1. Carolina Panthers – QB Auburn – Cam Newton – In my previous draft I had the Bills taking Newton because I feel like Newton is the best QB in the draft and I think the Carolina Panthers would agree with me. The Panthers have Newton scheduled for two private meetings and to me that’s a sign of things to come for the 1st overall pick and who they’re going to take.
2. Denver Broncos – DT Alabama – Marcell Dareus – I knew Dareus was good but at 6’3 and 291 Ibs, I didn’t know he was that good. I thought for sure Nick Fairley was going to have a better combine and pro day then any of the other DT’s but Dareus flat-out took the cake for best defensive lineman. The Broncos just can’t pass up on Dareus. If they do then their defensive line will have a huge hole. Dareus just makes sense for me here.
3. Buffalo Bills – QB Missouri – Blaine Gabbert – I’m still not completely sold on Gabbert but from what I’ve read he’s very accurate and can make all the big time NFL throws. The only thing is I don’t know how you can say that he can make the NFL throws when he hasn’t even played in an NFL. To this point Gabbert has only thrown to high school students and some other no name receivers who probably run slower than Ryan Mallet. But I’m not just going to bash on the kid here, I do like that he’s training with the same guy who’s helped Matthew Stafford and Sam Bradford. The Bills will take a risk with taking him but with Ryan Fitzpatrick as their starter, you have Gabbert who can sit back and learn the Bills offense and make himself comfortable within the organization. When you think about it, if the Bills want to compete with the Jets and Patriots they’re going to have to develop a franchise QB to compete with Brady and Sanchez.
4. Cincinnati Bengals – CB LSU – Patrick Peterson – How can they pass up on a guy like this? Who cares about your offense? Why draft a WR like AJ Green or Julio Jones if you can’t convince yourself that Carson Palmer isn’t going to play for you ever again? You had T.O. and Ochocinco and it still didn’t work for him. The Bengals need to grab a guy like Peterson who will help them on their defense for many years to come.
5. Arizona Cardinals – OLB Texas A&M – Von Miller – With Gabbert and Newton off the board the Cardinals take an obvious pick, Von Miller. He will help their defense instantly and the Cardinals will love him. Do I need to say anything else?
6. Cleveland Browns – WR Georgia – AJ Green – Yes, I know that I said Julio Jones is better but he just had a pin put into his surgically repaired foot and I think teams will look at that and go in another direction and the Cleveland Browns will follow suit, especially sitting at the 6th pick. Taking AJ Green is just as good though, you get a guy who can jump and catch just about anything in the air and sure he doesn’t have that 40 speed but he can get open down the field and be a great possession receiver for the Browns. If it’s not Jones or Green then I think the Browns will go with the DE from North Carolina, Robert Quinn.
7. San Francisco 49ers – CB Nebraska – Prince Amukamara – The 49ers might get lucky and get Peterson if he falls but I just don’t see it happening. So following with what I said earlier about Peterson, the 49ers will go with Amukamara from Nebraska. Now even though he won’t go to the Pro Bowl every year he will be a good corner for the 49ers.
8. Tennessee Titans – DT Auburn – Nick Fairley – Ever since Haynesworth left the Titans they have had a problem with at the DT spot. Nick Fairley is the best DT at this spot and it will be almost impossible for the Titans to pass up on him. If they do pass on him expect the Titans to go with the DE from Clemson, De’Quan Bowers or the OT from USC, Tyron Smith.
9. Dallas Cowboys – OT USC – Tyron Smith – Smith is the best OT available and I think the Cowboys will take him because they simply can’t pass on him at this point. They need help with their offensive line and Smith can come in and be that guy who can help instantly. Smith has great size, strength and speed, all the things you need to be the anchor of the offensive line. If the Cowboys don’t take Smith, I think either of the defensive ends, Bowers or Quinn will be their pick.
10. Washington Redskins – WR Alabama – Julio Jones – This is a perfect spot for Jones and for the Redskins. You bring in a weapon like Jones and you can possibly convince one of the QB’s who will be on the move in the offseason to come in and play with this guy. Jones has great speed and terrific hands. I remember watching his high school tapes and the guy can play.
