My 1st Round Mock

[Blitzwood]

With April quickly approaching I decided to do my own mock to see how things could play out. I didn't want to bother with any trades just to keep it simple.




1 Carolina Blaine Gabbert* QB Missouri - After his Proday, he solidified himself as not only the best QB in the draft, but also probably the safest.

2 Denver Marcell Dareus* DT Alabama -DT is a huge need for Denver right now and Dareus beats Fairly off the board.

3 Buffalo Patrick Peterson* CB LSU - Best player in the draft according to most scouts.

4 Cincinnati Cameron Newton* QB Auburn -With Palmer demanding a trade, Marvin Lewis takes Cam Newton as their next franchise QB.

5 Arizona Von Miller OLB Texas A&M - Ken Wisenhunt is tempted to find Fairly still on the board, but selects Von Miller because he knows he's in the hot seat this year.

6 Cleveland Da'Quan Bowers* DE Clemson - Pat Shurmur gets the top DE in the country to help his defense transition to a 4-3 next year.

7 San Francisco Nick Fairley* DT Auburn - Jim Harbaugh is tempted to take Mallett, but is elated to find Fairley still on the board. He knows he can take Ponder or Dalton in the next couple of rounds and turn them into studs.

8 Tennessee Prince Amukamara CB Nebraska - Munchack knows he has to face Manning and Schaub each twice a year and Prince will help bolster their secondary.

9 Dallas Nate Solder OT Colorado - Nate can start protecting Romo's blind side from day one.

10 Washington Ryan Mallett* QB Arkansas - With all the "misunderstandings" between McNabb and the Shany's last year, they decide to cut their losses from last year's trade and select Mallett, who arguably has the best arm and pocket awareness of the QB class.

11 Houston Robert Quinn* DE UNC - Quinn is the best player on the board and will start at OLB opposite Connor Barwin, Wade's job just got a whole lot easier.

12 Minnesota Cameron Jordan DE Cal - The Vikings have alot of holes, but selecting a stud DE like C. Jordan makes the most sense for the team with Ray Edwards entering FA.

13 Detroit A.J. Green* WR Georgia - Green is just too good to pass up here, they need a LT, but know they can get one in the second round. Stafford is delighted to now have two stud receivers and is the envy of all QB's.

14 St. Louis Julio Jones* WR Alabama - The Rams know that Bradford needs a stud WR, so Julio Jones gets selected here right after fellow SEC WR Green.

15 Miami Jake Locker QB Washington - The suprise of the draft, Miami selects a QB to build around. They like Locker's mobility and toughness and feel he's their franchise QB.

16 Jacksonville Aldon Smith** DE Missouri - The Jags need a DE probably more than any other team and are thrilled Aldon Smith is still available.

17 New England Mark Ingram* RB Alabama - Bill Belichick knows he needs a pass rusher, but with six picks in the first three rounds he selects the BPA who happens to be the Heisman Trophy winner. Genius.

18 San Diego J.J. Watt* DE Wisconsin - The Chargers take the best 5 tech and JJ Watt is happy to move from the frozen tundra to beautiful Southern California.

19 NY Giants Anthony Castonzo OT Boston College - The offensive line gets some much needed help and Castonzo instantly becomes a fan favorite.

20 Tampa Bay Ryan Kerrigan DE Purdue - The Bucs focus in round one is to find a DE to improve on Stylez White's 4.5 sacks. Kerrigan fits the bill with his 12.5 sacks and 26 TFL's last year.

21 Kansas City Tyron Smith* OT USC - With the problems KC had last year at OT, Smith can be the LT for a long time since he's only 20.

22 Indianapolis Gabe Carimi OT Wisconsin - Another team that really struggled at LT, GM Bill Polian has stated he will address the issue early in the draft this year.

23 Philadelphia Brandon Harris* CB Miami - Andy Reid selects the CB from the "U" to start opposite Asante Samuel.

24 New Orleans Mike Pouncey OG Florida - The Saints seemed to really struggle running the ball last year so they draft one of the finest interior lineman in the country.

25 Seattle Stephen Paea DT Oregon State - Pete Carroll has seen alot of this kid's games and knows he can help their weak defensive front right away.

