2011 NFL Mock Draft 4.0: Cam Newton Stars As Da'Quan Bowers Falls

1. CAR - Cam Newton - QB, Auburn

Newton was the best player in college football last season, showing ability as a passer and as an extraordinary athlete. It's a risky pick, with doubts about how his talents will translate to the NFL, but he shows incredible potential and seems too intriguing for the Panthers to pass up, even with other glaring needs.

2. DEN - Marcell Dareus - DT, Alabama

Denver needs to finally add talent to a struggling defensive front seven. Dareus is a versatile interior defender with massive size at 320lbs. He can stop Denver's issues with stopping the run, and provides an added bonus as an adept interior pass rusher. A solid pick with well-rounded abilities.

3. BUF - Von Miller - OLB, Texas A&M

An extraordinary pass rusher, Miller has incredible speed off the edge and a full arsenal of counter moves. Other than that, he also shows great intellect, versatility and coverage. A bit undersized, but makes up for it with good athleticism and strength. Miller may be the missing piece to a successful 3-4 in Buffalo, showing all the signs of a perennial sack leader.

4. CIN - A.J. Green - WR, Georgia

Carson Palmer's absence makes Gabbert tempting, but better value at QB is in the second round and Green is possibly the most polished and talented prospect. He makes the position look easy, with a lot of areas of strength and almost no weaknesses.

5. ARI - Patrick Peterson - CB, LSU

CB is not their biggest need, but Peterson is so good I don't think the Cardinals can pass him up with a struggling pass defense. Incredible combination of quickness, speed and size. They need a QB and an OLB, but Gabbert would be just another young QB for them, and no 3-4 OLB can give better value than Peterson here. He's likely the best player in this draft.

6. CLE - Robert Quinn - DE, UNC

With Green and Peterson taken, the Browns will turn to Quinn. Quinn is raw, but shows incredible natural pass-rush ability. He has his risks, with a concerning brain tumor and an NCAA suspension. He also needs to work on discipline versus the run. However, his talents merit a very high pick for most experts, and Cleveland needs a lot of help in rushing the passer.

7. SF - Blaine Gabbert - QB, Missouri

Gabbert proved he's likely the best QB prospect this offseason, showing great knowledge and athleticism. He fits Harbaugh's mold of a smart QB who can run the football, like Andrew Luck. He'll need coaching, but his skill set seems very adaptable to the West Coast Offense, as he throws short to intermediate routes with excellent accuracy. 

8. TEN - Nick Fairley - DT, Auburn

People say his stock is falling because he compares to Albert Haynesworth, but the Titans have struggled on their defensive line since Haynesworth's leave. His old coach is now in Tennessee, and Fairly fits into their scheme perfectly, with great value for a player once considered the frontrunner for the first overall pick.

9. DAL - Tyron Smith - OT, USC

Not a flashy pick, but Smith has earned the right to be called the best of his class at his position, one of the most important in football. Great athleticism to be a blindside tackle, and has shown this offseason he can add the bulk and strength to be a complete NFL lineman. Still very young, but has great potential at one of Dallas' biggest needs.

10. WAS - Julio Jones - WR, Alabama

Jones was the king of the combine, even if he was injured. His combination of size and speed for a WR-needy team is too much to pass up. He has shown improvement as a catcher and as a route runner this year, and is a great blocker for the position. 

11. HOU - Prince Amukamara - CB, Nebraska

Amukamara here would be a steal; he is deserving of a top 10 pick. However, the worst ranked pass defense would be happy to take him here. Amukamara is a polished CB who seems to be on the path to becoming a shutdown cornerback in the NFL. He has the size and athleticism needed to do so.

12. MIN - J.J. Watt - DE, Wisconsin

Watt is a gifted pass rusher who also happens to be 290 lbs. He had a great combine showing great blend of athleticism and strength, with a variety of good pass-rushing moves. Minnesota shouldn't get a QB here because anyone would be a reach, and they choose to aid a transitioning defensive line.

13. DET - Aldon Smith - DE, Missouri

A very young player with huge upside, the Lions will want him to take the role of a situational pass rusher and eventually replace Vanden-Bosch. He has versatility as an edge rusher and interior rusher. The Lions will be looking for a CB first, but no one they want is here in this situation.

14. STL - Corey Liuget - DT, Illinois

Liuget played great in the shadow of Dareus and Fairley, but he shows the ability and talent of a solid first rounder at DT. Not the biggest guy but has good speed and quickness for the position, giving the Rams a boost in all aspects of the defense. With Julio Jones, gone, this is a great choice.

15. MIA - Mark Ingram - RB, Alabama

The Dolphins rely on a strong running game to be a successful offense, and Ingram is indisputably the best running back in the draft. He has injury concerns, but is capable in all aspects of the game. RBs aren't as valued as they used to be, but Ingram fits perfectly for a team who not only values running backs but needs running backs, with their two best unsure of returning.

16. JAX - Cameron Jordan - DE, California

Cal's Alualu was last year's surprise pick, and Jordan comes from the same school as Alualu, who has succeeded so far in Jacksonville. They need a 4-3 defensive end to play opposite Aaron Kampman, and Jordan has a combination of ability versus the run and pass.

17. NE - Mike Pouncey - C, Florida

With Stephen Neal's retirement, and Light and Mankins unsure of returning, the Patriots need to address their line, and Coach Belichick loves Florida players. It also helps Pouncey's stock that his brother was one of the best rookies in the league last year, and Pouncey adds a very similar skill set with the ability to play both G and C.

