2011 NFL Mock Draft: Round 3
This is part 3 of a seven part series. Round 1. Round 2.
A lot of people haven’t liked the risky conjecture work I went with for some teams in rounds 1 and 2, but I’m with Stevie Johnson on this one…why so Serious?
Sometimes a monkey making picks by throwing darts at a dartboard will be more accurate then the most astute N.F.L. draft follower. I do research I’m aware of the roster of each team, but it’s really a philosophical approach I have that is different than most people. I think it makes no sense to fill needs in the draft.
First of all it generally takes three years for most players to make any impact and by then the needs of a team will be very different. Secondly there are too many injuries in football and no minor leagues so you never know what needs will be during that season of a team. For instance last year no one would have expected going into the season that one of the Giants biggest needs by the end of the year would be WR, where they were loaded with young talent (nicks, Smith, Barden, Hixon all missed games during the season with Smith, Barden, and Hixon all ending up on IR. On top of that Victor Cruz also went on the IR. So WR the deepest position before the season ended up being the most shallow for the Giants by week 17.
That’s why I generally try to take the best player available within reason even if it doesn’t fill a need in the first two rounds. Plus with so many crazy picks happening every year I like to take some risks and explore different possibilites, but I promise I’ll have an official mock draft posted before the draf tand I’ll leave it up next year so you can look back and see how genius/idiotic I really am.
But I do have a vision, even if it seems a little crazy and hopefully by round seven everyone will be reasonably pleased with what their team ended up with.
That’s not even to mention that I have no access to the medical records for players or access to the interview of players or the contract squabbles or in-house problems teams are having with players. After all the N.F.L. draft is not all based on the field otherwise my job would be much easier.
If you’re more into conventional picks Check out our other writers mocks here or are full team mock drafts here (not all teams yet completed)
Also, if any of you think you can do better on either a full mock draft or want to submit a Full Team mock draft, send me a mock to my email at bartolisj@gmail.com. As long as it’s readable (ie limited spelling mistakes) I’ll put it on the main page for our readers to see and give you credit.
Here’s round 3.
65. Carolina Panthers-Greg Romerus, DE, Pittsburgh
Previous Pick: Marcel Dareus
The Panthers have some young talent at Wide Receiver so I don’t think that’s the way to go, but they do need to improve their defense and without a good defensive line teams can’t succeed in the N.F.L. The Panthers go with one of the best players available at this moment as they look to continue to build their defensive line for the future.
66.Cincinnati Bengals-Jaiquawn Jarret, FS, Temple
Previous Picks: Julio Jones, Ryan Mallett
The Bengals are playing Roy Williams and Reggie Nelson at safety, two rejects from teams that don’t excel vs the pass (Cowboys and Jaguars) which should be an indication that it’s time to upgrade the safety position for the Bengals because they have a decent pass rush, and good cornerbacks (if they retain Jonathan Joseph, an excellent player). Plus at this point Jarrett is one of the best players available.
67. Denver Broncos-Johnny Patrick, CB, Louisville
Prevoius Picks: Da’Quan Bowers, Kyle Rudolph, Drake Nevis
Patrick is not Patrick Peterson, but he is still a good player and good value here in the beginning of the third round. Patrick will help to solidify the Broncos defense, as of this point they have really attacked fixing the defense hardcore and have done a solid job adding two good defensive linemen and a good cornerback all at value.
68. Buffalo Bills-Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada
The Bills a quarterback in the first two rounds and grab a fast riser here in the beginning of the third round. The Buffalo Bills need a franchise quarterback, but they dont need a franchise QB. Confused? Me too. Of course the Bills need a QB they count on in the future if they want to make successful playoff runs, but they haven’t been to the playoffs in a decade so what’s more important than winning a Superbowl right now is competing for a playoff spot next year or the year after if they could and they don’t have enough pieces around a QB to do that so they should build up their roster and see if Fitzpatrick can have them smell the playoffs.
Previous Picks: Von Miller, Gabe Carimi
69. Arizona Cardinals-Andy Dalton, QB, TCU
Previous Picks: Robert Quinn, Stefen Wisneweski
I’ve maintained that the Cardinals will look to build up the other areas of their team and try to get Donovan Mcnabb (until that changes) especially early, but they still might try to grab a proven winner and develop him for the future.
70. Cleveland Browns-Greg Jones, LB, Michigan State
Previous Picks Nick Fairley, Leonard Hankerson
The Browns are moving to a 4-3 defense and they don’t have the linebackers to fit that system perfectly. Jones is a bit undersized and didn’t time well at the combine, but he’s just a good football player and a tackling machine who could fit in either the middle or weakside depending on the system.
