NFL Mock Draft Round One

1. Carolina Panthers- Cam Newton, QB, Auburn

• The theory that the #1 pick is more of a curse than a gift continues to hold true. Newton is unquestionably talented and has too much ability for the Panthers to pass on a very high risk/ very high reward endeavor.

2. Denver Broncos- Marcel Dareus, DT, Alabama

• Denver is switching back to a 4-3 defense and needs the pieces to make that change effectively. Dareus is a beast and will be one of the best defensive players on this team immediately.

3. Buffalo Bills- Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M

• No one’s seen his stock rise higher throughout this process than Von Miller. Buffalo could go a lot of ways here but the Bills’ pass rush ranked near the cellar in the NFL last season and Miller is the perfect guy to build a pass rush around.

4. Cincinnati Bengals- A.J. Green, WR, Georgia

• A.J. Green is the best offensive player in this draft and will be a dominant pass catcher right away. The T.O. experience didn’t work and the Bengals appear intent on not trading Carson Palmer. Look for them to grab Green while they can and hope it convinces Palmer to hang around in Cinci a little longer.

5. Arizona Cardinals- Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU

• Defensive rookie of the year. There’s a lot of noise for Gabbert here but Peterson has the potential to tandem with Rodgers-Cromartie to form the best cornerback duo in the NFL. Seriously, homeboy is that good.

6. Cleveland Browns- Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina

• Absolutely no pass rush to speak of in the Forest City. The Browns desperately need receiver help but Mike Holmgren isn’t one to reach for a wide out in the top ten. Quinn is a monster and fills what is the biggest need for a team in this draft.

7. San Francisco 49ers- Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri

8.Tennessee Titans- Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn

• Tennessee needs a QB but Locker would be a reach here so unless they trade down all signs point to Fairley. The Titans have never rebounded from losing Albert Haynesworth in the middle and Fairley would restore that inside dominance.

9. Dallas Cowboys- Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska

• There was a lot of struggling in pass coverage in Big D last year and Jerry Jones loves playmakers. Prince fills both of those needs and makes perfect sense at nine.

10. Washington Redskins- Julio Jones, WR, Alabama

• The combine’s MVP made a ton of noise during his workouts leading up to draft day, and had Jones not played in a run-first offense in college he would have gone in the top five. Santana Moss is a free agent and while the Skins need a QB, Jones is just too talented for Shanahan and Co. to pass up.

11. Houston Texans- Cameron Jordan, DE, Cal

• Texans need a corner but with Prince and Peterson both gone I see Houston grabbing a pass rusher to play opposite Mario Williams. Jordan and Williams would be a terrifying pair for offensive lines to try and contain.

12. Minnesota Vikings- Jake Locker, QB, Washington

• Locker may be a reach at 12 but the Vikings need a QB and they like this guy so don’t expect Rick Spielman to hesitate. Locker may take a couple years but he compares very closely to Brett Favre…in a good way.

13. Detroit Lions- Tyron Smith, OT, USC

• The Lions having an awful offensive line is about as reliable as Lebron James saying something stupid or as the sun is hot. That changes with this pick and Matthew Stafford finally gets some protection to keep him in the lineup and allow him to possibly throw some touchdowns without a dislocated shoulder.

14. St. Louis Rams- Cory Liuget, DT, Illinois

• The Rams really wanted Jones but due to one of the most insane combine performances of all time he went in the top ten. The Rams need to bolster their front-seven and Steve Spagnuolo will jump at the opportunity for a DT like Liuget.

15. Miami Dolphins- Mike Pouncey, C/G, Florida

• Tony Sparano is an offensive line kind of guy and Puncey is an amazing offensive lineman. Match made in heaven for these two and Pouncey will solve the Fish’s interior line issues.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars- Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri

• Aaron Kampman has suffered too many major injuries and Derrick Harvey didn’t come to fruition. The Jags need pass rushers and Smith fits the bill as a terrific athlete loaded with potential.

17. New England Patriots- Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson

• Once thought of as a top ten pick but durability concerns make him a reach here. Could end up as the best DE in this class, which is absolutely loaded with DE potential. Belichik is a defensive guru who will get the most out of Bowers…scary thought Jets fans.

