Final 2011 NFL Mock Draft

1, Carolina Panthers- Cam Newton, QB, Auburn

All the talk is that the Panthers want Cam Newton. Adam Shefter tweeted out earlier today that Panthers’ owner Jerry Richardson was a big fan, and when something like that becomes public knowledge you expect to see some action on it. Newton racked up fifty touchdowns in the SEC last year, hugely impressive numbers, especially for a player coming in to start for his first year in the BCS, but he is far from the finished product. He is a proven winner, and has a lot of ability to mould, but will take time, and Panthers’ fans should not expect to see results for at least two years. A pick too risky for my liking, as the degree of development required is massive, but it may pay off somewhere down the line.

2, Denver Broncos- Marcel Dareus, DT, Alabama

Dareus seems to be the consensus best defensive tackle in this draft. He had a big effect on games playing defensive end in an odd front at Alabama, and most scouts are not worried about the transition to playing the interior line in an even front. He may not have put up the numbers of a Nick Fairley, but he was more consistent on tape and does not have the character concerns. He should be a solid player, especially against the run, but not the impact player required here. Another often discussed pick is Von Miller here, but for a team who’s base defense will be a 4-3, taking a player who will spend most of his time as a 4-3 outside linebacker at two overall would be madness, no matter how talented.

3, Buffalo Bills- Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M

Miller does however come off the board here. His talent levels are sky high, and with the right coaching he could become as dominant off the edge as a DeMarcus Ware or a Clay Matthews. Like Ware, Miller is more pass rusher than run defender, and must be used in the right way in his first year especially as he learns to seal the edge and deal with backs running at him, but he could come in and post double digit sacks immediately, something which the Bills desperately need. This is a safe pick, a pick which meets a need, and ultimately will prove to be the right pick for Buffalo.

4, Cincinnati Bengals- AJ Green, WR, Georgia

The Bengals organisation rarely make any attempt to hide their intentions for the draft. Last year Jermaine Gresham was the consensus mock pick, and he was selected, in 2009 the Bengals were clearly going after a tackle, and Andre Smith was the pick. This year the position is wide receiver, and AJ Green is the pick. Some say Julio Jones is a little better suited for the Bengals’ scheme, but no offensive co-ordinator worth his salt in the NFL will be unable to fit a receiver as talented as Green into his scheme. This pick is not the best for the Bengals needs, but a player of this talent will always be welcomed wherever he plays.

5, Arizona Cardinals- Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU

The Cardinals have the choice of a quarterback or Peterson here. Gabbert would add yet more inexperience to the stable of Hall and Skelton, which the Cardinals will not be looking for, and a veteran with Skelton to develop is the way to go. Peterson, as the best player in the draft for a number of scouts, is good value at five, and will help the Cardinals out a great deal. Playing alongside Domonique Rodgers-Cromartie will help Peterson to bed into the NFL too, as he will not immediately be stuck on number one receivers every week. Not the biggest needs-based pick, but a pick which makes sense.

6, Cleveland Browns- Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina

With Peterson and Green both off the board, the Browns have a tough decision to make. They could reach for Julio Jones, but it certainly would be a reach, and Mike Holmgren has said he is happy with his receiving core, and can add to it later. Quinn adds to the area of biggest need- pass rush. He may be a risky pick, especially as high as this, but he does have talent, and could emerge as an elite defensive end for a franchise that desperately needs one to build around.

7, San Francisco 49ers- Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri

The 49ers wanted the cornerback here, but with Gabbert falling coach Jim Harbaugh cannot resist the temptation to bring in his own quarterback to develop, rather than having to rely on Alex Smith. Harbaugh was able to develop Andrew Luck very well at Stanford, so has a track record with quarterbacks, and Gabbert is similar in regards to being an intelligent person and having a good release. He has worked hard in the months leading up to the draft, and could be ready to start by the middle of his rookie year. He has a lot to learn and it will take time, but he could become an above average quarterback in the NFL and have a long, solid career.

8, Tennessee Titans- Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn

With Tracy Rocker having left Auburn to take the job as the defensive line coach for the Tennessee Titans, no team will know as much about Nick Fairley than this one. Therefore, he will know that Fairley can be a game changer in the middle of a defensive line, and can have an impact similar to (but to as much as) last year’s number two overall pick Ndomukong Suh. If he has character problems, Rocker knows how to deal with them, and has shown he can get the best of Fairley. This pick should be a lock.

9, Dallas Cowboys- Tyron Smith, OT, USC

This pick makes a lot of sense. The Cowboys need a right tackle, and Smith played right tackle at USC. The Cowboys need to look to the future at left tackle if Doug Free either a) keeps developing and asks for a lot of money or b) doesn’t develop as much as they would like. Smith is a developmental left tackle who can contribute on the right side of the line from day one. He may not present ideal value at this position in the draft, but he is the best pick for Dallas, who may look to trade down to get greater value.

