Recapping the Draft (Round 1)

You may have noticed that I have not talked much about the NFL on the blog lately and for good reason. It is impossible to talk about the NFL without getting into the current labor dispute and quite frankly, I don’t care about it. We are talking about billionaires, multi-millionaires and millionaires fighting over how to split up a $9 billion revenue pie while playing in publicly funded stadiums and charging ridiculous prices to fans all while being protected by antitrust laws that go against every business principle the United States was founded upon. See, I had to go there didn’t I?!?

Both the owners and players have a ton to lose by going through the legal system (the NFL is already learning this the hard way) and by September this will be much ado about nothing. The season will go on, there’s about $9 billion reasons why after the NFL lost its case trying to collect from the TV networks during the lockout, and by the second or third week of the season we will have all forgot about this dumb lockout.

To be honest, I have actually enjoyed the relatively little news coming from the NFL this offseason. It allowed fans everywhere to enjoy other sports without enduring the latest Brett Favre comeback update or veteran, crappy linebacker A signed with non-playoff team B, or whatever stories and rumors that usually get gobbled up by the millions of intense football fans around the country. It is now the end of April, however, and the NFL Draft is upon us. March Madness is over, the NBA and NHL playoffs are nearing their midpoint and training camp is just a little over two months away. It is time to start talking some football again.

So let’s quit talking about the off-field activity and dive into the draft. Last year I spent a ton of time putting together a mock draft and while I enjoyed doing it and got a lot of positive feedback on the piece, I realized once the draft began how largely worthless it became. This year, with no free agency and teams still having lots of line-up needs as a result, it seemed senseless to put together a mock draft when there were just so many possibilities for every team. Besides, there are a million mock drafts out there on the internet and each one is more wrong than the last. So this year I decided to do a recap on the draft, pick-by-pick, and let you know what I thought about last night’s 1st round proceedings. This format should provide some insight on each player, each team and really provide a general overview of the NFL as we head into next season. That is the hope anyways…so here we go!

1. Carolina Panthers – Cam Newton, QB Auburn – Say what you want about Newton but the guy has a tremendous upside. He may be a longshot to reach that upside, and there is probably no middle ground with him, but I would still rather take that chance than draft one of the other QBs from the remainder of this, in my opinion, awful QB class. Would I have taken Newton 1st overall? Heck no, mostly because the price attached to taking such a risk. But I haven’t had the benefit that the Panthers did in researching, interviewing and studying Newton on and off the field. The Panthers also have the benefit of a strong running game and a new coach that should allow him to ease into the position. The key for the Panthers will be to build an offense around his strengths.

2. Denver Broncos – Von Miller, OLB Texas A&M – Miller is a tremendous physical specimen and a fantastic pass rusher from the outside but this pick puzzled me a bit. Most thought Miller was more of a prototypical 4-3 defensive end who could get after the QB. The Broncos are switching to a 3-4 defense this year and already have a star player in Elvis Dumervil who fits the role of edge rusher from the outside linebacker position, the position most assume Miller will play as well. John Elway may have gone with the best player available approach, a strategy I usually agree with, but in this instance I think Marcell Dareus made more since. One thing is for sure, however, and that is the Broncos desire to get after the quarterback this year on the defensive side of the ball.

3. Buffalo Bills – Marcell Dareus, DT Alabama – Speaking of Dareus, it didn’t take long for the Bills to snatch him up after Denver passed. The Bills have a ton of holes on both sides of the ball but they address their biggest concern with Dareus and that is improving the league’s worst defense against the run last year.

4. Cincinnati Bengals – A.J. Green, WR Georgia – Green was the best player in this draft in my opinion. He is fast, runs good patterns, catches everything and can run after the catch. With TO moving on and Ochocinco most likely doing the same, the Bengals can begin to build their new-look offense around Green. The question now becomes who will be the guy to get him the ball? Rumors have the Bengals trying to move up to draft TCU QB Andy Dalton in the 2nd round. I doubt he is the answer but is worth the risk of a second round pick if they do not have to give up too much.

5. Arizona Cardinals – Patrick Peterson, CB LSU – Great pick by the Cardinals here. They did not particularly need to address a mediocre secondary but did so by getting the best defensive player and best athlete in the draft. Peterson should be able to immediately bolster the Cardinals pass defense and will most likely make a splash in their return game as well. If the Cards can acquire a veteran QB to get the ball out to Fitzgerald they could quickly become the frontrunners in the NFC West again.

