Funny enough this kind of reflected our 1st round mock just recently. There are some strange picks and some players that shouldnt be left out. Lets see what you all think: 1. Panthers: QB Cam Newton, Auburn Carolina's new coaching staff doesn't seem to believe in 2010 second-rounder Jimmy Clausen, and the front office is "not sold" that any of this year's defensive linemen are worthy of the No. 1 overall pick. Newton has difference-making talent and is capable of rejuvenating the NFL's worst team. 2. Broncos: DT Marcell Dareus, Alabama Dareus has bypassed Nick Fairley on most teams' draft boards as this year's top defensive tackle, and a quick glance at Denver's depth chart reveals the worst interior line in football. At 319 pounds with incredible quickness and short-area explosion, Dareus is a no-brainer pick at No.2 3. Bills: DE Da'Quan Bowers, Clemson The Bills would likely prefer Cam Newton, but they won't have a chance at him barring a trade up. While Blaine Gabbert should also be considered, the NCAA's sack and tackle-for-loss leader will be difficult to resist for a club that ranked 27th in the league in sacks last year. Ala Darnell Dockett in Arizona, Bowers would play end in the Bills' 3-4 defense and focus on rushing the passer. 4. Bengals: QB Blaine Gabbert, Missouri Carson Palmer is serious about retirement, and brotherly backup Jordan wouldn't make most NFL rosters as a third-stringer. Without free agency on the horizon, there's no way the Bengals can afford to pass on an elite quarterback. Gabbert is this year's top-rated passer in the eyes of many. 5. Cardinals: LB Von Miller, Texas A&M "Two words," uses NFL Network's Mike Mayock to describe Miller. "Defies. Gravity. Bends parallel to the ground. This guy comes off the edge and it's scary how quick he gets to the quarterback." The Cards could use some of that with Joey Porter and Clark Haggans both 34 years old. 6. Browns: WR A.J. Green, Georgia While he didn't generate quite the buzz fellow receiver Julio Jones did in Indianapolis, Green remains the clear-cut No. 1 wideout in this year's draft class. The Browns are committed to Colt McCoy, but have to know he'll never realize his potential without an improved supporting cast. 7. 49ers: CB Patrick Peterson, LSU Peterson's talent probably deserves to go higher, but there hasn't been a corner drafted in the top five in eight years. The 2010 Thorpe Award winner as college football's top defensive back, Peterson's addition would allow the Niners to comfortably part with overpricedNate Clements. 8. Titans: DT Nick Fairley, Auburn The Titans are targeting a quarterback, but Blaine Gabbert and Cam Newton shouldn't get out of the top four. Instead, they can end Fairley's mini-freefall by reuniting him with college position coach Tracy Rocker. Fairley didn't have a good Combine, and his measurables (e.g. size, 10-yard split) aren't top-five caliber. 9. Cowboys: CB Prince Amukamara, Nebraska Terence Newman is going on 33 and was abused in coverage last season, so it's hard to imagine the Cowboys paying his $8 million non-guaranteed salary for 2011. The secondary is Dallas' greatest weakness by a good margin, and Amukamara is by far the best defensive back available. 10. Redskins: WR Julio Jones, Alabama Owning no third- or fourth-round pick, the Redskins are prime candidates to trade out of the tenth spot with a team hungry for pass rushers. If coach Mike Shanahan is forced to stand pat, he must select an immediate starter at either quarterback, wide receiver, or in the defensive front seven. 11. Texans: LB Robert Quinn, North Carolina Quinn's Combine performance has been described as "just average," but he's still a shoo-in for the top-12 selections. The Texans are currently relying on former backup defensive end Connor Barwin to be their lead pass-rushing outside linebacker. Barwin has 4 1/2 career sacks. 12. Vikings: QB Jake Locker, Washington Clued-in Minneapolis Star-Tribune beat writer Judd Zulgad's "gut feeling" is that the Vikings are high enough on Locker to draft him in round one. Defensive line and safety are big needs for Minnesota, but when Joe Webb is atop your current depth chart, quarterback trumps them all. 13. Lions: OT Tyron Smith, USC Our last mock had the Lions taking a tackle, and we don't see that changing barring a draft-day slide from one of the top-two cornerbacks. Boasting 36 3/8-inch arms and the most impressive feet of all offensive linemen available, Smith has overtaken Nate Solder and Anthony Castonzo. 14. Rams: DE Aldon Smith, Missouri G.M. Billy Devaney will be disappointed when Julio Jones goes off the board in front of him, but quality fallback options are plentiful. A local favorite, Smith showed at the Combine that his best position is defensive end in a 4-3, and current Chris Long bookend James Hall recently turned 34. 15. Dolphins: RB Mark Ingram, Alabama Ingram's stock wasn't affected by his lackluster 4.62 forty at the Combine because all NFL scouts already know he isn't a burner. The fact that he beat out top running back sprinter Da'Rel Scottin the ten-yard split indicates that Ingram's short-area burst is elite and worthy of a top-20 selection. 16. Jaguars: QB Christian Ponder, Florida State Ponder is gaining steam as a first-round prospect after big Senior Bowl and Combine performances, and word out of Big Cat Country is that G.M. Gene Smith "likes him a lot." David Garrard recently turned 33, is due $25.4 million over the next three seasons, and isn't a true franchise quarterback.
