Matt McDonnell NFL Mock Draft - 9 November 2011

1. Andrew Luck 2. Matt Barkley 3. Landry Jones 4. Alshon Jeffery 5. Matt Kalil

Wed, 11/09/2011

Round 1
1	Miami	Andrew Luck	QB	Stanford
The Last time the Dolphins had the first overall pick they selected Jake Long over Matt Ryan. Although they enjoyed some short term success with the selection, its hard to think they do not regret passing on Ryan. This pick does a ton for the Dolphins. First it reenergizes a fan base. Secondly he gives the Dolphins their first real quarterback since Dan Marino. The Dolphins get a franchise quarterback, who should at the very least be a perennial pro bowler.
2	Indianapolis	Matt Barkley	QB	USC
The Colts got a taste of life after Manning this year, thanks to a neck injury. The result is not something the Colts want to stomach ever again. Selecting Matt Barkley will help the Colts prepare for their future. Barkley has a strong arm, makes good decisions, and is very accurate. After selecting the quarterback of their future, the Colts can now spend the rest of the draft, and their next few years worth of first round picks on drafting talent around Manning, and the newly groomed signal caller, Matt Barkley. Every team wants to be able to do what the Packers did, with Favre and Rodgers, and this is the Colts chance. There is absolutely no way they pass on the chance.
3	Seattle	Landry Jones	QB	Oklahoma
The Seahawks select the third straight quarterback in this draft. Which for them is great, for the rest of the teams, not so much, the next few draft classes look significantly weaker at quarterback. Seattle's offense is flat terrible. Their quarterback, Travis Jackson, is in his second stint with an NFL team, and has failed to impress on either team. Their offense has faltered thanks to his inability to get the ball down field and deliver an accurate blow. Landry Jones is the opposite of Jackson. He is not a great athlete, he is a true pocket passer. He has a strong arm and is extremely accurate. He makes great decisions and looks like a very good pro passer. He will go a long way in helping the Seahawks compete in the weakened NFC West division.
4	St. Louis	Alshon Jeffery	WR	South Carolina
The Rams best weapon for Sam Bradford in the passing game is tight end Lance Kendricks. That simply is not enough firepower to be effective. Alshon Jeffery posses the perfect skill set of an NFL wide out. He is tall, fast, physical, and makes big plays. He can catch anything thrown his way and instantly becomes the Rams number one receiver and biggest offensive threat. He and Sam Bradford will quickly become friends. Because of Jeffery's big play ability defenses will no longer be able to load the box against stud running back Steven Jackson. This pick makes the Rams offense significantly better.
5	Arizona	Matt Kalil	OT	USC
With the fifth pick in the 2012 NFL draft, the Cardinals select offensive tackle, Matt Kalil. The Cardinals biggest struggles have come from their poor offensive line play and their poor quarterback play. With so much already invested in Kevin Kolb, it is too early to give up on him, plus there is not a quarterback worth taking on the board. Kalil did a great job protecting the blind side of the number two overall pick, Matt Barkley, and you can expect the same results in protecting Kolb at the next level. He is a huge athlete who excels at both run and pass blocking. He will upgrade the Cardinals offensive line the second he steps on the field.
6	Denver	Dre Kirkpatrick	CB	Alabama
The Broncos need a quarterback and could use a wide out for whoever ends up being their starting quarterback, but their defense is one of the worst units in the NFL. Champ Baily is not getting any younger either. Last years first round pick Von Miller has shown a tremendous amount of upside and looks to be a cornerstone of their defense for years to come. He is the pass rusher and now they can select their shut down corner, much like they had in Champ Baily. Kirkpatrick is an amazing prospect; he is big, fast and physical. He is an ideal NFL corner. He played in the SEC so he is battle tested and used to playing on a big stage. He is far and away the best defensive player on the draft and the Broncos are happy to have him with the sixth pick.
7	Cleveland	Trent Richardson	RB	Alabama
Sorry to fan boy Peyton Hillis, but the Browns need a true weapon in the running game. Hillis is a powerful runner, who could still be used a change of pace for Richardson. Hillis has also battled injury, and it is clear that he is not the long term answer at running back. Richardson may be the most explosive player in this years draft. He is strong, physical, fast, agile, quick, and athletic. He is the complete package at running back, and will be an instant starter and impact player. He can run inside or outside, as well as make plays out of the backfield. He is the real deal, and gives the Browns their first true offensive weapon. He has the ability to break any run for a score, and is can be a workhorse at the next level. He will be scoring a lot of touchdowns, and the Browns offense just got a ton better with this selection.
