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 - AuburnI'm sticking with Newton at #1...you 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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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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A.J. Green - WR - GeorgiaBye bye T.O. Bye bye Ochocinco. Hello A.J. Green.
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Blaine Gabbert - QB - MissouriThe team who thought Derek Anderson was the answer goes with Blaine Gabbert...Larry Fitzgerald says thank you!
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Da'Quan Bowers - DE - ClemsonWith so many teams running a 3-4 defense the Browns luck out and get the top DE in the draft and possibly the best player in the draft.
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Von Miller - LB - Texas A&MMiller will step in and play immediately next to Patrick Willis forming a dominating due at LB for the 49ers.
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Patrick Peterson - CB - LSUPeterson wowed as expected at the combine...but I just can't find a spot for him before the Titans pick. Maybe the 49ers take him one spot sooner, but there's no way he slips past the Titans.
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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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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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Prince Amukamara - CB - NebraskaAmukamra slides a little, but he fits the work hard, overachieving defense of the Rams.
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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 - WisconsinA lot of people moved Watt up their board after the combine...well, he'll drop down mock draft boards when people see the needs of teams ahead of the Pats. He'll be a great penetrating 5-technique for the Patriots who love high-motor guys who love football.
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Jimmy Smith - CB - ColoradoSmith has some character concerns but that hasn't stopped the Chargers from drafting players in the past. He'll help immediately in the defensive backfield.
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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.
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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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