2011 NFL Mock Draft: Post-NFL Scouting Combine Full First-Round Mock
The NFL scouting combine is over and the future NFL talent is leaving Indianapolis, headed home to practice for pro days and prepare for the NFL draft in April.
As they leave, constant virtual ink will be spilled, talking about a variety of topics—the players who did well and those who did poorly, the value (or lack thereof) of the combine workouts, and countless nuggets of insider info, most of which will prove false.
In the end, the NFL combine is one of many tools used by NFL talent evaluators and given its due share of publicity thanks to the wild popularity of the game.
This mock takes into account info learned while in Indianapolis for the combine and some brand-new rankings based on the workouts, interviews and scuttlebutt.
Enjoy!
1) Carolina Panthers—Cam Newton (QB Auburn)
1 of 32
Cam Newton didn't wow in his combine workout.
Yet, in the words of his QB coach, George Whitfield, at least he put on the gloves. Newton didn't improve his already high stock, but he didn't really hurt it either. He also has one more shot to put doubts to rest in his upcoming pro day.
If this mock were based only on top performances, Newton would be a second-rounder, but he is still solidly the top QB, and in the NFL draft, that means he's still the No. 1 pick.
2) Denver Broncos—Da'Quan Bowers (DE Clemson)
2 of 32
It's been said before, but Bowers will be the second pick as long as he's not the first.
Sources at the Scouting Combine confirmed earlier reports—first broke by Denver Post's Cecil Lammey—that Bowers is being watched very closely by the Denver Broncos. In their switch to the 4-3 defense, they need an elite Julius Peppers-type DE. In this draft, that's Bowers.
His strength at the point of attack and ability rushing the passer are second to none in this draft class, and his recent surgery isn't a concern.
3) Buffalo Bills—Nick Fairley (DE Auburn)
3 of 32
Nick Fairley is the most impactful player in this draft.
That doesn't mean he's the best.
In terms of sheer athleticism at this large size, Marcell Dareus had a better combine performance. Many would be tempted to put him here instead (I was) but Nick Fairley still has a ton of excellent-looking game tape to go with his red flags.
Fairley is able to take plays off and still make the same impact. He's excellent against the run and even better against the pass. He's not Ndamukong Suh, but is the best player on the board at a position in which the Buffalo Bills could use a playmaker.
.png?w=256)
4) Cincinnati Bengals—AJ Green (WR Georgia)
4 of 32
On lots of boards, AJ Green has been the top player for a long time.
Then, he turned in a less-than-stellar combine performance, in which Green was outclassed by his longtime rival Julio Jones. Although Jones is the elite, explosive athlete Green isn't, years of tape proves that Green is still the better receiver.
Green high-points the ball well and fights for the ball down the field. He is a willing (but not always effective) blocker. Most importantly, he has great hands and has proven he can be a long-term No. 1.
5) Arizona Cardinals—Blaine Gabbert (QB Missouri)
5 of 32
Seattle Draft Blog's Rob Staton says it best: "Arizona got to the Super Bowl without (a guy like) Von Miller, they won't get back there with less-than-mediocre quarterback play."
If a team doesn't have a franchise quarterback, they need to roll the dice and take an elite one.
Is Blaine Gabbert an elite quarterback? Some think so, others don't. Yet, similar discussions have been had about guys like Mark Sanchez, Matt Ryan and even Philip Rivers. Gabbert has all the tools and NFL coaches will want to help him put those tools to good work.
With the offensive weapons Arizona already has, they need someone to deliver the ball.
Period.
6) Cleveland Browns—Patrick Peterson (CB Louisiana State)
6 of 32
Patrick Peterson is the last of the prospects who have a legitimate shot at No. 1. He's phenomenally athletic, has great size and even better ball skills.
The only problem, he plays cornerback.
On the NFL Network's coverage of the NFL combine, Deion Sanders—who knows (and loves) cornerbacks—said that a top cornerback would need to be "two or three grades" above the next best player to go No. 1.
Quarterbacks, left tackles and pass rushers are the elite positions in the NFL.
Lucky for the Browns, they already have a top cornerback in Joe Haden. With Peterson, they'll be able to shut down both halves of the field at once.
7) San Francisco 49ers—Von Miller (OLB Texas A&M)
7 of 32
Von Miller had a great combine workout.
Once considered a top-15 pick, Miller had already worked up into the top 10 with a great Senior Bowl. Now, he could easily go in the first five picks after proving he is an elite athlete on top of being the college game's most talented pass rusher.
In the agility drills, Miller cast doubt on how great he'll be in coverage and if he'll have the ability to be a top OLB in a 4-3 scheme.
None of that matters.
Miller had a great workout because he solidified his stock as an amazing pass rusher—something every team (especially San Francisco) is looking for.
8) Tennessee Titans—Marcell Dareus (DT Alabama)
8 of 32
As said earlier, Marcell Dareus had a more impressive workout than Nick Fairley. Many scouts remarked that he could surpass Bowers—he doesn't have Fairley's red flags and can play a variety of positions along a number of fronts.
For the Titans, he joins an already stout rotation that will only get better with an infusion of talent. The way Dareus collapses the pocket will give every other Titans defensive lineman a better chance for success.
Once upon a time, exceptional talent in the trenches helped Jeff Fisher stay the Titans coach for a long time. Now, that same quality can help the new coaching staff build in his new absence.
9) Dallas Cowboys—Prince Amukamara (CB Nebraska)
9 of 32
Prince Amukamara is not a great athlete.
How many times did we hear that?
Then the Nebraska cornerback showed up to the combine. All he did there was run a 4.43 40-yard dash, good for fifth among all defensive backs. He also performed well in the broad jump and the vertical jump—measurements of explosiveness—and bested Patrick Peterson in both.
With teams revisiting their opinions of Amukamara, it's time he gets a solid first-round slot. Dallas needs help in the secondary and has been burned by non-polished great athletes before. Amukamara starts from day one.
10) Washington Redskins—Julio Jones (WR Alabama)
10 of 32
In terms of sheer dollars made, perhaps no one helped himself this weekend as much as Julio Jones.
Like Amukamara, Jones was thought of as a step below his competition in terms of sheer athleticism. Then, he posted the third-fastest 40 time, 4.39.
Jones is a perfect two-step wide receiver. He does his best work in the short-to-intermediate areas and is a devastating blocker. With teams now having a glimpse of his straight-line speed, he'll fit into any system and be counted on as a true No. 1 in any offense.
11) Houston Texans—Cameron Jordan (DE California)
11 of 32
The Houston Texans are usually an enigma when it comes to draft season.
Yes, they need help in the secondary. You know that. I know that. The old grandma next door doesn't watch football but knows the Texans stink in pass coverage.
Reach for a cornerback here? Reach even farther for a linebacker? Reach farther yet for a safety?
It sounds crazy, but the Texans might be praying for Julio Jones to fall to them here. With a No. 2 receiver—No. 2 only when paired with Andre Johnson—the Texans offense would be balanced and explosive, giving their defense some more cushion on the scoreboard.
Here, they get defense.
Cameron Jordan is an explosive player who has the rare ability to be absolutely unblockable for long stretches of time. His violent hand control and outstanding footwork make him an absolute beast. He is so athletic that rumors in Indianapolis had some teams viewing him as a stand-up OLB in the 3-4.
In Houston, he would move to the front of the line at DE and play across from Mario Williams—scaring the living daylights out of Peyton Manning.
12) Minnesota Vikings—Tyron Smith (OT Southern California)
12 of 32
What don't the Minnesota Vikings need?
At QB, the depth chart is dismal, but the best QB left on the board—Ryan Mallett—could fall a round (or more) due to character concerns. At WR, Sidney Rice is testing the market and could be leaving town—no receiver is worth the pick here either.
On defense, cracks are starting to show in the Vikings' once-mighty front. Still, even with a few departures, the Vikings defense could be average or even good next year.
The offensive line is in shambles.
Bryant McKinnie isn't the elite player he once was. In fact, he hasn't been for quite some time—making Pro Bowls on his name alone. Steve Hutchinson is getting older and older and his play has been on the decline. Each interior line position could use an upgrade.
When the best player on the team is the running back, open lanes for him.
Tyron Smith played right tackle at USC, but has the athleticism to play on the left side in the NFL. Regardless of what he plays in Minnesota, he'll soon be Adrian Peterson's best friend.
13) Detroit Lions—Anthony Castonzo (OT Boston College)
13 of 32
Very little was settled in Indianapolis concerning the offensive line position. It is a great crop of linemen, but no one stood out in the workouts or the interviews as the No. 1 guy.
The Detroit Lions aren't in desperate need for a lineman. The offensive line was much improved in 2010, and Jeff Backus has put together two career seasons in a row. Gosder Cherilus had a very shaky start, but was called the "most improved offensive player" by Jim Schwartz.
