2011 NFL Mock Draft: Carolina Panthers Select Georgia WR A.J. Green No. 1?

It’s crazy times in the NFL these days with the collective bargaining talks going haywire. The future of the league is murky and unpredictable, which means this year’s upcoming NFL Draft should be even wilder than usual.

Trying to forecast what will happen in the draft in the week leading up to the event can be hard enough, so trying to do it in February before the NFL Combine has even taken place is an incredibly difficult task.

I’m up to the challenge, though. These mock drafts are just too fun not to get involved in.

We’ve still got a long ways to go, but that won’t stop fans and analysts from speculating over these next two months.

Here’s a look at how I see the first round of the draft playing out as we ready ourselves for the upcoming Combine.

1. Carolina Panthers: WR A.J. Green, Georgia

It seems most draft analysts have already handed Auburn DT Nick Fairley to the Carolina Panthers on a silver platter, but that doesn’t mean that once draft night rolls around it will necessarily play out as planned.

New Carolina coach Ron Rivera has said he will keep the 4-3 defensive system intact, and it makes sense to bulk up on the inside. But can Rivera really trust Fairley, a one-year wonder who has had his commitment off the field questioned on more than a few occasions?

Fairley, who showed his lack of commitment in the classroom by failing to qualify academically coming out of high school, could turn out to be a dominant defender in the NFL, but he may not be the true “can’t miss” prospect some are making him out to be.

If the Panthers want to give second year quarterback Jimmy Clausen a full chance to succeed, they’re going to need to give him a true No. 1 receiving option.

A.J. Green meets the criteria. The 6'4", 210-pounder looks like the rare type of receiving prospect that only comes along every few years.


2. Denver Broncos: DE Da’Quan Bowers, Clemson

The last time new Denver head coach John Fox held the No. 2 overall pick, his team ended up selecting defensive end Julius Peppers out of North Carolina. While he probably had very little input on the decision, when you consider Peppers went on to become one of the most productive players to ever play for Fox, it might make sense for the coach to try to repeat the feat with another dominant ACC sack-master eight years later.

The Broncos will need personnel for their new 4-3 defense and adding an edge rusher the caliber of Da’Quan Bowers would be an ideal move.

Bowers, a former No. 1 high school recruit, had a breakout junior campaign, leading the country with 15 sacks in 2010.

Denver, a team that finished dead last in the NFL with just 23 sacks last season, proved ill-equipped when it came to mustering pressure. They could use all the help they can get trying to get to opposing quarterbacks, and Bowers has certainly proved he can do just that.


3. Buffalo Bills: OLB Von Miller, Texas A&M

Bills head coach Chan Gailey got an up-close look at Von Miller’s extraordinary potential when he coached the South Squad for January's Senior Bowl.

Gailey must have come away impressed with Miller, who looked like the top overall prospect in Mobile throughout the week.

Buffalo is in need of help in the defensive front seven to complement a rather strong back end, and Miller, a pass rushing demon who totaled 27 sacks and 39 tackles-for-loss in his final two seasons as an Aggie, would add a valuable presence.


4. Cincinnati Bengals: QB Cam Newton, Auburn

Carson Palmer has made it clear he no longer wants anything to do with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Honestly, can you blame him?

Palmer’s production has been on a steady decline these past few years and forcing the diva combination of Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco on him last season definitely didn’t help matters for the Bengals.

For some reason, coach Marvin Lewis retained his job for one more year, but it may take a gamble—like rolling the dice on Heisman-winning QB Cam Newton—for him to keep it.

Bringing in Newton would be a major shakeup for a franchise that has annually been one of the most disappointing in the sport.

Maybe it’s just the type of shakeup they need.

Newton isn’t as far off as some of his critics try to make him out to be, and he’s the type of leader and captivating figure the locker room needs. Does he have a few red flags in his past? Sure, but since when have character concerns ever stopped the Bengals from bringing in a player?


5. Arizona Cardinals: CB Patrick Peterson, LSU

It’s no secret: The Arizona Cardinals need a quarterback. Kurt Warner’s retirement was a really big blow to this team. Derek Anderson gave it a shot at replacing Warner and flamed out in the process.

