2011 NFL Mock Draft, Version 1.0: Find Out What My Crystal Ball Tells Me

A true NFL Draft nut will tell you a good mock draft is entertaining at anytime through the year, especially in these slower days of the summer before the season starts.

I am assuming that all seniors and juniors will declare, and no redshirt sophomores will declare, just to make it simple and clean. The draft order will be based on what my crystal ball tells me (based on my current power rankings, nothing more).

1. Buffalo Bills: QB Jake Locker, Washington.

Jake Locker is pretty much the consensus top quarterback right now (although I have Andrew Luck as the top QB, but I kept RS Sophomores out of this mock) and the Bills need to find a new face for their franchise and a player they can build their offense around. Locker has everything teams look for in their franchise QBs. He has prototypical size and has a solid frame, but is a tremendous athlete that can move around in the pocket and buy time or take off downfield for huge chunks of yardage. Locker's arm is strong enough to make all the NFL throws and even though he is still a raw player his throwing motion, footwork, mechanics, pocket presence and accuracy are all improving very quickly and by next April he could be even higher rated then he is now.

The Bills obviously have a ton of needs. They are switching to a 3-4 base defense in 2010 and are in need of a true nose tackle, pass rushing OLBs and could use some ends and interior linebackers as well. On offense they need to upgrade their offensive line and drafting an elite left tackle could be a serious option here. In the end though the Bills know that QB is the most important position and also have Locker as their top rated prospect which makes this pick an easy one.

2. St. Louis Rams: DE Robert Quinn, UNC

Robert Quinn is the next pass rusher in the mold of Mario Williams and fellow Tar Heel alum Julius Peppers and shares the same freakish athleticism that make those players great. At 6'5" and 275 pounds Quinn is a very intimidating player on the defensive line and anchors the best defensive line in the nation at UNC. Quinn combines amazing size and length with great strength but most of all his elite explosion off the snap, quickness, athleticism, speed, burst and timing make him nearly unblockable. He compares in many ways to Mario Williams, but Quinn is actually more proven and has done it more consistently at the college level. Being able to immediately come in and be an impact player and also possessing massive upside and potential make Quinn a great pick here.

The Rams hired head coach Steve Spagnolou based on what he was able to do with the Giants defense and how he coached them to a dominating Super Bowl win over the 2007 Patriots who were being called the best offense ever. Now Spags is in St. Louis and looking to replicate that success but knows he needs to build his defense from the ground up: meaning in the trenches. The Rams have Chris Long at RDE who was the 2nd overall pick.

To date Chris Long has been solid but not living up to his potential and gets double teamed too much, which is even more reason toadd Quinn to the defense. Quinn can come in and play RDE, letting chris Long move to LDE where he is a better fit in a Spags defense. Quinn will do alot to keep double teams off Chris Long and could result in a big year from both players. Quinn is a great piece in Spags pursuit to building an elite defense. Of course the Rams have other needs and will be looking to add weapons fro Sam Bradford but the receiver position is very deep in this draft and the Rams likely can get a great receiver with their 2nd round pick.

3. Tampa Bay Buccanears: DE Adrian Clayborn, Iowa

The 2011 draft is chock full of elite level defensive end and pass rushing prospects and it will not take long for them to start coming off the board. Adrian Calyborn is likely the most complete pass rusher and end in the nation and a player that is all hustle and gives 100% all the time. At 6'3" and 290 pounds he combines a stout, extrememly strong frame with great initial burst and tremendous drive. Clayborn has a terrific bull rush and leg drive and plays with great leverage which allows him to drive back tackles with ease and be a huge asset in run support. Combine that with the fact that Clayborn is a surprisingly agile athlete that has good burst and can get around the edge and be a good pure pass rusher as well. Clayborn is all hustle and a pretty well rounded and fundamentally sound player that is tenacious at the line of scrimmage

The Buccanears had a great draft in 2010 but obviously have a long way to go. They spent the 3rd overall pick on Gerald McCoy who is the best pass rusher 4-3 under tackle prospect in a long time and plays alot like Buccanear great Warren Sapp. With the next selection they went with big bodied run stuffer from UCLA Brian Price who will be plugged in at nose tackle and play next to McCoy, which should give the Bucs their DT tandem for years to come. The Bucs know they won a SB on the strength of their defense and specifically their defensive line and they will look to duplicate that. Kyle Moore, Tim Crowder and Stylez White are the Bucs top DEs, which obviously shows the need for an upgrade. Clayborn will be able to slide into the LDE position immediately and the combination of Claborn, Price and Mccoy playing next to each other will keep eachother from being doubled up on and will help eachopther progress immensley.

4. Cleveland Browns: DE Allen Bailey, Miami

Allen Bailey continues the trend of pass rushers going high in the first round, although he is a different type of DE than the previous two. Bailey is a player on the cusp of being considered elite right now and with a strong senior year he could very well vault himself into the top 5 of the draft depending on who is picking there. At 6'4" and 295 pounds Bailey is a freak on the field that posseses strength that is unrivaled at his position and has the ability bowl over lineman that outweight him by 30+ pounds. The thing that sets Bailey apart though is his ability to apply pressure and get after the passer as well in the backfield to break up running plays and create turnovers. Bailey started out as a linebacker at Miami before they realized that he is best fit as a pass rusher and he began to add a ton of muscle, strength and size. Bailey is a perfect fit for end in a traditional 3-4 defense with amazing upside and is the type of player who can take on double teams and occupy blockers but also can split those doubles and create pressure when he is asked to. he has the potential to be the next Richard Seymour.

