2011 NFL Mock Draft Predictions: All 32 First-Round Picks Revealed
2011 NFL Mock Draft Predictions are a tricky business. The standings in the NFL are constantly being changed and remodeled. On top of that, players are constantly being reevaluated and dissected.
We will not know more until after the combine. Even then, there are sure to be a few surprises involved.
But I offer you the most sure thing you will get today. Here is a rundown of the first round in the 2011 draft. If the draft were to happen this second, you can bet it would fall just like this.
32. Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame
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With no help at tight end other than the aging Tony Gonzalez, the Falcons will have to usher in a new target for Matt Ryan. Not that Ryan needs it, but Rudolph gives him a huge target up the middle.
Rudolph is big and fast. He will most likely put on some pounds before the combine but should maintain his foot speed. The Falcons will be that much better next year.
31. New England Patriots: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
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The Patriots are young and thin on defense. The secondary was the only question mark that they had going into this season. It seems the defense may have figured out how to stop very good teams as of late but they will still want to bolster it in the offseason.
Von Miller will slip to the Patriots in a very lineman- and quarterback-heavy first round. Miller is a prototypical Pats player. He is a hard worker who keeps his mouth shut. The two were meant for each other.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Pouncey, OT, Florida
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The Pittsburgh Steelers are an elite NFL team with very little to complain about. If you are nitpicking, then you can call out their offensive line for being a little soft.
By taking Pouncey, the Steelers will solidify not only the line but two brothers. The Steelers already have his twin brother Maurkice on the team.
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29. New Orleans Saints: Drake Nevis, DT, LSU
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The Saints have a had some issues with stopping teams from going crazy scoring on them. They don't have a feared pass rush and it has been a detriment in some games. If they land Nevis, it would be a huge plus.
Nevis is a bit undersized but he makes up for it in speed. The Saints would have no trouble forcing quarterbacks into perilous situations with Nevis on the line.
28. New York Giants: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
5 of 32
The Giants might be scary next year. They return a very balanced team. The only drop off to free agency may come in the defensive tackle position. If things shake out the way I have them, the Giants would be getting one of the better football talents in the draft.
Getting Nick Fairley at #28 is an amazing value and the steal of the draft. Fairley is explosive and large. Anybody in the backfield would have issues trying to get away from this hulking figure.
27. Baltimore Ravens: Aaron Williams, CB, Texas
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The Ravens stock their team on the defensive side of the ball first. It is the main reason they have become so prolific at stopping teams.
The best cornerback at No. 27 will be Aaron Williams. He is a quick, sure-handed corner who hits. He hits hard. That will go quite well with the Ravens motto of lighting up the other team.
26. Chicago Bears: Matt Reynolds, OT, BYU
7 of 32
The 2010 Chicago Bears have figured out how to win without much of an offensive line. Most teams picking ahead of the Bears will try to bolster the same position. But no matter who is available, they must address it.
At times during the season, the Bears looked to invite anyone that wanted in to come and sack their quarterback. This is by far their most important hole to patch up.
25. New York Jets: Cameron Heyward, DE, OSU
8 of 32
The Jets are reeling at the moment. They have faltered in the last two games and are dealing with a scandal involving one of their coaches.
The other problem is that The Jets have a plethora of defensive players leaving to free agency, including DE Shaun Ellis. The Jets would do well to take the best defender on the market at the time. Imposing menace Cameron Heyward would be it.
He is also a good chemistry guy. That is exactly what this team needs right now.
24. Philadelphia Eagles: Derrek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State
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The Eagles priority going forward should be to take care of Michael Vick. The Eagles may lose OG Nick Cole in the off season. Even if he were to stay, the line must be solidified.
Trust me, Vick will be that much more dazzling with Derrek Sherrod blocking for him. He has amazingly quick feet and with time will be able to keep up with the quickest of defensive ends.
23. Kansas City Chiefs: Demarcus Love, OT, Arkansas
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The Chiefs have fairly pronounced deficiencies on defense as well as at the tight end position. But the key to their success has been the line. When it's stout, it works.
Their only sparkle this year has come from the running game as well as with the arm of Matt Cassel. The two items struggle when the line collapses, which has happened on a number of occasions.
The Chiefs will miss out on some better talent this far back but Demarcus Love is no slouch.
