2012 NFL Draft Prospects: BC's Luke Kuechly Ranked 22nd Overall

Boston College junior linebacker Luke Kuechly is listed as the 22nd best prospect in the 2012 NFL Draft class in Mocking The Draft's big board for next year's draft.

Kuechly has risen the ranks and has become one of college football's best linebackers in two seasons at BC. Kuechly has 325 tackles, four interceptions, three sacks and two forced fumbles in the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

In addition, Kuechly has made 10 or more tackles in 22 straight games, which is the longest streak in the country. In 2010, Kuechly led the nation in tackles with 183 (110 solo) and had three interceptions and two sacks.

Unsurprisingly, Andrew Luck is listed as the top prospect in next year's draft class. Luck has thrown for 5,913 yards and 45 touchdowns in two seasons at Stanford. Last season, Luck had 3,338 passing yards and 32 touchdowns.

Here's a look at the top ten 2012 NFL Draft prospect according to MTD.

2012 NFL Draft Prospects - 1-10

1. Andrew Luck (QB - Stanford Cardinal)
2. Quinton Coples (DE - North Carolina Tar Heels)
3. Matt Kalil (OT - USC Trojans)
4. Trent Richardson (RB - Alabama Crimson Tide)
5. Alshon Jeffery (WR - South Carolina Gamecocks)
6. Justin Blackmon (WR - Oklahoma St. Cowboys)
7. Jonathan Martin (OT - Stanford Cardinal)
8. Matt Barkley (QB - USC Trojans)
9. Jerel Worthy (DT - Michigan State Spartans)
10. Zack Brown (LB - North Carolina Tar Heels)

2012 NFL Mock Draft: John Jenkins, Luke Kuechly To Patriots In First Round

Now that the 2011 NFL Draft is in the books, there's only one logical thing to do: look ahead to the 2012 NFL Draft! SB Nation football writer Brian Galliford released his 2012 NFL Mock Draft on Saturday night, giving us a sneak peek at next year's top NCAA prospects.

As expected, Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick, and Galliford predicts he will go to the San Francisco 49ers (and, by extension, predicts San Francisco will be the worst team in the NFL next season). Luck most likely would have been the top pick in this year's draft, but he decided to stay at school for his senior year (kudos, Andrew!).

1. San Francisco 49ers: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford. Even with Colin Kaepernick on board, it's tough to imagine Jim Harbaugh turning down any opportunity to reunite with his Stanford protege.

In the local scene, Galliford projects Georgie defensive tackle John Jenkins will be drafted by the New England Patriots at No. 29 overall (the pick they received in the trade from the New Orleans Saints). Jenkins, a junior college transfer, signed with the Bulldogs this year and will play his first season with the football team next fall.

29. New England Patriots (f/NO): John Jenkins, DT, Georgia. This JUCO transfer is a 340-pound menace that should be in Round 1 conversations by the midway point of the 2012 college season.    

With the Pats' second pick of the first round, Boston College junior linebacker Luke Kuechly is projected to New England at No. 31 overall. Kuechly, who emerged as one of the nation's best up-and-coming linebackers over the past two seasons in Chestnut Hill, would be a good fit for Bill Belichick and the Patriots.

31. New England Patriots: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College. This local product is a perfect fit for the Patriots, even if they've already got Jerod Mayo and Brandon Spikes inside.

Kuechly has amassed some impressive numbers in his first two seasons at Boston College, totaling 325 tackles, four interceptions, three sacks and two forced fumbles. In 2010, Kuechly led the nation in tackles with 183 (110 solo) and had three interceptions.Kuechly has recorded 10 or more tackles in 22 straight games, which is the longest streak in the country.

Round Two Mock Draft: Mel Kiper Projects Brooks Reed To Patriots At No. 33

Mel Kiper's round two mock draft is out, and just in time for what should be be a busy night for the New England Patriots. 

New England owns the first pick in the second round (No. 33 overall, via a trade with the Carolina Panthers last year), along with picks No. 56 (via Thursday night's New Orleans trade) and No. 60. They have picks No. 74 and 92 in the third round later Friday night. 

In his mock draft, Mel Kiper has the Patriots going defense with their first pick, followed by a couple offensive players: 

33. Brooks Reed, DE, Arizona

Natural pass-rushing threat in the 3-4 defensive scheme.

56. Rodney Hudson, C, Florida State

New England needed help along the offensive line. It got Nate Solder in Round 1. It'll get more help here.

60. Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois

New England opted to pass on Mark Ingram in Round 1. Leshoure adds a new dimension to the Pats' running game.

For more the New England Patriots and their draft, head over to Pats Pulpit. And for all things 2011 NFL Draft related, from the first pick to Mr. Irrelevant and everything in between, check out SB Nation's 2011 NFL Draft Hub and our NFL Draft blog, Mocking The Draft.

NFL Draft, Second Round: Patriots Projected To Take Greg Little At No. 33 In Mock Draft

The 2011 NFL Draft resumes on Friday night, with the second and third rounds taking place at 6 p.m.EDT at Radio City Music Hill in New York City.

In its second round mock draft, SB Nation has the New England Patriots drafting North Carolina wide receiver Greg Little with the first pick in the second round (No. 33 overall), saying that Little will be the Pats' guy unless head coach Bill Belichick decides to trade the pick away per usual.

33. New England Patriots: Greg Little, WR, North Carolina. Bill Belichick will probably just trade out of this pick, as he usually does, but Little has risen dramatically, and the Pats have taken risks on Tar Heel receivers before.

Little had 724 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 62 catches in 2010. In three years with the Tar Heels, Little has amassed 969 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 86 career receptions.

New England is also in possession of the No. 56 overall pick and the No. 60 overall pick in the second round. SB Nation has the Pats taking Miami defensive end Allen Baily at No. 56 and Villanova offensive tackle Ben Ijalana.

56. New England Patriots: Allen Bailey, DE, Miami (FL). This pick acquired from New Orleans. One of the draft's most gifted athletes, Belichick could conceivably use Bailey at outside linebacker or defensive end.

60. New England Patriots: Ben Ijalana, OT, Villanova. Sure, they added Nate Solder in the first round, but more depth is needed, and Ijalana has elite-level capability as a projected guard.

Bailey finished with 106 tackles and 19 sacks in four seasons with the Hurricanes. Iljalana started all 53 games in his four year career with the Wildcats.

Round Two Mock Draft: Da'Quan Bowers Projected To Patriots At No. 33

Day one of the 2011 NFL Draft is in the books, with the New England Patriots drafting Colorado offensive lineman Nate Solder with the No. 17 overall pick. The Patriots had a second pick in the first round at No. 28 overall, but they traded the selection to the New Orleans Saints, who used it to draft Alabama running back Mark Ingram.

New England has a grand total of five draft picks in the second and third rounds on Friday night, including three picks in Round Two. 

The Pats' are in possession of the first pick in the second round, No. 33 overall, and Mocking The Draft projects that New England will draft Clemson defensive end Da'Quan Bowers with the pick.

Bowers, who surprisingly is still available, amassed 150 tackles, 20 sacks, one interception and one forced fumble in three seasons at Clemson. In 2010, Bowers had a career-high 67 tackles (41 solo) and 16 sacks for the Tigers.

With the Pats' second pick of the second round (No. 56 overall - acquired from the Saints in the deal for the No. 28 pick), Mocking The Draft has New England drafting Justin Houston, a junior linebacker from Georgia.