8	Jacksonville	Justin Blackmon	WR	Oklahoma State
Justin Blackmon and Alshon Jeffery are 1A and 1B recovers. There is not much separating either of them. Blackmon is a touchdown machine, who is used to making big plays and being targeted often. He has insane range and will literally catch anything in his area. Every ball thrown his way has a potential to be six points. He is used to drawing lots of coverage, so when this happens to him in the NFL he will not be intimated. He knows how to get open and loves the ball in his hands. He will quickly be the number one target of last years first round selection Blaine Gabbert. Between Blackmon, Gabbert, and MJD, the Jaguars are devolving a solid nucleolus of offensive players.
9	Minnesota	Matt Reynolds	OT	Brigham Young
The Vikings first round pick last year, Christan Ponder, has earned a starting job and has performed admirably thus far. The Vikings will want to build on his rookie campaign by either giving him a top weapon to throw the ball to, or more protection. Matt Reynolds is an outstanding prospect. He is a giant and will upgrade an offensive line that has struggled so far this season. He will help keep their franchise quarterback upright as well as pave the way for arguably the NFL's best running back in Adrian Peterson. Reynolds is a great fit for the Vikings here in round one, but expect them to add some defensive players and possibly some new toys for Christan Ponder in the passing game throughout this draft.
10	Carolina	Ryan Broyles	WR	Oklahoma
The Panthers selected QB Cam Newton first overall a year ago. After facing much criticism he has looked like a solid NFL quarterback and seems to have pro bowl level potential. The next step is to improve the defense as well as give Newton new weapons. WR Ryan Broyles may not be the biggest nor the fastest player on the field but he runs routes well, catches everything his way, and knows how to get open. He will provide a great compliant to the newly found resurgence of Steve Smith. The Panthers could also look into Nate Potter to attempt to rebuild the rushing attack that was one of the best in the league a short while ago.
11	Washington	LaMichael James	RB	Oregon
Although this pick may be high for James, especially considering he is coming off a major injury, the Redskins love sexy picks and the best players left on the board are at spots Washington has addressed in recent drafts. James is molded fairly similar to a guy like Clintion Portis, who Shanahan had tons of success with during his tenure in Denver. With James the Redskins are hoping to get a playmaker and a running back of the future. James is lighting fast and agile. He can break a big run out of nothing and score at will. He will also be a factor in the return game and gives the Redskin's dull offense a major spark. James is also a proven pass catcher so he gives the Redskins an added wrinkle to their offense. Of course they still need a quarterback...
12	Kansas City	Jerel Worthy	DT	Michigan State
The Chiefs are a team that has struggled on both sides of the ball at times this year but are currently riding a massive hot steak. Their offense has a good offensive line, a solid receiving core, and an excellent running game. Well at least when Charles is healthy. Assuming he comes back and is still effective that should not change. Defensively the Chiefs are missing that stud 3-4, DT that Scott Poli loves. Worthy is that man. He is a mammoth. In college he constantly went up against top offensive lineman, playing the likes of Wisconsin and Ohio State. He can eat blockers and make plays on his own. He is a perfect fit for the Chiefs, and should help the defense take a step in the right direction. He will certainly shore up their run defense immediately.
13	Tennessee	Marcus Forston	DT	Miami (FL)
The Titans used to be built around their defense. When their defense was one of the best in the league they had an outstanding defensive line. They have added defensive lineman in the past drafts, but getting a pro bowl caliber interior lineman is vital to a great defense. The Titans used to have that in Haynesworth, and ever since they let him walk, they have never been the same defense. Forston is a huge athlete who has a very quick first step. He will eat up blockers, stuff the run, and collapse the pocket in the passing game. Forston provides the Titans with a DT of the future and should start the second he reports to camp.
