Without further ado... here's my Mock Draft 1.0
1. 1) Carolina Panthers
Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
2. 2) Denver Broncos
Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
This was almost as easy as Bowers at #1; can someone please explain to me why I’m not a GM? I don’t care that the Bronco’s overpaid for one more year of Champ Bailey, the contract is only guaranteed this year; no way they bring him back at 15 million next season. Peterson is a freak of an athlete at 6’1” 211 and adds not only a shutdown corner but a dangerous return game.
3. 3) Buffalo Bills
Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
Exhibit A of why I should be a GM. Newton screams “QB I don’t want to take, especially very high with a team that has needs at every position” louder than every quarterback this side of Jake Locker. The Bills need to make a splash/sell tickets. The franchise needs to show direction and clearly they feel Fitzpatrick isn’t the future. Cam could be good but he is not NFL ready and really needs work; watching his combine tape I wonder if he can succeed in a pro-style offense. The Bills made a luxury selection last year with Spiller and this feels the same way.
4. 4) Cincinnati Bengals
Quintorris (Julio) Jones, WR, Alabama
Seriously? Your name is Quintorris and you change that? Name rule A) don’t change your name if it starts with a Q. Ok back to the selection, did you see his 40? ON A BROKEN FOOT?? Cincinnati needs a new identity now that we’re out of the Chad Ochocinco/Johnson and Carson Palmer era. Cincinnati has a chance to add the best WR in the draft and with a potential Palmer trade another pick this year or next year to get someone to throw to him or maybe in the second round if a top tier QB slides (Hey Aaron Rodgers!) or develop one of the second tier QBs.
5. 5) Arizona Cardinals
Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
Pretty sure a Larry Fitzgerald will not be happy about this pick. The Cardinals have so many needs you could draw a name from a hat and likely find a good fit. Even Green would make sense here if they don’t envision themselves making Fitz happy (we’ll gladly take him from you in Jacksonville!) Miller shined at the combine and continues to show why he’ll be a stud in the NFL and would be a great edge rusher in Arizona’s 3-4.
1. 6) Cleveland Browns
Adriel Jeremiah (A.J.) Green, WR Georgia
Colt McCoy will have someone to throw near next year. Hope you’re happy Cleveland, another star to leave you crying and/or burning jersey’s when he leaves town. Enjoy him while he lasts. (Insert Michael Scott joke here). But really this is a great pick for Cleveland, they need help everywhere but if they ever want to see if Colt is a future starter or not he has to have someone to throw to. Green is a good route-runner with size, would have liked to have seen a faster 40 but not too worried about it.
1. 7) San Francisco 49ers
Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
Jim Harbaugh gets a solid piece to his defense in his first draft. I’m not buying the one year hype of Fairley. Harbaugh flirts with Amukamara, just like he flirted with the Miami Dolphins and John Elway but settles on a tackle to improve his defense. I could see the 9ers go many different directions with this pick, including Blaine Gabbert of Missouri but I’m sold that Harbaugh wants a veteran QB.
1. 8) Tennessee Titans
Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
How bad must this be for Bud? Divorced both Vince Young and Jeff Fischer in the same month and then gets turned down by his next crush, Cam Newton. Tragic, I almost feel for the guy. So Gabbert comes off the board. Still not sold on Gabbert at the next level and while I’m pretty confident Bud Adams is desperately hoping to draft his next bromance in Cam Newton here I highly doubt he falls. Sorry Bud.
1. 9) Dallas Cowboys
Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
I fully anticipate the Cowboys leaving this spot and trading back for an offensive tackle, most likely either Solder of Colorado or Carimi from Wisconsin. Unless they want 4 more months of misery watching Tony Romo be overrated while being injured. Wait what am I talking about, let’s worry about having football before we worry about Tony Romo getting old. Amukamara is a good corner who can help transition the team from Terence Newman who is also getting old. Hopefully Jerry gets all the seats inline so people can actually watch him play.
1. 10) Washington Redskins
Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
Looks like Washington fans (they have those right?) get to struggle through another year of Rex Grossman and/or Donovan McNabb. If Shanahan doesn’t take him someone would be calling at this point trying to get the pick for Fairley (or already did one spot up). If Newton/Gabbert are gone, which is highly likely, they could reach on Mallett/Locker or wait til the second round to get a QB.
1. 11) Houston Texans
Aldon Smith, OLB, Missouri
Might be a bit of a reach but there isn’t a safety or corner that is worthy of the pick here, Smith is athletic and can help out in the new 3-4, which by the way was a horrible decision by the Texans. Their personal does not fit a 3-4. Looks like we’ll be looking at another 5-7 win team, mid 1st round pick, getting more ‘talent’, not developing it (wait am I still talking about Houston or am I talking about my Jaguars now???) and somehow Gary Kubiak still has a job? If this were NBA would LeBron be talking about contraction? (I’m just kidding Houston, don’t kill me!)
