Thursday, March 3, 2011

2011 NFL Mock 3.0










Where will Cam Newton end up?
http://www.thesportsbank.net/college-fball/cam-newtons-
dad-not-attending-heisman-ceremony-releases-statement

Round 1






  1. Carolina (2-14)-Da'Quan Bowers, DE, 6'4, 280, Clemson- Bowers has some durability concerns, but he is the most explosive pass rusher in this draft.  He will come in and immediately help out Carolina's defense.
  2. Denver (4-12)-Nick Fairley, DT, 6'5, 314, Auburn-Denver's defense was atrocious last season, so far this off-season they have resigned Bailey and they will also get Dumerville back from injury.  Fairley could help this squad because of his versatility.  In the combine he was a little bit lighter than expected, but he tested very well.  Von Miller and Marcell Dareus are also options here because of their combine performances.
  3. Buffalo (4-12)-Von Miller, OLB, 6'3, 240, Texas A&M- Miller is the premiere linebacker talent in this draft.  He had a great combine, showing off his physical talents and proving to teams that he is one of the top picks in this draft.  The Bills have holes all over their team, Miller can step in and have an immediate impact for their defense.
  4. Cincinnati (4-12)-Blaine Gabbert, QB, 6'5, 240, Missouri- Palmer recently said that he would rather retire than play QB for the Bengals next year.  If this is the case then I think Cincinnati will take a chance with Blaine Gabbert or Cam Newton.  I think they will take Gabbert, who is more game ready than Newton at this point of their careers.  Gabbert has a strong and accurate arm, but because he mostly played in a spread offense he will have to work hard to prepare for taking snaps under center.
  5. Arizona (5-11)-Patrick Peterson, CB, 6'1, 211, LSU-  Peterson tested as one of the top athletes in the entire combine.  Arizona could go many different directions with this draft pick but they do have a huge void to fill at cornerback and Peterson is one of the top 3 players in the draft.  
  6. Cleveland (5-11)-A.J. Green, WR, 6'4, 207, Georgia-  A.J. Green did a solid job at the combine and because of his performance last season he is considered the best WR prospect since Calvin Johnson.  He will give McCoy a great target next year and should help the growth of the young QB.
  7. San Francisco (6-10)-Marcell Dareus, DT, 6'4, 306, Alabama- Dareus cemented his spot at the top of the draft with a solid combine.  He showed tremendous athletic ability and quickness for a man his size.  He displayed the power he comes off the line with which will help him get past blockers and get to the QB in the next level.  San Francisco could use a huge defensive tackle to open up holes in the offensive line for Willis to disrupt the rhythm of the running game and passing game.
  8. Tennessee (6-10)-Prince Amukamara, CB, 6'1, 200, Nebraska- Tennessee needs a QB, but they believe they can pick up one latter in the draft, probably second round.  Amukamara gives them a sufficient cornerback opposite of Finnegan.  Amukamara, like Peterson, tested very well at the combine, and was only 10 pounds lighter than Peterson.  He proved that he is an elite athlete.
  9. Dallas (6-10)-J.J. Watt, DE, 6'6, 285, Wisconsin- Dallas' defense needs an athletic, versatile defensive end to fit in their scheme.  Watt is another player who had a great combine and showed just how versatile he can be.  He will be able to tie up defenders allowing Ware to rush the QB, and he will also be a very good run stopper.
  10. Washington (6-10)-Cam Newton, QB, 6'6, 247, Auburn-  Cam Newton had a rough few days at the combine.  There are reports that he did not interview as well as he would have liked, he also had a rough time in throwing drills.  Athletically he ran around a 4.5 to 4.6 forty, and did well in other measurements.  His throwing form is correctable and he should still be picked high in this draft.  I do not think he will fall past Washington.
  11. Houston (6-10)-Jimmy Smith, CB, 6'2, 210, Colorado- Smith showed why his stock is on the rise.  He is a fluid athlete at the corner position despite being 6'2.  He has good ball skills and can make big hits.  He will not make the instant impact as the first 2 corners picked above him, but he will be a big help to a sub-par Houston secondary.
  12. Minnesota (6-10)-Robert Quinn, DE, 6'5, 270, North Carolina- Minnesota's defense had a huge drop off from the 2009-10 season. Jared Allen was not nearly as dominant as he was in past years and their defensive tackles were not nearly as productive.  Robert Quinn had a great combine with a very fast 40 yard dash for a defensive lineman, he could potentially break the top ten.
  13. Detroit (6-10)-Nate Solder, OT, 6'9, 305, Colorado- Solder would be a good fit in Detroit.  The Lions need someone to protect Stafford and Solder could do it.  He will have to keep improving his game against quicker rushers, but he should come in and start at the beginning of the season.
  14. St. Louis (7-9)-Julio Jones, WR, 6'4, 211, Alabama- Julio Jones tested as a more athletic receiver than A.J. Green, but he is still raw in other categories.  He needs to work on his intangibles such as his hands and route running.  He also has durability concerns, but he should give the Rams and Bradford a legitimate number 1 receiver.
  15. Miami (7-9)-Mark Ingram, RB, 5'10, 215, Alabama- Ingram only ran a 4.6 in the 40, but scouts are quick to point out that speed is not his game.  He has very quick feet and shows a quick 10 yard burst.  He did nothing to damage his position as the best running back in this class.
