Mock Draft 1.0: The Mocking Begins
Anybody can make a mock draft. It’s very simple. You take a player and put that player on a team. You continue until all teams have a new player. It’s very easy. What is not easy is making a realistic, credible mock draft. In order to make a realistic mock draft, you have to know the needs of all the teams in the league. You have to take into account a number of factors such as good value and a teams player preference. In order to make a credible mock, you have to know your prospects. Thankfully, Jesse, Sayre, and myself are awesome. We know team needs and we definitely know our draft prospects. So get ready folks. We have started a little late, but get ready for the mocks to start flying.
1. Carolina Panthers- Nick Fairley, DT from Auburn
Quick, name the Panthers defensive tackles………….I’m waiting……………..Any day now…………That’s what I thought. The Panthers’ defensive tackles (Derek Landri and Nick Hayden) are both pretty bad. Nick Fairley is arguably the best player in this draft. He’s big, powerful, and plays with a mean streak. He also happens to fit one of the Panthers’ biggest needs. In my opinion, this pick comes down to 3 people: Nick Fairley, AJ Green, and Patrick Peterson with Nick Fairley being the favorite. He has some character concerns and he is a one year wonder, but Fairley has the potential to be great. Ron Rivera is a defensive minded head coach who would surely love an elite talent like Fairley in his front 7.
2. Denver Broncos- Patrick Peterson, CB from LSU
Unfortunately for the Broncos, Nick Fairley is likely to go number 1. If Fairley slips to #2, it is highly likely that Denver sets the record for the shortest amount of time needed to turn in their draft card. However, with Fairley off the board, the Broncos’ attention turns to Patrick Peterson. Peterson recently came out and said that every team wants him he will run a sub 4.3 40 yard dash. Combine that with his 6 ft 1, 222 pound body and Denver scouts are probably drooling. He came off a little cocky in his recent interview, but not everyone is as quiet and mellow as Champ Bailey. Speaking of Champ, he is set to be a free agent as soon as the CBA gets signed. Peterson to the Broncos makes too much sense.
3. Buffalo Bills- AJ Green, WR from Georgia
Unfortunately for Bills fans, Patrick Peterson just went off the board. I’ve been to a couple Bills blogs and the majority are heavily in favor of drafting Peterson. With Peterson in a Broncos uniform, they go to the next best player available. AJ Green has all the makings of an elite wide receiver. He’s big, fast, and makes some absolutely jaw dropping catches. Buffalo certainly needs help on the defensive side of the ball, but their WR position is pretty bad. If they are going to try to claim Ryan Fitzpatrick as their franchise signal caller, he is going to need more then Steve Johnson. Green gives Fitzpatrick a very talented wide out to go with Steve Johnson who had a breakout year last year(except for a certain dropped pass in the end zone…)
4. Cincinnati Bengals- Da’Quan Bowers, DE from Clemson.
Bengals fans must have hated the 2010 season. They had such high expectations going into the year only to have them all crushed. They were easily one of the biggest disappointments of 2010. Both the offense and defense struggled. The offense just couldn’t figure it out. Carson Palmer played like crap all year long, yet he played very well when Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens were unable to play. Coincidence? Highly unlikely. On the defensive side, Carlos Dunlap flashed great ability and looks to be a steal for the Bengals. Opposite of him is Antwan “can’t stay healthy” Odom, Geno Atkins, and Michael Johnson. Bowers is arguably the best pass rusher in this draft class. He’s got elite athleticism and put up jaw dropping numbers in his 2010 campaign. He makes sense for a Bengals defense that generated only 27 sacks on the year.
5. Arizona Cardinals- Von Miller, LB from Texas A&M.
Cardinals fans are the latest franchise that are suffering from WLOAQBSNWS. What does that mean? We Lost Our Amazing Quarterback So Now We Suck. Larry Fitzgerald must have been one of the most frustrated players in the NFL last year. He went from catching passes from Kurt Warner and competing in a Super Bowl to watching passes sail over his head courtesy of Derek Anderson. Arizona desperately needs a QB, but my bet is they trade for Kevin Kolb, Kyle Orton, Donovan McNabb, or sign Carson Palmer if he is available. So with their 1st rounder, they are likely going defense. Von Miller was an absolute stud at the Senior Bowl and his stock has skyrocketed. The Cardinals need an upgrade at OLB. It’s a match made in heaven. The wild card here is Robert Quinn. He may be someone the Cardinals could fall in love with.
