1. Carolina Panthers - Cat Scratch Reader
|
| Andrew Luck | Quarterback | Stanford: Carolina could go plenty of directions with the first overall pick. A.J. Green would upgrade the receiving corps and Robert Quinn could help the pass rush. But Luck is the franchise quarterback Jimmy Clausen may not be.
|
2. Cincinnati Bengals - Cincy Jungle
|
| A.J. Green | Wide receiver | Georgia: Cincinnati needs a pass rush, but may need a No. 1 wide receiver more so if Terrell Owens isn't re-signed. Green would give the Bangals a great receiving nucleus for the future with Jordan Shipley and Jermaine Gresham.
|
| 3. Detroit Lions - Pride Of Detroit |
| Patrick Peterson | Cornerback | LSU: The Lions have gotten by surprisingly well this season with a group of cast offs at cornerback. While Chris Houston and Alphonso Smith have played well, Peterson is the true shutdown corner the team has lacked.
|
4. Buffalo Bills - Buffalo Rumblings
|
| Robert Quinn | Defensive end/Outside linebacker | North Carolina: The Aaron Maybin experiment has run its course. While Marcell Dareus is a logical choice as well, the team already has Kyle "Meatball" Williams, Dwan Edwards and youngsters Torrell Troup and Alex Carrington for the defensive line. It's a risk to take a player who has sat out a year, but Quinn is a good one. |
5. Arizona Cardinals - Revenge Of The Birds
|
| Marcell Dareus | Defensive tackle | Alabama: This may be too early to take a chance on Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett. Instead, Dareus could play nose for the Cardinals with Gabe Watson and Bryan Robinson being free agents. Don't be shocked if this is a receiver if Arizona moves Larry Fitzgerald.
|
6. San Francisco 49ers - Niners Nation
|
| Da'Quan Bowers | Defensive end | Clemson: The 49ers have no pass rush and that is Bowers' specialty. The nation's leader in sacks could provide a good push from the 3-4 front. He's also physical enough to hold the run.
|
7. Cleveland Browns - Dawgs By Nature
|
| Julio Jones | Wide receiver | Alabama: The Browns have made strides this season but clearly need a No. 1 wide receiver. Jones' physical style could be a perfect fit with Cleveland's powerful offense. More importantly, he could speed up Colt McCoy's development and give the Browns a down field threat. |
| *8. Dallas Cowboys - Blogging The Boys |
| Nick Fairley | Defensive tackle | Auburn: Marcus Spears faces free agency and has struggled with injuries. The disruptive Fairley could easily replace him.
|
| *9. Minnesota Vikings - Daily Norseman |
| Ryan Mallett | Quarterback | Arkansas: A new coach might want to start completely over at quarterback and not even consider re-signing Tarvaris Jackson. Mallett should be able to step into Minnesota's system and do well enough.
|
| *10. Denver Broncos - Mile High Report |
| Cameron Heyward | Defensive end | Ohio State: Heyward would be a great fit on Denver's aging defensive line. It's easy to forget that Denver will get Elvis Dumervil back next season, so pass rushing linebacker isn't the biggest need.
|
11. St. Louis Rams - Turf Show Times
|
| Adrian Clayborn | Defensive end | Iowa: While the Rams need a No. 1 wide receiver, this may be a little early for Michael Floyd and Jon Baldwin, assuming both enter the draft. Clayborn could line up opposite Chris Long and give the Rams a very good pass rush.
|
12. Houston Texans - Battle Red Blog
|
| Prince Amukamara | Cornerback | Nebraska: Admittedly, this is a little far for Amukamara to drop. However, the teams above them have greater immediate needs. Houston, though, direly needs secondary help. As a rookie, Amukamara would be one of the Texans' best players.
|
13. San Diego Chargers - Bolts From The Blue
|
| Allen Bailey | Defensive tackle/end | Miami (Fla.): San Diego is a hard team to project because they could go a number of directions – cornerback, wide receiver, linebacker. But I went with a defensive end because Travis Johnson and Jacques Cesaire may be gone in free agency. Bailey is a good value pick.
|
14. New England Patriots - Pats Pulpit (from Oakland)
|
| Cameron Jordan | Defensive end | California: A 3-4 defensive end that can rush the passer is a must for the Patriots. Jordan, who plays in a three-man front for Cal, would fit in immediately.
|
15. Tennessee Titans - Music City Miracles
|
| Janoris Jenkins | Cornerback | Florida: This is assuming Vince Young is back in Tennessee next season. If so, a cornerback or wide receiver may be the way the Titans go. The Tennessee pass defense has been near the bottom of the league all season.
