One can definitely say writing up a mock draft is an exercise in futility—and a gigantic pain in the ass. Predicting where each player will be selected by which team turns out a rate of success comparable to a pitcher’s batting average. Even so, many jackasses, including myself, will churn out at least one mock draft each year, in order to pass the time during the most boring sports months on the calendar.
The real draft is 27 days away, so expect several changes to occur before the ever-so-slick Roger Goodell steps up to the podium and announces that the Carolina Panthers are on the clock with the first overall pick.
First Round
1. Carolina Panthers: LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson
Other than Ryan Mallett, whose stock has plummeted as a result of ugly rumors, there doesn’t appear to be a quarterback worth selecting #1 overall. In that case, new head coach Ron Rivera needs to take the best player available here, regardless of position, and Peterson has proven to be just that.
The Panthers already have a solid cornerback in Chris Gamble, but Peterson looks like a future star with the ability to make several game-changing plays on defense and as a returner. Despite the fact that a cornerback has never been picked #1 overall in NFL draft history, Peterson’s talent is just way too difficult to pass up. Carolina needs to restock its defense, and Peterson is the right player to get the ball rolling in the right direction.
2. Denver Broncos: Alabama defensive lineman Marcell Dareus
Following Josh McDaniels’ disastrous tenure as head coach and personnel decision maker, the Broncos have to get it right in this draft. A great start to new head coach John Fox’s reign would be to select the best defensive lineman.
Dareus played defensive end in a 3-4 scheme at Alabama, but he has the body type and strength to make a smooth transition to defensive tackle in Denver’s 4-3. The Broncos need an interior lineman to take some attention away from defensive ends Elvis Dumervil and Robert Ayers. Dareus would fit in nicely.
3. Buffalo Bills: Texas A&M outside linebacker Von Miller
Quick, name Buffalo’s best pass-rusher.
Uh, never mind. Even if we gave you 24 hours you probably wouldn’t be able to come up with an answer.
Two years ago the Bills used the 11th overall pick on Penn State defensive end Aaron Maybin, who has proven to be perhaps the biggest bust from the 2009 draft, as he has yet to record his first sack in the NFL. To make matters even worse, Buffalo passed on Brian Orakpo, who was taken 13th overall in that draft by the Redskins and has dominated in his first two years.
So, yeah, the Bills need a pass-rusher for their 3-4 defense in the worst way, and Miller is rated as by far the best in this draft. Many will say Buffalo is in desperate need of a quarterback, and it is, but as hilarious as this may sound, head coach Chan Gailey really likes Ryan Fitzpatrick, so don’t expect him to bring in Cam Newton or Blaine Gabbert.
4. Cincinnati Bengals: Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green
Carson Palmer can make all the threats he wants; the Bengals won’t trade him. On the other hand, they could formulate moves to make it more enticing for him to return to the team, and there’s no better way to do that than grabbing the best receiver in the draft.
Green has drawn comparisons to Andre Johnson and Calvin Johnson. Some even have him rated as the best player overall in this draft.
Cincinnati needs to move on from the oftentimes ridiculous Chad Johnson/Ocho Cinco/Johnson era. In that regard, Green is more than capable of helping the Bengals do just that.
5. Arizona Cardinals: Auburn quarterback Cam Newton
Head coach Ken Whisenhunt had a rocky relationship with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh when he was offensive coordinator of the Steelers, but he knows what a talent such as Roethlisberger is capable of doing, as the two won a Super Bowl together in 2005, and then three years later Big Ben led the Steelers to another Super Bowl triumph—while Whisenhunt was on the opposing sideline with the Cardinals. Whisenhunt is in desperate need of a quarterback, and Newton possesses many similar skills to Roethlisberger’s.
Although Newton was just a one-year wonder at Auburn, and there are some considerable concerns about his throwing ability, his immense physical attributes could lead to him being the dynamic leader the Cardinals want at the most important position in football. In addition, Whisenhunt is the right man to hone the young quarterback’s development.
