Ryan Mallett will be a household name by draft day 2011
The 2010 draft was stacked with defensive prospects, allowing teams employing all different kinds of schemes to stockpile their units with more talent. Conversely, 2011 looks like a great time to turn towards the offensive side of the ball. The skill positions – most notably quarterback and wide receiver – look stacked as we look ahead towards what 2011 may bring. Of course, a ton can change in a short period of time. At this point last year Jevan Snead was widely considered a favorite to go #1 overall. But, it is never too early to try and demonstrate omniscience when it comes to future drafts. With that, we’ll dissect the 2011 draft class with an inaugural mock draft.
*Note – Draft order is based purely on speculation.
1 Buffalo Bills – Quarterback Jake Locker (Washington)
Buffalo has arguably the least talented roster in football, and they’re desperate for help at the game’s two most important positions: quarterback and left tackle. Locker gives them a franchise quarterback to build around and offers the team’s fanbase hope for the first time in years.
2 Cleveland Browns – Defensive End Cameron Heyward (Ohio State)
Cleveland desperately needs an explosive playmaker on offense, but I believe Holmgren and company will allow guys to mature in the system before they start adding blue-chip talent. Given that Colt McCoy will likely be given time to develop, there is a good chance this pick ends up being defense. Heyward was built to play end in a 3-4 and is a fantastic fit in Cleveland.
3 Seattle Seahawks – Quarterback Ryan Mallett (Arkansas)
Seattle made a fairly large investment into Charlie Whitehurst, but the guess here is that they’ll realize he is not a long-term solution during the 2010 season. Ryan Mallet has all the tools to be successful at the next level, and if he can improve his accuracy in 2010, he looks like a lock to be a Top 5 pick.
4 St. Louis Rams – Wide Receiver A.J. Green (Georgia)
Green could grow into one of the best receiving prospects in recent memory if he performs as expected during his junior campaign. The Rams could use an elite target for Sam Bradford and they get one with Green.
5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Defensive End Robert Quinn (North Carolina)
After upgrading their defensive tackle group in 2010, the Bucs turn to the defensive end position and nab Quinn, the top 4-3 end available. Quinn’s combination of measurables and production make him a potential Top 5 pick.
6 Jacksonville Jaguars – Quarterback Andrew Luck (Stanford)
David Garrard is about as pedestrian as they come and Jacksonville needs something to ignite a moribund franchise. If Luck leaves after his redshirt sophomore season, he is a Top 10 pick with the tools to become the face of a franchise.
7 Denver Broncos – Cornerback Patrick Peterson (Louisiana State)
Denver’s corners – Andre Goodman and Champ Bailey – are both aging and Patrick Peterson is one of the better corner prospects in a long time. He’d be a fantastic upgrade to the Denver secondary.
8 Chicago Bears – Offensive Tackle Anthony Castonzo (Boston College)
The Bears offensive line is a complete mess and Chris Williams has done nothing to warrant being a 1st round pick in 2008. Castonzo becomes the steady left tackle that Chicago needs to stabilize its line.
9 Washington Redskins – Cornerback Aaron Williams (Texas)
Washington upgrades its back end with Williams, who would be the top corner available in many years.
10 Detroit Lions – Offensive Tackle Gabe Carimi (Wisconsin)
Jeff Backus is nearing the end of his career, and he is not the type of tackle you want protecting your franchise in the first place. Carimi is a solid all-around tackle who could move to the top of the tackle class with a strong senior season.
11 New England Patriots (f/ Oakland) – Defensive End Marcel Dareus (Alabama)
The Patriots have struggled to replace Richard Seymour, but may find an ideal fit in Dareus, who could go even higher if he dominates this fall for the Tide. Dareus is another guy who looks like an ideal 3-4 end and he also offers scheme versatility.
12 Kansas City Chiefs – Linebacker Von Miller (Texas A&M)
Miller is a bit undersized, but he is one of the more gifted pass-rushers in the nation and has the athleticism to step outside and play rush backer if he can add a little bulk.
13 Arizona Cardinals – Offensive Tackle Matt Reynolds (Brigham Young)
The Cardinals have had a hole at left tackle for years. With Mike Gandy finally hitting his twilight years, it is time to add a top talent at the position and Reynolds is the top guy on the board and a 1st round value.
14 Philadelphia Eagles – Cornerback Prince Amukamara (Nebraska)
The Eagles dealt Sheldon Brown this off-season and are left thin at the cornerback position. Amukamara has steadily improved in Bo Pelini’s system and looks like the third best corner available in a solid class.
