Sorry about the technical problems we had with the first edition of my mock draft. I think I’ve got it worked out. Without further ado…

  1. Carolina Panthers- Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri: I’m not that sold on Gabbert as a future franchise quarterback, but with the results of his combine, pro day, and other pre-draft workouts, he seems to be headed towards being the consensus #1. Ron Rivera is intent on finding stability in the quarterback position as his first order of business, and has not exactly given a glowing endorsement of Jimmy Clausen. Part of me feels like the book is being shut on Clausen too soon, but the recent rookie campaigns of Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Mark Sanchez, and Sam Bradford say otherwise.

  2. Denver Broncos- Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama: In my first mock draft, I had the Broncos taking Patrick Peterson, but the more I think about it, new head coach John Fox is much more likely to take a big guy upfront than a defensive back. Dareus can play along a 3-4 or 4-3 front but will excel as a 3-technique tackle in Fox’s 4-3 scheme and will instantly upgrade Denver’s front seven, as Fox works to mold them into a smashmouth team.

  3. Buffalo Bills- Von Miller, LB, Texas A&M: Many people are expecting the Bills to go with a quarterback, which in this case would be Cam Newton, but a rookie signal-caller is unlikely to outperform Ryan Fitzpatrick. Buffalo needs to upgrade a porous defense, and the first order of business is a dominant edge-rusher like Miller, particularly to hunt down divisional foes Tom Brady and Mark Sanchez.

  4. Cincinnati Bengals- Cam Newton, QB, Auburn: Not too many people think that Carson Palmer is bluffing as far as his retirement threats go. It’s time for the Bengals to start over fresh on offense, and Newton will inherit a team with several exciting, young playmakers in the receiving corps, like Jerome Simpson, Jordan Shipley, and 2010 first-round pick tight end Jermaine Gresham.

  5. Arizona Cardinals- Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU: The Cardinals would like to take a quarterback here, but the fifth pick is too high for the third-best player at the position. Arizona will either wait until round 2 or pursue a veteran signal-caller through trade whenever a new CBA is reached. For now, the Cards will take the best player available, and put the building blocks in place for one of the league’s best secondaries, by pairing Peterson with Pro Bowl corner Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and veteran safeties Adrian Wilson and Kerry Rhodes.

  6. Cleveland Browns- A.J. Green, WR, Georgia: The Browns are starved for playmakers to surround young quarterback Colt McCoy with. There is still a lot of hope and promise surrounding third-year wideout Mohammed Massaquoi, but it is widely believed that he is better suited as a no. 2, and Green’s presence will allow him to settle into that role.

  7. San Francisco 49ers- Robert Quinn, DE/LB, UNC: The Niners are in a similar position as their division rival, the Cardinals; they would like a quarterback but not at this pick with the board having shaken out as it has. Instead they will opt to fix one of their few remaining weaknesses; their pass rush, which Quinn will definitely boost.

  8. Tennessee Titans- Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn: New head coach Mike Munchak is much like his predecessor, Jeff Fisher. He believes firmly in winning at the line of scrimmage with stout offensive and defensive lines. He gives the defense a big upgrade here by taking a dynamic 3-technique tackle, who would be widely believed to be the best remaining player on the board.

  9. Dallas Cowboys- Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska: It’s no secret that the team that gave up the most touchdown passes in the league last season needs help on the back end. The offensive line is also a big area of concern, but Jerry Jones, Jason Garrett, and Co. like their chances at finding impact players upfront in the next couple rounds, especially given that none have been taken at this point.

  10. Washington Redskins- Jake Locker, QB, Washington: Mike Shanahan can’t resist athletic, young quarterbacks and a team with so many holes is well-served building a roster almost from the ground up, around this talented gunslinger. Expect Rex Grossman to start early on, as Shanahan and his staff bring Locker along at his own pace.

  11. Houston Texans- Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado: The Texans’ secondary has been dreadful for a while, and though Smith would be the third corner off the board, he has all the tools one looks for in a shutdown corner. New defensive coordinator Wade Phillips will have no problem with this pick, as he laments what might have been if he had a player like Smith last year in Dallas.

  12. Minnesota Vikings- Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College: Bryant McKinnie’s declining play last season leads Leslie Frazier and the Vikings to take a new blindside protector. Of course, it would be nice if Minnesota had a franchise quarterback for Castonzo to protect, but the Vikes become the latest victim of the “we want a quarterback, but not at this pick” curse.

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