2011 NFL Mock Draft: Will Jake Locker Be a Top 10 Pick?

2011 NFL Mock Draft Has Three Quarterbacks in Top 10 in Final Edition

A final 2011 NFL Mock Draft means the 2011 NFL draft is officially upon us.

Quarterbacks look to be coming off the board earlier than expected. There is reportedly going to be a "historic" amount of trades tonight and certainly a great deal of excitement and disappointment all at the same time.

Keeping with the trend of the past decade, the Carolina Panthers will go with a quarterback at No. 1 and then hope to fill in the rest of their holes later on in the draft.

Denver and Buffalo are spouting out rumors like candy right now, trying to drive up the value of their picks, but there may be no takers.

Andy Dalton and Colin Kaepernick are two names that have surfaced as early first round picks, although I am not on board at all.

So, without further hesitation, here is a final look at what the 2011 NFL draft could look like before the trading destroys any semblance of the draft order.

1. Carolina: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn

- This team has little choice but start over, Newton is a good starting point.

2. Denver: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M

- Miller's upside, versatility and freakish athletic ability have won over the Broncos.

3. Buffalo: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama

- Perfect fit for the worst rush defense in the league.

4. Cincinnati: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia

- Best available player without reaching for a quarterback.

5. Arizona: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU

- The best player in the draft is a necessary pick for a team with little to be excited about. (Look for Texans to try and move up to this spot.)

6. Cleveland: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama

- Bit of a reach, but they covet a wide receiver here.

7. San Francisco: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri

- It pains me to make this pick, and I'm still not sold on it, but Gabbert can learn from a great coach here.

8. Tennessee: Jake Locker, QB, Washington

- Biggest "reach" of the top 10, Locker will be better than many anticipate and I think he'll have the best career of the quarterbacks in this class.

9. Dallas: Tyron Smith, OT, USC

- Cowboys need themselves a new talent on the offensive line and he is the best the draft has to offer. (Dallas could easily move down from here.)

10. Washington: Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina

- Redskins miss on a receiver and Locker here, instead of reaching for a quarterback they get a dynamic pass rush threat and can hope for a QB in second round.

11. Houston: Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri

- Texans reportedly love Smith if they cannot get up for Peterson. (Look for them to try very hard to get up to No. 5 and the Cardinals could take Smith here themselves.)

12. Minnesota: Anthony Castonzo, OT , BC

- Great technician who will simply be solid for his career, Castonzo should be able to help the Vikings run the ball better in 2011.

13. Detroit: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska

- Ideal scenario for a team desperate at the cornerback position.

14. St. Louis: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn

- Quarterbacks have a way over taking over the draft and Fairley is a causality of that. Challenging his will to be great, coach Spags will make him into a force in his rotation.

15. Miami: Mike Pouncey, OG/C, Florida 

- Avoiding another mistake in the draft is crucial for the Dolphins, Pouncey is as sure-fire a pick as there is in the draft. (Look for them to trade down because if they take Colin Kaepernick this high there will be a riot.)

16. Jacksonville: Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue

- Ryan Kerrigan will work his way into the hearts of every Jags fan early. Perfect fit for this team.

17. New England (via Oakland): Cameron Jordan, DE, California

- Ideal scenario for the Patriots, they could try and move up to No. 9 to assure they get a shot at the versatile defensive end from Cal.

18. San Diego: Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, Temple

- Upside and intrigue always grab A.J. Smith on draft day, Wilkerson has that and some major talent at a position of need.

19. New York Giants: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama

- Too good an opportunity for this team to pass on. Ingram will be loved in New York.

20. Tampa Bay: Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson

- Long fall ends as possibly the second-best steal of this draft if Bowers can stay healthy.

21. Kansas City: Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin

- Carimi's versatility helps keep this team an elite running unit immediately.

22. Indianapolis: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado

- Upside is super high and the Colts really want an offensive lineman.

23. Philadelphia: Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado

- Great talent, lots of character concern; Eagles are a perfect fit. (Trade up or trade down possible.)

24. New Orleans: J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin

- Big tumble for Watt, but I've never been too high on him to begin with. Saints get much needed pass rush help. (Look for trade down.)

25. Seattle: Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois

- A bit of fall for some boards, but I have not been as excited about Liuget as others. Seattle can use him immediately though. (Look for desperate trade down)

26. Baltimore: Cam Heyward, DE, Ohio State

- Too much of a fit/talent for the Ravens to pass up. He's an ideal fit for their off front.

27. Atlanta: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa

- Instant upgrade at defensive end, major position of need for the Falcons.

28. New England: Danny Watkins, OG, Baylor

- Best available interior lineman and a great fit for the Patriots. (They will trade this pick though.)

29. Chicago: Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi St.

- Offensive line is their main concern and he is an immediate starter for them. Defensive tackle is also a huge need so Marvin Austin could easily be the pick.

30. New York Jets: Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor

- Jets could use a new nose tackle and although there are a few other players they will want, I just do not see them getting a crack at them. Taylor's a good value though.

31. Pittsburgh: Aaron Williams, CB/S, Texas

- Williams makes this secondary better immediately and he will be a special teams ace in a division that has games won and lost on special teams all the time. If Watkins is here he is the pick.

32. Green Bay: Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA

- Best available player on my board to the reigning champs. He should go higher than this, but the Pack would love to use him in their front seven.

Wes O'Donnell writes about all things football for Bleacher Report. He can be followed on Twitter.