  16. Jacksonville (8-8)-Cameron Jordan, DE, 6'4, 282, California- Cameron Jordan really came on and wowed some people at the combine.  He could potentially be picked higher than this, but I think Jacksonville will be Jordan's new home.  He will be a great run defender because of his ability to quickly locate the ball and he has the speed to pursue the carrier.
  17. New England-from Oakland- Aldon Smith, DE, 6'5 255, Missouri- Smith provides the Patriots with a big defensive end who is athletic and agile enough to drop back as an outside linebacker.  He rushes the quarterback with passion and has the speed to chase down running backs.  He will have to work on his coverage to in crease his effectiveness.
  18. San Diego (9-7)-Tyron Smith, OT, 6'6, 285, USC- Smith has spectacular feet for a man his size.  He is physically smaller than some of the other top tackles in this draft, but his great technique, athleticism,  and footwork allow him to be a great NFL tackle. 
  19. New York Giants (10-6)-Anthony Castonzo, OT, 6'7, 295, Boston College- Castonzo knows how to position himself against speed rushers to give him an advantage.  He started all 4 years at Boston College, and has a very good football IQ.  He should be a big help in the job of protecting Eli Manning.
  20. Tampa Bay (10-6)-Adrian Clayborn, DE, 6'4, 285, Iowa- Clayborn is a very smart player and knows how to shed blocks quickly in order to get to the ball as quickly as possible.  He is very adept at using his hands to get past defenders.  He is very solid against the run, and should fit in very well for an improving defensive front such as Tampa Bay's
  21. Kansas City (10-6)-Akeem Ayers, OLB, 6'4, 254, UCLA- Ayers had an under-whelming  performance at the combine.  He looked slower than he does on game day.  I think that he will still be drafted in the late first round and I think that his pass rushing ability from the outside would help Kansas City.  
  22. Indianapolis (10-6)-Gabe Carimi, OT, 6'7, 315, Wisconsin-  Indianapolis' offensive line had a tough time protecting Peyton last year.  Carimi is a huge Tackle with a mean streak.  He did very well in the vertical jump, showing that he is very athletic despite his massive frame.
  23. Philadelphia (10-6)-Mike Pouncey, G, 6'4, 310, Florida-  The Eagles' main concern has to be the protection of their new franchise QB Vick.  Vick took a lot of hits last year, mostly because of his scrambling, and the fragile Qb will not be able to keep playing at his current pace if that trend continues.  Pouncey should step in, as his brother did for the Steelers', and crack the starting line up for game 1.
  24. New Orleans (11-5)-Corey Liuget, DT, 6'3, 300, Illinois- The Saints just signed Shaun Rogers, the veteran defensive tackle from Cleveland.  I think that the Saints would be wise to pick a young DT in the first few rounds because Rogers has been inconsistent over his career.  Liuget is very active rushing the passer, he is quick off the ball and has a non-stop motor.  He would be a great pick to pair with Rogers or to take his place in the next few seasons.
  25. Seattle (7-9)-Jake Locker, QB, 6'3, 226, Washington- Jake Locker's combine performance may have landed him back in the 1st round.  He performed very well in all of the athletic tests, but reaffirmed his struggles with accuracy.  If a team takes him in the first round it will be Seattle.  
  26. Baltimore (12-4)-Brandon Harris, CB, 5'11, 195, Miami-  Brandon Harris had a very successful day at the combine, showing that he had good coverage skills and he keeps his hips down.  He has great closing speed and shows good instincts.  He will be a great fit and will help maintain Baltimore's reputation of strong defense.
  27. Atlanta (13-3)-Titus Young, WR, 5'11, 170, Boise State- Atlanta wants a play-making slot receiver, and Young has shown he has plenty of talent and after-the-catch ability.  I think that Torrey Smith is another option here, but I think the allure of Young's speed and open field ability will make him a Falcon. 
  28. New England (14-2)-Torrey Smith, WR, 6'1,  200, Maryland-  Smith had a very good combine, he showed he has top end speed.  He will be the new field stretcher for Tom Brady.  He has the physical tools to be a great player, but he will have to learn to be a better route runner and will have to improve catching the deep ball over his shoulder.
  29. Chicago (11-5)-Dan Watkins, G, 6'4, 310, Baylor- Chicago needs to be able to keep Cutler in the game.  Watkins has very good balance which allows him to stay in plays and maintain his blocks.  He has limited football experience so he continuously learning how to play the game.
  30. New York Jets (11-5)-Phil Taylor, DT, 6'3, 355, Baylor- The Jets released Kris Jenkins, and although there are rumblings that he may be resigned, the Jets should take the huge nose tackle out of Baylor.  Phil Taylor is very strong and in the combine showed some quickness.  He does have some durability issues which may scare the Jets away because of past experiences with Jenkins.
  31. Pittsburgh (12-4)-Benjamin Ijalana, OT, 6'4, 320, Villanova- He has a lot of room to improve but he would give the Steelers some help where they need it.  He can play either the guard or tackle position.  He needs to work on playing with a lower center of gravity, but he could be a very good pick up for Pittsburgh.
  32. Green Bay (10-6)-Ryan Kerrigan, DE, 6'4, 263, Purdue- Kerrigan fills a need for the Packers.  He is versatile enough to play defensive end or outside linebacker.  He is athletically gifted and would fit in well in for the super bowl champs.  