14	Tampa Bay	Kenny Tate	FS	Maryland
Tampa Bay is a team that has focused on their defensive line in the past few drafts, this year they continue to focus on the defensive side of the ball. However, they simply cannot afford to take another defensive lineman. Kenny Tate is an amazing prospect, his only knock is he plays free safety which is a spot that is generally not drafted too high. In terms of being on the big board, he is likely a top 10 player so nabbing him at 14 gives them tremendous value. Tate has both the size and the speed of an ideal safety. He is strong and is a playmaker as well. He will upgrade this defense and give them a great boast as they start to retool a defense that was once the most feared in the NFL.
15	Cincinnati	Quinton Coples	DE	North Carolina
Coples finally gets his named called off the board with the 15 pick of the draft. It is quite the way for one of the draft's premier prospects. But thus far in the draft no one has selected a defensive end, instead selecting more pressing needs. The Bengals however could use a stud on their defensive front and Coples is their man. He is a pure pass rusher and is the most talented defensive lineman in this draft. He will generate pressure from the moment he steps on the field. He is a freak athlete, both big and fast. He is that next generation pass rusher, like DeMarcus Ware, Clay Matthews, Mario Williams and Julius Peppers. The Bengals get an impact player at the 15th spot in the draft and will upgrades their defense as a whole because of his pass rush abilities. We all know the NFL is a passing league and the best way to stop the pass is to hit the quarterback, Coples specialty.
16	Cincinnati (from OAK)	Cliff Harris	CB	Oregon
This is pick that would likely get traded, but this is a great spot for Cincinnati. However they cannot afford to miss on these two picks. Cliff Harris is a super fast and athletic corner. He is a big time play maker and upgrades this secondary the moment he steps on the field. Combine him with some talented linebackers, a talented defensive line that already added the best pass rusher in the draft and you have a defense that is started to look dangerous. Expect the Bengals to start focusing on the other side of the ball for rounds two and three though.
17	Chicago	Michael Floyd	WR	Notre Dame
The Bears defense has slowed down considerably in the past few seasons, yet they are still in the top echelon of defensive units. It is possible the Bears would start to retool that defense, but with Harris off the board the pick before, the Bears will likely focus on their most pressing need, Wide Receiver. The Bears front office seems to think their wide outs are good enough, but at some point they will need to wake up and realize they need a true threat. Floyd is a physical and tall receiver, contrary to what the Bears have at the moment. Floyd would give the Bears a true threat, and give Cutler a solid target.
18	Dallas	Don'ta Hightower	ILB	Alabama
The Cowboys defense has struggled throughout the year at just about every spot other than OLB with Ware. The Cowboys defense needs an injection of both youth and talent if they want to compete in the NFC East, or for a super bowl. Adding a stud linebacker in the middle of the field will go a long way in helping them out. Hightower is a great player with good speed and excellent size and instincts. He plays physical and is a great tackler. He will be a leader of the defense for years to come for the Cowboys, who finally have another true linebacker. Hightower will help this defense stop the run which will go a long way in producing more wins for Dallas. Expect more defensive players to fly off the board as Dallas continues to draft.
19	Buffalo	Travis Lewis	OLB	Oklahoma
The Bills were expected to have lots of interest in Von Miller last year but he was sniped the pick ahead of him. This year the Bills have surprised a lot of people, especially on offense. So this off season look for the Bills to focus on building that defense and maybe spending a later round or a mid round pick on continuing to build the offense. Travis Lewis provides the Bills with an excellent outside linebacker. He is a tackling machine, who amassed 100 tackles in back to back seasons in his freshman and sophomore campaigns. He is an explosive player who will give the Bills a solid pass rush off the edge as well. He tallied 4 interceptions his freshman year, so he is a play maker in the passing game as well. This is an elite prospect and the Bills should be happy to have him at 19. He will help their defense continue to improve as the Bills look to once again be relevant in the NFL.
20	NY Giants	Zach Brown	OLB	North Carolina
For the second straight draft choice an outside linebacker is off the board. Zach Brown is super fast, being clocked as fast as a 4.28. Of course, if he runs that fast at the combine, he likely will not be here at pick 20. Brown's speed however does not translate into a great pass rush, which is why he is not considered as elite of a prospect. However, he is perfect for the Giants defense as he does a great job using his speed to cover space in zone coverage as well as manning up against different threats. The Giants pass defense has been weak this year, although injuries have hurt them significantly. Because of this and the fact that they drafted Prince Amukamara with their first pick last year, likely means they will stay away from a corner. Brown is a great fit and will upgrade the Giants linebacking core.
