NFL Draft 2011: Which Players Make the Most Sense for These 10 Teams in Round 2?
"And with the first pick in the 2011 NFL draft..."
Sorry guys, but we are already past that point. There is nothing to be ashamed of for not being drafted in the first round. All of us "couch" players are laughing while we shove another handful of potato chips in our mouths, but don't feel bad about yourselves.
We knew Cam Newton, Von Miller and Patrick Peterson were going in the first round. We didn't expect Jake Locker to be drafted above Blaine Gabbert. We didn't expect Aldon Smith to be drafted seventh by the San Francisco 49ers.
We can only hope the second round of the NFL draft is as exciting as the first round.
Here is a look at 10 teams that need to get these 10 players in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft.
10. Green Bay Packers Draft Ryan Williams with 64th Pick
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Ryan Williams is the second-best running back in the draft. He had a huge freshman season for Virginia Tech. He split carries with Darren Evans during his sophomore season and also struggled with injuries.
Williams has great vision and the ability to make big plays. He is an instinctive runner with good speed and power. He wasn't used very often in the passing game at Virginia Tech, but he has good hands and could be effective catching the ball out of the backfield.
The Green Bay Packers currently have a very loaded backfield. Ryan Grant is back from injury and will push James Starks for the starting position. Both Brandon Jackson and John Kuhn have proved to be valuable. However, there are still questions surrounding the Packers backfield.
Ryan Williams is a versatile back who has big-play potential. If Williams is still available at the end of the second round, he could have a surprising impact for the Packers.
9. San Diego Chargers Draft Martez Wilson with 50th Pick
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Martez Wilson is an incredible athlete. He is a physical specimen that seems sent from God himself. He had an extremely impressive combine performance where he tested off the charts. He is still a raw player that will take some time to fully develop his natural abilities. He has shown the ability to get after the quarterback and also make plays in coverage.
San Diego has big needs on the defensive side of the ball. The Chargers took Corey Liuget with their first-round pick, strengthening their defensive line. Now they need an inside linebacker who can make plays.
Martez Wilson is clearly the best inside linebacker in the draft. He might take a few years to become an elite player, but he can step in instantly and be a big-time player for the Chargers defense.
8. Dallas Cowboys Draft Brandon Harris with 40th Pick
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Brandon Harris is a natural cover corner. He has good strength and is an aggressive player. He is a physical corner who is smart and has a good work ethic. He can step in from day one and be a talented starter, and he could develop into a top-tier cornerback.
The only knock on Harris is his size. He is smaller than most teams desire from a cover corner.
The Cowboys secondary certainly has talent, but they have been less than productive. Terence Newman and Mike Jenkins were both disappointing last season. The Cowboys were one of the worst defenses against the pass in 2010.
Brandon Harris has all the tools to be a lockdown defender and would instantly boost the Cowboys secondary. If the Cowboys can look past his size, Harris will instantly improve Dallas' defense.
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7. Cleveland Browns Draft Leonard Hankerson with 37th Pick
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Leonard Hankerson just looks like a starting wide receiver. He has the size and hands to succeed in the NFL. He is the type of player who will work hard to improve his game. He is mentally tough and has a good competitive nature.
However, Hankerson's concentration has been an issue while at Miami. He sometimes appeared to be out of the game while on the field.
The Cleveland Browns desperately need an elite wide receiver for Colt McCoy. They were expected to take Julio Jones with the sixth pick, but they traded down to take DT Phil Taylor. They now need to bolster their offensive production.
In order for McCoy to continue to develop as a franchise quarterback, he needs a target like Hankerson. It might be a reach to draft Hankerson this high, but the receiver talent drops off quite a bit after Hankerson. The Browns need a true No. 1 receiver, and Hankerson could develop into that for Cleveland.
6. Houston Texans Draft Aaron Williams with 42nd Pick
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Aaron Williams will be making the transition from safety to cornerback in the NFL. He has the right size for a cornerback and is a good, strong tackler. He has the ability to be a playmaker and can make plays on the football while it is in the air.
He is a versatile player who could play a number of positions for an NFL team. It will be interesting to see how Williams transitions to cornerback.