  • Round 2
    1. New England - from Carolina-Cameron Heyward, DE, 6'5, 288, Ohio State- New England continues to address their defensive line with the versatile Heyward.  Heyward could easily land in the first round, he has a nonstop motor and is very good against the run.  He will be a solid addition to their front seven.
    2. Buffalo (4-12)- Ryan Mallet, QB, 6'7, 238, Arkansas-  Buffalo passed on the top two QB's in the first round, but they draft their QB of the future in the second round.  Mallet had a good combine during the throwing drills, but did not fair as well during the interviews.  He has some character issues, but there is no denying the strength in his arm.  
    3. Cincinnati (4-12)-Allen Bailey, DE, 6'4, 288, Miami (Fl)- Bailey will be a very nice complement to the second year sensation Carlos Dunlap.  Bailey would give the Bengals an incredibly athletic tandem at the DE position.  Bailey knows how to fight off double teams and get after the runner or pressure the QB.  He is also a fringe first round pick.  
    4. Denver (4-12)-Aaron Williams, CB, 6'1, 192, Texas- Denver continues to build a new defensive foundation.  Williams can come in and cover the slot in nickleback formations.  He is also a good defender against the running game, but he needs to work on his press coverage and his open field tackling.
    5. Cleveland (5-11)-Marcus Cannon, OT, 6'5, 350, TCU- If Cannon can fine-tune his instincts and recognition of blocking assignments he will be a very good tackle in the NFL.  He already has the physical ability to be a good tackle, he just needs to add the mental part. 
    6. Arizona (5-11)-Justin Houston, OLB, 6'3, 259, Georgia- Houston will be great at coming off the edge and attacking the QB.  He is a bit undersized to play the DE so he will have to work on his coverage skills to be a consistent contributer at the outside linebacker position.
    7. Tennessee (6-10)-Derek Sherrod, OT, 6'6, 305, Mississippi State- Tennessee needs to address their quarterback position, but they will also need to protect whoever ends up being their signal caller.  Sherrod is big enough and has enough talent to be a good starter for the Titans, but he needs to improve his motor and aggressiveness.
    8. Dallas (6-10)-Rahim Moore, FS, 6'1, 195, UCLA- Moore is the best safety in the draft.  Dallas needs to address their secondary and specifically their safeties.  When the ball is in the air sometimes it is hard to tell who the receiver is, Moore or the offensive player.  He has the physical ability to attack the ball while it is in the air, exactly what the Cowboys need.
    9. Washington (6-10)-Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, 6'5, 300, Temple- Washington could use a big physical lineman like Wilkerson.  Washington's front line desperately needs help, as they were one of the worst at getting to the QB last year.  Wilkerson is a three down tackle who competes on every play.
    10. Houston (6-10)-Sam Acho, DE, 6'3, 260, Texas- Acho can play either the DE or OLB position.  If he is chosen by Houston he will be looked to bring a pass rushing presence on the opposite side of Mario Williams.  
    11. Minnesota (6-10)-Jonathan Baldwin, WR, 6'5, 225, Pittsburgh- Sidney Rice probably will not return next year.  Who ever winds up being the QB in Minnesota next year will need someone to throw to.  Baldwin is a big physical receiver with huge, strong hands.  The only thing holding him back is maturity. 
    12. Detroit (6-10)-Bruce Carter, OLB, 6'3, 230, North Carolina- Carter is coming off a torn ACL.  If he is fully recovered he could be a force for Detroit's defense. Before his injury he was a freakish athlete with great sideline-to-sideline speed.
    13. San Francisco (6-10)- Stephen Paea, DT, 6'1, 285, Oregon State- The 49ers need an inside presence on their defensive line.  Paea is raw, but set the bench press record for the combine with 49 reps of 225 lbs.  He is the strongest player in this draft and has a ton of potential.
    14. Denver - from Miami (7-9)-Kyle Rudolph, TE, 6'6, Notre Dame-  The Broncos have a big hole at tight end, which is an important position to give Teabow a safety outlet.  Kyle Rudolph is widely considered the best tight end in this draft.
    15. St. Louis (7-9)-Clint Boling, G, 6'5, 290, Georgia- Boling can be moved around to the tackle  and guard position, he successfully played both positions at Georgia.  He is a very aware player and plays with his IQ more than his strength.  St. Louis continues to build an offense around Bradford.
