2011 NFL Mock Draft '" Another Look

1. Carolina Panthers: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri: Nick Fairley and Da'Quan Bowers have too many question marks to become the first pick in the draft. Cam Newton is still a possibility, but the Panthers would be better suited taking the top quarterback prospect in the draft.
Previous Pick: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn

2. Denver Broncos: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama: Dareus dramatically improved his stock at the NFL Combine.
Previous Pick: Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson

3. Buffalo Bills: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn: The Bills need a QB in the worst way. They also need a buzz. I know it's not apples to apples, but if Blake Griffin can make the Clippers relevant, Newton can give the Bills hope.
Previous Pick: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn

4. Cincinnati Bengals: Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson: A.J. Green may prove be too talented to pass up, but the Bengals had just 27 sacks last year.
Previous Pick: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia

5. Arizona Cardinals: Von Miller, DE/LB, Texas A & M: Miller is a freakish athlete that could immediately improve Arizona's pass rush.
Previous Pick: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri

6. Cleveland Browns: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia: What a turn of events for the Browns. Suddenly they find themselves with the opportunity to take a game-changing wide receiver. All of the sudden Colt McCoy has a chance.
Previous Pick: Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina

7. San Francisco 49ers: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU: Peterson still makes sense for the 49ers. He could be the top talent on the defensive side of the ball.
Previous Pick: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU

8. Tennessee Titans: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn: Finally the slide stops for Fairley. With Gabbert and Newton off the board, it only makes sense to improve on the defensive side of the ball.
Previous Pick: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama

9. Dallas Cowboys: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska: In this scenario Prince is both available and sensible for the Cowboys.
Previous Pick: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska

10. Washington Redskins: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama: The Redskins have a major shortage of skill position players so Jones is still the pick. He burned up the track on a broken foot.
Previous Pick: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama

11. Houston Texans: Robert Quinn, LB/DE, North Carolina: I must have been drinking when I projected Von Miller in the last mock. Quinn gives them the outside linebacker they'll need to convert to a 3-4 defense.
Previous Pick: Von Miller, DE/LB, Texas A & M

12. Minnesota Vikings: Jake Locker, QB, Washington: The Vikings are not going to trade for Kevin Kolb or Kyle Orton. They aren't going to find their answer at quarterback via free agency. They could try to trade down and take Locker later, but with so many teams in need of a quarterback, they may be best served taking Locker at 12.
Previous Pick: Tyron Smith, T, Southern Cal

13. Detroit Lions: Aldon Smith, DE/LB, Missouri: I'm beginning to think the Lions may still need to improve their offensive line to protect Matthew Stafford, but I'm sticking with Aldon Smith to improve their pass rush.
Previous Pick: Previous Pick: Aldon Smith, LB, Missouri

14. St. Louis Rams: Cameron Jordan, DE, California: They need to add a WR, but that can wait. No change here. The Rams add Jordan to improve their pass rush.
Previous Pick: Cameron Jordan, DE, California

15. Miami Dolphins: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama: Uncertainty at running back will lead the Fins to select the former Heisman Trophy winner.
Previous Pick: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama

16. Jacksonville Jaguars: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa: The Jags have struggled to find the right mix at defensive end. They managed just 26 sacks last year, which was second to only Denver.
Previous Pick: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa

17. New England Patriots: Tyron Smith, T, Southern Cal: Predicting what Bill Belichick will do is virtually impossible, but assuming he won't trade out of this spot, Smith makes too much sense. By acquiring Smith, the Pats won't have to bring back Matt Light for big bucks.
Previous Pick: Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue

18. San Diego Chargers: Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue: The Chargers don't have many holes, but adding a defensive end makes a lot of sense as Jacques Cesaire and Travis Johnson are free agents.
Previous Pick: J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin

19. New York Giants: Anthony Castonzo, T, Boston College: To keep the ground game humming and Eli off his back, the G-Men improve their offensive line.
Previous Pick: Akeem Ayers, LB, UCLA

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin: The Bucs have been filling their holes well in recent NFL Drafts. One area that needs to be addressed in this draft is an outside pass rush.
Previous Pick: Justin Houston, DE/LB, Georgia

21. Kansas City Chiefs: Nate Solder, T, Colorado: The Chiefs were a major surprise last year, but if they want to continue their resurgence they'll need help in their offensive line.
Previous Pick: Nate Solder, T, Colorado

22. Indianapolis Colts: Gabe Carimi, T, Wisconsin: Carimi is the third different offensive lineman I've suggested in these mocks, but the constant has been the Colts improving their offensive line.
Previous Pick: Anthony Castonzo, T, Boston College

23. Philadelphia Eagles: Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado: To get past the Packers and the Saints of the world, the Eagles will need to improve their defensive backs.
Previous Pick: Gabe Carimi, T, Wisconsin

24. New Orleans Saints: Akeem Ayers, LB, UCLA: It appears the Saints are committed to Pierre Thomas. That means they should turn their attention to improving their pass rush.
Previous Pick: Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois

25. Seattle Seahawks: Mike Pouncey, G, Florida: While they need to improve their secondary, they also need offensive line help. Pairing Russell Okung and Pouncey gives the Seahawks a strong foundation.
Previous Pick: Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado

26. Baltimore Ravens: Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland: Anquan Boldin needs a burner to stretch the field to make him more effective.
Previous Pick: Brandon Harris, CB, Miami

27. Atlanta Falcons: Justin Houston, DE/LB, Georgia : The Falcons had 31 sacks last year and 28 the year before. They need help in this department.
Previous Pick: Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland

28. New England Patriots: Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, Temple: The Pats have made improvements on defense, but there is still work to do. Namely, improving their pass rush from the defensive end position.
Previous Pick: Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State

29. Chicago Bears: Benjamin Ijalana, G, Villanova: The Bears can't let Jay Cutler take the beating he did in 2010 so improving the line play is a necessity.
Previous Pick: Mike Pouncey, C/G, Florida

30. New York Jets: Jon Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh: If Braylon Edwards bolts in free agency, Baldwin would be a nice replacement. He'd give the Jets a big target (6'5″, 230) to help Mark Sanchez continue his development.
Previous Pick: Jon Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh

31. Pittsburgh Steelers: Derek Sherrod, T, Mississippi State: Big Ben can't continue to take the pounding he does every year. The Steelers need to upgrade at tackle.
Previous Pick: Aaron Williams, CB, Texas

32. Green Bay Packers: Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State: The Packers are loaded making an accurate prediction difficult. That said, they could use improvement at defensive end.
Previous Pick: Derek Sherrod, T, Mississippi State

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