The Houston Texans need help in the secondary more than any other team. They were last against the pass last season and gave up more yards through the air than any other team. The Texans have no players that have starting talent in their secondary.
Williams is one of the better defensive backs in the draft, and the Texans desperately need one. If Williams can transition smoothly from safety to cornerback, this could be the steal of the draft.
5. Tennessee Titans Draft Stephen Paea with 39th Pick
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There is not a stronger player coming out of college than Stephen Paea. He set the bench-press record for the combine with 49 reps at 225 pounds. He has good speed off the snap and can easily overpower offensive linemen. He is an aggressive player who takes up space in the offensive backfield. Some experts question Paea's football instincts though.
Most mock drafts had the Titans drafting Nick Fairley with the eighth pick. The Titans made a surprising pick in Jake Locker and still have a hole on the defensive front. Their defense hasn't been the same since Albert Haynesworth left, and the Titans need another big defensive lineman.
The Titans appear to have found their quarterback of the future in Locker. Now they need to improve their defense. Paea has incredible strength and could instantly help the Titans' front seven.
4. San Francisco 49ers Draft Akeem Ayers with 45th Pick
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It was extremely surprising not to hear Ayers' name called in the first round. Ayers has the ability to make plays at the outside linebacker position. He can hit with power and chase down players. He has good speed and agility. His greatest asset might be his coverage ability.
He will need to learn to play with more consistency if he wants to succeed in the NFL.
The San Francisco 49ers need an outside linebacker who can make plays for them coming off the edge. Patrick Willis is one of the best middle linebackers in the NFL and needs another quality linebacker to team with. They have some good young players that could turn into quality producers.
Although the 49ers need a quarterback, Ayers is too good to pass up with this pick. Ayers could turn into the second-best linebacker in this draft behind Von Miller. The 49ers can't let that type of talent get past them.
3. Minnesota Vikings Draft Da'Quan Bowers with 43rd Pick
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Da'Quan Bowers is easily the biggest surprise of the first round. Bowers was once talked about as the first overall draft pick. He is a freak athlete who had a huge season for the Clemson Tigers. Unfortunately, Bowers' knee has been a major concern for teams. When healthy, he might be the best defensive player in the draft.
The Vikings shocked the world when they drafted Christian Ponder with the 12th overall pick. Minnesota's defense could still use some help. Jared Allen is the only real playmaker for the Vikings.
A duo of Allen and Bowers will send chills down every other team's spine. They could become the best defensive end teammates in the NFL.
2. Arizona Cardinals Draft Ryan Mallett with 38th Pick
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Ryan Mallett has the biggest arm out of all the quarterbacks in the draft. He can make all the throws an NFL team could desire.
The biggest problem with Mallett is his character. He appears to be a kid who enjoys partying a little too much. He isn't very mobile and lacks great athletic ability. He does, however, have the ideal body size for an NFL quarterback.
The Cardinals need a quarterback more than any other team in the draft. It was rather surprising to see Arizona pass on Blaine Gabbert for Patrick Peterson. Max Hall, Derek Anderson and John Skelton are clearly not the answer for Arizona.
A teaming of Larry Fitzgerald and Mallett could be a dream come true for Cardinal fans. If Mallett can stay sober enough to throw the ball to Fitzgerald on a regular basis, they could form a scary combination.
1. Buffalo Bills Draft Andy Dalton with 34th Pick
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Andy Dalton is another player who had a surprising slide on the first day of the draft. Both Ponder and Locker were expected to be drafted after Dalton.
Dalton has that "it" factor that teams look for in a quarterback. He isn't an elite talent, but he has all the intangibles that you want from your offensive leader. He knows how to win and will do whatever is necessary to play at his best.
The Bills passed on Gabbert and took Marcell Dareus instead. They were projected to take a quarterback in the first round, as quarterback is their biggest need. Although Ryan Fitzpatrick played well last year, he isn't the answer in Buffalo.
Dalton knows how to win and could change the mentality in Buffalo. There is no way that Dalton slides past the first few picks in the second round.
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