6. Atlanta Falcons – Julio Jones, WR Alabama – The Falcons certainly wanted a premier WR to put opposite of Roddy White, that’s for sure. The Falcons gave up a ton to move up 21 spots and take Jones, a physical WR who is great in run and catch situations and should be a great compliment to White. I like the move by the Falcons who need quality at this point of their team building, not quantity, and Jones could be the player needed to push them over the hump in the NFC. For Cleveland, I thought the trade was fantastic. The Browns have a ton of holes to fill and picking up a 2nd and 4th rounder this year and a 1st and 4th next year in addition to the 27th pick and the Brownies could easily have shortened their rebuilding project by a substantial margin.

7. San Francisco 49ers – Aldon Smith, DE Missouri – Jim Harbaugh is the coach closest to the college game having coached at Stanford last year and Harbaugh agrees with me that no QB in this class should be labeled a “franchise” guy. Desperate for a franchise QB, the Niners passed on the position to take Smith, a guy that I did not particularly like in this spot. Smith is a guy who can get after the quarterback and that is what they were targeting but I thought there were a number of better players on the board at this point. Maybe Harbaugh is trying to tank this year with Alex Smith at QB so he can land his protégé Andrew Luck in next year’s draft.

8. Tennessee Titans – Jake Locker, QB Washington – Terrible reach #1 on the night and a special thank you from all other AFC South fans to Jeff Fisher for stepping down as coach. I guess all you need to be considered a franchise quarterback in the minds of NFL personnel at this point is to “elevate” your program to a 6-6 record and an appearance in some crappy bowl game in your fourth year as the starter.

Quick tangent: Does Jon Gruden ever say anything negative? Check that, does he ever say anything negative about players or teams that he might want to coach for at some point in the future? Seriously, I never hear Gruden criticize a player or team and every time I hear his analysis I wonder how that guy was ever a good coach. He really is the next coming of John Madden. I mention him here because he was profusely defending Locker as a quarterback. After Kiper hit him with all the statistical reasons that Locker was a bum, including his extremely low completion percentage, Gruden threw this gem at him, “You guys can have your stats. He threw the ball away 66 times last year.”

9. Dallas Cowboys, Tyron Smith, OT USC – Very solid pick from the Cowboys here who needed to beef up their protection for Tony Romo. Smith is a phenomenal athlete for a tackle but probably has to put on a few pounds to be a true impact player at the left tackle position. Still, Smith is a very good player that addresses a big area of need for the Cowboys and he should be able to come in and contribute right away.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars – Blaine Gabbert, QB Missouri – I am not sure what to make of this pick. I guess I like Gabbert more than any other QB in this class besides Newton and at number 10 he’s not a terrible value but the Jaguars did have to give up their second round pick to get him. My best guess is that Gabbert becomes no better of a pro than the Jags’ current QB, David Garrard. Still, not a bad risk at this point since the Missouri product does have the size, arm and athleticism to be a very good NFL quarterback.

11. Houston Texans – J.J. Watt, DE Wisconsin – Watt was a good player in college and will be a good player in the NFL. Nothing exciting about this pick but it was a good one for Houston as Watt is a good fit to play defensive end as the Texans transition to the 3-4 defense.

12. Minnesota Vikings – Christian Ponder, QB Florida St. – Terrible reach #2 on the evening! I am not even sure Ponder was the best QB on his FSU team last year. For a team that is probably not that far removed from Super Bowl contention, I really do not understand this pick. Maybe the plan is to still bring in a veteran quarterback and allow Ponder to grow under that guy but I still don’t see a very high upside for this kid. Any of the following three picks would have made a whole lot more sense to me for Minnesota.

13. Detroit Lions – Nick Fairley, DT Auburn – Wow, the Lions had to be extremely pleased to see Fairley on the board this late despite the defensive line already being an area of strength for the team. When the draft process began, you know when the actual football games were being played, Fairley was heavily considered the best player in the draft. The questions surrounding Fairley’s work ethic and motor should be moot as he plays next to Ndamukong Suh and Kyle Vanden Bosch, two relentless workers and great leaders. The Lions’ defensive line has the chance to be one of the best individual units in football next year with Fairley’s addition.