22. Jacksonville Jaguars: Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
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The Jaguars may have finally figured out how to win some games. Their timely scoring on offense has allowed them to be a little lackadaisical on defense. They will need some heavy hitters on that side of the ball.
The only real knock on Kerrigan is a couple of injuries that he has seemed to have left in the past.
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA
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Getting younger and faster on offense has worked a treat for the Buccaneers. Look for them to take that same mantra and apply it to defense for next year's draft.
Ayers has been the lone bright spot on the season for UCLA. He is a bulky linebacker with blazing speed. He can cover most anybody and will have quarterbacks thinking twice about him.
20. Green Bay Packers: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
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The Green Bay Packers are finally starting to help themselves out, sort of. No one wants to drop valuable games in the NFL. But their slot last week had them picking lesser talent. If they keep this up, they will get a real find.
Nate Solder is exactly what the Packers need. With two concussions on the year, Aaron Rodgers needs protection, and he needs it fast.
19. San Diego Chargers: Allen Bailey, DE, Miami
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What the Chargers really need is help on special teams. But you cannot draft for turnovers. The Chargers have been beset by untimely fumbles and missteps. That is largely the fault of coaching and preparation.
Other than that, San Diego is pretty well keyed in. They have one of the best offenses in the NFL and a equally impressive defense.
They may lose some players to free agency, so it would behoove them to act now. Allen Bailey is an impressive talent who would fit right in.
18. Indianapolis Colts: Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
15 of 32
The Colts would do well drafting some health elixir. The Colts have suffered from maladies and injuries that for the time being have them out of the postseason.
But before any injuries took place, the Colts still had a soft line. The porous line has forced Manning to make some very brash decisions. Now the Colts star has had 11 interceptions in three games. But help, Colts fans, is on the way.
17. Miami Dolphins: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
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With every team drafting linemen and quarterbacks ahead of them, the Dolphins get exactly what they yearn for.
Mark Ingram is arguably one of the best backs in the draft next year. He is quick and elusive. That is exactly the type of player who will slide right into the wildcat offense. This spot could not have worked out any better for Miami.
16. St. Louis Rams: Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
17 of 32
The Rams would love to draft a swift, sure-handed receiver in the first round. Sadly, the good ones will be snagged by this point. The other and perhaps more pressing need comes on the other side of the ball.
He is a bit susceptible with his footwork on the running game, but the pass rush is his speciality. The Rams may just be a good defensive team yet.
15. Seattle Seahawks: Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
18 of 32
For a brief period this year, Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett ruled the roost. Like I said, it was a very brief period. Then the horrid offensive line did what weak lines do, they tire.
Now the Seahawks have no running game to speak of. Some of that may be that Lynch and Forsett are not exactly world beaters.
The Seahawks though, would do well to shore up their holes on the line. Then maybe, just maybe, the running backs can find some holes of their own.
14. Oakland Raiders (pick To New England): Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
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The Raiders are having a great season considering the question marks they have. Oakland may be finally coming back to the pack. That will net them a fine position to get a real star.
Julio Jones is just what the Raiders like in a football player. He is flashy, strong, and above all, quick. They like to stretch the field and Jones would do just that.
13. Minnesota Vikings: Nick Foles, QB, Arizona
20 of 32
The Vikings will have some soul searching to do this off season. Their biggest hole will be the one recently vacated by Brett Favre due to injury.
It is unclear who the successor will be in Minnesota. Brett Favre may finally be at the end of the road and there is little to no trust in Tarvaris Jackson. The club will not hand the keys over to Joe Webb, either.
They must either draft or trade for a QB. There is no way around it.
12. Houston Texans: Rahim Moore, S, UCLA
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The Texans are in dire straits for playmakers in their secondary. But the fact that they may not re-sign their safety has me worried.
With Bernard Pollard leaving due to free agency, the Titans are in desperate need of a safety. There is no one better in the draft than Rahim Moore. A wide receiver in high school, Moore has the hands and quickness to make it in the NFL.
11. Washington Redskins: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
22 of 32
The Patriots take the first round pick from the Raiders. They may just luck out if this indeed happens to be a defensive players' draft.
The Pats are slim at the receiver position and Wes Welker is not getting any younger. AJ Green may have had some dealing with an agent. I believe he learned his lesson with the four-game suspension he was dealt. Either way, the Patriots would be comfortable taking him.
