2011 NFL Draft: First Round Post-Combine Mock Draft
The NFL scouting combine is over, leaving players with just their pro days to impress scouts before the upcoming NFL draft in April.
This year saw its share of lesser-known players coming from nowhere to have huge performances and high-profile players who fell kind of flat.
Taking all that into consideration, here is a post-combine first round mock draft.
1) Carolina Panthers: Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
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Bowers is an excellent pass rusher much like Julius Peppers, who the Panthers lost in free agency. Ron Rivera is a defensive-minded head coach and will have difficult passing up a talented pass rusher like Bowers.
Bowers looked impressive at the combine and will do a good job of replacing Peppers in the Panthers D.
2) Denver Broncos: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
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Patrick Peterson may be the most talented overall player in the draft. He's got size, speed and can even return kicks. He is probably one of the surest picks in the draft and shouldn't have any difficulty adjusting to the pro level.
The Broncos recently gave corner Champ Bailey a pretty large contract. However, I don't think that means they pass on Peterson with this pick. Bailey is 32 and doesn't have much left. A youth infusion at cornerback would benefit the Broncos secondary tremendously.
3) Buffalo Bills: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
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Many people, including me, believe that Dareus is a better DT than Nick Fairley. He can play tackle in a 4-3 scheme or DE in a 3-4 defense. He has better size and a nonstop motor.
The Bills need someone to go with Pro Bowl nose tackle Kyle Williams. Dareus can stuff the run and rush the passer and will make a great linemate to Williams.
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4) Cincinnati Bengals: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
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Many people have A.J. Green going here, but I don't buy it. The Bengals have a history of taking big name quarterbacks in the first round, and I think they are going to do it again this year.
Carson Palmer is obviously no longer the Bengals' franchise quarterback, and Gabbert looks like the most pro-ready quarterback in this year's class.
The Bengals will take a long look at Green, but I think they end up taking Gabbert with this pick.
5) Arizona Cardinals: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
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The Cardinals need a franchise QB, but with Gabbert off the board they go defense. Von Miller is a dominant pass rusher who fits perfectly into the Cardinals' 3-4 scheme. Miller can start from day one and rack up double-digit sacks.
6) Cleveland Browns: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
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A.J. Green is a ridiculous talent at wide receiver. He can win most jump balls, run well after the catch and has great hands.
The Browns need a big, playmaking wide receiver. Mohamed Massaquoi and Chansi Stuckey haven't been able to fill the need for a true No. 1 wideout. Green is a big playmaker who can make an immediate impact on this team.
7) San Francisco 49ers: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
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Nick Fairley is a very disruptive and dominant force, but his draft stock has been falling. He showed up at the combine two inches shorter and about 10 pounds lighter than he was listed. He had a good, but not great, workout.
Highlights of his past season show some pretty dirty hits on the quarterback, and he has a reputation for taking a few plays off. That being said, he is still one of the best players in this year's draft.
The 49ers don't have any particular need at DT, but Fairley is too good to pass up. They go for the best available player.
8) Tennessee Titans: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
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Cam Newton is an intriguing prospect.
He has a lot of work to do to shake the unfortunate stereotype placed on talented black quarterbacks with character concerns that has been put in place by busts like Vince Young and JaMarcus Russell.
I don't think Newton is at all like them. He has shown maturity and intelligence, and while his accuracy at the combine was less than satisfactory, he did have a completion percentage of 67 percent last year at Auburn and is hardly an inaccurate passer.
People make the mistake of thinking of Cam Newton and Vince Young as almost the same type of person. This comparison is stupid and unfair to Newton. Young was an immature, spoiled quarterback who couldn't get along with anyone. Newton is a natural leader and a far more mature young man who has shown great poise and character under the incredible media attention and scrutiny he has been receiving.
The Titans need a quarterback for the future, and Cam Newton is that guy.
9) Dallas Cowboys: Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
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Offensive tackle is an interesting position in this year's draft. There are three or for guys who different people will rank at the top of this year's group of tackles.