21	Cleveland (from ATL)	Stephon Gilmore	CB	South Carolina
The Browns selected Trent Richarsdon with their first, first round pick, and this second first round pick can be used to pick a defensive player. The Browns already have Joe Hayden, and pairing him with Gilmore could be a dangerous combination. Gilmore has elite size and great speed. He is a ball hawk as well. With Gilmore and Hayden on the edges, the Browns secondary suddenly looks very formidable and will be for a long time. Gilmore is the type of player that will not need a year to develop at the next level, he should be able to step in and fill the role they need him to as a rookie. He provides great value at the 21st draft spot and the Browns have to be happy with how the first round played out, upgrading their secondary and their offense.
22	NY Jets	Brandon Jenkins	DE/OLB	Florida State
The Jets have been looking at outside linebacker for some time. They still need someone and Jenkins is the best player on the board at this spot. Jenkins should provide the Jets with an upgrade at the outside backer position and help them generate more pressure. We all already know how good this Jets defense can be and how good they think they are. Rex Ryan knows that if they are going to take it to the next level, they need to generate more sacks and more pressures. Jenkins is the perfect man for the job. He has great size and speed and is an ideal pass rusher. In college he has been a sack artist, as well as making a lot of tackles for a loss. He is a big play guy and should blend in perfectly with the rest of this unit. The Jets defense is already one of the better ones in the NFL, and Jenkins can help push them back to being an elite caliber defense.
23	Detroit	Jonathan Martin	OT	Stanford
The Lions need to address a few needs before they are ready to be legitimate super bowl contenders. They need help on defense and along the offensive line. With no outstanding secondary player, arguably their biggest weakness, the Lions would be wise to go select an offensive lineman. Martin was entrusted with protecting Luck and looks to be an excellent pro prospect. He will certainly help keep their franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford upright, keeping the potent combination of Stafford to Johnson up and running.
24	Houston	Jeff Fuller	WR	Texas A&M
This may seem like strange pick, but the Texans could use help at the wide receiver spot. Andre Johnson is aging and has been banged up this year and although the Texans have survived without him, it has been mostly thanks to a great rushing attack. The Texans have longed for a player who could take advantage of double teams that Johnson is drawing and Fuller is that man. Fuller is an explosive player who is both tall and physical. He can go up and get any ball thrown his way and will thrive with coverage’s rolled, or doubled, at Andre Johnson.
25	San Francisco	Vontaze Burfict	ILB	Arizona State
The 49ers defense has been outstanding so far this year and adding another inside backer, to play next Patrick Willis is key. Burfict and Willis would make a dangerous and explosive pair. No offense would want to run the ball anywhere near them, or pass anywhere in their general area either. Burfict has proven to be an explosive player, making tackles left and right, and in the backfield.
26	San Diego	Janoris Jenkins	CB	Other
The Chargers are a team with a few pressing needs and defensive back is one of them. They have been crippled by injures so far this year and are taking a gamble on the talented Jenkins. Had Jenkins not been in trouble, he would likely be a top 10 selection, so getting him at 26 is worth taking a risk. He is a physical corner who can shut down almost any receiver. He does not need to step in and start right away but he does need to stay out of trouble. Jenkins adds both talent and depth to this Chargers defense and has tons of upside.
27	Philadelphia	Manti Te'o	ILB	Notre Dame
The Eagles defense needs a leader and a linebacker. Luckily for them, Te'o is both. He is a great inside linebacker and will be a presence on this Eagles defense. He can make plays all over the field and will upgrade the Eagles weakest defensive spot. Te'o plays from sideline to sideline and will be a tackling machine from the get-go.
28	Baltimore	Chris Owusu	WR	Stanford
The Ravens offense has been streaky and adding another weapon would help them get a spark. The Ravens could also look defensively with this pick but Owusu is a good fit for Baltimore. He is big and physical and has good hands, which seems to be exactly what the Ravens are looking for. Owusu provides the Ravens with another sure handed outlet. He should make himself at home in Baltimore and the Ravens will need to find ways to utilize him in the passing game if they want to be successful.
