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Who was the big get of the coaching offseason in the NFL? Many would say that it is the San Francisco 49ers head man Jim Harbaugh, coming off of one of the best seasons in Stanford University his
tory, leading them to a victory in the Orange Bowl to cap off a 12-1 season. That lone loss came in a game that Stanford played at eventual runner-up Oregon back in early October. Quite a turnaround from where the program began with Harbaugh at the helm, the year previous to him stepping in the team went a woeful 1-11. In essence a complete 180 degree change for the program.
Now he has gotten his pay day, and he joins his brother as the head coach of an NFL team (his brother of course the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens). Harbaugh grew up right near the team, so this is a staying home of sorts, and now he has his chance to turn this team into what he wants, what he needs to win, and that all can start with this pick in the top 10.
He inherits a team that could potentially win right away, as they were a very popular pick to make a playoff run under Mike Singletary last year. The positions that are filled for this team need not even a second glance, running back, tight end, offensive line, middle linebackers, outside linebackers they are more than set there with talent, and young talent in spots. The quarterback position is something they may need to address, though it could be interesting to see if Harbaugh can come in and make a difference with the talent on the roster, something that defensive minded predecessors Mike Nolan and Singletary could not do.
Then there are the players you are looking at to see who is available, and what best fits what we need to build 
that solid foundation for the future of this franchise under Harbaugh. They have three spots to look at, defensive tackle, wide receiver, and the secondary. At this point in the draft, with the players that are available, and the linebackers that you have quite honestly, you can pass on the defensive tackle spot for this pick. This leads into three players that keep coming up on the lists of the teams ahead of the 49ers, Patrick Peterson, A.J. Green, and Julio Jones.
In previous posts and picks it was suggested that coaches like Ron Rivera of Carolina, and John Fox of Denver, pick a defensive stud to build their team and defense around because that was their specialty, their niche. Offense is what Harbaugh does, and that is the precise reason I am going to say that receiver here is not the direction the should go in. They have a bonafide number one in the making in Michael Crabtree, and then they have talent there in former top 10 pick Ted Ginn Jr., and Josh Morgan, talent that Harbaugh can work with at that position moreso than Fox or Rivera could have on their defenses.
With that faith in Harbaugh, the pick for them right here is a run up to the commissioner before som
ething unexpected happens, and get him to announce with that seventh pick the 49ers select Patrick Peterson. He can step in right away and play any spot in the secondary you will ask of him. Need a corner opposite Nate Clements, there he is. Need a roaming safety to make plays and be an incredible one-two punch with Patrick Willis, and get this team that much closer to where they want to be. This pick alone could once again make them the favorites in the recently down NFC West.
Predictions as of today for this pick:
Me: Patrick Peterson, DB, LSU
Mel Kiper: Patrick Peterson. DB, LSU
Todd McShay: Patrick Peterson, DB, LSU
NewNFLDraft.com: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
Mike Holmgren came to Cleveland last year and he was supposed to begin the resurgence 
of the Browns organization, well year two in that rebuild starts with this selection. With some overhaul to the roster they were able to achieve that same 5-11 record that they had the year before Holmgren had arrived, but they were able to do that in transition.
The Browns do have positive aspects to their team, and relatively young ones that they hope to hold onto and really give Holmgren a chance to build this franchise up. They have one of the best left tackles in the league in Joe Thomas, a top up and coming center in Alex Mack, and a solid guard in Eric Steinbach. The left side of their line is young and rather good, and the right side has a good set of skills as well, though at this point they are on the back ends of their careers. They have depth at the quarterback spot, and Colt McCoy really seemed to show signs of being able to be a solid starting NFL quarterback. Then with Peyton Hillis they have one of the bigger surprises of the season, but also one that they can seemingly count on for the near future.
On defense they made their choice last year to go with cornerback Joe Haden with their top 10 pick, and he payed off with six interceptions in his rookie season. They still have Shaun Rogers 
on that defensive line, as well as linebackers like Matt Roth and Chris Gocong who had their best years in the league last year. Their safeties seem to be set for the future as well, as the second round selection by Holmgren in T.J. Ward played great as a rookie accumulating more than 120 tackles to go with two interceptions, and Abram Elam had more interceptions and pass deflections in 2010 than he did in his first four years in the league.