10, Washington Redskins- Julio Jones, WR, Alabama

The Redskins have a toss up between Jones and Locker, but are confident of being able to use Rex Grossman for a year and pick up a quarterback in the second, maybe with a trade deal. Jones gives them a talented, hard working receiver to put opposite Santana Moss, which will help Grossman or whichever quarterback ends up starting (possibly even Donovan McNabb). They need to begin work on a front seven, but, as usual, they make the wrong pick.

11, Houston Texans- Aldon Smith, DE/OLB, Missouri

This pick is being heavily rumored, as the Texans need a pass rusher, and Wade Phillips will look to have a DeMarucus Ware-type player as he did in Dallas. Smith is a pass rusher extraordinaire, who does not seem to be hampered by his injury issues through the 2010 season. With Prince Amukamara on the board, the Texans will think hard, but the talk is all about a pass rusher right now, and Smith is possibly the best left on the board, so the pick is made.

12, Minnesota Vikings- Jake Locker, QB, Washington

While this pick does not appear to represent value, in three years, it will be looked upon as one of the better picks of this draft. As Cam Newton still flatters to deceive under a new head coach in Carolina and Blaine Gabbert is unable to bring success to a talent-filled team in San Francisco, Jake Locker has already begun to show his talents in Minnesota. He needs some work, but is a high character player with a good football brain. The issue of his accuracy can be overcome with footwork coaching, and the greater worry is a perceived fear in the face of the pass rush. Going up against Jared Allen in practice every day is a way of throwing him in at the deep end to test this one, and could be the making of Jake Locker.

13, Detroit Lions- Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska

Possibly the easiest pick to make in the draft, the Lions dreamt of being able to write Amukamara’s name on their card. Chances are they didn’t expect to and haven’t learnt the spelling, but either way they rush to the podium with this one, and don’t even consider the offensive tackle that appears to be their fallback pick. Jimmy Smith will be closer in their minds to Amukamara than many imagine, and could even be the pick here, but Amukamara is the better overall talent without the concerns over his character, so he becomes the corner who could help to elevate the Lions into the playoffs.

14, St Louis Rams- Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson

The Rams did not come into the draft looking for a defensive end, but they come away with Bowers because the value was superb. Corey Liuget was the other pick, but Bowers’ production in 2010 was too much to ignore. Whether or not the Rams are okay with his knee is a lottery, but if they are he will give them a top pairing at defensive end, and both he and Long could wreak havoc and cause no end of trouble for offensive co-ordinators. Defensive tackles and receivers can be found later, but a player of Bowers’ quality will not.

15, Miami Dolphins- Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas

The Dolphins have seen Mallett four times since the Combine. They are certainly doing their due diligence, which they surely would not be doing if they were overly worried by his character. As a pure pocket passer, he is better than anyone in this draft, and will be if he wants to be and can learn to slide away from pressure. If he learns that, he’ll be a top tier quarterback for a long time. The cliche of the Dolphins looking for the next Dan Marino keeps coming out, but Mallett could be their next Marino, and they certainly need one.

16, Jacksonville Jaguars- Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue

This pick is a commonly-mocked pick, but as usual this is for a reason. The Jaguars have a need for a pass rushing defensive end. Kerrigan fits that need. The Jaguars like high character, blue collar, hard working players. Kerrigan fits this. He may not have the ability of Aldon Smith or even Adrian Clayborn, but he will do what he needs to do to get the most out of his ability, and will work as hard as anyone else on the team. He fits into a talented, young line, and could be a part of a group which stays together for a long time.

17, New England Patriots- Cameron Jordan, DE, California

Jordan is a Bill Belichick type of player. He will line up at defensive end in the Patriots’ three man front, but from there can defend the run, russ the passer and move around. He can do enough for Belichick to ask something different of him every week, and will become a typical Patriots player who is a valuable cog in a well-schemed whole. Not the edge rusher that Patriots fans want, but a player Bill Belichick will love to have on his roster.

18, San Diego Chargers- JJ Watt, DE, Wisconsin

The Chargers want to add to their front seven, and see Watt slip past Dallas, past Houston and past New England. Happily they wander up to the podium with his name on their paper. He will add to their already talented defense, and will be an upgrade opposite Louis Castillo at defensive end. Not the impact player some fans will look for, but the type of player you look for at this stage of the first round- solid, without too much risk and able to start straight away.

19, New York Giants- Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College

Castonzo is in the running for the best offensive tackle prospect in the draft, and, while he is not a traditional Giants’ offensive lineman, but he is a finesse left tackle with the chance of forcing his way into the top tier. He can come in and start immediately, with David Diehl moving inside to left guard. A better prospect than Mike Pouncey, at a more important position, so the Giants overlook a popular mock pick.

20, Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin

The Buccaneers wanted a pass rusher, but with only Adrian Clayborn on the board, they decide not to take the risk and go for the much safer pick in the knowledge that they can pick up a defensive end or two in later rounds. Carimi is the number one tackle on some boards, and can contribute early on for Buccs. His bulk and ability to drive back linemen will suit LaGarrette Blount’s powerful running style, and he will grow into pass protection with a quarterback who has a good feel for the rush.

21, Kansas City Chiefs- Mike Pouncey, OG, Florida

The Chiefs may have looked at Phil Taylor here until injury concerns began to spring up in recent weeks. Coupled with his character issues they mean he is too much of a risk to pick here, so the Chiefs go for some interior line help. Pouncey is not as talented as his brother, but will be a first round pick based partly on his brother’s NFL rookie season but also because he projects as a starting guard for years to come. The Chiefs could look at Nate Solder and hold out for a guard later, but Pouncey is decent value here and will help immediately.

22, Indianapolis Colts- Nate Solder, OT, Colorado

An idea pick for the Colts, they would have taken Solder even if Carimi was still on the board, and even with two talented defensive tackles sat there for them. Solder is a good pass blocker, who will need to develop before becoming a top level talent, but he should be able to do it easily enough, and the Colts will be confident that he can fill the hole at left tackle and allow Charlie Johnson to move to a more natural position.

23, Philadelphia Eagles- Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado

The value on this pick is outstanding. Smith is a top ten talent, and there are those who rate him ahead of Prince Amukamara. But for a very suspect character, Smith would be going to somewhere like Houston, Detroit or Dallas. However, with rumours that he lied in Combine interviews, teams are being scared off Smith. His tape is very good, and he projects very nicely at the position in the NFL, so having him alongside the frankly very overrated Asante Samuel will be beneficial for the Eagles’ push towards the Super Bowl in 2011.

24, New Orleans Saints- Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa

The Saints wanted pass rush, and here they have found it. Clayborn has top ten talent, but his arm is a worry, and teams will not want to select him with a high pick if they feel he cannot fully use it. With those concerns, he could be a huge bust, but his ability suggests that is unlikely, and he has been able to overcome his problems in the past, so can continue to develop his movement. The Saints should be getting a quality edge rusher, and will have one of the better base ends in the league, Will Smith, playing opposite him, which can only help Clayborn to develop.

25, Seattle Seahawks- Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois

This pick is a difficult one to make, as the Seahawks have a lot of needs all across the board and there is not one which sticks out with this pick. Liuget however is too good for the Seahawks to look elsewhere, and especially for them to reach for a quarterback. He can come in and start straight away, and be an impact player on the interior of their even man front. His athleticism is excellent for his size, and expect him to cause problems for offensive linemen all through the league.

26, Baltimore Ravens- Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State

The fit for Baltimore is excellent, and the need is there for them to make this pick. The need is not as large as that at corner or wide receiver, but there is no value with those picks, and Heyward can be a useful piece for the Ravens defense. Ideally he sits at 3-4 end, but he can move inside when required, and will have to do so more often than not in Baltimore’s hybrid scheme. His stock is rising, so the value is good.

27, Atlanta Falcons- Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame

This pick will have Thomas Dimitroff and his team scratching their heads. They need an outside pass rusher? They don’t like what they see. They need help in the secondary? They don’t like what they see. They need a receiver? Same again. Rudolph will be their default pick, as they don’t expect him to fall to the second round, but the chance that he may and the slight reach at this postion makes this pick one of the least impressive of the round. However, with Tony Gonzalez on the team Rudolph will certainly work for it, and will have one of the all-time greats to learn from.

28, New England Patriots- Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama

Whether this pick goes to the Patriots or to a team who trades up it is hard to say, but Ingram at 28 makes good sense. The Patriots would like to add a young running back to carry the load for them, allowing Danny Woodhead to carry on in his Kevin Faulk-like role, and BenJarvus Green-Ellis to keep some of the pressure off Ingram early in his career. Should another team target Ingram, the Patriots are always happy to trade down, and Denver have two second round picks that the Patriots might be eyeing up here.

29, Chicago Bears- Muhammed Wilkerson, DT, Temple

The Bears are amazed that such a talent falls to them, and are more than happy to pull the trigger. Wilkerson is a top twenty talent at the outside, and possibly even top ten, but having played for a smaller school will not do him any favours, and he will fall here. Chicago are desperate to replace Tommie Harris at defensive tackle, and may well target Wilkerson or Marvin Austin here if Mike Pouncey or one of the top four tackles do not fall to them.

30, New York Jets- Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA

The Jets were supposed to have found their pass rusher with Vernon Gholston, but that realy did not pan out, so the Jets look to the opposite of Gholston here. Ayers falls due to his poor workouts whereas Gholston was picked solely on workouts. Ayers needs work, but Rex Ryan will be happy to have a talent to mould into his scheme, and even if he does not turn into a top edge rusher, he will contribute, unlike Gholston. A solid pick at this position.

