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NFL mock draft: Bengals grab Newton while Gabbert falls to Cardinals
Russ Lande
Sporting News
With the NFL draft exactly a month away, rumors are flying all over the place. While there has been speculation that the Carolina Panthers have narrowed their list of candidates for the first overall pick to eight players, we still feel they will select Alabama DT Marcell Dareus, who is the most pro-ready of this year’s defensive linemen. Though there are players with higher upside, the Panthers are comfortable drafting the very athletic, fundamentally sound Dareus because he can step in and start as a rookie — even if the lockout lasts until July.
The Broncos have been making news by looking at quarterbacks, but our sources tell us they are not serious about taking a QB with the No. 2 pick and are deciding between a defensive tackle and an end. If Clemson DE Da’Quan Bowers works out well and his knee checks out, they will grab him. But if he doesn’t answer all the questions and concerns about his knee, the Broncos will grab Auburn DT Nick Fairley, which is what we project at the moment.
Though everyone is sure the Bills will grab Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert, we feel they will opt for an elite pass rusher (Texas A&M OLB Von Miller) to upgrade their defense and select a QB in the second or third round to develop behind Ryan Fitzpatrick. After Denver and Buffalo pass on quarterbacks, the Bengals step up and draft Cam Newton and continue their long history of drafting players with elite physical talent while overlooking character questions.
In the fifth slot, the Cardinals can’t believe their good luck as Gabbert falls to them. The have rated him as the No. 1 quarterback and expect him to lead them back to the playoffs.
A couple of notable changes: The Texans, who desperately need a nose tackle for their new 3-4 defense, reach for Baylor’s Phil Taylor. Meanwhile, Washington QB Jake Locker, who was the leading candidate to go No. 1 overall before the 2010 season, falls out of the first round.
1. Carolina Panthers: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
2. Denver Broncos: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
3. Buffalo Bills: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
4. Cincinnati Bengals: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
5. Arizona Cardinals: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
6. Cleveland Browns: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
7. San Francisco 49ers: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
8. Tennessee Titans: Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina
9. Dallas Cowboys: Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
10. Washington Redskins: Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
11. Houston Texans: Phil Taylor, NT, Baylor
12. Minnesota Vikings: Mike Pouncey, C, Florida
13. Detroit Lions: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
14. St. Louis Rams: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
15. Miami Dolphins: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
16. Jacksonville Jaguars: Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
17. New England Patriots (from Oakland): Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
18. San Diego Chargers: Cameron Jordan, DE, California
19. N.Y. Giants: Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jabaal Sheard, DE, Pittsburgh
21. Kansas City Chiefs: Tyron Smith, OT, USC
22. Indianapolis Colts: Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State
24. New Orleans Saints: Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
25. Seattle Seahawks: Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri
26. Baltimore Ravens: Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois
27. Atlanta Falcons: Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami
28. New England Patriots: Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois
29. Chicago Bears: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
30. N.Y. Jets: J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin
31. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
32. Green Bay Packers: Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA
Russ Lande
Sporting News
With the NFL draft exactly a month away, rumors are flying all over the place. While there has been speculation that the Carolina Panthers have narrowed their list of candidates for the first overall pick to eight players, we still feel they will select Alabama DT Marcell Dareus, who is the most pro-ready of this year’s defensive linemen. Though there are players with higher upside, the Panthers are comfortable drafting the very athletic, fundamentally sound Dareus because he can step in and start as a rookie — even if the lockout lasts until July.
The Broncos have been making news by looking at quarterbacks, but our sources tell us they are not serious about taking a QB with the No. 2 pick and are deciding between a defensive tackle and an end. If Clemson DE Da’Quan Bowers works out well and his knee checks out, they will grab him. But if he doesn’t answer all the questions and concerns about his knee, the Broncos will grab Auburn DT Nick Fairley, which is what we project at the moment.
Though everyone is sure the Bills will grab Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert, we feel they will opt for an elite pass rusher (Texas A&M OLB Von Miller) to upgrade their defense and select a QB in the second or third round to develop behind Ryan Fitzpatrick. After Denver and Buffalo pass on quarterbacks, the Bengals step up and draft Cam Newton and continue their long history of drafting players with elite physical talent while overlooking character questions.
In the fifth slot, the Cardinals can’t believe their good luck as Gabbert falls to them. The have rated him as the No. 1 quarterback and expect him to lead them back to the playoffs.
A couple of notable changes: The Texans, who desperately need a nose tackle for their new 3-4 defense, reach for Baylor’s Phil Taylor. Meanwhile, Washington QB Jake Locker, who was the leading candidate to go No. 1 overall before the 2010 season, falls out of the first round.
1. Carolina Panthers: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
2. Denver Broncos: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
3. Buffalo Bills: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
4. Cincinnati Bengals: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
5. Arizona Cardinals: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
6. Cleveland Browns: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
7. San Francisco 49ers: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
8. Tennessee Titans: Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina
9. Dallas Cowboys: Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
10. Washington Redskins: Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
11. Houston Texans: Phil Taylor, NT, Baylor
12. Minnesota Vikings: Mike Pouncey, C, Florida
13. Detroit Lions: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
14. St. Louis Rams: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
15. Miami Dolphins: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
16. Jacksonville Jaguars: Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
17. New England Patriots (from Oakland): Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
18. San Diego Chargers: Cameron Jordan, DE, California
19. N.Y. Giants: Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jabaal Sheard, DE, Pittsburgh
21. Kansas City Chiefs: Tyron Smith, OT, USC
22. Indianapolis Colts: Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State
24. New Orleans Saints: Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
25. Seattle Seahawks: Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri
26. Baltimore Ravens: Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois
27. Atlanta Falcons: Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami
28. New England Patriots: Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois
29. Chicago Bears: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
30. N.Y. Jets: J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin
31. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
32. Green Bay Packers: Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA
