Category: NFL Draft (Page 26 of 102)

No. 1 Carolina Panthers
Team Needs: DT, QB, TE, CB, G, WR
I feel like I say this every year about the team with the top pick, but when you have the No. 1 pick in the draft, you don’t have just one need – you have several. With how poorly Jimmy Clausen played in his first year, quarterback is the most obvious choice for the Panthers at No. 1. But if the new coaching staff feels like he’ll make strides (uh, really big strides) in his second year, then I wouldn’t rule out Nick Fairley at No. 1. The team has had a steady rotation at the defensive tackle spot but they need to find more disruptive players and Fairley certainly fits the bill. If the Panthers manage to trade out of the top spot (which is unlikely), they could move down and target someone like Patrick Peterson seeing as how Richard Marshall may not be back next year and Captain Munnerlyn is better suited for the nickel. But unless they can trade out of the top spot, the Panthers won’t be filling their need at cornerback, tight end, guard or receiver in the first round.
First Round Possibilities: Blaine Gabbert (Missouri), Cam Newton (Auburn), Nick Fairley (Auburn), Jake Locker (Washington), Patrick Peterson (LSU).

No. 20 Tampa Bay Bucs
Team Needs: DE, CB, OT, LB
The one glaring need for the Bucs is pass rush. Stylz G. White is the team’s best pass-rusher, but he’s not consistent and he’s a free agent so the Bucs may let him walk. Tim Crowder is a free agent as well and seeing as how he was exposed as a starter last year, he may only be brought back in a rotation next year. With how deep the talent pool is at defensive end, the Bucs may choose to wait and grab a pass rusher later in the draft. If that’s the case, they may target a cornerback or linebacker with their top pick, seeing as how Barrett Ruud and Ronde Barber are free agents.
First Round Possibilities: Akeem Ayers (UCLA), Adrian Clayborn (Iowa), J.J. Watt (Wisconsin), Ryan Kerrigan (Purdue), Brandon Harris (Miami), Jimmy Smith (Colorado), Aaron Williams (Texas).

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No. 8 Tennessee Titans
Team Needs: QB, G, CB, LB, DT
The team has already announced that Vince Young won’t return, meaning there’s a good chance that the Titans will target their future signal caller at No. 8. Kerry Collins is a free agent, but the team could bring him back on a cheap, one-year contract so he can help groom a rookie. The interior of the offensive line must be addressed, so the Titans could (and probably should) look to add a guard in one of the first three rounds. Defensively, Alterraun Verner was one of the best rookies in the league last season and the team is high on Jason McCourty, but Cortland Finnegan struggled and is heading into a contract year. A team can never have too many corners when they play in the same division as the Colts and Texans, so don’t rule out Tennessee nabbing a CB in the first round. Jason Babin, Jacob Ford and Dave Ball are all free agents, so defensive end could be a need if the Titans decide not to bring at least two of them back. The same can be said at linebacker, where top tackler Stephen Tulloch and outside LB David Thornton are free agents. But Tulloch should be brought back and Gerald McRath is emerging as Thornton’s replacement, so I doubt the team will draft a linebacker at No. 8. But again, it all depends on how they handle their free agents though. Also, I wouldn’t be completely shocked if the Titans nabbed a DT in the first round, especially if Nick Fairley slips. But I just can’t see them pulling the trigger on Marcell Dareus that high.
First Round Possibilities: Nick Fairley (Auburn), Cam Newton (Auburn), Jake Locker (Washington), Ryan Mallett (Arkansas), Patrick Peterson (LSU), Prince Amukamura (Nebraska), Von Miller (Texas A&M), Marcell Dareus (Alabama).