However, Backus is 33, and Cherilus is coming off knee surgery.
Castonzo is one of the high-character guys in the draft. He's a nice guy, hard working, team captain, football-loving, etc., etc., etc. He also has the versatility to play every position on the line except for center.
14) St. Louis Rams—Robert Quinn (DE North Carolina)
14 of 32
My, how the mighty have fallen.
Prior to the combine, some had Quinn as a possible dark horse for the No. 1 pick—definitely in the top five. In my last mock, he fell to 16.
Now, this isn't self-aggrandizing back-patting; he was admittedly too low on the last mock based on his stock and only because in this class, someone has to fall. While 14 might still be too low for Quinn, it is much more realistic after he left the combine with more questions than he answered.
Average workouts aside, Quinn showed up to Lucas Oil Stadium with more ice in his ears than an Eskimo—questionable for a normal prospect, beyond the pale for a kid who sat out his senior year because of an affinity for jewelry.
One week, at the biggest job interview of a young man's life, leave the rocks at home.
Even with noticeable immaturity, Quinn is still a top pass-rusher and the Rams would love to have him. They still love Julio Jones, but don't have the ammo to trade up for him and will be fine pairing Quinn with an already young—yet, not dynamic—defense.
15) Miami Dolphins—Mark Ingram (RB Alabama)
15 of 32
Mark Ingram's father played for the Miami Dolphins and Mark grew up an admitted Dolphins fan—although he claims he just likes to watch good football, which the Dolphins haven't played a lot of lately.
It might be time to give up on Chad Henne, but no QB in the rest of this draft is a better option right now than Henne, and running back is as big a need (if not bigger.)
Mark Ingram is the prototypical running back. Yes, he lacks elite straight-line speed, but speed is the icing on the cake of running backs. For every speedster that falls out of the league, a running backs coach wishes he had a prospect with the balance, toughness, agility and vision of Mark Ingram.
Ingram could be a game-changer in Miami from day one.
16) Jacksonville Jaguars—Aldon Smith (DE Missouri)
16 of 32
The Jacksonville Jaguars are another enigma at draft time.
Last year, they reached for Tyson Alualu, who responded by playing pretty well—starting all 16 games. This year, who knows what their draft board will look like?
Even with Alualu's solid play, he only had 3.5 sacks and the rest of the unit wasn't much better. As a defense, the Jaguars only accounted for 26 sacks—good for second worst in the league.
Add Aldon Smith, a raw but explosive end prospect, and put him next to Alualu. Suddenly, opposing quarterbacks aren't so comfortable.
17) New England Patriots—Gabe Carimi (OT Wisconsin)
17 of 32
For a long time, it was a coin flip whether Gabe Carimi would go to the New England Patriots at No. 28, or at 33. Now, after a really good interview and workout, he's up to their No. 17 pick.
Why the Patriots? Why Carimi?
He fits their system better than anyone in the draft—tall, strong, long reach, confident (yet not cocky), a guy who struggles with pass blocking out of the three-point stance but can run block from even a two-point stance.
Matt Light is (likely) headed elsewhere next season and Sebastian Vollmer is taking over the left tackle spot. Carimi can step right onto the right side of the line and keep Tom Brady upright.
18) San Diego Chargers—J.J. Watt (DE Wisconsin)
18 of 32
J.J. Watt had one of the most surprising workouts in Indianapolis.
A prospect everyone knew had a high motor and good athleticism, he showed up and blew the roof off the dome with some eye-popping numbers—posting top-five numbers in almost every workout.
Could Watt go higher than this? Absolutely.
He's a natural 5-tech that many teams could have on their boards as a 3-tech (like Adam Carriker) or as a defensive end in a 4-3 defense. On passing downs, some scouts even think he can stand up and play a little rush LB.
Every team wants a guy like J.J. Watt on their roster and San Diego would be lucky to get him. He'll step into an already stout defense, adding explosiveness and the constant ability to disrupt and create turnovers.
19) New York Giants—Akeem Ayers (OLB UCLA)
19 of 32
Want to tick off a bunch of New York Giants fans?
Tell them they need cornerbacks.
This pick deviates from the last mock draft, not because some commenters complained—the Giants still desperately need an elite corner—but rather, because sources indicated that the corners left on the board (Jimmy Smith and Brandon Harris) don't really fit what the Giants are looking for.
Ayers is a reach here.