29	New England (from NO)	Mike Adams	OT	Ohio State
Mike Adams is a solid prospect who may have gone higher had be been eligible to play his entire senior season. The Patriots know they need to invest in protection for Brady and their first round choice a year ago was used to protect Brady. Now Adams can add to the mix and the Patriots can feel safe protecting Brady. Expect the Patriots to continue to retool the defense or add some offensive weapons with their next few selections.
30	Pittsburgh	Donte Paige-Moss	DE/OLB	North Carolina
The Steelers defense has shown its age this year and could use some youth in the pass rushing department. Paige-Moss is an excellent prospect who can generate a serious pass rush. He is very athletic and is a great fit for this defense. He does not need to start right away but can take his time adjusting to the complex schemes of the Pittsburgh defense. He will certainly find a role right away but might not start for some time. Still he will be an impact player and help this defense.
31	New England	Luke Kuechly	ILB	Boston College
The Patriot's defense has struggled this year and adding a linebacker would certainly help. Kuechly can play inside and start right away. He has good size, speed, and instincts. He is an upgrade in the middle of the field and can add a physical presence to this defense, something that it seemingly lacks. Of course this pick, or their first pick would be traded in all likelihood, but the Patriots absolutely need an upgrade on defense.
32	Green Bay	Michael Brewster	C	Ohio State
For the third straight year the Packers select an offensive lineman in the first round. They are clearly interested in protecting their life blood, franchise quarterback Aaron Rodgers. With Sherrod and Bulaga at each of the tackle spots, Brewster fills the middle of the line. Packers center Scott Wells is a solid player, but is not getting any younger. Brewster gives the Packers depth and value at this spot in the draft. Brewster will be given time to develop so when it is his turn he should be ready to go. Brewster is the best center in this draft and the Packers will be happy to land him with the 32nd pick.
Round 2
33	Miami	T.J. McDonald	FS	USC
The Dolphins got their franchise quarterback, which was their biggest need with the 1st overall selection. Now the Dolphins can spend the rest of the draft retooling the defense and adding weapons to their offense. McDonald is a tremendous safety prospect. He has NFL size and plays fast. He might not be the best athlete on the field, at least on paper, but once he is on the field he is a gamer. He has good instincts and is a ball hawk in the secondary. When he does get his hands on the ball he is a threat to run it back all the way for six.
34	Indianapolis	Jared Crick	DT	Nebraska
The Colts have to be happy with Crick is on the board at this point. In the first round they protected their future and now in the second round they still find an impact player who will upgrade this defense immediately. Crick has a top 10 potential, but has been labeled with the injury prone tag. This will drop his draft stock significantly. Crick is exactly what the Colts need, if they want a chance to win the big game when Manning is still around. Crick is both big and strong. He is a run stuffer who can also get after the quarterback. The Colts have been missing an inside presence, or any physical defensive line presence for a long time. Crick can change that...if he can stay healthy.
35	Seattle	Knile Davis	RB	Arkansas
This is a bit of a gamble pick for the Seahawks. However it is a gamble that could pay off huge dividends. Knile Davis is a boom or bust prospect. If he is a boom, he is about as talented as Darren McFadden, who is having a great season for the Raiders. He is big, physical, and explosive. Any time he touches the ball he is a threat to score. He is exactly what the Seahawks offense needs, especially since they are grooming a new signal caller. Drafting a quarterback and a running back gives Seattle an entire new look on offense. Of course this is all providing that Davis can stay healthy. Which is his bust factor. However he is worth the risk for Seattle who needs to find a spark on offense.
36	St. Louis	Keith Tandy	CB	West Virginia
The Rams were able to add a weapon for Bradford with their first round pick and now can look to upgrade a weak defense. The Rams secondary has been abused and Tandy can help to fix that. He has good size and speed and should translate into a solid cover corner at the next level. The Rams will likely look to add more depth to this side of the ball as the draft continues to unfold.
