Although I was critical of various aspects of it, I admire the 3-round mock recently posted by Mario Puig even more now that I've finally completed my own. It is a huge task to play GM for all 32 teams and try to get the best blend of need and talent. And as you'll see here, that process can yield many different results, as I've made only 6 of the same picks that Mario made—out of 97! After giving it a try, I'm convinced that this will be a wild draft, and that like last year, there will be significant pick swapping going down in round 1. I wouldn't be shocked to see as many as 8-10 picks change hands on Thursday night and I took a stab at three interesting possibilities (with trade summaries at the end).

ROUND 1
1. Carolina Panthers – Cam Newton, QB (Auburn)
- Carolina closes its eyes, crosses its fingers and prays Newton will be the "game-changer" they so desperately need.
2. Denver Broncos – Marcell Dareus, DT (Alabama)
- The Broncos beef up the middle of their new 4-3 defense so they can stop the run for years to come.
3. Buffalo Bills – Von Miller, 3-4 OLB (Texas A&M)
- Buffalo gets the dynamic defender they've been missing for years in this do-it-all pass rusher.
4. Cincinnati Bengals – Blaine Gabbert, QB (Missouri)
- Owner Mike Brown finally acknowledges a Palmerless future and embraces the heir apparent.
5. New England Patriots (from Arizona) – A.J. Green, WR (Georgia)
- The sneaky Pats steal the draft's best offensive weapon in hopes Brady can lead an O as unstoppable as the '07 version.
6. Cleveland Browns – Julio Jones, WR (Alabama)
- Colt McCoy gets his top target for possibly the next decade, finally giving the Browns' O some firepower.
7. San Francisco 49ers – Patrick Peterson, CB (LSU)
- The 49ers fill a big need with the best player in the draft. Talk about value.
8. Tennessee Titans – Nick Fairley, DT (Auburn)
- The Titans replace the inside rush presence that has been gone since Haynesworth's big payday.
9. Dallas Cowboys – Tyron Smith, OT (USC)
- Jerry Jones needs to protect Tony Romo's backside if he wants to win anytime soon.
10. San Diego Chargers (from Washington) – Robert Quinn, 3-4 OLB (North Carolina)
- The Bolts climb the board in hopes that they've found the next DeMarcus Ware.
11. Houston Texans – Aldon Smith, 3-4 OLB (Missouri)
- New defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is confident the next DeMarcus Ware will also reside in Texas.
12. Minnesota Vikings – Anthony Castonzo, OT (Boston College)
- The Vikes take the most complete, pro-ready left tackle to protect whoever they line up under center.
13. Detroit Lions – Prince Amukamara, CB (Nebraska)
- Detroit couldn't be happier with the last stud Cornhusker defender they drafted, and they won't be disappointed with this one.
14. St. Louis Rams – Corey Liuget, DT (Illinois)
- Head coach Steve Spagnuolo continues the youth infusion on the d-line with this high-motor, inside penetrator.
15. Miami Dolphins – Mark Ingram, RB (Alabama)
- Say goodbye to Ronnie and Ricky in South Beach. They're about to get Heisman stiff-armed out of town.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars – Ryan Kerrigan, DE (Purdue)
- The Jags find a young Aaron Kampman clone to take pressure off his elder with a crazy high motor.
17. Arizona Cardinals (from New England) – Andy Dalton, QB (TCU)
- Rose Bowl tested, Larry Fitzgerald approved. Arizona has its QB for the next 10 years.
18. Washington Redskins (from San Diego) – Jake Locker, QB (Washington)
- Shanahan snags the Skins' QB of the future who can't possibly be less accurate than Rex Grossman. Can he?
19. New York Giants – Mike Pouncey, OG (Florida)
- The G-Men look to re-establish a dominant o-line with the best guard in the draft.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Da'Quan Bowers, DE (Clemson)
- Tampa simply can't pass on the draft's best pure edge rusher with this need/value pick, bum knee or no bum knee.
