2011 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting The Entire 1st Round After Andrew Luck's Return
Andrew Luck deciding to return to Stanford will transform every 2011 NFL Mock Draft throughout the internet.
The Carolina's choice at number one between Da'Quan Bowers and A.J. Green will pave the new path of the 2011 NFL Draft.
New developments also include Vince Young out in Tennessee and the top rated 4-3 outside linebacker in Travis Lewis will be returning to Oklahoma.
Here is an updated 2011 NFL Mock Draft after Andrew Luck's return with trades:
1. Carolina Panthers: A.J. Green (WR, Georgia)
1 of 32
With Andrew Luck unavailable, the Panthers must be content with surrounding Jimmy Clausen with as many weapons as possible. If not, it'll be another long season on the offensive side of the football.
A.J. Green is too good to pass up. He could turn into one of the top receivers in the NFL in a year or two.
2. Denver Broncos: Patrick Peterson (CB, LSU)
2 of 32
Nothing changes here for the Broncos after Luck's decision. At the most it takes away the temptation of selecting him if he were to magically fall to them in April.
Champ Bailey is gone and they must find a replacement through the draft.
Some may want Nick Fairley here, but Peterson is the much more talented prospect.
3. Buffalo Bills: Nick Fairley (DE, Auburn)
3 of 32
Now that Luck's gone, the Bills are still hoping there's a quarterback in round two they can grab.
Fairley is still their guy at number three. They don't have much at defensive line at all and Fairley would change that instantly.
Imagine Fairley as an Albert Haynesworth who actually cared about football, even though there are concerns about his character.
.png?w=256)
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
4. Cincinnati Bengals: Da'Quan Bowers (DE, Clemson)
4 of 32
Even if the Panthers chose Bowers number one overall, the Bengals really wouldn't care.
Robert Quinn is an elite prospect just as well. The only thing holding him back is character concerns, which doesn't concern the Bengals.
They do get Bowers though, adding him to an already talented front seven.
5. Arizona Cardinals: Prince Amukamara (CB, Nebraska)
5 of 32
Amukamara is too good to pass at number five for the Cardinals. He's arguably just as good as Patrick Peterson, and some even like him better.
With Amukamara and Dominique Rogers-Cromartie manned up on the outside, there is going to be a lot more slot receivers and tight ends targets against Arizona.
6. TRADE ALERT
6 of 32
The Cleveland Browns swap first round picks with the Jacksonville Jaguars who select:
Robert Quinn (DE, North Carolina)
Julio Jones just isn't good enough to select at number six for the Browns. They need a wide receiver for Colt McCoy, so they trade down.
The Jaguars are a willing trade partner as they see Robert Quinn still on the board. They have a huge need at defensive end and can't pass on the opportunity.
7. San Francisco 49ers: Blaine Gabbert (QB, Missouri)
7 of 32
Gabbert is the number one rated quarterback now that Andrew Luck is staying at Stanford.
He still goes to the 49ers because he must prove himself through the combine before he moves up at all.
Jim Harbaugh, the 49ers new coach will need a prolific passer at his disposal and won't be content with Alex or Troy Smith starting at quarterback. With Gabbert as the best option available, they'll have to pull the trigger.
8. Tennessee Titans: Marcell Dareus
8 of 32
The Titans won't select a quarterback here if Jeff Fisher is still the head coach, even with Vince Young gone. Fisher will be content with either starting Kerry Collins or trading for either Kevin Kolb or Donovan McNabb.
Marcell Dareus is the defensive tackle that Tennessee has been waiting for to replace Albert Haynesworth. They tried to trade for Haynesworth, but their patience paid off as they get the physically gifted Dareus at number eight.
9. TRADE ALERT
9 of 32
The Dallas Cowboys swap first round picks with the Minnesota Vikings who select:
Ryan Mallett (QB, Arkansas)
There is seriously no one the Cowboys could select here that fills a need and is worth the high pick.
They trade down to a Vikings team desperate for a quarterback. With the Redskins next on the clock, the Vikings jump right in front and steal their man in Ryan Mallett.
Mallett has the best arm in the entire draft and will become many team's first choice at quarterback with Luck out of the picture.
10. Washington Redskins: Jake Locker (QB, Washington)
10 of 32
Supposedly, Mike Shanahan really likes Jake Locker. I don't know where that rumor came from, but it's out there.
The Redskins need a quarterback. Shanahan obviously doesn't like McNabb, and Rex Grossman shouldn't be starting in the NFL, let alone be seen as a franchise quarterback.
