2011 NFL Mock Draft: How Many Options Do Carolina Panthers Have with Top Pick?
2011 NFL Mock Draft
The time is ticking down to the 2011 installment of the NFL draft. Here we will explore the latest iteration of my mock draft.
2011 could prove to be one of the most interesting drafts in NFL history. Free agency has been stalled as the CBA expires and then gets re-tooled. So, many of these teams have to answer their most dire questions through the draft.
This could very well be the first chance they get to shore up any deficiencies. So as we go from No. 1 to No. 32, remember this could be the most fluid and volatile draft in recent memory. Nothing like making an already great event all the more interesting.
1. Carolina Panthers: Nick Fairley DT
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You want the best? You got the best. As we have yet to enter the wonderful world of the Combine and the pro workout days are a couple months away, the season is what we have to work with. The last vestige of the 2010 season saw Nick Fairley become a household name.
It was for good reason. He commanded the game and the tempo when Auburn was on defense. He was all over the place putting his stamp on every play. Fairley has to remain No. 1 over Bowers until the Combine or other entity shows me different.
2. Denver Broncos: Da'Quan Bowers DE
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The time will most likely come when Bowers overtakes Fairley for the No. 1 spot on my mock list. That time has not yet come. Bowers was the out-and-out No. 1 pick until Fairley killed it at the national title game.
Bowers has slowly risen back into the picture. I can see why. He is just as explosive and balanced as Fairley. For me, it is a coin-flip decision. I need to see more from the bench press and explosion from the line.
That will all be answered in due time.
3. Buffalo Bills: Marcell Dareus DT
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Marcell is still my favorite for the three pick. The Bills need a great many things.
But they have a huge hole on the defensive line. Dareus is a quick-footed mountain that is great at pass rushing. With him in tow, the Bills may not be thrown on so much. Imagine if they actually kept teams within a touchdown of the their score.
Dareus will be a constant pest to quarterbacks. That is a good thing for a team that has been very soft the last couple of years.
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4. Cincinnati Bengals: A.J. Green WR
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You normally steer clear from taking a wide receiver so high, but A.J. Green is that good. He could easily be the next Larry Fitzgerald, a high pick that fares well for his new team.
Green is a playmaker no matter the situation. He is a natural ball catcher and swift enough to break anyone off on the outside.
The Bengals could very well be without the glut of receivers they had this season. Nabbing Green could prove essential to their long-term goals.
5. Arizona Cardinals: Blaine Gabbert QB
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The Cardinals tried their best to get by with a bunch of junior college quarterbacks last year, but the reality is you need an actual arm in the pocket. The Cardinals have holes all over the field. The one necessity is at the QB position.
The best in the draft so far is Blaine Gabbert. Gabbert has a big arm for a big-play type team. The Cardinals want to get up field in a hurry. Gabbert is the man to take them there. The only issue he needs to shore up in the Combine and at workouts is his accuracy.
Even then, a less-than-accurate QB is a lot better than the rabble they have currently.
6. Cleveland Browns: Patrick Peterson CB
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The Browns' issues came in the form of consistency on the defensive side of the ball. Colt McCoy and Peyton Hillis have things on lock-down when it pertains to scoring some touchdowns.
The Browns need a playmaker on the wings that can stop the onslaught of receivers that killed the Browns last season. Peterson is a Pro Bowl-caliber defender. The Browns may once again be the gritty team of old yet.
7. San Francisco 49ers: Robert Quinn DE
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Ideally, the 49ers should be taking a quarterback. But in a perfect world, they would not have taken a chance on other QBs in the draft recently. They now must make due with what they have and shore up some of their other deficiencies.
The 49ers need to put some added pressure on the other quarterback and plug up the holes on the line. Robert Quinn is a beast around the line. He will be first and foremost on the minds of linemen and quarterbacks.
8. Tennessee Titans: Prince Amukamara CB
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The Titans need a quarterback badly. But they do not need to draft a Locker or Newton this high, at least not yet. Locker could very well answer some of the questions that have been asked about his arm later in the draft process.
For now, the Titans need to draft the best man on the board. Prince Amukamara will not flame out. He works too hard and is too talented not to make it at the next level. That is all the Titans will want with this pick. Someone that will be around to help the defense in a year or so.
9. Dallas Cowboys: Von Miller OLB
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The Cowboys stunk up the joint last year. The stinkiest part of their game was on defense. The Cowboys forgot how to lock anyone up and tackle. The most basic tenet of that part of the game was lost on them.
Von Miller is here to show you how it's done. He has a great sense of where the ball is on the field. He is quick enough to maintain the outside and strong enough to work the blitz.
With Miller, the Cowboys will end their string of playing two-hand touch.