Although he looked great in workouts, he tested slow and nonexplosive—a huge red flag for a guy many thought leaned on his athleticism too much at UCLA. If his pro day has similar results, teams will start to question his upside and Illinois' Martez Wilson could be the first true linebacker off the board.
20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers—Justin Houston (DE Georgia)
20 of 32
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need a pass rusher in the worst way. After grabbing two defensive tackles in the draft last year, they were still unable to generate much pressure against opposing offenses.
Justin Houston is considered a little small to be an every-down 4-3 DE, and his frame looks to be maxed out—carrying an insane amount of muscle. The argument to that notion is the success of similar-sized guys like John Abraham and Jason Babin.
Of course, Houston can already stand up a little bit and did so for a season at Georgia.
At the very least, Houston gives the Bucs a polished passing-down specialist as they try to figure out where exactly to play him.
21) Kansas City Chiefs—Phil Taylor (NT Baylor)
21 of 32
The nose tackle position is slowly becoming the QB of the defense—not in terms of pay or sheer impact on the game, but rather in terms of importance. If a team doesn't have an NT and they run a 3-4, they better go get one quickly.
The NT is the pivot point of the 3-4 defense. Nothing else works the way it should if the guy in the middle doesn't do his job. Certainly, different coaches use different types of big guys in the middle and not every NT needs to be a behemoth.
Kansas City wants one of those guys, though, and Phil Taylor is just the man for the job. He would step in and replace Ron Edwards right away. Even at 350 lbs, Taylor can rush the passer and penetrate consistently into the backfield. Against the run, he might be second to none in this draft class.
22) Indianapolis Colts—Nate Solder (OT Colorado)
22 of 32
If anyone had a worse day at the combine than Nate Solder, they probably lost their wallet.
The book on Solder was that he had tremendous upper body strength but that his functional strength was stymied by poor form and his immense height. Then, on the bench, he put up a ridiculously low 21 repetitions.
Now, 21 is actually a pretty good number for a guy with long arms like Solder. The problem is, it isn't elite. Two other tall guys in the class—Carimi and Castonzo—were able to put up 29 and 28, respectively.
Still, Solder is considered one of the guys with the most upside in the entire class, at any position. He'll definitely go in the first round and some teams will like him more than the three tackles going above him in this mock.
Indianapolis needs a pass protector for Peyton Manning and will be more intrigued by Solder's size and athleticism than worried about his lack of strength.
23) Philadelphia Eagles—Brandon Harris (CB Miami)
23 of 32
As a stark contrast to Solder, Brandon Harris had an amazing workout and tested well.
Harris has been all over draft boards, but should find a home as the solid number three prospect over and above Aaron Williams' lack of cornerback athleticism and Jimmy Brown's character concerns.
The Eagles need a lot of help in this offseason and some viewed them as a one-trick pony last year (although, Mike Vick to DeSean Jackson is a pretty phenomenal trick). Balance on offense—especially offensive line—could be the target here, as could defensive line to give new DL coach Jim Washburn a nice toy to play with.
The Eagles were a sieve through the air last year. Adding the ready-to-play Harris along with a rehabbed Nate Allen and pressure up front could turn the Eagles into a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
24) New Orleans Saints—Martez Wilson (LB Illinois)
24 of 32
When it comes to pass rushing from the standard linebacker position, no one is better than Martez Wilson, and he showed it in Indianapolis.
Just look at that picture for a second—the rip, the lean, the focus into the backfield. Not shown in the picture are things like great hand control, a plethora of double moves, and the rare ability to make himself smaller as he attacks through a gap.
The Illinois product isn't a perfect linebacker; he's average in coverage, will over-pursue against the run and could use a little more strength.
Wilson will play inside in the 3-4 or outside in the 4-3 and might be considered a one-trick pony for his first few years in the league. The upside is that he just recently started getting serious about football—in terms of film study and mastering the game—and has improved rapidly.
25) Seattle Seahawks—Adrian Clayborn (DE Iowa)
25 of 32
In the last mock, Jake Locker was going to the Seattle Seahawks. Makes sense right? The Seahawks need a young QB—not knowing if Matt Hasselbeck is coming back long-term and not exactly impressed with Charlie Whitehurst.
Sources at the combine said, unequivocally, that Jake Locker would not be a Seahawk. This could just be "silly season" banter, but the thought is that Steve Sarkisian isn't going to blow smoke up his former boss's behind like a normal college coach would to an NFL team.
Locker has a ton of tools and is a great athlete but is neither a great passer or a great quarterback.
