NFL 2011 Mock Draft v. 3.0

This is 3rd mock for the 2011 NFL Draft with some major tweaks this time around....Player rankings will be updated next week at some point. The website will be edited more as the year goes on with pictures, team needs, etc.

ROUND 1
 
1. Carolina Panthers- Andrew Luck- QB- Stanford

The Panthers are going to have a new head coach next year and with a new head coach (possibly Jim Harbaugh?) comes a new QB. Andrew Luck is the best QB prospect to come out in a long time and is a no brainer if there is a need for a QB. The Panthers will have to find him some targets in free agency since they traded their 2nd rounder for Armanti Edwards last year.

2. Denver Broncos- Nick Fairley- DT- Auburn

I could see the Broncos going one of two ways.... Defense or defense. Nick Fairley or Patrick Peterson would be tremendous addition to the Bronco D. In the end, the Broncos decide to take the bigger need... Anywhere on the defensive line! Fairley has had a great year and should be able to put a lot of pressure on the QB.

3. Cincinnati Bengals- Da'Quan Bowers- DE- Clemson

The Ocho Cinco and T.O. show is coming to an end in Cincinnati and so may QB Carson Palmer. However, there is also a major need for the Bengals to put pressure on the QB and so they take the best remaining player on the board Da'Quan Bowers. He has had a dominant season this year after slightly disappointing first couple of years.

4. Buffalo Bills- AJ Green- WR- Georgia

Buffalo could go a lot of ways here because they have so many needs. In the end they just decide to take the top prospect on their board and that is AJ Green. Green is the best WR prospect to come out since Calvin Johnson. The Bills could also go QB, DE, OT, CB, or OLB. The Bills have been impressed with Ryan Fitzpatrick so they pass on Cam Newton or Ryan Mallett get Fitzpatrick a top talent at wideout to put with Johnson and Evans.

5. Arizona Cardinals- Cameron Newton- QB- Auburn

Derek Anderson, Max Hall, John Skelton..... No thanks. The Cardinals have their choice of QB here and can't help but take QB Cameron Newton here. The Heisman Trophy winner would bring a lot of publicity to the Cardinals, give Larry Fitzgerald someone who can get the ball to him, and improve the Cardinals run game.

6. San Francisco 49ers- Ryan Mallett- QB- Arkansas

The 49ers QB situation is awful and their will be a new head coach in town this year. Ryan Mallett has an elite arm and could vastly improve the 49ers passing game. The Niners drafted two offensive lineman in the first round last year so the pieces are their to protect the young QB's back.

7. Dallas Cowboys- Patrick Peterson- CB- LSU

This is a steal for the Cowboys at this point in the draft! Patrick Peterson may be the most talented player in the draft this year and is an elite CB prospect. The Cowboys secondary has been a major disappointment this year like the entire team. Terrance Newman is getting any younger so a replacement was going to be needed soon anyway.

8. Houston Texans- Marcell Dareus- DT- Alabama

Mario Williams and Marcell Dareus will be a terrifying duo for opposing QBs for many years to come. The Texans could take Prince Amakumara here, but putting more pressure on the QB will help out the Texans young secondary (and its a deep CB class this year as you'll see in the 2nd round). Dareus is a versitle player who next to Mario Williams could be dominant.

9. Detroit Lions- Prince Amakumara- CB- Nebraska

The Lions need a #1 corner badly. Chris Houston has been good this year but is not a #1 and Alphonso Smith could be good at the nickle. This pick will instantly upgrade the Lions secondary. Amakumara would be the #1 corner drafted in almost any draft except this one.

10. Cleveland Browns- Justin Blackmon- WR- Oklahoma State

The Browns recivers.... Muhammad Massaquoi, Brian Robiski, Chansi Stcky, Josh Cribbs.... Wow! An upgrade is needed if they wanted QB Colt McCoy to take a step to becoming a good starter in the NFL. Taking the guy who was voted as the nations top receiver is a good starting point.