1. 12) Minnesota Vikings
Jake Locker, QB, Washington
This is a “I want this kid off the board before my team picks” pick. Minnesota needs to move on from the TJack era and Webb isn’t the future. Maybe somewhere else but not in Minnesota, Webb seems like one of those QBs that you convince everyone else they are better than they really are so you can get a 2nd or 3rd rounder for him in the future. Yeah exactly, just like Kevin Kolb. This pick makes perfect sense, Vikings fans are already use to horrible interceptions that shouldn’t have ever been thrown which will lessen the difficulty of the Favre to Locker transition.
1. 13) Detroit Lions
Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
I think Solder will make an excellent LT in the league, but for all of you who are going to say “this is a reach” answer me this: Do you want Stafford to survive another year? It’s not a reach because currently Matt Stafford will be going down the Ryan Carr path if you don’t get someone to protect him. Plus did you SEE this kid run? You’ll thank me later.
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1. 14) St. Louis Rams
Robert Quinn, DE, UNC
The Rams would likely trade out of this spot if they can’t get a WR or OLB. They’ve been hoping to upgrade Sam Bradford’s supporting cast with a WR but I highly doubt either Green or Jones drops to them, they’d have to go up to get them and this draft is deep enough they don’t really need to do that. I expect Quinn to be off the board before here if he falls this far but rightnow he is clearly the best talent available.
1. 15) Miami Dolphins
Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois
Miami needs a RB and Leshoure will deliver. Ingram may be the household name but Leshoure is a better RB. And he’ll cost substantially less than Stephen Ross offered Jim Harbaugh a few months ago. While Harbaugh did his best college girl impression and flirted with South Beach while he really had no interest in leaving California.
1. 16) Jacksonville Jaguars
Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
Apparently Rashean Mathis is old and what’s better than bringing back the best WR in franchise history? Oh this is a different Jimmy Smith? F. Ok. Jags need help on the corner and while Smith played for a poor team he can help out. He’s a tall kid, 6’2” 211 and runs well. Jags could go with Watt here as well.
1. 17) New England Patriots
Tyron Smith, OT, USC
Thanks for the pick Al! Patriots nation has to be pretty happy to have as many picks as they do. Not sure if they are happier with having the picks or knowing they no longer have to deal with Randy Moss. The Patriots need to worry about protecting Brady as he gets older more than they need anything else. Smith is a big quick tackle and can help protect Brady’s blind side.
1. 18) San Diego Chargers
Cameron Jordan, DE, California
Chargers seem to like taking players from California in the 1st round. Jordan has good speed/athleticism combo and will work well with veteran ends Castillo and Cesaire. The team could go with a linebacker or a wide receiver to replace Vincent Jackson, but I don’t see them getting a top tier guy at either position in this spot.
1. 19) New York Giants
Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
New York is getting old on the offensive line, especially at tackle. Castonzo isn’t ready to step in and be a starting LT day one but they need to get some protection for younger and worse Manning. Speaking of protection, if Plaxico comes back as a Giant they also need someone to protect him from himself, easier said than done.
1. 20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin
Jaaaaaash Freeman! Let’s go back to the 2009 Draft, you’ve got your choice: Matt Stafford, Mark Sanchez or Jaaaaaash Freeman. Who do you take? Now I’m not saying Freeman should have been the 1st selection (or maybe I am?). The only other QB picked in rounds two and three? Pat White to Miami at 44. We’ll come back to that argument at some point. A year after drafting McCoy and Price the Buccs add another young player to their defensive front. The Buccs continue to get better each year, I expect to see them in the Playoffs next year.
1. 21) Kansas City Chiefs
Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA
I think I’m going to start #FreeJamaalCharles is there any other coach in the league who is more detrimental to a player’s fantasy value than Todd Haley? Seriously give me one. We need to come up with Fantasy Laws, where we can have coaches arrested for knowingly hurting their player’s fantasy value. Maybe we need a Fantasy Lockout? Part of me thinks Todd passed up Charles in his leagues draft and was trying to ride Thomas Jones to the title. Ok back to the draft; Akeem is a perfect fit here, great athlete and would complement Tamba Hali. OLB is a huge weakness for KC so they absolutely need to get one in this draft.
1. 22) Indianapolis Colts
Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
Peyton Manning can’t last forever, right? If he keeps getting hit his legs will go Kobe on him, right? I’m not one to wager against Peyton but I’d be shocked to see Indianapolis go anywhere other than offensive line with this pick. Then again I was sure Saffold was going to be their pick last year. Carimi would be a great fit in Indy, just like Balaga was a good fit in Green Bay last season.
1. 23) Philadelphia Eagles
Mike Pouncey, G/C, Florida
The Eagles lose Jean-Gilles into Free Agency, assuming there is a Free Agency this year and the clubs right side struggled last year. Pouncey is a good interior blocker and could help shore up Mike Vick’s protection quickly.
