2011 NFL Mock Draft

  Start of Draft: April 28, 2011 - 7:30PM ET

*Last Updated April 1st

#1 The Panthers Pick: Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri With new head coach Ron Rivera, the Carolina Panthers are going to want to have a fresh start. Most new coaches prefer to bring in a franchise quarterback with their own seal of approval. Gabbert showed his arm strength, accuracy and poise in the pocket during his pro day that showed he can turn a franchise around and set it on a path to win games. Gabbert has prototypical size, a quick release, solid mechanics, good touch, and outstanding leaderhsip qualities. He's said to be a great game manager, takes command in the huddle, has ability to disect defenses, and hard to stop once he finds a rhythm. He's a very mobile quarterback who can use his quick feet to evade defenders as well as gain yards outside the pocket. Shows ability to make things happen even when a play breaks down. He's inteligent, can learn quickly, has good characer off the field, and high intangibles. He shows an extremely high upside. Other Consideration: DT Marcell Dareus, DE Da’Quan Bowers, and CB Patrick Peterson.

#2 The Broncos Pick: Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson Bowers stepped up big this season and blew pro scouts away to became the crown jewel of the traditional 4-3 DE spot. Denver has made claims that they want to revert back to a 4-3 defensive scheme after the hiring of John Fox. Fox remembers how disruptive having Julius Peppers was and will pull the trigger on a real playmaker at this position. He possesses rare recognition skills and great awareness. He has a big burst off the line and uses his raw power and agility that won't stop till he reaches the quarterback. He has an extensive array of passrushing moves along with a tremendous bull rush that can take OTs off their feet. He shows many NFL ready tools that have demanded double teams all season. A fast and fluid athlete who can keep up with most runners and an explosive hitter that can knock the ball loose. Bowers has tremendous character and a great football IQ. He has a very strong work ethic, a nonstop motor, great mental toughness, and maturity.

#3 The Bills Pick: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama The Bills really struggles to get sacks last season. They also seriously struggled against the run. The best solution for them is to pick one of the most disruptive DT prospects to really light a fire in their 3-4 defense. Playing in Alabama’s 3-4 defense gives him an added bonus of of experience and versatility that other prospects don’t have. Dareus possesses ideal size, weight, and bulk for the position and he’s surprisingly quick and agile for such a large individual. He has a top notch motor and is relentless after the snap. He shows a knack for making plays when they really count. He is versatile enough to play as a 1-gap DT or the 5-technique as a defensive end. He shows great use of his hands to disengage from blocker. He also shows great awareness and can find the ball carrier quickly in trash. He can also rush the passer with a vicious bullrush and can really burst through the line. Dareus had an upbringing similar to Michael Oher and shows exteme mental toughness after facing such harsh diversity.

#4 The Bengals Pick: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn With Palmer demanding the Bengals trade him and insisting he "will never set foot in Paul Brown Stadium again", the Bengals might take this time to get a new leader under center. The Bengals are the only team who would find Newton's brashness endearing and a fit in their lockeroom. They will take a chance on a player with his tremendous talents eventhough most teams see question marks and red flags. Newton's raw athleticism makes him a dual-threat to beat teams in the air with his arm or on the ground with his feet. Newton is built like a tight end with 4.50 speed, a very strong arm and cam make all the throws. He's a proven winner and eventhough he talks a lot, he can also back it up. He makes sound decisions with the football, rarely turns it over, throws a nice deep ball, and is a serious threat when he moves out of the pocket.

#5 The Cardinals Pick: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU Peterson has been considered the top prospect of the class due to his incredible athleticism. He shows elite speed and acceleration running in the low to mid 4.30 range. Peterson has prototypical size with very long arms, and good bulk. He possesses fluid hips, shows a great change of direction, and can easily transition out of his breaks. He has a great leaping ability and can make a play on the ball at it's highest point with his 39 inch vertical jump. He shows great ball skills and has the ability to score. He is a dual threat with a great ability to return punts and can easily take one to the house. He is a physical player who can get a nice jam at the line and can play in either man or zone coverages. He Shows great instincts, awareness, and looks like a very natural and fluid athlete. He is extremely competitive, confident, has a short memory, and lots of experience against top competition.