The Browns are building a defense on piece at a time and got off to a great start in 2010. Adding Joe Haden, Larry Asante and TJ Ward to a secondary that already featured great young starter Eric Wright at CB will go a long way towards building a tremendous young backfield. Ahtyba Rubin is taking over at nose tackle in 2010 and seems like a young player who could hold down the position for years to come, but Shaun Rogers will be 32 by this draft and only have one year left on his deal. After Rogers the Browns are very thin at DE and need to upgrade there. Bailey should be able to come in right away and be a versatile lineman who can both keep the pass rushers clean and also apply pressure himself while being able to play either end position.

5. Kansas City Chiefs: OT Matt Reynolds, BYU

This pick may seem like a longshot right now, but remember: we still are a year away from the 2011 draft and plenty of juniors will step up and surpass their senior counter-parts. Plus Matt Reynolds is already the top rated underclassmen offensive lineman in the nation and with a great junior season could pass by the top senior tackles like Gabe Carimi and Nate Solder. Reynolds has a massive frame and is already more developed than most college lineman at 6'6" and 335 pounds and he still has room to grow and add strength. As a run blocker reynolds is already elite and once he gets his hands on a defender they are as good as done for that play. Reynold's leg drive is fantastic and he has a non stop motor which allows him to drive defenders clear out of running lanes consistently. As a pass protector he has surprising athletic ability and footwork for a man his size. At BYU in 2009 reynolds stepped up as a pass blocker, he isnt a finished product and could use some tweeking on his fundamentals but he is improving every year and has elite level ability with potential that is through the roof.

Drafting reynolds gives the Chiefs a ton of flexibility on their offensive line which they have lacked since Willie roaf and Will Shields moved on. Reynolds will be drafted to be the left tackle, which will allow Branden Albert to move to either RG or RT, both positions that fit Albert much better than left tackle. Reynolds will play left tackle and play next to pro bowler Brian Waters. the Chiefs added Jon Asamoah in the 2010 draft who will be a very good young guard and suddenly the Chiefs weak offensive line looks like it could be turning around pretty quickly.

6. Detroit Lions: CB Patrick Peterson, LSU

Patrick Peterson is the most elite cornerback prospect that has been eligible for the draft in over 5 years and a complete player that could be a shutdown corner at the next level. At 6'1" and 215 pounds, Peterson has truley elite size for a NFL cornerback which average a height of 5'10" and 190 pounds. On top of that Peterson is one of the fastest and most explosive corners in the country that has been timed at sub 4.4 speed at the LSU campus. On the field Peterson is a tough, agressive corner who is great at press man coverage and can overpower receivers at the line of scrimmage but also has the speed, quickness and burst to run stride for stride with the best in the nation. Peterson also posseses elite level change of direction and recovery speed and in the rare circumstances where he finds himself in a bad spot he has the clsoing speed to make up for it and make a play on the ball. His leaping ability is top level and so are his ball skills. Peterson really is the most complete corner in a long time with the potential to be a shutdown corner in the NFL just like he was at LSU, shutting down the nations top receivers like Julio Jones and AJ Green and making it look easy.

The Lions are stockpiling elite players through the draft and they manage to strike gold again eventhough they don't pick until the 6th pick. The biggest weakness on the Lions team was their secondary last season. they added veteran Dre Bly and drafted Speivey but they will be relying heavily on Jonathon Wade and Chris Houston in 2010 and could use a big upgrade and a true no.1 CB to shutdown the top receivers they face. Having a tremendous talent like Peterson could help take players like Greg Jennings and Sidney Rice out of the game in divsion games which would be huge for the Lions. Couple Peterson with 2009 rookie at safety Louis Delmas who was terrific and the Lions are quickly building a very good defense. Add in the pressure young guys like Suh and Avril should produce up front and the Lions may turn things around very quickly

7. Seattle Seahawks: DE Cameron Heyward, OSU

Cameron Heyward is another defensive end with a great combination of size, strength and quickness. Heyward is physically imposing at 6'5" and 290 pounds and has great core strength. Heyward isnt quite the overall athletes that Clayborn and Bailey are, but he has a good burst and enough quickness to get upfield and make plays in the backfield. Right now alot of scouts have Heyward as the top rated defensive end but I think his stock will cool just a little bit but he is a great value here and a pretty complete player that has alot to offer.

The Seahawks have been looking to fix their pass rush for some time now. Patrick Kerney just retired which creates a huge hole and former first round pick Lawrence Jackson hasnt yet proved he was worth the pick and has struggled. Heyward is a perfect fit at LDE in Seattle which is a position that is asked to do alot in run support and take on two gaps alot of time which Heyward should be very capable of. It also allows Jackson to move to RDE where he can focus on his pass rush more than anything and help him progress

8. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pitt

Right now AJ Green is the consensus no.1 receiver but alot can change in a season and I really think Baldwin will have a dominating season where 15 TDs is not out of the question. Baldwin not only plays at Larry Fitzgerald's Alma Mater but he also is a spitting image of Fitzgerald. Baldwin comes in at a legit 6'5" and close to 225 pounds. His hands are huge and he rarely lets any pass thats anywhere close to him get by. His leaping ability it out of this world which is obvious by the picture I provided but at 6'5" and with amazing leaping ability he can be unstoppable with jump balls and should be able to dominate against alot of NFL corners who average in at 5'10". Baldwin obviously is  not a blazing fast receiver but he does have enough speed and quickness to be a threat downfield. His big frame and tremendous strength also make Baldwin a terrific target over the middle where he is plenty tough enough and durable enough ot make all the tough catches and absorb big time hits.