Judging from the early talks surrounding the Cardinals, and the fact that they’ve reportedly asked star receiver Larry Fitzgerald to weigh in on the matter, it seems the team is ready to head the veteran route in their quest for a new starting signal caller. They could be players in the Kevin Kolb sweepstakes and might look at a guy like Vince Young.

With that in mind, Arizona could be in position to take the best player available at No. 5 instead of over-drafting a QB prospect like Blaine Gabbert out of Missouri.

If LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson were to still be available when the Cardinals pick, he would be almost impossible to pass up.

Peterson is a once-in-a-decade type of cornerback prospect, and he would give a tremendous boost to a Cardinals secondary that ranked 23rd against the pass last season.

Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie had a subpar year and failed to meet expectations. Putting a player like Peterson on the other side of the field would help alleviate some of the burden on DRC.

6. Cleveland Browns: DT Nick Fairley, Auburn

This year’s “it” prospect, Nick Fairley had a sensational showing as a junior, putting up dominating performances game in and game out. The question is, is it a sign of great things to come or just a fluke one-year wonder?

Fairley possesses all the traits you'd want in a top-flight tackle and he’s a true disruptive force, but he’s far from the sure thing that Ndamukong Suh was last year.

Even so, if he’s available at the sixth spot it would be hard for the Cleveland Browns to pass on his potential as they now make the transition to a 4-3 defense.

Fairley would be the type of player Cleveland could build around, and if he pans out and really does become something special, he could be the type of player who helps turn the struggling Browns franchise in the right direction.


7. San Francisco 49ers: DE Cameron Jordan, Cal

Coaching in the Pac-10 for four years afforded new 49ers head man Jim Harbaugh the opportunity to see a lot of truly talented players, one of them being California defensive end Cameron Jordan.

Jordan may not have put up big numbers on a struggling Cal team in his senior season, but his play was as solid as ever. After proving his worth during Senior Bowl week, Jordan has taken his place among the elite names at the defensive end position for this draft.

The 49ers went heavy on the offensive line early on in last year’s draft. Now it’s time to switch sides and focus on the defensive line.

You can argue that cornerback might be the most pressing need the team has, but Harbaugh knows that the real battles are won in the trenches and when you have difference makers up front it gives your team a decided advantage.

Jordan looks like a perfect fit as a 3-4 defensive end, and he would likely flourish in San Francisco.


8. Tennessee Titans: QB Blaine Gabbert, Missouri

The Vince Young era is officially over in Tennessee after five frustrating years. Young, the No. 3 pick in the 2006 Draft, showed flashes of greatness but just never could quite get his head together to be the star his talent warranted.

Young isn’t the only key piece leaving Nashville—longtime coach Jeff Fisher has also left town. The Titans have already replaced Fisher with offensive line coach Mike Munchak, and now it’s time to fill the quarterback void.

Into the fold comes Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert, who threw for over 3,000 yards as a junior in 2010.

The fact that Gabbert comes from a pass-heavy spread system may scare some off, but he has all the tools to be a franchise saver.


9. Dallas Cowboys: DE Marcell Dareus, Alabama

Quality 3-4 defensive ends are a valuable commodity in today’s NFL. Ends who are equally effective against both the run and the pass such as Alabama’s Marcell Dareus are not easy to find and therefore looked upon with even more value.

Dareus had his breakout performance in Alabama’s national title game appearance and has stayed firmly on the NFL radar since, performing at a high level in his junior season.

The Cowboys could use a little help up front for a defensive line that has some question marks, and the 300 lb. Dareus would seem to be a good fit in the Dallas defense.
 

10. Washington Redskins: WR Julio Jones, Alabama

Quick, name the Redskins' No. 2 wide receiver.

You probably know that Santana Moss ,who actually had a quality season last year finishing with 93 catches for over 1,000 yards, was Washington’s main receiving weapon. But can you name the guy who finished with the second most catches?

If you couldn’t come up with Anthony Armstrong, don’t worry, you’re probably not alone. Because really, who is Anthony Armstrong?

That about sums up the Washington Redskins' wide receiver corps.

When only two of your top seven pass-catchers are actually wide receivers, you know something is amiss.

