2011 NFL Mock Draft: All 32 Teams Select a Current College Coach
The appeal of the NFL Draft is the suspense that comes with each pick.
Will the Jets take a fan favorite or go another direction and upset the apple cart again?
But how interesting would it be if the NFL selected its head coaches through a draft of college coaches? Of course there are all kinds of logistical issues that would come into play.
But for now suspend all reality and enjoy. Not only would it be great entertainment, but the ultimate battle of football egos.
1. Carolina Panthers — Bob Stoops, Oklahoma
1 of 32
After listening to a number of trade offers for the top pick, Carolina decides to stick with its gut and take Oklahoma's successful coach Bob Stoops.
Of course the Panthers were second-guessed by every expert who thought Nick Saban was the clear-cut No. 1 choice.
Carolina liked Stoops track record for success and his loyalty to Oklahoma over the years.
What sealed the deal was Stoops' willingness to sign a multi-year deal just hours before the draft.
2. Denver Broncos — Nick Saban, Alabama
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The Broncos are ecstatic to see Nick Saban slip to them with the No. 2 pick and Denver didn't waste any time getting the pick into the commissioner's hands.
Denver also liked the fact Saban has previous NFL coaching experience. He went 15-17 in two seasons with Miami.
After four highly successful seasons with the Crimson Tide, Saban was ready for a change of scenery and he is confident a second stint in the NFL will mean better results.
He was disappointed to hear the NFL actually limits the number of players he can have on the roster and Denver can't "oversign" for training camp.
3. Buffalo Bills — Gary Patterson, TCU
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The small-market Bills targeted Gary Patterson from the start and felt his experience with the Horned Frogs in the Mountain West has prepared him well for coaching in Buffalo.
Patterson is considering sitting out the season to see where he goes next year, but he believes he can turn the Bills defense, which gave up the ninth most yards in the NFL last season, around.
The big money of the NFL will be enough to get Patterson to move from Texas to Buffalo.
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4. Cincinnati Bengals — Jim Tressel, Ohio State
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Cincinnati owner Mike Brown is all about giving players a second chance.
Now he's ready to give Jim Tressel a fresh start and put all of his possible NCAA violations behind him.
It's an easy 100-mile move down I-71, and sweatervest sales increase 120 percent in the greater Cincinnati area.
5. Arizona Cardinals — Chip Kelly, Oregon
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The Cardinals ranked 31 out of 32 teams in offense in 2010, so tabbing the offensive-minded Chip Kelly was a no-brainer.
Immediately Kelly realizes he can't win with a former Oregon State quarterback (Derek Anderson), so he hopes to trade for Donovan McNabb and even considers approaching former Oregon quarterback Joey Harrington.
However, Arizona's brass quickly steps in to remind Kelly they had Harrington already, but he went by the name Matt Leinart.
6. Cleveland Browns — Bo Pelini, Nebraska
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This is a perfect fit.
Bo Pelini was born in Youngstown, Ohio, and he played at Ohio State.
His fiery sideline demeanor will fit right in with the Dawg Pound and the rest of the passionate Cleveland fan base.
It's still Cleveland, though, and Pelini just hopes to make the Browns a playoff quality squad.
7. San Francisco 49ers — Dan Mullen, Mississippi State
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Dan Mullen has only been a head coach for two years, but the 49ers couldn't pass on one of the hottest names in college.
Mullen is more of an East Coast guy, but he worked with Alex Smith when he quarterback Utah and Mullen wants to resign him and help him reach his full potential.
The pick of Mullen also makes San Francisco the favorite to win the NFC West.
8. Tennessee Titans — Chris Petersen, Boise State
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Chris Petersen may have the biggest adjustment making the jump from college to the pros, but his leadership and creativity are a good fit for the Titans.
Before Tennessee would draft Petersen, the Titans made it clear they wouldn't draft current Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore next year.
Petersen was choked up, but in the end realized Moore is nothing more than a system quarterback and that just won't work in the NFL.
9. Dallas Cowboys — Gene Chizik, Auburn
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Cowboys owner Jerry Jones love college coaches (e.g. Jimmy Johnson, Barry Switzer). He also loves college coaches who have won national championships.
