2011 NFL Draft Order: Prospects the Top 15 Teams Will Likely Target

The 2010 NFL regular season is officially in the books. The Seahawks snuck in the playoff back door by disposing of the St. Louis Rams and the New England Patriots are back to their pre spy gate ways in beating the crap out of every team placed in front of them.

While many of you are screaming for the NFL to change its rules to allow the Bucs or Giants into the playoffs the rest of us are already planning our draft board for April. The Panthers are on the clock as I’m sure the have their eyes set on, well, everybody and the Bengals are primed to pick up another guy who will be suspended for the first four games of next season.

Ready? Set? Let’s get to drafting! Here are the top 15 teams and which players they should target.

Carolina Panthers – Andrew Luck, Stanford

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PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 27: Andrew Luck #12 of the Stanford Cardinal in action against the Oregon State Beavers at Stanford Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Do you really believe that the Panthers are sold on Jimmy Clausen? If they are then God bless the entire state of North Carolina.

Denver Broncos – Patrick Peterson, LSU

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BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 20: Patrick Peterson #7 of the Louisiana State University Tigers breaks up a pass intended for Korvic Neat #28 of the Ole Miss Rebels at Tiger Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Gett

If Champ Bailey becomes a ghost in Denver then I say Denver takes Peterson. He’s versatile, has great speed, a nice return man, and has a nice size for a defensive back.

Cincinnati Bengals – A.J. Green, Georgia

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 30: A.J. Green #8 of the Georgia Bulldogs attempts to catch a pass against Ahmad Black #35 of the Florida Gators during the game at EverBank Field on October 30, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Ima

I know, another receiver for the Bengals. But conventional wisdom tells us that both Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens will host their show on the Versus channel in different uniforms. There are some questions regarding Green’s character but that’s based off of his suspension earlier this year for selling his jersey. He’s one of those players you just don’t pass up and the Bengals will not.

Buffalo Bills – Nick Fairley, Auburn

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ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 04: Nick Fairley #90 of the Auburn Tigers cheers during pregame warmups before facing the South Carolina Gamecocks during the 2010 SEC Championship at Georgia Dome on December 4, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Ge

Nick is 6-5 and 298 pounds, dude, so he pretty much owned offensive lineman in college. He won the Lombardi award for best lineman in college but will that translate to the NFL? If he goes to Buffalo I hope he’s ready to play for a new head coach in a year or two, I’m just saying.

Arizona Cardinals – Jake Locker, Washington

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SEATTLE - OCTOBER 30: Quarterback Jake Locker #10 of the Washington Huskies passes against the Stanford Cardinal on October 30, 2010 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

This is a reach because Locker shouldn’t go this high and the Cardinals can probably do better in free agency. They plain sucked at quarterback this year and if Whisenhunt fails to last another year in the desert then we could have another Matt Leinart situation on our hands.

San Francisco 49ers – Ryan Mallett, Arkansas

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COLUMBIA, SC - NOVEMBER 06: Ryan Mallett #15 of the Arkansas Razorbacks against the South Carolina Gamecocks during their game at Williams-Brice Stadium on November 6, 2010 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

The niners will have a brand new coaching staff and will need a new quarterback to lead the way. Smith’s days are numbered, Troy Smith isn’t the answer, and if they don’t draft a qb then maybe Donovan McNabb can save the day. Mallett still has yet to decide on his future but if he does decide to go pro I have to believe that he’s a top ten pick.

Dallas Cowboys – Prince Amukamara, Nebraska

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LINCOLN, NE - OCTOBER 30: Cornerback Prince Amukamara #21 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers breaks up a pass intended for wide receiver T.J. Moe #28 of the Missouri Tigers during first half action of their game at Memorial Stadium on October 30, 2010 in Lincoln

Since Patrick Peterson will be off the board then I believe that Jerry will go with the second best corner available. The Cowboys need so much help that if they draft any position player its an upgrade. But for right now the good Prince will do just fine.

Houston Texans – Marcell Dareus, Alabama

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 02: Marcell Dareus #57 of the Alabama Crimson Tide against the Florida Gators at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 2, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Marcell will look to join his fellow Crimson Tide alum, DeMeco Ryans, in Houston to bolster a terrible defense. Cushing, Ryans, and Williams can’t do it alone so the Texans better send more help before Kubiak is thrown out of town.

Detroit Lions – Cameron Jordan, Cal

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LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 16: Matt Barkley #7 of the USC Trojans eludes the rush of Cameron Jordan #97 of the California Golden Bears during the first quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 16, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Har

I love the Lions front four and this guy will only make them better. Jordan can play the middle or the edge and if Detroit combines him with Suh then that defense could be mighty scary in the D.

Cleveland Browns – Julio Jones, Alabama

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 26: Julio Jones #8 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after a long reception against the Auburn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 26, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

With news that Eric Mangini is on his way out in Cleveland who knows what the Browns may do. This wouldn’t be his decision anyway but the Browns have no help for brother McCoy at wide receiver. This gives them a big target for a small quarterback.

Seattle Seahawks – Cam Newton, Auburn

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ATLANTA - DECEMBER 04: Quarterback Cam Newton #2 of the Auburn Tigers runs with the ball during the 2010 SEC Championship against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Georgia Dome on December 4, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)

I don’t think that Newton will declare but if he does he won’t last long in this draft. He’s not the purest of passers and he doesn’t seem NFL ready but Seattle needs a qb and he’ll have a shot to learn under a pretty good guy in Matt Hasselbeck.

Tennessee Titans – Stephen Paea, Oregon State

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TUCSON, AZ - OCTOBER 09: Defensive tackle Stephen Paea #54 of the Oregon State Beavers during the college football game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium on October 9, 2010 in Tucson, Arizona. The Beavers defeated the Wildcats 29-27. (Pho

Oh what the loss of one player can do to a franchise. Haynesworth left and so did their muscle in the middle. Well, that’s if the Titans don’t trade for him in the off-season. If they don’t look for Paea to be in Titan blue in 2011.

Washington Redskins – Mark Ingram, Alabama

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 16: Mark Ingram #22 of the Alabama Crimson Tide against the Ole Miss Rebels at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The ‘Skins need a quarterback in the worst way and their off-season free agency experiment didn’t last long. Portis is probably done in D.C. and Ingram should fit nicely in the Shanahan’s offensive scheme.

Minnesota Vikings – Janoris Jenkins, Florida

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GAINESVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 13: Janoris Jenkins #1 of the Florida Gators gets the crowd up during a game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

The Vikings were one of the NFL’s most disappointing teams in 2010 and we can’t really point to just one area of concern for their issues. Their secondary wasn’t horrible but Antoinie Winfield is about to entire his 13^th year in the league plus he’s 33 years old. I believe its time to get a little younger don’t you think?

New England Patriots – Von Miller

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AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 25: Mike Sherman, head coach of Texas A&M, joins players in a post-game singing of the Aggie War Hymn following Texas A&M's 24-17 win over the University of Texas at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 25, 2010 in Au

The Patriots need help on defense son. Don’t let their record fool you because the Pats have struggled on the defensive side of the ball. Miller is a hybrid type of player and I think he would do well in Patriot town.