The 2011 NFL Draft season in high gear after the conclusion of the East-West Shrine Game, the Senior Bowl, the NFL Scouting Combine and player pro days. Pewter Report issues our fourth mock draft of the year. Check back tomorrow for a mock of the second round and on Friday for a mock of the third round.

FIRST ROUND
1. Carolina Panthers- Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert
Jake Delhomme and Kerry Collins have been the franchises best quarterbacks. Gabbert could be better than either of them.     

2. Denver Broncos- Alabama DT Marcell Dareus
The Broncos have an elite edge rusher in Elvis Dumervil. Dareus is a good three technique for John Fox’s defense.

3. Buffalo Bills- Auburn QB Cam Newton
Quarterbacks always rise prior to the draft. The Bills need a franchise quarterback. Chan Gailey could do a lot with Newton.

4. Cincinnati Bengals- LSU CB Patrick Peterson
The Bengals may not be willing to pay Jonathan Joseph. Top picks will make a lot less in a new labor deal.

5. Arizona Cardinals- Texas A&M OLB Von Miller
The Cardinals will go with Miller if they can’t get one of the quarterbacks.

6. Cleveland Browns- Georgia WR A.J. Green
The Browns also need help in the front seven, but Mike Holmgren wants to bring in a game changer.

7. San Francisco 49ers- Nebraska CB Prince Amukamara
Amukamara fills a need in the 49ers defense.

8. Tennessee Titans- Auburn DT Nick Fairley
This is excellent value for Fairley and a good fit for him as a pro.

9. Dallas Cowboys- Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt
Watt would serve as a five technique in the Cowboys defense.

10. Washington Redskins- Clemson DE Da’Quan Bowers
Bruce Allen drafted and believed in Gaines Adams. Bowers is similar and the Redskins need an edge rusher opposite Brian Orakpo badly.

11. Houston Texans- North Carolina DE Robert Quinn
Quinn will play OLB in the Texans new 3-4 defense.

12. Minnesota Vikings- Missouri DE Aldon Smith
The Vikings could lose Ray Edwards in free agency. Smith is a good replacement.

13. Detroit Lions- USC OT Tyron Smith
The Lions badly want Amukamara but it seems like a stretch for him to fall this far.

14. St. Louis Rams- Alabama WR Julio Jones
The Rams need some weapons for Sam Bradford.

15. Miami Dolphins- Alabama RB Mark Ingram
Ingram could help save the regime. Running backs can have a quick impact.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars- Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan
The Jags have hosted Kerrigan and their d-line coach worked him out at Purdue.

17. New England Patriots- Cal DE Cameron Jordan
Jordan is an excellent five technique for the Patriots defense.

18. San Diego Chargers- Temple DT Muhammed Wilkerson
The Chargers need a difference maker up front and Wilkerson could be a disruptive five technique.

19. New York Giants- Boston College OT Anthony Castonzo
The Giants get a long-term left tackle to protect Eli Manning.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Georgia DE/OLB Justin Houston
Read the analysis for why the Bucs would take Houston in the Pewter Report Buccaneers Seven-Round Mock Draft.


21. Kansas City Chiefs- Colorado OT Nate Solder
The Chiefs could move Brandon Albert to right tackle or guard. Kansas City needs tackle help.

22. Indianapolis Colts- Wisconsin OT Gabe Carimi
The Colts have to add some offensive line help to protect Peyton Manning. They openly regretted not drafting Rodger Saffold.

23. Philadelphia Eagles- Colorado CB Jimmy Smith
The Eagles badly need another corner opposite Asante Samuel.

24. New Orleans Saints- Iowa DE Adrian Clayborn
The Saints like bigger defensive ends of Clayborn’s stature. They also don’t mind players with question marks on and off the field. Clayborn is overrated.

25. Seattle Seahawks- Washington QB Jake Locker
Pete Carroll knows Locker well and the relationship is deteriorating with Matt Hasselbeck.

26. Atlanta Falcons- Maryland WR Torrey Smith
The Falcons could use another weapon to pair with Roddy White, and they want a deep threat like Smith.

27. Baltimore Ravens- Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
The Ravens may be done with Jared Gaither.

28. New England Patriots- Florida G Mike Pouncey
The Patriots need help on the interior of their line and they love Gators.

29. Chicago Bears- Illinois DT Corey Liuget
The Bears get a replacement for Tommie Harris and target the offensive line later in the draft.

30. New York Jets- Baylor DT Phil Taylor
Taylor is an excellent replacement for Kris Jenkins.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers- Baylor G Danny Watkins
After losing out on Pouncey the Steelers get one of the most versatile linemen in the draft.

32. Green Bay Packers- Ohio State DE Cameron Heyward
The Packers could use a five technique and Heyward is a good fit for that.