2011 NFL Mock Draft: Complete First and Second Round Picks
The regular season is over and it's time to look ahead to 2011 for every team not yet in the playoffs.
The NFL Draft order now is set through the first 20 teams and the Carolina Panthers have locked up the Andrew Luck sweepstakes.
We've got two full rounds for you this time and be prepared for some surprises. I really think a lot of teams are going to wait until the second round to draft quarterbacks and, even then, this mock might see big changes once free agency begins, assuming there's a new collective bargaining agreement.
The first 20 slots are based on the official NFL Draft order and the last 12 are based on my current feelings of how the NFL playoffs will sort themselves out.
Until a player officially says he's not going into this year's draft, we're considering them fair game as long as they're eligible.
The mock draft commissioner is coming to the podium with the first pick.
1. Carolina Panthers, Andrew Luck, QB Stanford
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Why Luck Goes Here: Jimmy Clausen fell to the second round for a reason. He's already looking like a bust and the new regime in Carolina will start from scratch.
What Luck's Role Will Be: Give the Panthers the kind of turnaround on offense Matthew Stafford gave Detroit and Sam Bradford gave St. Louis.
Pick Change: No.
MASSIVE UPDATE: Yes, Andrew Luck has decided to stay at Stanford. This is huge, and everything about the first five picks will have to be re-evaluated.
First reaction is the Panthers probably now try and see if they can develop Clausen unless they think Cam Newton is worth taking the risk on. I just don't see any of these other quarterbacks going No. 1 overall to Carolina.
That's how I feel now, we'll see how I feel in a few weeks.
In the meantime, I think Carolina drafts defense instead, or possibly goes with wide receiver A.J. Green so Clausen has somebody to throw to.
Stay tuned . . .
2. Denver Broncos, Patrick Peterson, CB LSU
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Why Peteron Goes Here: The Broncos apparently are going to give Tim Tebow a try, so the focus turns to defense where Champ Bailey is talking about leaving and Perrish Cox may be going to jail for a very long time.
What Peterson's Role Will Be: Pick up where Champ Bailey left off.
Pick Change: No.
3. Buffalo Bills, Nick Fairley, DT Auburn
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Why Fairley Goes Here: Andrew Luck is gone and the Bills decide to take the best player available that fits their needs.
What Fairley's Role Will Be: Fairley can immediately be a good run stopper and he's talented enough to fit into whatever defensive scheme the team puts on the field next year.
Pick Change: No.
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4. Cincinnati Bengals, A.J. Green, WR Georgia
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Why Green Goes Here: The Bengals have needs on their defense and Carson Palmer has had a bad year, but now it looks like both Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens will be gone.
What Green's Role Will Be: Give Palmer a legitimate downfield threat without the crappy attitude Ochocinco and Owens bring to the locker room.
Pick Change: No. That being said, the Bengals are almost impossible to predict right now. They could go in an entirely different direction.
5. Arizona Cardinals, Cam Newton, QB Auburn
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Why Newton Goes Here: If Ken Whisenhunt was dumb enough to make Derek Anderson his starting quarterback this year, he's crazy enough to take a chance on Cam Newton.
What Newton's Role Will Be: Move the offense, something Anderson and Max Hall failed to do this year.
Pick Change: No. But this is a team that may trade for a quarterback and then either draft later or hope John Skelton develops.
6. Cleveland Browns, Da'Quan Bowers, DE Clemson
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Why Bowers Goes Here: The Browns have a ton of needs, but their defense has fallen apart and they have no pass rushers, among other things.
What Bowers' Role Will Be: Giving opposing quarterbacks something to think about other than which wide receiver is more open.
Pick Change: No. But the Browns could go with Robert Quinn or Marcell Dareus here and no Browns fan would disagree with those moves.
7. San Francisco 49ers, Blaine Gabbert, QB Missouri
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Why Gabbert Goes Here: New coach, new quarterback. Plus both Smiths probably are gone. Alex Smith doesn't want to come back and Troy Smith probably will just get moved.
