to have to pass up on him at No. 11 for that to happen.
12. Minnesota Vikings, Cameron Newton, QB, Auburn
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The Vikings can do no better than Cameron Newton, with Blaine Gabbert and Ryan Mallett off the board.
They need someone else besides Adrian Peterson to revitalize the Metrodome.
A Heisman winner usually does that.
A grizzled former retiree usually doesn't.
11. Houston Texans, Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
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With their conversion to a 3-4 defense, the Texans could do no better than to fill a pass-rushing option at linebacker with Von Miller.
Not only does he give them the pass rush they need, he is also adept at dropping back in coverage.
10. Washington Redskins, Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina
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Despite North Carolina's Robert Quinn missing a year, you can't deny what he did last year, with 11 sacks.
His physicality and athleticism will probably impress at the combine, as well.
With only 29 sacks last year, the Redskins need a force at the end position.
If the 49ers go with a QB at No. 7, and the Cowboys go with cornerback Prince Amukamara, then Quinn is there for the taking.
9. Dallas Cowboys, Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
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It's debatable what the 49ers will do with their pick at No. 7.
It's only logical to think they'll pick a QB, but they also probably want the real thing and not another Alex Smith.
I see the Niners picking Amukamara with No. 7 to address their languishing secondary, but if they don't, the Cowboys could have Primetime II.
8. Tennessee Titans, Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
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If the Arizona Cardinals don't find Blaine Gabbert to be worth the No. 5 pick, and the Niners go defense at No. 7, then the Titans have the projected No. 1 QB in the draft.
It would be nice to add some stability at the QB spot, especially mental stability.
7. San Francisco 49ers, Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
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I really do see Amukamara being a better pick than Blaine Gabbert for the 49ers, as horrid as their quarterback situation is.
Gabbert is questionably a starter in the NFL.
It would be hard for me to see Amukamara not being a starter for a long time in the NFL.
He would be the best player on the board, even if Gabbert fell to them.
6. Cleveland Browns, A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
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If receiver A.J. Green falls past the first five spots, as he very well could, the Browns have their wideout of the future.
They are in desperate need for a top receiver for the young Colt McCoy, and Green is a can't-miss prospect.
5. Arizona Cardinals, Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
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The Cardinals have some serious issues, not just at quarterback.
But QB is their top need, and you'd have to think they would give Gabbert a chance.
Especially because not a lot of QBs on the market probably want to go to a team that was last in the historically weak NFC West.
I don't see the Carolina Panthers gambling on him at No.1.
4. Cincinnati Bengals, Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
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A lot of people think the Bengals would rather go with receiver A.J. Green of Georgia, but I think given that QB Carson Palmer didn't do much with both Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco, the Bengals might prefer to focus on the defense here instead.
Bowers should be available here, and they should snatch him up.
3. Buffalo Bills, Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
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I actually think Nick Fairley will go to the Bills at No. 3, but I'm of a select few in thinking that.
Fairley is pretty much as sure as they come, with 12 sacks this season, and seven in four games against LSU, Alabama, South Carolina and Oregon.
If the Carolina Panthers pass on him, I could see the Broncos skipping him in favor of LSU corner Patrick Peterson.
The Bills had just 27 sacks this year.
2. Denver Broncos, Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
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With Champ Bailey headed to free agency and seemingly not all that happy about being in Denver, and Perrish Cox likely to perish for a long time, the Broncos are in desperate need for a cornerback...at precisely the right time.
I see possibly one of the top corners to come out of the draft in years, LSU's Patrick Peterson, making it to No. 2 and making Broncos fans forget entirely about Bailey.
1. Carolina Panthers, A.J. Green/Nick Fairley
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I think most people probably project the Panthers to take Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley with the No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.
I, however, see them taking Georgia receiver A.J. Green.
I think the Panthers would be pleased with either.
In his three seasons at Georgia, Green never had less than 800 yards receiving, six touchdowns or 50 receptions.
In just nine games this season, Green had 848 yards receiving, nine touchdowns and 57 receptions.
Beyond his stats, he's also incredibly athletic, as you can see in this picture.
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