#6 The Browns Pick: A.J. Green, C, Georgia Green is an extremely polished and talented to come out of college in quite some time. He has ideal hight and bulk with long arm and stong natural hands. He has a great initial burst off the line and is hard to jam. He possesses fantastic body control and can adjust to poorly thrown balls extrememly well to make the tough cath. Green developed into a tremendous route-runner that is very smooth and fluid coming out of his breaks. He shows the ability to create separation on quick comeback routes, can go across the middle of the field, and down the seam. He possesses a great show of hands and can pluck the ball very well with very few drops. He shows great focus and concentration. Tough enough to take big hits and stong enough to break tackles. A high character prospect that is not a diva and a complete team player. Very productive with lots of experience versus top competition. Has huge potential to be a real star for years to come.

#7 The 49ers Pick: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M Von Miller is arguably the best pass rusher in the Draft. He had 11 sacks this season and led the nation with 17 in his junior year. Miller had a prolific Combine, running a 4.46 40-time and a 37-inch vertical. Miller's best atribute is his explosiveness. He has a great first step and can really wreak havoc in the backfield. He has elite athleticism to make plays all over the field on all three downs. He uses great technique and solid fundamentals. His best asset is getting after the passer, but also does well droppin in coverage. His pressure forcing QBs to make bad decisions enabling others to make big plays. He has a non-stop high motor and plays to the wistle. He works hard to shed blocks. doesn't stop after first contact, and a fantastic hitter that can deliver crushing blows. Miller is great at lowering his pad level, wraping up, and drives through the ball carrier. Another asset is his durability since he has never suffered a serious injuries or missed substantial playing time. He has a high football IQ, great work ethic, and is an outstanding competitor.

#8 The Titans Pick: Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn Nick Fairley is just what this team with his ferocity and is a violent force up the middle. He is a tough, skilled, young athlete who is a fierce competitor that can inspire others with his intensity. Failey is quick off the ball and uses his hands well to break through and disrup plays. He uses very good leverage and power to penetrate the line and find the ball. He has great flexibility and body control for such a large player. He is very stout against the run and shows a solid bull rush to get after the passer. He had 12 sacks as a senior. He shows a good arsenal of pass rush moves, a great swim move, and can split and slice through double teams. He can shed blockers in a hurry and make plays on the ball. He is great in pursuit and can chase down the ball carrierball. Fairley has good recognition skills and a great motor. He plays with a mean streak and tough enough to play through pain. He has a great attitude coaches will love and to light a fire under a defense.

#9 The Cowboys Pick: J.J. Watt , DE, Wisconsin Watt is a dedicated, hard-working, intelligent, and relentless player. He is an ideal fit as a strong side 4-3 defensive end. He posseses great anticipation and the explosion out of his stance to get into the backfield and disrupt plays. Watt has very good short area quickness to attack the ball carrier at the line. He has long arms and will bat down a lot passes. Watt has a powerful punch to knock blockers off balance and a terrific bullrush to get to the quarterback. He uses his hands extremely well to disengage when rushing the passer or playing the run. He is an instinctive player with great inteligence and can diagnose plays quickly. He was a super productive player in college and versatile enough to play multiple positions on the line. Watt also has a high motor and will give you everything he's got every play.

#10 The Redskins Pick: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama Quintorris Lopez "Julio" Jones put on a show at the combine finishing at the top of all workouts even with a broken foot. He proved his toughness and that he can give a high performance through pain. He also played through a broken hand this season. He has prototypical size, elite speed, and a fantastic leaping ability. He's a deep threat that can be a nightmare for teams with slow or small corners. He has great agility, balance, and uses great body control to shield the ball from smaller defenders. He is a great route runner and can get separation in man coverage or find the holes in zone coverage. He will attack the middle of the field, can make the difficult catch, and absorb bit hits. He's a strong and physical player which makes him tough to press at the line and can break tackles. He's a great run blocker who seals off corners and sells play-action. A high character guy who will play tough throughout the entire game and played against top level cornerbacks in the SEC. He has tremendous upside.