31, Pittsburgh Steelers- Dereck Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State

The main needs for Pittsburgh going into this draft are at cornerback and on both lines, although defensive line is less of a need. Sherrod is a good prospect without the potential of a Castonzo or a Smith, but without the risk of a Solder. He will become a very useful tackle, and can start off as a swing backup if the Steelers do not feel he can start straight away. Perhaps this pick allows them to release injury-prone right tackle Willie Colon, who has the talent without any durability.

32, Green Bay Packers- Danny Watkins, OG, Baylor

The Packers have some needs, but not massive ones, so are in a good position to take the best player available with many of their picks. The one place on the offensive line that they need immediate help is at guard, where they would like an upgrade over Darren College, which Danny Watkins can provide. His age works against him, as he was a firefighter before going to Baylor, but he has talent, and will be a long-term starter for the Packers.

2011 NFL Mock Draft Version 2.0

2011 NFL Mock Draft 2.0

Round 1

Carolina Panthers- Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri.

The Blaine Gabbert hype train is in full swing, and there are a lot of people who are predicting that he becomes a Panther on April 28th. I would not make this pick, as I do not see Gabbert as a quarterback worthy of the status of first overall, but there are plenty who do, and who draw parallels with the likes of Matt Ryan. If the Panthers see this, they have no choice but to take Gabbert and have him and Jimmy Clausen compete for the starting job in the off season.

Denver Broncos- Marcel Darreus, DT, Alabama.

Darreus is not my favorite defensive tackle in this draft, but a lot have him as the number one overall player. Nick Fairley is too much of a risk-reward pick to take ahead of him with so much uncertainty about the money this pick will receive. Darreus is a player who will be solid, and somewhat unnoticed, in the vein of a Jonathan Babineaux. A good pick if this was later in the round, but Denver do not get second overall value here.

Buffalo Bills- Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU.

This pick is tough for Buffalo, as Darreus would have been ideal. Fairley and Bowers are both options, but they are too risky to pick at this point for Buffalo. AJ Green is also an option, but the need is just not great enough to pick a receiver this high in the draft. Peterson is a sure fire hit, and Buffalo will be happy to get a player who can upgrade their secondary, as well as help them in the return game if they choose to use him that way.

Cincinnati Bengals- Cam Newton, QB, Auburn.

As a Bengals fan, I hate this pick. However, the Bengals will meet Newton twice, once to work him out at Auburn and once to host him in Cincinnati. They are clearly interested, and need a quarterback for 2011. Newton is not a quarterback for 2011, but the Bengals must think he is NFL ready. Newton will start in 2011 for Cincinnati, and it will be very interesting to see how they try to work him into their offense.

Arizona Cardinals- Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M.

With Blaine Gabbert off the board, the Cardinals look to address another need, and pick up a potential stud pass rusher. Miller is far from the finished article, but he will add to the Cardinals’ pass rush from day one, and should grow into an every down player with a bit of work. At five, his potential makes the value good, and the pick is the best Arizona can make.

Cleveland Browns- Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn.

With Fairley, Da’Quan Bowers and Robert Quinn all on the board here, the Browns have options, and they are delighted with them. The decision comes down to assessing the risk of injury versus the risk of character as they debate over Bowers and Fairley. Character issues present the better option for Cleveland, and Fairley has the potential to be a leading defensive tackle in the NFL. Cleveland get a steal here, if Fairley wants to play.

San Francisco 49ers- Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska.

The choice here is between Amukamara and Robert Quinn here, but the 49ers prefer to take the corner, which is a bigger need. Amukamara has star quality, if used in the right scheme, and is probably a safer pick than Quinn. If Peterson had been on the board, the 49ers would have jumped on him, but Amukamara will do them nicely.

Tennessee Titans- Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson.

Bowers falls because of injury concerns, but he doesn’t fall too far, as his talent will keep him inside the top ten. Tennessee do not necessarily need a defensive end as much as they do other positions, but Bowers is too good to pass up, and there are no quarterbacks or defensive tackles to take here.

Dallas Cowboys- Tyron Smith, OT, USC.

The top offensive tackle in this class is a debatable position, but I give the honor to Smith, and expect him to come off the board here. A defensive end would be an option, and Jerry Jones would have to be tempted by AJ Green, by sensibility wins out, and Smith becomes a Cowboy to sit at right tackle until the organisation decide it is time to replace Doug Free.

Washington Redskins- AJ Green, WR, Georgia.

The Redskins sit in their draft room shaking with excitement as Green gets past Cincinnati and then Cleveland, before pencilling him in after San Francisco go a different route. When they hear Tyron Smith’s name being called out, a roar erupts which can be heard in the White House. They run to the podium and hand over the card, but we all know the pick already. AJ Green gives them someone to play opposite Santana Moss, and a great option for whoever is the quarterback in 2011.

