Tom Brady or Peyton Manning? The Ultimate 2011 Mock Draft
As we inch closer to the 2011 NFL Draft with each passing day, it seems that everywhere I look I am bombarded by updated Mock Drafts. What if each team could pick any player for their first round pick? Who would be the first overall pick? Who would teams like Cleveland and San Francisco build their franchise around?
Teams will be drafting based upon their biggest need heading into the 2011-2012 season and cap room isn't a factor.
I have also added a speculation as to how each team would fare with its newest addition.
Enjoy!
1. Carolina Panthers: Aaron Rodgers
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I tricked you, didn't I?
You thought Carolina was going to pick Manning or Brady.
Carolina picks the best quarterback in the league right now: Aaron Rodgers. Coming off his first Super Bowl victory, Rodgers has quieted his critics who say he can't win the big game. Carolina needs a quarterback, and teaming with Steve Smith and Jonathan Stewart would give Rodgers some weapons to run an offense that was very, very bad last year.
2011 Record: 6-10
It would take a few more pieces before Carolina was a playoff team again, but just adding Rodgers improves this team by four games.
2. Denver Broncos: Tom Brady
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Tom Brady knows how to win, and more importantly, he knows how to win with less than spectacular players. Imagine if Tom Brady had weapons like Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, and Dallas Clark at his disposal during his career? He certainly won't get that in Denver, but he has a young running back in Knowshon Moreno and a talented deep threat in Brandon Lloyd.
2011 Record: 9-7
This team started off 2-2 with Kyle Orton as quarterback before spiraling into despair. They also won a game with Tim Tebow as quarterback. Tom Brady is a major upgrade and gives Denver its first "franchise" quarterback since John Elway and gets Denver back on the winning side of things with an increase of five wins over last year.
3. Buffalo Bills: Peyton Manning
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Peyton Manning is arguably the best quarterback to ever play the game. The reason he wasn't drafted with the first pick is because of his age. He'll be 35 to start the year, but even at that age he is probably better than any other quarterback in the league. He would instantly make every other player on the offense side of the football better in Buffalo.
2011 Record: 5-11
This record is in no way the fault of Manning. Buffalo is just a bad football team with no defense. Peyton is worth about 21 points a game by himself. Unfortunately, Buffalo's defense gave up over 26 points per game last year.
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4. Cincinnati Bengals: Troy Polamalu
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This pick is assuming that Carson Palmer doesn't retire or get traded. The Bengal's defense has some nice pieces, but what they lack is a leader and playmaker. Polamalu fills both those needs and has the ability to change games on the defense side of the ball. He could turn around the Bengal's defense in a heartbeat.
2011 Record: 9-7
Remember that this team was a playoff team two years ago and this record doesn't seem too far off. Palmer can still play (if he wants to) and Polamalu gives the defense a much needed boost to bring the Bengals back into playoff contention and add five wins to their regular season total.
5. Arizona Cardinals: Philip Rivers
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The Cardinals were in the Super Bowl in 2008 and playoffs in 2009. The team didn't change much between 2009 and 2010 except for that one guy who decided to retire. Quarterback is the Cardinal's biggest need and Philip Rivers is very good at playing quarterback. If you were to combine the talents of Max Hall, John Skelton, and Derek Anderson, you still wouldn't have the talent of Philip Rivers.
2011 Record: 10-6
This team has a bunch of good players on both sides of the ball and if they had someone who could throw to Larry Fitzgerald, they would definitely be a playoff caliber team.
6. Cleveland Browns: LeBron James
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Just Kidding. He would just let you down again Cleveland.
6. Cleveland Browns: Andre Johnson
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I can't remember the last time the Cleveland Browns had a guy that could do what Andre Johnson could do. The truth is that the Browns beat some solid teams last year (New England and New Orleans) and have some nice pieces to build around on both sides of the ball. One piece they are missing is a true No. 1 receiver, and Andre Johnson is a pure beast of a receiver. He had eight touchdowns last year. The whole Brown's receiving corps had thirteen.
2011 Record: 7-9
Colt McCoy is still figuring out the NFL and would need a year to mesh with Johnson. With Johnson, they would be a threat to make the playoffs in 2012.
7. San Francisco 49ers: Ben Roethlisberger
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There are many teams in the league that need a quality quarterback, but no team has needed one as long as the 49ers. Ben Roethlisberger is a top tier quarterback and more importantly he is a quarterback that has a few Super Bowl rings. He would have nice targets in Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis and if Frank Gore comes back healthy, this could be a scary offense.
2011 Record: 8-8
With a new coach and new quarterback, the 49ers are a year away from making a splash. If they can hold on to all their other key players, 2012 could be a special year. We've seen Big Ben win with less talent before.
