NFL Insider Today Final Mock Draft
1. Carolina Panthers – QB Cam Newton, Auburn
A new head coach includes a new direction for the Carolina Panthers. Jimmy Clausen simply did not show enough to warrant a second chance.
Previous Pick: DE De’Quan Bowers, Clemson
2. Denver Broncos – DT Marcell Dareus, Alabama
Denver’s defense will need to plug the middle, something they didn’t do last year, and compliment to Elvis Dumervil if they hope to stay in ballgames.
Previous Pick: DT Nick Fairley, Auburn
3. Buffalo Bills – OLB Von Miller, Texas A&M
Though the popular selection here is the top quarterback available, Buffalo’s top priority is inciting high pressure in a division that features two of the most highly regarded quarterbacks in the league.
Previous Pick: QB Cam Newton, Auburn
4. Cincinnati Bengals – WR AJ Green, Georgia
With Chad Ochocinco (or is it back to Johnson?) publically asking for a trade and Terrell Owens set to hit free agency, taking the Draft’s best available set of hands is Cincy’s top priority.
Previous Pick: WR AJ Green, Georgia
5. Arizona Cardinals – CB Patrick Peterson, LSU
Though taking a quarterback is an enticing option, head coach Ken Wisenhut is bent on adding a playmaker to the defense after the beating it took a year ago.
Previous Pick: QB Blaine Gabbert, Missouri
6. Cleveland Browns – DT Nick Fairley, Auburn
With Shaun Rogers recently released, Cleveland needs to add a body in the middle of their defensive line. They were not able to stop the run consistently in 2010 which led to the firing of Mike Singletary, and that need should be addressed here.
Previous Pick: DE Robert Quinn, North Carolina
7. San Francisco 49ers – DE De’Quan Bowers, Clemson
San Francisco receives a gift at the seven slot with the Draft’s top defensive end. Though injury is a concern for Bowers, he is truly a gift if he can stay healthy.
Previous Pick: DT Marcel Dareus, Alabama
8. Tennessee Titans – QB Blaine Gabbert, Missouri
With Vince Young getting the axe, Kerry Collins seems the unlikely choice as the long-term option at quarterback for Tennessee.
Previous Pick: DT Corey Liuget, Illinois
9. Dallas Cowboys – OT Tyron Smith, USC
Though Jerry Jones has expressed interest in trading down, Dallas will select the top available tackle to prevent another injury to Tony Romo if they stand pat.
Previous Pick: CB Patrick Peterson, LSU
10. Washington Redskins – DE Robert Quinn, UNC
Washington is another team that could be in the market for accumulating picks by trading down, but will take the best available player if they stand pat.
Previous Pick: OLB Von Miller, Texas A&M
11. Houston Texans – CB Prince Amukamara, Nebraska
Houston was beat too many times by the deep ball last year. With Brian Cushing returning for a full season, shoring up the secondary and adding talent opposite Kareem Jackson is a top priority for the gaping Texans defense.
Previous Pick: CB Prince Amakamura
12. Minnesota Vikings – QB Jake Locker, Washington
Leslie Fraser was appointed to the full-time head coaching job in Minnesota and will need to replace Brett Favre immediately. Joe Webb is not the answer and Fraser could take the potential top quarterback from 2010 if he had declared.
Previous Pick: DE Adrian Clayborne, Iowa
13. Detroit Lions – OT Nate Solder, Colorado
Detroit could either trade up to get a top corner, or trade down to accumulate picks. However, if they do not find a suitor look for a replacement for Gosder Cherilus, the 2008 Draft bust.
Previous Pick: CB Jimmy Smith, Colorado
14. St. Louis Rams – WR Julio Jones, Alabama
Sam Bradford and Josh McDaniels are hungry for some toys in an offense that featured a battered Steven Jackson and no deep threat to speak of.
Previous Pick: WR Julio Jones, Alabama
15. Miami Dolphins – RB Mark Ingram, Alabama
Both Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are free agents and Tony Sparano is on the hot seat. Mark Ingram could be both a reach and a fit at the same time.
Previous Pick: RB Mark Ingram, Alabama
16. Jacksonville Jaguars – DE Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue
Too many reports from the Florida presses have linked the leaky Jaguars front office to Ryan Kerrigan to ignore.