What Gabbert's Role Will Be: Bring consistency to the quarterback position.
Pick Change: Yes. The 49ers have a lot of needs and the former pick here, Marcel Dareus, would've been great on their defense. But without a quarterback, the team doesn't move. I originally thought the 49ers would wait until Round 2 and grab a quarterback there, but unless they trade for a signal caller before the draft, then they take the rapidly-rising Gabbert.
8. Tennessee Titans, Marcell Dareus, DT Alabama
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Why Dareus Goes Here: With the state of flux the Titans are in right now, this is the safest pick to make. Dareus is a great prospect and will really add some youth and speed to the Titans line.
What Dareus' Role Will Be: Dareus should be able to step in and be a starter his rookie season.
Pick Change: Yes. The Titans are a lot higher than in my last mock draft, and Dareus will be a great addition to the team. Of course, if the Titans re-acquire Albert Haynesworth, then we'll have to rethink things.
9. Dallas Cowboys, Prince Amukamara, CB Nebraska
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Why Amukamara Goes Here: Amukamara is one of the best corners in the draft and this is an area of need for Dallas going into 2011.
What Amukamra's Role Will Be: Be a shutdown corner for the Cowboys and help keep opposing teams from just throwing at will on them.
Pick Change: Yes. The Cowboys are now confirmed for this slot and Amukamara still is on my board. Michael Jenkins is not good enough to play on my high school team anymore, and whether it's attitude, effort or just deterioration of skills, the Cowboys have to replace him if they don't want guys like Rex Grossman putting up 30 points on the board against them.
10. Washington Redskins, Robert Quinn, DE North Carolina
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Why Quinn Goes Here: While the Redskins do have questions at the quarterback position, they'll wait until at least the second round before they address that position.
What Quinn's Role Will Be: Mike Shanahan has to rebuild the defense completely, Quinn is a major step in the right direction.
Pick Change: No. The Redskins could use McNabb as a trade for another quarterback, and then pick up one of the bigger quarterback prospects that fall into the second round.
11. Houston Texans, Stephen Paea
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Why Paea Goes Here: The Texans defense needs a complete overhaul, and Paea is the best prospect on the board at this point.
What Paea's Role Will Be: Paea will be run blocker No. 1 on the Texans line.
Pick Change: No.
12. Minnesota Vikings, Ryan Mallett, QB Arkansas
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Why Mallett Goes Here: If Tarvaris Jackson were the future for Minnesota, they wouldn't have brought Favre back this year. Joe Webb will be the backup, and we'll see what happens.
What Mallett's Role Will Be: Be the guy Favre wasn't this year and Jackson just can't seem to be.
Pick Change: No. Mallett is the guy I think the Vikings will focus on.
13. Detroit Lions, Janoris Jenkins, CB Florida
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Why Jenkins Goes Here: The Lions need a top corner out of this draft, and Jenkins fits that bill.
What Jenkins Role Will Be: The Lions need help in the secondary.
Pick Change: Yes. The Lions won themselves out of the top 10 and a shot at Patrick Peterson or Prince Amukamara.
14. St. Louis Rams, Julio Jones, WR
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Why Jones Goes Here: The Rams spent the money to get a No. 1 quarterback; now they have to give him a No. 1 receiver.
What Jones' Role Will Be: Catch passes, make big plays, help put the Rams on the playoff map for years to come.
Pick Change: No. This is a good pick that fills a need.
15. Miami Dolphins, Mark Ingram, RB Alabama
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Why Ingram Goes Here: No matter what, the Dolphins backfield needs to get younger, and you don't pass up a prospect like Ingram.
What Ingram's Role Will Be: Ingram probably will be the starting running back as the season opens as Miami decides whether to keep Ronnie Brown or not. Youth and speed will win out.
