Fran Duffy Three Round 2011 Mock Draft - Post NFL Scouting Combine
03-03-2011
Fran Duffy steps up to the plate and offers a three round mock draft now that the NFL Scouting Combine is complete. This is a chance for players who impressed at the Combine to make a move.
Round 1
| Pick | Team | Pos | Player | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carolina Panthers | DE | Da'Quan Bowers # | Clemson |
| There have been concerns with Bowers regarding the knee injury he suffered in the latter part of the 2010 season, but by his accounts he has fully recovered and will be ready for the start of Training Camp (if there is one). Defensive end may not be the most glaring need for the Panthers or even their defense for that matter, but like a franchise quarterback, you never pass on an elite pass rusher if you don't already have one. Nick Fairley would be my second choice here, as the Panthers haven't had an impact player inside since Kris Jenkins was in his prime. A.J. Green and Patrick Peterson are both possibilities in this slot as well depending on the situations surrounding Carolina's Steve Smith and Chris Gamble, both who have been rumored to want out of Charlotte. | ||||
| 2 | Denver Broncos | DT | Nick Fairley # | Auburn |
| With John Fox entering the fold, Denver will be switching back to a 4-3 defensive front, meaning their personnel on the whole will have to change. Right now, their most impressive player in the interior is Jamal Williams, a career 3-4 nose guard who has had each of the past two seasons end prematurely. Fairley will be a star in the 3-technique for the Broncos for years to come, and is a no-brainer in my mind in this spot. Even though the team re-signed Champ Bailey, his age paired with Perrish Cox's legal issues make cornerback a need, meaning Patrick Peterson could be the pick here. Meanwhile, the team may look at adding another pass rusher, so Von Miller and Robert Quinn are also options. | ||||
| 3 | Buffalo Bills | DT | Marcell Dareus # | Alabama |
| The Bills have definitive holes on their defense, and it all starts up front. Buffalo often switched back and forth between both a 4-3 and 3-4 defense in 2010, and if that trend continues, Dareus will be a great fit, as he can make an impact in both schemes. Dareus is a thick kid with good athleticism for a guy his size, and he has the ability to take over games. The Bills have often been a wildcard in the NFL Draft, and could surprise people with this pick as well. They have issues at quarterback, and with head coach Chan Gailey's affinity for mobility under center Cam Newton could be the route they take. Their pass rush leaves a lot to be desired also, so they very well could opt for Von Miller or Robert Quinn with their choice. | ||||
| 4 | Cincinnati Bengals | WR | A.J. Green # | Georgia |
| The Bengals have a whole host of issues at multiple positions, so they are a wildcard with the fourth pick overall. They have needs at wide receiver, quarterback, defensive line and in the secondary, meaning there are a number of different ways they could possibly go with this pick. With a number of receivers being available for free agency next year though, I think they get great value in A.J. Green at this spot. Green is one of the top two or three players in this class regardless of position, and he gives the Bengals an immediate threat in the passing game opposite the aging Chad Ochocinco. If they don't go with Green, then I would expect a pass rusher in the form of Robert Quinn or Von Miller, or possibly cornerback Patrick Peterson with the impending departure of Johnathan Joseph on the horizon. Carson Palmer was recently quoted saying he would never play another down in Paul Brown Stadium, meaning the need for a quarterback may overtake all if they take his threats seriously. | ||||
| 5 | Arizona Cardinals | 34LB/OLB | Von Miller | Texas A&M |
| The Cardinals have a number of quality players on their defense, but one thing they haven't been able to really add to the unit is a quality pass rusher. The team tried recruiting help in that department when they signed veteran Joey Porter, but he was a disappointment after posting just five sacks. Miller is the premier pass rusher in this draft, with the athleticism and explosion to excel at the next level. The Cardinals are another team who could spring for a quarterback, whether it be Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbert or Jake Locker. | ||||