No. 11 Houston Texans
Team Needs: CB, S, LB, DT, WR
When your team gets torched through the air on a weekly basis like the Texans were last year, the defensive backfield must be addressed. Kareem Jackson was a major disappointment in his first year, but he’s only a rookie and needs time to develop. Glover Quinn is a suitable No. 2 but he’s not a playmaker and he can’t matchup with the better receivers in the league, so adding a corner this offseason is a must (although the Texans may choose to go with a veteran over another rookie). Safety is the bigger concern. The team just released Eugene Wilson and while Bernard Pollard was excellent two years ago, he struggled last season. They need to add a ballhawk at some point, but maybe signing someone like O.J. Atowge makes more sense than drafting a safety in the second or third round, because there isn’t a prospect worth taking at No. 11. Staying on the defensive side of the ball, the loss of DeMeco Ryans hurt and it could be up to 18 months before he fully recovers from the Achilles injury he suffered last season. Brian Cushing can play either inside or outside, but right now this team is seriously lacking pass-rushers on the outside. With the switch to a 3-4 under new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, the defensive tackle position must be addressed as well. Phillips has found success with lighter nose tackles in previous stops, but Amobi Okoye has just six sacks in 53 games since recording five sacks in his first nine games as a rookie. He just hasn’t been the player the team expected him to be when they drafted him in the first round a couple of years ago and I can’t envision Houston going into next season without adding a piece to the interior of their D-line.
First Round Possibilities: Aldon Smith (Missouri), Prince Amukamara (Nebraska), Marcell Dareus (Alabama), Cameron Jordan (Cal), Julio Jones (Alabama), Patrick Peterson (LSU), Nick Fairley (Auburn), Von Miller (Texas A&M), A.J. Green (Georgia), Da’Quan Bowers (Clemson), Robert Quinn (North Carolina), Akeem Ayers (UCLA).

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2011 NFL Draft Needs: AFC East | AFC North | NFC East | NFC North

No. 12 Minnesota Vikings
Team Needs: QB, DT, DE, S, LB
Leslie Frazier has plenty of holes to fill in his first draft as head coach of the Vikings, perhaps none bigger than at quarterback. Brett Favre won’t be back and if Tarvaris Jackson is re-signed (which is a big “if”), he certainly won’t be handed the starting job. If Ryan Mallett or Cam Newton slips to Minnesota at No. 12, they’re definite possibilities to land in the Twin Cities. Defensively, Pat Williams probably won’t be back and it’s doubtful the Vikes see either Jimmy Kennedy or Letroy Guion as potential starters alongside Kevin Williams next year. On the outside, free agent Ray Edwards racked up eight sacks in 2010 but his production has dropped and thus, the Vikings have a reason not to break the bank to retain him this offseason. Everson Griffen and Jayme Mitchell have flashed their potenital, but can either be counted on as a starter opposite Jared Allen? At safety, Madieu Williams isn’t likely to be brought back and the Vikes could use a ballhawk to go along with either Husain Abdullah or Tyrell Johnson. The recently released O.J. Atowge might be a possibility via free agency.
First Round Possibilities: Cam Newton (Auburn), Ryan Mallett (Arkansas), Akeem Ayers (UCLA), Robert Quinn (North Carolina), Marcell Dareus (Alabama), Cameron Jordan (Cal), Aldon Smith (Missouri), Von Miller (Texas A&M).

No. 13 Detroit Lions
Team Needs: CB, OT
The Lions acquired Chris Houston and Alphonso Smith last year but seeing as how they play in a division that features two explosive passing attacks in Green Bay and Chicago, Detroit needs to continue to add pieces to its secondary. They should have a chance to land one of the top 3 corners (Patrick Peterson, Prince Amukamara, Brandon Harris) at No. 13 and if someone like Amukamara falls in their lap, I can’t see the Lions passing on such a highly touted prospect. Staying on the defensive side of the ball, this team needs more playmakers at the linebacker position. The Lions have already told Julian Peterson that he won’t be back and while the team may re-sign Bobby Carpenter, he’s best served as a backup. On the other side, Landon Johnson is unlikely to return as well after being placed on I.R. in late December. It seems like Detroit usually enters drafts needing to target linebackers and this year is no exception. Offensively, the line is improving and isn’t a pressing need but the team could stand to add depth.
First Round Possibilities: Patrick Peterson (LSU), Prince Amukamara (Nebraska), Brandon Harris (Miami), Jimmy Smith (Colorado), Nate Solder (Colorado), Greg Jones (Michigan State), Akeem Ayers (UCLA), Von Miller (Texas A&M), Bruce Carter (North Carolina), Mike Pouncey (Florida), Derek Sherrod (Mississippi State), Anthony Castonzo (Boston College).

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