2011 Mock NFL Draft: Whose Combine Performances Rose Their Draft Stock?
The 2011 NFL Combine has come to an end, and with the exception of the upcoming Pro Day, there's not many chances left for players to change their draft stock. As such, those who came out with solid performances should feel happy that they will more than likely go higher in the draft, and many of those first rounders who had disappointing days should fear the potential loss of their Day One draft status.
Let's take a look at how the Combine has affected the upcoming 2011 NFL Draft. The Carolina Panthers are now on the clock...
With the First Pick in the 2011 Draft, the Carolina Panthers Select...
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Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
The Panthers have a lot of needs, in particular Quarterback and D-line. With multiple questions surrounding QBs Blaine Gabbart and Cam Newton following the Combine, it is unlikely they will take a QB this year. If there is a season, they can sign a free agent QB like Donovan McNabb or Kevin Kolb. If there is none, they can use their 2011 pick on a QB like Andrew Luck (if they're lucky enough to get the first overall pick again) or Kellen Moore.
That pretty much leaves them with a defensive lineman. The top three choices are DTs Nick Fairley and Marcell Dareus as well as DE Da'Quan Bowers. Neither Fairley or Dareus had particularly amazing Combines. Fairley's was a tad disappointing and Dareus's was not quite good enough to push him high enough to leap Bowers and Fairley. An option if they don't take either of them is to bring in Tommie Harris from the Chicago Bears, who was released a few days ago, once a new CBA is in place.
Da'Quan Bowers is simply an absolute beast. He had a monster season for the Clemson Tigers and can be a solid replacement for Julius Peppers, whose departure from the Panthers following the 2009 season was felt all year long in 2010 as they finished in the bottom 10 in rush defense and 20th in forced sacks. Bowers can help with both of those. The reigning Bronko Nagurski Award winner and ACC Defensive Player of the Year will help anchor down a mediocre Panthers D-line, fixing just one of the many problems present on this squad.
With the Second Overall Pick, the Denver Broncos Select...
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Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
Let's face it, the Broncos have a ton of needs defensively. I considered putting Nick Fairley here, but much of the reason for the Broncos' 31st ranked rush defense was injuries all season long, including Pro Bowl LB Elvis Dumervil and DT Jamal Williams.
However, injuries were not an issue for the Broncos' secondary, which also ranked in the bottom 10 of the league. Despite the four-year contract that perennial Pro Bowler Champ Bailey signed this off season, one can't deny that he is only getting older. As well, there is nobody worthwhile opposite him.
That's where Patrick Peterson comes in. He will be a solid choice to play opposite the veteran Bailey and be a potential replacement for Bailey whenever he calls it quits. The LSU corner who won almost every award he was in the running for would be a force to be reckoned with and, following a solid Combine performance, would have almost no chance of falling out of the top three or so. He's also a force as a return man, thanks to his blazing speed and agility.
With the Third Overall Pick, the Buffalo Bills Select...
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A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
Like the Panthers, the Bills have needs pretty much everywhere. There are numerous options for where they could pick. They could look to a QB like Blaine Gabbart or Cam Newton. They could try to assist current QB Ryan Fitzpatrick by giving him a WR. Or they could try to bolster their anemic 32nd ranked rush defense.
In the end, their two best options at the third overall pick come down to WR A.J. Green and DT Nick Fairley. Unfortunately for Fairley, current Bills NT Kyle Williams somehow managed to nab a Pro Bowl spot this past season. Thus, the Bills will go with Green.
Fitzpatrick did not have a bad season overall, but his main issue was a lack of players to throw to. Green is the answer to those problems. Despite missing four games to start the season, he still produced numbers that would make most WRs envious. He's got great speed and ball handling abilities and has a bright future in the NFL.
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With the Fourth Overall Pick, the Cincinnati Bengals Select...
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Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
With the recent news that Carson Palmer would rather quit playing football forever than play in Cincinnati, it's become pretty clear where the Bengals have to go here. While they have a few other needs, none of them are nearly as vital as the need at QB will become assuming Palmer does not change his mind.
While they've got a free choice between Blaine Gabbert and Cam Newton, I predict the Bengals will select the QB that is a little closer to Palmer's mold, Gabbert. Much more of a pocket QB, Gabbert will make good use of the Bengals' solid O-line. His choices for passing are a bit limited depending on what happens with diva wideouts Chad Johnson and Terrell Owens, but he will likely make better use of whoever is left than Newton, who regularly overthrew his targets during his rather lackluster performance at the Combine. It will be the first time the Bengals selected a QB in the first round since...oh yeah, Carson Palmer.
