2011 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting the Top 10 Picks
April is upon us, which can only mean one thing.
We’re about to get bombarded with mock drafts.
Whether it’s the most respected analyst or just a common message board fanboy, everybody is going to be guessing how things will play out on the night of April 28th.
At this point, we still have no idea which prospect the Carolina Panthers are focusing in on with the No. 1 overall pick, and there’s actually a pretty good chance that they probably don’t know yet either.
It will come down to how much confidence the franchise has in current QB Jimmy Clausen.
If the Panthers think Clausen can be their leader of the future, then the team will likely go with Alabama DT Marcell Dareus with the No. 1 pick. However, if they don’t have that kind of faith, Carolina will focus in on either Missouri’s Blaine Gabbert or Auburn’s Cam Newton.
We probably won’t have a definitive idea of how the top 10 will shake out until the actual week of the draft, so at this point it’s all pure speculation.
But it sure is fun to speculate, isn’t it?
Here’s a look at how I think the top 10 of this year's NFL draft could play out.
1. Carolina Panthers: QB Blaine Gabbert
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School: Missouri
Class: Junior
Height: 6'4''
Weight: 234
I can’t say that I’m necessarily overwhelmed by any of this year’s top quarterback prospects, and none of them can be considered anything close to a sure thing. But from a scouting standpoint, you do have to like what Blaine Gabbert brings to the table.
Sure, he’s coming out of an offense at Missouri that doesn’t translate well to the pro game, but if you put that to the side, he’s got everything you look for in a prototypical pro passer.
Size, arm strength, athleticism, smarts. Gabbert is a well put together package.
If new coach Ron Rivera and the Panthers’ personnel department lack the trust in Jimmy Clausen, then I would imagine they would have to go with Gabbert.
He may never be Peyton Manning or Tom Brady, but he’s the safest quarterback in this class, and he’s the type of player you can build a franchise around.
2. Denver Broncos: DT Marcell Dareus
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School: Alabama
Class: Junior
Height: 6'3''
Weight: 319
If I were a running an NFL scouting department, the name you would find at the top of my draft board is Marcell Dareus.
To me, Dareus is the best pure prospect in this class.
Even though I feel he’d be best suited for a 3-4 defensive end role, I can still see Dareus flourishing inside as a defensive tackle in a 4-3 scheme.
The Broncos will be transitioning to a 4-3 this season under new coordinator Dennis Allen, and there’s no doubt that they need all the help they can get up front along the defensive line. The team ranked last in the NFL with just 23 sacks in 2010.
Dareus, who is equally effective against both the run and the pass, would come in and immediately give the Denver defense a much needed boost.
3. Buffalo Bills: OLB Von Miller
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School: Texas A&M
Class: Senior
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 246
I said it back at the beginning of February (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/593882-von-miller-the-most-sensible-option-for-the-buffalo-bills-at-no-3), and I'll say it again now: Von Miller is the perfect pick for the Buffalo Bills.
The Buffalo defense desperately needs a difference maker in the front seven, and Miller definitely fits the bill.
The Bills need a pass rusher that can help out a secondary that is actually one of the more well put together defensive backfields in the league.
Miller, who totaled 27 sacks during his final two seasons in College Station, would provide a great presence off the edge in Buffalo's 3-4 defense.
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick will eventually need to be upgraded, and Cam Newton could be an option here, but Fitzpatrick has what it takes to hold down the fort for one more season.
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4. Cincinnati Bengals: QB Cam Newton
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School: Auburn
Class: Junior
Height: 6'5''
Weight: 248
Let’s face it, the Bengals are a mess.They're the type of team that no one wants to play for right now, and that includes long-time faces of the franchise, QB Carson Palmer and WR Chad Ochocinco.
Palmer has said he would rather retire than ever put on a Bengals uniform again while Ochocinco has seemingly finally worn out his welcome in Cincinnati after years of testing everyone’s patience.
So that looks like it leaves the team in need of both a No. 1 quarterback and a No. 1 wide receiver, which means this pick will probably come down to either QB Cam Newton or WR A.J. Green.
If it does come down to that, I can see Cincinnati going with Newton, who has turned into the villain of this draft.
Newton has a chance to be a star in the right situation, and as we’ve seen, the Bengals have never been afraid to bring in a player with a checkered past.
5. Arizona Cardinals: CB Patrick Peterson
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School: LSU
Class: Junior
Height: 6'0''
Weight: 219
I can’t see the Cardinals taking a quarterback here, especially since the franchise knows they need to bring in a signal-caller who can keep star WR Larry Fitzgerald happy this season.
