2011 NFL Mock Draft: Complete Projections for the Second Round of the Draft
The first round of the 2011 NFL draft has come and gone, and all those who did not hear their names called will be waiting until tomorrow in hopes of being drafted. For those that expected their names to be heard, they will be on Friday.
The second round of the draft will be full of many prospects. Some are players that everyone says are second-round options, while others are people that had no business still being there this far down in the draft.
Because of the group of players available, some teams will strike gold in Round 2, while others will not think much of this round. The following is a complete second-round mock draft. Which players could fall out of Round 2, and where will Da'Quan Bowers end up?
This draft will not have trades since—let's face it—trying to predict those is impossible.
33. New England Patriots: Brooks Reed, OLB, Arizona
1 of 32
The New England Patriots need to find depth for the front seven with this pick since they decided to use pick No. 17 on an unproven offensive lineman. Reed provides this depth and should have no trouble rushing the passer.
Other options here include Akeem Ayers and Da'Quan Bowers.
34. Buffalo Bills: Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA
2 of 32
The Buffalo Bills seem to be fine with Ryan Fitzpatrick, and the only potential option on the table is trading back into the second round to acquire Ryan Mallett. Since Christian Ponder's off the board, he's out as an option.
Outside linebacker is a need for the Bills, and someone who can drop into coverage would be a bonus. Akeem Ayers can handle both.
35. Cincinnati Bengals: Andy Dalton, QB, TCU
3 of 32
The Cincinnati Bengals' patience pays off, as they are actually able to get the quarterback they want without having to mess around with trades. Besides, a few years from now Andy Dalton will be one of the best quarterbacks coming out of this draft class.
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36. Denver Broncos: Aaron Williams, CB, Texas
4 of 32
The Broncos need help in the secondary, and with Champ Bailey's impending move to safety, having a versatile defensive back who could be a great corner is of utmost importance. Aaron Williams is exactly that and should be a great fit in Denver.
37. Cleveland Browns: Jabaal Sheard, DE, Pittsburgh
5 of 32
Since the Browns addressed the interior defensive line in the first round, they can now use the second-round pick to address the defensive end position. I see them passing on Da'Quan Bowers, since if they wanted him they could have gotten him at No. 27.
Jabaal Sheard should fit well with the Browns, especially since he's played in Cleveland-type weather.
38. Arizona Cardinals: Bruce Carter, OLB, North Carolina
6 of 32
In the first confusing reach of the second round, the Arizona Cardinals realize they need to find a young outside linebacker and snag Bruce Carter, a raw talent who should be good once he gets back on the field.
39. Tennessee Titans: Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
7 of 32
At long last, Da'Quan Bowers' fall has ended, as the Tennessee Titans pick him up. They need a playmaking defensive end, and Bowers is that, no question. It's certainly a risk, but it's much less of one in the second round.
40. Dallas Cowboys: Brandon Harris, CB, Miami
8 of 32
The Cowboys need some help in the secondary, and they decide to go with Brandon Harris. After watching some tape of him, he actually seems to fit how the Cowboys' defense operates perfectly, so there shouldn't be any issues.
Rahim Moore is a strong possibility here, but I see them waiting a bit later for safeties since the draft is weak there anyway.
41. Washington Redskins: Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada
9 of 32
Mike Shanahan loves mobile quarterbacks, which Kaepernick is. Shanahan loves the kind of project with tremendous offensive talent that he can turn into a great quarterback, and Kaepernick is clearly that. This will either turn out to be an amazing pick or a terrible pick depending on how the Redskins use him.
42. Houston Texans: Rahim Moore, S, UCLA
10 of 32
The Houston Texans just need to draft someone with defense and it will be a good pick. More to the point, they need to find a ballhawk safety to fill that need, and that's exactly what Rahim Moore is.
43. Minnesota Vikings: Ben Ijalana, OT, Villanova
11 of 32
The Vikings need to find offensive linemen to protect their new quarterback, Christian Ponder, who they got far too early. Ben Ijalana is the best tackle on the board, though they could potentially reach for Marcus Gilbert.
44. Detroit Lions: Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia
12 of 32
While I would have seen the Lions going the free-agent route for a cornerback, they are interested in Dowling, he is available there and everything else just fits since he's worth a mid second-round pick.
45. San Francisco 49ers: Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech
13 of 32
This could be a surprise, but the last thing the 49ers want is for Frank Gore to miss playing time again. Anthony Dixon is not an every-down running back, which Ryan Williams has the potential to be.
If nothing else, it trims Gore's carries a bit so he can be more effective.
46. Denver Broncos: Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame
14 of 32
If Kyle Rudolph is still here when the Denver Broncos make their pick, then there's no way that they let Rudolph get by. He's the best tight end in the draft, and the Broncos could use a feature one.
There may be teams wanting to trade to get Rudolph at this point as well, leading to even more draft picks.