71. Dallas Cowboys-Brandon Burton, CB, Utah
Previous Picks: Nate Solder, Cameron Heyward
The Cowboys twiced passed up on Cornerback in this particular mock to build their trenches and in the end up with a very solid cornerback who could go somewhere early in the second round. The Cowboys really need to bolster their secondary in this off-season though I think that they have to be a favorite to land with Asmougha once free agency opens up so Cornerback might not be as big a need when the draft rolls around.
72. New Orleans Saints-Shane Vereen, RB, Cal
Previous Picks: Jimmy Smith, DeAndre McDaniel
During the playoffs it was reported that the Saints reached out to the Bills to try and get Marshawn Lynch, but that didn’t happen. They are looking to upgrade their RB especially if they cut Reggie Bush, which is possible. Vereen is one of the best players available at this moment and good value for the Saints. Vereen has been flying under the radar leading up to the draft, but he has a chance to be one of the best backs when all is said and done from this draft.
73. Houston Texans-Brooks Reed, OLB, Arizona
Previous picks: Phil Taylor, Titus young
Even though the Texans has to reach for a Nose tackle in the first round they get their pass rusher in this draft. Reed is a dedicated football player who lacks the WoW factor but could be a productive rush OLB in the N.F.L. The Texans aren’t a very good defense and switching schemes may eventually help, but it will be a transition in the short term. Reed is very good value at this point in the draft and a no-brainer pick for the Texans if he’s available in the third round.
74. New England Patriots-Kendrick Ellis, NT, Hampton
Previous Picks: J.J. Watt, Brandon Harris, Justin Houston, Danny Watkins
The Patriots used Vince Wilfork a lot at DE and not nose tackle last year and decide to grab a talented, but problematic player in Kenridck Ellis in the third round because the Patriots can absorb some “character concerns” because the leadership in their locker room is so great. Besides with a gluttony of picks the Pats can take a chance on a player this talented in the third round because even if they miss on one they still have al of the other picks they will use (or likely trade away for future picks).
75. Detroit Lions-Jerrel Jernigan, WR, Troy
Previous picks: Prince Amukamara, Adrian Clayborn
Jernigan is good value here and with the Lions already addressing the defensive side of the ball turn it over to try and continue to add dynamic options to their offense. Jernigan is undersized but has great speed and could be a nice complement to Calvin Johnson on the outside as opposed to the journey men receivers the Lions have been using there. Drafting a linebacker here is also a huge possibility as that’s one area that must be addressed that has not been addressed yet in this draft.
76. San Francisco 49ers-Kelvin Sheppard, ILB, LSU
Previous Picks: Patrick Peterson, Christian Ponder
Patrick Willis is great and Takeo Spikes has been everything the 49ers could imagine when they signed him at his age, but they need to find a future replacement for Spikes in the middle…entire Sheppard. Sheppard will be a nice complement to Patrick Willis great athleticism and production. Sheppard is a very heady smart player should have a very solid N.F.L. career.Sheppard isn’t a marvelous athlete but he has good enough athleticism to warrant a selection at this point in the draft. This pick is a possibility, especially if the 49ers believe Navarro Bowman can take Manny Lawson’s spot on the outside, as Lawson is a free agent.
77. Tennessee Titans-Curtis Brown, CB, Texas
Previous Picks: A.J. Green, Marvin Austin
The Titans still haven’t addressed the QB position in this draft, but if they decide not to in the first round there will be no good time to get a quarterback to play next year and they may just have to go with Kerry Collins and a developmental QB or try to make a move for a different QB (Kolb?). It’s very possible that in my next mock they won’t be able to pass on Gabbert if available at 8th overall.
78. St. Louis Rams-Luke Stocker, TE, Tennessee
Previous picks: Cameron Jordan, Mason Foster
Finally, the Rams are able to find a weapon for Sam Bradford here in the third round, even if it’s not a dynamic WR it’s still someone who can catch the football. Although, Bradford looks to be more polished than most young quarterbacks, young quarterbacks still love them some tight ends. Stocker is a true second round talent, but just fell in this mock. He’s a pass catcher and a blocker and all around TE who can be a fixture in the Rams offense for the next 8 years.