Instead, I have a feeling Arizona will look to improve on the defensive side of the ball.
The Cardinals could use help at both linebacker and cornerback, which makes Von Miller and Patrick Peterson the two top candidates to come off the board at No. 5.
If one of the two is gone by this pick, it will make the decision a whole lot easier, but I think either way, Peterson has to be the favorite here.
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was stable last season, but he certainly wasn’t the playmaker many thought he would be. Giving DRC some help on the other side should help alleviate some pressure.
So why not bring in Peterson, the cornerback who most feel is probably one of the top two players overall in this draft class?
6. Cleveland Browns: WR A.J. Green
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School: Georgia
Class: Junior
Height: 6'3''
Weight: 211
I may be in the minority, but I'm more of Julio Jones' fan than I am an A.J. Green fan.
Still, there's no denying that Green has the potential to be a go-to receiver for an NFL team.
And hey, guess what the Cleveland Browns have been in dire need of for oh so long?
Yup, a go-to wide receiver.
If the Browns really do think Colt McCoy is the quarterback of the future, they're going to need to surround him with as much talent as possible.
Giving McCoy a target the caliber of Green would be a great start.
7. San Francisco 49ers: DE Da'Quan Bowers
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School: Clemson
Class: Junior
Height: 6'3''
Weight: 280
Da’Quan Bowers has seen his stock take a bit of a hit over the last few months. Once considered a possible candidate to go No. 1 overall, Bowers now seems to be fighting to stay in the top ten after a mediocre pro day.
After a breakout season in 2010, Bowers finally showed the world that he could make good on his tremendous potential, but an unfortunate knee injury has plagued him throughout the draft process, and it could be the reason he takes a slide on draft night.
Even though Bowers may not be a truly perfect fit as a 3-4 defensive end, the 49ers would still have to take a good hard look at him if he were available.
Isaac Sopoaga and Justin Smith are two quality defensive linemen, but new head coach Jim Harbaugh knows the value of being as strong as you possibly can up front, and adding Bowers to the trenches would really solidify the 49ers line.
Cornerback is arguably the team’s biggest concern, but it’s hard to see Patrick Peterson still on the board here and I’m not sure if San Francisco would reach for Prince Amukamara over a more valuable talent like Bowers.
8. Tennessee Titans: DT Nick Fairley
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School: Auburn
Class: Junior
Height: 6'3''
Weight: 291
Just think what the NFL world would be like if Albert Haynesworth was still a part of the Tennessee Titans (Redskins fans can dream, can't they?).
The Tennessee defense hasn’t been the same since the monstrous defensive tackle left, and there’s still a massive hole in the middle of the line that needs to be filled.
The Titans managed to get themselves a great young pass rusher in Derrick Morgan last year. Now they need someone to stick next to him and take up space inside.
Not only can DT Nick Fairley take up space, he also can disrupt and cause havoc in the interior.
Fairley would be just the type of mean, nasty big man that the Titans need inside.
9. Dallas Cowboys: OT Tyron Smith
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School: USC
Class: Junior
Height: 6'5''
Weight: 307
It's pretty clear that the Cowboys need to find an upgrade for right tackle Marc Colombo.
Colombo, who will be 33 next season, allowed 40 quarterback pressures and nine sacks last season.
It wouldn’t even be surprising if he was cut before the start of the season.
Even though there is no offensive tackle worth drafting in the top 10 this year, there is one player who would be a great replacement for Colombo.
That player is Tyron Smith of USC.
Smith, who will in all likelihood be the first offensive linemen off the board, is tailor made to be a right tackle in the pros, and he’s the type of player who can come in, start from day one and be counted on as a reliable asset up front.
10. Washington Redskins: OLB Aldon Smith
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School: Missouri
Class: Redshirt Sophomore
Height: 6'4''
Weight: 263
Brian Orakpo made a successful transition from 4-3 defensive end to 3-4 outside linebacker last year, finishing the season with 8.5 sacks.
Now, just think for a second how dangerous Orakpo could be if he had some help on the other side.
There’s no denying that the Redskins need to find a complementary edge rusher who will prevent opposing offenses from keying on Orakpo.
Aldon Smith could be that guy.
The super-athletic defensive end out of Missouri has what it takes to make the transition to 3-4 outside linebacker, and he would be a perfect fit in Washington’s defense.
The combination of Orakpo and Smith could prove to be a deadly duo for years to come.
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