Round 1 Mock Draft

[ChrisD]

I haven't found a sport fAlright, I'll take the heat. I know a lot of guys are seemingly out of place in my draft, but I have reasons behind them all. And it's just my opinion, let me know what you guys think.

1. Carolina Panthers: Patrick Peterson - CB - LSU
The common misconception is that the Panthers are terrible all around. But what people should know is that they aren't. While I don't feel that Clausen is the true answer at the Quarterback position for the Panthers, I don't think they give up on him just yet. The Panthers will work on their secondary with a sure answer at a position of need and take a cornerback #1 overall for the first time ever in the NFL draft.


2. Denver Broncos: Marcell Dareus - DT - Alabama (Or Nick Fairley)
Nick Fairley or Marcell Dareus? Seems to be the biggest draft debate this season, more so than the quarterback debate. The Broncos need an inside pass rusher and run stuffer. Dareus has the size, strength, and skill sets to be a solid defensive tackle in a 4-3 system.


3. Buffalo Bills: Cam Newton - QB - Auburn
Cam Newton can be considered as somewhat of a risk. But by all means, all of his issues can be fixed by coaching. The Bills are in clear need of a quarterback, and Newton is an amazing athlete, and with some work he could be an amazing NFL quarterback. Expect Newton to be drafted, and starting immediately in Buffalo.


4. Cincinnati Bengals: Julio Jones - WR - Alabama
The AJ Green/Julio Jones argument continues as it will leading all the way to the draft. I'm one of the few that still believes Jones is the more NFL ready receiver. Obviously the Bengals aren't going to take Palmers threats of retiring as seriously as they need to, but they will eventually have a safety plan in round 2 of the draft. Jones will be a good fit on the Bengals, a big, strong wide receiver to replace Chad Johnson, a much needed lift to the offense.


5. Arizona Cardinals: Blaine Gabbert - QB - Missouri
Arizona is one of about 4 teams who are a quarterback away from making a playoff run. A team that goes from contending for a Superbowl, to being the 5th pick in the NFL draft. That's rough. Blaine Gabbert will surely bring them the lift that the team needs, and he will give Larry Fitzgerald something to be excited about.


6. Cleveland Browns: AJ Green - WR - Georgia
Either way I look at my mock draft, one sure thing will happen, either AJ Green or Julio Jones will be in Cleveland. That's my take on the Browns! All indications out of the Browns camp is that the defensive line is the main concern. When you're leading receiver is TE Benjamin Watson with 763 yards and RB Peyton Hillis is #3 with 477 yards, it's time to be concerned. Colt McCoy needs a target if he is expected to become successful.


7. San Francisco 49ers: Nick Fairley - DT - Auburn
Theres not much to say about Fairley other than what anyone else has says. 49ers are well off on the line, but I feel they could use a physical defensive tackle that has the ability to play the outside. Linebacker was another obvious choice for these guys, but I can't take a linebacker yet.


8. Tennessee Titans: Jake Locker - QB - Washington
As soon as the Collective Bargaining issue is solved, the Titans will most likely release or trade Vince Young. Either way, it's clear the Titans don't wish to go any further with the Young project. Another team just a solid quarterback away from a playoff run, the Titans have been watching Locker closely. Jake Locker has the ability to make all the NFL throws, and he's going to be the 3rd quarterback off the board in a quarterback heavy draft.


9. Dallas Cowboys: Prince Amukamara - CB - Nebraska
No matter how much I feel like the Cowboys need to upgrade their offensive line, Jerry Jones won't do it. The Cowboys are seemingly in love with Prince. He's got an eye for the football, and the proto-typical NFL cornerback size to cover guys like Andre Johnson on a weekly basis. The Cowboys will take Prince with the 9th overall pick.


10. Washington Redskins: Anthony Castonzo - OL - Boston College
Dallas passed him up, Washington will not. Boston College is an absolute factory when it comes to producing top offensive lineman. Castonzo is just that. He has nearly perfect technique, and the strength to fight off even some of the strongest defensive lineman in the league. While Gabe Carimi would also be a likely pick here, Castonzo was the epitome of "how a lineman should look and perform" at the combine.


11. Houston Texans: Robert Quinn - DE/LB - UNC
The Texans need a guy that can get to the quarterback to complement Mario Williams on the line. They aren't ready to give up on Smith at DE, so Quinn will be asked to play as a DE/LB hybrid in the defense as he did for UNC. He's got all the tools needed to make it in the NFL.



12. Minnesota Vikings: Ryan Mallett - QB - Arkansas
The Vikings need a franchise quarterback that can actually give them long term success. Mallett has the size and skills to be one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Character concerns? Take this into consideration, he has had one run in with the law and it was nearly two years ago for public intoxication. (Imagine that, college kids getting their drink on!) Other than that he hasn't made a peep. He's played great football, and refused to comment on a few subjects at the combine. And although his stock may be falling as I type, he's still probably the only QB in the draft that is 100% ready to take on the NFL.


