2011 NFL Mock Draft Version 1.0

It’s that time of the year again. Time to start reading mock drafts as the NFL’s regular season comes to an end along with the college football bowl season. 

There are players declaring almost every day (the deadline for college juniors to declare for this year’s draft is the 15th of January) and we are starting to see which players will stay and which players will go. Of course this does effect what happens in the draft and effects mock drafts everywhere.

So without further adieu, let’s take a look at my first mock draft of the season and start to get an idea of where some of these spectacular college athletes may go.

1.  Carolina Panthers (2-14)—A.J. Green-WR-Georgia: With Andrew Luck not coming out (and some wondering why they would take him in the first place with Jimmy Clausen there) the Panthers should take a look at wide receiver and give themselves a solid target as a pass catcher.

2.  Denver Broncos (4-12)—Patrick Peterson-CB-LSU: You could also see the Broncos possibly trying to get Auburn defensive end/tackle Nick Fairley but they could use some help in the secondary and Peterson has established himself as the best cornerback in the draft at this time.

3.  Buffalo Bills (4-12)—Nick Fairley-DT/DE-Auburn: It would be almost impossible for the Bills to pass up Fairley, who is clearly the top defense tackle in the draft and could help them improve their defensive line. Look for Buffalo to make a run at him if he’s available.

4.  Cincinnati Bengals (4-12)—Da’Quan Bowers-DE-Clemson: The Bengals had a good pass rushing attack when Antwaan Odom was on top of things, but he hasn’t been as productive as he once was and the lack of a pass rush has hurt the Bengals. Bowers would be good medicine for the team’s ailing pass rush.

5.  Arizona Cardinals (5-11)—Ryan Mallett-QB-Arkansas: The need for a quarterback in Arizona is well known and the Cardinals will use this pick to go after a quarterback.  Mallett could step in and start almost right away and may end up helping to bring this franchise back up to respectability.

6.  Cleveland Browns (5-11)—Robert Quinn-DE/OLB-North Carolina: The Browns might try to for a wide receiver at this point, but the value would dictate that they would take Quinn here at number six. Quinn could help out their sometimes-stagnant defense and help continue what has become a long running tradition of rebuilding.

7.  San Francisco 49ers (6-10)—Blaine Gabbert-QB-Missouri: The Alex Smith era has come to an end and it’s time for the 49ers to get a new quarterback. With a quarterback guru as their new head coach (in John Harbaugh) the 49ers will probably take a guy like Gabbert and try to develop him into a solid starter. They definitely need a quarterback and Gabbert would be hard to pass up.

8.  Tennessee Titans (6-10)—Marcell Dareus-DT/DE-Alabama: Ever since Albert Haynesworth left, the Titans defensive line hasn’t been the same. Grabbing a solid defensive tackle could help the Titans defense get back to respectability and help them get more wins.

9.  Dallas Cowboys (6-10)—Prince Amukamara-CB-Nebraska: The Cowboys are sitting pretty good on defense except at the cornerback position, so look for them to try to grab the second-best cornerback in the draft. If he can help shore up their pass defense the Cowboys can climb back in the saddle in the NFC East.

10.  Washington Redskins (6-10)—Jake Locker-QB-Washington: I still think that Locker may be a stretch at this point, unless Auburn’s Cameron Newton decides to come out early then the Redskins might want to take a long look at drafting Locker and letting him be their quarterback of the future.

11.  Houston Texans (6-10)—Von Miller-LB-Texas A&M: The Texans may have Brian Cushing but Cushing’s play dropped off last season and the Texans need a solid linebacking corps to help them shore up their defense. Miller would be a great fit with Houston and could help make their linebacking corps one of the better ones in the NFL.

12.  Minnesota Vikings (6-10)—Cam Newton-QB-Auburn: You can bet that if Newton comes out and is available the Vikings will probably grab him with no second thought.  He would be a huge improvement for them at the position and could get them back into the playoffs in just a season or two.

13.  Detroit Lions (6-10)—Anthony Costanzo-OT-Boston College: The Lions are going to need some help protecting quarterback Matthew Stafford, who has been knocked out of two consecutive seasons with an injury. Having that extra protection on the offensive line would help, so they may make a run at a guy like Costanzo in the draft.

14.  St. Louis Rams (7-9)—Justin Blackmon-WR-Oklahoma State: The Rams could have used some help at the wide receiver position this season and it may have meant the difference from getting into the playoffs and going home. Blackmon would be a welcome addition in St. Louis and would give the Rams the help at wide receiver that they need.

15.  Miami Dolphins (7-9)–Akeem Ayers-LB-UCLA: If one of the quarterbacks falls here then Miami may go that route, but if not then they could use a linebacker to go along with Karlos Dansby and Cameron Wake to help take some of the heat off of them.  Ayers has the tools to be a pretty nice player and could really help the Dolphins.

