NFL Draft Center - 2011 Mock Draft: Post Senior Bowl 3 Round Look - Pigskin Heaven

Nick Fairley was the most dominant defensive player in the country this past year. They brought in Ron Rivera, whose best years coaching the 4-3 had Tommie Harris as their UT. And Carolina's best years were when they had Kris Jenkins. Fairley should be able to create havoc as well as open things up for Everette Brown, Charles Johnson, and Greg Hardy. In addition to that, the Panthers literally have nothing at their defensive tackle position currently. They have to address it, whether they pick Fairley or not.

The Broncos need help everywhere on defense and talentwise, Patrick Peterson is the best option here, whether he ends up at corner or safety and could benefit from playing with Champ Bailey. His size is freakish for the cornerback position and he can also contribute in the return game. The question is whether or not the Broncos will use him there.

Chan Gailey is not ruling out picking a quarterback with this pick, but he seems to be sending the message that he likes Fitzpatrick is his guy. There are people who would certainly criticize that decision, but assuming they do like Fitzpatrick, Buddy Nix has said he will go with the best player available. Aaron Maybin has not developed and even if he does, the Bills would benefit from having another elite pass rusher. Miller is incredibly fluid and athletic, has a great attitude, and can get after the quarterback and it certainly does not hurt having spent his week in Mobile playing for the Buffalo Bills coaching staff.

The big question facing the Cincinnati Bengals at this point is what do they do with Carson Palmer. Palmer is threatening retirement unless he gets traded, but Mike Brown is calling his bluff. A.J. Green might go a long way in healing that divide and getting the Bengals back to being the team that won the division 2 years ago. Green has the physical ability and polish to come in and contribute immediately and would make a phenomenal 1-2 punch in the receiving game with Jermaine Gresham.

You get the sneaking suspicion with the crop of young quarterbacks on their roster, they will go with one of them whether it is John Skelton or Max Hall. Another huge hole is a franchise pass rusher and Robert Quinn has freakish potential. He could be a DeMarcus Ware type but because of his lack of junior and senior film, is a boom or bust pick. What stands out about Quinn is not his athleticism, but his hand usage and his ability to keep opposing linemen away from his body for such a young player.

With the hiring of Dick Jauron, it appears that the Browns will shift to a 4-3 defense, although no official announcement has been made. Assuming that is the case, pairing Marcel Dareus inside with Athyba Rubin would give the Browns instant credibility in the running game as well as giving someone who should be able to get pressure on the quarterback.

The 49ers finally move on from the Alex Smith era. They have a very nice core of young players on the offensive side of the ball. They just need a quarterback to pull everything together and with Harbaugh coming in, he goes with the quarterback available most like the one he had with Luck at Stanford. Gabbert does not have a ton of experience as a starting quarterback, but his physical tools and his quick release are the stuff coaches love to have on a quarterback.

With the firing of Jeff Fisher this late in the process, it appears as though the Titans will hire from within and continue with a similar thought process as Fisher had. It is certainly not out of the realm of possibility that the Titans go with a quarterback here, but their team's philosophy has been built on line play and Bowers is the type of player they would love to add up front on the left side to complement Jason Jones and Jason Babin.

Dallas's secondary has been a mess. In a race of 1a. and 1b. with Patrick Peterson, Amukamara is the purer cover guy between the two and might have the ability to take an opposing receiver out of the game. New Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan is more than happy to let him do that allowing him to send blitz packages at opposing quarterbacks. He was able to get tremendous play out of Joe Haden last season and it would do wonders for Dallas's defense if he can do the same with Amukamara.

One of the worst kept secrets in the NFL has been Mike Shanahan's interest in Jake Locker. They scouted him quite a bit last year when he was weighing whether or not he would declare for the draft. This year, they have continued scouting him significantly and he fits exactly what Shanahan would love to have in a quarterback. He has Tim Tebow/Colt McCoy type intangibles with Jay Cutler's physical ability. Locker needs to improve his footwork to help his accuracy and he would end up in a tremendous situation with the Redskins.

With Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips coming in and switching them to his one gap 3-4 scheme, they need a nose tackle and Stephen Paea more than fits the bill and could have a similar impact as Jay Ratliff did in Dallas. A three-man front with Williams and Paea with only one gap of responsibility could be a lot of fun to watch. Amazingly, as absurdly strong as Paea is already, he appears like he could even add more weight to his frame.

Minnesota is the most interesting landing spot for Cam Newton, because they have sort of stumbled into the perfect situation for a team that wants to have a dual threat quarterback since they have Joe Webb and may bring back Tarvaris Jackson. Whoever takes Newton needs to tailor their offense to what he does and Minnesota is the best equipped to do that. Look for an article in the future discussing this possible match further.

Cameron Jordan dominated the Senior Bowl week from start to finish and not only established himself as a premier 5-technique defensive end, but also showed that he would be a tremendous fit in the 4-3 as a strong side end and 3-technique defensive tackle. Detroit would be ecstatic for the opportunity to have him help them dominate the running game and attack the quarterback with Ndamukong Suh and Kyle Vanden Bosch.

The Rams need a right end to complement Chris Long, so why not pick the guy with the motor and attitude towards football most like Chris Long in Ryan Kerrigan. The two of them might just hustle opponents into submission. They will certainly take a long look at Julio Jones, but at the end of the day, they stay true with what Steve Spagnuolo does well and that is get after the quarterback. Kerrigan and Long could be a phenomenal pairing for years to come.

The stable of running backs in Miami is getting up there in age and Mark Ingram is the perfect type of work horse back that could come in and make a huge impact right away. People complain that Ingram does everything well, but nothing all that special. His attitude and approach to the game could end up reminding people of Emmitt Smith.

With the retaining of Jack Del Rio in Jacksonville, the Jaguars are more likely to build upon what they have than try to rebuild anything. The Jaguars receiving core has talent with Sims-Walker, Thomas, and Lewis, but they do not have a true #1 receiver. Jones has to improve his route running and his concentration, but his physical tools are off the charts and the AFC South is not exactly flushed with top quality corners.

Given the way this board lays out, the Patriots might look to try to trade down from here with this pick and acquire more picks. They are not in love with underclassmen typically, but they do love versatility and Akeem Ayers is a player that could live up at outside linebacker, inside linebacker, or defensive end. He still needs refinement, but there may not be a better place for him to do it than New England where he should be free to make a ton of plays.

It remains to be seen what Larry English brings to the table, but Aldon Smith's potential is too much for the Chargers to pass up. Smith's not the big name prospect Robert Quinn is, but he brings similar triangle numbers to the table, but unlike Quinn, his production on the field is fresh from this past year.

The Giants offensive line feels like it is getting up there in age and David Diehl is a fine lineman, but he is not a left tackle. They drafted William Beatty but he has yet to establish himself. Castonzo should be able to step in from day one and start as well as allow them to put Diehl somewhere he would more effectively utilized.

The Tampa Bay Bucs started building a strong defensive line for years to come with Gerald McCoy and Brian Price last year. This year, they continue doing that adding a franchise defensive end. J.J. Watt is able to get after the quarterback from the strong side as well as stop the run. They could also use Watt as a defensive tackle and have both Watt and McCoy rush from the inside on obvious passing downs if they choose.

The Chiefs and Matt Cassel could really use another big bodied receiver on the outside to give them a big play threat as well as give Dwayne Bowe better matchups and more opportunities to make plays. Baldwin is tall and has great top end speed to stretch the field, but his acceleration is a question mark.

Bill Polian claims the offensive line has prevented the Colts from winning more Super Bowls, but has not done a good job investing in talent there. His son looks to do a better job by adding Sherrod to protect Manning's blind side. Sherrod is unquestionably able to man the left side and fits what the Colts like in their offensive linemen better than Solder and Carimi.

When it comes to their defense, the Philadelphia Eagles seem to use 1st round picks on corners and defensive lineman and they need a corner to play opposite Asante Samuel with the retirement of Ellis Hobbs. Samuel has never been afraid to take risks and go for spectacular plays, while Harris may not have as many highlights, he will be a purer cover corner and that is what the Eagles need him to be.

