…and when I say last minute, that’s my fault. I’ve been sitting on this a while, but man, real life has been SO busy for me.

So, longtime Houston Diehards reader “Truth” has checked in with a Mock Draft. Here it is, with his thoughts included on certain players. Enjoy! Less than 24 hours away!
-Chris

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Truth’s 2011 Mock Draft

I will admit this is the first Mock draft I have ever done. I did not include any trades even though we will definitely see some. I look forward to seeing how many I get correct.

1. Carolina Panthers – Cameron Newton, QB
I thought about putting Dareus or Fairley here. I think Gabbert is the better QB. Ultimately, I believe the Panthers will pick Newton because of the upside and the championship acumen. Recently teams like Detroit and St. Louis have kind of turned things around with drafting a QB #1 and it is a new regime and new regimes mean new QB.

2. Denver Broncos – Marcell Dareus, DL
The Denver Broncos signed Champ Bailey, so I do not think they will draft Peterson. If they draft Peterson, they would have one of the best secondaries in the league. However, their front seven would still be an issue and you need to get pressure on the QB to be a good defense. Enter Dareus to help shore up that side of the ball.

3. Buffalo Bills – Da’Quan Bowers, DE
For anybody that is big into fantasy football, you know the Bills suck against the run and this has been the case for years. I think there is a chance that Quinn could go here but I think the bills will end up picking Bowers. I think the fact that Quinn did not play last year will lead the Buffalo Bills to pick up Bowers.

4. Cincinnati Bengals – Blaine Gabbert, QB
I think the Carson Palmer situation will lead the Bengals to pick Gabbert here. I have seen many mock drafts put one of the wide receivers here in order to convince Palmer to stay. However, the Bengals need to get younger at the position and I believe Palmer has regressed. They will trade Palmer next year and have their QB of their future.

5. Arizona Cardinals – Von Miller, OLB
This is the one pick that I would put money on. I think Peterson is the better player, but Ken Whisenhunt was his coach during the senior bowl and it was reported that Whisenhunt really fell in love with Miller’s dominant performance in the game.

6. Cleveland Browns – A.J. Green, WR
Cleveland needs to get some weapons for Colt McCoy and he is the best one in the draft. They drafted Haden last year so I do not see them drafting Peterson here. Julio Jones could be an option here also. A.J. Green is rated a little higher than Jones and Mike Holmgren is not Al Davis. I believe Julio Jones is better than Darius Heyward-Bey.

7. San Francisco 49ers – Patrick Peterson, CB
He is a victim of the position he plays and the teams before him needing more help in their front seven. He is clearly a top three player. This is the best position for him to go to because the 49ers have a stout front seven and have needed a shutdown corner ever since the Nate Clements signing blew up in their faces. Harbaugh will be bummed out that Gabbert will not make it to this point. I do not think they will draft one of the other quarterbacks here and I could see him drafting somebody like Andy Dalton and turning him into a stud in the West Coast Offense.

8. Tennessee Titans – Nick Fairley, DT
Fairley was on cloud nine and was the consensus #1 pick after the dominant national championship game. However his height and weight being lower than expected and his one dominant season will hinder him. I would love for the Texans to trade up with the hillbillies and pick up Fairley. The Titans have needed somebody dominant on their defensive line ever since Haynesworth left.

9. Dallas Cowboys – Prince Amukamara, CB
Prince Amukamara was not the same player without Ndamukong Suh last season. He struggled against the elite receivers. However, Dallas has a pretty good front seven and needs another corner to replace the aging Newman. I think Robert Quinn is the best player out of the two but Dallas needs a corner like I need Megan Fox’s digits. This is my most likely to trade their pick team and I could see them trading with us. I did not include trades, but I could see us trading up to get Amukamara here. Dallas would then use our pick for the tackle out of USC Tyron Smith. Regardless I think Amukamara goes in this slot whether he is a Texan or a Cowboy, we will see.

10. Washington Redskins – Julio Jones, WR
They will probably lose Santana Moss in free agency and they are going to need a stud wide receiver to take his place. I did not like the quarterbacks available and I could see the Redskins sticking with Grossman and getting a QB next year or them using one of their later picks on one.

11. Houston Texans – Robert Quinn, DE
He could go anywhere from third to the Buffalo Bills or drop to 11 where we pick. He does have character concerns which the Texans typically shy away from. But we did also draft Brian Cushing who was linked to steroids before his four game suspension for HCG. As I mentioned before, I could see us trading up to get Amukamara with Dallas and picking up Dontay Moch with our 2nd to play outside linebacker. I don’t think even the Texans would screw this one up and not draft Quinn, if he were available.