The Jaguars new general manager has stuck to his philsophy of going after the best player on his board and sticking to his plan. At this point Jonathon Baldwin very well could be the top player available and also fills a big need in Jacksonville. the Jaguars have a very good young WR in Mike Sims-Walker who is a bigtime deep threat with great speed and explosiveness but the Jaguars lack any real threat after him on the depth chart and run the risk of Sims-Walker being constantly doubled if they cannot find another target to take pressure off. Baldwin is the perfect compliemnt to Sims-Walker and gives David Garrard the best duo of receivers he has ever had as a starting QB. Baldwin finally provides a huge bodied, possession, jump ball target that garrard can throw it up to and take chances with.

9. Denver Broncos: Jerrell Powe, NT/DT, Ole Miss

Jerrell Powe is the elite 3-4 nose tackle prospect in this draft and one of the better pure nose tackle prospects in the past several drafts. Powe tips the scales at 335 pounds and is 6'1.5" which is the perfect height and weight combination for a nose tackle. 6'1" is ideal because nose tackles that are too tall tend to allow lineman to get under their pads and drive them back, but the shorter, squatty, powerful guys like Powe dont let that happen and its obvious by the picture I provided that Powe knows how to play low and get leverage. In fact that is one of Powe's biggest strengths: getting under lineman's pads and using leverage to destroy lineman and drive them onto their backs. Obviously Powe has elite level strength and I wouldnt be surprised if he tops everyone at the bench press at the combine next year. He also isnt as unathletic as some would think, he has a very good burst off the snap and rockets himself into the offensive lineman, and he can split double teams with ease but also can take on double teams and keep them engaged to clog lane and keep his linebackers clean.

The Broncos have striggled bigtime to build a legit 3-4 defensive line since they switched from their traditional 4-3 defensive alignment. Jjosh McDaniels signed Jamal Williams to play NT this offseason but Williams is 36 and very close to retirement and he is also not nearly on the level he once was, he simply is not a long term or even much of a short term answer here. That is where Powe comes in. He gives the Broncos the elite NT prospect they havent had and gives them a powerful big bodied NT that can keep the linebackers like DJ Williams clean and allow him to flow to the football which makes the entire defense better.

10. New England Patriots: WR AJ Green, Georgia

AJ Green is likely the biggest offensive playmaker in the draft and the most natural receiver but some character issues and questions about his work ethic and attitude drop him slightly. The combination of those issues and the dominaing senior season put up by Jonathan Baldwin add up to Green being the 2nd receiver taken eventhough most have him as number one right now. He is a slim, thin super athletic reciever with 4.4 speed and amazing leaping ability. Green can make plays anywhere on the field and is equally good streaking 50 yards downfield as he is working over the middle and making the tough catches

The Patriots now that Randy Moss contract is almost up and Belicheck is not in the business of paying top dollar to free agent players well over 30 years old. Instead he will part ways with Moss and use the first round pick he aquired two seasons ago in the Richard Seymour trade to draft AJ Green. green should be able to come ina nd start as the Pats top receiver from day one and be a bigtime playmaker. Wes Welker will still be an elite slot receiver and the Pats will look to recent draft picks Brandon Tate and Taylor Price to fill in the holes. That should give the Pats a great receiver group even after just losing Randy Moss. Not many front offices could pull that off but the Pats can and that is why Bill Belcheck is the best at what he does

11. Washington Redskins: DE/DT Marcel Dareus, Alabama

Marcel Dareus is currently having some off field issues involving interactions with an agent that could lead to a few game suspension or at worst a complete season suspension, as long as dareus plays at least part of the season scouts will be reminded why he is such a terrific prospect, but these off field problems could drop him a few spots which lands him here at pick 11. At 6'3" and 308 pounds Marcel Dareus is the perfect fit to play defensive end in the 3-4 alignment. Nick Saban is one of the few coaches who deploys a true 3-4 defense in college football so his players come into the NFL more ready and prepared for the 3-4 scheme than the vast majority of college players. Dareus is a naturally strong and thick player that has a significant bull rush and can overpower bigger lineman. For a player his size dareus also has great quickness and has been clocked in the 4.8 range in the 40 yard dash at Alabama which shows he great burst for a 300+ pound lineman. Dareus is a fundamentally sound player who will come in ready to start day one.

The redskins are in their first year of transitioning to the 3-4 defense in 2010 and will have some growing pains. If Shannahan can get Haynesworth to dedicate to playing nose tackle then that will go a long way into easing the transition as Haynesworth could easily be one of the top NTs in the NFL if he gets motivated, which I have a feeling he will be. Brian Orakpo is a perfect fit for 3-4 OLB and should provide great pressure and the Redskins have a talented secondary. their biggest need on defense is to finish building the defensive line. Philip Daniels who is 36, and former first round bust Adam Carriker are the top 2 defensive ends on the roster so bringing in Dareus will represent a huge upgrade and a player who should be able to start immediately. Marcel Dareus at DE playing next to Albert Haynesworth at NT could be the start to one of the best 3-4 lines in the entire league.

12. Chicago Bears: CB, Aaron Williams, Texas

Aaron Williams is the next in a long line of terrific texas Longhorn secondary prospects. Texas has been a NFL factory for cornerbacks and safeties and that isn't going to stop anytime soon as their secondary is as talented as ever. Aaron Williams is one of the smoothest corners in the nations who has very fluid hips and amazing range and change of direction. At 6'1" he has great height for a NFL corner although hes not tremendously physical at 188 pounds. However Williams does posses a great skill set that includes 4.4 speed and great accleration off the snap. Williams isnt the best press corner, but he will stick to his receiver like glue in man coverage and has some of the best ball skills in the nation. he can make amazing plays on the ball that turn into interception and is a bigtime playmaker.

