Mike’s Mock Draft

5/5/10

HUNTER’S MOCK

We just saw the 2010 NFL draft conclude and what better time than now for a 2011 mock draft. There is no way of predicting who really will be drafting where next year, and that is why I have created my mock based on the very intense and sophisticated formula that Hunter used in his most recent 2011 mock. There will be a few surprises in my mock starting from the very first pick, and going all of the way to the very last pick.

1.) BUF — Jerrod Johnson, QB, Texas A&M

The Bills have the first pick in the draft according to Hunter’s draw-out-of-a-hat science, and I actually think that they will have the top pick. Their defense has switched to the 3-4, and they will be going up against Brandon Marshall, Randy Moss, Santonio Holmes and Bray. And the offense. No QB, no OL, no receivers, and we all know that CJ Spiller will be the first stringer after his top-10 selection. Or in other words, the Bills as a whole are about as appealing as the 3D version of Uncle Buck.

Jerrod Johnson is my number one QB going into the season which is about 7 QB’s too early in the eyes of most. But he has worked hard to get the starting job after being essentially a receiver in his first two years. But since he got the starting gig he has done nothing but produce, get better, and make some amazing plays. He is coached by former Packers coach Mike Sherman, and the school’s last starting QB (Stephen McGee) was drafted at the top of the 4th round despite being 1/10th the player that Johnson is.

2.) CHI — Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin

The team will still have Cutler, but if the team doesn’t go to the playoffs (and why would they with no OL or WR for Cutler) then the new coach (let’s mock Mike Zimmer as the new coach) will know that the team needs some protection. Carimi is a beast of an OT and I think he could become a Joe Thomas type of prospect this year.

3.) TB — Nate Potter, OT, Boise State

Another slight reach in Nate Potter, but Potter has done a phenomenal job while protecting Kellen Moore and he may end up a better overall prospect than Ryan Clady. The Bucs have needs all over the place but they did a lot more for defense than they did offense in the 2010 draft, and eventually the team will need to give Josh Freeman a reason to succeed.

4.) JAX — Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas

Jack Del Rio and Gene Smith are trying their hardest to ruin the franchise value so that they can buy the team and move it to L.A. Either way the new coach (or new owners) will want a new QB and Mallett is a 6’7 monster who is the last pro-offense QB that played for the University of Michigan. The Jags have drafted the same position with their first two picks in each of the last three years (DE in ’08, OT in ’09, DT in ’10) so the question is whether the team takes another QB in the 2nd round.

5.) WAS — Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh

There are three big name receivers in this draft that could all go in the top-5, and Baldwin isn’t one of them. But by the end of the year I think you will see that the tall, speedy and productive receiver will get Larry Fitzgerald hype.

6.) CAR — Greg Romeus, DE, Pitt

With a situation like this Carolina had to have missed Julius Peppers a lot more than thought. Romeus is a phenomenal DE that could have gone in the first round of the 2010 draft, and he could be scary this season.

7.) DEN — Marcell Dareus, DE/DT, Alabama

Dareus is a monstrous DT that only took Colt McCoy out of the national championship game. He also brought in a pick six to close out the first half of that very same game en route to winning the defensive MVP.

8.) CLE — Adrian Clayborn, DE/DT, Iowa

Clayborn is a 6’3, 280 pound monster that could play just about anything on a DL that isn’t a NT. Clayborn is a pass rushing end that is also good against the rush, and he will instantly help the entire defense better.

9.) SEA — Robert Quinn, DE/LB, UNC

Robert Quinn is the pick here because the team needed find a full time starting pass rusher. Quinn is the first of about 34 UNC defensive players that could go in the first round, and he arguably is the best.

10.) STL — Julio Jones, WR, Alabama

Saint Louis got Marshawn Gilyard in the 4th last year, but if they want Sam Bradford to succeed anytime soon they will need another top notch WR.

11.) NE (from OAK) — AJ Green, WR, Georgia

Randy Moss’s days in New England are limited and if he is gone at the end of next season then the team will have to take a player like AJ Green with this pick.

12.) KC — Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M

The Chiefs need receiver help and maybe even an OT here, but I could really see them taking a rush linebacker that does nothing but attack the QB. Miller had 17 sacks last year as a junior and another good year could seal him into the top-12.

13.) DET — Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU

Peterson is the number one guy on my BB and if he has another great year then there is no chance he falls here. I have no idea how the Lions are going to be picking outside of the top-10 without an OL, but if they are then they may be looking for another defensive upgrade.

14.) TEN — Travis Lewis, OLB, Oklahoma

Sure Will Witherspoon is good. That’s why he was traded to the Eagles for a half a season before they let him sign with the Titans. Travis Lewis has looked like an elite LB since his freshman season another good one would easily make him appealing here.

