NFL Mock Drafts

By Clark Judge
CBSSports.com Senior NFL Columnist

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OK, I believe. I believe.

Contrary to the GMs, coaches and scouts I spoke to last weekend, I believe the Carolina Panthers will take Cam Newton in the draft -- not because he's the best player out there but because they believe they have no other choice.

They need someone to play quarterback, they need someone dynamic and they need someone to sell tickets. Newton fits the job description.

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So the Panthers take a chance and make history. If and when they make the move they become -- at least according to the NFL -- only the third team to use its first picks in successive years on quarterbacks, following the 1960-61 Washington Redskins and 1962-63 Los Angeles Rams. Of course, the 1968 Oakland Raiders used their first two picks to choose quarterbacks (Eldridge Dickey and Ken Stabler), but, as usual, they were the exception.

The Panthers might be, too. Last year they chose Jimmy Clausen with their first pick, though it was in the second round.

One more thing before we move on: While Washington drafted Richie Lucas in 1960, he never played in the NFL. He played for the AFL Buffalo Bills. The Rams' second quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner Terry Baker, spent three seasons with the team before enrolling at USC law school, then moved on to play with Edmonton of the CFL.

Cam Newton will do neither. Sooner or later, he will be the Panthers' starter, and then what happens is anyone's guess. There is no consensus pick this year, and Newton is high-risk, high-reward. People love him or hate him, and here's hoping Carolina knows what it's doing. More than Cam Newton's career could depend on it.

NFL Mock Draft - 04/28/2011
Round 1
1. Carolina Panthers
	Cam Newton, QB, Auburn: After turning this one inside out, I believe the Panthers have a conviction about the guy and take him, basically because they believe he can be a difference maker. Case closed.
2. Denver Broncos
	Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M: DT Marcell Dareus makes more sense to me, but Miller can do so many things he may be hard for coach John Fox to pass.
3. Buffalo Bills
	Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama: Think the Bills would do cartwheels if Dareus makes it to them. Could be a difficult choice between him and Patrick Peterson.
4. Cincinnati Bengals
	A.J. Green, WR, Georgia: I'm sticking with this pick because I believe Bengals have been locked on him from the moment they saw him. Look for them to draft a QB in the second round.
5. Arizona Cardinals
	Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU: The Cards could go for a quarterback here, but how do you pass up the best player in the draft? You don't, unless you get a trade offer you can't refuse.
6. Cleveland Browns
	Julio Jones, WR, Alabama: Defense makes more sense to me, but the Browns just hired an offensive head coach, and Colt McCoy has no outside playmakers.
7. San Francisco 49ers
	Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri: He may be a better prospect than Newton, and 49ers should be happy he lasts this long. Jim Harbaugh can develop him into future starter.
8. Tennessee Titans
	Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn: Another pick I've stuck with from Day One. Just makes too much sense not to happen.
9. Dallas Cowboys
	Tyron Smith, OT, Southern California: He's the only tackle worth taking in the top 10, and Cowboys need someone to protect Tony Romo. J.J. Watt a possibility, but I'm sticking with the insurance policy for Romo.
10. Washington Redskins
	Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina: Redskins need a QB, but there's not one worth taking here. Quinn fills a defensive need.
11. Houston Texans
	Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska: Texans couldn't stop any quarterback from shredding them. That must change, and Amukamara's the guy to do it.
12. Minnesota Vikings
	Cameron Jordan, DE, California: Vikes need another pass rusher, and it could be Jordan or it could be J.J. Watt. I'll take Jordan, which should make his Dad happy.
13. Detroit Lions
	Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College: Matt Stafford keeps getting hurt, so it's time to protect him as much as possible. Jimmy Smith a possibility here, but it's high for him.
14. St. Louis Rams
	Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson: He's the best pass rusher on the board, but there are questions about his right knee. I don't think the Rams will be concerned.
15. Miami Dolphins
	Mike Pouncey, OG, Florida: It could be Mark Ingram, too, but the more I think about these guys the more I think they build the run game up front first.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars
	J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin: The Jags need a pass rusher, and it's a push here among Watt, Aldon Smith and Ryan Kerrigan.
17. New England Patriots (from Oakland)
	Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama: Sooner or later, Pats must find a running back. It may be sooner, though they could go for an OL.
18. San Diego Chargers
	Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri: Bolts need a defensive playmaker, and, with Watt off board, it's either Smith or Kerrigan.
19. New York Giants
	Nate Solder, OT, Colorado: Giants hope he lasts this far. Don't know that he will. If not, look for someone like Ingram or Corey Liuget.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
	Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue: Bucs must improve a pass rush that produced 26 sacks, and Kerrigan could be the solution.
21. Kansas City Chiefs
	Danny Watkins, OG, Baylor: This is high for him, but Chiefs are getting old on OL, with G Brian Waters 34.
22. Indianapolis Colts
	Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois: Could go for an OT, too, with Gabe Carimi a possibility.
23. Philadelphia Eagles
	Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina: Another team that could go for Carimi, but I say Eagles look to defense first.
24. New Orleans Saints
	Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor: Saints must plug all those holes Seattle exploited in playoffs.
25. Seattle Seahawks
	Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple: Seahawks have a raft of needs, and they'll start with defense.
26. Baltimore Ravens
	Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado: He's a character concern, but he's also a superb CB. Ravens have vets to handle him.
27. Atlanta Falcons
	Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State: I keep saying it: Falcons need a bookend for John Abraham.
28. New England Patriots
	Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin: Matt Light is a free agent. Can't have enough protection for Tom Brady.
29. Chicago Bears
	Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State: Another team that needs an OT. Bears made most of what they had on OL last year, and it wasn't much.
30. New York Jets
	Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa: Could use another DT, but could use a pass rusher, too. Clayborn the best here.
31. Pittsburgh Steelers
	Aaron Williams, CB, Texas: Green Bay is still completing passes against these guys. More help is needed at CB.
32. Green Bay Packers
	Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA: It's a bit of a reach, but he becomes the bookend LB for Clay Matthews.

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