Pick Change: No. The Dolphins either will trade for a quarterback or draft one in the second round. Ricky Williams already has said he's not coming back.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars, Ryan Kerrigan, DE Purdue
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Why Kerrigan Goes Here: In a division that has Peyton Manning and Matt Schaub behind center, you need a really good defensive end who can rush the passer and drop back into short coverage.
What Kerrigan's Role Will Be: Shut down the outside running lanes and put pressure on the quarterback.
Pick Change: Yes. The Jaguars have moved up in this mock, and move up from Allen Bailey to Ryan Kerrigan.
17. New England Patriots, Adrian Clayborn, DE Iowa (Via Oakland)
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Why Clayborn Goes Here: Bill Belichick is a master talent evaluator and his defense needs some upgrades for pass rushing schemes. Clayborn is built to rush the passer.
What Clayborn's Role Will Be: Destroy Mark Sanchez, Peyton Manning and anyone else who gets in Belichick's way.
Pick Change: No. Although I wonder if Vegas is laying odds on Belichick trading down here.
18. San Diego Chargers, Von Miller, OLB Texas A&M
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Why Miller Goes Here: The Chargers have no true replacement for Shawne Merriman, so Miller will be an attempt to fill that void.
What Miller's Role Will Be: Keep the Chargers defense at an elite level since there's nothing he can do about the special teams.
Pick Change: No.
19. New York Giants, Nate Solder OT Colorado
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Why Solder Goes Here: The Giants currently have little depth on the left side of their line. Nate Solder remedies that situation.
What Solder's Role Will Be: Helping add depth and keep Eli Manning's uniform clean.
Pick Change: No.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Akeem Ayers, OLB UCLA
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Why Ayers Goes Here: The Bucs had no pass rush against the Falcons last month, and they're not going to go far in the NFC South against the Falcons and Saints if they can't get to the quarterback.
What Ayers Role Will Be: Improve the pass rush, shut down running lanes.
Pick Change: No.
21. Seattle Seahawks, Derek Sherrod, OT Mississippi State
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Why Sherrod Goes Here: What part of the Seahawks doesn't need an upgrade?
What Sherrod's Role Will Be: Matt Hasselbeck got getting beaten up, rushed and generally not having a lot of time to throw, and then he got injured. Sherrod will change that.
Pick Change: No. But again, I don't see the Seahawks taking a quarterback in the first round at this point. This pick could change depending on what Seattle does in free agency.
22. Kansas City Chiefs, Drake Nevis, DT LSU
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Why Nevis Goes Here: The Chiefs offense and running game is working fine, especially with Matt Cassel improving every week, so they'll go defense with their first pick, and Nevis could develop into a fine pass rusher.
What Nevis' Role Will Be: Nevis will be a backup who emerges as a starter by midseason.
Pick Change: No.
23. Green Bay Packers, Aaron Williams, CB Texas
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Why Williams Goes Here: The Packers secondary is going to need some upgrades and some youth this offseason.
What Williams' Role Will Be: Provide the Packers with good pass protection on both sides of the field.
Pick Change: No.
24. New York Jets, Cameron Jordan, DE California
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Why Jordan Goes Here: The Jets need help on their defensive line in the form of younger, faster guys.
What Jordan's Role Will Be: In a division that features Tom Brady, a probable young star quarterback in Miami next year and in Buffalo, the Jets are going to want a young, hungry pass rusher.
Pick Change: No.
25. Indianapolis Colts, Anthony Castonzo, OT Boston College
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Why Castonzo Goes Here: Peyton Manning's line isn't as good as last year, but he's finally adjusting to it. Still, my hunch is Manning will strongly suggest the Colts upgrade his protection with their first pick.
What Castonzo's Role Will Be: Stop the bleeding, give Peyton Manning time to throw again.
Pick Change: No.
26. New Orleans Saints, Cameron Heyward DE Ohio State
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Why Heyward Goes Here: The Saints don't have a lot of quarterback sacks this year and are in need of a pass rusher. Heyward fills that bill.