Houston finished his three-year career with the Bulldogs with 110 tackles, 19 sacks and one interception. This past season, Houston totaled 56 tackles (30 solo) and 10 sacks for Georgia.

The Patriots have another pick at No. 60 overall, and MTD predicts that Bill Belichick will draft North Carolina running back Johnny White. White had 720 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 130 attempts this season for UNC.

Check out Mocking The Draft's complete mock draft for the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft by clicking here. 

Mike Mayock's Mock Draft Has Cameron Jordan Joining The Patriots

Mike Mayock, one of the league's premier draft analysts, has released his only mock draft for the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft, which takes place on Thursday night at 8 p.m. EDT (ESPN).

In his mock, Mayock has the New England Patriots drafting California defensive end Cameron Jordan with the No. 17 overall pick. Jordan finished his career at Cal with 161 tackles, 17 sacks and one interception in four seasons.

A five-technique for the Pats here from the pick they got from the Raiders when they dealt the prototypical 5-technique in Richard Seymour. Jordan might be the best 5-technique in this draft. He gives them scheme versatility because you can play him inside, and he can stand up. (via NFL.com)

With the No. 28 overall pick, Mayock has Bill Belichick drafting Washington quarterback Jake Locker. Well, sort of.

No, the Patriots aren't drafting Jake Locker. Any of the teams at the bottom of the first round could be looking to trade out, including New England here. A QB such as Locker will be a prime target for a team looking to jump up. It's not about the teams at this point, it's about the players.

Mayock also predicts that Boston College offensive lineman Anthony Castonzo will be drafted by the Detroit Lions with the No. 13 overall pick, saying that the decision won't be a hard one for Detroit.

This is a no-brainer pick for the Lions. Veteran Jeff Backus is in the last year of his deal. Castonzo gets a one-year apprenticeship at right tackle, and a year from now he replaces Backus over on the left side and stays there for the next 10 years to protect Matthew Stafford.

In the first five picks, Mayock has Cam Newton (QB - Auburn Tigers) going No. 1 overall to the Carolina Panthers, Von Miller (LB - Texas A&M Aggies) going No. 2 to the Denver Broncos, Marcell Dareus (DT - Alabama Crimson Tide) going third to the Buffalo Bills, A.J. Green (WR - Georgia Bulldogs) going No. 4 to the Cincinnati Bengals and Patrick Peterson (CB - LSU Tigers) going No. 5 to the Arizona Cardinals.

Rick Gosselin's Mock Draft: Cameron Jordan, Danny Watkins To Patriots In First Round

It's the day of the NFL Draft which means some of the most anticipated final 2011 NFL mock drafts are being released. We've already touched on Peter King's and Mel Kiper's, and now Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News, one of football's brighter minds, has unveiled his mock draft.

Like most, he has Cam Newton going to the Carolina Panthers with the No. 1 overall pick. But unlike most, Newton is one of five quarterbacks in his top-12: Blaine Gabbert to the 49ers, Jake Locker to the Titans, Christian Ponder to the 49ers and Andy Dalton to the Vikings. 

Another surprise is Alabama RB Mark Ingram going to the St. Louis Rams with the No. 14 pick, much higher than most have him projected. 

As for the New England Patriots, Gosselin has them taking DE Cameron Jordan (California) at No. 17, assuming they don't make a trade. 

The Patriots are likely to trade out of this spot. But Jordan here could be an inducement to stay put. He's a 3-4 end who fits the size prototype (6-4, 287) Bill Belichick covets. Bigger is always better in New England.

As for the Pats' second first-round selection, No. 28 overall, it's Danny Watkins, a guard out of Baylor: 

Watkins is the safest pick in the entire draft - the one player you can confidently say will be in the Pro Bowl in 2012. He's the best guard on the board, and some NFL teams were looking at him as both a center and tackle.

The first round of the 2011 NFL Draft starts at 8 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, April 28th and SB Nation has everything you need to prepare for it - NFL mock drafts, draft projections, scouting reports, the full NFL draft order and more. Check it all out at SB Nation's NFL Draft Hub and our NFL Draft blog Mocking the Draft.

2011 NFL Mock Draft: Patriots Take J.J. Watt, Mark Ingram In Final SB Nation Projections

In preparation for the 2011 NFL Draft's first round -- beginning Thursday night at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN and NFL Network), SB Nation's Brian Galliford has released his final 2011 NFL Mock Draft, and no surprise, it has Auburn's Cam Newton going No. 1 overall to the Carolina Panthers. 

As for the New England Patriots, Galliford projects a couple familiar names Bill Belichick (familiar in the sense that a lot of mock drafts have these two players going to the Pats in the first round): J.J. Watt and Mark Ingram. 

Watt would be the Patriots first of two first-round pick, at No. 17 overall: 

The Patriots have drafted three defensive linemen in the first round during the Bill Belichick era. They'll have a hard time not making it four with Watt.

And then with the No. 28 selection, they'd pick Alabama running back Mark Ingram -- a great value pick (he's seen his stock slip in the past couple months due to concerns about his knee): 

After re-vamping their offense to a two-tight end attack last year, the missing piece is a true workhorse running back. That's what Ingram gives the Pats.

Interestingly enough, Robert Quinn, the DE from North Carolina that the Patriots are reportedly so interested in they're talking to the Cleveland Browns about their No. 6 overall pick, is projected to ... the Browns, with the No. 6 pick.  

The first round of the 2011 NFL Draft starts at 8 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, April 28th and SB Nation has everything you need to prepare for it - NFL mock drafts, draft projections, scouting reports, the full NFL draft order and more. Check it all out at SB Nation's NFL Draft Hub and our NFL Draft blog Mocking the Draft.

2011 NFL Mock Draft: Patriots Draft Anthony Castonzo, Cameron Heyward In Latest Mock Draft

In the weeks and months leading up to the 2011 NFL Draft, the gang over at Pats Pulpit has been hard at work with player profiles, scouting reports and, more recently, 2011 mock drafts. (Seriously, go visit their "Draft" section -- it's amazingly thorough.)

Having already released a mock draft for both Round One and Round Two, they turned their attention to focus on solely the Patriots' draft, with a projection for all eight of their picks. 

In the Patriots mock draft, Pats Pulpit has Bill Belichick and company taking Boston College's Anthony Castonzo with their first pick (No. 17 overall), coupled with DE Cameron Heyward (Ohio St.) with pick No. 25, received in a trade with the Seattle Seahaws to move-up.

You can visit Pats Pulpit for a complete look, but here's how they sum it up: 

Selected their future left tackle, right defensive end and outside linebacker, while giving up a 2011 4th round pick to move up from 28 to 25 and select Cam Heyward.

Acquired a 2012 1st round draft pick from the San Francisco 49ers after trading down from 33 to 45, giving the Patriots two first round picks in 2012.

Mel Kiper Mock Draft Has Patriots Selecting Muhammad Wilkerson, Mark Ingram In First Round

It's one of the most anticipated days of the sporting calendar, and it doesn't involve a single athletic move (unless you count walking across the stage). Indeed, it's the beginning of the 2011 NFL Draft, with the Carolina Panthers going on the clock Thursday night at 8:04 p.m. ET, and with it comes the final edition of Mel Kiper's mock draft. 

As we've already mentioned, it's behind a pay wall (save for his first five picks), we've learned his projections for the two first-round selections of the New England Patriots.

