Tuesday, March 22, 2011

"Ed's Korner" NFL Mock Draft 1.0

With only 1 month remaining until the 2011 NFL Draft rumors have already bean to swirl about destinations of future NFL and current NCAA stars. With the uncertainty about the NFL season next year, the Draft is still upon us. How different is the draft going to be? The big difference is the chorus and echos of boos that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will hear at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Will it change the way certain temas draft? Quite possibly because of no free agency this offseason. This draft is loaded with talent, especially at the Quarterback position. 6 quarterbacks have been noted to be taken by the end of the 2nd round. Find out here first who your favorite team is interested in. Any questions, comments, arguments or concerns? Hit us up on FaceBook or Email intotheredzone@gmail.com. This is the Philly Sports Guys first Mock Draft of the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

  1. Carolina Panthers: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
    I've been pretty confident that the Panthers would eventually settle on a quarterback. In the wake of the Missouri Pro Day, Blaine Gabbert has emerged as the favorite, as detailed in my breakdown of all of Carolina's options in the 2011 NFL Draft. Gabbert completed 47-of-50 passes with two drops at his Pro Day. He showed great deep accuracy, similar to Matt Ryan and Sam Bradford's Pro Days.

    There are numerous reasons why this selection will be used on a quarterback.

    1. The implementation of a rookie salary scale could play a huge factor in the Panthers' decision. Now that owner Jerry Richardson won't have to shell out $50 million guaranteed for an unproven quarterback, there's a greater chance that he'll take a shot with either Gabbert or Cam Newton.

    2. New regimes mean new quarterbacks. The Panthers have absolutely nothing at the quarterback position, and Ron Rivera will be looking for his guy.

    3. Gabbert seems to have good leadership qualities. He appears to have "it" - something that Jimmy Clausen lacks. I made a huge mistake when I underestimated how important it is not to be a loser in college. And I'm not just referring to wins and losses. Clausen is not a leader; conversely, he seems to have this Matt Leinart-esque sense of entitlement. There's just something missing with him.

    Gabbert, on the other hand, is the complete opposite of Clausen. He's not coming out of a pro-style offense. However, Gabbert ran a pro-style attack in high school. In fact, Gabbert initially wanted to go to Nebraska because of Bill Callahan's West Coast scheme. Keep in mind that Jim Harbaugh also recruited him to Stanford.

  2. Denver Broncos: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
    The Broncos finished dead last in the NFL with just 23 sacks. That figure will rise next year with Elvis Dumervil back in the lineup, but Denver still needs another pass-rusher up front. New head coach John Fox has a thing for athletic defensive ends. In his first year with the Panthers, he selected Julius Peppers at No. 2 overall in the 2002 NFL Draft. A couple of seasons ago, he traded a future first-round pick to draft Everette Brown. With Denver presumably moving back to the 4-3, will Fox consider Da'Quan Bowers with this pick? I thought so at one point, but not anymore. There are serious concerns regarding Bowers' knee. He could take a serious fall on Draft Day. Fox will take the top prospect available, as will many teams. Marcell Dareus is the best player who makes sense for the Broncos. Dareus, who weighed in at 6-3, 319 pounds at the Combine, had a very impressive 40 yard time. Better run stopper then Nick Fairley. Fox recently indicated that he wants to upgrade the defensive tackle position, as indicated by the release by Justin Bannan and Jamal Williams. Dareus would fill Denver's greatest need, so this is a perfect fit.
  3. Buffalo Bills: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
    The Bills have a habit of telegraphing their picks. Last year, Buddy Nix continuously told the media that he wanted a pass-catching running back. Lo and behold, he selected C.J. Spiller at No. 9. This year, Nix has been saying two things: One, he wants a quarterback, and two, he's going to take the best player available. Cam Newton fits at least one of those descriptions. I have this feeling this pick is going to happen. The Bills are a franchise that has been floundering in mediocrity the past decade. They need a leader to seize control of the team and lead them to the playoffs for the first time since 1999. Question Newton's intelligence and pro-readiness all you want, but he's a tremendous leader. Buffalo also has a fairly new regime that has not obtained "its guy" yet. Nix and Chan Gailey know that they'll never sniff the postseason if they don't have a franchise quarterback. And Newton has the mobility that Gailey covets for his offense. Unfortunately, Newton's not ready for the NFL just yet. Sure, he'll use his scrambling ability to win some games, but he was a one-year starter in college who never had to make multiple reads in his offense. Newton has the potential to evolve into a very good NFL quarterback, but it'll take some time. Ideally, he'll sit behind Ryan Fitzpatrick for a year or two, but if he's chosen this high, he'll probably see the field right away.
  4. Cincinnati Bengals: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
    Some mocks have Peterson slipping down all the way to No. 7. I personally think that's crazy. Peterson is the best player in this class. He's the top cornerback prospect since Charles Woodson. He's good enough to go first overall. I don't know how someone can figure that six teams will pass on him. The Bengals have made it known that they're interested in a cornerback when they worked out Prince Amukamara at Nebraska's Pro Day. Johnathan Joseph is a free agent. Patrick Peterson will NOT fall past Cincinatti at 4.
    5. Arizona Cardinals: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
    Von Miller was outstanding at the Senior Bowl, drawing some comparisons to Clay Matthews. During the game, he single-handedly disrupted some of the North's drives. Miller went on to have a prolific Combine, running a 4.46 40 and notching a 37-inch vertical at 6-3, 245. Arizona drafting a quarterback makes absolutely no sense to me. New regimes mean new quarterbacks. Old ones don't. Whisenhunt is on the hot seat. Why would he risk his job with some rookie signal-caller? And why would he risk pissing off Larry Fitzgerald? Whisenhunt will sign a veteran like Donovan McNabb or Marc Bulger (or trade for Kevin Kolb, per Fitzgerald's request), and have that signal-caller compete with John Skelton next year.

