FanPost

A Mock Draft (Now edited as of 3/12/11)

I did this last year, so I know that the actual draft day picks rarely coincide with the mocks posted on the net (well last year was pretty predictable, but this year's top five has been going through so much debate that I'm one to believe anything is possible).

This was both very fun and exhausting... I didn't do a ton of research and based most of the picks off my knowledge as a fan, but hopefully you find this both thorough and entertaining. Enjoy, and please, feel free to critique! BTW, if anyone would care, I used this as my big board:

http://www.mockingthedraft.com/2011/3/6/2033642/post-combine-consensus-big-board-1-0-the-gold-standard-of-big-boards

Anyway, here we go!

UPDATE 3/12/11: Thanks to ct17 for pointing out that Pat Williams is a 1-tech, and that Cameron Jordan, in spite of his awesome senior bowl and soul-crushing hadoken, is simply not physically built or fat enough to eat two blockers at a time. In addition to this, I stupidly forgot that Ryan Mallett existed... hence I am now forced to retool my mock from pick nine onwards. Enjoy the changes!

============================================================================================1. 1. Carolina Panthers: DaQuan Bowers
Ron Rivera is defensive minded, Cam Newton not worth the risk, and a bookend end opposite Charles Johnson could transform a talented Carolina defense having a down year into something possibly great (complemented by Rivera's aggressive tendencies). Rivera finds his Julius Peppers.

2. Denver: Nick Fairley
At this point, Broncos football czar John Elway may draft more for scheme and upside. Fairley is a fantastic fit as a three tech and has the explosiveness to anchor Denver's line. Will look sweet playing Robin to Elvis Dumervil's Batman at DT.

3. Buffalo: Cam Newton
Chan Gailey jizzes in his pants. If he can do something with Tyler Thigpen, imagine what he could do with Cam Newton. CB is also an area of strength for the team, and their special teams has been fantastic for the last half decade. No need for Patrick Peterson.

4. Cincinatti: Patrick Peterson
Considering that Johnathan Joseph may not be resigned by the Bengals, CB becomes an area of huge need. Peterson is a freakish athlete who will with no doubt contribute in the return game. His shutdown coverage abilities and willingness to lay the wood will also be of good use in the physical NFC North. However, if Carson Palmer retires, this pick could also easily be Blaine Gabbert.

5. Arizona: AJ Green
Prince Amukamara isn't really worth the risk of a top five pick; neither is Von Miller. Hence, Arizona takes a flyer on the talented Green and tries to upgrade their offense, something the normally explosive Cardinals were lacking in last year. AJ Green opposite of Larry Fitzgerald is a likely nightmare for opposing defenses.

6. Cleveland: Marcel Dareus
Cleveland gets a beeftastic monster who will definitely help to shore up their run defense. It will also likely ease their transition into the 4-3.

7. San Francisco: Blaine Gabbert
Niners need a QB, Alex Smith is probably not the answer, Harbaugh is good with QBs etc. Gabbert is groomed while Smith keeps the seat warm, and becomes the new face of the franchise.

8. Tennessee: Prince Amukamara
CB is an area of huge need for the Titans, and their defensive line is stacked; Amukamara also has erased any questions of speed with a fantastic combine. QB is still an area of need, but all the top tenworthy selections are off the board; Tennessee, though suffering at the QB position, could ill afford to draft another head case. Mike Munchak accepts that this year is a rebuilding year and instead chooses to stack his defense.