    16. Oakland (8-8)-Brandon Burton, CB, 6'0, 185, Utah-  Burton could become a very effective starter for the Raiders.  He needs to work on helping in the run game, but he has good route recognition and has good ball skills.
    17. Jacksonville (8-8)-D.J. Williams, TE, 6'2, 251, Arkansas- Williams is a bit small for the TE position, but he was the fastest of the TE group at the combine.  Some scouts are saying he could be converted to a full back.  He is an effective blocker in the running game and has very good ball skills.
    18. San Diego (9-7)-Martez Wilson, ILB, 6'4, 250, Illinois- San Diego needs an inside line backer and Wilson is Mel Kiper's first rated ILB.  Wilson has very long arms and can be effective in coverage or coming up against the run.  His biggest faults are character issues.
    19. Tampa Bay (10-6)- Robert Sands, SS, 6'5, 221, West Virginia- Tampa continues to build up their defense.  Sands is a huge safety with better than average speed.  He has long arms and he has very good ball skills down the field 
    20. New York Giants (10-6)-Mikel Leshoure, RB, 6'1, 230, Illinois-  The Giants have had running back issues the last few seasons.  Leshoure is considered the second best RB prospect in the draft.  He could come off the board much higher.  He possesses adequate speed for a 6'1 runner.
    21. Indianapolis (10-6)-Leonard Hankerson, WR, 6'3, 215, Miami (FL)-  The Colts' wide receivers have had plenty of injuries the last few years.  Hankerson is a good prospect, he is a good route runner and has very good athleticism.  He could contend for the second receiver position opposite Wayne.  
    22. Philadelphia (10-6)-William Rackley, G, 6'3, 304, Lehigh-  Philadelphia continue to solidify their offensive line.  Rackley is a very good pass blocker and a good run blocker.  The Eagles need versatile linemen like this to be able to protect their scrambling QB.
    23. Kansas City (10-6)-Christian Ballard, DT, 6'5, 297, Iowa- Christian Ballard and Glenn Dorsey could become a very good duo along the offensive line in KC.  He is very agile for a man his size and can maneuver along the offensive line providing pressure on the QB.
    24. New Orleans (11-5)-Ryan Williams, RB, 5'10, 210, Virginia Tech- When Williams is healthy he has first round talent.  Last year he was hurt for much of Virginia Tech's games so he did not get to show what he is capable of.  The Saints take a chance on his upside to improve their running game.
    25. Seattle (7-9)-Orlando Franklin, OT, 6'7, 318, Miami (FL)- Franklin has the ability and size to become a great pass protector.  If Locker is going to succeed he will need all the time he can get, and Franklin blocks with passion and smarts.  Franklin could become a mainstay on this offensive line.
    26. Baltimore (12-4)- Randall Cobb, WR, 5'11, 191, Kentucky- Cobb is a Dynamic return man, something the Ravens need.  He also provides them with a deep threat.  Boldin and Houshmanzedah are very good possession receivers, but neither can press the defense down the field.
    27. Atlanta (13-3)- John Moffitt, G, 6'5, 323, Wisconsin- Wisconsin's offensive line was great last year, they plowed the way for 3 1000+ yard rushers.  Moffitt was a big part of that squad, and should bring his high IQ and nasty blocking to Atlanta's front line.  Another blocker for Matt Ryan is never a bad idea seeing how front line injuries decimated some of the leagues top teams.
    28. New England (14-2)- Rodney Hudson, G, 6'3, 291, Florida St.- The Pats continue to add talent at a plethora of positions.  Hudson is very talented and can play many positions on the offensive line.  His versatility fits right in with New England's philosophy.
    29. San Diego - from New York Jets (11-5)- Tandon Doss, WR, 6'3, 195, Indiana- Vincent Jackson's return remains a question mark.  Doss brings a lot of similar skills to the table, and could potentially be a top receiver in the league.  He will be utilized by Rivers immediately.
    30. Chicago (11-5)- James Carpenter, OT, 6'5, 300, Alabama- Carpenter will provide good depth for Chicago.  He can become good starter one day but he will need to improve his run blocking and blitz pick up. 
    31. Pittsburgh (12-4)- Drake Nevis, DL, 6'1, 295, LSU- Nevis can give Pittsburgh some extra depth on the defensive line, another area which suffered because of injuries.  Nevis will not likely start but he is a tenacious defender who plays with a lot of heart.
    32. Green Bay (10-6)-Dontay Moch, OLB, 6'1, 245, Nevada- Moch had a great combine and gives the Packers a insanely fast pass rusher off the edge.  His stock may rise in the coming weeks before the draft but the Packers would be very lucky to get Dontay here.


