Gary Heinrich NFL Mock Draft - 5 August 2011

1. Andrew Luck 2. Matt Barkley 3. Alshon Jeffery 4. Matt Kalil 5. Quinton Coples

Fri, 08/05/2011

Round 1
1	Carolina	Andrew Luck	QB	Stanford
Carolina finds themselves in a great position. They have the option of taking Andrew Luck who many experts consider the next great NFL quarterback. They will have had a year to evaluate Cam Newton. Do they now have a great chip to trade and gain multiple picks? There will be several likely bidders including Washington, Buffalo and potentially Cleveland. If they chose not to play chicken and get caught with three premium picks at QB, they can go for the best player that fits a need. There is a shortage of wideouts on the roster, but this seems to be too high to draft any of the talent available. This leaves them with a choice between Quintin Coples DE from NC or Matt Kalil.
2	Buffalo	Matt Barkley	QB	USC
Buffalo, having been outflanked by Carolina's bold move of taking Andrew Luck takes the next best quarterback on the board. They cannot continue to convince themselves that Ryan Fitzpatrick at QB can get them above 8 and 8. They believe that Barkley can step in and improve the position. He has a stronger arm and was outstanding in 2010 with a below average team. He will be closely watched by all the teams in need of a QB this season. Should Buffalo continue to not want to invest the money necessary to draft a QB this high, a great option for their defense would be Quinton Coples.
3	Cleveland	Alshon Jeffery	WR	South Carolina
Having missed on the top two quarterbacks, the Browns will take the best player on their board. Alshon Jeffery gives them a tall pass catching option for Colt McCoy. He will be in the starting lineup from day one and give them a strong presence over the middle.
4	Arizona	Matt Kalil	OT	USC
The Cardinals have traded for their quarterback and now must invest to protect him. With no second round pick it is crucial that they find the right man to protect Kolb's blind side. Offensive tackle Matt Kalil is the best choice for them. He has quick feet, long arms and is able to lock out the bull rush. Other options include Quinton Coples or a cornerback but none are worthy of this high a pick.
5	Cincinnati	Quinton Coples	DE	North Carolina
Defensive end Quinton Coples comes off the spot here. The Bengals need help in too many areas to list here. They could consider quarterback Landry Jones but they seldom take that kind of risk this high. Free safety Kenny Tate might be a good value, but Coples fills a bigger need in Cincy.
6	Jacksonville	Jonathan Martin	OT	Stanford
The Jags need to protect their new francise quarterback. A recurring theme thus far in the draft. Offensive tackle Jonathan Martin has protected Luck for the last few years. He should be the anchor on the line for the next decade. Other options are wide receiver Justin Blackmon or inside linebacker Dont'a Hightower.
7	Seattle	Don'ta Hightower	ILB	Alabama
The Seahawks are placing their future in the hands of Tavaris Jackson, hoping the Jackson to Rice combo will light up the score board. The key issue here is the defense. After drafting an offensive tackle in the first round last year and cutting Lofa Tatufu before training camp, there is a huge hole in the middle of the defense. Dont'a Hightowner fills that void. He will fit nicely into the defense that the Seahawks run. An alternative might be to further strenghten the line by picking offensive tackle Matt Reynolds from BYU.
8	Washington	Landry Jones	QB	Oklahoma
The Redskins need a quarterback to lead this franchise. If they are not able to make the mega-deal with Carolina, Landry Jones is the pick. He will be the building block that Mike Shanahan is looking for in this franchise.
9	Denver	Dre Kirkpatrick	CB	Alabama
Denver has worked on the line (Orlando Franklin OT Miami) and FS (Rahim Moore UCLA) in the last draft. They have a spot to fill at cornerback. They are able to get Dre Kirkpatrick about where they expected he would be. This is another building block in reaching their goals for the defense.
10	Tennessee	Vontaze Burfict	ILB	Arizona State
Tennessee is in need of a run stuffer in the middle. They pass on the defensive tackles and opt for Vontaze Burfict. He is the second highest ranked inside linebacker and the best on the board. Last year the Titan's worked on quarterback and strongside linebacker Akeem Akers. This year they fill the middle with a hard hitting tackling machine.
11	Oakland	Jayron Hosley	CB	Virginia Tech
Oakland needs a cornerback to fill the hole left by Anamdi Asomugha. The Raiders like the CB's to be tall and hard hitting with good to great cover ability. Jayron fills the need without reaching for other needs found in the offensive line. Other options for this spot include both Matt Reynolds or Nate Potter to replace Robert Gallery on the line.
12	Miami	Justin Blackmon	WR	Oklahoma State
Although wideout is not the largest need for the Dolphins, they cannot believe that Justin Blackmon in still on the board. They rush the card to the table to grab this top five talent at the twelve spot. They have a great need at quarterback, having not worked out a deal for Orton from Denver, but are not convinced that there is a quarterback worth this pick. Trent Richardson will get a look at running back, but Blackmon is just too great a value to pass up.
13	Detroit	Jonathan Martin	OT	Stanford
The Lions are looking to strenghten the offensive tackle position. They are thrilled to find Jonathan Martin still on the board here. They need to protect Stafford, as he has been quite fragile since being drafted. Other options depending on how the free agent signings this year play, might be at outside linebacker.
14	St. Louis	Jerel Worthy	DT	Michigan State
The Rams are building a top 15 D-line in the league. The addition of Jerel Worthy moves them toward their goal. Jerel is a run stopping pass rushing bull rusher. He should fit well. Matt Reynolds will also get consideration at offensive tackle.
15	Kansas City	Zach Brown	OLB	North Carolina
The Chiefs worked on several key areas in last years draft. The biggest need is at outside linebacker. They find a fast, hard hitting linebacker that really emerged during the 2010 season. Zack is one of the top rated outside linebackers in this draft. He should move to the starting lineup immediately.
16	Tampa Bay	Cliff Harris	CB	Oregon
The Buc's have a big issue at cornerback. There is a strong possibility that Aqib Talib will be unavailable due to significant legal issues. Picking a CB seems like a strong need. They have taken fast hard hitting CB's in the past. Cliff Harris is the fastest person available. He was a second-team All-American last year and is a leader for the Ducks.
17	Houston	Mark Barron	SS	Alabama
The Texans continue to focus on defense. The addition of cornerback Joseph in free agency leaves strong safety to be addressed. Another strong year by Mark Barron moves him to the top of the heap for Houston. They also need a tight end, but there are none that are worthy of first round grades this draft and the position will be addressed later.
18	Minnesota	Riley Reiff	OT	Iowa
Minnesota entered this year with serious questions on the offensive line. It only got worse when Bryant Mckennie showed up over 400 pounds with cholestrol through the roof. He was quickly cut. The Vikings have invested last years top pick in quarterback Christian Ponder and need to protect his blind side. Offensive tackle Johnson signed as a free agent from the Colts is no more than a stop gap solution for 2011. Riley Reiff is the best tackle on the board and will move in as left tackle immediately in 2012.
19	Chicago	Donte Paige-Moss	DE/OLB	North Carolina
The Bears are looking for a linebacker that can rush the passer. This is one of the key weaknesses on the defense. Paige-Moss will challenge for playing time from the get go. He has very good speed and is a sure tackler.
20	NY Giants	Matt Reynolds	OT	Brigham Young
The Giants need offensive line help to protect Eli Manning. Matt Reynolds is the best tackle still available. There is concern that he will be 25 when he enters the league. He has long arms and can push the defensive end around the corner.
21	San Francisco	Marcus Forston	DT	Miami (FL)
The 49er's need help on the d-line, with only 36 sacks last year. They need to improve on 3rd down defensive efficency, reducing the almost 40% rate success of opponents. Marcus Forston will be a force in the middle, providing the push up the middle. He has good speed for a defensive tackle and a knack for racking up tackles-for-loss at the college level.
