2011 NFL Mock Draft: Patrick Peterson, Prince Amukamara, And All Defensive Picks
Offense sells tickets, defense wins championships.
Just for fun, let's see what the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft would look like if teams only drafted defensive players.
There's no more Andrew Luck debate for the Carolina Panthers, thank goodness.
In a year where all the eyes are on guys like Luck, Ryan Mallett, Cam Newton, Jake Locker and Terrelle Pryor, there are once in a decade talents on the defensive side of the football in Patrick Peterson, Prince Amukamara and Da'Quan Bowers.
Forget the quarterbacks, go hard or go home.
Here is a defensive themed 2011 NFL first round mock:
With The 1st Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Carolina Panthers Select...
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Da'Quan Bowers, Defensive End, Clemson
Who:
Bowers has been called the best defensive end prospect since Reggie White and Bruce Smith. Will I back up that comparison? No, but he is sure stud at the next level.
Why:
The Panthers defense isn't nearly as pathetic as their offense. Over a third of their sacks though came from just one player: Charles Johnson. Johnson, who has 11.5 sacks this season, is a free agent.
With The 2nd Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Denver Broncos Select...
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Patrick Peterson, Cornerback, LSU
Who:
Peterson is an elite cornerback prospect who could also be an elite return ace as he possesses elite speed. As you can probably guess, this guy's elite.
Why:
Champ Bailey is a free agent this off-season. Peterson will be able to fill in for Bailey without the Broncos defense taking a step back, but they can't get much worse anyway.
With The 3rd Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Cincinnati Bengals Select...
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Robert Quinn, Defensive End, North Carolina
Who:
Quinn is arguably the most talented prospect in the entire 2011 draft class. He'll drop because he was suspended for the entire season this year after lying to investigators about his violation of NCAA policy.
Why:
Antwan Odom has always struggled to avoid injury and stay on the field. They need to find a replacement as they have too many good players to be struggling on defense.
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With The 4th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Buffalo Bills Select...
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Nick Fairley, Defensive End, Auburn
Who:
Fairley is a man among boys right now in the college ranks. He busts up double teams better than anyone in this draft class.
Why:
The Bills had the worst run defense in the league this season, surrendering 162.5 yards per game. If the same lucky running back played the Bills every Sunday, he would compile 2,600 yards.
Chris Johnson, I found you a way to get 2,500.
With The 5th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Arizona Cardinals Select...
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Prince Amukamara, Cornerback, Nebraska
Who:
Amukamara's name will become easier to pronounce just like Nnamdi Asomugha's because like Asomugha, he's going to be a true shutdown cornerback.
Why:
The Cardinals desperately need an upgrade across from Dominique Rogers-Cromartie. "Desperately" may not even be a strong enough word; Jimmie Clausen had a 107.6 passer rating against them.
With The 6th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The San Francisco 49ers Select...
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Marcell Dareus, Defensive End, Alabama
Who:
Dareus is yet another force on the defensive line. He's a freak of nature running, as he weighs over 300 pounds and can run a 4.9 forty yard dash.
Why:
The 49ers could use an upgrade at defensive end. With a line of Dareus, Aubrayo Franklin and Justin Smith taking up blockers, pretty sure Patrick Willis would average about 200 tackles a season.
With The 7th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Dallas Cowboys Select...
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Brandon Harris, Cornerback, Miami
Who:
Harris is a fierce competitor at the corner position. Teams just stopped throwing to his side this season: shutdown corner.
Why:
The Dallas Cowboys have names in Terrance Newman and Mike Jenkins, but Newman is old and Jenkins is inconsistent. Harris would bring some much needed stability to the position, and a presence in run support that Dallas corners have been lacking for years.
With The 8th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Houston Texans Select...
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Stephen Paea, Defensive Tackle, Oregon State
Who:
Paea is a tank of a tackle that could fall because he's most likely just suited to play in a 4-3.
Why:
Houston has Amobi Okoye, who isn't that great in the first place, and...no one. Okoye would improve the run defense with his strength, and the pass defense with his ability to penetrate.
With The 9th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Detroit Lions Select...