So with those positions seemingly set, and given the players that are both available and worthy of the sixth overall selection there seem to be four names that could, or even should, be called by commissioner Roger Goodell for the Browns. The only three names that they should be considering at this point with both defensive tackles off of the board are Da'Quan Bowers, A.J. Green, Patrick Peterson, and Julio Jones. They need help on both sides of the ball, and at this point they have to look at what they can get now, and hope to get later.
The talent that Jones and Green possess put them far and away above the rest of the receivers in this class, but there are other players that can be picked in that second round. Jonathan Baldwin can be that big wide receiver across from Mohamed Massaquoi, as can Leonard Hankerson, and that is something that they could risk because of the run that will be made on defensive ends. There are a lot of good defensive ends available, and at this point the top one is still out there, and hard to pass up for a team that had the seventh fewest amount of sacks in the NFL last season. Lastly, Peterson is a talent that they could put on the other side of Haden and have a set of corners to shut down the NFL for the next 10 plus years, along with their young and talented safeties.
It would seem that this is a good position to be in for the Browns, as the positions that they are finding themselves in need of, have not really been snatched off the board yet, so they have options. Though 
I think that Peterson is the best player available, at this point they have the players in that secondary right now where they have the ability to choose a player elsewhere and make their team better for both tomorrow and the future. Then with a little foresight they can see that a wide out will be available come pick 37, though obviously not at the talent level of Green and Jones, who they can maybe see as a better fit into the offense and compliment to Massaquoi. The biggest need for the Browns is that pass rush, give their secondary that much more help with a pass rush, and that guy is Bowers, the best pass rusher in the draft, and the national leader in sacks in 2010. Bowers at that pick is the best for their team in both this draft, and for their team.
Predictions as of today for this pick:
Me: Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
Mel Kiper: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
Todd McShay: Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
NewNFLDraft.com: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
That also includes what a difference losing a Hall of Fame caliber quarterback makes. In losing Kurt Warner to retirement the Arizona Cardinals looked as if they lost their quarterback, offensive line, defensive line, a couple linebackers, and their special teams units. The loss of Warner killed the Cardinals, and two years removed from the Super Bowl, they now find themselves with a top five draft pick.
Looking at the Cardinals roster they have some pieces that are set like the running backs they have, if healthy, can be a decent one-two punch, and then with Larry Fitzgerald you have a good rec
eiver set right there, but Steve Breaston appears to be able to make the move from slot to the number two receiver. Their cornerbacks and safeties are under control and though Patrick Peterson would be a great fall to number five, that is just not where the most help is necessary.
That is because with the players that are available at this point in the draft, they have more pressing needs. There is still a quarterback available in Cam Newton that some say could go as early as number one. There is a freak of a pass rusher in Da'Quan Bowers, that could be the opposite of Darnell Dockett, and their pressure on the quarterback would be that much more immediate. Peterson could be an outside shot here simply because of the sheer talent that he possesses, and the fact that he is someone you want on your team and could really build a defense around.
The choice for Arizona though should be clear, they need help at that quarterback 
position, and there is a top flight potential quarterback with a history of winning on the board, and Cam Newton should be their choice. He has the intangibles and swagger that a team like Arizona needs. He has the ability to come in and play right away, learn on the job, because he will be a bit of a project, but someone who can and will learn quickly. He has tools around him that will aid to an immediate amount of success, and he could be like Vince Young who people said needed time to watch the game develop in front of him, but with pieces around him became the rookie of the year.
Predictions as of today for this pick:
Me: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
Mel Kiper: Von Miller, OLB, Tecas A&M
Todd McShay: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
NewNFLDraft.com: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
A lot of teams have had issues this offseason, aside from the obvious lockout situation, but the Cincinnati Bengals are right up there in terms of in your face issues. What are they going to do with their receiving core, that went from scary to start last season, to gone this offseason. Their franchise quarterback wants to be traded or is threatening to retire, and their pro bowl running back of 2009 was a bit of a dud in 2010.
When looking at the defense they seem to be rather solid, to have young players growing into their positions at spots, and veterans and established players at other spots. Their corners are among the best duo in the league, and with young guys like Carlos Dunlap and Ray Maualuga in the front seven, to go with veterans like Dhani Jones and Domato Peko and Patrick Sims on the line they are set there in terms of spending a top four selection on those positions.
