2011 Mock Draft 4/18/2011

by Andy
2011 NFL Mock Draft 4.0 for April 18th 2011

Carolina Panthers- DL- Marcell Dareus – Alabama: If you watched QB Camp with Gruden and Cam Newton, you know why Carolina isn’t going with Newton. The guy has all the talent in the world but is dumb and too cocky. He won’t be able to learn the NFL language or how to read pre snap defenses. Dareus is the best DL prospect and will be the corner stone of the Panthers D for a long time.

Denver Broncos- CB - Patrick Peterson - LSU: John Fox is running the show and will probably be content with Orton or Tebow this year. The D needs help and picking Peterson will not only help the secondary, it will also help the return game of the Broncos.

Buffalo Bills- LB – Von Miller – Texas A&M: Reading a lot about the draft and seeing the Nix is saying he feels they can win a championship with Fitz. If that is true and Ralph keeps outta the war room, Miller is the pick.

Cincinnati Bengals- QB – Blaine Gabbert – Missouri: Bengals have to be worried about Palmer and his threats, and even if they are empty promises, Palmer is getting older and Gabbert would benefit by sitting behind him for a year to learn, just like Carson did with Kitna.

Arizona Cardinals- QB – Cam Newton - Auburn: Even though they took 2 QB’s last year, I think the Cards would like to upgrade. Larry Fitz would love it too, since he is in a contract year.

Cleveland Browns- DE/OLB - Robert Quinn - North Carolina: Terrible pass rush last year leads to me to this pick. They took Harden last year, so why not take Quinn to force QB’s to make terrible throws right into Harden’s hands.

San Francisco 49ers- CB - Prince Amukamara – Nebraska: Clements is getting old and their defense is a few players short of being very good in the NFL.

Tennessee Titans- DL – Nick Fairley – Auburn: The Titans need someone like Haynesworth and Fairly can play the same role. Big guy, will demand double teams, but also has some speed off the ball, to disrupt handoffs and flush the QB.

Dallas Cowboys- OT – Tyron Smith – USC: Top OT prospect this year, and the Cowboys need help keeping Romo healthy.

Washington Redskins- WR – A.J. Green – Georgia: Don’t know who is throwing the ball, but whoever it is will need someone better than what the Redskins have. Green is big, fast, strong, and great hands.

Houston Texans- OLB/DE – Aldon Smith – Missouri: The more pressure they can put on Peyton Manning the better. They would love for Prince to fall here, but if not, they must go pass rush and Smith is a great fit.

Minnesota Vikings- QB – Jake Locker – Washington: They need a QB, Plain and Simple.

Detroit Lions- OLB - Akeem Ayers - UCLA: The Lions are another team with the need for help on the outside. Ayers possesses the skills of not only a strong pass rusher, but is versatile enough to drop back into coverage.

St. Louis Rams- WR - Julio Jones - Alabama: They almost made the playoffs this year, I’m as surprised as you are. Bradford has a decent year numbers wise, but needs better targets than Robinson and Gibson. Jones, who could go top 10, would be a nice pick for the Rams, and sure would make BOOOOOMER (Bradford) happy.

Miami Dolphins- OL - Mike Pouncey – Florida: RB is a glaring need for the Phins, but so is OL, and with no real stud RB in this year’s draft, they can address it in later rounds and take the top interior lineman prospect.

Jacksonville Jaguars- DE - Ryan Kerrigan - Purdue: 12.5 sacks in the Big Ten is a stat that could have this guy up in the early teens. Kerrigan is a force on the outside and with Jacksonville being always hurt/weak on the outside, Kerrigan fits perfectly here.

New England Patriots- RB - Mark Ingram - Alabama: Doesn’t matter who they take here, they will be good in the Patriots system. They need help getting younger on D, but Ingram is a player they can plug in right away and succeed.

San Diego Chargers- DE - Cameron Jordan - California: This guy is a beast and a five tool athlete that can play inside and outside on the front line. Could go a lot higher, as high as 9 to Dallas.

New York Giants- OT - Anthony Costanzo - Boston College: Giants need a tackle for the future and Costanzo can be that guy. Great size and strength, this guy will be a perfect fit after Diehl retires.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers- DE - Adrian Clayborn - Iowa: A lot of questions around his character, but the Bucs are in desperate need for help at DE. McCoy and Clayborn would complement each other perfectly and be a solid force for many years in Tampa.

Kansas City Chiefs- DE - Justin Houston - Georgia: Some experts say OT here, but the line did a pretty good job for Charles last year and with Tamba Hall being a FA, they need a DE.

Indianapolis Colts- DT - Stephen Paea - Oregon State: As always, the Colts D was bad. Paea will help clog the middle and allow more time for Dwight and Mathis to get around the ends. OT is also a big need, but can be addressed in the later rounds.

Philadelphia Eagels- CB - Brandon Harris - Miami: Has the talent to start as a rookie and make a hard impact on the defense. The O Line is beat up so OT may be a choice here.

New Orleans Saints- RB - Mikel Leshoure - Illinois: The Saints are good when they are running the ball successfully and getting safety’s inside the box to prevent the run. That allows Brees to air it out down the field. Without that run threat, they are not a Super Bowl team. Leshoure would be a nice compliment to Bush, if the resign him.

Seattle Seahawks- DT - Corey Liuget - Illinois: This pick ultimately will be determined by Matt Hasselback. If he leaves, QB becomes their number 1 need. If he stays, which I think he will, Liuget gets his number called. Todd McShay recently said this guy is comparable to Farley, so if true, this is a steal for the Seahawks.

Baltimore Ravens- WR - Titus Young - Boise State: TJ can’t catch (watch the last play against the Steelers in the playoffs this year) and Mason is getting old. Young is the speedy deep threat that can play opposite Boldin. Reminds a lot of scouts like Mike Wallace.

Atlanta Falcons- WR - Torrey Smith - Maryland: They have a franchise QB and a great WR in White. Smith would be a nice compliment to him. Tony Gonzo is getting older by the day, so another target for Ryan is choice for the Falcs. They do need help at CB, so a corner wouldn’t be a big surprise here.

New England Patriots- CB - Aaron Williams - Texas: A good corner in college with nice ball skills, a pretty good pick after Prince, Peterson and Harris.

Chicago Bears- OT - Derek Sherrod - Mississippi State: Cutler was sacked way too many times last year and still had a successful 2010. If he didn’t get hurt in the NFC Championship game, who knows what the outcome would have been. Sherrod is a very strong OT with good footwork. The right pick for the Bears.

New York Jets- WR - Jonathon Baldwin - Pittsburgh: With Holmes and Edwards FA’s the Jets may need help at WR. Baldwin is a big target and has all the talent in the world. Just has to be coached on how to use it.

Pittsburgh Steelers- CB – Jimmy Smith – Colorado: The Steelers weak link always seem to be CB, so any CB is a good call at this spot. Smith is climbing fast, so if he is not here, look for Harris or Williams.

Green Bay Packers- DE - Cameron Heyward – Ohio State: Jenkins is a FA and always in trouble with the law. Heyward brings intensity and hustle every play, and would fit right into Dom Capers D scheme.