2011 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting The Entire 1st Round, Where Will Cam Newton Go?
The college football season is coming to a close.
After the BCS National Championship, these players college lives will be in their past. Their future, the place they've been dreaming about since they touched a football: the NFL.
The draft is in about 140 days. That time will fly for the average person, but for these athletes, these months will seem to last forever.
When the draft does finally come for these players, here's what it should look like:
With The First Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Carolina Panthers Select....
1 of 32
A.J. Green, Wide Receiver, Georgia
Jimmy Clausen needs more than one weapon to throw the ball to. Besides Calvin Johnson, A.J. Green is rated as the best receiving prospect to enter the draft since Randy Moss.
A Steve Smith-A.J. Green combo would instantly be one of the most talented duos in the NFL.
With The Second Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Detroit Lions Select...
2 of 32
Patrick Peterson, Cornerback, LSU
Peterson is the best player available and it fills a huge need for the Detroit Lions. He is the best cornerback prospect in the last decade.
Adding him to a defense with Ndamukong Suh would give the Lions two of the very best young defenders in football.
With The Third Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Cincinnati Bengals Select...
3 of 32
Da'Quan Bowers, Defensive End, Clemson
The Bengals need a lot of help and adding a franchise pass rusher is a great starting point.
Bowers is the best defensive end in the draft. He has 15 sacks this season.
They could go for a quarterback, but it may be too early to give up on Carson Palmer just yet.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
With The Fourth Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Buffalo Bills Select...
4 of 32
Andrew Luck, Quarterback, Stanford
Arguably the best player in the draft falls to the Bills at number four. It fills a need that has haunted them for years: the quarterback position.
Of all the talented quarterbacks this year, Luck is number one on everyone's draft boards.
With The Fifth Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Arizona Cardinals Select...
5 of 32
Ryan Mallett, Quarterback, Arkansas
The Cardinals are a wreck right now and need a franchise quarterback immediately.
Unlike their current signal callers, Mallett has the talent to get the ball to one of the best receivers in football in Larry Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald was widely considered the best, before the Cardinals offensive implosion.
With The Sixth Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Denver Broncos Select...
6 of 32
Nick Fairley, Defensive End, Auburn
Fairley is one of the most hyped up players in college football right now. He is a physically dominant force the Broncos defense could really use up front.
Like Ndamukong Suh, Fairley's ability to translate that physical dominance to the next level will be questioned, but Suh obviously didn't have any trouble proving his critics wrong.
With The Seventh Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The San Francisco 49ers Select...
7 of 32
Robert Quinn, Defensive End, UNC
The 49ers could go with Prince Amukamara here to upgrade their horrible pass defense, but the selection of Robert Quinn upgrades their pass and run defense.
Quinn was on the top of many people's draft boards before he was suspended this season so he could be a major steal at seventh overall.
With The Eighth Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Dallas Cowboys Select...
8 of 32
Prince Amukamara, Cornerback, Nebraska
The Cowboys are very possibly the most talented losing football team ever. Adding Amukamara eliminates one of their few needs.
Amukamara, like Patrick Peterson, is one of the best cornerback prospects in years.
With The Ninth Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Tennessee Titans Select...
9 of 32
Marcell Dareus, Defensive Tackle, Alabama
Ever since losing Albert Haynesworth, the Titans defense hasn't been the same.
Dareus would finally fill that void. He is an athletic freak for a 300 pounder.
With The 10th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Washington Redskins Select...
10 of 32
Mark Ingram, Halfback, Alabama
Besides Clinton Portis in his prime, Mike Shanahan never really had a stud running back in his offense, and he consistently produced 1000 yard backs.
Mark Ingram is a stud though and could put up 1500 yards a season like Portis did as a Bronco.
Ingram is the most talented halfback in the draft by far.
With The 11th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Houston Texans Select...
11 of 32
Brandon Harris, Cornerback, Miami
The Texans secondary couldn't get much worse this season. They have Kareem Jackson, and that's it.
The addition of Brandon Harris will give the Texans their starting cornerbacks of the future.
With The 12th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Minnesota Vikings Select...
12 of 32
Jake Locker, Quarterback, Washington
Brad Childress out, new coach in.
Brett Favre out, new quarterback in.
Jake Locker falling to number 12 is great for the Vikings as he would have went number one overall ahead of Sam Bradford in last year's draft.
With The 13th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Cleveland Browns Select....
13 of 32
Julio Jones, Wide Receiver, Alabama
The Browns need to get some weapons for their franchise quarterback.
Julio Jones is dangerous going deep and after the catch. He could be the playmaker Braylon Edwards was supposed to be for them.
With The 14th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The San Diego Chargers Select...
14 of 32
Adrian Clayborn, Defensive End, Iowa
Clayborn is a top 10 talent who will fall on draft day because of character concerns.
The Chargers get good value and fill a need on the defensive line.
With The 15th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The New England Patriots Select...
15 of 32
Stephen Paea, Defensive End, Oregon St.
The Patriots use the pick the Raiders gave them for Richard Seymour to replace him.
Paea is primarily a 4-3 defensive tackle, but he's versatile enough to play in a 3-4 at defensive end.
With The 16th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Seattle Seahawks Select...