14. St. Louis Rams – Robert Quinn, DE North Carolina – Another tremendous value pick here for the Rams. Quinn did not play last year because of suspension but if he had many figured him to have been a possible top 5 pick. The Rams did not particularly need a defensive end but with the addition of Quinn on the opposite side of Chris Long the Rams, much like the Lions, could be tremendous up front on the defensive side of the football.

15. Miami Dolphins – Mike Pouncey, OC Florida – From all of the reading I did leading up to the draft it doesn’t sound like Maurkice’s little brother would have went this high if he had a different last name. That being said, the other Pouncey is a good prospect and fills a position of need for the Miami Dolphins as they try to improve the interior of their offensive line. Pouncey’s ability to play center or guard should also allow the Dolphins some flexibility on how they construct that o-line.

16. Washington Redskins – Ryan Kerrigan, DE Purdue – Kerrigan was a tremendously productive player as a defensive end in college but will switch to OLB in the 3-4 for the Redskins. I suspect Kerrigan will be a good player for the Redskins but will probably never be elite. For a team with a lot of holes though, he is more of a sure thing and a good pick.

17. New England Patriots – Nate Solder, OT Colorado – For the way scouts talked about Solder and cornerback Jimmy Smith from Colorado it makes you wonder why the Buffaloes were so terrible. Solder is a solid pick for the Patriots as they try to rebuild an aging offensive line and should provide some flexibility with his ability to play both left and right tackle. The Patriots biggest concern going forward should be how to keep Tom Brady standing up.

18. San Diego Chargers – Corey Liuget, DT Illinois – Another reach for me, although this was an area of need for the Chargers as Liuget will most likely play defensive end in the Chargers scheme. Liuget was a productive player in college but never stood out for me as a star. He has a nonstop motor and should be a decent player for the Chargers, although I’m not sure decent is the goal for a first round pick.

19. New York Giants - Prince Amukamara, CB Nebraska - With a number of teams seemingly reaching for quarterbacks or other positions a few others were able to take great advantage. The Giants were one of those landing Amukamara, who many had rated as a top 10 talent. Both Giants’ starting corners are free agents after the 2011 season so Prince gives the Giants insurance in case one should bolt and playing in the NFC East a team can never have enough corners anyhow. Tremendous pick here for the G-Men.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Adrian Clayborn, DE Iowa – Another Big Ten defensive lineman, the fourth (and third defensive end) in the last ten picks. Clayborn is a playmaker despite suffering from a disease that effects the use of his right arm and should fit in nicely at defensive end for Tampa’s Cover 2 scheme.

21. Cleveland Browns – Phil Taylor, DT Baylor – The Browns gave up a third round pick to the Chiefs to move up six spots and select Taylor, the best pure nose tackle in the draft. In what seems to be a theme around the league the Browns look like they are also moving towards a 3-4 defensive scheme. Taylor is a big, nasty, in the trenches type of player who should be a good fit anchoring the Browns defensive line.

22. Indianapolis Colts – Anthony Castonzo, OT Boston College – Much like the Patriots, the Colts primary goal going forward has to be keeping Peyton Manning on his feet. Castonzo is a polished prospect that will most likely come in and start right away.

23. Philadelphia Eagles – Danny Watkins, OG Baylor – Typical Eagles pick here and a good one. Watkins is 26-years-old after spending a few years away from football so he is more mature than your typical rookie and he should come in and start right away. Nobody drafts up front better than Andy Reid and company and I see no reason why this pick should be any different. The Eagles also need a corner but my guess is that they are heavily involved in the Nnamdi Asomugha bidding war whenever the free agency period starts.

24. New Orleans Saints – Cameron Jordan, DE California – Jordan fills a critical need for the Saints at defensive end and will be counted on to provide pressure on opposing QBs. We know the Saints are set on the offensive side of the ball and Jordan should help where it is needed most.

25. Seattle Seahawks – James Carpenter, OG Alabama – This is not the flashy pick that many expected from the Seahawks but it is a good pick and should help sure up the Hawks’ offensive line. Seattle is probably in the market for a quarterback somewhere in the draft and can probably pick up a Ryan Mallett, Andy Dalton or Colin Kaepernick in the second round, all guys who offer as much upside (or downside) as the guys who went much, much earlier.

