2011 NFL Mock Draft: Senior Bowl Day Two Edition
2011 NFL Mock Draft: The ever evolving and always fluid item that is the NFL Draft is here in mock form. It is a tricky business to delve into the NFL Draft with so much time between now and the time that the Carolina Panthers stroll to the podium with their first pick in the 2011 ceremonies.
Mock drafts are a perfect barometer of how certain players are faring in the time leading up to the combine and subsequently the draft. Here we will find some teams that should still be sold on some fairly potent players. But other collegiate super stars have fallen in recent days.
Whether it be from empirical data or just plain gut feeling, some athletes are seeing their stock plummet. Here is the latest and greatest mock draft for you football fans.
1. Carolina Panthers: Nick Fairley DT
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I slotted him here last week and I still feel like the Panthers have their man in Fairley. Da'Quan Bowers has seen his stock rise in recent days. That is natural as the vision of Fairley eating up the Ducks becomes a forgotten memory.
But Fairley has to remain on top until the combine or other entity says otherwise. The man was the main reason Auburn won the title game. He was all over the field and showed passion and depth of talent. There is no better man to take first this year.
2. Denver Broncos: Da'Quan Bowers DT
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At some point the Panthers will have to consider Da'Quan Bowers as the number one pick in the draft. He was the overall second pick behind Andrew Luck before the BCS title game. He is now the number two behind Nick Fairley.
There are a number of reasons that he is consistently near the top of every mock draft; size, speed and power. The Broncos now lead by head coach John Fox may be uncertain of their quarterback position. It seems Fox is not sold on Tim Tebow.
Regardless of their misgivings, they cannot miss out on a talent like Bowers. He gives a boost to a defense that was unable to stop most teams in 2010.
3. Buffalo Bills: Marcell Dareus DT
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I may be coming to my senses when it comes to the Bills and their defensive needs up front. As they traverse to the 3-4 scheme, they will need players that can take on the pass rush with minimal help. A player that needs little to no assistance in rattling the quarterback is Marcell Dareus.
With him on the line, the Bills can stay away from running constant blitz packages. Now if they can just fill in the rest of their infinite holes they may just win some games next season.
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4. Cincinnati Bengals: A.J. Green WR
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The Bengals will need a great many things next season. It is too bad that you can't draft a head coach. But the Bengals will have to answer the wide receiver position before it becomes and cancerous item.
Cincinnati thought they had an ingenious plan in placing to Pro Bowl receivers on the same line. The results were disastrous. It remains to be seen if Terrell Owens is back in a Bengals uniform. All signs point to doubtful. That opens up the possibility for Green to make his presence felt immediately.
He has the size and skill to make a difference as soon as the first kick off of the season.
5. Arizona Cardinals: Blaine Gabbert QB
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The good news is the Cardinals have a bunch of quarterbacks on the roster. The bad news is that not one of them can be trusted to start in the NFL. Well meet the 2011 Arizona Cardinals starting quarterback.
Gabbert has seen his stock rise since Andrew Luck decided to fore go the NFL and stay in college for another year. Now it is Gabbert and everyone else. He is a highly season collegiate star that can throw the ball down field if need be.
He has the size and where with all to start immediately. That is a fact that will be noted by Arizona who needs and arm post haste.
6. Cleveland Browns: Patrick Peterson CB
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The Browns are looking ever increasingly set on offense. The more I think about it, the more I become enamored with Coly McCoy's ability to lead the offense and Peyton Hillis to drive in the touchdowns. But the Browns suffered from consistency on the other side of the ball.
They turned some heads in 2010 with some exciting upsets. But to win in the NFL they need to some talent on defense. Peterson would be a steal at the number six spot.
He is a looming figure that will cause offenses to question if they should challenge his side of the field. He has a terrific sense for the ball and the quarterback's targets. We could be seeing the next interception master to hit the NFL.
7. San Francisco 49ers: Robert Quinn DE
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It remains to be seen what direction new head coach Jim Harbaugh wants to take the 49ers in. There is no doubt that neither Alex Smith nor Troy Smith fit into his scheme of a quarterback. But there is not one QB left that is worth drafting this high.
