2011 NFL Mock Draft: What Has Happened to Nick Fairley's Draft Stock?
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Since being considered a possible No. 1 overall pick, former Auburn DT Nick Fairley has fallen down many draft boards to Tennessee at No. 8 and some even lower. He is considered to be the most physically-talented defensive lineman in the draft, and yet his stock has been dropping as of late.
There are reportedly concerns about his work ethic and ability to motivate himself. He has even been compared to Albert Haynesworth, and we all know how that turned out.
This means that Marcell Dareus, though one spot lower than Fairley on Mel Kiper's Big Board, likely jumps to the Denver Broncos with the second overall pick.
However, Kiper said in his latest Mock Draft 4.0, "Defensive line probably falls lower on the list of team needs behind the obvious question of who will be taking snaps, but it's not a minor need."
If Fairley drops past Tennessee, the floor could drop out for the former Tigers defensive star. With only four defensive linemen—and only one other defensive tackle—projected in the next eight picks, Fairley could be the next Brady Quinn sitting backstage with his head in his hands and cameras in his face.
Hard to believe that an early favorite for the first overall selection could easily drop to a mid-to-late first-round bargain pick by a strong team.
Check in for updates to see where each top-rated prospect goes in the first round.
| 1. Carolina Panthers | 17. New England Patiriots |
| 2. Denver Broncos | 18. San Diego Chagers |
| 3. Buffalo Bills | 19. New York Giants |
| 4. Cincinnati Bengals | 20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 5. Arizona Cardinals | 21. Kansans City Chiefs |
| 6. Cleveland Browns | 22. Indianapolis Colts |
| 7. San Francisco 49ers | 23. Philadelphia Eagles |
| 8. Tennessee Titans | 24. New Orleans Saints |
| 9. Dallas Cowboys | 25. Seattle Seahawks |
| 10. Washington Redskins | 26. Baltimore Ravens |
| 11. Houston Texans | 27. Atlanta Falcons |
| 12. Minnesota Vikings | 28. New England Patriots |
| 13. Detroit Lions | 29. Chicago Bears |
| 14. St. Louis Rams | 30. New York Jets |
| 15. Miami Dolphins | 31. Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 16. Jacksonville Jaguars | 32. Green Bay Packers |
Hannah Foslien/Getty Images
With the Third Overall selection in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills select Von Miller of Texas A&M.
The Arizona Cardinals will not be happy about this pick. They have had their sights on Von Miller from Texas A&M since the NFL Combine. However, the only need the Bills have that is more dire is at offensive tackle, and no one at that position is worth this high of a pick.
Von Miller can play the pass rush, run and drop back in coverage better than anyone in the last few draft classes and will be a great addition to the Bills' front seven.
| 1. Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn | 17. New England Patiriots |
| 2. Denver Broncos: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama | 18. San Diego Chagers |
| 3. Buffalo Bills: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M | 19. New York Giants |
| 4. Cincinnati Bengals | 20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 5. Arizona Cardinals | 21. Kansans City Chiefs |
| 6. Cleveland Browns | 22. Indianapolis Colts |
| 7. San Francisco 49ers | 23. Philadelphia Eagles |
| 8. Tennessee Titans | 24. New Orleans Saints |
| 9. Dallas Cowboys | 25. Seattle Seahawks |
| 10. Washington Redskins | 26. Baltimore Ravens |
| 11. Houston Texans | 27. Atlanta Falcons |
| 12. Minnesota Vikings | 28. New England Patriots |
| 13. Detroit Lions | 29. Chicago Bears |
| 14. St. Louis Rams | 30. New York Jets |
| 15. Miami Dolphins | 31. Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 16. Jacksonville Jaguars | 32. Green Bay Packers |
Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images
Marcell Dareus' cleaner history leads Denver to choose him over Nick Fairley.
This is another unanimous decision among experts in the media. Considered to be tied for the number one most talented athlete in this year's draft by Scouts Inc., Marcell Dareus has much of the talent, size, and upside without any of the character concerns following Auburn's Nick Fairley.
He is a bigger DT than Fairley by nearly 30 pounds and is a slower but more powerful interior lineman that Fairley. For the Broncos he fits well into their 3-4 scheme and will be a great addition to their defense assuming that Carolina passes on him for Cam Newton.
| 1. Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn | 17. New England Patiriots |
| 2. Denver Broncos: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama | 18. San Diego Chagers |
| 3. Buffalo Bills | 19. New York Giants |
| 4. Cincinnati Bengals | 20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 5. Arizona Cardinals | 21. Kansans City Chiefs |
| 6. Cleveland Browns | 22. Indianapolis Colts |
| 7. San Francisco 49ers | 23. Philadelphia Eagles |
| 8. Tennessee Titans | 24. New Orleans Saints |
| 9. Dallas Cowboys | 25. Seattle Seahawks |
| 10. Washington Redskins | 26. Baltimore Ravens |
| 11. Houston Texans | 27. Atlanta Falcons |
| 12. Minnesota Vikings | 28. New England Patriots |
| 13. Detroit Lions | 29. Chicago Bears |
| 14. St. Louis Rams | 30. New York Jets |
| 15. Miami Dolphins | 31. Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 16. Jacksonville Jaguars | 32. Green Bay Packers |
Joe Robbins/Getty Images
Cam Newton's upside leads experts to believe he is worth the risk for the much maligned Panthers.
The unanimous decision between ESPN.com and CBSSports.com writers is that Cameron Newton will be selected first by the Carolina Panthers. He is one of the most gifted athletes to be in the NFL Draft in probably the last 10 years, but there are concerns galore surrounding this former National Champion.
There were allegations of felony theft and academic cheating in his years at Florida. Then there was the eligibility dispute due to his father allegedly trying to sell his son's services to the highest bidding college after he won the National Junior College Football Championship at Blinn College. Others yet question his accuracy and his ego.
However, character issues aside, the kid knows how to win and much like Charlie Sheen, winning is always No. 1 on his list of things to do. He only needed one year in the system to take Auburn to its first National Championship in over 50 years.
Newton also won the Heisman Trophy in 2011 and captured the attention of every football fan in the country.
Many feel that the best bet with Newton is to have him sit a year or two behind a starter, but a position battle between himself and Jimmy Clausen might just be the only motivation Cam needs to prove he deserves to be a starter from day one.
| 1. Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn | 17. New England Patiriots: |
| 2. Denver Broncos: | 18. San Diego Chagers: |
| 3. Buffalo Bills: | 19. New York Giants: |
| 4. Cincinnati Bengals: | 20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: |
| 5. Arizona Cardinals: | 21. Kansans City Chiefs: |
| 6. Cleveland Browns: | 22. Indianapolis Colts: |
| 7. San Francisco 49ers: | 23. Philadelphia Eagles: |
| 8. Tennessee Titans: | 24. New Orleans Saints: |
| 9. Dallas Cowboys: | 25. Seattle Seahawks: |
| 10. Washington Redskins: | 26. Baltimore Ravens: |
| 11. Houston Texans: | 27. Atlanta Falcons: |
| 12. Minnesota Vikings: | 28. New England Patriots: |
| 13. Detroit Lions: | 29. Chicago Bears: |
| 14. St. Louis Rams: | 30. New York Jets: |
| 15. Miami Dolphins: | 31. Pittsburgh Steelers: |
| 16. Jacksonville Jaguars: | 32. Green Bay Packers: |



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