Well, figured he might as well go with the guy who won the last title.
Jones also liked the work Chizik did as defensive coordinator at Texas in 2005 and 2006.
10. Washington Redskins — Bobby Petrino, Arkansas
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After failed attempts to trade up, Redskins owner Daniel Snyder wants to make the biggest splash possible at No. 10.
Snyder believes Bobby Petrino is his guy and proceeds to pay about $25 million more than any other team would have doled out for him.
Naturally, fans in Atlanta snicker in unison.
11. Houston Texans — Kevin Sumlin, Houston
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The selection of Kevin Sumlin is a surprise to almost everyone, but the Texans ownership likes what they've seen from the Houston Cougars coach.
Once the fans are reminded of his success as Oklahoma's offensive coordinator for five seasons, as well as the job he's done with the Cougars, the pick looks pretty solid.
12. Minnesota Vikings — Brian Kelly, Notre Dame
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With former Minnesota Gophers coach Tim Brewster not eligible, the Vikings made a smart selection in Notre Dame's Brian Kelly.
Kelly is a smart coach and he realizes he'll have to make some alterations to his offense for it to work in the NFL.
Kelly is a bit disappointed because going to the Vikings feels like a demotion from Notre Dame.
13. Detroit Lions — Mark Dantonio, Michigan State
13 of 32
Detroit chooses to go the safe route and selects Mark Dantonio from nearby Michigan State.
Last year's 11-2 campaign, which included a share of the Big Ten crown, was all the proof the Lions needed that Dantonio can work magic.
Dantonio had health issues last fall, but that didn't scare away the Lions.
Surprisingly, Dantonio is excited to move to Detroit where he sees a strong nucleus, especially if Matthew Stafford can stay healthy.
14. St. Louis Rams — Jimbo Fisher, Florida State
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Jimbo Fisher has quickly built a reputation as a top-notch recruiter and one of the better offensive minds in the college game.
The Rams felt his attention to detail is exactly what the young, but talented St. Louis roster needs.
Fisher is excited to get to work with last year's top pick, Sam Bradford.
15. Miami Dolphins — Charlie Strong, Louisville
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Miami loved what Charlie Strong did in his first season at Louisville and wasn't scared off by coaching in the Big East.
What they were most impressed with was Strong's work as defensive coordinator at the University of Florida.
Strong is thrilled to be moving back to Florida, while Louisville is looking for a replacement that doesn't have the name Kragthorpe.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars — Steve Spurrier, South Carolina
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Steve Spurrier is best known as one of the best college football coaches ever.
Spurrier haters like to point to his lackluster two-year run with the Washington Redskins as proof he can't coach at the highest level.
But Jacksonville overlooked the negatives and realized Spurrier will help with attendance and the Jaguars remember Spurrier had a successful three-year run with the Tampa Bay Bandits (1983-85) in the old USFL.
17. Oakland Raiders — June Jones, SMU
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There is no way Al Davis is going to pass up the offensive genius of June Jones.
Despite all of Jones' hard work, Davis will naturally fire him at the end of the season.
18. San Diego Chargers — Steve Sarkisian, Washington
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Steve Sarkisian is a Southern California boy and he'd love the chance to coach there in the NFL.
Sarkisian is major upgrade over Norv Turner. Quarterback Philip Rivers would also enjoy working with Sark.
Drafting Sarkisian could prove to be a long-term relationship for the Chargers.
19. N.Y. Giants — Doug Marrone, Syracuse
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If Sarkisian is a California boy, then Doug Marrone is New York through and through.
He earned his NFL stripes as Sean Payton's offensive coordinator with the Saints, and Marrone has garnered mad respect for turning around his alma mater.
Marrone's coaching style is not much different than current Giants coach Tom Coughlin.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
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Kirk Ferentz has been rumored for NFL jobs before, but he shied away because he can collect about $3 million annually from Iowa to win eight games.
The allure of winters in Florida should comfort him when he gets nostalgic.
For the Buccaneers, getting Ferentz this low in the draft would be a major steal.
