2011 NFL Mock Draft – Draft Picks 6 Thru 10 Projections and Predictions: Predicting the NFL draft gets progressively harder the further you go in the first round. The more players that come off the board, the more specific teams get in terms of addressing needs as opposed to picking the best player available. Not to mention the fact that most picks are completely dependent on the teams picking earlier in the round. One surprise at the top of the draft can have a trickle-down effect.
Projected Top 5 Picks
Check out our 2011 NFL Mock Draft: Top 5 Draft Picks article.)
1. Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
2. Denver Broncos, Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
3. Buffalo Bills, Von Miller, DE/OLB, Texas A&M
4 Cincinnati Bengals, Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
5. Arizona Cardinals, Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
No. 6 Cleveland Browns: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
Colt McCoy is going to get a chance to be a franchise quarterback in Cleveland, and with Peyton Hillis pounding defenses on the ground, all that is missing is a No. 1 option through the air. Green can be that top option from the day he steps on the field. He is big, fast and athletic, and he makes spectacular catches in traffic look routine. In short, he is the best WR prospect to come along since Calvin Johnson.
“Megatron” can make anyone under center look good in Detroit, and Green can do the same for McCoy. The Browns have to bolster their offense with this pick, or defenses are going to stack the line against Hillis like they did in the second half of last season. Green will open up the field, and he and McCoy could become the next great QB-WR combo in the NFL.
No. 7 San Francisco 49ers: Robert Quinn, DE/OLB, North Carolina
If Blaine Gabbert happens to slide this far, new coach Jim Harbaugh will likely waste little time making him his franchise quarterback. With Gabbert probably off the board at this point, Harbaugh will have to go elsewhere with his first pick as a coach in the NFL. After following a mediocre combine with an impressive Pro Day, Quinn could be that pick.
Normally, Quinn’s off the field issues that forced him to miss the season at North Carolina would be red flags to GMs. However, his ability to stay in incredible shape despite being away from the game speaks to his dedication and love for the game. Quinn definitely made the most of a bad situation.
San Francisco finished in the middle of the road in terms of sacks last season and ranked in the bottom 10 in terms of pass yards allowed. Quinn has the speed, strength and versatility to be a dominant pass rusher in the NFL. He is a rare athlete, and with Harbaugh presumably unable to address his QB issue, adding the best available player makes sense. Quinn is likely that player.
No. 8 Tennessee Titans: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
He was being hyped as a potential No. 1 pick after an impressive showing in Auburn’s title game victory, but questions about his dedication have him tumbling. While missing meetings and interviews with potential employers is never a good thing, Fairley’s performance on the field and in his workouts can make up for a lot of his negative off the field qualities.
More importantly, Fairley can add some much needed bulk up front to a very mediocre Titans defense. He can be effective in either a 4-3 or a 3-4 defense, and Fairley has the type of size to make the rest of the Titans defenders more effective. Something else to consider is that Tennessee’s new defensive line coach is Tracy Rocker, who happened to coach Fairley at Auburn. The Titans defense has been missing an anchor on the defensive line since the departure of Albert Haynesworth, and Fairley can be that missing piece.
No. 9 Dallas Cowboys: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
Personally, I think the Cowboys are going to trade down out of the top-10. Dallas could really use an offensive lineman, but history says that owner Jerry Jones doesn’t draft them in the first round. He might depart from that trend this year, but it won’t be with a top-10 pick.
If for some reason Dallas can’t find a trading partner, Amukamara makes sense. It is no secret the Dallas secondary needs help. The Cowboys need someone to play alongside Terrence Newman this coming season, and they need someone to take over for him as the team’s shutdown corner in the not too distant future. Amukamara has been regarded as the most technically sound cornerback in this year’s draft, and he can step in and start immediately.
No. 10 Washington Redskins: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
The Redskins have made a habit of making inexplicable selections in the early rounds or trading away their picks all together. However, this year’s pick should be an easy one even for the Washington front office. With Santana Moss expected to leave in free agency, Anthony Armstrong would be the team’s No. 1 receiver, and that doesn’t bode well for the offense. Jones can step in and remedy the situation.
Jones has the blazing speed and size to be an explosive weapon in the NFL. At the very least, he will command attention from opponents, opening things up for the rest of the offense. Washington’s current receiving core is full of busts taken in the late first or early second round and third rounds. It is time the Redskins stepped up and spent a high pick on a legitimate stud, and Jones can be that guy.