18. San Diego Chargers- Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue

• The Chargers need some pass rushing help and Kerrigan will fill that need nicely for San Diego. Kerrigan isn’t the biggest or fastest prospect but his production in college can’t be argued. Very safe pick here, something the Chargers are desperately seeking in this draft.

19. New York Giants- Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama

• The Giants have rarely used first round picks on ball carriers and Ron Dayne may have something to do with that. However, Ingram has too much talent and fits in too well for the Giants to pass on him here. The Ron Dayne comparisons might be a little too scary but don’t expect the same kind of bust with this Heisman winner.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin

• The Bucs were surprisingly good last year and could very well be the best drafting team in the NFL over the past five years. Watt is the most relentless player in this draft at any position and will only get better as he’s only been playing defensive end for a few years.

21. Kansas City Chiefs- Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College

• Castonzo could easily come off the board earlier but if he doesn’t the Chiefs will swoop him up in a second. The Chiefs need someone to play right tackle and Castonzo is an elite brand of blocker, conventional wisdom points in no other directions.

22. Indianapolis Colts- Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin

• The Colts’ O-Line has been uncharacteristically bad as of late and Bill Polian is sick of it. The good news for Indy is Gabe Carimi is the real deal. A four-year starter for the Badgers, Carimi is a dominant pass-blocker and run-blocker. He’ll get things in Indy on the right track.

23. Philadelphia Eagles- Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado

• If it wasn’t for a few off the field issues Smith may very well have been a top ten pick. Andy Reid is a coach who works well with players whom the so-called experts have been hating on and will turn Smith into a star. Smith possesses more natural talent than he’s given credit for and will be a steal at 23^rd.

24. New Orleans Saints- Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA

• The Saints have plenty of pass-rushing ability in Will Smith, but they have not been able to fill the opposite of the D-Line for years. Ayers is more of an outside backer than he is a defensive end but he can play both. Ayers is the exciting, playmaking sack artist that Who Dat Nation is looking for.

25. Seattle Seahawks- Nate Solder, OT, Colorado

• Seattle will more than likely trade down, but if they don’t offensive line is at the top of their laundry list of necessities. Solder is very athletic for a tackle but will take a couple seasons to truly develop into a pro football player. He is a great value and is a good pick at 25^th overall.

26. Baltimore Ravens- Brandon Harris, CB, Miami

• The Ravens need help at corner and Harris fits the Baltimore blend of defense perfectly. A fantastic athlete who’s fun to watch is faster than lightning and not scared of anything. Sounds like the Baltimore Ravens mission statement.

27. Atlanta Falcons- Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, Temple

• Wilkerson didn’t get a lot of attention in college but deserves plenty of credit for the resurgence of Temple football. A defensive end to play opposite John Abraham is the Falcons biggest need and Wilkerson will fit that role perfectly.

28. New England Patriots- Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa

• I know I have the Pats picking Bowers at 17 but that doesn’t mean they’re done addressing their pass rush ability. The Pats could very likely move a couple of these picks but adding Clayborn here would bolster their already scary looking defense.

29. Chicago Bears- Derrek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State

• Up until the end of the season no O-Line in football was playing worse than the Chicago Bears. The unit figured it out eventually but bolstering the talent up front is easily the most pressing concern in the Windy City.

30. New York Jets- Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor

• The Jets need a replacement for Kris Jenkins at nose tackle and Taylor is the perfect fit. He’s huge, he’s scary, and he’s the kind of guy that will play like a f***ing Jet. Rex Ryan will be more excited about Taylor in green than a flip-flops catalog.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers- Aaron Williams, CB, Texas

• The Steelers are always hard to predict in drafts but I have a hard time believing that they’ll pass up on Aaron Williams in this spot. The pass defense wasn’t as dominant as we’ve come to expect last season and Ike Taylor will be a free agent. Williams is a safe pick and fills a need for Mike Tomlin’s defense.

32. Green Bay Packers- Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State

• A lot of writers hide their bias in their writing, I don’t. I hate the Packers and wish them the worst, and if Heyward ends up on their team I wish him the worst too. Sorry Cameron, loyalty never dies but you’re still one helluva ball player.