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-The college boys become men soon…. The NFL Draft is coming….

^Mel Kiper’s picks back in April right after last year’s draft.
Quarterback Picks:
-Locker…. bad year
-Mallett…. bad attitude
-Luck… still in school
Top QB’s in real life? Newton and Gabbert… nowhere to be thought of and 1 was going to be a first year started from JuCo football.
Cornerback Picks:
Aaron Williams… was not better than Peterson, Prince, Smith, or even Brandon Harris in my book.

Right now College Sports King is dedicated to the players who were king of College Football last year, so now it’s all about waiting for the draft. Without teams having the ability to make trades or sign free agents a lot of teams will go in interesting directions in the draft. Probably the hardest to moc ever. Here it goes….

2011 NFL Mock Draft Poll

TOP PICK Draft Poll for the 2011 NFL Draft

Previous Number 1 Picks:
St. Louis Rams – 2010: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma Sooners
Detroit Lions – 2009: Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia Bulldogs
Miami Dolphins – 2008: Jake Long, OT, Michigan Wolverines
Oakland Raiders – 2007: JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU
Houston Texans – 2006: Mario Williams, DE, NC State
San Francisco 49ers – 2005: Alex Smith, QB, Utah Utes
-Lot’s of New QB’s, New Coaches = New Quarterbacks like 80% of the time. Will Jimmy Clausen keep his job or will the tradition continue?
****In 2008 the Dolphins new coaching staff took Chad Henne in the 2nd Round.
****In 2006 Houston traded their 2nd Round Draft Picks in 2007 and 2008 for Matt Schaub.

My Top 5 Picks in The NFL Draft:

1. Carolina Panthers: Blaine Gabbert – QB Missouri Tigers

Needs: DE, DT, QB, WR

-They need Defensive Line help since Julius Pepper started tearing it up for the Bears. Defensive Line could be addressed with Nick Fairley, Da’Quan Bowers, or the guy who jumped both on most boards Marcell Dareus.
-New Coaches usually mean New Quarterbacks. It will be a interesting to see if new coach Ron Rivera has any faith in Jimmy Clausen, without Andrew Luck the Quarterback class is weak, he might want to wait another year and give Clausen a shot to see if he can throw more than 3 Touchdowns. I personally say wait 1 year and then grab Luck, Barkley or one next years QB’s the 2012 class will be stronger at QB whereas this year there is no sure bet #1 QB and Gabbert is the closest they say… But he hasn’t played in a Pro Style offense since he was 17….. Seriously.
-Steve Smith might be on his last legs and is NOT a team guy, he doesn’t help younger wide receivers develop and that’s a main reason why none have, it might be too early for A.J. Green or Julio Jones. (Even though so many people drool saying Green is the best prospect since Calvin Johnson at WR and Junes ran a 4.3 40 yard dash on a fractured foot at the combine.)

Reason: While they spent a 2nd round pick last year on QB it seemed that it didn’t work. Turns out they should have grabbed Colt McCoy instead.
See: Josh McDaniels vs. Raheem Morris.

2. Denver Broncos: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama Crimson Tide

Needs: DE, DT, S, WR

With Elvis Dumervil out, it was pretty pathetic the pass rush effort given by his teammates in his absense.  I would have listed CB as a need but they kept Champ Bailey and if Perrish Cox comes back from his issues they’ll be fine.  Getting to the other QB is going to be something the new regime needs whether Orton or Tebow is starting for the Broncos.  The best defensive lineman that fits their scheme is and he has gone from a Top 5 lock… to slipping and now he’s back to a Top 5 Lock.  Sorry Fairley and Bowers…. Dareus is back!
And he’s coming for your draft money Nick and Da’Quan… sorry the big fellas win’s.

3. Buffalo Bills: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn Tigers

Needs: Every Position, New Stadium, New Fans

Chan Gailey, spent the first year trying to find out if Trent Edwards, Briam Brohm, or Ryan Fitzpatrick could get them threw year one and if any could last. Turns out Ryan Fitzpatrick was the best of the bunch. The good thing about having the management and owners that they do… they like to do that. Last year they said they wanted a “scatback” who was a running back/wide receiver, then… they shocked everyone and ignored their need at OT and QB and drafted C.J. Spiller #9 overall. This year they talk about how they want a QB who’s strong enough to throw it through the Buffalo Winds. Now… I’m saying they could wait until round 2 and probably still grab Ryan Mallett, who has the strongest deep ball in the draft. But, what I think they’re saying is, we’ll take Cam Newton if Carolina doesn’t…. Also just because I said they need new everything doesn’t mean I don’t love the Bills, honestly I’ve been to Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park and had a great time. Right now though, I say take Steve Johnson, Poz, and get rid of half the team.

4. Cincinnati Bengals: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia Bulldogs

Needs: WR, S, QB?

The Bungals draft has a ton to do with Carson Palmer, staying, going, retiring? I have the scenario that he someone smiles and decides he will be happier next year without Ochocinco, TO, and a new superstar WR who isn’t a diva, yet. A.J. Green put on a CLINIC in the SEC when he got back from his suspension. If not for Julio Jones NFL Combine effort his stock would be even higher. Jones closed the gap but didn’t pass him with it, but it allowed a possibility where Green’s stock could slip… because having someone close to as good as you is what I think will hurt Patrick Peterson as well…. Prince and Julio costing these guys millions. Now if the Bengals do need a QB and Newton or Gabbert is available, it is a done deal that they will take one. I also have a feeling they wouldn’t mind a talented character issue like Ryan Mallett in the 2nd round, not like they ever have Carson jog either anyway.

5. Arizona Cardinals: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M

Needs: QB, DE, OLB, CB

They need a lot of new weapons in Arizona, but defense has gotta change this year. I have a feeling Wiz will try to acquire McNabb, Orton, Kolb, or another veteran style QB. New regimes mean new Quarterbacks.. this isn’t a new regime and Matt Leinart was supposed to be their QB. As a I said 100x before, they should have kept Leinart last year, period. No excuse for Hall and Skelton getting shelled out there. Derek Anderson is occasionally good… but he usually sucks. 1 good Pro Bowl year is exactly what Anderson feared… a Fluke. You aren’t good. QB Aside… neither of the top QB’s is available here so the Cardinals get Von Miller, probably the most effective pass rusher in NCAA.

Strong Top 5 Options: Da’Quan Bowers, Patrick Peterson, and Nick Fairley.
Fairley and Bowers were the Top 2 picks by most people until the end of February and Fairley’s lower weight at the NFL Combine and Bower’s knee surgery in January will cost him millions in April.

The Rain isn’t falling on Patrick Peterson, he SHOULD be in the Top 5 and many think he is the best player in the NFL Draft, but plays cornerback a position noone has EVER drafted #1 overall… and where he winds up is unknown. The new kickoff rule could hurt his benefit there.

NFL Draft Order
Round 1 (continued)

6. Cleveland (5-11) Biggest Weakness Wide Receiver
7. San Francisco (6-10) Biggest Weakness Quarterback
8. Tennessee (6-10) Biggest Weakness Quarterback
9. Dallas (6-10) Biggest Weakness Defensive Back
10. Washington (6-10) Biggest Weakness Quarterback
11. Houston (6-10) Biggest Weakness Secondary
12. Minnesota (6-10) Biggest Weakness Quarterback
13. Detroit (6-10) Biggest Weakness Offensive Tackle
14. St. Louis (7-9) Biggest Weakness Wide Receiver
15. Miami (7-9) Biggest Weakness Running Back (No Ronnie Brown or Ricky Williams on the roster)
16. Jacksonville (8-8) Biggest Weakness Wide Receiver
17. New England – from Oakland for Richard Seymour (8-8) Biggest Weakness Defensive End
18. San Diego (9-7) Biggest Weakness Defensive Line
19. New York Giants (10-6) Biggest Weakness Linebacker
20. Tampa Bay (10-6) Biggest Weakness Offensive Line
21. Kansas City (10-6) Biggest Weakness Linebacker
22. Indianapolis (10-6) Biggest Weakness Offensive Line
23. Philadelphia (10-6) Biggest Weakness Defensive End
24. New Orleans (11-5) Biggest Weakness Linebacker
25. Seattle (7-9) Biggest Weakness Defensive End
26. Baltimore (12-4) Biggest Weakness Corner Back
27. Atlanta (13-3) Biggest Weakness Defensive End
28. New England (14-2) Biggest Weakness Defensive End
29. Chicago (11-5) Biggest Weakness Wide Receiver
30. New York Jets (11-5) Biggest Weakness Defensive End
31. Pittsburgh (12-4) Biggest Weakness Corner Back
32. Green Bay (10-6) Biggest Weakness Running Back

2011 NFL Draft Class Recap
Date: April 28th

-Best Cornerback Class in a while lead by Patrick Peterson “the best since Charles Woodson” and Prince not too far behind.
-No Elite hot pick Quarterbacks in this class. A lot of B Level Mid-Round prospects.
-No top Offensive Tackle propects, Nate Soldier, Gabe Carimi, Tyron Smith and the gang play revolving chairs at the top of the list. No Jake Long as the safest pick or Russell Okung and Trent Williams battling it out.
- Tons of Defensive End options, about 10 first round guys could go, one of the deepest fringe First Round prospects in decades, but the elite guy isn’t known with Da’Quan Bowers January Knee surgery scaring teams.
-NO great safety prospects… none. Mid Round safety prospects quite possibly contribute but this year is lacking the Automatic First Round UMiami lock of recent years.

Mel Kiper vs. Todd McShay
ESPN NFL Mock Draft SportsCenter (03-17-2011)