The Ultimate Source for your Ph.D. in Pigskin

Home

Draft

Rankings

Picks

Audio/Video

Ask the Doc

Archive

Doctor Football's 2011 Mock Draft

With the uncertainty of the labor situation, the 2011 NFL Draft will be much different than any we've seen before. The inability to trade veteran players, coupled with the unknown value of future draft picks (if they'll have any), will lead to either a lack of dealings in the first round or the most tumultuous one we've ever seen. Because of how top-heavy this draft is at most positions, I think it will be the latter.

As usual, I have not accounted for any trades in my mock. Because of the quarterbacks in this draft that have a late first round/early second round grade, I wouldn't be surprised if most of the last five or six teams in the first round trade back because of teams like Buffalo, Cincinnati, Arizona, and San Francisco trying to move up to take Jake Locker, Ryan Mallett, or Andy Dalton.

In addition, I'm hearing a lot of rumors about the Houston Texans trying to move up to get either Von Miller or Patrick Peterson. First of all, I can't see them give up their entire draft, which is what it will take to get Miller. Peterson is a possibility if he lasts until seven.

Also, the rumors of the Steelers moving up to get Mike Pouncey simply won't materialize. The Steelers don't trade up, and they have much more pressing needs than guard.

As always, take a look below, and feel free to let me know what you think with the "Ask the Doc" email link above.

This year, the draft blog will be handled through Twitter, so make sure to follow @DoctorFootball.