26. Kansas City Chiefs – Jonathan Baldwin, WR Pitt – This is where the weirdness started as the Bears and Ravens are reported to have had a trade in place and the Bears never called into the league offices to confirm. Time elapsed and the Ravens were skipped by the Chiefs for the 26th pick where they took the Pitt wide out. Baldwin has some question marks surrounding him but he is a tremendous athlete, big and has great ball skills. He should fit in well across from Dwayne Bowe as the Chiefs deep-ball threat, if Cassel can throw the ball far enough that is.

27. Baltimore Ravens – Jimmy Smith, CB Colorado – The Ravens were probably a little perturbed at the Bears with the botched trade as I am guessing they could have still landed Smith with the 29th selection and picked up a fourth rounder in the process but at least they still landed their guy. Many consider Smith the second best corner in this draft behind Peterson and the only reason he slipped was character concerns. I am not as high on Smith but for the 27th pick it is hard to argue with the value and the Ravens were desperate for corner help.

28. New Orleans Saints – Mark Ingram, RB Alabama – The Patriots traded back in the draft to pick up extra picks? No way! I do like the deal on both ends, however, as the Patriots pick up an extra first rounder next year while sliding back about 28 spots while the Saints land their heir apparent at running back. Ingram’s versatility and ability to catch the ball will be a perfect fit in Sean Payton’s attack and probably signals the end of the Reggie Bush era in ‘Nawlins.

29. Chicago Bears – Gabe Carimi, OT Wisconsin – The Bears gave up 56 sacks last year and despite Mike Martz’ scheme and Jay Cutler’s propensity to hold on to the ball too long, an upgrade on the offensive line was needed. Carimi should be a good player at right tackle for the Bears and fills their biggest need along the offensive line. He probably won’t be a pro-bowler but he should be a good player in this league for a long time.

30. New York Jets - Muhammad Wilkerson, DE Temple – The Jets had to be thrilled to land Wilkerson this late in the first round and the Temple product will be expected to come in and provide help on the Jets’ aging defensive line immediately. The Jets, Steelers and Packers all got great values at the end of the first round due to so many reaches above them. It is no wonder that the same teams are competing for championships year in and year out.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers - Cameron Heyward, DE Ohio St. – Ironhead Heyward’s son is an incredible fit for the Steelers and a real find at the end of the first round. Heyward was an extremely productive player and often the star on the Buckeyes defense in his four years in Columbus and is the prototype to play defensive end in the 3-4. This may signal, however, that the Steelers do not expect much from the return of Aaron Smith. If Smith does return, the Steelers have a pretty scary two-deep rotation for the next year or two on the defensive line and have their anchors at defensive end in Ziggy Hood and Heyward for years to come. Now the Steelers must address their depth at corner and on the offensive line in the next couple of rounds.

32. Green Bay Packers – Derek Sherrod, OT Mississippi State – The Packers, much like the Steelers, do not have many holes to fill as they are fresh off their Super Bowl title and have 16 guys returning from injured reserve. One place they did need to sure up, and begin planning for the future, was on the offensive line. The Pack did that with Sherrod who, along with their first round pick last year in Brian Bulaga, could form the bookends for the Packers’ offensive line for the next decade.

Overdue Draft Thoughts

The Blog has been on hiatus the past few days, much like the Pittsburgh Baseball Club until Ryan Doumit’s power stroke made a comeback during the final two days in Milwaukee. I, at least, have an excuse since I have a real job that pays my bills and have been traveling for it, unlike the Pirates whose job it is to play baseball. Anyways…over the next couple of posts we will have to catch up on all that is happening around the world of sports, starting today with some overdue draft thoughts. It might be a day late and a few over-the-top analysis words short, but here are some of my thoughts on the Steelers’ 2010 Draft:

• I was pushing for and hoping the Steelers would take a corner in the first round of the draft as I thought it would be the most impactful position for the 2010 Steelers. With Kyle Wilson and Kareem Jackson on the board, Mike Tomlin and company still selected center/guard Maurkice Pouncey from Florida. The more that I thought about the pick, the more that I really liked it. Pouncey is going to start right away and hopefully sure up the interior of a line that has struggled a bit in recent seasons. That will be just as impactful as a cornerback, and could solidify the center position for the next ten years as well.