#11 The Texans Pick: Cameron Jordan, DE, California Jordan might be one of the bigest risers of this years draft. He has great size and bulk for the position and all the tools to play a 4-3 or 3-4 defense. He'd be great playing the 5-technique in a 3-4 and had lot of experience in college. He is an explosive pass rusher with an array of moves. He shows elite use of his hands to shed blockers and extremely long arms to disengage. He uses good leverage to push OTs off their feet and a powerful bullrush to reach the quarterback. He plays the run extremely well. Sets the edge and forces the play back inside. Does a nice job stacking and shedding. He has good range and the speed to chase down a ballcarrier. He has a great motor and plays until the wistle. He shows agood football IQ and discipline for a youngsterd. He has great bloodlines and his father was a six-time Pro Bowl tight end. Has great locker room presence and is a solid teammate. He is extremely durable and versatile with tremendous upside and has potential to be a Pro Bowl defensive lineman in the NFL.

#12 The Vikings Pick: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska Prince is a very physical corner who has all the ability to be a potential shut down cornerback in the NFL. He has a fantastic blend of size and speed to make a NFL ready corner. He's big and physical enough to handle the big recievers in the league. He is a very fluid and has smooth hips to turn and run. Prince doesn't have four years of experience, but he shows great instincts and an ability to read the receiver and jump their rout. He is a tenacious and physical player who is good in press coverage and is willing to come up and support the run. He is a natural playmaker and shows a real nose for the ball. He mainly played man coverage but has all the skills to become as good in zone coverage. He's tough with no durability concerns and should come in and make an immediate impact.

#13 The Lions Pick: Tyron Smith, OT, USC Smith has played almost his entire career at USC on the right side, but is a natural fit to move to the left side in the NFL. He is a versatile player and has the athleticism to play both sides very well. Smith added much needed pounds and weighed in at 307 for the NFL Combine. He has the frame to carry more weight and the athleticism to hold it well. He has extremely long arms to get into the bads of a defender and a good punch to drive them back. He is a natural knee bender who uses good leverage. He is an effective pass blocker who uses his quick and nimble feet to control defenders. He has an excellent kick step and is very effective against speed rushers. He has a good base and is a natural bender who dips low in his stance. The pro-style passing offense which should speed up his transition to the NFL game. He is solid in run blocking and and gets to the second level very well. He plays through the wistle and finishes his blocks. He has an outstanding motor and never quits on a play.

#14 The Rams Pick: Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina Quinn was once a top 10 pick, but has recently fallen not due to health and charater issues. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor in high school. He also missed the entire 2010 season due to accepting $5,642 in benefits from an agent, and his character took a hit again after he lied to investigators about it on numerous occasions. However, he still has the ability of a top 5 player with raw athleticism and perserverence. You can question his health or maturity, but not his effort as he had 19 tackles for a loss and 11 sacks as a sohmore merely 2 years after the doctor told him he'd never play football agian. He has ideal height and the frame to carry more weight without losing speed. He has an elite motor and gives a great second effort. He's one of the most explosive edge rushers and has the quick feet and fluid hips to possibly play 3-4 OLB. His best ability is rushing the passer as he shows great balance and sinks his hips and bends well to fly around the corner. He has a solid rip and spin move. He even increased his 40-time on his pro day to 4.58 seconds. He uses his hands well, stays low, and has a powerful punch to knock back OTs. He's a hard worker and a good teammate. He could be the biggest steal in the draft dropping this far.

#15 The Dolphins Pick: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama Ingran led Alabama to the National Championship and won the Heisman Trophy. Ingram has near prototypical size and a strong solid frame. He possesses elite vision, instincts, and awareness. He's quicker than fast and more of a mauler than a burner. He runs with a low pad level and possesses excellent acceleration to give an exceptional burst through the hole. Ingram has a strong lower half and very powerful legs that keep churning for extra yards. He uses his power to run through contact, is very hard to bring down, and can break multiple tackles. He shows outstanding patience for the plays to develop and for teammates to set up thier blocks. He has soft hands, a reliable receiver out of the backfield, and a real asset in screen passes. He shows excellent ball security as he only fumbled twice in college. He is incredibly tough, brings it every play, and still played hard with multiple injuries. Ingram is a willing pass blocker. Shows incredible balance and runs similar to Emmitt Smith. Played against top level competition at Alabama. He Has good bloodlines with high character. Won the Derrick Thomas Community Service Award following 2010 spring practice. Ability to be a top 10 running back for years to come.

