With the 2011 NFL draft only days away, it has become widely expected that the Carolina Panthers will select a quarterback in hopes of reviving the franchise and bringing in a fresh face for new coach, Ron Rivera's tenure. However, what would happen if the Panthers shocked the world and decided to select Georgia's star wide receiver AJ Green? Well the majority of mock drafts would be busted and chaos would ensue. The 2011 draft is wrapped up in uncertainty as to who will go where more so then any year in recent memory, and this mock draft looks at what pieces could fall into place should the Panthers go WR with the 1st overall pick.
1. Carolina Panthers - Adriel Jeremiah Green , WR, Georgia
For what seems like forever now, the Panthers have been searching far and wide for someone to dazzle at the receiver spot opposite Steve Smith. And many failures later in former college stars such as Dwayne Jarrett, and attempts to bring Muhsin Muhammad back for a swansong, Carolina sits atop the draft order with an offense that defines ineptitude. Green would bring an immediate impact to the Panthers offense and give tremendous help to whoever is under center. All signs are pointing towards Steve Smith having played his last down in Carolina, but if the team can lure him back for another go around, the Panthers would have a formidable duo at receiver. Why not a quarterback you ask? Well it comes down to the fact that the 2011 draft lacks the true elite prospect at gunslinger that Matt Ryan, Matthew Stafford, Sam Bradford have been and Andrew Luck would represented. Cam Newton is a project QB that has only one successful season at the Div I level to show while Blaine Gabbert spent his college days at Mizzou in a spread offense. Since the 2008 draft, and its two QBs that led playoff runs, it has become commonplace for 1st round QBs to start right away. And neither Newton nor Gabbert are prepared for this, especially with the disarray that is the Panthers offense. With Green penciled in across from Smith, the Panthers offense will be formidable. Without a second round pick, the Panthers would have to make some kind of trade to get one out of Christian Ponder, Ryan Mallet, Jake Locker, Colin Kaepernick, or Andy Dalton who should be available in the second round. Or we could get really crazy here and say that Ron Rivera puts his faith in Jimmy Clausen who turns his career around and starts partying like he's still in South Bend.
2. Denver Broncos - Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
Despite whatever move the Panthers make short of snatching away Dareus, this pick is all but certain. QB Kyle Orton is the prime of his career at age 28 and has showed flashes of brilliance the past two seasons, which combined with Brandon Lloyd's coming out party in 2010 sets the Bronco's offense up well. Then comes the defense which only managed to rack up an astonishing 23 sacks, albeit without stud lineman Elvis Dumervil whose presence will nearly double that number in 2011. Marcell Dareus has stunned scouts throughout the offseason and has drawn numerous comparisons to last year's 2nd overall pick, Nadamakung Suh. The only possible substitute to picking Dareus would be to get greedy on offense and grab Green if he is still available. However in this draft he is not, so we move forward.
3. Buffalo Bills - Von Miller, LB, Texas A&M
Despite a worse record in 2010, the argument can be made that the Bills offense took a step forward with the emergence of Steve Johnson as a viable top receiver and Fred Jackson as a sturdy number one back. Ryan Fitzpatrick also wasn't too shabby and turned in an above-average year under center. At this point in the draft, the Bills have an embarrassment of riches with both Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert available. However, as stated earlier, neither of these two prospects are world breakers and as the Bills pick early in the second round, they should have prime selection of the second tier options. Miller has flown up draft boards this offseason with his freakish workouts and godly abilities which should lead to an immediate impact in the NFL. By selecting Miller, the Bills will be adding this athletic freak to a linebacking core that includes the talented Paul Posluszny and former pro-bowler, Shawne Merriman. The lights have been on for quite awhile for Merriman, yet if he is able to find the ever-elusive light switch in 2011, the Bills will not only have a formidable linebacking core, but a stellar defense that could sport two perennial pro-bowlers.
4. Cincinnati Bengals- Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
The Bengals fall into quite the awkward position at the 4th overall pick. Two years ago they shocked the world by making the playoffs yet fell hard back to earth in 2010. The once explosive offense led by Carson Palmer could be completely gone in 2011, as Terrell Owens and Cedric Benson are free agents, and Palmer and Chad Ochocino have demanded out of Cincy. With Green off the board, the Bengals could reach for Alabama's Julio Jones but the 4th overall pick has to bring impact value and Jones isn't a top 5 pick. Picking a QB would cause the Bengals to lose any leverage they may have against Palmer, who has threatened to retire if not traded. In addition, the best player still around is Patrick Peterson who would be a welcome addition, but doesn't fill a need. Thus Cincy must make an ultimate decision on what to do with Carson Palmer and we predict they will call his bluff and force the QB to retire in his prime years. When it comes down to it, the Bengals are desperate for offense with promising young guns Jordan Shipley and Jermaine Gresham not ready to shoulder the load yet, and are almost forced to go offense with this pick. They need AJ Green but with the opportunity to grab him, their most likely move is to trade down to select Jones later in the top 10, or make the drastic reach and select him 4th. Some possible trade candidates could be the 49ers at the 9th pick or the Texans at the 11th, who both covet LSU's stud defensive back, Patrick Peterson.
5. Arizona Cardinals - Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina
Things get very interesting when the Cards are on the clock in a situation they never expected to be in with both Newton and Gabbert available. Larry Fitzgerald has already iterated his opposition to Arizona selected a QB with this pick but the opportunity may be too much for the Cards to pass up. Plus the consensus seems to be that 2011 may be Fitzgerald's last in the Red and White while either Newton or Gabbert would be with the franchise to many years to come. However, the Cards are already carrying youngsters Max Hall and John Skelton with the latter having shown some promise late in the 2010 season. It may be too early to give up on these guys regardless of how much the Arizona offense struggled a season ago. If the Cards want to keep Fitz around they would do best to abide by his wishes and stay away from both Newton and Gabbert. Without the likes of Miller and Dareus around, and the lack of offensive threats with Green and Jones being gone, the Cards will look to upgrade their D-Line with the addition of talented North Carolina DE, Robert Quinn who will look to become an impact pass rusher in a defense that lacks a standout at the position.
With the Cardinals selection rounding out the top 5, who would have thought that both Newton and Gabbert would still be available to the teams with picks 6-10. Expect to see both these guys and possible another QB gone before the Texans get to pick at 11.
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