• One reason that I started to really like the Pouncey pick is that from the outside, you cannot tell what management and the coaching staff thinks about their own players. Maybe the Steelers had confidence in William Gay to rebound from a tough year to perform at the level he did in 2008. Maybe they really like Keenan Lewis and Joe Burnett and think each could be a solid contributor this year. When the Steelers passed on Golden Tate in the second round, I started to think that maybe Tomlin and the coaching staff still have confidence in Limas Sweed and that maybe Hines does have 2-3 good years left in him. And then…

• The Steelers drafted Emmanuel Sanders from SMU in the third round at WR and traded for Bryant McFadden to return to Pittsburgh after a year in the desert at cornerback. I am not criticizing these actions on their own merit, Sanders may turn into a very good slot receiver and McFadden offers depth and insurance in the secondary and basically cost the Steelers nothing but a few extra dollars. What it does tell me, however, is that the Steelers do not have confidence in their secondary as currently constituted and do not believe Limas Sweed is ever going to offer them much. Wide receiver and cornerback will definitely be the big question marks for the Steelers as they enter training camp in a couple of months.

• As for the rest of the Steelers draft, I was not overwhelmed. After the Sanders pick in the third round, I wish they would have pulled the trigger on Golden Tate in the second and see if they could have landed Worilds or a similar player in the third. I think Tate could be a dynamic player in this league and could have been groomed to take over for Ward in a couple of years. The linebackers the Steelers took, three in total, will all be projects while contributing on special teams in the meantime. It is impossible to assess a draft class until a few years down the line, but that will be doubly true for this Steelers’ draft class as most will not be expected to contribute for a few years, except for Maurkice Pouncey of course.

Steelers Pick and First Round Mock

The Steelers head into the first round of the NFL draft tonight in a good position with their number 18 overall pick. The Steelers have no definitive needs in their starting line-up and are in a position to take the best available player with their selection. Yes, they have some needs, but none are so desperately glaring for the 2010 season that the Steelers would need to reach on any specific position with their first round pick. The Steelers could use an upgrade and added depth at the corner position, and upgrade on the offensive line, and inside linebacker depth and potentially an heir apparent to the aging James Farrior. Depending on how things shake out in front of them, I could see the Steelers taking any of those three positions in the first round and addressing the other two at some point in the draft.

This all assumes, of course, that the Steelers do not make the bold move and deal quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sometime before or during the draft. If the Steelers decide to move Roethlisberger, all bets are off. I really do not believe the Steelers are going to move Ben for a variety of reasons, but if they would decide to move him, here would be my criteria to make a deal. The Steelers would need to receive at least two first round draft picks (this year and next year’s) and they better be absolutely 100% sold on a quarterback in this draft that they can develop as their franchise guy. I don’t see both of those things happening.

(And just to get my thoughts on the Big Ben suspension out of the way here: In short, I think the suspension was way, way too severe. It is a minimum of 25% of the season, equivalent to 40 games in baseball or 20 games in basketball or hockey, seems very harsh when you think of it in those terms. Four games is what someone should get for using steroids, which is cheating, or multiple violations of the drug or conduct policy, not in an incident that involves he said-she said anecdotes. I am not saying Ben is in the right, he obviously has some kind of problem with how he treats women, but the Commissioner is going down quite a slippery slope in my opinion. That being said, the NFL is able to do what it wants as long as it falls under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and here it is looking to protect its image, which is understandable from a business sense. As the old saying goes, no use crying over spilt milk. Ben’s going to miss four games, oh well, let’s move on to things we can actually speculate on.)

One rule before we start the mock draft, no trades. Trades are impossible to predict and change the complete makeover of the draft. I may mention a team looking to trade, but we are going to stick with the order as-is. So without further ado, let’s get to The People’s Quarterback first ever, NFL First Round Mock Draft:

Pick One – St. Louis Rams
Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma – I would take Suh here, but if a team is sold on a quarterback being their potential franchise guy, they have to take him. It sounds as though the Rams are sold.