#16 The Jaguars Pick: Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri Aldon has a lot of ability for such a young man. He has good height and a long lean frame that can carry more bulk while maintining his speed. His best attribute besides his first step is his incredible wingspan and 35 3/8” long arms. He uses good leverage and great extrension to push back OTs or disengage from blocks. He is a natural knee bender and can dip and rip through OTs. He can rush inside as well as outside with good rip and swim moves. He is also still developing as a pass rusher and there are parts of his game that are still raw. He has good agility and balance that is explosive and has good natural instincts. He shows good bend around the corner to the passer as well as disrupting passing lanes when he cannot reach the quarterback. He's solid against the run, and technically sound in wrapping up the bacllcarrier that will makes his share of plays in the backfield. He's a hard worker, a relentless athlete, shows a great motor, and solid character. He has a lot of potential for only playing football since he was a junior in high school.

#17 The Patriots Pick: Ryan Kerrigan, OLB, Purdue Kerrigan He might be the most relentless player in the draft that gives maximum effort every sinlge play. He was a three year starter and team captain for the Boilermakers. He was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Lineman of the Year after leading the conference in sacks and the nation in tackles for a loss his senior year. He is as hard a worker on the field and in the classroom. He does not have elite speed but elite effort and shines on tape in pads moreso than in shorts. He has terrific knowledge of the game and is a workhorse in the lockeroom. Kerrigan fights to make plays and used his strength to get 14 career forced fumbles setting a Big Ten record and tied the NCAA mark. He suffered a broken foot in 2009, but has come back and has been just as leathal. He is a versatile player who could play a 4-3 DE or OLB in a 3-4. He has top-notch intangibles. He has good strength and solid speed at the point of attack and exibits a nice bull rush. He has solid short area quickness can push the pocket and find the ball carrier in trash. He has a powerful initial punch and sheds blocks very well. He is just as deadly against the run as he is getting to the passer and shows good containment. He is very consistent has great instincts, amazing work ethic, and leadership qualities. Selected All-Big Ten first team for the 2009 and 2010 seasons and named 2010 Defensive Player of the Year.

#18 The Chargers Pick: Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin Carimi was the 2010 Outland Trophy winner as the best interior lineman in college football. He has prototypical size and adequate bulk. He is a real technition and plays with a violent mean streak. He lives to punish defensive ends and coaches will love his nasty demenour. He is a solid athlete that uses a good base and is a natural knee bender. He uses good leverage and hand placement that can lock onto a defender and tough to disengage. He uses his 35 inch arms very well in pass protection and is strong enought to absorb bull rushers. He has good lateral movement and and a nice kick slide to push edge rushers out of the play. He fights until the wistle, stays on his blocks, and finishes strong. He is quick off the snap and packs a punch. He was a real asset in Wisconsin's run happy system. He can get to the second level and seal linebackers from the play. A very solid drive blocker, will open holes in the run game, and is great hitting moving targets. He shows good confidence to take on any opponent and will hold his own. He will be an early starter at right tackle in the NFL.

#19 The Giants Pick: Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College Castonzo is very fundamentally sound and really takes pride in his craft. He proved to be one of the more fluid and natural offensive linemen at the combine. He has a lot of experience with 40 starts at left tackle and can start right away in the NFL. He showed his durability by holding Boston College's record for career starts with 54. He was also named a National Scholar Athlete and was a finalist for the William V. Campbell trophy (Academic Heisman). He always shows a good base and is a natural knee bender. He uses leverage and his lower body strength well. He is a very good pass blocker with agile feel, sets up in his stance quickly, and has a fast kick step to mirror and lock onto rushers. He has enough force behind his punch to knock back defenders and works hard to finish blocks. He has improved his strength at the point of attack and can get on the ground and cut defenders with ease. He has solid speed and can get to the second level quickly. He can read and understands stunts and blitzes very well and is a real leader on the field.