1. 24) New Orleans Saints
Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
What an up and down roller coaster last year seemed for the Saints after winning the title last year, injuries to basically every man labeled a running back hurt the team a lot. Still the team ended up 11-5. Another factor limiting the Saints was their inefficient pass rush. Clayborn is a physical pass-rusher who can hold up against the run and should give both Alex Brown and Will Smith some pressure early to start.
1. 25) Seattle Seahawks
Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
Sorry Clipboard Jesus, you’re not the next Seattle star. Oh and Matt, you’re old. Wait, how did these guys not only make the playoffs but WIN a game?!? Ok Pete, you’ve still got it, good thing you can legally pay your athletes now. Mallett is an interesting prospect, he is the last of the top tier of QB’s, and could be taken by numerous teams before this position. There have been numerous character issues that many bring up, mainly potential drug use. I’m not sure how much this hurts him but he can look like the best QB in the world one play and thirty seconds later Mike Vick a ball right into a DBs hands. It baffles me. If he goes somewhere where he can sit for a few years he could be good, if he is forced to play day 1, I’m not so optimistic. (too bad this isn’t the 24th pick or I’d throw out an Aaron Rodgers reference).
1. 26) Baltimore Ravens
Brandon Harris, CB, Miami (FL)
The Ravens are losing a trio of DBs to Free Agency and need to add another body in the secondary. Aaron Williams of Texas and Ras-I Dowling of Virginia are other possibilities if they stay with a DB. They could also go with a defensive end or wide receiver if one appeals to them, Housh and Mason are getting old and the team doesn’t have a vertical threat.
1. 27) Atlanta Falcons
Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland
Roddy White… and who else catch passes from Matt Ryan? Yeah, thought so. Smith gives Matt Ryan a vertical threat and helps diversify the offense. I almost went RB here; I really could see the team pulling the trigger on Mark Ingram or Mikel Leshoure if either are available. Michael Turner is getting old and adding miles to his odometer and either could help lessen his load and keep him around longer.
1. 28) New England Patriots
Justin Houston, OLB, Georgia
Didn’t the Pats already draft? Doesn’t that mean they are guaranteed to trade out of this pick? Someone? Alright I’ll calm down. I’ve never seen the pats draft for need, and I’m not sure this would count because Houston is worthy of a late 1st rounder. Many feel he is a tweener between 4-3 end and 3-4 lb, but if anyone can find a way to maximize his talent its Bill Belichick.
1. 29) Chicago Bears
Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois
Paging Jay Quitler, how’s your knee? Better than your decision making yet? No? Ouch. Don’t let Chicago down… They’ll blame a goat. DT isn’t a glaring need in Chicago but Liuget is a serious talent who was overshadowed by playing on a piss poor team. He could be the best DT in the draft and because he choose to be coached by Ron Zook he might not be a 1st round pick. Liuget needs to figure out his bench, if he improves on that at Pro Day, which I expect, you can expect his stock to fly sky high.
1. 30) New York Jets
Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
Kerrigan is a great value pick for the Jets, while filling a need. He led the nation in tackles for loss last year. Is a tweener between OLB/DE but Rex can find something for him to do. Worst case scenario I’ve heard he is good at karaoke and we all know Rex loves some Footloose!
1. 31) Pittsburgh Steelers
Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple
Who gets to punch Roethlisberger in the face next? Apparently that spurs him to Super Bowl’s, so maybe next time you want to punch Campbell Seymour. It’s really a win win, if you end up inspiring him to a Super Bowl, win. If you knock him out and he can never play again… Win. And in the end Al Davis will still pay you because he can’t remember what happened twenty seconds ago. Oh, this is the Steelers pick? My bad. Steelers don’t need a DT but Wilkerson is a great value here. He can help give the d more depth and maybe he’ll punch Campbell next year? I’m sure Raiders fans would appreciate that.
1. 32) Green Bay Packers
Christian Ballard, DE, Iowa
Congrats Packers, as I have apparently been told you are completely lucky because Ted Thompson is “lucky as S**t”. Hey I’m not a Packer fan and I defended you. Nothing makes me smile more than telling Brett Favre to sext himself. Errr something like that. And I feel pretty confident in saying that Aaron, congrats you’re more popular among Packer fans than Favre ever was. I just decided that. The Packers defense was good last year and they don’t need anything particularly. Ballard is the best player available and, well when you’re the defending champs you can have the luxury of drafting whoever the hell you want. I could see the Pack going a few different ways here; they could use any offensive line help if it’s available. I could see them jumping on Mark Ingram or Mikel Leshoure as well. Also keep an eye on Daniel Thomas from Kansas. I don’t think he is a 1st rounder, but he is a flyer who is a good pass catcher and could add another dimension to the Packers vaunted offense. I could see ‘Nova OT Benjamin Ijalana going off the board here too. Hell I’d spend every single draft pick protecting Aaron Rodgers if he was my QB.