8. Tennessee Titans: Ed Reed
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You could argue that the Titans biggest need is a quarterback, but with a pick this high I'm looking for a true superstar. Ed Reed is that player. The Titans have been their best when they have had a great defensive player (Jevon Kearse and Albert Haynesworth) and the addition of Ed Reed would make the Titans' defense a very solid unit.
2011 Record: 5-11
Drafting Ed Reed is a step in the right direction, but to win in the NFL you need a quarterback, and Kerry Collins is older than my grandma. If the Titans use a draft pick on a young quarterback, it will be a few years until they are contenders.
9. Dallas Cowboys: Chris Johnson
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The Cowboys, at this point in the draft, still have all their key players and adding Chris Johnson would propel them to the top of the league. Chris Johnson is a workhorse and a threat to score every time he touches the ball. With an offense this loaded, Jerry Jones would be able to sit back, relax, and count his money.
2011 Record: 14-2
As it sits right now, the Cowboys still have all of their best players and they add a top notch running back in Christ Johnson. As much as I dislike everything about the Cowboys, this team would be fun to watch and hard to beat.
10. Washington Redskins: Adrian Peterson
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The Washington Redskins have many needs and quarterback is probably their biggest need due to the fact that they started Rex Grossman last year, however, you can't pass on Adrian Peterson at this point in the draft. He is one of the best running backs in the league and continues to improve on the smaller parts of his game each year. He is the type of player to build a team around and the Redskins are in rebuilding mode.
2011 Record: 4-12
Adrian Peterson can only carry the ball so many times during a game and I don't fully believe in Rex Grossman's ability to hand the ball off.
11. Houston Texans: Darrelle Revis
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The Texans have always needed help on the defensive side of the ball. Darrelle Revis is a shutdown corner and would have an instant impact on the league's worst pass defense unit. With Revis, Brian Cushing, and Mario Williams, the Texans defense might actually be able to stop some teams.
2011 Record: 10-6
Each year the Texans are the "dark horse" for the AFC playoffs and with the addition of Revis they actually live up to their high preseason expectations.
12. Minnesota Vikings: Joe Thomas
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Even though the Vikings lost Adrian Peterson, I wouldn't use this pick a running back. Toby Gerhart played well in his rookie season and looks like he could be a decent back in the league. Joe Thomas has been to the Pro Bowl in each of his four seasons and he is a dominant force at the tackle position. He can be the anchor of the offensive line in Minnesota for many years.
2011 Record: 5-11
Losing your best player hurts and it also hurts not having a quarterback. Joe Thomas is a great left tackle to build around, but 2011 for the Vikings will be a down year.
13. Detroit Lions: Jake Long
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The Lions have a good young nucleus to build around and it was a toss up between a shutdown corner or an offensive lineman. With Darelle Revis already gone, Jake Long becomes the left tackle responsible for protecting Matthew Stafford. Jake Long has also been to every Pro Bowl since he came into the league and would be key in keeping Stafford healthy.
Record 2011: 10-6
This Lions team is young and has talented players in key positions. Adding a left tackle like Jake Long would make this a playoff team.
14. St. Louis Rams: Larry Fitzgerald
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The Rams have a very good young quarterback and all he needs is someone to throw the ball to. Larry Fitzgerald is a top receiver who can make plays after the catch. He is an All Pro caliber receiver when he has a quarterback that can throw to him. Sam Bradford can certainly throw the ball, and this young duo could easily become the best in the league.
2011 Record: 9-7
Adding Fitzgerald makes the Ram's offense very dangerous, but the defense still needs a few pieces. They would challenge for the division title in 2011, but 2012 could be a special year if they add the right players.
15. Miami Dolphins: Maurice Jones-Drew
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Both Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are having trouble staying healthy and are no longer effective at the running back position. Maurice Jones-Drew is an all around back who could easily carry the load in Miami. Chad Henne would still need to be replaced, but Jones-Drew made Jacksonville a threat to make the playoffs with David Garrard as quarterback.
2011 Record: 6-10
Adding Jones-Drew will certainly help the running game in Miami, but losing a Pro Bowl left tackle and not having any other superstars on either side of the ball won't help win games.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars: Calvin Johnson
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Losing a player like Jones-Drew hurts, but Rashad Jennings showed flashes of excellence while Jones-Drew was injured. What the Jaguars haven't had since Jimmy Smith is a standout wide receiver. Calvin Johnson (a.k.a. MegaTron) is a beast of a player and one of the best young receivers in the game. He can make plays all over the field and is a nightmare for defenses.
2011 Record: 8-8
Giving David Garrard a weapon like Johnson will sure help, but losing Jones-Drew still stings. If Rashad Jennings can play steady for an entire year, this team could sneak into the playoffs.