  • Round 3
    1. Carolina (2-14)-Lance Kendricks, TE, 6'4, 239, Wisconsin
    2. Cincinnati (4-12)-Jordan Todman, RB, 5'9, 193, Connecticut 
    3. Denver (4-12)-Jaiquawn Jarret, SS, 6'2, 195, Temple
    4. Buffalo (4-12)-Ras-I Dowling, CB, 6'2, 200, Virginia
    5. Arizona (5-11)-Ricky Stanzi, QB, 6'4, 230, Iowa
    6. Cleveland (5-11)-Stefen Wisniewski, C, 6'3, 297, Penn State
    7. Dallas (6-10)-Marvin Austin, DT, 6'3, 305, North Carolina
    8. New Orleans - from Washington- DeAndre McDaniel, SS, 6'0, 213, Clemson
    9. Houston (6-10)-Ahmad Black, S, 5'9, 183, Florida
    10. New England - from Minnesota-Owen Marecic, FB, 6'1, 244, Stanford
    11. Detroit (6-10)-Johnny Patrick, CB, 6'0, 190, Louisville
    12. San Francisco (6-10)-Alex Linnenkohl, C, 6'2, 303, Oregon St.
    13. Tennessee (6-10)-Collin Kaepernick, QB, 6'6, 220, Nevada-
    14. St. Louis (7-9)-Luke Stocker, TE, 6'6 253, Tennessee
    15. Miami (7-9)-Kevin Kowalski, C, 6'4, 300, Toledo
    16. Jacksonville (8-8)- Greg Jones, ILB, 6'1, 235, Michigan State
    17. Oakland (8-8)-Marcus Gilbert, OT, 6'5, 322, Florida
    18. San Diego (9-7)-Greg Romeus, DE, 6'5, 270, Pittsburgh
    19. New York Giants (10-6)-Jurrell Casey, DT, 6'1, 295, USC
    20. Tampa Bay (10-6)-Quan Sturdivant, ILB, 6'2, 235, North Carolina
    21. Philadelphia (10-6)-Curtis Brown, CB, 6'0, 180, Texas
    22. Kansas City (10-6)-Lee Ziemba, OT, 6'8, 320, Auburn
    23. Indianapolis (10-6)-Jerrell Powe, DT, 6'2, 330, Mississippi
    24. New Orleans (11-5)-Kendrick Burney, CB, 5'9, 190, North Carolina
    25. San Diego - from Seattle-Mason Foster, OLB, 6'1, 245, Washington
    26. Baltimore (12-4)- Shareece Wright, CB, 6'0, 185, USC
    27. Atlanta (13-3)-Shane Vereen, RB, 5'10, 200, California
    28. New England (14-2)-DeMarco Murray, RB, 6'0, 214, Oklahoma
    29. Chicago (11-5)-Greg Little, WR, 6'3, 215, North Carolina
    30. New York Jets (11-5)-Austin Pettis, WR, 6'3, 201, Boise St.
    31. Pittsburgh (12-4)-Jacquizz Rogers, RB, 5'7, 191, Oregon St.
    32. Green Bay (10-6)- Casey Matthews, ILB, 6'2, 235, Oregon












