2011 NFL Mock Draft: How Donovan McNabb Going To Arizona Would Change The Top 10
All the drama surrounding the bad end of the year for the Redskins starts with McNabb.
Benched for the last few games of the season, McNabb wasn't performing well at all this season. He threw 14 TD to 15 INT and only had 2 games in which he threw more touchdowns than interceptions. McNabb did have a sub-par offensive line, but it just seemed like he couldn't get rid of the ball at times. For that, he was sacked 37 times in 13 games.
One bad season doesn't ruin a Quarterback, right? As it seems, Donovan McNabb will likely get traded away even though he was signed to a ludicrous contract in the middle of the season. McNabb has a house in Arizona and could be lobbying to go there.
So if that happened, how would this shake up the Top 10, a place where several QBs could go?
1. Carolina Panthers: Nick Fairley, DT (Auburn)
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During the BCS Championship Fairley was all over the place.
After that game his draft stock has soared. Why wouldn't it, if you record a sack, a forced fumble, and several tackles for a loss. In a game that was supposed to be a shootout and one of the highest scoring BCS games ever, it was the Auburn defense that stole the show. And the star player was Fairley.
Anyways, had Andrew Luck declared for the draft he would have gone here. But he didn't and shocked the nation with his decision (as Jake Locker did the same thing and we know how well that turned out).
So the best pick here is Nick Fairley after recording 12 sacks on the season.
Other Possibilities:
Da'Quan Bowers
Patrick Peterson
Blaine Gabbert (very small chance)
2. Denver Broncos: Patrick Peterson, CB (LSU)
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In a Draft filled with talented defensive backs, Peterson is the best of them all.
Peterson is truly an elite corner and would make an immediate impact on the Broncos and their aging secondary. Peterson has good size (6' 1") and even better speed. He is able to run with any receiver.
Peterson has through and through demonstrated that he is capable of being a shutdown corner in the NFL. Going to the Broncos would only help him, as he can learn from another great (yet aging) cornerback Champ Bailey.
Peterson was also a great returner, and could help return kicks/punts for the Broncos.
Other Possibilities:
Da'Quan Bowers
Prince Amukamara
3. Buffalo Bills: Da'Quan Bowers, DE (Clemson)
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The second best Defensive lineman, Da'Quan Bowers was one of the bright spots for Clemson this year.
Bowers was a monster, and recorded 16 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 interception. In a 12 games season, that's awesome. Bowers was constantly getting to the Quarterback and doing whatever he could to stop the opposing offense. Unfortunately for him, sometimes Clemson's offense couldn't get anything going.
Still though, he has good instincts and will almost certainly be picked here if he doesn't go first or second overall. The reason he has fallen this far is that Fairley's championship status bolstered his stock and the Broncos need help on Pass Defense.
Other Possibilities:
Marcell Dareus
Blaine Gabbert
AJ Green
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4. Cincinnati Bengals: AJ Green, WR (Georgia)
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Despite missing 4 games to a suspension, AJ Green still racked up 9 touchdowns and 57 receptions for 848 yards.
At 6'4" he has great height for a WR and coupled with amazing leaping ability, most jump balls go to him.
An awfully impressive player, Green is the best wide receiver and that is the reason the Browns pick him.
With their top two receivers gone, they need to fill this void. While they could use a QB, the Bengals insist that Carson Palmer is the key to their plans.
5. Arizona Cardinals: Von Miller, LB (Texas A&M)
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While the Top 4 picks weren't really changed by the trade at all, this is where we shake it up.
Though Gabbert would've been a sensible pick, they now have McNabb. If McNabb doesn't pan out the way they hoped, Josh Skelton has hopefully learned something from McNabb and assumes the starting duties (until at least next year).
So this is where it comes down to, Linebacker or Offensive Line?
Linebacker is probably where to go, and Von Miller is a great pass rusher having recorded 28 sacks in his past two seasons. He has also seen his tackling get better, and has improved his form.
Other Possibilities:
Robert Quinn
Marcell Dareus
6. Cleveland Browns: Julio Jones, WR (Alabama)
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To help in the development of Colt McCoy is a Wide Receiver. McCoy had no huge name targets to throw to, and Jones is a playmaker.
Jones caught 78 passes for over 1,100 yards and 7 touchdowns. Jones can also run the end around and ran 8 times for 135 yards. Jones also tacked on two rushing TDs.
Jones' production had a big leap from last year and could help the Browns become a contender.
Other Possibilities:
Marcell Dareus
Prince Amukamara
7. San Francisco 49ers: Marcell Dareus, DT (Alabama)
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With Jim Harbaugh in, the 49ers don't choose a QB. Instead, they brave out the season and hope Harbaugh's connections to Luck will bring him in next year.
Instead, they go with a great remaining player in Dareus. Marcell Dareus is a good run-stuffer who can also get to the Quarterback as well. If need be, it's possible he could transfer over to Defensive End, but I wouldn't count on it happening.
The 49ers should upgrade their secondary, but with Dareus still on the board they find him too good to pass up on.
Also, with Cromartie and Asomugha on the market, they find their secondary needs elsewhere.
Other Possibilities:
Prince Amukamara
Robert Quinn
Blaine Gabbert
8. Tennessee Titans: Cam Newton, QB (Auburn)
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Blaine Gabbert has risen through the draft boards for, as far as I can see, almost no reason besides his arm strength.
My prediction is that Bud Adams sees that, and doesn't pick him.
So instead, why not give the Heisman Trophy winner a shot? It was obvious that Bud Adams was in love with Vince Young's abilities from the start, and Cam Newton displays some of those traits.
Even though he isn't as mobile as Young, Cam Newton has a big body and is hard to bring down. In addition to that, he has a cannon for an arm. Newton threw 28 touchdowns to 6 interceptions for the Tigers.
It may be best for him to sit a year and adjust, but expect him to be the Titans' QB of the future.
Other Possibilities:
Blaine Gabbert
Robert Quinn
Ryan Mallett
Jake Locker
9. Dallas Cowboys: Prince Amukamara, CB (Nebraska)
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The Cowboys have several options. Go for DE, CB, or OL. Unfortunately, the Cowboys have a terrible secondary.
Amukamara is a proven corner, and most of the time does extremely well. He doesn't collect tons of interceptions, but he isn't thrown to that often either. While he did struggle some against Justin Blackmon, Amukamara is a good cover corner who can improve the Cowboys secondary a lot.
Nate Solder or Robert Quinn would also be good picks here if Amukamara is gone, but I think he falls to the Cowboys and they take him.
Other Possibilities:
Robert Quinn
Nate Solder
Rahim Moore
10. Washington Redskins: Blaine Gabbert, QB (Missouri)
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Mike Shanahan doesn't enjoy his organization taking QBs in the 1st round, but I believe that he will this year and Dan Snyder will make sure the Redskins do.
This is a toss up between the 3 best remaining quarterbacks in the draft since Cam Newton was taken by Tennessee. One of those options is Jake Locker, the sure #1 pick last year who decided to return to school. Locker is a pretty mobile QB who has a strong arm but poor decision making and accuracy. Another is Mallett, who is a tall QB with good decision making. He has good arm strength but a big knack is his inability to run.
Then we have Gabbert. Gabbert isn't as mobile as Locker, but can still get things done. Gabbert displays good arm strength and a very quick release. Sometimes his decision making is poor, but overall he is the most well-rounded QB of the three.
Shanahan and Snyder buy into the hype, making him the Redskins 1st round pick.
Other Possibilities:
Ryan Mallett
Jake Locker
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