2011 NFL Mock Draft, Picks 11-20: A Diamond in the Rough?
PART 2 of 3: For picks 1-10, go here.
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It is hereโin the heart of Round One--where history is made.
At No. 11โDallas and Michael Irvin in 1988.
No. 12โTampa Bay and Warren Sapp in 1995.
No. 13โPittsburgh and Franco Harris in 1972.
No. 14โBuffalo and Jim Kelly in 1983.
No. 15โDenver and John Mobley in 1996.
No. 16โSan Francisco and Jerry Rice in 1985.
No. 17โDallas and Emmitt Smith in 1990.
No. 18โWashington and Art Monk in 1980.
No. 19โIndianapolis and Marvin Harrison in 1996.
No. 20โThe Los Angeles Rams and Jack Youngblood in 1971.
Every one of these players helped guide his team to the Super Bowl; many stand at the very height of the game itself.
That's what a crafty and organized (and fortunate) front office can achieve in the middle of this round. The less-skilled teams will fall for the wrong guy, succumb to organizational pressure from non-football men, and end up selecting a player who'll be bagging groceries at Food Giant by 2015.
The coming decade of NFL football is shaped by these choices.
Now on to picks 11-20 in this April's NFL Draft...
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Marc is a writer for ReadandReact. Follow Marc on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.
11. Houston Texans: J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin
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We get so many of these projections wrong. The โsure lockโ winds up a flaming bust, and players weโre ignoring todayโguys who wonโt even be draftedโwill light up the league.
I believe weโll look back on this 2011 NFL Draft five years from now and call J.J. Watt a top 5 pick. I loved his presence, intensity and motor at the combine. Wade Phillipsโ 3-4 defense is the perfect landing spot for Watt, and a good environment for this hard-working, self-made player.
He worked himself onto Wisconsinโs roster, paying his own way at the start of his tenureโdelivering Pizza Hut to save up dough. Heโs no prima donna. Heโs a coachable workhorse who did the requisite work at Wisconsin to make the switch from tight end to defensive lineman.
Watt is a steal in this draft at No. 11. Sometime these mid-round picks are where you find the real gemsโwhere less pressure is placed on the incoming player as well. Houston and Watt are an excellent match.
12. Minnesota Vikings: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
2 of 10
The Vikings have been vocal about finding a quarterback in this draft.
I see a potential trade upโor downโto get their guy. There was a time when it appeared Minnesota at No. 12 could snag Auburnโs Cam Newton, but the hype machineโs in full swing and I project him to go no less than No. 1 to the Carolina Panthers.
Heโs the type of passer whoโs going to require time to develop, coming from a spread, and Leslie Frazier would love the challenge.
There are other possibilities at quarterback for the Vikingsโand all of them are better than Brett Favre right now, whoโs back on his farm tilling soil. Itโs time for a new start in Minnesota.
In this mock, with no tradesโand Jake Locker a reachโI project the Vikings to jump on Jones, who had an excellent combine and would be a good value selection here.
Sidney Rice could bolt via free agency, so Jones addresses a potential need as well. We all saw what happened to Percy Harvin when Rice was out of the offenseโthey need a No. 1 guy in there to give the passing game a shot.
13. Detroit Lions: Tyron Smith, OT, USC
3 of 10
Detroit has to be concerned about Matthew Staffordโs durability.
They wonโt say as much, but two seasons running, heโs been shotgunned out of the lineup with significant injuries.
Heโs a tough kid, thatโs not the issue. We recall his gritty performance against the Cleveland Browns two seasons ago. If shoring up the line will keep Matt healthy, selecting the athletic Smith (No. 70 above), who bulked up significantly for last monthโs combine, is the move here at No. 13.
The Lions also could look to Nate Solder or Anthony Castonzoโthis is a good class for line prospects.
The Lions showed signs of life in 2010. Jim Schwartz has begun turning this program around, and keeping Stafford in one piece for a full season could land the Lions in the playoffs, or very close to it.
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14. St. Louis Rams: Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri
4 of 10
I think the Rams would love to add a wideout like Julio Jones, but heโs gone in this mock. You exit the top 10, and thereโs still a flock of quality DE/OLB prospects availableโRyan Kerrigan and Justin Houston come to mind.
Cameron Jordan seems like a find for the Rams at this spot, but heโs done his best work at the left end position, typically Chris Longโs haunt in the Ramsโ D. Smith is an intriguing find.
Heโs a versatile, disruptive defender, but heโs not projected as an immediate starter by most. He could really come on if a team like St. Louis can find a way to grow him.
