Russ Lande: 2011 Mock Draft

[DaWolf]

Perloff from SI:

1. Seattle Seahawks
Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas*

The former Michigan quarterback has the most NFL-desirable skills in this deep QB class.

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson*

2010 belonged to the defensive tackles. The pass-rushers will take their turn this year, and Bowers is the scariest of the group. However, Bowers needs to be a bit more consistent in 2010.

3. St. Louis Rams
Robert Quinn*, DE, North Carolina

Some see Quinn as the second-coming of Julius Peppers. Overcoming an operation on a brain tumor in high school shows incredible character, but could also make some teams nervous. Not so the Rams.

4. Detroit Lions
Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State

The Lions would want to shore up their offensive line here, but this draft might not have the premier left tackle they'd want this high.

5. New England Patriots (via Raiders)
A.J. Green, WR, Georgia*

The Pats will need more offensive playmakers with Randy Moss turning 34 in 2011. Green is Calvin Johnson-light, which is still pretty good.

6. Cleveland Browns
Julio Jones, WR, Alabama

Jones may not have 4.4 40 speed, but neither did Larry Fitzgerald. Most NFL teams choose college production over 40 times in this year's draft.

7. Arizona Cardinals
Prince Amukamara CB, Nebraska

Played big against tough competition last season and has enough athleticism for Nebraska to consider working him into the offense in the coming season.

8. Kansas City Chiefs
Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin

Carimia wasn't overwhelming last year, but could rise to the top of an underwhelming class of potential left tackles.

9. Buffalo Bills
Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri

The knock on Gabbert will be the Missouri system that helped Chase Daniel put up huge numbers. But because of his size (6-foot-5, 240 pounds), Gabbert is a different kind of prospect than Daniel and teams will believe more in the stats.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars
Jake Locker, QB, Washington

The Jags didn't bite on Tim Tebow, but will jump all over next year's big name even if questions remain about Locker's ability as a pure passer.

Stewart Mandel: Locker focuses on Huskies, not draft

11. Tennessee Titans
Marcell Dareus*, DE, Alabama

Dareus got a lot of attention for knocking Colt McCoy out of the national title game, and should emerge as a star as the Crimson Tide tries to repeat.

12. Carolina Panthers
Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina

No guarantee current GM Marty Hurney and coach John Fox will be making this pick. Analysts wonder if Austin's drive equals his talent, so he'll have to play hard this year to go this high.

13. Denver Broncos
Aaron Williams, CB, Texas

Sometimes overshadowed by other stars in the Texas secondary, Williams will step into the spotlight this season.

14. Chicago Bears
Anthony Costanzo, T, Boston College

Costanzo could prove to be better than Carimi and shoot into the top 10.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers
Patrick Peterson*, CB, LSU

Despite trading to get Bryant McFadden back, the Steelers still need help in a secondary that didn't make a lot of plays last season.

16. Philadelphia Eagles
Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia

Eagles faithful are nervous about starting cornerback Ellis Hobbs, and they need more help in nickel and dime packages.

17. Cincinnati Bengals
Daniel Thomas, RB, Kansas State

The former quarterback led the Big 12 in rushing with 1,265 yards and is still learning the position.

18. New York Giants
Rodney Hudson, G, Florida State

The Giants once-dependable offensive line started showing holes in 2009.

19. Miami Dolphins
Greg Jones, LB, Michigan State

Jones is a tackling machine who surprised a lot of people by returning to Michigan State.

20. Washington Redskins
DeAndre McDaniel, S, Clemson

McDaniel had eight interceptions last season and provides a physical presence against the run.

21. New England Patriots
Greg Romeus, DE, Pitt

Romeus was a basketball player who didn't pick up the sport until his senior year of high school. If he reaches double digits in sacks this season, he should be a first-rounder.

22. Green Bay Packers
Von Miller, DE/OLB, Texas A&M

Miller could fit here as the Packers try to land another outside linebacker to complement Clay Matthews.

23. Houston Texans
Rahim Moore*, S, UCLA

Moore led the nation with 10 interceptions last season and helps fill a big need for the Texans.

24. Atlanta Falcons
Jared Crick*, DT, Nebraska

Crick had five sacks in one game last season. He'll prove he can perform without having Ndamukong Suh drawing all of the offense's attention.