22	Dallas	Jared Crick	DT	Nebraska
The Cowboy's offense last year out performed opponents in almost every statistic. Their problem was that the defense gave up way too many yards, too many 3rd down conversions and over 7.2 yards per completion. Although Jay Ratliff has been serviceable, they need to strenghten the middle of their 3-4 defense. Jared Crick fills that bill. He will cause havoc allowing for pressure from the outside. He could become a fixture and is a wise pick in the spot.
23	Baltimore	Mike Adams	OT	Ohio State
The Ravens take a risk on a tackle with great upside with a many questions about his character. Being caught up in the tatoo parler issues at OSU, he will be turned over to the Ray Lewis and crew to control those issues. They want an offensive tackle that will be able to work his way into the starting lineup in a couple of years. Baltimore has a strong roster and this is a pick for the future.
24	Indianapolis	Nate Potter	OT	Boise State
Indy needs a left tackle. Allowing Charles Johnson to sign with the Vikings has opened a roster spot that needs to be filled. Anthony Castonzo will be given first chance as last year's number one pick, but the shelves are a little bare on the line and Nate Potter has too strong of a resume to pass at this spot.
25	New England (from NO)	Courtney Upshaw	OLB	Alabama
The rich get richer! The Patriots are looking for a way to find a pass rush in 2011. Adding a pass rushing outside linebacker who is quick as well as fast will further strenghten the defense. He brings the strong defensive resume from Alabama that has dominated the SEC during the last few years.
26	Cleveland (from ATL)	Devin Taylor	DE	South Carolina
The Brown's use this extra pick from the big deal in lasts year's draft to build their D-Line. Devin Taylor will be a force on the outside. With his long arms and length, he will be able to out leverage many of the offensive tackles as he develops the strength and skill to be an above average end. He fills a large need for them in one of the weakest areas on the team. As they enter their second year in the 4-3, all eyes will be on this area of the team.
27	NY Jets	Trent Richardson	RB	Alabama
The Jets look to get a young running back into the stable. They will continue to count on Shonn Greene & LaDainian Tomlinson, but 2012 will be a year for transition. Trent Richardson has the pass catching skills to start as the 3rd down back immediately. He will push Green for playing time from the opening of training camp next year.
28	San Diego	Manti Te'o	ILB	Notre Dame
The Chargers move to strengthen an area on the inside of the defense. Cooper and Burnett have been ok, but it is time to upgrade the position. Te'o had over 120 tackles last year with ten behind the line for the Irish. He should lead Notre Dame back into the top ranks of defense this year. His transition to the NFL will depend on his ability to drop into coverage. His success will depend on how San Diego positions him on the inside.
29	Philadelphia	Travis Lewis	OLB	Oklahoma
The Eagles are gearing up for a run at the Super Bowl and will likely be a toss up with the Packers. The defensive backfield is a strong point as is the D-line. That leaves an opportunity to upgrade the linebacker spot. They are thrilled to find Travis Lewis still on the board at this point. He is an Eagles type of player with the ability to play on either side. He is great in run support and has the speed to drop into coverage. Andy Reid will work him into the rotation quickly.
30	New England	Stephon Gilmore	CB	South Carolina
Once again, New England out plays all the other teams with another pick in the first round. They will be able to use this as a luxury pick to get a good cornerback candidate that brings top-flight punt return skills. He can get on the field immediately on special teams while learning how to cover working against Tom Brady in practice.
31	Pittsburgh	Kelechi Osemele	G	Iowa State
The Steelers look to strength the inside of the o-line. Kelechi Osemele is a huge body that can play right tackle or either guard spot. He has good skill in pass protection and is a force run blocking. The Steelers are in a position to take a player that can develop over time and fill a need for a decade.