9. Dallas: Cameron Jordan
Anthony Spencer isn't flashy, but certainly steady and certainly not a liability. Though Von Miller would be a very Jerry Jonesesque pick, it would be redundant; besides Jay Ratliff at NT, Dallas' defensive line is mediocre at best. Jordan could easily give a much welcomed infusion of youth, talent, and raw athleticism to both the 3-4 end spots in Dallas' defense. And let's be frank: Stephen Bowen is a career back-up, and Igor Olshansky is a overpaid wad of mediocrity. PREVIOUSLY: Von Miller

10. Washington: Jake Locker
Mike Shanahan, besides being occasionally brilliant, is also an arrogant rat bastard... so of course he can develop Jake Locker. With it looking more likely by the day that Donovan McNabb is not being retained, QB becomes an area of huge need for the 'Skins. Unless, of course, you expect Rex "Eff It I'm Going Deep" Grossman to carry your team to the Super Bowl. In Locker, Shanahan get his archetypal athletic gunslinger. PREVIOUSLY: Julio Jones

11. Houston: Von Miller
Wade Philips finds his Demarcus Ware, and gains a pass rusher to complement Mario Williams. PREVIOUSLY: Robert Quinn

12. Minnesota: Robert Quinn
Ray Edwards could leave as a free agent. Though Brian Robison has been resigned for three years, he is relatively unproven, and also lacks the size to anchor the left defensive end spot. Defensive line is certainly an area of need, and Quinn brings a tantalizing combination of size and speed. Also, at pick number twelve, Quinn brings great value; Mike Mayock once dared to call him a potential number one overall pick. He's worth the risk. PREVIOUSLY: Cameron Jordan

13. Detroit: Julio Jones
OK, I admit, this pick is totally Millenesque, but a WR with Julio Jones' size, speed, and blocking ability could elevate this Lions offense to ridiculous heights. Matt Stafford, upon seeing this pick, develops an epic-caliber broner. PREVIOUSLY: Jimmy Smith

14. St. Louis: Justin Houston
The Rams get a talented pass rusher to pay opposite of Chris Long; James Hall isn't getting any younger. This will allow Long to bump opposite the RT (where he will certainly feast on the slower footed), and will boost an underrated stopping unit. Also, Coach Spagnuolo love him some defensive ends, and will certainly find himself enamored with the freakishly big and fast Houston. PREVIOUSLY: Aldon Smith

15. Miami: Mark Ingram
Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown are free agents. Running back is an area of definite need, and Ingram is the consensus top running back in the draft.

16. Jacksonville: Aldon Smith
As much as we'd hope for Derrick Harvey to pick up his act and evolve into something beyond a glorified runstopper, defensive end is an area of need (again unfortunately) for the Jags, and with Aaron Kampman recovering from ACL surgery, the Jaguars are in desperate need of raw speed and pass rush ability. And of course, the only way to beat Peyton Manning, the perennial ruler of the AFC South, is to take his damn head off. PREVIOUSLY: Adrian Clayborn

17. New England: J.J. Watt
And somehow, the Patriots fill an area of need while simultaneously managing to propogate their Boston stereotype as a team of bearded, burly white men beating the hell out of people. Based on that criteria, JJ Watt is slightly lacking (as, being clean-cut, he doesn't seem to have any semblance of a manstache), but there is no doubt his development and potential will coincide with the growth of an epic beard.

18. San Diego: Ryan Kerrigan
The Chargers take a chance on Kerrigan and hopes he can develop into a good OLB to complement Shaun Philips. With a already talented team, the addition of another pass rusher could help the Chargers get over their recent string of playoff swoons.

19. New York Giants: Gabe Carimi
Gabe Carimi is monstrous, a fantastic road grader, and could easily play four positions (LT, LG, RG, RT) for the Giants. If David Diehl can play LT, then so can Carimi. Considering the rather precarious line depth last year, The boys in blue would certainly welcome an infusion of young, beefy talent. Also, the massive Carimi could be the heir apparent to an aging, and increasingly fragile (but still awesome) Kareem McKenzie.

20. Tampa Bay: Adrian Clayborn
When your best pass rusher is certifiably insane (and is called Stylez G. White), and aging, defensive end is an area of need. PREVIOUSLY: Justin Houston

21. Kansas City: Phil Taylor
Romeo Crennel welcomes a fellow fat man and inserts his nose tackle of the future. Ron Edwards just reeks of mediocrity.

