2011 NFL Mock Draft: Post-BCS Championship Edition

The results are in and they are official. The college football season is over. The players have spoken and you better believe the scouts and NFL teams were listening.

There is still plenty of time for a player's stock to rise and fall with the combine, interviews and bonehead decisions.

The end of the season is a great time for a mock draft, however. So, away we go...

1. Carolina Panthers: A.J. Green, WR (Georgia)

The Panthers made no bones about the fact they had their sights set on Stanford QB Andrew Luck. Well, it is not their lucky day and Luck will remain in college. Now the Panthers have to kiss and make up with their QB Jimmy Clausen. 

They will do that by giving him A.J. Green. Green has the size, speed, route-running and hands to be a difference-maker on the outside.

2. Denver Broncos: Marcell Dareus, DT (Alabama) 

The Broncos weren't particularly good at anything, and they were especially bad on defense.

They will look to add the beef and blocker-eating capabilities of Marcell Dareus. Dareus projects to a be a 3-4 end that can stuff the run and rush the passer.

3. Buffalo Bills: Nick Fairley, DT (Auburn)

The Bills struggled to stop the run all year. Nick Fairley projects to be a dominant 3-4 DE.

He will come in and help solidify Buffalo's run D from the first day of camp and he provides a little pass rush to boot.

4. Cincinnati Bengals: Patrick Peterson, CB (LSU) 

The Bengals are ready to move on from the Carson Palmer era, but Marvin Lewis doesn't have the luxury of job security.

They will go for an impact player and Peterson is just that. He adds an exciting return game to his elite corner skills.

5. Arizona Cardinals: Cam Newton, QB (Auburn)

The Cardinals do not have a QB and they need to bring in someone to energize their fanbase. They will not be able to pass on the freakish combination of talents that is Cam Newton.

They will let him make plays with his feet and chuck up go-get-'em passes to Larry Fitzgerald while he refines his skills.

6. Cleveland Browns: Robert Quinn, DE-OLB (North Carolina)

The Browns have to figure out how to get to the QB. Mike Holmgren has a history of going young on D and adding veterans on O.

Quinn has the size and speed to make an immediate impact on the edge.

7. San Francisco 49ers: Ryan Mallet, QB (Arkansas)

JIm Harbaugh will be anxious to find the 49ers a new QB. Mallet has the raw tools and Harbaugh will be convinced he can teach him everything else.

8. Tennessee Titans: Jake Locker, QB (Washington)

The Titans ditched their QB of the future and Tennessee will be enamored with Locker's Vince Young-like skill set.

But it is with off-the-field interviews and attitude that Locker will convince them he is their guy.  

9. Dallas Cowboys: Prince Amukamara, CB (Nebraska)

The Cowboys need a shutdown corner to solidify their struggling pass defense.

Amukamara is almost rated as high as Peterson and he has all the tools to be that shutdown corner they need.

10. Washington Redskins: Von Miller, DE/OLB (Texas A&M) 

The Redskins pass rush struggled all season and Von Miller would be an immediate upgrade. He has the size and quickness to get to the QB in the NFL.

11. Houston Texans: Da'Quan Bowers, DE/OLB (Clemson)

The Texans were horrific on pass D all season. They will look to upgrade it from the front back when they select Bowers. He has the raw tools get to the QB from day one.

12. Minnesota Vikings: Nate Solder, OT (Colorado)

The Vikings offensive line fell apart in 2010. Solder is a pro ready prospect that has the size and quickness to play left or right tackle.

13. Detroit Lions: Brandon Harris, CB (Miami)

Defensively, the Lions have the beef in the trenches, but opposing WRs shredded the Lions all year. Harris' speed and ball skills would be an immediate upgrade for the Lions.

14. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR (Oklahoma State)

The Rams got more than they could have expected out of their rookie QB and they did it without a great WR. They'll be ecstatic if Blackmon and his number one WR potential lasts until the 14th pick.

