NFL draft: 2011 re-do
17. New England Patriots
Aldon Smith, LB, Missouri
Actual pick: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
Defense has been the downfall of the Patriots for a while; pass rush has been average while and pass coverage has been bad. There are no DBs I’d take this high, so Smith is the pick here despite his issues. The Patriots could use an edge player who’s a freak athlete and great player on the field.
18. San Diego Chargers
Cecil Shorts III, WR, Mount Union
Actual pick: Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois
San Diego has dealt with a ton of injuries at the receiver position over the years — Malcolm Floyd and Danario Alexander have been hurt and haven’t been able to stay on the field consistently. Shorts has been good in Jacksonville despite terrible quarterback play, but he’ll turn into a solid number two target with good quarterback play. Rivers would help him immensely, and Shorts would give Rivers a nice downfield target.
19. New York Giants
Jordan Cameron, TE, Southern California
Actual pick: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
I’ve given the Giants linemen in the last few re-mocks, so I’ll go a different direction here. I remember Kevin Boss being good for a little bit until he went to Oakland. But other than Boss for just a little bit, Eli Manning hasn’t had a good tight end. What Dallas Clark was for Peyton, what Gronkowski (when healthy) is for Brady, what Jimmy Graham is for Brees — Eli’s had none of that. Here, he gets his “security blanket” in Jordan Cameron. He’d be Manning’s reliable target over the middle and in the red zone.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cameron Jordan, DE, California
Actual pick: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
Jordan has been better than Clayborn in his career. It would of course help if Clayborn had been healthy. But Jordan has proved his consistency in the NFL and he’d fill a hole at defensive end for Tampa Bay.
21. Cleveland Browns
Julius Thomas, TE, Portland State
Actual pick: Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor
Jordan Cameron was taken two picks earlier and tight end is a need. Julius Thomas’s stats have been a little inflated by playing in Peyton Manning’s system, but he has good hands and is great after the catch. That’s why I had Cameron going ahead of him, but for the Browns, Thomas isn’t a bad option here. The team needs weapons on offense badly.
22. Indianapolis Colts
Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, Temple
Actual pick: Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
I’m going with a pass-rusher here. Dwight Freeney isn’t on the team anymore and Robert Mathis is slowing down. This was the year that Peyton Manning didn’t play, but I don’t want to go with a quarterback like Andy Dalton here because I know this team will have the first overall pick in next year’s draft. Wilkerson would fill the hole left when Freeney went to San Diego.
23. Philadelphia Eagles
Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
Actual pick: Danny Watkins, G, Baylor
Philly’s offensive line had been mediocre up until last season. Castonzo has been above average for Indianapolis, and (until 2013) with Jason Peters’ status in question due to injury, Castonzo could play left tackle in his absence. With Peters returning, he’d play right tackle.
24. New Orleans Saints
Brooks Reed, LB, Arizona
Actual pick: Cameron Jordan, DE, California
I like Reed here to replace an aging Jonathan Vilma. Jordan was already taken. Reed has been someone who hasn’t been talked about much next to Brian Cushing, but he’s been more consistent as he’s been on the field more than Cushing, who’s had two straight years cut short because of devastating knee injuries.