6. Cleveland Browns- Marcel Dareus, DT from Alabama
If the Browns got their way, they would trade down, get more draft picks, and pick up a talent like Cam Jordan or Julio Jones. However, rarely do scenarios like that work out, especially for teams in the top 10. Cleveland is likely switching to a 4-3 defense and they just cut Shawn Rogers. They are going to need help up front and Marcel Dareus fits the bill. He’s a versatile guy who can play in both the 3-4 and 4-3. He’s a run stuffer and an underrated pass rusher. Another option could be Robert Quinn. Cleveland needs a defensive end but there are nothing but questions surrounding Quinn. At this time, I wouldn’t understand the logic of picking Quinn at 6 to be a DE. He’s undersized and might not have the strength to play the position. My perception is subject to change in the coming weeks when I see and hear how his work outs go.
7. San Francisco 49ers- Robert Quinn, DE/OLB from North Carolina
This is a tough spot for the 49ers. They would love to have an elite pass rusher like Von Miller, but that likely won’t happen. They could use Dareus, but he isn’t available either. They need help at the CB position, but is Amukamara really worth the #7 overall spot? He is a physical CB, but there major questions about his speed. Is it possible that Jim Harbaugh takes a shot on a QB like Blaine Gabbert or Cam Newton? With Mannie Lawson becoming a free agent, help is needed at the OLB position. With Miller off the board, SF turns to Robert Quinn. Quinn is an athletic freak and could be a fantastic pass rusher if he puts in the time and effort. His draft position will be dictated by his Combine performance. If he shows up in shape and focused, some team in the top 10 will take a gamble. His upside is very attractive.
8. Tennessee Titans- Cam Newton, QB from Auburn
Bud Adams, what are you thinking? You have a choice of staying with your QB, Vince Young or keeping your coach Jeff Fisher. You decide that Vince Young is not the future of your franchise and decide to keep Fisher. Then a few weeks later, you are going to dump both of them and start fresh? Tough days ahead for the Titans. Tennessee has to pick up a QB sometime this off season. If they can’t sign a free agent or trade for one, there is a strong chance that they will draft one. Cam Newton going before Gabbert will probably raise a few of your eyebrows, but it shouldn’t. Newton is an athletic freak with an extremely high ceiling. Do you remember why Adams passed on Leinart for Young? It was because of Young’s upside and ability to make plays with his legs. Can Bud Adams possibly draft a QB who has been compared to the QB he just ousted as his starter? With Adams, anything is possible.
9. Dallas Cowboys- Prince Amukamara, CB from Nebraska
It has been reported that the Cowboys are very interested in Patrick Peterson. Do not be surprised if they try to move up and grab him. If they are unable to, the next best thing would be to draft Amukamara. Prince is a very physical corner who plays the ball well and is a natural playmaker. However, there are some big questions about his speed, specifically his top end speed. He was beaten badly all day by Justin Blackmon over Oklahoma St when the two met. Some think Prince is a shut down corner, others think he doesn’t have the speed to be one. I am with the latter. When Prince is beat deep, he simply doesn’t have the speed to recover. An interesting scenario would be Dallas drafting Prince and moving him to safety ala Malcolm Jenkins.
10. Washington Redskins- Blaine Gabbert, QB from Missouri
McNabb appears to be on his way out of Washington. Mike Shannahan needs a new franchise QB. Luckily for them, Gabbert made it to their pick. Gabbert has all the physical tools to be a starter. The question is: does he have the drive? Also, does he have the accuracy and footwork to be a starter? Mike Shannahan will find out sooner or later. The Redksins cannot go into 2011 with Rex Grossman or some free agent pick up as their starter. They are going to need a franchise caller sooner or later. If they can’t trade for a starter (Kolb/Orton) then they are going to have to take a QB in the draft.
