2011 NFL Mock Draft: How Will the Bowls Change Things?
2011 NFL mock drafts never get old, and we never get tired of trying our hands at playing the role of each and every NFL organization.
But one thing we haven't really taken into account quite yet is how the bowl season might affect the draft stock of some big name players.
What if Ryan Mallett struggles on the big stage against Ohio State, and concerns about him become validated? What if Jake Locker has a great game against Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl, or Cam Newton lives up to the Heisman hype against Oregon in the BCS Championship? What happens then?
Well, that's partially what we're trying to answer here. Start the slideshow for your latest 2011 NFL Mock Draft.
32. New England Patriots: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
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Why He's Special: He's got a big, sturdy frame and huge hands that help him make tough catches. He was easily Notre Dame's most dangerous player on offense.
Why He Goes Here: He's not necessarily viewed as a first-round pick by everybody, but he has a chance to turn heads in the Sun Bowl against Miami. Ryan Broyles is the other possibility for a late-round wide receiver, but Floyd's size gives him the advantage.
Why He Fits: He projects more as a possession receiver, which fits well with the post-Randy Moss Patriots.
31. Atlanta Falcons: Brandon Harris, CB Miami
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Why He's Special: He's a little bit smaller than most other really good cornerbacks, but he's got great speed and has a reputation of working harder than others.
Why He Goes Here: He'll be the last player available from what is a very good pool of cornerbacks, but he won't fall out of the first round.
Why He Fits: The Falcons really don't have any needs on offense, and Harris will be one of the more promising defensive players available. They'll take him and find a use for him without any trouble.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Pouncey, C, Florida
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Why He's Special: A solid offensive lineman with great instincts who has proven himself a winner at Florida. His brother Maurkice was a first-round pick by the Steelers in 2010.
Why He Goes Here: There are other more talented lineman that will go ahead of him, but his name and the program he played for will make him a better option than other players.
Why He Fits: He and his brother were a great tandem at Florida, so the Steelers might like the idea of reuniting them. Regardless, the Steelers really don't have any glaring holes.
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29. New Orleans Saints: Allen Bailey, DE, Miami
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Why He's Special: He's a very skilled defensive end who can also play anywhere on the line. He didn't have a great year numbers' wise, but he is a very promising talent.
Why He Goes Here: He's a bit of a 'tweener, and as such, he won't stand out as much as some of the other defensive ends in the first round.
Why He Fits: The Saints have some issues on their defensive line, and they could like the idea that Bailey might be able to fill any one of them.
28. Baltimore Ravens: Rahim Moore, S, UCLA
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Why He Is Special: He led the country in interceptions in 2009 and has the size and speed you look for in a safety. He also has enough versatility to play cornerback.
Why He Goes Here: It's not a very good draft for safeties, but Moore is easily the best of the bunch.
Why He Fits: The Ravens have enough pieces in place on the offensive side of the ball, but their defense is getting older every day. One of those old guys is Ed Reed, and it's time to start looking for an heir apparent. Moore could potentially become great under his tutelage.
27. Philadelphia Eagles: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
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Why He Is Special: He was the lone bright spot on a miserable Colorado team all season long. He's 6'8" and 300 pounds and has the perfect footwork for a pro tackle.
Why He Goes Here: The bottom end of the draft consists of all playoff teams, and it will be a simple matter of them shoring up their weaker areas. But a team can do worse than Solder.
Why He Fits: The Eagles are likely to give Vick a boatload of cash after this season, and they would do well to further invest in him by enlisting more protection for him.
26. New York Jets: Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State
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Why He's Special: Didn't put up the kind of numbers that people were expecting from a man with his talent, but he still has plenty of that and is also a very versatile player.
Why He Goes Here: One way or another, Heyward is going to be one of the last defensive ends off the board in a first round that contains plenty of good ones.
Why He Fits: The Jets already have a very strong defense, but one thing they could use is a truly disruptive edge rusher.
25. New York Giants: Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State
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Why He's Special: He's a 6'5" leviathan who has proved his worth in college football's toughest conference.
Why He Goes Here: Sherrod is one of a handful of offensive lineman that will go in the latter end of the first round, where it will basically be case of picking the best one out of a hat.