At No. 17, Kiper predicts the Pats to draft Muhammad Wilkerson, a DL from Temple. 

I have 3-4 defensive end among the top three needs for the Patriots and this is precisely the kind of value pick the Patriots are known for. Wilkerson is a player who I don't think would escape the top-10 picks if he stuck around Temple for another year, but he simply dominated the competition in 2010 and is ready for this shot. He fits in well as a 3-4 defensive end and can really create havoc.

For the record SB Nation's 2011 NFL Mock Draft has him going to the Jets with the No. 30 pick. 

The Patriots' second first-round pick, No. 28, will see them take Alabama RB Mark Ingram, according to Kiper: 

The Patriots are unfailingly unpredictable, even more so this season because they can cover a wide variety of needs throughout the first four rounds, where they know they'll get value, but there's no question they could use a talent like Ingram, particularly this late in Round 1. Ingram's a gamer, a guy who can help the running game now. He's a Belichick type of player, but his pad level, balance and ability to explode from contact are traits any coach would love.

The first round of the 2011 NFL Draft starts at 8 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, April 28th and SB Nation has everything you need to prepare for it - NFL mock drafts, draft projections, scouting reports, the full NFL draft schedule and more. Check it all out at SB Nation's 2011 NFL Draft Hub and our NFL Draft blog Mocking the Draft. 

2011 NFL Mock Draft: Mel Kiper Projects Cam Newton No. 1 Overall, Von Miller No. 2

Months of scouting, player workouts and big draft boards come to fruition Thursday night when the 2011 NFL Draft gets started with Round One, beginning at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN and NFL Network). It also marks the release of everyone's final NFL mock drafts, including the man who made being a draft expert a thing: Mel Kiper. 

Mel Kiper's mock draft is behind a paywall at ESPN, but his first five picks are available for the pubic, and his No. 1 pick has Cam Newton headed to the Carolina Panthers: 

Is he the top player on my Big Board? No. But it's hard to blame a franchise in Carolina's position for falling in love with the extremely high ceiling of Newton. As I said when I projected him here before, there are immediate needs, and there is a decision that you believe will change the direction of your franchise for years to come. While I'm not certain Carolina isn't still listening for the right offer for this pick -- if you're heard me at all lately, you'll know I see this is one of the more unpredictable top 10's I can ever remember -- if the Panthers really see Newton as a transformative player who can be both a Pro Bowl quarterback and face of the franchise who draws a lot of buzz, they make this pick. 

Kiper has the Denver Broncos taking Texas A&M LB Von Miller with the second overall pick, the Buffalo Bills drafting DT Marcell Dareus from Alabama with the No. 3 pick, the Cincinnati Bengals using their No. 4 pick on A.J. Green (WR, Georgia) and the LSU's Patrick Peterson (CB) going to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 5.

2011 NFL Mock Draft: Anthony Castonzo To Patriots At No. 17 In Pats Pulpit's Final Predictions

It's about that time where we start to see final mock draft predictions across the internet, and it's no different here at SB Nation. Pats Pulpit, our New England Patriots blog, has released its final mock for the 2011 NFL Draft.

With the Patriots' first pick (No. 17 overall), Pats Pulpit projects that Bill Belichick and company will select Boston College offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo, who has been projected to go as high as No. 13 overall by some experts.

17.   New England Patriots (14-2)       Anthony Castonzo     (6'7 - 308lbs)     OT     Boston College

The Patriots will think long and hard about trading back from 17 into the twenties and trying to pick up a 2^ndrounder in the process but they doubt Castonzo will make it past the Giants.  Dante Scarneccia already worked with Castonzo at the Boston College Pro Day, so will have first hand input into his suitability to the Patriot system.  Like Sebastian Vollmer, Castonzo can play either tackle position, and is a talented pass protector and run blocker.  While he has a little trouble with speed rushers, he will learn his craft under the best line coach in the league and form a dominating bookend tackle combination.

Pats Pulpit also predicts that the Patriots will trade up to the No. 25 overall pick, in exchange for the No. 28 overall pick and the 125th overall pick, and draft Ohio State defensive end Cameron Heyward.

TRADE: Seattle Seahawks trade the 25^th pick to the New England Patriots in exchange for the 28^th & 125^thpicks.

25.   New England Patriots (14-2)       Cameron Heyward     (6'5 - 294lbs)     DE     Ohio State    

The Patriots cannot afford to wait their turn to get their right defensive end since they know Baltimore will be interested as will the Jets and Packers.  Therefore, they move up to select the Ohio State product who draws many comparisons to Richard Seymour.  Heyward has ideal size and strength to hold up against double teams in the Patriots two gap system and has tremendous pass rush ability.  He has faced top competition in his career and has flashed dominance.  He will need to improve his consistency but could thrive under Bill Belichick.

Here's a look at the projected draft philosophy for Belichick and the Patriots, also from Pats Pulpit.

With their first pick in the first round, the Patriots address a key position of need, by taking a player who fits their mold and system.  Castonzo is one of the most pro-ready prospects in the draft and the Patriots will have an immediate contributor.  Out of need, the Patriots trade up from 28 surprising many as a number of commentators have them moving down from that spot.  However, with most of the top tier five technique defensive ends off the board, the Pats make a solid move to nab Cam Heyward, who will be an ideal replacement for Richard Seymour.

At the very top of the draft, Pats Pulpit projects that the Carolina Panthers will draft Auburn quarterback Cam Newton. With the second pick, the Denver Broncos will select Alabama defensive end Marcell Dareus, and the Buffalo Bill will draft Von Miller at No. 3 overall. The blog also has the Cincinnati Bengals drafting Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert and the Arizona Cardinals taking speedy LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson at No. 5.

2011 NFL Mock Draft: Mark Ingram Projected To Patriots With No. 17 Pick

We're now just days away from the NFL Draft (three, to be exact, assuming you're reading this on Monday), which means we're getting our final lock at the 2011 NFL Mock Drafts. SB Nation already released theirs -- it has the Patriots trading up to No. 13 to take Alabama's Julio Jones -- and now Doug Farrar has unveiled his mock draft over at Yahoo!'s Shutdown Corner. 

With the No. 17 overall pick -- the Patriots' first of two first-round selections -- he has New England taking a former member of the Crimson Tide, but not Jones: 

17. New England Patriots (from Oakland Raiders) -Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
It's been a long time - February of 2005, to be specific - since the Patriots have won a Super Bowl. Bill Belichick's team has an ungodly 73-23 regular season record from 2005 through 2010, so overall team excellence is not the problem. But when isolating the issues that are different since that last championship, point one is that 2004 was the last time New England had a dominant running back, when Corey Dillon pounded through for 1,635 yards, making the integrated offense off-the-hook dynamic. Now that Belichick is putting together personnel for that same kind of fast-break system, he could really use a do-it-all running back that can succeed on every down. Ingram doesn't fly off the tape, but he's the kind of smart, productive player the Pats have favored through the years.

Later in the first round, Farrar projects the Pats to take Danny Watkins, an OG from Baylor, with the No. 28 pick. Read Farrar's full mock draft at Shutdown Corner. 

The first round of the 2011 NFL Draft starts at 8 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, April 28th and SB Nation has everything you need to prepare for it - NFL mock drafts, draft projections, scouting reports, the full NFL draft schedule and more. Check it all out at SB Nation's 2011 NFL Draft Hub and our NFL Draft blog Mocking the Draft. 

