2011 NFL Mock Draft: Pick-by-Pick 1st Round Picks
With Andrew Luck out and Cam Newton in, there is a flurry of activity and speculation leading up to this year’s draft.
While the Panther’s won’t be getting the player they craved, they might just get the one player they really need.
Everyone else will use the draft to get happy, healthy and better.
Rookies are making impacts these days, and teams are listening. So here is a pick-by-pick breakdown of the 2011 NFL Mock Draft.
No. 1. Carolina Panthers: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn.
1 of 32
Why They Want Him:
Because without Andrew Luck, the Panthers need to address their biggest OTHER need: the defensive line.
Fairley possesses the size and skill needed to stabilize a line that has missed Julius Peppers sorely. Ron Rivera, their new head coach, is a defensive minded guy. He’ll take the Fairley and build the defense up.
No. 2. Denver Broncos: Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
2 of 32
Why They Want Him:
The Broncos gave up 154 yards on the ground per game last year.
They need a guy on that front line that can keep teams from running off the edge. With Tebow in place, they’ll feel set at quarterback.
They need help defensively. Bowers is that guy.
No. 3 Cincinnati Bengals: A.J Green, WR, Georgia
3 of 32
Why They Want Him:
Because Cincinnati continues to make poor choices. They need to get rid of Palmer and start looking for a new quarterback.
But it’s the same old Lewis and Palmer combo, and they will convince themselves they need another target since Ochocinco is past his prime and Owens shouldn’t be returning.
Green is a good route runner and great hands. He’ll be a good edition to any team, but the Bengals should have went elsewhere.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
No. 4 Buffalo Bills: Marcel Darius, DE, Alabama
4 of 32
Why They Want Him:
Because they were great in pass protection, but they couldn’t stop anyone on the ground. There isn’t an ideal guy at the four spot for them, but they’ll go after Darius and hope his run-stopping skills improve.
No. 5 Arizona Cardinals: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
5 of 32
Why They Want Him:
Arizona has a talented offense that is missing one vital ingredient: a quarterback. With Fitzgerald and Breaston in their prime, the Cardinals know they need a quarterback now.
Gabbert has all the physical skills they want and if he can just keep it together he can be a serious player in the NFL.
No. 6 San Francisco 49ers: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
6 of 32
Why They Want Him:
The 49ers want a quarterback, but once Gabbert is gone there won’t be a QB worthy of the No. 6 pick.
The 49ers were suspect in their pass defense. Peterson is the best cornerback in the draft.
No. 7 Dallas Cowboys: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
7 of 32
Why They Want Him:
The Cowboys have very little to worry about on offense. Their defense, on the other hand, have some big holes in the secondary.
Amukamara is an NFL-ready cover corner who will instantly make the Dallas secondary better.
No. 8 Houston Texans: Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
8 of 32
Why They Want Him:
The Texans need to be able to stop someone. They can score, but can’t keep other teams off the board. Kerrigan is a big body that can get behind the line of scrimmage.
No. 9 Detroit Lions: Von Miller, LB, Texas A&M
9 of 32
Why They Want Him:
The Lions need another versatile Linebacker who can stop the run and drop back in coverage. Miller is the best guy on the board to do that.
No. 10 Cleveland Browns: Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina
10 of 32
Why They Want Him:
Because they need defensive end help, and they won’t be able to get the guy they really want: Bowers.
Quinn is raw, but he has great physical ability and will improve with good coaching.
No. 11 Washington Redskins: Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
11 of 32
Why They Want Him:
McNabb is out, and an offensive minded coach like Shanahan will want a guy who he can bring up in his mold. Mallett will be the best available quarterback.
No. 12 Tennessee Titans: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
12 of 32
Why They Want Him:
Because they don’t want Vince Young, at least not from the neck up.
Newton has great physical skills and on a veteran team like Tennessee they can bring him up right.
No. 13 Minnesota Vikings: Brandon Harris, CB, Miami
13 of 32
Why They Want Him:
The Vikings don’t want a project at rookie. They will try and grab Young or McNabb. They need help in the secondary and Harris is a lockdown corner with great speed.
No. 14 St. Louis Rams: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
14 of 32
Why They Want Him:
The Rams are a good wideout away from winning the West. Jones is a great route running and has much better hands. He’ll be able to contribute immediately.
No. 15 Miami Dolphins: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
15 of 32
Why They Want Him:
Ingram is a great talent and a strong runner that the Dolphins need. Williams and Brown are both free agents and they’ll be looking for a youthful replacement.