47. St. Louis Rams: Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland
15 of 32
The Rams need a wide receiver badly, and this is the time to get it, whether it's Smith, Titus Young or Randall Cobb. I think they'll go for the bigger playmaker of the three.
48. Oakland Raiders: Stefen Wisniewski, G/C, Penn State
16 of 32
Really, the Raiders drafting a guard? Here's what WalterFootball had to say about that:
Couldn't have said it better myself. They'll draft DeMarcus Van Dyke for their speed fix, but that will be on day three.
49. Washington Redskins: Randall Cobb, WR, Ketucky
17 of 32
The Washington Redskins need a wide receiver who can stretch the field, and while Julio Jones would have been ideal, Cobb works just fine here. He's a speedy guy who can make up for Santana Moss slowing down of late.
50. San Diego Chargers: Sam Acho, DE/OLB, Texas
18 of 32
The Chargers have kept a very close eye on Acho, and I think they've already decided in-house that he's their guy moving forward. He's an extremely intelligent guy who can make plays happen, so it doesn't surprise me that he's going earlier than expected.
51. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Martez Wilson, ILB, Illinois
19 of 32
Does anything really think the Buccaneers won't be sure about taking the best linebacker left on the board with the 51st pick? Their young defense is definitely going to be tough in 2011.
52. New York Giants: Clint Boling, G, Georgia
20 of 32
I have a gut feeling the Giants draft a running back to replace either Brandon Jacobs or Ahmad Bradshaw, and Mikel Leshoure is on the board.
However, that's too ridiculous for my mind since there will be many guards here that are available to draft. The Giants will pick the best one, which is likely Clint Boling.
53. Indianapolis Colts: Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina
21 of 32
You guys were starting to wonder when he'd come off the board, no? Indeed, Marvin Austin will be tomorrow's free-faller, and the Colts will gladly select him to beef up their defensive line even though I'd rather they grab Rodney Hudson or another lineman.
54. Philadelphia Eagles: Jaiquawn Jarrett, S, Temple
22 of 32
I see the Philadelphia Eagles holding off one more round for a cornerback. Instead, the Eagles will grab a safety, going with the best available one. Jaiquawn Jarrett should be able to help out the team immediately.
55. Kansas City Chiefs: Justin Houston, OLB, Georgia
23 of 32
The Kansas City Chiefs badly need a pass rusher, and they will set their eyes on Justin Houston. The other free-faller this round due to a failed drug test, sack artist Justin Houston out of Georgia, should help out immediately.
56. New England Patriots: Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois
24 of 32
Yes, after everything, I think the Patriots will take a running back. In fact, I think they had their eye on Mikel Leshoure the whole time.
57. Seattle Seahawks: Allen Bailey, DE/DT, Miami
25 of 32
The Seahawks need someone on both sides of the line, and they addressed the offensive line in the first round. This round, they'll tackle the defense and bring in Allen Bailey, someone whose stock has quietly slipped for reasons unknown to me.
They might take Ryan Mallett here, but I don't think they go that route.
58. Baltimore Ravens: Titus Young, WR, Boise State
26 of 32
None of the offensive or defensive linemen catch the Ravens' eye, so instead they address their need for a deep-threat wide receiver and grab Young, the crazy fast receiver out of Boise State.
59. Cleveland Browns: Greg Little, WR, North Carolina
27 of 32
After trading with the Atlanta Falcons so they could get the receiver they wanted, the Browns end up getting the receiver they likely wanted the entire time in Greg Little. He's a tough guy who can do all the little things that are required in the AFC North.
60. New England Patriots: Rodney Hudson, G/C, Florida State
28 of 32
Will Rackley of Lehigh is a very tempting possibility here, but I can't see the Patriots passing on Hudson, and I can't see the Patriots skipping their interior offensive line. Yes, they addressed the tackle, but guard and center are where the question marks are.
61. San Diego Chargers: Mason Foster, ILB, Washington
29 of 32
I see the Chargers taking the best inside linebacker available here, plain and simple. In this mock draft, it happens to be Washington's Mason Foster, who was a force in the Pac-10 last year.
62. Chicago Bears: Jurrell Casey, DT, USC
30 of 32
Jurrell Casey has a lot of talent, though there are some questions about him. I see the Chicago Bears looking past any of that, seeing his good points and grabbing him while they have the opportunity.
63. Pittsburgh Steelers: Marcus Gilbert, OT, Florida
31 of 32
The Steelers love Marcus Gilbert. If he's available at this point, then there's no way they let him slip further and possibly lose him to another team.
64. Green Bay Packers: Christian Ballard, DE/DT, Iowa
32 of 32
Christian Ballard has slipped down mock drafts, but in the end I think the Packers will take him at the end of the second round. They like what they see out of the big man from Iowa, and they badly need some new blood on the line. Jarvis Jenkins is a possibility here, but I see him slipping a bit.
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