What Heyward's Role Will Be: Give the Saints a more respectable pass rush.
Pick Change: No.
27. Baltimore Ravens, Stefan Wisniewski, C
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Why Wisniewski Goes Here: Ravens center Mark Birk is 34 years old. It's time to find a replacement.
What Wisniewski's Role Will Be: Wisniewski will be in a learning role his rookie year, but he'll have to be the anchor for that line for the next 10-12 years.
Pick Change: No.
28. Philadelphia Eagles, DeMarcus Love, OT Arkansas
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Why Love Goes Here: While Michael Vick is a mobile quarterback, he's had to scramble and use his famous rushing talents far too much this season. While Vick hasn't taken the pounding other quarterbacks have, that could change very fast if the Eagles don't upgrade that line.
What Love's Role Will Be: Protect Michael Vick at all costs.
Pick Change: No.
29. Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike Pouncey, OG Florida
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Why Pouncey Goes Here: The Steelers offensive line still is very bad, and the Steelers have to keep focusing their efforts on fixing it.
What Pouncey's Role Will Be: Rejoin his brother on the offensive line and keep Ben Roethlisberger upright.
Pick Change: No. The only way Pouncey doesn't go here is if another team takes him just to spite the Steelers. In which case, expect the Steelers to try and trade up for this guy. They don't want to risk losing him.
30. Chicago Bears, Gabe Carimi, OT Wisconsin
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Why Carimi Goes Here: The Bears offensive line gives up far too many sacks for the front office not to address the situation in the draft.
What Carimi's Role Will Be: Carimi will solidify the left side of the line for years to come.
Pick Change: No.
31. Atlanta Falcons, Jeremy Beal, OLB Oklahoma
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Why Beal Goes Here: The Falcons could use someone younger and faster on the outside of the line who could double as a defensive end if needed.
What Beal's Role Will Be: Beal is big and fast, and the Falcons will use him to shut down the run and to rush the passer.
Pick Change: No.
32. New England Patriots, Jonathan Baldwin, WR Pitt
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Why Baldwin Goes Here: The Patriots offense needs another good wide receiver for Tom Brady to throw to. While Tom Brady is doing just fine with what he has, Bill Belichick isn't the kind of coach to just sit back and hope this offense keeps playing like this next year without making changes.
What Baldwin's Role Will Be: In his rookie season, Baldwin's role will be to shift some of the coverage away from Wes Welker.
Pick Change: No.
Round Two: Picks 33-35
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33. New England Patriots: Tyron Smith, OT USC: The Patriots get this pick via the Panthers and focus on the offensive line.
34. Denver Broncos: Corey Liuget, DT Illinois: The Broncos continue the rebuild of their defense with this pick.
35. Buffalo Bills: Jake Locker, QB Washington: The Bills select their future franchise quarterback and hope Ryan Fitzpatrick has another few good years while he develops.
Round Two: Picks 36-38
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36. Cincinnati Bengals: Ryan Williams, RB Virginia Tech: The Bengals may not have Cedric Benson next year, and even if they do, they need a more dynamic running attack to take pressure off of Carson Palmer.
37. Arizona Cardinals: Allen Bailey, DE Miami: The Cardinals will turn to defense and try and pick up a good pass rusher. Bailey is the unfortunate victim of good depth at this position in the draft.
38. Cleveland Browns: Justin Blackmon, WR Oklahoma: The Browns need an elite wide receiver, Blackmon becomes Colt McCoy's favorite target.
Round Two: Picks 39-41
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39. San Francisco 49ers: Ras-I-Dowling, CB Virginia: The 49ers need to improve their secondary, and Dowling is the best guy on the board.
40. Tennessee Titans: Christian Ponder, QB Florida State: The Titans will need a quarterback regardless if Vince Young stays or not, Kerry Collins isn't getting any younger.
41. Dallas Cowboys: Rahim Moore, S UCLA: The Cowboys continue to build their secondary, and Rahim Moore is the best player available.