21. Kansas City Chiefs – Akeem Ayers, 3-4 OLB (UCLA)
- The heir apparent to Mike Vrabel is not spectacular at any one thing but can do everything well.
22. Indianapolis Colts – Nate Solder, OT (Colorado)
- President Bill Polian is happy to introduce Peyton to his new best friend.
23. Philadelphia Eagles – Jimmy Smith, CB (Colorado)
- A must pick for the Eagles that need to bolster their pass D if they want to get out of the NFC.
24. New Orleans Saints – Cameron Jordan, DE (California)
- The Saints go with the best player available (BPA) theory, which conveniently fills a big need.
25. Tennessee Titans (from Seattle) – Christian Ponder, QB (Florida State)
- Tennessee moves back into the 1st to lock up their QB of the future before he gets snatched up by Buffalo.
26. Baltimore Ravens – J.J. Watt, 3-4 DE (Wisconsin)
- Again the BPA theory is in effect with the ideal 3-4 5-technique falling into the Ravens' lap.
27. Atlanta Falcons – Adrian Clayborn, DE (Iowa)
- Mike Smith gets the young pass rusher to learn from and eventually replace John Abraham.
28. Arizona Cardinals (from New England) – Brooks Reed, 3-4 OLB (Arizona)
- Thanks to the Patriot Way, the Cardinals fill a major need with a high-motor pass rusher.
29. Chicago Bears – Marvin Austin, DT (North Carolina)
- Chicago upgrades their d-line with another freakishly athletic Tar Heel and the replacement for Tommie Harris.
30. New York Jets – Justin Houston, 3-4 OLB (Georgia)
- After passing on a rush backer in last years' draft the Jets simply can't afford to not take one or more in '11.
31. Pittsburgh Steelers – Gabe Carimi, OT (Wisconsin)
- The Steelers must upgrade an o-line that struggled to protect Big Ben last year and may get weaker through free agency/age.
32. Green Bay Packers – Muhammad Wilkerson, 3-4 DE (Temple)
- The Pack go BPA to add depth to a d-line that may lose Cullen Jenkins.

ROUND 2
33. New England Patriots – Cameron Heyward, 3-4 DE (Ohio State)
34. Buffalo Bills – Kyle Rudolph, TE (Notre Dame)
35. Cincinnati Bengals – Jon Baldwin, WR (Pittsburgh)
36. Denver Broncos – Bruce Carter, OLB (North Carolina)
37. Cleveland Browns – Jabaal Sheard, DE (Pittsburgh)
38. Arizona Cardinals – Danny Watkins, OG (Baylor)
39. Seattle Seahawks (from Tennessee) – Derek Sherrod, OT (Mississippi State)
40. Dallas Cowboys – Phil Taylor, 3-4 NT (Baylor)
41. Washington Redskins – Leonard Hankerson, WR (Miami)
42. Houston Texans – Brandon Harris, CB (Miami)
43. Minnesota Vikings – Ryan Mallett, QB (Arkansas)
44. Detroit Lions – Marcus Cannon, OT (TCU)
45. San Francisco 49ers – Sam Acho, 3-4 OLB (Texas)
46. Denver Broncos – Ras-I Dowling, CB (Virginia)
47. St. Louis Rams – Ryan Williams, RB (Virginia Tech)
48. Oakland Raiders – Johnny Patrick, CB (Louisville)
49. Jacksonville Jaguars – Rahim Moore, FS (UCLA)
50. San Diego Chargers – Torrey Smith, WR (Maryland)
51. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Aaron Williams, CB (Texas)
52. New York Giants – Martez Wilson, ILB (Illinois)
53. Indianapolis Colts – Mikel LeShoure, RB (Illinois)
54. Philadelphia Eagles – Dontay Moch, OLB (Nevada)
55. Kansas City Chiefs – Randall Cobb, WR (Kentucky)
56. New Orleans Saints – Stephen Paea, DT (Oregon State)
