2011 NFL Mock Draft: A Complete Look at the Entire First Round
The Super Bowl only ended less than 24 hours ago, but already many fans and teams are preparing for the new NFL season that started today.
Although no one is sure there will actually be games games next season, they are sure that there will be an NFL Draft. And when there is a draft, there is always a mock draft.
This mock draft has updates to include the final two picks now that the Steelers and Packers have locked in their slots.
Fell free to comment below on who you think your team will pick, or why they won't pick who I have them picking.
#1 Carolina Panthers: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
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Although a defensive tackle may not be the most glorious pick for Carolina, Nick Fairley will be the most productive.
Anyone who watched him play in the national championship game knows just how much of a game-changer he can be.
A lot of people see a similar force in the middle as Ndamukong Suh was this year for the Lions, and if the Panthers can get that out of Fairley then I think they will be very happy with their choice.
#2 Denver Broncos: Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
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Da'Quan Bowers seems like the obvious pick for the Broncos, because they finished last in the NFL last year in sacks.
The Broncos are going through a big makeover, and Bowers is an exciting player who can be a new face of the franchise.
Although some people have found flaws in Bowers' play, including the fact that he really only played at such a high level his last two years, I can't imagine John Fox not wanting another defensive end to build around.
#3 Buffalo Bills: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
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Most people consider A.J. Green to be the best all-around athlete on the board, and some even have him going first to the Panthers. I don't think that happens, and have the Bills continuing the rebuild of their offense by selecting another future young star receiver.
Currently the Bills have Lee Evans and the now very famous Steve Johnson as their starting receivers. Evans' production has gone downhill the past few years, and Green would be a great replacement for him.
The Bills offense is starting to stack up with young stars, and adding A.J. Green seems like the smart move for them on draft day.
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#4 Cincinnati Bengals: Marcell Dareus, DE, Alabama
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The Bengals are in all sorts of turmoil right now, with Carson Palmer wanting to leave and Chad Ochocinco changing his name back.
If Carson Palmer were to leave I still don't see the Bengals taking a quarterback this high up in a draft that is not exactly stocked with future NFL quarterbacks.
Dareus was a freak in last year's BCS National Championship Game, and the Bengals will find somewhere on their defensive line to put him to good use.
#5 Arizona Cardinals: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
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If the Bills don't take Peterson at number three overall then the Cardinals will snatch him up at number five.
Peterson will be the best player left on the board when the Cardinals pick, and the safest pick for them to make.
It's not often that a talent at cornerback comes around that deserves to be a top-five pick, but Peterson is just that good.
#6 Cleveland Browns: Von Miller, DE, Texas A&M
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The best player by far at the Senior Bowl, Miller will be just what the Browns need as they move from the 3-4 to the 4-3.
Miller has the ability to stop drives by himself, and the Browns need a player who can do this.
It would also not surprise me if the Browns traded up or down, as they may want to draft an offensive weapon to help out up-and-coming quarterback Colt McCoy.
#7 San Francisco 49ers: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
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The 49ers are also going through some changes, and nothing says starting off new like a new coach and new quarterback. The Jets did it two years back and look at them now.
Blaine Gabbert will be the first quarterback drafted this year, and is a very interesting case because some experts think he has tremendous upside while others are not so sold on him.
The 49ers have missed on quarterbacks in the past, but they need one so bad now that they are willing to take their chances.
#8 Tennessee Titans: Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina
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The Titans are another team that could use a new quarterback to go along with their new coach, but after the Vince Young project turned out not so great I don't see them taking their chances on Ryan Mallett.
Robert Quinn will be the smart pick here, even though he didn't play at all in 2010. The kid has learned his lesson and will be back with a vengeance in 2011.
The Titans need a new Albert Haynesworth, a player who will cause havoc in the backfield, and Robert Quinn will do that.
#9 Dallas Cowboys: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
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Because Jerry Jones refuses to pick an offensive lineman in the first round, he will instead pick a cornerback in Amukamara.
In a year where there are really two star cornerbacks in the draft, the Cowboys get lucky and one is still sitting around at number nine.
