NFL Mock Draft 2011: Cam Newton, Andrew Luck Rising As BCS Bowl Games Approach
The 2011 NFL Draft is over four months away, but Bowl season is about to begin, meaning that coaches are running out of games to evaluate NCAA football's best players.
How players like Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton of the Auburn Tigers and runner-up Andrew Luck of the Stanford Cardinal perform in their respective bowl games will go a long way in determining their draft stocks since they will be playing against top competition.
Clearly, the 2010-2011 Bowl Season means a lot for what will happen in the draft.
Here's my second NFL Mock draft, using the draft order that would be used if the season ended today, after Week 14.
1. Carolina Panthers: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
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I originally thought the Panthers should give Jimmy Clausen a full season of starts, but he's been awful.
And Luck is as close to a sure thing you can get in a college quarterback prospect.
2. Cincinnati Bengals: Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
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The Bengals desperately need a replacement for Carson Palmer, but this is too early to reach for a QB not named Andrew Luck.
The smart move is to pick Bowers and go QB in round two or three.
3. Detroit Lions: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
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It's a toss-up here between Amukamara and Patrick Peterson, far and away the best two corners in the nation.
Either way, the Lions are getting a huge upgrade in their shaky secondary.
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4. Denver Broncos: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
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Champ Bailey isn't getting any younger, and whoever he isn't covering lights up the Broncos on a weekly basis.
They need someone to help Champ out, or replace him if he doesn't return.
5. Buffalo Bills: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
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Ryan Fitzpatrick is doing an admirable job for Buffalo, but you can't pass up a QB with Newton's upside if you're the Bills.
6. Dallas Cowboys: Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina
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Quinn is a big risk, but the Cowboys desperately need help on defense.
Pair him with DeMarcus Ware and watch quarterbacks cringe.
7. Arizona Cardinals: Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
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John Skelton may be 1-0 as a starter, but he's not the answer.
The also-cannon-armed (but much more polished) Mallett is.
8. Washington Redskins: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
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The Redskins need a WR about as badly as any team out there.
Green is one of the best receiving prospects in recent memory, and he'd help ease the pressure on Donovan McNabb.
9. Tennessee Titans: Jake Locker, QB, Washington
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Four quarterbacks in the top 10?
With Locker's incredible physical ability, the Titans will fall in love with him after the combine, and send Vince Young packing.
10. San Francisco 49ers: Janoris Jenkins, CB, Florida
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This might be a little early for Jenkins, but the 49ers need serious help in the secondary and he would be a perfect fit.
11. Minnesota Vikings: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
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The Vikings once-impenetrable run-defense has slipped to 10th in the league, and the Williamses aren't getting any younger.
Dareus is a steal at No. 11.
12. Houston Texans: Rahim Moore, S, UCLA
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The Texans could use some help in their 32nd-ranked secondary.
Moore is just one season removed from a 10-pick campaign.
13. Cleveland Browns: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
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It's a tough call between Blackmon and Julio Jones, but either way, the Browns need to give Colt McCoy some weapons in the passing game.
And Blackmon would clearly be a huge boost, as he topped 100-yards receiving and scored in every game this season.
14. St. Louis Rams: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
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With the top two talents gone, Jones is the clear pick here to help out Sam Bradford.
15. Seattle Seahawks: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
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This year's offensive linemen group isn't spectacular, but Solder is a great athlete at 6'8" 300 lbs.
Now the only question is: who's the quarterback he'll be protecting for Seattle?
16. New England Patriots (From Oakland): Brandon Burton, CB, Utah
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With Burton joining Devin McCourty in New England's secondary, no one will be criticizing the Patriots pass defense.
17. San Diego Chargers: Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA
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The Chargers could use a pass-rusher to replace what they've been missing since Shawne Merriman went on the decline.
18. Miami Dolphins: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
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It's time to move on from Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams.
Ingram is the most complete back in this year's draft and would fit perfectly in the Dolphins power-based run game.
19. Indianapolis Colts: Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
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Paea would be a huge upgrade to the Colts always soft run defense.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Von Miller, OLB, Texas AM
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The Bucs could really use a pass-rusher and Miller, this year's Butkus award winner, is arguably the best one on the board.
21. Kansas City Chiefs: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
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Dwayne Bowe just can't do it all by himself.
Floyd hasn't gotten as much press this year due to poor quarterback play and other receivers stealing the spotlight, but he's a bonafide first-round talent.
22. Jacksonville Jaguars: Aaron Williams, CB, Texas
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For a team that is projected to make the playoffs, the Jaguars have a lot of holes, especially in the secondary.
Rashean Mathis isn't as good as people think, and Williams would be a smart pick here.
23. Green Bay Packers: Mike Pouncey, G, Florida
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The Packers need some help on the offensive line.
It would be wise to do whatever it takes to keep Aaron Rodgers from sustaining a third concussion.
24. Philadelphia Eagles: Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
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With a bevy of young playmakers already in place, the Eagles just need to strengthen the offensive line and this unit could be unstoppable, if it isn't already.
25. New York Jets: Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
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Cut Vernon Gholston.
Bring a worthy first-round talent to the defensive line.
26. New York Giants: Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
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The Giants would be thrilled to grab the top offensive lineman on college football's most dominant unit.
27. Chicago Bears: Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State
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Jay Cutler holds onto the ball too long, but upgrading the offensive line can only help him cut down on turnovers.
And it would be nice if Matt Forte had a few holes to run through.
28. Baltimore Ravens: Brandon Harris, CB, Miami
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The Ravens defense doesn't scare people as much as it used to, especially against the pass.
Harris would be a big boost.
29. Pittsburgh Steelers: DeMarcus Love, OT, Arkansas
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I know Big Ben is a great improviser, but would it hurt for him not to get knocked around once in a while?
30. New Orleans Saints: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
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If the best defensive player on the nation's top team drops this far, the Saints will pounce.
31. New England Patriots: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
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His stock has dropped this year, but the Patriots will recognize he doesn't deserve to be picked this low.
The rich just keep on getting richer.
32. Atlanta Falcons: Jon Baldwin
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The one weakness in the Falcons offense is the lack of a credible No. 2 receiver behind Roddy White.
Baldwin hasn't had a great year, but he has No. 1 receiver talent and would make Atlanta's offense downright scary.
Comments
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What do you think?
Voice your opinion in the comments.
Matt Rudnitsky is a student at the University of Michigan and a Featured Columnist/writing intern at Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Mattrud.
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