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Ryan Kerrigan, Defensive End, Purdue
Who:
Kerrigan is a high motor end that has really come on this year with 12.5 sacks. He also leads the country in tackles for loss with 26.
Why:
Kyle Vanden Bosch is getting up there in age. Kerrigan would form a similar duo with Ndamukong Suh that Jim Shwartz had in Tennessee with Vanden Bosch and Albert Haynesworth.
With The 10th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Cleveland Browns Select...
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Janoris Jenkins, Cornerback, Florida
Who:
Jenkins is another Flordia cornerback whose best asset is his ball skills.
Why:
The Browns could use an upgrade across from Joe Haden. Eric Wright and Sheldon Brown have been disappointments.
With The 11th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Seattle Seahawks Select...
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Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
Who:
Clayborn is seen by many as a top 10 talent, but he'll fall because of character issues.
Why:
The Seahawks have needed an upgrade at defensive end for a while. Clayborn would be able to start right away.
With The 12th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Tennessee Titans Select...
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Travis Lewis, Outside Linebacker, Oklahoma
Who:
Lewis is an athletic freak at outside linebacker. He'll fall further than his talent level because he's strictly a 4-3 outside backer.
Why:
Will Witherspoon is getting up there in age. Either way, Lewis could start ahead of any Titans outside linebacker right now.
With The 13th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Washington Redskins Select...
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Von Miller, Outside Linebacker, Texas A&M
Who:
Miller is the best speed pass rusher in the 2011 draft class. Many compare him to Elvis Dumervil because of his size.
Why:
The Redskins have nothing across from Brian Orakpo. They are in the bottom 10 in the league in sacks this season.
With The 14th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Minnesota Vikings Select..
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Aaron Williams, Cornerback, Texas
Who:
Williams has great size for a corner at 6'1". He's known for his big play ability as he actually blocked four punts in one year.
Why:
Minnesota could use an upgrade at the position and Williams would bring the physicality the Vikings like.
With The 15th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The New England Patriots Select...
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Akeem Ayers, Outside Linebacker, UCLA
Who:
Ayers is the most versatile player in the 2011 draft class. He can effectively play 4-3 defensive end and 4-3 and 3-4 outside linebacker.
Why:
The Patriots haven't had a dangerous pass rusher since Adalius Thomas left. They didn't have one defender with at least six sacks this year.
With The 16th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Miami Dolphins Select...
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Rahim Moore, Free Safety, UCLA
Who:
After a class that featured Eric Berry, Earl Thomas, Nate Allen and Taylor Mays, Rahim Moore is the top safety prospect in a very weak class. He intercepted 10 passes in 2009.
Why:
All of the Dolphins primary needs come on the offensive end, but they still could use an upgrade at the free safety position. A secondary could always be upgraded when you play the Patriots twice a year.
With The 17th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Jacksonville Jaguars Select...
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Cameron Jordan, Defensive End, California
Who:
Jordan can play every position on the defensive line minus nose tackle.
Why:
After Aaron Kampman tore his ACL again, the Jaguars had nothing at the defensive end position. Jordan could most likely start right away.
With The 18th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The San Diego Chargers Select..
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Allen Bailey, Defensive End, Miami
Who:
Allen Bailey is the freak of freaks. At about 290, he runs a 4.65 forty yard dash and has a vertical of 39 inches.
Why:
The Chargers don't have many blatant needs, other than a head coach. The defensive end position opposite Luis Castillo could be upgraded.
With The 19th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The New York Giants Select..
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Bruce Carter, Outside Linebacker, North Carolina
Who:
Carter is yet another athletic freak. At around 240 pounds, he can bench 440, run a 4.39 40 yard dash, and has a vertical leap of 41.5 inches.
Why:
The Giants have a gaping hole at the outside linebacker position. Keith Bulluck is 33 and a shell of his former self after his ACL surgery.
With The 20th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Select...
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Jeremy Beal, Defensive End, Oklahoma
Who:
Beal is a pass rushing specialist who could also play rush linebacker. He has 20 sacks in his last two seasons.
Why:
The Buccaneers were tied for second worst in the league in producing sacks this year. A defensive line consisting of Beal, Gerald McCoy and Brian Price would eventually turn into one of the best in the league.
With The 21st Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The St. Louis Rams Select...