11. Houston Texans- Aldon Smith, DE/OLB from Missouri
With Wade Phillips, the Texans are moving to a 3-4. I don’t like this move. Mario Williams has proved himself as a premier player in the 4-3. Now he has to transition to a totally different position. Wade Phillips insists that Williams will fit because his 3-4 scheme asks the defensive ends to rush the passer, not take up 2 gaps like a traditional DE. If Williams does indeed play a 3-4 DE, Houston will need a 3-4 OLB. Houston would love for Robert Quinn to fall to this spot, but since he doesn’t, the take the next best pass rusher. Smith is a physically impressive specimen with a great length and a relentless motor. He’s a bit of a tweener, but Wade can certainly find a way to use Smith in his 3-4 variation.
12. Minnesota Vikings- Julio Jones, WR from Alabama
Tough break for the Vikings. They brought back Favre in hopes of winning a Super Bowl. They didn’t even come close. Now they are left with a team in “win now” mode and no QB. If Gabbert or Newton fall here, Vikings have to pick them up. New head coach Leslie Frasier has already said he wants to find his Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco. The Vikings are one of the teams who would likely be open to trading down if a QB is not available at 12. However, since I’m not trading down in this mock, I’m going to go with Julio Jones. The Vikings offense really struggled without Sydney Rice and don’t get me started on Randy Moss. Harvin has too many headaches to be a reliable starter. Jones is the second best WR in this draft. He has great size and speed (although he has to build up to it). He is a great deep threat and a very good blocker. He gives the Vikings a great trio of receivers (Jones, Rice, Harvin) and with their pass catching TE Shancoe, they have all the tools to have a very good offense…if only they had a QB. Perhaps an Orton/McNabb/Kolb/Palmer could be the answer.
13. Detroit Lions- Tyron Smith, OT from USC
The Lions are well on their way to making themselves formidable again. They have a franchise QB, an elite WR, a young stud at RB, and a Pro Bowl rookie DT. Now they need to protect their franchise QB’s blind side. Stafford has now been knocked out of two seasons due to the atrociousness of the Lions o-line. Tyron Smith’s draft position could sore if he has a good showing at the combine. He will need to have put on weight as he currently weighs 280 pounds. However, if he can put on weight and maintain his athleticism, there is a very good chance he becomes the first tackle of the board. He is an athletic tackle who plays with good leverage and has a very high ceiling. This might be a reach, but I don’t see how the Lions can go another year without protecting Stafford’s blind side. Other options here might be Akeem Ayers or Brandon Harris.
14. St Louis Rams- Akeem Ayers, LB from UCLA
St Louis would love to get Sam Bradford a legit #1 WR. Unfortunately, AJ Green and Julio Jones are not available here. Is Jonathan Baldwin worth the #14th selection? A lot will depend on his combine numbers and his interviews, but I don’t think so. There are work ethic concerns are there and his inconsistency scares me. He is a boom or bust player. The Rams have no starting OLB’s for their 4-3. Ayers is a guy who underwhelmed me in 2010, but his physical tools and upside are great. He could be a very good LB if he puts in the time and effort.
15. Miami Dolphins- Mark Ingram, RB from Alabama
I don’t think I have seen a different player mocked to Miami. It just makes too much sense. The Dolphins need a QB, but Newton and Gabbert will both be gone by this pick. Locker and Mallett would be reaches. If you can’t throw the ball well, you better run the ball well. With Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown set to be free agents, a replacement is needed. Ingram is a bruiser of a back who can catch passes out of the back field. He fills a need and is a highly talented player. I had trouble thinking of another player at this pick.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars- Cameron Jordan, DE from California
What a perfect scenario for the Jags. They sit tight at 16 and get one of the best defensive lineman in the draft. Cam Jordan will likely go way before this pick, but the way this mock played out, the Jags end up a very lucky team. With Aaron Kampman suffering another ACL tear, they need a reliable starter at the defensive end position. Cam Jordan was unblockable at the Senior Bowl. He is capable of playing both the 4-3 and 3-4 scheme. Jordan goes down to Jacksonville and reunites with former teammate Tyson Alualu to give them two very good, young talents on the d-line.
