2011 NFL Mock Draft (Picks 1-10): Who Can't Resist the Franchise Quarterback?

The 2011 NFL Draft could serve as our last dose of football for an unfriendly amount of time. Although it’s going to be slightly awkward to watch NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell approach the podium before a packed house during a lockout, Draft Day (or, at this stage, Draft Thursday Night…) remains tangibly intriguing when a blue-chip quarterback has the chance to go No. 1.

It’s no sure thing, but with Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert rising up the board, it’s possible both could go in the top 10. One could argue that four of the first five teams to pick could go quarterback. I also wouldn’t rule out a team moving up for one the young guns—especially with Shanahan’s Redskins buried in the 10 slot—but this mock doesn’t include trades. Next month’s v.2 mock will take a shot at pinpointing some possible move-up/down scenarios. With that said, here’s my top 5 picks...

1. Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Cam Newton passes the ball during a drill at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Some don’t even have Newton in their top 10. I just don’t see Ron Rivera passing up this opportunity to bring in a franchise-altering passer with the No. 1 pick in the draft. Newton has his flaws, but there’s no way Carolina takes on the NFC South with what we’ve seen out of (granted, young) Matt Moore and Jimmy Clausen.

While it’s awfully tough to bypass some of the defensive line talent in this draft, I believe Newton will continue to rise up the board. It’s only mid-March. This quarterback's gifts will only become more coveted as we approach late April. The Panthers are serious about Cam Newton and I expect him to end up as the top pick in this draft.

2. Denver Broncos: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 16: Marcell Dareus #57 of the Alabama Crimson Tide against the Ole Miss Rebels at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

John Fox is going defense with this pick. At 6'3", 319 pounds, Dareus fits well into Fox’s 4-3 scheme, and has the potential to wreak havoc as a 3-technique the way Warren Sapp did in Tampa Bay—and Sapp himself has showered praise on the prospect. For the many top-shelf defensive line prospects in this draft—it’s one of the more stunning DT/DE draft classes in years—Dareus might be the safest pick, as a guy without looming medical or off-the-field concerns. If Nick Fairley has more potential, Dareus appears to have the work ethic for continued growth.

3. Buffalo Bills: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU

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BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 06: Patrick Peterson #7 of the Louisiana State University Tigers avoids a tackle by Brad Smelley #17 of the Alabama Crimson Tide at Tiger Stadium on November 6, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty I

The Bills are courting Newton and no doubt Chan Gailey is enticed by his athleticism. If Carolina passes, Newton could land here at No. 3. If he’s gone—and he is in this mock—the Bills will take Peterson, possibly the best football player in the draft. It’s unusual for a team to strike on a corner this high, but I don’t see the Bills taking Gabbert with this pick. Besides, in Ryan Fitzpatrick, they have a passer the team believes in and grew behind in 2010. The Bills need help all over the place on defense and go with the best player available here.

4. Cincinnati Bengals: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri

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TEMPE, AZ - DECEMBER 28: Quarterback Blaine Gabbert #11 of the Missouri Tigers throws a pass during the Insight Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Sun Devil Stadium on December 28, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona. The Hawkeyes defeated the Tigers 27-24. (Photo by

If Carson Palmer wasn’t so inconsistent, you work out the issues, get him back in the house and move on. Palmer and the Bengals are at a crossroads, and with the QB making it clear he’s had enough in the Queen City, it’s time for Cincy to find his replacement. I’m not in love with Gabbert. Accuracy is an issue when you look beyond his short-field body of work. That said, with Newton gone, Gabbert represents a new dawn for Marvin Lewis.

5. Arizona Cardinals: Von Miller, DE/OLB, Texas A&M

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 28: Von Miller of Texas A&M works out during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Some are calling Von Miller‘s decision to join the players’ antitrust lawsuit against the NFL a risk. Is he an immediate problem? A guy with a renegade spirit? No. Another way to look at it—this is someone who has chosen to take a leadership role among his peers and represent his rookie class on a critical issue to the players (even if you think they already make too much). That aside, Miller is perhaps the most versatile defensive talent in the draft and music to the ears of the Cards. I keep hearing over and over that Arizona does not go quarterback with this pick—mainly because this could be it for Ken Whisenhunt, and you don’t risk a critical season on a rookie. You have to wonder if the Cards would surprise people and shoot for Newton or Gabbert is one is available.

6. Cleveland Browns: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 30: A.J. Green #8 of the Georgia Bulldogs attempts to catch a pass against Ahmad Black #35 of the Florida Gators during the game at EverBank Field on October 30, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Ima

Cleveland’s in a terrible spot. They’re moving to the 4-3, but have nothing along the defensive line. They have a promising young quarterback in Colt McCoy—and they’re moving to the West Coast Offense—but he’s got almost nobody to throw to. They just cut NT Shaun Rogers along with a flock of grizzled defensive veterans—a fiscally sound move, but one that’s left Browns fans wondering who will take the field next season.

Changing offensive and defensive philosophies during a lockout-hampered offseason in which coaches cannot communicate with players is tougher. The free-agency window possibly opening for mere weeks, if at all, is tougher. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh and Baltimore have stayed the course. This draft is critical for the Browns, forced to address needs all over the place.

