BBV Community Mock Draft 2011: Where We Stand

The first round of this year's Big Blue View Community Mock Draft has concluded. I want to get moving on the second round, and lay out a couple of changes for that, but let's take a little time to review the first round before we move on.

Looking back at our board right now, what do you see as the biggest surprise, or surprises, thus far? The worst pick? The best pick? In the real NFL Draft (you know, the one that matters) where do you see trades coming?

Let me take a stab at answering those questions myself.

Biggest surprise. For, me maybe it is that Denver took Nick Fairley instead of Marcell Dareus at No. 2, and that Dareus lasted all the way to No. 6 (Cleveland). Most draft boards, at least from sources I respect, have Dareus several spots ahead of Fairley. I was also surprised, quite honestly, about the pretty much overwhelming support for my selection of UCLA linebacker Akeem Ayers for the New York Giants. I thought there would be a little more disagreement than there actually was.

Worst pick. I am going to go with the first pick here, Carolina's selection of Cam Newton. This was predictable, could very well be what happens in the real draft, and might even be the right pick for Carolina under the circumstances. There is so much disagreement about Newton, and so many red flags when it comes to building a franchise around him, that this pick feels like it has disaster written all over it. It could turn out great, but it could also blow up on the Panthers. Honorable mention here goes to my son, Ryan, for taking Mike Pouncey with New England's pick at No. 17. Not because it was a bad pick, but because he stole my top target for the Giants at 19.

Best pick. Cleveland has to be ecstatic to get Dareus. Love the Seattle pick of Jake Locker. Buffalo going Patrick Peterson instead of Blaine Gabbert seems like a really good idea. Gabe Carimi and Indianapolis seem like a good fit. To be honest, in general I thought almost everyone who selected came up with a logical pick.

Trades. Here are a few possibilities I see. I think the Panthers could trade out of the top spot. There seems to be a disagreement there between the coaching staff and the general manager about whether the team should hand the keys to the franchise to Jimmy Clausen, or draft either Newton or Gabbert. Watch out for Miami trying to move from No. 15 to have a shot at grabbing Newton. Cincinnati at No. 4 is a strong possibility, quite possibly to Philadelphia for quarterback Kevin Kolb. I will be stunned if Minnesota doesn't trade their 12th pick to either the Eagles (for Kolb) or the Washington Redskins (for Donovan McNabb).

BBV 2nd round

Let's get on with our second round now. In the interest of moving things along a little what I would like to do is have each of you send me your pick with just a one-sentence explanation. I will try to run one post a day with as many picks as I can collect until we are finished. So, 'DManInBLUE' I need your selection for New England to open the second round as soon as possible. I would like to run the first batch of second-round selections Monday morning.

Round 1

Round 2