2011 NFL Draft

[Ted Striker]

Florida got robbed last year, they should have been given the title. They had 9 draft picks. If tebow isn't evidence that your argument is flawed, I don't what is. I'll take moore all day but he won't go in the first.

[midd]

you guys are kidding yourselves if you don't think NFL success is at least a decent barometer of a program.

not the only metric, but certainly a decent baseline.

[GodofThunder]

Of course it is. But it's not part of any BCS or any other formula to decide who deserves to play for a title.

Someone posted the Mock 1st round....and he tries to use it to back up his BCS argument because he'll be pissed off if his Buckeyes get left out in favor of a less NFL-laden program....I feel for him...I know he just can't stomach missing a chance to see tOSU lose by 40 to an SEC team. They deserve to get blown out more than TCU does, because they have a #1 pick on their team.

[Ronnie B]

you guys are kidding yourselves if you don't think NFL success is at least a decent barometer of a program.

not the only metric, but certainly a decent baseline.

Tom Brady and Joe Montana say hello

[midd]

you guys are kidding yourselves if you don't think NFL success is at least a decent barometer of a program.

not the only metric, but certainly a decent baseline.

Tom Brady and Joe Montana say hello

stick to your political science career.

[Ronnie B]

you guys are kidding yourselves if you don't think NFL success is at least a decent barometer of a program.

not the only metric, but certainly a decent baseline.

Tom Brady and Joe Montana say hello

stick to your political science career.

That was for UconnKnutebuckeye

I'm in data entry not poly sci

[mcm]

stick to your political science career.

I don't know what this means but I lol'd

[AY]

Mel Kiper looks at the bottom of round 1. Ingram and Julio to the Pats would be awesome.

Looking at the bottom of the first round, the opposite is true. Quarterback situations in New England, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Baltimore and on down into the middle of the first round are solid in almost every case. But these teams aren't without holes. Even the Patriots have clear needs, and fortunately (and traditionally), a ton of picks. So let's stack the "Bottom 10" in the first round, with a few added because of tied records.

The draft order below is based on current records, with one game left. Pick ideas are based on the current Big Board, which as you all know will change a lot as juniors decide on draft entry and the workout process.


32. (and ?) New England Patriots
Top needs: LT/LG, OLB, RB, WR
Pick strategy: Based on contracts, there's some uncertainty on the New England offensive line moving forward, and even when the line is sound there's hardly a better guarantee of success in the NFL today than keeping Tom Brady upright. Late in the first round, the Patriots may look at versatile interior linemen such as Florida's Mike Pouncey or Villanova's Ben Ijalana or an athletic tackle such as Tyron Smith. If a guy such as Wisconsin's Gabe Carimi fell here, that would be too good to pass up.

Another area this team needs to address is getting a pass rush from the outside linebacker position. I like Jermaine Cunningham's potential, but between Cunningham, Rob Ninkovich and Tully Banta-Cain, the Pats got just nine total sacks. So given that the Patriots have the Oakland pick, a likely mid-teens choice, they can hope a guy such as Von Miller falls to them or "settle" for a great talent such as Akeem Ayers. At the end of the first, perhaps that could be a Justin Houston or Jeremy Beal. The wild card? I think the Pats should target a big wideout to re-open the down-the-field threat. Perhaps Julio Jones falls to them in the teens. If so, he'd be an ideal pickup. I also see this team targeting a RB at some point -- no slight to the current cast. I just highly doubt that would be early, unless a guy like Mark Ingram is still sitting there at No. 32.

31. Atlanta Falcons
Top needs: Pass-rushing DE, WR, OLB, TE
Pick strategy: In general I really like the way this team has been put together. The Falcons don't have a lot of what most teams would consider clear needs. I'd like to see them target a pass-rusher at the defensive end position, and if a guy such as Adrian Clayborn falls this far (doubtful), they should grab him. A player such as Allen Bailey of Miami or J.J. Watt of Wisconsin would be more likely. I also think the team should target a reliable receiver to put opposite of Roddy White, who draws an extremely high rate of targets for them. This year, he has 171, with the next closest Atlanta wideout at 65. If Oklahoma's Ryan Broyles is around, he might be the ideal complement.

Tied: Pick Nos. 30-27

New Orleans Saints
Top needs: Pass-rushing DE, DT, OLB, RB
Pick strategy: Nobody likes to bring the blitz more than Gregg Williams, but necessity is a bigger reason. I wouldn't call a pickup such as Alex Brown a disappointment, but this is a position in which the Saints should get younger and better. So go ahead and repeat the possible trio just mentioned for the Falcons. The team could also use an OLB, or really active defensive tackle if one is sitting there late. Maybe North Carolina's Marvin Austin can see his stock reach previous levels and land here, or the Saints may go with a guy such as the rising Corey Liuget of Illinois. One guy I think fits here at OLB but could be a slight reach (at least with current ratings) is Travis Lewis of Oklahoma.

Pittsburgh Steelers
Top needs: OL, CB, WR
Pick strategy: Pittsburgh is in a good position to get the kind of player it needs. You could see Carimi here, Derek Sherrod of Mississippi State or even Anthony Costanzo of Boston College, a player I thought could be a mid-first-round pick before the season. But I really think Pittsburgh should target a cornerback. Janoris Jenkins, if he's around in the late 20's, is a steal in terms of overall skill set. He's a guy who helps out your defense in some capacity in Week 1. If he's gone, Ras-I Dowling of Virginia could be available. Dowling was a constant on the Big Board for much of the year but fell off because of injury concerns, which doesn't look like a long-term issue. I also think the Steelers will look at a WR at some point. Hines Ward keeps producing, but bringing along a rookie in the way they did Mike Wallace is a good idea.