25. San Francisco 49ers
Mark Ingram*, RB, Alabama

Although he has a different style, the 2009 Heisman winner could help lighten the load on Frank Gore and eventually become his replacement.

26. New York Jets
Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa

Clayborn ran into some off-field issues, but the Jets have shown they're not afraid of that kind of risk.

27. San Diego Chargers
Michael Floyd*, WR, Notre Dame

The Chargers don't appear to have many holes right now, but could add depth to the receiving corps.

28. Minnesota Vikings
Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State

Is it possible we'll still be debating whether Brett Favre will come back or not at this point next season?

29. Indianapolis Colts
Allen Bailey, DT, Miami

Bailey considered going pro this year, but will return to lead a unit that isn't producing as many sure-fire first-rounders as it used to.

30. Dallas Cowboys
Nate Potter*, OT, Boise State

The Cowboys will likely have to focus on a long-term answer at left tackle.

31. Baltimore Ravens
Curtis Brown, CB, Texas

Another talented defensive back in a program that's been churning them out.

32. New Orleans Saints
DeMarco Murray, RB, Oklahoma

The Saints don't seem settled at this position, and Murray could provide a long-term answer.

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...#ixzz0mKL8c87s
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[Archie Bunker]

Originally Posted by DaWolf;67188558.

8. Kansas City Chiefs
Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin

Carimia wasn't overwhelming last year, but could rise to the top of an underwhelming class of potential left tackles.

9. Buffalo Bills
Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri

The knock on Gabbert will be the Missouri system that helped Chase Daniel put up huge numbers. But because of his size (6-foot-5, 240 pounds), Gabbert is a different kind of prospect than Daniel and teams will believe more in the stats.

My head might explode.

[Valiant]

who did the raiders trade for to give up the draft pick??

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by Valiant

who did the raiders trade for to give up the draft pick??

Richard Seymour

[ToxSocks]

Stupid.

[Saccopoo]

It's not stupid, it's what's going to happen if Albert doesn't step it up this season, his third season as a starting LT.

We're going to pass over talented QB's and WR's to pick a substandard offensive tackle because we have to.

The 2010 draft showed several things:

1. The Chiefs have faith in Branden Albert to be the long term answer as their quality starting left tackle.
2. The Chiefs have faith in Matt Cassel as their QBOTF.

Because if Albert doesn't pan out after his third season at LT, they will have to forego the possibility of drafting a potential QBOTF such as Locker, Mallet, Luck, Gabbert (if he comes out), or a stud WR in Jones, Green, Floyd, etc., and instead forced to draft an offensive tackle like Costanzo (who isn't a bad player and fits the bill in terms of what the Chiefs seem to now be looking for - all conference academic, first team all-conference as a player, etc. though he wasn't as good as Tennant on the same team who went in the fourth round of this draft). And that's not even considering what happens with Seamus O'Murphy at RT and Weigmann/Niswanger at center.

Even if they didn't draft Okung, there were still a lot of quality players at center and right tackle still in the draft in the fourth and fifth rounds that could have addressed the majority of the concerns that a lot of people had about the offensive line. And until those concerns are addressed you are going to continue to see mocks that have the Chiefs taking an OT in the first round as nobody outside of the handful of optimists on this board think that highly of Alberts abilities and long term productivity at the LT spot.

There is going to be a lot of question marks regarding the key offensive line positions (LT, C, RT) as the Chiefs head into the 2010 season.

[MoreLemonPledge]

I truly believe that if Cassel doesn't step up this year, we're looking for his replacement, not Albert's.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by MoreLemonPledge

I truly believe that if Cassel doesn't step up this year, we're looking for his replacement, not Albert's.

If Cassel doesn't step up, and the offensive line continues gives up all those sacks, hits, pressures and penalities (and they were near the top in all those categories), it won't be Cassel being replaced.

I think that Pioli feels that you can find offensive line players, even tackles, later in the draft. But he put a lot of faith into Albert and O'Callaghan the way he drafted this year. It's more on them versus Cassel at this point. If Cassel continues to get pressured the way he was last season, they will be forced to go OT high, even possibly using a first rounder on that position.

[The Franchise]

As far as I'm concerned....we'll be looking at 1 of 2 positions in the draft next year.