6. Tennessee Titans (trade-up with Cleveland Browns): Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert
The Titans need a quarterback of the future, so they jump up from pick #8—ahead of the San Francisco 49ers, who also have a terrible quarterback situation—to take Gabbert.
With veteran Kerry Collins, Tennessee is in a great position to have a player such as Gabbert stand on the sidelines and observe for a year or two. Gabbert has all the tools necessary to succeed in the NFL, but he’s coming from a spread system and needs a substantial amount of time to learn how to be effective in reading defenses.
7. San Francisco 49ers: Nebraska cornerback Prince Amukamara
New head coach Jim Harbaugh is disappointed he wasn’t able to get Gabbert, but Amukamara is a nice consolation. The 49ers are very thin at cornerback, and Amukamara is rated as the second-best player at the position in this draft.
In order to bring the 49ers back to greatness, Harbaugh will be looking for high-character players with great work ethics. In that regard, Amukamara is an ideal fit.
8. Cleveland Browns (trade-down with Tennessee Titans): Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley
With new defensive coordinator Dick Jauron switching the Browns to the 4-3 scheme, Cleveland needs an impact player on the line, and Fairley dropping this far works out beautifully.
Fairley’s stock has dropped a little over the last month, as many were projecting him as the #1 overall pick not too long ago. Some have been discouraged by the fact he’s less than 300 pounds, but he showed he could take over and dominate a game much more often than Dareus did in college, and the Browns would be thrilled to build a defense around the Auburn product.
9. St. Louis Rams (trade-up with Dallas Cowboys): Clemson defensive end Da’Quan Bowers
Head coach Steve Spagnuolo was the man who started using four defensive ends on the field at the same time when he was defensive coordinator of the New York Giants. With Bowers dropping this far, Spags can’t help but move up to get the Clemson pass-rusher.
Veteran defensive end Chris Long finally showed some elite skills last season for the Rams, as he finished with nine sacks. In order to become a dominant defense, however, St. Louis needs another intimidating presence coming from the other side. After posting 15.5 sacks last fall, Bowers appears to be the best fit for the job.
10. Washington Redskins: Cal defensive end Cameron Jordan
Daniel Snyder finally has real football people making personnel decisions for him. General manager Bruce Allen and head coach Mike Shanahan have to know that their defensive line is one of the weakest in the NFL, so they’re thrilled to see Jordan fall to them.
Jordan’s stock has skyrocketed in the last few months, and with good reason. He was a dominant player for the Bears last year, manhandling some top prospects he faced, including Colorado’s Nate Solder. He’s also tested well in workouts, giving every indication that he’s the complete package. Washington needs that type of player at defensive end.
11. New England Patriots (trade-up with Houston Texans): Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones
After trading future Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss at the beginning of last season, the Patriots limited quarterback Tom Brady’s options on the outside. Jones is rated by most as the second-best receiver in this draft, and some believe he’s even better than A.J. Green, so Patriots head coach Bill Belichick gets excited and makes a move up six spots to grab the Crimson Tide dynamic talent.
Jones has the playmaking ability to fill Moss’s void and open things up on the inside for slot receivers Wes Welker and Justin Edelman and tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski.
12. Minnesota Vikings: North Carolina defensive end Robert Quinn
Stud defensive end Jared Allen has collected 40 sacks in his three years with the Vikings, so the trade Minnesota made with the Kansas City Chiefs prior to the 2008 draft has paid off. Ray Edwards has been a solid complement to Allen at the other defensive end spot over the last three seasons, posting 21.5 sacks during that time, but Minnesota could use another pass-rushing threat.
Quinn probably would go much higher in this draft if he hadn’t been suspended by the NCAA last season. In 2009 he had 11 sacks and 19 tackles in the backfield, and he possesses a wide array of skills that make him quite a scary presence for opposing offensive linemen. By grabbing the 6-4, 270-pound Quinn here, new head coach Leslie Frazier could get creative in using the rookie in certain packages with Allen, Edwards, and dominant defensive tackle Kevin Williams.