17. New England (From Oakland): Drew Brees
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Drew Brees is no Tom Brady, but he is an instant upgrade over Brian Hoyer and Jonathan Crompton. Brees won't have the weapons at wide receiver like he did in New Orleans, but Bill Belichick is one of the best coaches in the league and Brees is a veteran and proven winner. Brees won't pass as much as he did in New Orleans, but he will still be very effective at the quarterback position.
2011 Record: 13-3
Losing Tom Brady hurts, but Drew Brees is one of the top quarterbacks, even if he is a little older. With a young defense and a draft pick still to come in the first round, New England is poised for another deep playoff run.
18. San Diego Chargers: Nnamdi Asomugha
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Losing a franchise quarterback like Philip Rivers is tough, but Billy Volek is a decent back-up and with the top-tier quarterbacks gone already, the Chargers get the second best cornerback in the league. Asomugha can do it all and would improve the Chargers defense right away. Asomugha has made the last four Pro Bowls and that trend would continue in San Diego.
2011 Record: 8-8
Rivers was the key player in San Diego, but if Volek can get the ball to Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates, the offense will be just fine. Asomugha is a spectacular player and improves the defense, but I see this team struggling again like it did in 2010.
19. New York Giants: Patrick Willis
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Patrick Willis is the best young middle linebacker in the league and the Giants are in desperate need of a middle linebacker. They still have Eli Manning at this point in the draft and talent throughout their offense, so I see them strengthening their defense. Willis has been selected to the All Pro Team and Pro Bowl in each of his four seasons and is a force in the middle of the field.
2011 Record: 11-5
The Giants have some young players on offense and Patrick Willis is very, very, very good. The defense will get a huge boost and the offense will continue to roll pushing the Giants into the playoffs.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Asante Samuel
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Tampa Bay was a tough team to draft for, but Ronde Barber is getting old and adding a player like Samuel would give the Buccaneers one of the better cornerback tandems in the country. Samuel is a ball hawk who has won a few Super Bowls and could be the future leader of a young Tampa Bay team. He has averaged 6 INT's over his seven year career.
2011 Record - 12-4
Tampa Bay is already on its way up the league and adding a player with Samuel's skills only make them scarier. They make the playoffs this year, but are a year away from being true contenders.
21. Kansas City Chiefs: James Harrison
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James Harrison scares me. The Kansas City Chiefs defense doesn't have a player that I would consider intimidating. They have a very good, and very young, defense and adding a player like Harrison would make it one of the best in the league. Harrison is an incredible pass rusher and would fit nicely into Kansas City's 3-4 defense.
2011 Record: 11-5
This was a playoff team in 2010 and adding Harrison makes this team better. The defense will shut down any team, but the offense will struggle to get it going at times. Kansas City makes the playoffs, but loses early.
22. Indianapolis Colts: Eli Manning
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Indianapolis is bitter over losing Peyton and decides to try its luck with the younger Manning brother. Eli is a solid player who has won as many Super Bowls as Peyton, but the comparisons between the two stop there. Eli will have more weapons in Indy than in New York, so he has the opportunity to put together a nice season.
2011 Record: 5-11
Eli is no Peyton and Peyton wins about 80% of the games for the Colts by himself.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Julius Peppers
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The Eagles have always played an aggressive style of defense and Julius Peppers is a freak athlete who can get to the quarterback. He is a six time Pro Bowler and been on the All Pro Team five times. He would give the Eagles a true pass rusher that they haven't had since Jevon Kearse. Peppers would tear threw the NFC East.
2011 Record: 12-4
The addition of Peppers makes the Eagles a Super Bowl contender. The defense would become ferocious and the offense would still be dynamic.
24. New Orleans Saints: Ndamukong Suh
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Ndamukong Suh is a rare talent and dominated the league his rookie season. He will only get better, and even though New Orleans lost Drew Brees, Suh is the best choice here. New Orleans needs someone to stop the run and Suh can do it all at the defensive tackle position. He has the opportunity to go down as one of the best defensive lineman of all time.
2011 Record: 8-8
Drew Brees was the leader of the Saints team and losing him hurts. Chase Daniel is a young quarterback, but hasn't proven anything in the NFL. Suh will improve the defense, but the offense is what will ultimately bring this team down.
25. Seattle Seahawks: Clay Matthews
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This pick was a toss up between Tony Romo and Clay Matthews. I personally still have faith in Matt Hasselbeck for a few more years. Clay Matthews tore up the NFL in his second season and if he hadn't been injured, he probably would have won the Defensive Player of the Year award. Clay Matthews would bring a dominant pass rusher to Seattle and give the Seahawks a good young defense.