26 Baltimore Jimmy Smith CB Colorado - Having the Steelers and Bengals in your division, the Ravens add some help to their secondary.

27 Atlanta Akeem Ayers* OLB UCLA - Atlanta needs help at WR, but if they can't put some pressure on opposing QB's, the offense isn't gonna see the field that much.

28 New England Cameron Heyward DE Ohio State - The Pats finally find Richard Seymour's replacement.

29 Chicago Derek Sherrod OT Mississippi State - Maybe if they get Cutler some protection, he won't quit on them in the playoffs.

30 NY Jets Justin Houston* OLB Georgia - As much as he likes Phil Taylor, Rex is thrilled to find Justin Houston still on the board to have as Jason Taylor's replacement now that the Gholston experiment has failed.

31 Pittsburgh Danny Watkins OT Baylor - With the Pouncey twin off the board, Pittsburgh adds the best offensive lineman available.

32 Green Bay Torrey Smith* WR Maryland - They take the best player on the board at the only position that has some question marks. Driver is getting up there and was injured part of the year and James Jones may not be back.

[painekiller]

Nice!!

Not to many suggestion from me, but I not seeing Watkins in the 1st round, but I can be way off he has looked like a stud.

I wish the Texans would jump on Julio Jones or AJ Green, that would be all the offensive picks I would be in favor of. I like the Quinn pick, but what a chance to grab a stud to be your #2 WR. But alas I think you have this one correct Quinn at 11.

[nunusguy]

Another Texans fan wishfully hoping that Quinn is on the Board at 11 ?
But with the red flags about him, I really wonder if the Texans "brain-trust" would balk and fail to take him even if he's avalable and instead go with a safer pick with lesser downside ?

[HPF Bob]

Yes, perfect. Another defensive lineman from a basketball school with an underwhelming football program because "we have to get to Peyton Manning." Isn't this like the seventh verse of this same song? Quinn's missing a few vowels but, otherwise he's a perfect fit for us. And Peyton will have another year of keeping his uni clean when he plays against us.

Not to knock this mock (which seems more dead-on than a lot of mocks I've seen lately) but how long do we ignore glaring holes to keep throwing more money at the d-line with the same results?

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Yes, perfect. Another defensive lineman from a basketball school with an underwhelming football program because "we have to get to Peyton Manning." Isn't this like the seventh verse of this same song? Quinn's missing a few vowels but, otherwise he's a perfect fit for us. And Peyton will have another year of keeping his uni clean when he plays against us.

Not to knock this mock (which seems more dead-on than a lot of mocks I've seen lately) but how long do we ignore glaring holes to keep throwing more money at the d-line with the same results?

OK Bob what would you do? I see you knocking the Texans, which is easy to do with the results they keep having, but what solution are you offering?

What holes are bigger than 3-4 OLB that has a player worth picking at #11?

[HPF Bob]

Originally Posted by painekiller

OK Bob what would you do? I see you knocking the Texans, which is easy to do with the results they keep having, but what solution are you offering?

What holes are bigger than 3-4 OLB that has a player worth picking at #11?

With the lockout, I haven't paid as much attention to what's out there as I usually do but I would be looking to trade down and find a CB/S to go with an interior lineman or NT in the second.

A pass rush doesn't help much if you have a leaky secondary. Barwin is going to be back next year and that's our first option for rush 3-4 LB.

We've been trying the same thing for too long now. It's time to invest elsewhere, not that I expect creativity from Kubiak or Phillips and therein lies the problem.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

With the lockout, I haven't paid as much attention to what's out there as I usually do but I would be looking to trade down and find a CB/S to go with an interior lineman or NT in the second.

A pass rush doesn't help much if you have a leaky secondary. Barwin is going to be back next year and that's our first option for rush 3-4 LB.

We've been trying the same thing for too long now. It's time to invest elsewhere, not that I expect creativity from Kubiak or Phillips and therein lies the problem.

As I know you know in the 3-4 you need two OLBs who can rush the passer not just one. And Barwin is coming off a pretty serious ankle injury, we need to be adding talent to a position that has very little, one guy and they need 3 or 4 guys for a rotation.

