| 1. |
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Jake Locker
QB, Washington |
In a year or two Colt McCoy might take the reins in Cleveland, but he'll never be a Top 15 NFL Quarterback. Locker has that kind of potential.
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| 2. |
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*Ryan Mallett
QB, Arkansas |
I really thought they'd draft an early round Quarterback in 2010. Mallett is exactly the type of Quarterback needed in Buffalo.
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| 3. |
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*A.J. Green
WR, Georgia |
Oft-injured Steven Jackson is coming off back surgery and the Rams will have to find a quality backup in the event he continues the trend of missed games. Few Running Backs are ever worth the #3 selection. Instead, the Rams get their #1 Wide Receiver.
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| 4. |
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*Michael Floyd
WR, Notre Dame |
Picking this early says plenty about Matt Cassel. Unfortunately, nothing can be done about it with the fourth pick. Actually, it's too early to select an Inside Linebacker, Nose Tackle or Left Tackle as well. With no clear picture of where Dwayne Bowe's career is headed, Kansas City takes the best available Wide Receiver.
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| 5. |
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*Robert Quinn
DE, North Carolina |
Seattle doesn't have a single edge rusher to get excited about. Quinn is hands down the best Defensive End in the Draft and fills what is arguably Seattle's biggest need.
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| 6. |
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*Patrick Peterson
CB, LSU |
With Quinn coming off the board one pick prior and no offensive linemen worth the sixth pick, Tampa Bay takes the best player available.
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| 7. |
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*Mark Ingram
RB, Alabama |
While Laurence Maroney played a little better in 2009 than he did the previous season, he should not be a featured Running Back. Not only is Ingram the best back in the Draft, he is the only one worthy of first round and top ten selection. Defensive End will have to wait until pick #24.
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| 8. |
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*Jonathan Baldwin
WR, Pittsburgh |
To say it's impossible to guess what Jacksonville will do is an understatement. Quarterback David Garrard hasn't lived up to his hefty 2008 contract, but his replacement isn't coming from this Draft. Baldwin gives the Jaguars a #1 receiver in the Vincent Jackson mold.
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| 9. |
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Anthony Castonzo
OT, Boston College |
Quality Left Tackles are hard to find and in the 2011 Draft they are almost impossible. 2010 4th rounder Jason Fox is not in Castonzo's class but might find a home on the right-side when the disappointing Gosder Cherilus completely bottoms out.
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| 10. |
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Cameron Heyward
DE, Ohio St. |
Denver needs an Outside Linebacker to team with Elvis Dumervil and it's not Robert Ayers. With no linebackers worth the tenth pick, the Bronco take the best 3-4 DE prospect in the Draft. Heyward will be better than anyone currently on the roster and provides more value to the team that the small handful of prospects ranked ahead of him.
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| 11. |
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*Matt Reynolds
OT, BYU |
Last season both Mike Gandy and Levi Brown struggled in pass protection. Reynolds can play either Tackle position. In Arizona that's a very good thing, since southpaw Matt Leinart is taking over at Quarterback... or is he?
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| 12. |
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Marvin Austin
DT, North Carolina |
Tommie Harris has seen his share of injuries and might be starting to slide a bit. Nose Tackle Marcus Harrison has been disappointing. Austin possesses both size and speed and can play the one and three technique.
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| 13. |
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Jerrell Powe
NT, Mississippi |
It's doubtful Albert Haynesworth will be a Redskin much longer. Powe is the quintessential 3-4 Nose Tackle, able to clog the middle and make plays in the backfield. With so many teams employing a 3-4, players like Powe won't last as long as they use to.
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| 14. |
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Prince Amukamara
CB, Nebraska |
The Eagles need a physical Cornerback to play opposite Asante Samuel. Not only does Amukamara fit the bill, he is also the best player on the board.
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| 15. |
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*Marcel Dareus
DT, Alabama |
Carolina needs an every down Defensive Tackle and while Dareus might be a tad undersized at 295, he can not only shoot gaps and get to the pocket but is also very solid at holding his ground versus multiple blockers. Reminds me of a young Bryant Young.
