Adam’s First Round Mock Draft

If you haven’t heard yet, teams other than the Kansas City Chiefs are picking in the 2011 NFL Draft.  In fact, those teams play a very important role in the Chiefs’ draft since the Chiefs don’t pick in the top 5 this year.  Who the 20 teams before us pick can have a significant impact on who we draft.  So, for those wondering why I don’t think AJ Green or Julio Jones will be there for us at 21, take a look at one way I see the first round of the Draft going.

Pick 1     Carolina Panthers     Cam Newton Quarterback     Auburn

New coaches generally mean new QBs.  Carolina chooses Newton because they need a name to rejuvenate their team after last year’s dismal season.

Pick 2     Denver Broncos     Marcell Dareus     Defensive Tackle     Alabama

Denver is transitioning to the 4-3.  While they have DEs they have need of a quality DT.

Pick 3     Buffalo Bills     Von Miller     Outside Linebacker     Texas A&M

Last year Buffalo’s starting OLBs combined for 6 sacks.  Add Miller and you can double that number, at least.

Pick 4     Cincinnati Bengals     Blaine Gabbert     Quarterback     Missouri

The Bengals catch a break and find Gabbert sitting here so they can solve the QB problem Carson Palmer’s ultimatum created for them.

Pick 5     Arizona Cardinals     Robert Quinn     Outside Linebacker     North Carolina

Arizona’s two starting OLBs are both 34 and combined for only 10 sacks.  With the top 2 QBs gone Arizona addresses the defense here.

Pick 6     Cleveland Browns     A.J. Green     Wide Receiver     Georgia

The Browns find their number one WR here in Green.  QB Colt McCoy’s thank you card to the GM is forthcoming.

Pick 7     San Francisco 49ers     Patrick Peterson     Cornerback     LSU

The 49ers send their best sprinter to the podium to turn in this pick.  Peterson is the best player in the draft on many boards and will help the 49ers defense.

Pick 8     Tennessee Titans     Nick Fairley     Defensive Tackle     Auburn

The Titans pick Fairley here hoping that he can make them say, “Who’s Albert Haynesworth?”

Pick 9 Dallas Cowboys     Cameron Jordan     Defensive End     California

Igor Olshansky is on one side of the defensive front, but the other side is left open by free agency.  Jordan is a guy who has moved up the boards and will improve the Cowboys front 3 from Day 1.

Pick 10     Washington Redskins     Julio Jones     Wide Receiver     Alabama

The Redskins take Jones to make up for the 2 recent, previous misses on WR picks.  They get a solid number one here.  Now, if only they had someone to throw to him…

Pick 11     Houston Texans     Aldon Smith Outside Linebacker     Missouri

Transitioning to the 3-4 requires the right personnel.  The Texans are missing a big piece in not having a rushing OLB.

Pick 12     Minnesota Vikings     Prince Amukamara     Cornerback     Nebraska

Antoine Winfield is 34, Cedric Griffin is coming off 2 ACL tears.  They spent a high 2nd rounder on a CB last year, but with Amukamara sitting here they can’t pass him up.

Pick 13     Detroit Lions     Tyron Smith Offensive Tackle     USC

The Lions are a different team when QB Matt Stafford is healthy, so it might be a good idea to keep him healthy.  Smith will help do that.

Pick 14     St. Louis Rams     Corey Liuget     Defensive Tackle     Illinois

With the only 1^st round receivers off the board, the Rams look to add more pass rush by adding Liuget.

Pick 15     Miami Dolphins     Mark Ingram Running Back     Alabama

RBs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are both gone to free agency and with QB Chad Henne struggling, the Dolphins need a good running game more than ever.

Pick 16     Jacksonville Jaguars     Ryan Kerrigan     Defensive End     Purdue

Still reeling from missing on this position twice in a previous draft, the Jaguars hope Kerrigan can start to help them forget.

Pick 17     New England Patriots     J.J. Watt     Defensive End     Wisconsin

Some scouts are saying that Watt is one of the better 5-techniques seen in a while.  He’s there if the Patriots want him, but since this is a Patriot pick it is almost certain to be shopped around.

Pick 18     San Diego Chargers     Muhammad Wilkerson     Defensive End     Temple

The Chargers are hit hard by free agency and they start filling holes by taking the best player available at a need position.

Pick 19     New York Giants     Anthony Castonzo     Offensive Tackle     Boston College

Turnovers on offense are more likely to happen when the O-line isn’t protecting well enough.  Leading the league in giveaways, the Giants hope better protection equals fewer turnovers.

Pick 20     Tampa Bay Buccaneers     Adrian Clayborn     Defensive End     Iowa

In a Tampa 2 defense it is essential that the front four get pressure on the QB.  Knowing this they addressed the DT position twice last year.  Now they start on the DEs.

Pick 21     Kansas City Chiefs     Akeem Ayers     Outside Linebacker     UCLA

I have a love/hate relationship with Ayers here.  He makes a lot of sense, but I dislike some of his tape.  The value here is O-line, but I think the Chiefs are going to look defense with this pick.

Pick 22     Indianapolis Colts     Nate Solder     Offensive Tackle     Colorado

QB Peyton Manning is the franchise and his calls at the line have been covering O-line problems for a while.  It’s time to upgrade the talent on the line.

Pick 23     Philadelphia Eagles     Gabe Carimi     Offensive Tackle     Wisconsin

With Michael Vick soon to be their only starting QB, Philly needs to make sure he stays protected.

Pick 24     New Orleans Saints     Da’Quan Bowers     Defensive End     Clemson

With questions surrounding his knee, Bowers falls.  Needing to fill a vacancy at DE, the Saints are willing to take a chance here.

Pick 25     Seattle Seahawks     Mike Pouncey     Guard     Florida

While the QB position is uncertain, what isn’t uncertain is their need for an inside lineman to help protect whoever takes the snap from center.

Pick 26     Baltimore Ravens     Jimmy Smith Cornerback     Colorado

Of their top 3 CBs 1 is coming off an ACL injury and the other two are free agents.  It might be a good idea to draft a CB here.

Pick 27     Atlanta Falcons     Kyle Rudolph     Tight End     Notre Dame

This was the hardest pick of the mock here.  With Tony Gonzalez flirting with retirement this past offseason, the Falcons use this opportunity to draft his replacement.

Pick 28     New England Patriots     Justin Houston     Outside Linebacker     Georgia

The Patriots need to produce a better pass rush and Houston will help do that.  Once again, expect this pick to be shopped around.

Pick 29     Chicago Bears     Derek Sherrod     Offensive Tackle     Mississippi State

QB Jay Cutler spent most of last season fleeing for his life.  The lack of quality on the O-line caught up with the Bears in the playoffs.  This pick begins the renovation of that O-line

Pick 30     New York Jets     Brooks Reed     Outside Linebacker     Arizona

The Vernon Gholston experiment is over and it is a failure.  Imagine how good this top ten defense would be with a good OLB.

Pick 31     Pittsburgh Steelers     Aaron Williams     Cornerback     Texas

The only solid starting CB is stuck in free agency limbo right now.  Williams should fix that.

Pick 32     Green Bay Packers     Danny Watkins     Guard     Baylor

The Packers O-line is currently in need of help but with the only 1^st round tackles off the board the Packers go to the guard position.  Watkins may be a bit old (27), but since the Packers are winning now they aren’t scared off by it.

Thoughts?  Opinions?  Outrage?  Keep it clean and put it in the comments.