#20 The Buccaneers Pick: Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple Wilkerson can truely wreak havoc for an offense and completely dominate a game. He has been a huge riser in the draft and is more of a team's secret crush than a sleeper at this point. He has tremendous size but can still move surprisingly well. He played like a man amoungst boys all year and emerged as the Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year. He is incredibly explosive, surges off the line, and closes in a hurry. His stats just reiterate how much of a dominating force he is. He had 9.5 sacks this year, 6.5 last season. He spends a lot of time in the backfield and accumulated 13 tackles for a loss this season and 10.5 TFL last season. He is all over the field and shows surprisingly good range. He aquired 70 tackles this year as the team captain and over 60 tackles last year. He shows a lot of scheme versatility to play DT in a 4-3 or DE in a 3-4. He has long arms and is extrmemly strong. He uses his power in a overwhelming bullrush, has very active hands, and plays with good leverage. He fights through double teams, can bat down a lot of passes, and hold his ground versus the run. He's a sound tackler and a hard hitter. He is a violent player with a real mean streak and plays with a chip on his shoulder. He has a high motor and a real nose for the football. Coaches will love his attitute and game changing ability. He has the work ethic and physical tools to push his ceiling very high.

#21 The Chiefs Pick: Phil Taylor, NT, Baylor He is the ideal candidate to fill the nose tackle role in a 3-4 defense. Taylor has great natural strength and a strong base. Taylor has heavy and violent hands which can in deliver a strong punch. He uses good leverage to disengage quickly and find the ball carrier. His bulk allows him to absorb contact and keep his balance. He has good awareness to diagnose plays and locate the football in a hurry. He has good short area quickness which he uses to finishes the play and uses his power to apply a nice pop on the ball carrier. He does a nice job shredding blockers and gets a very good push at the line of scrimage. He's not a pass rusher but has all the tools to develop into a threat on the passer. He can bull his way into the backfield and shows a nice swim move. His shear size makes him unblockable in one-on-one situations. He can fight through double teams. He's very tough and plays through injuries. Has tremendous upside.

#22 The Colts Pick: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado Solder was a three-year starter and team captain for the Buffaloes. He has a very large frame and nice bulk. He has a strong upper body, a good base, and deceptively quick feet. He's quick enough to step to the outside to beat speed rushers to the corner. He uses his long arms to lock on and drive pass rushers out of the play. He shows good flexibility and bends at the knees to maintain good leverage when engaging. He has very strong arms and chest and can create an immense amount of power to neutralize defenders. He is quick to get in his stance and has one of the best fist steps in this year's class. He is a solid pass protector and an even better run blocker. He is a great drive blocker and uses his hands well to attack defenders even on the move. He does a nice job staying on his blocks or can get out front and get into the second level. He's a real asset in screen passes and does some of his best work on the moveand. He's a heady player with a great worth ethic and solid character. He shows some versatility and can play LT but fits best at right tackle in a zone blocking scheme. Solder might have more upside than any lineman in this year's draft.

#23 The Eagles Pick: Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado Smith is a very talented athlete but might be a casualty of the NFL's strict personal conduct policy. In Jimmy's case the risk might be worth the reward and Philly fans would revel in his playing style. He's a big, aggressive corner who might have the best natural cover skills in his class. Unfortunately, he had a positive drug test in 2007, two arrests for possession of alcohol as a minor, skipped the Senior Bowl, and a brash attitude. He played WR in high school and showcased good hands at the combine. He's got a very fast top gear and reportedly ran a 4.35 40-yard dash. He will be able to run deep with most NFL WRs and has the acceleration to run down plays. He showed his strength and commitment in the wieght room after putting up 24 reps. He has fliud hips a fast backpedal, and great agility for his size. He has good instincts and is quick to distinguish between the pass and run. He shows good awareness of route progression to mirror receivers and knows how to get his body in position to make a play on the ball. He can put a good jam on WRs to throw them off their routes. He excels at man coverage and shows good skills and patience to excel in zone. He has been crititcised on his run supports, but gives effort and wraps up the ball carrier well. He is durable, tough, and extremely confident in his abilities. He was a feared defender who saw very few passes thrown his way.