Yes, the Redskins will be in the hunt for a quarterback this offseason after the Donovan McNabb experiment turned into an utter disaster. And yes, Washington’s Jake Locker seems like someone Mike Shanahan would fall in love with. But before you can have a great QB, you need players he can throw to.

The Redskins should look at their division counterparts—the Giants, Eagles and Cowboys—who have all selected receivers in the first round within the past two years, and take a hint.

Alabama’s Julio Jones would be the best Redskins receiver the first day he steps foot in the locker room.

 
11. Houston Texans: OLB Aldon Smith, Missouri

Can’t you just hear the excitement and buzz emanating from Houston now that the Texans have brought in Wade Phillips to be their defensive coordinator?

No, OK, I can’t either. But give Phillips his due. Sure, he’s firmly in the "I should only be a coordinator and not a head coach" category from here on out, but the man knows how to run a defense.

Phillips will be shuffling things around a bit and bringing his 3-4 philosophy with him to Houston. That means the Texans are going to be in the market for a DeMarcus Ware-type rush linebacker to get pressure off the edge.

Hello, Aldon Smith!

The 260 lb. Missouri defensive end is an ideal candidate to make the switch to 3-4 outside linebacker. And while Smith may not be a truly coveted, household name just yet, if he puts on the type of performance expected of him at the Combine his stock should skyrocket.

Is he a gamble? Oh yeah. But he’s the type of gamble that could net your team one of the five best players from this draft a few years down the road.

You have to figure Phillips and the Texans' front office are going to take a good hard look at Smith if he's available at No. 11.


12. Minnesota Vikings: QB Ryan Mallett, Arkansas

We can only hope that the Brett Favre era is actually over in Minnesota, which means it’s time to find the old man’s successor.

Tarvaris Jackson hasn’t done enough in his five years with the team to show he deserves to take the reigns, and Joe Webb is Joe Webb, so that means head coach Leslie Frazier and the Vikings will most likely be looking for a quarterback in the upcoming draft. Whether it’s a first-round, year-one starter or a mid-round developmental quarterback still remains to be seen.

If they opt to look for one of the big names, Ryan Mallett out of Arkansas would seem to make a lot of sense.

The 6'7" Mallett is your prototypical pocket passer with a cannon for an arm, but he does come with some baggage and whispers.

It’s too early to tell if Minnesota will target Mallett with the 12th pick, but you can bet he’s one of the quarterbacks they’re going to do their homework on.

If they like the results of their analysis then Mallett is definitely in play to be taken here.


13. Detroit Lions: CB Prince Amukamara, Nebraska

The Detroit Lions lucked out when defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh fell into their lap in the 2010 Draft; is it possible another star Cornhusker could fall to them once again this year?

The Lions are in desperate need of some help at the cornerback position, and Nebraska’s Prince Amukamara is the clear-cut second-best cover man in this year’s crop.

Will it take some luck for for the Lions to land Amukamara? Yes, or it could just take some savvy, proactive maneuvering.

If Detroit can’t find a way to land Amukamara, they could look at some of this year’s top offensive tackles as a fallback plan.


14. St. Louis Rams: DT Phil Taylor, Baylor

The Rams and every single one of their fans would love to see WR Julio Jones sitting at No. 14 because they know how dangerous Sam Bradford could become if given a true No. 1 weapon. However, if it doesn’t happen and Jones is off the board, it might be hard to justify reaching for the draft’s third-best receiver prospect, Titus Young.

So instead, the Rams could simply say "oh well" and address another glaring need, the defensive tackle spot, instead.

Big Phil Taylor, a 340 lb. behemoth of a young man, would be mighty enticing here.

Taylor, if he plays up to his potential, has a chance to be one of the most disruptive defensive tackles in the NFL.

But it’s a big if.

We only saw one truly great season from Phil in his college career, but luckily it was 2010 when he finally turned the light on as a senior after being a slouch dating all the way back to his Penn State days.

St. Louis found themselves a solid offensive tackle for the next ten years in Jason Smith, another Baylor alum. Will they find the same thing on the defensive side with former Bear Phil Taylor?