Pick Two – Detroit Lions
Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska – Suh was the most dominant player in college football last year and his size, skill and athleticism should anchor a NFL defense for years. The Lions will have a QB in Matt Stafford on offense and Suh on defense to lead this team for the foreseeable future. There may just be hope in Detroit yet…

Pick Three – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma – Perfect defensive tackle for the Bucs as they return to their 4-3 Tampa Two defensive scheme. McCoy could be a real star in the Warren Sapp-type model in this system.

Pick Four – Washington Redskins
Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State – The Redskins need to significantly upgrade their dismal offensive line and Okung is the consensus top tackle in a heavily loaded offensive tackle draft. The Redskins will need Okung to protect McNabb’s blindside as he gets up there in age.

Pick Five – Kansas City Chiefs
Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma – Yes if you are counting at home, that makes three Oklahoma guys in the top five. If Bradford and Gresham do not get hurt last year, that team wins the National Title. Chiefs could be tempted to draft Eric Berry here, or possibly trade down, but I don’t think Patriots’ disciple and current Chiefs GM Scott Pioli is going to spend top five money on a safety.

Pick Six – Seattle Seahawks
Eric Berry, S, Tennessee – Seattle will be tempted here to grab an offensive lineman or running back C.J. Spiller but ultimately will take the best player left on the board in Berry and hope that Spiller falls to them at number fourteen.

Pick Seven – Cleveland Browns
Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State – Many “experts” feel that Bryant will drop because of his off-field transgressions. If he doesn’t go here, I could see that happening as well. But the Browns are desperate for a playmaker on offense and you know Mike Holmgren is an offensive guy.

Pick Eight – Oakland Raiders
Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers – Who really knows what Al Davis will do, but we do know that he is always enamored with potential. Well Anthony Davis probably has the most potential of any tackle in this draft, and the Raiders do need offensive line help.

Pick Nine – Buffalo Bills
Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa – This feels like a pseudo-fantasy draft, only with offensive tackles. You know how the first guy who takes a defense or tight end in your fantasy draft always begins the run where like five or six go in the next round, I feel the same thing about the offensive tackles early in this draft.

Pick Ten – Jacksonville Jaguars
Earl Thomas, S, Texas – This is a spot where I definitely could see a trade happening. The Eagles want to move up for Thomas and the Seahawks could look to move up for Spiller, among many other possibilities, but we had to play by the rules. I also think somehow, someway, Tim Tebow ends up in a Jaguars uniform in this draft.

Pick Eleven – Denver Broncos (from Chicago)
Rolando McLain, LB, Alabama – This is another one of the picks that the Broncos got in the Jay Cutler deal, a move that looks better and better every day and one that I very much applauded at the time. McLain is by far the best rated inside linebacker in the draft.

Pick Twelve – Miami Dolphins
Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee – Williams is a run stuffer and a guy who eats up blockers. Perfect fit to play in Miami’s 3-4 scheme at end or nose tackle if needed. I have seen guys projecting Derrick Morgan out of Georgia Tech with this pick, but Morgan is your prototype 4-3 DE. I just do not see how he would fit in Miami’s system.

Pick Thirteen – San Francisco 49ers
Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State – San Fran seems sold on Alex Smith at QB, otherwise this could be a potential landing spot for Jimmy Clausen. Wilson has quickly elevated up draft boards. I like Haden just a tad better, but Mike Singletary doesn’t usually follow the conventional path.

Pick Fourteen – Seattle Seahawks (From Denver)
CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson – The Seahawks luck out and get Spiller with the fourteenth pick. Spiller has Chris Johnson-type upside and Pete Carroll loves big-play ability in his running backs.

Pick Fifteen – New York Giants
Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho – This is an interesting pick for the Giants who could go a number of different directions. I think they play it safe and upgrade their offensive line.

Pick Sixteen – Tennessee Titans
Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech – I think Morgan will be the pick here if he is still available. Jason Pierre-Paul would be another candidate as a pass-rushing defensive end out of South Florida.

Pick Seventeen – San Francisco 49ers (from Carolina)
Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame – The 49ers passed once on Clausen, but I do not think they would pass a second time. I could definitely see them trading back a few spots as the next few teams do not need quarterbacks and still landing Clausen in the early 20s. I like Clausen, by the way. They guy has played in a pro-system, has the arm, has the moxy. I think he could be a really good NFL QB in the right system.