Not only is he the best receiver out there, Bill Belichick will iron him out.
10. Cleveland Browns: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
23 of 32
The Browns could use a solid receiver for Colt McCoy to throw to, but that is not their biggest deficiency. The Browns would do well to draft defensive end star Adrian Clayborn.
As long as Clayborn stays healthy and remains fit, he should be explosive enough at the combine for the Browns to fawn all over him. At his best, Clayborn gives you a strong, quick-footed option at the line.
9. San Francisco 49ers: Janoris Jenkins, CB, Florida
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The joy of picking in the top ten also means that you have suffered the tragedy of finishing at the bottom of the rest of the NFL.
I really think the 49ers could use a quarterback here. I don't think they drafted the right fit yet. But it would be ridiculous for them to continually do so. There is also a notion that the 49ers may be warming to the idea of Troy Smith as their QB.
Their secondary would be the next fence to mend then. Jenkins has a great way of finding the right place to be at the right time.
With him nestled in the 49ers defense, those scores might be a little closer. They might even be able to take the NFC West next year. Not like that should be an unattainable task
8. Tennessee Titans: Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
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The Titans have to ask, Who is our quarterback next season?
With Vince Young most assuredly bounced, the Titans will have to once again go fishing for a quarterback. Ryan Mallett is as "can't miss" as they come.
He has a great arm and pinpoint accuracy. It also helps knowing that he has been in some big-time games.
7. Arizona Cardinals: Jake Locker, QB, Washington
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The Cardinals are in need of a great many things. But the one thing they need more than all is a big-time talent at quarterback.
The best part of Jake Locker is he gets the most out of the players around him. Something tells me that would prove very useful to the Cardinals.
Locker would fit the bill as a player able to take over in his first season.
6. Dallas Cowboys: Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina
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Regardless if the Cowboys are back to playing inspired ball or not, Dallas is still awfully suspicious on defense. It should have been the only question mark on a team that looks great on paper.
Robert Quinn would give the Cowboys something they have been missing all season: someone who could tackle. There have been countless highlights of receivers and backs running right by a defender.
Quinn knows how to find the ball and wrap up its carrier. All the Cowboys would need is a machine to clone him.
5. Denver Broncos: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
28 of 32
Marcell Dareus solves two issues facing the Broncos. They can't stop the run or the pass. Dareus is a great talent lining up inside or outside of the ball.
He would be a force to stop the run as well as add extra pressure to the quarterback. As it is, the Broncos are allowing teams to do whatever they please.
They need a hard-nosed defender like Dareus. He would bring a little "mean" back to the defensive line. Too bad he can't coach the team as well.
4. Detroit Lions: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
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The Lions are in dire need of defense, as well as many other things. They have gone a long way in shoring up their line but need to work on the porous secondary.
Missing out on Patrick Peterson will not be that bad considering you have the very stout Prince Amukamara to take his place.
Prince is now a two-time Big-12 defensive player of the year. The Lions would be closer to becoming a balanced team with this pass stopper.
Now if they can have Matthew Stafford back for a full year, they will be all right.
3. Buffalo Bills: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
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So the Bills would miss out on Andrew Luck. They shouldn't be thinking about him anyway. Ryan Fitzpatrick is all the offense this young team needs.
But if they could concentrate on making their defense better we would all be better served. Their games are fairly hard to watch as it is.
With Peterson on the team, the opposition would have to think twice about throwing to that side of the field. That is significantly better than they have it now. Opponents have their pick of open windows all over the field.
2. Cincinnati Bengals: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
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The Bengals are a sorry bunch. One reason has been the sub par play of Carson Palmer. The man is not getting any younger. While Luck may not be the immediate answer to turn the Bengals around, he will be a great addition to the future.
Palmer can show Luck a thing or two about life in the NFL. There is no way the Bengals pass up on what could be the reincarnation of John Elway.
1. Carolina Panthers: Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
32 of 32
Some may find that the Carolina Panthers would be better served drafting Andrew Luck. But the Panthers stuck all their money into Jimmy Clausen stock last year. The very much maligned Panthers cannot have two unproven arms on the roster.
The Panthers will then try to shore up their defensive deficiencies the best way they can. They will take the best defender, and arguably best player, in the draft. Da'Quan Bowers would finally give Carolina some legitimacy on that side of the ball.
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