13. Detroit Lions: Tyron Smith - OT - USC
I'll give 90% of Lions fans exactly what they want in my mock draft. And that's a top offensive lineman that is sure to be successful in the pros. The Lions will continue rebuilding their franchise the correct way and take Smith at #13. This guy has everything, good character, size, and technique.


14. St. Louis Rams: Aldon Smith - DE - Missouri
With the 14th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the St. Louis Rams select, Justin Tuck. . . Oh, wait. Oops! Aldon Smith, DE out of Missouri. Smith is a blueprint mold of Justin Tuck. He has the ability to come off blocks and get to the quarterback. He has a strong motor, and doesn't easily give up on plays. He'll be strong in both pass rushing, and stopping the run. While the Rams DO need another option for Bradford, they address that in the 2nd round.


15. Miami Dolphins: Mark Ingram - RB - Alabama
Ingram? Mark Ingram!? That's right everyone. The Dolphins will take Mark Ingram with #15. Ronnie Brown is more or less injured year after year, and it's still not safe to rely on Ricky Williams as a #1 back. It's time the Dolphins move on from Brown and go with Ingram.


16. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brandon Harris - CB - Miami
While the Jaguars are also in the mix of needing a quarterback in this years draft, or the following, I don't think they go that route just yet. Not in the first anyway, with so many needs at other positions, they will address those first. Mathis is aging, and Cox simply hasn't be progressing as hoped. Brandon Harris provides the speed and coverage needed for an NFL defense. Harris could anchor down the Jaguars defense much like he did the Miami Hurricanes defense this past season.


17. New England Patriots (From Raiders): JJ Watt - DE - Wisconsin
Tis the year for the Patriots to use their draft picks, falalala. . Yeah, dumb I know, whatever. The Patriots need help in the pass rushing department. JJ Watt can provide that. He's a great run defender, and a 5 technique defensive end. He'll be a solid contributing player in the Patriots defense.


18. San Diego Chargers: DaQuan Bowers - DE - Clemson
Even with DaQuan Bowers unbelievable talent, and the fact that he has completely blown away all his expectations the past few seasons of his college career, he does slip out of the top 10 in the draft. In fact, he slips all the way to #18. It may seem unlikely, but the thoughts of drafting a defensive end who is coming off knee surgery before the combine are a little scary. (Bowers insisted he was 100%, but still missed the combine, and his pro-day. He has went from a safe/sure pick, to a slight risk. There's still possibility he goes top 10.)


19. New York Giants: Gabe Carimi - OT - Wisconsin
Gabe Carimi is one of the top 3 offensive lineman in this years draft no matter what order you find them in. The Giants will draft him to protect Eli Mannings blindside, and David Diehl, hopefully to be a long term starter for the team.


20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Ryan Kerrigan - DE - Purdue
The Bucs aren't keeping any secrets, and they are going after a defensive lineman this year during the NFL draft. Ryan Kerrigan is exactly what the Bucs need to bring a steady pass rush to opposing quarterbacks. He's a team leader with a great work ethic, and he has a knack for going after the football once he has hold of opposing players.


21. Kansas City Chiefs: Leonard Hankerson - WR - Miami
The Chiefs desperately need a wide receiver. Dwayne Bowe finished the season with 76 catches and 1162 yards, however, any other receiving options on the Chiefs were nearly non-existent. Chambers caught 22 passes for 213 yards as the #2 receiver. Although I wasn't completely sold with Hankerson in the 1st round, he is clearly the big, strong receiver that the Chiefs need as McCluster is clearly only going to develop into a return/slot receiver. Hankerson is one of the most under-appreciated NCAA receivers I've seen in a long time.


22. Indianapolis Colts: Derek Sherrod - OT - Miss St.
The Colts have to fill needs across the offensive line, and a left tackle to protect Peyton Manning wouldn't be a bad idea here. Sherrod is who I consider to be possibly the 2nd best tackle in the draft, and an absolute steal at #22. They have been rumored to be interested in Sherrod at the combine, and it seems like if teams do in-fact draft according to their needs, the Colts will seemingly have an array of offensive lineman to choose from for themselves.


23. Philadelphia Eagles: Mike Pouncey - C/G - Florida
He may not be as sound as his brother Maurkice Pouncey, but this kid is good. The Eagles need to help Mike Vick help the Eagles, so offensive line is a must-draft for them. Although the need for Corner is there, they can't ignore the line in the first round, and Pouncey won't be there when they are up to pick again.


24. New Orleans Saints: Justin Houston - DE/OLB - Georgia
Outside linebacker, or defensive end? No one can decide, so the Saints will! Houston is another linebacker in this years draft that can play as a 4-3 defensive end, or an outside linebacker. The Saints defense relies quite a bit on pressure to the quarterback, and this past season it simply wasn't there.


25. Seattle Seahawks: Christian Ponder - QB - Florida State
The Seahawks have an array of needs, but their biggest is quarterback right now. Matt Hasselbeck is at the end of the line, and to say it lightly, I'm don't exactly feel like Charlie Whitehurst is the second coming of Joe Montana, or even a short term answer at quarterback. Christian Ponder has a great arm, and he can move outside of the pocket. But his biggest upside is his ability to stay inside the pocket and deliver a perfect throw to his receiver just before taking a hit. Ponder could be the long term answer the Seahawks need at quarterback, and he could continue the turn-around process for the team.