37	Philadelphia (from ARI)	Nick Foles	QB	Arizona
The Eagles need a backup quarterback. Vick has been banged up this year, and like many people thought, he is not the same quarterback he was a year ago. He is aging quickly and the Eagles will need a new quarterback if they want to continue to be successful. Foles has everything you look for in a quarterback, a good arm, solid accuracy, and good intangibles. Foles will likely get at least a year to develop, which should help both him and the Eagles.
38	Denver	Kirk Cousins	QB	Michigan State
Clearly Tim Tebow is not the answer for the Broncos, it is time to cut their losses and move forward. They do not like Kyle Orton, and Brady Quinn has not proven anything in the NFL, so it is time to draft a new quarterback. Cousins is not a quarterback who is going to wow you with his arm strength, or have eye popping athletic numbers at the combine. However, Cousins is just flat out a good quarterback who wins football games. He is every efficient and makes good decisions. The Broncos will love to have him, and he will get a chance to start right out of the gate.
39	Cleveland	Michael Egnew	TE	Missouri
The Browns continue to build their offense in this years draft. Egnew is a great pass catching tight end. He is big, strong, has good speed, and is physical. He possess all the tools to be successful at the next level and will provide the Browns with a big boast. He will be a great outlet for Colt McCoy and give the Browns a new wrinkle on offense. Egnew has the skill set to be one of the more dominate TE's in the NFL.
40	Jacksonville	Alfonzo Dennard	CB	Nebraska
The Jaguars defense has been awful and has been so for a while. At some point they know they need to address the secondary and at this year they can no longer wait. Dennard is an excellent prospect who fits their scheme. He is very physical and loves to hit. He has good speed and will make plays on the ball. He is the type of player that can step in, start, and make an impact as a rookie.
41	Minnesota	Greg Reid	CB	Florida State
The Vikings also need to address their secondary. They have been abused so far this year, plus they have to face the reality of facing the Packers and the Lions twice a year, both of whom have potent passing attacks. The Vikings need talent and depth at this spot and Reid can provide both. Reid is a bit undersized, but the Vikings have shown that they do not care about size. He has the speed and the athleticism to play at the next level and should make an impact as a rookie.
42	Carolina	Devin Taylor	DE	South Carolina
The Panthers selected a weapon for Newton with the first round, now in the second round they can begin to address their poor defensive play. Getting pressure is the easiest way to have a successful defense and the best way to mask other weaknesses. Taylor is a disruptive player, with a lot of room to grow. He is 6'7", so his reach can really mess up the timing of an offensive. He is still packing muscle onto his frame, so he will only get better. He will be able to help the Panthers as a rookie, rotating in with other defensive lineman at the very least.
43	Washington	Riley Reiff	OT	Iowa
The Redskins were unable to land a top notch signal caller in the first round and the second tier of quarterbacks are also off the board at this point. Although quarterback is their biggest need they just simply cannot address that due to their draft position. However, they added an explosive running back in James with the first round, and now can help improve their offensive line for when they are able to acquire a quarterback. Reiff is an Iowa product, which also seems to translate well into the NFL. He is strong, tough, and physical. He will help the Redskins in both the running and the passing game.
44	Kansas City	Ryan Miller	G/OT	Colorado
The Chiefs were able to help their defense with their first round pick and now can look to the offensive side of the ball. Miller is a versatile player, who could project out at either guard or tackle. Either way, the Chiefs could use one more mauler on their line to help them pound the rock. Jamal Charles, who tore his ACL in the first game of the year, will be happy with the help. Matt Cassell should also be happy as Miller is a solid pass blocker as well. The Chiefs offense starts up front and adding another quality player to their line will only help them get better.
45	Tennessee	Dan Herron	RB	Ohio State
Chris Johnson has not been the same this year and Javon Ringer has shown little to nothing. Maybe selecting a new running back will jolt Chris Johnson and he will return to form. If he does, Herron is an excellent change of pace back. If he does not, Herron is the type of player who can be a feature back at the next level. He has decent speed, good power, and reads the holes well. He has had tremendous success at Ohio State and has looked good so far this season after he returned from suspension.
46	Tampa Bay	Dwight Jones	WR	North Carolina
Tampa Bay continued to help their defense in the first round of this draft but now they look for some on offense. Josh Freeman has had a down season so far, and a large part of that is lack of a supporting cast. Dwight Jones can help to change that. He is a tall receiver, standing 6'4", and has good speed as well. He has a skill set eerily similar to Hakeem Nicks, so the Buccaneers could be getting a steal with this selection.