Locker can make every throw, he is very athletic, yet he's a pass first quarterback. He definitely has potential.
11. Houston Texans: Ryan Kerrigan (OLB, Purdue)
11 of 32
With Wade Phillips now the Texans defensive coordinator, they will switch to a 3-4 defense. They now need a rush linebacker.
Ryan Kerrigan fits the bill. He has an incredible 25 sacks in his last two seasons at Purdue.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Derrick Sherrod (OT, Mississippi St.)
12 of 32
Sherrod stock is on the rise. Twelfth overall is still kind of high, but it's a much better value than having the Cowboys selected him at ninth overall.
The Cowboys don't have many weaknesses, but the offensive line is one of them. Just ask Tony Romo's collarbone.
13. Detroit Lions: Brandon Harris (CB, Miami)
13 of 32
Harris said he was probably going back to school, and then he had a horrible performance against Michael Floyd and Notre Dame. His decision: to go pro.
All season Harris was a shutdown cornerback. Despite the poor performance, expect him to bounce back.
By the time the draft rolls around, Harris will have regained that borderline top 10 pick he was before the Notre Dame game.
14. St. Louis Rams: Julio Jones (WR, Alabama)
14 of 32
The Rams lost to the Seahawks in the final week because of one reason: no receivers. Danario Alexander dropped everything, and Brandon Gibson couldn't do much better.
Julio Jones is a top wide receiver prospect. His only weakness is inconsistent hands, which is a big deal, but he's so physically gifted you forget about those hands.
Cornerbacks have a hard time bringing him down one on one, and there are no linebackers that are going to catch him from behind, that's for sure.
15. Miami Dolphins: Cam Newton (QB, Auburn)
15 of 32
The Dolphins need a quarterback and a running back. They kill two birds with one stone by selecting Cam Newton.
Newton should be able to start right away over Chad Henne. He definitely has the size to run the wildcat.
Miami is about to hire a new coach. A new coach equals a new quarterback.
16. Cleveland Browns: Justin Blackmon (WR, Oklahoma St.)
16 of 32
The Browns pick up a few more picks by trading down and still get a stud wide receiver in Justin Blackmon.
Blackmon led the NCAA in everything receiving in 2010.
Some may say it was just a result of playing in the Big 12. That excuse doesn't cut it as he still put up numbers when he was matched-up against Prince Amukamara.
17. New England Patriots: J.J. Watt (DE, Wisconsin)
17 of 32
J.J. Watt's stock is rising rapidly.
The Patriots select him at number 17 to replace Richard Seymour.
Watt is a 3-4 defensive end prototype at 6'6", 295 pounds. On top of that, he's athletic enough to play defensive end in a 4-3 scheme.
18. San Diego Chargers: Von Miller (OLB, Texas A&M)
18 of 32
The Chargers need an upgrade across from Shaun Phillips. No other Charger besides Shaun Phillips had more than six sacks. Larry English only had three sacks this season and is much better suited for a 4-3 defense.
Miller is the best speed rusher in the draft and is drawing comparisons to sack machine Elvis Dumervil.
19. New York Giants: Mark Ingram (HB, Alabama)
19 of 32
Brandon Jacobs will most likely be cut this off season to save cap room, as he's not worth his current salary.
Ahmad Bradshaw is a solid feature back, but he's too injury prone not to have someone to rotate with regularly.
Mark Ingram is the best back by far in the 2011 class. His cutting ability has drawn comparisons to the great Emmitt Smith.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Aldon Smith (DE, Missouri)
20 of 32
Aldon Smith wasn't expected to make the jump to the NFL until next off season. That was until Blaine Gabbert decided to go pro.
Smith is an athletic freak. He has a 7'2" wingspan, a 40 inch vertical, and can bench 350 pounds.
Why isn't he going higher? I couldn't find a spot.
The Buccaneers desperately need help at defensive end and would welcome Smith with open arms.
21. Seattle Seahawks: Janoris Jenkins (CB, Florida)
21 of 32
With no top quarterback left on the board, the Seahawks are forced to address their weakness in the secondary.
They only forced 12 interceptions all season long. Janoris Jenkins has the instincts and ball skills to up that number.
The Seahawks aren't talented enough to win games with talent just yet. They can add a couple of more wins to their record by improving their ability to force turnovers.
22. Kansas City Chiefs: Jonathan Baldwin (WR, Pittsburgh)
22 of 32
The Chiefs offense may just be unstoppable if they can get a solid receiver across from Dwayne Bowe.
