NFL Mock Draft 2011: Projecting Andrew Luck, Cam Newton and QB-Heavy First Round
After week 17's games conclude and the playoffs take shape this weekend, 20 NFL franchises will be in full on team building mode.
That process kicks off with April's NFL draft. The three day event will see hundreds of college players selected. The elite or at least those perceived as elite will be lucky enough to be selected in the first round.
Join B/R as we take a journey through what will likely be a quarterback heavy first round.
No. 1—Carolina Panthers: Andrew Luck/Stanford
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The most complete quarterback in the draft, Andrew Luck will be selected by the Panthers first overall and expected to turn around one of the league's worst offenses in 2011.
Luck has received nothing but praise during his time at Stanford. The 6'4" pocket passer is the ideal choice for a franchise quarterback, one might compare him to Atlanta's Matt Ryan.
No. 2—Denver Broncos: Patrick Peterson/LSU
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If Andrew Luck is the draft's best quarterback then LSU's Patrick Peterson might be the draft's best all around player.
Peterson, an underclassmen, has four interceptions as a starting cornerback on the Tigers' defense. Peterson has also been used as a returner because of his speed and play making ability.
No. 3—Cincinnati Bengals: Da'Quan Bowers/Clemson
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Da'Quan Bowers, Clemson's talented defensive end will likely be snatched early in the draft if he chooses to come out as an underclassman.
The 280 pound end has an incredible skill set and would likely fit right in on an NFL roster.
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No. 4—Buffalo Bills: A.J. Green/Georgia
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Georgia's A.J. Green is the draft's most talented wide receiver and would give the Bills another weapon to line up along side rookie Steve Johnson.
Green could be the fourth underclassman to be selected in as many picks.
No. 5—Detroit Lions: Nick Fairley/Auburn
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Detroit can add to a productive defensive line which already features last year's first round selection Ndamukong Suh by selecting Auburn's Nick Fairley with their first pick in 2011.
A senior, Fairley will look to lead the Auburn defense to a national championship in January's BCS title game before he's drafted in April.
No. 6—Dallas Cowboys: Janoris Jenkins/Florida
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The Cowboys will go defense, and more importantly, pass defense on draft day. Dallas was torched this season through the air and will look to tighten things up with Florida's Janoris Jenkins.
Jenkins, another underclassmen, has been a constant force on the Gators' defense and is projected to go early in April's draft.
No. 7—Cleveland Browns: Adrian Clayborn/Iowa
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Iowa's Adrian Clayborn is one of the draft's top defensive players and has an ideal NFL frame at 6'3" 285 pounds.
Clayborn, a senior, could bring athleticism and lots of experience to the Browns' defense.
No. 8—Arizona Cardinals: Jake Locker/Washington
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The Arizona Cardinals need a quarterback just as much as any other NFL team this off-season. The Matt Leinart experiment failed and Arizona looked helpless without veteran Kurt Warner in 2010.
Locker would excite the fan base and could possibly rejuvenate the Cardinals' offense next season.
No. 9—San Francisco 49ers: Ryan Mallett/Arkansas
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The 49ers, similarly to Arizona, will be pressing for a quarterback and if Jake Locker is off the board then Ryan Mallett would likely be their next target.
Mallett has plenty of size that would remind many Bay Area fans of Alex Smith, unfortunately.
No. 10—Houston Texans: Prince Amukamara/Nebraska
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The Cowboys were not the only team getting torched through the skies in 2010. The Houston Texans suffered mightily because of their pass defense this season.
Houston will attempt to rebuild their secondary around the extremely talented senior cornerback from Nebraska, Prince Amukamara.
No. 11—Minnesota Vikings: Blaine Gabbert/Missouri
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Missouri's Blaine Gabbert is an underclassman but you wouldn't have guessed it by his play. Gabbert could bring NFL size and skill to struggling team and prove a very worthy pick for a lost offense.
Gabbert could stay in school but if he enters the draft don't be surprised to see him go in the first round.
No. 12—Tennessee Titans: Nate Solder/Colorado
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The senior offensive tackle is the highest rated lineman in April's draft. Solder can bring plenty of size to Tennessee's line as well as protect Vince Young and clear space for Chris Johnson.
Solder might even go earlier to a team desperate for a solid lineman.
No. 13—Washington Redskins: Cam Newton/Auburn
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Auburn's Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Cam Newton will be the fifth quarterback selected in the first round in just 13 picks. Newton's abilities have been well documented this season and his BCS title game audition can really only help his draft stock.
The Redskins lack a quarterback of the future after the McNabb scandal in 2010 and Newton would be an excellent building block.
No. 14—Oakland Raiders: Marcell Dareus/Alabama
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Marcell Dareus is an underclassmen with major skills. Dareus certainly ready for the next level in 2011 and could bring exceptional talent to an NFL defense.
Dareus will go sometime early in the first round, the Oakland Raiders take him with the 14th pick overall.
No. 15—St. Louis Rams: Robert Quinn/North Carolina
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The Rams will look to add to their defense on draft day when they select North Carolina's Robert Quinn. Quinn, an underclassman defensive end with plenty of height, would be ready to play right away.
