2011 NFL Mock Draft 2.0: The Death of Free Agency

It's just 30 days until the 2011 draft gets underway and the biggest surprise thus far has been the fact that there is no free agency. There are plenty of NFL players who were ready to sign big contracts, but now have to wait until the kids get drafted before they can even entertain the idea of free agency–should it even happen.

A month ago I posted my Mock Draft 1.0 and I have made some changes with the original pick being noted at the end of the new selection. Also, I believe this draft will have a lot of trades since free agency hangs in the balance, so this will cerrtianly be one of the more interesting, entertaining, and perhaps bizarre drafts in recent history. So, the 2011 NFL Mock Draft 2.0 is underway, Carolina you are on the clock.

Because there is no concensus number one pick, the question for the Panthers and Ron Rivera is: are we looking to make a dramatic jump next year, or are we willing to make baby steps that will lead to more success in the coming years? They entertain calls to trade down, especially from Buffalo, but they take it to the wire then select: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri. Original pick: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn. Rationale: Gabbert is less of a risk and Rivera, like most new coaches, wants to saddle up with "his" guy.

Denver: Fox knows the defense needs help, and he knows he needs an up the field pass rusher or a force in the middle. He takes the more solid pick in Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama. Original pick: Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson.

Buffalo: Gailey is trying to install his 3-4, so conventional wisdom has him picking a defender. But which defender will make the quickest impact? If Fairley is the next Warren Sapp, he goes here, but he could also consider the top OLB in Miller. Then, there's an end rusher in Bowers. Gailey flips a coin, even though he is tempted by Cam Newton, and he selects: Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson. Original pick: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn.

Cincinnati: This is where things get interesting because there is not likely to be any or limited free agency, it looks like all "entertainers" stay in-house, so it is likely the Bengals will lobby hard to trade down, but in usual fashion, they will not negotiate a good trade, so whomever they trade with gets the better deal. With that being said, if Cincinnati stands pat there are three options: WR, DE, DT. The Bengals select: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn. Original pick: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia.

Arizona: This is an interesting dilemma for the Cardinals. Initially it looked like they wanted to trade for Kolb, but now that trades and free agency are off the table Whisenhunt takes a player he comapres to Roethlisberger: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn. Original pick: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M.

Cleveland: The Browns cannot believe their luck, because both A.J. Green and Von Miller are available. Holmgren and company add firewpower with: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia. Original pick: Aldon Smith, DE/OLB, Missouri.

San Francisco: Harbaugh takes a playmaker, and not with a quarterback. Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU.

Tennessee: Most convention goes the way of QB here, but Titans pick up FA QB and decide to go back to their staple, strong defense. They reacquire Haynesworth later, but first they select: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M. Original pick: Robert Quinn, DE/OLB, North Carolina.

Dallas: Jerry Jones wants to pull the surprise of the day, but he is unable to pull a cap and trade, so he selects Robert Quinn, DE/OLB, North Carolina when his trade down fails. Original pick: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama.

Washington: Again, convention would have you believe that Shanahan drafts a QB, but Gabbert and Newton are gone, so he waits until the 2nd round to get a QB. With so many needs, he realizes that if he can protect his current QB, life might just improve for whomever is under center. Redskins select: Tyron Smith, OL, USC. Original pick: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri.

Houston: The shouts in NY can be heard all the way from Houston, dee-fense, dee-fense, and they hear the maddening crowd and with Smith, Amukamara, and Jordan still out there they select: Cameron Jordan, DE, California. Jordan is moving up draft boards. Original pick: Marcel Dareus, DL, Alabama.

Minnesota: An interesting position yet strangely an awkward picking point. For the Vikings, do they grab a young QB, one of the top OTs, or even consider Smith from Missouri? Ideally, I think Minnesota would like to trade down in order to pick up the lost 3^rd round pick (Randy Moss). Check out my other article dedicated exclusively to the Vikings 2011 draft: Vikings Complete 2011 NFL Draft: Rebuilding or Retooling?Minnesota selects: Jake Locker, QB, Washington. Original pick: Locker.

Detroit: Building a pretty decent team on paper, but will it translate into more victories? The building continues with the selection of Nate Solder, T, Colorado. Original pick: Solder.

St. Louis: Bradford gets another weapon in Julio Jones, WR, Alabama.