Why He Fits: The Giants don't really have any glaring weaknesses, but another lineman to protect Eli Manning is always a good idea.
24. Chicago Bears: Anthony Costanzo, OT, Boston College
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Why He's Special: He's the kind of giant you look for in the tackle position and has been one of the best lineman in the country for a couple seasons.
Why He Goes Here: He might go earlier, but the knock on Castonzo has been that he could stand to add some bulk. The Eagles face Nevada in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, but Castonzo isn't likely to impress anybody against Nevada's defensive line.
Why He Fits: The Bears need a lineman if they expect Jay Cutler to last.
23. Kansas City Chiefs: Cameron Jordan, DE, California
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Why He's Special: For a guy who goes 6'4" and upwards of 280 pounds, he's surprisingly versatile. He also made life a living hell for Pac-10 quarterbacks.
Why He Goes Here: His stock rose significantly this season, allowing him to surpass other players like Cameron Heyward. The only problem is that Cal doesn't have a bowl game in which he can prove himself as a prime-time player.
Why He Fits: The Chiefs need an edge pass rusher, and Jordan could be the first great pass rusher they've had since Jared Allen.
22. Indianapolis Colts: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
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Why He Is Special: Not unlike, say, Maurice Jones-Drew, Ingram is a little power back with lots of speed and great vision. He also has a Heisman Trophy under his belt.
Why He Goes Here: You never know with running backs at this point in the draft, but there's no denying Ingram's talent. He hasn't been great this year after starting late due to an injury, but the Capital One Bowl against Michigan State is a fine chance for him to show his wares.
Why He Fits: Joseph Addai is officially injury-prone, and at the very least, the Colts need some depth at running back.
21. San Diego Chargers: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
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Why He's Special: How about 100 yards receiving and a touchdown in every single regular season game? He's the definition of a big-play receiver.
Why He Goes Here: He'll be one of the more intriguing options at wide receiver, as he wasn't even on anybody's radar at the start of the year.
Why He Fits: The Chargers will probably hit Vincent Jackson with a franchise tag, but he's not long for San Diego one way or another. Rivers is obviously much more dangerous when he has more weapons.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars: Aaron Williams, CB, Texas
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Why He's Special: He's a very versatile corner who can also help out on special teams.
Why He Goes Here: He's one of a couple underclassman that will be available toward the end of the draft, but he might be the most talented and well-equipped player out of all of them.
Why He Fits: The Jaguars need another able body in the secondary, especially with some of the offenses and quarterbacks in their division.
19. Green Bay Packers: Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
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Why He Is Special: He's been the best offensive lineman on the best offensive line in the country.
Why He Goes Here: It's between him Nate Solder and Anthony Costanzo as the best offensive lineman in the draft, but Carimi will seize the Rose Bowl matchup against TCU as an opportunity to prove his quality.
Why He Fits: After what's transpired this year, the Packers might be thinking they need more protection for Aaron Rodgers.
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA
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Why He Is Special: He's big and fast, and he has a good nose for the ball. Scored three touchdowns in 2009.
Why He Goes Here: He's a bit of a 'tweener, and as such, will go lower than his talent level would suggest he should go. No bowl game for him to show he belongs.
Why He Fits: The Buccaneers have holes in their front seven, and Ayers could fill a couple of them depending on whether they're willing to convert him to a defensive end.
17. Miami Dolphins: Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
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Why He's Special: A big-time player with a big time arm who led the Razorbacks to the Sugar Bowl. There are questions about his accuracy—but not his raw ability.
Why He Goes Here: Of all the quarterbacks in the draft, he has the toughest task of proving himself against a very good Ohio State defense. If he has a bad game, his stock could very well drop this far.
Why He Fits: Chad Henne is not the answer in Miami, and they seem like the kind of team that needs a completely fresh start. They could accomplish that with Mallett.
16. St. Louis Rams: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
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Why He Is Special: He's huge, he's fast, he has great hands and he has a knack for the big play. What more do you want out of a wide receiver?
Why He Goes Here: Jones is the second best wide receiver in the draft class, and he might go even higher if he has a big game against Michigan State in the Capital One Bowl.