Where the Bengals are in the draft, and what they are being pressed into needing for this team to make last season a detour from the 2009 season's success, comes down to those two positions, wide receiver and quarterback. Terrel Owens and Chad Ochocinco might both be on their way out, 
the former moreso than the latter, but that means you need someone to fill that void. Losing not just one, but maybe two receivers of that caliber needs to be addressed and addressed quickly. Then on the other hand you can have all the receivers you want, but if there is nobody to get them the ball that is not going to help anyone. Is Carson Palmer really going to be out of Cincinnati? If that answer is yes then the club has to address that before anything else, because you can bring in a receiver to work with a quarterback and that can mesh quicker than a new quarterback trying to work with older receivers, learning curve is much more difficult.
So this pick comes down to one criteria, is Palmer the quarterback for Cincinnati's future? For the sake of this mock draft gonna have to say that Palmer is going to be gone, and with that comes the need for another quarterback. So now you have two names that are sort of hovering above the rest, Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert. Both have highs and lows, and question marks, but those are the names that the Bengals will have been dealt. Given that Marvin Lewis is indeed back as coach, the type of success they have had in the past with a quarterback like Palmer, and the easiest transition for the Bengals it would seem that the pick for Cincinnati would be Gabbert.
Predictions as of today for this pick:
Me: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
Mel Kiper: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
Todd McShay: AJ Green, WR, Georgia
NewNFLDraft.com: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
The third pick in this year's NFL Draft goes to the Buffalo Bills, a team that on paper appears to be not good at all, but somehow could have easily been drafting outside the top 10. They had narrow defeats to the likes of the Dolphins, Patriots, Ravens, Chiefs, Bears and Steelers. With all of their downfalls and lack of talent, the Bills were still somehow seven plays away from potentially being 11-5. A bit of a stretch? Probably. But those are six games against five teams that made the playoffs where they lost by eight points or less. So the question for the Bills in this spot is, what position, what player, what talent do we need to change those plays into positives and achieve maybe an 8-8 record at least?
Again you have to look at the positions where the Bills seem to be at a point where it is not sensible waste a pick on when the talent pool is so rich in what they need to start a full team that can win football games. On the offensive side of the ball you look at the running back position, where they had a near 1,000 yard rusher in Fred Jackson, and picked C.J. Spiller last year with the ninth overall selection. They should be all set there, as well as at wide receiver, where Stevie Johnson was able to emerge last year along with rookie David Nelson, and where new options for Lee Evans may make him as valuable as he once was. The interior of the offensive line seems to be a group that is growing and maturing as they will be entering their third season with players Eric Wood and Andy Levitre.
On defense they have players that are making names for themselves, but also there are holes that are becoming glaringly obvious. The middle of the defense had a solid year last year, and along with the players that are available that does not seem like a spot where they should be looking. Kyle Williams made it to his first Pro Bowl, and then Akin Ayodele and Paul Posluszny combined for 257 tackles at the linebacker spot. Jairus Byrd took a step back in terms of interceptions in 2010 from his rookie season, but he was also able to nearly double his tackles, force three fumbles and score a touchdown. Then the question marks begin, are these cornerbacks that you can have faith in? Terrence McGee is getting older, and then Reggie Corner and Leodis McKelvin are young and still should be given time to improve as they could develop.
What they do need is help at the tackle spot on their offensive line, but at this point in the draft, with the players that are available, going to that position would not be taking advantage of their draft slot. So then you switch to the most important position on the field, quarterback. The question for the Bills front office is do we have a quarterback in Ryan Fitzpatrick that we can win with, grow with, start the new era of our franchise with? While this may not be the answer, given the quarterbacks that are in the draft, I think they may be able to go there in the second round, if they really seem it fit to get a quarterback this year.
Where they should be looking though is to the defensive side of the ball here, just simply because of the talent that is available to them, talent they can build a defense around, and build on. They need help at the outside linebacker position, that is for sure, and a guy like Von Miller would be a perfect solution to that problem. Problem is for the Bills is that they also need a pass rusher on the outside, and a guy like Da'Quan Bowers would also be a guy that the Bills could take at this pick and be content with their selection. The best talent in the draft though is still on the board in Patrick Peterson, and with the questions that they have at corner and then at safety adjacent to Byrd, that might be the way to go because of that impact he could have on their whole defense for the next 10-15 years.