The Bears have inserted young corner Zachery Bowman as their no.1 cornerback which shows they have confidence in him, but it also shows that longtime Bear Charles Tillman has started to decline as he ages. Tillman isnt happy with his demotion and he won't be happy when the Bears draft an elite CB prospect here that spells the end of his time starting in Chicago. The Bears defense hasnt been the same the past couple of seasons partially due to the decline in the secondary. Julius Peppers' addition and getting Tommie Harris and Urlacher back healthy improves the front 7 tremendously, now the addition of an elite cover corner like Aaron Williams coupled with Zachery Bowman who would be enetering his thrid year and safety Major Wright who will be enetring his 2nd give the Bears alot of playmakers in the backfield of their defense to go with the additions up front.

12. Chicago Bears: CB, Aaron Williams, Texas

Aaron Williams is the next in a long line of terrific texas Longhorn secondary prospects. Texas has been a NFL factory for cornerbacks and safeties and that isn't going to stop anytime soon as their secondary is as talented as ever. Aaron Williams is one of the smoothest corners in the nations who has very fluid hips and amazing range and change of direction. At 6'1" he has great height for a NFL corner although hes not tremendously physical at 188 pounds. However Williams does posses a great skill set that includes 4.4 speed and great accleration off the snap. Williams isnt the best press corner, but he will stick to his receiver like glue in man coverage and has some of the best ball skills in the nation. he can make amazing plays on the ball that turn into interception and is a bigtime playmaker.

The Bears have inserted young corner Zachery Bowman as their no.1 cornerback which shows they have confidence in him, but it also shows that longtime Bear Charles Tillman has started to decline as he ages. Tillman isnt happy with his demotion and he won't be happy when the Bears draft an elite CB prospect here that spells the end of his time starting in Chicago. The Bears defense hasnt been the same the past couple of seasons partially due to the decline in the secondary. Julius Peppers' addition and getting Tommie Harris and Urlacher back healthy improves the front 7 tremendously, now the addition of an elite cover corner like Aaron Williams coupled with Zachery Bowman who would be enetering his thrid year and safety Major Wright who will be enetring his 2nd give the Bears alot of playmakers in the backfield of their defense to go with the additions up front.

13. Pittsburgh Steelers: OT, Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin

Gabe Carimi took over for Joe Thomas and hasnt looked back since holding down the left tackle position for the last 3 seasons and playing at a very high level. Carimi is alot like Russell Okung in situation. He is the no.1 rated offensive tackle right now but a underclassman with more upside could sneak in and pass him up as Carimi is a great player but alot of scouts think he may be already near his cieling while some other OTs have more potential. That, however, is not always a bad thing because Carimi is fundamentally great and has very good footwork and hand placement, plus he is a very smooth pass protector with a nasty punch while moving forward. Carimi is well rounded and comfortable run or pass blocking. In run blocker he is a very agressive and tenacious player that has good drive and uses his hands very well to keep players away.

The Steelers offensive line played better in 2009 but has been an issue of late and if they want to get back to the smash mouth football that won them so many games they need to look to improve on the line. Max Starks has really stepped up at left tackle and is a very good NFL player but Willie Colon, who started at right tackle last season is out for the entire season with an injury and led the Steelers to sign veteran free agent Flozell Adams. There is no guarantee that Colon will return to pre-injury form and could have been upgraded before the injury. Adding Gabe Carimi gives the Steelers a blue collar type lineman that the fans love. It immediately improves their line and gives them a ton of versatility as Carimi could easily play either OT spot and could eventually lead to a move for Max Stark to RT where he could be a even better player and give the Steelers one of the best OT duos in the NFL and give Big Ben bookends to keep him upright and also two great run blockers to clear the way for Mendenhall

14. Miami Dolphins: DE/OLB Jack Crawford, PSU

Jack Crawford stepped up and filled in the vooid left by Aaron Maybin as a sophomore and didnt dissapoint, racking up 15 tackles for loss and always finding his way into the backfield to disrupt plays. Crawford is poised to have a huge junior season as the Nittany Lions top pass rusher and is a perfect fit for a 3-4 rush linebacker. Crawford is a notorious workout machine and spends hours a day in the weight room, which is why he is so strong for a player his size and can deliver such devastating hits. At 6'5" and 265 pounds Crawford still has plenty of room to add more strength without losing his quickness or burst that make him so effective. His work ethic rubs off on his teammates and he is a natural leader.

The Miami Dolphins have lacked a legit pass rusher at OLB for a few seasons now. The addition of second round pick Kao Misi will help alot but they still need another pass rusher opposite Misi. Also the additions of Karlos Dansby at ILB and first rounder Jared Odrick (another PSU alum) will help with the pass rush and the addition of Crawford should put the finishing touches on it. Kao Misi, Karlos Dansby and jack Crawford at linebacker give the Dolphins 3 great pass rushers and 2 great outside linebackers who can get around the edge and apply pressure as well as deliver bigtime hits and be very effective in run support.

15. Carolina Panthers: FS/SS, Deandre McDaniel, Clemson

Deandre McDaniel is the top rated safety in the nation and a huge playmaker. At 6'1" and 215 pounds mcDaniel as amazing range in the centerfield and is a natural playmaker. McDaniel can play eiother safety position with ease and is very comfortable playing in the box and playing agressive in run support. He is an overall complete safety that is a huge playmaker.