Sedrick Ellis needs a partner in crime up the middle and Liuget would give them an athletic, penetrating presence who should make his living in opposing backfields. Much like Fairley, Liuget is more likely to beat opposing linemen with speed and quickness rather than power.

In the loss to the Chicago Bears, the Seahawks defensive line was pushed around from start to finish. Raheem Brock is up there in age and while Balmer could conceivably turn his career around in Seattle, it is unlikely. Clayborn did not have the senior season anyone expected him to, but he does have a ton of ability and makes plays in the opponents backfield.

The Ravens secondary desperately needs an infusion of talent at virtually any spot in their secondary. They might be able to get another year out of Reed, but they almost nothing at corner. With receivers like Mike Wallace and A.J. Green in the division, Williams is going to have his work cut out for him.

The Falcons would really like to give Matt Ryan a receiving tight end that will be there long term in the mold of Tony Gonzalez and Rudolph, although he is coming back from injury, Rudolph is an extremely talented pass catcher that would give the Falcons another legitimate receiving threat to complement Roddy White.

The Patriots have a tendency to use premium picks on the defensive line and Heyward is in a similar mold to former Patriot Richard Seymour and current Chief Tyson Jackson, both of who have or currently play in the same system the Patriots use. Heyward is an effective run stopper, but on occasion will become unblockable and take over a football game.

The Bears are another team that need to invest heavily in their offensive line for the sake of Cutler as well as Forte. Solder has remarkable potential with his size, strength, and athleticism, but needs to be more consistent which is why he is still on the board. If he can become the tackle that some believe, he could be this generation's Jonathan Ogden.

The Jets have a pretty good defense, but have no one who can be categorized as a franchise pass rusher. Any pressure they get is from all out blitzing leaving their corners on an island. Houston would give Rex Ryan another weapon that would allow him to do more with his defense.

Clay Matthews has been a tremendous player on the Packer defense, but they do not have much else as a pass threat and Beal could open up even more opportunities for Matthews. Beal has experience as a defensive end and a 2-point stance. He has looked very comfortable at the linebacker position and should make an effective transition for the Packers.

For as good as the Steelers defense is, they have not had a Pro Bowl cornerback since Rod Woodson. Ike Taylor is inconsistent at best and they have little else at the position. Smith brings incredible triangle numbers to the position and has a ton of potential, but needs substantial seasoning. The Steelers defensive pressure could make the transition to the NFL easier.

The Patriots have some places on the offensive line that could be in flux, especially Stephen Neal. Ijalana is a guy that might have the ability to play four different spots on the line, so the Patriots can either start him from day one or take their time and groom him.

The Buffalo Bills have some questions on their offensive line, especially at the left tackle position. They need to do a better job protecting Fitzpatrick and the Bills appear to prefer smaller, more athletic linemen who can move and Smith definitely gives them that as well as significant upside.

The Bengals have the makings of a very good defense, but they could really benefit from having a ballhawking safety to protect them on the back end.

With the transition to a 4-3 defense under John Fox, the Broncos need to put together a line that fits the scheme. Drake Nevis has 1st round ability in a mid round package and was the most productive defensive tackle not named Nick Fairley in the SEC and maybe the country.

John St. Clair has been nothing short of a charity at right tackle the past two years and Carimi would give them a tough, road grading linemen that can give the Browns one of the best offensive lines in the NFL for a long time with Badger bookends and Mack at center. And for as well as Carimi appeared to perform in Mobile, he never really faced the most pressing question about him, which is how he deals with speed rushers. That question is still there and teams may still question his ability to protect a quarterback's blind side.

The Cardinals need to bolster their offensive line and while Pouncey did not have a great season as a center, he was a tremendous guard in years previous. The Cardinals put him back at his natural position where he should be able to contribute as a starter from day 1.

The Titans have been a pretty effective unit up front but this year took a step backward. Wisniewski gives them a guy with versatility that should get them back to where they want to be creating more holes for Chris Johnson.

