Russ Lande: 2011 Mock Draft

[Tribal Warfare]

Never too early: A first look at the first round of the 2011 NFL draft

The 2010 NFL draft is done, and while the grades and predictions of greatness are still coming in, we've begun looking forward. Using this year's draft order, here's our first stab at next year's first round. The first pick comes from a group of eight worthy candidates.

1. St. Louis Rams: Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson.
2. Detroit Lions: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina.
4. Washington Redskins: Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State.
5. Kansas City Chiefs: Anthony Costanzo, OT, Boston College.
6. Seattle Seahawks: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama.
7. Cleveland Browns: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford.
8. New England Patriots (from Oakland Raiders): Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa.
9. Buffalo Bills: Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars: Ahmad Black, S, Florida.
11. Chicago Bears: Jake Locker, QB, Washington.
12. Miami Dolphins: Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue.
13. San Francisco 49ers: Bruce Carter, LB, North Carolina.
14. Denver Broncos: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU.
15. New York Giants: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama.
16. Tennessee Titans: Greg Jones, LB, Michigan State.
17. Carolina Panthers: Greg Romeus, DE, Pittsburgh.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jarriel King, OT, South Carolina.
19. Atlanta Falcons: Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin.
20. Houston Texans: Mark Herzlich, LB, Boston College.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Rahim Moore, S, UCLA.
22. New England Patriots: Chris Galippo, LB, USC.
23. Green Bay Packers: DeMarco Murray, RB, Oklahoma.
24. Philadelphia Eagles: Evan Royster, RB, Penn State.
25. Baltimore Ravens: Chris Owusu, WR, Stanford.
26. Arizona Cardinals: D.J. Williams, TE, Arkansas.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina.
28. San Diego Chargers: Marcel Dareus, DE, Alabama.
29. New York Jets: Von Miller, LB, Texas A&M.
30. Minnesota Vikings: Mike Pouncey, G/C, Florida.
31. Indianapolis Colts: Kelvin Sheppard, LB, LSU.
32. New Orleans Saints: Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State.

Note: 2010 juniors and draft-eligible sophomores are included.

[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.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by Valiant

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

Richard Seymour

[MoreLemonPledge]

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

[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.

[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]

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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[aturnis]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

Here's GBN Report's 2011 Mock Draft......it's not any better.

http://www.gbnreport.com/2011projection.html

Two guards taken in the first round and only once tackle at the 32nd pick? Doubt it. I don't care if next years tackle class is weak sauce. Teams reach.

[Mr. Laz]

dammit you have the to take the Quarterbacks first!!!!

[orange]

Originally Posted by The Meat Dragon

I wonder when these guys are going to figure out that we CLEARLY already have our LT?

and we CLEARLY aren't going to value OT's highly in the draft...

Shortly after ChiefsPlanet finally figures out that Cassel is your QB.

[Saccopoo]

Potential 2011 Chiefs Draft

I haven't even looked to see what their actual draft spots/picks are, but this is what I'd hope for:

1. AJ Green, WR; Georgia
- I don't realistically see either Gabbert or Luck coming out in 2011. Green has had two minor shoulder sprains and would be a logical early entry into the 2011 NFL draft. He's a legit #1 WR with insane instincts. He might not be Megatron Johnson, but he's a stud.


2. Cliff Matthews, DE/OLB; South Carolina
- By the seasons end, will likely be a first round pick as he's prototype for a 3-4 OLB at 6'4", 250 lb. Team captain. The new Pioli keyword.


3. Stefen Wisniewski, C; Penn State
- Might have been the top center in the 2010 draft class if he came out, but like a guy who he's very similar to in terms of build, experience and accolades - Matt Tennant, he falls just like Tennant did because of another Pouncey in the draft.


4. Phil Taylor, NT; Baylor
- Massive guy (6'4", 355 lb.) with surprising agility (played at fullback in goalline situations). A Penn State transfer, he immediately made an impact for the Bears in his first season there.


5. Obi Ezeh, ILB; Michigan
- A solid linebacker that had a down season in 2009 for whatever reason, and even got a Rich Rodriguez motivational benching at one point. But he's a big time player and would be a steal at this point.


6. Harvey Unga, RB/FB; BYU
- The Cougars all-time leading rusher is a force out of the backfield. Might be in the 2010 NFL supplemental draft due to honor code violations this off-season.


7. Tray Allen, OL; Texas
- Former first team AA prep on about everyone's list has played tackle, guard and even has filled in on the defensive side of the ball. A very versatile, team first player.