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| 16. |
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DeAndre McDaniel
S, Clemson |
The Bengals can stand a little improvement at both Safety positions and McDaniel has the skills and size to play either Free Safety or Strong Safety.
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| 17. |
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Adrian Clayborn
DE, Iowa |
Pittsburgh needs to inject a little more youth into their defensive line. Ends Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel are both at or nearing 35. Once Clayborn puts on a few pounds, he and Ziggy Hood will hold down the Defensive End position for years to come.
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| 18. |
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Gabe Carimi
OT, Wisconsin |
The Giants need to improve at Middle Linebacker but will have to wait until round two. Right Tackle Kareem McKenzie is on the downside and suffered some injuries in 2009. His long-term replacement is not on the current roster. Carimi can step right in.
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| 19. |
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Greg Romeus
LB, Pittsburgh |
Cornerback is San Francisco's number one need but unless one of the Outside Linebackers steps up his game, there just isn't much to get excited about here either. Romeus reminds me of the Saint's Will Smith when he came out in 2004.
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| 20. |
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*Aaron Williams
CB, Texas |
Tennessee has never found a replacement for Albert Haynesworth, but round one of the 2011 Draft isn't where they should look. Outside Cortland Finnegan, the Titan's Cornerbacks are a jumbled mess. Ryan Mouton might be okay, but Williams is better than just okay.
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| 21. |
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*Rahim Moore
S, UCLA |
Running Back appears to be Miami's biggest need, but good value can not be found at pick 21. Chris Clemons can be improved upon but 2010 draftee Reshad Jones isn't a NFL Free Safety.
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| 22. |
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*Julio Jones
WR, Alabama |
Houston needs a run stuffer in the middle of their defensive line but value can't be found at #22. On the flip side, they also need a Center who can handle the big Nose Tackles that every team but them seem to have. Again, value becomes an issue. They settle on the best available player on the board.
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| 23. |
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Jeremy Beal
DE, Oklahoma |
Defensive End is Atlanta's biggest need. Beal is not the top player on the board as far as overall talent, but he fills their need and presents solid value at #23.
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| 24. |
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Allen Bailey
DE, Miami (FL) |
Bailey is the best player on the board and fills a need in New England. An Outside Linebacker would have been considered as well, had one of value been available.
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| 25. |
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*Jared Crick
DE, Nebraska |
Almost all of Dallas' Defensive Ends are free agents after the 2010 season. Crick brings solid value at a position that looks to be one of need in 2011.
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| 26. |
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Deunta Williams
FS, North Carolina |
Shaun Ellis is 33 years old, has knee problems and is likely gone next season. Marques Douglas is also 33. Unfortunately, there isn't a Defensive End prospect available worth the 26th pick. The Jets signed concussion prone Free Safety Brodney Pool and his health is a concern.
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| 27. |
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Ras-I Dowling
CB, Virginia |
The Ravens biggest need is a good sized, physical Cornerback and Dowling fits to a tee.
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| 28. |
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Christian Ponder
QB, Florida St. |
Whether or not Brett Favre comes back, Minnesota will need a Quarterback in 2011. A replacement for Nose Tackle Pat Williams should also be a high priority. Quarterback is much more important to team success than Defensive Tackle, so Ponder gets the nod.
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| 29. |
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*Brandon Harris
CB, Miami (FL) |
I thought the Packers would draft an early round Cornerback in 2010. They didn't and that puts the position at the top of the needs list.
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| 30. |
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*DaQuan Bowers
DE, Clemson |
The needs in San Diego are still uncertain with 2010 free agents Left Tackle Marcus McNeill and WR Vincent Jackson unsigned. Bowers doesn't play in a 3-4 in college but with a few additional pounds, he should be a nice bookend to Luis Castillo.
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| 31. |
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Stephen Paea
DT, Oregon St. |
While Offensive Tackle might be Indy's biggest need, Stephen Paea presents a better value.
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| 32. |
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*Travis Lewis
LB, Oklahoma |
The Saints did very little in 2010 to fix their problems at Outside Linebacker. Lewis is the best player available and fills arguably their biggest need.
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