| 6 | Cleveland Browns | DE/34LB | Robert Quinn # | North Carolina |
| The Browns are another team switching back from a 3-4 to a 4-3, meaning they'll have to make some decisions personnel-wise. Regardless, right now they don't have many linemen that can play defensive end in their new system. This is a perfect landing spot for Quinn who, in my opinion, will be better with his hand on the ground in a 4-3 scheme. The Browns recently committed to Colt McCoy as their starting quarterback for 2011, so I don't foresee a signal caller coming off the board here, but Patrick Peterson would form a tremendous cornerback duo with Joe Haden, while Julio Jones will be a tough player to pass on as well to pair with their young quarterback. | ||||
| 7 | San Francisco 49ers | CB | Patrick Peterson # | LSU |
| This is a dream situation for the 49ers and Jim Harbaugh, as one of the top players in the draft, at a dire position of need no less, falls to them at No. 7 overall. Peterson will start from Day One at the Bay and will anchor a 49er secondary for years. This is a no brainer for them if the cards fall this way. That being said ? if Harbaugh happens to fall in love with any of these quarterbacks available, don't be surprised to go that route. We know the adage about franchise quarterbacks by this point in the draft process don't we? | ||||
| 8 | Tennessee Titans | QB | Blaine Gabbert # | Missouri |
| Speaking of franchise quarterback issues, Tennessee is in desperate need of one after parting ways with Vince Young. Kerry Collins is way up there in years and Chris Simms is still an unknown even at this stage of his career. I haven't been on the Gabbert bandwagon but his name keeps being linked to Nashville so it wouldn't shock me to see them go with him when the time comes. Obviously both Cam Newton and Jake Locker are possibilities here as well. If they decide not to go with a quarterback, the Titans could use additional help on defense, which could come in the form of Prince Amukamara. Wide receiver is another option, making Julio Jones the prime choice at that slot. | ||||
| 9 | Dallas Cowboys | DE | Cameron Jordan | California |
| The Cowboys are in a rare position for a team in the Top Ten in that they don't have too many glaring needs. Lucky for them, their biggest position of need happens to be the biggest strength of this draft class, defensive line. One guy that really grew on me as a prospect is Cameron Jordan, who played in a 3-4 at Cal and would serve that same role in "Big D." He?s a good athlete for a guy his size and is a great addition to their run defense. If they don't like Jordan, there are plenty of other choices to pick from, including Wisconsin's J.J. Watt and Temple's Muhammad Wilkerson. The secondary is another area of need, so the team very well could add Prince Amukamara here. Jerry Jones has been linked to quarterback Cam Newton as of late, but it remains to be seen if the interest is real or just a smokescreen. | ||||
| 10 | Washington Redskins | QB | Cam Newton # | Auburn |
| What's spring without Daniel Snyder going after the most hyped name on the market in free agency? Wait... no free agency? Well what could that mean? I think Snyder is foaming at the mouth at the idea of pulling in the most talked about name in the sport, professional or college, over the past six months. Newton fills a huge need for the Redskins, giving head coach Mike Shanahan a quarterback to mold into his own in the capital. The 'Skins also have holes on the defensive line as well as in the secondary, meaning J.J. Watt, Prince Amukamara and Stephen Paea are all possibilities at the ten spot. | ||||
| 11 | Houston Texans | CB | Prince Amukamara | Nebraska |
| The Texans have had a need at the cornerback position since, well, their inception. The team went out and spent a first-round pick on Kareem Jackson in 2010, but they still need additional help. Amukamara has the size to play safety and the speed to play corner, making him a great option for a team that needs both. I really don?t foresee them taking anyone else if the draft fell this way, but if they were forced to go another route I could see them addressing the defensive line. The team is moving to a 3-4 so J.J. Watt and Muhammad Wilkerson would make ideal defensive ends, while Stephen Paea would be perfect at nose tackle. | ||||
| 12 | Minnesota Vikings | DE | J.J. Watt # | Wisconsin |