57. Seattle Seahawks – Colin Kaepernick, QB (Nevada)
58. Baltimore Ravens – Titus Young, WR (Boise State)
59. Atlanta Falcons – Edmond Gates, WR (Abilene-Christian)
60. New England Patriots – James Carpenter, OT (Alabama)
61. Washington Redskins (from San Diego) – Kenrick Ellis, 3-4 NT (Hampton)
62. Chicago Bears – Greg Little, WR (North Carolina)
63. Pittsburgh Steelers – Allen Bailey, 3-4 DE (Miami)
64. Green Bay Packers – James Brewer, OT (Indiana)

ROUND 3
65. Carolina Panthers – Christian Ballard, DE/DT (Iowa)
66. Cincinnati Bengals – DeMarco Murray, RB (Oklahoma)
67. Denver Broncos – Lance Kendricks, TE (Wisconsin)
68. Buffalo Bills – Jurrell Casey, 3-4 DE (USC)
69. Arizona Cardinals – Orlando Franklin, OT (Miami)
70. Cleveland Browns – Mark Herzlich, OLB (Boston College)
71. Dallas Cowboys – Tyler Sash, SS (Iowa)
72. New Orleans Saints – Ross Homan, OLB (Ohio State)
73. Houston Texans – Marcus Gilchrist, CB/FS (Clemson)
74. New England Patriots – Clint Boling, OG (Georgia)
75. Detroit Lions – Greg Jones, ILB (Michigan St.)
76. San Francisco 49ers – Ricky Stanzi, QB (Iowa)
77. Seattle Seahawks (from Tennessee) – Brandon Burton, CB (Utah)
78. St. Louis Rams – Niles Paul, WR (Nebraska)
79. Miami Dolphins – Will Rackley, OG (Lehigh)
80. Jacksonville Jaguars – Tandon Doss, WR (Indiana)
81. Oakland Raiders – Stefan Wisniewski, C (Penn State)
82. San Diego Chargers – Drake Nevis, 3-4 DE (LSU)
83. New York Giants – Benjamin Ijalana, OG/OT (Villanova)
84. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Kendall Hunter, RB (Oklahoma State)
85. Philadelphia Eagles – DeMarcus Love, OT/OG (Arkansas)
86. Kansas City Chiefs – Rodney Hudson, C (Florida State)
87. Indianapolis Colts – Terrell McClain, DT (South Florida)
88. New Orleans Saints – Daniel Thomas, RB (Kansas State)
89. San Diego Chargers – Kelvin Sheppard, ILB (LSU)
90. Baltimore Ravens – Rashad Carmichael, CB (Virginia Tech)
91. Atlanta Falcons – Mason Foster, OLB (Washington)
92. New England Patriots – Chris Carter, 3-4 OLB (Fresno State)
93. Chicago Bears – Marcus Gilbert, OT (Florida)
94. New York Jets – Greg Salas, WR (Hawaii)
95. Pittsburgh Steelers – Davon House, CB (New Mexico State)
96. Green Bay Packers – Austin Pettis, WR (Boise State)
97. Carolina Panthers – Jerrel Jernigan, WR (Troy)  |STAR|Compensatory selection

Trade Summaries:
1. The Pats give Arizona the 28th overall selection to seal up a swap of the 17th and 5th picks, giving the Cards two 1st rounders. The Pats proceed to shock the draft and snatch up the best offensive weapon for Tom Brady to kill defenses with.
2. The Chargers take an opportunity to get an elite pass rusher by using the second of their 2nd round picks to persuade Washington to move back from 10th to 18th in the first where the Skins find their QB of the future still on the board. In addition, Washington gets a 6th from San Diego, 183rd overall.
3. Seattle takes advantage of Tennessee's need for a QB by letting them climb back into the first round (25th overall) to take the successor to Kerry Collins and Vince Young. In return Seattle gets Tennessee's 2nd and 3rd rounders 39th and 77th overall, giving them their only 3rd round pick.