15.) MIA — Quan Sturdivant, MLB, UNC

The team could go a few options with this pick, especially since a top-15 pick might cause some unrest in Miami. Quan is a great middle linebacker that will be a huge upgrade over Channing Crowder. Sturdivant will also be able to fill in at OLB if absolutely needed as well.

16.) NYG — Bruce Carter, OLB, UNC

Bruce Carter would be a tremendous upgrade at LB for the Giants and after all of the picks they addressed in 2010 there are few positions that would be logical here.

17.) PHI — Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama

The Eagles are thinner at RB than they would like to believe and it is doubtful that Shady McCoy will be the full time guy in Philly. Ingram is one of the best RB prospect to come along in a long time and a season like 2010’s may make him a top-5 pick.

18.) NE — Cameron Heyward, DE/DT, Ohio State

Just like Adrian Clayborn, Heyward is a huge player that could be shifted around the defensive line. But he is just the kind of weapon that the Patriots would love on their team.

19.) ARI — Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia

The Cardinals neglected to take a DB early despite it being one of their biggest needs. The team loves guys in their backfield with crazy names, so why wouldn’t they take the Jedi who can play just about any DB spot.

20.) NYJ — Allen Bailey, DE, Miami

If the Jets finish 20th then that means they were the last ones out if the playoffs. And if the Jets don’t make the playoffs you have to wonder if the Sharks had anything to do with it.

21.) NO — DeAndre McDaniel, S, Clemson

DeAndre McDaniel is an athletic safety that does a little bit of everything very well. He is a ball hawker that is also able to get you 60+ tackles each season.

22.) HOU — Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

If and when the Texans make the playoffs they will realize that the only good WR on the team is Andre. Heck, they may also realize that they will never out-defend their way to the playoffs against Peyton. Kevin Walter is a fine receiver, but playing across from Andre Johnson should be a great receiver that is capable of getting 1,000 yards and 10 scores (see Anquan and Fitzgerald).

23.) CIN — JacQuizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State

CJ Spiller was taken with the 9th pick last year while Dexter McCluster was taken with the 36th pick. JacQuizz Rodgers is just as fast, more dynamic, and even scarier than both of those guys. Rodgers is fast, deceptive, and makes the perfect change of pace player for the Bengals.

24.) IND — Clint Boling, OT, Georgia

The Colts biggest need will continue to be a backup QB, but if they couldn’t get out of the first round of the playoffs then they may need to be looking for options that will help this offense gel even more.

25.) DAL — Joseph Barksdale, OT, LSU

The Cowboys need OT depth a lot more than Jerry Jones will admit, but if the team doesn’t get close to the Super Bowl this year then the team will make some changes. Barksdale is a monstrously strong OT who could fit into the Cowboy scheme well.

26.) ATL — Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame

Eventually Tony Gonzalez is going to retire, and eventually the Falcons are going to have to find a replacement (if there is such a thing).

27.) SF — Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska

Wow. The 49ers just missed the conference championship in this mock. The team doesn’t have bulging needs anywhere, and a season like this likely meant that Alex Smith or David Carr (I say Carr) had a year that warrants another one as the starting QB. The team could address the DB again in this draft and why not draft a Prince?

28.) PIT — Marcus Cannon, OT, TCU

The Steelers went OL early for the first time in a decade in 2010 and they could do it again if they like a guy like Cannon. Cannon is a 350-pound mauler that will excite a team like Dallas or Pittsburgh early.

29.) SD — Marvin Austin, DE/DT, UNC

Austin is a great talent, but I think his overall talent will get exposed on a team that has so many other studs.

30.) MIN — Jake Locker, QB, Washington

I’m pretty sure that I am the only person in the world with Locker falling this far, but I just don’t see the hype. He is big, tall, fast and mobile with an elite arm. But Drew Brees has none of those things and just won the Super Bowl. Locker may get over drafted on intangibles and potential but at the end of the day he is an underproductive, injury prone QB that hasn’t sniffed many wins in his career. There is a reason that he got a mid-round grade by the scouting services and the simple explanation is that they don’t account for hype.

31.) BAL — Kris O’Dowd, OC/OG, USC

The Ravens finally got back to the big game and they just couldn’t finish. Anquan must be heartbroken. The team however can afford to take a luxury player here in O’Dowd who would have possibly been the first center taken in 2010.

32.) GB — Mike Pouncey, OC/OG, Florida

The Packers won the Super Bowl and what better way to insure the best young QB in the league than to draft a versatile lineman to protect Aaron Rodgers.