No. 16 Jacksonville Jaguars: Rahim Moore, FS, UCLA
16 of 32
Why They Want Him:
The Jaguars need a safety that has a nose for the football. Moore has the best instincts in his class.
No. 17 New England Patriots(Pick From Oakland) J.J Watt, DE, Wisconsin
17 of 32
Why They Want Him:
One word: Versatile. It’s part of his game. He can play both the 3-4 or the 4-3.
That fits the Patriots system to a tee.
No. 18 San Diego Chargers: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
18 of 32
Why They Want Him:
They need help on a line that failed to get the kind of pressure on quarterbacks they need.
Clayborn can really get pressure and he’ll be valuable in San Diego.
No. 19 New York Giants: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
19 of 32
Why They Want Him:
The Giants need help protecting Manning and the current O-line is weak.
Solder is one of the few tackles worth drafting and the Giants will take him here.
No. 20 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Cameron Jordan, DE, California
20 of 32
Why They Want Him:
The Bucs gave up too many yards on the ground and Jordan is a top level talent. He should help keep teams off the edge.
No. 21 Kansas City Chiefs: Akeem Ayers, LB, UCLA
21 of 32
Why They Want Him:
Because the Chiefs had trouble over the middle against the Ravens and they will be looking for a solution to that. He’s a great physical player and has the speed to make him a top notch pick.
No. 22 Indianapolis Colts: Drake Nevis, DT, LSU
22 of 32
Why They Want Him:
Injuries did the Colts in this season, but stopping the run didn’t help any.
The Colts need someone on the interior line that can free up Dwight Freeney from double teams, or take advantage of the attention Freeney commands.
No. 23 Philadelphia Eagles: Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
23 of 32
Why They Want Him:
If Michael Vick is their future, they are going to need all the help they can get protecting him.
Carimi will be the best pick on the board by this point, and the Eagles won’t let him slip further.
No. 24 New Orleans Saints: Mikel LeShoure, RB, Illinois
24 of 32
Why They Want Him:
Thomas, Ivory and Bush spend stints on the injury report. They want a runner who can punish a defense and stand up to the wear and tear.
Leshoure can do that better than most of the backs that will be left.
No. 25 Seattle Seahawks: Jake Locker, QB, Washington
25 of 32
Why They Want Him:
Pete Carroll has seen him before and he’s still has good physical skills.
He is a smart player and can be a leader on the field. Hasselbeck isn’t getting any younger either.
No. 26 Atlanta Falcons – Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland
26 of 32
Why They Want Him:
It’s the one thing Atlanta is missing. They need a guy who can take the heat off Roddy White.
Smith has great hands and great body control. He could become a favorite target of Matt Ryan.
No. 27 Baltimore Ravens: Mike Pouncey, C, Florida
27 of 32
Why They Want Him:
The Ravens need a lineman and Pouncey can play center or guard.
He can give the Ravens a boost immediately and it’s never a bad thing to get the line younger.
No. 28 New York Jets: Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
28 of 32
Why They Want Him:
The Jets don’t need help on the O-Line, but injuries at the d-line showed they were vulnerable. They need someone who can step in and help immediately.
Paea has great size and is impressive against the run.
No. 29 Chicago Bears: Tyron Smith, OT, USC
29 of 32
Why They Want Him:
Cutler has been sacked more times in his two years with the Bears than in his three seasons with the Broncos. The Bears need a tackle in the worst way.
Smith grades out well and should be able to start somewhere in the first season.
No. 30 Pittsburgh Steelers: Benjamin Ijalana, OT, Villanova
30 of 32
Why They Want Him:
The Steelers have had issues protecting Ben Roethlisberger all year.
The o-line has been battered and beaten, and Ijalana could contribute by opening game.
No. 31 Green Bay Packers: Allen Bailey, DE, Miami
31 of 32
Why They Want Him:
With everything set on offense, all the Packers need is some help in the interior.
Bailey has size and speed to rush off the edge. He’ll complement an already good Packers defense.
No. 32 New England Patriots: Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
32 of 32
Why They Want Him:
Because protecting Brady is paramount. They need to make the offensive line younger.
They’ll pick Costonzo because he’ll fall here and be a steal.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Post-June 1 Trade Candidates ☎️")
.JPG?w=600 "TO Talks Cowboys Relationship")
.jpg?w=600 "Taylor Heinicke Retiring")
.jpg?w=600 "49ers OC Hypes Mike Evans 🤩")