2011 NFL Mock Draft: Rounds 1-2
The 2011 offseason is upon us. And with the college bowl season over, and the East/West Shrine game, Senior Bowl, and other college football talent showcases in full swing, it is time for my first mock draft.
We'll get things started this year with the first two rounds. After all, the Raiders traded away their first round pick to acquire Richard Seymour two seasons ago. Since this is a Raider site -- and Oakland won't pick until the second round -- we need to predict until the Raiders are on the clock, and a bit beyond.
The Carolina Panthers will get things started and set the ball rolling:
1. Carolina Panthers 
Nick Fairley DT Auburn
2. Denver Broncos 
Da'Quan Bowers DE Clemson
3. Buffalo Bills 
Robert Quinn DE North Carolina
4. Cincinnati Bengals 
A.J. Green WR Georgia
5. Arizona Cardinals 
Blaine Gabbert QB Missouri
6. Cleveland Browns 
Marcell Dareus DT Alabama
7. San Francisco 49ers 
Patrick Peterson CB LSU
8. Tennessee Titans 
Von Miller OLB Texas A&M
9. Dallas Cowboys 
Prince Amukamara CB Nebraska
10. Washington Redskins 
Jake Locker QB Washington
11. Houston Texans 
Aldon Smith OLB Missouri
12. Minnesota Vikings 
Derek Sherrod OT Mississippi State
13. Detroit Lions 
Tyron Smith OT USC
14. St Louis Rams 
Julio Jones WR Alabama
15. Miami Dolphins 
Mike Pouncey C/OG Florida
16. Jacksonville Jaguars 
Adrian Clayborn DE Iowa
17. New England Patriots (from Raiders) 
Ryan Kerrigan DE Purdue
18. San Diego Chargers 
Cameron Jordan DE California
19. New York Giants 
Stephen Paea DT Oregon State
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 
J.J. Watt DE Wisconsin
21. Kansas City Chiefs 
Anthony Castonzo OT Boston College
22. Indianapolis Colts 
Nate Solder OT Colorado
23. Philadelphia Eagles 
Gabe Carimi OT Wisconsin
24. New Orleans Saints 
Akeem Ayers OLB UCLA
25. Seattle Seahawks 
Cameron Heyward DE Ohio State
26. Baltimore Ravens 
Torrey Smith WR Maryland
27. Atlanta Falcons 
Justin Houston OLB Georgia
28. New England Patriots
Mark Ingram RB Alabama
29. New York Jets 
Corey Liuget DT Illinois
30. Chicago Bears 
Aaron Williams CB Texas
31. Pittsburgh Steelers 
Brandon Harris CB Miami (Fla.)
32. Green Bay Packers 
Christian Ballard DE Iowa
---------------------------------- Round 2 --------------------------------------
33. New England Patriots (from Panthers)
Jon Baldwin WR Pittsburgh
34. Buffalo Bills
Kyle Rudolph TE Notre Dame
35. Cincinnati Bengals
Quinton Carter FS Oklahoma
36. Denver Broncos
Phil Taylor DT Baylor
37. Cleveland Browns
Mikel LeShoure RB Illinois
38. Arizona Cardinals
D.J. Williams TE Arkansas
39. Tennessee Titans
Cam Newton QB Auburn
40. Dallas Cowboys
Jabaal Sheard DE Pittsburgh
41. Washington Redskins
Ryan Williams RB Virginia Tech
42. Houston Texans
Jimmy Smith CB Colorado
43. Minnesota Vikings
Colin Kaepernick QB Nevada
44. Detroit Lions
Jeremy Beal OLB Oklahoma
45. San Francisco 49ers
Ryan Mallett QB Arkansas
46. Denver Broncos (from Dolphins)
Martez Wilson ILB Illinois
47. St Louis Rams
Rodney Hudson OG Florida State
48. Oakland Raiders 
Stefen Wisniewski C Penn State
49. Jacksonville Jaguars
Jerrel Jernigan WR Troy
50. San Diego Chargers
Jason Pinkston OT Pittsburgh
51. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Greg Jones ILB Michigan State
52. New York Giants
Mark Herzlich OLB Boston College
53. Indianapolis Colts
Drake Nevis DT LSU
54. Philadelphia Eagles
Danny Watkins OT Baylor
55. Kansas City Chiefs
Randall Cobb WR Kentucky
56. New Orleans Saints
Muhammad Wilkerson DT Temple
57. Seattle Seahawks
Davon House CB New Mexico State
58. Baltimore Ravens
Johnny Patrick CB Louisville
59. Atlanta Falcons
Jordan Todman RB Connecticut
60. New England Patriots
Dontay Moch OLB Nevada
61. San Diego Chargers (from Jets)
Jurrell Casey DT USC
62. Chicago Bears
Leonard Hankerson WR Miami (Fla.)
63. Pittsburgh Steelers
Benjamin Ijalana OL Villanova
64. Green Bay Packers
Brandon Burton CB Utah
Follow Levi on Twitter @LeviDamien or befriend him on Facebook
Why?
Panthers, Bengals, Bills, Cardinals, Browns, Titans, Redskins, Vikings, Dolphins will all be in the market for a QB in round 1
I'm not saying they all will neccesarily go after one.