15. Miami Dolphins: DT Terrell McClain, South Florida

Nose Tackle Paul Soliai had a breakout season playing the role of middleman in Miami’s 3-4 defense this past season. But unfortunately, the free-agent-to-be will likely be searching to cash in for his efforts somewhere else.

If Soliai leaves, it won’t exactly be the end of the world for the Dolphins defensive line, but it will be a considerable hit.

The question is: Will Miami choose to replace Soliai with one of the draft’s top defensive tackles?

If they do, South Florida’s Terrell McClain, one of this year’s fastest risers, could be a prospect they consider early on.

McClain wowed scouts at this year’s East-West Shrine Game and made a strong appearance down at the Senior Bowl as a late entry. The 310 lb. McClain would be a stout stopper in the middle of Miami’s defense and has the strength to really eat up blockers.


16. Jacksonville Jaguars: DE Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue

The Jaguars knew where their attention had to be in the 2010 draft, focusing in on the defensive line with their first four picks. Sadly, only top pick defensive tackle Tyson Alualu made a considerable impact this past season, starting all 16 games inside.

Jacksonville only managed 26 sacks on the season, and former top-10 pick DE Derrick Harvey went largely unheard from the whole year.

The Jaguars will likely have to look back to the defensive line early on again this year and defensive end should be one of their top priorities.

Ryan Kerrigan is in the David-Pollack-overachieving-beyond-your-athletic-bounds mold and has a “bring your lunchbox” type attitude when it comes to the game of football. Kerrigan finished with 32 sacks in his Purdue career and he would be a fitting upgrade over the underachieving Harvey.


17. New England Patriots: OG Mike Pouncey, Florida

Does Bill Belichick get a bonus every time he drafts a Florida player?

Belichick has drafted six Gators since 2004, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he makes Mike Pouncey his latest Florida prize.

None of the three New England starting interior offensive linemen can be considered spring chickens, and nobody’s quite sure what the deal is with Logan Mankins these days.

Mike Pouncey isn’t quite the performer that his twin brother Maurkice was when he came out of Gainesville last year, but since Maurkice enjoyed so much success in his rookie season, you can bet that NFL teams will look at his twin brother in a whole new light.


18. San Diego Chargers: OLB Akeem Ayers, UCLA

Well, that Larry English thing almost worked out, huh?

Jokes aside, the Chargers are now faced with the reality of life without Shawne Merriman, an aging Shaun Phillips and an under-performing, oft-injured first round pick in Larry English.
 
Needless to say, San Diego might be in the market for some outside linebacker help this offseason.

Akeem Ayers, the most athletic linebacker prospect in this year’s draft, could succeed in any type of defense but his talents would surely be put to good use as a 3-4 rush linebacker.

Ayers, who has had his toughness questioned by a few onlookers, has rare athletic ability for a player his size and would be a nightmare coming off the edge if he was ever truly let loose and given free reign to hunt quarterbacks.

Phillips, who racked up 11 sacks this past season, has a few more years in the tank but he needs some help on the other side. Akeem Ayers is a viable option to give him just that.

 
19. New York Giants: RB Mark Ingram, Alabama

It’s no secret that the Giants coveted Clemson RB C.J. Spiller in the 2010 NFL Draft.  Unfortunately though, the G-men were picking 15th and it was all but assured that Spiller would be long gone by then. He ended up getting picked by the Bills at No. 9.

Well, here the Giants are once again, with a quality back in Ahmad Bradshaw, who just so happens to be a free agent, and an unhappy, overweight and old secondary option in Brandon Jacobs.

It’s highly improbable that the Giants can keep both backs and it would seem Bradshaw is their main target.

If New York does bring back Bradshaw and gets rid of the grumpy Jacobs, they’ll have to find a new complement.

Who better than the best running back in the draft, Mark Ingram out of Alabama?

Ingram’s father Mark Sr. was a wide receiver for the Giants from 1987-1992 and he would be a welcome addition to the Giants backfield.

The team also has offensive line and linebacker concerns to answer.


20. Tampa Bay Bucs: DE Robert Quinn, North Carolina

I’m surprised people still rate Robert Quinn as a top-five caliber guy.

It's understandable—the potential is there. But remember, the kid hasn’t played in a full year and, at 270 lbs., scouts are going to wonder if he has the size to be a dominant defensive end in the NFL.