32	Green Bay	Brandon Jenkins	DE/OLB	Florida State
The Packers have few immediate needs. Thus, they are able to take a player that can potentially work his way into the line-up at two positions. In college, Brandon had double digit tackles-for-loss and sacks for FSU. He will be a starter on special teams as the Packers are able to evaluate his skills at defensive end.
Round 2
33	Carolina	Michael Floyd	WR	Notre Dame
Carolina has all the quarterback power in the world and is likely about to invest their haul of picks for trading one. They need wide receivers to catch the ball and Michael Floyd is the best on the board. There is a risk as he has had a DUI and he may come into the league (dependent on the new CBA) on the watch list.
34	Buffalo	Matt Reynolds	OT	Brigham Young
Buffalo, having Matt Barkley on the team now needs to take steps to protect him. They get a tackle that will be a little long in the tooth in Matt Reynolds but well worth the investment in the second round.
35	Cleveland	Ryan Miller	G/OT	Colorado
With two picks in the first round, the Browns can focus on building the strength of the team, the O-line. They are very pleased to find Ryan Miller still on the board. He can either be used at right tackle or guard.
36	Philadelphia (from ARI)	Robert Lester	FS	Alabama
The Eagles look to strengthen the safety spot on their roster. With the heavy investment in cornerbacks, young players like Robert Lester will need to step up and fill the void.
37	Cincinnati	Ryan Broyles	WR	Oklahoma
The Bengals get a young wide receiver in Ryan Broyles to help fill the void of Chad Johnson leaving for New England. Broyles was too great a value here in the second round to pass up.
38	Jacksonville	Andre Branch	DE	Clemson
Andre Branch is a need pick for the Jags. The defensive ends on the roster are not ones that stand out in the league. Branch is a decent pass rusher with upside in run defense.
39	Seattle	Michael Brewster	C	Ohio State
The Seahawks are getting an anchor for their O-line that should be there for a decade. Michael Brewster has been the starting center at OSU since the day he stepped on campus. He should accomplish the same in Seattle.
40	Washington	Jeff Fuller	WR	Texas A&M
The Skins will need some pass catchers for their new quarterback. Jeff Fuller is a tall wide receiver that can get open and has excellent hands. With well over 70 catches and 12 TD's, he and Landry Jones should be a pitch and catch duo for the next few years.
41	Denver	Vinny Curry	DE	Marshall
The Broncs need help at the defensive end position. Vinny Curry is the best on the board. Having 12 sacks and 18 tackles-for-loss last year, he fits the bill.
42	Tennessee	Kirk Cousins	QB	Michigan State
The Titan's are in need of new young quarterbacks after the Vince Young miss. Kirk Cousins has a high completion percentage and will work in their system very well.
43	New England (from OAK)	Levy Adcock	OT	Oklahoma State
Levy Adcock is a player that New England can develop. An all Big 12 tackle last year in a pass happy offense at OSU, he can be part of Brady's wall in the near future.
44	Miami	LaMichael James	RB	Oregon
LaMichael James is the type of runner that Miami has not had since Mercury Morris. He will be able to give them a speed back to balance Ricky Williams.
45	Detroit	Tank Carder	OLB	TCU
Tank Carder is a bit of a reach, but that is not unusual for the Lions. A team that needs help at linebacker reaches for one that is way more productive than his size/speed ratio would indicate.
46	St. Louis	Michael Egnew	TE	Missouri
The Ram's select another target for Bradford. Michael Egnew caught 90 passes last year with five touchdowns. He should open up the middle and replace a group of below average tight ends.
47	Kansas City	Kheeston Randall	DT	Texas
Kheeston Randall had ten tackles-for-loss last year as he completed his third year as a starter at Texas. He fills a big need for the Chiefs and will have a good chance to be in the rotation from the start of camp.
48	Tampa Bay	Knile Davis	RB	Arkansas
Knile Davis rushed for over 1,300 yards, reached the end zone 13 times and had a 6.5 yards per carry average last year. He could be just what the Buc's need to rejuvinate a dormant running game.