As for trading down, there is not a safety that is worthy of the 1st round, a case could be made for Aaron Williams, but he is also being projected in the 2nd round. The best and maybe only real NT prospect is now being considered a 1st rounder, but he has baggage and has only produced to a high level as of late, not sure he is the answer in the 1st, and not at #11.

I say put pressure on the QB and the DBs don't have to be All Pro's, but you can not be predictable and our defense has been way to predictable since Kubiak got here, Wade is known for being more unpredictable, but will he time to install his full package.

OH and when you blitz get up in the WRs grill don't play off 10 yards and give them the quick pass.

[Blitzwood]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

With the lockout, I haven't paid as much attention to what's out there as I usually do but I would be looking to trade down and find a CB/S to go with an interior lineman or NT in the second.

A pass rush doesn't help much if you have a leaky secondary. Barwin is going to be back next year and that's our first option for rush 3-4 LB.

We invested a 1st rounder in a CB last year and look what it got us. There's no guarantee drafting another DB in the first round will change things. Furthermore , I don't beleive it's a personnel issue, but more of a scheme and zone execution. We had argueably the worst zone defense last year with huge holes that teams easily began to exploit. What made matters worse was the fact that we still continued to play zone coverage the rest of the season. I can't explain why.

That being said, I feel pretty confidant the Texans will draft a S in April, and hopefully it will be Ahmad Black out of Florida in the mid rounds. Not the fastest nor the biggest, but put up solid numbers in the SEC and then a break out senior year. I think he's the kind of S that will make QB's think twice before throwing against our zone, if we so choose to play zone next year.

[NBT]

I think either Von Miller, or Robert Quinn, with the 11th pick in this Draft, is a pipe dream. Anyone for trading up? That's the only chance of getting either of them. What would it take? I don't know, but I would sure explore it?

How about Andy Dalton in the second?

Both Miller and Dalton are local kids, and would be a tremendous boost for the fans. That is my pipe dream.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by NBT

I think either Von Miller, or Robert Quinn, with the 11th pick in this Draft, is a pipe dream. Anyone for trading up? That's the only chance of getting either of them. What would it take? I don't know, but I would sure explore it?

How about Andy Dalton in the second?

Both Miller and Dalton are local kids, and would be a tremendous boost for the fans. That is my pipe dream.

That is a pipe dream. To secure Miller you are going to have to trade up and the 2nd round pick if most likely part of the cost of doing that. IMO if you are going to do that just go sign Ngata, and give up the two 1st round picks that would cost. All draft picks are riskier than signing an established NFL star.

As for Dalton, yes we need a backup QB to groom, but do you really want a guy to hopefully sit on the bench or do you want a guy who will be playing 30 or more snaps a game with our 2nd round pick this season? Take into account our defense is converting to a 3-4 and we have cut both starting safeties from last season.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by NBT

I think either Von Miller, or Robert Quinn, with the 11th pick in this Draft, is a pipe dream. Anyone for trading up? That's the only chance of getting either of them. What would it take? I don't know, but I would sure explore it?

Getting Miller is almost surely a pipe dream, but I'm not so sure about Quinn ?
He's got a lot of issues, most significantly a very scary medical history that includs a brain tumor. Quinn may be there at 11, but with the exception of the Cushing pick, the Texans are not known to be risk-takers when it comes to drafting players ?

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by Blitzwood

Cameron Jordan DE
A.J. Green* WR
Julio Jones WR
Aldon Smith** OLB
J.J. Watt* DE
Ryan Kerrigan OLB
Brandon Harris* CB
Jimmy Smith CB
Cameron Heyward DE
Justin Houston* OLB .

Just thinking about the other players the Texans Braintrust might be interested in instead of Quinn.

[Blitzwood]

Funny you put Cameron Jordan at the top of that list, thats the kind of "safe" pick the Texans' brass usually selects, IMO. Not to take anything away from him, I think he's a good player and wouldn't be disappointed if we took him, but I have Quinn(who some scouts believe would have been a top 5 pick had he played this season) and Justin Houston ahead of him. Jordan just looks like a typical Kubiak-McNair "nice guy" pick.

