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Updated April 28th
| #33) New England Patriots (From Carolina)- Mark Ingram (RB Alabama) |
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| Everybody knows that the Patriots are very high on Mark Ingram, and it is a strong possibility that they take him with one of their picks in the first round, however it goes, I think they come out of this draft with Ingram. He is the perfect fit for their style of offense, is a very smart player, and should excel in New England |
| #34) Buffalo Bills- Akeem Ayers (DE/OLB UCLA) |
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| This is the first time I have ever mocked Akeem Ayers in the 2nd round, but he is not as highly viewed by others as he is by me, and this seems like the right spot for him. I think he will be excellent as a 3-4 Outside linebacker, with the size, athleticism, and smarts to be a good run stopper and pass rusher. |
| #35) Cincinnati Bengals- Aaron Williams (CB/S Texas) |
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| I'd like to have the Bengals taking Ryan Mallett here, as Carson Palmer is clearly gone, but he is just not a fit in Jay Gruden's new offensive scheme. So with all the QB's gone, they should move on to BPA, which is Aaron Williams. And he also fills a position of need, both corner and safety, wherever they choose to play him. |
| #36) Denver Broncos- Ryan Mallett (QB Arkansas) |
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| The new regime in Denver is clearly not high on Tim Tebow, finally somebody agrees with me! And since they agree with me on Tebow not being good, maybe they will agree with me that Mallett will be a great quarterback. If Denver takes Mallett, I don't think it will be long before he is the full-time starter. |
| #37) Cleveland Browns- Leonard Hankerson (WR Miami) |
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| We have Cleveland passing on Julio Jones at pick #6 because the D-Line is a much more important need. However, they definitely need to get Colt McCoy some weapons, as he isn't very good to begin with, and he needs all the help he can get. Hankerson is a great value here, and Cleveland would get an A+ Grade for the first 2 rounds walking away with Quinn and Hankerson. |
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| #38) Arizona Cardinals- Benjamin Ijalana (Guard/Tackle Villanova) |
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| Arizona has been weak on their offensive line for the last decade, it is time to finally get some guys in there who can play and make the run game go. Ijalana is a big 300+ lineman who played tackle in college. He could project at right tackle, or would do very well at guard. At either spot he is an instant upgrade and will immediately make them better up front. |
| #39) Tennessee Titans- Marvin Austin (DT North Carolina) |
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| Marvin Austin is a supremely talent guy with a ton of upside, but comes with a huge risk factor too. He just seems to be very inconsistent and hot and cold. He also has some character concerns, and I personally would not take him. But there is no doubting his talent and potential, and the Titans are suckers for that. |
| #40) Dallas Cowboys- Brandon Harris (CB Miami) |
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| While Jerry Jones contends that upgrading at Cornerback this year is not a priority, he is either bluffing, or dead wrong. Terence Newman is 32 and on the downswing, Mike Jenkins is wildly inconsistent, and Orlando Scandrick is also up and down. At the very least Harris would provide depth in case the starters falter or get injured. Harris is a very underrated player who would be a steal with this pick. |
| #41) TRADE! New England (From Washington)- Justin Houston (DE/OLB Georgia) |
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| This pick is my projected trade with Washington moving back into the first round at pick #28. It wasn't very long ago when Justin Houston was considered to widely be a top 15 pick, but now after some close scrutinization and a failed combine drug test, here he is available well into the 2nd. New England badly needs pass rushers, and Justin Houston has the size, and explosion that they look for. |
| #42) Houston Texans- Stephen Paea (NT Oregon State) |
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| Stephen Paea is only 6-1, so despite his massive strength and ability to collapse the pocket, he is widely viewed as undersized for the 3-4 Nose Tackle position. However, Wade Phillips really likes smaller and more athletic nose tackles, and Paea just seems like a perfect fit for Phillips' 3-4 defense. |
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| #43) Minnesota Vikings- Marcus Cannon (Guard TCU) |