Chicago Bears
Top needs: C, RG, DT, CB
Pick strategy: I'm not sold on the idea that it's a foregone conclusion the Bears will go after an offensive lineman in Round 1. That's because where they really need to look -- mainly on the interior given development they've gotten on the edges -- is a place you can find some value at a later point. You just don't see guards and centers drafted in the first round too often, unless you have a guy like Maurkice Pouncey or Mike Iupati last year that will immediately be starting and an upgrade. Keep an eye on corner, where Jenkins could be a good get. While the Bears have developed a competent core of wideouts seemingly on the cheap, if a big target that can overwhelm smaller DBs is here, such as Jon Baldwin of Pitt, it's something that could help diversify what Chicago can do in that passing game. And while Chicago has gotten the job done up front, if it wants continued effectiveness from an aging corps of linebackers, it will need to invest in a defensive tackle, perhaps right here.

Baltimore Ravens
Top needs: WR, OLB, CB
Pick strategy: Derrick Mason is still a big part of the Baltimore offense, but like Pittsburgh with Ward, it can't count on that forever. With Anquan Boldin not much of a deep threat, Baltimore may try to address the void it attempted to fill with Donte' Stallworth and target a real stretch WR. Depending on how he runs, Justin Blackmon could be around into the 20s, and Baldwin is also an option. The circumstances surrounding Sergio Kindle leaves that OLB position as something that could be addressed again, and a guy such as Houston could be around here, or Ayers if Baltimore is lucky. But a big position the Ravens could target is corner, a position they didn't draft at all in 2010.

Tied: Pick Nos. 26-24

Philadelphia Eagles
Top needs: CB, OLB
Pick strategy: It's good for Philly that it really doesn't look like a team with what I'd call glaring needs. What the Eagles do face is an odd situation in which the health of two of their top picks in 2010 is at issue. Nate Allen and Brandon Graham face rehab, so both of those spots are places where I can see Philly making depth picks, if not early ones. The Eagles should target a corner, and Dowling and Jenkins could figure in here. I can see them going for an OLB here as well.

Kansas City Chiefs Top needs: C, WR, 3-4 DE, OLB
Pick strategy: The Chiefs got a lot out of their draft in 2010, and they can do so again, as this is a team that's close but still could use talent upgrades at some key spots. The Chiefs could be the team in best position among several here with needs along the interior of the offensive line to get Pouncey out of Florida. But they could also use some fresh legs on the other side of the formation from Dwayne Bowe. A good 3-4 DE opposite Tamba Hali would be ideal. If Nevis is still around into the 20s, the Chiefs could scoop him up.

New York Jets
Top needs: Pass-rushing OLB, DE, S, WR
Pick strategy: Rex Ryan can scheme with the best of them, but his ability to work with what he has might conceal some holes in terms of talent on the defensive side of the ball. I expect the Jets to address the pass rush, and a great 3-4 DE still on the board would be a good get here, or an OLB who can do some damage in the backfield. This is too high to grab a safety, given the current class, but I can see the Jets looking there if a guy such as DeAndre McDaniel is still around later. There are no guarantees yet that Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes will be back, and if the team is going to be without one or both, wideout suddenly jumps to the forefront as a need, and several of the receivers mentioned above could come into play.

Let's quickly run through the four teams tied at 9-6.

Tied: Pick Nos. 23-20

Green Bay Packers
Top needs: OLB, T, RB
Pick strategy: Maybe the first team that could pull the trigger on the top RB on the board. The Packers could also consider a tackle, perhaps moving Bryan Bulaga along the line in the process. They could also use an OLB opposite Clay Matthews, a player who could thrive as a rusher given the blocking attention Matthews will continue to get.

Indianapolis Colts
Top needs: DT, OL, WR
Pick strategy: This team really needs a big-time defensive tackle. If Stephen Paea of Oregon State is here, he could fit there, while it could be a slight reach. They could also target offensive line, and while they've been resourceful at WR, Peyton Manning's frustration with that current unit could come into play. With uncertainty surrounding Austin Collie and Reggie Wayne going into a season in which he'll turn 33, some long-term answers would help.

New York Giants
Top needs: CB, LB, WR
Pick strategy: I really like the makeup of this offense. The Steve Smith injury might have them looking at WR help, but not this early. I think targeting a LB or CB is a more likely plan, and Jenkins could be a good fit for the latter. If the top LBs are off the board, they may choose to wait so they don't have to reach.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Top needs: DE, CB
Pick strategy: They addressed the defensive interior last year, but defensive end would be a good target in 2011 for a team happy to be so far down the board. I also think a young corner to apprentice under the ageless Ronde Barber is a move the Bucs need to make.

The next team in line? Based on current records, it would be St. Louis, where targets for Sam Bradford should be a focus, as will a top DT or OLB.

[rearadmiral]

Let's talk after playoffs.

[UconnBuckeye]

Mallett did himself no favors last night

[MCA]

I disagree wholeheartedly.

he should've started the game with an 80 yard touchdown. Add that to his #'s and its an MVP night and a win.

Plus, he's the MVP if they return the punt for TD regardless.

Against one of the best defenses they played all year.

[Ronnie B]

Mallett did himself no favors last night

His receivers did him no favors last night. He's the 2nd best QB in the draft.

[Mk]

He was 24-47 last night. Should have been around 32-40 with all the dropped balls.

[UconnBuckeye]

fair enough

I just think when he had to move around in the pocket he really struggled.

How many guys in the NFL get the opportunity to just sit back like a statue?

I have no idea who the #2 QB is, is Gabbert really that good? I can't tell cause of that offense.

[MCA]

Mallett did himself no favors last night

His receivers did him no favors last night. He's the 2nd best QB in the draft.

He's the best.