NFL mock draft: picks 11-21
11.Buffalo Bills: Everette Brown, DE, Florida St.
Orakpo is gone and Maybin is more of a hybrid player. When it comes down to it, the Bills defense is loaded with a lot of young playmakers but defensive end is a spot where they can improve substantially. William Moore, the best safety in the draft, is a possibility here but his senior bowl performance was mediocre solidifying Brown as the pick for the Bills. Tight end (TE) is also a need for the Bills.
Alternate Pick: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma St.
12.Denver Broncos: Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC
The Denver Broncos, during the regular, had the 27th ranked rush defense in the NFL. D.J Williams is the only noteworthy linebacker for the Broncos and Rey Maualuga is the number one ranked ILB. He will contribute well by helping both their run and pass defense immediately.
Alternate Pick: James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio St.
13.Washington Redskins: Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss
The Washington Redskins have an excellent defense but have some issues on the defensive line. Regardless of that issue, the defense came away as one of the best in the NFL. The more striking problem is on offensive line and protecting QB Jason Campbell. Jason Campbell was tied for fourth, with three other players, in the regular season for being sacked 38 times. Oher is the best available offensive tackle at this point and will greatly help the Redskins offensive line.
Alternate Pick: B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College
14. New Orleans Saints: James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio St.
This pick will only occur if the Saints cannot secure free agent Jonathan Vilma or if they feel he can fit well into OLB and replace Scott Shanle. There is Brian Cushing to fill the OLB hole but Vontae Davis at CB seems like a more probable and valuable pick at number 14. If Vilma is signed by New Orleans, there is a distinct possibility that a CB is picked at this position.
Alternate Pick: Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
15. Houston Texans: William Moore, S, Missouri
Malcolm Jenkins is gone and there is a chance Vontae Davis could be. The Texans also might think that Vontae Davis isn't worth a #15 pick. Luckily for the Texans, the best safety in the draft is available at #15 which will help them bolster their secondary and pass defense.
Alternate Pick: Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn State
16. San Diego Chargers: B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College
The San Diego Chargers have a number of issues on defense that need to be solved. Since the best OLB and the ILBs have been taken at this point, they will have to take the best DT in the draft and that's Boston College's B.J. Raji. Jamal Williams is a veteran who has had several injuries. B.J. Raji will fill the spot once Williams is gone. Brian Cushing is a possibility at OLB, but RB is more likely as an alternate pick since Cushing is considered a second round player.
Alternate Pick: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
17.New York Jets: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
Thomas Jones is turning 31-years-old and that's considered quite old for an RB. The Jets don't have a lot of pressing needs other than CB but Malcolm Jenkins is off the board. There is a distinct possibility of Vontae Davis going at this point but replacing Thomas Jones seems more important at the moment.
Alternate Pick: Chris Wells, RB, Illinois
18.Chicago Bears: Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland
Kyle Orton does not have enough weapons on offense and WR is an obvious pick here. Some may say that Percy Harvin from Florida or Kenny Britt from Rutgers would be better wide receivers for the Chicago Bears, but Heyward-Bey has substantial upside as his physical gifts are great. He stands 6'3, 206lbs, and ran a rumoured 4.39-4.40 40-yard dash. There is a possibility of RB to help Matt Forte and prevent a short career for him or DE to give the Bears a more grueling defense.
Alternate Pick: Chris Wells, RB, Illinois
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chris Wells, RB, Illinois
Warrick Dunn is 34-years-old and Cadillac Williams is battling injuries. His age is showing and they need a replacement back immediately. There are a number of other choices Tampa can take such as QB Josh Freeman, DT Peria Jerry, or DE Aaron Maybin.
Alternate Pick: Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State
20.Detroit Lions: Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
The Detroit Lions have so many needs that this pick can be absolutely anybody. There is a possibility of QB Josh Freeman, OT Eben Britton or William Beatty, and OG Duke Robinson. But Vontae Davis seems to be the logical pick at #20 as his value is much better than 20. The Lions need some serious help in terms of pass defense and Davis will bolster the feeble secondary the Lions possess.
Alternate Pick: Duke Robinson, OG, Oklahoma
21.Philadelphia Eagles: Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
Though Kevin Curtis is a decent wide receiver, he's 30-years-old and not that great. DeSean Jackson was an excellent pick last year to buff up the receiving core but Percy Harvin will give McNabb that much needed one-two punch and deep threat combo.