With the Fifth Overall Pick, the Arizona Cardinals Select...
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Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
The Cardinals have fallen quite mightily since their shocking Super Bowl run in 2008. Many of their key players from that season (Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin, Karlos Dansby, and Antrel Rolle for example) have either retired or been traded away. The only one they really adequately replaced was Rolle, whose replacement, former Jets S Kerry Rhodes, had a solid year in 2010. They're a team with many needs, including QB, RB, DE, and LB.
There aren't any RBs this year worth taking in the Top five. That leaves them with three choices: QB Cam Newton, DE Robert Quinn, and OLB Von Miller. While Newton may not be a bad choice, WR Larry Fitzgerald has made it known that he does not want a rookie QB throwing to him this season, preferring that the Cardinals attempt to acquire either Eagles QB Kevin Kolb or Ravens QB Mark Bulger.
Between Quinn and Miller, the obvious choice is Miller. Von Miller, who had a monstrous season with the Aggies of Texas A&M, followed it up with a monster performance at the Combine. The fact that he even falls all the way to fifth would make him a steal for the Cardinals, who are desperate to replace former LB Karlos Dansby, now with the Miami Dolphins. Miller has both the speed and strength to be a great LB at the next level.
With the Sixth Overall Pick, the Cleveland Browns Select...
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Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
There are reasons to be optimistic about the future for Browns fans (and how many times can you say that?). Rookie QB Colt McCoy showed some promising signs in 2010 and RB Peyton Hillis had a monster season. However, defensively there is still a lot to be desired. They have needs in multiple positions, most notably their 27th ranked rush defense. They could also look offensively toward a WR, though at this point, defense is a much bigger need.
Nick Fairley is an absolute steal at this pick. The Browns would scoop him up immediately to help their anemic DT corp and help to bolster their run defense. Despite a less-than-stellar Combine, Fairley is still the best DT in the draft and more than an adequate choice for the sixth overall pick.
With the Seventh Overall Pick, the San Francisco 49ers Select...
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Tyron Smith, OT, USC
Many great things were expected of the San Francisco 49ers this past season. An otherwise pathetically weak NFC West was supposed to mean an easy division title for a team who has not made the playoffs in over half a decade. Instead, they were one of those weak teams, finishing tied for last with the Cardinals. This could primarily be chocked up to QB play, as former first round pick Alex Smith continued to under perform.
As a result, I predict this team will try to move farther towards being a run-first offense centered around Pro Bowl RB Frank Gore. As such, their solution will be to bolster a troublesome offensive line by bringing in USC OT Tyron Smith.
Smith had a great year for the Trojans. He was voted the top offensive lineman in the PAC-10 this season and his draft stock has been climbing higher and higher as the offseason goes on, making him the top OL prospect in this draft. San Francisco will scoop him up to help Frank Gore continue being a great RB, and maybe he'll also provide enough protection for whoever plays QB for them next season so they at least have a decent year.
With the Eighth Overall Pick, the Tennessee Titans Select...
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Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
Tennessee was another team that underperformed in 2010. QB Vince Young, who led a fantastic turnaround in the second half of 2010, was finally supposed to emerge as a top-tier QB. RB Chris Johnson was aiming for 2500 yards rushing on the season, which would annihilate the single-season rushing record. The defense was supposed to be the typical stout Titans defense.
Instead, Vince Young's career in Tennessee is over after a disappointing season and a feud with now-former coach Jeff Fisher. Johnson had a good year, but nowhere near his performance in 2009 or where he was aiming for. The defense, particular the secondary, was troublesome. The secondary ranked fourth-to-last in the NFL in giving up passing yards.
In particular, CB Cortland Finnegan had a troublesome year. The former Pro Bowl corner was fined at three separate points in the season for incidents involving Giants WR Steve Smith and Broncos G Chris Kuper, as well as the infamous brawl with Texans WR Andre Johnson. His performance was also less than stellar. There's also very little behind him on the depth chart.
As such, they'll take Nebraska CB Prince Amukamara, who will help improve their mediocre pass defense. Amukamara had a great season with the Cornhuskers, and won't have to travel too far to join the Titans.
With the Ninth Overall Pick, the Dallas Cowboys Select...
