1. Carolina Panthers—DE from Clemson – De’Quan Bowers – The Panthers lost Julius Peppers last year and they need to find someone to replace him. I compare Bowers to Mario Williams. Great athlete and can get off the ball very quickly.
2. Denver Broncos – DT from Auburn – Nick Fairley – The Broncos get possibly the best player in the draft. Nick Fairley has all the skills to get off the ball and get into the backfield to make a big play. With the transition to a 4-3 the Broncos are going to need help at the defensive tackle position.
3. Buffalo Bills – QB from Auburn – Cam Newton – Newton’s been on the rise of everyone’s draft boards except for mine because he was already there. I see the potential in Newton because he’s won two national championships and he also won the Heisman trophy. The QB position for the Bills isn’t something to add depth to for the Bills; it’s something that they need. Newton is the way to go.
4. Cincinnati Bengals – CB from LSU – Patrick Peterson – He’s possibly the best player in the draft. He’s very comparable to Charles Woodson of Green Bay. Peterson can come into the Bengals organization and be an instant playmaker. With Jonathan Joseph testing the free agent market, you have a hole at corner. But the Bengals also have to take into consideration that Carson Palmer wants to retire or be traded so either drafting another QB is something the Bengals will do or bring in a WR like AJ Green (Georgia) or Julio Jones (Alabama) and that might convince Palmer to stay. When it comes down to it though, I think the Bengals will go with the best player available and then try to sign either Donovan McNabb or Vince Young come free agency. They also can draft a QB in the 2nd round.
5. Arizona Cardinals – OLB from Texas A&M – Von Miller – The best LB in the draft is Miller and this is a MUST for the Cardinals. Miller has unbelievable pass rushing skills and has great ball skills. This should be a no-brainer for the Cardinals.
6. Cleveland Browns – DT from Alabama – Marcell Dareus – Shaun Rogers is gone. To me the Browns need to upgrade their defensive line and taking Dareus is the way to go. You now have someone who is young and can be your defensive star for possibly 10 years.
7. San Francisco 49ers—QB from Arkansas – Ryan Mallet – In my personal opinion, I’m not sold on Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert. He’s not throwing at the combine and to me that’s not right. That’s like a running back not running at the combine. It’s just absurd. I like the 49ers to take Ryan Mallet though. Mallet is bigger than most QB’s but he still has a great arm.
8. Tennessee Titans – QB from Missouri – Blaine Gabbert – Yeah I know what I just said with the 49ers but do you think the Titans are going to listen to me? Nope they’re not and that’s why they’re taking Gabbert.
9. Dallas Cowboys – CB from Nebraska – Prince Amukamara – The Cowboys need someone in their secondary. Terrance Newman and Mike Jenkins just aren’t cutting it for me and probably aren’t cutting it for Jerry Jones either. Amukamara might be the best player available at this position and I think the Cowboys will take him.
10. Washington Redskins – WR from Alabama – Julio Jones – He’s faster than AJ Green and in my personal opinion, he’s better. I see the Redskins taking him because of his playmaking ability and his speed. Sure they need to get a QB to throw him the ball besides Rex Grossman and they will. The Redskins can either trade for Kevin Kolb, sign Vince Young or draft a QB in the 2nd round.
11. Houston Texans— DE from North Carolina – Robert Quinn – Yeah I know. Quinn is still here. That’s why the Texans are taking him. Quinn will compliment nicely with Mario Williams to possibly get the Texans over the hump from being a game or two away from the playoffs.
12. Minnesota Vikings— WR from Georgia – AJ Green – Sidney Rice isn’t going to be re-signing with the team this offseason. Not having a weapon like Rice hurts the Vikings drastically because they’re going to have to rely on Adrian Peterson even more than they already do. AJ Green is in consideration to be the best WR in the draft so what’s the risk in taking him?