10. Washington Redskins: Cam Newton QB
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The player with the biggest upside in the draft is by far Cam Newton. The Washington Redskins are a team that is completely enamored with upside. They are so desperate for a quarterback that they were thinking of working out JaMarcus Russell last season.
The Redskins will fail to talk themselves out of the Newton race. No matter how far he falls or rises, he will be a Redskin shortly. It is a match made in dysfunctional heaven.
11. Houston Texans: Jimmy Smith CB
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Here is a glaring example of how the CBA affects the NFL draft. The Texans would be better served getting a veteran for their secondary issues. But as the free-agency period will remain dormant for the near future, they must consider their only option for help.
Smith is not a bad pick by any stretch. He has moved up the draft for very good reason. The only issue is that he is a young player going to an already young staff. There could be growing pains in the future.
12. Minnesota Vikings: Nate Solder OT
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The Vikings need a quarterback. They will settle for the arm of Tarvaris Jackson. That is the guy that they have refused to give the starting job to so far.
Whoever they find to take snaps will need to be much better protected than Brett Favre was last season. That line single-handedly brought down the career of the legendary gunslinger.
Okay, so Favre had a little to do with his maligned final season. They still need a blocker, though.
13. Detroit Lions: Akeem Ayers OLB
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The Lions would do well to draft a great many things on defense. My money is on their soft OLB position. The Lions are not what we would consider world beaters on defense. They are inept on locking up receivers and never seem to bother the line.
That will all change with Ayers in tow. He is quick and balanced. He is comfortable covering the outside as well as charging the middle.
The Lions may not win the Super Bowl next year, but they may not be a laughingstock either.
14. St. Louis Rams: Julio Jones WR
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Hello, my name is Gabe Zaldivar, and I am a closet Rams fan. There are not many of us so I will tread softly.
The Rams need just one thing next season—a wide receiver...and defense. Seeing as how you cannot draft an entire defense, we will concentrate on the wideout position.
Sam Bradford had a great rookie season. The amazing part is that he did this without having a single receiver to throw to. He will get his shortly, and then it is so on.
15. Miami Dolphins: Mark Ingram RB
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There is no telling whether Ronnie Brown or Ricky Williams will return to the Dolphins. That is largely a moot point as the Dolphins treat running backs with a more-the-merrier sentiment.
Ingram will have no problem starting as quickly as next season. But the return of Brown or Williams will add mileage to the young legs. Ingram is just what you want in a running back. He is low to the ground and balanced.
He can stop and cut like no other back in the draft and is impossible to find behind the line. The Dolphins have a potential star in the backfield.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars: Adrian Clayborn DE
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There are a great many defensive ends hoping to make their mark before day one of the 2011 NFL Draft. Clayborn seems to be the perfect blend of power and speed teams are looking for.
The Titans did not bother many offensive lines last season. The opposition was able to get quite comfortable as they drove the ball deeper on them. That needs to stop if they are hoping to matter next season, especially with their question marks on offense.
Clayborn is a pure pass rusher that will stifle the line from the outside. He has no issues going between blockers as well. He is a gritty player that will beef up that side of the ball.
17. New England Patriots (from Raiders): Cameron Jordan DE
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The Patriots will need some depth at defensive end. New England will not be looking for just anybody to slot at the line. They will want some measure of versatility.
Jordan has no issue playing in a 3-4 or a 4-3 set. He is quick from the outside and can be a menace to the offensive line when called upon to take the task himself. More than that, he is a hard worker that takes instruction very well.
Something tells me that is just the guy the Patriots will want.
18. San Diego Chargers: Aldon Smith DE
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The Chargers are a team that just need to add some depth. They still remain the top statistical team on both sides of the ball. They could do well to add another pass rusher but will need one that fits in with the team ethic of hard work.
Smith could be a monster in the league. He has the talent and speed. The only question is his size and strength. If he can prove the critics wrong at the Combine, he would be a steal at 18.
19. New York Giants: Tyron Smith OT
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It took a while, but Smith has finally received credit for his hard work. He has moved up the board in the last month and is a solid mid-round-pick.
The name of the game is to keep Eli Manning alive and kicking in the pocket. Smith gives some versatility as he can take on duties from the right or left-hand side. As long as Smith shows his polish, I don't see how he slips from the first round.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: J.J. Watt DE
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The Buccaneers need someone that can split the line. The young team on the rise had minimal success in getting the quarterback in 2010. Getting to the quarterback is Watt's specialty.
The only thing this man needs is time to adapt to the NFL game. He may not get that with his skill set. Watt could easily be the best pass-rusher the Bucs have as early as next season.
21. Kansas City Chiefs: Justin Houston OLB
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The Chiefs showed last year that they have what it takes to take the division from the Chargers. The one gaping hole they have is at linebacker.
