NFL Draft 2011: 6 Worst Picks in Todd McShay's Latest Mock Draft
Todd McShay over at ESPN came out with his 2011 Mock Draft 3.0, and while I agree with most of his choices, there were some questionable picks.
McShay does an excellent job analyzing the talent, but I just don't agree with some of the choices he has for certain teams. Some of these teams have other huge holes that can be filled with other prospects.
I will be taking a look at six different first round picks and what picks should be considered instead.
Third Pick: Buffalo Bills, McShay Says Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
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The Bills are obviously a team with a lot of needs, and while I agree they have a need at linebacker, there are bigger holes on this team.
Von Miller is the complete package at linebacker and is at his best in the pass rush. He amassed 27.5 sacks in two years at Texas A&M. He was the Butkus Award winner as the country's best linebacker, so he has an incredible resume.
This is a safer pick than say, a quarterback or a wide receiver, but the Bills must be aggressive. General manager Buddy Nix stated they are going to take the best player available, and while I do believe Von Miller is a huge talent, he is not the third best player in the draft.
Third Pick: Buffalo Bills, I Say Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
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Patrick Peterson fills a huge need for the Bills. Terrence McGee is an excellent player, but he just cannot seem to stay healthy.
Peterson has it all. He has excellent ball skills that will enable him to come down with the tough interceptions, he is an excellent tackler and he has great size for a corner. Along with all those talents, he also has excellent speed.
Good corners are hard to come by, so I don't see the Bills passing up on Peterson.
Fourth Pick: Cincinnati Bengals, McShay Says A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
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The reason many people have this pick is because Chad Johnson and Terrell Owens are finished in Cincinnati, but I am not so sure about this pick.
A.J. Green might be one of the most talented receivers in years. He has size, strength and excellent hands. Some mock drafts even had him going No. 1 overall, and while I agree with the fact that he is an enormous talent, I do not see the Bengals picking him.
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Fourth Pick: Cincinnati Bengals, I Say Blaine Gabbert, QB, Mizzou
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Carson Palmer wants out of Cincinnati, and while Mike Brown is not likely to trade him, it is still a good idea to draft a replacement.
There was also a story today that Palmer is going to put up his Cincinnati home for sale. This should tell the Bengals to draft a quarterback immediately.
While there are other options available through free agency, looking for a QB in the draft might be beneficial for Cincinnati since it may hit them less financially, even if it is the fourth pick.
I say the Bengals pick Gabbert.
Eighth Pick: Tennessee Titans, McShay Says Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
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It is a long-shot that Amukamara will still be available at No. 8. I believe Peterson and Amukamara, the two best corners in this draft, will be taken by the seventh pick.
Now, Amukamara is just a tad bit under Peterson when it comes to overall talent, but this kid can play.
Once teams began to take notice of Amukamara, they stopped throwing to him, which is the reason he had zero interceptions this past year.
The Titans can use Amukamara, but they simply have other needs.
Eighth Pick: Tennessee Titans, I Say Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
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The Titans have a need, and that need is at quarterback. Even with Jeff Fisher gone, the Titans have made it very clear Vince Young will not be back next year.
Cam Newton is the biggest gamble in the first round. He has tremendous upside and may even remind people of VY. Even though it is a huge risk, the Titans take it at No. 8.
25th Pick: Seattle Seahawks, McShay Says Jake Locker, QB, Washington
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I am off the Jake Locker bandwagon.
He looked terrible at times this past season, falling a long way from last year's draft. This would be a nice pick with the Seahawks giving the local kid a shot at quarterback and all, but why waste this pick?
Some have Locker going in the first round and some in the second. I am a believer he will go in the second round, so the Seahawks should spend this pick on an immediate team need.
Matt Hasselbeck will be the 2011 starter for the Seahawks, and Seattle has other needs.
25th Pick: Seattle Seahawks, I Say Brandon Harris, CB, Miami
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Brandon Harris can help the Seahawks immediately. He is very quick, athletic and has great ability in man coverage.
The NFL is a passing league, and anything you can do to help stop the pass, you jump on right away.
The Seahawks take Brandon Harris with the 25th pick.
26th Pick: Baltimore Ravens, McShay Says Randall Cobb, WR Kentucky
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This is a great decision by McShay. Cobb is a tremendous receiver that runs great routes and also has great speed, but why would Baltimore pass up on someone who plays the same position and shows more promise?
Cobb was Mr. Everything for Kentucky, but the Ravens would be passing up on...
26th Pick: Baltimore Ravens, I Say Titus Young, WR, Boise State
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This guy is the next DeSean Jackson. Young has blazing speed and can take it to the house on any given play, but he is very small like Jackson. He is listed at only 170 pounds, but since when has that stopped DJax?
Yes, he might be prone to injuries, but I do not see the Ravens passing up on Young. They lack that deep threat down the field, and Young provides them with this.
27th Pick: Atlanta Falcons, McShay Says Mike Pouncey, G, Florida
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McShay makes a fair argument that the interior of the Atlanta offensive line needs some help, and Pouncey would be able to come in and play immediately, but what about the rest of the offense?
Pouncey is a tremendous talent, and the Falcons will take a hard look at this, but you have to get Roddy White and your franchise quarterback some help as well.
27th Pick: Atlanta Falcons, I Say Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pitt
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Some have Baldwin ranked as the third receiver in this year's draft, but I would say fourth—Titus Young's speed is more valuable, in my opinion.
Having said that, the Falcons are in need of assistance at the receiver position. Tony Gonzalez is not getting any younger, and you have to get some more help for Matt Ryan.
Of course they have Roddy White, but they need a legitimate second option, which Baldwin offers.
The Falcons take Baldwin at No. 27.
Let's Hope For a Season
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We can go back and forth all day long on these picks, but how about someone send a memo to the union and owners to get a deal in place already!
I am getting a bit concerned.
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