47	Cincinnati	Kelechi Osemele	G	Iowa State
The Bengals have addressed the defensive side of the ball so far in this draft and now they can turn to some offensive help. The Bengals could use an inside presence on the offensive line to help jumpstart their running game. Osemele is a physical player who should help the Bengals offense by improving their running game and stopping inside penetration in the passing game.
48	New England (from Oak)	Jack Crawford	DE	Penn State
The Patriots can continue to build their defense and Jack Crawford is a good fit for him. He is very physical and athletic, but is still raw. The Patriots love developing players and teaching them the game of football. He has all the tools to generate a great pass rush, something the Patriots need, but still needs to learn the game. The Patriots can groom him, but look for him to make an impact as a rookie, especially in pass situations. The longer he is in the league the better he will get.
49	Chicago	Brandon Boykin	CB	Georgia
The Bears addressed their offense in the first round and now can look to their defense, which they love to retool. Boykin is a Bears type of player, he is fast, physical, and tackles well. He is an excellent return man, even though the Bears have Hester, they still like athletes that have that ability. Boykin can help a secondary that is not as good as it once was. He is an athletic playmaker, who will help the Bears both now and in the future.
50	Dallas	Janzen Jackson	FS	Tennessee
The Cowboys continue to rebuild their defense. Their secondary has been awful for the past few years and Jackson can help to change that. He can provide Dallas with a playmaker in their secondary. He has great speed and is an amazing athlete. He will likely step in and start right away as a rookie for the Cowboys.
51	Buffalo	Tydreke Powell	DT	North Carolina
The Bills continue to focus on the defensive side of the ball in this year’s draft. They selected a pass rusher in the first round and now help their defensive line. Their front seven looks much better as they now add a talented defensive lineman to the mix. Powell has the ability to make an impact in the passing and the running game. He will be paired with last year’s first round pick, Marcell Darius. This front seven continues to look better and better and with the play of their offense, the rest of the AFC East needs to watch out.
52	NY Giants	Kheeston Randall	DT	Texas
The Giants continue to build the defense. In the first round they added a talented linebacker and now in the second they can focus on the defensive line. Randall is huge and will be stout against the run. He will help this defense in a variety of ways. For one, he will eat up blockers, which will open up the opportunity for their talented and fast defensive ends. In the run game he will be a space eater and will be able to make plays. The Giants defense is starting to retool, and with a talented offense already, they may be turning the corner.
53	Atlanta	Sean Spence	OLB	Miami (FL)
This is the Falcon's first pick of the draft after trading up to select Julio Jones a year ago. The Falcons defense still struggled, due in large part to not being able to generate any pressure. Adding a talented outside linebacker can help that. Spence plays the run and pass, and should help the Falcons right away. At the very least he will be in the nickel packages and other passing situations. He has the versatility to possibly put his hand in the ground and get after the quarterback as well.
54	NY Jets	Lavonte David	ILB	Nebraska
The Jets already added an outside linebacker, but adding an inside linebacker will also help this defense. They were able to add some pressure and now they can get a tackling machine. David is an outstanding linebacker who is on a collision course with the ball carrier on every snap. He may not need to play right away, but when he gets his chance he will be ready. He will still make an impact on special teams and possibly in certain packages as a rookie.
55	Detroit	Andrew Datko	G	Florida State
The Lions continue to bolster their offensive line. In Datko the Lions get a physical inside presence that will help protect from inside pressure as well as open up some holes in the running game. Remember the Lions selected Mikel Leshoure as a power inside runner last year, but he was placed on IR during preseason. The Lions want to be able to be a team that can run between the tackles as well as outside. Adding Datko will help them achieve this goal. Look for the Lions to add depth on the defensive side of the ball for the majority of what is left in this draft.
56	Houston	Josh Oglesby	OT	Wisconsin
The Texans continue to help build their offense, selecting a number two receiver in the first round, and now adding a player who can help protect Matt Schaub. Oglesby is a player who has the ability to play either tackle spot, as well as a guard spot. He is big, strong, and physical. He excels in run blocking, which should make him an attractive prospect for the Texans. He has a chance to start as a rookie, but at the very least will serve as a solid backup, who will prepare to lock down a position when he gets his chance.
