The second version of my mock draft comes post-combine, and some of the names up top have changed. I've also included five more picks. My opinion on who will be selected first overall in the 2011 NFL Draft has changed as well. Let's get to the picks.
1) Carolina Panthers – Cam Newton, QB, Auburn. I think Patrick Peterson is the best player in the draft, but the best player for the Panthers right now is Cam Newton. The Panthers ranked second in passing last season (PFF grade of -24.5) and only scored 17 touchdowns. Seventeen. Even the incompetent Cardinals offense was able to score 31 touchdowns. Give them a (theoretical) stud quarterback and their offense becomes somewhat fantasy relevant.
2) Denver Broncos – Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU. As I said before, I believe that Peterson is the best player in this draft, and I pointed out in my mock draft 1.0 what type of impact he would have on the Broncos defense as a whole. From an IDP perspective, shutdown cornerbacks aren't the greatest. For example, the two premier cornerbacks in the league (Nnamdi Asomugha and Darrelle Revis) combined for just 45 tackles and 0 interceptions while playing a total of 1,625 snaps. Those are some big comparisons, but when you are the top cornerback in the draft the bar is set pretty high.
3) Buffalo Bills – Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama. If Cam Newton is around, the Bills will grab him. With Newton off the board, I expect Buffalo to address their defense. Although I think Von Miller is a possibility, they go with Dareus in this mock. Outside of Kyle Williams, who had an astounding 31.4 run defense rating, every other player on the Bills defense combined for a -52.1 rating. The Bills gave up the third most points in the AFC last season (425) and their run defense was most to blame.
4) Cincinnati Bengals – A.J. Green, WR, Georgia. I still can't see Green slipping past the Bengals here. Everything could change if they trade Palmer, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Palmer traded on draft day. However, assuming nothing changes, the Bengals need an explosive offensive playmaker. Green would burst onto the fantasy scene on a Bengals team that is often playing from behind (net points of -73).
5) Arizona Cardinals – Von Miller, LB, Texas A&M. He is talented, he is athletic, and the Cardinals need serious help on defense (-66.6 rating, last in the league). Arizona's Clark Haggans and Joey Porter ranked last and second to last for OLB's last season. Miller wouldn't single-handedly make the Cardinals defense spectacular, but he would be a very solid IDP right from the start.
6) Cleveland Browns – Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn. The Browns probably wanted A.J. Green, but Nick Fairley is a great player to choose with the sixth overall pick. The Browns defense can be opportunistic and have flashed signs of brilliance (note: flashed). With a new coaching regime it's tough to say what the Browns defense will be like next season. However, Fairley would certainly bolster their front line, especially with Shaun Rogers gone.
7) San Francisco 49ers – Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska. I'm leaning towards them taking Blaine Gabbert, but I've said all along San Francisco's greatest need was a cornerback and I'm sticking to it. Amukamara had a solid combine to help solidify himself as the #2 cornerback in this class. The 49ers had the second best defense last season, with a rating of 139.2. They accumulated this rating despite a pass defense rating of -11. Outside of Nate Clemens, the 49ers don't have a cornerback they can trust and Amukamara fills their biggest defensive hole.
8 ) Tennessee Titans – Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri. The Titans need a quarterback. It would be a shame to see Chris Johnson waste some of his best years if the Titans continued to flip-flop between quarterbacks (à la Steven Jackson in St. Louis). In 2009 the Titans ran the ball 62% of the time and in 2010 they ran the ball 58% of the time. Gabbert would be eased into the offensive situation and wouldn't be a terrible backup fantasy QB either, considering all of the offensive weapons the Titans have.
9) Dallas Cowboys – Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson. Bowers has top-5 talent and the Cowboys are lucky if he slides down this far. The Cowboys don't really have that many weaknesses on their team and were already the league's best at rushing the passer (71.6 rating). If Prince Amukamara is available, I expect the Cowboys to take him. However, with a player like Bowers left on the board, I believe the Cowboys draft on talent rather than need.
10) Washington Redskins – Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama. This is higher than most people have Ingram going, but running backs always seem to slide up draft boards late. Mike Shannahan loves running backs and has a knack for making them fantasy-relevant (remember his days in Denver?). The Redskins ran the ball just 40% of the time last year, but that came in the midst of not having a true #1 back. Washington also just released Clinton Portis and while that could mean good news for Ryan Torain, it could also mean they are opening the door for Ingram.
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