The Cowboys play in a dome that is advantageous for quarterbacks, and they need to have star cornerbacks to counter balance that.
#10 Washington Redskins: Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri
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The Redskins defense is a hugely underachieving group, but their defensive line still needs a lot of help.
Aldon Smith did not play in every game this year, but when he did play he came off the edge faster than almost anyone else on the field.
Smith will be a great addition to Brian Orakpo, and will have Skins fans forgetting about Albert Haynesworth in no time.
#11 Houston Texans: Cameron Jordan, DE, California
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Another player who really improved his stock during the Senior Bowl was Cameron Jordan.
Jordan will get to the quarterback for the Texans, and will be a great addition to Mario Williams.
The Texans may end up with too many defensive ends, though, and one could get moved to play outside linebacker.
#12 Minnesota Vikings: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
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The Vikings are going to want to protect whoever they throw back at the quarterback position, and they will be able to do that with Nate Solder.
Solder is still pretty raw, but has great size and will give any team a chance to sculpt him into a great offensive lineman.
If the Vikings were to draft Solder they would probably move star Bryant McKinnie over to the right side.
#13 Detroit Lions: Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA
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The Lions would love to get Solder to protect their young investment, but unfortunately he won't be around this late into the round.
Instead the Lions will continue to stack that defense with sack-making stars, and will draft Ayers out of UCLA.
I think the Lions will put Ayers all over the field, and his versatility will benefit a team that is up and coming.
#14 St. Louis Rams: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
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With what seems to be a consensus pick amongst experts, the Rams are going to need to add a playmaker for Sam Bradford to throw to.
Jones will be able to get just open enough for Bradford to throw lasers into his chest.
The Rams could become serious contenders next year if Jones is able to catch the ball and produce.
#15 Miami Dolphins: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
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The first running back taken off of the board will be Mark Ingram, when the Dolphins take their chances with him at number 15.
Ingram seems like the type of player who will be a good fit for the Dolphins, who will try to run over teams as opposed to around them.
The Dolphins may add some new fans from Alabama with this pick, too, always a smart business move.
#16 Jacksonville Jaguars: Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
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The Jaguars need pass rush help if they want to compete for the AFC South next year, and Kerrigan gives them that.
The Jags do have Aaron Kampman at defensive end right now, but it is not easy to recover from a second ACL tear.
The Jaguars were just a few plays away from being in the playoffs this year, and with someone like Kerrigan those plays may be made next year.
#17 New England Patriots (From Oakland): J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin
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The Patriots struggled to get to the quarterback this year, and the best way to fix that problem would be to add some depth to their defensive line.
J.J. Watt is a player who gives it his all on every play, and someone who Bill Belichick will mold into a superstar.
With two picks in the first round the Patriots are only going to add to a team that was very good last year.
#18 San Diego Chargers: Cameron Heyward, DT, Ohio State
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The Chargers had the best offense and defense last year, but managed to still not make the playoffs.
They need someone who will give his all every play, and Cameron Heyward fills that void.
If Heyward does not get picked by San Diego here, I could see him falling all the way out of the first round after a disappointing season and elbow surgery.
#19 New York Giants: Anthony Castonzo, OL, Boston College
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Another great offensive linemen in this year's draft is Castonzo out of Boston College.
The Giants need help on their outside blocking, and Castonzo may be able to give them that.
I don't see too many Giants fans cheering for this pick on draft day in Radio City Music Hall, but this will be the smart pick for the organization moving forward.
#20 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
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The Buccaneers will be willing to take a chance on Clayborn, and it may help them out in the end.
In a draft full of defensive ends, Clayborn was at one point thought of as one of the best. Things didn't go so great for him this year, but if he falls this far the Buccaneers will scoop him up.
The Bucs have some great young prospects on the offensive side of the ball, and Clayborn may be the missing piece on the defensive side of the ball.
#21 Kansas City Chiefs: Tyron Smith, OT, USC
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The Chiefs had a great run game last year, one that will probably only get better as Jamaal Charles does.
They can add to an offensive line that is already pretty solid by drafting Tyron Smith out of USC.
Smith is flying up a lot of draft boards, mainly because of how athletic the young man is.