#24 The Saints Pick: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa Clayborn was the Hawkeye's team captain and leader on the field with his tenacity and firey play. He dominanated the defensive line with his quickness and burst that can get the edge on tackles. He has the power to throw linemen off-balance. He shows extreme diversity and could play DE in either a 4-3 or 3-4 as well as a DT in a 4-3. He shows good technique and uses his hands well to fight off blockers. He uses a powerful hand punch and an excellent bull rush to disrupt plays and get after the passer. He is good at the point of attack and can split double teams. When he can’t get penetration, he does a good job of getting his hands up and clogging up the passing lanes. He plays the run well and has lateral mobility and the speed to chase people down. He shows great awareness and ability to track down the ball when it comes his way. He also does an impressive job of staying home and not allowing the play to break containment. He has a relentless motor and really gives his all to his teammates. Clayborn earned team's hustle award defensively last season and has been a part of Iowa's Leadership Group since his sophomore campaign. There doesn’t appear to be any durability issues with Clayborn. He never missed a game since becoming a starter. He has all of the physical tools to be great.

#25 The Seahawks Pick: Jake Locker, QB, Washington Locker is an extremely talented player with all of the tools to be an elite NFL quarterback. He has a very strong arm, can make all of the throws, and gets good volocity. He can routinely hit receivers on deep outs and fit the ball through small windows. He has solid mechanics, a quick release, and no wasted motion. His over-the-top release helps him from getting passes batted down and does a good job of setting his feet. He has great scrambling ability and deceptive speed to evade blitzers while keeping his eyes downfield ans a nack for making something out of nothing with his feet. Locker has some kinks to work out with accuracy and needs to develop more touch. He baits linebackers well with play-action fakes. He stands in the pocket and makes the tough throw even with the defense bearing down. He played with subpar pass blocking. Locker possesses amazing leadership qualities and has great lockeroom pressence. He's a general on the field, can put the team on his shoulders, and carry them to a victory. On numerous occasions, he single-handedly led come from behind wins. He is involved in the community and maintains humble. Locker is tough and has battled through multiple injuries throughout his career. He played in a pro-style offense and should have an easy transition to the NFL.

#26 The Ravens Pick: Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State Sherrod is a very skilled pass blocker and an ideal fit for the left tackle position. He has ideal height and bulk. He is very fluid. He has elite foot work, quickness, and above average athleticism. He fires off the snap, sets up fast, and can beat edge rusher to the corner and box them out of play. Maintains good balance and a natural knee bender. He's made his name as an athletic left tackle who can handle speed rushers. Has some versatility playing right and left tackle. Solid flexibility and body control. He works well in space, mirrors defenders, and uses his large hands to get into their pads. He's hard to shake once he locks on. He can get to the second level and blocks downfield. A very experience player who started ever since freshman year and has played against top competition. Sherrod is a very high character guy who served as team captain as well as received the NFF Scholar-Athlete Award. He has great intangibles, consistentcy, and is arguably the best all around blocker of the class.

#27 The Falcons Pick: Justin Houston, OLB, Georgia Houston has excellent size and bulk with massive 34½" arms to play OLB in a 3-4 scheme or DE in a 4-3. He was named a Butkus Award finalist in 2010 as one of nation's standout linebackers. He added 10 pounds to his frame and still ran a fast time which he imporved to 4.57 at his pro day. He is explosive with a huge first step and can anticipate the count well. He has great strength with 30 reps on the bench and powerful enough to push guards into the pocket to disrupt the play. He uses good hip technique and movement that allows him to drive through tackles. He is a disciplined player who uses good instincts and awareness to diagnose plays. He has good hands to shed blockers, maintain balance, and give a great second effort to get to the passer. He's stout agains the run, sets the edge well, and can handle double teams. He can take down big backs and force fumbles. He has all the intangibles to be a big time pass rusher with his high motor and strong work ethic. He shows good versatility and can play standing up or with his hand in the dirt. He shows great lateral quickness and the speed to chase down plays. Houston is constantly looking to improve and works hard to get better and sets a good example for his teammates.