| Over the past couple of years, the defensive line has been the anchor of the Minnesota Vikings with Pat and Kevin Williams and, of course, Jared Allen. Ray Edwards may be heading for greener (as in more money) pastures this offseason, meaning there will be an empty slot at the left defensive end spot. Enter Watt, who would flourish alongside the three aforementioned Pro Bowlers. The Vikings obviously have a huge hole under center, but I think it?s more likely for them to address that through free agency (obviously the lack of free agency throws a wrench into that theory ? so we?ll have to see how it plays out). | ||||
| 13 | Detroit Lions | OT | Tyron Smith # | USC |
| In terms of their needs as a football team, the Lions are really in no man's land at 13th Overall. They're too far out of reach for one of the top corners, and I don't think Akeem Ayers has shown that he's worthy of being a Top-15 selection. That being said, it probably behoove them to trade down ? but for the sake of this mock I have them drafting a blindside protector to help keep their prize quarterback off his back. Smith is one of, if not the, best pass protectors in the draft class, and makes the Lions better at two positions as it allows Jeff Backus to slide inside to guard. If the Lions choose to go a different route, they could add cornerback Jimmy Smith, Ayers or Colorado's Nate Solder. | ||||
| 14 | St. Louis Rams | WR | Julio Jones # | Alabama |
| Another slam-dunk selection for a team in the Top-15, Jones makes perfect sense for the Rams here. They desperately need more weapons to put at Sam Bradford's proposal, and Julio Jones put himself into the upper echelon of prospects after the year he had in 2010. Pair last season with his performance at the NFL Combine and this is one of the best fits yet in the draft. Jones would also flourish in new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' system, making him and Bradford one of the top combinations in the league. If for some odd reason the Rams decide not to take Jones, they could decide to take a defensive tackle (although history tells them NOT to do that i.e. Adam Carriker, Jimmy Kennedy and Damione Lewis), making Muhammad Wilkerson or Marvin Austin the choice here. | ||||
| 15 | Miami Dolphins | RB | Mark Ingram # | Alabama |
| This seems to be the chic pick among Mock Drafters, and I looked for a reason to deter from it but I couldn't find any. With Ronnie Brown an impending free agent the Dolphins have a huge hole to fill in their rushing attack, and Ingram should fill it. He's a tough back with great vision who should fit in nicely with what the Dolphins like to do on offense. Miami doesn't have great confidence in Chad Henne so Jake Locker or Ryan Mallett would be possibilities in this spot. Both lines could use some additional depth as well and I expect Miami to fill those needs later in the draft. | ||||
| 16 | Jacksonville Jaguars | QB | Jake Locker | Washington |
| The first surprise pick in this draft, not many people have the Jaguars taking a quarterback in Round One. However, I believe Garrard's time is running out in Jacksonville, and Jack Del Rio and company will be looking for someone else to take over under center. Locker is my favorite quarterback in this draft, and a solid showing at the Combine only helped further my opinion of him. If the Jaguars don't go for Locker, I could see them addressing the defensive end position with Ryan Kerrigan or Aldon Smith. | ||||
| 17 | New England Patriots | DE | Ryan Kerrigan | Purdue |
| The Pats are a prime candidate to trade up in this draft as they have a plethora of picks in the first three rounds. Since I don't have trades in this mock however, I like New England taking pass rusher Ryan Kerrigan. Kerrigan was ultra productive during his time with the Boilermakers, and he would be a good fit in an organization like New England's. Aldon Smith (Missouri) is another pass rusher the Patriots could look at. If they decided to wait to add a linebacker, they could go the route of wide receiver with Jonathan Baldwin, offensive line with Nate Solder or cornerback with Jimmy Smith. | ||||
| Pick | Team | Pos | Player | School |
| 18 | San Diego Chargers | DT | Muhammad Wilkerson # | Temple |