The Cowboys love really big offensive linemen and Cannon definitely fits that and is remarkably light on his feet for a man his size. The Cowboys need more protection for Romo and desperately need more holes in the running game. Cannon also has potential to play tackle.

The Redskins have more questions than answers on their defensive line with a 3-man front. Wilkerson has experience as a defensive end in Al Golden's 3-4 at Temple where he dominated the MAC, so he should be able to contribute early for the Redskins.

The Texans took Kareem Jackson in the first round last year, but their situation at corner has been bad enough it warrants additional help. They have a lot of talent there. Now, they need to put it together. Dowling has been inconsistent, but he has the talent to be a good NFL corner.

The Vikings have questions at both guard and center. Hudson has the ability to play both and while some have overlooked him because of his size, he is a tremendous blocker and competitor.

The Lions desperately need corner help and after missing out on Peterson and Amukamara in round 1, they come back and get Burton in round 2.

The 49ers need substantial help at the cornerback position. Curtis Brown has tons of experience competing against elite receivers and brings a nice combination of size and speed.

Allen Bailey is a guy who possesses a ton of potential. He's somewhat of a tweener, so he could end up playing a few different positions in different situations for the Broncos whether at power end or the under tackle spot. Physically, Bailey is an impressive athlete. It just remains if that athlete translates well to the game of football.

Titus Young has been on a different level from everyone else in Mobile. He runs crisp routes, separates well, and has game breaking speed in the mold of DeSean Jackson and Mike Wallace. Young could open things up nicely for the rest of the receivers in St. Louis as well as Sam Bradford.

If available, is there any way Al Davis does not pull the trigger on Ryan Mallett? Mallett has an incredible arm and has the ability to make throws that other quarterbacks simply cannot both with strength and touch. He is inconsistent with his accuracy, he is often off balance within the pocket, and there are lingering character questions out there to be answered, but Mallett is everything Al Davis and the Raiders love in a quarterback.

The Jaguars have a great set of defensive tackles, but need a linebacker to make plays behind them and Sturdivant is a sideline to sideline guy with tremendous instincts and they should be more than capable of protecting him.

There are questions surrounding the receiver position in San Diego. While Rivers seems able to succeed with any set of receivers, the Chargers add help in Smith and ideally he will develop before they lose anyone too significant. He also adds an element of speed they have not had at that position.

Bruce Carter tore his ACL during the last month of the season or he would have likely been a 1st round pick. The Bucs hope that his knee is worth the wait and give them a nice weak side linebacker for years to come.

The Giants have a tremendous defensive line, but have not had as much luck at the linebacker position. Herzlich, if he can get back to where he was as a sophomore, he would be more than worth the risk and the Giants have liked having these bigger linebackers. He could play in the middle or at strong side linebacker in their defense should they choose to end the Sintim experiment there.

The Colts need to bolster the defensive tackle position and with their scheme, Jurrell Casey could play either nose guard or under tackle.

DeMarcus Love might be able to play 3 or 4 positions along the offensive line. He fits what the Eagles like to have in their offensive linemen and would likely start out at guard for them, which is where they really need help.

Taylor has questions to answer about his behavior at Penn State and Baylor as well as keeping his weight in check, but when he is right, he is a dominant force in the middle and the Chiefs would love to add a franchise nose between Jackson and Dorsey.

The Saints have players that can contribute in the running game, but no one that legitimately scares opponents. Mikel LeShoure could give them that element and take pressure off of Drew Brees. LeShoure is a big back with impressive speed that should contribute immediately.

The Seahawks need a cover corner and Johnny Patrick has a nice blend of physical tools that have the makings to fill that role for them.

The Ravens, aside from Ray Rice, have one of the slowest offenses in the NFL. Jernigan gives them a big boost in speed, but also someone who can go deep and take advantage of Flacco's arm. He could also contribute in the return game.

Aside from an aging John Abraham, the Falcons do not have anyone that can be a franchise pass rusher and it cost them in the playoffs. Sheard could be a real threat off the edge.

The Patriots have a bunch of small, fast receivers, but count on their tight ends for any size. Hankerson may not be the 6'3" Miami advertised him to be, but he has long arms and plays bigger than he is. He also has a knack for making plays and a nose for the endzone.