17. New England Patriots- JJ Watt, DE from Wisconsin
In all likelihood, if Cam Jordan was still available past #10, the Pats would trade up to get him. They need an impact pass rusher and Cam Jordan fits that bill too perfectly. However, with this mock not containing trades, they pick up the next best defensive end. JJ Watt is a long armed player who is all hustle. He uses his powerful hands and long arms to get after the QB. He is scheme versatile and will be a welcome addition in New England.
18. San Diego Chargers- Gabe Carimi, T from Wisconsin
What a shame. The Chargers had two key holdouts, their special teams sucked, and they started out slow. This resulted in the Chargers finally missing the playoffs. The Chargers have a fantastic offense, but they need an upgrade at Right Tackle. They could use some help at defensive end, but they just missed out on Watt and Cam Jordan. Kerrigan is a possibility as a rush linebacker, but they have a bunch of rotational guys at the position. Carimi is a big guy with good strength and a beast in the running game. He looks like the best RT prospect in the entire draft.
19. New York Giants- Brandon Harris, CB from Miami
There is a good chance the Giants would like to take Akeem Ayers here. Keith Bullock is set to be a free agent and there isn’t much behind him. However, there isn’t another linebacker worth taking here. So the Giants look to Harris. They have 2 very good CB’s in Terrel Thomas and Corey Webster. Harris is a very athletic guy who excels in man to man coverage. You can take a deeper look at our scouting report of Harris here. He’s got a ton of potential and will be a welcome addition to the Giants.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Adrian Clayborn, DE from Iowa
Tampa desperately needs help at the defensive end position. They could also use a RT and a G, but those can be found later. Clayborn did not have a good 2010 year. He followed that up by not attending the Senior Bowl. He will definitely have to answer some questions, but his talent is undeniable. He has been a dominant pass rusher for the Hawkeyes for a long time. He could play DE or DT in a 4-3 and a DE in a 3-4. He’s got great quickness and a burst that will make it tough for the Bucs to pass up.
21. Kansas City Chiefs- Phil Taylor, DT from Baylor
The Kansas City Chiefs have managed to totally turn around their franchise. They won the AFC West last year and made the playoffs for the first time since some date I’m to lazy to look up. Phil Taylor was dominant at the Senior Bowl. Kansas City needs a nose tackle in the worst way. It’s a nice fit. Kansas City gets a nice, young player to put in the center of their defense.
22. Indianapolis Colts- Derek Sherrod, OT from Mississippi St
With Peyton Panning, they will always have a chance to win the Super Bowl. However, Peyton is going to be 35 when he signs his contract. The Colts have to find a way to protect one of the best in the game. Sherrod is a very good athlete with good length. He’s got good quickness and will be Peyton’s best friend until he retires.
23. Philadelphia Eagles- Nate Solder, OT from Colorado
The Eagles oline is just awful. They need talent all over. The Eagles will not be a Super Bowl contender if Vick has to scramble every play. Solder is not NFL ready, but he has more potential then any other lineman. He could play on the left side, but he could play on the right as well. He’s a guy with rare size, length and athleticism. He will be a welcomed addition in Philly.
24. New Orleans Saints- Ryan Kerrigan, DE/OLB from Purdue
The 2009 Super Bowl Champions had a very tough year in 2010. Their team was marred by injuries throughout the year. It seemed like they lost a starter every week. When it comes to the draft, they need help at the defensive end position. Kerrigan is an all hustle pass rush machine. He’s got long arms, good strength, and a motor that never stops. He is a bit undersized to play in a 4-3, but he has the frame to put on some more weight.
25. Seattle Seahawks- Jake Locker, QB from Washington
The Seahawks had a glorious year. Pete Carrol installed a college like atmosphere and the Seahawks rode it all the way to a 1st round upset of the New Orleans Saints. Next year, they are going to have some big competition in the St. Louis Rams with Josh McDaniels the QB guru joining their staff. Seattle needs a QB of the future. Charlie Whitehurst is not the guy. Locker is a project and he is going to need good coaching, but his ceiling is high.