57	San Francisco	Shaun Prater	CB	Iowa
The 49ers continue to build an already strong defense. They selected a talented inside backer in the first round, and now add a solid cover corner. Prater is a physical player, who enjoys contact. He has the attitude that San Francisco wants, and has the skill sets to be a solid corner at the next level. As a rookie he will likely make an impact on special teams as well as in the nickel package. The NFL is a passing league, and San Francisco knows you can never have too many talented corners.
58	San Diego	Greg Childs	WR	Arkansas
The Chargers helped their secondary in the first round and now can give another weapon to an already dangerous offense. Aside from Vincent Jackson there is not much proven talent a WR. Vincent Brown appears to have a bright NFL future, but the Chargers could still use another weapon to distribute the ball to. Childs is a Charger's receiver. He has decent speed, good hands, and great size. He has the ability to jump up and grab a ball from a defensive back as he towers over most of them. He gives the Chargers depth and another weapon on an offense that already is one of the best in the business.
59	Philadelphia	Blake DeChristopher	OT	Virginia Tech
The Eagles focused on defense in the first round and added a quarterback with their first pick in the second round. Now they can focus on protecting what is left of Vick and the future of Nick Foles. DeChristopher is a decent run and pass blocker, who should help shore up this offensive line. They were ridiculed for taking a guard instead of a tackle last year, and now they land their tackle.
60	Baltimore	Kerry Murphy	DT	Alabama
The Ravens helped their offense in the first round allowing them to add depth and talented to their talented defensive line. Murphy is a player who is used to playing for a dominate defense and winning, exactly what the Ravens want to be known for. Murphy has the ability to play inside when the Ravens use four down linemen, or outside in their 3-4 look. Murphy adds talent and depth and will certainly get a chance to play as a rookie, and continue to help this Ravens defense be one of the most feared units in the NFL.
61	New Orleans	Ryan Van Bergen	DE	Michigan
The Saints traded up to select Mark Ingram in the first round last year, so this is their first pick in the draft. The Saints offense is ultra talented, but their defense is weak. Ryan Van Bergen can help to transform this defense. He will be able to help the Saints front seven apply pressure on the quarterback, which is what they did when they won the super bowl. He will also help them become more stout against the run. The Saints know that they need help along their defensive line and Bergen will enter the rotation immediately as a rookie.
62	Pittsburgh	Levy Adcock	OT	Oklahoma State
The Steelers helped maintain their defensive talent in the first round, but now can help their offense in the second round. Adcock played for one of the best offenses in the nation. He is a good run and pass blocker. Although he is not that physical beast you would expect the Steelers would want, he is an upgrade to what they have right now. The Steelers biggest need on offense is along their offensive line, and Adcock helps address this. There is no pressure to start as a rookie, but expect him to compete for a job.
63	New England	Montee Ball	RB	Wisconsin
The Patriots have a lot of picks, as always, in the first two rounds. Montee Ball is a tough player to place, but he will likely be high on a few teams draft boards. He is a physical runner who has good speed, power, burst, and vision. The best feature about Ball is he has a nose for the end zone. He has scored touchdowns in double digit consecutive games. What makes him most attractive to the Patriots, whose running game has stalled this year, is his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. The Patriots know at some point they need a true running back and cannot keep getting away with plugging in just anybody. Ball is a perfect fit New England’s offense and will likely be the number one back by week 1.
64	Green Bay	Darius Fleming	OLB	Notre Dame
The Packers continued to protect their offense in the first round and now in the second round can look to the defensive side of the ball. Fleming is a perfect for the Packers. He ran a 3-4 scheme in college, and is use to being the linebacker who needs to get to the quarterback. He is not as quick as the linebackers before him, which is why his draft stock is a little lower. However, the Packers do not need a stud linebacker on the outside, they already have one. They just need someone who can take attention off of Clay Matthews, or who can take advantage of offensives if they do double and triple team Matthews. The Packers have been waiting to add a linebacker who can put a quarterback on his back multiple times a game. Fleming should flourish in Green Bay.

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Matt McDonnell NFL Mock Draft - 9 November 2011

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