11. Houston Texans – DE North Carolina – Robert Quinn – The Texans have moved to a 3-4 with Wade Phillips and they need a guy who can be their pass rushing OLB and that guy will be Robert Quinn. Sure he didn’t play last year but he did enough the year before to prove that he’s worth taking, especially at the 11th overall selection. Bowers from Clemson might be the pick here but with their 3-4 defense, Bowers just doesn’t seem like he makes a lot of sense here.
12. Minnesota Vikings – DE Clemson – De’Quan Bowers – With his knee injury, Bowers hasn’t been able to go out on the field and prove anything and that’s hurting him. Bowers will be a great player in the NFL but right now he’s just too much of a risk for most teams. However, the Vikings need help at defensive end and with Bowers having the potential of being the best defensive lineman in the draft, the Vikings should be able to develop Bowers into a great player.
13. Detroit Lions – OT Boston College – Anthony Castonzo – With Tyron Smith off the board, the Lions will take the next best thing, Anthony Castonzo. He set a school record with 53 consecutive starts and he’s got the brains to be the next Einstein. He scored a 41 on his Wonderlic Test and through college he got nothing but A’s. Many question his size and strength but I think he’s a pretty good-sized offensive lineman at 6’7, 311 Ibs and 28 bench reps. I don’t see how the Lions can pass on him and I don’t know who else they’d take honestly. If they don’t take Castonzo I think the Lions will be trading out of this pick.
14. St. Louis Rams – DT Illinois – Corey Liuget – His name is pronounced Legit and he’s legit. He’s probably a better fit in a 3-4 but I think he can fit in any defensive package. For the Rams they wanted receivers Green or Jones but they’re both gone so I think the Rams go with a safer pick and help their defensive line. Liuget should be able to come in and play right away and help this team compete for the playoffs again.
15. Miami Dolphins – RB Alabama – Mark Ingram – It’s the common pick and I honestly don’t care so whatever, yeah GO FINS! NOT!!!
16. Jacksonville Jaguars – DE Purdue – Ryan Kerrigan – They took Tyson Alalu last year and I think taking a defensive end this year is the way to go. Kerrigan has really climbed on a lot of boards and I know why. His 4.67 40 speed was faster than any defensive end but Robert Quinn’s. Kerrigan has practiced playing in 3-4 schemes over the last few weeks and that’s been helping his case and right here at 16th overall that will help him with Jaguars. They need help on the pass rushing of their defense and they’ll fill that need with Kerrigan.
17. New England Patriots (from Oakland) – DE California – Cameron Jordan – He fits better in a 3-4 defense and I think the Patriots will be kicking themselves if they pass on a guy like him. At first I had Ayers but his stock has fallen on most boards including mine. Jordan can come into the Patriots defense and find a place where he fits in. Jordan will work hard at being the best and it’s just hard to see the Patriots taking anyone different.
18. San Diego Chargers – DE Wisconsin – JJ Watt – I said Watt in the first mock draft and now looking at other “experts” mock drafts they agree with me. Watt is a workhorse and as I said before, the Chargers will love him and he’ll be great for them.
19. New York Giants – OG from Florida – Mike Pouncey – Pouncey wants to be better than his brother Maurkice and I think he might be. The Giants will take him and they already know what kind of player he is. Pouncey might be off the board and if he is I think the best pick for the Giants would be taking OT Gabe Carimi from Wisconsin.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – DE Missouri – Aldon Smith – He’s the best defensive end on my board and the Buccaneers will be able to get a guy who can play with 3rd overall pick from last year, Gerald McCoy. Hopefully Smith makes him better because McCoy hasn’t panned out after the first year but maybe Smith will. Smith was awesome at Missouri and might honestly be considered a steal for the Buccaneers here.
21. Kansas City Chiefs – OT Wisconsin – Gabe Carimi – In the previous mock draft I had Tyron Smith here but that has obviously changed however my opinion on Gabe Carimi has not. I think Carimi looks great and just needs to work on his footwork and quickness before being considered one of the best. Carimi will be a good player for the Chiefs and will help protect Cassel and help Jamaal Charles be the best RB in the league. Yeah, I said the best.