Houston Texans- Robert Quinn, OLB, North Carolina.

Quinn is a better player than the eleventh overall pick, and would have gone higher if the defensive line class was no as good. The Texans are happy to see him on the board, and, in the absence of a secondary prospect worth taking, pull him off the board to play the outside in their newly established 3-4. Wade Phillips had DeMarcus Ware in Dallas. Just sayin’.

Minnesota Vikings- Julio Jones, WR, Alabama.

The Vikings would have selected Quinn if he was still on the board, but there is no defensive end they feel is as valuable as Jones here. With Sidney Rice looking likely to leave, they bring in a receiver who could be at least as good, if not better, and get decent value for him as well. A quarterback and linemen can wait until later rounds.

Detroit Lions- Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College.

This pick is difficult, as Detroit are well known for taking the best available player. Castonzo is not that player, but a first round defensive end is not what the Lions need. Castonzo fits a need, and is a good enough player to be selected this high. He can be Jeff Backus’ successor at left tackle and another piece of a young, talented team.

St. Louis Rams- Muhammed Wilkerson, DT, Temple.

Wilkerson looks NFL-ready, and could emerge as the top defensive tackle in a stacked class. Some people have him being taken at this stage, others see him as a lower first round player, but he fits a need for St. Louis here. With Julio Jones off the board, the Rams pick up a defensive tackle with a lot of potential who they can plug in straight away.

Miami Dolphins- Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama.

This pick looks to be locked on, although that means there is a high chance it will not be made. Ingram certainly fills a need, and would be a productive player for the Dolphins, but they will be considering help along the entire offensive line, apart from left tackle, and would consider defensive line help too. Ingram makes the most sense to them, but would be better suited to being picked in the latter stages of this round.

Jacksonville Jaguars- Aldon Smith- DE, Missouri.

The Jaguars need a defensive end, and Smith is the best left on the board. They certainly have a lot of choice, but Smith is the top man left for them. He is a pass rusher, and has shown excellent ability to get into the backfield, although injuries in 2010 are an issue. If he can stay healthy and continue to develop, this will be a good value pick.

New England Patriots- JJ Watt, DE, Wisconsin.

The Patriots would love to see Robert Quinn here, as they need an edge rusher, but they were starting some defensive ends who were not likely to be seen in the NFL last year. Even though Ty Warren should be back this year, the Patriots look to a defensive end, and Watt fits their scheme well enough for him to go here, and he should be a solid contributor after a bit of coaching when the pre season begins.

San Diego Chargers- Cameron Jordan, DE, California.

Jordan is a good enough player to go higher than this, and fits San Diego’s scheme perfectly, so this pick really is a no brainer. He is not going to be a glamorous pick, but can come in and work his way up to starting for the Chargers. A solid pick which should improve the Chargers defense, and could play a role in getting them back into playoff contention.

New York Giants- Nate Solder, OT, Colorado.

The Giants’ offensive line is aging, so they are looking to add young talent, and Solder fits the bill. He needs some work, so will not have to come in and start from day one, which benefits the Giants, but he should not take long to get on the field, and can step into their left tackle spot in a year or two’s time. Ideally he remains in that spot for ten years plus.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue.

Kerrigan is going to be a standout pass rusher at defensive end, and Tampa Bay have a big need at the position. Kerrigan fits here better than Adrian Clayborn, who would have been the pick had Kerrigan off the board, but there is very little to say about this pick other than it fills their biggest need.

Kansas City Chiefs- Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA.

The Chiefs do not have one need which sticks out for this pick, and will take the best player available who fits a need. Gabe Carimi and Mike Pouncey were considered, but Ayers has the most potential, and could become a high calibre pass rusher in Kansas City. Playing opposite Tamba Hali will give him some time to bed in, and will give the Chiefs a frightening duo for opposing offenses.

Indianapolis Colts- Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois.

The Colts surprise many here with this pick, but they gave up so few sacks last year that an offensive lineman is not a value pick yet. Improving the defense is vital for Indianapolis, and they desperately need an upgrade at defensive tackle. Liuget provides that, and means they can look for a developmental tackle a little later, or make a trade if one starts to fall.

Philadelphia Eagles- Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin.

The Eagles do not necessarily need a tackle, although it is high on their list of desired positions. Carimi is good value here, and could develop into a solid left tackle, which would help the Eagles going forward. Anything they can do to keep Michael Vick healthy will be done by Philadelphia, and this is a good start in the 2011 NFL Draft.

New Orleans Saints- Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa.

The Saints were beginning to get worried when Liuget was taken off the board, but Clayborn remains, and they are happy to take him. While he has some problems with his right arm, the Saints will expect to coach him out of that, and for it not to become an issue. The Saints need defensive line help, and some more pressure on the quarterback could see them become as dominant in 2011 as they were in 2009.