2011 NFL Mock Draft: Patriots Trade Up To No. 13, Select Alabama's Julio Jones

Bill Belichick has been known to make the NFL Draft really boring for Patriots fans, trading down left and right until his team doesn't have any picks left in that year's draft.

Alas, some excitement for Pats fans (at least according to SB Nation)! The mothership has projected that New England will trade up to No. 13 overall and will draft Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones in the latest 2011 NFL Mock Draft.

13. New England Patriots (f/DET): Julio Jones, WR, Alabama. The Patriots aren't the type of team that looks to move up in Round 1, but for Jones, Bill Belichick might make a (cheap) exception. Jones is a plug-and-play receiver that would give the Pats a true No. 1 target on the edge, pairing with the likes of Deion Branch and tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez to make the Pats a true matchup nightmare. The Lions, meanwhile, slide down a few slots and pick up an extra third-round pick.    

SB Nation predicts that the trade would send the No. 13 pick from the Detroit Lions to the Pats, while the Lions would get the No. 17 overall pick and the No. 74 overall pick in the third round.

Jones played three seasons in Alabama, totaling 2,653 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns on 179 receptions. In 2010, Jones racked up 1,133 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 78 catches.

In addition, SB Nation has the Patriots trading their No. 28 overall pick to the Minnesota Vikings.

Projected Trade
NE gets: No. 43 overall (second round), 2012 second-round pick
MIN gets: No. 28 overall    

As for Boston College offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo, he is projected to the New York Giants with the No. 19 overall pick by SB Nation. Considering the tied between Coughlin and BC, this shouldn't surprise anyone.

19. New York Giants: Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College. Tackle was a big problem last year. Tom Coughlin is a BC guy. Castonzo offers some guard versatility, and can play on either side. He's an excellent fit for the Giants.

The first round of the 2011 NFL Draft starts at 8 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, April 28th and SB Nation has everything you need to prepare for it - NFL mock drafts, draft projections, scouting reports, the full NFL draft schedule and more. Check it all out at SB Nation's 2011 NFL Draft Hub and our NFL Draft blog Mocking the Draft. 

2011 NFL Mock Draft: Todd McShay Offers Up Variety Of Scenarios For Patriots In Latest Mock

If you’re the type of NFL fan that hates all the mock drafts and speculation that dominates the narrative between March and late April, then you’ll be pleased that we’re less than a week away from the 2011 NFL Draft finally arriving. If you love putting together mocks and analyzing those filed by others, then you’re in seventh heaven for at least another week.

ESPN’s Todd McSahy recently published his annual scenario based mock draft ($). The premise is simple: McShay makes a pick for each of the 32 first round slots, but also presents two alternative scenarios that could materialize. When trying to forecast what the New England Patriots might do in the ‘11 Draft, this approach is a good one for several reasons. Firstly, the Patriots have two picks in the first round, so it’s helpful to read opinions about the myriad options at New England’s disposal. Secondly, the Patriots have a history of pulling off multi-faceted maneuvers (read: trades) in recent drafts, so it’s interesting to hear an expert’s opinion about how and why they might do something similar again this year.

So, what did McShay lay out as likely scenarios for the Pats’ picks at No. 17 and No. 28? Let’s take a look. At No. 17, McShay penciled in Boston College OT Anthony Castonzo. Here was his explanation:

Scenario 1: Offensive tackle is not a top need but the local product Castonzo has been on the board too long at this point, and with current LT Matt Light entering his 11th season and set to be an unrestricted free agent Castonzo makes sense.

In Scenario 2, McShay mentioned defensive ends JJ Watt and Cameron Jordan as viable options to help improve the front-seven defensively. Finally, he mentioned the possibility of a trade in Scenario 3.

Scenario 3: I can envision a scenario in which the Patriots try to work a trade, possibly with the Redskins if Quinn is on the board at No. 10. The Patriots already have six picks in the first two days and they don’t need any more, so packaging some in order to fill a need seems possible.

I think this makes a lot of sense. There’s only 53 roster spots, and obviously the Patriots have a solid roster as is. So quite simply, all those draft picks aren’t at all valuable if there’s limited space on the roster for them to earn a helmet.

With the Patriots second pick in the first round at No. 28, McShay has the Pats selecting Alabama running back Mark Ingram. Here’s why:

The Patriots are looking to get more physical on offense and Ingram fits the bill. He’s not a huge back but he runs low, has exceptional instincts and picked up more yards after contact than any back in this class. The relationship between New England coach Bill Belichick and Alabama’s Nick Saban doesn’t hurt, either.

He then mentions the possibility of trading down with a team that might be interested in acquiring a quarterback in this year’s draft. To conclude, McShay presents a third scenario for the Pats at No. 28.

Scenario 3: Names like Locker, Reed, Boise State WR Titus Young, Pittsburgh DE Jabaal Sheard, Miami DE Allen Bailey and Alabama OT James Carpenter could also be in play whether New England stays put or trades back.

We’ll see what happens when the festivities begin next Thursday night at Radio City Music Hall in New York. Once thing is for sure — fans of the New England Patriots will continue to have lots to talk about once the dust finally settles on the 2011 NFL Draft.

For more Patriots analysis and mock draft discussion, be sure to check out Pats Pulpit and SB Nation’s Mocking the Draft.

2011 NFL Mock Draft: Peter King Says Patriots Should Take J.J. Watt

We're already addressed Boston College's OT Anthony Castonzo going to the Buffalo Bills with the No. 3 overall pick in Peter King's 2011 mock draft. With the draft now just one week away -- despite the current lockout and possibility that there won't even, ya know, be a season -- let's look at who King sees the New England Patriots taking with their two first-round picks. 

In King's mock draft, he offers both who he thinks the team will take, as well as who the team should take (sometimes they're the same player). For the Patriots' first pick, the No. 17 overall selection, King has Bill Belichick drafting Florida G/C Mike Pouncey, but says they should take Wisconsin's J.J. Watt. 

Watt's a speedy, versatile defensive end who'd allow Vince Wilfork to move back inside where he belongs. Pouncey? He's a Day One starting guard, with the ability to someday replace Dan Koppen (32 in September) at center if need be. Either of these picks would make the Patriots better immediately. I give them Pouncey because of the interior-line urgency and the Urban Meyer/Bill Belichick connection.

King then predicts that if quarterbacks start to go quickly, the Patriots will trade their No. 28 pick away to the Tennessee Titans, who will use it to take FSU's Christian Ponder (although he says they should draft Nevada's Colin Kaepernick.

2011 NFL Mock Draft: Peter King Says Buffalo Bills Should Take BC's Anthony Castonzo

Everyone's favorite latte-sipping, Amtrak-riding NFL insider, Peter King, released his 2011 mock draft, just in time for next week's draft. King offers both who he thinks a team will pick, and who the team should pick

Yes, even though the lockout continues and both sides are locked in mediation, the NFL Draft is continuing as planned, with Round 1 on Thursday night (April 28), Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday night and then Rounds 4-7 on Saturday afternoon. The New England patriots, as you may have heard, have two first-round picks, and three of the top-33 selections. 

In Peter King's mock draft, he has Cam Newton going No. 1 overall to the Carolina Panthers (both will and should). For the second pick, King says the Denver Broncos will and should pick DT Marcell Dareus, and then at the No. 3 pick, he has the Buffalo Bills picking LB Von Miller, but says they should draft OT Anthony Castonzo out of Boston College. 