The Bears continue to build their offensive line by adding Moffitt. Moffitt could potentially play at any of the three interior line spots, so the Bears can plug him in where they need him, but he is just a good, hard working football player that will give the Bears everything he has on every snap.

The Chargers could really use a big time inside presence and Wilson is a physical freak that could be the run stopper they are seeking.

The Packers have some players that can carry the ball, but no one that is really a franchise running back. In addition, they also could use someone who can contribute as a receiver out of the backfield and Williams can give them that. Williams struggled this year, but he is an immensely talented back with incredible vision and game breaking ability.

Casey Hampton has been an institution at nose tackle for the Steelers, but they have little behind him and nothing really for the future when Hampton retires. Powe can start learning behind him and spell him when he needs it.

The Panthers continue with what Ron Rivera knows, which is defense. They do not have a traditional strong side end Pernell McPhee has an incredible set of physical tools with huge upside. They just need to help him put it together on the field.

The Bengals need help along the offensive line and their center position is somewhat up in the air. O'Dowd may not wow anyone on his own, but he plays well within a unit and has a ton of experience against tough competition.

The Broncos have addressed both the defensive line and the secondary, but they need help at the second level of the defense to go along with D.J. Williams. Nate Irving is a tremendous athlete with sideline to sideline speed that could be a nice piece in that defense.

A really nice value here, the Bills do not really have a contributor at tight end. A somewhat underrated blocker, Lance Kendricks can stretch the field vertically and be split out as well. It may not be a great tight end class, but there are some quality tight ends in it and Kendricks is definitely one of them.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is an extremely talented corner and the Cardinals have solid safeties, but they really need someone to play opposite of Cromartie. Carimichael has nice physical tools as well as intangibles and is a guy who could get much better in the NFL.

Tom Heckert has not been afraid to draft guys with health questions. They drafted T.J. Ward and Montario Hardesty in the second round last year, who both carried significant medical questions. The medical evaluation at the combine will play a large role in determining Romeus' stock in the draft, but if he checks out well, even if he cannot contribute this year, he could be a steal. Keep in mind that Romeus is 6'6" 270lbs and is still getting better and was dominant at times for Pittsburgh. If he is able to pan out, the Browns would have an incredibly strong defensive line.

The Cowboys need help up front in their 3 man front and Ballard could be a nice fit at the 5-technique. Rob Ryan also likes to employ a 2-4-5 Nickel Package and Ballard could contribute at tackle or end there. Could be a guy with a much better pro career than college.

Kelvin Sheppard brings a nice combination of size and speed and could contribute at either strong or middle linebacker. The Saints need substantial help at the linebacker position and Sheppard could be someone who can get early playing time.

The Texans continue adding to their secondary with Quinton Carter. Carter is probably getting underrated at this point. He is not afraid to hit and can contribute as a pass defender. He was unable to really show off his skills during Senior Bowl week until the actual game.

Daniel Thomas is such an intriguing running back, because he brings such a unique blend of athletic ability. He is a big running back, but was athletic enough to be split out in the slot for Kansas State and the Patriots have always been big believers in versatility.

Watkins is another guy who had a big week in Mobile. He is going turn 27 by the time the draft rolls around, but he is just a solid, tenacious offensive lineman. The question is at what point in the draft will people overlook his age and just see a guy who could be a nice guard for a few years. The Lions need help at guard and opt to go with him here.

Nice value here for the 49ers as they pick up a nonstop motor edge pass rusher in Brooks Reed. New head coach Jim Harbaugh is certainly familiar with him from their days in the PAC-10 and will love his attitude.

The Titans definitely need a quarterback and Stanzi brings a nice blend of physical tools and leadership. The Titans offense is definitely one that looks friendly for a young quarterback with a strong offensive line, good running game, and weapons on the outside.

The Rams need help at strong side linebacker and Foster is a guy who always seems to be around the football. Foster brings a nice combination of side and instincts to the Rams front seven.

