Here are my picks for the NFL’s first round of the draft, including the Saints’ choice at 24. Let me know what you think!
1. Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
After he made the most of his pro day the Panthers are sold on Newton being the face of the franchise. Whether he’ll have success or not at the next level remains to be seen, but there’s no doubting his talent. Ron Rivera is building a new team from the ground up and he’ll want his guy, not Jimmy Clausen. The Newton era will start immediately. Get used to him Saints fans, we’ll be seeing him a lot.
2. Denver Broncos: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
John Fox was dead set to take Patrick Peterson if Marcell Dareus went first overall, but this opportunity is too good to pass up as the Broncos believe he is the best player in the draft.
3. Buffalo Bills: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
The Bills need a quarterback but they had Peterson rated as the best athlete in the entire draft class and he’s a can’t miss star at cornerback. The question is: can they justify another season with Trent Edwards behind center? Definitely not, but Peterson is a huge upgrade to their defensive backfield immediately while Gabbert may not represent an upgrade right away. I think they’ll take Peterson and hope to make a run at Kevin Kolb once a new CBA is in place.
4. Cincinnati Bengals: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
The Bengals need defense in the worst way, but it’s time for them to turn the page on Carson Palmer. He’s made every indication that he wants out, and while the news has died down with the absence of a CBA, the noise will resurface as soon as playing becomes a reality. They believe Gabbert is their quarterback of the future.
5. Arizona Cardinals: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
They were banking on Gabbert and they’re floored he’s gone. If he’s available they will take him. Since he’s not, they “settle” for Miller. Miller is the most explosive edge rusher in the entire draft and he’ll give the Cards a scary wrinkle right away that improves their defense dramatically.
6. Cleveland Browns: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
The Browns are an up and coming young office, and Colt McCoy is doing cartwheels at the idea of his newest weapon. The Browns are thrilled Green falls to them and they waste no time improving their offensive perimeter with the guy that’s the perfect blend of size, speed and hands.
7. San Francisco 49ers: Da’Quan Bowers, DL, Clemson
While his knee is the one thing that gives the 49ers pause, Bowers is the highest rated player left on the board. They’d love Gabbert or Newton if either were to fall this far because they need a quarterback, but they take Bowers as the best left available.
8. Tennessee Titans: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
Ever since Albert Haynesworth left the Titans’ interior hasn’t been the same. They believe, despite some character concerns, that Fairley can return that unit to dominance. From a potential standpoint almost no one in the draft is more promising.
9. Dallas Cowboys: Tyron Smith, OT, USC
Tony Romo’s injury last season is still fresh in their mind and they’ll whatever it takes to prevent it from happening again. Smith represents an upgrade of youthful energy at the tackle position and he’s the best guy at the position in the draft.
10. Washington Redskins: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
Picking a better receiver between Jones and Green is like splitting hairs, and the Redskins’ current top receiver is Santana Moss, so this pick is definitely based on need. McNabb needs helps if he’s going to have any chance at success and he’s now got a favorite new target.
11. Houston Texans: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
The Texans’ defense, and particularly their backfield, need a huge revamp and they’re thrilled to see a guy of Amukarama’s quality drop out of the top 10.
12. Minnesota Vikings: Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri
The Vikings may consider reaching for Jake Locker, but there’s so many good defensive ends left in this part of the draft that the Vikings take the best player available on their board and improve an already scary defensive line.
13. Detroit Lions: Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
Like the Cowboys, Detroit will do whatever it takes to keep their quarterback healthy. Stafford has taken so many hits that they need a serious upgrade on the offensive line to give him a chance to get through an entire season. This pick is a no brainer and Tyron Smith is another if he’s still available.
14. St. Louis Rams: Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina
The Rams need help at WR and DE, so if Julio Jones were to fall this low they’d take him, but they go with Quinn because he’s the best end still out there.
15. Miami Dolphins: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
Everyone seems to agree this will be the pick here. Miami needs a feature back and most teams agree that Ingram is a can’t miss prospect. While most teams believe they can find good backs later in the draft, the Dolphins are moving on from the Ricky Williams/Ronnie Brown era and they don’t have a 2nd round pick so they need to make the most of this one.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars: J. J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin
Defensive end is the position the Jaguars will draft. The choices they have with who to pick are endless, with Ryan Kerrigan, Cameron Heyward, Adrian Clayborn and Cameron Jordan as options too. Ultimately they decide they like Watt the best.