    6. Cleveland Browns: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
    With McCoy entrenched as the franchise quarterback, the Browns need to provide him with a blue-chip weapon. A.J. Green, who could easily be picked by the Bengals at No. 4, is still the top receiver in this draft class despite the fact that Julio Jones ran a much faster 40 on a fractured foot. A.J. Green will provide the receiving threat the Browns need in their new West Coast system.

         7. San Francisco 49ers: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
          The 49ers need help at corner. Nate Clements is due $7 million in 2011 and $9 million in 2012. For a 31-year-old declining corner, that's a bit pricey. Meanwhile, Shawntae Spencer is very inconsistent. Prince Amukamara, who had a great Combine, is one of the top players available. While Patrick Peterson is the best cornerback prospect to come along in a very long time, the popular belief is that Amukamara isn't too far behind him.
8. Tennessee Titans: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
If Blaine Gabbert is available, there's a very good chance that the Titans will take him to be their new franchise quarterback. Unfortunately for the Titans, Gabbert went off the board earlier. There's no signal-caller worth taking here, so Tennessee will opt for the best player available, Nick Fairley. Fairley had a much-needed great Pro Day to boost his draft stock after a mediocre Combine. As mentioned earlier, Fairley's footwork and athleticism were extremely impressive, so I can't see him sliding past the Titans. And if there's one team in the 6-10 range that will ignore Fairley's maturity and work ethic issues, it's Tennessee. Remember, they picked Haynesworth in the 1st round. 

9. Dallas Cowboys: J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin
Jay Ratliff and Stephen Bowen figure to start on Dallas' defensive line for a long time. Ratliff will continue to man the nose tackle position, but there is still a void at right end, currently occupied by an ineffective Igor Olshansky. J.J. Watt's draft stock is continuing to gain steam, and it looks like he'll be selected near the bottom of the top 10.


10. Washington Redskins: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
The Redskins put a lot of stock into the Combine - 40 times in particular. Last year, they spent the No. 4 overall pick on Trent Williams, an inferior prospect compared to Russell Okung, simply because of his great Combine 40. If this trend continues, Julio Jones will be the pick. Jones had an incredible performance in Indianapolis, running a 4.39 and leaping an 11-foot-3 broad jump despite suffering through a fractured foot. Jones makes a ton of sense for the Redskins; with Santana Moss hitting free agency, their top receiver is currently Anthony Armstrong. Something must be done about this.
 
11. Houston Texans: Robert Quinn, DE/OLB, North Carolina
With the shift to Wade Phillips' 3-4, Houston will need a nose tackle to pair with ends Mario Williams and Antonio Smith. DeMeco Ryans and Brian Cushing would play inside linebacker, while the outside pass rushers would be Robert Quinn.

