kerouac9
Klowned by Keim
Rules stay the same:
1. The Huddle Report's new Value Board determines who is available at what point in the draft.
2. I'm trading in this mock, so I justify not only why we'd trade down, but also why the other team would want to trade up. I'm also going to take less in trade because I think the Cards'll be motivated to trade out.
3. I'm basing this on what I WOULD DO were I in control of the draft room. Not what I think the Cards'll do, because I expect them to draft Von Miller and another late-round developmental quarterback.
1. Carolina Panthers - Blaine Gabbert, QB, Mizzou. People think that defensive coaches love drafting defensive players, but defensive coaches tend to think that they can do more with what's at hand than the previous guy. The Panthers' problem is on offense, and with their fan base.
2. Denver Broncos - Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson. Denver is converting back to a 4-3 defense, and Bowers will team with returning DE Elvis Dumervil and Robert Ayers for a very productive rotation.
3. Buffalo Bills - Marcel Dareus, DT, Alabama. Buffalo's defense is stinky, and they really have no idea what to do with it. They're going to take the best defensive lineman on the board and find a way to use him. Dareus can conceivably play inside in either a 3-4 or 4-3 defense, or end in a 3-4, as well. He'll give them something to build with and protection for Paul Posluzny.
4. Cincinnati Bengals - A.J. Green, WR, Georgia. The Bengals have some very good #2 and #3 WRs in their program, but lack a true #1 target as Chad Ochocinco declines in skill. Cincy can tell their fan base that they got arguably the best offensive player in the draft, and whomever replaces Carson Palmer in a year or two is going to have a ton of good weapons.
5. Dallas Cowboys - Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU. Dallas sees San Francisco and Tennessee with a need for DB ahead of them and jumps up to take a player the Cards don't want to be forced to draft, anyway (Arizona Cardinals receive DAL #1 (9th overall) and #3 (71st overall))
6. Cleveland Browns - Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn. Cleveland is a mess on defense, and they've seen what a top DT can do for a program. Fairley could've been the first player off the board in this draft, but they feel happy getting him at #6.
7. San Francisco 49ers - Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M. San Francisco knows that they're a productive pass rush away from having a top NFL defense. Miller is a prospect who can provide the last piece to their puzzle--even if they really wanted Peterson at this point.
8. Tennessee Titans - Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina. The Titans feel like they get great value here. Jason Babin had 13.5 sacks from the strong side in 2010; he'll get some support from the weak side in 2011.
9. Detroit Lions - Prince Amakamura, CB, Nebraska. The Lions jump over the secondary-needy Houston Texans to take the second-best cornerback in the draft, which fulfills an immense need. (Arizona Cardinals receive DET's #1 (13th overall) and 2012 #2 pick after Rod Graves panics when none of the players that he wants are still on the board)
10. Washington Redskins - Julio Jones, WR, Alabama. The Redskins make a splash with a playmaking WR. They could have gone with one of the 3-4 DEs, but they feel comfortable with the depth at that position in this draft.
11. Houston Texans - Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado. The Texans reach a little bit here and are panned by Mel Kiper, but Smith will end up being the best cover cornerback in his draft class.
12. Minnesota Vikings - Cameron Jordan, DE, Cal. Minnesota is looking old on its defensive line. Jordan gives them an infusion of youth and insurance in case of the free agent departure of Ray Edwards.
13. Arizona Cardinals - Tyron Smith, OT, Southern Cal. The Cards would love to trade down again at this point, but 3-4 and 4-3 teams are salivating over the amount of defensive ends ahead of them. The Cards instead get the best blocking prospect in the draft, who will compete with Brandon Keith for the RT position in 2011 and replace Levi Brown at the LT position in 2012.
14. St. Louis Rams - J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin. Steve Spagnulo learned in Philly that you build your lines.
15. Miami Dolphins - Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama. Ingram is a bit of a reach here, but Miami hasn't made it work with Ronnie Brown, and they'd like to go to a more traditional offense.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars - Aldon Smith, DE, Mizzou. The Jags are going to do whatever they can to find a legit pass rusher, no matter how many times they have to try.
17. New England Patriots - Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa. The rich just keep getting richer.
18. San Diego Chargers - Corey Liuget, DT, Illinios. The Chargers get some help at the DE position.
19. New York Giants - Anthony Constanzo, OT, Boston College. The Giants need to protect their investment in Eli Manning.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue. Kerrigan goes into the perfect situation in Tampa, who wanted Ingram.