22. Indianapolis Colts – OT Colorado – Nate Solder – Either direction they turn at OT this year, the Colts are stuck with two guys who aren’t strong. Who am I talking about? Derek Sherrod and Nate Solder. They both benched poorly and Sherrod’s 40 time is having him being considered as a RT or guard. Solder might be best to play RT. So pretty much in my opinion the Colts flip a coin and after the coin landing on heads, they take Solder. Now don’t get me wrong these guys have great potential but they’re either boom or bust like players.
23. Philadelphia Eagles – OT from Mississippi State – Derek Sherrod – With Solder and Carimi off the board, the Eagles will take the best OT left and that’s Sherrod. They need help around their offensive line, mainly RT and I think Sherrod will be a good fit for them. He doesn’t have to start right away and probably won’t but in a year or two the Eagles should be happy with their outcome. If they don’t go OT, I think the Eagles go DT or CB.
24. New Orleans Saints – DT Temple – Muhammad Wilkerson – With Liuget off the board I think the Saints will not be hesitant on taking Wilkerson. Wilkerson can come in play behind Shaun Rogers and learn the DT position. Hopefully however Rogers doesn’t teach Wilkerson how to bring a gun into an airport.
25. Seattle Seahawks – QB Washington – Jake Locker – As I said in the previous mock draft, Hasselback is getting up there in age and Locker is the 3rd best QB. Locker didn’t play too far away at Washington and when coaching at USC, Carrol might know a thing or two about Locker. I think Locker will be a good selection here for the Seahawks. If they don’t go QB here I think OG Danny Watkins from Baylor would be another great selection for them.
26. Baltimore Ravens – CB Colorado – Jimmy Smith – Their defense is aging and the best thing they can do is draft players to take over the reigns of guys like Ed Reed and Ray Lewis. Jimmy Smith should be able to come in and fill a huge need at CB.
27. Atlanta Falcons – DE Iowa – Adrian Clayborn – I’m not even going to lie, I forgot Clayborn was still available but that’s ok, I didn’t have him getting picked until around this time anyways. So with that said I think the Falcons should pull the trigger on him. Clayborn had a great career at Iowa and I don’t think he’ll stop there. In his first three seasons with the Falcons I think we can expect about four to five sacks a season from him.
28. New England Patriots – OG Baylor – Danny Watkins – This guy was great at Baylor for the two years he played. (He was a junior college transfer). He played in 25 games for the Bears and had 134 knockdowns in 2010 which is a lot of knockdowns for anyone. Watkins can come in and learn from the Patriots offensive line who obviously have experience or they can just throw him in there and let him play. He’s not the fastest player but he can use his strength and size to his advantage. In my previous mock draft I had Mike Pouncey taken here so I’m still going in the same direction of OG for the Patriots.
29. Chicago Bears – CB Texas – Aaron Williams – He’s jumped into the first round on my board and I think the Bears will take him. Williams probably won’t be a CB in the NFL but will be able to play one of the safety spots for the Bears. I compare him to Malcom Jenkins of the Saints a few years back. His pro day has helped his stock. His 40 time improved from 4.55 to 4.44. He’s also very aggressive and I think the Bears will love him for that.
30. New York Jets – OLB UCLA – Akeem Ayers – He might be the best OLB on the board, he is on my board at least and I think the Jets will take him to help their defense out some more. His 40 time needs to improve as well as his strength but he’ll have time to do that and the coaching to help him over in New York. I think the reaction from Radio City should be pretty good for Ayers and the Jets.
31. Pittsburgh Steelers – DE Ohio State – Cameron Heyward – He’s going to be a 3-4 DE but the only question is, what 3-4 team? I think the Steelers will see him available and I think the Steelers will think defense first, like they always do and take Heyward who should fit right in. He hasn’t played far from Heinz Field over the last four years and that might give him an advantage as well. The most impressive thing I see with Heyward is his 35 inch vertical. He also has a great first step once the ball is snapped. A good pick for the Steelers.
32. Green Bay Packers – DE Pittsburgh – Jabaal Sheard – Sheard will be a for sure 3-4 OLB. He doesn’t have the size to play defensive line. Sheard had a pretty good career at Pittsburgh but nothing was better than his 2010 season. He was Big East defensive player of the year with 52 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks and four forces fumbles. That’s really good and I think the Packers will take him to help take some of the pressure off of Clay Matthews.