 
12. Minnesota Vikings: Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
A big drop for Da'Quan Bowers, as the Clemson end has more red flags than the Chinese embassy. Bowers is a one-year wonder, so are there work ethic issues? Bowers also has a lot of bad tape. And most prominently, what about his knee? He keeps postponing his workouts. Teams have to be concerned about this. Unless Bowers looks great at his Pro Day - whenever that may be - I believe he'll take a tumble on April 28. The Vikings could pick him at No. 12. Ray Edwards is a free agent and Everson Griffen's goal to average two arrests per weekend is finally coming to fruition. Minnesota needs help across from Jared Allen.


13. Detroit Lions: Tyron Smith, OT, USC
It appears as though the Lions are finally conceding that offensive tackle is a huge need for them. The front office has told the media that they need to make protecting Matthew Stafford a priority; Jeff Backus, 34 in September, is entering his contract year. Gosder Cherilus is coming off an injury. In the wake of weighing in at 307 pounds with 36 3/8-inch arms at the Combine, Tyron Smith is the best consensus player available. Smith is an athletic tackle who could help ensure that Stafford doesn't miss an extended period of time for the third straight year.


14. St. Louis Rams: Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri
Chris Long had an incredible season, but the Rams need a pass-rusher on the other side of the line of scrimmage. James Hall is also coming off a great year, but he just turned 34. St. Louis will need to find a long-term successor soon. Aldon Smith missed some action this year, which would explain why he had only 10 TFL and 4.5 sacks. However, he's a freak of nature and pretty much a lock for the top 15. Smith has drawn comparisons to Jason Pierre-Paul in terms of raw athleticism.



15. Miami Dolphins: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
The Dolphins would love to take a quarterback, but both Blaine Gabbert and Cam Newton are off the board at this point. The 15th pick is simply to high to take a chance on Mallet or Locker. The Dolphins just simply dnot believe in Chad Henne anymore. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are both free agents, so running back is a big need. Mark Ingram, one of the top players available, would be an enormous upgrade in Miami's backfield. 



16. Jacksonville Jaguars: Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
Ryan Kerrigan is the type of player that Jack Del Rio looks for. He's been in school for four years. He's a 3-year starter. He's an Academic All-America. He has a non-stop motor and a blue-collar attitude. He's a team captain with no character concerns. And Kerrigan is a good player who fills a need as well. The Jaguars had just three sacks in their final five games. With Aaron Kampman coming off his second ACL tear in two years and Jeremy Mincey being unproven, Jacksonville desperately needs help at defensive end. 



17. New England Patriots: Cameron Jordan, DE/DT, California
Bill Belichick will probably move down a couple of times - he's already rumored to be shopping the 28th pick - but I'm not going to predict any trades in this mock. As we all saw in the Patriots' loss to the Jets, New England had absolutely no pass rush. Major help is needed at defensive end and rush linebacker. Cameron Jordan is arguably the best talent available. Jordan had an incredible season with 12.5 TFL and 5.5 sacks. He had a great Combine and was unblockable during the Senior Bowl. In fact, Marvin Lewis nearly kicked him out for hitting the quarterback. 



18. San Diego Chargers: Muhammad Wilkerson, DE/DT, Temple
Jacques Cesaire, a declining defensive lineman, is a free agent. He needed to be upgraded anyway. Muhammad Wilkerson's stock is on the rise, with some mocks slating him to New England at No. 17. Wilkerson has both the athleticism and upside that the Chargers like.
 

19. New York Giants: Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
The Giants need a left tackle of the future because William Beatty has struggled thus far in his brief NFL career. Anthony Castonzo could appeal to Tom Coughlin because of their Boston College ties. It didn't hurt either that Castonzo had a great Combine as well.



20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
Forget the fact that teams will be worried about Adrian Clayborn's character issues for a second, he just wasn't very good this season. Once considered a top-10 talent, Clayborn will likely come off the board in the late teens or early 20s unless he has a dynamic pre-draft workout. One team that will ignore Clayborn's character concerns is Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers desperately need an outside pass-rusher to complement Gerald McCoy.



