2011 NFL Mock Drafts: The First of Many

The NFL season is now complete, which means all of us football geeks can now start writing 2,304 different mock drafts, starting with this one. The order is as follows (Top 10)...

1. Carolina Panthers, 2. Denver Broncos, 3. Buffalo Bills, 4. Cincinnati Bengals, 5. Arizona Cardinals, 6. Cleveland Browns, 7. San Francisco 49ers, 8. Tennessee Titans, 9. Dallas Cowboys and 10. Washington Redskins 

If Seattle would have gotten beat by St. Louis in week 17, they would have had the 8th pick, instead they host a playoff game as the No. 4 seed. There have been rumors that Andrew Luck isn't going to leave Stanford. Until it is official, I presume he is leaving and going in the Top 10. 

Mike Shanahan and His Son Kyle Have A Lot To Do This Offseason in Washington

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

BOULDER, CO - OCTOBER 04: Brian Orakpo #98 of the Texas Longhorns rushes against Nate Solder #78 the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field on October 4, 2008 in Boulder, Colorado. Texas defeated Colorado 38-14. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

#10: Washington Redskins

OL - Nate Solder - Colorado 

It looks as though the Donovan McNabb era is going to last one dreadful year. Head Coach Mike Shanahan needs to regain control of his team. The Redskins have spent more time in the headlines with off-field issues that on-field play. Troubled DT Albert Haynesworth has been a disease in the locker room.

For Shanahan, their best pick would be drafting OL Solder. But McNabb is probably on his way out of Washington. They cannot rely on Rex Grossman next year as we saw the last three games of the season. The next best thing at the QB spot is probably Washington QB Jake Locker who has had an up and down year to say the least. Perhaps the Redskins need to look for options to trade up to grab a Top 3 QB in a package deal wit Haynesworth. But, who wants a large contract and a bad attitude? 

Jerry Jones Spent So Much Money to Get The Ninth Pick, Ouch!

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 16: Marcell Dareus #57 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)

#9: Dallas Cowboys

DT - Marcell Dareus - Alabama

Dareus won't fall to far and the Cowboys need a DT/DE. It would be very smart and best that they would be quick to draft him. He has been one of the best DT, if not the best, the past two years in college football. The Cowboys need to clog the middle up. At 6'4'', 306 pounds he is hard to pass up. Despite some off-field hiccups, Dareus record 34 tackles and 4.5 sacks in 11 games this year.

Jeff Fisher Knows He Needs a Top WR For His QB

Marcell Dareus

#8: Tennessee Titans

WR - AJ Green - Georgia 

Green is the best WR coming out of college this year and the Titans need an explosive talent like Green on their squad. He only played in nine games but lead the team in receptions (57), yards (848) and touchdowns (nine). He would be a perfect fit opposite WR Kenny Britt. Head Coach Jeff Fisher and QB Vince Young will need to work out their problems first before drafting Green, if they don't look for the Titans to draft a QB to replace Young. 

So Long Alex Smith, Hello Ryan Mallett

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

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)

#7: San Francisco 49ers

QB - Ryan Mallett - Arkansas

Alex Smith had his chance and did prove to work out due some injuries and just bad play. Enter Mallett. Along with Smith being out, so is Head Coach Mike Singletary. "Big Tex" is a prototypical NFL QB with a solid frame. He is a huge quarterback prospect with a cannon arm. He’s very strong in the pocket and is a load for defensive linemen to sack. I would compare Mallett to Donte Culpepper (in his prime). The potential 1, 2, 3 punch of Mallet, RB Frank Gore and WR Michael Crabtree is scary.

Mangini's Replacement Will Not Hesitate To Draft Robert Quinn

#6: Cleveland Browns

DE - Robert Quinn – North Carolina

Now that Eric Mangini was fired earlier this morning by the Browns, first will be to hire a head coach before the draft. When they do, they new coach will realize how bad they need a DE. Quinn is exactly what the Browns need. This is a guy who had brain surgery as a senior in high school to play D1 football and is now a Top 10 pick in the NFL, why wouldn't you want Quinn on your team? He might have never set foot on the field this season after being ruled permanently ineligible for a variety of NCAA and school violations but he is still a Top 10 pick. 

Welcome To The Blaine Gabbert Era in Glendale, AZ

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TEMPE, AZ - DECEMBER 28: Quarterback Blaine Gabbert #11 of the Missouri Tigers throws a pass during the Insight Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Sun Devil Stadium on December 28, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona. The Hawkeyes defeated the Tigers 27-24. (Photo by

#5: Arizona Cardinals

QB - Blaine Gabbert - Missouri

Missouri Tigers' Gabbert has been called a first round pick, if he decides to leave Mizzou early (which I think he will), some analysts even have him as the second ranked quarterback behind Standford QB Andrew Luck, I have him behind Luck and QB Cam Newton of Auburn. The Cardinals QB situation is a complete mess and realize they needed to part with ways with Matt Leinart earlier in the season and take a chance with Gabbert. At 6'5'', 235 pounds he is a monster of a kid. 

A Lot of Needs in Cincinnati, So Take Your Pick

#4: Cincinnati Bengals

DE - Da'Quan Bowers - Clemson

So many NFL analysts and reports expected the Bengals to have a successful season like they did last year, but they have failed to do so. A large part to their 2010 season downfall has been their inconsistency on the offensive side of the ball as well as very poor defense. Chad "Johnson" Ochocino and Terrell Owens are getting old and hurt. They have given up a lot of points (24.7/per game) and haven’t been able to pressure the opposing QB, only sacked the opposing QB 27 times. Bowers is an elite pass rusher with NFL size. 

This Is The Year The Buffalo Bills Draft a QB

Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images

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)

#3: Buffalo Bills

QB - Cam Newton - Auburn

This draft the Bills front office won't pass up a QB. Newton has size, strength, speed and an arm. Ryan Fitzpatrick will probably start one more year, or at least the beginning of next year but Newton will still play a big role. He does need some development which is why he won't start right away. He has so many skills that the Bills would be stupid to pass him up. With CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson in the backfield the next step in rebuilding is finding a franchise QB. 

The Worst Defense in The League, Denver Broncos, Needs a CB

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 13: Patrick Peterson #7 of the Louisiana State University Tigers runs back an interception against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks at Tiger Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty I

#2: Denver Broncos

CB - Patrick Peterson - LSU

Champ Bailey needs a sidekick on the right side of the defensive side. Denver allowed the most points in the NFL this season (29.4). They only intercepted the balls 10 times and forced 12 fumbles. Their defensive was just down right horrible and they know it. Not only is Peterson a good cover specialist he can return the ball. He has tons of speed and can see the open field. Peterson is just too good to pass up for what Denver needs right now and that's defense. 

The Chosen One in Carolina, Andrew Luck Of Stanford

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

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)

#1: Carolina Panthers

QB - Andrew Luck - Stanford

The Jimmy Clausen pick didn't work out this year, he was horrible. There has been rumors that Luck isn't going to come out, but that depends on what Coach Jim Harbaugh does. He has been rumored to be heading to NorCal, San Francisco now that Mike Singletary has been fired. Since I am a huge Buffalo Bills fan I am praying that Bills can somehow trade up in order to get Luck instead of picking Newton, but I really can't see this happening. Luck is smart and has a solid arm. This will be the second year in a row a QB is draft No. 1 overall.