Pick Eighteen – Pittsburgh Steelers
Joe Haden, CB, Florida – The pick many of you have been waiting for. I really think this would be best case scenario for the Steelers, that is if Haden or Kyle Wilson is available at this point in the draft. Assuming the Steelers do not trade Ben, they are built to win now with their aging defense and off-season signings. A cornerback would best suit the near-term as the Steelers must improve on their pass-coverage to get back to and win another Super Bowl. If Haden and Wilson are both gone, I could see the Steelers taking Iupati here or Maurkice Pouncey of Florida to upgrade the interior of their offensive line.

Pick Nineteen – Atlanta Falcons
Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida – Everyone has the Falcons taking a defensive end here so who am I to disagree. Usually, Brandon Graham of Michigan has been that defensive end, but I don’t think the Falcons are passing on Pierre-Paul if he is available.

Pick Twenty – Houston Texans
Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida – With the loss of Dunta Robinson, I think the Texans would really like a corner here but with Wilson and Haden off the board they will use the opportunity to upgrade the interior of their offensive line.

Pick Twenty One – Cincinnati Bengals
Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma – The Bengals need to give QB Carson Palmer more playmakers and Gresham will be the best available at this point, not to mention the Bengals need for a tight end. Gresham missed all of last season to an injury but reports are that he is fully recovered and tested well. I originally like Demaryius Thomas here, the WR out of Georgia Tech, but that was until the Bengals went out and grabbed Antonio Bryant, the former Pitt star, to play opposite of Ochocinco.

Pick Twenty Two – New England Patriots
Sergio Kindle, DE/OLB, Texas – Another of the hybrid types that Bill Belichick loves. Can play OLB in the 3-4 or DE in the 4-3. Would be a steal for the Pats at this point in the draft.

Pick Twenty Three – Green Bay Packers
Charles Brown, OT, USC – As great as Aaron Rodgers is at avoiding the rush, it is still important for the Packers to keep their franchise guy off of his back. Brown is the best tackle available at this point and should help an aging offensive line.

Pick Twenty Four – Philadelphia Eagles
Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama – If the Eagles are unable to move up and grab a safety earlier in the first round, they could go in a number of different directions with this pick. My best guess is that they still look to upgrade in the secondary.

Pick Twenty Five – Baltimore Ravens
Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech – Even with the addition on Anquan Boldin in the offseason the Ravens are still looking for playmakers to surround their franchise QB Joe Flacco with, a very sound strategy by my estimation.

Pick Twenty Six – Arizona Cardinals
Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan – Best player available pick. Besides, even with the loss of Kurt Warner and Boldin this offseason, it is still the defensive side of the ball the Cardinals have to be most concerned with. This is the defense that was absolutely torched by the Packers and Saints in the playoffs.

Pick Twenty Seven– Dallas Cowboys
Taylor Mays, S, USC – Why not, Jerry Jones loves stars and Mays has the look of one. Look is the key word here, however, as the jury is definitely still out on whether Mays can play or not.

Pick Twenty Eight – San Diego Chargers
Ryan Matthews, RB, Fresno State – Would be a replacement for LaDainian Tomlinson and a good compliment to Darren Sproles.

Pick Twenty Nine – New York Jets
Jerry Hughes, DE/OLB, TCU – Hughes would play OLB in the Jets’ 3-4 scheme and he certainly has the athleticism to do it. We know Rex Ryan loves getting after the QB and Hughes is certainly an expert at that.

Pick Thirty – Minnesota Vikings
Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers – Vikings are a very well rounded football team, especially if Favre comes back, but their most pressing concern is probably in the secondary. Besides, we are pretty much throwing darts blindfolded at this point!

Pick Thirty One – Indianapolis Colts
Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State – We have to have at least one local player in the first round, right? Odrick had an outstanding year anchoring Penn State’s defensive line and should fit in nicely playing next to Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis.

Pick Thirty Two – New Orleans Saints
Sean Weatherspoon, OLB, Missouri – Weatherspoon would replace the departed Scott Fujita in the Saints linebacking core. The Saints have to go defense with this pick I would imagine.

Well there you have it, the first ever People’s Quarterback Mock Draft. Let me be the first to tell you that it was not nearly as fun to do one of these that so many of the draft analysts out there would leave you to believe...