Pat Shurmur was brought in to groom McCoy and flip the switch on offense—and Green is the kind of sizzling wideout the team’s been missing since Braylon Edwards broke free in 2007—and before that, since perhaps Webster Slaughter (unless we want to talk about Michael Jackson/Dyson).

Still, many could question the Browns passing up one of the blue-chip defensive linemen—but how do you meet two needs at once?

7. San Francisco 49ers: Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson

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AUBURN, AL - SEPTEMBER 18: Da'Quan Bowers #93 of the Clemson Tigers against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

This is a tough one for me. In a mock with trades, I see Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers pressing for a quarterback, or possibly even trading down into a spot where they can gather picks and select Florida’s Christian Ponder late in the first. Honestly, how many more coaches can call Alex Smith their starter? That experiment needs to cease.

With Newton and Gabbert off the board, the 49ers select Bowers, a defensive end who comes with question marks around the health of his knee, but, if ruled healthy, could serve as defensive stronghold while Harbaugh seeks a quarterback elsewhere. Moroever, there are some promising young passers to be had later in the draft, such as Washngton’s Jake Locker and Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick—not to mention the polarizing Ryan Mallett out of Arkansas.

8. Tennessee Titans: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn

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ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 04: Nick Fairley #90 of the Auburn Tigers cheers during pregame warmups before facing the South Carolina Gamecocks during the 2010 SEC Championship at Georgia Dome on December 4, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Ge

Yet another top 10 team that would love to bring in a young passer to groom under a new coach, in this case Mike Munchak. People say the Titans are among the franchises hurt the most by a lockout, but I disagree. I see other teams with bigger challenges than the Titans, who have bounced back from poor season before and have cleansed the house of core issues by parting with Vince Young.

Kerry Collins has morphed into a Vinny Testaverde-esque veteran—perhaps he’ll play into his mid-40s, but if he goes down, the Titans can’t be comfortable with Rusty Smith at the helm. Warren Moon recently advised the Titans to go after Newton—not sure that holds any weight, but sitting pat won’t do.

In this little mock draft, the QBs of the day—again—are gone, and Munchak will choose Fairley, who has the frame to gain bulk without losing agility. Fairley’s stock has dropped a bit over the past month due to work-ethic concerns. But look, they called Sapp a pot smoker. That worked out OK for Tampa, if I recall.

9. Dallas Cowboys: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska

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LINCOLN, NE - OCTOBER 30: Cornerback Prince Amukamara #21 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers breaks up a pass intended for wide receiver T.J. Moe #28 of the Missouri Tigers during first half action of their game at Memorial Stadium on October 30, 2010 in Lincoln

Dallas has backed itself into a good position. Last season’s massively disastrous start paved the way for Jason Garrett‘s more disciplined regime in Big D, and the team responded down the stretch. The addition of Rob Ryan is meaningful—he’s the perfect foil to the down-tempo Garrett, and players love and play hard for him. I believe this team must address the cornerback position and will select Amukamara, Nebraska’s best defender last season. I also think the Cowboys will take a close look at the remaining top defensive lineman in this draft and they’d love a tough guy like Wisconsin’s J.J. Watt—but that’s a slight reach at this spot.

Overall, this organization would be helped if Jerry Jones toned down the rhetoric and empty promises and let Garrett coach game by game through (whatever we have of) the regular season. The annual, undeserved preseason hype, 15 years running, has hurt this team’s soul. They have pretty uniforms, but aren’t even the second best team in their four-team division. Much work is to be done.

10. Washington Redskins: Robert Quinn, DE/OLB, North Carolina

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CHAPEL HILL, NC - SEPTEMBER 19: Robert Quinn #42 of the North Carolina Tar Heels celebrates after a sack with teammate Marvin Austin #9 against the East Carolina Pirates at Kenan Stadium on September 19, 2009 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by St

You can make the argument that Mike Shanahan‘s debut in Washington last season was one of the bigger disasters of recent memory.

Flawed on the field, the team managed to stay in the news all season thanks to the bizarre dissembling of Albert Haynesworth and the benching of starting quarterback Donovan McNabb. Shanahan’s handling of both players was a failure, and it’s hard to imagine either returning with the team next season. Assuming (for our sanity) they don’t, quarterback and defensive line are two of the team’s bigger needs.

Rex Grossman is not an answer for an NFC East team that must find a way to win inside the division, and I strongly believe that Shanahan and the free-wheeling ‘Skins will pursue a passer with this pick. If they can’t trade up and Newton and Gabbert are off the board, Washington could select the athletic Quinn, who comes with question marks after missing his senior season at North Carolina due to rules violations, but looks like the type of player Shanahan would like to team with Brian Orakpo in the 3-4.

Quinn can play DE or OLB and could be a help to a team that had a lot of problems pressuring the quarterback (other than its own) last season. Note: I also think Shanny could dive on a player like wideout Julio Jones, but the team has bigger needs.

My mock draft will continue later this week with picks 11-20.

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Marc is a writer for ReadandReact. Follow Marc on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.