At this spot I think the Bills should go with Von Miller because of their ability to make plays in the middle with Williams, Ayodele, Posluszny, and Byrd having Miller will improve their ability to both stop the run, and rush the quarterback of the edge the way that Bowers might do. If they stay in the 3-4 primarily this pick would be the best for them to make here.
Predictions as of today for this pick:
Me: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
Mel Kiper: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
Todd McShay: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
NewNFLDraft.com: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
A new era is starting in Denver, John Elway is back, John Fox is the new head coach, and Tim Tebow comes into the year having ended 2010 as the starter. Problem is for all three of them, is the Broncos are coming off of a 4-12 year, John Fox just left the worst team in the league, and it would appear the other three teams in their division are on the upward swing, while they are falling backwards after starting 2009 6-0. Yeah that means they have gone 6-20 since. So that leads into them having that second pick in the draft. Now assuming that Marcell Dareus is taken number one by the Carolina Panthers, where will the Broncos lean? Well what do they need?
If there is one thing that is clear they are not going after a quarterback, even with John Elway making his first choice here. They just drafted Tebow, Kyle Orton had a solid year last year with over 3,600 yards with 20 touchdowns, and Brady Quinn is still just entering his fifth year and still might have a chance to live up to the hype. The offense seems rather set as a whole when you look at it, Brandon Lloyd exploded onto the scene last year and led the NFL in receiving yards. Eddie Royal has shown flashes, Jabar Gaffney is a solid number three, and they just recently drafted Demaryius Thomas, who they hope to be a star in the making. Add that to Knowshon Moreno in the backfield, Daniel Graham at tight end, and anchors at the tackles in Ryan Clady and Ryan Harris and the Broncos are set enough on that side of the ball to look elsewhere with this pick.
This also lends itself to the idea of Ron Rivera coming into Carolina and establishing a defense with his first pick, as can Fox who began it all as a defensive coordinator on the New York Giants. So why not build up what you know? The defense is unfortunately a mix of old and new for the Broncos, so where do you turn? Do you look at th
e young talent and try to evaluate it now and maybe "give up" so to speak on them and try to fix previous mistakes, or do you look at the aging veterans and try to begin your reload? Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins are getting older, but at this point, with this pick in this draft, you might not want to spend a pick where there is still a player that can man the position. Your secondary is not great, but not terrible, you have some young guys at the corners, guys like Patrick Cox have the potential to learn and grow with someone like Bailey leading them.
So you begin to look at your linebackers and defensive line. These both have their ups and downs, because the linebackers have two young studs in the making that can really grow still and are guys that you are confident playing with. Then you look at a guy like Kevin Vickerson on the edge of the line, he did not have a great year, but it was the most he has played, and the most impact he has had as a professional. Maybe a spot where you can hold off, and let him try to grow into the position still. Especially since you will be getting back an elite player in Elvis Dumervil.
For the Broncos, trying to establish that defensive edge with Fox, it should come down to two players, Ni
ck Fairley for that defensive tackle spot, or Von Miller as an outside linebacker. Given their depth at linebacker, and having Dumervil returning this year, the pick for the Broncos at this point has got to be Fairley. He was a man in the toughest football conference, and was able to continuously beat double teams, and get to the ball. He will be an immediate impact, and it will strengthen them up the middle. They have pieces on offense, at this point in the draft, with a new era beginning, using this as a starting point is a big deal for the Broncos.
Predictions as of today for this pick:
Me: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
Mel Kiper: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
Todd McShay: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M
NewNFLDraft.com: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
As is the case with any team that gets the number one pick of the draft, the Carolina Panthers are in need of a lot of help. Not all is going to be fixed with this first pick, and that is what they have to remember. So often is this one pick overhyped, overrated, overspeculated, over(your necessary adjective here). The Panthers have to remember though, this is one pick, in one draft, one guy. They need to build their team around this pick yes, but not in the sense that they have to be the savior, but rather the focal point in the team's turnaround. While everyone wants a Peyton Manning to turn the franchise into a contender for the next 10-15 years, having a solid, to hopefully outstanding, selection here is what the Panthers need. There are so many first pick busts, that you need to take what you think is best for your team's success, maybe not the team's image, or the symbol this pick might mean for the franchise's direction.