The Panthers have lacked a big playmaker in the backfield that can play centerfield and help the corners as well as make huge plays and be the last line of defense. McDaniel offers everything the Panthers need and could play either safety spot for them and that versatility gives him even more value. McDaniel could follow in the footsteps of the last great Clemson safety....one Brian Dawkins!

16. San Francisco 49ers: QB, Terrelle Pryor, OSU

Right now most scouts have Terrelle Pryor as a late first to second round prospect, but alot will change by next April. Terrelle Pryor is poised for a Heisman trophy in 2010 and should lead the Buckeyes to a Big 10 title and possibley to the National Championship game. Pryor will show a ton of progress as a pocket passer in the buckeyes pro style offense. His footwork and mechanics will be far improved, as will his pocket presence and ability to stick in the pocket, step up under pressure and deliver accurate passes. He also will show the huge ability he has as an athlete. At a legit 6'6" and 235 pounds Pryor has been clocked in the mid 4.4 range in the 40 yard dash and is rumored to be able to blaze through it in 4.4 flat. He also has a very strong arm although his release is a bit unconventional.

The 49ers don't live up to the hype in 2010 despite a dominating defense and top notch offensive line, and this spells the end for former no.1 overall pick Alex Smith who regressed yet again after a promising 2009. Mike Singletary decides to draft the 2010 heisman winner and the player with the highest cieling at QB in a long, long time. Pryor may not start right away and is still raw, but his improvements and progression in 2010 showed he is a smart player that picks up schemes quickly and can be a top notch pro. At 6'6" Pryor can stand tall in the pocket and scan the entire field, with mid 4.4 speed he is also faster than almost every NFL player in the front seven and can keep plays alive or take off for huge gains. His improvements in accuracy seal the deal. The Niners contemplate ryan Mallett, Christian Ponder and Blaine Gabbert here but in the end Pryor is the best player available and too good to pass up.

17. Philadelphia Eagles: CB, Prince Amukamara, Nebraska

Prince Amukamara is the third cornerback taken in 2011 and is a different style player than Patrick Peterson and Aaron Williams. At 6'0" and 210 pounds Amukamara is a very physical CB who loves to play press coverage and get physical with receivers. He is a natural man to man cover cornerback who is tenacious and plays with an attitude. Amukamara is also tremendous in run support in coming up and making plays, and is a very hard hitter who can make receivers think twice.

After the Eagles traded Sheldon Brown they created a need at CB for themsleves and Asante Samuel has slowly been degressing, after the 2010 season it could become obvious that his best years are behind him. Either way the Eagles need at least one young talented CB that can start in their system as Ellis Hobbs and Joselio Hanson are not the answer. Trevard Lindley may turn into a good player but he has a ways to go right now before he will be ready and Lindley is the opposite of Amukamara, being very slim and thin, not a big hitter or good in run support. The best bet would be that Prince becomes the eagles no.1 CB down the road with Lindley as the no.2. Amukamara has the tenacious attitude that the Eagles love, he plays the press coverage that Sean McDermott couldnt get Asante to play and is a perfect fit for what the Eagles like to do with their cornerbacks. He even is a good blitzer and fits in with the Birds elaborate blitzing packages. Along with Nate Allen, Brandon Graham and Trevard Lindley, Prince Amukamara gives the Eagles another top level young defender to build their defense and their extremely young team around.

18.Tennessee Titans: ILB, Greg Jones, Michigan State

Greg Jones is one of the most consistent, durable and proven defenders in the nation and the reigning Big 10 defensive player of the year and is the favorite to re-claim that award in 2010. Jones is 6'1" and close to 240 pounds which is a bit undersized for a prototypical NFL linebacker and the main reason he wasnt picked even higher. However what he lacks in elite size he makes up for in intelligence, work ethic, hustle, leadership, play recognition, durability, consistency and toughness. he has all the intangibles teams look for and seems to have that "it" factor that alot of college players lack. Jones is always around the football, he is good in coverage, great in downhill run stopping and has sideline to sideline range. he also is a vocal leader that can provide alot for a NFL team in the locker room. One other major advantage is that in the 4-3 defense greg Jones is a great fit at middle or weakside linebacker which gives teams great versatility with him

The Titans linebacking group lacks any elite level players and now has a huge void after the loss of long time leader and all pro Keith Bullock. Their are more flashy linebackers available that may be a bit more explosive like Travis Lewis of Oklahoma or Dont'a Hightower of Alabama but they dont have the intagibles that jones has. the Titans defense doesnt require linebackers that are super agressive or amazing athletes, they need smart players who play within the system, maintain their assignments and play fundamentally great football and eliminate mistakes. the system fits greg jones perfectly. Greg Jones can step in and immediately fill in at the weakside position for the Titans---the gap left by Bullock, and can provide the work ethic and leadership the Titans lost with Bullock. This is just a perfect fit for the perfect team and one of the safer picks in the draft. I see greg Jones being a multiple all pro and 10+ year starter in Tennessee

19. Cincinnati Bengals: DE Greg Romeus, Pitt

Greg Romeus is the 2nd ranked pure 4-3 defensive end by alot of scouts right now and is coming off two very good season in which he applied great pressure on the QB. Romeus is poised to have a dominating senior season to cap his college career after racking up 27 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks over the past two seasons. At 6'5" and 275 pounds Romeus has the size and strength to play either DE position in the 4-3 and also has the burst off the edge and acceleration to motor around tackles and bring down the QB, but also has the stoutness to maintain his gorund and be effective in run support.

