Mock draft with explanations

1. Carolina Panthers – Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU

I’m not buying the Cam Newton talk. After taking Jimmy Clausen in the 2^nd round last year the Panthers can use this pick to get one of the safest and most athletic prospects
in the draft.

2. Denver Broncos – Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama

New head coach John Fox is a defensively minded coach and will make the change to a 4-3 defense this year. Marcell Dareus will give him a talented DT to build that defense around.

3. Buffalo Bills – Cam Newton, QB, Auburn

Head coach Chan Gailey is a quarterback guy and needs a franchise quarterback if he’s going to turn this team around. He’ll hope Newton is that QB.

 4. Cincinnati Bengals – A.J. Green, WR, Georgia

With starting QB Carson Palmer threatening to retire if he isn’t trading, QB could be the pick here. But with both Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco likely leaving the team, the Bengals take a big play WR here and a QB later in the draft.

 5. Arizona Cardinals – Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri

Since Kurt Warner retired no one has been able to get Larry Fitzgerald the ball. This pick solves that problem

 6. Cleveland Browns – Julio Jones, WR, Alabama

If Colt McCoy is going to be the guy at QB he needs a go to WR. Enter Julio Jones.

 7. San Francisco 49ers – Von Miller, LB, Texas A&M

With the top quarterbacks and Peterson gone the 49ers pick up possibly the best pass rusher in the draft. Miller teamed with Patrick Willis will be a scary thought to all 49ers
opponents for years to come.

8. Tennessee Titans – Nick Fairly, DT, Auburn

Ever since Albert Haynesworth and Kyle Vanden Bosch left town the Titans have been looking to rebuild their defensive line. Fairly is a big step in the right direction.

 9. Dallas Cowboys – Tyron Smith, OT, USC

If new head coach is going to turn this team around he’ll need a healthy Tony Romo. Teaming Smith with Doug Free and the ‘Boys starting tackles will do just that.

 10. Washington Redskins – Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina

With the top 2 QBs gone the Redskins take one of the top pass rushers of the draft and team him with young star Brian Orakpo to form a deadly OLB combo.

 11. Houston Texans – Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska

The Texans pass defense was the worst in the league last year and will look to change that next year. Prince will be a solid helping hand.

12. Minnesota Vikings – Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson

With starting DE Ray Edwards likely leaving the team the Vikings will be looking for his replacement. Bowers was considered a possible top pick until a knee injury so the Vikings don’t hesitate on his value at the 12^th pick.

 13. Detroit Lions – Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College

With the top 2 CBs gone the Lions look to address the O-Line in hopes it will help keep Matthew Stafford and Jahvid Best healthy.

 14. St. Louis Rams – Cameron Jordan, DL, California

The Rams need a go to WR and D-Line help. With the top 2 WRs gone, Jordan is the pick.

 15. Miami Dolphins – Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama

Both Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown are likely gone so the Dolphins replace them with the best back in the draft.

 16. Jacksonville Jaguars – Ryan Kerrigan, OLB, Purdue

The Jaguars defensive needs help everywhere. Kerrigan and his pass rushing skills are step one.

 17. New England Patriots – J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin

Watt fits a need and fits the mold of Patriots players, a high motor, hard working, and relentless competitor.

 18. San Diego Chargers – Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri

With the top DEs Jordan and Watt gone the Chargers look for a pass rusher to replace the void left by Shawn Merriman’s falloff.

 19. New York Giants – Nate Solder, OT, Colorado

The Giants O-Line is aging and Solder is a major talent to bring youth to that line.

 20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa

The Buccaneers are a young team turning the corner to greatness. Clayborn will team with last year’s 1^st round pick Gerald McCoy to help push the defense closer to greatness.

 21. Kansas City Chiefs – Phil Taylor, DL, Baylor

It’s either O-Line or Taylor here. Taylor is an absolute monster who can still move. The Chiefs make him the pick and start him at NT from day one.

 22. Indianapolis Colts – Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State

It’s well known that Peyton Manning isn’t an agile QB for protecting him is a must. Sherrod is althletic and talented enough to do that.

 23. Philadelphia Eagles – Brandon Harris, CB, Miami

The Eagles lost a starter to retirement due to a neck injury last year so replacing him is a must. Especially when the division rival Dallas Cowboys will be lining up with Miles Austin and Dez Bryant at WR next year.

 24. New Orleans Saints – Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois

The Saints signed DT Shaun Rogers in free agency but they will still look to add youth to the position.

 25. Seattle Seahawks – Ryan Mallet, QB, Arkansas

Head coach Pete Carroll is trying to build a high power offensive but needs a high power QB to do so. Mallet is that QB.

26. Baltimore Ravens – Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado

The Ravens defense has always been its strength but their secondary as struggled lately with Ed Reed’s injuries. Smith will add youth and a lot of talent to that secondary.

 27. Atlanta Falcons – Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State

Starting DE John Abraham is aging and Heyward will look to replace him soon.

 28. New England Patriots – Mike Pouncey, OL, Florida

After addressing the D-Line with their first pick the Patriots jump to the other side of the ball and take Pouncey who can play any position on the O-Line.

 29. Chicago Bears – Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin

The Bears O-Line was awful last year and Carimi will add some much needed nastiness and skill to for the Bears.

 30. New York Jets – Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA

After cutting Kris Jenkins and Jason Taylor the Jets need a NT and a pass rusher. With Phil Taylor gone the Jets go with the pass rusher from UCLA Ayers. They may surprise though and go with Kendrick Ellis so keep an eye on him.

 31. Pittsburgh Steelers – Danny Watkins, OG, Baylor

The Steelers need O-Line help and Watkins is a prototype for Steelers players, a tough and hard worker.

 32. Green Bay Packers – Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple

The defending Champs kept most of their team intact this offseason but did lose a starting DE. Wilkerson will step right in and make it so no one notices any change.