by Jeff Howe on Thu, Feb 3, 2011 at 1:55PM Â
21. Kansas City Chiefs
2010 Record: 10-6
Needs: Tackle, outside linebacker, defensive tackle, wide receiver, center
The Pick: UCLA outside linebacker Akeem Ayers
Analysis: Ayers looks like a steady, all-around type of linebacker who will add to Kansas City’s young and improving defense.
22. Indianapolis Colts
2010 Record: 10-6
Needs: Tackle, guard, defensive tackle, safety
The Pick: USC tackle Tyron Smith
Analysis: Smith is slightly undersized for a tackle at 6-foot-5 and 290 pounds, but the Colts are fine with that. After ignoring the offensive line in last year’s draft — after Bill Polian harped on the need for linemen, he only spent a fourth-round pick on guard Jacques McClendon — the Colts have to go all out in that area this time around.
23. Philadelphia Eagles
2010 Record: 10-6
Needs: Right guard, safety, cornerback, outside linebacker, right tackle
The Pick: Wisconsin tackle Gabe Carimi
Analysis: The Eagles had the fifth-ranked rushing offense in the league, but the eye test showed it was consistent on designed plays for LeSean McCoy. A boost on the line would help that department, and it could keep quarterback Michael Vick from running for his life.
24. New Orleans Saints
2010 Record: 11-5
Needs: Defensive end, outside linebacker, defensive tackle, running back, safety
The Pick: Alabama running back Mark Ingram
Analysis: The Saints had five running backs in 2010 who finished with 150-716 rushing yards, and they only had nine rushing touchdowns. The offense wasn’t New Orleans’ downfall by any means, but Ingram could be too good to pass up at this point in the draft.
25. Seattle Seahawks
2010 Record: 7-9
Needs: Quarterback, running back, guard, center, safety, cornerback, defensive tackle
The Pick: Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett
Analysis: Statistically, the Seahawks were poor in passing offense (19th), passing defense (27th), rushing offense (31st) and rushing defense (21st), so take your pick with their top need. By the time late April comes around, there could be eight to 10 different players at this spot in the mock draft.
26. Baltimore Ravens
2010 Record: 12-4
Needs: Cornerback, right tackle, wide receiver, safety, inside linebacker, outside linebacker
The Pick: Texas cornerback Aaron Williams
Analysis: Williams is 6-foot-1 and about 190 pounds, and he fits an obvious need as the best cornerback available.
27. Atlanta Falcons
2010 Record: 13-3
Needs: Outside linebacker, defensive end, safety, offensive linemen, tight end
The Pick: Wisconsin defensive end J.J. Watt
Analysis: The Falcons need some attitude on the edge of their defense, whether it’s at end or outside linebacker. If Georgia outside linebacker Justin Houston is still available, it would be hard to pass him over.
28. New England Patriots
2010 Record: 14-2
Needs: Defensive end, outside linebacker, tackle, guard, running back, wide receiver
The Pick: Georgia outside linebacker Justin Houston
Analysis: It could be a dream scenario for the Patriots if Houston is still available at this spot. The 6-foot-3, 258-pounder had 10 sacks last season as a junior and 20 in his career, and he could team up with Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, Jermaine Cunningham and Gary Guyton as a nice young group of linebackers.
29. Chicago Bears
2010 Record: 11-5
Needs: Tackle, guard, wide receiver, outside linebacker, defensive tackle
The Pick: Mississippi State tackle Derek Sherrod
Analysis: The Bears need to line up every available lineman with a pulse and take the best one. Sherrod looks like he would fit that criteria.
30. New York Jets
2010 Record: 11-5
Needs: Defensive end, outside linebacker, safety, wide receiver, defensive tackle
The Pick: Purdue defensive end/outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan
Analysis: Kerrigan would be a stand-up rush linebacker in the Jets’ 3-4 scheme, and it sounds like he’s better in that role than as a defensive end in a three-point stance.
*31. Pittsburgh Steelers
2010 Record: 12-4
Needs: Right tackle, guard, cornerback
The Pick: Penn State interior lineman Stefan Wisniewski
Analysis: Wisniewski could play all three spots on the inside, but he’d fit in at right guard for the Steelers, who could also opt for Villanova lineman Benjamin Ijalana. Either way, the Steelers would stay in state.
*32. Green Bay Packers
2010 Record: 10-6
Needs: Outside linebacker, running back, defensive end, guard, left tackle
The Pick: Temple defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson
Analysis: Wilkerson would be an immediate upgrade along the defensive line. The Packers need an outside linebacker, but there aren’t any more clear-cut first-rounders remaining at this point and they could add one later in the draft. It would also be interesting if the Packers got greedy and simply took 6-foot-5 Pittsburgh wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin, who has definite first-round ability.
Click here for picks 1-10Â |Â Click here for picks 11-20
Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.