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In preparation for Monday's launch of KDP's 10 For 10 Mock Draft Contest, I figured I'd run through the exercise myself as a bit of a warm up. I've tried to lend my best guesses as to how some of the team needs will play out, based on internet reports and good ol' gut instincts.
Now I'm no expert and don't pretend to be. I don't have any inside knowledge of any teams plans, I just try to gather as much opinion as possible and see if I can hit the side of the barn.
When I'm scoring the contest, I'll be sure to include all of the various mocks I've run here at BTB, adding these (hopefully) weekly mocks to the Writers and Community ones. Let's take a look at my Mock Top 10, follow the jump for the entire first round plus some notes on each pick. As always, I prefer to exercise in front of the bay window, so make sure you grade the mock, and use the comments section to let me know what you like or would change.
| Draft Pick | Team | Pick |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carolina | QB Cam Newton |
| 2 | Denver | DT Marcel Dareus |
| 3 | Buffalo | DT Nick Fairley |
| 4 | Cincinatti | QB Blaine Gabbert |
| 5 | Arizona | LB Von Miller |
| 6 | Cleveland | WR AJ Green |
| 7 | San Francisco | LB Robert Quinn |
| 8 | Tennesee | CB Patrick Peterson |
| 9 | Dallas | OT Tyron Smith |
| 10 | Washington | QB Jake Locker |
| Draft Pick | Team | Pick | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carolina | QB Cam Newton | Been reading a lot about how much Carolina likes Newton and a new coach always loves to go get himself a franchise QB. |
| 2 | Denver | DT Marcel Dareus | Tough to see them pass up on this monster of a D lineman. |
| 3 | Buffalo | DT Nick Fairley | Buffalo's combo front could have used Dareus, but Fairley is more than a consolation prize. |
| 4 | Cincinatti | QB Blaine Gabbert | Cincy can't risk missing out on a quarterback, too many teams need one. |
| 5 | Arizona | LB Von Miller | Cards take the impact 3-4 linebacker they need. |
| 6 | Cleveland | WR AJ Green | Cleveland gives McCoy a shiny new toy. |
| 7 | San Francisco | LB Robert Quinn | San Fran takes the impact 3-4 linebacker that they need. |
| 8 | Tennesee | CB Patrick Peterson | Tennessee snaps up Peterson- I'd expect for the Cowboys to offer a pick in this scenario. |
| 9 | Dallas | OT Tyron Smith | Dallas takes the bookend to Doug Free while Romo and Felix do the happy happy joy joy dance. |
| 10 | Washington | QB Jake Locker | DC surprises some folks but takes no chances in giving Shannahan the out of pocket QB he wants. After a 40 for 42 Pro Day, expect the first round grade to return. |
| 11 | Houston | 34DE Cameron Jordan | Houston takes a dominant 3-4 DE to add to Super Mario and Okoye |
| 12 | Minnesota | DE Da'Quan Bowers | Minnesota takes the falling Bowers, who will be a perfect successor to that guy they have. |
| 13 | Detroit | CB Prince Amukamara | Detroit runs to the podium in this scenario. |
| 14 | St. Louis | WR Julio Jones | St. Louis almost beats Detroit to the podium in this scenario. |
| 15 | Miami | RB Mark Ingram | Miami sends Bill Parcells' youth up to the stage here. |
| 16 | Jacksonville | DE Ryan Kerrigan | Del Rio wins one last war room and gets a stud for his front four with this sleeper DE. |
| 17 | New England | 34DE J.J. Watt | New England makes a New England pick, and the world says ugh in disgust. |
| 18 | San Diego | LB Aldon Smith | Sasn Diego hopes to replenish their LB corps and is happy to find Smith. |
| 19 | NY Giants | OT Anthony Castonzo | Giants never expected Castonzo to be here for them. |
| 20 | Tampa Bay | CB Brandon Harris | Aqib Talib mess mandates taking the fast-rising Harris. |
| 21 | Kansas City | NT Phil Taylor | Kansas City reaches a bit for their biggest need, better reach than slot receiver and/or center. |
| 22 | Indianapolis | DT Corey Liguet | Adding Liguet to Freeney and Mathis on that turf is downright scary. |
| 23 | Philadelphia | CB Jimmy Smith | Linked to Philly as often as Tyron Smith is to Dallas, it just fits. |
| 24 | New Orleans | RB Mikel LeShoure | New Orleans wants to give Brees a workhorse and LeShoure can do that there. |
| 25 | Seattle | QB Ryan Mallet | This will probably be Philadelphia's pick when the Hawks get Kolb, but I'll slot a QB. |
| 26 | Baltimore | OT Gabe Carimi | Now wonder Ozzie Newsome has such a reputation, players like Carimi just end up falling to him. |
| 27 | Atlanta | DE Adrian Clayborn | Atlanta gets a steal in Clayborn because it's such a deep draft, fits a huge need. |
| 28 | New England | OL Mike Pouncey | See notes from pick #17… .now say it with me, Ugh. |
| 29 | Chicago | DT Stephen Paea | Chicago selects the strongest young man in the game to replace Tommie Harris. |
| 30 | NY Jets | NT Muhammad Wilkerson | The Phil Taylor consolation prize that fits perfectly into the Ryan multiple look D (hat tip to Chandus) |
| 31 | Pittsburgh | LB Martez Wilson | see notes from pick #28, but substitute Pittsburgh for New England. |
| 32 | Green Bay | LB Justin Houston | The Super Bowl champs round out the draft by getting someone to play opposite Clay Matthews. |