26. Baltimore Ravens: Von Miller - LB - Texas A&M
The Ravens do need a corner, but they also realize that Rey Lewis and Terrell Suggs aren't getting any younger and for a team that loves to stockpile great defensive players I find this a pretty solid pick. Von Miller is just about the safest pick in the draft. He's not amazing at any single part of his game, however he is pretty dang good at everything. There's no way this guy won't find a way to contribute to an NFL team, no matter how under-sized he is. He's got the mindset of a bull.


27. Atlanta Falcons: Cameron Jordan - DE - Cal
Cameron Jordan floated under the radar his entire college career, and then blew up in the combine. He dominated at the combine, and quickly moved himself from the 3rd round, into the 1st round of the draft. He can get to the quarterback, and stop the run. He's the full package when it comes to 1st round defensive ends. If available, the Falcons can't resist taking Jordan.


28. New England Patriots: Muhammad Wilkerson - DE - Temple
A big, strong defensive end that can play both pass rushing and run stuffing ends of the game. He's agile, and can play the inside of the defensive line if needed. The Patriots like Wilkerson, and so do I. They don't pass up the opportunity to take the player they like.


29. Chicago Bears: Stefen Wisniewski - C/G - Penn St.
The Bears need to improve their line, on both sides of the ball. Their defensive line disassembled after the 2010 season, who knows if any will return, and it's not any secret that the Bears offensive line is just horrible. Olin Kreutz is 33 years old, and the Bears need to find a replacement. Kreutz will be on the Bears in 2011, so the Bears need to find a guy that can play at center and guard until Kreutz runs out of gas in the tank. Wisniewski is a guy that earned a starting spot as a true freshman at Penn St, and he's never done anything but prove to be a great prospect at offensive line.


30. New York Jets: Jonathan Baldwin - WR - Pittsburgh
Assuming the Jets bring back Holmes and not Edwards, they will need a big physical wide receiver to complement Holmes. Baldwin is that guy, he is simply huge. And rumors are he has shaved quite a bit of time off his 40 since he ran at the combine. If Baldwin does indeed have the speed everyone is saying he has despite his somewhat sub-par 40 time showed, he is an absolute steal.


31. Pittsburgh Steelers: Nate Solder - OT - Colorado
Max Starks had surgery on a disc in his neck, Willie Colon had surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon, and Flozell Adams turns 36 this spring. Yeah, Solder will be a much bigger need than the cornerback most Steelers fans want.


32. Greenbay Packers: Akeem Ayers - OLB - UCLA
They can't ignore Ayers talent. He's extremely solid at every aspect of his game at the linebacker position. And despite an absolute log jam for the Packers at the middle linebacker position, none of those guys can move to the outside opposite of Clay Matthews. If Ayers is indeed the pick for the Packers, look for Matthews to become even more of a dominating force than he already is with Ayers being able to both be a viable pass rushing and coverage option.

Corner Jimmy Smith almost made the cut and I almost put him at the Ravens, but his character issues are just too much. I think it drops him outside the first round. And by outside, I mean JUST outside.

[Paulitik]

I don't think Julio goes before Green. Green's hands are exponentially better. Von Miller is a top 5 pick. Interesting draft.

[takeitdown]

I'd be happy with Jordan. I don't think most of that first round is crazy, except Von Miller dropping that far. As much as I don't like taking LBs in the first, I'd be fine with the Falcons trading up to 25 for him.

I happen to like Jordan more than a lot of the DEs, so I'd be good there, too.

[papachaz]

absolutely no way Von Miller falls out of the top ten, maybe even top five, there are too many teams who will take BPA, and have the room to put him in immediately

[ChrisD]

I don't think it's too likely he falls out of the top 10. But guess what, if there is no CBA in place, teams have to draft for NEEDS. And too many teams need Quarterbacks to go after Von Miller. An undersized NFL linebacker really.

I originally had Miller going to the Cardinals. But when April rolled in, I realized that the chances of there being no CBA before the draft is pretty high. Meaning the Cardinals will more than likely have to go quarterback and take a linebacker later.

I also got a TON of flack for dropping Fairley outside the top 5 on another forum. Like, a lot. They pretty much told me I was an idiot and should never post another draft again. Lol. So I won't over there. At least you guys are being mortal with me. I really don't think there are any GREAT DT's in this draft. Not even on the same level as Gerald McCoy, who is miles behind Ndamukong Suh. Broncos have shown more interest in Dareus than they have Fairley, so that's why those two went how they went.
Same goes for Bowers in terms of catching flack, but with his injury plus the fact he bombed his pro-day, yeah.

The Green and Jones debate. Well, Green may have the better hands, but Jones runs better routes, and he has less character issues. Either way, I think Bengals go WR.


On my Falcons pick My how I wanted to go cornerback with Jimmy Smith. But knowing how the Falcons are with taking guys of good character, I couldn't see it happen.