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1.
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Cincinnati Bengals
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Andrew Luck
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QB | Stanford |
| If they land Gabbert or Newton obviously this won’t happen, but Luck would still go No. 1 – it’s just a matter of who trades up for him. | ||||
| 2. | Carolina Panthers | Quinton Coples | DE | North Carolina |
| Coples needs to build upon his 2010 season for this to happen, but he has Julius Pepper-type potential. | ||||
| 3. | Arizona Cardinals | Matt Kalil | OT | USC |
| If they don’t land Newton or Gabbert this could be a quarterback, but assuming they get a QB this year they’ll need to upgrade the offensive line in 2011. | ||||
| 4. | Miami Dolphins | Trent Richardson | RB | Alabama |
| Mark Ingram is good, but Richardson is elite. Probably the best running back to enter the draft since Adrian Peterson. | ||||
| 5 | Denver Broncos | Vontaze Burfict | LB | Arizona State |
| Burfict is an elite athlete who could probably play inside or outside in a 4-3 scheme like Denver’s. | ||||
| 6. | Buffalo Bills | Jonathan Martin | OT | Stanford |
| The Bills desperately need a franchise left tackle. They aren’t getting one this year, which means a guy like Martin should be high on their list in 2012. | ||||
| 7. | Washington Redskins | Dre Kirkpatrick | CB | Alabama |
| Kirkpatrick isn’t quite in Patrick Peterson’s class, but he could come off the board just as high in 2012. | ||||
| 8. | Minnesota Vikings | Alshon Jeffery | WR | South Carolina |
| Justin Blackmon received more attention in 2010, but Alshon Jeffery is the truly elite receiver in next year’s class. | ||||
| 9. | San Francisco 49ers | D. Paige-Moss | LB | North Carolina |
| Donte Paige-Moss plays defensive end at UNC, but has the athleticism to be an elite pass rusher at linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. | ||||
| 10. | Cleveland Browns | Andre Branch | DE | Clemson |
| Conceivably, the Browns could end up with two Clemson defensive ends in consecutive years – Bowers this year and Branch in 2012. | ||||
| 11. | Tennessee Titans | Matt Barkley | QB | USC |
| The Titans seem like one of the teams likely to address their QB need with a veteran this year and find their new franchise QB in the draft in 2012. | ||||
| 12. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Alfonzo Denard | CB | Nebraska |
| Some people will tell you that Denard is even better than Prince Amukamara. Either way, they both figure to be high draft picks in consecutive years. | ||||
| 13. | Seattle Seahawks | Devin Taylor | DE | South Carolina |
| Coming off an eight-sack sophomore year, Taylor has the elite physical tools to become a superstar with a breakout junior year. | ||||
| 14. | Houston Texans | Cliff Harris | CB | Oregon |
| The Texas have the worst secondary in the league, and without a full free agency period this offseason they may not be able to do much to fix it. | ||||
| 15. | Jacksonville Jaguars | Stephon Gilmore | CB | South Carolina |
| 2012 has the potential to produce a very deep class of cornerbacks. Gilmore is one of four or five that enter year with 1st-round potential. | ||||
| 16. | Oakland Raiders | Brandon Jenkins | DE | Florida State |
| Jenkins is undersized, but with another 14-sack performance like he had in 2011 he could play his way into the top 10. | ||||
| 17. | New York Giants | Luke Kuechley | LB | Boston College |
| Tough, physical, smart linebacker who reminds me of James Laurinaitis. Could play mike or sam in a 4-3 scheme like the Giants. | ||||
| 18. | Kansas City Chiefs | Ryan Broyles | WR | Oklahoma |
| Oklahoma’s all-time leader in receptions, yards and touchdowns. A smaller, faster receiver to compliment Dwayne Bowe. | ||||
| 19. | Detroit Lions | Manti Te’o | LB | Notre Dame |
| A physical freak in the Rey Maualuga mold. Could play inside or outside in a 4-3 scheme – probably strong-side in Detroit. | ||||
| 20. | Chicago Bears | Riley Reiff | OT | Iowa |
| Reiff is only a junior but has started all but two career games, most at left tackle. Comparisons to Robert Gallery are inevitable, but Reiff is a much better athlete. | ||||
| 21. | St. Louis Rams | Mohamed Sanu | WR | Rutgers |
| Sanu will have to answer questions about his speed, but he clearly has the size and play-making ability of a No.1 receiver. | ||||
| 22. | Dallas Cowboys | Michael Brewster | C | Ohio State |
| Brewster could be a rare center to go in the 1st round, following in the footsteps of former Buckeye Nick Mangold who has developed into a star with the Jets | ||||
| 23. | San Diego Chargers | Vinny Curry | LB | Marshall |
| Curry may enter the 2011 season as the nation’s most under-the-radar star. He had 12 sacks as a junior, including two against Ohio State. | ||||
| 24. | New York Jets | A. Armstead | DE | USC |
| Armond Armstead is moving to DT this year, but has the prototypical size and athleticism of a 3-4 end – similar to Cameron Heyward. | ||||
| 25. | New Orleans Saints | Janoris Jenkins | CB | Florida |
| Jenkins is a four-year starter who was a potential 1st-round pick this year. Questions about speed are only thing that could keep him out of 1st round. | ||||
| 26. | Baltimore Ravens | Jared Crick | DT | Nebraska |
| Crick was overshaddowed by Ndamukong Suh early in his career, but made a name for himself with 10 sacks in 2010. | ||||
| 27. | Indianapolis Colts | Jerel Worthy | DT | Michigan State |
| Worthy is a junior, entering his third year as the star of the Spartans defensive line. He’s registered four sacks in each of his first two years. | ||||
| 28. | Philadelphia Eagles | Chase Minnifield | CB | Virginia |
| Son of former Browns All Pro corner Frank Minnifield is poised for a breakout senior year after six interceptions as a junior. | ||||
| 29. | Pittsburgh Steelers | Don’ta Hightower | ILB | Alabama |
| Hightower failed to live up to lofty expectations in 2010, but I expect big things from him in his second year as a starter. | ||||
| 30. | Atlanta Falcons | Zach Brown | OLB | North Carolina |
| Brown is an elite athlete who was reportedly clocked at 4.28 in the 40. He would be a great fit at weak-side linebacker in Atlanta. | ||||
| 31. | Green Bay Pakcers | Knile Davis | RB | Arkansas |
| Davis is poised for a breakout year as Arkansas should feature a more balanced attack following the departure of Ryan Mallett. | ||||
| 32. | New England Patriots | C. Upshaw | OLB | Alabama |
| Courtney Upshaw registered seven sacks in 11 games in 2010, his first year as a starter. Expect big things from him as a senior. | ||||
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