He could present problems for offenses as a hell-or-high-water edge pass rusher for years to come.
15. Miami Dolphins: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
5 of 10
Miamiโs tandem of Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown have been effective for the Dolphinsโat times, sensational. Both are free agents, and that makes Ingram Jr.โson of the former New York Giants wideout with the same name (I feel old)โan ideal choice at this spot.
I donโt get it. Ingramโs attached to a subpar class of running backs, and itโs possibly diminished his stock. His 40 times are not ideal, but this is a tough, driven runner whoโs been compared to Emmitt Smith for more than his stature.
Take it to the bank: if the Dolphins make this pick, heโll change their offense for a decade. Ingram enters the league at a time when teams are shifting away from the lone-back.
This guy doesnโt need a committee. Heโs going to leave his stamp on the National Football League. Mega-steal in the 15 slot.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars: Cameron Jordan, DE/DT, California
6 of 10
The Jaguarsโ defense needs all sorts of help, and I strongly believe theyโll zone in on a cornerback (or two) in this draft (they finished 28th against the pass last season, and it likely cost them the playoffs). With Patrick Peterson and Prince Amukamara long gone, none of the remaining corners fit here at No. 16.
Make no mistake, the Jaguars would be thrilled to land a player like Jordan. Heโs a special pass rusher, one the Jaguars could insert immediately into their scheme.
Unlike some of these first-rounders, Jordan did his time as a four-year starter, and his versatility to switch between tackle and end is a huge plus.
People overlook the Jaguars, but this team knocked on the playoff door last season, and a good draft could help them finally topple the Colts.
17. New England Patriots (from Oakland): Ryan Kerrigan, DE/OLB, Purdue
7 of 10
Kerriganโs ability to wreak havoc off the edge is documentedโheโs ideal in the Patsโ 3-4. We saw how New Englandโs inability to get to the quarterback ended their season against the New York Jets.
Bill Belichick coached that D up in 2010, but adding Kerrigan to the mix, primarily as an outside backer, gives this team a Purdue product who will abide by the Patriot Way.
New Englandโper usualโcould wheel-and-deal this pick, but No. 17 is a good opportunity to get an impact player. I stopped doubting the Patriots about 10 years agoโtheyโll do the right thing, they almost always do.
Note: If Ingram were ever available at this spot, I love the idea of him paired with Tom Brady, but itโs a long shot he gets past Miami.
18. San Diego Chargers: Cameron Heyward, DE/DT, Ohio State
8 of 10
San Diegoโs search to fill the spot opposite defensive end Luis Castillo could come to an end with Heyward. An elbow injury kept him out of OSUโs pro day, but heโs set to show off his skills later this month in a separate session.
Cameronโthe son of former New Orleans Saints bulldozing runner Craig โIronheadโ Heyward, a Tecmo Bowl legendโexcels as a 5-technique and fills a missing puzzle piece for the Chargers.
You wonder how many more years San Diego has to knock on the door, especially after a disappointing finish in 2010 (despite a statistically powerful season). There are other needs at this slot, but Heywardโs on the short list.
19. New York Giants: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
9 of 10The G-Men desperately need help along the offensive line. Nothing is more important than protecting Eli Manning.
You have to wonder if Tom Coughlinโs Boston College background could sway him toward OT Anthony Castonzo, but I believe Solder will be the pick.
Solderโs dropped on some boards. Heโs 6โ9โณโhe could block an automobile from hitting Eliโand he was a rock at Colorado, a guy who avoided injuries and flat-out got the job done.
Check the video here to see what he did to a Denver Broncos scout during CUโs pro dayโheโll do the same to some poor, lonely Washington Redskins defender come autumn.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
10 of 10
Check out the suddenly dangerous Bucs. Last year at this time, we had no idea where this team was going. Now, coming off a 10-6 season, with Josh Freeman blossoming into a presence at quarterback, this team must be taken seriously.
I love what Raheem Morris did with the young roster last seasonโhe shrugged off a laundry list of late injuries, plugged players in, and kept chugging.
The Bucs are in need of a defensive end to pair alongside Gerald McCoy. In such a deep draft for defensive linemen, they get an interesting prospect in Clayborn.
Much has been made of his struggle with Erbโs Palsy, which causes intermittent paralysis of the upper armโbut Clayborn has played with it for years and it didnโt prevent him from having a sensational junior year at Iowa. He didnโt match that last season, but remains an intriguing prospect.
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Marc is a writer for ReadandReact. Follow Marc on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.
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