Our final 2011 NFL Mock Draft: Rounds 1-3

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Thursday, April 27, 2011
Posted: 10:30 a.m.
By Jared Sherman
CSNPhilly.com ContributorRound 1
1. CarolinaCam Newton, QB, Auburn
While I think Newton is the fourth best QB in the draft, his athletic talent and big name are just too hard for Carolina to pass up on. If he can pick up the complexities of the NFL after playing in a dumbed-down Auburn offense, Newton could be fantastic.
2. DenverMarcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
Denver needs a building block on defense as they convert back to the 4-3 alignment. Dareus can play inside or out, and nobody will out work him on gameday.

3. BuffaloVon Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
In what could be the last year of the Aaron Maybin disaster the Bills select the top pass rusher in the draft. Miller will finally give their 3-4 defense a bite.
4. CincinnatiAJ Green, WR, Georgia
Carson Palmer is threatening retirement if he's not traded. Getting him a weapon like Green could help change his mind. Green has the size, speed and route running acumen to make an impact anywhere on the field.

5. ArizonaPatrick Peterson, CB, LSU
The Cards pass defense is spotty and Peterson may be the best athlete and safest pick in the draft.
6. ClevelandJulio Jones, WR, Alabama
Colt McCoy needs weapons and Jones offers a big, strong, fast target. He also blocks his butt off.

7. San FranciscoJake Locker, QB, Washington
Jim Harbaugh saw quite a bit of Locker while he coached Stanford and can't help seeing a bit of himself in Locker's fire and passion to win. It also helps that Locker's physical abilities far surpass his own.
8. TennesseeBlaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
Tennessee can't count on Andy Dalton or Ryan Mallett still being available in the second round, so the Titans opt for the talented Gabbert to be their QB of the future.
9. DallasAnthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
Tyron Smith may have more upside, but Jerry Jones is all about the now. Castonzo can be inserted at either left or right tackle from Day One.
10. WashingtonJ.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin
Not the sexy pick Dan Snyder wants, but Watt is as clean a prospect as there is and will give Washington's 3-4 defense more of a pass rush from the DE spot.

11. HoustonRobert Quinn, DEOLB, North Carolina
Houston is converting to a 3-4 defense and is bereft of proven outside rushers. Quinn played DE at UNC but is athletic enough to make the move to the outside.

12. MinnesotaDa'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
Bowers' stock has taken a hit because of concerns about his knee. Nevertheless, the Vikes like the thought of having a talented bookend to Jared Allen.
13. DetroitJimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
Prince Amukamara is the bigger name but Smith is the better corner.
14. St. LouisNick Fairley, DT, Auburn
The Rams effective front four could use a dynamic penetrator to play next to solid Fred Robbins.

15. MiamiMike Pouncey, COG, Florida
Regardless of whether the Fins move Richie Incognito to center, Pouncey is the top guardcenter the draft and will immediately help shore up a shaky Miami interior.
16. JacksonvilleAldon Smith, DE, Missouri
The Jags continue their quest to find an effective pass rushing end. Smith is raw but has the skills to become perhaps the best pass rusher in the draft.
17. New England fOakTyron Smith, OT, USC
Left tackle Matt Light is a free agent and Smith has the most upside of any tackle in the draft. He played RT at USC and would come in handy if the Pats decide to move Sebastian Vollmer to replace Light.
18. San DiegoRyan Kerrigan, OLB, Purdue
Shawne Merriman is gone and Larry English has disappointed. The Chargers need pressure from the outside and Kerrigan, a try hard guy, brings the energy they want.

19. N.Y. GiantsGabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
Kareem McKenzie is on his last legs and Carimi is a prototypical right tackle. He has four years of starting experience at LT if the Giants want to move David Diehl inside.

20. Tampa BayPrince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
Amukamara is smart and physical but not a dominant athlete. He's a great fit for the Tampa-2 defense and could be Ronde Barber's eventual successor.

21. Kansas CityNate Solder, OT, Colorado
Solder needs to get stronger but the former TE is nimble enough to handle LT in the pros. He will eventually allow KC to move Branden Albert over to RT.

22. IndianapolisCorey Luiget, DT, Illinois
The Colts interior line routinely gets manhandled, and Luiget is a disruptive player who can collapse pockets and make Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis even more dangerous.
23. PhiladelphiaDerrek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State
Corner is the top priority but with Smith and Amukamara gone the Birds turn to another need. Sherrod played LT at Mississippi State and is versatile enough to either shift inside to guard or over to the RT. He's a super athlete and could be an excellent complement to the equally athletic Jason Peters. Don't be surprised to see the Birds trade up though. A player like Luiget or Aldon Smith may be too tempting not to make a run at.
24. New OrleansAdrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
The Saints have little depth at DE, and Clayborn isn't a dynamic pass rusher but will provide solid run defense and the occasional sack. You'll never have to worry about effort either.
25. SeattleAndy Dalton, QB, TCU
Matt Hasselbeck's impressive run in Seattle is coming to a close. Dalton isn't going to wow anyone with his arm, but he's smart, accurate and a true leader. Hes a perfect fit for the West Coast offense.
26. BaltimoreAaron Williams, CB, Texas
Between Ed Reed's long-term health concerns and a thinned out CB pool, Williams' versatility makes him an ideal choice for the Ravens.

