NFL Mock Draft: The Entire First Round; Will Cam Newton or Andrew Luck Go First?
The NFL draft is still months away, but the football season is almost over.
This means we know who will be drafting where, and we know what players are worth drafting in the first round.
Sure, we don't know which juniors will declare for the draft yet, so I just went with my gut for this mock.
Let's take a look at what player your team might draft.
*Since some teams moved around after Sunday's games revised picks can be viewed here
32. New England Patriots: Allen Bailey
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The Patriots are darn good, so rather than draft for now, the Patriots can afford to draft for the future.
Bailey played both defensive end and defensive tackle for the Miami Hurricanes and is known for his intensity.
He recorded seven sacks and 46 tackles in the 2010 season.
He is the type of player who will fit into Bill Belichick's program well and could contribute immediately.
31. Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Rudolph
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With Tony Gonzalez's career winding town, the Falcons need a tight end replacement.
Kyle Rudolph of Notre Dame could be that guy. In the first six games of the season, he accumulated 328 yards and three touchdowns. However, an injury forced him to miss the last half of the season.
If Rudolph is healthy and has a good combine, he will be a top tight end in the draft.
30. Pittsburgh: Mike Pouncey
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Last year the Steelers drafted Maurkice Pouncey, Mike's brother.
He turned out to be a Pro Bowl center in his rookie campaign.
Mike plays a similar game to his brother, and as a guard would be an immediate asset to Pittsburgh's line. After the success of his brother, don't be surprised if the Steelers try and see if they can double up on the Pounceys.
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29. Baltimore Ravens: Janoris Jenkins
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The Baltimore Ravens' defense is starting to age a bit.
Janoris Jenkins could rejuvenate them.
Jenkins is a cornerback for the Florida Gators who is great in coverage and also a good tackler. In 2010 he recorded 43 tackles to go with three interceptions.
28. Chicago Bears: Tyron Smith
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The Bears' biggest weakness all season long has been their line, and it has to be something they will look to address through the draft.
Tyron Smith is has played right tackle for USC throughout his career, but should be a left tackle in the NFL.
At 6''5' and 291 pounds, Smith could gain some weight, but the Bears can't pass on a guy with his athleticism if he is available at No. 28.
27. N.Y. Jets: Derek Sherrod
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The Jets' offensive line is getting older and Mark Sanchez needs all the protection he can get.
The Jets will likely try to address their defensive or offensive line in the draft, and I'm guessing with their first pick they will go offensive.
Sherrod is an offensive tackle out of Mississippi State who flourished this season in coach Dan Mullen's offense. His potential is his biggest plus and he already has the size to be a NFL right tackle.
26. Philadelphia Eagles: Gabe Carimi
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After allowing 43 sacks this year, the Eagles must address their offensive line.
Carimi is an offensive tackle on a highly successful Wisconsin offense. A big plus is that he could possibly fit into several positions on a line, including left tackle, right tackle and guard.
His strength is blocking in the run game and he has a quick first step, which would be crucial in the Eagles' fast paced offense.
25. New Orleans Saints: Drake Nevis
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One of the Saints' few weakness is their defensive line.
Drake Nevis, a defensive tackle out of LSU, could help solve that problem.
Nevis recorded six sacks and 13 tackles for loss in the tough SEC. Nevis would likely see playing time as a rookie, as he plays well against the run and the pass despite being undersized.
24. Kansas City: Cameron Jordan
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Cameron Jordan is a 6'4", 280 pound defensive end out of California.
Jordan would be able to make an almost immediate transition into Romeo Crennel's 3-4 defense, thanks in part to his size and speed.
He isn't great against the pass, but he is amazing against the run.
23. Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Castonzo
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The Colts need help on their offensive line and they would be ecstatic if Castonzo fell to them.
Castonzo is a 6'7", 306 pound tackle out of Florida State.
Using proper technique and strength, Castonzo is a true specimen who will only get better with age.
22. Green Bay Packers: Akeem Ayers
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Akeem Ayers in an incredibly versatile defensive end and outside linebacker hybrid out of UCLA.
Ayers would fit well alongside Clay Matthews in the Green Bay defense and help them solidify themselves as one of the NFL's best.
In Ayers' senior campaign, he had four sacks and two interceptions. If you think the interceptions were a fluke, he had four in 2009.
21. Seattle Seahawks: Jake Locker
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The Seahawks need a quarterback and the decision will come down to Locker or Mallet.
I see the Seahawks taking Locker due to his dual threat abilities, despite his down season.
Matt Hasselbeck probably has one more season in him and Locker would have the opportunity to learn under him in the same state he went to college in. This could be a great situation for both the team and the player.
20. Tampa Bay Bucs: Adrian Clayborn
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Adrian Clayborn didn't have the best senior year and doesn't have the best attitude.
But the Bucs should be happy for that. Otherwise, he probably would have gone much higher.
Playing at Iowa, Clayborn is a defensive end who would give the Bucs the outside pass rusher that they need alongside Gerald McCoy.
19. N.Y. Giants: Von Miller
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Von Miller's versatility would make him an appealing pick for the Giants.
With an aging defensive line in New York, Miller has the ability to either play defensive end or outside linebacker.
Miller still needs some fine tuning and may only be used a pass rusher in his rookie season. Over his last two seasons at Texas A & M, he has recorded an incredible 27 sacks.
18. San Diego Chargers: Julio Jones
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Poor Philip Rivers had practically no receiving targets in 2010.
Jones would help solve that problem by giving the Chargers a go to receiver.