Harbaugh also has a nose for defense. He understands that a winning ball club starts on defense. It is no wonder that this season's final four touted the best defenses in the league. Harbaugh would do well to draft the pass rusher Robert Quinn.
Quinn will have quarterbacks on their toes all season long. He alleviates some of the pain of being a secondary defender. They can rest easy that the pressure is being placed on the pocket at all times.
8. Tennessee Titans: Jake Locker QB
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The fates of Jake Locker and Ryan Mallett continue to flip flop. This week Locker is seeing an improvement thanks to the questions on Mallett's accuracy.
The Titans may be in need of a quarterback. They ditched Vince Young in favor of team cohesion. Now they will be looking for a potential leader on the field. That is exactly what you get from Jake Locker. He is a vocal leader that expects a lot form his guys.
I am not quite sure that he is game ready as of yet. Those answers will be answered in the combine. But for now, the Titans would do well with a glue guy like Locker.
9. Dallas Cowboys: Prince Amukamara CB
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There were a great many issues facing the Cowboys this past season. Most of them pertained to off the field dilemmas in leadership. But the on the field problems were relegated to a horrible secondary that failed to lock up players or put a solid hit on anyone.
The Cowboys need a swift footed player that they can trust to lock down his side of the field. That man is Prince Amukamara. He is big enough to lay a hit on any offensive behemoth. He is also quick enough to stay in stride with most wide outs.
The Cowboys may just be able to get some tackles next season.
10. Washington Redskins: Cam Newton QB
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The Redskins are a perfect fit for Cam Newton. They are a team that is willing to take chances in their roster moves. They also happen to have a glaring need at the quarterback position.
They Redskins parted ways in the most disastrous way with their starting QB Donovan McNabb. Now the once highly touted Redskins are left with Rex Grossman as their possible starter. Look for Mike Shanahan to reach far down the depth charts for a player with immense upside.
Newton will make headlines as a draft pick. But he makes more sense as a possible Redskins quarterback.
11. Houston Texans: Von Miller OLB
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You can count your blessings Texans fans that Wade Phillips will only be in charge of the defense for your team. His stint as head coach will be quickly forgotten in Texas. But we must remember that Phillips is a great defensive mind.
He will need a sure footed dynamo in his 3-4 scheme. Miller has the swiftness to make quarterbacks question whether he is staying at home or coming inside. At any moment he can burst through the line dealing the opposition a loss.
It is that talent that will make the Texans a sure fire contender to win the division next season.
12. Minnesota Vikings: Nate Solder OT
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The Vikings could also use a quarterback. They may have to settle for actually starting a season with Tarvaris Jackson being the only solution at that position. That may scare some Vikings fans. But help is on its way.
Whoever the Vikings get to play under center, they will need to be protected much better than Brett Favre was this season. Solder is a fine specimen with tremendous upside. He will do more than block out the pressure. He will make the QB look much better. That will help if you have Jackson taking snaps.
13. Detroit Lions: Akeem Ayers OLB
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Do you remember when the Detroit Lions were a good football team? Yeah, me neither. On thing that has hampered them is grittiness at the linebacker position. Julian Peterson is now gone leaving a gaping hole to be filled.
Ayers is a young talent that can step into the starting lineup on day one. He may not be the answer to all of their issues. He does plug up an immediate need. Sometimes that is all you can ask for in the draft.
14. St. Louis Rams: Julio Jones WR
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Now this is a perfect match if ever I did see one. The Rams were on the cusp of making the post season. They rebounded from an abysmal 2009 campaign to make a difference in the league. The game changer was the rookie arm of Sam Bradford.
It was doubtful that he could produce considering the lack of receivers he had in tow. But he made the best with what he had. Now he will have a potential star on the wings in Julio Jones. Imagine what a prolific quarterback can do when he actually has someone that can catch the ball.
15. Miami Dolphins: Mark Ingram RB
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Boy do the Dolphins love themselves some running backs. It is unclear whether Ricky Williams will return. If he does, his days are numbered in Miami. It may be time to turn the page to some new legs.
