First Mock Draft

Anyone who knows me knows I am a huge NFL draft fan.  And with the NFL season starting to rap up what better way to celebrate the fact the Vikings are terrible then looking at who they might draft?

Here is my first round mock draft.  The order is according to current power rankings.

1.)   Carolina Panthers: Andrew Luck QB, Stanford  Its hard to believe that Carolina would go this way, but with Jon Fox on his way out and all their young guys (Jimmy Clausen, Tony Pike, Matt Moore) showing little or no promise, don’t be surprised if they get a new franchise signal caller to bring in with a brand new head coach.

2.) Cincinnati Bengals: Da’Quan Bowers DE, Clemson     Cincinnati could realistically go anyway in this draft, but they are dead last in the NFL in sacks and they will need to improve on this.  They have Palmer for one more year and I don’t believe they will go away from him until he is a Free agent.

3.)   Denver Broncos: Patrick Patterson CB, LSU    These top picks are such a crap shoot because there are dozens of different ways teams could go.  Patterson is the top corner in the draft and Champ Baily is not getting any young.  Look for them to get a younger version of him.

4.)  Tennessee Titans: Robert Quinn DE, North Carolina    Tennessee’s defensive line has been destroyed over the past few years (former Husker Vanden Bosch going to Detroit and Haynesworth to Washignton) They need to improve the pass rushing as well as get a guy in there again who will be there for many years.  Quinn is the guy.

5.)  Buffalo Bills:  Marcell Dareus DE/DT, Alabama     It seems that Chan Gaily really likes Fitzpatrick at QB and the Bills have been burned by high QB picks for many years now (J.P Losman, Trent Edwards, Todd Collins) and need to pull a New Orleans by bringing in a Drew Breese.  When I say a Breese I just mean someone with playing experience, like a Kevin Kolb.  Improving that defensive front is important.

6.)  Arizona Cardinals: Jake Locker QB, Washington   Max Hall is not the answer and either is Derek Anderson.  Locker is going to have a huge combine and remind everyone why he would have been the first overall pick in 2010 had he went out.

7.)   Detroit Lions: Prince Amukamara CB, Nebraska     It seems to me that Detroit is pretty happy with the Suh pick last year, why not stay with the Huskers and get one of the top defenders in the nation?

8.)  Washington Redskins: A.J Green WR, Georgia    No doubt about it Green has first round talent and Washington needs to surround McNabb with some better athletes.  They took two wide receivers in the second round of the 2008 draft (Malcom Kelly, Oklahoma and Devin Thomas, Michigan State) but they have not panned out they way they planned.

9.)  Minnesota Vikings: Ryan Mallet QB, Arkansas  The Vikings can no longer dodge a high quarterback pick.  Favre is not coming back and Tarvaris Jackson has proved he is not a starter in the NFL.  I think it will come down to what quarterbacks are left and which one they like better, in this case Ryan Mallet or Cam Newton.

10.) Cleveland Browns: Julio Jones WR, Alabama      This is a little reach and I’m sure Cleveland would love Green, but ever since Braylon Edwards left they have had nothing to throw to.

11.)  Dallas Cowboys: Stephen Paea DT, Oregon State    Defensive line or cornerback is the way to go for Dallas.  Only problem is the best cornerbacks on the board are gone and there is a pretty big gap after Amukamara.  Paea makes the most sense.

12.)    Seattle Seahawks:    Nick Fairley DT, Auburn    Seahawks could go quarterback here for sure.  Just not sure how realistic Cam Newton is.  Fairley is the right pick here.

13.)   San Francisco 49ers: Mark Ingram RB, Alabama    If the 49ers like him enough they may pull the trigger on Newton, but it seems San Francisco is not unsold on Alex Smith still as he always does just enough to save his job.  Frank Gore can’t stay healthy and their backups are quite forgetful.  The two back system is the new thing in the NFL.

14.)   Houston Texans:  Adrian Clayborn DE, Iowa    It seems every year Houston drafts defense, but they still need help.  Offensive line is another choice here.