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Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina
"Underperforming" doesn't even begin to describe the 2010 Cowboys, who were considered the favorites to win the Super Bowl by most people. Instead, they finished last in the NFC East thanks to a 1-7 start that led to the firing of coach Wade Phillips. Though they managed to finish 5-3, the damage was done. Injuries rocked the team, including QB Tony Romo, off the field issues were present, and their dreams of being the first team to play on their home field in the Super Bowl blinded them and caused them to stumble out of the gates.
However, there's still not too many places where they are in bad need. The most prominent spot is their pass defense, which had a dismal season. However, with Peterson and Amukamara off the board, there's nobody else truly worth taking in the top 10 picks at that position.
Instead, they'll look toward a DE to try to improve from being 16th in the league in sacking opposing QBs. The solution is DE Robert Quinn out of North Carolina. Despite not playing at all in 2010 due to suspension, his draft stock's been rising in the last few months, and now he's considered the second best DE in an already very deep DE class. The Cowboys don't have a ton of talent at that position, so they'll go after Quinn to help put QBs on their backs and bring down the passing yards against them.
With the Tenth Overall Pick, the Washington Redskins Select
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Marcell Dareus, DT, Auburn
Here is another team that will have a variety of needs entering 2011 (or 2012, depending on if there's football this year). Donovan McNabb's time in Washington will likely come to a quiet end. RB Clinton Portis, after battling injuries the last few seasons, has already been released. Their WRs are mediocre at best and their entire defense could use help.
In the end, the Redskins will take the best player on the board, DT Marcell Dareus. One of their many needs is DT, where Albert Haynesworth's time in our nation's capital has been absolutely disastrous. Constant feuding with the coaches, never playing up to his potential, and sometimes just giving up on plays means that his time in DC is just about over. Since the majority of the money in his contract was in the first two years, the Redskins will not have to eat a lot of cash to let him go. Even if they don't, they'll still likely bring in Dareus if he's still on the board. He brings a lot of strength and ability to the team. And if nothing else, it's a morale move for a team whose fanbase absolutely loathes their current DT.
With the Eleventh Overall Pick, the Houston Texans Select...
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Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
Yet another team who performed below expectations in 2010 was the Houston Texans, who had finally gotten their first winning season in 2009. I'll admit I was one who predicted they would win their division this year thanks to an otherwise weak AFC South and the presence of the combo of QB Matt Schaub and WR Andre Johnson. That belief was only bolstered by their embarrassment of the Colts in Week one.
That belief did not come to fruition though, thanks to their secondary which, to put it bluntly, was absolutely horrifying. They were dead last in the NFL in yards allowed and TD allowed, while being bottom 10 in forced interceptions.
Jimmy Smith is a bit of a stretch at this point, but this position is far and away the most vital one for the Texans to address, so they may just need to make a stretch unless by some chance Prince Amukamara falls to them. He had a solid season for the Buffaloes, but some character issues are the big thing that is holding him back. But at this point, the Texans need all they can get back there.
With the Twelvth Overall Pick, the Minnesota Vikings Select...
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Cameron Newton, QB, Auburn
In another installment in our long line of teams that under performed, we have the Minnesota Vikings, considered by most to be the team that would give the Cowboys the biggest fight for the NFC crown. Favre had an historic 2009 and the defense was one of the best in the league. Cue 2010, and Favre is almost dead and the defense, which prided itself on its ability to sack the QB, was unable to get any pressure.
With the news that the Vikings have released QB Tavaris Jackson, it is clear what move they should make. Grab Cam Newton, Heisman winning QB for the Auburn Tigers. It's clear that the Vikings love themselves some mobile QBs; besides Favre their other two QBs this past season were mobile QBs Tavaris Jackson and Joe Webb. Newton has the size and speed to be one of the best mobile QBs since Michael Vick. His overthrowing is a bit of a problem, but a WR like Percy Harvin is very hard to overthrow with his immense speed.
With the Thirteenth Overall Pick, the Detroit Lion Select...
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J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin
For once, we have a team that actually over performed. The Lions, despite winning only two combined games between 2008 and 2009, managed to win their last four games of the season in 2010 to finish at a respectable 6-10. While that shot their chances at getting CB Patrick Peterson or even Prince Amukamara, this is clearly a team on its way up thanks to young up-and-comers like QB Matt Stafford (if he can stay healthy) and reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, DT Ndamukong Suh, who could end up becoming the best DT since Warren Sapp.
