With only a week to go until the 2011 NFL Draft, it's about time for me to jump into the Mock Draft party and give you my Two-Round Mock Draft. This will be more of a prediction of the actual draft rather than what I would do, so that all of you can heckle me when I only get the first 3 picks right and nothing more.
This is my first attempt at a Mock Draft, so I'm preparing myself to take several lumps from our fine readers. Let the fun begin!
1. Carolina Panthers - Cam Newton, QB, Auburn: It's become almost mandatory for teams to take a Quarterback with the first pick, and despite using their first pick last year on a QB, they'll pick Newton first overall.
2. Denver Broncos - Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama: Broncos need defensive help desperately, and Dareus has separated himself from the rest of the pack on the DL.
3. Buffalo Bills - Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M: Miller has the top SACKseer projection in the draft, according to Football Outsiders, which is their measure for the best edge rusher. For a team that needs to get to Tom Brady twice a year, he's a great pick.
4. Cincinnati Bengals - Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri: For some strange reason, I believe Carson Palmer when he says he'll never play for the Bengals again, so the Bengals must look at QB.
5. Arizona Cardinals - Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina: I think the Cardinals want a QB here, but none of the others have any value as a top 5 pick. The defensive line should get an upgrade over a CB, so Quinn is the pick.
6. Cleveland Browns - A. J. Green, WR, Georgia: The Browns need playmakers on offense, and Green would definitely fill that role. He'll start Game 1 in Cleveland.
7. San Francisco 49ers - Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU: Some experts have him as the best talent in the draft, and CBs rarely bust when picked in the top 10. 49ers get a steal here.
8. Tennessee Titans - Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn: The Titans haven't been the same defense since Albert Haynesworth left, so they'll draft a guy who could end up just as good as Big Al, but without all the drama. Can't see them going QB or WR this high.
9. Dallas Cowboys - Tyron Smith, OT, USC: All about up-side with Smith here, who could step in midway through the season and be a starter for 10+ years in the league. Hopefully for the Cowboys Tony Romo is still uninjured at that point.
10. Washington Redskins - Julio Jones, WR, Alabama: I can only imagine what Owner Dan Snyder thought seeing Jones run at the combine on a broken foot, and killing every drill. He hasn't been able to play Fantasy Football Owner with Free Agency, so he will here with Jones.
11. Houston Texans - Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska: If the Texans take anyone on the offensive side of the ball their fans should riot. Amukamara falls into their laps here, instantly helping the worst pass defense in the NFL.
12. Minnesota Vikings - Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson: A guy who some thought could go #1 overall falls all the way to #12? That defensive line would be a nightmare to play against.
13. Detroit Lions - Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri: This was the toughest pick so far, as there isn't a perfect fit. Smith is the best pass rusher available, and even though he may fit better in a 3-4, I trust Jim Schwartz could coach him up perfectly well in the 4-3.
14. St. Louis Rams - Mike Pouncey, OG/C, Florida: His brother Maurkice playing so well last season for the Steelers will give Mike a bump here, and the Rams need help on the interior of their OL.
15. Miami Dolphins - Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State: The QB situation in Miami isn't good at all, and there really isn't another position of need where a player fits, so go get the guy they hope to lead them into the future. Ponder goes over the others because he's a better passer and has no character issues.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars - Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue: If the Jaguars can't stop Peyton Manning, they won't go to the Playoffs. Kerrigan is high-energy, and won't stop until he gets to the QB.
17. New England Patriots - J. J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin: Ideal fit for the 3-4, he'll instantly upgrade the defensive line of a very young defense.
18. San Diego Chargers - Cameron Jordan, DE, California: Another 3-4 DE, and he'll get significant playing time for the Chargers, who underwhelmed many last season.
19. New York Giants - Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois: This pick could be used on a OL, but like many other teams, the Giants need some bulk in the center of the DL to help out Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa: The run on DL continues with the Bucs, who also need help rushing the passer, something Clayborn is very adept at doing.