17. Patriots: DE J.J. Watt, Wisconsin Five-technique defensive ends don't go early in drafts unless it's the Chiefs reeeaching for Tyson Jackson. But Watt projects as a borderline double-digit sack guy ala Justin Smith, with the ability to also be a high-impact run defender. At this point in the draft, Watt should be atop the Pats' board. 18. Chargers: DE Cameron Jordan, Cal Like Watt, Jordan is unlikely to be drafted before the teens unless a 4-3 team deems him capable of playing strong-side end. Throw out Jackson, and in the last five years the highest a true "five technique" has been selected was Jared Odrick at No. 28. San Diego is desperate for end help. 19. Giants: OT Anthony Castonzo, Boston College We mentioned in Mock Draft 1.0 Castonzo's connection to Giants assistant line coach Jack Bicknell, as well as New York's aging, thinning offensive line. Those concerns were not eased by G.M. Jerry Reese's recent comments about Shawn Andrews' chronic back problems, details of Rich Seubert's major knee surgery, and Shaun O'Hara's forthcoming Achilles' procedure. 20. Buccaneers: DE Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue After bringing up the NFC rear in sacks, the Bucs are desperate for pass-rushing production. Kerrigan fits that role as well as anyone in the draft after generating 56 tackles for loss and 32.5 sacks in his final three college seasons while tying the NCAA record for forced fumbles (14). 21. Chiefs: OT Derek Sherrod, Mississippi State Kansas City needs a better right tackle than Barry Richardson if they're going to continue to lead the NFL in rushing. Sherrod comes from a college program that posted a 619:288 run-to-pass ratio last season, and is considered this year's most consistent tackle prospect in some circles. 22. Colts: OT Nate Solder, Colorado Solder lacks core strength to be an instant impact run blocker, but that's less concerning for a Colts team that has ranked 30th, 31st, and 28th in rushing attempts over the past three years. Indy's pass protection is among the NFL's worst, and they need to replace both starting tackles. 23. Eagles: CB Jimmy Smith, Colorado Smith is a top-15 talent with shutdown-caliber ability, but character concerns will prevent him from going that soon. He's still a first-round prospect, and cornerback is the Eagles' most glaring offseason need after Dimitri Patterson and Ellis Hobbs flopped opposite Asante Samuel last year. 24. Saints: DE Justin Houston, Georgia Georgia's leader in sacks (10) and tackles for loss (18.5) in 2010, Houston was a consensus first-team All-SEC pick and Nagurski Award finalist behind Da'Quan Bowers. The Saints are in pursuit of disruptive front seven players after seeing their big plays on defense evaporate last season. 25. Seahawks: QB Colin Kaepernick, Nevada Kaepernick isn't commonly considered a first-round prospect, but Tim Tebow, Josh Freeman, and Joe Flacco were viewed similarly entering the last three drafts. All were selected in the top 32. The Seahawks could bring along Kaepernick slowly after they re-sign stopgap Matt Hasselbeck. 26. Ravens: WR Torrey Smith, Maryland Smith is known to be on G.M. Ozzie Newsome's radar as the Ravens' personnel maven works to upgrade the slowest wide receiver corps in the NFL. At 6-foot-1 and 204 pounds with 4.43 speed, Smith is a true vertical threat and would be an instant fan favorite with local ties. 27. Falcons: OT Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin A big-play wideout like Titus Young should also receive consideration from Atlanta, but Carimi provides more value at No. 27. Three Falcons starting offensive linemen are free agents, including right tackle Tyson Clabo. (Guards Harvey Dahl and Justin Blalock are the others.) 