1-16 17-32 2nd Round 3rd Round 4th Round 5th Round 6th Round 7th Round
65. Carolina Panthers- G Will Rackley (Lehigh)
The Panthers will probably be looking offense here to build around Cam Newton. Rackley gives them a big upgrade inside at guard, but he can also play right tackle in a pinch, which is going to be important for the Panthers because they were absolutely lost on the right side of their line when Jeff Otah went down last year.
66. Cincinnati Bengals- WR Greg Little (North Carolina)
Little has a laundry list of character problems, but he has enough talent for the Bengals to ignore those. He’s been called a 2nd round talent. Besides, wide receiver is a big need of theirs with Terrell Owens gone and Chad Ochocinco likely on his way out as well.
67. Miami Dolphins- G Clint Boling (Georgia)
They get this pick, moving up in the 3rd round, from trading out at 15. They could trade down again and pick up a 4th rounder, which they no longer have, but they need interior linemen badly and probably wouldn’t be able to get Clint Boling if they were to move down enough slots to pick up a 4th rounder.
68. Buffalo Bills- RLB Dontay Moch (Nevada)
Talking about Aaron Maybin at the Senior Bowl, Chan Gailey didn’t sound hopeful that the 2009 11th overall pick would turn it around. Remember Gailey wasn’t part of the regime that drafted Maybin, so he will have no loyalty to him. Continuing to build their defense, they take a high upside rush linebacker here.
69. Arizona Cardinals- OT Joseph Barksdale (LSU)
The Cardinals gave up 50 sacks last year. They need to protect whoever their quarterback is in 2011, especially if it’s Marc Bulger, who might start having Vietnam flashbacks if he takes too many more hits.
70. Cleveland Browns- DT Drake Nevis (LSU)
Moving to a 4-3, they have no adequate starter next to Ahtyba Rubin at defensive tackle. Luckily, this class is deep enough at defensive tackle where they can get a solid player at the position in the 3rd round.
71. Dallas Cowboys- CB Curtis Brown (Texas)
Jerry Jones says he doesn’t view cornerback as a big need, but he also says that he wants to cut cap to get under any potential salary cap in 2011. Cutting the old, overpaid, and injury prone Terence Newman would be a good way to do that. Curtis Brown could be his replacement. I don’t see them adding Prince Amukamara in the first, as Jones hasn’t shown any interest in him this offseason, but they could definitely go cornerback in rounds 2-4.
72. New Orleans Saints- OLB Greg Jones (Michigan State)
Linebacker has been a need for this team for a while. They need an upgrade over Scott Shanle this offseason and Jones is a good value at this point.
73. Houston Texans- NT Kendrick Ellis (Hampton)
Kendrick Ellis has first round talent, but his history of work ethic and character concerns could drop him, especially as a 345 pound nose tackle. You don’t want someone that big to balloon even bigger with a poor work ethic. However, he’s a rising prospect and could end up in the 2nd or 3rd round. The Texans take him here needing a true nose tackle for their 3-4 defense.
74. New England Patriots- RB Daniel Thomas (Kansas State)
The Patriots love being able to hand the ball off to multiple different running backs. The “old farts” Fred Taylor, Kevin Faulk, and Sammy Morris are all done as productive players in this league and Thomas gives them a 3rd option at running back with Danny Woodhead and BenJarvus Green Ellis. They have enough picks to use one on a luxury player who falls because of the devaluation of his position.
75. Detroit Lions- OLB Bruce Carter (North Carolina)
Carter could have gone in the first round if it wasn’t for an ACL tear. The Lions love BPA and would be thrilled if he fell to them. They don’t have a single starting caliber linebacker other than DeAndre Levy and they’ve shown a lot of interest in Bruce Carter.
76. San Francisco 49ers- QB Ricky Stanzi (Iowa)
Is Ricky Stanzi an ideal fit for their scheme? No. But, they missed out on a quarterback in rounds 1 and 2 and need to do something. Alex Smith and Troy Smith aren’t the long term answers and if they pass on him their options will be limited to major projects like Pat Devlin, Tyrod Taylor, Josh Portis, or Nathan Enderle, or someone like Greg McElroy who lacks upside.