27. AtlantaCameron Jordan, DE, California
While the Falcons would prefer a pass rusher, they'd welcome Jordan's well-rounded game on the left side of the defensive line.

28. New EnglandMuhammad Wilkerson, DL, Temple
The Pats D-line is depleted and might be without DE Ty Warren in 2011. Wilkerson is a project but flashes outstanding athleticism and speed as a 3-4 DE.

29. ChicagoBen Ijalana, OT, Villanova
A bit of reach here, but the Bears desperately need an upgrade at LT. Ijalana is a tremendous athlete that will need some time to adjust to the level of competition after coming from the FCS.
30. N.Y. JetsJabaal Sheard, OLBDE, Pittsburgh
The Jets defense relies on pressure, and they didn't get much last season from OLBs Calvin pace and Bryan Thomas. Sheard is a reach but is a relentless pass rusher who played DE at Pitt.

31. PittsburghDanny Watkins, OL, Baylor
The Steelers O-line play has slipped precipitously over the years. Watkins is a versatile mauler who started at LT for Baylor for two seasons after taking up the game as a freshman at junior college.
32. Green BayAkeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA
The Packers would love to find Clay Matthews a partner in crime at OLB. Ayers isn't a natural pass rusher like Matthews but has the tools to make an impact opposite him.

Second Round

33. New England f Carolina - Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama

34. Buffalo - Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor

35. Cincinnati - Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State

36. Denver - Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State

37. Cleveland - Justin Houston, DE, Georgia

38. Arizona - Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas

39. Tennessee - Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland

40. Dallas - Brandon Harris, CB, Miami (FL)

41. Washington - Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois

42. Houston - Rahim Moore, S, UCLA

43. Minnesota - Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada

44. Detroit - Bruce Carter, LB, North Carolina

45. San Francisco - Brooks Reed, OLB, Arizona

46. Denver f Miami - Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami (FL)

47. St. Louis - Randall Cobb, WR, Kentucky

48. Oakland - Marcus Cannon, OL, TCU

49. Jacksonville - Martez Wilson, LB, Illinois

50. San Diego - Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame

51. Tampa Bay - Allen Bailey, DE, Miami (FL)

52. NY Giants - Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina

53. Indianapolis - Orlando Franklin, OL, Miami (FL)

54. Philadelphia - Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia
Dowling is a big, physical corner who was hampered by injuries at Virginia.

55. Kansas City - Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State

56. New Orleans - Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech

57. Seattle - Johnny Patrick, CB, Louisville

58. Baltimore - Jon Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh

59. Atlanta - James Carpenter, OG, Alabama

60. New England - Rodney Hudson, C, Florida State

61. Chicago - Jurrell Casey, DT, USC

62. San Diego f NYJ - Jaiquawn Jarrett, S, Temple

63. Pittsburgh - Marcus Gilbert, OT, Florida

64. Green Bay - Daniel Thomas, RB, Kansas State

Third Round

65. Carolina - Titus Young, WR, Boise State

66. Cincinnati - Greg Little, WR, North Carolina

67. Denver - Sam Acho, DE, Texas

68. Buffalo - Dontay Moch, OLB, Nevada

69. Arizona - Jarvis Jenkins, DT, Clemson

70. Cleveland - Mason Foster, LB, Washington

71. Dallas - Marcus Gilchrist, CB, Clemson

72. New Orleans f Washington - Chris Carter, LB, Fresno State

73. Houston - Curtis Brown, CB, Texas

74. New England f Minnesota - Tandon Doss, WR, Indiana

75. Detroit - Jerrel Jernigan, WR, Troy

76. San Francisco - Edmond Gates, WR, Abilene Christian

77. Tennessee - KJ Wright, LB, Mississippi

78. St. Louis - Taiwan Jones, RB, Eastern Washington

79. Miami - Ricky Stanzi, QB, Iowa

80. Jacksonville - Greg Salas, WR, Hawaii

81. Oakland - Chimdi Chekwa, CB, Ohio State

82. San Diego - Christian Ballard, DE, Iowa

83. NY Giants - William Rackley, OG, Lehigh

84. Tampa Bay - Jah Reid, OT, Central Florida

85. Philadelphia - Colin McCarthy, LB, Miami (FL)
Solid middle linebacker with smarts and quick feet. Could shift Jamar Chaney to weak side.

86. Kansas City - John Moffitt, OG, Wisconsin

87. Indianapolis - Clint Boling, OG, Georgia

88. New Orleans - Lee Ziemba, OT, Auburn

89. San Diego f. Sea - Kenrick Ellis, DT, Hampton

90. Baltimore - Shane Vereen, RB, California

91. Atlanta - Brandon Burton, CB, Utah

92. New England - Chris Hairston, OT, Clemson

93. Chicago - Demarco Murray, RB, Oklahoma

94. NY Jets - Terrell McClain, DL, South Florida

95. Pittsburgh - Davon House, CB, New Mexico State

96. Green Bay - James Brewer, OT, Indiana

97. Carolina - Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State

Compensatory pick

Jared Sherman has been contributing draft analysis to CSNPhilly.com since 2000.
Related: 32 in 32 Mock DraftFrank: Don't expect Eagles to take O-lineman at 23

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