NFL Draft 2011: Expect 49ers to Draft Defense with No. 7 Pick

Draft Day 2011 is less than 24 hours away and for football fans, the countdown couldn't come quicker.

Mock Drafts have been exhausted every which way possible. Fights have broken out and friendships may have been temporarily ruined.

And for a team like the San Francisco 49ers, holding the No. 7 overall pick may feel like a trip to the dentist appointment. You just want to get it over with.

Sources have indicated lately that the Carolina Panthers will take Auburn quarterback Cam Newton No. 1 overall. At No. 2, the Denver Broncos are going defense, but the question is who. Will it be Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller or Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus.

One thing is clear, Von Miller won't slip past the Buffalo Bills at No. 3.

Picks four and five are complete wild cards, with the Bengals and Cardinals looking to improve in a ton of areas. Will Cincinnati draft Georgia receiver AJ Green to comfort the loss of Chad Ochocino or will they take a shot at Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert to take over for Carson Palmer?

The quarterback desperate Arizona Cardinals might be looked at as a shoe-in to take Gabbert at No. 5, however, defense might be a bigger problem to address. With North Carolina defensive end Robert Quinn, LSU corner Patrick Peterson and Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley all available, which of their many needs will Arizona try to fill in first?

With the sixth pick, the Cleveland Browns are said to be eyeing Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones in hopes of finding a true No. 1 receiver.

With the seventh pick, the 49ers could have their picking of LSU corner Patrick Peterson or defensive end Robert Quinn. Either way, the 49ers cannot go wrong with either pick.

The 49ers haven't had a double digit pass rusher since Andre Carter back in 2002 and Quinn gives them a pass rush threat. Peterson, on the other hand, allows the 49ers to finally have a legit cover corner, something they sorely lack.

Although some experts have considered the 49ers taking a quarterback at No. 7, this much is clear, after the Alex Smith pick back in 2005, the 49ers cannot afford to draft a quarterback in the Top 10 with too many red flags.

The real question for the 49ers is if Patrick Peterson is taken earlier in the draft, would the 49ers simply pass on to the next highest rated cornerback in the draft, Nebraska cornerback Prince Amukumara?

Or perhaps seeing that defensive end is their biggest need, could the 49ers remember the last time they took a North Carolina defensive lineman in the first round (Kentwan Balmer) and pass instead for Wisconsin defensive end JJ Watt?

In less than 24 hours, we're about to find out which defensive player the 49ers will take.