The bengals have been spending alot of high picks on their defense recently with first rounders Leon Hall, Keith Rivers, Johnathan Joseph and a 2nd round pick on Rey Muauluga as well as bringing in carlos Dunlap, Michael Johnson, Pat Sims and Geno Atkins. however they still havent been able to secure a leigt no.1 pass rusher. Antwan Odom seemed on that path before he tore his ACL last season and even if he returns the Bengals could use a legit top pass rushing prospect specially after moving Michael Johnson to linebacker. Greg Romeus is a great fit for LDE in Cincy where the Bengals only have Robert Geathers and Jonathan Fanene. Romeus should be able to start relatively quickly and give the Bengals a great pass ruhser off the edge and improve their d-line. that should in turn help Domato Peko at DT next to him, and Odom+Dunlap across from Romeus, as well as helping the secondary with the improved pass rush.

20. NY Giants: HB Mark Ingram, Alabama

Mark Ingram is one of the most prolific college halfbacks in recent memory who is coming off a 1,650 yard 17 TD Heisman trophy winning junior season and poised to take another run at it in 2010. The fact that Alabama has one of the most talented HBs as his backup in trent Richardson will hurt Ingram's chances as the first two time Heisman winner since Archie Griffin os OSU. Mark Ingram also has the bloodlines as the son of former New York Giants wide receiver mark Ingram who was a very good NFL player. At 5'10" and 217 pounds Ingram is a punishing runner that loves contact and tries to take out defenders by lowering his shoulder and bowling them over or using his vicious stiff arm. Ingram averaged 6.1 yards per carry as a junior and is a no nonsense downhill runner that also has enough quickness to break off long runs but is best in between the tackles running in traffic and causing damage.

This is a perfect fit for the Giants. Brandon Jacobs has become alot less effective recently and backup Ahamad Bradshaw is far more effecient. Last season Jacobs seemed timid and didnt run with authority which made him ineffective. The Giants will be looking for a new starting, bruising halfback in the 2011 draft and Ingram fits that bill perfectly. Ingram is the type of powerful, tenacious, vicious downhill runner that they built their offense around when they were at their best. the only reason Ingram doesnt go higher is because some scouts will worry he will have Ron Dayne Syndrome and he doesnt have elite speed or quickness which seems to be the most important factor for a HB anymore in the NFL

21. Atlanta Falcons: WR Julio Jones, Alabama

the second straight Crimson Tide player to come off the board, Julio Jones posseses an elite skill set and is a great value at this point in the first round. At 6'4" and 210 pounds Jones has elite size for a NFL receiver and has been timed in the low 4.4 range. Jones uses his body very well to box out defenders and sheild the ball, he also is very comfortable goingover the middle and taking big hits to make the catch. Jones has a top 10 pick skill set but the reason Jones didnt go higher was he simply hasnt ever quite lived up to his ability on the field and struggled with drops in 2009. That being said Jones still was one of the top receivers in the nation and if he reaches his potential in the NFL could end up as the best WR in this terrific class.

The Falcons have Roddy White as their top receiver and since matt Ryan has come along White has exploded into a top 10 WR in the entire league. White is an explosive receiver with good hands that can get donwfield in a hurry. The problem is the Falcons dont have any other good threats at WR, in fact their next bst receiver is Michael Jenkins who is a mediocre talent and possession WR that will miss some time at the start of the 2010 season. This allows teams to ofcus on White and double cover him or roll coverage to his side which makes things harder for Matt Ryan to get the ball to his best receiever. The addition of Julio Jones changes all of that. He gives the Falcons a big target opposite White that also has the speed to rocket downfield and stretch the field but has big hands and can make tough catches as well. Combine that with future Hall of Famer tony G at tight end and the Falcons have given their young franchise QB a trio of great targets and also put a weapon on the field that will make defenses pay if they focus on White too much.

22. Houston Texans: FS Deunta Williams, UNC

Deunta Williams is another member of the massively talented Tar Heels defense. At 6'2" and 205 pounds he is a huge playmaker in the secondary who has great closing speed and can jump routes and make interceptions as well as any safety in the nation. He is active in run support although he isn't the best tackler, but he is very willing to through his body around to make plays. Deunta is also good at timing hits and knocking the ball loose on passes over the middle.

The Texans have been looking for a elite safety for years now, and havent been able to find the right player. Adding free gaent Bernard Pollard at SS gave them a solid option last season and now adding an elite coverage safety like Williams finally gives the Texans a strong safety and good safety duo to go along with first round pick in the 2010 draft Kareem jackson the CB from Alabama gives the Texans a secondary with a ton of upside

23. Minnesota Vikings: Ryan Mallett QB, Arkansas

Ryan Mallett has some serious elite skills as a college QB that should transition to the NFL very well. For one he is 6'7" and 240 pounds which is beyond elite size for a QB and he will never have to worry about a lineman blocking his vision to read the field and also provides an incredibley high release point for the ball that makes it impossible to bat down at the line of scrimmage. Mallett also has the overall stongest arm in the nation and can launch the ball downfield 70 yards and make it look easy. he is storng in the pocket and while hes not going to outrun any defenders he can use his strength and size to brush them off or stay upright to get the ball out. For all those elite skills I think Mallett will fail to progress like some think he will in 2010 and will still show spotty accuracy that looks terrific one play when he hits a receiver 40 yards downfield in stride but then look awful the next when he misses a receiver 10 yards out of a slant route. Mallett also shows questionable pocket presence. The combination of his struggles reading the field and accuracy at times worry some scouts and the combination fo those worries plus few teams who are looking for a first round QB this season leads to him being dropped into the 20s.

