Mock Draft 2011

Over the past few years, I've followed the NFL Draft to a borderline weird degree. Each year, the ultimate goal is to correctly predict which player every team will draft with their selections. Sounds simple, and probably boring as hell to any casual NFL fans. What makes the NFL Draft so much fun is also what makes it so unpredictable; NFL general managers are, in general, really, really stupid. Yes, it was hilarious in 2007 when Al Davis drafted Darrius Heyward-Bey about 110 picks too high, but what made this terrible moment in Oakland Raiders history so special for me was the fact that i had made the bold prediction mere hours ago.

What I have learned based on the last 3 or so NFL Drafts is that any knowledgeable football fan, given the same resources and time to prepare, could draft a better team than at least half of the team in the league. The reality is, to make an honest prediction, one has to take into account the incompetence of the owner. Even after that, some owner or GM will make a prediction so far from left field that nobody will have predicted it. Perhaps that is the reason I followed the draft so half-assedly this offseason. You can research till you're blue in the face, but it's impossible to totally account for the stupidity of all NFL owners. The following is my best attempt.

1. Carolina - Cam Newton QB Auburn

2. Denver - Von Miller DE/OLB Texas A&M

3. Buffalo - Marcell Dareus DT Alabama

4. Cincinnati - AJ Green WR Georgia Tech

5. Arizona - Patrick Peterson CB Louisiana State

6. Cleveland - Julio Jones WR Alabama

7. San Francisco - Blaine Gabbert QB Missourri

8. Tennessee Titans - Jake Locker QB Washington

10. Washington Redskins - Christian Ponder QB Florida State

11. Houston Texans - Nick Fairley DT Auburn

12. Minnesota Vikings - Andy Dalton QB Texas Christian

13. Detroit Lions - Cameron Jordan DE California

14. St. Louis Rams - Corey Liuget DT Illinois

15. Miami Dolphins - Mark Ingram RB Alabama

16. Jacksonville Jaguars - Ryan Kerrigan DE Purdue

17. New England - JJ Watt DE Utah

18. San Diego - Adrian Clayborn DE Iowa

19. New York Giants - Anthony Costanzo OT Boston College

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Da'Quan Bowers DE Clemson

21. Kansas City Chiefs - Gabe Carimi OT Wisconsin

22. Indianapolis Colts - Nate Solder OT Colorado

23. Philadelphia Eagles - Prince Amukamara CB Nebraska

24. New Orleans Saints - Robert Quinn DE/OLB North Carolina

25. Seattle Seahawks - Mike Pouncey OG/C Florida

26. Baltimore Ravens - Muhammad Wilkerson DT/DE Temple

27. Atlanta Falcons - Phil Taylor NT Baylor

28. New England Patriots - Akeem Ayers OLB UCLA

29. Chicago Bears - Marvin Austin DT North Carolina

30. New York Jets - Derrick Sherrod OT Mississippi State

31. Pittsburgh Steelers - Cameron Heyward DE/DT Ohio State

32. Green Bay Packers - Aaron Williams CB/S Texas