Alternate Pick: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
Orakpo is gone and Maybin is more of a hybrid player. When it comes down to it, the Bills defense is loaded with a lot of young playmakers but defensive end is a spot where they can improve substantially. William Moore, the best safety in the draft, is a possibility here but his senior bowl performance was mediocre solidifying Brown as the pick for the Bills. Tight end (TE) is also a need for the Bills.
Alternate Pick: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma St.
12.Denver Broncos: Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC
The Denver Broncos, during the regular, had the 27th ranked rush defense in the NFL. D.J Williams is the only noteworthy linebacker for the Broncos and Rey Maualuga is the number one ranked ILB. He will contribute well by helping both their run and pass defense immediately.
Alternate Pick: James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio St.
13.Washington Redskins: Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss
The Washington Redskins have an excellent defense but have some issues on the defensive line. Regardless of that issue, the defense came away as one of the best in the NFL. The more striking problem is on offensive line and protecting QB Jason Campbell. Jason Campbell was tied for fourth, with three other players, in the regular season for being sacked 38 times. Oher is the best available offensive tackle at this point and will greatly help the Redskins offensive line.
Alternate Pick: B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College
14. New Orleans Saints: James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio St.
This pick will only occur if the Saints cannot secure free agent Jonathan Vilma or if they feel he can fit well into OLB and replace Scott Shanle. There is Brian Cushing to fill the OLB hole but Vontae Davis at CB seems like a more probable and valuable pick at number 14. If Vilma is signed by New Orleans, there is a distinct possibility that a CB is picked at this position.
Alternate Pick: Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
15. Houston Texans: William Moore, S, Missouri
Malcolm Jenkins is gone and there is a chance Vontae Davis could be. The Texans also might think that Vontae Davis isn't worth a #15 pick. Luckily for the Texans, the best safety in the draft is available at #15 which will help them bolster their secondary and pass defense.
Alternate Pick: Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn State
16. San Diego Chargers: B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College
The San Diego Chargers have a number of issues on defense that need to be solved. Since the best OLB and the ILBs have been taken at this point, they will have to take the best DT in the draft and that's Boston College's B.J. Raji. Jamal Williams is a veteran who has had several injuries. B.J. Raji will fill the spot once Williams is gone. Brian Cushing is a possibility at OLB, but RB is more likely as an alternate pick since Cushing is considered a second round player.
Alternate Pick: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
17.New York Jets: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
Thomas Jones is turning 31-years-old and that's considered quite old for an RB. The Jets don't have a lot of pressing needs other than CB but Malcolm Jenkins is off the board. There is a distinct possibility of Vontae Davis going at this point but replacing Thomas Jones seems more important at the moment.
Alternate Pick: Chris Wells, RB, Illinois
18.Chicago Bears: Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland
Kyle Orton does not have enough weapons on offense and WR is an obvious pick here. Some may say that Percy Harvin from Florida or Kenny Britt from Rutgers would be better wide receivers for the Chicago Bears, but Heyward-Bey has substantial upside as his physical gifts are great. He stands 6'3, 206lbs, and ran a rumoured 4.39-4.40 40-yard dash. There is a possibility of RB to help Matt Forte and prevent a short career for him or DE to give the Bears a more grueling defense.
Alternate Pick: Chris Wells, RB, Illinois
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chris Wells, RB, Illinois
Warrick Dunn is 34-years-old and Cadillac Williams is battling injuries. His age is showing and they need a replacement back immediately. There are a number of other choices Tampa can take such as QB Josh Freeman, DT Peria Jerry, or DE Aaron Maybin.
Alternate Pick: Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State
20.Detroit Lions: Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
The Detroit Lions have so many needs that this pick can be absolutely anybody. There is a possibility of QB Josh Freeman, OT Eben Britton or William Beatty, and OG Duke Robinson. But Vontae Davis seems to be the logical pick at #20 as his value is much better than 20. The Lions need some serious help in terms of pass defense and Davis will bolster the feeble secondary the Lions possess.
Alternate Pick: Duke Robinson, OG, Oklahoma
21.Philadelphia Eagles: Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
Though Kevin Curtis is a decent wide receiver, he's 30-years-old and not that great. DeSean Jackson was an excellent pick last year to buff up the receiving core but Percy Harvin will give McNabb that much needed one-two punch and deep threat combo.
Alternate Pick: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