Why He Fits: Just imagine how good Sam Bradford could be with a player like Jones.
15. New England Patriots: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
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Why He Is Special: Guys that are Miller's size are not supposed to be as fast he is. He specializes as a pass rusher and has shown that he particularly effective in third down situations.
Why He Goes Here: Linebackers are always tricky once you get to the middle of the first round and below, but Miller is the best available and will likely go to a team that needs the best athlete. He also has a huge chance to have a 'show me' game against LSU.
Why He Fits: The Patriots don't have a pressing need for a linebacker, but one thinks that Patriots of all teams could figure out how to use him to their needs.
14. Seattle Seahawks: Janoris Jenkins, CB, Florida
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Why He Is Special: He's slightly undersized compared to some of the other cornerbacks in the draft, but his footwork is as good as anybody's and he's very good at route recognition.
Why He Goes Here: He's the third best cornerback on the board, and the early mid round is a good place for him to go.
Why He Fits: The Seahawks have holes all over their team, but one thing they've definitely struggled with this year is pass coverage. As such, drafting Jenkins is safer than overreaching for a wide receiver liker Julio Jones.
13. Cleveland Browns, Stephen Paea
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Why He Is Special: He's a beast of a man who specializes as an elite run stuffer. But he's also underrated as a pass rusher.
Why He Goes Here: His abilities as a run stopper will make him a target for any team that struggled in that department in 2010. He has no bowl game in which to help or hurt his stock.
Why He Fits: The Browns could go for a wide receiver to help out Colt McCoy, but their future appears to be as a power-run team. And because they have struggled against the run in 2010, Paea is the next best idea.
12. Tennessee Titans: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
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Why He Is Special: He's huge, he's fast, he's got a big arm and he's more accurate than he gets credit for. He also won a certain trophy you may have heard about.
Why He Goes Here: Newton is pretty low on most big boards, but that's an accomplishment considering that he wasn't on any big board as recently as a few weeks ago. There are character issues to worry about, but he has a chance to erase all doubts and cement himself as a top pick in the BCS Championship.
Why He Fits: Vince Young isn't coming back. Oddly enough, Newton is very Vince Young-ish. If that doesn't scare the Titans, they'll take Newton.
11. Houston Texans: Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
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Why He Is Special: He's a very good pass rusher with a very intense motor. He's a little bit more slender than some of the other defensive ends who will go early, but that's obviously not a permanent thing.
Why He Goes Here: It's a great draft for defensive ends, and there are plenty of teams that need one. Purdue doesn't have a bowl game, however, so he might get drop a spot or two on the big board.
Why He Fits: The Texans' biggest problem is their secondary, but they could also use a guy who can help take some of the pressure off Mario Williams. Kerrigan can be that guy.
10. Washington Redskins: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
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Why He Is Special: He's big (6'4", 208 pounds), he separates perhaps better than any other receiver and probably has the best hands out of all the wide receivers in the 2011 class.
Why He Goes Here: He's the best wide receiver in the class, and he'll go to the first team that needs him no matter what he does in the Liberty Bowl against Central Florida.
Why He Fits: Washington desperately needs playmakers at both wide receiver and running back, and Green solves one of those problems. However, exactly who will be throwing to him next year is a question with no answer.
9. Dallas Cowboys: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
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Why He Is Special: He's a great pass rusher with the kind of size (6'4" and 285) that will make him a priority for opposing offensive lines.
Why He Goes Here: No doubt, this looks a little early for Clayborn at this point. He's seen his draft stock drop significantly during the season, but he can find some redemption if he plays well against Missouri in the Insight Bowl.
Why He Fits: Dallas needs help on their defense, an elite pass rusher being just one thing they could use. If Clayborn does indeed prove himself to be better than some of the other options, he'll be theirs.
8. Minnesota Vikings: Jake Locker, QB, Washington
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Why He Is Special: He's got a good arm, he's very mobile and he has the requisite size for an NFL quarterback.
Why He Goes Here: Of all the players who have a chance to help their stock in the bowl season, Locker may have the best opportunity. If he can have a good game against Nebraska's great defense, little lights will start going off in the heads of NFL GMs everywhere, and his stock will rise.