I could see Quinn’s stock taking a bit of a hit over the next few months. But some team like Tampa Bay could easily become the benefactor of the Quinn slide, especially when you consider the Bucs are in need of an end who can get to the quarterback.

Quinn was outstanding in his first two seasons at North Carolina, but we still don’t know what kind of shape and condition he is in at this point.

He’s going to need a big showing at the Combine to solidify the status he had before being ruled ineligible.


21. Kansas City Chiefs: WR Titus Young, Boise State

Dwayne Bowe really turned it on his fourth season, catching 15 touchdowns and playing at a Pro Bowl level. But when push came to shove, Bowe disappeared when it mattered most in a blowout loss to the Ravens in the first round of the playoffs.

Bowe is a quality No. 1 option, but outside of him the Chiefs are really lacking at wide receiver.

Dexter McCluster, the Chiefs 2010 second-round pick, is explosive but at only 5'8" he's a limited threat.

Adding another receiver to the lineup is paramount, and Boise’s Titus Young, who is starting to gain DeSean Jackson comparisons, could be just the solution.

Young displayed game-changing speed during his time at Boise State and during Senior Bowl week. He would be just the type of playmaker QB Matt Cassel and the Kansas City offense needs.


22. Indianapolis Colts: OT Tyron Smith, USC

Anytime I caught a Colts game this year, I thought to myself, boy, that offensive line just doesn’t look very good.

The Colts O-line as a whole may not have been eyebrow-raisingly bad, but you could tell there are upgrades to be made along their front five.

Lover of all things Big Ten GM Bill Polian might look to Wisconsin tackle Gabe Carimi to help out. But another intriguing name to keep an eye on over the next few months is USC offensive tackle Tyron Smith.

Smith is still developing as a complete linemen and he’s a little on the light side at 280 lbs. but his ceiling is quite high. He would it fit in well with the offense the Colts run.
 

23. Philadelphia Eagles: CB Brandon Burton, Utah

We know that the top two cornerbacks in the draft are LSU’s Patrick Peterson and Nebraska’s Prince Amukamara, but trying to figure out who’s the third best corner is a bit tougher.

Brandon Harris of Miami, Jimmy Smith of Colorado and Aaron Williams of Texas all belong in the conversation. But one corner that doesn’t get as much attention is Utah’s Brandon Burton, an early entrant who could climb up draft boards in workouts.

Burton’s cover ability would be a great asset to a Philadelphia secondary which allowed 31 touchdowns through the air last season.


24. New Orleans Saints: S Rahim Moore, UCLA

If you wanted to give the Saints secondary a grade for their performance in the playoff loss to the Seahawks, an F would probably suffice.

The worst of the worst was safety Roman Harper, who missed tackles and was out of position the entire game. After the poor performance, Harper, a free agent, likely won’t be welcomed back with open arms.

Couple that with the fact that 35-year-old Darren Sharper is regressing and nearing retirement, and it’s obvious where the Saints will have to look early on in the draft.

Rahim Moore out of UCLA is this year’s only first round safety and even though he’s not quite on Eric Berry's level, he could be the type of player who comes in and solidifies a secondary with his leadership and top-notch instincts.
 

25. Seattle Seahawks: QB Jake Locker, Washington

The end is in sight for 35-year-old quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, even though he still has a few tricks up his sleeve as evidenced by the playoff victory over the Saints.

Replacing Hasselbeck right this second isn’t exactly paramount, but planning for the future is something that Pete Carroll and the front office has to consider.

Backup Charlie Whitehurst didn’t exactly set the field ablaze when given the opportunity, and it’s doubtful the franchise has faith in him to be the next in line.

Washington QB Jake Locker has seemingly gone backward this past season and his stock and public image have taken quite a hit since the days of being “Mr. No. 1 pick.” However, with the gifts Locker possesses, you have to believe some team will fall in love with his potential.

Maybe that team is right across town.


26. Baltimore Ravens: OLB Justin Houston, Georgia

The Ravens thought Sergio Kindle would be their rush linebacker of the future when they selected him with the 43rd pick in last year’s draft, but Kindle’s future is currently in serious jeopardy after he sustained a serious fall before the start of last season.