11. Seattle Seahawks- Robert Quinn- DE/OLB- North Carolina

The Seahawks have a few options here: They could go QB, WR, OT, CB, or DL. Robert Quinn is the top remaining prospect at those positions and has a chance to be a sack artist even though he missed the past season after being kicked off the team.

12. Tennessee Titans- Stephen Paea- DT- Oregon State

The Titans need a run clogger and Paea is a great option here. He is a wide body who is one of the top run stoppers in college football. LB, WR, or QB could be an option here, but I think they will pursue a veteran QB (Kevin Kolb, Chad Henne.... Brett Favre? jk... I hope!)

13. Washington Redskins- Julio Jones- WR- Alabama

Who knows what is going on with the Redskins QB situation with Donovan McNabb, but any way you look at it the Redskins need to add a target at one of the receiver spots. Julio Jones is a great talent and good value for the Redskins here.

14. Minnesota Vikings- Janoris Jenkins- CB- Florida

Leslie Frazier it appears will be the head man for the Vikings in the upcoming years. The Vikings could take a QB here since Favre's career is finally ending (fingers crossed!), but Frazier seems to really like Joe Webb and he showed his potential with the win Tuesday night at Philadelphia. The Vikings also badly need help at CB and Jenkins is the top remaining prospect on the board at the position.

15. New England Patriots- Von Miller- OLB- Texas A&M

The Patriots have a boatload of draft picks as always and here they have the pick they acquired from Oakland for Richard Seymour. The Pats could go a couple ways here including OL, DE, CB, WR, or RB. The Pats like to build their defense and after adding several pieces last year they add Von Miller who does a great job of getting to the QB.

16. Miami Dolphins- Blaine Gabbert- QB- Missouri

This is a pick where I really don't know which direction the team will go. The Dolphins could go with Mark Ingram here, but they spend the money on Brandon Marshall last year so they need to find someone to get him the ball. Blaine Gabbert has all the measurables to be a good NFL QB and Jake Locker had a terrible year so the team decides on Gabbert.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars- Ryan Kerrigan- DE- Purdue

Jacksonville just can't catch a break at DE.... they have had multiple failures on draft picks and then they sign Aaron Kampman who tears his other knee up. They give it one more try here with Ryan Kerrigan. He has had a great senior season and has an extremely high motor.

18. San Diego Chargers- Akeem Ayers- OLB- UCLA

Shawne Merriman is no longer with the team and Larry English has been a disappointment. Akeem Ayers has shown the ability to be a dominant player in multiple aspects of the game. He is a perfect fit.

19. New York Giants- Gabe Carimi- OT- Wisconsin

Finally a OT goes off the board and the Giants decide on Carimi. They could possibly take Mark Ingram here, but could also use a LB though there is not one ranked high enough to take here.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Adrian Clayborn- DE- Iowa

Adrian Clayborn would be a great piece to add next to the two top picks from last year Gerald McCoy and Brian Price. The trio could put a ton of pressure on QBs for years to come.

21. St. Louis Rams- Drake Nevis- DT- LSU

The Rams DEs have been surprisingly good this year, but they still need to add someone to put the pressure on up the middle of the line. Nevis is a nice fit for the Rams defense.

22. Indianapolis Colts- Nate Solder- OT- Colorado

The Colts have to find someone to protect Payton Manning. Their offensive line has been really bad this season so adding someone at the OT or OG spot would be a big help in keeping Payton's tremendous career ongoing. Nate Solder has everything physically a team looks for in a future LT.

23. Green Bay Packers- Mark Ingram- RB- Alabama

Mark Ingram seems to slip a little to this spot, but that is nothing out of the ordinary for RBs on draft night. Losing Ryan Grant this season showed how little depth the Packers have at the position. A tandem of Grant and Ingram could add a new dimension to the Packer offense.