QB or WR

Either Matt Cassel or Dwayne Bowe didn't step up.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

As far as I'm concerned....we'll be looking at 1 of 2 positions in the draft next year.

QB or WR

Either Matt Cassel or Dwayne Bowe didn't step up.

Hopefully they both do and we're spending a mid-first on the best pass rusher in the draft.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Hopefully they both do and we're spending a mid-first on the best pass rusher in the draft.

I'm honestly hoping for that as well.

I may not like Cassel....but I'm hoping that he succeeds so that we're not stuck in limbo until we get a QB.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

I'm honestly hoping for that as well.

I may not like Cassel....but I'm hoping that he succeeds so that we're not stuck in limbo until we get a QB.

Next year looks like a really good year to take one if he doesn't. 3rd or 4th QB off the board could be a better pro than the #1 pick the last two years. Not that I disliked Stafford; that's a comment about how good the guys next year look...

I think they've done enough with the rest of the offense that they'll know exactly what they have in Cassel by the end of the '10 season. They won't be installing a new system a couple of weeks before the season, they shouldn't have the kind of flux at WR they did last year, they've made a number of moves to shore-up the interior offensive line, they have depth at RB. There's no reason they shouldn't be able to get quality play out of Cassel - if he's capable of it...

People have argued with my belief in this, but I think this is his make-or-break year. I don't think they stick with him in '11 if he flames out again in '10.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Hopefully they both do and we're spending a mid-first on the best pass rusher in the draft.

And add Von Miller to the list of guys we'll pass on for a stud RT like Gabe Carimi.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

As far as I'm concerned....we'll be looking at 1 of 2 positions in the draft next year.

QB or WR

Either Matt Cassel or Dwayne Bowe didn't step up.

That would be great, and what I hoped for in looking at the talent in the 2011 draft. And why I wanted Okung, a center and a RT in the 2010 draft - so we could draft either the QBOTF or WR with All Pro potential in 2011 versus having to address the o-line in 2011.

The way Pioli has drafted, I can see us passing up a potential QBOTF like Mallet, Locker, Gabbert, Luck or a wideout like Green, Floyd or Jones and going with a tackle. Shit, it would only make sense at this point.

If the o-line sucks like they have over the past two seasons, the responsibility is going to be put squarely on the tackles shoulders, especially since we've upgraded the two guard positions with Lilja and Asamoah.

You thought passing on Clausen was bad? Wait until they pick a guy like Costanzo or Barksdale with their first and pass over guys like Gabbert, Green, Locker, Jones, etc.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

That would be great, and what I hoped for in looking at the talent in the 2011 draft. And why I wanted Okung, a center and a RT in the 2010 draft - so we could draft either the QBOTF or WR with All Pro potential in 2011 versus having to address the o-line in 2011.

The way Pioli has drafted, I can see us passing up a potential QBOTF like Mallet, Locker, Gabbert, Luck or a wideout like Green, Floyd or Jones and going with a tackle. Shit, it would only make sense at this point.

If the o-line sucks like they have over the past two seasons, the responsibility is going to be put squarely on the tackles shoulders, especially since we've upgraded the two guard positions with Lilja and Asamoah.

You thought passing on Clausen was bad? Wait until they pick a guy like Costanzo or Barksdale with their first and pass over guys like Gabbert, Green, Locker, Jones, etc.

I'm sorry Sac but you're out of your ****ing mind.

Scott Pioli is NOT going to spend a Top Ten pick on an offensive lineman when game changing impact players are available.

Right now, two very good left tackles are available for a 2nd or even a 3rd (Gaither & Brown). IF Albert shits the bed in training camp and pre-season (which is extremely unlikely), Pioli will be on the horn trading for one of those guys. He's not going to spend $50 million dollars on a left tackle.

As for right tackle, he's very happy with O'Callaghan and has said as such. O'C should improve from last year and he played much better with Wade Smith at his side. I'd expect that to continue, whether it be Brown or Lilja. If not, it'll be addressed with a 4th round pick next year.

In a zone blocking scheme, centers are a dime a dozen. They don't need a Maurkice Pouncey. I wouldn't be surprised if they already have someone in mind to play center, such as Daryl Harris.

You need to chill out with all of this "Gloom and Doom" about the offensive line.