Enter Adrian Clayborn. Once considered the top senior prospect in the class, Clayborn had a drop in production during his senior season and was walled off by top tackles in the Big Ten like Carimi. He may not be an elite edge rusher, but he still has an intriguing blend of size, strength and athleticism that makes him a first-round lock.
26) Baltimore Ravens—Torrey Smith (WR Maryland)
26 of 32
Torrey Smith did some of his best work on the interview podium, declaring people who compared him to Darrius Heyward-Bey "ignorant," and that they are completely different players. Although his language may have been a bit strong, it underscored how ridiculous the comparison is.
Torrey Smith isn't a straight-line speed demon. His 4.43 was well short of his former teammate's 4.3. Smith is more quick than fast, and showcased his explosiveness with a tie for second in the vertical.
He's a work in progress when it comes to route running, but he's already light years ahead of DHB and works a lot better over the middle. Most importantly for the Ravens, he's a willing blocker and is able to press the seam opening up the underneath routes for his teammates.
27) Atlanta Falcons—Ryan Kerrigan (DE Purdue)
27 of 32
Ryan Kerrigan is a bit of a tweener.
He isn't the strongest guy and he certainly isn't the fastest—unable to consistently beat opponents off the edge or collapse the pocket with a bull rush. He makes his living off of a really high motor and good technique.
Atlanta will fall in love with Kerrigan because of his high character. The Falcons have developed the habit of picking up team captains and it's worked our well for them. Kerrigan might never be a double-digit sack guy, but he'll never be a weak spot along the line either.
28) New England Patriots—Mikel LeShoure (RB Illinois)
28 of 32
Before 20 people comment with this exact statement—the New England Patriots aren't known for spending high draft picks on running backs. That is a known fact.
Yet, for years it was thought Belichick would never pick a linebacker high either.
In the end, need trumps habit and the Patriots need a good running back.
Mikel LeShoure fits the Patriots' system as a tough inside runner, good receiver and willing blocker. He's a big back who has enough wiggle to make defenders miss before finding his impressive second gear.
LeShoure actually compares nicely to Corey Dillon, who had success with the Patriots in 2004 before his body started to break down.
29) Chicago Bears—Derek Sherrod (OT Mississippi State)
29 of 32
Derek Sherrod was once the top tackle in this draft class. Due to his short stature, poor strength at the combine, and great workouts by the other tackles, he falls to the Bears—and they couldn't be happier.
Sherrod isn't often thought of as a high-character/smart player. In reality, he won the "Academic Heisman" and was a team captain. He should be able to pick up Mike Martz's complex blocking schemes faster than most and can play any position on the line right away—more than can be said about some of the other tackles left on the board.
30) New York Jets—Stephen Paea (DT Oregon State)
30 of 32
All that really needs to be said about Paea can be done in this video.
Sadly, people have started to paint Paea as a workout warrior, forgetting how great of a player he was at Oregon State and how solid of a first-round prospect he was before injuries. Frankly, if he falls to the Jets, they would be crazy not to sprint to the podium.
Paea's best asset is his strength—able to anchor in the run game despite being smaller than many nose tackles. He is also able to consistently put pressure on the passer from the middle of the line and could play end as well (depending on the game situation).
31) Pittsburgh Steelers—Jimmy Smith (CB Pittsburgh)
31 of 32
The Pittsburgh Steelers need a cornerback in the worst way, especially if Ike Taylor heads to free agency.
Questions have started to come up with Jimmy Smith in terms of both football character and off-the-field concerns, but the Steelers just don't have the luxury of passing on him and aiming for another mid-round prospect.
Without those red flags, Smith would be a mid-first-rounder. The Steelers need to roll the dice and hope Smith's troubles are truly behind him.
32) Green Bay Packers—Rodney Hudson (OG Florida State)
32 of 32
This is one of those situations where best player available meets need.
Rodney Hudson showed up to the combine over 300 lbs and could have just walked out. He had done all that was needed to solidify himself as one of the top interior line prospects of the draft.
Unlike the other top prospect, Mike Pouncey, Hudson didn't struggle playing center in college and could fit in a variety of pro schemes—including the Packers' zone blocking scheme.
Michael Schottey is an on-call editor for the Bleacher Report College Writing Internship, an NFL Featured Columnist and an NFL Draft Expert. As a member of the Pro Football Writers of America, he has professionally covered the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions as well as NFL events like the Scouting Combine and the Senior Bowl. Follow him on Twitter.com/Schottey
.png?w=480)