No. 16—Miami Dolphins: Von Miller/Texas A&M
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The Dolphins will go defense in the first round and select Texas A&M's Von Miller. Miller, a senior outside linebacker for the Aggies, is the draft's highest rated linebacker and likely a hot prospect for many teams.
No. 17—Jacksonville Jaguars: Stephen Paea/Oregon State
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Jacksonville will go after Oregon State's Stephen Paea in April while they look to bolster their defensive line for 2011.
Paea has an NFL body and why wouldn't he? He's likely going in the first round.
No. 18—San Diego Chargers: Gabe Carimi/Wisconsin
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The Chargers look to bounce back from a disappointing 2010 season with an improved offensive line. Though wide receiver is a position the Chargers are thin at, a gifted offensive tackle wouldn't be a bad option.
Carimi is likely a mid first round selection in April's draft.
No. 19—Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Pouncey/Florida
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The Bucs will keep Florida's Mike Pouncey in state when they take him with their first round pick. Pouncey, a senior center for the Gators, has already watched his twin brother make a name for himself with the Pittsburgh Steelers this season.
No. 20—New York Giants: Akeem Ayers/UCLA
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An outside linebacker for UCLA, Akeem Ayers might decide to leave early for the NFL draft and if he does a first round selection likely await.
The Giants defense needs a make over a gifted outside backer would provide a solid building block.
No. 21—Seattle Seahawks: Julio Jones/Alabama
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Alabama's Julio Jones is one of college football's most physically gifted players and come draft time will be a name on every team's prospect list.
Jones could end up in Seattle with the Seahawks if he goes unselected for that long.
No. 22—Indianapolis Colts: Drake Nevis/LSU
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The Colts have arguably the best defensive end core in the NFL but in the 2011 NFL draft they will bolster the interior when they pick up LSU's Drake Nevis.
The senior defensive tackle would be an excellent selection for a playoff caliber team in the Colts.
No. 23—Green Bay Packers: Ryan Kerrigan/Purdue
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The Packers have a extremely talented offense and a defense built on superb draft talent. In April's draft they add to that defense with Purdue's Ryan Kerrigan.
Kerrigan, a senior, wrecked havoc for the Boilermakers on the edge and can likely find some playing time in Green Bay's 3-4 defense.
No. 24—New York Jets: Cameron Jordan/California
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California's Cameron Jordan would love nothing more than to join Rex Ryan's defense in New York. Jordan is one of many talented defensive ends in 2011's draft and likely goes in the first round based on his skill set.
No. 25—Kansas City Chiefs: Justin Blackmon/Oklahoma State
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Justin Blackmon was at one point this season a Heisman candidate before falling off a little near season's end.
Blackmon would be an ideal selection for a playoff-bound Chiefs team which already features a superb wide receiver in Dwayne Bowe.
No. 26—Philadelphia Eagles: Anthony Castonzo/Boston College
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Boston College's Anthony Castonzo will bring intensity and fire to any NFL roster, but Philadelphia will likely be his next home.
Castonzo is one of the nation's best offensive tackles and would be a solid pick up for the Eagles line.
No. 27—Baltimore Ravens: Brandon Harris/Miami
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It's hard to think that the Ravens' defense could actually get better next season. Baltimore is deep at linebacker and on the defensive line, a talented corner would make them complete.
Brandon Harris, an underclassman cornerback from Miami, would be an ideal selection for the Ravens in the late first round.
No. 28—Chicago Bears: Jonathan Baldwin/Pittsburgh
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Chicago's offense has done pretty well this season with some under the radar receivers as well as having a kick returner catch touchdowns.
Pittsburgh's Jonathan Baldwin would be a good pick for the Bears. A talented wide out with good hands and decent size would give the Chicago offense another dimension.
No. 29—Pittsburgh Steelers: Tyron Smith/USC
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USC's Tyron Smith would be a worthy pick for the Steelers with the 29th overall pick. Smith is a top offensive tackle and could be shaped for the future in Pittsburgh or play right away pending the situation.
Pittsburgh has always prided themselves on running the football and that starts with a talented line.
No. 30—New Orleans Saints: Allen Bailey/Miami
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The Saints have plenty of talented defenders on the edge like Will Smith but acquiring an end with some size like Miami's Allen Bailey would definitely improve the New Orleans' defense.
Bailey is a senior and has a pretty good shot at going in the first round come April.
No. 31—Atlanta Falcons: Rahim Moore/UCLA
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The Falcons have a solid team as any 12-win team does. A safety in the first round might prove a excellent pick down the line somewhere.
Rahim Moore of UCLA is one of the best in April's draft and could keep the Atlanta secondary talented for some time.
No. 32—New England Patriots: Mark Ingram/Alabama
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Of course Alabama's Mark Ingram has to go in the first round, well that is if he decides to leave college football for the NFL.
Ingram is a Heisman Trophy winner, a national champion, and one of college football's more physical and talented running backs. Ingram would certainly fit right in with the Patriots in 2011, running behind their huge offensive line.
Patrick Clarke is a student at Towson University and a writing intern for Bleacher Report.
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