2011 NFL Mock Draft: The Entire First Round Pick By Pick
Now that the 2010 NFL season has concluded and the postseason is in full bloom, the draft order for 2011 has been set. The Carolina Panthers have been awarded the first overall pick, and the slew of 6-10 teams have been ranked, with the difference being a No. 7 pick and a pick near the middle of the draft.
Last week, I looked at the draft on the off chance that Andrew Luck would stay in school. Now that he has, mock draft boards are now trying to figure out exactly who the top pick will be, let alone the top five or the entire first round.
Who has risen and fallen in the past week, now that the college football season is over and various people are declaring for the draft? Does Janoris Jenkins staying in school further modify anything?
1. Carolina Panthers: Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
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As Da'Quan Bowers seems to be slipping in the rankings slightly, it is now unclear who's the top lineman, Bowers or Nick Fairley. Either way, Carolina badly needs an offensive weapon in the passing game, since Steve Smith is declining a bit too quickly for Carolina's taste.
Do they decide to take A.J. Green or shore up their defensive line with Bowers or Fairley? Until the combine, I don't really see the top four shifting at all; I think they go with Bowers.
Previous: Bowers
2. Denver Broncos: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
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This one is pretty obvious at this point. Denver needs to fix a poor secondary, or rather one that will be poor when Champ Bailey leaves, and Peterson can be of value on two sides of the ball (defense and special teams).
Previous: Peterson
3. Buffalo Bills: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
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The Bills were watching that BCS National Championship Game, and if they were leaning towards Fairley before, that will have pushed them over. He was a beast against the Oregon defense, and was the real MVP of that game in my mind.
Previous: Fairley
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4. Cincinnati Bengals: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
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A.J. Green's the best fit here, looking at all draft prospects, and Cincy will love that he falls down this far. With Ochocinco and T.O. leaving, Carson Palmer needs a weapon now more than ever, especially if his skills are not what they used to be.
Previous: Green
5. Arizona Cardinals: Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina
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Here's the first change to last week's draft. Arizona's been closely watching the quarterbacks, and Mallett, Gabbert and Newton have big enough question marks that I think they'll pass on that. That's not necessarily the wrong move, as Quinn is a great player who would fit well on many teams in this draft.
Previous: Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
6. Cleveland Browns: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
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I stand by wanting the Browns to fix their defensive line instead of getting yet another young wide out, but oh well. Now that I have Robert Quinn off the board and Marcell Dareus not being a great fit, Jones might be the best option.
Previous: Jones
7. San Francisco 49ers: Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
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New quarterback here for San Francisco, since after giving it some thought, I can't see Harbaugh and co. going with a scrambler quarterback. Question is then, do they take Gabbert or Mallett? They'll look at how they play, as well as college stats, and while I'm sure most mock drafts in April will have Gabbert going here, my gut is that they take Mallett.
Previous: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
8. Tennessee Titans: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
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If Dareus falls down this far, then I think the Titans should pick him. Having said that, they'll pick Blaine Gabbert, a man who I can't figure out how he's considered the top player on some big boards. He's overrated, but the Titans will pick any quarterback who's the opposite of Vince Young, and Gabbert fits that mold.
Previous: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
9. Dallas Cowboys: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
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I had the Cowboys passing on him in last week's draft. I have no idea why. An interior lineman like Dareus would be nice, but they need some secondary help badly. Amukamara is a perfect fit here.
Previous: Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina
10. Washington Redskins: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
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This is a very tough one. They could make a reach for Cam Newton here, they could take Ryan Kerrigan or J.J. Watt, or they could pick a player they have no business selecting. In the end, they'll see Dareus fall this far and plug him where Haynesworth should have been. I like Kerrigan here, but they won't pass on Dareus.
Granted, I say this now, but give it two weeks or so and I could easily stick Cam Newton here. I don't because, for reasons I can't fathom, Shanahan will want to stick with Grossman.
Previous: Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
11. Houston Texans: Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
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Honestly, any defensive player with even borderline first-round talent is a great selection here, with how bad this defense is outside Mario Williams and perhaps a couple others. A lot of mock drafts have Von Miller going here, and I do like that idea. I think Kerrigan is a better prospect, who can be put alongside Mario Williams and give Houston a solid line to work from.
Previous: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
12. Minnesota Vikings: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
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The two first-round quarterbacks are Jake Locker and Cam Newton. Which one would Leslie Frazier pick? They could very well trade for Kyle Orton, but if they don't then I could see them rolling the dice and going for Newton, who looked far better than Locker did this year or last.
Previous: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
13. Detroit Lions: Brandon Harris, CB, Miami
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Janoris Jenkins was a great fit for Detroit here. Too bad he's going back to school. As a result of this, the Lions will reach a bit and pick the next best corner in Harris.
Previous: Janoris Jenkins, CB, Florida
14. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
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If any of the top three wide outs are still on the board here, and at least one should be, then the Rams will select that guy without a second thought. If he has a good combine or Jones a bad one, you can swap the Rams and the Browns' picks.