  • 8 comments:

    1. Nice draft, but isn't that QB from Nevada Colin Kaepernick, not Chris Kaepernick. No big issue though. I think you nailed (for the most part) each teams need, however, I disagree with your position grades. That doesn't mean you're wrong, I just think certain players will have better NFL careers than some you have going earlier.

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    2. I would like to see the Saints address their LB corps within the first 3 rounds and you don't have them doing so. They need at least one OLB with their first 4 picks. So, their second pick in the 3rd should probably be an OLB and not a CB, at least according to your draft. I think I'd like to see an OLB picked by their first pick in the 3rd.

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    3. You have 9ers taking DT's in the 1st 2 rounds - probably not.

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    4. Why do you have the Packers taking 2 players for the same OLB position opposite Clay Matthews in the first two rounds? Kerrigan is too small to play DE in the 3-4 so would have to move to OLB.

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    5. You are right it is Colin, change made, I will remember the comment on the Saints OLB for the next mock. The 9ers probably won't take 2 DT's the first two rounds, I moved Dareus there right before I posted forgetting to change the Paea pick, although they did pick 2 offensive linemen in the first round last year so it could happen. This could cement their front line for many years to come if they decided to pick this way, but I agree it is unlikely. I have the Packers picking Kerrigan in the first round, I think he could easily bulk up enough to play that position, although that is all my speculation. I realized that I had picked a OLB in the first, but because Moch had such a good combine, and the position he plays is a big position of need for the Packers, I couldn't pass him up. But I understand what you are getting at.

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    6. Dontay Moch drafted by two teams?

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    7. oops, apparently yes, I moved him up after he had his good combine but forgot to change the San Diego pick, thanks for letting me know.

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