28. Patriots: LB Brooks Reed, Arizona Drawing comparisons to Defensive Player of the Year runner-up Clay Matthews, Reed ripped up the Combine with the top ten-yard split by a pass rusher, even showing more initial burst than A.J. Green. At 6'3/263, Reed is what the doctor ordered for New England's outside linebacker woes. 29. Bears: OL Mike Pouncey, Florida The Bears believe 2010 seventh-round pick J'Marcus Webb can be a long-term fixture at tackle, but the interior remains a major problem area. After his team allowed the most sacks in the NFL last season, G.M. Jerry Angelo is probably 80 percent -- at least -- to draft a lineman at No. 29. 30. Jets: DE Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple If the season began today, Marcus Dixon (three career appearances) and Mike Devito (0.5 sacks) would be the Jets' starting defensive ends. Wilkerson is built perfectly to play five technique with 35 1/4-inch arms at 6'4/315. He also led Temple in sacks, tackles for loss, and hurries last year. 31. Steelers: CB Aaron Williams, Texas Williams' best position might ultimately be safety, but he's ticketed for cornerback initially after posting respectable forty-yard dash times in Indianapolis. Two of the Steelers' top three corners are free agents, and starting free safety Ryan Clark is entering his age-32 season. 32. Packers: DE Cameron Heyward, Ohio State The talent-rich Packers will be able to draft the best player available on April 28. Heyward might be in the mid first-round conversation if not for offseason Tommy John surgery, and he also plays a position at which Green Bay is losing a key cog in free agent defensive end Cullen Jenkins.
Depends if they want to take Justin Houston with there first 1st round. But yeah Belicheat would love Reed. I still hate that in this mock the Jets skip Ayers and Wilson. I can see the Pats going 1a. Houston and 1b. Wilkerson. But Watt and Reed looks hella scary and worst part, very possible.
I don't see Ponder going in the 1st or even before Kaepernick. He's peaked, what you see iswhat you get, and I don't see a franchise QB.
To be honest I think teams will over look Ponder and Kaepernick. Locker could be taken in the first just for his physical stature and hype. Seahawks are a bit sour on Locker though so Kaepernick at 25th could be possible. One thing that Im REALLY surprised by is Brandon Harris was not taken in the first in this mock.
With the way prior drafts have went.. I wouldn't be shocked. I could see Ponder, Kaepernick, and Locker going in the first. Joey Harrington, David Carr, Patrick Ramsey, Kyle Boller, Rex Grossman, JP Losman, Alex Smith, Jason Campbell, Jamarcus Russel, Brady Quinn... All of these guys had me scratching my head on how they were drafted so high in their drafts. Just thinking back, I'm way to lazy to look it up, but I'm fairly positive that there has been a lot of drafts that had mediocre QB's in the first round in which there were 3-4 QB's taken in that first round alone. Even though a lot of these guys had a bunch of question marks with them coming out of college. Which obviously didn't pan out well for a lot of teams because they were reaching. Hindsight I guess.. I don't feel Tebow should've made it in the first either, but that is still up in the air. Time will tell. It surprised me he got drafted in the first to be honest.
the jets will never see wilkerson at where they pick#30.if they are able to trade up.then they would hit a home run with the pick of wilkerson.
I was kidding - I drafted Kaepernick with Seattle's 25th pick a few days ago in the four man mock. I was just quoting draft great Jabba the Jet.
Actually, if Reed is going, I'm hoping someone will be desperate enough to trade up to our pick to grab him or some other QB.
if all those QB's go in the first round, we will end up getting one hell of a pass rusher at the 30 spot.
