2011 NFL Mock Draft: Which DE Will the Green Bay Packers Have to Settle For?
Cameron Heyward Falls To Green Bay Packers in 2011 NFL Mock Draft
Aaron Rodgers may have been the star of the Green Bay Packers run to a Super Bowl victory, but the team's pass rush was just as valuable. Only the Steelers had more sacks during the 2010 regular season, and we know who won that showdown.
But Johnny Jolly is not going to be back after his arrest. And it's going to be tough for the club to re-sign to see Cullen Jenkins.
Without those two, the Packers front-three will need another defensive end. Sure, they'd rather have a player like Cameron Jordan or J.J. Watt (especially Watt), but they are long gone here. But Heyward is a great Plan-B.
He is arguably the most refined member of this great "Class of Defensive Ends." He was a four-year starter for the Buckeyes and played against a handful of future NFL offensive lineman.
Furthermore, Heyward isn't a one dimensional, pass-rush-only, defensive end. He is solid in the running game and does a good job of occupying blockers, which is ideal for freeing up Clay Matthews and any of the other backers who are sent on blitzes from Dom Capers.
| 1. Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton, QB 2. Denver Broncos: Marcell Dareus, DT 3. Buffalo Bills: Patrick Peterson, CB 4. Cincinnati Bengals: A.J. Green, WR |
17. New England Patiriots: Anthony Castonzo, OT 18. San Diego Chagers: Aldon Smith, DE/OLB 19. New York Giants: Mike Pouncey, OG 20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Da'Quan Bowers, DE |
| 5. Arizona Cardinals: Blaine Gabbert, QB 6. Cleveland Browns: Von Miller, OLB 7. San Francisco 49ers: Prince Amukamara, CB 8. Tennessee Titans: Nick Fairley, DT |
21. Kansans City Chiefs: Akeem Ayers, OLB 22. Indianapolis Colts: Gabe Carimi, OT 23. Philadelphia Eagles: Jimmy Smith, CB 24. New Orleans Saints: Muhammad Wilkerson, DE |
| 9. Dallas Cowboys: Tyron Smith, OT 10. Washington Redskins: J.J. Watt, DE 11. Houston Texans: Robert Quinn, DE 12. Minnesota Vikings: Cameron Jordan, DE |
25. Seattle Seahawks: Jake Locker, QB 26. Baltimore Ravens: Kyle Rudolph, TE 27. Atlanta Falcons: Justin Houston, OLB 28. New England Patriots: Adrian Clayborn, DE |
| 13. Detroit Lions: Nate Solder, OT 14. St. Louis Rams: Julio Jones, WR 15. Miami Dolphins: Mark Ingram Jr.,RB 16. Jacksonville Jaguars: Ryan Kerrigan, DE |
29. Chicago Bears: Derek Sherrod, OT 30. New York Jets: Phil Taylor, DT 31. Pittsburgh Steelers: Brandon Harris, CB 32. Green Bay Packers: Cameron Heyward, DE |
