1st round mock
 

Let's have some fun, shall we.

If I were GM, this is who I would draft for each team.

1. Carolina Panthers -- WR AJ Green, Georgia

I don't think any of the QBs this year warrant #1 money. So if you're going to throw Clausen out there for another year, give the man SOMETHING to throw at.

2. Denver Broncos -- DT Nick Fairley, Auburn

Jon Elway has really ****ed this team by picking up a 4-3 coach. Dumervil cannot be a fulltime passrusher. So they're going to need somebody who is. But you have to go where the talent is here, and that's along the interior line.

As usual, despite an admittedly deep class in passrushers, I don't really love any of them enough this high. I really don't like passrushers this high period.

Patrick Peterson falls, because I don't think CBs are Top Five worthy. I am in a minority there, I know.

3. Buffalo Bills -- QB Blaine Gabbert, Missouri

What do you get for the team that needs everything? A potential franchise QB, that's what. I don't think Gabbert is Top 5 material, but he's definitely a Top 10, potential franchise QB type. That's good enough for this floundering team.

Patrick Peterson falls because this team desperately needs a QB.

4. Cincinnati Bengals -- DE Da'Quan Bowers, Clemson

I'm not even thrilled about this pick, but where the hell else do they go? A potential replacement QB (Cam Newton)? A wide receiver (absolutely nobody this high)?

Patrick Peterson falls because the Bengals have one of the worst passrushes in the league.

5. Arizona Cardinals -- QB Cam Newton, Auburn

This is a long-needed must for the Cards. You cannot enter into another year with Derek Anderson or John Skelton starting for you. Christ.

Patrick Peterson falls because the Cardinals are QB starved. This pick is switched to Peterson if the Cards pick up a vet like McNabb.

6. Cleveland Browns -- DE/DT Marcell Dareus, Alabama

This is virtually a need pick for the Browns. Their front seven is in shambles and needs a virtuoso to right the ship. Dareus is Top 10 material.

Patrick Peterson falls because the Browns just dropped the #7 overall on Joe Haden last year.

7. San Francisco 49ers -- CB Patrick Peterson, LSU

49ers are the benefactors of circumstance and pick up what is sure to be a lockdown CB for their ailing secondary.

8. Tennessee Titans -- DE Robert Quinn, North Carolina

Very difficult choice here, between QB and passrusher, two fields that this team is really sucking at now. But the Titans don't want a potential headcase after just losing one, and they seem content with game managers if they have to be.

9. Dallas Cowboys -- CB Prince Amukamara, Nebraska

This is a no brainer. The best player left who I am completely high on, at a player of desperate need for this defense.

10. Washington Redskins -- QB Jake Locker, Washington

The comparisons to Jake Plummer live on. And Shanahan couldn't be happier.

11. Houston Texans -- OLB Von Miller, Texas A&M

Miller is probably the best pure passrusher in the draft, and this Texans team is going to need to draft like three of these guys, because Wade Phillips is coming to town and they have Jack and Shit at the position.

12. Minnesota Vikings -- QB Ryan Mallett, Arkansas

The Vikings need a franchise QB. Mallett is big, able to take the punishment that his OL will be inflicting on him. He also has two phenomenal targets to throw to, and a future HoFer at RB to take the pressure off.

13. Detroit Lions -- OT Tyron Smith, USC

Priority A1 for the Lions: keep Stafford healthy. I love this kid, but he's been injury riddled because he has absolute shit protecting his blind side.

That's worth a reach if nothing else is. Thing is, I truly don't know who the best OT in this year's draft is. The buzz is surrounding Solder, but Tyron Smith is coming from such a pure line of talent at USC, and I always ALWAYS fall in love with Boston College prospects.

I have to go with the surest possible thing for the Lions, and I think that's Smith.

14. St. Louis Rams -- WR Julio Jones, Alabama

Must give Bradford help down field, first, second, and thirdmost. I don't even think Julio Jones is that good. But Bradford cannot succeed without at least one Day One receiver, and Jones is the smartest bet as far as I'm concerned.

15. Miami Dolphins -- OLB Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue

At the elite positions, the Dolphins need more consistency in their passrush. There are scores of really impressive passrushers at this point, so it's solid value.