2011 Record: 8-8
Clay Matthews is only going to get better and teaming him with other young stars such as Earl Thomas and Aaron Curry would keep Seattle in most games. If Matt Hasselbeck can keep it together, the Seahawks could fight for the division.
26. Baltimore Ravens: DeMarcus Ware
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Even though the Ravens lost All-Pro safety Ed Reed, they still boast one of the best defenses in the league. They could add a true superstar wide receiver with this pick, but the Ravens have been about defense this decade and I look for them to add a dynamic pass rusher. DeMarcus Ware has been near impossible for opposing offenses to stop and teaming up with the Raven's defense will only make him better.
2011 Record: 13-3
Adding DeMarcus Ware makes the Ravens a clear cut favorite to win the Super Bowl. Their offense has remained intact and adding Ware makes the Ravens that much scarier.
27. Atlanta Falcons: Reggie Wayne
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Reggie Wayne has been one of the best wide receivers in the game for the past decade. The Falcons already boast a great receiver in Roddy White and adding Wayne makes this offense very dangerous. Reggie Wayne still excelled while playing behind Marvin Harrison, so if he needs to be the second option in Atlanta, he will still be a threat.
2011 Record: 14-2
The Falcons haven't lost a single player to the draft and they add a spectacular offensive weapon in Reggie Wayne. The Falcons will begin the season as Super Bowl favorites in the NFC.
28. New England Patriots: Jamaal Charles
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I can't remember the last time the Patriots had a dominant running back, but that ends with New England drafting Jamaal Charles. Jamaal Charles led the league in yards per carry in 2010 and in New England he would be the feature back. I wouldn't be surprised to see Charles top 2,000 rushing yards in 2011.
2011 Record: 15-1
With their second pick of the first round, New England makes their team the favorite to make the Super Bowl in the AFC. Jamaal Charles helps to make the loss of Tom Brady sting a little less.
29. Chicago Bears: Roddy White
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Since the arrival of Jay Cutler in Chicago, people have always wondered who he would throw to. Roddy White has put together a few very impressive seasons and is a proven No. 1 wide receiver in the NFL. White can make plays after the catch and has a great desire to win. With a quarterback like Cutler throwing him the ball, look for White to be near the league leaders in receiving yards again in 2011
2011 Record: 11-5
Adding a player like Roddy White will help make the Bears offense scary, but the defense is getting older and everyone is still up in the air about Jay Cutler's ability. The Bears will win the NFC North, but don't expect a deep playoff run.
30. New York Jets: Dwight Freeney
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The New York Jets still believe that Mark Sanchez is their franchise quarterback, so they look to beef up their already stellar defense. Dwight Freeney is a sack master who would be unstoppable in Rex Ryan's defense. He is relentless in trying to get to the quarterback and being surrounded by so many other high quality players will make Freeney that much better.
2011 Record: 9-7
The Jets defense will be one of the best in the league with the addition of Freeney, but Mark Sanchez will ultimately doom this team and make them miss out on the playoffs.
31. Pittsburgh Steelers: Charles Woodson
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Losing Roethlisberger makes the Steelers look at a quarterback with this pick, but with Byron Leftwich still on the team, I look for them to improve their sub-par cornerback situation. Charles Woodson is a corner who can defend the pass, but is also very good at attacking the quarterback. He can also make open field tackles and even though he is starting to get older, he is still one of the better all around corners in the league.
2011 Record: 7-9
The Steelers lost their franchise quarterback and two Defensive Player of the Year winners. Adding a playmaker like Woodson will help, but this team misses the playoffs.
32. Green Bay Packers: Ray Rice
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The Packers have lost more than anyone in this draft and instead of trying to replace one of their lost stars, they bring in a running back who can do it all. Ray Rice is nearly impossible to tackle in the open field and the Packers will get him involved in the offense as many ways as they possibly can. He will run the ball, catch the ball, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him throw the ball either.
2011 Record: 2-14
Adding Ray Rice is nice, but look for the Packers to fall hard after losing Rogers, Matthews, and Woodson. One good thing is that they will be able to draft Andrew Luck in the 2012 draft.
2011 Playoffs
34 of 34NFC
NFC North - Chicago Bears
NFC East - Dallas Cowboys
NFC South - Atlanta Falcons
NFC West - Arizona Cardinals
Wild Card Teams - Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles
AFC
AFC North - Baltimore Ravens
AFC East - New England Patriots
AFC South - Houston Texans
AFC West - Kansas City Chiefs
Wild Card Teams - Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals
Super Bowl
New England 35, Atlanta 21
The New England Patriots draft better than anyone, and even with the loss of Tom Brady they get better and win it all.
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