1. Carolina Panthers - Cat Scratch Reader
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| Nick Fairley | DT | Auburn: Fairley is the kind of player Carolina's defense needs. He's mean and aggressive and will give the defense a culture shift. While head coach Ron Rivera may not like his penchant for taking plays off, Fairley is difference maker when he works hard. There are concerns about Fairley's ability to take on blocks, but if plays are built out of his penetrating ability, that shouldn't be as big of a factor. |
| 2. Denver Broncos - Mile High Report |
| Da'Quan Bowers | Defensive end | Clemson: Denver's pick could either be Bowers or LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson and it would be a good pick. Bowers makes sense with Denver moving to the 4-3. Bowers would give them a very good edge rusher and can shift inside in nickel sets. |
3. Buffalo Bills - Buffalo Rumblings
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| Marcell Dareus | Defensive end/tackle | Alabama: It's a proven fact that Kyle "Meatball" Williams is a star for Buffalo on the inside, but the Bills have little else. The team had statistically the worst run defense in the NFL this season and Dareus has experience playing end in the 3-4 at Alabama. |
4. Cincinnati Bengals - Cincy Jungle
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| A.J. Green | Wide receiver | Georgia: If the Bengals can't re-sign Jonathan Joseph, this pick will change to Peterson. As it is, there's more chance Joseph is signed and Cincinnati focuses on adding te kind of speedy, big-play wide receiver the roster lacks. Green could help give the Bengals a great young nucleus along with Jordan Shipley and Jermaine Gresham. |
5. Arizona Cardinals - Revenge Of The Birds
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| Patrick Peterson | Cornerback | LSU: This would be a case of best player available filling a huge need. While Arizona really needs to improve its pass rush, there are questions on whether or not North Carolina's Robert Quinn or Missouri's Aldon Smith can transition. Peterson is a sure thing as a cornerback and could start opposite Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. |
6. Cleveland Browns - Dawgs By Nature
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| Julio Jones | Wide receiver | Alabama: The Browns made strides this seas 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. |
7. San Francisco 49ers - Niners Nation
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| Blaine Gabbert | Quarterback | Missouri: Although I'm not as high on Gabbert as some, this would be a good spot for him. It's only a slight reach for the 49ers to get a quarterback they hope will turn into a franchise signal caller.
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8. Tennessee Titans - Music City Miracles
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| Prince Amukamara | Cornerback | Nebraska: It's hard to imagine Tennessee taking Cam Newton, simply because he's such a project. I expect the Titans to go after a veteran quarterback, which would help head coach Jeff Fisher win now. If they do that, adding a player like Amukamara would give Tennessee the No. 1 corner that Corteland Finnegan isn't.
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| 9. Dallas Cowboys - Blogging The Boys |
| Cameron Heyward | Defensive end | Ohio State: This is a tough scenario for the Cowboys. Both top cornerbacks are gone and no offensive lineman is good enough for a top 10 selection. Although the Cowboys typically don't draft defensive linemen in the first round, Heyward showed in the Sugar Bowl he's a top-flight player. This could also be an intriguing spot for a trade. It's not as costly as a top-five pick and some team may want to move up and grab a quarterback.
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10. Washington Redskins - Hogs Haven
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| Cam Newton | Quarterback | Auburn: Rex Grossman is Washington's starting quarterback. Does anyone really think Grossman is the long-term answer for Washington? What he could be is a stop gap for a developmental quarterback. If that's the case, there may be no better developmental player in this draft than Newton. |
11. Houston Texans - Battle Red Blog
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| Aldon Smith | Defensive end/Outside linebacker | Missouri: Houston is in the same spot as Dallas. The Texans have big needs at both safety spots but none are worth the pick. Miami cornerback Brandon Harris could get a look here, but this would be a touch high for him. Smith would give the Texans an excellent pass rushing option opposite Brian Cushing.
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| 12. Minnesota Vikings - Daily Norseman |
| Jake Locker | Quarterback | Washington: This was a hard pick to make since I'm extremely down on Locker. But perhaps I'm just wrong on Locker and his struggles are solely the result of poor teammates. Regardless, Minnesota needs a quarterback. Take your pick between Locker and Ryan Mallett.
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| 13. Detroit Lions - Pride Of Detroit |
| Brandon Harris | Cornerback | Miami (Fla.): This is somewhat of a reach, but it fills a big position of need. The Lions have one of the worst secondaries in the NFL and need all the help they can get. Another strong possibility here is UCLA outside linebacker Akeem Ayers.
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14. St. Louis Rams - Turf Show Times
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| Jonathan Baldwin | Wide receiver | Pittsburgh: The third reach pick in a row is slightly less of one than the previous two. There are concerns that Baldwin is lax on the field and will take plays off. But when he's on, he is as good as Julio Jones. Look for Baldwin to light up the combine and rise his draft stock.
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15. Miami Dolphins - The Phinsider
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| Mark Ingram | Running back | Alabama: Ronnie Brown's career as a Dolphin looks about finished and Ricky Williams is getting older. Ingram has elite vision running the ball and can be a workhorse. Just don't judge Ingram by his subpar junior season where injuries hampered him all season. |
| 16. Jacksonville Jaguars - Big Cat Country |
| Robert Quinn | Defensive end | North Carolina: The Jaguars have one of the worst pass rushes in the NFL, registering just 30 sacks on the season. Jacksonville fans will probably harp that Quinn doesn't fit the mold that General Manager Gene Smith has set up. But at some point, talent has to circumvent drafting by the book.
