2011 NFL Mock Draft, Version 3.0

[Big Bid'Ness]

From:realgm

Jeff Risdon/RealGM - Draft order is based on standings through Week 13.

I limited commentary to the top 10 for this one, mainly because those slots are less likely to dramatically change and because it’s still way too early to forecast what teams are thinking about players.

As always, this is my best guess as to what the given teams would do with the given picks. It does not necessarily represent what picks I would make.

Round 1

1. Carolina Panthers: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Forget that they drafted three quarterbacks in 2010, because they will have a brand new coaching staff and front office in 2011. Nothing will be more appealing to a new regime than getting to start fresh with Luck, whom many scouts and personnel evaluators consider the best QB to hit the draft since Peyton Manning.

2. Detroit Lions: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU

A physical big-play corner with great size and confidence, Peterson offers bonus value as an exceptional return man. The Lions are a defense that values corners that can both create INTs and tackle, and that’s Peterson. Questions about his top-end speed are overstated, just as they were about Joe Haden--who isn’t as fast or dynamic as Peterson yet is still having a Rookie of the Year-type season for Cleveland.

3. Cincinnati Bengals: DaQuan Bowers, DE, Clemson

One long-time scout I spoke with recently compared Bowers to Bruce Smith, a powerful bull that can disrupt the run and get to the QB from a 5-technique. Cincy will have a new coaching staff in place in 2011, so they might want to address the ugly Carson Palmer decline here instead.

4. Buffalo Bills: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia

Wide receiver is not their biggest need (DE, LB, OL) but the Bills have never been shy about choosing top-end talent over need. Green will grade out the highest of any remaining player regardless of position for a lot of people, and I would bet that’s true of GM Buddy Nix here.

5. Arizona Cardinals: Derek Sherrod, T, Mississippi State

I make this selection based on my belief that they will go after a veteran QB (McNabb? Vince Young?) and will want to bolster the protection to keep that investment upright. Sherrod is going to be a draft board riser once OL-needy coaches start to watch Bulldogs game tape.

6. Denver Broncos: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn

No matter whom they bring in as the new coach and decision maker, the Broncos must upgrade their up-the-gut defense. Fairley has a lot of Shaun Rogers to his game, and he has the athletic prowess to be a star as either a 4-3 DT or a 3-4 DE.

7. San Francisco 49ers: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn

This might actually be low for Newton, who brings great leadership presence along with his crazy size and athleticism. He’s a far more accurate and consistent thrower than Jake Locker even with his limited experience, but the presence is what will make him an easy sell for the Niners.

8. Dallas Cowboys: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama

Dareus is very attractive to 3-4 defensive teams because he’s already thrived in that scheme under a former NFL coach at Alabama. He is a more dynamic (potentially) version of 2009 #3 overall pick Tyson Jackson, though he does have some bust factor to him too.

9. Tennessee Titans: Von Miller, DE/OLB, Texas A&M:

It’s rare that an injury helps a player, but a bad ankle forced Miller to learn to read plays better and not rely on his freakish quickness and closing speed. Those attributes came back and now Miller is a much better all-around talent that happened to lead the nation in sacks in 2009.

10. Washington Redskins: Jake Locker, QB, Washington

Mike Shanahan loves the mobile, gutsy gunslinger QB, and that aptly describes Locker. It’s at this point that I provide the friendly reminder that these picks do not necessarily reflect what I would do with the given selections, and that reminder here is not a coincidence.

11. Houston Texans: Cameron Jordan, DE, California
12. Minnesota Vikings: Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
13. Cleveland Browns: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
14. San Diego Chargers: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
15. New England Patriots (from OAK): Ryan Kerrigan, OLB/DE, Purdue
16. Seattle Seahawks: JJ Watt, DE, Wisconsin
17. Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Castonzo, T, Boston College
18. Miami Dolphins: Stefen Wisniewski, C, Penn State
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Robert Quinn, OLB, North Carolina
20. Green Bay Packers: Akeem Ayers, LB, UCLA
21. St. Louis Rams: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
22. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
23. Kansas City Chiefs: Bruce Carter, LB, North Carolina
24. New York Giants: Jarvis Jenkins, DT, Clemson
25. Baltimore Ravens: Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia
26. Philadelphia Eagles: Nate Solder, T, Colorado
27. New Orleans Saints: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
28. Chicago Bears: Orlando Franklin, T/G, Miami FL
29. New York Jets: Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina
30. Pittsburgh Steelers: Tyron Smith, T, USC
31. Atlanta Falcons: Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State
32. New England Patriots: Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh

Round 2

33. New England Patriots (from CAR): Allen Bailey, DE, Miami FL
34. Detroit Lions: Demarcus Love, T, Arkansas
35. Cincinnati Bengals: Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State
36. Buffalo Bills: Justin Houston, DE/OLB, Georgia
37. Arizona Cardinals: Gabe Carimi, T, Wisconsin
38. Denver Broncos: Janoris Jenkins, CB, Florida
39. San Francisco 49ers: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
40. Dallas Cowboys: Donta Hightower, LB, Alabama
41. Tennessee Titans: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
42. Washington Redskins: Mike Pouncey, C/G, Florida
43. Houston Texans: Jerrell Jernigan, WR, Troy
44. Minnesota Vikings: Robert Sands, S, West Virginia
45. Cleveland Browns: Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor
46. San Diego Chargers: Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
47. Oakland Raiders: Dontay Moch, LB, Nevada
48. Seattle Seahawks: Thomas Claiborne, G, Boston College
49. Indianapolis Colts: Drake Nevis, DT, LSU
50. Denver Broncos (from MIA): Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma
51. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Quinton Carter, S, Oklahoma
52. Green Bay Packers: Ben Ijalana, G, Villanova
53. St. Louis Rams: Davon House, CB, New Mexico
54. Jacksonville Jaguars: Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada
55. Kansas City Chiefs: Mason Foster, LB, Washington
56. New York Giants: Rahim Moore, S, UCLA
57. Baltimore Ravens: Aaron Williams, CB, Texas
58. Philadelphia Eagles: Brandon Burton, CB, Utah
59. New Orleans Saints: Kendall Hunter, RB, Oklahoma State
60. Chicago Bears: Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami FL
61. San Diego Chargers (from NYJ): Jason Pinkston, T, Pittsburgh
62. Pittsburgh Steelers-- Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech
63. Atlanta Falcons: D.J. Williams, TE, Arkansas
64. New England Patriots: Johnny Patrick, CB, Louisville

 

[playmaker7]

This mock draft is making me cry...

If the 49ers got Cam Newton my life would be changed forever

Thank you Cam

 

[.infamous]

Patrick Peterson <3

I see cam newton being a Vince Young V2

 

[kam.]

Seems like a solid draft for the Jags.
Jimmy Smith I like, but I fear he doesn't have the full speed to play CB in the NFL.. so he'd switch to FS.

I'm pretty intrigued by the Colin Kaepernick pick though, from what I've seen of him. He sure seems like quite the prospect.

 

[DJT]

The Cardinals really need a QB. I don't know about the possibilities they land an aging McNabb or a crazy Vince Young.

 

[Dorado]

IDK why but I'd rather have Cam over Luck lol

 

[Hurricane Season]

QB is the least of our worries at this point. I would much rather see us go WR, RB, OG, NT, ILB, CB all before a QB.

 

[kam.]

IDK why but I'd rather have Cam over Luck lol

You ARE stupid my besst frieeeend.

 

[Hurricane Season]

Newton is not a top 10 caliber QB. I'd argue that he's not even a top 25 caliber QB.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

You have five QB's who could go in the first round (not saying 5 will go, just saying they could), meaning Arizona HAS to take one of them.

 

[kam.]

You have five QB's who could go in the first round (not saying 5 will go, just saying they could), meaning Arizona HAS to take one of them.

What QBs are you talking about?

Theres

Luck (Top 5)
Newton (10-15)
Locker (Projected 10-15.. I think he falls to 2nd round however)
Mallett (20-32)
If Foles declares then he'll be a 1st rounder.. I still dont see Newton as a first.. but whatever.

 

[DJT]

You have five QB's who could go in the first round (not saying 5 will go, just saying they could), meaning Arizona HAS to take one of them.

Unless they think they can get 1 in a trade or FAcy.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

What QBs are you talking about?

Theres

Luck (Top 5)
Newton (10-15)
Locker (Projected 10-15.. I think he falls to 2nd round however)
Mallett (20-32)
If Foles declares then he'll be a 1st rounder.. I still dont see Newton as a first.. but whatever.

Luck is the best QB in this crop, no question. So he is #1.

After that there is Locker (who I to think will fall), Newton, Mallett (this guy has bigtime potential), and Foles.

Maybe Christian Ponder could find his way into the first somehow, but he'll go in the second if he doesnt.

Unless they think they can get 1 in a trade or FAcy.

Who's out there though? The Cards are in a tough spot. Maybe they could still bring in a vet but still draft the rookie. Maybe Ponder in the second?

 

[kam.]

Luck is the best QB in this crop, no question. So he is #1.

After that there is Locker (who I to think will fall), Newton, Mallett (this guy has bigtime potential), and Foles.

Maybe Christian Ponder could find his way into the first somehow, but he'll go in the second if he doesnt.



Who's out there though? The Cards are in a tough spot. Maybe they could still bring in a vet but still draft the rookie. Maybe Ponder in the second?

Ponder wont see 1st round, not even with a Solid Combine.. His potential is 2nd round.

 

[uwp]

SUCK RAIDERS SUCK!

 

[DJT]

Who's out there though? The Cards are in a tough spot. Maybe they could still bring in a vet but still draft the rookie. Maybe Ponder in the second?

Well possibly McNabb, and Vince Young. Plus they still have Max Hall that is a nice prospect. He really impressed coaches and teammates this year.

 

[kam.]

Well possibly McNabb, and Vince Young. Plus they still have Max Hall that is a nice prospect. He really impressed coaches and teammates this year.

McNabb just signed a new contract with the Redskins, they're not trading him and eating all that money.

 

[DJT]

If they trade him, they won't have to eat all that money...which is one of the main reasons they might trade him.

 

[Falcons11497]

falcons predicted to go to teh suparbowl????
OH EHMM GEEE
:smile:

 

[kam.]

If they trade him, they won't have to eat all that money...which is one of the main reasons they might trade him.

I'm almost certain it would go as dead money twords the Salary Cap.