Seattle Seahawks- Brandon Harris, CB, Miami (Florida).

Seattle have had very little contact with Washington native Jake Locker, so he is unlikely to be the pick here. They consider Mike Pouncey to play at guard, but decide he is not as good as he is hyped up to be, and that the corner provides better value here. Jimmy Smith is falling, which helps Brandon Harris to be taken in the first round, and he comes off the board to Seattle to help out what was a poor defense in 2010.

Baltimore Ravens- Justin Houston, DE/OLB, Georgia.

Houston seems like a good player for Baltimore, as he can fit in as a outside linebacker in their 3-4 looks and a defensive end in their 4-3 looks. In truth, he may not fit either perfectly, but he has shown flashes of top quality ability. The Ravens know they have the players around him to help pull him up to be star, and will be confident that they can fit him into their front seven somewhere.

Atlanta Falcons- Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame.

The Falcons did not want to pick Rudolph here, but he was their back up plan should a defensive end not provide good enough value. He should do enough in his first year to justify this pick, while emerging in 2012 as Tony Gonzalez’s successor. He has the tools to be dominant, if he proves able to stay healthy, and should learn even more under a tight end many have labelled the best to ever suit up.

New England Patriots- Dereck Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State.

Again, the Patriots would have liked a rush linebacker, but again, there is not one they would be happy to take here. Matt Light is close to retirement, and they need an offensive tackle who is ready to start when he hangs up his cleats, likely at the end of 2011. Sherrod can take some time to develop in 2011 before starting in 2012 and beyond.

Chicago Bears- Mike Pouncey, OG, Florida.

Pouncey falls, but no further than this. The Bears need offensive line help, and with no offensive tackle on the board here, they select Pouncey, who can line up at guard, and possibly learn to play centre under Olin Kreutz, should they resign him. Pouncey is not going to be as good as his brother, but should make a solid guard for the Bears for years to come.

New York Jets- Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor.

The Jets need a nose tackle, Taylor is the best in the class. His character concerns will be seen more as a challenge than a hinderance by Rex Ryan, who would surely drop himself if coaches were to be drafted for the same reasons. Taylor has a lot of talent, and the Jets need a replacement for Kris Jenkins. The pick is almost ready to be made before the start of the round.

Pittsburgh Steelers- Aaron Williams, CB, Miami.

The Steelers would have liked Sherrod here, but their need at corner is relatively large. Williams can play as well as anyone else left on the board, and does not have the concerns that Jimmy Smith does. If the Steelers resign Ike Taylor, they will have a formidable secondary for 2011 with Williams slotting in.

Green Bay Packers- Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State.

The need at defensive end is not especially high, but Heyward is a good pick here, providing value for the Packers. They consider a number of options, but keep coming back to Heyward, who will have some work to do before he can become a starter in the NFL. Fortunately, he will not need to be a huge contributor from the off in Green Bay, so they have time to develop him.

Round 2

New England Patriots- Brooks Reed, OLB, Arizona.

The Patriots will have an entire day to assess their options here. They are looking for a rush linebacker, and are drawn to Reed after his stock just keeps on rising. Other options are available, but Reed is too tempting to turn down, as he will not be on the board when the Patriots next pick. He will not be a star straight away, but he will contribute, and grow into a starting role.

Buffalo Bills- Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State.

The Bills played a lot of 4-3 towards the end of last year, and had success doing so. Kyle Williams is a stud defensive tackle, and Paea can play alongside him, suring up Buffalo’s run defense and allowing them to focus on developing the 4-3 scheme. He is undoubtedly strong, and if he can translate his raw strength to the field, he will be as much of a stud as Williams.

Cincinnati Bengals- Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh.

The Bengals rarely concern themselves with character issues, and will look past Baldwin’s lack of effort on occasions in college, preferring to see the ability which is clear when he does do his best. If he wants it at the highest level, he can be a true number one receiver, but the risk pushes him down here. Not the biggest need for the Bengals, but they want to give Cam Newton every possible chance to succeed, and it also means they can look to offload Chad Ochocinco.

Denver Broncos- Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado.

Smith has top fifteen talent, but his character will lead a lot of teams not to draft him. He has been rumoured to have lied in interviews at the Combine, which will not endear him to a lot of teams. However, his talent is undeniable, and he will be off the board by the middle of the second round. If he works out for Denver, he is a steal here.

Cleveland Browns- Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland.

Cleveland will be looking to boost a below average receiving core in this draft, and Smith can do just that. He may not be the biggest contributor immediately, but he should grow into a very good NFL receiver. He has the speed to stretch the field, which is something NFL teams always look at, and the Browns do not currently have enough speed with their receivers.

Arizona Cardinals- Jake Locker, QB, Washington.