21. Kansas City Chiefs - Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA. They'll think about Cameron Heyward, but go with a safer choice to play SOLB in their 3-4 scheme.
22. Indianapolis Colts - Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State. The Colts give Peyton Manning a new, more consistent, security blanket.
23. Philadelphia Eagles - Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State. The Eagles love linemen.
24. New Orleans Saints - Brandon Harris, CB, Miami. The Saints add talent to their defensive secondary.
25. Seattle Seahawks - Gabe Carmini, OT, Wisconsin. Run-blocking is not going to be a problem for Seattle in 2011.
26. Baltimore Ravens - Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame. The Ravens add an offensive piece who is younger and can learn for a season with Todd Heap.
27. Atlanta Falcons - Justin Houston, DE, Georgia. The Falcons need to solve their pass rush problems.
28. Arizona Cardinals - Cam Newton, QB, Auburn. Arizona can still convince a Marc Bulger-type to come in and take the starting job, but Newton was too good a piece to miss out on at this point. (New England Patriots receive ARI #3(69th overall) and 2012 #1)
38. Brooks Reed, OLB, Arizona. The Cards might trade down here to get another second in 2012, but they'll take a semi-local kid who is smart and can actually play the OLB position.
71. Sam Acho, OLB, Texas. Just in case Reed doesn't work out, the Cards'll double-down at the OLB position with two straight picks. It's clear that the Cards lack talent at the OLB position currently. With Schofield, these three players secure Arizona's future for the mid-term.
102. Jeremy Beal, LB, Oklahoma. Beal will play special teams and learn to play inside for the Cards for his first two years.
133. Edmond Gates, WR, Abeline Christian. Gates has great speed and good size. Could contribute immediately in the return game, but gives the Cards some flexibility with Steve Breaston a likely departure.
166. Chris White, ILB, Mississippi State. Do you think that the Cards' LB corps is a problem? I do. White can compete immediately with Paris Lenon for the inside linebacker job and will play special teams.
179. Schulyat Oordy, TE, Northern Iowa. An all-name player will help out the Cards NFL-worst TE corps.
The Cards'll have to make sure they secure the rights to Deuce Lutui and Lyle Sendlein in this scenario, but I think this sets the Cards up for a middling 2011 but a very bright long-term future if they decide to start retaining their core players.
1. The Huddle Report's new Value Board determines who is available at what point in the draft.
2. I'm trading in this mock, so I justify not only why we'd trade down, but also why the other team would want to trade up. I'm also going to take less in trade because I think the Cards'll be motivated to trade out.
3. I'm basing this on what I WOULD DO were I in control of the draft room. Not what I think the Cards'll do, because I expect them to draft Von Miller and another late-round developmental quarterback.
1. Carolina Panthers - Blaine Gabbert, QB, Mizzou. People think that defensive coaches love drafting defensive players, but defensive coaches tend to think that they can do more with what's at hand than the previous guy. The Panthers' problem is on offense, and with their fan base.
2. Denver Broncos - Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson. Denver is converting back to a 4-3 defense, and Bowers will team with returning DE Elvis Dumervil and Robert Ayers for a very productive rotation.
3. Buffalo Bills - Marcel Dareus, DT, Alabama. Buffalo's defense is stinky, and they really have no idea what to do with it. They're going to take the best defensive lineman on the board and find a way to use him. Dareus can conceivably play inside in either a 3-4 or 4-3 defense, or end in a 3-4, as well. He'll give them something to build with and protection for Paul Posluzny.
4. Cincinnati Bengals - A.J. Green, WR, Georgia. The Bengals have some very good #2 and #3 WRs in their program, but lack a true #1 target as Chad Ochocinco declines in skill. Cincy can tell their fan base that they got arguably the best offensive player in the draft, and whomever replaces Carson Palmer in a year or two is going to have a ton of good weapons.
5. Dallas Cowboys - Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU. Dallas sees San Francisco and Tennessee with a need for DB ahead of them and jumps up to take a player the Cards don't want to be forced to draft, anyway (Arizona Cardinals receive DAL #1 (9th overall) and #3 (71st overall))
6. Cleveland Browns - Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn. Cleveland is a mess on defense, and they've seen what a top DT can do for a program. Fairley could've been the first player off the board in this draft, but they feel happy getting him at #6.
7. San Francisco 49ers - Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M. San Francisco knows that they're a productive pass rush away from having a top NFL defense. Miller is a prospect who can provide the last piece to their puzzle--even if they really wanted Peterson at this point.