15.)  St. Louis Rams:   Allen Bailey DE, Miami       A wide receiver could be a choice here to give Sam Bradford some more targets, but no one seems worth it to me at this point. Adam Carriker was a terrible pick and they could have a sick combo with Bailey and Long on each side of the defensive line.

16.)   New England Patriots (Oakland Raiders):  Ryan Kerrigan DE, Purdue   This is a guy New England finds and turns into a star.  Kerrigan can play both linebacker and defensive end in a 3-4.  This is the versitility they are always looking for.

17.)   Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Castonzo OT, Boston College   The offensive line of Colts past this is not.  Time to get some youth involved.

18.)  Miami Dolphins: Cam Newton QB, Auburn   Pennington is over the Hill and Chad Henne was benched for the over the hill Pennington.  They will need to get someone new in there and with the top running back gone, they go with Newton.

19.)   Kansas City Cheifs:    Von Miller OLB, Texas A&M   Von Miller is a stud and Kansas City would be lucky to get a guy of his quality this late.

20.)  Tampa Bay Buccaneers:  Akeem Ayers OLB, UCLA   No matter who the pick is here, if its a defensive end, linebacker or secondary player it will be on the defensive side of the football

21.)   Jacksonville Jaguars: Janoris Jenkins CB, Florida   I can’t even think of one Jaguars cornerback.  Quarterback could be the pick here, but now with Newton, Locker, Mallet, and Luck off the board look for them to address that in the second or third round.

22.)   New York Jets:  Cameron Heyward DE, Ohio State   The Jets have gotten burned on a Ohio State defensive end in the past, but there is no denying they need help in that department.  Heyward is the best on the board.

23.)   San Diego Chargers: Nate Solder OT, Colorado   There is no doubt in my mind that this pick will be an offensive line.  The only qustion is whether or not they like Solder better than say Wisconsin’s Gabe Carimi

24.)  Green Bay Packers: Gabe Carimi OT, Wisconsin   Take the home grown kid with this pick.  Bryan Bulaga has shown promise and I think he will succeed, but Chad Clifton left a big gap on bad a offensive line.  The running game is almost non-existent and they will need to improve the guys up front so Rodgers can pass.

25.)    Chicago Bears: Aaron Williams CB, Texas   They could go Derek Sherrod here as he is the last high quality offensive lineman left, however, they also need help in the secondary.  Look for them to take the Longhorn or Brandon Burton out of Utah.

26.)  New York Giants: Derek Sherrod OT, Mississippi State    That offensive line has been bangged up all season long.  That says to me they may be looking for a little more depth.

27.)  Philadelphia Eagles: Jeremy Beal OLB, Oklahoma   Phily could also be looking for an offensive lineman here, but with the lack of quality ones left I see them hitting up the linebackers for an upgrade and depth.

28.)   Baltimore Ravens: Brandon Burton CB, Utah      What was once upon a time the most feared defense in the NFL is still good, but getting older and older.  A bunch of the guys they won a super bowl with are no longer there, time to get some youth on the other side of the football.

29.)   Pittsburgh Steelers:   Mike Pouncey, G, Florida   This to me makes too much sense.  Reunite the two brothers who had great careers at Florida and let them run over players in the NFL.

30.)   New Orleans Saints: Cameron Jordan DE/DT California  They need to get someone on the other side of Will Smith.

31.)   Atlanta Falcons:  Kyle Rudolph TE, Notre Dame    Tony Gonzalez is not getting any younger and Atlanta has had a tradition of big tight ends.  I think this late in the first round they may be willing to take a risk on a guy who everyone feels has great first round potential, but got hurt early.

32.)  New England Patriots: Noel Devine RB, West Virginia   The Lawrence Maroney failed in New England, but they have shown they are willing to take running backs early, despite the fact that they love to platoon the guys.  Noel Devine can do things their other runnings backs cannot and for that reason Bill Belichick will be able to scheme some amazing things with him.

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