I really like Houston and think he'd be a fine (plan B) target to trade down a few spots, pick up an extra pick or two, and still be able to select him. I have him ahead of Ayers and Smith.

[Roy P]

I also have Justin Houston rated higher than just about anybody else. If we could trade down and get him and then get Cam Heyward, I would tickled pink. My latest top 13....

1 CB Patrick Peterson
2 NT Marcel Dareus
3 CB Prince Amukamara
4 OLB Robert Quinn
5 OLB Justin Houston
6 OLB Von Miller
7 DE Da'Quan Bowers
8 CB Jimmy Smith
9 OLB Ryan Kerrigan
10 DE Cameron Heyward
11 DE Cameron Jordan
12 OLB Aldon Smith
13 NT Phil Taylor

[barrett]

Bob, what does a guy being from a basketball school have to do with anything? Does going to a football school make a guy a better pass rusher? This is a meaningless argument.

The top 15 sack guys include 3 total SEC players and 2 from Troy. Who cares where a guy went to school? Nobody is wearing college uniforms in the NFL (and nobody but Vince Young still cares about their college team enough to punch an OU fan flashing an upside down hook em). We should worry about whether a guy can play (of which you offer no opinion).

The NFL is full of great players from basketball schools.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by barrett

Bob, what does a guy being from a basketball school have to do with anything? Does going to a football school make a guy a better pass rusher? This is a meaningless argument.

The top 15 sack guys include 3 total SEC players and 2 from Troy. Who cares where a guy went to school? Nobody is wearing college uniforms in the NFL (and nobody but Vince Young still cares about their college team enough to punch an OU fan flashing an upside down hook em). We should worry about whether a guy can play (of which you offer no opinion).

The NFL is full of great players from basketball schools.

Lawrence Taylor, the greatest 3-4 OLB in history, basketball school, anyone care to to pass on him?

[NBT]

I'll take my pipe dreams any day over some of the real picks the Texans have made recently. At least my pipe dreams make some sense!

[HPF Bob]

How badly do you want Van Miller or Marcel Darius?

The Broncos want to move down from the 2nd overall pick, The 11th spot is probably too far down but there is another circumstance to consider. The Broncos, under John Fox, are switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense. The Texans, under Wade Phillips, are switching from a 4-3 to a 3-4.

The trouble is that the front seven for both teams sucks pretty badly, so would you trade some 4-3 ex-Texans for some 3-4 ex-Broncos?

[Nconroe]

I heard no trades with current players can be made to effect the draft picks. You could trade draft picks for draft picks this year until CBA resolved.

I'd personally not trade up for those two guys but if we got them, I'd be ok with that.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by Roy P

I also have Justin Houston rated higher than just about anybody else. If we could trade down and get him and then get Cam Heyward, I would tickled pink. My latest top 13....

1 CB Patrick Peterson
2 NT Marcel Dareus
3 CB Prince Amukamara
4 OLB Robert Quinn
5 OLB Justin Houston
6 OLB Von Miller
7 DE Da'Quan Bowers
8 CB Jimmy Smith
9 OLB Ryan Kerrigan
10 DE Cameron Heyward
11 DE Cameron Jordan
12 OLB Aldon Smith
13 NT Phil Taylor

Just wanted to update my draftboard since the medical issues and pro-days of Bowers and Quinn have them sliding. I'm also probably the biggest fan of Justin Houston and Cam Heyward, so why not put them where I see them instead of following the 'herd' of the national media?

1 CB Patrick Peterson LSU
2 NT Marcel Dareus Alabama
3 CB Prince Amukamara Nebraska
4 OLB Justin Houston Georgia
5 OLB Von Miller Texas A&M
6 DE Cameron Heyward Ohio St
7 OLB Robert Quinn North Carolina
8 OLB Ryan Kerrigan Purdue
9 DE Da'Quan Bowers Clemson
10 CB Jimmy Smith Colorado
11 DE Cameron Jordan California
12 OLB Aldon Smith Missouri
13 NT Phil Taylor Baylor
14 OLB Brooks Reed Arizona