To me, Anthony Castonzo stands out. He is extremely talented, is a high-motor player and is passionate about football.
The Cowboys have been looking for a replacement for Flozell Adams, and no one they've tried has really stood out. Castonzo will be a stalwart on the Cowboys line for years to come.
10) Washington Redskins: Jake Locker, QB, Washington
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Washington needs a quarterback. Donovan McNabb lacks the cardiovascular endurance, and Rex Grossman is just plain awful.
Mike Shanahan is an offensive-minded guy, and Jake Locker drastically improved his stock with an impressive performance at the combine. Locker has great speed and athleticism for a quarterback and showed good accuracy at the combine.
Shanahan grabs himself his quarterback of the future with this pick.
11) Houston Texans: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
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Going into the combine, the knock on Amukamara was that he wasn't fast or athletic enough. He went in and proved just the opposite, blowing scouts away with a 4.43 40 time.
The Texans secondary was disgusting last year, and Amukamara has great coverage skills and should be a big help to their defensive backfield.
12) Minnesota Vikings: Ryan Mallett, Arkansas
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This year's QB class isn't all that talented, but with so many QB-needy teams, I see the top four signal callers going in the first 12 picks.
Ryan Mallett, physically, is what you want in an NFL quarterback. He has huge size (6'7") and can throw a football 80 yards. The only questions about him regard his leadership skills and maturity, but I think the Vikings will take a chance on him.
The Vikings have a strong running game, a fairly good receiving corps and a stout defense, but they are getting older, especially on defense. If Mallett is as good as he can be, he can help this team get back into the playoff hunt.
13) Detroit Lions: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
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The Detroit Lions are young and talented on both sides of the ball. Their primary concern now should be keeping skilled yet fragile quarterback Matt Stafford on his feet.
Nate Solder is a 6'8" beast of an offensive tackle. He has ridiculously long arms and can run a 4.8 40. He has the size and athleticism to protect Stafford's blind side for years to come.
14) St. Louis Rams: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
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The Rams have got to be thrilled to have Jones fall in their laps at 14. He is a big, physical, playmaking receiver with impressive speed and leaping ability who is not afraid to block. Sam Bradford's biggest need is a solid No. 1 receiver, and Julio Jones is just that.
15) Miami Dolphins: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
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This seems like the biggest no-brainer in the draft. The Dolphins have a huge need at running back, and Ingram fits their scheme perfectly.
He's a tough back who has received comparisons to Emmitt Smith for his size and running style. He can run between the tackles as well as catch passes out of the backfield. This is an easy choice for the Dolphins.
16) Jacksonville Jaguars: Robert Quinn, DE/OLB, North Carolina
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The Jaguars have a lot of needs on both sides of the ball, but Robert Quinn has too much talent to pass up. He missed all of the last college football season after being suspended but looked fit and impressive in combine workouts. The Jaguars need a strong presence off the edge, and Quinn is their guy.
17) New England Patriots (via Oakland): Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
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The Patriots have a lot of options with this pick. They need offensive and defensive line help, as well as a pass-rushing OLB, but they have three picks in the top 33, so they can be creative.
Clayborn can play defensive end in the Pats' 3-4 scheme and can help fortify the Patriots run defense.
18) San Diego Chargers: Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA
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Ayers is a dominant OLB who has the ability to play as either an outside linebacker in a 3-4 or a strong-side linebacker in a 4-3 defense.
The Chargers haven't had a truly dominant LB since Shawne Merriman. Shaun Phillips is good, but he could use some help from the other side. Ayers fits well in San Diego's scheme.
19) New York Giants: Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois
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This pick may surprise some, as offensive line is a big need, but I think the Giants go with Liuget with this pick. He's a big tackle with a nonstop motor who can play the run and rush the passer, and he would make a valuable addition to the Giants' defensive line.
20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin
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The Buccaneers offense is mostly set now, so they should go defense with this pick.