21 of 32
Greg Jones, Outside Linebacker, Michigan State
Who:
Jones is another very talented outside linebacker who will fall on draft day because he's just a 4-3 outside linebacker.
Why:
James Laurinaitis is literately making all the tackles and needs some help from the other backers. No other linebacker has more than 30 tackles this year, that's pathetic.
With The 22nd Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Indianapolis Colts Select...
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Drake Nevis, Defensive Tackle, LSU
Who:
Nevis is another talented player who will drop farther than his talent level because he can only play one position. He plays it well though as he has six sacks this season.
Why:
The Colts have never really had a great defensive tackle and Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis still consistently produce double digit sack seasons. Just imagine if the Colts actually had a tackle that would be a force on the interior.
With The 23rd Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Green Bay Packers Select...
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Justin Houston, Outside Linebacker, Georgia
Who:
Houston is a pass rushing fiend who recorded 10 sacks this year. He also had 19.5 tackles for loss.
Why:
The Packers need an upgrade opposite of Clay Matthews. Any talent opposite Matthews would take the defense to another level.
With The 24th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Kansas City Chiefs Select..
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Jared Crick, Defensive End, Nebraska
Who:
Crick has a ton of potential standing at 6'6". He has a whopping 19 sacks in his last two seasons, a huge number for an interior lineman.
Why:
The Chiefs could use an upgrade at the defensive end position.
With The 25th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Philadelphia Eagles Select...
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Brandon Burton, Cornerback, Utah
Who:
Burton has great size and speed standing 6'1" and reportedly running a sub 4.4 40-yard dash. Teams have been avoiding Burton all season.
Why:
Dimitri Patterson played well early, but was really exposed in the Eagles last two games. He shouldn't be starting in the NFL so the Eagles need to find someone who can.
With The 26th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The New York Jets Select..
26 of 32
Cameron Heyward, Defensive End, Ohio State
Who:
Heyward has a ton of potential with his 6'5", 290 pound frame, but he's been very inconsistent in 2010.
Why:
The Jets need help at defensive end. Shaun Ellis is 33 and Mike Devito is, well, Mike Devito.
With The 27th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The New Orleans Saints Select...
27 of 32
Jurrell Casey, Defensive Tackle, USC
Who:
Casey is another USC defensive tackle who is best known for his pass rushing ability.
Why:
The Saints run defense is mediocre and could be improved. Casey should be able to get playing time right away next to Sedrick Ellis.
With The 28th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Baltimore Ravens Select...
28 of 32
Jimmy Smith, Cornerback, Colorado
Who:
Smith is a 6'2", 210 pound cornerback that would fit right in with the physical Ravens defense.
Why:
LaDarius Webb and Dominique Foxworth will be the only corners on the roster after this season. They need to add bodies and talent at the position.
With The 29th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Chicago Bears Select...
29 of 32
Marvin Austin, Defensive Tackle, North Carolina
Who:
Austin is a first round talent with a fourth round character. He's had off the field trouble and has been inconsistent on the field, but he has tons of potential.
Why:
Tommie Harris has been benched and the Bears need a replacement.
With The 30th Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Pittsburgh Steelers Select..
30 of 32
Ras-I Dowling, Cornerback, Virginia
Who:
Dowling is another corner with great size at 6'2", 200 pounds. He's actually been compared with the Steelers' Ike Taylor.
Why:
The Steelers need and upgrade opposite Taylor. Brian McFadden hasn't been the same since his first stint with Pittsburgh.
With The 31st Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The Atlanta Falcons Select..
31 of 32
Jabaal Sheard, Defensive End, Pittsburgh
Who:
Sheard is a very solid pass rushing prospect. He has nine sacks this season.
Why:
John Abraham is 32-years-old. The Falcons could use Sheard as a situational pass rusher, if he couldn't start right away.
With The 32nd Pick Of The 2011 NFL Draft, The New England Patriots Select...
32 of 32
Curtis Brown, Cornerback, Texas
Who:
Brown is another great Texas cornerback prospect. He only has one interception on the year because offense throw away from him.
Why:
The Patriots need an upgrade opposite of Devin McCourty. They have the third worst pass defense in the NFL this season.
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
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