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Yes I know Marcus Cannon has been diagnosed with Lymphoma, but I just feel like Marcus is strong enough, and we will overcome it, and I would feel comfortable taking him here. I am not changing my previous analysis. Even though the Vikings desperately need to add a QB, I think they would be much better served to trade for a veteran than to take Andy Dalton. Steve Hutchinson is getting older, and they do not have a reliable starter at the other Guard. Cannon fits exactly into Minnesota's blocking scheme, and I think he will become the best Guard from this years draft class. |
| #44) Detroit Lions- Bruce Carter (OLB North Carolina) |
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| Linebacker is definitely the Lions biggest need on the entire roster, and they have a few options here. Both Carter, and Illinois' Martez Wilson could fit here, but the Lions really seem to like Deandre Levy playing inside, so we go with Carter, the outside backer to play next to him. |
| #45) TRADE! New Orleans (From San Francisco)- Kendrick Ellis (NT Hampton) |
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| This pick may be a shocker to many, but really Kendrick Ellis has been flying up draft board lately as teams have with his athletic 340 pound frame. New Orleans has been searching for a nose tackle to play next to 3 Technique DT Sedric Ellis, and now with Kendrick Ellis, the Saints should be much better against the run next year. |
| #46) Denver Broncos- Mikel Leshoure (RB Illinois) |
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| Knowshon Moreno cannot stay healthy, and even when he is on the field, Denver needs a more powerful runner to be a change of pace. Leshoure is a 225 Pound Back who is a very physical runner, will break tackles, and actually has more speed than people think. |
| #47) St Louis Rams- Torrey Smith (WR Maryland) |
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| Anybody who watched the St Louis, Seattle Week 17 "Play-In" game, knows how desperately the Rams need a receiver. Since Julio Jones was not available with their #14 pick, they need to use this pick to take the best receiver available. Torrey Smith presents an excellent value here with a tremendous combo of size and speed. |
| #48) Oakland Raiders- Chimdi Chekwa (CB Ohio State) |
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| Oakland has let Nnamdi Asomugha free, which is great news for him, but terrible news for the Raiders who are losing the leagues #1 Cornerback. They need to add somebody at the position, and Chimdi Chekwa is the best on the board here. I think he is a very underrated corner, and he ran a 4.40 at the combine so he's an option. |
| #49) Jacksonville Jaguars- Rahim Moore (Safety UCLA) |
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| Reggie Nelson was a disappointment at safety for the Jags, and even when he was starting they never had anybody good next to him. Rahim Moore had a sick 10 interception season as a Sophomore, but wasn't quite as good as a Junior. He is still a very good centerfield, with good range and ball skills. |
| #50) San Diego Chargers- Dontay Moch (DE/OLB Nevada) |
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| San Diego drafted Larry English expecting him to be a dominant 3-4 edge rush, but he has never his talent together and is a complete non-factor. They need to add an edge rusher this year and Dontay Moch presents great value here in the middle of the 2nd. Moch is 250 Pounds but runs a 4.44 40, and has elite athleticism. He should rack up 10+ sacks a season for a long time. |
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| #51) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Stephen Wisniewski (Guard Penn State) |
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| After addressing their most pressing need in the first round by taking Adrian Clayborn, they need to work on improving their Offensive Line. The tackles played pretty solid for them last year, but could definitely be upgraded. Stephen Wisniewski could fit at Guard or Center, but is a definite upgrade wherever they choose to play him. |
| #52) New York Giants- Martez Wilson (ILB Illinois) |
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| I believe the loss of Antonio Pierce for the Giants was a very underrated blow, he was not only a playmaker on the field, but really quarterbacked that defense, and really made his teammates better. Martez Wilson has the ability to replace him, and in time be the leader that Pierce was. Martez is a 250 Pound linebacker that runs a 4.44 40, and when he is healthy and right, is among the best around. |
| #53) Indianapolis Colts- Danny Watkins (Guard Baylor) |
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| Maybe this is the year Indianapolis finally dedicates their draft to fixing their atrocious running game. We have them taking tackle Derek Sherrod in the 1st, and they shouldn't stop there, and add this road grater in Danny Watkins. Just taking these 2 guys would make the Colts run game infinitely better. |