The Vikings finally wise up and draft the QB of the future as they realize Brett Favre will retire after the 2010 season and they will need to move on and they know tarvaris jackson and 32 year old Sage Rosefels are not the answers. Even if Favre returns for the 2011 season that gives mallett a chance to sit and learn behind a Hall of Fame QB. Mallett gives the Vikings a legit longeterm option at a great value and Brad Childress couldnt pass that up again after watching Jimmy Clausen being available for several picks in 2010 and passsing him up

24. New England Patriots: DE/OLB Von Miller, Texas A&M

At 6'2" and 240 pounds Von Miller is definitely undersized for a NFL defensive end, but in reality that really shouldnt affect him too much as a pass rushing OLB in the Patriots 3-4 defense. Von Miller compares very much to Elvis Dumervil of the Broncos who was also undersized but dominated in college and led the NFL in sakcs in 2009 as a 3-4 OLB. As a junior at A&M in 2009 Miller applied the most pressure of any player in the entire nation with 21.5 QB pressures to go along with 16.5 sacks. He also managed to get 2 sacks and 5 pressures in his matchup against top 10 pick in 2010 Russell Okung, which shows he can deliver agaisnt elite talent. Miller is freakishly quick and agile and tough to get a hand on, he just has a knack for getting into the backfield and breaking up plays. Miller will never be an elite run stopper but he gives high effort in that area and also was very good in coverage breaking up 5 passes in his junior season alone.

The Patriots use their 2nd first round selection to fill their biggest need on the entire team: OLB. Bill Belicheck has been using a TON of picks to build his defense and his efforts are starting to show with great young players like Jerod Mayo, Brandon Meriweather, Patrick Chung, darius Butler, Devin McCourtey and Ron Brace, as well as Brandon Spikes and Jermain Cunningham. Now they add Von Miller who will have a huge impact as a rookie and will be one of the favorites to win defensive rookie of the year. he could very well rack up 10+ sacks as rookie starting in the Patriots defense and should provide the pass rush that the Patriots have lacked since the hayday of Willie McGinest and Mike Vrabel.

25. Arizona Cardinals: ILB Dont'a Hightower, Alabama

The thing some people forget about Hightower is that he was rated by alot of scouts higher than top 10 pick in 2010 Rolando McClain before he suffered a knee injury that ended his 2009 season before he even got it started. He has recovered fromt hat injury but the concerns about re-injury linger and will keep him from moving too high up this draft, but if he can stay healthy he is a steal at this point in the draft. At 6'4" and 255 pounds, hightower is a terrific downhill run stopper that loves to play physical smash mouth football. he has very good range and athleticism and is a smart defender that has the personality to become a vocal leader of his defense in time. Hightower is another player that will be alot of people's pick as defensive rookie of the year

The Cardinals lost one of their leaders and best player in Karlos Dansby which hurt them, and had they not played in the weakest division in the NFL with no other legit playoff caliber teams it would have hurt more as they would have likely missed the playoffs all together. Paris Lenon is slated to start at RILB, Dansby's old spot, and that is a huge downgrade. Hightower will come in and provide the physicality and versatility as well as leadership that Dansby brought and make the Cardinals forget about Dansby very quickly.

26. San Diego Chargers: DE/DT Jared Crick, Nebraska

Jared Crick was one of the best DTs in the nation at applying pressure in 2009 with 12.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks which is superior stats to even most of the top defensive ends in the country. Now the obvious knock is that he did it while playing next to Nndamukong Suh which made it easy for him, but the fact is Crick is a extremely talented interior defender. Crick is a naturally strong, country strong type of player that can drive lineman backwards consistently. crick also has elite size at 6'6" and 290 pounds he is the perfect fit for end in the 3-4 scheme, where his height can get in passing lanes and bat down balls. Crick has very good quickness but has the strength to take on multiple blockers.

The Chargers are looking to find a 3-4 end to play opposite Louis Castillo and conisder Mrvin Austin from UNC and Crick. They have to decide if they want a player with an amazing skill set and dazzling quickness ans size but hasnt produced, or a blue collar hard worker who doesnt stand out in drills but produces better than most on the field. In the end they make the smart move and take Crick who should work in very well at 3-4 end and give them a very good option across from Castillo

27. Dallas Cowboys: FS Rahim Moore, UCLA

Rahim Moore was likely the best pure ballhawk in the country in 2010 and just had an uncanny ability to always be in position to make bigtime plays. Moore broke up 7 passes and picked off an incredible 10 passes while becoming the unquestioned leader of the bruins defense. At 6'1" and 197 pounds Moore isnt a big bodied safety and in fact looks more like a cornerback but he packs a big punch for his size and can time some good hits. He isnt as good as deAndre McDaniel in run support and isnt that type of tackler, he is more of a pure coverage ballhawk safety, but his ability as a ballhawk is so high that it is impossible for the Cowboys to pass up him here.

The Cowboys let Ken Hamlin walk who was aging and not playing at a high level leaving unproven Alan Ball to be the starting free safety. Ball isnt a bad player, hes just nothing special either and Jerry Jones will not be happy with him. In the NFCE your defense needs to have a free safety who can be effective playing deep and breaking up deep passes and covering alot of ground quickley with blazing receivers like Desean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Hakeem Niks, Santana Moss and Steve Smith. Rahim Moore provides that last line of defense and huge playmaking ability in the secondary and fills the cowboys biggest need on defense and makes their defense look pretty complete, at least on paper.