The Dolphins need to find their quarterback. Andy Dalton has a ton of experience, great intangibles, is a winner, and has more physical tools than people give him credit. He is not going to wow anyone, but he just seems to do enough to win.

The Jacksonville Jaguars could use a strong safety and if they can get McDaniel to play more like his junior year than his senior year, they are going to be very happy with McDaniel.

The Raiders have some talent on the offensive line with guys like Jared Veldheer, but they definitely need more and with the likely departure of Robert Gallery, they could definitely use help inside at guard. Franklin is a beast of a man and has experience both at guard and tackle.

The Chargers have a good offensive line, but they could use a swing tackle and someone that can push Clary for the starting right tackle job. Pinkston should be able to do both.

The Giants love to invest in their front four and Terrell McClain would be a nice player to develop for the 3-technique position, especially if they lose Barry Cofield. McClain is a talented tackle that shined at the Shrine Bowl practices.

The Bucs appeared to have found a gem in LaGarette Blount, but they could really use someone to complement him. Kendall Hunter is similar to Ray Rice in terms of his size and speed, his ability to contribute as a receiver, and Hunter looked better than most would have expected as a blocker. Blount and Hunter could be a really nice 1-2 punch for the Buccaneers.

The Eagles have LeSean McCoy, but could someone else behind him. Some would argue that DeMarco Murray is as talented as anyone in the draft at the running back position, but he has battled injuries throughout his career. He is a talented runner and receiver and if he can stay healthy, he could be a nice find for the Eagles and spell McCoy.

The Rams have their franchise pass rusher in Tamba Hali, but could use someone opposite him to make plays when he is being doubled.

Everyone is not going to be in love with Ahmad Black at 5'9", but he is another guy that just seems to make plays and plays that win football games. The Colts also are a team that is not afraid to draft an undersized player. Hopefully for their sake, he has better luck staying healthy than Bob Sanders has.

Dontay Moch can flat out fly. Whether or not he can run the 4.25 of legend remains to be seen, but he plays incredibly fast. He looked pretty comfortable playing weak side linebacker in the Shrine practices and while he needs development, could be a great weapon in the New Orleans defense, whether he is blitzing off the edge, playing sideline to sideline against the run, or in coverage. If nothing else, he should be fun to watch on special teams.

Antonio Garay played really well this past year at nose for the Chargers, but he might be better suited to play end. Kenrick Ellis is an enormous player at nearly 340lbs and is a space eater they would love to have at nose, but he is not without significant questions regarding his exit from South Carolina.

Much like Alex Carrington did from Arkansas State, Cedric Thornton came into the Senior Bowl and proved that he could compete on the same level as the other players there at defensive end. He was powerful at the point of attack and should make a nice transition to the 5-technique in Baltimore's defense.

The Falcons could use a real game breaker behind Michael Turner. Vereen has been described as a poor man's Jahvid Best by some, which is hardly an insult. If he can contribute as a speed back for the Falcons as a change of pace and contribute as a receiver out of the backfield, they will be thrilled.

The Patriots continue to invest in their offensive line by adding a center from a little college in Pennsylvania. Fusco was another guy with an opportunity on a big stage in Mobile and acclimated himself pretty well. He has some size and growth potential over other centers and the Patriots can groom him behind Dan Koppen until he is ready to take over there.

Other than Charles Tillman, the Bears are thin at corner. Jalil Brown has not been nearly as heralded as Jimmy Smith, he has been good in his own right and instead of Smith's shadow, he can play in Tillman's.

With the likelihood of Braylon Edwards being let go by the Jets, they could use another receiver with size and strength to replace him. Little has the ability to high point the football and plays the receiver position with the mentality of a running back. Little has significant potential.

While the Packers seemed to have struck gold with Tramon Williams and still do have Charles Woodson playing at a high level, they still could use additional help at the position. And with Brandon Underwood facing possible sexual assault charges, a roster spot could be opening up very soon.

The Pittsburgh Steelers always seem to have just enough along the offensive line to get by and outside of Pouncey, rarely make a premium investment there. Marcus Gilbert could be a swing tackle for the Steelers and definitely fits the type of linemen they like in terms of his size and power. He also has high upside.