26. Baltimore Ravens- Jimmy Smith, CB from Colorado
Baltimore just can’t seem to pass the Steelers. They got very close this year, but fell short. If the Ravens are going to take the AFC North, they are going to need to give Joe Flacco help. WR is a need for the Ravens. Did you watch TJ Housh this year? However, I don’t see Ozzie reaching for a talent like Jon Baldwin. Ozzie likes to sit back and let the best talent come to him. Jimmy Smith is a big, fast CB. He is quickly rising up draft boards. If he runs a faster then expected 40, don’t be surprised if he goes before Prince Amukamara.
27. Atlanta Falcons- Titus Young, WR from Boise St
Atlanta had a very nice year in 2010. They won the NFC South, had a 13-3 record, and were ready to make a Super Bowl. Unfortunately for them, they had to face the Green Bay Packers who were just too good. Aaron Rodgers tore up their defense. Atlanta could use a DE, but there aren’t any good DE’s left. If Atlanta is going to win a Super Bowl, they need to give Matt Ryan another target other then Roddy White. Titus Young had a great Senior Bowl week and drew plenty of Desean Jackson comparisons. He gives Atlanta a great down field threat.
28. New England- Justin Houston, OLB from Georgia
New England is going to be a Super Bowl contender for the next 8 years easily. They have a ton of draft picks and will most likely make a couple trades that net them more future picks. Bil Bellichick works the draft like nobody else. They just got JJ Watt at #17 which helps with their 3-4 DE problem. Now they get the explosive pass rusher from Georgia. New England needs an OLB and lucks out with Houston falling into their lap.
29. Chicago Bears- Anthony Castonzo, OT from Boston College
Did Jay Cutler quit? That is the question that seemed to be asked for weeks after the Bears quarterback didn’t go back in the NFC Championship game after suffering an MCL sprain. Players used twitter to express their outrage. Urlacher used the media to retaliate. I don’t know how severe his injury was, but if he was seen walking around just fine with his girlfriend a couple days after the game….Anyway, Cutler wouldn’t have gotten hurt if he had a good oline, but he doesn’t. Castonzo is not a guy I think can start at LT from day one, but he’s got the potential to be a starter.
30. New York Jets- Jonathan Baldwin, WR from Pittsburgh
Give the Jets credit. They talked all year long and backed it up all the way to the AFC Championship. They even beat the New England Patriots. However, their luck ran out with the Steelers. This off season, Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards are free agents. They will likely resign one of them (my bet is Holmes). The Jets need help at OLB and DE, but none of the good ones are available. So they go with the big WR out of Pitt. Baldwin is a guy with fantastic size and can go up and get the ball. He gives Sanchez a nice big option on the outside.
31. Pittsburgh Steelers- Mike Pouncey, G from Florida
They got so close, but the power of Aaron Rodgers was just too much. Somewhere in Pittsburgh, Wiz Kahlifa weeps (That is the guy who wrote Black and Yellow). Pittsburgh has a couple of needs. They need a CB to play opposite of Ike Taylor, but I think their most pressing position is RG where they rotated several players. I love this scenario because Mike Pouncey heads to Pittsburgh to play with his brother. A big family reunion would be a very welcome in Pittsburgh.
32. Green Bay Packers- Ben Ijalana, OT from Villanova
Congratulations to the Packers. They overcame the odds and did what was necessary to win the championship. Good for them. Now they will have to overcome the odds again since Super Bowl winners generally slump the year after. As for their needs, an OLB opposite Clay Matthews, a Tackle and WR will all be addressed this off season. With no good OLB available, the Packers take a tackle to groom for the future. Chad Clifton is old and it’s only a matter of time before he is done. Ijalana has good athleticism and improved in his run blocking in 2010. He’s a nice get for the Packers this late.
So concludes my first mock draft. Did you like who I mocked to your favorite team? Did you dislike it? Do you think I’m a moron? Leave a comment and let me know. I’ll be putting out a revision to this mock next week. Talk to you all then.
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