2011 NFL Mock Draft: Do the Panthers Get Lucky or Pass? Version 2.0

December 11, 2010   ·   Ian O'Brien   ·   Jump to comments

1. Carolina Panthers- Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
The Panthers drafted two QBs last draft, but Jimmy Clausen hasn't played like a starter and Tony Pike couldn't beat Brian St. Pierre to be the emergency starter, so he's clearly not the future. If the Panthers end up with the first pick in the draft, it means Clausen continued to struggle, and a new coach will likely be hired, so he'll want to start fresh.
The Panthers may give Clausen another chance next year, but drafting a defensive lineman or wide receiver first generally isn't a good idea. 
Also, in general, the early pick goes with the QB in the end, and it's the smart move. The Falcons took Matt Ryan over Glenn Dorsey. The Lions took Matt Stafford over Jason Smith. The Rams took Sam Bradford over Ndamukong Suh.
2. Detroit Lions- Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
The Lions are a decent pass defense away from becoming a playoff contender, and they generally draft the best player available. Peterson fits ...

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