Buffalo's biggest needs are a left tackle and a run stopper, but those will be addressed in later rounds, because Miller's potential is so great. He has the chance to be a double-digit sacker, the guy '09 first-rounder Aaron Maybin hasn't become. But projecting pass rushers is always risky. For a team whose QB was hit way too much last year, I'd rather have a Day One left tackle. Castonzo started 54 games at BC and was never overmatched.

2011 NFL Mock Draft: J.J. Watt, Danny Watkins Latest Patriots Projections

The Patriots are projected to take defensive end J.J. Watt and offensive guard Danny Watkins in the first round according to SB Nation's most recent mock draft.

J.J. Watt is emerging as the popular pick for New England as the draft draws closer, and it's not hard to see why. A big defensive lineman who primarily spent his time with the Wisconsin Badgers in the opposition's backfield, Watt seems to bring the team exactly what they need in the pass rush. Add in that, by all accounts, he's a big character guy, living his life by a motto of "dream big, work hard," and you've got what looks like a perfect player for Bill Belichick.

But if you ask Pats Pulpit, this is not a match made in heaven, for the simple fact that Watt doesn't seem to fit into the Patriots' system:

I see a player abandoning his lane who doesn't have a final burst to reach the ball carrier. Without a second burst, I see his pass rushing ability becoming less effective against greater competition. I see a player who will struggle against the run if he's expected to watch two gaps and who won't flourish in the Patriots' defense. 

Behind Watt, the Patriots are expected to target Danny Watkins, a top offensive lineman out of Baylor. A former hockey player and firefighter, Watkins hasn't even been in football all that long despite being 26-years-old. It hasn't taken him long to pick up the game, though, and with his size and personality--again, he fits into the Bill Belichick mold of hard workers and strong character--he could go a long way towards replenishing the Patriots' depleted offensive line.

2011 NFL Mock Draft: J.J. Watt, Brooks Reed To Patriots In First Round

J.J. Watt and Brooks Reed are projected to the New England Patriots in the latest mock draft update from Mocking The Draft, SB Nation's NFL mock draft blog.

Watt, a 6'5", 290-pound defensive end from Wisconsin, is projected to be drafted by New England with the No. 17 overall pick while Reed, a 6'3", 262-pound defensive end from Arizona, is projected to the Patriots at No. 28 overall.

In two seasons with the Badgers, Watt finished with 106 tackles (75 solo), two forced fumbles and one interception. Reed finished his college career at Arizona with 107 tackles (71 solo) and 17 sacks.

Mocking The Draft also predicts that the Patriots will draft Baylor offensive guard Danny Watkins with the first pick of the second round (33rd overall). In addition, MTD has New England selecting Miami defensive end Allen Bailey in the second round with the 60th overall pick.

Bailey racked up 106 career tackles (58 solo) and had 19 sacks in four seasons with the Hurricanes.

2011 NFL Mock Draft: J.J. Watt Projected To Patriots At No. 17

The 2011 NFL Draft is a little more than two weeks away now, and it's Auburn's Cam Newton that is back at the top of SB Nation's Mock Draft, projected to be the No. 1 overall pick by the Carolina Panthers. That is, of course, unless Missouri's Blaine Gabbert can close the gape between now and April 28. 

As for the New England Patriots, who own three of the first 33 picks, including two in the first round, the SBN Mock Draft has Bill Belichick and company eyeing a defensive end with their first selection: 

17. New England Patriots: J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin. If Bill Belichick and the Patriots are looking for value rather than filling a need with their top pick, Watt is by far the most sensible player for the team. He might be the most sensible from a need standpoint, as well.

Watt was redshirted in 2008 at Wisconsin, but started every game in 2009 and 2010. This past year, Watt recorded 62 tackles and had seven sacks on the way to winning the Ronnie Lott Award, given to college football's Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. 

With the No. 28 overall pick, SB Nation has the Pats solidifying their offensive line: 

28. New England Patriots: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado. With Watt - the instant-impact defender - on board, the Patriots may choose to address a pressing concern on the other side of the ball with more of a project. The idea of pairing Solder with Sebastian Vollmer at tackle is tantalizing.

2011 NFL Mock Draft: ESPN's Todd McShay Projects The Patriots Draft

Todd McShay just came out with his latest three-round 2011 NFL Mock Draft (insider only), which means that he spent a lot of time projecting picks for the Patriots, who have six picks in that span.

In the first round, he has the Patriots taking Wisconsin's J.J. Watt and Alabama's Mark Ingram. Watt is a defensive end that would be a good fit in the Patriots 3-4 defensive scheme. Ingram is the former Heisman trophy winning running back that could go a long way in solidifying the Pats backfield. McShay admits that the Patriots probably won't target a running back in round one, but might not be able to pass on Ingram if he is still available at No. 28.

McShay has the Patriots taking Georgia guard Clint Boling with the 33rd overall pick (which they acquired from Carolina), and Alabama tackle James Carpenter with their own pick in the second round. With so many picks in the first few rounds, the Patriots can afford to really load up at a position of need (offensive line) like McShay projects them to do here.

In the third, McShay has the Patriots focusing on their defense, selecting Pitt DE Jabaal Sheard and Clemson defensive back Marcus Gilchrist. Sheard would probably have to transition to an outside linebacker in the Patriots scheme, but he ha shown the ability to get after the quarterback. Gilchrist might be a little bit small for safety in the NFL, but he is a ball-hawk and should be able to make some plays for the Patriots.

2011 NFL Mock Draft: Aldon Smith To Patriots According To Most Draft Experts

Missouri outside linebacker Aldon Smith is projected to go to the New England Patriots with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, according a majority of draft experts.

Smith, a 6'4", 263-pound sophomore, has 108 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble in two seasons at Missouri. In 2010, Smith had 48 tackles (34 solo), six sacks and one interception. Smith's best season came as a freshman in 2009, when he amassed 60 tackles (40 solo), 11 sacks and a forced fumble.

Rob Rang of CBS Sports is the only expert of note that Real Clear Sports listed as having Smith go to the Patriots. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. predicts the Patriots will draft California defensive end Cameron Jordan at No. 17 will Todd McShay projected New England to draft Wisconsin's J.J. Watt with the selection.

Boston College offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo is projected to be drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the No. 16 overall pick, according to Real Clear Sports. However, Kiper Jr. has Castonzo going No. 22 overall to the Indianapolis Colts while McShay projects Castonzo will be drafted by the New York Giants at No. 19.

With the No. 28 overall pick, the RCS average pick for the New England Patriots is Mississippi State offensive tackle Derek Sherrod. Sherrod is a 6'6", 305-pound senior from Columbus, Mississippi. Kiper Jr. has the Patriots drafting Georgia linebacker Justin Houston and McShay has New England drafting Alabama running back Mark Ingram at No. 28 overall.

2011 NFL Mock Draft: Ryan Kerrigan Projected To Patriots At No. 17

The 2011 NFL Draft is about three weeks away, but uncertainty is still the prevailing theme in most mock draft, with varying outlooks week to week. The latest SB Nation 2011 NFL Mock Draft is no exception, with Cam Newton edging out Blaine Gabbert for the No. 1 overall pick. In fact, Gabbert slips all the way to the Cincinnati Bengals and the No. 4 pick this week (Alabama's Marcell Dareus and Texas A&M's Von Miller are Nos. 3 and 4, respectively). 

As for the local 11, Brian Galliford sees the Patriots going defense with their first of two first-round selections. 