With that being said, the way Carolina should be looking at this pick, you have to take a look at the needs that this team has. Sometimes the easiest way to do that is to look at what the team does not need. When you look at their roster you know there is absolutely one position that the Panthers are all set at, and that would be running back. Jonathan Stewart has been a solid back throughout his career in Carolina while splitting time with the departed DeAngelo Williams, and now has a solid backup in Mike Goodson, who showed a lot of promise as the featured back in the middle of the 2010 season. This also goes for the wide receiver position, though not a position usually looked at as a number one pick possibility, they are set with veteran Steve Smith and young talent in David Gettis and Brandon LaFell.
On the other side of the ball it is roughly the same for the cornerback position. Chris Gamble is towards the top of the league in terms of cornerback talent, and they are in the process of developing young talent in Captain Munnerlyn and Robery McClain. The linebacking corp is young and showed improvements last year, as Jon Beason played very well throughout in the middle of the defense. Charles Godfrey was able to perform solid in the back of the defense, accumulating over 80 tackles during the year, to go along with five interceptions. Lastly, Charles Johnson was able to really make strides playing the full season, and got 11.5 sacks to lead the team.
Now some people are saying that the quarterback position is something that the Panthers have to take a look at, and something that they should possibly draft. I find this to be confusing, because while 
Jimmy Clausen was not especially good as a rookie, it seems that the idea of growing and progressing is thrown out the window these days. Though a completely different animal, Clausen was a part of one of the worst seasons in Notre Dame history as a freshman. By the time he left as a junior he had a number of records, and had an outside shot at the Heisman Trophy, with a 68% pass completion and a ratio of 28 touchdowns to only four interceptions. He learned, progressed, and improved in college, I think that with this class, and the team needs, to completely abandon what he might have a starting off point from seems counter productive.
This team needs defensive line help in the worst way, and their are plenty of names out there to be said first that would help this team there, and build from that position. New head coach Ron Rivera is a defensive guy, would it not make sense to build based on your strength, and maybe turn things around quicker than you would anticipate. Rex Ryan built that defense up and saw quick results. Lovie Smith (where Rivera coached) won with defense first, why not take a shot at building up your defense, and the gameplan you can thrive with.
With that being said, I think that the choice that needs to be made here, though I 
do not think he is necessarily the best player, or a guy I would want to spend a top pick on, is Marcell Dareus. He is a positional need for the Panthers, and he is probably the best guy at that position and the most exciting, and many like him as a top talent defensive tackle. He is a hard worker and comes from the Nick Saban defense that is something to be taken into consideration.
Other options here would be Nick Fairley, where at this point it is a toss up between the two for which goes first out of their position. Fairley probably has the biggest upside, but when it comes down to it he is too volatile, and you are just not sure on what you will get long term. Da'Quan Bowers would also fit into this spot, giving the Panthers a potential double edge attack, in the mold of the Indianapolis Colts, or the New York Giants. With Johnson improving last year though the need for an outside rusher is not as pertinent as that man in the middle of the line. When you take a step back and look at this roster, at this new direction they have the chance to go in, and what is needed to start with this first overall pick, Dareus is the pick that makes sense and is solid for Carolina.
Predictions as of today for this pick:
Me: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
Mel Kiper: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
Todd McShay: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
NewNFLDraft.com: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
tory, leading them to a victory in the Orange Bowl to cap off a 12-1 season. That lone loss came in a game that Stanford played at eventual runner-up Oregon back in early October. Quite a turnaround from where the program began with Harbaugh at the helm, the year previous to him stepping in the team went a woeful 1-11. In essence a complete 180 degree change for the program.
that solid foundation for the future of this franchise under Harbaugh. They have three spots to look at, defensive tackle, wide receiver, and the secondary. At this point in the draft, with the players that are available, and the linebackers that you have quite honestly, you can pass on the defensive tackle spot for this pick. This leads into three players that keep coming up on the lists of the teams ahead of the 49ers, Patrick Peterson, A.J. Green, and Julio Jones.
ething unexpected happens, and get him to announce with that seventh pick the 49ers select Patrick Peterson. He can step in right away and play any spot in the secondary you will ask of him. Need a corner opposite Nate Clements, there he is. Need a roaming safety to make plays and be an incredible one-two punch with Patrick Willis, and get this team that much closer to where they want to be. This pick alone could once again make them the favorites in the recently down NFC West.
