Mocking the Draft: Carolina Panthers Leaning Towards Nick Fairley With Top Pick?

On the same day the Carolina Panthers announced that Sean McDermott would be their defensive coordinator, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. released his first 2011 Mock NFL Draft.

And he has the Panthers thinking defense.

Kiper predicts the Panthers will take Auburn defensive end Nick Fairley with the first overall pick.

Fairley recorded 56 tackles in 2010, and though he had just one tackle in the BCS Championship Game against the Oregon Ducks, it was a sack. He was a disruption throughout the game, drawing double teams and allowing those around him to fly to the ball virtually unabated.

He recorded 11 total sacks in the regular season and was a big reason why the Tigers went undefeated en route to a national title.

Anyone in Carolina remember Julius Peppers?

When Peppers arrived in Carolina as the No. 2 overall pick, the Panthers were coming off a 1-15 season. They went 7-9 his rookie year. In his sophomore season, they went 11-5, won the NFC South and went to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the New England Patriots after Adam Vinatieri hit a 41-yard field goal with four seconds remaining.

The Panthers made three playoff appearances during Peppers' tenure.

The Panthers were built on defense behind a defensive head coach, John Fox. Should new head coach Ron Rivera, a defensive guy, and McDermott snag Fairley with the top pick, it could be the first step on the road to the Panthers’ resurgence in the NFC.

This article can also be found at www.footballnewsnow.com.