49	Houston	Tydreke Powell	DT	North Carolina
Houston needs a big run stuffer in the middle of the line. With one of the top linebacking crews, Tydreke Powell adds more muscle to an improving D-line. He did not have much support on the line last year at NC due to suspensions, but played very well.
50	Minnesota	Juron Criner	WR	Arizona
The Vikings need a tall pass catcher to replace Rice. Thus they reach a little to get a 6'4" receiver. Juron had over 80 catches with 11 TD's last year and will be able to get the ball in the corner of the end zone.
51	Chicago	T.J. McDonald	FS	USC
T.J. can play either of the safety spots and brings the hard hitting style that the Bears demand in the defense. He has good special team skills and will stick there while learning the pro game.
52	NY Giants	Baker Steinkuhler	DT	Nebraska
The Giants work on the strength of the middle of the line. Baker Steinkuhler comes for a football family that knows how to work and hit. He will work his way into a backup role with skills to be a future starter.
53	San Francisco	Nick Foles	QB	Arizona
Nick Foles will fit the bill as the quarterback in waiting while the 49er's give Alex Smith one last try as the starter. Nick threw for 20 tbs with a 67%+ completition rate and is a good risk at this point in the draft.
54	Dallas	Ray Ray Armstrong	SS	Miami (FL)
Dallas needs to find safety help in this draft. Ray Ray gives them a tall physical specimen to harass wide receivers that come in his area.
55	Baltimore	Sean Cattouse	SS	California
A bit of a run in the safety area with Sean Cattouse the next up. The Ravens are looking for a player beside Ed Reed that can cover the middle. Sean can fill that role.
56	Indianapolis	Brandon Thompson	DT	Clemson
The Colts need help in the middle of the D-line. Brandon Thompson is the best available. He fits in their 4-3 style of play with a strong presence in the run game.
57	New Orleans	Josh Oglesby	OT	Wisconsin
The Saints are pleased to find Josh Oglesby available with their first pick of this draft. He will be a backup at right tackle with potential to move to the starting lineup by 2013.
58	Atlanta	Sean Spence	OLB	Miami (FL)
Sean Spence had over 110 tackles and 17 tackles-for-loss last year. He has added weight and is improving his technique. He fell this far as he is a little short at just under 6'0" and is challenged in coverage. A good addition to the team.
59	NY Jets	DeVier Posey	WR	Ohio State
Even though the Jets have added Plaxico Burress for this year, they add an additional sure handed receiver. He will be in the slot and run the routes over the middle.
60	San Diego	Kawann Short	DT	Purdue
Kawann Short had 13 tackles-for-loss and 4.5 sacks last year. He has the potential to move to defensive end in the 3-4 that the Chargers play. He will be a good addition to the team because of his strong character.
61	Philadelphia	Andrew Datko	G	Florida State
Philly opts for additional help on the O-line. Andrew played tackle in college but has the speed to become a pulling guard at the pro level. He is a injury prone with a couple of shoulder surgeries, but his skills make him worth the risk.
62	New England	Jack Crawford	DE	Penn State
Jack is the type of versitile player that the Patriots like. He can move back and forth between defensive end and outside linebacker. He has good height with enough speed to drop in coverage. He has had a foot injury that adds risk to this pick but the upside is worth it in the second round.
63	Pittsburgh	Alfonzo Dennard	CB	Nebraska
Alfonzo Dennard slid a long way in this draft. His loss is the Steelers gain. They get a cornerback that was rated in the first round. He is a little short for some teams with the taller receivers in the league. He will be a great addition to the special teams unit for the first couple of years.
64	Green Bay	Keenan Robinson	OLB	Texas
The Packers select a linebacker that can work the strong side. He is tall and a tackling machine. He totaled 106 tackles with 6.5 TFL and will be able to work his way into the lineup.

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Gary Heinrich NFL Mock Draft - 5 August 2011

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