15 Tennessee Titans – Defensive Tackle Allen Bailey (Miami)
The Titans still have some talent at defensive tackle, but they lack an elite talent at the position. Bailey is a physical freak who’s also been fairly productive on the field. A strong senior season will make him one of the top DT’s available.
16 Carolina Panthers – Wide Receiver Michael Floyd (Notre Dame)
Floyd has emerged as the draft’s second best wide receiver. The Panthers need a successor for Steve Smith and Floyd will be able to add an explosive element to Carolina’s offense from day one.
17 Cincinnati Bengals – Running Back Mark Ingram (Alabama)
Cedric Benson has found new life in Cincinnati, but you have to wonder how much faith the organization has in him long-term. Ingram is a solid all-around back whose great running instincts make him a safe pick for success in the NFL.
18 Miami Dolphins – Safety Deunta Williams (North Carolina)
The Dolphins are weak at safety and would relish the opportunity to add a playmaker at the position in the 2011 draft. Williams is one of several safeties who could emerge as the class of the position next year.
19 Pittsburgh Steelers – Defensive End Adrian Clayborn (Iowa)
Pittsburgh has always made sure its defensive front-seven is well-stocked. Clayborn has some character problems, which may scare Pittsburgh away, but he is a force on the field and adds youth to the position.
20 Atlanta Falcons – Wide Receiver Jonathan Baldwin (Pittsburgh)
Roddy White is an excellent #1 receiver, but the Falcons have little behind him and could use a boost at the position. Baldwin’s a huge target at 6’5 and gives Ryan another weapon to work with.
21 San Francisco 49ers – Quarterback Christian Ponder (Florida State)
San Francisco looks like the early favorite in the NFC West, but Alex Smith could prevent a deep post-season run. If Smith fails to seize the starting job permanently, San Francisco could be in the market for a quarterback in a deep class.
22 New England Patriots – Wide Receiver Julio Jones (Alabama)
Some of the shine has come off Jones’ star, but he is still a 1st round talent and could fill the void left by Randy Moss, who will likely be done in New England after 2010.
23 New York Giants – Running Back Ryan Williams (Virginia Tech)
The Giants deep stable of runners lacks a clear #1 and Ryan Williams looks like a near clone of DeAngelo Williams. He could step in and upgrade the Giants backfield.
24 Houston Texans – Defensive End Greg Romeus (Pittsburgh)
Romeus is a steal in the mid-20’s, as he could go as high as the Top 10. The Texans have invested a lot of high picks in their defense and continue the trend in 2011.
25 New Orleans Saints – Defensive Tackle Stephen Paea (Oregon State)
The Saints add the relentless Paea to pair with Sedrick Ellis. Once the weakness of the team, the Saints’ defense is on the rise.
26 Indianapolis Colts – Defensive Tackle Jurrell Casey (Southern California)
Indianapolis has had a gaping hole at defensive tackle for years and jumps at the opportunity to add a top talent. Casey emerged late in 2009 and could go much higher if he continues to improve.
27 Minnesota Vikings – Linebacker Travis Lewis (Oklahoma)
Ben Leber is a free agent following the 2010 season, and given his age, the Vikings may not bring him back. Lewis is an athletic and rangy linebacker who slides right in at OLB for Minnesota.
28 New York Jets – Defensive Tackle Jerrell Powe (Mississippi)
Powe has the makings of an elite nose tackle prospect, making him attractive to a 3-4 team like the Jets. Kris Jenkins is on the wrong side of 30 and the Jets need new blood at the position.
29 Green Bay Packers – Linebacker Akeem Ayers (UCLA)
Green Bay could use an upgrade across from Clay Matthews, and Ayers has the skill-set to wreak havoc off the edge.
30 San Diego Chargers – Offensive Tackle Joseph Barksdale
Marcus McNeill has failed to grow after a promising rookie season, and the Chargers have had issues at right tackle for several seasons. They can use help at both tackle spots.
31 Dallas Cowboys – Safety DeAndre McDaniel (Clemson)
Dallas has had somewhat of a revolving door at the safety position in recent seasons. Adding a versatile talent like McDaniel would help to remedy that.
32 Baltimore Ravens – Safety Will Hill (Florida)
Ed Reed is on the back end of his career, and Ozzie Newsome is known for grabbing elite talents who slip down the board a bit. Will Hill could explode onto the scene this year and has unlimited upside.
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