17. New England Patriots: Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue. Over the past couple of years, Bill Belichick has been using more 40 front, a departure from the staunch 3-4 he ran during the early part of the century. Why? He hasn't had the edge rushers. Kerrigan would team with '10 second-rounder Jermaine Cunningham to change that.

Then with the No. 28 pick, New England is tabbed to take Nate Solder, an offensive tackle from Colorado. 

Boston College's Anthony Castonzo, one of the draft's top offensive lineman, is projected to at No. 13 -- his highest projection yet -- to the Detroit Lions. 

There are value-based picks that the Lions could make here, but taking Castonzo makes too much sense. He's a versatile, intelligent athlete with good upside that could start on either side of the line. Protecting Matt Stafford is a top priority.

2011 NFL Mock Draft: J.J. Watt To Patriots At No. 17, Anthony Castonzo To Lions In SI's Latest Mock Draft

J.J. Watt is projected to the New England Patriots with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, according to Don Banks' latest mock draft on Sports Illustrated.

Banks writes that New England's "need for a 3-4 defensive end" will lead the to draft Watt with their first pick of the draft.

Owning picks 17, 28 and 33, there's no way the Patriots won't move out of at least one of those slots in their habit of ensuring the rich get richer. But given New England's need for a 3-4 defensive end, sticking at 17 and taking the versatile Watt figures to take priority over the search for starters at both offensive line and outside linebacker.

As for Boston College offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo, SI's mock draft has the Detroit Lions drafting him with the No. 13 overall picks. Castonzo is widely considered one of the nation's top offensive lineman.

The Lions would jump all over either Amukamara or Tyron Smith if they made it to No. 13, but it won't be difficult to turn in the card for Castonzo, the draft's No. 2-rated offensive tackle. Detroit doesn't need to hit grand slams on draft weekend, just solid doubles that keep the improvement coming.

With their second pick in the first round (No. 28 overall), Banks projects the Patriots to draft senior offensive tackle Danny Watkins out of Baylor. Here's what Banks had to say about Watkins.

Watkins is an offensive line prospect who has improved his standing with a solid pre-draft showing, and some believe he could handle the right offensive tackle position in the NFL. That would allow the Patriots to shift Sebastian Vollmer to the left tackle slot, clearing the way for the end of the Matt Light era in New England.

2011 NFL Mock Draft: Blaine Gabbert No. 1 Overall, Patriots Go Offense With First-Round Picks

We're now exactly one month away from the 2011 NFL Draft, which, yes, is still taking place despite the lockout. Which means there are only four weeks left for coaches to scout potential picks, for GMs and agents to negotiate signing bonuses and for mock drafts to be issued. 

The latest 2011 NFL mock draft from the guys over at SB Nation has Missouri's Blaine Gabbert back on top, going to the Carolina Panthers with the No. 1 overall pick, while Cam Newton has dropped to the No. 4 spot, owned by the Cincinnati Bengals.  

For the New England Patriots, they're projected to to go offense with both of their first round picks (assuming they don't trade one, or both, of the selections away): 

17. New England Patriots: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado. Having the advantage of six picks in the first three rounds, New England can get a little luxurious and draft talent over need if they feel the urge. Solder is a supremely talented athlete that wouldn't need to play right away for the Patriots - but probably could.

Then later in the first round, Bill Belichick and company own the 28th pick, which SB Nation projects them to use on Alabama's Mark Ingram:

Ingram is excellent value this late in the first round. Though the Patriots are a consistently excellent rushing team, they lack talent at the position. If BenJarvus Green-Ellis can produce in this offense, imagine how well Ingram would play.

 View the complete 2011 NFL Mock Draft at SB Nation

2011 NFL Draft: Patriots Eyeing Running Back On Day Two

Will the Patriots in the market for a running back in the upcoming NFL Draft? That's the conclusion that Pats Pulpit's Greg Knopping has come to after looking at the players they've shown interest in over the past month.

Knopping lists eight running backs who the Patriots have either shown interest in at an event, or held a private workout with. As a possible first rounder, Mikel LeShoure out of Illinois is the most impressive name on the list of players the Patriots have worked out, for the most part the candidates are projected as second or third round picks.

It would seem a bit odd for the Patriots to target a running back after 2010 saw a pair of possible breakout years from BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead. But with neither player having been particularly impressive before the season, Bill Belichick might be looking to insure himself against regression.

With two picks in each of the first three rounds, the Patriots would have the room to both fill many of their needs and add shore up some positions with less need. Still, all talent being equal, the team might want to put their faith in the duo that provided them with one of the best ground games in the league last year and go all-in to fix their offensive and defensive lines.

2011 NFL Mock Draft: J.J. Watt Projected To Patriots At No. 17; BC's Anthony Castonzo To Giants

J.J. Watt is projected to be the New England Patriots draft pick with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, according to the latest SB Nation mock draft. 

Watt, a sophomore from Wisconsin, has 106 career tackles, two forced fumble and one interception. In 2010, Watt recorded a career-high 62 tackles (43 solo) and had both forced fumbles and one interception.

Brian Galliford of SB Nation writes that Watt would be a perfect fit for Bill Belichick's young defense.

17. New England Patriots: J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin. Bill Belichick has been gradually injecting youth to his defense over the past few years; adding the guy Mike Mayock calls the best five-technique end he's ever scouted seems like a good way to continue that process.

As for Boston College offensive lineman Anthony Castonzo, the mock draft from SB Nation has him slated to go No. 19 overall to the New York Giants, who have an aging front line.

19. New York Giants: Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College. The Giants are aging up front, Castonzo's draft stock has consistently risen all off-season, and the Tom Coughlin connection makes this a logical choice.

New York has drafted several Boston College graduated in the past, including standout defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka. Former Eagles defensive back Will Blackmon and offensive lineman Chris Snee also play for the Giants.

2011 NFL Mock Draft: Would Patriots Consider Nate Solder, Justin Houston In First Round?

The 2011 NFL Draft starts April 28th at Radio City Music Hall, and SB Nation’s Brian Galliford continues his survey of the league with his latest 2011 NFL Mock Draft. In this version, the New England Patrriots select offensive tackle Nate Solder with the 17th overall pick and use the 27th pick on outside linebacker Justin Houston.

Galliford says New England is a “great situation” for Solder, who would eventually replace Nick Kaczur and the “aging” Matt Light. An “athletic marvel,” according to Galliford, Solder “would not need to start immediately,” which would buy him time to develop under Bill Belichick.

Houston, meanwhile, “is an excellent long-term prospect” who could thrive with the Patriots. He remains “under the radar” on most draft boards despite his “excellent athleticism at 270 pounds” and projects to have a solid career in 3-4 defensive alignments.

Elsewhere, Galliford has Boston College offensive tackle prospect Anthony Castonzo going to the New York Giants at the 19th overall position.

2011 NFL Mock Draft: Patriots Projected To Take J.J. Watt, Justin Houston

Over at SB Nation, Brian Galliford has put together his final 2011 NFL MOck Draft before the Scouting Combine, which begins Wednesday (Feb. 23-Mar. 1). Nick Fairley, the big defensive tackle from Auburn, is the first to go, to the Carolina Panthers with the No. 1 overall pick -- no surprise there. 

Galliford then has the Denver Broncos taking LSU CB Patrick Peterson, and Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert going to the Buffalo Bills with the No. 3 pick. 