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17. New England Patriots - Pats Pulpit (from Oakland)
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| Adrian Clayborn | Defensive end | Iowa: Clayborn may not have the speed to rush the quarterback from a 4-3 in the NFL, but he should fit well in the New England 3-4. The experienced Clayborn could start as a rookie for New England and be very good.
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18. San Diego Chargers - Bolts From The Blue
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| Cameron Jordan | Defensive end | California: The Chargers have never properly replaced Igor Olshansky after he left for the Cowboys. While the Chargers could use help along their who three-man front, Jordan is the best fit on the board.
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19. New York Giants - Big Blue View
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| Akeem Ayers | Outside linebacker | UCLA: Linebacker is arguably the Giants' weakest position and Ayers is a great fit. He's a good all-around linebacker who could be really good for New York. An offensive tackle or center may also be considered.
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20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Bucs Nation
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| Ryan Kerrigan | Defensive end | Purdue: Stylez G. White led the Buccaneers in sacks in 2010 and that's not a good thing. White is an average player, but that sack total was 4.5. Tampa Bay added to its defensive tackle rotation last year with Gerald McCoy and Brian Price. Now it can add a legitimate pass rush with Kerrigan, who put up great numbers at Purdue. |
21. Kansas City Chiefs - Arrowhead Pride
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| Derek Sherrod | Offensive tackle | Mississippi State: There is no bigger weakness on Kansas City's offensive line than right tackle. While Sherrod projects more to the left side, he is skilled enough to move to the right. By doing so, the Chiefs would no longer have to worry about starting Barry Richardson or Ryan O'Callaghan. |
22. Indianapolis Colts - Stampede Blue
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| Stephen Paea | Defensive tackle | Oregon State: In the ideal situation, Indianapolis would take the best available offensive lineman. However, players like Nate Solder, Anthony Castonzo or Gabe Carimi don't have a lot of value here. Instead, Paea would be a great choice. He can play the one- or three-technique for the Colts and give them the kind of big body they don't have up front.
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23. Philadelphia Eagles - Bleeding Green Nation
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| Jimmy Smith | Cornerback | Colorado: The Eagles badly need secondary help and Smith is the best cornerback available. He's a big, aggressive corner who has been compared by some to Nnamdi Asomugha. Since the Eagles probably won't be able to afford Asomugha, why not get the up-and-coming version of him?
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24. New Orleans Saints - Canal Street Chronicles
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| Mikel Leshoure | Running back | Illinois: The Saints haven't had a player rush for more than 1,000 since Deuce McAllister in 2006. To call their running game calamitous is an understatement. Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush can't stay healthy, and Chris Ivory is an undrafted free agent from Tiffin. Leshoure is a big and speedy back who could carry the load and take some pressure off Drew Brees.
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25. Seattle Seahawks - Field Gulls
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| Justin Houston | Outside linebacker/end | Georgia: For the Seattle defense to function at its fullest, it needs a Leo. It's a combo defensive end/outside linebacker where Houston would fit perfectly. Seattle also needs a franchise quarterback and wide receiver. If Baldwin or Locker fall, expect them to be the pick. |
26. Baltimore Ravens - Baltimore Beatdown
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| Nate Solder | Offensive tackle | Colorado: It seems like Jared Gaither could be gone in Baltimore at any moment. If he is, the Ravens will have a gaping hole at offensive tackle. Solder has a similar skill set to Gaither. A cornerback could be in play here as well, but there is depth at that position this year. |
27. Atlanta Falcons - The Falcoholic
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| Mike Pouncey | Guard/Center | Florida: The Falcons could lose either Harvey Dahl or Justin Blaylock in free agency. If they do, guard becomes and immediate need for Atlanta. If it's not guard, Atlanta could certainly target offensive tackle.
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28. New England Patriots - Pats Pulpit
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| Anthony Castonzo | Offensive tackle | Boston College: After getting a defensive lineman with their first pick, New England should try to come out of the first round with an offensive lineman as well. Matt Light is a free agent and adding a player like Castonzo would be a good replacement. If Mike Pouncey is still around, the Patriots could jump on him.
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29. Chicago Bears - Windy City Gridiron
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| Torrey Smith | Wide receiver | Maryland: It's almost a lock that the Bears will target a wide receiver or offensive lineman with their first pick. The line began playing really well at the end of the season which would allow the Bears to go with a wide receiver. Smith may be similar to current Bears receivers Johnny Knox and Devin Hester, but he's a playmaker.
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30. New York Jets - Gang Green Nation
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| Allen Bailey | Defensive tackle | Miami (Fla.): The Jets feature aging veterans Shaun Ellis and Trevor Pryce on their defensive line. Mike DeVito had a breakout season at one end spot, but was it an aberration? A player like Bailey is a good fit for the 3-4 where he could take advantage of his length and power.
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| 31. Green Bay Packers - Acme Packing Company |
| JJ Watt | Defensive end | Wisconsin: Most think Green Bay needs a pass rusher to compliment Clay Matthews. But if you watch the Packers on defense, coordinator Dom Capers likes to move Matthews around. So if they take a linebacker, he'd have to be versatile. With no players really fitting that mold, the next position the Packers could target is defensive line. Watt is a good option for the 3-4.
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| 32. Pittsburgh Steelers - Behind the Steel Curtain |
| Aaron Williams | Cornerback | Texas: Cornerback is a position Pittsburgh was expected to go after cornerback in last year's draft but didn't adequately do so. Williams is a fringe first-round pick, but he has great upside. A player like Wisconsin offensive tackle Gabe Carimi could also be an attractive pick here as he fits the scheme perfectly.
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