22. Indianapolis: Nate Solder
The Colts basically never run the ball, and Charlie Johnson sucks. A talent upgrade would do wonders for Peyton Manning's future health, and Nate Solder just might be the most athletically gifted tackle in this year's draft. I could also see Tyron Smith being picked here as well. PREVIOUSLY: Tyron Smith

23. Philadelphia: Akeem Ayers
Ayers brings versatility to a Philly LBing unit that has underperformed. Ayers could immediately step in and replace Ernie Sims, who has been graded by profootballfocus as one of league's worst linebackers. You know you suck when a place as defensively starved as Detroit is willing to cut you loose

24. New Orleans: Stephen Paea
Besides Sedrick Ellis, the Saints has virtually no one at defensive tackle. An upgrade would be in order, and the brutish Paea would bring both physicality and pass rushing ability. The Saints weakest position on defense is easily one-tech DT, and the addition of Paea could boost New Orleans' championship hopes.

25. Seattle: Ryan Mallett
Pete Carroll is forced to take a shot on the draft's favorite head case. Mallett brings talent, and most sexy of all, a cannon arm to a Seattle team desperately in need of an upgrade at quarterback. Hasselbeck may hold the fort, but Mallett is the the new face of the franchise. PREVIOUSLY: Jake Locker

26. Baltimore: Jimmy Smith
For a suddenly and surprisingly sucktastic Raven's secondary, Smith would help Baltimore regain its reputation as a shutdown defense, air included. Smith is talented, big, and fast, but a knucklehead (who the hell claims they're better than the Nmandi? Idiot...). Ray Lewis and Ed Reed should help screw Smith's head on tight, and his size makes him slightly better suited for the rigors of the AFC North. PREVIOUSLY: Brandon Harris

27. Atlanta: Kyle Rudolph
With no other viable WRs on board, Atlanta picks up the most complete tight end in the draft. A surprisingly limited Atlanta offense gets a boost both on the ground and the air, and an heir to the rapidly declining Tony Gonzalez. I could also see Atlanta potentially reaching for someone like Johnathan Baldwin. A CB like Brandon Harris could also be a surprise pick; after being positively lit up by Aaron Rodgers in the playoffs, any boosts to the secondary would aid the Falcons' championship aspirations.

28. New England: Mike Pouncey
With Stephen Neal's retirement, guard becomes an area of need for the Patriots. The Pats snap up Maurkice's equally monstrous road grader of a twin without a second thought. Besides mild regrets that Pouncey will never resemble a burly, bearded lumberjack.

29. Chicago: Anthony Castonzo
The Bears get a polished product both learned as a run blocker and a pass rusher, and attempt to patch up their sham of an offensive line. Somewhere, Jay Cutler sits in a church pew and silently thanks God.

30. New York Jets: Cameron Heyward
Shaun Ellis may not resign, and Rex Ryan could always use a few more bodies to slap on the defensive line. Cameron Heyward brings violence and explosiveness to a Jet's defense in need of big men. This pick could also easily be project 3-4 DEs like Corey Liuget or Muhammad Wilkerson.

31. Pittsburgh: Derek Sherrod
At some point, Bruce Arians will be overjoyed to discover the benefits of viable pass protection, instead of the burden of an approximately nano second window to read coverage and throw the ball. Pittsburgh's offensive line was in shambles last season, and even when healthy, starting LT Max Starks was mediocre at best. I mean, I laughed pretty hard when Pittsburgh franchised him a few years ago. Somewhere, Ben Roethlistberger joins Jay Cutler and also thanks God.

32. Green Bay: Martez Wilson
The Packers take a chance on Wilson and hope his ridiculous potential and athletiscism electrify a Packers LBing unit that, besides Clay Matthews, has underperformed. Nick Barnett is probably on his way out of Green Bay, AJ Hawk is mediocre, and the smorgasboard of supporting actors who masquerade as the other Green Bay OLB could be upgraded. Wilson offers fantastic depth and could easily be a day one starter at any linebacker position (beside Clay's of course).

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