That means the Ravens will need to once again look for some help at the position, and luckily for them there are a good amount of candidates this year who fit the mold they're looking for.

One of the highlights of the outside linebacker class is Georgia junior Justin Houston, who finished second in the SEC with 11 sacks this past season.

The 6'3" 255 lb. Houston would be an excellent fit in Baltimore’s defense and he has the potential to be a dominant rush linebacker at the next level.

Houston could tag-team with Terrell Suggs to form a devastating rush duo that would be on par with that of Baltimore's division rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers.


27. Atlanta Falcons: DE Adrian Clayborn, Iowa

The Falcons got lucky when stud linebacker Sean Weatherspoon fell to them at No. 19 in last year’s draft, and they’re probably hoping the same thing will happen with one of this year’s top defensive end prospects.

Iowa’s Adrian Clayborn didn’t have the senior season he was hoping for, finishing with just 3.5 sacks in the face of constant double teams.

While Clayborn’s stock has taken a bit of a hit, it doesn’t mean NFL teams in need of some DE help should shy away from him.

Clayborn would be a perfect replacement for the aging John Abraham and the Falcons would be lucky to nab him so late in the first.

28. New England Patriots: DE Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple

The Patriots are one of those teams that always seem to be just a little unpredictable when it comes to the NFL Draft, and this year should be no different.

There are a few different directions the Pats could go with their two first round picks, and one of those possibilities is finding a young 3-4 defensive end like Temple’s Muhammad Wilkerson, one of the most intriguing prospects in this year’s draft.

The 6'5" 305 lb. Wilkerson played defensive tackle at Temple, but he’s ideally suited to be a defensive end in a 3-4 system in the pros.

The New England defensive line could use an infusion of young talent and Wilkerson would do just the trick.


29. Chicago Bears: OT Derek Sherrod, Mississippi State

Mike Tice should be commended for the job he did with the Chicago Bears' offensive line this past season. Chicago's line, which was questionable to begin with, was plagued by injuries, yet the Bears still found a way to make it all the way to the NFC Championship game.

Chicago will likely look for some offensive line help early on in the draft this year and there are a few top tackles available even though there are no true franchise-type players at the position.

One player who Chicago should take a close look at is Mississippi State tackle Derek Sherrod.

Sherrod has the potential to be a premier left tackle in the NFL but he’s still a little rough around the edges. He could be a great project for Tice.
 

30. New York Jets: OT Anthony Castonzo, Boston College

The puzzle that is the New York Jets' roster is far from solved at this time, as there are still a number of moves and free agents to be signed this offseason.

While the Jets have to figure out what to do with guys like LB David Harris, RB Ladainian Tomlinson and WR Santonio Holmes, one area that they must address is offensive line. Right Tackle Damien Woody is on his last legs and finding someone to replace him should be a priority.

Boston College’s Anthony Castonzo looks like he’d be a great right tackle in the NFL. The Jets would have two solid bookends in Castonzo and Pro Bowler D’Brickashaw Ferguson if they made such a pick.


31. Pittsburgh Steelers: DE J.J. Watt, Wisconsin

The Steelers defense is in a weird transition phase as they’re still one of the top performing units in the league, but are also filled with aging parts that will need to be replaced sometime soon.

One of those parts is defensive end Brett Keisel, who will be 33 next season.

Wisconsin’s J.J. Watt, who dominated the Big Ten last season, is a younger version of Keisel and would be a perfect piece in Pittsburgh’s 3-4 defensive scheme.

The Steelers will also have to look for offensive line and cornerback help early on.

32. Green Bay Packers: OT Nate Solder, Colorado

Packers fans won’t like the idea of taking first round tackles in back to back years, but when you’re the Super Bowl champs, nobody’s going to listen to you complain. Sorry.

Bryan Bulaga, last year’s top choice, had a solid rookie season starting on the right side but the Packers will need to figure out how to replace left tackle Chad Clifton. who turns 35 this summer.

Colorado’s Nate Solder would be a good choice. The 6'8" Solder plays like a tight end in a tackle’s body and should do a great job keeping QB Aaron Rodgers upright for years to come.