Amazingly, Locker falls all the way to Arizona here. They hadn’t planned to take him, but Locker falling all this way gives a team with such a terrible quarterback situation no real choice. He has a very high ceiling, and could emerge as the best in this class, but accuracy issues have been dissected by anyone and everyone. A target such as Larry Fitzgerald will no doubt help him to bed into the NFL though.

Tennessee Titans- Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State.

The Titans were hoping and praying that Locker would fall to them here, but as it was not to be they are happy to go with Ponder. They do not like the risk attached to Ryan Mallett, so are happy to wave as they pass him and welcome Christian Ponder onto the bus. If he can stay healthy he should be a solid starter in the NFL, but health is the major concern, and was the cause of a college career marred by inconsistency.

Dallas Cowboys- Rahim Moore, FS, UCLA.

At pick number forty, Moore is excellent value, possibly the best seen in the draft so far. He has very good ball skills, and plays more like a corner than a safety. He needs to add bulk, but that should not be too much of a problem in this off-season. A corner was tempting for the Cowboys, and Jimmy Smith would have been the pick had he been on the board, but they are delighted with Moore here.

Washington Redskins- Stefen Wisniewski, OG/OC, Penn State.

Wisniewski has first round talent, but does not play at a position conducive to being a first round pick. The Redskins thought long and hard about Ryan Mallett here, but Wisniweski is clearly the safer pick, and he comes off the board here. The Redskins need offensive line help, as their line was terrible in 2010, and this pick should help them to begin improving that unit.

Houston Texans- Brandon Burton, CB, Utah.

Burton has talent, and certainly has the measurables to succeed at the position in the NFL. However, he needs coaching, and is not the finished article. Houston’s attempts to rebuild their secondary (or should that simply read build?) are long-term, not short-term, and Burton fits into that. If his play matches his measurables, the Texans have made a good pick here.

Minnesota Vikings- Ben Ijalana, OT, Villanova.

The Vikings will want to add to their offensive line, which did not help them last year, and Ijalana provides fair value here. He fits either tackle or guard, and may take some time to find a natural position. However, he should be able to slot into the line somewhere, and become a solid contributor when he does.

Detroit Lions- Martez Wilson, ILB, Illinois.

This may be a little high for Wilson, but the Lions have needs all across their linebacking core, and Wilson’s stock is rising fast. He had a good showing at the combine, and will be pushed up by the lack of viable inside linebacker prospects in this draft class. He could play any of the three positions for Detroit, and this versatility should be a positive, provided they decide where to put him early and stick with him. Moving him around too much could slow his development, but he should be a starter quickly.

San Francisco 49ers- Sam Acho, OLB, Texas.

Acho is an intelligent player, who will no doubt have impressed in interviews. This pushes him a little higher than he perhaps should go, and he will need some work to develop into a player who will be considered as a value pick here. He should contribute as a pass rusher straight away, but with good coaching he should become a linebacker who can contribute in all aspects of the game.

Denver Broncos- Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois.

The Broncos already have a solid back in Knowshon Moreno, but Jon Fox had two talented backs in Carolina, and will be looking to bring in a partner for Moreno in this draft. Leshoure is a value pick here, and he will be able to contribute in short yardage situations as well as on the goal line straight away before increasing his role as time goes on. This pick may not happen if Fox believes he can sign DeAngelo Williams from Carolina, but with the uncertainty of free agency, this pick makes sense.

St. Louis Rams- Titus Young, WR, Boise State.

Young’s stock has fallen since the Combine, and his perceived poor forty time, but his on field play tells a different story. Young is rapid, and he knows how to stretch a field, spending much time telling people that he cannot be overthrown. This will be music to Sam Bradford’s ears, who spent the whole of 2010 throwing short to medium ball as he had no receiver to throw downfield to. Young changes that, and should give Bradford the chance to develop further.

Oakland Raiders- Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia.

Dowling has injury issues, but he also has first round talent. If he can stay healthy, the Raiders will be some way to replacing Nnamdi Asomugha. If he doesn’t, then it is another bad pick from the Raiders. However, he is the best cornerback on the board, and he is worth the risk here.

Jacksonville Jaguars- Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas.

The Jaguars do not tend to like bad character guys, but Mallett gives good value here. He has the ability of a very high pick, and the character of a very low one, but the Jaguars will not be starting him straight away, and will be sure to do all they can to keep him on the straight and narrow. A couple of years sat behind David Garrard to work on a few aspects of his game could see him become the league’s best.

San Diego Chargers- Randall Cobb, WR, Kentucky.

Cobb is an all-round weapon for an offense, and adding him to San Diego’s offense could elevate them to becoming something special. He is not a traditional outside receiver, playing more in the mould of Percy Harvin, as he can return kicks, run the ball or even play in the wildcat. Cobb could be a very useful weapon for San Diego.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Danny Watkins, OG, Baylor.