79. Miami Dolphins-Marcus Cannon, OT, TCU
Previous Pick: Mikel LeShoure
I mocked an ILB to the Dolphins in our team mock drafts, and one Dolphin fan hated it, but I don’t see why. They had two inside linebackers play a lot of games last year other than Karlos Dansby and those two ILB combined had less than 100 tackles combined even though they had nearly 30 games played combined. That is pitiful.
80. Jacksonville Jaguars-Mark Herzlich, OLB, Boston College
Previous picks: Ryan Kerrigan, Quinton Carter
Herzlich is one of the trickiest picks to mock in the entire draft because I really have No insight to what teams are thinking about his future and the effect bone cancer has on his ability. He was not the same player last year he was two years ago, but he was still productive and is not two years removed away from the grueling cancer treatments, which means his strength and speed should be getting back closer to pre-cancer levels (I’d imagine I am no doctor). Herzlich has one of the best feels for the game of football I’ve seen in a linebacker prospect in years. He gets a ton of interceptions and is productive all over the field. I wish him the best and I think Jaguars fans will love this guy. Will Herzlich fall past the second round? I Don’t know. Could he fall as late as the 5th round? I’m not sure, it’s possible.
81. Oakland Raiders-Marcus Gilbert, OT, Florida
Previous Pick: Aaron Williams
I’ve read that Wes Bunting has heard from scouts that Lee Ziemba, OT, Auburn might go as high as the second round, but if he does it’s not to the Raiders because he is not a great athlete. However, Marcus Gilbert is a great athlete. The Raiders drafted two OL last year (Velderheer? and Bruce Campbell) but it appears the Raiders are intending on playing those players on the inside whereas Gilbert can be a tackle in the league. His upside is also good at this spot and a decent pick.
82. San Diego Chargers-Deunta Williams, S, North Carolina
Previous picks: Martez Wilson, Jaball Sheard, DeMarco Murray
The Chargers are so talented that they can afford to take the best available player in each round and be in good shape. Williams is a legitimate 2nd round talent, but may fall because of the North Carolina fiasco. If he does falls this far he falls right into the laps of the Chargers who just continue to add talent as they prepare to make a run at reclaiming the A.F.C. West.
83. New York Giants-Jake Kirkpatrick, C, TCU
Previous Picks: Tyron Smith, Ras-I-Dowling
At the combine in an interview Tom Coughlin was asked to talk about the needs of the New York Giants for next season. And he said “I’ll mention one: Center”. At this point Kirkpatrick could be considered the best player available, and definitely the best player available at an area of need. While I’ve been writing that the Giants won’t go OL early just to go OL early based on this mock they get two OL because they are the best players available at the moment they pick.
84. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Tyler Sash, SS, Iowa
Previous Picks: Aldon Smith, Bruce Carter
Sash is arguably the best player available here and with the Buccaneers already addressing their two biggest needs: Pass rushing DE and linebacker help, they can afford to draft best player available. On top of that the Buccaneers have some issues at the beginning of next year.
85. Philadelphia Eagles-ReShad Carmichael, CB, VA Tech
Previous picks: Corey Liuget, Ben Ijalana
The Eagles, like the Raiders, have a core philosophy that speed kills. Now the Eagles have done a better job of surrounding that speed with stable coaching and quarterback play which is the difference between the Eagles and the Raiders as of late. The Eagles need help at cornerback and Carmichael is a blazer who has true NFL ability, he was just inconsistent at VA Tech, but good value here in the third round.
86. Kansas City Chiefs-Dontay Moch, OLB, Nevada
Previous Picks: Mark Ingram, Jason Pinkston
Dontay Moch’s best position is OLB in a 3-4. I presented this pick to a Chiefs fan and he told me he loved Moch, but wasn’t sure if he’d fit with the Chiefs and that the Chiefs would be better suited going with a run stopping OLB who can play the pass pretty well to play opposite of Hali in their defense. He could be right and I will alter this pick in the future.
87. Indianapolis Colts-Jarvis Jenkins, DT, Clemson
Previous picks: Anthony Castanzo, Rodney Hudson
Jenkins could be just what the Dr. Orderd to help fix the colts anemic rush defense on defense. The Colts really focus on improving their trenches in this mock draft and is a strategy they should consider in the N.F.L. draft (and get good value too).
88. New Orleans Saints–Quan Sturdivant, LB, North Carolina
Previous picks: Jimmy Smith, DeAndre McDaniel, Shane Vereen
The Saints have a very good offense, but an inconsistent defense. They need to upgrade their linebacker corps though. Sturdivant falls because of the North Carolina thing, even though personally I don’ t see it as a huge deal. Bue Sturidvant more importantly slips a bit because he might not have a best defined position in the N.F.L. He’s a cross between MLB and OLB, but that fits well with the Saints because Jonathan Vilma is flexible enough to play inside or outside so between these two they will end up with a decent linebacker unit.