However, that's not to say they don't have their needs, though most are on the defensive side of the ball, where, outside of DT, they aren't particularly stellar in anything. They'll address their D-line for the second straight year by taking Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt, whose stock has been climbing in recent weeks. Watt had a stellar year with the Badgers and could end up one of the best DEs in this draft class. He'll fit quite well next to Suh.
With the Fourteenth Overall Pick, the St. Louis Rams Select...
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Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
St. Louis had a shockingly decent season in 2010, finishing 6-10 and one game away from winning the NFC West after only winning six games in the entire three year span prior. This can mostly be chocked up to reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Sam Bradford, who set rookie records in attempts and completions, beating the old owner of those records, the somewhat decent QB know as Peyton Manning.
He did all this without anybody worthwhile to throw to. His best receiver has been battling injuries and he doesn't have much depth beyond that. Because of such, this pick is a no-brainer. Julio Jones had a monster combine despite a broken foot. Other teams like Washington may stray away in case that foot becomes in issue once he's in the league, but at the 14th overall pick, this guy is a steal for a team desperate for a franchise wideout.
With the Fifteenth Overall Pick, the Miami Dolphins Select...
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Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
The Miami Dolphins are in a bad position. They're a decent team that is forced to share a division with two great teams. As long as Bill Belichick and Rex Ryan remain in their current jobs, the Dolphins are gonna be hard pressed to win the AFC East any time soon. Oh, and they also won't do it if they don't address their myriad of issues on offense. Their RBs are old and over the hill, Chad Henne is not developing as "Dolfans" would have hoped, and his main backup, Chad Pennington, can't escape injury.
They could address QB, but the next best choice is Jake Locker, and he's not really much of an option this early in the first round. As such, they'll look to replace Ricky Williams and/or Ronny Brown by taking former Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram. He's got the size, speed, agility, and toughness to be a great RB in the NFL. Some have compared him to Emmitt Smith. I'm not gonna go that far, but he's gonna have a decent career, and Dolphins can't afford to pass him up.
With the Sixteenth Overall Pick, the Jacksonville Jaguars Select...
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Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
Apparently, talks about the team possibly moving to Los Angeles actually helped them, or at least their fanbase, because they did not have nearly as much trouble selling tickets in 2010 than in 2009, which is ironic when you notice they were worse this year than last.
The team's main needs are QB, DE, and CB. Garrard had a good enough season that the Jaguars don't need to stretch for Locker and can wait for a guy like Christian Ponder in the second round. There are also not any good choices for CB at this pick. That just leaves DE. And the best choice here is Adrian Clayborn.
Clayborn was a machine at the DE spot while playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes, and he will help Jacksonville fix up its 31st ranked pass rush. He can also be a good anchor to help them improve their run and pass defenses, both of which were troublesome in 2010.
With the Seventeenth Overall Pick, the New England Patriots Select...
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Cameron Jordan, DE, California
The Patriots were an oddball team in 2010. They produced the NFL MVP (Tom Brady) two years after he had his ankle exploded. Their two best RBs were both undrafted, and yet they still produced a 1000-yard RB in BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Their top two WRs were a guy coming off a horrible knee injury at the end of 2009 and a former Patriot who had a disappointing tenure in Seattle, and yet they both had solid years. Their defense let up a ton of yards, and yet also forced an absurd amount of turnovers and may have the next elite CB in Devin McCourty.
There are many ways they can go with this pick, which they acquired from the Oakland Raiders when they unloaded Richard Seymour. In particular , they could use an OL (particularly a guard), DE, OLB, or CB. CB is not too important with McCourty leading the way. As for OL, I'm confident they can resign OT Matt Light, but they've already lost Stephen Neal to retirement and could lose Logan Mankins before too long. However, there's no great guard available at this spot. Same goes for OLB.
That leaves DE, and that's why they will take in Cal DE Cameron Jordan, a bright young prospect who can only get brighter under the tutelage of defensive mastermind Bill Belichick. And it can also be a bit of a symbolic pick, since the player they trades away for this pick was a superstar DE.
With the Eighteenth Overall Pick, the San Diego Chargers Select...
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Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
San Diego was definitely the biggest oddball team in 2010. Number two in pass offense, a decent 15th in rushing, top two in both pass and run defense, tied for second in pass rush, one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history, and yet they finished a measly 8-8 and tied for second in the AFC West. Their big issue was their special teams, with a mediocre return game and absolutely putrid protection on punts, allowing an NFL record amount of punt blocks.
