NFL draft: 2011 re-do
25. Seattle Seahawks
Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame
Actual pick: James Carpenter, OT, Alabama
It seems as if Russell Wilson doesn’t have targets on offense anymore – Sidney Rice was cut, Zach Miller is a free agent, and Golden Tate signed with Detroit. Percy Harvin has to show that he can play in more games. Adding Rudolph would give Wilson a good red zone target and someone he can trust over the middle.
26. Kansas City Chiefs
Mike Pouncey, C, Florida
Actual pick: Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh
Pouncey fell as a result of the lack of need for center, but the Chiefs could use an upgrade there. Jon Baldwin is regarded as a first-round bust. Pouncey is the best player available at this point as well, so Kansas City can’t really go wrong by picking him here.
27. Baltimore Ravens
Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
Actual pick: same
Smith has been very good with Baltimore. Because Lardarius Webb got hurt in 2012, Smith has been the team’s most consistent corner since being drafted. He played a key role in the team’s 2012 Super Bowl run – and helped fill the role of Webb while he was on the sidelines. Smith seems to have worked out so far for Baltimore, and he’s available at 27th overall, so I’m sticking with him. He’s the third-best cornerback in this draft behind Sherman and Peterson.
28. New Orleans Saints
Marcell Dareus, DE, Alabama
Actual pick: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
Something that was evident from 2010 to 2012 for the Saints was the team’s lack of pass rush and run defense. We saw Marshawn Lynch torch the defense in that 2010 playoff game, and we saw Alex Smith put up big numbers in the 2011 Divisional round en route to a 49ers win. The 2012 team had a defense that ranked among the worst three all time. Dareus would help with pass rush and run defense and maybe take some pressure off a historically bad secondary in 2012. Mark Ingram, the original pick, hasn’t turned into what the Saints had wanted – now, he’s more of a rotational back; the Saints thought he could be a franchise back – which is why they traded up into the first round to get him.
29. Chicago Bears
Bruce Carter, LB, North Carolina
Actual pick: Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
Carter never emerged into the player the Cowboys wanted – he was supposed to be a good weak-side linebacker in their 4-3 system, but it didn’t necessarily work out. He did have a good 2011, though, and I think he would be a good outside linebacker in the Bears’ system next to Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher (until he retired after 2012).
30. New York Jets
Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
Actual pick: Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, Templ
Wilkerson is long gone, but Bowers slipped all the way to the Jets. Bowers, originally picked in the second round, played well for Tampa Bay and is on the verge of being a breakout player. I think Rex Ryan would like a player like Bowers on that mean Jets defense.
31. Pittsburgh Steelers
Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
Actual pick: Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State
The old Steel Curtain is no more. After the 2010 Super Bowl appearance, the front seven started to fall apart, especially after the 2011 season. Clayborn was hurt early in his Tampa Bay tenure, but has become a good player since his recovery.
32. Green Bay Packers
Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor
Actual pick: Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State
Green Bay had just won the Super Bowl, and this team wasn’t like the 2013 Baltimore team (sorry, Ravens fans). There weren’t many holes, but after 2010, B.J. Raji’s production fell sharply. Taylor would be a major upgrade over Raji at that point.