13. Detroit Lions— OT from Colorado – Nate Solder – The Lions might honestly trade out of this pick and see what they can get. If they can somehow manage to get a pick in the 1st round and a pick in the 2nd round then I think we’ll see them trading with a team. Who that team will be? Maybe the Philadelphia Eagles? But say they don’t trade out of this pick, who do they take? I think helping your offense is the way to go. Your franchise QB, Matthew Stafford is on a make or break season. If I was Mayhew I’d want to keep Stafford around much longer than just 3 injury plagued seasons so I would draft an offensive lineman. Solder is NFL ready and can play LT right now. Solder can also give you the option of making him eligible to go down field and catch a pass
14. St. Louis Rams—DE from California – Cameron Jordan – This is probably their safest pick here. They certainly would like either AJ Green or Julio Jones but it’s just not going to happen so their best bet is to try and sign a free agent or trade for someone. We’re talking about guys like Terrell Owens, Sidney Rice or Vincent Jackson. But you still need to draft someone right? Cameron Jordan like I said is a safe pick and will actually help their terrible defensive line.
15. Miami Dolphins— RB from Alabama – Mark Ingram – Ronnie Brown might test the market and Ricky Williams is definitely testing the market. The Dolphins are known for their two back system so taking a RB such as Ingram is what they need to do.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars— OLB from Missouri – Aldon Smith – When the Jaguars got Aaron Kampman we all thought he was going to be a defensive stud for them. We were all wrong. Kampman has had two back to back injury plagued seasons and has the risk of having a 3rd this upcoming season. Aldon Smith is a safe pick but also a pick that can make immediate impact. Smith has all the skills that you’re looking for in a 3-4 OLB. He’s fast, strong and has great vision when it comes to finding the ball.
17. New England Patriots— OLB from UCLA –Akeem Ayers – It’s going to be another great year for the Patriots. Two first round picks and you better believe that these players will make an impact. With their 17th overall pick, the Patriots will take Akeem Ayers. He’s the best OLB available and will be able to make great defensive plays for the Patriots. Ayer has great speed and strength. I compare him to Ernie Sims of the Philadelphia Eagles. In about 3 years there will be more OLB’s and we’ll be comparing those guys to this guy.
18. San Diego Chargers— DE from Wisconsin – JJ Watt – Watt is a workhorse. He’s not the fastest guy on the field but his hands are quick and his strength is good. He gets to the ball carrier and will not let him go until the whistle is blown. Charger fans will love this guy.
19. New York Giants— OT from Boston College – Anthony Castonzo – The Giants could have been a playoff team but they just have something missing. In my opinion they’re missing a coach but you can’t draft that so play it safe and take the best player available. Castonzo can play just about anywhere on your offensive line and he’ll find a spot on the Giants right away.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers —DE from Iowa – Adrian Clayborn – The Buccaneers either take Clayborn or DE from Purdue, Ryan Kerrigan here. I think Clayborn just beats Kerrigan because I think Clayborn fits better in Tampa Bay’s defense rather than Kerrigan.
21. Kansas City Chiefs – OT from USC – Tyron Smith – At the combine Smith’s had a knee injury which has hurt his draft stock but I don’t think it’s hurt his stock to bad. I think Smith is a 1st round pick and I think he will fit well here at 21 with the Chiefs. Smith can come in and help protect Cassel and help your two back system in Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles.
22. Indianapolis Colts— DT from Oregon State – Stephen Paea – Defensive line and offensive line is the Colts biggest need and I see them taking one of three players. One being the guy I actually have them taking, DT from Oregon State, Stephen Paea. If not him then I think we’re talking about DT from Illinois Corey Liuget or OT from Wisconsin Gabe Carimi. Some are probably asking why Stephen Paea? He’s got a hurt knee and blah, blah, blah. Did you see how many times he benched 225? 49 times. No not 49 times in an hour, not 49 times in a day but 49 times back to back to back and back. Paea was incredibly hard to stop at Oregon State. Now he doesn’t have top notch speed but he has the strength, explosiveness and the ability to square up and tackle the ball carrier.