Ingram gives you everything you would want in a prototypical running back. He is quick laterally and is adept at finding holes where none seem to exist. The Dolphins will maintain their wildcat sensibilities quite well with Ingram in the back field.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars: Ryan Kerrigan DE
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There is a glut of defensive end players worth their salt in the 2011 NFL Draft. That comes as good news to a Jaguars team that failed to bother quarterbacks with consistency in 2010.
Kerrigan is a pure pass rusher that will give some depth to the Jaguars line. Now they can manage to play some games with out getting walked over by bigger and better offensive linemen. Perhaps now they can trump the Colts at the end of the season.
No, they probably have to wait for Peyton Manning to retire before they can pull off that feat.
17. New England Patriots (From Raiders): Cameron Jordan DE
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That would be a photo of Jordan celebrating the demise of a quarterback. He has a knack for getting to the quarterback and making linemen play. But he also brings versatility.
He is just fine playing the role of pass rusher in a 3-4 set. But he is also quick and mobile enough to make a difference in a 4-3. The Patriots can slot him a number of different ways. The main ingredient for success here is that he is a hard worker with a good head on his shoulders, just how the Patriots like their players.
18. San Diego Chargers: J.J. Watt DE
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The Chargers could use a guy like J.J. Watt. He is a monster on the line. He ruled to roost for Wisconsin in taking down running backs a quarterbacks for a loss.
The Chargers were sufficient on both sides of the ball on 2010. The name of the game is adding depth to a system that already works. There is a lot to like in Watt. He could become a real presence int he next few years. Being on a successful team will help him mature into a quarterback's nightmare.
19. New York Giants: Tyron Smith OT
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There is always a player in the draft that comes out of nowhere and climbs up the board prior to the combine. That player in 2011 has been Tyron Smith.
Scouts have fallen head over heels for his work ethic and ability to keep defenders out in front of him. The Giants will have their pick of offensive linemen if the draft goes as is dictated. Smith would be the one that has the most upside of this writing.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Adrian Clayborn DE
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The defensive end onslaught continues with Adrian Clayborn. This could very well be the missing piece. The Buccaneers were extremely close to making the post season in 2010. They had the offense to make teams shutter. They also had a stout secondary that could contend with any team.
The one thing they lacked was a pass rushing offense. Too many times the opposition's quarterback was left to his own devices. That worked to the detriment of the Bucs goals. Now they will have a monster on the wings to make things very uneasy under center.
Now all Tampa Bay needs is a little luck and they will be contending in no time.
21. Kansas City Chiefs: Justin Houston OLB
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The Chiefs had a formidable offense in 2010. They came into the season listed as a team that would have to answers San Diego. It turned out that they spent the majority of the season in the driver's seat. That all took place while the Chiefs suffered on defense.
The inconsistency on the side of the ball showed through in their playoff game against the Ravens. Joe Flacco was fearless under center. He had his pick of targets and had minimal pressure.
That will all change if Houston is selected. He can fly through the line on a blitz or stay home for work int he middle. There really is no shortage of what can be done. Rest assured that he will have to be reckoned with at some point in the game.
22. Indianapolis Colts: Gabe Carimi OT
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Poor Peyton Manning. He lost some of his lineman to injury this year and the lack of depth turned the all universe arm into a normal human appendage.
Manning suffered through a three game span in which he launched 11 interceptions. The main culprit could have been a lack of depth at the offensive line. Well he can go back to ruining the hopes of teams not names the Colts.
Carimi is a wall. You can feel safe putting him on the right or left. He gives you the added assurance that you have time in the pocket. The Colts will be back as contenders next season with Carimi on the line.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Anthony Castonzo OT
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If the Eagles miss out on Carimi, they will be turning their attention to Anthony Castonzo. It is looking much more likely that Michael Vick will return under center for the Eagles next season. That means you have a very mobile quarterback that will need some holes opened up.