Their playoff game against the Ravens showed how much time they warrant teams with stout offensive lines. Houston will make quarterbacks answer for too much time spent in the pocket perusing their options.
Houston can slice the line open at a moment's notice. Just the mere presence of him will be cause for concern.
22. Indianapolis Colts: Gabe Carimi OT
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Peyton Manning and the Colts may have had a better record and playoff standing if they had some depth on the line last season.
Injuries begot a soft line that punished Manning in the second half of the season. Carimi is a stout blocker that will keep out all the bad stuff from the pocket, like mean old defensive ends that want to hurt the franchise player.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Anthony Castonzo OT
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The Eagles look ever more prepared to make Michael Vick their franchise quarterback. That fact will necessitate taking good care of his well-being.
They will need an adept blocker that has the speed to take care of the outside as well as a rush from the front of the line. Carimi is a quick-footed guard that will give Vick some added assurance that he can make it around the side for a first-down run, not that he can't already do that on his own.
24. New Orleans Saints: Stephen Paea DT
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Stephen Paea has gone up and down the board, but he is still my pick for the Saints at this spot. He is an offensive lineman's worst nightmare.
The line will have to contend with his already stout NFL body. Having 300 pounds constantly coming at you for four quarters will make the legs weak. He will be a force that few linemen will be able to contend with and come away unscathed.
25. Seattle Seahawks: Ryan Mallett QB
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The Seahawks will need a quarterback. Matt Hasselbeck may have found the fountain of youth in the playoffs, but his success will be fleeting.
The Seahawks will more than likely bring back the QB for another season, after that they will need another arm in the bullpen.
Mallet has dropped considerably due to questions about his accuracy. I still feel that he has more upside than Jake Locker. The Seahawks gig is the perfect scenario for him. He can work out the kinks with a year on the sidelines.
26. Baltimore Ravens: Randall Cobb WR
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The Ravens may take one of two positions here. They need a defensive end but could very well look to shore up a deficiency that has become ever more present.
The Ravens need a playmaker on the wings that Joe Flacco can target. Cobb may not be flashy, but neither are the Ravens. He is a great route-runner and will give Flacco a trustworthy target. The Ravens have the rushing attack down pat. Now they need some talent at receiver.
27. Atlanta Falcons: Ryan Kerrigan DE
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Tight end Tony Gonzalez will return for another season. So you can take Kyle Rudolph off your boards for the first round.
The real need now is a pass-rusher that can make an instant impact. Kerrigan is the right player for the right team. He has a knack for finding the quarterback. He is equally adept at plugging up the line on a rush.
28. New England Patriots: Brandon Harris CB
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The Patriots tried their best to pretend that all was right in their secondary. Then came their last game in the playoffs.
The favorites to win the Super Bowl could have actually visited the big game if they could actually lock down one side of the field. Harris will be on his way to help out. He is swift enough to stay with most receivers and strong enough to cut off routes on the inside.
The Patriots make great use of quick learners that work hard. Harris is both. He is a gym rat who will force himself to be the best at his position. He has the makings of a prototypical Patriot.
29. Chicago Bears: Mike Pouncey C/G
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It is abundantly clear that offensive coordinator Mike Martz will not let go of his passing scheme. It was clear that the current line could not hold back linemen from getting to Cutler as he looked downfield.
Martz wants receivers to have enough time to get downfield for a big gain. That is not happening with the current rabble they have. Pouncey is just as talented as his brother Maurkice. You can expect the same Pro Bowl-level containment from the guard or center position.
With this pick, the Bears can finally take five minutes as they wait for a receiver to get open.
30. New York Jets: Corey Liuget DT
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Corey had what we in the business like to call a bit of a weight problem. He has slimmed down and is all the better for it. He has seen his stock rise as his strength maintains, and his speed increases.
The loss of weight also signals the type of work ethic teams become enamored with. There are so many talented players in the draft. It is a blessing to take a young player that has no qualms in putting in the extra work to make a statement.
31. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ryan Williams RB
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The name of the game in this spot is to take the best athlete available. Williams has been up-and-down in mock drafts but is still my pick for the Steelers.
Pittsburgh could use some help on the offensive line, but there are none that warrant a first-round pick left. Williams will give added assurance to the Steelers running game. They are already stacked there, but a fresh pair of legs never hurt anyone.
32. Green Bay Packers: Cameron Heyward DE
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The Packers have taken the prized Lomabardi Trophy home. That does not mean this title team is without its fair share of holes to plug.
The Packers barely made it into the postseason. They could use some help on the offensive line, but that is for the later rounds. Here, they need to take the best defensive end still available. Heyward will shore up an already stout defense.
Having him on the line gives the opposition yet another hard hitter to worry about.
Be sure to visit Bleacher Report's Mock Draft Central:
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