Round Two: Picks 42-44
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42. Washington Redskins: Pat Devlin, QB Delaware; The Redskins aren't keeping Donovan McNabb, and they certainly can't think Rex Grossman is the quarterback of the future. They get their future franchise quarterback here.
43. Houston Texans: J.J. Watt, DE Wisconsin: The Texans continue their focus on rebuilding the defense, taking the pass rusher out of the Big 10.
44. Minnesota Vikings: Kyle Rudolph, TE Notre Dame: Visanthe Shiancoe will be 31 next season, and Rudolph is one of the best players on the board at this point.
Round Two: Picks 45-47
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45. Detroit Lions: Benjamin Ijalana, OT Villanova: Matthew Stafford has been injured too many times, the offensive line needs help.
46. St. Louis Rams: Travis Lewis, OLB Oklahoma: The Rams turn to defense and fill a need with Lewis bolstering their defensive line.
47. Denver Broncos (via Miami): Daniel Thomas, Kansas State: The Broncos running game needs somebody other than Knowhson Moreno after this past season. Moreno couldn't stay healthy and wasn't consistent. Splitting the carries may be the answer.
Round Two: Picks 48-50
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48. Jacksonville Jaguars: Torrey Smith, WR Maryland: The Jaguars could use some fresh talent at wide receiver, so they take the best on the board at this point.
49. Oakland Raiders: Quan Sturdivant, ILB, North Carolina: With the Raiders out of any kind of quarterback hunt in the draft, the Raiders make a nasty defense even nastier with their first pick.
50. San Diego Chargers: Ryan Broyles, WR Oklahoma: The Chargers need some fresh wide receiver talent, and they could use one who also can be a kick returner.
Round Two: Picks 51-53
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51. New York Giants: Bruce Carter, OLB North Carolina: The Giants need some young talent on their defensive line after witnessing what happened the last few weeks.
52. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kelvin Sheppard, OLB LSU: The Buccaneers miss out on Carter and take Sheppard instead.
53. Seattle Seahawks: LaMichael James, RB Oregon: The Seahawks, who probably go another year with Matt Hasselbeck and Charlie Whitehurst, upgrade the running game here.
Round Two: Picks 54-56
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54. Kansas City Chiefs: Rodney Hudson, C Florida State: Casey Wiegmann is 37 years old, it's time to move on.
55. Green Bay Packers: Orlando Franklin, OG Miami: The Packers take an offensive lineman here with a look at adding depth.
56. New York Jets: Quinton Carter, S Oklahoma: The Jets' Jim Leonhard went down with an injury, and this may be a good way to add depth here next season.
Round Two: Picks 57-59
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57. Indianapolis Colts: Marvin Austin, DT North Carolina: The Colts need some new talent on the defensive line as well, taking the best player available.
58. New Orleans Saints: Mikel LeShoure, RB Illinois: The Saints need more talent in the backfield as Reggie Bush can't stay healthy.
59. Baltimore Ravens: Robert Sands, S West Virginia: Ed Reed will turn 33 when the season begins next year. It's time to find and groom a replacement.
Round Two: Picks 60-62
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60. Philadelphia Eagles: Brandon Burton, CB Utah: The Eagles secondary is giving up too many big plays, so Burton goes here.
61. Pittsburgh Steelers: Clint Boling, OG Georgia: The Steelers only have one real offensive lineman, so yeah, you spend the first two picks upgrading your offensive line.
62. Chicago Bears: Marcus Cannon, OG TCU: Once again, Jay Cutler eats dirt a lot. The Bears spend their two top picks changing that, the defense can wait.
Round Two: Last Two Picks
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63. Atlanta Falcons: Justin Houston, OLB Georgia: The Falcons take best player available, and Houston becomes a steal at this pick.
64: New England Patriots: Dont'a Hightower: Bill Belichick probably will like the way this guy looks and add him to the mix. Whatever happens, Hightower will be successful no matter what happens.
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