2011 Mock Draft: 2.0
By Editorial Staff
Well it’s still summer time and the writers at NFL Mocks are already looking towards next year’s draft. We have our 2011 NFL Draft Prospect Big Board and many Scouting Reports. Dont forget to check out our Team Needs and 2011 Prospect Position Rankings But now it’s time to get to the always controversial Mock Draft. Once the season starts the order will slowly shift based on actually draft ranking at the time of the mock. An”if the draft was today…” segment if you will. With the college and pro seasons about to start here are a few players and teams that should be watching them as the season progresses. This mock was completed by staff writer Josh Deceuster.
1 Buffalo Bills – Jake Locker, QB Washington
– Far and away the best overall athlete to come out next year. Check out this great article chronicling his start as a Wing T rushing QB to a spread option his first two years of college and his first year in a pro style offense last year. Will be highly scrutinized for his production and win total, but still has the most talent.
2 St. Louis Rams – Marvin Austin, DT North Carolina
– Austin is most likely to drop down in the first round with the NCAA allegations from this summer, but he is still very talented and would go a long way to making the Rams defense legit.
3 Kansas City Chiefs – Cameron Heyward DT/DE Ohio State
– Heyward would help solidify their front line and the Chiefs like to go for the d-lineman early.
4 Cleveland Browns – Prince Amukamara, CB Nebraska
– Another top corner to team up across from 2010 pick Haden. With the pass attacks the Browns face in the AFC North, they should stock pile secondary talent.
5 Tampa Bay Bucs – Adrian Clayborn, DE Iowa
– Loved what they did in 2010 and they should be in a position to grab more great talent in 2011. Clayborn would help create a disruptive front with McCoy and Price.
6 Detroit Lions – Gabe Carimi, OT Wisconsin
– The Lions are going to look a lot better on offense, but their o-line will still be the biggest weakness. Carimi could start LT day one and help continue the rise of the Lions.
7 Denver Broncos – Allen Bailey, DT/DE Miami
– McDaniel’s will find a way to turn this into something less valuable than what he could have got, but Bailey would be a nice choice to help along their 3-4 front.
8 Jacksonville Jaguars – Christian Ponder, QB Florida State
– If the Jaguars are another top ten pick, then it might be time to get a new QB (and/or new coaching staff optional)
9 Seattle Seahawks – Stephen Paea, DT Oregon State
– The Seahawks currently have a bunch big uglies along the defensive line and could use a pass rushing, disruptive threat like Paea.
10 New England Patriots from Oakland Raiders – Von Miller, OLB Texas A&M
– The Pats have done well to start replenishing their linebacking group, but they could use more pass rushers.
Check out the rest of the Mock after the Jump
11 Carolina Panthers – Deunta Williams, S North Carolina
– A home grown play making safety. Carolina would be a big beneficiary if a lot of the junior wide receivers declare. They could use some of those weapons as well.
12 Arizona Cardinals – Ras-I Dowling, CB Virginia
– Could solidify their secondary and add a big presence opposite DRC.
13 Atlanta Falcons – Curtis Brown, CB Texas
– The Falcons have some talent at corner, but Robinson is injury prone and an upgrade in overall talent at the position would help having to play the Saints twice a year.
14 New York Giants – Mark Herzlich, OLB Boston College
– The Giants could use a coverage linebacker that can play the run like Herzlich.
15 Chicago Bears – Anthony Castonzo, OT Boston College
– Castonzo can play both tackle spots and possibly both guard spots as well. Either way, the Bears are going to need more talent on their line.
16 Pittsburgh Steelers – Nate Solder, OT Colorado
– I am not personally this high on Solder, but his size and athletic ability is going to be very intriguing to teams and the Steelers are going to need some new tackles. No way they keep Flozell for more than a year.
17 New England Patriots – Justin Boren, OG Ohio State
– Got to love having two first round picks. The Pats could have used a young guard even before Mankins and the FO started negotiations.
18 Dallas Cowboys – DeAndre McDaniel, S Clemson
– Could be the final piece to nail down the defensive secondary for the Cowboys.
19 Washington Redskins – Bruce Carter, OLB North Carolina
– He helps replace the aging Andre Carter at OLB in their 3-4 look and allows Orakpo to move down to the defensive end playing OLB in their 4-3 look, upgrading two spots with one pick
20 Houston Texans – Greg Romeus, DE Pittsburg
– Could drop if he continues to take some plays off, but has the talent to be a big time pass rusher which would make a nasty team with Mario Williams.
21 Tennessee Titans – Stefen Wisniewski, C Penn State
– This move allows Amano to go back to playing LG and Harris back to being a quality back up.
22 Green Bay Packers – Joseph Barksdale, OT LSU
– Even if Bulaga moves back out to tackle, the Packers still need to find someone to go on the other end of the offensive line. And if Bulaga stays at Guard, then they’ll need one even more.
23 Miami Dolphins – Jerrell Powe, NT Ole Miss
– I’m sure Randy Starks will play admirably as the de facto NT this season, but being able to add Powe’s talent and move Starks back to end would make them even more dangerous.
24 Philadelphia Eagles – Mike Pouncey, C/OG Florida
– The Eagles could use some help on their interior line, plus Andy Reid is noted for his love of taking lineman early and often.
25 New York Jets – Terrance Toliver, WR LSU
– Holmes is going to be their best receiver as long as they can keep him clean off the field. However, Braylon Edwards may prove to be too inconsistent and Cotchery is better operating as the 3rd WR. Toliver has the athletic ability, but needs to be more consistent in his catching and concentration to stay up this high.
26 Baltimore Ravens – Greg Jones, ILB Michigan State
– Ray Lewis may just play forever, but in this scenario, there are no Offensive lineman or corner backs worth this spot and Jones could team up and learn from Ray in the Ravens 3-4.
27 New Orleans Saints – Jeremy Beal, DE/OLB Oklahoma
– He is as big as Alex Brown, but might be a player in the same line as Mathias Kiwanuka for the Giants who plays more OLBer on first and second and down on the line for passing downs.
28 Cincinnati Bengals – Evan Royster, RB Penn State
– Cedric Benson may not be reliable off the field and Bernard Scott isn’t a do it alone back.
29 San Francisco 49ers – Noel Devine, RB West Virgina
– Devine would complement the bigger Gore and Dixon while also being a receiving and return threat.
30 San Diego Chargers – DeMarcus Love, OT Arkansas
– Plays in a pass first pro system at Arkansas and would help even if McNeill comes back.
31 Indianapolis Colts – Pernell McPhee, DT/DE Mississippi State
– Has the speed that the Colts look for out of their front four and the size to play outside on early downs and move in on passing downs.
32 Minnesota Vikings – Rodney Hudson, OG Florida State
– The Vikings are starting to get pretty old and unless a bunch of juniors come out, they might not have a chance at a top quarterback, so getting better up front on offense should be a top priority.