18. SD - Ryan Kerrigan - OLB, Purdue

Kerrigan was one of the most productive defenders in college last year, but he is searching to find a role as 4-3 DE or shifting to OLB in the NFL. He has a great motor to rush the passer, and also has a nose for tackles for a loss. The issue with him is limited athleticism for a 3-4 DE, but his instincts and work ethic seem to make up for it.

19. NYG - Anthony Castonzo - OT, Boston College

The Giants are facing age and injury on their once great offensive line, and must start to address the future of that position. Their policy is said to be to take the best player available in the first round, and Castonzo would fill the role in that scenario. Great athleticism and agility show he can be a great left tackle in the NFL, and his run-blocking skills are decent and improving.

20. TB - Da'Quan Bowers - DE, Clemson

If Bowers can have a healthy career in the NFL, the Bucs can get the biggest steal of the draft. Bowers has a rare combination of size, strength and speed, and can stop the run while being dominant rushing the passer. However, his knee concerns team doctors. He could plug in next to young prospect tackles McCoy and Price as a power end in the Bucs' scheme.

21. KC - Gabe Carimi - OT, Wisconsin

Carimi proved himself in college against great competition, and showed a mean streak with excellent run blocking. He also showed the ability to protect his QB from elite college pass rushers, and may be one of the most NFL-ready prospects. The chiefs need another tackle, and Carimi could play either the left or right side at the next level.

22. IND - Nate Solder - OT, Colorado

Solder has a very rare athleticism, as a converted tight end who now weighs well over 300 lbs with incredible athleticism for a lineman. He is very raw, but has as much upside as any prospect. He fits the Colts' mold as a fast athletic player, and may help protect Peyton Manning, or whoever follows Manning at QB and will need the help even more.

23. PHI - Jimmy Smith - CB, Colorado

Smith is a rare athlete with great speed and agility for a cornerback of his size and strength. He has drawn comparisons to Revis and Nnamdi for how he shut receivers down in college. The only reason he drops this far is because of alleged attitude issues. However, the Eagles really need a cornerback opposite Samuel who is big enough to cover the bigger wideouts.

24. NO - Muhammad Wilkerson - DE, Temple

Wilkerson is a talented hybrid defensive lineman who would fit very well in New Orleans' hybrid defense. Wilkerson could play 3-4 DE, 4-3 DT or 4-3 DE in different schemes. He's young and raw, but he weighs 310 pounds with incredible speed and quickness for a man at his stature. The Saints could use some help all over the line, and Wilkerson could help in a variety of those needs.

25. SEA - Andy Dalton - QB, TCU

There seem to be rumors of a lot of interest in the "second tier" of QBs outside of Newton and Gabbert, and Dalton's a guy who may slip in to the first round. He showed in college he can win on the big stage, and he impresses with good accuracy and a quick release. Seattle may think he is their future QB, but if they don't, it's possible Dalton or another QB gets drafted by a team who trades up.

26. BAL - Brooks Reed - OLB, Arizona

A hybrid DE-OLB prospect who shows great explosion off the snap of the ball. A bit under the radar for most of the scouting process, but there have been talks that Reed is a nice complement to Suggs in Baltimore because Reed has speed and acceleration that Suggs lacks a bit. The Ravens seem poised to pick defense here, whether its CB, OLB or DE.

27. ATL - Adrian Clayborn - DE, Iowa

It's a common belief that Atlanta will draft a pass rusher. The question seems to be who, and in this scenario it appears to be between Adrian Clayborn and Justin Houston. Questions surround both players, Clayborn because of his erb palsy, and Houston because of his "tweener" status. Clayborn has shown toughness and the ability to rush the inside in situational situations. Clayborn by a hair.

28. NE - Akeem Ayers - OLB, UCLA

The Pats don't traditionally draft OLBs in the first, but they could use help in the pass-rush, and Ayers is strong at all aspects of the position and capable of filling many roles in the Patriots' scheme. Ayers shows promise as a pass rusher and has experience in coverage. His stock dropped a bit from a poor combine showing, but his pro-day and film show good athleticism.

29. CHI - Phil Taylor - NT, Baylor

This is a bit of an odd pick, because Taylor is better-off as a nose tackle in a 4-3. However, Taylor has very rare speed and quickness for his massive frame, enough to be a 4-3 DT. There's no questioning his run-stopping abilities, the question is can he help the pass rush from the interior? 

30. NYJ - Justin Houston - OLB, Georgia

Rex Ryan like to blitz, a lot, but he doesn't have a dynamic, fast edge rusher to create efficient blitzes. Houston is a diamond in the rough, but has nice explosion and speed. He's weak in coverage, but Rex's OLB aren't required to be in coverage much. Rex knows how to train blitzers, like Suggs when he was in Baltimore. Winning the AFC East involves putting Brady on his back; that may become Houston's role.

31. PIT - Aaron Williams - CB, Texas

Pittsburgh has shown a lot of interest in Williams lately, possibly to fill a need at CB or to become the future of the free safety position for the aging Ryan Clark. They may show interest in offensive or defensive lineman, but Williams seems to be the frontrunner as of now.

32. GB - Cameron Heyward - DE, Ohio State

A solid pick for the Super Bowl Champs, who have relatively few needs. Heyward would fill a possible spot at 3-4 DE and add value as a decent pass rusher. At 290 pounds, he has good size with good athleticism for that size. A tough, hard-working player who fits the Packers' mold.