21. Kansas City Chiefs: Phil Taylor, NT, Baylor
Scott Pioli needs his Vince Wilfork. The Chiefs struggled against the run late in the year because they had nothing at the nose tackle position. Phil Taylor would remedy that issue. After a strong showing at the Senior Bowl, Taylor continued to impress at the Combine and his Pro Day. He lost some more weight and despite his massive frame, he ran a 5.18. I believe that Pioli will strongly consider him at 21.



22. Indianapolis Colts: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
We all saw what happened to Peyton Manning amid pass protection issues against the Chargers on a Sunday night and the Cowboys the following week.Left tackle Charlie Johnson is a free agent. He's definitely not the elite blind-side protector Manning needs. Nate Solder is the top consensus left tackle available, at least according to some scouts and draft analysts. I didn't see what the fuss was about, but Nate Solder apparently had great Senior Bowl and Combine performance.



23. Philadelphia Eagles: Mike Pouncey, G, Florida
The Eagles' most glaring weakness is the offensive line. They surrendered 52 sacks this year, including six in that weird Tuesday night game against the Vikings. Pouncey has the pedigree to make it in the NFL, thanks to his Pro Bowl brother Markice.



24. New Orleans Saints: Brooks Reed, DE, Arizona
The Saints don't have many holes on their roster, but they could certainly use some upgrades on their defensive front. I think they'll take the best pass-rusher available. New Orleans had its sights set on Jerry Hughes last year, but the Colts chose him before the Saints had the opportunity. Brooks Reed is a similar type prospect; he can rush the passer effectively and drop into coverage.
25. Seattle Seahawks: Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
The Seahawks need some help with their atrocious pass defense, especially with Kelly Jennings heading for free agency. Jimmy Smith is a top-15 talent, but has character issues.Despite this, Seattle could still be interested. Pete Carroll hasn't shown an aversion to poor-character players (LenDale White, Mike Williams, Anthony McCoy, etc.) He may opt to take a chance on Smith.



26. Baltimore Ravens: Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State
The Ravens met with Derek Sherrod at the Senior Bowl and Combine. They're obviously interested in him, and will probably select the athletic left tackle prospect if he's available. Jared Gaither missed the 2010 season with back injuries. Depending on what happens with the CBA, Gaither will probably be a free agent. If the Ravens don't retain him, they'll need a replacement.


27. Atlanta Falcons: Cameron Heyward, DE/DT, Ohio State
The Falcons really need to upgrade their pass rush; they had just 31 sacks during the regular season, and John Abraham isn't getting any younger. Heyward makes sense here.



28. New England Patriots: Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
Protecting Tom Brady is Belichick's first priority. Stephen Neal announced his retirement, so New England will be looking for a guard in free agency or early in the 2011 NFL Draft. I believe they'll take a Tackle here.


29. Chicago Bears: Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois
The Bears can't upgrade their offensive front because all the first-round prospects are off the board. They could reach for Ben Ijalana or Stefen Wisniewski, but they might as well just wait until Round 2 to upgrade the line. Corey Liuget is the best player available, and he makes a ton of sense for Chicago. Tommie Harris lost his starting job due to performance and was ultimately released. The Bears will be seeking an upgrade at defensive tackle.


30. New York Jets: Justin Houston, DE, Georgia
It never hurts to have as many quality pass-rushers as possible when you have to go through Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger every year to get to the Super Bowl. the Jets like versatile defensive ends. Justin Houston had an excellent Combine. And the Jets would definitely be interested because Shaun Ellis is a 34-year-old free agent.


31. Pittsburgh Steelers: Aaron Williams, CB/FS, Texas
The best player who makes sense for the Steelers is Aaron Williams. Williams is a better fit for Pittsburgh's defense than Brandon Harris, and he can play free safety in addition to cornerback. So, if he fails at corner, he could always replace Ryan Clark down the road. Ike Taylor is also a free agent.


32. Green Bay Packers: Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland
The Packers are a tough team to mock draft for. They have very few needs, and the best players available don't necessarily satisfy those needs. One thing Ted Thompson will be looking for is a receiver. Donald Driver doesn't have much left in the tank, while James Jones is a free agent. Torrey Smith is a Thompson type of prospect. He has great character, and he's a high-effort player. Smith is a very good blocker - which is something Green Bay loves out of its receivers. Plus, he could help out on kick returns right away.  

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