Official ClanRam Scouts (2 Round) Mock Draft

[AvengerRam]

It is time...

Our crack group of ClanRam Scouts will present to you our 2011 Mock Draft, projecting the selections to be made in the first 2 rounds.

The selections will be made by our scouts in the following order (selected at random):

Nick
AvengerRam
Bar-bq
laram0
VegasRam
39thebeast
HUbison

NOTE: THERE WILL BE A SECOND THREAD FOR COMMENTS, DEBATE AND CRITICISMS OF THE SELECTIONS. THIS THREAD IS FOR THE PICKS AND COMMENTARY ALONE. THANKS!

And so... here we go...

ROUND 1
1. Carolina: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
2. Denver: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
3. Buffalo: Marcell Dareus, DL, Alabama
4. Cincinnati: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
5. Arizona: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
6. Cleveland: Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
7. San Francisco: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
8. Tennessee: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
9. Dallas: Cameron Jordan, DE, California
10. Washington: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
11. Houston: Robert Quinn, LB, North Carolina
12. Minnesota: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
13. Detroit: Tyron Smith, OT, USC
14. St. Louis: Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri
15. Miami: Mike Pouncey, OL, Florida
16. Jacksonville: Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
17. New England (from Oakland): J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin
18. San Diego: Muhammad Wilkerson, DE/DT, Temple
19. New York Giants: Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA
20. Tampa Bay: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
21. Kansas City: Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
22. Indianapolis: Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
23. Philadelphia: Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois
24. New Orleans: Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State
25. Seattle: Jake Locker, QB, Washington
26. Baltimore: Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
27. Atlanta: Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State
28. New England: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
29. Chicago: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
30. New York Jets: Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor
31. Pittsburgh: Brandon Harris, CB, Miami
32. Green Bay: Christian Ballard, DT, Iowa

ROUND 2
33. New England (from Carolina): Danny Watkins, OG, Baylor
34. Buffalo: Collin Kapernick, QB, Nevada
35. Cincinnati: Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State
36. Denver: Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
37. Cleveland: Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh
38. Arizona: Clint Boling, OG, Georgia
39. Tennessee: Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
40. Dallas: Aaron Williams, CB, Texas
41. Washington: Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami
42. Houston: Rahim Moore, S, UCLA
43. Minnesota: Justin Houston, DE, Georgia
44. Detroit: Bruce Carter, OLB, North Carolina
45. San Francisco: Ricky Stanzi, QB, Iowa
46. Denver (from Miami): Mikel LeShoure, RB, Illinois
47. St. Louis: Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame
48.Oakland: Marcus Cannon, OG/OT, TCU
49. Jacksonville: Ras-I Dowling, DB, Virginia
50. San Diego: Brooks Reed, OLB, Arizona
51. Tampa Bay: Johnny Patrick, CB, Louisville
52. New York Giants: Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina
53. Indianapolis: Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland
54. Philadelphia: Davon House, CB, New Mexico State
55. Kansas City: Jabaal Sheard, DE/OLB, Pittsburgh
56. New Orleans: Montez Wilson, LB, Illinois
57. Seattle: Ben Ijalana, OL, Villanova
58. Baltimore: Randall Cobb, WR, Kentucky
59. Atlanta: Titus Young, WR, Boise State
60. New England: Will Rackley, OT/OG, Lehigh
61. San Diego (from New York Jets): Brandon Burton, CB, Utah
62. Chicago: James Carpenter, OL, Alabama
63. Pittsburgh: Rodney Hudson, OG, Florida State
64. Green Bay: Sam Acho, LB, Texas

[Nick]

With the first pick of the 2011 ClanRam Scouts Mock Draft, the Carolina Panthers select...

Blaine Gabbert - QB - Missouri

You need a quarterback to win in this league, but he has to be the right quarterback. Drafting the wrong quarterback doesn't get you anywhere. Just ask San Francisco, who hasn't had a winning season since they drafted Alex Smith.

So, are either Blaine Gabbert or Cam Newton the right quarterback? Newton is certainly physically talented, but there are some serious character red flags that could stand in his way. That leaves Gabbert, who is far from perfect but appears to be the safer choice of the two.

If Carolina isn't completely sold on Gabbert or Newton, then they could very well go with another prospect (Dareus, Peterson, Green, etc). I wouldn't blame them for doing so, because I'm not particularly confident in either of the top quarterbacks. But if they feel Blaine Gabbert (or Cam Newton) can become a franchise quarterback for their organization, then they'll likely take the plunge.

[AvengerRam]

With the second pick in the 2011 ClanRam Scouts Mock Draft, the Denver Broncos select:


Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
Denver needs to upgrade its defense, and Peterson is the elite prospect on that side of the ball. He has size/speed numbers comparable to the late Sean Taylor, and coverage skills to be a true "lockdown" CB. While the Broncos could also use upgrades in the front 7, Peterson is too good to pass up, and could have the impact of a player like Charles Woodson. While he might not make people forget Champ Bailey in the long run, he will ensure that Denver fans never have to miss their future Hall of Famer.

[Bar-bq]

With the third pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills select:



Marcell Dareus, DL, Alabama

Buffalo had arguably the worst defense in the league last year, finishing close to the bottom against both the pass and the run. Picking at #3 overall, the Bills are guaranteed their choice of at least one of the big three defensive prospects: Linebacker Von Miller, CB Patrick Peterson, and DL Marcell Dareus. In this case, the Bills are left with a choice between improving their pass rush and improving their run defense, and I think the smart money says that given the opportunity, you build from up front. Dareus purports to be a great fit in either a 3-4 or a 4-3 front, and the Bills plan to use both in '11.