Count the weapons: Thomas Jones and Jamal Charles on the ground, Bowe and Baldwin on the outside, Tony Moeaki in the middle, and Dexter McCluster everywhere.
With an improved Matt Cassel distributing the rock, you can only slow them down.
23. Indianapolis Colts: Nate Solder (OT, Colorado)
23 of 32
The Colts have surrendered the least amount of sacks in the NFL, but Peyton wants more protection so he'll get more protection.
Solder has the highest upside out of any tackle in the draft because of his athletic ability and length.
If any team can take advantage of his strengths, it's the Colts. Solder won't have to pass block as much in the Colts pass first, pass second, and pass third offense.
24. Philadelphia Eagles: Gabe Carimi (OT, Wisconsin)
24 of 32
The Eagles offensive line is the only thing holding back their explosive offense.
I will continue to refer to Carimi as a mammoth because that is what he is at 6'8", 320 pounds.
With Carimi on the line, Michael Vick will have more time to get the ball to DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin.
25. Green Bay Packers: Akeem Ayers (OLB, UCLA)
25 of 32
The Packers have nothing across from Clay Matthews at outside linebacker. No, seriously, they have nothing.
The next best sack total for an outside linebacker on the Packers was four. Teams right now are free to double team Matthews all they want.
With Ayers on the other side though, that won't be possible. A Packers rush of Matthews, Ayers, B.J. Raji, and Cullen Jenkins would be unbearable.
26. New Orleans Saints: Adrian Clayborn (DE, Iowa)
26 of 32
Character concerns and very inconsistent play drops Clayborn to a team that is all about second chances.
The Saints don't have a player with over six sacks on their entire defense. Roman Harper at safety as more sacks than Alex Brown who's been starting at defensive end all season.
Clayborn should be able to start right away, and if not, at least serve as a situational pass rusher for the ineffective Brown and the aging Will Smith.
27. New York Jets: Cameron Jordan (DE, California)
27 of 32
The 33 year old Sedrick Ellis and Mike DeVito are part of the Jets weakness at defensive end. Either could probably be replaced by Cameron Jordan.
Jordan is 6'4", 283 pounds and was made for the 3-4 defense. He recorded five sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss on the year.
28. Baltimore Ravens: Cameron Heyward (DE, Ohio St.)
28 of 32
The Ravens would love to select a cornerback here, but all the top ones have been taken.
They'll gladly settle for Cameron Heyward. At 6'6", 287 pounds, there may not be a 3-4 defensive end in the draft that has more potential. Inconsistency has hurt his stock though.
A Ravens defense is now stocked full with high risk, high reward players in Heyward, Sergio Kindle, and Terrance Cody.
29. Chicago Bears: Anthony Castonzo (OT, Boston College)
29 of 32
The Bears surrendered the most sacks in the entire league this season.
Castonzo has been starting since he was a true freshmen at Boston College. He'd be one big Bear at 6'7", 308 pounds.
Jay Cutler and Matt Forte have been dreaming about this pick since week one.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Pouncey (G, Florida)
30 of 32
Most mocks have the Steelers selecting about two or three offensive lineman in the first few rounds. Wrong, they only need one, a left guard.
People forget that Max Starks and Willie Colon are coming back. They're paying Starks a fortune and Colon is one of the league's top right tackles.
A line of Starks, Chris Kemoeatu, the Pouncey brothers, and Colon is strong enough, especially with Ben Roethlisberger's ability to buy extra time.
31. Atlanta Falcons: Michael Floyd (WR, Notre Dame)
31 of 32
Floyd is probably a top 20 talent, but he'll fall because of so many other great receivers ahead of him.
He has the route running of a wide receiver, but he has the ability after the catch of a running back.
Matt Ryan needs more weapons on the outside other than just Roddy White.
32. TRADE ALERT
32 of 32
The New England Patriots swap picks with the Philadelphia Eagles who select:
Aaron Williams (CB, Texas)
You knew the Patriots weren't going to keep both of their first round picks.
With the fear that there won't be any quality cornerbacks around by their second selection, the Eagles trade up to address their biggest need.
Dimitri Patterson shouldn't be starting in the NFL. Joselio Hanson shouldn't be starting in the NFL. Aaron Williams can though and will be inserted into the Eagles starting lineup right away.
David Daniels is an NFL Featured Columnist and Writing Intern at Bleacher Report and a Syndicated Writer. Follow him at One Yard Short.com or on Twitter.
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
