WestchesterJet's Mock Draft, With Comments

[Jack Straw]

1) CAROLINA PANTHERS - Cam Newton, QB, Auburn – Not 100% sold they pick him here, but pretty certain. You need someone to put fans in the stands, and Newton will do that.

2) DENVER BRONCOS - Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama – I saw Mayock predict Von Miller here, but they already have a dominate edge rusher in Dumervil, so Von Miller isn’t a huge need. They fix the interior line with Dareus.

3) BUFFALO BILLS - Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M – Chan Gailey tried transitioning to a 3-4 last year but was plugging square pegs into round holes. He gets his pass-rushing OLB to continue the transition.

4) CINCINNATI BENGALS – AJ Green, WR, Georgia – Ochocinco is most likely a goner, Terrell Owens probably won’t be back, so WR help is necessary. Paul Brown still doesn’t want to let Carson Palmer out of his contract, so QB is a possibility. But Paul Brown is also notoriously cheap and won’t pay the premium that a top QB demands, particularly with Palmer’s salary still on the bank roll. He’ll scoop one of the quarterbacks up at the top of round two in case Palmer’s retirement threats are real.

5) ARIZONA CARDINALS - Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU – In a terrible division, Whisenhunt thinks he can win now with a veteran QB and isn’t interested in dealing with the up and downs of a rookie so he passes on a QB. He goes best available player in Patrick Peterson.

6) CLEVELAND BROWNS - Julio Jones, WR, Alabama – This is where things get interesting. We’ll see how serious Holmgren is about McCoy being in Cleveland’s long term plans. He could just as easily nab Gabbert here, or trade down in the hopes of getting his potential Brett Favre #2 in Jake Locker.

7) SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS – Blaine Gabbert, QB Missouri – New Head Coach wants a quarterback he can mold from Day 1. Gabbert’s the guy. Harbaugh’s man-crush on Alex Smith was a draft-day smokescreen.

8) TENNESSEE TITANS - Jake Locker, QB, Washington – This is a reach here but with The Vikings, Redskins, Dolphins, and Jaguars drafting closely behind, Tennessee doesn’t risk losing their guy by getting too cute and trading down. They could go a number of ways by drafting the best available player and address the quarterback position at the top of round two, but this is the same retarded franchise that drafted Vince Young, so Jake Locker it is.

9) DALLAS COWBOYS - Tyron Smith, OT, Southern Cal – The Cowboys haven’t drafted an O-linemen in round 1 in something like 22 years, but after watching Romo get murdered last year, Jerry Jones decides to give him some protection.

10) WASHINGTON REDSKINS – Robert Quinn, DE/OLB, North Carolina – Shanahan is an offensive minded slut, but they’re still working on building a 3-4 defense, and Quinn fits nicely.

11) HOUSTON TEXANS – Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska – worst secondary of all-time gets some help.

12) MINNESOTA VIKINGS - Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn – they could go defensive end here as Ray Edwards is a free agent, but the defensive minded Leslie Frazier takes the best available linemen.

13) DETRIOT LIONS - JJ Watt, DE, Wisconsin – Best available player for a terrible defense.

14) ST. LOUIS RAMS - Cameron Jordan, DL, California -- See Lions comment

15) MIAMI DOLPHINS - Mike Pouncey, OL, Florida – could reach on Mallet here as the Bengals-of-the-south don’t care about character concerns, but they opt to fix the interior line with hopes of trading back up into round one to steal Mallet at the end of the round.

16) JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS - Aldon Smith, DE/OLB, Missouri – Best available player. Jack Del Rio has no idea what’s going on, and just randomly selects a really big guy he heard someone mention in passing.

17) NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS - Ryan Kerrigan, DE/OLB, Purdue – Young defense desperately needs a pass rusher.

18) SAN DIEGO CHARGERS - Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, Temple – defense sucked last year, solid fit for a 3-4.

19) NEW YORK GIANTS - Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College – old, beat-up, patchwork offensive line gets younger.

20) TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS - DaQuan Bowers, DE, Clemson – massive drop for what could have been the #1 pick. Clemson defensive linemen have been terrible in the NFL, plus knee concerns = perfect fit for the Tampa 2. He could probably drop further as some don’t think he’ll make it past his first contract.

21) KANSAS CITY CHIEFS - James Carpenter, OL, Alabama – this is where I stop caring about the draft. I have no idea what the Chiefs need, so I just randomly picked an offensive linemen.

22) INDIANAPOLIS COLTS - Nate Solder, OT, Colorado – Colts offensive line was like a patchwork quilt last year. Need someone to help in the run game.

23) PHILADELPHIA EAGLES - Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois – whatever, their offense is fine. Need defensive help.

24) NEW ORLEANS SAINTS - Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State – front four sucks and needs help. Cameron Heyward has almost no downside with pretty good upside

25) SEATTLE SEAHAWKS – Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina – could go quarterback here, but this teams has tons of holes to fill, so they go best available player.

26) BALTIMORE RAVENS - Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado – Jimmy Smith and Ray Lewis may go on several murder sprees together. Could have been a top pick, but serious character concerns cause him to plummet. Ozzie Newsome hopes Ray Lewis scares him straight.

27) ATLANTA FALCONS - Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama – Michael Turner is fat and overworked. Mark Ingram takes pressure off him.

28) NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS – Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State – Aging tackles, with concerns about Logan Mankins long-term signability leads to drafting best available linemen.

29) CHICAGO BEARS - Danny Watkins, OG, Baylor – Offensive line sucked last year.

30) NEW YORK JETS - Phil Taylor, NT, Baylor – foot concerns cause a huge slide for Taylor and with Kris Jenkins gone, they need interior help. Could also go Robert Ayers here.

31) PITTSBURGH STEELERS – Aaron Williams, CB/FS, Texas – secondary blows, they address it here.

32) GREEN BAY PACKERS - Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin – gotta protect Rodgers.