Click on each players' name to see a highlight video from YouTube...
Needs: QB, DE, DT, WR, TE
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Cam Newton - QB - AuburnYou heard it here first, with the first overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft the Carolina Panther select Cam Newton. I just don't think they'll pull the trigger on a defender at #1 overall...if people think Newton is good enough to go in the top 10 why not #1 overall? Plus Matt Moore and Jimmy Clausen...really?
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Needs: DT, DE, TE, T
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Nick Fairley - DT - AuburnFairley is a beast who'll play and play well in any defensive front. Denver had zero pass rush in 2011 and Fairly will require many double teams making everyone else on defense look that much better.
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Blaine Gabbert - QB - MissouriThe Bills QB situation is garbage and Gabbert is a big, strong prototypical QB who can learn behind Fitzpatrick for a season before taking over the reigns in year two.
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A.J. Green - WR - GeorgiaBye bye T.O. Bye bye Ochocinco. Hello A.J. Green.
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Von Miller - LB - Texas A&MThe Cards are old and slow at LB and with their 3-4 defense they need as many good LB's as possible. Miller is a great pass rusher who'll be a solid OLB for Arizona.
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Da'Quan Bowers - DE - ClemsonIf this scenario happens the Browns will turn in their draft card faster than Shaun Rogers could fake another injury. With the switch to a 4-3 defense they will need an edge pass-rusher and Bowers fits that need perfectly with good size and great speed for a productive NFL DE.
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Marcell Dareus - DT/DE - AlabamaDareus could easily be a top 5 pick but I think he falls a little due to inconsistent play at 'Bama. He'll be a great fit as a 5-technique in the 3-4 defense for the 49ers similar to Ty Warren for the Patriots.
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Patrick Peterson - CB - LSUPeterson drops a little simple due to all the teams before the Titans with more pressing needs than CB. He'll start from day one opposite of Cortland Finnegan making a formidable defensive backfield for the Titans. Don't be surprised to see the Titans give Jake Locker a look here.
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Robert Quinn - DE - North CarolinaThe Cowboys played well on offense last season after Jason Garrett took over so they'll look at defense in round one. Quinn may drop in the draft due some questionable decision-making in college but the Cowboys won't pass on his upside and athleticism as a potential 3-4 OLB.
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Julio Jones - WR - OklahomaQuick...name two receivers on the Redskins roster. If you said Art Monk and Gary Clark those were the first two names I thought of too and they haven't played since the 80s. The Skins at terrible at WR and have whiffed on their last WR picks in the draft. They try again with big and strong Julio Jones.
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Prince Amukamara - CB - NebraskaDo I need to remind you how bad the Texans pass defense was in 2010? I think they take the best CB on the board at this position even is Peterson and Amukamara are gone.
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Tyron Smith - OT - USCAs much as I'm not a huge Combine fan, certain things do come out of it such as the actual size of players. Smith measured in with a huge wingspan and giant hands which are both necessary to succeed as a LT in the NFL. The Vikes may also look at Jake Locker but I see him sliding this year.
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Nate Solder - OT - ColoradoSome teams will have Solder ranked as the #1 LT so Detroit gets lucky as he falls into their laps. A ginormous human being, he'll anchor the left side of their line for years to come. Somewhere Matthew Stafford is smiling.
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Jimmy Smith - CB - ColoradoEveryone is assuming St. Louis takes a WR. With Gibson, Amendola, Avery, Alexander and Gilyard they have plenty of depth at WR and need a CB desperately. Smith will contribute immediately.
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Mark Ingram - RB - AlabamaWith the possible looming departures of Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown the Dolphins take the best RB in the draft. I'm going with Ingram at the moment but I have a hunch he's going to run a slow 40 at the combine so don't be surprised to see another RB jump to the top of the list.
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Rahim Moore - S - UCLAThe Jags secondary is nearly as bad as the Texans so getting the best Safety in the draft will only help the Jags pass defense.
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J.J. Watt - DE - WisconsinSome may think this is high for Watt but he is a beast with a non-stop motor. He'll be a great penetrating 5-technique for the Patriots who love high-motor guys who love football.
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Akeem Ayers - OLB - UCLAThe Chargers were solid on offense in 2010 despite missing their LT and best WR for most of the year. They turn to D in the draft and draft the replacement for Shawne Merriman.
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Jake Locker - QB - WashingtonI have a hard time in believing in Locker as he lost a TON of games in college. Were the Huskies that bad or is it the fact that Locker doesn't know how to win. Either way someone is going to take him and the Seahawks have the luxury of letting him sit behind Hasselbeck for a year or two before he has to play.
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Kyle Rudolph - TE - Notre DameI think Rudolph is going to rise up draft boards as the draft nears. He has good hands and can hold his own blocking with his huge frame. Tony Gonzalez is still solid but he's at the end of his career and having Rudolph learn from the best TE in NFL history isn't such a bad thing for the Falcons.
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