In 2010, Jones caught 78 passes for 1,133 yards and seven touchdowns. Additionally he rushed eight times for 135 yards and two more touchdowns.
The Chargers would love to have him if he's available.
17. New England Patriots (via Oakland): Brandon Harris
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Like I said earlier, the Patriots can afford to draft for the future.
Brandon Harris, a cornerback for the Miami Hurricanes, could be incredible with some help from NFL coaches.
Harris has said he is returning to the University of Miami, but can we really trust these guys these days?
16. Jacksonville Jaguars: Justin Blackmon
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The Jaguars are in need of a good, strong receiver.
Blackmon is exactly that. In 2010, he caught an incredible 111 passes for a whopping 1,782 yards and 20 touchdowns in the Big 12.
If Blackmon is available, the Jaguars would welcome him with open arms.
15. Miami Dolphins: Mark Ingram
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It's possible that the Dolphins will lose both Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown this offseason, which would leave them with a glaring weakness at running back.
Ingram, a Heisman winner, would give the Dolphins a huge upgrade in their backfield.
In his career, he never averaged less than five yards a carry for a season in the SEC and scored more than 10 touchdowns in each of his three seasons.
14. St. Louis Rams: Travis Lewis
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Despite possibly being a playoff team, the Rams still need a lot of help.
Lewis is an outside linebacker for the Oklahoma Sooners who, if available, the Rams would love.
He recorded two sacks in addition to three interceptions in the 2010 season and has shown incredible athleticism from his position.
13. Detroit Lions: Nate Solder
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The Lions need additional protection for their young stars in Matthew Stafford and Jahvid Best.
At 6'9'' and 313 pounds, Solder, out of Colorado, could provide just that.
He projects to be a left tackle and would be an immediate starter for the Lions.
12. Minnesota Vikings: Ryan Mallet
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This pick may seem odd at first, since Joe Webb has been playing well for the Vikings.
But the Vikings really have no back up for Webb. And well, it's Webb, not some perennial all-star.
Mallet, the Arkansas quarterback, would give the Vikings someone who could compete for the starting job and at the very least be a good back up for a year or two before getting the job.
11. Houston Texans: Prince Amukamara
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The Texans have one of the worst defenses in recent memory.
Is there a chance Prince Amukamara, the cornerback out of Nebraska, slips to them?
Yes.
But can they count on it?
Not really.
Just know they will draft the best defensive player available to them.
10. Washington Redskins: Ryan Kerrigan
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The Redskins have just 23 sacks this year. Kerrigan had exactly half that at 12.5 sacks in his senior campaign.
Think the 'Skins can't use him?
Additionally, he had 26 tackles for loss. The Redskins need a lot of help and Kerrigan is a good starting point.
9. Dallas Cowboys: Patrick Peterson
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The Cowboys are going to have a scary good team next year, especially if they can shore up their secondary.
Peterson, the cornerback out of LSU, would help them do just that.
He had four interceptions and 36 tackles in 2010 and has incredible speed that would make him an asset in the return game, allowing him to supplant Dez Bryant.
8. Tennessee Titans: Stephen Paea
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The Titans need a defensive tackle and Paea is their man.
At Oregon State, Paea played against some of the nation's best offensive lines and still managed seven sacks to go with 11 tackles for loss.
Paea would be an immediate impact starter for the Titans.
7. San Francisco 49ers: Cam Newton
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It's time for the 49ers to try another Heisman winner at quarterback.
I have my doubts about Newton, but frankly he just continues to just show that he is for real.
He is the best dual threat quarterback available and the 49ers will take the risk on him.
6. Cleveland Browns: Robert Quinn
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Quinn would give the Browns the pass rusher they so desperately need.
His 11 sacks for North Carolina in 2010 were more than impressive. Quinn has great athleticism and technique.
He would be able to immediately step in and play every defensive down for the Browns in 2011.
5. Arizona Cardinals: Da'Quan Bowers
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Bowers would give the Cardinals the pass rusher they so desperately need, among other things.
His 16 sacks and 24 tackles for loss for Clemson in 2010 make you double check the statistic.
He would be able to immediately step in and play every defensive down for the Cardinals in 2011.
4. Cincinnati Bengals: Marcel Dareus
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Dareus is a player who fits perfectly for the Bengals.
They need a strong defensive tackle who can play every down, and Dareus is that man.
He will be able to play alongside Carlos Dunlap to form what the Bengals would hope to be the core of their defense. Dareus would make an immediate impact on defense for the hapless Bengals.
3. Buffalo Bills: A.J. Green
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Ryan Fitzpatrick has shown in spurts that he could be a decent quarterback for the Bills.
Now they need to give him the targets to allow him to become a good quarterback. One person who would fit that role would be A.J. Green.
Green, the playmaker out of Georgia, had 57 receptions for 848 yards and nine touchdowns in 2010, and he missed the first four games of the season due to suspension.
2. Denver Broncos: Nick Fairley
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Nick Fairley was the star of the defense on this year's Auburn Tigers squad.
Fairley is a defensive tackle who accumulated an amazing 11 sacks and 55 tackles.
He would be an a first day starter for the Broncos, who can use help everywhere and anywhere.
1. Carolina Panthers: Andrew Luck
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Andrew Luck is head and shoulders above the rest of this class.
There is no way that the Panthers don't take him at the No. 1 spot.
Luck plays smart and will give the Panthers their quarterback of the future. In 2010, he threw for over 3,000 yards, completed 70 percent of his passes and recorded 28 touchdowns in contrast to just seven interceptions.
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