The New England Patriots' first of two opening-round selections comes at No. 17, where Galliford has them drafting J.J. Watt, defensive end out of Wisconsin. 

The 2010 draft class was full of promising young talent for New England, but they need to continue re-stocking their defense with more young talent. Watt is the prototypical five-technique that will help as both a run defender and pass rusher in Bill Belichick's defense.

Bill Belichick and company then have the No. 28 selection, where they're projected to take Justin Houston, an OLB from Georgia. 

After adding a potentially elite five-technique end in Watt, the Patriots can continue to bolster their young defense here with Houston, an explosive edge rusher that would team up with '10 second-round pick Jermaine Cunningham to give the Pats two promising outside linebackers.

2011 NFL Mock Draft: Patriots Slated To Take Tyron Smith And Cameron Heyward, Anthony Castonzo To Atlanta

The latest 2011 NFL Mock Draft at SB Nation has the Patriots taking USC offensive tackle Tyron Smith and California defensive tackle Cameron Heyward with their two first round picks.

Tyron Smith is a name we haven’t really heard connected to the Patriots in previous drafts, when the first pick had been used on defenders like Akeem Ayers and Cameron Jordan. But Brian Galliford can see how he’d fit into the team’s plans:

Matt Light isn’t getting any younger at left tackle, but he’s still performing well enough to afford the team the time necessary to develop his replacement. Smith has elite athleticism and potential, and the talent-laden Patriots are one team that can afford to take him early and stash him.

With Smith in hand, our mock draft predicts that the Pats will still be able to pick up the impact defensive lineman they’ve been needing in recent years. For the second straight time, Cameron Heyward fell to New England at no. 28. That would be quite a bit of value considering how many fans would be perfectly happy to see the Pats use their first pick on him.

Ty Warren’s absence was felt in 2010, and the Patriots need to begin re-stocking their defensive line with high-end talent. Heyward is a perfect fit for the 3-4 that would improve the Patriots’ pass rush from that position.

Meanwhile, Anthony Castonzo out of BC has dropped towards the end of the pack, being snagged by the Falcons at no. 27. That would have him blocking for another former Eagle in Matt Ryan as Atlanta fills a hole on their line.

Entering their fourth year on the job, Tom Dimitroff, Mike Smith and company continue to slowly build the Falcons into a perennial playoff contender. Poised to lose Tyson Clabo at right tackle, Castonzo is poised to step in right away – and would be an upgrade in any case.

2011 NFL Mock Draft: Nick Fairley Still No. 1, Patriots Projected To Take UCLA's Akeem Ayers

Another new 2011 NFL Mock Draft at SB Nation, and another new projection for the New England Patriots with the No. 17 overall pick. 

Previous predictions have had Bill Belichick and company taking Ohio State's Cameron Heyward and Cal's Cameron Jordan. But the latest mock draft has New England drafting Akeem Ayers, an outside linebacker from UCLA. 

Versatility is the name of Ayers' game, as he has a lot of experience dropping into coverage. Many scouts believe he has the athleticism and size to rush the passer as a 3-4 outside linebacker, as well. Bill Belichick would find a way to use him alongside Jerod Mayo.

Auburn's Nick Fairley is still projected as the No. 1 overall pick, owned by the Carolina Panthers. 

After the 17th selection (via Oakland), the Patriots have their own pick, at No. 28. And it's there that SB Nation thinks Heyward will still be available. 

Like Paea before him, Heyward missed the Senior Bowl because of Tommy John surgery. He's a classic 'tweener, but New England would be an ideal landing spot, as he'd fit into the role that Richard Seymour vacated two years ago.

2011 NFL Mock Draft: Nick Fairley Still Top Pick, Patriots Projected To Select Cameron Jordan At No. 17

New England is projected to select Cameron Jordan, a defense end from the University of California, with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, according to SB Nation's latest 2011 NFL Mock Draft.

In addition, SB Nation has the Patriots selecting Justin Houston, an outside linebacker from Georgia, with the 28th overall selection in this year's draft.

Jordan had 161 career tackles, one interception and one forced fumble in four seasons at Cal. In 2010, Jordan recorded a career-high 51 tackles (26 solo) and tied a career-high with six sacks. Here's what Brian Galliford of SB Nation had to say about Jordan in the latest mock draft.

Once one of the league's prominent true 3-4 fronts, Bill Belichick has used more 40 front over the past couple of years. In Jordan, he gets a five-technique player for his 30 front that can play the edge or inside when he goes even.  

Cameron Heyward was originally projected to be the Pats' pick at No. 17, but Jordan was also in the mix from the start, according to SB Nation's Patriots blog, Pats Pulpit. 

Senior Alternative: Cameron Heyward, Cameron Jordan, Allen Bailey, Christian Ballard,

Analysis: There are some top prospects in both the junior and senior ranks, but the seniors match-up well in comparison to their junior counterparts. The Patriots almost certainly have to draft a defensive end, and there are players who rank right around the Patriots' draft picks.

Verdict: Jordan at 17, Heyward at 28, Wilkerson at 33, or Ballard at 60.

Houston finished his collegiate career with 110 career tackles in three seasons at Georgia. He had a career-best 56 tackles (30 solo) and a whopping 10 sacks this season for the Bulldogs. Here's Galliford's take on Houston.

With a five-technique guy in Cameron Jordan already on board, Belichick can continue to build his young defense by taking a solid pass-rushing OLB to team up with 2010 second-round pick Jermaine Cunningham.    

While Houston is a top prospect at outside linebacker, Pats Pulpit doesn't believe that New England will take him, or any other outside linebacker for that matter, late in the first round.

Analysis: The Patriots won't take an OLB in the first round, unless the player presents incredible value (as in: Quinn, Smith or Kerrigan drops to 28), which means that the Patriots will start looking at the OLB spot from 33 and 60. Beal is my favorite second round prospect because of his ability to reach the quarterback, contain the run and drop into coverage. Ayers struggles to generate pressure and Houston doesn't drop into coverage- and Sheard is a great edge setting, which puts him above the two juniors, in my book.

2011 NFL Mock Draft: Boston College's Anthony Castonzo Projected To Be Selected By Giants At No. 19

Boston College senior lineman Anthony Castonzo is projected to be drafted by the New York Giants with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, according to SB Nation's newest 2011 NFL Mock Draft.

Castonzo is widely considered one of the top offensive lineman in this year's draft class. Castonzo was named to Lindy's preseason All-America first team and was also named to Phil Steele's Midseason All-American Fourth Team. In addition, Castonzo was named a finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award.

Brian Galliford of SB Nation believes that Castonzo would be a good fit with the Giants in the long run.

19. New York Giants: Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College. The Giants need to begin grooming a better long-term replacement for David Diehl at left tackle; William Beatty has been a disappointment. Tom Coughlin's BC connection is well-known, and Castonzo is a sound technician that could start on either side - but perhaps not right away.    

Castonzo will represent Boston College along with fellow senior Mark Herzlich, a standout linebacker, in the Senior Bowl on Jan. 29 at 4 p.m. EST.

2011 NFL Mock Draft: Mel Kiper Has Nick Fairley Going No. 1

ESPN's Mel Kiper, everyone's favorite well-coiffed NFL Draft expert, has released his first 2011 NFL Mock Draft and, just like SB Nation's projection, Auburn's defensive tackle Nick Fairley is slotted in the No. 1 overall position.