Obviously you can't spend a first round pick on a guy who will only be on special teams. OT Nate Solder is their best choice here. The best remaining OL on the board, he will be helpful in protecting QB Phillip Rivers, as the team was 19th in sacks allowed. He can also help anchor the line on punts to protect Mike Scifres.
With the Ninteenth Overall Pick, the New York Giants Select...
19 of 32Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois
This is the second straight team that put up playoff caliber stats with playoff caliber talent, and yet didn't make the playoffs, though that's more due to a deep wild card race that saw TWO 10-6 squads stay home in January. The biggest problem this team had was turnovers. QB Eli Manning led the NFL in most thrown interceptions and RBs had trouble hanging on to the ball at times.
However, the talent on the offense is still very good, as Manning is still a solid QB and their RBs are both quite good. They've got possibly the deepest corp of WRs and their O-line allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL in 2010. Their defense doesn't have many needs, but one place they could address is DT. Their main guy there, Barry Cofield, had a decent, but not amazing season. However, no other DT had much of a season despite the team running a 4-3 scheme.
To address this, the Giants should draft Illinois DT Corey Liuget, one of the top DT prospects in this draft class. He'll play alongside Cofield and help anchor down the D-line which, despite being top 10 in total yard rushing allowed, was only middle of the pack in YPA allowed at 4.2.
With the Twentieth Overall Pick, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Select...
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Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri
Possibly the most pleasantly surprising team in the NFL in 2010 was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who went from a measily three wins in 2009 to 10 in 2010. This was due in most part to the emerge of a corp of bright, young offensive players, including rising second year QB Josh Freeman, rookie RB LeGarette Blount and rookie WR Mike Williams, all of whom had astounding years.
What mostly held them back, though, was their defense. In particular, their run defense allowed the fifth most total yards rushing and the second most YPA at a whopping 4.7. They also had serious trouble sacking opposing QBs, with the team's sack leader (Stylez G. White) only getting 4.5. They addressed DT with Gerald McCoy last year, and time will tell how he fares due to injuries hampering his rookie season. Thus, they need a DE.
That DE is Aldon Smith, the second player in the draft to come out of Missouri. He can be a mean pass rusher for the Bucs, who are in desperate need of one. He can also play OLB, which is good, because none of their OLBs this season produced great numbers either. He'll bring that dose of pressure this defensive front needs.
With the Twenty-First Overall Pick, the Kansas City Chiefs Select...
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Brandon Harris, CB, Miami (FL)
Now we reach the playoff teams, which means there will usually be much fewer needs per team, making it more obvious what each team needs. First is the Kansas City Chiefs, another very pleasant surprise, who came out of the depths of a 4-12 season to steal the AFC West. This is mostly attributed to their offense, with the almost MVP-esque play of QB Matt Cassel and great RBs like Jamaal Charles, Thomas Jones, and rookie Dexter McCluster. However, they had some issues on the defensive side.
Most notably, they had some issues with their pass defense, ranked in the middle of the pack and pretty bad at forcing interceptions. This was most apparent in their playoff loss to Baltimore, when Joe Flacco had a field day against their secondary.
They're gonna need to address the CB position. The best player left on the board is CB Brandon Harris of the Miami Hurricanes. Though most big boards had him as a very late first round or early second round prospect, he had a solid Combine performance that caught many eyes, including Deion Sanders, who knows a thing or two about CB play. He was not a ball hawk in his college days, but he was a great shut down corner, despite his relatively small size. He plays the receiver well, rarely allowing the ball to get into their hands, even if it means him not getting the pick. He'll be a nice addition to the Chiefs' secondary.
With the Twenty-Second Overall Pick, the Indianapolis Colts Select
22 of 32Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple
2010 was a disappointing year for the Indianapolis Colts, who finished 10-6 and had to fight until the last week of the season to lock up the AFC South. Future HoFer Peyton Manning proved he was mortal with a large number of interceptions, their RBs couldn't stay healthy, Austin Collie had a few too many knocks to the head, and their defense was porous at times.
Their biggest need at the moment is safety, but there are no really good 1st round prospects at that position, so they'll address their next biggest need, their run defense. Obviously their DE position is secure with Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. However, they need help at DT. This was a team that allowed the eighth most rushing yards in 2010, partly because of weak DT play.
As such, the Colts will draft Temple DT Muhammad Wilkerson to plug up the middle and try to stop the run. He's a big force with a lot of strength who has the potential to be an immediate contributor to this Colts team.