Castonzo will shore up the wings and let Vick get around the edges. Once along the edge, Vick is a beast. Castonzo is also adept at setting up rushing blocks. It seems that LeSean McCoy and Michael Vick will welcome a new best friend into the fold in 2011.
24. New Orleans Saints: Stephen Paea DT
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The Saints could very well steal the show by taking Paea. It would almost seem like a crime to see him slip this far. But no matter who takes him, Paea is a beast. The Saints will have a huge presence along the line for offensive tackles to contend with.
The 300 pound behemoth will cause havoc for lineman hoping to protect the passer or simply open up holes for their running backs. The big DT will leave an even bigger mark on the NFL.
25. Seattle Seahawks: Ryan Mallett QB
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Ryan Mallett has seen his stock take a tumble as questions about his accuracy arise. He very well could silence critics with his canon of an arm in workouts leading up to the draft. The Seahawks would be a perfect fit for the young quarterback.
Seattle could very well bring Matt Hasselbeck back for another season. The added time will do wonders with his arm and accuracy. Besides, Pete Carroll has a way with quarterbacks.
26. Baltimore Ravens: Allen Bailey DE
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The team with an abundance of defensive talent will get younger and stronger. Allen Bailey fits the Ravens mold. He is an excellent pass rusher and has a great jump after the snap.
But the more remarkable aspect is his workhorse mentality. Bailey wants to succeed so badly that he spends most of his time in the weight room. That sounds like the type of player the Ravens could not only use but the kind that they prefer.
27. Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Rudolph TE
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The Falcons will soon be without Tony Gonzalez. That time could come as early as next season. Matt Ryan was just getting used to a huge target up the middle of the field.
Rudolph can slip in without the Falcons missing a beat. He is a great blocker that can set picks up field with the best of the them. He also has great hands to make errant passes look precise. Not that you need that when Matt Ryan is throwing you the ball.
28. New England Patriots: Brandon Harris CB
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The Patriots secondary looked absolutely amazing at the close of the season. Then their problems quickly returned in their playoff game with the New York Jets. Corners and safeties had a tough time trying to keep the Jets receivers with the realm of coverage.
It is clear that the Patriots will have to flood that area with talent in the off season. Harris would be a wise move for the Pats. He has great awareness for the ball and can wrap up players with the best of them. The Pats will be back to contending with Harris in tow.
29. Chicago Bears: Mike Pouncey C/G
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Jay Cutler has received an enormous amount of flack in recent days for sitting out the second half of the NFC Championship game. Perhaps he would have been healthy if the line could keep anyone out of the pocket.
Cutler was railed all year from an onslaught of defensive lineman and blitzing secondary defenders. The object of 2011 is to get better on that side of the ball. Cutler could be an elite talent. He just needs some time to throw. Pouncey buys you that time.
30. New York Jets: Corey Liuget DT
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Corey Liuget was a tad overweight for a cement mixer. That is when he hit the gym and slimmed down. That extra work will pay off in droves.
The tackle now has the speed and size to give offensive linemen fits. The weight loss also throws up a sign that this man means business. He knew that the added weight was a detriment to his game and he fixed it. That is all you need to know about his character to feel comfortable with this pick.
31. Green Bay Packers: Cameron Heyward DE
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The Packers could always use help on the offensive line. But they may have to plug up a big hole if DE Cullen Jenkins decides to say goodbye to Green Bay.
Well they would get a lot younger with Cameron Heyward. The man knows how to lock in on the ball and devastate whoever is carrying it. He is a hard worker that will give the Packers some faith that the left side of the field is off limits for offenses to run to.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ryan Williams
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If the Steelers win the Super Bowl, they will be picking dead last in the first round. At that point you need to draft the best talent available to you in the moment. If things pan out as such, that man will be Ryan Williams.
The Steelers already have a formidable running game. But it can't hurt to get a little younger at a position that sees its top players come and go yearly. Williams gives you a tremendous top speed with quick bursts from the line. He also is adept at cutting when needed and can be a bruiser.
That sounds a bit like Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall. Williams could take his place if there is a serious injury during the season.
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