Kiper, like everyone, would have had Andrew Luck atop his draft board, but when the Stanford quarterback opted to return to school, "dominos fell." The draft guru added that "in over 30 years of evaluating talent ... this year sticks out as one that could have a lot of movement throughout the process leading to the draft." 

But knowing what we know now, Fairley is the No. 1 pick:

The No. 1 overall player on the Big Board, and one who can pay immediate dividends. Fairley isn't just a safe pick because of his excellent burst, violent hand action and ability to effectively penetrate and be a constant nuisance against both the run and pass; he also has the chance to be a dominant player regardless of system. Detroit and Tampa Bay drafted the top defensive tackles at Nos. 2 and 3 last year. Carolina should start earlier in 2011. A slight mean streak in a DT isn't the worst trait. Even Ndamukong Suh showed a bit of one this season.

Kiper also projects the Buffalo Bills to draft Marcell Dareus, a defensive end from Alabama, and a player that could immediately add to this pass rush -- and cause problems for Tom Brady and the Patriots: "Buffalo has started to assemble the pieces for its 3-4 defense and Dareus has outstanding pass-rush skills and fits as a defensive end in the system." 

The complete 2011 NFL Mock Draft from Kiper is behind the ESPN Insider pay wall, but you can still see his top five picks.

2011 NFL Mock Draft: Patriots Should Target Offensive Linemen, Pass Rush In First Round

With New England's season having come to an abrupt end on Sunday, Patriots fans have largely turned their attention to the upcoming draft. Richard Hill over at Pats Pulpit is no different, and has taken it upon himself to draw up plans both general and specific for the Patriots come April 28.

Given the recent failures of the Pats in the postseason, Hill has turned his focus towards the pass rush--both in applying it to opposing quarterbacks, and keeping it off the back of Tom Brady. This is apparent in his top positions of need:

1. Offensive Guard
2. Outside Linebacker
3. Center
4. Defensive End
5. Offensive Tackle

as well as on his draft board, where 30 of the 50 players listed fill those very positions.

While the last couple of years have shown that the Patriots have been lacking in the trenches, really the failures extend back to the disastrous conclusion to New England's attempt at a perfect season back in 2007-2008. Blame Asante Samuel and Ellis Hobbs all you want, but Super Bowl XLII was the game where an offensive line with three pro-bowlers fell apart and exposed a vulnerability against good pass rush teams that would continue right up through Sunday.

Of course, as with any draft board, there are plenty of pipe dreams. Alabama's Marcellus Dareus, for instance, is a lot more likely to be knocking Brady on his back for the Bills than getting him the ball back.

While SB Nation's most recent 2011 NFL Mock Draft has the Pats picking up Buckeyes DE Cameron Heyward, Boston College's own Anthony Costanzo is, at no. 9, the highest ranked player on the board that the mock draft expects to be available come the Patriots' first pick at no. 17. The offensive tackle would presumably be the heir apparent to the aging and increasingly suspect Matt Light. Heyward, for his part, comes in at no. 15.

Of course, that assumes that the Patriots pick at no. 17 at all. When was the last time that Bill Belichick didn't make a first round trade?

2011 NFL Mock Draft: Nick Fairley Projected No. 1, Patriots Still Slated With Cameron Heyward At No. 17

SB Nation's newest 2011 NFL Mock Draft is out and for the New England Patriots, not much as changed. 

They're still projected to take Ohio State's Cameron Heyward (DE) with the No. 17 overall selection. However, because of their unexpected early departure from the NFL Playoffs, the Pats are now also have the No. 28 pick, which according to SB Nation's Mock Draft, New England will use to take Jimmy Smith, a cornerback from Colorado. 

J.J. Watt would be a terrific selection here - the Patriots have a very young defense, and need to continue adding talent to it - but with Cameron Heyward already on board, the Pats can afford to look at another position. The Pats have a budding star at corner in Devin McCourty, but more depth is needed - and competition for Kyle Arrington (beyond Leigh Bodden) wouldn't hurt, either.

SB Nation's Brian Galliford has the Carolina Panthers taking Auburn's Nick Fairley with the overall No. 1 pick, an imposing defensive tackle who greatly improved his draft status with a dominating performance against Oregon in the BCS National Championship Game. 

There are a number of directions that Ron Rivera and the Panthers could take with this pick, and the majority of them would make the league's worst team much better on paper. Among those players, however, none would bring the type of attitude - aggressive or dirty, whatever you want to call it - that Fairley would. Nobody's draft stock is hotter right now.

2011 NFL Mock Draft: Patriots Still Slotted With Cameron Heyward, Da'Quan Bowers New No. 1 Pick

The effect of last week's announcement that Andrew Luck will stay at Stanford and return for the 2011 season is beginning to be felt around both the NFL and college football alike, particularly in 2011 NFL Mock Drafts. 

With the consensus favorite to be the top overall pick, draft boards everywhere have had to reshuffle the order at the top, and in SB Nation's latest 2011 NFL mock draft, the new No. 1 pick is Da'Quan Bowers, a defensive end from Clemson. 

Minus a sure thing at quarterback, the Panthers will seriously consider sticking with Jimmy Clausen and take the draft's best pass rusher. Bowers is a phenomenal talent just starting to come into his own.

The New England Patriots first of two first-round picks -- No. 17, via Oakland -- has not changed from the original mock draft (assuming they don't trade it, of course): 

17. New England Patriots (f/OAK): Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State. Chances are outstanding that the trade-happy Pats will deal this pick, but Heyward would be an outstanding fit for Bill Belichick. He's a high-character kid and a great football player that fits the 3-4 perfectly.

And with their second pick, SB Nation has the Pats drafting a cornerback: 

32. New England Patriots (14-2): Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado. The Pats appear to have found an excellent, possibly lock-down corner in 2010 first-round pick Devin McCourty. They're still searching for quality players at that position, and Smith would give the group a little size, as well.

2011 NFL Mock Draft: BC's Anthony Castonzo Projected As Late First-Round Pick

As the sports world hyperventilates over the announcement that Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, the consensus No. 1 overall pick, has decided to return to school for the 2011 season, it seems as good a time as any to start our 2011 NFL Mock Draft StoryStream. 

Brian Galliford, with the help of Mocking the Draft's Dan Kadar, put together SB Nation's first mock draft on Monday. Of course, Luck was headed to the Carolina Panthers with the top pick. Patrick Peterson, LSU's cornerback and the team's best player, is slotted at the No. 2 position, which is the Denver Broncos' pick. 

Meanwhile, Boston College's Anthony Castonzo is projected to be the top senior offensive tackle taken in the draft, currently slotted to go to the Chicago Bears with the No. 27 overall pick.

We love Jay Cutler, but we're pretty sure Jay Cutler doesn't love getting drilled into the turf a dozen times per game. Chicago needs an immediate O-Line contributor badly; Castonzo topped our list in that department.

BC Interruption highlights what this would mean for the Eagles' program: 

If Castonzo is drafted in the first round of this year's Draft, he'll become the seventh Eagle drafted in the first round over the last 10 years. It would also mark 9 out of the last 10 years that a Boston College offensive or defensive lineman would be taken in the Draft.

As we've highlighted already this week, the mock draft has the New England Patriots drafting Ohio State's senior defensive end Cameron Heyward with the No. 17 pick (via Oakland) and then Marcus Cannon, a guard from TCU, with pick No. 32 (where the Patriots draft with their second first-round pick is determined based on their performance in the playoffs).