I don’t think Jim Harbaugh will see settling for Stanzi as the end of the world. Harbaugh really seems to want to give Alex Smith a chance to be their starter next year, which makes sense as Smith is a former #1 overall pick and Harbaugh is an offensive minded coach, who will think he can get the most out of Smith.
Besides, the 49ers are in a very awkward spot to draft a quarterback this year. Newton and Gabbert will probably be gone by the time they pick at 7. In the 2nd round, they pick after Buffalo, Cincinnati, Arizona, Tennessee, Washington, and Minnesota. Their only chance at a quarterback in the first 2 rounds will probably be trading up and, in a weak quarterback class, I can’t see them doing that given that they already have Alex Smith.
77. Denver Broncos- RB Taiwan Jones (Eastern Washington)
John Fox had a two headed running attack with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart in Carolina. In Denver he has an injury prone Knowshon Moreno and a bunch of scrubs. The very old fashioned, conservative John Fox is going to want to build up his running game after he solidifies the defensive line.
Taiwan Jones was a dynamic running back for Division I-AA championship winning Eastern Washington, averaging 7.9 YPC on the season last year and also showing good hands out of the backfield. He ran a 4.29 at his Pro Day, conjuring up memories of Chris Johnson, another small school burner, who went from 2008 1st round pick to 2000 yard rusher in 2009. Jones reminds me more of Felix Jones or CJ Spiller, not an every down back, but a dynamic player who has a role in the league.
78. Dallas Cowboys- OT James Brewer (Indiana)
They passed on Tyron Smith at 9 in the first, opting to trade down, because they can get a solid right tackle in the mid rounds. James Brewer, at 320, has the size they like in an offensive lineman, and can be an upgrade over Marc Colombo, who is done, at right tackle.
79. Denver Broncos- OLB Mason Foster (Washington)
DJ Williams is a very talented player at one outside linebacker spot, but they need someone opposite him.
80. Jacksonville Jaguars- CB Marcus Gilchrist (Clemson)
Some more secondary help for their 32nd ranked pass defense. Gilchrist will allow them to move Derek Cox to nickel back ASAP, which should be a goal of this team’s, as Cox is not very good. They’ve shown a lot of interest in Gilchrist this offseason and he fits what they look for in a draft pick. He might not be a 3rd round pick in most people’s books, but as we’ve seen before, the Jaguars have a very different draft board from most teams.
81. Oakland Raiders- G James Carpenter (Alabama)
The Raiders need more help for their offensive line this year. Jared Veldheer and Bruce Campbell are promising as tackles, but overall they gave up 43 sacks last year and their problems had a lot to do with their interior blocking.
82. San Diego Chargers- MLB Casey Matthews (Oregon)
Their top 3 inside linebackers are all free agents. Normally this wouldn’t be a problem. Worst case scenario is they’d only be able to resign one before the draft and he’d be paired with 2010 3rd round pick Donald Butler and they’d only have to use a late rounder on some depth. But there’s a very good chance that free agency happens AFTER the draft this year, thanks to the CBA issue. With 5 picks in the first 3 rounds, I don’t think they risk potentially going into 2011 with only the linebackers that they currently have under contract.
83. New York Giants- TE Luke Stocker (Tennessee)
Kevin Boss isn’t a terrible player, but he’s not great either so if a prospect like Luke Stocker falls into their laps here in the 3rd round, they could take him with hopes of him becoming the long term solution at tight end.
84. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- CB Rashad Carmichael (Virginia Tech)
I expect the Buccaneers to go cornerback fairly early this year. Aqib Talib is facing 5 years in jail. Ronde Barber will probably retire after next season. Elbert Mack is best off as a nickelback. Myron Lewis is a 2010 3rd round pick, but he’s still developing and he can also play safety for them if necessary, another need of theirs.
85. Washington Redskins- NT Jerrell Powe (Mississippi)
Albert Haynesworth was supposed to be their nose tackle in their new 3-4 defense. That didn’t happen.
86. Kansas City Chiefs- RLB Chris Carter (Fresno State)
Mike Vrabel is done. He didn’t manage a single sack last season. They need a 2nd option at rush linebacker opposite Tamba Hali.