17. New England Patriots: Cameron Jordan, DE, Cal
They’ll take Mark Ingram if he’s still available, but they also need help on the D-Line and there’s such a heavy number of really good players in this draft that they have loads of talent to choose from.
18. San Diego Chargers: Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA
The Chargers want an outside linebacker that can get to the quarterback to help solidify their pass rush with the departure of Merriman. Kerrigan is an option, but they decide Ayers is more explosive and a better fit for that position. Plus he’s close to local, so he is an immediate fan favorite.
19. New York Giants: Mike Pouncey, G/C, Florida
The Giants are in desperate need for an upgrade along the offensive line. How Eli stayed healthy last year is beyond me. Their performance up front was an embarassment last year. This high they’d normally want a tackle, but they also saw what his twin brother did last year with the Steelers.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
Tampa feels good about their young and improving offense, so they want to keep improving now on the other side of the ball. Clayborn will help their pass rush and with guys like Drew Brees and Matt Ryan in their division, pressure will be important.
21. Kansas City Chiefs: Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi St.
Most people disagree here on which direction the Chiefs will go. My belief is they will stay away from the defensive line since Tyson Jackson and Glenn Dorsey were recent selections. The Chiefs are young and deep so they’ll draft based on the best player available – they can finally afford to do that.
22. Indianapolis Colts: Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
Peyton Manning is on a slight decline and he’s no spring chicken. The Colts need to get him some help. Their hope is that Carimi came keep Manning from getting hit and extend his career a little bit.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
The Eagles could honestly go offensive line, defensive line, or cornerback here. Ultimately, they feel like Smith is a great player as the 3rd best corner in the draft, and we know that’s a position that Andy Reid has always valued highly.
24. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: COREY LIUGET, DT, ILLINOIS
For me it’s got to be defense, and the choice is between Ryan Kerrigan, Muhammad Wilkerson, Corey Liuget and Justin Houston. Kerrigan and Houston are both 4-3 ends or 3-4 outsi
de backers, and I think Wilkerson and Liuget are massive run stuffers. I think the Saints value the importance of being able to get the quarterback, but at the end of the day the tackles just grade out higher and Houston lacks the size and Kerrigan lacks the top end speed. Liuget is just too good to pass up based on his very high IQ and good character. He’s a prototypical Sean Payton type guy.
25. Seattle Seahawks: Jake Locker, QB, Washington
This is a reach, but Pete Carroll has coached against this guy when he was at USC and he knows what Locker is capable of. Being a local guy the fans will immediately adore him. It’s time for Hasselbeck to slowly pass the torch, but the good news is they don’t have to throw Locker into the fire and can groom him behind the trusted veteran.
26. Baltimore Ravens: Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
The Ravens are always looking to make their already scary defense even better. That’s how they are built and that’s how they win games. Kerrigan fits the mold of the motor Ravens defense that hits hard and is always getting after you.
27. Atlanta Falcons: Aaron Williams, CB, Texas
The Falcons finally feel really good about their offense, but losses to the Saints late in the year at home and in the playoffs to the Packers proved that they need their defense to step up. Their pass defense was suspect in the clutch, so they hope Williams can bolster that.
28. New England Patriots: Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois
They already went with a defensive lineman earlier in the draft, and now they draft a running back to bolster their rushing attack. The Patriots often go by committee but they believe Leshoure could be their main horse in 2011.
29. Chicago Bears: Nat Solder, OT, Colorado
Cutler took a lot of hits last year, and the most memorable was the one that forced him to sit in the NFC Championship game. The Bears also need more toughness off the edge to help their running game, so they pick Solder to improve a very weak offensive line.
30. New York Jets: Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple
The Jets are so deep they will just go with the best player available. They debate between Phil Taylor of Baylor and Muhammad Wilkerson of Temple as the best remaining overall players that will help them stop the run.
31. Pittsburgh Steelers: Danny Watkins, OT, Baylor
Offensive line is still the main area of need, based on the high volume of sacks Roethlisberger takes. That’s always going to be a problem given his style of play, but the Steelers will at least try to give him the most time possible. Watkins is my pick because he’s the best tackle left, but they could also go with either Wisniewski of Penn State or Orlando Franklin of Miami.
32: Green Bay Packers: Justin Houston, OLB, Georgia
Based on how desperate they were at running back after Ryan Grant went down, Leshoure is their target at 32, but they also won’t reach if he’s gone. Justin Houston will bolster their pass rush even more, so they take the best guy available.
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