#22 Indianapolis Colts: Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
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The Colts desperately need offensive line help to protect Peyton Manning.
Carimi will be a great addition to the Colts offensive line, and could be their best linemen down the road.
Carimi also looked great at the Senior Bowl all week, and moved up because he took advantage of that last-chance opportunity.
#23 Philadelphia Eagles: Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State
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The Eagles' pick here could go in two different directions: They could take a defensive back who adds some much-needed depth to a weak position, or they could take an offensive lineman, even though they have Michael Vick behind center.
I think they go with Sherrod because they are about to put a lot of money into Vick, and they won't want him being hit from his blindside.
The Eagles gave up 52 sacks last year, but with Sherrod on the line they can hopefully cut that number by a solid amount this year.
#24 New Orleans Saints: Justin Houston, OLB, Georgia
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The Saints are a team that has very few holes that need to be filled, but no team can ever have too many pass rushers.
Houston could line up at defensive end or outside linebacker for the Saints. He seems to have great upside and has not even reached his full potential yet.
Houston is also a player who will make tackles, and probably would have been a huge help in their embarrassing loss to the Seahawks.
#25 Seattle Seahawks: Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
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Speaking of the Seahawks, they are also a hard team to figure out heading into the draft.
My best guess is that they will go somewhere in the secondary, and I think the best available cornerback left will be Jimmy Smith.
Smith will be a solid coverage corner and will also be able to make the sure tackle, a skill that all the top corners in the league now must have.
#26 Baltimore Ravens: Brandon Harris, CB, Miami
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The Ravens will follow up the pick of a cornerback with a corner of their own, and will go with Brandon Harris.
Harris had a solid year at the U, and the Ravens really need some help in that secondary.
I could potentially see the Ravens trading up for one of those top two corners but we will have to wait until draft day to find out.
#27 Atlanta Falcons: Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland
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The Falcons already have maybe the best receiver in the league in Roddy White, but Torrey Smith gives Matt Ryan so much more when it comes to options.
White and Smith will be great complements to each other, and with Tony Gonzalez thrown in the mix they will make a very scary receiving core for the Falcons.
Smith had a few monster games this year for the Terps, and if him and White are both on fire the same day then this team will be unstoppable on the offensive side.
#28 New England Patriots: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
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Yes, I am well aware that Tom Brady just won the MVP award with a unanimous vote. But think of the crazy things the Pats could do with an athlete like Cam Newton on their sideline.
Bill Belichick is the best in the league at turning players into something no one thought they were, and he could have big plans for Cam Newton.
I know I'm going to hear about this pick from Pats fans, but Newton could go anywhere on the offensive side of the ball for them and still be a threat.
#29 Chicago Bears: Mike Pouncey, OG, Florida
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The Bears are definitely going after an offensive lineman here after that debacle in the NFC Championship Game, the question is just which one.
Pouncey would be the smart choice for the Bears, and if he is anything like his twin brother on the Steelers then he will be a success right away.
As much as the Steelers would love to have some brotherly love on their offensive line, I think the Bears take Pouncey before the Steel City has a chance.
#30 New York Jets: Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois
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Some draft boards have Liuget going much earlier than this, but I think the Jets get lucky and he falls all the way to them at 30.
The Jets have had injury problems the last two years with Kris Jenkins, and will be looking for some stability up the middle.
This pick could also depend on what the Jets do in the offseason, which has been a roller-coaster ride the last few years.
#31 Pittsburgh Steelers: Titus Young, WR, Boise State
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The Steelers don't really have that many needs, and take a chance with their pick here on a player who has tremendous upside.
Young is considered by many to be the next DeSean Jackson, and the Steelers would love to have a playmaker like that.
Pittsburgh has a pretty solid receiving core right now, but adding Young will put it up there with some of the best in the league.
#32 Green Bay Packers: Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor
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The Super Bowl champions have few holes and will probably just pick whoever is best and left on the board.
Phil Taylor is a great run stuffer up the middle, and will be a solid addition to an already great defense.
The Packers seem pretty set right now, though, and no matter who they pick they will be favorites to win the Super Bowl again next year—if there is a season, of course.
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