With the Twenty-Third Overall Pick, the Philadelphia Eagles Select...
23 of 32Anthony Costanzo, OT, Boston College
I'm not an Eagles fan, but I can't help but admit that the Eagles were the most fun team to watch in 2010 thanks to play from guys like QB Michael Vick and WR Desean Jackson. I don't think anybody honestly expected Vick to return to the form from his early Atlanta days, but he not only returned to that form, he was even better, becoming a solid passer to complement his great running ability.
However, he started to struggle a bit down the stretch. He was hit an awful lot and it was clear that it was taking its toll on him. The Eagles are gonna need to help him stay upright if they don't want him dead by the end of next season.
The answer is to bulk up their O-line by taking Boston College OT Anthony Costanzo, who was one of the best OL in all of college football last year. He'll be the force the Eagles need to hold back pass rushers and keep Vick upright so he can either find Desean Jackson for a TD bomb or run it himself.
With the Twenty-Fourth Overall Pick, the New Orleans Saints Select...
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Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA
Everything seemed to be going right for the Saints in the latter half of 2010. They were winning a lot and they seemed to have returned to their 2009 form. Then, a force hit them. A force by the name of Marshawn Lynch.
What that play proved was that the Saints defensive has issues with tackling. They need more strength, particularly in their front seven so Tracy Porter doesn't need to relive the nightmare of Lynches "Get off me!" stiff arm.
With that in mind, the Saints will look to improve their OLB group by taking UCLA LB Akeem Ayers, who the Saints hope will help them improve their tackling. He can also help their pass rush, which finished in the bottom half of the league in 2010.
With the Twenty-Fifth Overall Pick, the Seattle Seahawks Select...
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Jake Locker, QB, Washington
Seattle's shocking claim to the NFC West crown in 2010 was especially shocking when you realize that they finished in the lower half of the league in both offensive categories AND both defensive categories. But thanks to a weak division, it did not take much for Seattle to lay claim to their first division title since 2007.
While they could look just about anywhere for help, I think they'll decide that Matt Hasselbeck is just a little too old and go after local hero Jake Locker out of nearby Washington. His draft stock has been all over the place over the last year. At first he was considered a sure-fire number one overall pick. By the time the season was done, he was pretty much out of the first round, but a good Combine has increased his stock a bit. He can help inject a dose of youth into the Seahawks offense and finally put Hasselbeck out of his misery.
With the Twenty-Sixth Overall Pick, the Baltimore Ravens Select...
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Aaron Williams, CB, Texas
Baltimore was one strip sack of Joe Flacco away from likely beating the Steelers late in the season and claiming the AFC North crown with a 13-3 record, which would have likely drastically altered the landscape of the AFC playoffs. They have a very good and well rounded team and could possibly break the glass ceiling in 2011 and win the AFC North for the first time since 2006, despite making the wild card three straight years under Flacco.
However, they did have some issues in their secondary, mostly due to injuries. Because of that, they will look toward a CB with their first round pick. More specifically, Texas CB Aaron Williams. The Ravens have one of the best front-sevens in all of football thanks to stars like Ray Lewis and Haloti Ngata, but their secondary is suspect. Outside of Ed Reed, they don't have a ton of firepower back there. So they will take Williams with the hope he can continue his run of success he had with the Longhorns and help turn the Ravens into THE most well rounded team in the NFL.
With the Twenty-Seventh Overall Pick, the Atlanta Falcons Select...
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Allen Bailey, DE, Miami (FL)
The NFC South winning Atlanta Falcons were a bit of a weird team in 2010. They had the top seed in the NFC at 13-3, but outside of QB Matt Ryan, RB Michael Turner, and WR Roddy White, they were all that impressive of a team, and it showed in the beatdown they received at the hands of the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round.
Part of their problem was a weak pass rush outside of DE John Abraham. The next highest sack total on the team was by DT Johnathan Babineaux. As such, they'll need to address their pass rush, as well as their mediocre run defense, with their 1st round pick, which they'll do by selecting Allen Bailey, the DE out of Miami.
Bailey might be a bit of stretch, as he's been seen as an early second round prospect, but he had a solid combine and the only other possible first round DE left on the board, Ohio State's Cameron Heyward, had surgery this offseason and will miss most the pre-draft workouts. Bailey was a stud DE at Miami and can help balance out Atlanta's D-line so that there will be a solid pass rush coming from both ends.