Watt is a hard-working pass rusher with a high football IQ. He is relentless off the edge and would be a good fit on Tampa's defensive line.
21) Kansas City Chiefs: Gabe Carimi, G/T, Wisconsin
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The Chiefs need a left tackle. Current starter Branden Albert, a former first-round pick, would be a better fit at guard or right tackle.
Carimi is a 6'7" behemoth of an offensive lineman. With proper coaching, he should develop into a solid left tackle.
22) Indianapolis Colts: Tyron Smith, OT, USC
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The Colts have a few needs, but keeping Peyton Manning on his feet should be a top priority.
While he doesn't have a very high football IQ and sometimes struggles to locate blitzers, Tyron Smith is an outstanding athlete who carries his 300-plus pounds well. He has the speed and athleticism to lock on to speed rushers and, with the proper coaching, can blossom into a solid left tackle.
23) Philadelphia Eagles: Brandon Harris, CB, Miami
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The Eagles are desperate for a corner who can line up opposite Asante Samuel, and with little chance of landing talented yet pricey corner Nnamdi Asomugha through free agency, they will look to the draft to address their need.
Harris is probably the best second-tier corner available. He is still raw when it comes to coverages but is a good athlete and a very hard worker.
24) New Orleans Saints: Ryan Kerrigan, DE/OLB, Purdue
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Gregg Williams can never have enough pass rushers. Kerrigan has an unstoppable motor off the edge and has the lower body strength to stop the run from a strong side defensive end position in the Saints' 4-3 defensive front.
25) Seattle Seahawks: Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
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Apart from standout safety Earl Thomas, the Seahawks secondary was deplorable last year.
Jimmy Smith is a big corner who excels in man-to-man coverage. He will need time to develop his zone coverage skills but can make an impact as a nickel corner right away for the Seahawks.
26) Baltimore Ravens: Rahim Moore, S, UCLA
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As much as Ravens fans hate to think about it, Ed Reed is near the end of his career, and the Ravens had better start grooming a replacement for him.
Rahim Moore is like a younger Ed Reed. He's fast, has great ball skills and can dish out the big hit. He can learn from Reed for a year or two and makes the ideal replacement for when Reed retires.
27) Atlanta Falcons: Justin Houston, OLB, Georgia
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Houston has great work ethic and versatility and can play either end or strong side linebacker in the Falcons' 4-3 defense.
28) New England Patriots: Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh
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Tom Brady won league MVP with a group of undersized wide receivers and two rookie tight ends who he made stars. Imagine what more he could do with a consistent deep threat like the one he used to have in Randy Moss.
Jonathan Baldwin is almost a clone of Randy Moss. He stands nearly 6'5" and has good hands, great deep speed and can go up and win most jump ball battles. He comes with a bit of baggage in terms of character concerns, but if anyone can deal with him, it's Bill Belichick.
29) Chicago Bears: Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
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The Bears recently got rid of longtime DT Tommie Harris, and Paea is an ideal replacement. He is as strong as a bull, bench-pressing a ridiculous 49 reps of 225, and can eat up a lot of blockers against the run.
30) New York Jets: Cameron Jordan, DE, California
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The Jets could use some help along the front seven and will probably grab Jordan with this pick. Jordan can play end in a 3-4 or 4-3 defense and is one of the most pro-ready prospects in the draft.
31) Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Pouncey, OL, Florida
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If Pouncey falls this far, he should be a no-brainer. The Steelers already have his twin brother Maurkice, who has already established himself as one of the best centers in the National Football League.
Mike can play almost anywhere on the offensive line but is best at guard. He and his brother could help turn the interior of Pittsburgh's O-line into a force for years to come.
32) Green Bay Packers: Cam Heyward, DT/DE, Ohio State
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Despite being world champs, the Packers do have their needs, especially on the defensive front. Cam Heyward makes an ideal 3-4 defensive end with his ability to eat up blockers as well as stop the run. He is also a fairly good pass rusher.
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