AB's Monthly Mock: November shows no love to Locker

1. Buffalo (0-7) Andrew Luck
 (Need a franchise QB, simply put. Best QB prospect in the 2011 Draft)

2. Dallas (1-6) Patrick Peterson 
(secondary problems at the safety and cornerback level; Peterson's versatility will cover some of Dallas' glaring weaknesses on D)

3. Carolina (1-6) A.J. Green 
(Jimmy Clausen was drafted as a franchise QB; with Steve Smith often injured, Clausen needs young weapon)

4. San Francisco (2-6) Prince Amukamara 
(secondary problems in San Fran can be put to rest with this pick)

5. Denver (2-6) Robert Quinn
(freakish athlete who could start across Elvis Dumerville, creating the most fearsome pass rush in NFL)

6. Minnesota (2-5) Janoris Jenkins 
(aging secondary in Minnesota with Antoine Winfield; instant impact)

7. Detroit (2-5) Adrian Clayborn
 (best available player will play alongside Suh, centerpieces of the future for the Detroit Lions)

8. Cincinnati (2-5) Stephen Paea
 (Need 3-4 NT plug, Paea is as strong as an Ox and a prototypical NT; something tough to find nowadays)

9. Cleveland (2-5) Da’Quan Bowers 
(3-4 DE, immediate starter in Cleveland's weak front seven)

10. San Diego (3-5) Akeem Ayers 
(Shawn Merriman replacement; a better athlete and more fluid in coverage, Ayers should be perfect fit. Don't be surprised if Von Miller is taken here instead)

11. Arizona (3-4) Ryan Mallet 
(Need an arm that can sit in pocket and distribute to WR weapons; Can also see them drafting an OT as Faneca is aging and on contract yr)

12. St. Louis (4-4) Marcel Dareus
(Offense is ripe with talent, could see them draft Julio Jones here, but there are other options for RD 2. Dareus provides strength to a below average front seven)

13. New England - from Oakland (4-4) Mark Ingram
(Best pro RB prospect, former Heisman winner, should be an instant contributor)

14. Washington (4-4) Julio Jones 
(Badly in need of strong, young talent at the receiver position. Very physical receiver)

15. Jacksonville (4-4) Derek Sherrod
(Need to solidify line, Sherrod is most complete tackle prospect in the draft.)

16. Chicago (4-3) Nick Fairley
 (Missing a interior defensive force, Tommie Harris hasn't performed up to expectations. Fairley is dominant and will be a strong contributor)

17. Philadelphia (4-3) Bruce Carter
 (lack of talent at OLB will lead to a somewhat reach by the Eagles . Carter is an excellent playmaker)

18. Miami (4-3) Kyle Rudolph 
(losing Anthony Fasano to FA and Parcells likes Notre Dame prospects; best TE prospect in draft. Don't be surprised if they draft a playmaking RB, like JaQuizz Rodgers or Ryan Williams if they declare)

19. Houston (4-3) Ryan Kerrigan 
(will immediately start opposite M. Williams, one of the high upside players in my opinion, Kerrigan is a very intriguing prospect and is flying up The3-4's weekly Big Board)

20. Tennessee (5-3) Demarcus Love
(aging line; Demarcus Love provides depth and versatility, as he has started at nearly every singly O-Line position)

21. Seattle* (4-3) Gabe Carimi 
(road grading lineman, shores up RT position, further solidifying a young O-line. Best run blocking lineman in the draft)

22. Green Bay* (5-3) Demarco Murray
(playmaking RB who can be instant impact; receiving threat will make him intriguing talent. Could open up the playbook for Aaron Rodgers as he has never had a pass-catching running back in his tenure at GB)

23. Kansas City* (5-2) Von Miller 
(3-4 rush OLB start opposite Tamba Hali; Chiefs D looking strong)

24. Pittsburgh* (5-2) Marvin Austin 
(old d-line, revamp of talent beginning with Austin. Tomlin will whip him into shape and straighten out his character concerns)

25. New Orleans* (5-3) Cameron Heyward
(best run defending lineman available, Heyward is strong at the POA. Upside as good as anyone in the draft, has physical tools to succeed)

26. New York Jets* (5-2) Cameron Jordan 
(most explosive and disruptive player left on the board, Jordan can fit into any scheme but is perfect fit in Rex Ryan's 3-4 as a DE)

27. Tampa Bay* (5-2) Rodney Hudson 
(versatility and football IQ; Tampa Bay can build around a guy like Hudson for the future. Young football team, like the Chiefs, with lots of promise)

28. Baltimore* (5-2) Nate Solder 
(similarly built to Ogden of Ravens past, 6ft 9in 315 lbs; RT prospect who can add depth to a injury riddled line)

29. Atlanta* (5-2) Rahim Moore 
(ball hawking safety who will be an immediate start in a weak Falcons secondary)

30. Indianapolis* (5-2) Daniel Thomas 
(workhorse back who will take backfield over; soft hands will allow him to steal 3rd down carries his rookie yr)

31. New York Giants* (5-2) Allen Bailey 
(Talented player, similar to Jason Pierre Paul, a guy Giants reached for last season)

32. New England* (6-1) Jon Baldwin 
(vertical threat, who very well may be the most talented wr in draft. Randy Moss replacement)




*based on current NFL Standings
Mock Draft v11

Jimmy Clausen Signs

Jimmy Clausen signed a deal for four years and a max of $6.3 million.


It must have been really tough for Jimmy Clausen to go from being a possible first overall pick and surefire top 10 to being drafted 48th overall.

I think, however, that this is a blessing in disguise. Yes, he ends up losing millions of dollars, but there are many positives that come from being drafted in the second round.

The biggest thing is the pressure to perform is significantly less. Imagine being an Alex Smith, JaMarcus Russell, or David Carr, all first overall picks that have been labeled "busts" for the rest of their careers. When you are a first round pick you are expected to come in be the savior, the next Peyton Manning. Clausen will join a huge class of second rounder quarterbacks that have never had a lot of expectations.

Brian Brohm, Chad Henne, Kevin Kolb, John Beck and Drew Stanton were the last 5 quarterbacks taken in the second round. The latter 3 were all drafted higher then Clausen. You could say that Henne and Kolb have had some success, but the other three that have not panned out yet. Fans are not that disappointed that these guys have not been really successful because not a lot was expected of them.

Clausen was also lucky enough to go to the Panthers, and have a chance to start right away and not sit behind some aging veteran (ask Aaron Rodgers how he liked that.)

Prediction: Clausen will start first game of the season. I would be shocked if he is not.

Clausen Pre-draft Scouting report:

#1 rated QB - Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame

Biggest Strength: Great production in a pro style offense.

Biggest Question: Cockiness/character concerns.

Where he will go: Top 10. Clausen has the chance of slipping into the late first round like QB’s Aaron Rodgers and Brady Quinn before him. But with so many teams with the need for a quarterback this year it would be surprising to see that happen.

Where he should go/ prediction: 1^st overall. He is a top notch quarterback that, and unlike most of the quarterbacks this year, he has experience under center. I don’t know about his character, but based simply on what I have seen from him I think he is going to be a great QB and it would be a huge mistake for a team that needs a quarterback to pass on him.

NFL Comparison: Aaron Rodgers