Previous: Blackmon
15. Miami Dolphins: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
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Right after I say every draft has Ingram here, every mock draft shifts to the Dolphins drafting a quarterback. The only first-round one left is Jake Locker, who I can't see them taking. They'll wait until the second round for that, maybe taking Pat Devlin. Ingram's a given as far as I'm concerned, and I don't see myself changing this.
Previous: Ingram
16. Jacksonville Jaguars: J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin
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With all first-round cornerbacks gone, the Jaguars aren't going to reach on any, so they go to their next need. A lot of mock drafts are going with Watt, and the more I look at it the more it makes sense. The Jaguars need a physical lineman and Watt is one of many good options.
Previous: Brandon Harris, CB, Miami
17. New England Patriots (from Oakland): Cameron Jordan, DE, California
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A lot of mocks have Cameron Jordan going here, and I like it. He's a playmaker who will boost their defensive line. I think a bad combine by Clayborn will drop him, so I don't see the Patriots taking a risk on him.
Previous: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
18. San Diego Chargers: Von Miller, DE/OLB, Texas A&M
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This will be between Von Miller and Akeem Ayers, whichever has the better combine. I think Miller, by a little, is the better talent, and the one the Chargers could see greater use for as they look to replace Shawne Merriman.
Previous: Miller
19. New York Giants: Akeem Ayers, DE/OLB, UCLA
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The Giants will most likely pick the DE/OLB that the Chargers don't, which will be Ayers. The Giants could use some help in those corner line positions, as many of their defensive weapons are no longer defensive weapons.
Previous: Ayers
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
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I like Jordan here, but the Patriots took him, so Clayborn is their next best shot. If Clayborn is a good fit anywhere, it's probably the Buccaneers, so this one works out on both sides. He has a couple big red flags but he's got first-round talent.
Previous: Cameron Jordan, DE, Cal
21. Kansas City Chiefs: Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
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The Chiefs already used their past first-round picks on defensive ends meant to be pass rushers that haven't worked out. I can't see them doing that again, though they do need to shore up that line. They could take Allen Bailey, but they'll likely stick with Paea.
Previous: Paea
22. Indianapolis Colts: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
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The Colts will take the best offensive tackle on the board when they're up. Luckily for them, that means they get the best one period, which will likely be Nate Solder when it's all said and done.
Previous: Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
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Even though Michael Vick will likely stay the quarterback in Philadelphia, the Eagles could still use some offensive line help. Carimi fits perfectly, and now that he's fallen this far, it's an easy choice.
Previous: Mike Pouncey, G, Florida
24. New Orleans Saints: Allen Bailey, DE, Miami
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This is a tough one, since there are several players the Saints can draft here to tweak their defense, including Travis Lewis, who seems to be on the Saints (and my) radar. Allen Bailey fits well as a complement to Sedrick Ellis, and the Saints will give him a shot.
Previous: Travis Lewis, OLB, Oklahoma
25. Seattle Seahawks: Jake Locker, QB, Washington
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The Seahawks have quite a few holes they could fill. This pick, however, will be the shocker of the first round, but oddly enough, it fits. Hasselbeck only has a year or two left in him, and Jake Locker's not NFL-ready yet. This gives him a couple years to be and keeps him in the area. Besides, let's face it, Charlie Whitehurst is not the answer.
Didn't the last shocking QB selection happen at No. 25 too?
Previous: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
26. Green Bay Packers: Tyron Smith, OT, USC
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The Packers have quite a few options here. I don't see them picking a running back in the first round, since the only one with that kind of talent is perhaps Ingram, who the Dolphins will take. They need to bolster their offensive line, and with Solder and Carimi gone, the next best one is probably Tyron Smith, whose stock is on the rise.
Previous: Aaron Williams, CB, Texas
27. Chicago Bears: Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
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The Bears follow the Packers' lead and will take the best offensive tackle on the board. This leaves them with either Derek Sherrod or Anthony Castonzo. I think they stick with the latter, but you never know.
Previous: Castonzo
28. New York Jets: Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri
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The Jets are lucky the defensive line is so deep this year, else they'd be out of luck by now. Aldon Smith and Cameron Heyward are both possibilities here, but I think they go with the young guy out of Missouri, though I would prefer Heyward. Still, if Vernon Gholston hasn't worked then the Jets may shy away from Heyward.
Previous: J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin
29. Baltimore Ravens: Aaron Williams, CB, Texas
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Wouldn't you know it, there's one first-round cornerback left on the board. Needless to say, it's obvious who the Ravens pick, as that's where they need help.
Previous: Allen Bailey, DE, Miami
30. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Pouncey, G, Florida
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Most obvious pick in the draft. Brother's in Pitt, could shore up O-Line, make running game even better, etc.
Previous: Tyron Smith, OT, USC
31. Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame
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Here's your replacement for Tony Gonzalez, the best tight end in this year's draft. Another very obvious pick late in the first round.
Previous: Rudolph
32. New England Patriots: Stefan Wisniewski, C/G, Penn State
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The defense has a decent amount of depth, but adding Travis Lewis will make it even better. However, he is returning for his senior season at Oklahoma, so I'm striking him on an edit and placing in Stefan Wisniewski, who can replace Logan Mankins.
Previous: Justin Houston, DE/OLB, Georgia
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