15. Miami Dolphins: Mark Ingram, RB (Alabama)

The Dolphins RBs are aging and are also free agents. The 'Phins have a solid line and Tony Sparano will look to get the Dolphins back to the power running team they were in '09.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars: Adrian Clayborn, DE (Iowa) 

The Jaguars will look to bookend their young DTs with a DE. Clayborn has the strength and speed to give the Jags a much-needed outside pass rush boost.

17. New England Patriots (from Oakland): Cameron Jordan, DE/DT (California)

The Patriots need to bolster their D-line. Jordan projects as a perfect fit for an end in a 3-4 system.

18. San Diego Chargers: Akeem Ayers, DE/OLB (UCLA)

The Chargers like to build their D around an OLB that can rush the passer. That is why they spent a first-round pick on Larry English even though they had Shawne Merriman. Now, Merriman is gone and English has not fulfilled his potential.

19. New York Giants: Anthony Costonzo, OT (Boston College)

The Giants have an aging line and slipping offensive line and they will look to upgrade their Tackles. Costonzo has the size and footwork to play left or right tackle.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Aldon Smith, DE (Missouri)

The Bucs have the beef up the middle on defense and now they will look to bring the heat from the outside. Aldon Smith will do just that.

21. Kansas City Chiefs: Derrek Sherrod, OT (Mississippi State) 

The Chiefs offensive line fell apart at the end of the season and Sherrod will be an instant upgrade. He can play either side of the line and he will give Cassel some much needed protection.

22. Indianapolis Colts: Drake Nevis, DT (LSU) 

The Colts had one of the worst run defenses in the NFL. It was their undoing against the Jets. Nevis will provide a solid inside push and provide a strong presence on run downs.

23. Philadelphia Eagles: Gabe Carimi, OT (Wisconsin)

The Eagles offense has been slowed by their offensive line. Carimi's was once projected as the top tackle, but it became clear he'd be a RT, not a LT. The Eagles will be fine with him playing RT.

24. New Orleans Saints: J.J. Watt, DE (Wisconsin)  

The Saints lack depth in the trenches and their pass rush began to fall off of map. Watt will give them some added energy and explosiveness on the outside.

25. Seattle Seahawks: Mike Pouncey, C/G (Florida)

The Seahawks had a revolving door on the offensive line. They especially struggled on the interior. They will grab the power and versatility that Pouncey brings.

26. Green Bay Packers:  Jonathan Baldwin, WR (Pittsburgh)

The Packers won't necessarily be in the market for a WR, but they will find the talent and potential to hard to pass up. Aaron Rodgers won't be complaining. 

27. New York Jets: Cameron Heyward, DE/DT (Ohio State)

The Jets need to generate more of a pass rush from their line. Heyward has the ability to get to the QB and the size to play end in a 3-4.

28. Baltimore Ravens: Aaron Williams, CB (Texas)

The Ravens D is missing one thing that their best defenses have had: A shutdown corner.

Williams has shown great potential and he will only be available this late, because of the depth of that position in this draft.

29. Chicago Bears: Tyron Smith, OT (USC)

The Bears have one of the worst offensive lines in the history of playoff teams. They will take the best tackle remaining. Smith has been inconsistent, but he has all the tools.

30. Pittsburgh Steelers: Marcus Cannon, G/T (TCU)

The Steelers cannot play the kind of smash-mouth offense they love without a great offensive line. Cannon will likely be a guard in the NFL and he could solidify the Steelers' interior.

31. Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Rudolph, TE (Notre Dame)

Tony Gonzalez in near the end of his playing career. He has said he is 50-50 on returning next year.

Matt Ryan has gotten use to having a reliable TE and Rudolph could step in on day one and fill Tony's sizable shoes.

32. New England Patriots: Julio Jones, WR (Alabama)

The Pats offense excelled after Randy Moss left. Still, they will look for someone who can stretch the D. While Jones struggled with consistency catching, teams will still have to guard him when he goes long.