Watkins is great value at this point in the second round. This is not a massive need for Tampa Bay, but upgrading an offensive line can never be a bad thing, especially when they have young playmakers to protect. Watkins will help to protect Josh Freeman, and ca give bigger running lanes for LaGarrette Blount too.

New York Giants- Bruce Carter, OLB, North Carolina.

The Giants have a big need at the position, and Carter has performed consistently well for North Carolina, who have had problems and suspensions all over the defense in 2010. Keith Bulluck was an acceptable stop-gap for the Giants, but he will not be able to continue for long, so Carter should be able to replace Bulluck in the Giants line up and be an upgrade.

Indianapolis Colts- Orlando Franklin, OT, Miami.

The Colts draft Franklin as a tackle, but with the knowledge that he may end up playing guard. They need tackle help, and Franklin could provide that, but he has work to do if he to be a long-term starter at tackle. If the Colts can improve their run blocking, their offense become formidable again, but they must develop their offensive line if they are to return to the Super Bowl.

Philadelphia Eagles, Marcus Cannon, OG, TCU.

The Eagles need to protect Mike Vick, and Cannon projects well to the next level. He could possibly play tackle in the NFL, but the Eagles will start him at guard and see what happens from there. He moves well for his size, and has the potential to be a starter in the position for ten years plus. While the Eagles have already taken a tackle, Cannon is excellent value here.

55) Kansas City Chiefs- Rodney Hudson, OG, Florida State.

The Chiefs have still not found a nose tackle worth their pick, and are unlikely to find a useful defensive lineman at this spot, so they go with a player to boost their offensive line. Hudson has the potential to be a Pro Bowl calibre guard, but many have questioned his ability to perform effectively in the NFL. He is small for a guard, and his weight gain has not looked good, although it has not hindered him in Combine drills.

New Orleans Saints- Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina.

Austin has first round talent with a fifth round brain. If he wanted to be as good as he could be, he would be in the conversation with Marcel Darreus and Nick Fairley as the best defensive tackle in the draft, but his character is a lot more questionable than either of those two players. An organisation like the Saints could do great things with Austin, so they happily pull him off the board at this stage.

Seattle Seahawks- Jabaal Sheard, DE, Pittsburgh.

The Seahawks need upgrades in a number of positions, including pass rush. Sheard is a hard-worker who has some good skills, and could develop into an effective player for the Seahawks. He is not likely to be able to start straight away, but can play as part of a rotation before working his way into a starting spot.

Baltimore Ravens- Curtis Brown, CB, Texas.

The Ravens are looking for a cornerback and a speedy receiver who can get deep. They liked the look of Edmund Gates, but are hoping he will be available with their third round pick, so go for Brown here. He is a solid player who should develop into a good level number two corner or possibly a number one with the right coaching and attitude.

Atlanta Falcons- Allen Bailey, DE, Miami.

With John Abraham on one side, the Falcons do not need a pure pass rusher on the other. Bailey is a solid all round player who drops because of his lack of pass rush ability, however he fits what the Falcons need. He will be able to compete with Kroy Biermann for the defensive end spot opposite Abraham, and should win the spot at some point during the season.

New England Patriots- Tyler Sash, SS, Iowa.

The Patriots have issues with Brandon Merriweather, meaning that there is a chance he is moved on this off-season, and almost a certainty that he does not sign a new deal in 2012. Sash may not be able to come in and play from day one, but he can play some snaps and then be the replacement when Merriweather leaves in 2012.

San Diego Chargers- Dontay Moch, OLB, Nevada.

Moch is a speedy edge rusher, but not much else. This gets him high on a number of draft boards, and will see him selected much higher than he should be. However, his speed is a huge asset when rushing the passer, and he could develop into something more than just a third down rusher. If San Diego develop him properly, he could be a steal here.

Chicago Bears- Drake Nevis, DT, LSU.

Nevis is a pass rusher at defensive tackle, and does not yet have the size or technique to play the run effectively. However, he can learn to play the run and can bulk up, which would turn him into a dangerous player on the inside of the defensive line. He will take a lot of development, but he could be a good pick here.

Pittsburgh Steelers- Jarvis Jenkins, DE, Clemson.

Jenkins has talent but he has not shown enough consistency in his college career. The Steelers however have time to develop a player at the position as they have some solid, experienced starters. Jenkins can sit and develop behind them and hopefully be ready to start in 2012 when the Steelers look to move forward with youth.

Green Bay Packers- Tandon Doss, WR, Indiana.

Wide receiver is not the biggest need for this team, but Doss is the best player at a position of need here. He returned kicks at Indiana, which will be an attractive aspect for the Packers, who are still searching for their return man. He may not have the biggest impact immediately, but should be able to play in the slot from the off, while learning from Donald Driver and Greg Jennings.