With the Twenty-Eighth Overall Pick, the New England Patriots Select...
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Justin Houston, OLB, Georgia
Here is the Patriots second first round pick, and the pick they originally had, a pick that is disappointing to many Patriots fans who saw this team as a lock to go to the Super Bowl, only to collapse against the rival New York Jets.
They already took a DE with their first pick (Cameron Jordan), so now they'll address their next biggest issue, OLB. That can be solved by Georgia's Justin Houston, who's been shooting up the draft boards the last few weeks and who the Patriots can use to help regain their absent pass rush.
With the Twenty-Ninth Overall Pick, the Chicago Bears Select...
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Mike Pouncey, OG/C, Florida
The Bears were a pleasant surprise in 2010, coming out of nowhere to steal the NFC North crown and the conference's number two seed. They then beat down the Seahawks in their playoff game before falling just short of the Green Bay Packers in the NFC title game.
The Bears are actually fairley well-rounded, but their offense needs a bit of help. Particularly, WR and OL. Especially OL, where they allowed the most sacks in the NFL in 2010. Jay Cutler is actually a good QB, but many of his mistakes are a result of the lack of protection he's had as of late.
The best remaining OL on the board will be Florida's Mike Pouncey, brother of Pittsburgh Steelers C Maurkice Pouncey. Despite many Steelers fans' hopes that the two would be reunited in Pittsburgh, Pouncey will not make it that far, being swiped by the Bears, who will use any OL they can get their hands on. Pouncey will likely be playing OG, as a result of lackluster center play in his senior season, but as a guard he will still be a monster who'll be very helpful in protecting Cutler.
With the Thirtieth Overall Pick, the New York Jets Select...
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Jurrell Casey, DT, USC
This team, like the Bears, were within a breath of winning their conference, if not for a Ben Roethlisberger third down pass to seal the game. They were an all-around solid bunch, but with many contracts expiring, this team could look quite different in 2011.
Some of the players who have already departed include OT Damien Woody and DT Kris Jenkins, two of their best players, but also two players that have had serious injuries problems in recent years. Jenkins, in particular, was quite jarring for Jets fans, who saw his injury as the main reason they did not make the Super Bowl in 2009, only to be disappointed for the second straight year as he went on IR once again.
Now he's gone, and the Jets will fill his spot with USC DT Jurrell Casey, a real force up the middle who had a good combine and who's stock has been rising a lot as of late. If he stays healthy, he can become a solid replacement for Jenkins who will provide continuity for the Jets at the DT position.
With the Thirty-First Overall Pick, the Pittsburgh Steelers Select...
31 of 32Danny Watkins, OG, Baylor
The reigning AFC Champs enter the offseason without many questions. Their offense, outside of the line, is solid all around with Roethlisberger at QB, Mendenhall at RB, and a deep corp of WRs. Their defense is, well, a Pittsburgh Steelers defense. It can't be bad.
However, their two main points of concern are OL and CB. CB is the biggest priority, but there are no remaining first round-caliber corners on the board. Thus is comes down to OL. They could use a guard, and thus they'll take Baylor's Danny Watkins, one of the best guards in all of college football in 2010. Between him and Maurkice Pouncey, the Steelers are gonna have a lot of youth on their OL, which means a lot of stability for years to come.
With the Thirty-Second Overall Pick, the Green Bay Packers Select...
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Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois
And here we have the Super Bowl champion, the Green Bay Packers. Despite a relatively lackluster regular season, the team came together to run through a first seed, two second seeds, and a third seed en route to bringing the Lombardi Trophy home to Title Town. This is all despite injuries to a number of key players, including RB Ryan Grant, TE Jermichael Finley and LB Nick Barnett, all of whom missed pretty much the entire season.
This is the team that is possibly the most well rounded in the NFL. Outside of the positions where injuries cut down on the depth, there are no positions they are in desperate need of addressing. As such, they'll draft to try to ensure that those injured positions have more depth.
They'll do this by bringing in RB Mikel Leshoure of the Illinois Fighting Illini. With Ryan Grant missing the entirety of 2010, they're gonna want to make sure that they're well set in the likely event that Grant is not 100 percent next season. Leshoure can be that guy. He had a monster season in 2010 and has the speed and strength to be a real force as a RB for the Packers as they attempt to become the first team since the 04-05 Patriots to repeat as Super Bowl Champs.
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