| The Chargers are another team with a large number of picks on draft day, and they will look to inject some youth into their defense. Wilkerson would be a great fit for San Diego in their 3-4 defense as the 5-technique, and should start immediately. I feel like this is a make or break year for Larry English to prove he's the pass rusher he thought he was when they took him in the first round a couple years ago, meaning they'll wait a bit before adding another pass rusher. The offensive line could use some work as well so Nate Solder, Gabe Carimi and Anthony Costanzo are all distinct possibilities. | ||||
| 19 | New York Giants | DT | Marvin Austin | North Carolina |
| The Giants are known for making additions to the defensive line, and with several of their recent veteran additions not panning out and with some contracts looking to expire soon I think defensive tackle is an area of concern. Many talked about Austin being a potential Top-5 pick before the season started, but after taking the year off his name has fallen down a bit. He helped his cause at the Combine however, running a 4.80 at 309 lbs, which is flat out impressive. I don't think it's out of line to consider him this high. Other options include Stephen Paea, Nate Solder and Akeem Ayers. | ||||
| 20 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | DE/34LB | Aldon Smith # | Missouri |
| Tampa Bay made huge strides on defense last year after adding Gerald McCoy and Brian Price in the first and second round respectively in 2010. With their interior set, I think they'll set their eyes on getting additional talent coming off the edge with one of the many available pass rushers in this class. Smith is a long kid who has a knack for getting to the quarterback, and should start immediately. Justin Houston showed that he has the ability to be a premier pass rusher as well, so he could hear his name called in this spot as well. Akeem Ayers from UCLA could be a quality addition at this point as well. | ||||
| 21 | Kansas City Chiefs | DT | Stephen Paea | Oregon State |
| Obviously Paea showed off his strength at the Combine, setting the benchmark at 49 reps of 225 lbs, a very impressive feat. However, he also has the athletic ability to make plays in opposing backfields and change the line of scrimmage. I think this is a great pickup for Scott Pioli, as they continue to draft well while rebuilding the Chiefs from the ground up. | ||||
| 22 | Indianapolis Colts | OT | Anthony Castonzo | Boston College |
| The Colts are still in the process of rebuilding their offensive line per the direction of Bill Polian, and still have yet to address the offensive tackle position in the draft. Although he isn't the most athletic or physically imposing lineman in this class, Costanzo is a technician that should thrive in the Colts' system. If they decide to go with a guy with more upside, Nate Solder will be the pick out of Colorado. Akeem Ayers would be another scheme-fit at outside linebacker, while Cameron Heyward would give them more depth at defensive tackle. | ||||
| 23 | Philadelphia Eagles | CB | Jimmy Smith | Colorado |
| Lack of depth in the secondary burned the Eagles in 2010, and I expect them to rectify that problem this offseason either through free agency or the draft. They haven't spent a high pick on a cornerback since the Lito Sheppard/Sheldon Brown draft, something that may surprise Eagle fans given the importance placed on the position publicly by the organization. Smith is a great cover corner with good size that should make an impact from the get-go. Other options at cornerback include Miami's Brandon Harris as well as Texas' Aaron Williams. The Eagles have had their issues at linebacker for a long time coming, so Akeem Ayers is a viable option here as well, as are tackles Nate Solder, Derek Sherrod and Gabe Carimi. | ||||
| 24 | New Orleans Saints | 34LB/OLB | Akeem Ayers # | UCLA |
| The Saints need to add more help to their defense, specifically in the front seven, if they're going to continue to be competitive in the NFC. Insert Ayers, a solid all-around prospect who does a lot of things well. He should be able to make an impact as a SAM backer and help provide more big plays for the Saints in 2011. Other options include defensive end Justin Houston, as well as defensive lineman Cameron Hayward. | ||||
| 25 | Seattle Seahawks | QB | Ryan Mallett # | Arkansas |