Miami: Sporano considers Ingram, but again, with no free agency we have to assume Ronnie stays. Dolphins try to trade down, if not, they select Mike Pouncey, G, Florida.

Jacksonville: You have to give Jack del Rio credit he does his own thing and shirks convention. He is in a division that shouts for defense and so he selects: Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri.  Original pick: Cameron Jordan, DE, California.

New England: What a position to be in, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see Belichik trade down…again. However, he likes J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin too much. Original pick: Watt.

San Diego: This is a tricky draft because if the Chargers lose Sproles or Jackson, those areas become immediate needs; however, they will not know that until the draft is over. Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA. Original pick: Ayers.

New York Giants:  Coughlin doesn’t have to worry about moving up or down. He stays right here and drafts Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College.

Tampa Bay: Morris looks to continue building a strong defensive front with Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa. Original pick: Clayborn.

Kansas City: Sometimes when you are sitting at 21 you want to draft for your top need, but sometimes you have to go for best athlete. Hmm, Ryan Kerrigan, DE/OLB, Purdue.

Indianapolis: Corey Liuget or Christian Ballard sound good here, but this is pretty much a no brainer, protect the KING at all costs. Derek Sherrod, T, Mississippi State. Original pick: Tyron Smith, T, USC.  

Philadelphia: The need is on defense, so Reid goes with a guy who has dropped, Prince Amukamura, CB, Nebraska. Original pick: Amukamara.

New Orleans: Saints are singing in the streets as Christian Ballard, DT, Iowa falls in their lap. Also, this could be Corey Liuget, which sounds more Cajun.

Seattle: Carroll is perplexed. I think he wants to build a stout defense. With Sherrod gone and Carimi not fitting the Carroll mold, he selects  Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado. Original pick:  Derek Sherrod, T, Mississippi State.

Baltimore: This team suddenly needs defense and if there was a year for defense to dominate the draft, this one is it. Torrey Smith is right up the road, and since they lose out on Smith they opt for Brandon Harris, CB, Miami.  Original pick:  Brooks Reed, OLB, Arizona. 

Atlanta: So close, yet so far. One thing the playoffs often reveal glaring weaknesses, and for Atlanta it was in the defensive backfield area. There are two or three corners to choose from, but after Amukamara, the talent drops off to 2^nd round talent. With Smith and Harris gone, they go to Plan B and that is DE with Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State. They could be tempted to grab a WR here as well, but more of the priority lay on defense. Original pick: Gabe Carimi, T, Wisconsin.

New England: My guess is Belichik gets his wish and trades out of the 1^st round. He doesn’t want to pay two first round draft picks. However; if unable to do so because the “Godfather” doesn’t get what he wants, he opts for: Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland. Original pick: Brandon Harris, CB, Miami.  

Chicago: Two schools of thought, one do you get another weapon for Cutler, or do you protect Cutler? If Martz has his way it’s another target. Lovie pulls the trigger on this one, Danny Watkins, OL, Baylor.

New York Jets: Ryan sticks with defense, Jerrell Powe, NT, Mississippi, or at the very least one of the DT’s who fits the system.

Pittsburgh: They need better line protection and since Pouncey and other top tier tackles are gone, they go next position, Muhammad Wilkerson, NT, Temple. However, that was my last entry, and since Carimi, OL, Wisconsin is still on the board, I now have the Steelers grabbing the mauler.

Green Bay: Yes, they are the reigning Super Bowl champs, but they still have some concerns, especially on the offensive line, but the problem is that there are no real top tier guys left. The middle of their defense struggled at times so they could look at Wilkerson, Phil Taylor, Marvin Austin, but there’s still a need to protect Rodgers too, so Ben Ijalana, OL, Villanova. Don’t be surprised if Green Bay trades with the Jets to grab Carimi ahead of the Steelers; nothing like beating the Steelers twice in one year, right? And don’t you think Ryan would welcome that?

Well, once again, that’s my take. As you can see there were several changes, but when the dominoes start to fall a lot of changes go with it. Of course, this is without trades taking place, and I have a feeling there are going to be a lot of them. We had some players drop (Ingram in particular, but someone will draft him in the 1st, I just couldn't see him above number 20), while others rose. Observation: All teams must be wary of who might jump up, or trade back. On April 28, let the fun begin.