Previous Pick: DE Aldon Smith, Missouri
17. New England Patriots (from Oakland) – DE/OLB Aldon Smith
Bill Belichick has neglected to add a significant pass rusher since the glory days of Willie McGinest and Mike Vrabel. Trading up to take Robert Quinn at nine or ten is also an option with six picks in the first three rounds.
Previous Pick: DE Cameron Jordan, California
18. San Diego Chargers – DE Cameron Jordan, California
With Shawn Merriman in Buffalo and the days of Rodney Harrison and Junior Seau long gone, it is time for Norv Turner to focus this draft on retooling the Chargers defense; his job might depend on it.
Previous Pick: OLB Akeem Ayers, UCLA
19. New York Giants – C/G Mike Pouncey, Florida
Eli Manning took a beating last year and Ahmad Bradshaw feared driving through the middle. Taking the best available offensive lineman is crucial for a coach on the hot seat.
Previous Pick: OT Nate Solder, Colorado
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – CB Jimmy Smith, Colorado
Ronde Barber isn’t getting any younger and the secondary isn’t getting any better to conceal his (lack of) youth.
Previous Pick: DE Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue
21. Kansas City Chiefs – OLB Justin Houston, Georgia
The Chiefs are looking for the heir to Mike Vrabel, whose days seem to be numbered in the NFL (but rather plentiful on network television talking about the league…)
Previous Pick: DT Stephen Paea, Oregon State
22. Indianapolis Colts – OT Anthony Costanzo, Boston College
Peyton Manning’s streak of four games with eleven interceptions was a wakeup call for head coach Jim Caldwell to do something about his aging offensive line (to protect his aging quarterback).
Previous Pick: OT Tyron Smith, USC
23. Philadelphia Eagles – DE Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple
The Eagles drafted Brandon Graham a year ago and will continue to add size and strength on this defense until Andy Reid gets back to the Promised Land.
Previous Pick: S Rahim Moore, UCLA
24. New Orleans Saints – OLB Akeem Ayers, UCLA
With the loss of Scott Fujita a year ago, the Saints will need to retool their offense starting with an athletic linebacker who can run sideline to sideline.
Previous Pick: DE JJ Watt, Wisconsin
25. Seattle Seahawks – DT Stephen Paea, Oregon State
Though a quarterback could be in store later in the Draft, Pete Carroll first needs to address his defensive line before replacing a top ten quarterback.
Previous Pick: OT Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin
26. Baltimore Ravens – CB Brandon Harris, Miami (FL)
John Harbaugh knows too much about his defense to ignore the lack of true depth at cornerback his team has.
Previous Pick: CB Aaron Williams, Texas
27. Atlanta Falcons – DE Adrian Clayborn, Iowa
Though Kyle Rudolph could still be in the mix, adding a pass rusher or gap-closer is crucial after what Mike Smith witnessed in the NFC playoffs last season.
Previous Pick: TE Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame
28. New England Patriots – DE Cameron Heyward, Ohio State
With Ty Warren coming back from injury, the Pats now have a chance to add a 5-technique defensive end to play opposite of him and next to Vince Wilfork. An offensive guard or tackle could also be in the mix as well.
Previous Pick: OLB Justin Houston, Georgia
29. Chicago Bears – OT Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin
Though Lovie Smith loves to draft defensive players (or trade away drafts altogether), he will need to protect the investment he made in Jay Cutler two off-seasons ago.
Previous Pick: OT Anthony Constanzo, Boston College
30. New York Jets – DT Corey Liuget, Illinois
Though replacing Vernon Gholston is on the agenda, adding someone to shore up the defensive line is a bigger need for Rex Ryan’s defense.
Previous Pick: DE Cameron Heyward, Ohio State
31. Pittsburgh Steelers – CB Aaron Williams, Texas
Pittsburgh’s secondary was exposed during two critical weeks last season: Week Ten on national television against the Patriots, and the Super Bowl against the Packers.
Previous Pick: G Mike Pouncey, Florida
32. Green Bay Packers – OT Derek Sherrod, Mississippi State
Protecting the concussion-prone Aaron Rodgers’ blind side is just as important as winning in the playoffs…those two often coincide with each other.
Previous Pick: DE Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple
Written by: Jimmy King
Picks taken by: Jimmy King and Bill Young
