So after seeing CNNSI and ESPN already throw up a couple of mock drafts, I've decided that I am NOT too early by throwing out the first 20 picks. Scroll down to see picks 1-10, but a quick recap before we move to picks 11-20. (Why just 1-20? Beacuse only the first 20 spots have been determined. the rest of the order is decided after the playoffs!)
Quick recap (for quasi-witty comments, check out the first part)
Carolina-Luck
Denver-Bowers
Buffalo-Locker
Cincy-Green
Arizona-Mallet
Cleveland-Dareus
SanFran-Jordan
Tennessee-Fairley
Dallas-Peterson
Washington-Blackmon
11) Houston. Robert Quinn, DE UNC. Put this guy opposite Mario Williams and suddenly Peyton Manning is running for his life and perhaps Cowher gets the Texans into the playoffs next year!
12) Minnesota. Stephen Paea, DT Oregon State. With one Williams "brother" retired and the next possibly on his way, Paea steps in beside Jared Allen and the Vikings front doesn't miss a beat. Plus, this guy went to school in Oregon. He'll LOVE Minnesota. It'll be like a vacation for him.
13) Detroit. Jared Crick, DT, Nebraska. I am sure the Lions would trade this pick if it guaranteed that Matt Stafford would be healthy for the entire season, but they had such success with Suh last year, why not grab his former Nebraska teammate?
14) St. Louis. Janoris Jenkins, CB, Florida. The Rams looked one or two players away in that last game against the Seahawks. While Bradford would probably LOVE a wide receiver, Jenkins is too good to pass up. Suddenly the Rams defense is starting to look pretty good....sort of.
15) Miami. Adrian Clayborn, DE Iowa. If Cowher goes to MIAMI instead of Houston (and even if he doesn't), Clayborn would be perfect for Miami, whose fans will love Clayborn as though he was the third coming of Jason Taylor (because isn't Taylor himself the second-coming of himself when he re-signed with the Dolphins after one unsatisfying season with Washington?).
16) Jacksonville. Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska. The Jags have had little luck drafting defensive linemen, so why not take a swing on Amukamara aka a DEFENSIVE BACK!?! This guy will be going up against Andre Johnson and Kenny Britt each twice a year. The offense could use some help, but if the Jags are to squeak into the postseason next year, it will be thanks to the defense.
17) New England (from Oakland). Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue. While the Pats will likely trade the pick, if they DO decide to keep it, Kerrigan might just make sense. Justin Houston is available, but I like Kerrigan for New England's style of defense. Plus he is a cold weather player already, coming from Purdon't.
18) San Diego. Cameron Heyward, DE Ohio State. The local Peachtree Ridge kid was unstoppable in the Sugar Bowl....when he was healthy. While Larry English likely won't be taking Merriman's place anytime soon (the juiced version of Merriman, that is), Heyward could be just what the doctor ordered for the Chahjaws in 2011-12
19) New York Giants. Von Miller. LB Texas A&M. I would think to put Justin Houston here, but I'll go with Von Miller, who will be strictly a LB at the next level, whereas Houston can float back and forth. The Giants already have a floater. Miller can get after the QB, much like Houston, but Miller appears to be more of what the Giants look for.
20) Tampa Bay. Justin Houston, OLB/DE. Georgia. Here you go Houston. Tampa fans will love that Houston slipped to them past New England and the Giants, and Houston will help to bring some bite back to the Bucs' defense that is starting to be overshadowed by the ever-improving Bucs' offense. Houston may never be Derrek Brooks, but he'll have tons of fans in Tampa.
Who else will make the first round? Let's wait until the order is decided before we continue, but expect a few more Tar Heels to make the first round as well as perhaps an Alabama tailback and possibly a Wisconsin offensive linemen or two.
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