 
1 Cam Newton - QB
Auburn

Let me just say this - the Panthers are making a huge mistake. When you have the number one pick, you have to hit on it. There are much safer picks in this class, and the Panthers have bigger needs than quarterback.
2 Marcel Dareus - DT
Alabama		 At the time I'm writing this, the Broncos are supposedly still deciding whether or not to take Dareus or Von Miller. Either way, they'll be getting one of the top three players in the draft.
3 Von Miller - OLB
Texas A&M		 Miller is the most physically gifted linebacker I've seen since Lawrence Taylor. And much like Taylor, he'll need to be tamed. He relies too much on his athletic prowess, and the Bills will need to teach him to play within the scheme.
4 A.J. Green - WR
Georgia		 I like Julio Jones more than A.J. Green, but in my opinion, there's not much difference between the two. With Green, the Bengals will get one of the top five players in this draft and maybe a reason for Carson Palmer to stick around.
5 Robert Quinn - DE/OLB
North Carolina		 A lot of people have asked me how a guy who didn't even play last year could be drafted this high. All I tell them is to look at the tape from 2009 and they'll realize that he would have been the number one pick had it not been for the party in Fort Lauderdale.
6 Julio Jones - WR
Alabama		 Mike Holmgren will be doing handstands at this point. Jones plays the game much like Andre Johnson - fast and physical. And with this pick, Colt McCoy will have a reliable target that will allow the Browns to fairly evaluate whether he's the quarterback of the future.
7 Patrick Peterson - CB
LSU		 Peterson is the last of my five safest picks in this draft. I think there's a very good chance he will be gone before this, but all of the teams in front of the 49ers have other more important needs than cornerback.
8 Nick Fairley - DT
Auburn		 Fairley is a mystery to me. He could go anywhere between one and 20. He's a polarizing figure to personnel guys both on and off the field. He plays hard about 50 percent of the time, but when he does, his skill set is impressive to say the least.
9 Tyron Smith - OT
USC		 I think they'd be better off going with Prince Amukamara, but there's just too much smoke around this pick for there not to be fire. The former Trojan is raw, but has tremendous athletic ability for a 300 pounder, and will develop into a very good left tackle.
10 Blaine Gabbert - QB
Missouri		 Once again, I think Gabbert will go before this, but if he does last until 10, Mike Shanahan will sprint all the way from the war room to turn in the card. He has the athleticism that the Redskins are looking for and will be a good fit in the system.
11 Aldon Smith - OLB
Missouri		 Everyone talks about the bad secondary in Houston, and it's true. However, the quickest way to resolve a bad pass defense is by adding a pass rusher or two, not replacing the entire secondary.
12 Cameron Jordan - DE
California		 My only concern about Jordan is that he excelled at the college level primarily using the swim move, which doesn't work in the NFL. But, he's athletic enough to give the Vikings someone to help Jared Allen rush the passer.
13 Prince Amukamara - CB
Nebraska		 Like San Francisco, Detroit will benefit from teams in front of them having bigger needs than the secondary. To get the second best cornerback at 13 is a dream for the Lions and will help
14 Corey Liuget - DT
Illinois		 This might be the first real "surprise" pick of the draft. LIuget has come out of nowhere in the last couple of months, and from what I hear, the Rams are all-in. Pair him with an improving Chris Long, and the Rams could have the makings of a great, young defensive line.
15 Mike Pouncey - C/G
Florida		 I think the decision here will come down to three players: Pouncey, Ryan Mallett, and Mark Ingram. Jeff Ireland realizes that it's a bit too early for the latter two, and Pouncey solves a much bigger need.
16 Ryan Kerrigan - DE
Purdue		 The Jaguars are another team desperately seeking pass rushers. I know a lot of people see Kerrigan as a 3-4 outside backer, but I think he's at his best as a 4-3 end. He'll make an immediate impact in Jacksonville with his big-play ability.
17 J.J. Watt - DE
Wisconsin		 If there's one position the Patriots have to shore up in this draft, it's defensive end. I always thought that trading away Richard Seymour was a mistake, and wouldn't it be ironic if Belichick took his replacement with the pick he got from Oakland in that trade.
18 Muhammad Wilkerson - DE
Temple		 The Chargers are a mystery to me this year. They really need front seven help, but the value just isn't there at this point. I think they're going to try and trade back, but if they stay, Wilkerson will be the pick.
19 Anthony Castonzo - OT
Boston College		 The Giants' offensive line is one of the oldest in the league, and they desperately need to inject some youth into that unit. Castonzo is a perfect fit - a gritty, lunch pail kind of guy that will fit in perfectly with the way the Giants play.
20 Da'Quan Bowers - DE
Clemson		 Pass rush is such a huge need in Tampa that they're willing to take a risk on a guy with a degenerative knee condition. At one point, Bowers was supposed to be the first pick in the draft. At 20, the Bucs will look at it as a great value.
21 Phil Taylor - NT
Baylor		 Effective 3-4 nose tackles are very hard to find, and nobody knows this better than Scott Pioli from his days with Bill Belichick. Even though this is too early for Taylor, the Chiefs will make the exception.
22 Nate Solder - OT
Colorado		 Tarik Glenn's shocking retirement a few years ago really left the Colts in a lurch. They've tried replacing him with several left tackles, but none have worked out. Solder is raw, but he has the athleticism to protect Peyton Manning's blind side for the remainder of his career.
23 Jimmy Smith - CB
Colorado		 Plain and simple, Jimmy Smith would be a top 10 pick if he wasn't such a knucklehead. But, it may work out for the best anyway. After all, he'll be going to a winning franchise with a coach known for rehabilitating "bad character" guys.
24 Adrian Clayborn - DE
Iowa		 This is probably a little high for Clayborn, so don't be surprised if the Saints are one of the teams that try to trade back. But, the Saints need front-seven help and the quick, powerful end fits the bill.
25 Marvin Austin - DT
North Carolina		 Austin is another Tarheel that didn't play this year because of a suspension. Had he played this year, he probably would have gone in the top 10. Fortunately for the Seahawks, his mistake gives them one of the most disruptive defensive tackles in 2009.
26 Brendan Harris - CB
Miami		 The Ravens were hoping that Jimmy Smith would fall to them, but they'll happily take Harris, who really helped himself with his combine and pro day workouts. Out of all the cornerbacks in this draft, he's probably the most agile and fluid.
27 Leonard Hankerson - WR
Miami		 Another team that desperately needs front seven help will have to fill one of their secondary needs. The Falcons need a burner to pair with Roddy White to relieve some of the pressure that he faces every week.
28 Mark Ingram - RB
Alabama		 I think Ingram is one of the players that the Patriots really covet in this draft. He's the type of hard-nosed player that Belichick loves, and will help give New England something they haven't had since Curtis Martin left - a reliable, every-down back.
29 Gabe Carimi - OT
Wisconsin		 While Derek Sherrod might be a better tackle, offensive line coach Mike Tice absolutely loves Carimi. Let's face it, it won't take much for Carimi to beat out J'Marcus Webb or Frank Omiyale for one of the starting positions.
30 Akeem Ayers - OLB
UCLA		 Ayers has fallen after scouts studied his college tape more in-depth. However, the one chink in the Jets' defensive armor is their lack of a pass rush. Ayers' speed off the edge will definitely help upgrade that aspect.
31 Aaron Williams - CB/S
Texas		 Personally, I think Williams will be a better fit at safety, but the Steelers have to do something to improve their secondary after getting exposed by the Packers in the Super Bowl. If they don't feel that Williams is the answer, Derek Sherrod might be in play.
32 Derek Sherrod - OT
Mississippi St.		 In my opinion, the Packers are the most likely team to trade out of their spot. There will be so many teams looking for quarterbacks at the start of day two, I think there will be a few that talk to Ted Thompson about sneaking in for one of them.

Make sure to catch Jimmy Neil every Friday from 1:00 to 3:00 on 1560 AM. Listen in at 1560thegame.com.