89. San Diego Chargers-Lee Ziemba, OL, Auburn
Previous picks: Martez Wilson, Jaball Sheard, DeMarco Murray, Deunta Williams
Wes Bunting of National Football Post (I believe, I can’t find the article to quote it, but I’m sure it was NFP and Bunting) has written that Ziemba is considered a second round prospect by scouts in the league. I don’t see it, but if that’s what they think he’ll have to be the best player available on some boards here. The Chargers biggest need is probably fixing the Special teams, but you don’t do that with third round picks so they take a good player here in the third round after targeting all of their needs in early parts of the draft.
90. Baltimore Ravens-Sam Acho, OLB, Texas
Previous Picks: Jon Baldwin, Davan House
One of the best players available at this moment and huge insurance incase Sergio Kindle doesn’t come back 100 percent or can’t stay healthy. The Ravens need to find an eventual replacement for Terrell Suggs (as well as Ray Lewis and Ed Reed) because those players won’t play forever, even if they are still very good now.
91. Atlanta Falcons-Parnell mcPhee DE, Mississippi State
Previous Picks: Stephean Paea, Torrey Smith
The Falcons are looking for the eventual replacement for John Abraham and while mcPhee isn’t a great pass rushing defensive end, but he’s a very solid player who could improve in that area in the N.F.L. The Falcons are a team that is built for the long-haul and should contend perennially as long as they just keep adding talent and Ryan stays healthy. RB depth, DB Depth (always for any team), and LB are also possibilities here.
92. New England Patriots- Tandon Doss, WR, Indiana
Previous Picks: J.J. Watt, Brandon Harris, Justin Houston, Danny Watkins
Doss is a big bodied WR who could excel in the Patriots passing game because he has a great feel for the game and excellent hands. He also has ability as a kick returner, while the Patriots might ideally be looking for a field stretcher, but unless they want another undersized WR they’ll have to settle for a player like Doss. Doss with his height and route running ability can give the Patriots a true Red-Zone target in the Red-zone (though currently the TE’s help fill that void).
93. Chicago Bears-Kendric Bruney, CB, North Carolina
Previous Picks: Derrick Sherrod, Allen Bailey
Bruney had a fantastic senior bowl, but ran slow at the combine, but that doesn’t matter for the Bears system. Bruney might be the best CB in the draft for a heavy zone coverage team. Bruney excels at route recognition, reading the Quarterbacks eyes, and intercepting the ball. Bruney can be over matched and overpowered in man coverage, but on the Bears that wouldn’t be a problem and is good value here as one of the most underrated players in the draft.
94. New York Jets-Randall Cobb, WR/Athlete Kentucky
Previous picks: Akeem Ayers
The Jets might lose three of their offensive weapons with Brad Smith, Holmes and Edwards being possible free agents, though they are likely to at least keep Holmes, they might need to fill the void of Brad Smith as a gadget weapon and return man. Cobb is the best player available at this juncture, something the Jets also look at, and will add some dynamic playmaking skills to the Jets offense. With their biggest need fulfilled in the first round and a good team already, they can make a pick like this here…RT is another huge possibility.
95. Pittsburgh Steelers-James, Brewer, OT, Indiana
Previous Picks: Rahim Moore,Christian Ballard
Even though Steelers fans hated my first round pick of Rahim Moore it has come full circle and the Steelers get an OT that fits their system well in the third round to off-set my earlier Rahim Moore pick. Brewer is very good at the point of attack and a good run blocker. he might need a year or two develop into a starter, but provides great depth immediately and is a good talent. He is a bigger OL 320+ pounds which the Steelers before. Big Ben is a very good QB, but the reason he gets sacked so much is not all the line’s fault…a large part of it is, and he will admit as much.
96. Green Bay Packers-Sione Fua, DL/NT Stanford
Previous Picks: Mike Pouncey, DJ Williams
Smart and hard working are necessities for the Packers and Fua fits that mold. He is a potential Nose tackle which will give the Packers depth there and insurance incase B.J. Raji gets injured, and again, the Packers don’t reach for need which makes this even more of a possibility. Jerrell Powe is considered the better prospect by many but doesn’t have the makeup of a Packers player, I believe.