CaliforniaJag's 2011 NFL Mock Draft

Let's make this short and sweet. Nothing but quickie blurbs for each pick.

1. Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn - The Panthers don't believe in Clausen enough to commit to him. Newton has monster upside, but equally huge downside. Not a fan of the pick, but I'm not the Panthers' GM.

2. Denver Broncos: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama - Dareus is the start of a new defense: a big, athletic DT that can both rush the passer and stop the run. Denver hopes he'll be their Ndamukong Suh, though I think there's a better chance he'll be their Gerald McCoy or Tyson Alualu.

3. Buffalo Bills: Von Miller, LB, Texas A&M - The Bills desperately need a pass-rusher. Miller is a very, very good pass-rusher. Perfect fit, but Ryan Fitzpatrick isn't the answer and Gabbert is on the board. Not sure this is a smart pick for them.

4. Cincinnati Bengals: A. J. Green, WR, Georgia - The Bengals have plenty of needs, including quarterback. Passing on Gabbert is a gamble move that probably isn't a good idea. Green is a very, very good player though.

5. Washington Redskins (from Arizona): Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri - Elated to see Gabbert still on the board, Washington trades up and snags him immediately.

6. Houston Texans (from Cleveland): Patrick Peterson, DB, LSU - The Texans feel that Peterson is the guy that can improve their below-average secondary. The price isn't exhorbitant, so they pay it and move up five spots.

7. San Francisco 49ers: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska - The 49ers stay put despite trade offers and select Amukamara, their favorite defensive player left on the board.

8. Tennessee Titans: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn - He's not Albert Haynesworth; he's just a big, athletic tackle. Now Tennessee can move Jason Jones back to defensive end.

9. Dallas Cowboys: J. J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin - Dallas takes a DE to plug in on their three-man front in the hopes that he can help generate a pass-rush from the inside. Watt is a perfect fit in Dallas' 3-4 defense.

10. Arizona Cardinals (from Washington): Robert Quinn, LB/DE, North Carolina - The Cardinals kind of like Gabbert, but I get the feeling they're not enamored with him. They move down with Washington and are still able to get Quinn, a player they targeted at 5.

11. Cleveland Browns (from Houston): Julio Jones, WR, Alabama - The Browns grab a big, physical receiver to give Colt McCoy another weapon to throw to.

12. Minnesota Vikings: Jake Locker, QB, Washington - With the run on quarterbacks having begun, the Vikings take Locker and hope to turn him into their quarterback of the future. I don't believe they're sold on any of their present quarterbacks.

13. Detroit Lions: Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri - The Lions take a pass-rusher at 13, and it's the athletic Smith. Smith can learn from Kyle Vanden Bosch and help create havoc on the potent Lions defensive line.

14. St. Louis Rams: Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois - The Rams, having seen Julio Jones come off the board several picks earlier, try to move down but can't find a taker. They stay put and select Liuget, a solid DT that can start from day one.

15. Miami Dolphins: Mike Pouncey, OG, Florida - The Dolphins try to move down with this pick but can't find a taker. They take a safe player, but the top-rated interior lineman in the draft.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars: Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada - The upside was too much to ignore. Kaepernick is more ready than some people think, and would get to learn for a year behind David Garrard before being expected to be "the guy". Half the Jaguars fans protest because they like Ponder better, but Gene Smith is not a Jaguars fan; he's the Jaguars' GM.

17. New England Patriots: Cameron Jordan, DE, California - Too much value to pass up. The Patriots get a great value here.

18. San Diego Chargers: Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, Temple - Upset that the Patriots snagged Watt, the Chargers take the next-best DE on their board.

19. New York Giants: Tyron Smith, OT, USC - Too much value to pass up here.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson - Bowers' fall stops here. The Bucs don't care about the injury risk; the upside is too high, and they desperately need pass-rushers.

21. Kansas City Chiefs: Phil Taylor, NT, Baylor - The Chiefs' improving defense has one major need: nose tackle. Taylor can literally plug that hole for them.

22. Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College - The Colts grab their starting left tackle of the future after Tony Ugoh failed to pan out.

23. Philadelphia Eagles: Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado - The Eagles bolster their secondary by adding a corner with great skills and questionable character. Huge boom or bust pick.

24. New Orleans Saints: Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue - The Saints help their pass-rush by grabbing the Purdue defensive end at 24.

25. Buffalo Bills (from Seattle): Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State - The Bills can't wait any longer and trade back into the first round to select the guy they feel will become their quarterback of the future.

26. Baltimore Ravens: Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin - The Ravens grab a bookend tackle to pair with Michael Oher.

27. Atlanta Falcons: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa - The Falcons bolster their pass rush by grabbing Clayborn, one of the few pass-rushers remaining.

28. Tennessee Titans (from New England): Andy Dalton, QB, TCU - Tennessee impatiently moves up for Dalton, who they hope turns out to be a better fit in Nashville than Vince Young. Classic New England move trading out of this pick.

29. Chicago Bears: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado - Chicago can't pass up Solder's upside. I personally think he'll be a bust, but Mike Tice may be able to help work some magic with Solder.

30. New York Jets: Brooks Reed, LB, Arizona - The Jets grab Reed in the hopes that he can help them generate a better pass-rush. Reed seems like Rex Ryan's type of player.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers: Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State - Sherrod at 31 is just too much value for the Steelers to pass up. Sherrod can play either tackle spot and helps the Steelers keep Ben Roethlisberger off the ground.

32. Green Bay Packers: Danny Watkins, OG, Baylor - With Brooks Reed, Clay Matthews' hair twin, off the board, the Packers grab Watkins, a day-one starter and solid overall blocker.