The choice was between Aldon Smith, Ryan Kerrigan, and Justin Houston (I do not find Akeem Ayers to look the part of a passrusher). I think they all look the part. Smith is your measurables guy, Kerrigan is your motor-through-the-roof guy with limited measuraables, and Houston is another high-motor guy with some upside.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars -- OLB Aldon Smith, Missouri

Another year, another draft season where we all tell the Jags to get a passrusher.

17. New England Patriots -- OT Derek Sherrod, Mississippi State

Sherrod seems like a much better fit in terms of consistency than Solder or the blue collar Castonzo. So long Matt Light.

18. San Diego Chargers -- DE/DT Cameron Jordan, California

Ugh. As if our offensive line in Kansas City didn't have enough problems.

19. New York Giants -- OLB Akeem Ayers, UCLA

I don't really like any of the tackles enough at this spot, nor the receivers. This pick essentially comes down to Akeem Ayers (who I think is more of a 4-3 OLB than a 3-4 OLB) and Mark Ingram.

Common sense dictates that you go with the offensive skill position over a devalued OLB position in the 4-3, but this is the Giants we're talking about.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- DE Justin Houston, Georgia

This team just has absolutely no passrush whatsoever. And everybody and their mother thinks this is a good landing place for Adrian Clayborn, but he has been very underwhelming for me this season. I like Justin Houston a lot, however, and the Bucs breaks Chiefs' fans hearts by going with the Georgia passrusher.

21. Kansas City Chiefs -- WR Torrey Smith, Maryland

The Chiefs have nothing but a collection of really shitty choices here. JJ Watt is the best talent on the board for my money, but we don't need a DE with the improvement Tyson Jackson has shown. I don't like any of the WRs enough to reach, and the OLBs I really like are all off the board.

So I could go with my second favorite player, and that's Anthony Castonzo. There's absolutely no secret that Matt Cassel needs better protection -- Castonzo and Albert are bookends I can get behind. But I'm not even convinced that Castonzo is a better LT than Albert. But he is a Boston College player, which means he is reliable, high character, smart, and consistent. A Pioli player.

So is Torrey Smith, though, at a position we could actually use. This is a slight reach but Smith is an explosive player who could be a valuable deep threat sooner than later. He is wicked smart and an incredibly hard worker.

22. Indianapolis Colts -- OT Anthony Castonzo, Boston College

I'm not sure if Castonzo can pan out on the left side, but the Colts are hedging their bets here because their right side is horrific too.

23. Philadelphia Eagles -- CB Brandon Harris, Miami

Harris is the real deal, I love this kid. Great speed, but he has an extremely fiery competitive spirit that just wears down receivers over the course of the game.

24. New Orleans Saints - DE Adrian Clayborn, Iowa

Really close to picking Ingram here, but the Saints' offense isn't what's slowing them down.

25. Seattle Seahawks -- WR Jonathan Baldwin, Seattle

The Seahawks need some interior OL help (Mike Pouncey?) but I don't like going guard in the first round. Blech.

26. Baltimore Ravens -- DE/DT Cameron Heyward, Ohio State

Again, I don't really like any of the WRs at this point. The Ravens keep their front seven in immaculate condition because they never stop investing in it early in the draft.

27. Atlanta Falcons -- OG Mike Pouncey, Florida

And this is how you know Direckshun thinks this is a weak crop of 1st round talent.

28. New England Patriots -- DE/DT Corey Liuget, Illinois

Belichek has to understand that front line will only do so much with the talent he's limited it with at end.

29. Chicago Bears -- OT Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin

I don't even give a shit if Carimi can't work out at the left side. The entire Chicago offensive line needs an upgrade.

30. New York Jets -- NT Phil Taylor, Baylor

Love Phil Taylor the trailor. Especially since the Jets aren't going to draft a corner, which is really the best talent left at this point. There also isn't much at defensive end or passrusher. But they do have an All Pro NT who can't make it through a season healthy. And even if he can, he's just about finished.

Taylor has the making of the next big thing, no pun intended, in this league. Rex Ryan finds a way to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to the front seven.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers -- CB Aaron Williams, Texas

Meh. I really don't like the talent left at the end of the 1st.

32. Green Bay Packers -- RB Mark Ingram, Alabama

Is there a pick that makes more sense in this first round, I ask thee, than this one? I think not. Good lord this team has no run game.