[laram0]

With the 4th pick in the 2011 ClanRam Mock Draft the Cincinnati Bengals select:

A J Green, WR, Georgia

This is going to be an offensive minded draft for the Bengals. With T. O. gone and rumors of Ochocinco being traded. Along with Cedric Benson being a free agent. The real icing on the cake is that Carson Palmer has announced he doesn't want to play for the Bengals anymore.

Anyway, with the need for a top flight receiver on their list, A J Green seems like a perfect fit. He has and is being labeled a Larry Fitzgerald type of receiver.

[VegasRam]

With the fifth pick in the 2011 ClanRam Mock draft, the Arizona Cardinals select


Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M


I do not think anything is going to help the Cardinal Offense until they get solidified at QB, and Newton flat ain't Whisenhut's style, (even if he COULD help this year). For better or worse, the NFC West is a running division, and with losing Rolle and Dansby, Porter getting older and Paris Lenon? (who we passed on for Vbora and Chamberlain), it would seem Von Miller is an absolute no-brainer. Our tight ends have their work cut out for them.

[AvengerRam]

Not sure where 39thebeast is, so I'm going to step in and keep this going...

With the 6th pick in the 2011 ClanRam Scouts Mock Draft, the Cleveland Browns select:



Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
Though a slower than expected recovery from torn meniscus surgery has prevented Bowers from showcasing his athletic skills in recent weeks, he remains an elite prospect. The Browns will consider taking a WR, but Bowers will be the choice. With the defense converting to a 4-3 set, he will be a huge building block.

[HUbison]

With the 7th pick, the San Francisco Whiners select.....


Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
The whiners would have loved to see Gabbert here, but it didn't happen.
The whiners could have taken Newton here, but he's not a good fit.
The whiners should have taken Luck here, but it's not a perfect world.

So they address the QB spot later, and try to replace an aging secondary with an excellent candidate to start next year. Prince is not quite Peterson, but he's awful close.

[Nick]

With the 8th pick of the 2011 ClanRam Scouts Mock Draft, the Tennessee Titans select...

Nick Fairley - DT - Auburn

The Titans have missed Albert Haynesworth's presence on the interior of the defensive line. If they'd like former first round pick Derrick Morgan to maximize his potential, they'll give him some help along the defensive line. Cam Newton would get a lot of consideration here as well, but the off-the-field concerns are a bit too reminiscent of the quarterback who is on his way out of Tennessee, Vince Young.

[AvengerRam]

With the 9th pick in the 2011 ClanRam Scouts Mock Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select:


Cameron Jordan, DE, California
Where need meets quality, a match is made. The Cowboys need a DE big enough to play in a 3-4 set, and Jordan is a high quality prospect for that position. He really distinguished himself during Senior Bowl week, and then solidified his position at the Combine. He should be a productive player for years to come.

[Bar-bq]

With the 10th Pick in the 2011 ClanRam Scouts Mock Draft, the Washington Redskins select:

Cam Newton, QB, Auburn

I've been saying to myself all along that if Julio Jones is available and the best pick for the Redskins, I was going to make it. Luckily for me, I didn't have to make that call. Shanahan and the Redskins spot a potential franchise signal caller on the board at #10, and they land him. Rams fans everywhere dodged a bullet. Newton has his question marks, but his upside is tremendous, and there's going to be a team willing to take a chance on a player with Newton's obvious talent. Personally, I think that Shanahan will have Elway flashbacks, and that's all it's going to take.

[laram0]

With the 11th pick of the 2011 ClanRam Mock Draft the Houston Texans Select:


ROBERT QUINN DE/OLB, NEBRASKA

The Texans had Prince Amukamara CB, Nebraska as their 1A pick but didn't expect him to fall to them. They are very happy to get their 1B pick in ROBERT QUINN. If Quinn had played this year he might very well have been the top pick in this draft. But due to his suspension (lied to NCAA about receiving improper benefits) we'll never know what might have happened.

With the shift to Wade Phillips 3-4 the Texans needed an outside pass rusher. Quinn is an excellent rusher on the edge and fills a huge void on the Texans defense.

[VegasRam]

With the 12th pick in the 2011 Clanram mock draft, the Minnesota Vikings select:


Julio Jones WR, Alabama. While their OT's may be young and/or aging, they are still more than serviceable, and with the Rice situation questionable, whoever they end up with at QB is going to need all the help he can get, and Jones is simply too good (esp at this draft position) to pass up.

[39thebeast]

With the 13th pick in the draft the Detroit Lions Select

Tyron Smith, OT, USC
LB and CB are the Lions 2 biggest needs, but there are none worth taking at this point in the draft. That moves them to another position. Tyron Smith is quickly moving up draft boards with his great athleticism. Matthew Stafford has been hurt alot through out his career. Smith has alot upside and would be a great LT of the future also allows the Lions to move Jeff Backus back to his natural position LG killing 2 birds with 1 stone.

[HUbison]

With the 12th pick in the 2011 Clanram mock draft, the Minnesota Vikings select:

Julio Jones WR, Alabama.

And from all over St. Louis can be heard:

SON-OF-A-BI#!@%MOTHER-F^%!@$PIECE-OF-MONKEY-SH$!##%^!!!!!!

So we move on.....with the 14th pick, the Rams select:


Aldon Smith, DE, Mizzou

An athletic freak similar to last year's Jason Pierre Paul. Has shown the ability to get to the QB, stop the run, get to the QB, cut down RBs in backfield, get to the QB, play well in space, get to the QB, even drop in coverage......and get to the QB.

He's still raw. He only have two seasons under his belt and he was hurt during one of those. So don't expect immediate results, but by the time Hall is heading off to the old folks home, Smith could be starting opposite Long.