Below is my sixth annual mock draft on Buffalobills.com. As I state every year I don't claim to know any more than the collection of other prognosticators who put a mock draft together. This is just how I think things could pan out in round one. As always, my intent here is to be informative and entertaining. As we all know anyone would be fortunate to hit on a third of the actual picks.
| Team | Top 3 Needs | Possible Selections |
| 1. Carolina | DL, WR, QB |
Top choice:QB Cam Newton - Auburn |
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New head coach Ron Rivera is a defensive guy at his core, but in the QB dominated NFC South he needs a difference maker. | ||
| 2. Denver | DL, LB, OT | Top choice:LB Von Miller - Texas A&M DT Marcell Dareus |
| Broncos' head coach John Fox could have double pass rush threat pairing Miller with Dumervil. | ||
| 3. Buffalo | DL, QB, LB | Top choice:DT Marcell Dareus - Alabama CB Patrick Peterson |
| The Bills can address their 32nd ranked run defense with the most complete defensive lineman in the class. | ||
| 4. Cincinnati | QB, WR, ILB | Top choice: QB Blaine Gabbert - Missouri WR A.J. Green |
| The Bengals need a contingency plan for Carson Palmer's seemingly inevitable departure. | ||
| 5. Arizona | QB, OLB, OT | Top choice: OLB Robert Quinn – North Carolina CB Patrick Peterson |
| The Cards land the heir apparent to Joey Porter. | ||
| 6. Cleveland | DE, WR, CB |
Top choice:DL Nick Fairley - Auburn |
| A scheme-versatile pass rushing talent, Fairley will help harass opposing QBs. | ||
| 7. San Francisco | CB, DT, QB |
Top choice:CB Patrick Peterson - LSU |
| The 49ers get a tremendous value and address a pressing need at the same time. | ||
| 8. Tennessee | DT, LB, QB | Top choice: DT Corey Liuget - Illinois DE Da'Quan Bowers |
| Titans go with best value that meets their positional needs. | ||
| 9. Dallas | OT, CB, DL | Top choice:OT Tyron Smith - USC DL Cameron Jordan |
| Cowboys invest long term in their offensive line. | ||
| 10. Washington | QB, WR, NT | Top choice:WR A.J. Green - Georgia DE Da'Quan Bowers |
| Redskins can't resist opportunity to add number one receiving target. | ||
| 11. Houston | OLB, S, NT | Top choice:DE Da'Quan Bowers - Clemson OLB Aldon Smith – Missouri |
| Bowers might not be a perfect fit in Houston's 3-4 scheme, but they need another pass rusher. | ||
| 12. Minnesota | QB, DL, OT | Top choice: DE Cameron Jordan - Cal OT Anthony Castonzo |
| Head coach Leslie Frazier addresses defensive front, which has quickly become long in the tooth. | ||
| 13. Detroit | OLB, OT, CB | Top choice:OLB Aldon Smith - Missouri CB Prince Amukamara |
| The Lions need a top flight pass rusher just a bit more desperately than a number one corner. | ||
| 14. St. Louis | WR, OLB, DT | Top choice:WR Julio Jones - Alabama |
| The Rams cannot believe their good fortune with Jones still on the board. | ||
| 15. Miami | OL, RB, QB |
Top choice:OT Anthony Castonzo – BC |
| The Dolphins get a book end to line up opposite Jake Long. | ||
| 16. Jacksonville | LB, OL, CB | Top choice: CB Prince Amukamara - Nebraska DE Ryan Kerrigan |
| The Jaguars gave up a ton of big plays in the passing game and get a good value for the secondary. | ||
| 17. New England | OLB, DE, WR | Top choice:DE J.J. Watt - Wisconsin G Mike Pouncey |
|
The Patriots re-fortify a defensive line that was left shorthanded by injury in 2010. | ||
| 18. San Diego | OLB, DE, CB |
Top choice:G Mike Pouncey - Florida |
| With no ideal front seven value for San Diego's 3-4 defense, Chargers address OL interior. | ||
| 19. NY Giants | OL, OLB, DT | Top choice:OL Gabe Carimi - Wisconsin DT Muhammad Wilkerson |
| Giants need infusion of youth on O-line and Carimi offers tackle-guard versatility. | ||
| 20. Tampa Bay | DE, OLB, CB | Top choice:DE Ryan Kerrigan - Purdue DE Adrian Clayborn |
| Bucs get big time producer for their moribund pass rush. | ||
| 21. Kansas City | OLB, NT, WR | Top choice:OLB Akeem Ayers – UCLA NT Phil Taylor |
| A perfect complement to Pro Bowl pass rusher Tamba Hali, Ayers could be mentored by Mike Vrabel. | ||
| 22. Indianapolis | OT, DT, SS | Top choice: OT Nate Solder - Colorado DT Phil Taylor |
| The Colts need help up front. Their pick will hinge on which side of the line the better value lies. | ||
| 23. Philadelphia | CB, OL, OLB | Top choice:CB Jimmy Smith - Colorado DE Adrian Clayborn |
| Smith represents quality value here and addresses much needed help in coverage. | ||
| 24. New Orleans | DL, OLB, SS | Top choice:DE Adrian Clayborn - Iowa DT Phil Taylor |
| The Saints veteran pass rushers are past their prime. It's time for a youth movement. | ||
| 25. Seattle | OL, DL, QB |
Top choice:DT Phil Taylor - Baylor |
| Seahawks surprise and address run front beset with injuries adding a true space eater. | ||
| 26. Baltimore | CB, OLB, OT | Top choice:OT Derrick Sherrod – Mississippi St. DT Muhammad Wilkerson |
| With cornerback value lacking, the need at offensive tackle is simply too great to ignore. | ||
| **27. San Francisco | DT, QB |
Top choice:QB Jake Locker - Washington |
| With 12 total picks, 49ers surrender 2nd and 3rd to move back into first in deal with Atlanta and get Jim Harbaugh an athletic quarterback to work with. | ||
| 28. New England | OL, WR, RB | Top choice: OLB Justin Houston - Georgia G Danny Watkins |
| Patriots go defense again to improve the pass rush with plans on trading top pick in round 2. | ||
| 29. Chicago | OT, DT, G | Top choice:DT Muhammad Wilkerson - Temple G Danny Watkins |
| With no offensive tackle value here, Bears address their defensive interior with best value on the board. | ||
| 30. NY Jets | DL, CB, LB | Top choice: DE Cameron Heyward – Ohio St. OLB Brooks Reed |
| The Jets address an aging defensive line with the quintessential 3-4 end in Heyward. | ||
| 31. Pittsburgh | OL, CB, DL | Top choice:G Danny Watkins - Baylor CB Aaron Williams |
| Steelers can have a solid interior for years to come with the addition of native Canadian. | ||
| 32. Green Bay | DE, OT, RB |
Top choice: RB Mark Ingram - Alabama |
|
Ingram is a good value and a perfect complement to the slashing James Starks. | ||