24. Kansas City Chiefs- Jonathan Baldwin- WR- Pittsburgh

The Chiefs have been surprisingly good this season and need to continue to put targets around Matt Cassell to continue his success. Jonathan Baldwin will be a great addition to go along with Dwayne Bowe and Dexter McCluster. They could also look to go OLB here.

25.Philadelphia Eagles- Mike Pouncey- OG- Florida

The Eagles love to add to their offensive and defensive line in the draft. If Mike Pouncey is anywhere near as good as his brother has been this will be a great pick for the Eagles.

26. New York Jets- JJ Watt- DE- Wisconsin

 JJ Watt had a great season and I think with how well he uses his hands can be a great fit for the Jets D-Line. They are aging on their line so some fresh talent is needed.

27. New Orleans Saints- Cameron Jordan- DE- California

New Orleans needs to add some youth to its group of DEs. Jordan has been great this season and is a versatile player.

28. Baltimore Ravens- Brandon Harris- CB- Miami (FL)

The Ravens need to add youth and talent to their secondary so taking the top remaining corner on the board is never a bad idea. Brandon Harris.

29. Chicago Bears- Anthony Castonzo- OT- Boston College

It doesn't matter where it is at along the line... the Bears need help at every position. Anthony Castonzo will be a great tackle in a zone blocking scheme.

30. Pittsburgh Steelers- Derek Sherrod- OT- Mississippi State

The Steelers need to add a OT to their line as Max Starks is coming off of injury and Flozell Adams, well come on.

31. Atlanta Falcons- Allen Bailey- DE- Miami (FL)

Atlanta could add another target for Matt Ryan to throw to here, but they instead go with DE Allen Bailey who is a great talent and has slipped a little bit.

32. New England Patriots- Tyron Smith- OT- USC

New England once again can go any way with this pick, but their offensive line is aging so they add a piece here to develop when Matt Light retires... Got to protect the Brady guy....

ROUND 2

33 New England Patriots- Cameron Heyward DE Ohio State 34 Cincinnat Bengals- Jake Locker QB Washington 35 Buffalo Bills- Demarcus Love OT Arkansas 36 Denver Broncos- Justin Houston OLB Georgia 37 San Francisco 49ers- Ras-I Dowling CB Virginia 38 Dallas Cowboys- Matt Reynolds OT BYU 39 Houston Texans- Jimmy Smith CB Colorado 40 Detroit Lions- Ryan Williams RB Virginia Tech 41 Cleveland Browns- Kyle Rudolph TE Notre Dame 42 Arizona Cardinals- Benjamin Ijalana OT Villanova 43 Tennessee Titans- Torrey Smith WR Maryland 44 Washington Redskins- Corey Liuget DT Illinois 45 Minnesota Vikings- Travis Lewis OLB Oklahoma 46 Seattle Seahawks- Marvin Austin DT UNC 47 Denver Broncos- Aaron Williams CB Texas 48 Oakland Raiders- Curtis Brown CB Texas 49 San Diego Chargers- Ryan Broyles WR Oklahoma 50 Jacksonville Jaguars- Rahim Moore S UCLA 51 Tampa Bay Bucs- Bruce Carter OLB/DE UNC 52 New York Giants- Daniel Thomas RB Kansas State 53 St. Louis Rams- Greg Little WR UNC 54 Green Bay Packers- Jeremy Beal OLB Oklahoma 55 Indianapolis Colts- Rodney Hudson C/G Florida State 56 Kansas City Chiefs- Jabaal Sheard OLB/DE Pittsburgh 57 New York Jets- Robert Sands S West Virginia 58 Philadelphia Eagles- Mark Herzlich LB Boston College 59 Baltimore Ravens- Quinton Carter S Oklahoma 60 New Orleans Saints- Jurrell Casey DT USC 61 Pittsburgh Steelers- Rashad Carmichael CB Virginia Tech 62 Chicago Bears- Clint Boling G Georgia 63 Atlanta Falcons-  Jerrel Jernigan WR Troy 64 New England Patriots- DeVier Posey WR Ohio State