Updated 2011 NFL Mock Draft

Thanks for checking the 3^rd version of my 2011 NFL mock draft, click here to see my 2^nd version. I have been doing mocks for years but the 2011 NFL mock draft is the hardest to write. With the almost certain NFL lockout looming teams will not be signing free agents to fill needs until after the draft, probably. So my before writing the 3^rd version of my 2011 NFL mock draft I took a look at what free agents NFL teams may lose.

1 Carolina Panthers- Da'Quan Bowers DE- Clemson

Recently Panthers General Manager Marty Hurney recently said on WFNZ's Mac Attack that the team would have drafted Luck if he had declared for the draft. New coach Ron Rivera is a defensive guy and knows the team's 2^nd biggest weakness is defensive linemen. With the team not franchising their only pass rushing defensive end Charles Johnson, expect him to be gone in free agency.

Da'Quan Bowers is a smart football player and probable devastating NFL defensive end. The Panthers will also like that he played his college ball at nearby Clemson in hopes of adding some new fans for the team. The Panthers still may take Fairley here but I think it will be Bowers.

2 Denver Broncos- Robert Quinn DE- North Carolina

John Fox was hired to fix the Denver defense and it starts on the line with Robert Quinn from North Carolina. Quinn is the best defensive end to come out of UNC since Peppers and he will help solidify the Broncos defensive line. Quinn may have been number one if he had played last season instead of being suspended.

3 Buffalo Bills- Patrick Peterson CB-LSU

In my previous 2011 NFL mock drafts I had the Bills drafting A.J. Green but Buffalo is so bad that the best player available should be drafted. Patrick Peterson is a day one NFL starting corner who can also return punts if needed. Marcel Dareus is a possible pick here as well.

4 Cincinnati Bengals- Ryan Mallett QB-Arkansas

If A.J. Green does fall the Bengals could take him here to replace one or both diva wide receivers on the roster. The Bengals could go after Newton but I think they will take Ryan Mallett despite his off the field concerns. After all this is the Bengals we are talking about.

5 Arizona Cardinals- - Blaine Gabbert QB- Missouri

Gabbert is thought to be the best qb in the draft by many and the Cardinals need help at that position among others.

6 Cleveland Browns- Nick Fairley DT- Auburn

If Fairley drops here like I have him in this 2011 NFL mock draft then the Browns will jump on him. Fairley is a beast when he wants to be and can plug up the middle of the Browns defense for 10 years. The other possible pick here is A.J. Green.

7 San Francisco 49ers- A.J. Green WR-Georgia

Unless the 49ers take Newton or Locker here I don't see them letting A.J. Green drop any lower.

8 Tennessee Titans- Cam Newton QB- Auburn

Newton had a bad combine but the Titans are desperate for a qb and Newton or Locker will go here.

9 Dallas Cowboys- Cameron Jordan DL-California

Jordan continues the early run on defensive linemen in my updated 2011 NFL mock draft. Jordan can play 3-4 end or 4-3 tackle and will be a good fit for an aging Dallas defense.

10 Washington Redskins- Marcel Darius DE- Alabama

If Darius really falls this far then the Redskins will be glad to have him. They could go qb here if there is one they like. I don't see McNabb returning and if one of the top quarterbacks do fall the Redskins will draft him.

11 Houston Texans-Prince Amukamara, CB-Nebraska

The Texans could go nose tackle here to address the 3-4 defense being put in by Wade Phillips. But I think they will take Prince who is probably the best defensive player on the board at this point.

12 Minnesota Vikings- Jake Locker QB-Washington

Favre is gone and so is Chilly but the Vikings still won't be sold on Jackson. So Jake Locker makes it into the early stages of my 2011 mock NFL draft. However if Vince Young ends up in Minnesota like I think he will, and the Vikings will know if he is before the draft, this pick will change.

13 Detroit Lions- Adrian Clayborn DE- Iowa

The Lions could go OLB here but adding Clayborn to a defensive line with Suh will be very tempting. So could a corner that they like such as Harris from Miami.

14 St. Louis Rams- Julio Jones WR-Alabama

Jones is still getting better and he will be an immediate starter on the Rams not so stellar receiving corps

15 Miami Dolphins-Mark Ingram RB- Alabama

The Dolphins are not in love with Ronnie Brown anymore and Ricky Williams is ancient. Ingram brings some stability to the Dolphins offense.

16 Jacksonville Jaguars- Brandon Harris CB- Miami

Harris may turn out to be the best cornerback in the 2011 draft and Jacksonville needs defense help all over.

17 New England Patriots- Von Miller LB-Texas A&M

Ok I expect plenty of abuse for letting Miller fall this far in my 2011 NFL mock draft, so have at it. New England will snap Miller up in a second and he will flourish with the Patriots.

18 San Diego Chargers- Jon Baldwin WR- Pitt

Baldwin has the size and hands that the Chargers like in their receivers. With Gates injury prone it's time to get Phillip Rivers some help on offense

19 New York Giants- Nate Solder OT-Colorado

The Giants need some offensive line help and will hope Solder can add some bulk and a little mean to his game.

20 Tampa Bay Buccaneers- - Ras-I Dowling CB-Virginia

The Bucs could go DL here but I think they will take the best corner available.

21 Kansas City Chiefs-Alan Bailey DL- Miami

The Chiefs need defensive linemen who can play in a 3-4 and Bailey will be a decent player for them. Kansas City could possibly go wide receiver here.

22 Indianapolis Colts- Bruce Carter LB- North Carolina

Defense is what the Colts need more than anything. Look for Indy to load up on defensive players and Carter is going to be a good NFL player. If the Colts do go offense with this pick it will be a running back or offensive lineman.

23 Philadelphia Eagles- Darius Morris OT- Temple

Morris brings versatility to a weak offensive line of the Eagles. Morris may be a reach here but he is the best lineman on the board in my updated 2011 NFL mock draft.

24 New Orleans Saints- Rahim Moore FS- UCLA

The Saints know with Matt Ryan and Josh Freeman in their division that they need to add quality defensive backs, Moore fits the need here.

25 Seattle Seahawks- Ryan Williams RB- Virginia Tech

Seattle kept trying to fix their running game and Ryan Williams will help them do that. The Seahawks could also go qb here depending on what happens with Hasselbeck

26 Baltimore Ravens- Quan Sturdivant ILB- North Carolina

Quan may be a reach here but the Ravens need some young legs at linebacker and will get them here.

27 Atlanta Falcons- Aldon Smith DE- Missouri

Smith is tall and could add a few more pounds of muscle to help shore up a bad Falcons defense.

28 New England Patriots- Mikel Leshoure RB- Illinois

The Patriots are still trying to replace Corey Dillon and Leshoure may just be the man to do it. New England could also go pass rusher or speed receiver here.

29 Chicago Bears-Marcus Cannon OG- TCU

The Bears need offensive linemen and if they don't go tackle here it will be Cannon.

30 New York Jets- Jeremy Beal, DE/OLB-Oklahoma

The Jets need a pass rusher and Beal fits the bill, pun intended.

31 Pittsburgh Steelers- Jimmy Smith CB- Colorado

Pittsburgh needs defensive backs and offensive linemen and I think they will take Smith here.

32 Green Bay Packers- Anthony Costanzo, OT-Boston College

The Packers could go defense here but I think they will add Costanzo to get some young talent on their offensive line.

Sources

Walterfootball.com

Dcprosportsreport.com

Thefootballexpert.com

Reservationforsix.com