I can see Pioli making a deal if he likes a player and knows a team ahead of him is going to take him.

Elvis Dumervil had 20 sacks his first two years in the NFL. And he was in the 4-3....

A couple of things:

1) The money issue isn't going to be a factor. These contracts aren't going to be negotiated until after the new CBA.

2) If a QB is top 10 material, he's good enough to go #1.

3) The Bengals have Carlos Dunlap and Antwan Odom

4) The Broncos could use Dumervil similar to the way that the Redskins used Orakpo as a rookie.

5) The Titans just spent a first on Morgan last year, and they are probably going to do their best to hold on to Babin.

6) Why would the Pats pass on a perfect fit at 5 technique for a LT when they
drafted Vollmer two years ago and he can man the LT for them?

7) Sherrod is probably the 4th OT at this point, but it is the Patriots and they don't follow a conventional board. Carimi and Jordan or Liuget and Sherrod?

8) What improvement has Tyson Jackson shown?

I think Hamas has good points, although I don't think The Chiefs would give up on Tyson Jackson this quick whether they agree he's improved enough or not.

I don't think Buffalo goes QB, as that's maybe the only spot where they got decent play last season-and frankly, I think when you're that bad you need to pick positions that are less risky. QB's are just such a crapshoot. I'd start with the line, either d-line or LOT.

I think Cam Newton is a terrible fit for Arizona and the offense they run. Gabbert, Mallet , or Locker would all be better choices for the system. It's a multi-receiver, quick-read offense. Not saying Newton COULDN'T do that, but he hasn't.

We don't know what Tennessee will look like, but they could be a spot for any of the top 3 QB's. I'm tempted to say Newton to TN as he's sort of a Vince Young type QB skillsetwise without the character problems and the ownership obviously was enamored with that in the past. Without knowing who's gonna be coaching we can't say.

I have no idea who the Chiefs will take, but I don't think moving Albert to RT and drafting a rookie LT is going to be it.

I can tell you that, in my opinion, NT, C and WR are the most glaring weaknesses on the team. Of those 3, really only WR would warrant that high a pick. Could be OLB too, although they seem to like Studebaker and opposite Hali the other OLB needs to be a well rounded player, not just a passrusher.

i like the effort, if it as it appears to be...a weaker class with less obvious separation between players at each position, you could see more of teams going with 'their guy' regardless of draft position...leading to a wierdo first round..


i don't know anything about WR Torrey Smith, Maryland, so can't comment

Taylor from Baylor sounds interesting, if we could trade down

Yeah, the NCAA cleared Newton of any wrongdoing in the Miss St. money thing.

It was all his father.

No character issues at all.

To me, that was the least of the character issues. Stealing laptops, committing plagiarism, and endangering another student's academic standing are all far worse transgressions.

I get that.

The point is, that where character is concerned, there's a big red flag.

don't even bother with them
I argue all the time about how good Dumervil was before no one remembers they are all busy calling teams names based on poop

Thanks.

I mean Top 10 selection, not Top 10 in the league.

I think Gabbert is massively overrated. But he's the cream of this pretty shaky crop.

And shit for sack totals.

That's fair.

I haven't heard the buzz that the Pats were into Vollmer for the left side.

That's fair. And I know Light's playing in the Pro Bowl as I type this out.

Jackson played rather well down the stretch.

Except for the few games after he returned from injury, T-Jack was much better than Shaun Smith at DE.

Agreed.

QBs are also the most necessary position on the field. You don't go with okay. You go with potential franchise signal caller.

Fitzpatrick is okay. Gabbert is a potential franchise signal caller.

I haven't seen the commitment to top flight character in Arizona, and like you, I see a lot of Vince Young in him. Newton's kind of a screwed up guy, but there's no way he's as insane as Young was/is.

That's fair. But... it's a mock. I can't just get to the Titans pick and shrug.

Me neither, although Pioli's love of the big uglies is hard to ignore.

NT warrants that high of a pick, actually. Keep your eyes on Taylor the trailor from Baylor.

Or trading out of the first.

Fair enough. I was unaware.

I think the most 'Pioli' type of guys tha might he available to KC are Paea and Sam Acho. Some say Paea isn't big enough for the nose, but others say he's short and squat enough to handle it due to lower body strength and leverage.