In what has to be the most bizarre off-season of the past 25 years in the NFL, I have attempted to forecast the first four rounds of the NFL draft and unlike in years past there is no free agency to take into account at this point. Whenever they do sign a new CBA you can certainly expect people like Donovan McNabb, Kevin Kolb, Randy Moss, Vince Young, Marc Bulger, Cadillac Williams, Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams, Carson Palmer and countless others to change teams but until then here is a four round mock (pre compensatory picks).
Carolina: Blaine Gabbert QB Missouri…..A month ago I thought they’d give Clausen one more year but it appears all his supporters have left the building. Instead they add their new face of the franchise and hope for a small learn curve. Blaine is the top talent at QB but not nearly as ready as Bradford was last year. Look for Clausen to get shopped.
Denver: Marcell Dareus DE Alabama…As the Broncos reshape their team they add the best defensive line the draft has to offer. Marcell can line up just about anywhere on the line and will likely contend for a starting job in camp (whenever that is).
Buffalo: Cam Newton QB Auburn….Will need time to sit and learn (hopefully his Dad stays out of the media) but has a ton of talent and is the type of QB that a coach like Chan Gailey can make into dare I say an icon. Sitting behind Fitzpatrick for at least the first half of the season will do wonders to his development.
Cincinnati: Da’Quan Bowers DE Clemson….With Carson Palmer status influx they could look to move up to get a young QB but if they stay adding Bowers gives them the force on the line they lost out when David Pollack career was cut short.
Arizona: Von Miller OLB Texas A&M….Another team in need of a QB but no one grades out this high so instead they get the perfect OLB for Ray Horton’s new defense.
Cleveland: A.J Green WR Georgia….Cleveland has many holes to fill on defense but bringing the top WR into the fold will give the offense the playmaker and #1 WR it has been lacking for years. Green might be Offensive Rookie of the Year.
San Francisco: Patrick Peterson CB LSU….Another team with a QB whole but just like Arizona and Cincinnati no one grades out this high. Instead they get the most ready for action player in Peterson. You could see San Francisco trade to the bottom of round 1 to come and grab a guy like Ponder who would fit Harbaugh scheme.
Tennessee: Prince Amukamara CB Nebraska…Another team needing a QB but will instead add a shut down corner in Prince and look for a QB in round 2 or free agency (if there is one).
Dallas: J.J. Watt DE Wisconsin….It’s pretty obvious Dallas will go OT, CB, or DE and while an OT or CB at nine is a reach if the selections go in this order a player like Watt isn’t and has the ability to be a special force in a Rob Ryan scheme.
Washington: Julio Jones WR Alabama…This team had little to no fire power last year and needs to upgrade at RB, QB (with the McNabb failed experiment) and WR. The best player on the board at this spot is Julio Jones.
Houston: Nick Fairley DT Auburn…Could go at #3 should Buffalo decide to steer away from Newton if not goes to the Texans and Wade’s new defense.
Minnesota: Robert Quinn DE North Carolina….Another team in need of a QB (might be wise to make a call about Carson Palmer) but with no QB a top 12 talent grabbing Quinn to add to the defensive line is a great move as the team moves away from the Favre years and now to a much more team oriented concept.
Detroit: Anthony Castanzo OT Boston College..With no corner worth the thirteenth selection the Lions switch gears and had the most complete OT on the board which will help the offense on all fronts.
St. Louis: Aldon Smith OLB Missouri…The Rams need a top weapon for Bradford but with Jones and Green gone instead they add an impact player for their defense and instead can add offensive weapons in rounds two and three.
Miami: Mark Ingram RB Alabama….The Dolphins will likely turn the page on both Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams and instead add a former Heisman Trophy winner.
Jacksonville: Cameron Jordan DE California….Cameron has freakish abilities and would help the Jags pass rush. Cameron’s dad is a former teammate of Coach Jack Del Rio.
New England (from Oakland): Tyron Smith OT USC…One of the top priorities this off-season is rebuilding their offensive line and Tyron has that nasty streak that the Pats love in their linemen. He should be an instant starter.
San Diego: Akeem Ayers OLB UCLA…Chargers never fully recovered from the loss of what Shawn Merriman used to bring to the table for the defense. Ayers has slipped in some eyes but would be a nice addition and immediate impact for the Chargers defense.
NY Giants: Gabe Carimi OT Wisconsin…Giants have to rebuild their line and Gabe is the perfect Coach Coughlin kind of guy. Should be the starting RT at the start of the 2011 season (whenever that might be).
Tampa Bay: Ryan Kerrigan DE Purdue…Kerrigan is the best player on the board for the Bucs at a position they need to upgrade. Non-stop motor that should do well earlier as he is a very coachable player.
Kansas City: Corey Liuget DT Illinois…The big run stopper the defense needs. Corey should excel in the Romeo Crennel scheme.
Indianapolis: Stephen Paea DT Oregon State…Tremendous strength as shown at the combine and had it not been for an injury would likely have gone a few spots higher. Great motor, coachable and a leader. Great addition.
Philadelphia: Mike Pouncey OG Florida…Philly need OL and corner help but can’t resist grabbing Pouncey here as they try to build up the offensive line so that when Mike Vick wants to run it’s not to save his life but by design. Pouncey can start at guard or center by the start of the season.
New Orleans: Adrian Clayborn DE Iowa…Saints defense was exposed in the playoffs and they are now pulling out all the stops to upgrade (see Shaun Rodgers signing). Clayborn is a team leader who should give the Saints a significant upgrade at end and future leader for their defense.
Seattle: Derek Sherrod OT Mississippi State..While many have Jake Locker landing here I think Pete Carroll will be more in the market for a veteran QB to compete for the job instead of scrapping the Whitehurst experiment in a year. With that said Sherrod paired with last year’s #1 pick Russell Okung gives the Seahawks two cornerstone tackles to build an offense behind.
Baltimore: Jimmy Smith CB Colorado…Big physical corner with a questionable character but at this point the Ravens will be poised to roll the dice as they have the infrastructure in their franchise to keep players like this in check.
Atlanta: Cameron Heyward DE Ohio State…Falcons need another pass rushing threat besides John Abraham and Heyward is the type of guy who you can pencil in as a starter and get 12 to 15 sacks a year without much fanfare.
New England: Justin Houston OLB Georgia…Priority number two this offseason is getting some more playmakers on defense. Houston has some impressive combine numbers and at this point in round one is worth the selection as he has potential to be a real dynamic player given a little bit of time.
Chicago: Nate Solder OT Colorado…Cutler’s safety is number 1 need this off season so adding a mountain of a man like Solder is a wise move. According to several reports Solder has a bit of an attitude but that never keeps the Bears from taking a chance (see Cutler). Some see Solder as a Robert Gallery guard but regardless a talent infusion is needed on the Oline and Solder is a step in the right direction.
NY Jets: Brooks Reed OLB/DE Arizona…A non-stop motor and a hard worker are two traits Rex Ryan loves. Brooks has had a great off-season and could be a real special player in the Jets defense as they continue to upgrade the defense.
Pittsburgh: Brandon Harris CB Miami (Fla.)…Super Bowl exposed they average corners and Harris has the speed and ability to come in and start for the AFC Champs early in the season.
Green Bay: Mikel LeShoure RB Illinois…What do you give a team that you think has everything? How about a franchise back to upgrade a questionable ground attack. Either teamed with or as a feature back LeShoure will give the Packers a nice shot in the arm in the run game and make them that much harder to prepare for next season (whenever that is).
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