#28 The Patriots Pick: Mike Pouncey, OG, Florida Pouncey was a leader for the Florida Gators' offensive line and a tenacious player on the field. He has prototypical height and bulk with a large frame for the posistion. He is very athletic and shows great balance, agility and quickness. He has a good base, a thick lower body, and explodes into his blocks. He has nimble feet and quick enough to pull or slide laterally. He has good power and gets a push to open up running lanes. He's stout at the POA and can hold his ground against large and powerful defenders. Can pull and trap block well. A very solid pass protector. He does a nice job of locking on and sustaining his blocks. He fights throught the wistle and won't get beat with a second effort. He looks good in space and can get to linebackers in the second level. He plays with a top football IQ along with great instincts and awareness. Coches will like his aggressive play and nasty demeanor. He has the ability to play multiple positions on the interior line. He's a competitive leader with a terrific work ethic and outstanding bloodlines as his brother has excelled in NFL.

#29 The Bears Pick: Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois Liuget is a very technically sound player who can provide a lot of versatility on the defensive line. He stays low, plays with great leverage, and is rarely out of position. He can play in a 1 or 2 gap system. He has a good base, very stout at the point of attack, and rarely pushed off the line. He's a powerful player who can deliver a violent blow and lock out a blocker. He uses great hand placement to disengage and work his way into the backfield. He can rush the passer with a good speed move or bull rush. He excels against the run and uses good footwork and short area quickness to get to the ballcarrier. He has great awareness and ability to quickly locate the football. Liuget does an excellent job maintaining his balance through contact and has good lateral quickness to reach the sidelines and support outside runs. He delivers a violent hit with a nice pop. Liuget has a constant motor and will fight and chase until he makes the play or the wistle blows. Liuget brings with him a balanced game and should be a disruptive force in the NFL very early on.

#30 The Jets Pick: Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA Ayers has prototypical size for playing outside in a 3-4 scheme. He has the skill and versatility to line up all over the field but is a great fit at strongside linebacker. He has even lined up at defensive end in the past. He is a smart heady player with good speed and short area quickness. He has great awareness and can make plays all over the field. He plays better in pads than he runs in shorts and shows good range on film. He's a great tackler and technically sound. He wraps ups and drives through the ball carrier and solid in the open field. He's a very patient player who does not often get fooled by misdirection. He uses good leverage and hand movement to shed blocks and can fight through traffic to find the ballcarrier. He has a good first step to make plays in the backfield and doesn't over persue and take himself out of plays. He's one of the better cover linebacker and a great defender in zone coverage. He is quick into his drops and gets good depth. He has won awards for his high character.

#31 The Steelers Pick: Ben Ijalana, OT, Villanova Ilalana is a superb athlete that has a rare set of quickness and power that will make him a huge sleeper. He was a four year starter with 53 consecutive games, Named 1st Team All-CAA (2008, 2009 and 2010) and 1st Team FCS All-American as a junior and senior. He has good size with very long arms. He shows good arm extension and usually first to make contact. He has fantastic strength and extremely powerful that can deliver a jarring punch. He has a solid base and plays with good balance and leverage to hold his ground. He has quick and nimble feet to protect the passer and mirror defenders. He also has an outstanding push against the run and will drive back defenders to open holes. He uses good thechnique and keeps his feet moving on contact. He also does a nice job of pulling and getting to the second level. He shows great flexibility and body control for someone his size. He shows good awareness and insticts to find the imminent threat to the ballcarrier. Has the versatility to play tackle or guard. He is tough and will play through pain, a hard worker, and has considerable upside.

#32 The Packers Pick: Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State Heyward was a starter since freshman year anmd will enter the NFL as one of the most accomplished and experienced defensive linemen in the draft. He shows a rare mixture of speed and strength to beat blockers. Moves down the line of scrimmage well. Has good lower body strength and quick feet and is more agile than most interior linemen. He shows great explosion and consistenly beats offensive lineman off the ball. He shows an ability to change direction quickly and turn the corner to attack the ball. He has good balance and ability to change direction at full speed. He shows a good bull rush and powerful hands to fight his way to the passer and knocks down a lot of balls at the line. He's good at setting the edge and good with containment on runs. He is used to taking on double teams and does a nice job spliting through blockers. He uses his long arms to consistenly prevent blockers from engaing him. He has quick instincts and good vision in traffic. He's very aggresive, shows a real mean streak, and plays through the wistle. He's tough, very durable, and plays through pain. He's a mature, hard working leader, has terrific bloodlines, and a ton of experience against high quality competition.