16.  Jacksonville Jaguars (8-8)—J.J. Watt-DE-Wisconsin: The Jaguars continue to need help on their defense and they need some help rushing the passer, so Watt would be just the kind of guy that they would be looking for.  He could help improve the defense and make their defensive line better.

17.  New England Patriots (from Oakland) (8-8)—Adrian Clayborn-DE-Iowa: The Patriots defense is an ever-improving project and they can always use help. Clayborn could be a nice fit for them at the defensive end/outside linebacker position in their 3-4 defense and is the kind of guy that head coach Bill Belichick wouldn’t mind coaching.

18.  San Diego Chargers (9-7)—Ryan Kerrigan-DE-Purdue: The Chargers could go a couple different ways and may end up taking a wide receiver here, but their defensive problems are difficult to ignore and for the value at this point in the draft, Kerrigan would be the right way for them to go.

19.  New York Giants (10-6)—Allen Bailey-DT/DE-Miami (FL): The Giants could use a player in the interior of the defensive line and Bailey could be just the kind of player that they are looking for. He’s strong and fast and can get a good pass rush going from the interior of the defensive line. If he’s around when New York makes their pick they should get him.

20.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-6)—Gabe Carimi-OT-Wisconsin: If Carimi makes it this far then the Bucs should consider taking him with the 20th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. They could use the help protecting quarterback Josh Freeman, allowing him more time to throw the ball and run the offense.

21.  Seattle Seahawks (8-9)—Julio Jones-WR-Alabama: Just imagine how much better the Seahawks passing game would have been with a speedster like Jones in the lineup. With a true number one wide receiver, the Seahawks passing attack will be better and they will be able to move the ball down the field much easier.

22.  Kansas City Chiefs (10-7)—Aldon Smith-DE-Missouri: The Chiefs discovered that the lack of a pass rush can hurt, so look for them to take a serious look at a pass rusher in this draft. Smith has a good track record at Missouri and is very productive. He could be a nice fit in Kansas City.

23.  Indianapolis Colts (10-7)—Derek Sherrod-OT-Mississippi State: The Colts offensive line is starting to show its age, so it’s time that they started adding some youth to help keep the line strong and protect quarterback Peyton Manning. A guy like Sherrod could be just what the doctor ordered and could be a fixture on the offensive line for years to come.

24.  Philadelphia Eagles (10-7)—Janoris Jenkins-CB-Florida: The Eagles seem to always be in need of help in the secondary, so getting a guy like Jenkins would be a good move for them in this draft. They could go with a linebacker here as well but for the value and the need, Jenkins makes a lot of sense. Note: Jenkins is staying at Florida for his senior season.  Check out version 2.0 for the new pick for the Eagles. 

25.  Green Bay Packers (11-7)—Mark Ingram-RB-Alabama: This season, we saw just how bad the Packers rushing attack is, so getting a running back should be a top priority in the 2011 Draft for the Packers. At this stage in the draft, Ingram should be available and would be an instant improvement for the Packers.

26.  New Orleans Saints (11-6)—Stephen Paea-DT-Oregon State: The Saints need some help on their interior defensive line and Paea could help them out there. He has the skill and ability to be a factor in his first year with the team and would help add some valuable depth and starting power to their defensive line.

27.  New York Jets (12-5)—Jeremy Beal-DE-Oklahoma: The Jets need to work on their pass rush (since the Vernon Gholston experiment appears to be over now) so look for them to go after the best pass rusher available with Beal still on the board.

28.  Baltimore Ravens (12-5)—Brandon Harris-CB-Miami (FL): The Ravens' problems in the secondary are well known, so look for them to try to do something to shore up their secondary. Harris would be an ideal fit for the Ravens and would give them the help that they need at the cornerback position.

29.  Chicago Bears (11-5)—Nate Solder-OT-Colorado: If the Bears don’t go for an offensive lineman with their first pick in the 2011 NFL Draft then they need a change in management. The offensive line is their biggest weakness and therefore their biggest need, and grabbing a good lineman in the first round would be the smartest move that they could make.

30.  Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)—Mike Pouncey-G-Florida: Wouldn’t it be interesting to have both Pouncey brothers on the same team? Outside of the fact that Mike is the brother of current Steeler Maurkice, Pittsburgh could use the help on the offensive line, and having the other Pouncey would help make them that much better up front.

31.  Atlanta Falcons (13-3)—Jared Crick-DT/DE-Nebraska: The Falcons need to enhance their pass rush, so adding a pass rusher in the draft would be a great idea.  Crick could play either defensive tackle or defensive end and he has the speed to get up the field in a hurry and make a play. He would fit well in the Falcons' system.

32.  New England Patriots (14-2)—Drake Nevis-DT/DE-LSU: With their second pick in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft, the Patriots could go for an interior defensive linemen to help them give Vince Wilfork a rest, or they could shift someone to the defensive end position and give themselves some depth there. They may like a guy like Nevis at this point in the draft.