8. Tennessee Titans - Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina. The Titans feel like they get great value here. Jason Babin had 13.5 sacks from the strong side in 2010; he'll get some support from the weak side in 2011.
9. Detroit Lions - Prince Amakamura, CB, Nebraska. The Lions jump over the secondary-needy Houston Texans to take the second-best cornerback in the draft, which fulfills an immense need. (Arizona Cardinals receive DET's #1 (13th overall) and 2012 #2 pick after Rod Graves panics when none of the players that he wants are still on the board)
10. Washington Redskins - Julio Jones, WR, Alabama. The Redskins make a splash with a playmaking WR. They could have gone with one of the 3-4 DEs, but they feel comfortable with the depth at that position in this draft.
11. Houston Texans - Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado. The Texans reach a little bit here and are panned by Mel Kiper, but Smith will end up being the best cover cornerback in his draft class.
12. Minnesota Vikings - Cameron Jordan, DE, Cal. Minnesota is looking old on its defensive line. Jordan gives them an infusion of youth and insurance in case of the free agent departure of Ray Edwards.
13. Arizona Cardinals - Tyron Smith, OT, Southern Cal. The Cards would love to trade down again at this point, but 3-4 and 4-3 teams are salivating over the amount of defensive ends ahead of them. The Cards instead get the best blocking prospect in the draft, who will compete with Brandon Keith for the RT position in 2011 and replace Levi Brown at the LT position in 2012.
14. St. Louis Rams - J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin. Steve Spagnulo learned in Philly that you build your lines.
15. Miami Dolphins - Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama. Ingram is a bit of a reach here, but Miami hasn't made it work with Ronnie Brown, and they'd like to go to a more traditional offense.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars - Aldon Smith, DE, Mizzou. The Jags are going to do whatever they can to find a legit pass rusher, no matter how many times they have to try.
17. New England Patriots - Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa. The rich just keep getting richer.
18. San Diego Chargers - Corey Liuget, DT, Illinios. The Chargers get some help at the DE position.
19. New York Giants - Anthony Constanzo, OT, Boston College. The Giants need to protect their investment in Eli Manning.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue. Kerrigan goes into the perfect situation in Tampa, who wanted Ingram.
21. Kansas City Chiefs - Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA. They'll think about Cameron Heyward, but go with a safer choice to play SOLB in their 3-4 scheme.
22. Indianapolis Colts - Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State. The Colts give Peyton Manning a new, more consistent, security blanket.
23. Philadelphia Eagles - Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State. The Eagles love linemen.
24. New Orleans Saints - Brandon Harris, CB, Miami. The Saints add talent to their defensive secondary.
25. Seattle Seahawks - Gabe Carmini, OT, Wisconsin. Run-blocking is not going to be a problem for Seattle in 2011.
26. Baltimore Ravens - Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame. The Ravens add an offensive piece who is younger and can learn for a season with Todd Heap.
27. Atlanta Falcons - Justin Houston, DE, Georgia. The Falcons need to solve their pass rush problems.
28. Arizona Cardinals - Cam Newton, QB, Auburn. Arizona can still convince a Marc Bulger-type to come in and take the starting job, but Newton was too good a piece to miss out on at this point. (New England Patriots receive ARI #3(69th overall) and 2012 #1)
38. Brooks Reed, OLB, Arizona. The Cards might trade down here to get another second in 2012, but they'll take a semi-local kid who is smart and can actually play the OLB position.
71. Sam Acho, OLB, Texas. Just in case Reed doesn't work out, the Cards'll double-down at the OLB position with two straight picks. It's clear that the Cards lack talent at the OLB position currently. With Schofield, these three players secure Arizona's future for the mid-term.
102. Jeremy Beal, LB, Oklahoma. Beal will play special teams and learn to play inside for the Cards for his first two years.
133. Edmond Gates, WR, Abeline Christian. Gates has great speed and good size. Could contribute immediately in the return game, but gives the Cards some flexibility with Steve Breaston a likely departure.
166. Chris White, ILB, Mississippi State. Do you think that the Cards' LB corps is a problem? I do. White can compete immediately with Paris Lenon for the inside linebacker job and will play special teams.
179. Schulyat Oordy, TE, Northern Iowa. An all-name player will help out the Cards NFL-worst TE corps.
The Cards'll have to make sure they secure the rights to Deuce Lutui and Lyle Sendlein in this scenario, but I think this sets the Cards up for a middling 2011 but a very bright long-term future if they decide to start retaining their core players.
