Tony Ortiz's Mock Draft Picks 1-15
With the NFL draft coming up quickly, I thought I'd take a shot at trying to figure out who goes where in the first round, with my feelings on the pick. Here's the first 15 selections - take with a grain of salt and a bottle of rum.
1. Carolina - Cam Newton
(Not a big fan of Newton's, but the Panthers need a franchise signal caller and someone who get fans interested again in Carolina, and the Heisman Trophy winner can do both.)
2. Denver - Marcel Dareus
(This one is easy. The Broncos need to improve the middle of their defensive line, and - if history is any indication - John Fox will start the rebuilding process in Denver by strengthening the defense, like he did in Carolina.)
3. Buffalo - Von Miller
(The temptation will be to take a QB, but the Bills desperately need a solid pass-rushing LB. That's Miller. Case closed.)
4. Cincinnati - Blaine Gabbert
(If Carson Palmer were coming back, this would be the perfect place to grab a WR. However, Palmer isn't coming back, and the Bengals need to grab a QB badly. Gabbert will be a good fit in a Cincinnati offense that will rely more on the run next season.)
5. Arizona - Patrick Peterson
(Too high for Jake Locker to be picked, so the Cardinals will have to wait until Round #2 for a QB. Peterson fits the need for a shutdown CB for a porous Arizona defense.)
6. Cleveland - Robert Quinn
(Like Cincinnati, the Browns could use some more offensive weapons.....but a solid pass rushing defensive end will be too much for Holmgren to pass on. Remember, a better defense was key to the Packers' improvement under him in the 90's.)
7. San Francisco - Nick Fairley
(49ers need a run-stopper in the middle of their defensive line. Fairley fits that role nicely, even if questions exist about his maturity and work ethic.)
8. Tennessee - A.J. Green
(Kenny Britt's arrest could signal the end of his tenure with the Titans. Green would provide a solid target to whoever plays QB in Tennessee this fall.)
9. Dallas - Tyron Smith
(Improving the offensive line is job #1 for Cowboys' officials in the off-season, and Smith is an upgrade for a team that needs to keep QB Tony Romo healthy to have a chance to make a playoff run this year.)
10. Washington - Jake Locker
(Mike Shanahan needs a replacement for Donovan McNabb and a young QB to develop. Locker provides both - and he gives owner Dan Snyder a marketable face at the NFL's marquee position.)
11. Houston - Jimmy Smith
(Texans may have had the worst pass defense in the NFL last year. Smith - the fastest riser on many draft boards - will improve a secondary that would have trouble covering me.)
12. Minnesota - Prince Amukamara
(Vikings break Lions' fans hearts by taking the highly rated CB, who immediately improves Minnesota's secondary. Vikings also need a QB, but they'll likely sign a veteran in free agency and add another in the later rounds.)
13. Detroit - Anthony Castonzo
(DE Cameron Jordan would be a nice selection here, but Costanzo provides versatility [he can play guard or tackle] and he's also insurance, in case Gosder Cherilus struggles in his return from micro-fracture surgery on his knee.)
14. St. Louis - Aldon Smith
(The Rams might've made the playoffs last year with a better pass rush, which Smith will provide. Steve Spagnuolo is a former defensive co-coordinator, who has been steadily rebuilding the franchise with solid choices on that side of the ball.)
15. Miami - Mark Ingram
(Knee injury issues aside, this is a perfect fit. The Dolphins' need a replacement for RB Ronnie Brown, and head coach Tony Sparano is under the gun to improve a Miami offense that struggled last year. Like Minnesota and Arizona, expect the Dolphins to look for a QB in rounds #2 or #3.)