16 of 32
Cam Newton, Quarterback, Auburn
The Seahawks have plenty of young and upcoming players ready to take them to the top sometime in the near future. One position they do lack is at quarterback.
Cam Newton would give the Seahawks a dynamic playmaker with a cannon arm.
With The 17th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Indianapolis Colts Select...
17 of 32
Derek Sherrod, Offensive Tackle, Mississippi St.
The Colts must upgrade their offensive line to protect Peyton Manning. Manning is on the worst slump of his career, mostly in part to the revolving door in front of him.
Sherrod is a solid offensive tackle prospect that can protect a quarterbacks blindside for a decade.
With The 18th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Miami Dolphins Select...
18 of 32
Akeem Ayers, Outside Linebacker, UCLA
The Dolphins need a pass rusher opposite of Cameron Wake. Offensive lines won't be able to double team Wake with Ayers at outside linebacker.
At 3-4 outside linebacker, Ayers had 4-3 outside linebacker coverage skills.
With The 19th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Select...
19 of 32
Ryan Kerrigan, Defensive End, Purdue
The Buccaneers upgraded their interior defensive line in last year's draft, but they still need to improve their ends.
Ryan Kerrigan is a high motor pass rusher who has 12.5 sacks this season.
With The 20th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The New York Giants Select...
20 of 32
Travis Lewis, Outside Linebacker, Oklahoma
The Giants need a major upgrade to their linebacking core.
Linebackers may have the lowest first round bust rate out of any position. Travis Lewis is the best linebacker in this year's draft class and will be able to make an immediate impact at the next level.
With The 21st Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The St. Louis Rams Select...
21 of 32
Justin Blackmon, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma St.
The Rams must add a legit number one receiver for Sam Bradford this off season.
Blackmon is only a redshirt sophomore, but he could still declare. Reason: he has 102 catches for 1,665 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.
With The 22nd Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Jacksonville Jaguars Select...
22 of 32
Cameron Jordan, Defensive End, Cal
The Jaguars added two defensive tackles in last year's draft. Now they must upgrade their defensive ends after Aaron Kampman tore his ACL for the second straight year.
With The 23rd Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Kansas City Chiefs Select...
23 of 32
Von Miller, Outside Linebacker, Texas A&M
Miller is arguably the best pure pass rusher in the draft.
The Chiefs need a good pass rusher across from Tamba Hali.
With The 24th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Chicago Bears Select...
24 of 32
Gabe Carimi, Offensive Tackle, Wisconsin
The Chicago Bears have the worst offensive line in the league bar none.
At 6'8", Gabe Carimi may have the highest ceiling for a tackle in the 2011 draft class.
With The 25th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Baltimore Ravens Select...
25 of 32
Janoris Jenkins, Cornerback, Florida
The Ravens cornerbacks definitely need to be upgraded. With all the huge names on the Ravens defense, their no-name corners don't fit in.
Jenkins would add another ball hawk to Baltimore's secondary.
With The 26th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Philadelphia Eagles Select...
26 of 32
Anthony Castonzo, Offensive Tackle, BC
The only thing holding back the Eagles explosive offense is there offensive line.
Castonzo is an instant upgrade.
With The 27th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Green Bay Packers Select...
27 of 32
Aaron Williams, Cornerback, Texas
The Packers have great corners now with Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams, but Woodson is getting up there.
At 34 years old, now would be a good time to draft Woodson's replacement.
With The 28th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Pittsburgh Steelers Select...
28 of 32
Mike Pouncey, Guard, Florida
The Steelers need an upgrade at the guard position. Considering how bad they are at the position, Mike Pouncey will be able to start right away next to his brother Malcolm.
He's the best interior offensive lineman in the draft.
With The 29th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The New Orleans Saints Select...
29 of 32
Bruce Carter, Outside Linebacker, UNC
The Saints get a steal with Bruce Carter at 29th overall. 4-3 outside linebackers aren't a coveted position, so Carter falls to the lucky Saints.
With The 30th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The New York Jets Select...
30 of 32
Allen Bailey, Defensive End, Miami
One of the few positions that could be upgraded on the Jets defense is the defensive end position.
The athletic freak Allen Bailey falls right into their lap. He can run a 4.65 at 285 pounds.
With The 31st Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Atlanta Falcons Select...
31 of 32
Jonathan Baldwin, Wide Receiver, Pittsburgh
The Falcons need a solid receiver opposite of Roddy White.
Matt Ryan throwing to White, Baldwin, and Tony Gonzalez would be lethal.
With The 32nd Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The New England Patriots Select...
32 of 32
Ras-I Dowling, Cornerback, Virginia
The Patriots desperately need to upgrade their secondary. Devin McCourty is a stud, but opposite him, there's nothing.
Dowling is a very talented, physical corner that would fit in great with New England's defense.
David Daniels is an NFL Featured Columnist and Writing Intern at Bleacher Report and a Syndicated Writer. Follow him at One Yard Short.com or on Twitter
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Post-June 1 Trade Candidates ☎️")
.JPG?w=600 "TO Talks Cowboys Relationship")
.jpg?w=600 "Taylor Heinicke Retiring")
.jpg?w=600 "49ers OC Hypes Mike Evans 🤩")