21. Kansas City Chiefs - Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor: The Chiefs get their big NT to anchor their 3-4 defense. Pretty easy choice here.
22. Indianapolis Colts - Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College: Four year starter, three of which at LT. He is also versatile enough to play other positions on the OL, is a smart kid, and looks to be a great fit for the Colts.
23. Philadelphia Eagles - Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado: The Eagles are pretty thin at CB, and an in-your-face cover corner is exactly what the Eagles need with their blitz-heavy scheme.
24. New Orleans Saints - Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama: The Saints were on RBs 5 and 6 in their playoff game against the Seahawks, so getting somebody in there that might stay healthy may be a good idea.
25. Seattle Seahawks - Jake Locker, QB, Washington: Hometown pick here, but Matt Hasselback is near the end of his career, and the Seahawk fans will get behind the guy they cheered for while wearing their purple.
26. Baltimore Ravens - Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA: Ravens once again get richer on defense in Round 1, getting a pass-rushing LB to play alongside Terrell Suggs.
27. Atlanta Falcons - Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame: Tony Gonzalez is getting up there in age, and the Falcons give QB Matt Ryan another pass-catching option. ND Tight Ends have been pretty successful as of late in the NFL, including Anthony Fasano and John Carlson.
28. New England Patriots - Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin: Carimi can play multiple position on the OL, and he might get moved around several times early on, depending on the status of a couple Free Agents.
29. Chicago Bears - Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State: With the loss of Tommie Harris to FA, the Bears fill his hole with one of the strongest prospects in draft history.
30. New York Jets - Cameron Hayward, DE, Ohio State: The Jets keep upgrading their defense, getting a strong 3-4 DE to add to their rotation.
31. Pittsburgh Steelers - Nate Solder, OT, Colorado: Steelers have needed OL help the past 3 or 4 seasons, and they will continue the improvement process with Solder, who is a big guy that should thrive in the Steelers system.
32. Green Bay Packers - Justin Houston, OLB, Georgia: The Super Bowl Champs don't have a huge need anywhere, but getting another edge pass rusher opposite of Clay Matthews looks good to me.
Round 2:
33. New England Patriots - Mikel Lashoure, RB, Illinois
34. Buffalo Bills - Ryan Mallet, QB, Arkansas
35. Cincinnati Bengals - Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh
36. Denver Broncos - Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina
37. Cleveland Browns - Martez Wilson, LB, Illinois
38. Arizona Cardinals - Brooks Reed, LB, Arizona
39. Tennessee Titans - Andy Dalton, QB, TCU
40. Dallas Cowboys - Aaron Williams, CB, Texas
41. Washington Redskins - Danny Watkins, OG, Baylor
42. Houston Texans - Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, Temple
43. Minnesota Vikings - Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada
44. Detroit Lions - Brandon Harris, CB, Miami
45. San Francisco 49ers - Randall Cobb, WR, Kentucky
46. Denver Broncos - Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State
47. St. Louis Rams - Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland
48. Oakland Raiders - Ben Ijalana, OT, Villanova
49. Jacksonville Jaguars - Rahim Moore, S, UCLA
50. San Diego Chargers - Jabaal Sheard, DE, Pittsburgh
51. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Bruce Carter, LB, North Carolina
52. New York Giants - Quan Sturdivant, LB, North Carolina
53. Indianapolis Colts - Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami
54. Philadelphia Eagles - Marcus Cannon, OT, TCU
55. Kansas City Chiefs - Sam Acho, OLB, Texas
56. New Orleans Saints - Allen Bailey, DE, Miami
57. Seattle Seahawks - Rodney Hudson, OG, Florida State
58. Baltimore Ravens - Titus Young, WR, Boise State
59. Atlanta Falcons - Drake Nevis, DT, LSU
60. New England Patriots - Brandon Burton, CB, Utah
61. San Diego Chargers -Johnny Patrick, CB, Louisville
62. Chicago Bears - James Brewer, OT, Indiana
63. Pittsburgh Steelers -Clint Boling, OG/OT, Georgia
64. Green Bay Packers - Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech