2 Round 2011 NFL Mock, with AMAZING TRADES!

  My original 2 round mock draft called for the Vikings to obtain Carson Palmer, but the current CBA difficulties eliminate all trades for current players, or for free agent signings.  The Vikings MUST pick up a veteran QB at some point to mentor the youngsters, and signing a free agent WR (Steve Smith?) of some quality would be a fine thing.  Here we go.  Feel free to disagree if you enjoy being wrong.   JHL

FIRST ROUND:

1. (Panthers trade this pick for Titans #8 1st Round and #39 2nd Round and an undisclosed amount of cash).  Titans: Cameron Newton, QB Auburn.  Titans risk all for new 'Face of the Franchise'.
2. Broncos: Marcell Dareus, DE Alabama.
3. Bills: Von Miller, OLB Texas A&M.
4. (Bengals trade this pick for Redskins #10 1st and #41 2nd).  Redskins: Blaine Gabbert, QB Missouri.  'Skins get their replacement for McNabb, whom I think the Cardinals will pick up somehow to mentor whatever rookie QB they draft.
5. Cardinals: Patrick Peterson, CB LSU.
6. Browns: AJ Green, WR Georgia.
7. 49'ers: Prince Amukamra, CB Nebraska.
8. Panthers: Julio Jones, WR Alabama.  Hopefully Jones can help make Clausen better.  If not, the Panthers will have a great shot at picking up Andrew Luck in 2012.
9. Cowboys:  Robert Quinn, DE N. Carolina
10. (Bengals trade this pick for Patriots #17 1st and #60 2nd). Patriots: JJ Watt, DE Wisconsin.  Pats get the player they most covet in this year's draft.
11. Texans: Cameron Jordan, DE California.
12. (Vikings trade this pick to Steelers for #31 1st, #95 3rd and 2012 5th rounder).  Steelers: Mike Pouncey, G. Florida.  Steelers get the twin they have been coveting.
13. Lions: Nick Fairly, DT Auburn.  Just imagine this guy paired with Suh.  Very scary!
14. Rams: Aldon Smith, DE Missouri.
15. (Dolphins trade this pick for Jaguar's #16 1st and #182 6th.  Jags are paranoid Dolphins will take Kerrigan). Jaguars: Ryan Kerrigan, DE Purdue.
16. Dolphins:  Mark Ingram, RB Alabama.
17. Bengals: Ryan Mallett, QB Arkansas.  Bengals get QB they wanted all along, plus obtained two additional 2nd round picks in the process.
18: Chargers: Muhammad Wilkerson, DT Temple.
19: Giants: Tyron Smith, OT USC.  Protecting Eli.
20. Bucs: D'Quan Bowers, DE Clemson.  Bucs need to take risks to get into playoffs.  Bowers is a top five talent with an extremely dodgie knee.
21. Chiefs: Phil Taylor, NT Baylor.
22. Colts: Anthony Castanzo, OT Boston College.  Protecting Peyton.
23. Eagles: Derek Sherrod, OT Mississippi State. Protecting Vick the Prick.  Hope he fails miserably.
24. Saints: Justin Houston, DE Georgia.
25. Seahawks: Corey Liguet, DT Alabama.  Hawks counting on picking up QB in 2nd round.  Risky...
26. Ravens: Jimmy Smith, CB Colorado.  Top 15 talent but risky personality.  Raven's locker room will keep him quiet.
27. Falcons: Gabe Carimi, OT Wisconsin.
28. Patriots: Nate Solder, OT Colorado.
29. Bears: Ben Ijalana, OT Villanova.  *** Possibility here that Pats will do a screw-trade with the Bears, as Solder is a tad over-rated and Ijalana would fit in better with Pat's system.  Pats could pick up a 2012 6th rounder in return for getting what they wanted anyway.
30. Jets: Akeem Ayers, OLB UCLA.
31. Vikings:  Andy Dalton, QB TCU.
32. Packers: Mike Leshore, RB Illinois.

SECOND ROUND:

33. Patriots: Bruce Carter, OLB N. Carolina.  Top 10 talent recovering from torn Achilles. May not even play this season, but when he does, ALL Pro!  Pats can afford to wait.
34. Bills: Jake Locker, QB Washington.
35. Bengals: Randall Cobb, WR Kentucky.
36. Broncos: Torrey Smith, WR Maryland.
37. Browns: Kyle Rudolph, TE Notre Dame.  Best TE in the draft as a gift for Colt McCoy.
38. Cardinals: Colin Kaepernick, QB Nevada.
39. Panthers: Allen Bailey, DE Miami.
40. Cowboys: Ras-I-Dowling, CB Virginia.
41. Bengals: Cameron Heyward, DE Ohio St.
42. Texans: Rodney Hudson, G FSU
43. Vikings: Aaron Williams, CB Texas
44. Lions: Adrian Clayborn, DE Iowa.  Lions now have the best D-line in the NFL, and will for years to come.
45. 49'ers: Marvin Austin, DT N. Carolina.
46. Broncos: Rahim Moore, FS UCLA.
47. Ravens: Joe Baldwin, WR Pittsburgh.
48. Raiders: Stefan Wisniewski, C Penn St.
49. Jaguars: Jabaal Sheard, OLB Pittsburgh.
50. Chargers: Titus Young, WR Boise St.
51. Bucs: Brandon Harris, CB Miami.
52. Giants: Ryan Williams, RB Virginia Tech.
53. Colts: Danny Watkins, G Baylor.  Peyton is recently the papa of twin boys, so needs even MORE protection.
54. Eagles: Curtis Brown, CB Texas.
55. Chiefs: Sam Acho, DE Texas.
56. Saints: Stephen Paea, DT Oregon St.  Strongest man at the Combine falls due to concerns about his knee.
57. Seahawks: Christian Ponder, QB FSU. Seahawks then trade Ponder plus 2012 3rd and 7th rounders to Bills for Jake Locker.
58. Ravens: Leonard Hankenson, WR Miami.
59. Falcons: Luke Stocker, TE Tennessee.
60. Bengals: Quinton Carter, Safety Oklahoma.
61. (Chargers trade for Steeler's #63 2nd and 2012 7th round pick).  Steelers: Christian Ballard, DT Iowa.
62. Bears: Orlando Franklin, G Miami.  Two new starting O-linemen to protect Jay Cutler.
63. Chargers: Ricky Stanzie, QB Iowa.  Chargers get heir apparent to Phillip Rivers.  This is a surprise, especially to the Colts, who had planned to trade up and get this guy.  Clearly revenge for the Eli debacle back when little brother got drafted but refused to play for San Diego.
64. (Packers trade for Colt's #87 3rd and #188 6th.  Packers confident they can get Casey Matthews with #87 and keep big brother Clay happy). Colts: Brooks Reed, OLB Arizona.  Colts need a 'backer and Reed is huge value here.  Perhaps they will go for QB Pat Devlin, Delaware in the 4th round if he's still available, or just wait another year for Peyton's heir.

**** Some thoughts.  Bengals now have the pieces to compete in the AFC Central, and could make the post season by 2013.  49'ers will sell their souls to get Mr. Luck next year as the rest of their weak-ass division has improved.  Lions will make their first Super Bowl in 2012.  Vikings get a QB with very high ceiling.  Joe Webb can be third QB (assuming we obtain a temporary mentoring vet) OR go back to WR for a bit, a position we sorely need him to play.  Vikings also get a quality starting DB who can learn under Mr. Winfield and hold down a position for the next decade. NFC North will supply both wild card teams in 2011.  No Gophers will be drafted in 2011.