| #54) Philadelphia Eagles- Ryan Williams (RB Virginia Tech) |
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| Lesean McCoy is an electrifying player, but he is definitely undersized, and durability is an issue. They need to lighten his load, and get somebody to share carries with him. Ryan Williams is an excellent value here as he is a very effective between the tackles runner, and would make the Eagles offensive attack just that much better. |
| #55) Kansas City Chiefs- Jonathan Baldwin (WR Pittsburgh) |
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| Teams started to double and triple team Dwayne Bowe down the stretch last season, they need to get somebody to draw some attention away from him. Baldwin isn't the most polished receiver, but he is a 6-5 guy who can run a 4.4 40, and has all the talent to be an elite wide out. |
| #56) New Orleans Saints- Mason Foster (OLB Washington) |
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| New Orleans in-ability to stop the run was showcased in their playoff ousting by the Seahawks. Mason Foster specializes in stopping the run as he was 2nd in the country last season with 162 tackles. The Saints have a gaping hole at strongside linebacker, and Foster is the perfect fit. |
| #57) Seattle Seahawks- Drake Nevis (DT LSU) |
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| Seattle needs help in a lot of places, and after taking Locker in round 1, they need to just draft whoever they think is the best available player, pretty much regardless of position with the exception of the skill position players. Nevis is a pass rushing 3 technique defensive tackle that presents great value here, and would do a lot for a very weak front 4 in Seattle. |
| #58) Baltimore Ravens- Christian Ballard (DE Iowa) |
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| Baltimore loves to pick up talented defensive lineman who, for whatever reason fall into their laps. Christian Ballard is an excellent value here, and fits nicely into their 3-4 defense at the 5 spot. |
| #59) Atlanta Falcons- Kyle Rudolph (TE Notre Dame) |
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| I highly, highly doubt that Kyle Rudolph would fall this far come draft day, but in our scenario it is plausible, and if it were to happen I think Atlanta would shake the foundation of their draft room by the excitement of getting Kyle Rudolph this late. |
| #60) New England Patriots- Kelvin Sheppard (ILB LSU) |
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| This marks the 4th pick already for the Patriots in the 2011 draft, giving them an opportunity to fill all their needs. Kelvin Sheppard will give them more depth at the inside linebacker spot, where they haven't really gotten consistent play next to Mayo. |
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| #61) San Diego Chargers (From Jets)- Randall Cobb (WR Kentucky) |
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| Vincent Jackson's situation is very uncertain, and even if they do have him, they really need to add another weapon. Cobb is a very dynamic player who can make plays with the ball in his hands. He is very versatile and can be used as a return man, out of the slot, and also has the size and ability to play the X or Y receiver spot. |
| #62) Chicago Bears- Terrell McClain (DT South Florida) |
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| With Tommie Harris being cut the Bears are lacking an impact player at one of the most important positions in the Tampa 2 defense. This may seem like a reach, but Chicago has shown great interest in McClain, and he is exactly what D-Coordinator Rod Marinelli wants out of DT's in his defense. |
| #63) Pittsburgh Steelers- Joseph Barksdale (Tackle LSU) |
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| The Steelers starting tackles are down to journeyman Jonathan Scott, and very old Flozell Adams. They need to add a tackle, and Barksdale is the best available. While some might say this is too high for him, I think Barksdale is a very underrated player who can start immediately and for a long time. |
| #64) Green Bay Packers- Allen Bailey (DE Miami) |
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| With Green Bay getting so many guys back from injuries this year, they really have very few holes on the roster. But they still have yet to find consistency from the Defensive End's in that 3-4. Pound-for-Pound, Allen Bailey could be the best athlete in the draft, and if he can develop his athleticism, he could be a special player. |
Picks 1-16 |
Picks 17-32 |
Round 3 |
Round 4 |
Round 5 |
Round 6 |
Round 7 |
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As always, if you got a problem with our draft, or analysis feel free to contact us at NolanVasan@NFLDraftGeek.com or join the Forums to post your own Mock Draft and discuss others.