23. Philadelphia Eagles – OT from Wisconsin – Gabe Carimi – Gabe will be a great addition to the Eagles. In the NFL he will play either guard position or RT. He’s got great foot work and strength to stop some of the top pass rushers in the NFL. He should be a solid starter in the NFL for the next 10 years.
24. New Orleans Saints – DT from Illinois – Corey Liuget – Liuget can either play a five technique or nose tackle for the Saints. He was one of the top defeinsve lineman in the Big Ten and should be a good one for the New Orleans Saints. His stats for 2010 were 63 tackles, 12.5 TFL and 4.5 sacks. He also recorded a sack in the Texas Bowl.
25. Seattle Seahawks – QB from Washington – Jake Locker – Hassleback is up there in age and will be back for this season to play QB yes, but to also teach Locker a thing or two. Locker has good speed and a pretty good arm. His accuracy needs to improve if he wants to be anything special though.
26. Baltimore Ravens – CB from Colorado – Jimmy Smith – I’ve seen other mock drafts all over the internet and I don’t understand why people have the Ravens taking a WR. There are some good WR’s in this draft and they’ll be there for the Ravens so I think taking a corner and helping their secondary is the way to go for the Ravens. Jimmy Smith can be a shutdown corner. His junior and senior season combined, Smith only allowed 11 completions and only one of them were for a 1st down. Smith can come into the Ravens franchise and be an instant playmaker.
27. Atlanta Falcons – DE from Purdue – Ryan Kerrigan – Kerrigan is very comparable to JJ Watt of Wisconsin. Kerrigan plays with the same heart and intensity as Watt. Kerrigan has good speed and strength to get to the pass rusher and prevent the ball carrier from going to the outside and making a big play. Kerrigan set the Big Ten record for most forced fumbles with 14. Kerrigan also is 2nd all time at Purdue with 33.5 sacks.
28. New England Patriots – OG from Florida – Mike Pouncey – His brother is with the Steelers and I think the Patriots realize how much of an impact his twin has with the Steelers offensive line. The Patriots want the same thing especially since they can’t come to terms with Logan Mankins their key offensive lineman. I like Pouncey to the Patriots and so should the Patriots.
29. Chicago Bears—OLB from Georgia – Justin Houston – The Chicago Bears aging defense needs someone young in their line-backing core. Houston should be a great fit for the Bears. He had started all 13 games with the Bulldogs and recorded 67 tackles, 18.5 TFL, 10 sacks, 1 INT and a forced fumble. At the combine he put up 225 pounds 30 times. The only thing that would force the Bears to look at someone else or different position completely is that Georgia ran a 3-4. However, I think Houston will fit fine as a back-up to Lance Briggs in year one and then in year two become a great football player.
30. New York Jets – DT from Temple – Muhammad Wilkerson – The Jets could draft quite a few positions here at 30th. We could see an OLB to fit their 3-4 scheme, NT, DE, safety, WR or offensive line. I think they’re going to go out and find someone to replace their injury prone player DT Kris Jenkins. Wilkerson can play NT or a DE in the 3-4. I think they’ll try him at either position because of the numbers that he put last season at Temple. 70 tackles, 13 TFL and 9.5 sacks. He’s got great agility which surprises offensive lineman. He’s got great arm length which allows him to just pull down the QB or ball carrier.
31. Pittsburgh Steelers – OT from Mississippi State – Derek Sherrod – Sherrod might not be here for the Steelers but I think he will be. Mendenhall is getting better for the Steelers and so is Big Ben so I think helping those two guys out is the way to go. Sherrod should fit well at any position for the Steelers.
32. Green Bay Packers – DE from Ohio State – Cameron Heyward – Heyward was great at Ohio State and should be great for the Packers. His stock has gone down because of his surgiallcy repaired elbow but come Ohio States pro day, Heyward should be dangerous and his draft stock might rise. Heyward should fit well in the Packers 3-4 defense though and should be a great pass rusher for the next 8 to 10 years.