21. Kansas City Chiefs — Gary Pinkel, Missouri
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Gary Pinkel is one of those top-end coaches who isn't a household name outside of Missouri.
But he has a proven track record and he should be able to do the same with the Chiefs.
He won 10 games last season and he has a 77-49 overall record in 10 seasons in Columbia, Mo.
22. Indianapolis Colts — David Cutcliffe, Duke
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Peyton Manning wants his former quarterback coach from college, so the Indianapolis brass wanted to keep their star happy.
Welcome to Indy, David Cutcliffe!
His record at Duke (12-24) doesn't warrant the selection, but what's a team to do? When a superstar like Manning speaks, you listen.
23. Philadelphia Eagles — Kyle Whittingham, Utah
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Kyle Whittingham is the third Urban Meyer disciple to hear his name called on draft day. Clearly if Meyer were still coaching he'd have been taken before any of his former assistants, right?
Whittingham picked up where Meyer left off when he took over in 2005.
He's gone 58-20 and led the Utes to three straight seasons of 10 wins or more, including a 13-0 mark in 2008 that included a huge upset of Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
24. New Orleans Saints — Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State
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It appears the Saints found their "Man!"
When Mike Gundy heard the news he looked at the Oklahoma State media and screamed, "I'm still a man ... just not your man anymore."
Gundy hopes to convince former offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen to leave West Virginia for a better social life on Bourbon Street.
25. Seattle Seahawks — Butch Davis, North Carolina
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Butch Davis' first run as an NFL head coach was doomed from the beginning ... mainly because he was with the ill-fated Cleveland Browns.
He still managed to get them into the playoffs even with Kelly Holcomb at quarterback.
That alone should get him another shot in the pros.
26. Baltimore Ravens — Brady Hoke, Michigan
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The Ravens like defense and so does Brady Hoke.
Even though he's yet to coach a game at Michigan, Hoke earned this first-round nod for his outstanding coaching at San Diego State and at Miami, Ohio.
Hoke considered the UM job his dream gig, but he just can't pass up the NFL.
27. Atlanta Falcons — Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech
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No, the Falcons aren't looking to bring Paul Johnson's option offense to the NFL.
What they wanted was a coach who wins and he's pretty popular in the Atlanta area for his work with Georgia Tech and Georgia Southern.
Naturally, quarterback Matt Ryan, a prototypical pocket passer, is wondering what his future is with the organization.
28. New England Patriots — Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech
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New England likes stable, yet boring coaches. BINGO, Frank Beamer.
The Eagles considered Beamer from his past work with Mike Vick, but the Patriots were glad to see one of the college game's elder statesmen slip to them at No. 28.
29. Chicago Bears — Mike Sherman, Texas A&M
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Green Bay fans may be snickering, but the Bears figure if Mike Sherman can work magic at Texas A&M it's worth giving him a second shot at the NFL.
Sherman's dry, almost carefree personality should fit the Bears well.
One immediate situation is how to deal with Jay Cutler's trade demands following the selection of Sherman.
30. N.Y. Jets — Les Miles, LSU
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Les Miles wasn't considered a viable option, but the Jets figure they are so loaded with talent it would be fun to win it despite not having a top-notch coach.
Miles spent most of draft day reaching out to his agent and friends to figure out who was punking him.
31. Pittsburgh Steelers — Will Muschamp, Florida
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Pittsburgh is known for taking a chance on a young, smart coach who lacks experience.
Will Muschamp is a perfect fit and the energy he brings to the organization will go over well with the NFL's most passionate fan base.
Muschamp's only regret was not getting a chance to show everyone how easy it is to win at Florida even without Tim Tebow... putting an end to the Urban Meyer myth.
32. Green Bay Packers — Bret Bielema, Wisconsin
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The defending Super Bowl champs were impressed with the job Bret Bielema did with Wisconsin last season, even with the loss to TCU in the Rose Bowl.
Much like Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers' draft day experience, Bielema was on the set in New York expecting to be selected much earlier.
In the end, though, he was happy to stay in Wisconsin... and he says he'll use the snubbing as motivation.
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