Why He Fits: Minnesota will definitely need a new quarterback. A guy with Locker's work ethic and competitive nature will fit right in with what is likely to be a new team atmosphere. And yes, he's also talented enough to merit the pick.
7. San Francisco 49ers: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
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Why He Is Special: As far as college cornerbacks go, there are few who anticipate better than Amukamara. He understands what receivers are doing and is very quick to react on both passes and runs. He's also a playmaker who isn't afraid to be aggressive.
Why He Goes Here: Amukamara is the second best cornerback in the class and will go to the first place he's needed. Nebraska plays Washington in the Holiday Bowl, and they don't have any receivers that will make him look bad enough to hurt his stock.
Why He Fits: Nate Clements is not what the Niners hoped he would be. Time to bring in a new guy.
6. Buffalo Bills: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
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Why He Is Special: Dareus is a beast of a pass rusher, as he has a quick first step and can shed blocks with the best of them. He also has great speed for his size and is perhaps equally effective against the run.
Why He Goes Here: The Top 10 has several great defensive lineman in it, and Dareus will be available outside the Top Five. Hard to see the Capital One Bowl against Michigan State hurting his stock.
Why He Fits: The Bills have the worst rush defense in football, and they should look to fix that. And while Dareus may not be the best pure run stuffer in the draft, his talent and potential will be too much to pass up.
5. Detroit Lions: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
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Why He Is Special: He's bigger than your average cornerback but also has the necessary speed. Scouts rave about his instincts, as well as his ability to anticipate, which they say will get better.
Why He Goes Here: He's the best defensive back in the draft, and he will go to the first team that needs him. It's not likely that any of Texas A&M's receivers are going to make him look bad.
Why He Fits: Defensively, cornerback is the Lions' weakest area, and Peterson is the answer to their prayers.
4. Arizona Cardinals: Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina
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Whe He Is Special: He may be a little more undersized than your average defensive end, but he boasts explosive speed, and he might even be better stuffing the run than he is rushing the pass. Both of those skills will develop.
Why He Goes Here: The best defensive end will already be off the board, but Quinn isn't much of a downgrade. The Music City Bowl against Tennessee can only help him.
Why He Fits: Patrick Peterson will be the best player available, but the Cardinals already have two young corners. What Arizona really needs is a quarterback, but they would have to draft one way too early at this point.
3. Denver Broncos: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
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Why He Is Special: There was no interior lineman that was more disruptive in 2010 than Nick Fairley. He's dangerous as both a run stuffer and a pass rusher.
Why he Goes Here: Fairley could potentially drop lower, but only if a given team has more pressing needs. Barring an injury, the BCS Championship Game against Oregon won't hurt his status.
Why He Fits: The Broncos are somewhat up in the air right now, but they do have numerous holes in their defense that need patching. Fairley would shore up their defensive line in a big way.
2. Cincinnati Bengals: Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
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Why He Is Special: He led the FBS in sacks during the regular season and is a physical beast at 6'4" and 280 pounds. He doesn't have top-flight speed, but that's the only knock on him,
Why He Goes Here: He's the best pure pass rusher in this year's draft class and will go to the first team that needs him. As far as Clemson's bowl matchup with South Florida, the only thing that could happen in that game that would hurt his stock would be an injury.
Why He Fits: The Bengals are going to need a new quarterback very soon but not quite yet. They do need an elite pass rusher, and they would be looking at the best in Bowers.
1. Carolina Panthers: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
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Why He Is Special: Luck is everything you want in an NFL quarterback. He's got a great arm, he makes smart decisions and he has a couple years of experience in a pro-style offense.
Why He Goes Here: Luck could end up being the highest rated quarterback since Matt Ryan, and that worked out. Even if he were to perform poorly in the Orange Bowl against Virginia Tech, it's hard to imagine him dropping from the No. 1 spot.
Why He Fits: The Panthers are a mess on several levels. With John Fox not likely to return, this is a team that is going to undergo a reboot. And there is no better way to start a reboot than with a studly new quarterback.
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