What I'm saying is, they'll all take one, if the right person is there when they pick.
9 teams chasing a QB in the first 15 picks?
You got to think at least 2 will go by then. Probably 3
Say this every draft.
1 QB will go in the top 5.
2 QBs will go in the top 10.
At least 1 OT will go in the top 10.
Forget the talent at these positions. Teams just need players there. They have to take someone. Taking nobody isn't an option
They ALWAYS reach
Peterson will also go top 5 I suspect.
The guy's 6'2, 225 pounds, and many people think he could run one of the fastest combine 40s ever. As in, 4.25 or something like that.
His value is immense.
Not only at corner, but also as a safety. Many teams will see the guy as the next Ed Reed I suspect.
What I mean is, drafting him as a safety
I don't buy Fairly going number 1.
If there was serious debate whether Suh was worth a number 1 pick, I can't see a team picking a DT like Fairly there.
Panthers will take a DE if you ask me. Greater need, and better positional value
with needs all along the offensive line and pass rushing I don't see 2 of the top 3 picks being RB and WR for the patriots. Expect the lines, rush LB and cornerback to be the priority particularly in this draft where high quality players at these positions will fall to their first 3 or 4 picks.
I agree with you that everyone has a chance to be a bust, but the Raiders cannot get gunshy about drafting a quarterback because of the JeMarcus Russell failure. Cam Newton has much higher credentials than Jemarcus comming out of college, having won the Heisman and leading his team to a national championship. That is huge Levi, and you cannot ask anymore from a collegiate player as Newton accomplished the highest awards possible. Plus, Newton is a lot more mobile than Russell, and would not have the footwork issues that plagued Russell during his tenure with the Raiders. To me, Newton is well worth a second round pick. If he was available, which I believe he won't be, the Raiders HAVE to take a chance on him, as Cam Newton is much more than just a physical freak. For every JeMarcus Russell there is a Matt Ryan, and if anyone has the true ability to be a successful quarterback in the NFL, my money is on Cam Newton, and I think he would fit in perfectly with Hue Jackson and the revamped Raider offense.
That's great. That was exactly who I'm hoping the Raiders get also, but I'm hearing Stefan will be gone by the time the Raiders pick. I'm still grinning from ear to ear that the Raiders hired his dad Steve as asst. OL coach. The tenacity he brought to the trenches was unequalled by anyone, and he played every play until the whistle-something our OL tends to struggle with.
We can always hope....
@LDizzle @Bowz wow didn't even read this sorry about the comment below. we think a like LD!! i've been saying that for a while now!! They will at least be the first team Al reaches out to. NE loves to stack picks... even though they have .. what.. 10 already? they wont mind stock piling a couple more that's for sure.
@Bowz I wouldn't be at all surprised if the Raiders don't trade back into the 1st round this year. If they want Wisniewski or anyone else and they think they will be gone by the time they pick, Al will swing a trade up. The Pats are always game for trades up and they already have four picks in the first two rounds. Chuchraider is right, Steve is his uncle. Also, his name is spelled Stefen, not Stefan.
Interesting that you see Cam Newton falling into the second round, Levi. Personally, I don't see Newton falling past the 49ers, as they are desperate for a quarterback, and I think he could be a really good fit with that organization, and with Harbaugh's success with Andrew Luck in Stanford, it could definitely be a win win for both parties. Newton has the potential to be very dominant in the NFL, and if somehow he fell into the second round, the Raiders should make a deal to get him. Wisniewski would be a great pick, but if Newton is within reach, it would be insane of the Raiders not to go after him, as his upside is way to high to pass on. I do not see Cam Newton as a potential bust, and whichever team winds up with him, will get a great player for many years.....As far as the Chargers, I see them drafting either Julio Jones or Jon Baldwin. Vincent Jackson will leave the Chargers, and they will not place a franchise tag on him. To much water under the bridge between AJ Smith and Jackson. The Chargers know this and they need a replacement weapon for Philip Rivers. I just hope the Rams draft Jones as I would hate the Chargers getting this guy, as Jones is an explosive player, and one who I would love to see on the Raiders...
@LDizzle @Spartacus what are the chances that Hue Jackson and Saunders have reached out to Gaither already!? slim to none?
@LDizzle @Spartacus that would be AMAZING if Wiz Kid could fall to us. I don't see it happening. they will make a trade with NE for their 1st pick on day 2. It's quite possible since they are usually draft day trade partners.
I just heard Gaither is going to negotiate a new contract soon. hopefully he realizes that he can play AT LEFT TACKLE for us as opposed to RIGHT TACKLE with BAL. C'mon Jared!
if not Gaither, then go after Clabo... we need good veterans on the field! preferably a LT so Veldheer can move to the right side or one of the Guard spots.
@Spartacus Of course Cam Newton is a potential bust. Everyone is. If I had a nickel for every time I heard the term "can't miss" that missed badly. The Raiders have fallen for a couple of them in recent memory (Russell, Gallery). Many people thought the same of Huff too. But as is always the case, it only takes one team to think that player can be great and he gets drafted in the first round. Look at the Broncos and Tim Tebow. I think the Raiders might just be the last team to do that after the JaWalrus episode. No more physical freaks with baggage at QB.