|
16. Washington Redskins - Hogs Haven
|
| Akeem Ayers | Outside linebacker | UCLA: There is a big need in Washington for a playmaker opposite Brian Orakpo. While Ayers might not get as much of a pass rush, he can do everything else. He has very good developmental potential as well. |
17. Miami Dolphins - The Phinsider
|
| Cam Newton | Quarterback | Auburn: When Brian Galliford made this pick for the SB Nation mock draft, I loved it. Chad Henne got benched and Chad Pennington isn't ageless. With Newton, Miami could again reshape its offense. |
18. New York Giants - Big Blue View
|
| Bruce Carter | Outside linebacker | North Carolina: The way this draft has fallen would be great for the Giants. With no centers being worth this choice, getting a top linebacker would be a plus. Carter would be a suitable replacement for Clint Sintim.
|
19. Indianapolis Colts - Stampede Blue
|
| Anthony Costanzo | Offensive tackle | Boston College: Offensive line has become the Colts' biggest need. This would also be a good spot for Costanzo or Mississippi State's Derek Sherrod.
|
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Bucs Nation
|
| Travis Lewis | Outside linebacker | Oklahoma: Desperately in need of playmaker on defense, the Bucs could get one in Lewis. He could help their anemic pass rush and hold up against the run. If an end happens to slip to Tampa, expect that to be the pick. |
21. Seattle Seahawks - Field Gulls
|
| Jake Locker | Quarterback | Washington: Seahawks fans will either love this or completely hate it. I mocked it because it mostly makes sense. Locker is a project. But Locker could sit behind Charlie Whitehurst or Matt Hasselbeck if he's brought back. |
22. Kansas City Chiefs - Arrowhead Pride
|
| Von Miller | Outside linebacker | Texas A&M: Although the choice here could be one of the wide receivers still out there, a pass rusher is needed. Without one, the Kansas City defense can't function how Romeo Crennel has it designed. |
| 23. Jacksonville Jaguars - Big Cat Country |
| Michael Floyd | Wide receiver | Notre Dame: Mike Sims-Walker is a solid receiver, but Jacksonville doesn't have much after him. With no quarterbacks worth this pick, grabbing Floyd would give whoever the signal caller in 2011 is another weapon.
|
**24. New Orleans Saints - Canal Street Chronicles
|
| Drake Nevis | Defensive tackle | LSU: Nevis has been a revelation this season. He's a penetrating force for LSU. For the Saints, he would be an upgrade over Remi Ayodele. This could be a running back if Pierre Thomas' ankle injury is more serious than the team is letting on.
|
| **25. Pittsburgh Steelers - Behind the Steel Curtain |
| Derek Sherrod | Offensive tackle | Mississippi State: Whether it's on defense or offense, odds are the Steelers will be looking to improve their line this offseason. Sherrod may not be the typical Pittsburgh offensive lineman, but that unit has been shaky for years.
|
26. Chicago Bears - Windy City Gridiron
|
| Jonathan Baldwin | Wide receiver | Pittsburgh: The Bears offense is in dire need of a No. 1 wide receiver. With so many available, it's likely that one will be available when the Bears pick. Baldwin has some effort lapses, but the Chicago offense would suit him well.
|
27. Baltimore Ravens - Baltimore Beatdown
|
| Aaron Williams | Cornerback | Texas: If any team needs a cornerback, it's Baltimore. Williams would immediately be a starter and perhaps the team's top corner. Williams, a big cornerback who can jam, fits the Baltimore system perfectly. |
28. Philadelphia Eagles - Bleeding Green Nation
|
| Brandon Harris | Cornerback | Miami (Fla.): Harris is a lot like current Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel, but a little bigger. Like Samuel, Harris is very good playing off coverage and man.
|
| 29. Green Bay Packers - Acme Packing Company |
| Mark Ingram | Running back | Alabama: With no great pass rushers on the board here, the Packers would get a steal in Ingram. Even before he was lost for the year with injury, Ryan Grant was never thought of as a top tier running back. Ingram would give the Packers' offense a big weapon in the running game.
|
30. New England Patriots - Pats Pulpit (from Oakland)
|
| Gabe Carimi | Offensive tackle | Wisconsin: Both Matt Light and Logan Mankins face free agency this offseason. If one or both depart, the Patriots could use a new offensive lineman. He might not be the best left tackle, but Carimi could be very good on the right side or the interior.
|
31. New York Jets - Gang Green Nation
|
| Deunta Williams | Free safety | North Carolina: In such a bad year for 3-4 outside linebackers, the Jets could go safety to help improve their tight end coverage. It's been suspect the past two seasons and Williams is a physical safety.
|
32. Atlanta Falcons - The Falcoholic
|
| Ryan Kerrigan | Defensive end | Purdue: The Falcons could use a better pass rusher opposite John Abraham, who is no youngster. This is also a good spot for Kerrigan. He's having a great season, but maybe isn't a high first-round player.
|