87. Indianapolis Colts- RB Shane Vereen (California)
The Colts couldn’t do anything on the ground when Joseph Addai was hurt last year and chances are he’ll be hurt again this year, if history is any indication. Best case scenario, Addai stays healthy and Vereen compliments him with his speed. Worst case scenario, Vereen carries the load when Addai’s hurt and the disappointing Donald Brown spells him from time to time. Vereen fits their history of drafting complimentary offensive players for Peyton Manning early.
88. New Orleans Saints- DE Jeremy Beal (Oklahoma)
Some are saying Beal will fall out of the first 2 days after running a 5.14 40 at The Combine. They said the same thing about Brandon Spikes and his 5+ 40 last year and the Patriots bailed him out in round 2 and he turned into a decent contributor in his rookie year. Someone will bail out Beal.
89. San Diego Chargers- OT Marcus Gilbert (Florida)
Gilbert was very physically impressive at The Combine. He’ll get some round 3 looks as a right tackle and the Chargers need one. Jeromey Clary isn’t a very good right tackle and he’s a free agent anyway. They like Brandyn Dombrowski, but he’s inexperienced and with 5 picks in the first 3 rounds, they can use one on some competition.
90. Baltimore Ravens- 3-4 DE Jarvis Jenkins (Clemson)
The Ravens had just 27 sacks last year with 11 of those coming from Terrell Suggs and 5.5 of those coming from Haloti Ngata. That means the rest of the team combined for 11.5 sacks. That’s not good. They need to add a 3rd pass rushing threat and have expressed interest in doing so. Jenkins can replace Cory Redding, who managed just 2.5 sacks last year.
91. Atlanta Falcons- TE Lance Kendricks (Wisconsin)
Tony Gonzalez doesn’t have much left in the tank. He turned 35 this offseason and only managed more than 4 catches in 2 games in the second half of the season, including his one catch effort in their playoff loss to Green Bay. He’ll probably retire after his contract is up in 2012 so the Falcons need to be prepared.
92. New England Patriots- CB Johnny Patrick (Louisville)
They can’t afford to let Darius Butler or Kyle Arrington start again next year if there’s an injury to one of their starters again. Patrick provides them insurance and depth at a crucial position. He’s also a great fit for what they look for in a defensive back.
93. Chicago Bears- DT Terrell McClain (South Florida)
Tommie Harris is gone so they’ll need a new defensive tackle. They’ve shown a lot of interest in McClain, a great fit for their scheme.
94. New York Jets- WR Edmond Gates (Abilene Christian)
They’re probably going to try to get another pass rusher to replace Jason Taylor here, but I can’t give them one without reaching so they’ll have to settle for a receiver. Brad Smith, Braylon Edwards, and Santonio Holmes are all free agents. I doubt they’ll be able to resign all 3, especially given how many free agents they also have on the defensive side of the ball. Gates allows them to maintain their receiver depth and is a good value at this point.
95. Pittsburgh Steelers- CB Brandon Burton (Utah)
Burton has the size that Pittsburgh likes out of its corners and he is a great fit for the scheme. They desperately need cornerback help. Teams that can spread and neutralize their blitz have a field day on their secondary. We saw it against New Orleans. We saw it against New England. And we definitely saw it in the Super Bowl against Green Bay.
96. Green Bay Packers- OT Chris Hairston (Clemson)
Chad Clifton is probably done after his deal runs out after the 2013 season. He’s also not the sturdiest player either, dealing with multiple injuries in recent years. The plan is to move Bryan Bulaga, a 2010 1st rounder, to left tackle when Clifton can’t play there anymore. Then, they’d need a new right tackle and I’m not sold on TJ Lang. Hairston gives them another option on the right side.
97. Carolina Panthers- DT Jurrell Casey (USC)
The Panthers defense wasn’t the big problem last year. Yeah, they ranked 26th in points allowed, but considering all their injuries and the fact that the offense couldn’t keep them off the field, that’s not so bad. However, defensive tackle is a huge need for them. They’ve got next to nothing at the position.
Go on to 4th Round
Football Fan Spot 