| A surprising pick at this juncture, Ryan Mallett is a wildcard for the first round. An enigmatic prospect that at times looks like the best player on the field and others looks like he couldn't play in Arena2, Mallett needs to find the right fit to be successful. Enter Pete Carroll, a players' coach that over his career has been lights out at getting the absolute best out of his guys. Obviously if Jake Locker were available, that would be a slam dunk pick, as he would likely get a glowing endorsement from Carroll's old friend, Steve Sarkisian. Either way, with Matt Hasselbeck getting up there it could be time to insert some youth into the quarterback position. Other options here include Jonathan Baldwin to provide more depth at wideout, as well as Derek Sherrod from Mississippi State to further improve the offensive line. | ||||
| 26 | Baltimore Ravens | WR | Jonathan Baldwin # | Pittsburgh |
| Ozzie Newsome has always found ways to add elite talent through the draft, and with this pick I think he's continuing that trend. Baldwin has great upside at 6'4 with 4.50 speed, and he can be an absolute weapon if he gets the right coaching. T.J. Houshmandzadeh seems to have worn out his welcome, so there will be an open spot in the Raven receiving corps. Other options include Derek Sherrod to help shore up the offensive line, as well as Aaron Williams to assist a depleted secondary. | ||||
| 27 | Atlanta Falcons | 34LB/OLB | Justin Houston # | Georgia |
| I think we can officially state that the Jamaal Anderson draft in Atlanta was a bust, and the team still needs a pass rushing end to pair with veteran John Abraham. That being said, the Falcons' brass should have gotten plenty of looks at Houston, who played at nearby Georgia. The former Bulldog has the skill set to develop into an elite pass rushing talent, and when mentored by Abraham could be a real player for years to come. Atlanta also has considerable needs on the offensive line, so any of the tackles remaining on the board are considerable possibilities as well. | ||||
| 28 | New England Patriots | OT | Nate Solder # | Colorado |
| What an upside pick! After adding a much-needed pass rusher to their roster with their first pick in Round One, the Pats spend their second selection on tackle Nate Solder, who may have more upside than anyone in the draft class at his position. The former tight end is a great athlete for an offensive lineman, and could develop into an elite Pro Bowl left tackle. | ||||
| 29 | Chicago Bears | OT | Gabe Carimi | Wisconsin |
| The Bears had a great year in 2010 and don't have too many glaring weaknesses, one area of need however is the offensive line, particularly on the outside, where former first-round selection Chris Williams has been a huge disappointment. Carimi was a four-year starter for a Wisconsin team that loved to run the football, and he's one of the tougher linemen in the class. Lucky for Chicago there other options as well in the form of Derek Sherrod and Mike Pouncey, both of which can provide further depth along the offensive front. | ||||
| 30 | New York Jets | DE | Cameron Heyward | Ohio State |
| With the recent cuts made by the Jets one can only assume they'll be targeting the front seven at some point in the draft. I think, in their case, Cameron Heyward makes the most sense, as he provides versatility and the type of skill set Rex Ryan looks for in his defensive players. Heyward can come in and start right away at the 5-technique for the Jets' defense and make an impact. Other options include Adrian Clayborn, Dontay Moch and Mike Pouncey. | ||||
| 31 | Pittsburgh Steelers | OT | Derek Sherrod | Mississippi State |
| Sherrod is a great fit for the Steelers because he is a mauler in the run game but maybe more importantly is the type of high-character guy that the Rooney's are looking for to try and change the face of the organization around. He's got good size and quick feet in pass protection, and will help make sure "Big Ben" stays off his backside. A lot of people have them taking Mike Pouncey to reunite him with his brother Maurkice, but I see tackle as more of a need at this juncture. | ||||
| 32 | Green Bay Packers | CB | Brandon Harris # | Miami (FL) |
| They got away with it when it mattered, but count the Packers as lucky that they weren't exposed for their lack of proven depth in the secondary. They got some help from some of their younger guys, which was obviously very good to see, but they still need to add some young talent to supplement what they already have in place. Brandon Harris is a technician at the cornerback position that has decent size and speed; he should make an impact from the get-go. Other options include Dontay Moch, Mike Pouncey and Stephen Wisniewski. | ||||
# Denotes Underclassman