28. NY Jets: SS Mark Barron, Alabama

Another Alabama defender to go in the first round, Mark Barron is the top strong safety to declare for the draft oin several years and is a complete player in the secondary. At 6'2" and 220 pounds Barron is an enforcer in the backfield. he loves to play in the box and get physical as a run stopper but he doesnt get enough credit for his ability in coverage as he broke up 11 passes and picked off 7 as a junior to go along with 74 tackles which shows his willingness to tackle. Barron has amazing athleticism and if you look at the above picture it shows what type of leaping ability he has. Obviously Barron loves to deliver big hits and he does so alot, and at a very high level

Rex Ryan took the Jets to the AFC championship game as a rookie head coach on the strength of his defense and his mixture of 3-4 and 46 defenses. his father Buddy Ryan constructed the 46 defense, and it was built around s a safety who was versatile enough to do everything and make plays in every phase. Jim Leonhard is a decent player at SS but that position needs to be improved. Mark Barron is the exact type of player Buddy would want to build his defense around and it the exact player rex is looking for now: a tough, durable, versatile, nasty defender who loves to tackle and deliver big hits but also makes big plays in coverage. Barron is a perfect fit in NY and when you consider the Jets overall talent in the secondary with Darelle Revis as the best CB in the NFL, Antonio Cromartie and Kyle Wilson two first rounders at CB, plus Dwight Lowery a very good young CB and you add mark Barron to that and this defense simply is the best and only getting better. scary.

29. Green Bay Packers: CB Brandon Harris, Miami

Brandon Harris is a terrific athlete who has the combination of speed and quickness as well as a great backpedal and good change of direction to be a very good NFL cornerback. At 5'11" and 185 pounds harris won't scare any receivers with his physicality but he is a guy who has great ball skills and knows how to get interceptions and with the ball in his hands he is lethal and a threat to take it to the endzone everytime. Harris has rumored to be timed at sub 4.4 speeds in the 40 yard dash and if he can prooduce those times at the NFL combine he will be a eure-fire first round selection.

The packers defense last season was 2nd overall and took massive steps under coordinator Dom Capers in their new 3-4 scheme. Charles Woodson was the defensive player of the year at CB and Al Harris is a solid veteran who is clearly on the decline. Both of the Packers starters at CB are in the twilight of their careers and they would be smart to address this issue now. Tramon Williams was good last season in harris' absence but the Packers need an elite young CB to groom ehind their two aging veterans. Harris is by far the best CB on the board and a very good value here.

30. Baltimore Ravens: CB Curtis Brown, Texas

Curtis Brown is a lot like Brandon Harris, an amazing athlete with top level speed, quickness, change of direction and a smooth backpedal. Brown is the second Texas CB to go in the first round in 2011 and the 3rd Texas secondary player to go in the first round over the last two seasons with plenty more to come in future years. Brown is not a physical player but is active in run support, his strength is playing smart football and reading the QB's eyes to jump routes and make big plays and he has the closing speed required to bait QBs into throws.

The Ravens biggest weakness right now is at talent and depth at the cornerback position. Rookie Lardarius Webb played very well in 2009 and could have a bright future but they cannot rely on Fabian Washington too much longer to start and desperately need an influx of younh talent and depth. Curtis Brown is not quite the physical player the Ravens like but he is a playmaker and if the front 7 can force some bad throws and quick decisions by opposing QBs then brown could have a field day out there as a rookie even.

31. Indianapolis Colts: OG/C Mike Pouncey, Florida

Mike Pouncey, twin brother to Maurkice Pouncey who went in the first round to Pittsburgh in 2010, is a very versatile talent and can help the Colts right away on the offensive line. Mike Pouncey started 2 seasons at right guard in Florida and will take over for his twin brother at center in 2010 which will show off his versatility and dominance. At 6'4" and 315 pounds Pouncey is a powerful run blocker but just like his brother he is very athletic and agile for a big man and could be a very good blocker on the second level, or on screens. Pouncey could play either guard spot or center in the NFL and some scouts even like him to eventually play RT.

The Colts spent a high pick on Mike Pollack 2 years ago to bolster the interior line, and he has. Pollack is a college center playing right guard with that same versatility the Colts love. Jeff Saturday is 37 and cannot be expected to start for too much longer and left guard Tony Ugoh was cut then brought back and is not a natural guard. Mike Pouncey should come in and compete and probably win the left guard spot right away, then when Saturday moves on the Colts have the versatility of two top level college centers that have experience in the NFL playing guard and can pick between Pollack and Pouncey to take over center and leave the other at guard giving them alot of talent on the interior of their line and protect their franchise: Peyton Manning.

32. New Orleans Saints: OT Nate Solder, Colorado

Nate Solder is a player with a ton of potential and ability. At 6'7" and 310 pounds he is very athletic and lean but has enough room on his frame to bulk up and add up to 40 extra pounds and increase his power blocking ability. Solder is the 2nd rated senior tackle in the nation for good reason, he is an agressive blocker with elite size that is equally comfortable pass blcoking as he is run blocking and was coached by some of the best in college but still has room to grow and alot of untapped potential heading into the draft which NFL coaches love.

The Saints let Jamaal Brown walk via free agency after he missed most of 2009. Former 6th round pick Jermon Bushrod stepped up and played well at left tackle and Jon Stinchcomb made the pro bowl at right tackle but Stinchcomb is getting older and really wasnt as good as his pro bowl nomination makes him seem and Bushrod played well but he is not a highly talented natural tackle. With little depth behind those two the Saints would be msart to invest in a top level young tackle to protect their Super Bowl MVP quarterback.