If we stay here, I believe Aaron Williams or Ras I Dowling will be our 2nd round pick because this safety class is weak. I would love for it to be a nose tackle in the 2nd round but I don’t see the Texans pulling the trigger on that. I don’t think it will be Aldon Smith, as I think he is more of an Amobi Okoye and we do not need a project. I also do not think it will be Cam Jordan or JJ Watt because we have Mario and Antonio starting and I think Cody can play the end position.

12. Minnesota Vikings – Jake Locker, QB
Similar to how Josh Freeman got drafted higher than he was rated I think that will be the case here. Freeman was raw and I do not think Leslie Frasier thinks Joe Webb is the long-term answer to the Vikings QB issues. They cut Tarvaris Jackson and will need another QB.

13. Detroit Lions – Tyron Smith, OT
This pick will be an offensive lineman and it will be between Smith and Castonzo. The Lions need an offensive tackle like I need Scarlett Johanson’s digits. Matthew Stafford has been injured the last two seasons and they need a franchise left tackle.

14. St. Louis Rams – Cameron Jordan, DE
I know that Cam Jordan plays the 3-4 defensive end position and the Rams play the 4-3. I see him playing defensive tackle for the Rams. J.J. Watt could also go here. Steve Spagnuolo coaches here and I could see him putting one of these guys in the Justin Tuck role.

15. Miami Dolphins – J.J. Watt, DE
This has been the place that most mock drafts have one of the running backs. I don’t see them drafting a running back this high. It is not a strength this year and I do not see them reaching for one. JJ Watt is a 3-4 defensive end and the Dolphins play the 3-4. I think they will pick a running back later in the draft.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars – Ryan Kerrigan, DE
I do not see them going for corner at this point. They need a defensive end. Aaron Kampman is injury prone and their secondary issues have to do with their inability to get to the QB. I would have put Aldon Smith here but I do not feel he fits the mold of a Jacksonville player. They draft like we do; they love seniors, and team captains.

17. New England – Anthony Castonzo, OT
Light is getting old and they will replace him with Castonzo. He is the 2nd best tackle in this draft and he is a hometown product. With New England you never know they could very well trade out of any pick.

18. San Diego Chargers -Aldon Smith, DE
They have needed an outside linebacker ever since Shawne Merriman got busted for P.E.Ds and Larry English became a bust. Aldon Smith has upside and could fit in well in the Chargers 3-4.

19. New York Giants – Gabe Carimi, OT
The New York Giants need help at tackle and Carimi is the best available. This pick could be Justin Houston or Akeem Ayers but I see them going offensive tackle here.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Akeem Ayers, OLB
This pick could be Justin Houston. I believe Houston is more of a 3-4 outside linebacker. He might be able to rush the QB. Akeem Ayers can play middle linebacker or outside linebacker in the 4-3. He is good at coverage also and will be able to run the Tampa 2 well.

21. Kansas City Chiefs – Nate Solder, OT
I would have loved if Solder lasted until Chicago so I could insert my Solder’s Field joke but it is not going to happen. I think Solder could fill in at left tackle and they can move Brandon Albert to right tackle. I think Albert is better suited for right tackle.

22. Indianapolis Colts – Derrick Sherrod, OT
I believe this pick will be an offensive tackle. They needed one to protect Manning’s blindside and Sherrod is the best available.

23. Philadelphia Eagles – Jimmy Smith, CB
Hobbs is a free agent and Smith would be an improvement. The Eagles will be bummed out that one of the tackles did not make it this far. They will go for cornerback instead. He does have some character issues and is cocky, but I believe Andy Reid can get the most out of him.

24. New Orleans Saints – Mikel LeShoure, RB
They will probably lose Bush and will only have Chris Ivory as their running back.

25. Seattle Seahawks – Corey “2″ Liuget to quit, DT

26. Baltimore Ravens – Justin Houston, OLB

27. Atlanta Falcons – Torrey Smith, WR

28. New England Patriots – Muhammed Wilkerson, DT

29. Chicago Bears – Mike Pouncey, OG

30. New York Jets – Phil Taylor, DT

31. Pittsburgh Steelers – Brandon Harris, CB

32. Green Bay Packers – Mark Ingram, RB

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Thanks again to Truth for the Mock Draft. I’m always open to posting guest entries, so if you’ve got something to say just give me a shout via email or Twitter. You know where to find me.
-Chris