NFL Mock Draft: Andrew Luck, A.J. Green and Cam Newton, Where Will They Land?
There's a possibility that Andrew Luck, A.J. Green and Cam Newton all will enter the 2011 draft, and if so, the pool of talent will just get richer. The NFL draft order is officially set for non-playoff teams with the conclusion of the regular season yesterday.
Now, mock drafts will look a lot clearer with a set order to go off from. The NFL playoffs are right around the corner, but for 20 fanbases, the next thing involving their team will be the draft.
With that being said, let's get started and take an early look at who could wind up where.
No. 1. Carolina Panthers: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
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This is a no-brainer for the Panthers if Luck decides to declare. And I think he will. There have been reports that Luck is leaning toward heading back to Stanford, but what else is he supposed to say as he prepares for the Orange Bowl?
Jim Harbaugh is rumored for all most every open job in the country and it's likely he jumps to take one of them. That would make it more likely that Luck decides it's time to take his talents to the NFL.
For the Panthers, it's been a disastrous season on the field, although if they end up with Luck it will be well worth it going forward.
No. 2. Denver Broncos: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
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With this pick the Broncos add the top defensive back in the class and one of the best defensive back prospects in years. Denver has an aging defense and needs to inject some youth on that side of the ball.
If the Broncos are able to re-sign Champ Bailey while adding Peterson, they would have an established shutdown corner and a future one.
Bailey could groom Peterson over the coming years before he decides to hang up his cleats for good. With John Elway now in the mix, it's hard to be sure what direction the team is heading, but starting on the defensive side of the ball is a good guess.
No. 3. Buffalo Bills: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
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The Bills may or may not have their quarterback of the future in Ryan Fitzpatrick. But even if Fitzpatrick isn't the long-term answer for Buffalo, there isn't a QB worthy to go this high after Luck.
Buffalo needs to add offensive playmakers and Green is the best option outside of Luck. Green has the size, speed and hands to become a great wide receiver in the NFL.
Even though Steve Johnson had a breakout year for the Bills, he isn't the playmaker that Green will be. A tandem of Green, Johnson and Lee Evans in the slot could be a dynamic trio.
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No. 4. Cincinnati Bengals: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
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The Bengals will have the opportunity to choose the disruptive defensive end Da'Quan Bowers or Nick Fairley with this pick. In a division with Pittsburgh and Baltimore—two teams committed to running the ball—Cincinnati will elect to go with Fairley, who can help shore up the interior of the defensive line.
If Fairley has a big game against Oregon, there's no question that he could rise higher than this pick. But for now, this is where the big fella ends up.
No. 5. Arizona Cardinals: Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
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As bad as the Cardinals need a QB, I don't think they elect to draft one here. There are going to be a number of QB's available that are proven that the Cards will go after, such as Donovan McNabb or Kyle Orton.
Instead of investing in a young QB, the Cards are going to take Bowers in this spot. Calais Campbell led Arizona with just six sacks this past season as the Cards had trouble developing much of a pass rush. Bowers had 16 sacks at Clemson in his junior year and would be a perfect fit in Arizona.
No. 6. Cleveland Browns: Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina
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The Browns need offensive help but at this spot in the draft there isn't a great option. They could take a QB, although that doesn't seem realistic after Cleveland drafted Colt McCoy, who showed signs of promise at times this season.
Mike Holmgren is looking for a new coach and a prime target will be defensive-minded John Fox. If that's the case, I like Quinn in this spot. The junior had double-digit sacks for North Carolina and has the ability to be a dominant pass rusher at the next level.
No. 7. San Francisco 49ers: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
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The 49ers need to go into a new direction at the QB position—it's just a matter of who they will take. Cam Newton, Ryan Mallett and Jake Locker all could be taken in the first round, but in this case I think they're going to go with Gabbert.
It's no secret the Niners are pursuing Jim Harbaugh, and if they are able to land him he will have his choice of what QB to take.
Gabbert has the skill set to be successful at the next level and under the right tutelage he will be successful.
No. 8. Tennessee Titans: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
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Tennessee may be tempted to take a QB here, but as of now that's unknown with the uncertain future of Jeff Fisher and Vince Young.
Dareus has gone up against top-flight competition in the SEC and would be a safe pick for the Titans here. With so much uncertainty in what direction the Titans are heading, this is one of the harder picks to project.
No. 9. Dallas Cowboys: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
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Nobody expected the Cowboys to be picking in the top 10 in the draft, but a poor start doomed Dallas. Jason Garrett is an offensive-minded coach, which makes an offensive player a logical choice here.
But that isn't the case as Garrett already has a slate full of talented offensive players. I expect the Cowboys to sure up the secondary with this pick and Amukamara is the second-best defensive back in this class.
Dallas ranked 26th in the league in pass defense this past season—something Garrett will look to address through the draft.
No. 10. Washington Redskins: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
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This makes sense on a number of levels for Mike Shanahan's team. The Redskins need help at QB and Newton has potential to be a difference maker at the next level, although it will take some time.
Shanahan is high on Rex Grossman, who did a nice job since he was named the starter. That means Newton could come into Washington and sit his first year while Shanahan grooms him.
No. 11. Houston Texans: Janoris Jenkins, CB, Florida
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Jenkins is the third-best corner in the draft if he declares, and at this spot the Texans will grab whatever defensive help they can get, especially in the secondary.
Houston's NFL-worst pass ranked defense was abused all year long, making Jenkins a logical choice.
No. 12. Minnesota Vikings: Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
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With Brett Favre not coming back next season and Joe Webb coming back to Earth against Detroit, it's almost a guarantee Minnesota drafts a young signal-caller.
Mallett is extremely tall at 6'7", which is only going to help his draft stock, and he's put together back-to-back 30-touchdown seasons in the SEC.
No. 13. Detroit Lions: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
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I couldn't find a picture of Miller, but he's in there somewhere.
Miller has the size, speed and collegiate success—consensus All-American—to warrant being taken this high, and the Lions have the need at linebacker. It also doesn't hurt that Miller has the ability to line up as a defensive end in pass rushing situations.
With Ndamukong Suh in the middle, Miller could wreak havoc next year coming off the outside.
No. 14. St. Louis Rams: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
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After seeing last night's miserable performance from Ram receivers, there's no doubt that St. Louis will be looking to upgrade at the position. Jones is regarded as the second-best receiver of the class and would be a welcomed sight for Sam Bradford.
While not as physically gifted as Green is, Jones still possesses great size and leaping ability. Jones has the ability to stretch the field—something that the Rams desperately need.
No. 15. Miami Dolphins: Jake Locker, QB, Washington
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If Locker declared for the draft at the conclusion of the 2009-10 season he would have fought to be the No. 1 pick with Bradford. Now, Locker is going to need an impressive combine to find himself in the first round.
Locker possesses great physical skills that will certainly bolster his stock as we get closer to the draft. Another thing Locker has going for him is the fact that he played on a pretty terrible Washington team.
The Dolphins don't seem to have the same faith in Chad Henne as they once did, and investing in another young QB seems like a possibility here.
No. 16. Jacksonville Jaguars: Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon St.
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Jacksonville ranked 22nd against the run this season and needs to add help along the defensive line. Paea is best known for being a run-stopper who has a non-stop motor.
Seeing how Arian Foster torched the Jags yesterday, it should be fresh in the minds of the Jacksonville brass that they need help against the run.
Another option in this spot could be a pass rushing defensive end.
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