NFL DRAFT 2011- MOCK TOP 10 v1.0

Here it is! Draft season can officially begin with the end of the NCAA season. Congrats to Auburn on their BCS title. I just hope it isn't taken away in 5 years because of Cam Newton taking money. Andrew Luck decided to stay in school, thus throwing off every mock draft out there. Instead of a franchise QB going number 1, we will have a player that fills a hole. The Panthers are on the clock (and have a ton of holes that need to be filled)!

1. Carolina Panthers- Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
The Panthers have so many problems with their team that no one is sure to be the #1 pick until they sign or Goodell announces their name. I am going with Bowers because they went with Peppers before. Bowers is very talented, though still a bit raw. He isn't a slam dunk prospect, like Nick Fairley or AJ Green, but might have the most upside of any defensive player on the board. Could he be Peppers? Sure. Will he? That is the question.

2. Denver Broncos- Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
This is assuming that the team doesn't want to sign Champ Bailey to a long term deal, and at his age who would? Peterson was the best corner in football and won the Thorpe Award. He has play-making skill that rivals that of last year's top secondary player, Eric Berry, but with better coverage ability. It will be tough to pass over Fairley, or difficult for John Elway not to take a new franchise QB if he isn't sold on Tebow, but Peterson is the right move.

3. Buffalo Bills- Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
And the happiest team in America is the Buffalo Bills, who see the player they had graded #1 on their board drop to them at 3. Fairley was the only person that came to play in the BCS Title game last night. He is a monster. 6-5, 300 and can fit in either the 4-3 or 3-4 perfectly. He is athletic, strong, quick and has a motor that never stops. The only concern the Bills should have with taking this guy is whether or not he gets suspended for hitting Tom Brady and Mark Sanchez too hard or too late. Consider you wagons circled, Bills fans.

4. Cincinnati Benglas- A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
The Bengals have a problem. They really wanted Bowers or Fairley to fall to them. They are not comfortable reaching a few spots for the next best D-Lineman, so they decide to take the best offensive player in the draft, A.J. Green. Far and away the best wideout, with speed, leaping ability and phenomenal hands. TO is likely gone from the team, and there are rumblings that Mr. Ochocinco will be as well. They also aren't sure who the QB will be in Cincy. At least that QB will have the best rookie WR to throw to.

5. Arizona Cardinals- Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
There is a big problem with this draft, and the Cardinals are a big example of it. Until a new collective bargaining agreement is reached, teams cannot trade any players. That means that the likes of Kevin Kolb, Matt Flynn, Matt Hasslebeck and Donovan McNabb are stuck on their current teams until a new deal can be agreed upon. Were this not the case, I am positive that the Cardinals would draft another position (probably defensive line) here and trade for a QB. So, until that happens, Gabbert is going to stay the first QB off the board.

6. Cleveland Browns- Marcell Dareus, DT/DE, Alabama
Another big man like Fairley, who played for one of football's best defenses. He can play in both the 4-3 and 3-4, which would make him perfect for any new coach in Cleveland. They would have loved for A.J. Green to fall to #6, but will take the best defensive lineman instead.

7. San Francisco 49ers- Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
Once again, we face a team with huge QB questions. We can assume that, much like Arizona, they will somehow acquire a veteran signal caller. Yet I do not see the 49ers taking a risk on a franchise QB in the first round of this draft anyway. No, instead I would imagine new coach Jim Harbaugh would like to have a one-to-two year stop gap and trade his entire draft next year for his old Stanford QB, Andrew Luck, at a much cheaper price. Amukamara fills a need on defense, and is the best corner available.

8. Tennessee Titans- Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
Do we think that Bud Adams has learned anything about possible head case/ run-first QBs? No, I don't, because Vince Young won him games. Cam Newton is bigger, maybe a little less crazy, and has the athleticism that the owner loves. I don't think Jeff Fischer will be as in charge of this draft as he has been other ones, and that Bud Adams will make him take the Heisman-winning National Champion QB.

9. Dallas Cowboys- Robert Quinn, DE/OLB, UNC
The Cowboys have a few holes to fill. They could reach for the first O-Lineman to help solve their problem at tackle. They could reach for another corner, since waiting for Amukamara and Peterson didn't work. They could try to upgrade the running game with a young power back. Or, they can address the pass-rush with a flashy name and raw talent. Robert Quinn missed the entire 2010 season due to suspension, but was being hyped to have a big one. I think that Jerry Jones will once again fall for the name and the hype, and pass on bigger needs for a poor man's DeMarcus Ware.

10. Washington Redskins- J. J. Watt, DE/DT, Wisconsin
Jake Locker, Ryan Mallett, Julio Jones, Cam Newton, Blake Gabbert, Ryan Kerrigan, any O-lineman, safeties, a kicker, a punter... A whole bunch of prospects that could fit a bunch of needs. In the end, for some stupid reason, I gave the Skins the benefit of the doubt and had them pick a solid player on the defensive line. Watt can play in the 3-4, which Jim Haslett insists the Skins play, and will help a dismal pass rush. I doubt there will be a draft spot that changes more for me in the next few months than this one.

11-20 might be coming later tonight if I have time. If not, let me know what you think about these 10.